Right as Rain - Cardmaking and Scrapbooking with Jean Manis

Spellbinders | Merry Build-A-Wreath

Hello! Today, I am sharing a textural holiday card showcasing the Spellbinders Build-A-Wreath and Christmas Wreath Add-Ons die sets.

The combination of the wreath and snowman blends the traditions and festive spirit of the Christmas season.

To begin, create an A2-size card base from white Canvas cardstock.
Cut Waterfall panel with largest die in the Precision Layering A2 B set. Dry-emboss the panel with the Flurry of Snowflakes folder. Adhere to card base with the debossed side up.
Cut pine boughs from Fern cardstock with the Build-A-Wreath dies. Use a tool in the Susan’s Garden Ultimate Tool Kit set to curl the leaves. Glue several boughs together, dab section with VersaMark ink, shake on Snowflake Tinsel powder, and heat-emboss. Continue until there are enough pieces to form a 3″ wreath. Glue together.
Cut 3″ circle from vellum and add to card base. Glue wreath around vellum.
Glimmer foil in Gold on Snowdrift cardstock the “Merry Christmas” sentiment from the Mini Christmas set. Cut the sentiment with a banner die and add to card front.
Die-cut snowman elements with the Christmas Wreath Add-Ons set and assemble. Add dimensional foam to back of snowman.
Add snowman to center of wreath.
Embellish wreath with snowflakes cut from white glitter foam using dies in the Christmas Wreath Add-Ons set.

Sunny Studio Stamps | Truckload of Pumpkins

Hello! Today I am sharing a fall-themed card featuring the delightful Sunny Studio Stamps Truckloads of Love stamp set, with coordinating dies. Envisioning a visit to the pumpkin patch, I created a pumpkin-picking scene with the set’s pickup truck, pumpkins, and two of the cute critters.

To begin, dry-emboss an A2-size panel of rust cardstock (I used SU Cajun Craze) with the Buffalo Plaid embossing folder. Add to card base. You can read more about dry-embossed card backgrounds HERE.
Stamp Truckloads of Love pickup, pumpkins (twice), and two of the critters with Versafine on Arches Cold Press watercolor paper and heat set. Color the images with watercoloring mediums of choice (I used mini Distress Inks). Once dry, cut the images with the dies in the coordinating set. (Check out my “Resources for Watercoloring Stamped Images” HERE.)
Cut scallop mat from white cardstock with the Mini Mat and Tag 3 set.
Stamp sentiment on white cardstock and add Distress Oxide Inks to sky and road (using vellum to mask while applying the inks). I created the sentiment on my computer as I wanted to specifically reference a pumpkin field.
Trim inked sentiment panel to fit inside the Mini Mat and Tag 3 scallop mat. Add inked panel to mat.
Adhere truck, pumpkins, and critters. Add assembly to card base.

Duplicating Holiday Magic | Spellbinders October 2023 Small Die Kit Club

Hello and “Ho! Ho! Ho”! In the world of holiday paper crafting, there’s something magical about taking a single die set and creating variations. Today, I am showcasing the adorable Spellbinders Small Die of the Month kit titled “Big Jolly Santa.” This Santa is a standout that nicely fills an A2-size card. Keep reading for directions on how to make the two cards. You can also head HERE for a tutorial on how to use the set.

- To begin, create card front from Brushed Silver cardstock OR cut patterned paper (older Christmas paper from Echo Park in my stash). Add to A2-size card base.
- With the largest die in the Stylish Ovals set, cut Waterfall cardstock and dry-emboss with the Flurry of Snowflakes folder OR cut oval from patterned paper (flip side of the Echo Park Christmas paper used for the card front).
- Die-cut Santa pieces with the Big Jolly Santa set from a variety of cardstock materials. Cardstock in the Crushed Velvet Assortment pack was used for the Santa on the Waterfall background. Assemble. Add enamel dots for buttons. I used a Uni-Ball Signo Broad Point Gel Impact Pen White to create the catchlights in the eyes.
- With dies in the Big Jolly Santa set, cut sentiment sign from Brushed Gold cardstock OR heat-emboss sentiment in the Big Jolly Santa Sentiments set on Teal Topaz cardstock and cut with the banner die.
- Cut Glitter Foam OR Snowdrift cardstock with snowline die in the Camper Life set. Cut snow with largest die in the Stylish Ovals set and adhere to the oval background.
- Adhere Santas to cards. Embellish with snowflakes cut from Glitter Foam.

With just different cardstock colors and background choices, the feeling of the card changes!

Spellbinders | October 2023 Large Die of the Month

Hello and happy October! Today, I am sharing a Christmas card crafted with the Spellbinders October Large Die of the Month set – “Christmas Boutique” – slightly modified to make a charming house (rather than a storefront) adorned with Christmas florals. Read on to discover how to create the card. You can also head HERE for a tutorial on how to use the set.

- Glimmer foil blue cardstock in Gold with a sentiment in the Glitter Wishes set. The Large Die of the Month set includes a sentiment die to create the word “Noel.” I decided to use the glimmer-foiled sentiment at the base of the card front and consulted my post Prepping for Christmas Card Making for sentiment options. Trim panel to 5 1/2″ wide by 4 7/8″ tall and add to a card base.
- With a die in the Large Die of the Month set cut the house (boutique) base from green cardstock. Cut again from red cardstock and trim off the foliage on top. Cut floral and house pieces from a variety of cardstock colors. Add Rustic Wilderness ink to green cardstock elements (holly leaves, other leaves, Christmas trees) to differentiate from the green base color. Add enamel dots in red and white to the Christmas trees. Assemble.
- Add assembled house to card front.

Scarecrow Sweater: Papercrafted Fall Fashion

Hello! Today, I am showcasing Elizabeth Craft Designs products – the Sweater Season and Scarecrow die sets and Autumn Words stamp set – on a fall-themed card. I don’t own a fall novelty sweater, however, I can always craft one from paper!

To begin, dry-emboss a Persimmon cardstock panel, measuring 4 1/2″ square with cable folder (I used Cable Knit from Taylored Expressions). Attach to card base.
Cut sweater with dies in the Sweater Season set. Dry-emboss sweater body with SU Subtle folder (now retired). Alternatively, cut the sweater from textured cardstock. Add neckline, bottom hem, and cuffs, cut from white cardstock, to the sweater. Cut circles with a small circle die and add to sweater body for adornment.
Die-cut pieces for the Scarecrow head and hat from colored cardstock. Assemble. To create the mouth on the scarecrow, I cut a piece of cardstock with a 1/2-inch circle die. I used the negative portion to draw the mouth using a Faber Castell Pitt artist pen size XS pen. (I am writing this specifically so I will remember for next time.) Add assembled scarecrow face, with crow, to sweater front.
Stamp Autumn Words sentiment in black on to white cardstock and cut with the smallest die in the Small Stitched Rectangle Stackables set.
Add sentiment and assembled sweater to card front.

Previously, I used the Scarecrow die set on a fall-themed card HERE and the Sweater Season die set on a Christmas-themed card HERE.