diecutting - Right as Rain

Spellbinders | Purr-fect Birthday Card

Hello! I am sharing a birthday card created with products in the Bibi’s Cats and Pugs Collection at Spellbinders. Celebrate in style with this whimsical card featuring a cat wearing glasses adorned with birthday candles. Previously, I shared three Christmas cards created with the collection in this post. As I mention on the Spellbinders blog, before cutting, I recommend printing out the die set parts image from the product page. This allows you to make notes and identify parts as you go through the set.

- Create a 5″ x 7″ card base and cover with patterned paper.
- Cut the cat and accessories with dies in the Big Cat and Cats and Pugs Accessories sets. I used patterned paper that coordinated with the card background for the cat’s scarf.
- Stamp the sentiment with stamps in the Cats and Pugs Sentiments set (I used a navy pigment ink). Use a die in the Cats and Pugs Accessories set to cut the sentiment words and add to the glasses.

Queen & Co. | Christmas Safari Animals

Hello and happy August! Today, I am sharing Christmas shaker cards created with the Go Safari kit and Santa Hat die set from Queen & Co. The Santa Hat die works with several of the previously released kits.

The Go Safari kit includes dies with which to create an alligator, a giraffe, a zebra, a monkey, an elephant, and a tiger. I created cards with the alligator and elephant. Additionally, I used the Heartfelt Holiday paper pad, various foundation dies, Border Bonanza 2, and Holiday Emeralds for the shaker elements.

Queen & Co. | Winter Wonderland

Hello and fa la la! Today, I am sharing Christmas shaker cards created with the Winter Wonderland kit from Queen & Co. I used a just-released product – Snow Toppings – inside the snow globes.

You can see more of the Christmas in July products HERE.

Mindful Christmas Card Prep

Hello! As July comes to a close, it’s a great time to prepare for Christmas card making. Stores are beginning to stock new products for holiday crafting. In fact, Spellbinders already has released a number of holiday products with more to come. Just as I did last year in this post, I am evaluating the supplies I already own and identifying any gaps. In this post, I explore Christmas-themed products including BetterPress sentiment plates, focal item dies, background options, and specialty cardstock. Spellbinders is running a sale on past Christmas products.

Focal Item Dies: Which holiday-themed dies are you drawn to craft with – reindeer, Christmas trees, gnomes, snowmen? Santa is a perennial favorite, and there are many Santa die sets available. Click on the image to be taken to the original post with additional details.

Simon’s Snow Globes Collection includes a base set and several add-ons. I have used the Snowman Scene several times. Click on the image to be taken to the original post with additional details.

Backgrounds: Snowflake embossing folders – Sparkling Snow 3D and Flurry of Snowflakes 3D – add seasonal texture. The Starshine Background is a terrific way to create a subtly textured card base for the holidays and beyond.

Sentiments: Having purchased a BetterPress, I have been using the Merry and Bright sentiment set and plan to purchase additional holiday press plates. The Red Geranium Archival Ink works well for the holidays. Click on the image to be taken to the original post with additional details.

Specialty Cardstock: Glitter cardstock enhances holiday projects by adding festive and eye-catching sparkle. The Spring Tones and Jewel Tones packs include a variety of colors. Cardstock in metal-inspired colors and finishes can add a sophisticated and luxurious touch to holiday cards. The Gold, Silver, and Rose Gold packages include sheets of glitter metallic, matte metallic, brushed metallic, mirror metallic, and pearl metallic, which pair well with traditional holiday colors like red and green.

Impression Obsession | Santa Christmas Card

Hello! As I have been creating a number of cards for a “Christmas in July” event, I was in the mood to continue Christmas card crafting. I purchased the Santa die set in March, from Impression Obsession, and it has never been used before. Sadly, Impression Obsession closed their doors in the fall of 2024. Some of their products are still available at online stores such as Frantic Stamper.

- I used one of my favorite card design formulas, framing the focal point item with a Polaroid-style frame (Lawn Fawn Say Cheese, Again). I stamped the Impression Obsession TC1271 In & Out 11 sentiment on to the frame after I cut it.
- I used patterned paper from Stampin’ Up to cover the A2-size card base and to go behind the frame. I discuss how patterned paper is a quick and convenient way to add character to card backgrounds HERE.