Today I’m sharing a cute square coffee-themed thank you card featuring the House Mouse Brew-tiful Day rubber stamp from Spellbinders. I can never resist a coffee pun, so I went with “Thanks a latte” for my sentiment—one of my all-time favorites!
I stamped the adorable image and colored it with Copic markers:
Copic Colors Used:
Cup & Spoon: YG01, YG03, YG05
Coffee: E55, E25
Glass: BG00, B00
Mouse: E40, E21, R20
Shadows: N0, N1
Before stamping, I simply trimmed the included sentiment using my Spellbinders Shears so only “Thanks a latte” remained—super easy! The little scene includes our sweet mouse taking a sip from a giant (to him!) latte cup, with a coffee bean canister behind him. Such a cute little tableau!
This card comes together very quickly and is so fun to color. House Mouse is always popular with card recipients—every little mouse scene just makes you smile!
I’ll link to several other House Mouse posts I’ve created, because I just can’t resist these sweet little critters. You can see House Mouse is a definite favorite!
Whimsy and Cheer – 3 House Mouse cards I created for the Spellbiners Blog
Today I’m sharing a bold, modern Valentine created with the Spellbinders December 2025 Stitching Die of the Month – A Perfect Blend. This kit is absolutely brewtiful for coffee and tea lovers, and I leaned hard into the cozy-caffeine theme for this design!
Coffee | Tea Themed Handmade Card
I began by die cutting two Beeswax yellow coffee mugs, each with half of a stitched heart. Once stitched, the two halves come together to form one full Poppy red heart — such a sweet little metaphor! I used gold thread (two strands) for all the stitching to keep things warm, shiny, and modern.
Behind the mugs sits a crisp white die cut heart from the Hero Arts DI334 Nesting Hearts, which frames the design and lets the bold color palette really sing. The background is Oceanside cardstock, a deep blue-green that I will never stop loving. It brings a graphic, sophisticated feel that keeps the whole card clean and contemporary.
The sentiment is a large scripty “love you” die cut from Poppy red cardstock, paired with the included “a perfect blend” sentiment strip.
To give readers a peek behind the scenes, I included this process photo showing the card mid-way through: die cuts laid out, metal dies off to the side, and my needle threaded with gold floss. I love sharing these in-progress moments because they show just how simple the stitching is — and how quickly this design comes together.
This bright and modern Valentine is for my husband — we share a latte together every afternoon, so a coffee-themed note felt absolutely perfect. ❤️☕
If you love bold color, cozy themes, and modern stitching, this kit is going to be so much fun. And if you want even more caffeine-themed inspiration, don’t miss my other favorite coffee card: 👉 What’s Brewing — graphic, bright, and equally caffeinated.
Choosing the right colors for your handmade cards can feel like a creative puzzle—fun but sometimes a little overwhelming. Whether you lean toward classic Christmas colors or love a bold non-traditional palette, color selection sets the tone for your entire project.
Today, I’m sharing two recent cards using the Spellbinders July 2025 holiday releases, and both were inspired by two different color systems: the Color Cubes and the Spellbinders Color Deck System. Each approach helped me craft a distinctive look—from rustic purple barn stars to pastel hot cocoa mugs. Let’s dive into the color magic!
The Barn Star is a beautiful layered die cut—mine has a deep purple top layer with delicate flourish cutouts over a lavender base. I added die cut lavender greenery and an orange accent for contrast. The background features a BetterPress Script Text Platepressed in Thistle Reactive Ink on white watercolor paper (yes—it worked beautifully even without BetterPress ink!).
This card includes a little of everything: ✔ Die cutting ✔ Bold Colors ✔ BetterPress background ✔ Glimmer Hot Foiled sentiment
With Color Cubes, you can search by Color, Keyword or Collections. For this card I looked at cards that had the color orange and used the keyword “fruit”. Card #255 was just the non-traditional look I was going for!
Color tip: Don’t be afraid to break the “holiday rules” with color. Purple and orange may not scream Christmas—but together they create a rustic, modern, and cozy vibe.
Cocoa Cups – Inspired by the Spellbinders Color Deck
My second card showcases Spellbinders’ beautiful Color Deck System and Color Deck Bundle, specifically the Holiday Expansion Pack. These 5″ x 4.5″ cards are packed with inspiring palettes—each one practically begging to be turned into a card!
I paired this with Spellbinders’ Color Swatch Petal Stack, which helped me identify and swatch my main colors. The cardstock came from the Color Wheel Sampler: 🌸 Chiffon 🎀 Tutu 🌞 Beeswax 💧 Cascade 🌿 Lavender 🌸 Orchid 🍂 Fawn 💜 Mulberry 🌌 Cosmic Sky
My layout features a pattern of repeating die cut cocoa mugs (from the July 2025 Large Die of the Month Kit) in these pastel shades, each topped with a sparkly glitter snowflake. It’s a playful winter card that also works perfectly for a cozy coffee theme year-round!
Color tip: Using a pre-designed color system (like Spellbinders’ Color Deck or a sampler set) takes the guesswork out of color combos. It’s especially helpful when mixing a lot of hues on one card.
🧠 Other Color Selection Tips:
🎨 Google Image Search Search terms like “Christmas color palettes” or “winter pastel colors”, then switch to the “Images” tab. Seeing real-life examples can help spark ideas.
🎨 Color Wheel Strategies
Analogous Colors: Colors next to each other (e.g., blue, teal, green) for a harmonious look.
Complementary Colors: Opposites on the wheel (e.g., purple + yellow) for bold contrast.
🎨 Neutrals When in doubt, mix brights with soft neutrals like kraft, white, cream, or gray for balance.
Whether you’re swatching, color-scheming, or just winging it, choosing colors can be one of the most satisfying parts of cardmaking. Try something unexpected—you might just love the results!
It’s Christmas in July, and the Spellbinders July 2025 Club Kits are brimming with cozy, colorful holiday cheer! This month’s kits are full of winter charm—perfect for kicking off your holiday cardmaking early. I had such a blast creating with these kits, and I’m excited to share four festive cards with you today.
Card 1 – Large Die of the Month: “Warm Cocoa Wishes”
Spellbinders Large Die of the Month Kit had me smiling from the start. I created a festive card featuring a rainbow of die cut cocoa mugs, each one topped with glittery snowflakes and arranged in a playful display across the card front. The mugs have adorable little handles—some hanging over the edges for a casual, cozy feel.
Each mug is a different bright color, bringing a fun and modern twist to the wintery theme. The sentiment “Warm Cocoa Wishes” ties everything together. This card feels like a cheerful hug in mug form!
Card 2 – Stitching Die of the Month: Peppermint Diamonds
The Stitching Club this month features a lovely geometric diamond design that reminded me of snowflakes and vintage quilting. I stitched the design on a frosty blue overlay using two strands of white floss. Underneath, a teal base peeks through, adding subtle contrast.
For embellishments, I added peppermint candies for a sweet holiday touch. A foiled gold glimmer sentiment—“Sending Warm Thoughts Your Way”—adds shine and warmth. This card would be perfect tucked in with a winter care package.
Card 3 – Die of the Month: Penguin Mug
Next up is the absolutely adorable Spellbinders Small Die of the Month Kitpenguin mug die. I went bold with my color palette to create a graphic, eye-catching card. The black and white penguin sits against a rich Teal Topaz background, with accents of Wild Berry (hot pink) and Saffron (yellow) for a fun pop.
The whipped cream topper adds texture and playfulness, and a bold “Merry Christmas” sentiment finishes it off. This little guy is equal parts charming and striking—a new favorite!
Card 4 – Bonus Caboodle: Gingerbread Man Postage Card
And finally, I couldn’t resist using the Caboodle Bonus Gift—a gingerbread man die that’s almost too cute to handle. I gave him white piped icing details, and the peppermint cheeks and buttons add whimsy and color.
He’s layered on a Teal Topaz nesting postage stampdie cut background, mounted on a clean white A2 base. The sentiment “Falalalala” adds just the right festive flair to finish off this cheerful design.
Each of these kits brought something fresh and delightful to my crafting table this month. Whether you’re a cocoa-lover, penguin fan, or peppermint enthusiast, there’s something in July’s kits to spark your holiday creativity.
Which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments—and don’t forget to grab your kits before they melt away!
There’s nothing quite like the smell of fresh espresso…unless it’s crafting with Hero Arts’ new What’s Brewing Collection! This month’s release is a caffeine-lover’s dream and I was thrilled to join the Instagram Hop celebrating this clever and super-popular theme in the cardmaking world.
Coffee Theme Card
For my card, I embraced the bold graphic aesthetic of classic kitchen coffeeware with a clean, eye-catching design. I started with the Stove Top die set, which I cut in bright white with Poppy Red accents and a gray handle. This instantly brought to mind the timeless Moka pots that live on so many stovetops around the world.
To match, I added two sweet little espresso cups and saucers—one in Beeswax Yellow, the other in Poppy Red—inspired by the cheerful espresso set in my own kitchen. I set the whole scene against a rich Oceanside Blue background, which really makes the elements pop.
The sentiment? A classic pun that never fails: “Thanks a Latte” from the Coffee or Espresso Stamp & Cut set. It’s the perfect blend of gratitude and caffeine-love!
This card also has a bit of a personal touch—I make myself a latte every single afternoon. It’s a daily ritual I truly look forward to. In the summer, it’s all about iced lattes. In the winter? A warm, frothy cup is just the thing.
If you like the graphic look of this card you might be interested in reading my post: Under Sea Magic.
This collection has so much heart (and a good jolt of creative energy), and I absolutely loved crafting with it. Don’t miss the Hero Arts Instagram Hop celebrating this release—you’ll find tons of inspiration, fresh ideas, and even giveaways! And look me up on Instagram: Karens_mini
Hello and Welcome! Last year, Jane\’s Doodles had the cutest fall stamp sets so I commented on a blog post. I would have left the comment anyway but was excited to learn that I would be receiving both sets as a gift from Jane\’s Doodles.
I thought some pattern stamping would be bright, fun and seasonal.
Recipe:
Jane\’s Doodles Pumpkin Spice stamp set.
Jane\’s Doodle\’s Hello Fall stamp set
Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers
I am entering this card in:
Fusion \”Coffee\” Challenge: I went with the Autumn Coffee/Latte Inspiration focusing on the season, lattes and color scheme in the photo.