Right as Rain - Cardmaking and Scrapbooking with Jean Manis

Crafting Christmas Magic | Spellbinders Large Die of the Month

Hello! I am thrilled to share a delightful Christmas card featuring the July 2023 Spellbinders Large Die of the Month set – “Stocking Full of Joy.” A stocking symbolizes the anticipation and excitement of receiving gifts and the warmth of festive traditions. Expect to see a number of “Christmas in July” projects this month.

With this versatile die set, I cut the gingerbread person, a whimsical gnome, festive greenery, and a peppermint stick. To add texture and visual appeal, I used a range of materials including brushed white cardstock.

The assembled pieces were arranged on a dry-embossed background, measuring 5 x 7 inches, created from Teal Topaz cardstock with the Flurry of Snowflakes 3D folder. Note: the stocking does fit on an A2-size card base.

Adding a touch of elegance, I glimmer foiled the sentiment – “Believe in the Magic” – in gold.

To complete the card and reinforce the magical theme, I embellished with snowflakes cut from white glitter foam.

Find more inspiration HERE.

Spellbinders | Lighthouse Birdhouse

Hello! Embrace the coastal spirit and celebrate the red, white, and blue with a Fourth of July-themed card featuring products from Spellbinders! This lighthouse birdhouse card is perfect to send to anyone who appreciates coastal charm and creative whimsy. Scroll for information on a Flash Sale – save big on Spellbinders past kit clubs, now until June 30.

- Create A2-size background from Sea Glass cardstock. Add strips of tan and Cosmic Sky cardstock to bottom to resemble sand and sea.
- Cut fence with Build a Spring Birdhouse die from Snowdrift cardstock, twice. Add to scene.
- Cut birdhouse with Build a Summer Birdhouse. To customize, fussy-cut the top and doors of the birdhouse in a different color cardstock. Assemble birdhouse and add to scene.
- Cut bird with Sweet Birds on a Branch dies; assemble and add with foam adhesive.
- Stamp I’ve Got You Covered sentiment in navy ink on Snowdrift cardstock and cut with die in the On Cloud Nine set. Cut additional cloud.
- Cut seagulls from gray cardstock with die in the Build a Summer Birdhouse and add to scene.

Shop the Spellbinders Flash Sale on past kit clubs, now until June 30.

Sail Away with Sunny Studio Stamps

Hello! Today, I am thrilled to share with you a whimsical, nautical-themed card combining the Sunny Studio Stamps Birthday Cat stamp set (and coordinating die set) with other products in my stash. The Sunny Studio Stamps Birthday Cat stamp set is packed with cat images that can be used for a variety of occasions, not just birthdays. This card showcases stamping, watercoloring, stenciling, and die-cutting techniques. Send this card to a cat lover, nautical enthusiast, or to brighten someone’s day.

- Stamp Birthday Cat images with VersaFine ink on Arches Cold Press watercolor paper, heat set, and watercolor with mediums of choice. When dry, cut with the coordinating dies.
- Cut sailboat pieces from cardstock and foam (for depth). Glue pieces together. I used a now-retired Paper Smooches die set to create the sailboat.
- Create the background by applying white pigment ink on light-blue cardstock through one of the stencils in the Lawn Fawn Cloud Background set.
- To create the waves, cut Cosmic Sky cardstock with a die in the Ocean Wave Borders set. Trim and add to cloud background. Cut assembly to 4 x 5 1/4 inches and add to white canvas texture cardstock base.
- Adhere sailboat pieces to card.
- Cut sentiment with Journal Letter dies from white cardstock and foam. Glue together and adhere to card front.
- Add cats to the boat.

Spellbinders | Colorful Ocean Delight

Hello! Dive into a world of vibrant colors with a card showcasing the Spellbinders June 2023 Small Die Kit Club – “Dancin’ Octopus & Friends.” Send this card to celebrate special occasions, achievements, or simply to brighten someone’s day with a burst of color and cheer. For more inspiration, check out my Sending Hugs from the Sea post and the Spellbinders Project Round Up.

- I created the wave background, measuring 4 x 5 1/4 inches, with the Color Block Scenic Scape and Essential Rectangles die sets from cardstock colored with Tumbled Glass, Salvaged Patina, Mermaid Lagoon, and Peacock Feathers Distress Oxide inks. The assembled waves were added to an A2-card base covered with Bazzill Canvas cardstock.
- I cut the pieces for the octopus with the Small Die Kit Club dies from cardstock colored with Abandoned Coral and Spun Sugar Distress Oxide inks and light gray cardstock.
- I cut the pieces for the jellyfish with the Small Die Kit Club dies from cardstock colored with Wild Honey, Ripe Persimmon, Twisted Citron, Lucky Clover, Shaded Lilac, and Villainous Poison Distress Oxide inks, and vellum.
- I added the assembled octopus and jellyfish to the wave background with dot and foam adhesive.

Add some sparkle to your projects at a discount! The Spellbinders Sparkles sale is available through June 25.

Lawn Fawn | Sailing with the Car Critters

Hello! Today I am sharing a whimsical, nautical-themed card that uses the Lawn Fawn Car Critters stamp set in a novel way. Strips of cardstock mimic a cruise ship, proudly named the SS CUBBY. Through five die-cut windows, the Car Critters take center stage, offering a twist on their traditional use. This mini slimline card not only showcases the versatility of the Car Critters set but also demonstrates how simple techniques, like using strips of paper, a circle die, and an alpha die set, can yield a unique card.

Stamp Car Critters on Arches Cold Press watercolor paper with VersaFine ink; heat set.
Color bears with watercoloring mediums of choice.
Create card base for a mini-slimline measuring 6 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches from Snowdrift cardstock.
Create portholes by cutting a Snowdrift cardstock panel, measuring 6 1/2 inches wide, five times with a 3/4 inch circle die.
Adhere the watercolored bears to the back of the porthole section.
Add strips of cardstock to card base to resemble cruise ship along with the porthole section.
Die-cut Journal Letters from Snowdrift cardstock and foam. Adhere foam to the back of the letters. Adhere letters to card front.

I used the Car Critters in a car in this post.