Which monthly cardmaking kits are worth subscribing to — and which ones I personally use in my craft room.

Die cut farmers market tote card using Spellbinders Large Die of the Month kit for April 2026.

Do you ever wonder which cardmaking subscription kits are actually worth it?

If you enjoy creating high-impact handmade cards, monthly kits can become your best crafty friend.

I’ve been subscribing to cardmaking kits for over 10 years, and after trying many different options, I keep coming back to the same trusted favorites.

These kits provide:

• excellent value
• beautifully curated designs
• coordinated supplies
• inspiration delivered to your craft room every month

If you’re building your craft stash, you may also enjoy my guide to the 14 Best Cardmaking Products and Supplies, where I share the tools I reach for again and again. This post was just updated last week to include the latest recommendations.

Today I’m sharing the subscription kits I personally recommend most.

In This Post

• My Favorite Cardmaking Subscription Kits
• Why Monthly Craft Kits Are Worth It
• Today’s Card: Farmers Market Tote
• Best Kits for Building Your Craft Supplies

My Favorite Cardmaking Subscription Kits

These are the kits I recommend most often.

• Spellbinders Large Die of the Month
• Hero Arts My Monthly Hero
• Spellbinders Small Die of the Month
• Spellbinders Stitching Club of the Month
• Spellbinders Embossing Folder of the Month
• Spellbinders All Crate Club

Product Spotlight

If I had to choose one cardmaking subscription kit, this would be it:

The Spellbinders Large Die of the Month.

Over the past year, many of my favorite cards came from this kit, including:

• Sneaker Bouquet
• Card for Kids
• Hummingbird Polaroid
• Christmas Scene Card

Spellbinders dies are known for their excellent quality and creative designs, and the kit ships every month with a new themed die set.

Member benefits include:

• exclusive products
• bonus savings
• early product access
• special promotions

Why Cardmaking Subscription Kits Are Worth It

Monthly craft kits have several advantages:

• curated supplies that work together
• great value compared to buying items separately
• inspiration delivered every month
• ideal for beginners and experienced cardmakers
• kits often sell out quickly

Subscribing guarantees you’ll receive the kit before it disappears.

Today’s Card: Farmers Market Tote

Spellbinders Large Die of the Month for April 2026 Farmer's Market Tote card.

For today’s card, I created a charming die-cut design using the Farmers Market theme from the Large Die of the Month.

The focal point is a shopping tote filled with fresh produce, milk bottles, tulips, and a long baguette.

To add texture, I embossed the tote using the Market Weave Embossing Folder from the Embossing Folder of the Month kit.

Tip: I keep a large envelope filled with paper scraps, which are perfect when die cutting small elements like fruits, flowers, and accessories.

Runner-Up Favorite Kit

Two die cut get well cards featuring bowls of alphabet soup and glimmer foil backgrounds.

My very first subscription kit was Hero Arts My Monthly Hero, and it remains one of my favorites.

The kit is now available in two versions:

• My Monthly Super Hero
• My Monthly Hero (smaller version)

Hero Arts kits are known for their creative themes and versatile stamps and this month is all about florals and gardening.

One recent favorite is the Big Squishy Hugs kit, which I’ve been using for many of my get-well cards.

Best Value Subscription

Die Cut Sneaker Bouquet Card perfect for men and foodie food lovers. BBQ picnic theme with high top sneaker.

The Spellbinders All Crate Club offers the biggest value.

Subscribers receive seven coordinated monthly kits, including:

• small die kit
• large die kit
• stitching kit
• stamp and die set
• embossing folder
• 3D embossing folder
• BetterPress + foil plate with stencils

Value: about $315 worth of products for roughly $130.

Members also receive:

• 15% discount on Spellbinders products
• monthly free shipping coupon
• exclusive bonus items

More Great Subscription Kits

Small Die of the Month

Die cut winter scene card of two children building a snowman.

Small Die of the Month: High-quality themed dies perfect for quick cards.

Recent favorites:

• Better Together Valentine
• Let’s Do Brunch
• Winter Scene (above)

Stitching Die of the Month

These stitching kits combine papercrafting with embroidery stitching.

The stitching holes are die-cut, making the process very beginner friendly.

Some of my favorites include:

• Sunflower home decor art
• Chihuahua purse dog (above)
• Coffee theme Valentine

Embossing Folder of the Month

📌 Save this post for later on Pinterest.

Farmer's market die-cut theme card with tote filled with jugs of milk, baguettes, and veggies.

Embossing folders add depth, texture, and interest to card designs.

I often coordinate the Embossing Club with the Large Die of the Month kit. The embossing club is one of the most affordable subscription options.

Build Your Cardmaking Toolbox

Here are some of the supplies I use most when working with these kits.

📌 Save this post for later so you can come back when you’re ready to try a new kit.

What is your favorite subscription card kit?

This post was updated March 2026 with additional recommendations.

Best Cardmaking Supplies for 2026 Quad Graphic showing cardstock, swatching, tool organizer, Inks and die cutting machine — *My favorite and most trusted cardmaking supplies*

Quick Picks

My Favorite Cardmaking Supplies

Best Die Cutting Machine – Spellbinders Platinum 6
Favorite Cardstock – Spellbinders ColorWheel Cardstock
Best Ink – Hero Arts Reactive Inks
Best Blending Brushes – Waffle Flower Color Coded Blending Brushes
Best Die Cutting Staple – Hero Arts Nesting Infinity Dies

Why These Supplies Matter

When I first started cardmaking, I bought many tools that I didn’t really need.

Today I’m sharing 14 of my most-used, most-loved cardmaking supplies for 2026. These aren’t just trendy products — they’re the tools I reach for again and again. I use them over and over in my craftroom and they are the products that I recommend to new cardmakers.

If you’re stocking your craft room, refining your supplies, or just love seeing what other cardmakers actually use, this list is for you.

📌 Save this for later on Pinterest

Karen’s Full List of Recommended Products for 2026

1. Best Die Cutting Machine: Spellbinders Platinum 6

If you enjoy die cutting, a reliable machine is essential. I love the smooth cutting pressure and wide platform on the Platinum 6.

I use my Platinum 6 die cutting machine almost every single day. I’ve tried other machines over the years, but this one is reliable, smooth, and powerful. The others? They’re collecting dust.

Beginner Tip: Start with simpler less intricate shapes as you learn how layering works.

✨ I also have a Scout portable die-cutter that I love to use with smaller dies or when I am taking my projects on the go.

2. Best Cardstock: Spellbinders ColorWheel Cardstock

Best Cardstock: Spellbinders ColorWheel cardstock shown in several assortment packs. — Colorful Cardstock is so important in cardmaking

With 48 gorgeous colors, ColorWheel cardstock makes color selection easy and stress-free. I use it almost exclusively and love that the result is beautiful cohesive designs.

Beginner Tip: Order the 48 Color Pack and see which colors call to you the most.

I recently placed a big order and am sharing a photo of my shipment, including:

3. Best Die-Cutting Staple: Hero Arts Infinity Dies

Nesting infinity dies are true craft room staples, and I use mine constantly. They are versatile time-savers that elevate your cardmaking and are perfect for matting, layering, spotlighting and framing.

I’ll be linking to 8 of my most-used sets in this post with my most used at the top. I’ll also link to a card using each die.

If you’re building a die collection, start here.

4. Favorite Card Kit Subscription: Spellbinders Large Die of the Month

Cute die cut card with hummingbirds hovering over a daisy floral garden. — *Subscription card kits fuel creativity*

If I had to choose one subscription kit to keep, this would be it. The Spellbinders Large Die of the Month never disappoints, and January’s kit — Hummingbird Delight — truly lived up to its name.

Subscription Kits provide:

• excellent value
• beautifully curated designs
• coordinated supplies
• inspiration delivered to your craft room every month

The Large Die of the Month Kit has the designs and versatile themes that I enjoy the most…the ones I use over and over. To illustrate for 2026:

The February Kit is perfect for kids, Easter and the young at heart.
The March Kit is great for masculine cards, but can also morph into a fun floral sneaker bouquet.

✨ Runner-Up Favorite Subscription:
The very first kit I ever ordered — Hero Arts My Monthly Hero, now available in two versions for 2026:

Tip: Subscription kits are great for both beginners and experienced cardmakers.

Spellbinders January 2026 Embossing Folder of the Month Club Kit Card: Cloud Nine

5. Best Blending Brushes: Waffle Flower

Best Blending Brushes: Waffle Flower with the color coded handles. — Color coded blending brushes are an important staple in my craftroom

One of the biggest problems with ink blending is cross-color contamination.

I love that Waffle Flower blending brushes have color-coded handles, so I instantly know which brush goes with which ink family. This simple visual cue keeps me from accidentally putting my yellow brush into my blue ink, which could potentially ruin a project. It also keeps my colors bright….not muddy.

Small detail, huge time saver.

6. Best Inks: Hero Arts Reactive & Core Inks

Best Inks: Hero Arts Reactive and Core Inks. — Bright inks make such an impact in cardmaking

I have a large tub of Hero Arts inks — and honestly, I rarely reach for anything else. The colors are vibrant, blend beautifully, and are incredibly reliable. I love all the inks, but I find myself reaching for the Reactive Inks most often.

Some favorites:

7. Best Planning Tool: Swatching Dies

Best Cardmaking Planning Tool: Spellbinders Swatching Dies. — *Color swatching is a great planning tool in cardmaking*

I use my swatching dies on nearly every project. Being able to flip through physical cardstock swatches saves time and helps me confidently choose colors that work together.

👉 Find all the details in my original swatching post

Key Swatching Products:

You’ll see these swatches featured throughout this post.

8. Best Inspiration Tool: Color Cubes

Best Papercrafting Inspirational Tool: Color Cubes.

Color planning is always my starting point, and Color Cubes are essential to my process. I own two volumes (1&2), a birthday gift from several years ago, and they’re well loved.

Best Color Inspiration for papercrafters: Color Cubes — *Color Cubes are such an important inspiration tool in my craftroom*

I like to start with the Color Catalogue where I can search by Color, Key Word or Collection and then I grab a few cards for inspiration.

Paired with my cardstock swatches, they make choosing beautiful color palettes effortless.

👉 Find all the details and dies used in this Be Beautiful Blooms post

9. Best Embellishment: Enamel Dots

Best Papercrafting Embellishment: Spellbinders and Hero Arts Enamel Dots. — *Enamel Dots just make me happy!*

Enamel dots are hands down my favorite finishing touch. I use Spellbinders and Hero Arts enamel dots the most — clean, modern, and endlessly versatile. They add texture, shine and color to your projects while at the same time elevating your card.

TIP: I can’t tell you how many times I’ve covered a small mistake with an enamel dot! They can truly save a project.

10. Best Way to Add Texture: Embossing Folders

Best Way to Add Texture to Your Papercrafting Projects: Spellbinders Embossing Folder of the Month Club Kit. — *Embossing Folders add such impact to cardmaking….and they are so cost effective.*

Embossing folders are one of the easiest ways to add interest to a card. I subscribe to the Spellbinders Embossing Folder of the Month, and my collection has grown quickly.

Embossing folders are a cost effective way to elevate most projects. They add texture, mood and dimension in one quick step.

If you are building up your crafting Toolkit, this is one of the best additions you can invest in.

I used January’s folder, Cloud Nine, on my Hummingbird card. It’s a stylized sky with clouds — perfect for so many scene cards.

11. Best Desk Organizer: Hero Tools Handy Holder

Best Crafting Desk Organizer: Hero Tools Handy Holder perfect for holding scissors, bone folders, pokey tools, jewel pickers and brushes. — *I love a well designed crafty organizer.*

This Handy Holder organizer keeps my scissors, tweezers, bone folder, palette knife, and brushes within arm’s reach. I love it so much… I own two!

They sit front and center on my desk and keep my most used (and often times oddly shaped) essentials close and organized.

I use this simple well-designed organizer everyday! Consider treating yourself.

12. Best Work Surface Organizer: Craft Stax

Best Craft Organizer: Stash Stax. large clear bin with lid to store crafting supplies. — *Storage organizers are so helpful in my cardmaking.*

One tool I reach for constantly while creating is Craft Stax. There are several sizes and they’re perfect for organizing, protecting, and corralling all of my crafting components as I work.

The photo above (with my Fergus Felt components) is the Stash Stax. I also love this size for storing cardstock.

I use Craft Stax to hold die-cut pieces, partially assembled cards, sentiments, and embellishments so nothing gets lost or damaged mid-project. They’re especially helpful when I’m working on detailed die-cut cards or stepping away and coming back later — everything stays exactly where I left it.

Best Papercrafting container and organizer for protecting components mid-project as you create. — *Craft Stax are so helpful mid-process in cardmaking*

The photo above is the Medium Craft Stax. 4.8″ x 6″

Craft Stax also make it easy to stack multiple projects on my desk without creating chaos (always a win!). Simple, smart, and incredibly useful — this is one of those tools you don’t realize you need until you have it… and then you can’t imagine crafting without it.

13. Best Die Organizer: Hero Arts Magnetic Sheets & Envelopes

Best product for storing and organizing dies: Hero Arts Magnetic Sheets and Envelopes. — *I found magnetic sheets are the best way to organize dies*

These are absolute must-haves for staying organized:

Magnetic sheets keep dies secure
Labeled envelopes make everything easy to find
I store and file mine in bins in my craftroom

Two Sizes:

If organization is your goal in 2026, start here.

14. Best Tool for Stenciling & Stamping: Waffle Flower Sticky Mat

Best Tool for stenciling and Stamping: Waffle Flower Sticky Grip Mats. — *Sticky mats are newer to my craftroom, but they are extremely helpful in the creation process.*

I never stencil without a Waffle Flower Sticky Mat. I even wrote a full blog post about them — which turned out to be my most popular post in 2024!

👉 Find all the details in my original post

Sticky Grip Mats are perfect for stenciling and stamping. And they work great in your Misti and Mini Misti Stamp Positioners…no need for magnets anymore!

Grip Mat Options:

Waffle Flowers Store
7.5″ x 11″ Grip Mat (Biggest mat)
4″ x 4″ Grip Mat (Smallest Size, great for holding ink pads)
Misti Grip Mat
Misti Stamp Positioner
Mini Misti Stamp Positioner
Stencil Grip Mat Bundle
Stamper Grip Mat Bundle
Waffle Flower’s Grip Mat Bundle

Beginner Cardmaking Starter Kit

If you are just starting cardmaking, these 5 supplies will be the foundation for all your craft supplies:

Misti Stamp Positioner – The first major cardmaking tool that I purchased a decade ago. And, I am still using the same one!
Spellbinders ColorWheel Cardstock 48 gorgeous colors in one pack!
Waffle Flower Color Coded Blending Brushes – Essential for avoiding color-cross contamination
Hero Arts Reactive Ink – Bright vivid water reactive inks
Spellbinders Platinum 6 die cutting machine. A true workhorse in my craftroom. I believe die-cutting is my favorite technique so I use my Platinum 6 most days.