Best Card Making Kit? Easy Summer Die Cut Card Tutorial + Review

Spellbinders May 2026 Large Die of the Month | Part 2 in My Kit Subscription Series

I’m going to come right out and say it—

Spellbinders Large Die of the Month is my favorite cardmaking subscription kit.

Month after month, these are the kits I reach for first…the ones I most enjoy creating with, the ones that perform best on my blog, and the ones recipients get excited to receive.

Triple win.

This is part of my ongoing series where I test and create with monthly cardmaking kits.

This month’s kit, “Pop of Summer,” is exactly the kind of project I love—bright, cheerful, and full of iconic summer elements that instantly make you smile.

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to make an easy summer die cut card using the Large Die of the Month Kit. If you’re new to die cutting or looking for fresh card making ideas, this step-by-step project is beginner-friendly and fun to customize.

Let me show you how to create a vibrant, recipient-favorite summer card.

This post is part of my Die Cutting Series where I share tools, tips, and card ideas to help you create beautiful die-cut cards.

Die cut lemon and orange slices on a coloful card. — *2 of my favorite cardmaking themes: summer and citrus*

Die-cutting fun at it’s best.

📌 What You’ll Learn in This Post

How to create a colorful die cut card with a fun summer vibe
Simple design tips for getting the most from this kit
Why subscription kits are worth it
How to choose colors for a bold, eye-catching result
Additional card ideas using the same die set

📌 Save this post for later—perfect for your next summer card!

Spellbinders Large Die of the Month kit: May 2026 + Embossing Club Folder handmade card

✨ Product Spotlight: “Pop of Summer” Large Die of the Month

Summer and citrus are two of my favorite themes, so I was instantly drawn to this Large Die of the Month kit.

It includes:

A refreshing canned beverage
Citrus slices and watermelon accents
Drink umbrellas and festive straws
Mix-and-match elements for endless combinations

This is one of those kits where everything works together effortlessly—making it easy to design a cohesive, cheerful card.

👉 You can see my full guide to the Best Subscription Kits

This project is perfect for:

Die-cutting lovers
Card makers who love subscription kits
Anyone looking for bright, summer card ideas

🌴 Why This Kit Is Worth It

This kit stands out for a few key reasons:

Thoughtfully designed with versatile elements
Minimal additional supplies required
Strong value (approximately $40 value for $27.50)
Perfect for building your craft stash over time

I often find myself “borrowing” elements from past kits to use on new projects—which makes the value even better.

🎨 Let’s Talk Color

Festive die cut citrus, lemon, orange, watermelon drink theme card perfect for summer.

This card came together quickly thanks to one of my favorite tools—ColorWheel cardstock.

I chose:

Warm tones: yellow, orange, pink
Cool contrast: green

This creates an energetic, high-contrast palette that feels vibrant and summery.

Technically, this is an analogous color scheme with contrast, which naturally draws the eye to the focal point.

This card reminds me of one of my earlier favorite summery cards.

✂️ Design & Assembly

Die cut card elements arranged on craft desk before assembly including citrus shapes and drink accents — *Die cut cards are recipient favorites*

This design would look beautiful on a clean white background, but I wanted to add a subtle hint of texture.

I used the Poolside Embossing Folder of the Month to create a soft, dimensional background that enhances the beachy, poolside feel without competing with the focal point.

After arranging my die cuts, I added a simple yay sentiment—and the card instantly felt festive, bright, and celebratory.

👉 Minimal supplies + strong design = a very enjoyable cardmaking experience

If you enjoy interactive designs, you might love this easy stand-up easel card tutorial where I walk through the full process step-by-step.

✨ Why This Design Works

Fun, universally loved theme
Strong focal point
Bright, authentic color palette
Minimal supplies required
Subtle texture enhances the design
Relaxed, tropical summer vibe

Bright summer die cut card featuring citrus slices, colorful drink elements, and embossed white background

🌞 More Ways to Use This Die Set

One of my favorite things about this kit is how versatile it is.

Here are a few additional ideas:

Create a background with scattered citrus slices
Build a clean and simple (CAS) card with just two elements
Arrange elements across the bottom for a grounded design
Create a small beach scene with drink elements
Turn the fruit into a birthday card
Create a thank you card with a smaller layout
Use just the can for a clean and simple design

⭐ Part of My Kit Subscription Series

I love testing and creating with monthly cardmaking kits. You can explore more here:

Festive die cut card for summer birthdays.

🧰 Supplies I Used

These are the tools I reach for again and again when creating bright, graphic die cut cards:

⭐ Featured Product

May 2026 Large Die of the Month Kit – the star of today’s card

🎨 Cardstock, Texure & Sentiment

ColorWheel Cardstock – effortless color coordination
Embossing Folder of the Month – best way to add texture
Foam Sticker – easiest sentiment that works great

🛠️ Equipment

Platinum 6 Die Cutting Machine – my daily go-to
Spellbinders Shears – clean, precise cutting

🔥Past Kits

Past Kits – a great way to add to your toolkit

👉 You can find more of my favorite tools here:

Or you might also enjoy my:

📌 Save this post for later so you can come back when you’re ready to create!

🏆 Proud to be ranked among the Top 75 Cardmaking Blogs by Feedspot

Want to try something different? Start with my beginner-friendly mixed media tutorial series to learn layering and texture techniques.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Citrus is my favorite element—what about you? Which one would you use first?