Right as Rain - Cardmaking and Scrapbooking with Jean Manis

Hello Card with Floral Die-Cuts

Hello! If you’re a subscriber of the Large Die of the Month kit club at Spellbinders, or considering joining, you’re in for a treat! This month’s set–“Family & Friends Vignettes”– is packed with creative possibilities, including a versatile arch design, a playful dog, and even a fun dinosaur. For today’s project, I focused on the floral elements in the set, creating a “hello” card with a die-cut cluster. Whether you’re drawn to florals, critters, or something a bit more whimsical, this kit offers many ways to bring your creative vision to life!

- Create an A2-size card base from textured cardstock and add a 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″ patterned paper panel (49 and Market – Vintage Artistry Countryside).
- Use the set to cut the arch and floral elements from a variety of cardstock colors. Assemble floral elements.
- Dry-emboss the inner arch with the Tiny Dots folder. Adhere to the outer arch.
- Assemble floral elements on the arches and add to the card base.
- Cut Hello Smile sentiment from vellum and Fern cardstock. Assemble and add to card base.
- Embellish with Clear Enamel Dots.

Fishing-Themed See You Soon Card

Hello! The Fairways & Fish Tales die kit at Spellbinders is packed with both fishing and golf-themed elements, making it a fantastic choice for creating masculine and outdoor-inspired cards. My card showcases the fishing side of this set. With die-cut figures of two men fishing on a dock and a dry-embossed background for texture, this card captures the peacefulness of a day by the water. Whether you are already receiving the Small Die of the Month kit or are considering subscribing this month, I hope this project inspires you to explore all the creative possibilities it offers!

- Create an A2-size card base from Indigo cardstock.
- With the All Wrapped Up folder, dry-emboss a 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″ panel of Windy cardstock.
- Cut patterned paper with the water line die in the Fairways & Fish Tales set. Trim and add to the dry-embossed panel and attach assembly to card base.
- With dies in the Fairways & Fish Tales set, cut pieces for the two men, fishing rods, and accessories. Assemble and add to the card background.
- Stamp the Message Strips sentiment with Cobalt ink on Alabaster cardstock and cut with the banner die included in the Message Strips set.

Hello Card with Stenciled Rainbow Birdhouses

Hello! Sometimes, a simple design with a pop of color is all you need to make a cheerful card! Today, I’m sharing a quick and easy hello card featuring a row of stenciled birdhouses inked in a vibrant rainbow of colors. To keep things simple, I used a stamped and die-cut “Hello” sentiment—an effortless way to add dimension to an otherwise single-layer card.

- Add Mowed Lawn ink to the base of a white cardstock panel to create the grass. I used vellum to mask the sky and create the straight line.
- Mask the grass and ink the birdhouse posts with the Newton’s Nook Birdhouse Line Stencil. The stencil includes three rows with etching to aid with alignment.
- Move the stencil and ink the birdhouses. Move the stencil again to ink the birds and birdhouse openings.
- Trim stencil panel and add to a black cardstock base.
- Stamp the I’ve Got You Covered sentiment and cut with the coordinating die. Add to card with foam adhesive.

Watercolored Chickens for Spring

Hello! Spring is in the air, and what better way to celebrate than with a fun, interactive card? I used products in the Art Impressions Matchbook series to create a miniature scene featuring watercolored chickens and their coop. With the playful sentiment Spring Chicken, it’s perfect for sending a little joy!

The Art Impressions Matchbook series has many different options. You can see an intro video here.

- Stamp Chicken images in VersaFine ink on Arches Cold Press watercolor paper; heat set.
- Watercolor the images with watercolor markers. I used a combination of Tombow markers, Zig markers, and a Derwent Inktense Watercolor Pencil. You can read more about watercoloring stamped images here. In addition to the markers linked below, I used two new Zig marker colors —Mid Yellow 501 and Yellow Ochre 505—purchased from Paper and Ink Arts (a small business dedicated to the calligraphy industry).
- Once dry, cut the images with the coordinating dies included with the Chicken set.
- Cut matchbook from patterned paper with the MB Template. Add watercolored Chicken elements.
- Stamp Chicken sentiment on white cardstock, trim, and add to scene.

While I primarily create die-cut cards, watercoloring offers a refreshing change of pace. This relaxing, low-tech approach engages the brain differently, often activating the right hemisphere, which is associated with creativity, intuition, and fluid thinking. Since watercolor flows and blends in organic ways, it encourages spontaneity and adaptability, making it a fun and freeing way to add a hand-painted touch to my cardmaking!

Mixed Media Birthday Card | Newton’s Nook

Hello! Birthdays are all about fun, friends, and of course—presents! Today, I am sharing a card featuring an adorable Newton’s Nook stamped image featuring two playful cats, a happy pup, and a stack of brightly colored packages. To add to the celebration, I created a cheerful balloon-filled background with a stencil.

- Ink Bristol cardstock with a light ink color – I used Tumbled Glass Oxide. Add balloons through the Bokeh Balloons stencil. I used darker inks at the top and lighter towards the bottom.
- Stamp the Sky High Celebrations sentiment in black ink on the stenciled panel. Cut panel with A2-size Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle die and add to a card base.
- Stamp Sky High Celebrations image with VersaFine ink on Cold Pressed Watercolor paper and heat set. Color with medium of choice. I used Zig and Tombow markers: Zig Dark Gray 95, Zig Orange 70, Zig Mustard 67, Zig Sand 601, Tombow Purple 665, Zig May Green 47, Zig Persian Blue 32, Zig Yellow 50, Tombow N15 Black, Tombow Burnt Sienna 947, Zig Medium Beige 76, Zig Geranium Red 29, and Tombow Dusty Rose 772.
- Add additional color with Derwent Inktense pencils: Poppy Red, Neutral Gray, Yellow.
- When dry, cut image with the coordinating die set.
- Add image to card base with foam adhesive.

Note: The Sky High Celebrations stamp set and coordinating die set can be purchased directly from Newton’s Nook and Frantic Stamper.

I shared another birthday card HERE that showcases the other image on the Sky High Celebrations set.