cardmaking · Cardmaking Kit · Die cutting

Hello, Gorgeous! Crafting With Spellbinders Die of the Month Kit | January 2025

Spellbinders January 2025 Die of the Month - Dragonfly - handmade card in gradients of pink with a pop of green.

I’m sharing a colorful and versatile “hello” card featuring the January 2025 Small Die of the Month Kit from Spellbinders. This $15 kit ($27 value) features a stunning die-cut dragonfly, a lovely scripty sentiment, and I added a playful pink Eyelet Scallop Border to complete my card. With gradients of pink and fresh green taking center stage, this card is perfect for any occasion where a cheerful greeting is in order!

Bold, Bright, and Beautiful

A bright and cheerful handmade card featuring a die-cut dragonfly in gradient shades of pink and green, paired with a scripty “hello” and a Scallop Eyelet Border.

By layering gradients of pink and green Cardstock, I brought this little beauty to life, creating dimension and a sense of movement. The result? A dragonfly that feels as light and airy as the real thing.

LINK to Spellbinder’s Small Die Card of the Month Kit.

Tips for Creating the Perfect Dragonfly

  • Choose Gradient Cardstock: Using gradient shades of pink + green gives the dragonfly a cohesive, polished look. I used Hero Arts Cardstocks in Peony, Ultra Pink, Plum and Meadow and added a scrap of fog gray. The border is die cut from Ultra Pink Cardstock.
  • Helpful Tools: I found my Ninja Jewel Picker to be quite helpful in placing my die cuts. I used my 9″ Sheers for trimming the border and my Platinum 6 for all my die cutting.
  • Gluing Order: For the wings, I started gluing the bigger outer pieces and worked my way toward the smaller pieces.
  • Add A Colorful Border and Die-Cut Edge: Die-cut borders in bold colors provide a playful frame that complements the dragonfly and makes your design pop. I used the new Eyelet Scallop Border dies to create an interesting border and edge.
  • Stack the Sentiment: The scripty “hello” sentiment adds a playful and welcoming touch. I added a slightly offset plum hello shadow behind the Ultra Pink sentiment to add some dimension.
  • Keep It Crisp: A white background ensures the colorful elements remain the focal point of the card.

You might also like to read my recent Stitching Club of the Month Post: Ladybug

Bold Bright and Beautiful Dragonfly card crafter using Spellbinder January 2025 Small Die of the Month Kit.

Helpful Product Links:

If a club did not sell out, you can buy under “Shop Past Clubs”. Past kits are available on the 10th of the FOLLOWING month.

Charming Simplicity: The Second Card

Charmingly simple CAS Hello die cut card in hot pink featuring Spellbinders Eyelet Scallop Border S4-1413 from the Vivid Expressions Collection.

For the second card, I focused on creating a minimalist yet striking CAS design. Featuring an Ultra Pink Eyelet Scallop Border and edge, this card radiates charm with its simple yet bold details. The lovely “hello” sentiment (January Small Die of the Month Kit) perfectly complements the intricate border. The crisp white background ensures the vibrant pink tones remain the star of the show. This design proves that sometimes, less is more when it comes to crafting heartfelt greetings!

Why These Cards are So Versatile

Sometimes you need a card that works for just about any occasion, and these dragonfly and scallop border designs fit the bill. Whether you’re saying hi to a friend, sending encouragement or thanks, or just want to let someone know you’re thinking of them, these cards are perfect picks.

Until next time, keep crafting, keep smiling, and keep sending those handmade hellos! 🌸✨



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WWC281 – Heidi\’s Challenge: All About Occasions

Hello and welcome!  This is my design team card for Watercooler Wednesday\’s All About Occasions Challenge and Heidi is our hostess.


I\’ve created a birthday card using a faux watercoloring technique.  I used bright summer colors and added a bold birthday sentiment die-cut using navy cardstock. 

Supplies Used:
Altenew Inked Lotus stamp and die bundle
Altenew Golden Peach Embossing Powder
Distress Inks:  Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, Pickled Raspberry, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn
Simon Says Stamp Happy Birthday die cut
Picket Fences Blending Brushes
Watercolor Paper
Navy Cardstock (for sentiment die cut)
Cream A2 card base

I am also playing along at:
The Flower Challenge: Summer or Fall I love summer and used bright, happy colors that I associate with summer.


Inspired By \”Pretty Blossoms\”  I was inspired by the floral theme and the colors in the bouquet.

I am so pleased you stopped by and hope to see your card in our challenge gallery.

Karen
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WWC258 – Marsha\’s Challenge: All About Occasions

Hello and welcome!  This week is all about occasions at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge Website and Marsha is our hostess.
I wanted to make a CAS watercolor valentine for my husband this year.  With pencil, I drew a heart shape in the bottom right corner of a Brutus Monroe Aqua Pigment panel.  Next, with a brush,  I filled the heart in with clean water and then dropped Kuretake watercolors into the heart.  I wanted the pinks and purples to blend.  After the panel was dry, I heat embossed the sentiment (My Monthly Hero,  January 2019).  I erased the pencil lines, trimmed with a stitched rectangle die and mounted onto a top folding A2 card that I had made.
I am very pleased with the valentine and hope Mark likes it too!

I am entering this valentine in:
Clean and Simple on Friday: #173 Love  I made this card for my husband.
Casology #361: Sweetheart I made this card for my sweetheart…my husband.
AAA Cards #158: Up to 1/3 + Optional Hearts I added the optional twist of a heart.
The Card Concept: Be Mine Valentine My card is a CAS/Clean and Graphic valentine.  I was inspired by the heart theme and the large \”love\” sign.
A Place to Start – Masculine Card I made this valentine for my husband
Allsorts – Add a Heart A heart plus a simple sentiment

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

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WWC245 – Anything Goes Challenge

Hello and welcome!  October has five Wednesdays and that means it is \”Anything Goes\” at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  We would love for you to submit your creation!

Handmade Card with Memory Box Perky Happy Birthday die

I came up with the idea for creating a fall birthday card with dark cardstock for a seasonal look.  Prior to die cutting, I backed the patterned card stock with adhesive paper  then I die cut the three blooms and sentiment which  made constructing the layout very easy.  I like the clean autumn look of this card.

Supplies Used:
Simon Says Stamp Stitched Daisies dies
Memory Box Perky Happy Birthday sentiment die
Bohemia Barefoot Beautiful Card Stock #BH1062
Hershey Brown textured cardstock
Sizzix adhesive sheets

The Card Concept: Bountiful Blessings Challenge  I was inspired (by the beautiful brown door, fall flowers and autumnal color palette in the inspiration photo) to make a clean and layered card.

Die Cuttin\’ Divas Anything Goes Challenge  My card includes lots of die cuts…the flowers, the sentiment and the stitched card base.

Tuesday Taggers Colors of Autumn Challenge I chose browns, yellows and oranges for my colors of autumn.
Pop this on your blog to find us fast!

Simon Says Stamp – Anything Goes Wednesday Challenge

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen
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One Image for a CAS Masculine Card

Several of my nephews have birthdays coming up so it was time to make some masculine cards.  I really like the simplicity of this CAS card.
I started by stamping and coloring the bike from the January 2019 My Monthly Hero kit.  I then glued craft foam to the back and then die cut.  I positioned the sentiment to \”ground\” the bike.  Quick and easy but eye catching as well.

I am entering this card in:

The Paper Players Clean and Simple Masculine Challenge
UPDATE:  I was very pleased to learn that my card was selected as a \”Cut Above\” winner at The Paper Players.
Thanks for stopping by!
Karen
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WWC231 – Tristan\’s "All About Occasions" Challenge

Hello and welcome!  This week it is all about occasion cards at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge Website and Tristan is our hostess. 
CAS card with off the edge die-cutting using Lawn Fawn\'s Get Well Soon stamp and die set.
I go through a lot of Get Well cards and it was time to add some new cards to my inventory.  Lawn Fawn\’s Get Well Soon stamp set has been a longtime favorite and I thought it would be cute as a CAS card with some off the edge die-cutting.    I started with an A2 panel, did the off the edge die-cutting, then stamped and colored the images in with Copic markers.  Next, I added Nuvo Crystal Glaze to the prescription bottle tops to make them shine.  

I am entering this card in:

Lawn Fawnatics \”Little Things\” Challenge
I love the small little images in the Get Well Soon set. It is one of my most used stamp and die sets because it makes the cutest cards.


Thanks for stopping by!
Karen
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Tropical Pineapple Thank You Card

Hello and Welcome!  I came up with the idea for a CAS framed thank you card.  I love the pineapple form Sunny Studio Tropical Paradise and thought it would be cute in a tall skinny  stitched frame. I added the small flower, leaf and lemon wedge as a cluster.
I used Bristol card stock, colored with Zig Markers and cut with coordinating dies.  I die cut the sentiment to complete the card.  I added some white gel pen accents.  This card came together very quickly.  

I am entering this card in:  
Thanks for stopping by!
Karen
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Summertime Beverages

Hello there!  It\’s Memorial Day Weekend and time for parties and festive warm weather beverages.  I combined the \”beverages\” theme from Shopping Our Stash \”Get Your Drink On\” Challenge with the color and tropical theme (lei in particular) for Time Out Challenges \”Home Sweet Home\” photo challenge.
I LOVE Sunny Studio\’s Tropical Paradise set for fun summer cards.  This is one of the first stamps sets I bought when I started cardmaking.   I started by stamping the beverage images on Bristol card stock and then colored them with my new Zig Clean Watercolor markers.  

I wanted to subtly frame the grouping so I die-cut a stitched rectangle as a backdrop.  I die-cut Celebrate three times and glued them together for a substantial looking sentiment strip.  I glued the rectangular panel and back 2 drinks directly to the A2 card with Gina K Connect Glue. The front two beverages are adhered with foam squares for a bit more dimension. 

I am proud to enter this card in the Time Out and Shopping Our Stash Challenges (links in first paragraph).
      Grab Our Badge!
Thank you so much for stopping by!

Karen
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Impression Obsession Rainbow Giraffe

Hello and thank you for stopping by!  I am very excited about this bright fun card!

One of my most used and loved stamps is Impression Obsession Baby Giraffe.  I came up with the idea of watercoloring each \”spot\” with two colors and then letting them organically blend.  I knew that giraffes spots are all unique like human fingerprints, so I thought a vibrant rainbow giraffe would be fun to create.

I started by embossing in brown on watercolor paper and then selected bright watercolor hues.  I made four cards changing the look with gold and black embossing and whats fun is that it is impossible to create identical cards.  It reminds me of working with alcohol inks. I wanted to keep the design clean and simple so that the focus was on the giraffe with rainbow colors.    I matted on a neutral card base and it is ready to send.

Casology\’s Africa Challenge – Giraffes are definitely my favorite African animal and I have to say that  I LOVE hand feeding giraffes lettuce leaves.+

Happy Little Stampers \”Bright\” Watercolor Challenge

Karen

UPDATE:My card was selected: