Tag: designer paper

Pink Lemonade Collection ephemera on a bright and easy card. Easy Beginner Cardmaking Ideas | 2 Bright Cards Using Pre-Printed Supplies
cardmaking

Easy Beginner Cardmaking Ideas | 2 Bright Cards Using Pre-Printed Supplies

Karen Brown1 Comment

Create cheerful handmade cards in minutes using pre-printed elements from the Pink Lemonade collection.

Beginner cardmaking idea using Simple Stories Pink Lemonade collection with layered patterned paper, chipboard embellishments pre-printed die cuts and foam stickers.

Some days you just want to craft with no fuss and no complicated techniques.

No messy mediums.
No challenging layouts.

Just pure creative fun.

That’s where pre-printed cardmaking supplies really shine.

The new Pink Lemonade Collection from Simple Stories is bright, cheerful, and incredibly easy to use — making it perfect for beginner cardmaking, quick cards, and even scrapbooking projects.

I’ve been having so much fun with this collection lately. In fact, I’ve already created six cards this month using these products — two in today’s post and four in my Lemonade Stand Easel Cards and Chalkboard Coffee Thank You Cards post from earlier this month.

If you’re just starting out in cardmaking, you may also enjoy my 14 Best Cardmaking Products and Supplies for Beginners, where I share the tools I reach for again and again in my craft room.

In This Post

• Why Pre-Printed Papers Are Perfect for Beginners
• Pink Lemonade Card Designs: Same Supplies, Two Quick Cards
• Fast and Easy Card Layouts
• More Beginner Card Ideas

Easy beginner cardmaking using Chipbboard focal point from Simple Stories Pink Lemonade Collection.

Product Spotlight: Pink Lemonade Collection

Today’s cards feature elements from the Pink Lemonade Collection by Simple Stories.

This collection bursts with bright color, playful lemons, cheerful florals, and adorable embellishments that make cardmaking almost effortless.

One of the things I love most about this collection is how beautifully coordinated everything is. The colors, patterns, and embellishments all work together, so you can assemble several cards quickly without worrying about matching papers or layouts.

This collection works wonderfully for many occasions:

• birthdays
• hello cards
• thank you cards
• thinking of you
• get well cards

And it’s just as perfect for scrapbooking layouts as it is for cardmaking.

There’s even a Simple Cards Card Kit available that includes everything needed to create eight card designs with step-by-step instructions, which makes it especially beginner friendly.

Why Pre-Printed Elements Are Perfect for Beginner Cardmaking

If you’re new to cardmaking, pre-printed supplies make it incredibly easy to create polished cards quickly.

Here’s why they work so well:

• Focal point images are already designed and printed
• Minimal supplies required
• Coordinated colors and themes
• Variety of images in different sizes
• Fast and stress-free card assembly

All of the pieces in this collection work beautifully together, so the process becomes simple:

sort the pieces → experiment with layouts → glue and go.

The set includes everything from large statement sentiments and focal images to charming little embellishments like lemons, strawberries, butterflies, pinwheels, and florals.

I especially love the sturdy chipboard pieces, which instantly add dimension to a card.

Card Design 1

Easy and fun beginner cardmaking card featuring a chipboard lemonade cart.

For my first card, I used two pieces of pre-printed designer paper for the card base and mat.

To add a little extra visual interest, I die cut the mat with a decorative frame die — but this step is completely optional. A simple rectangle trimmed with a paper trimmer would work just as well.

To finish the design I layered:

• a vintage-style chipboard lemonade cart
• a cheerful “hello” sentiment
• a small pink heart accent

The result is a bright and playful card that came together in just a few minutes.

Card Design 2

Easy, bright and happy card with layered designer cardstock and chipboard focal points.

For the second card I created a layered background using three pieces of patterned paper.

Measurements:

• 5½ × 4¼″ aqua base
• 3½ × 5½″ brown plaid mat
• 3 × 5½″ floral background

Once those layers were glued together, I added:

• a green plaid tag
• blue flower die cuts
• a rainbow “hello” sentiment
• a butterfly chipboard accent

I also added enamel dots to the flower centers, which is one of my favorite simple ways to add a finishing touch.

The layered patterns create a cheerful, eye-catching design while still being incredibly easy to assemble.

A Fun Part of the Process

📌 Save this for later on Pinterest.

Sorting Pink Lemonade chipboard pieces for easy beginner cardmaking layout
Sorting the colorful chipboard pieces from the Pink Lemonade collection while planning card layouts.

One of my favorite parts of using collections like this is sorting through the embellishments.

The Pink Lemonade chipboard set includes over 50 pieces, and laying them out on my desk while planning the cards was honestly a little mood-boosting.

Sometimes the simple tactile process of arranging colorful pieces is just as enjoyable as making the card itself.

More Easy Cardmaking Ideas

If you enjoy quick and beginner-friendly card designs, you might also like these projects:

• Easy Stenciled Masculine Jean Jacket Cards
• Charming House Mouse Birthday Card
• Mixed Media Card for Beginners

Building Your Cardmaking Toolbox

Here are the supplies I used for today’s cards:

There are also several other coordinating products in the collection:

• Collection Kit (patterned paper + stickers)
• Card Kit (makes eight cards)

If you are interested in adding to your toolbox, these are the exact supplies I use in my craftroom.

I’m actually working on another project using the Journal Bits Pack, so be sure to check back soo

📌 Save this for later so you can come back when you’re ready to try this technique.

I always love hearing what readers think — so feel free to leave a comment and let me know which card you like best.

Happy crafting!

cardmaking · Die cutting

Most Adorable Die Cut Dog Card | Spellbinders

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Most Adorable handmade die cut dog card: Spellbinders Big Pug Etched Dies.

Do you have a dog lover in your life? There’s nothing more delightful than receiving a card that perfectly captures the charm and whimsy of an adorable dog. Enter the cutest die cut handmade dog card— Big Pug Etched Dies – a perfect blend of creativity and cuteness that is sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face. And, there is a super fun accessory set so you can dress up your little creatures! The scarf and bow are in the accessory kit. I used Rainbow Wood Designer Paper for my background, scarf and bow.

Bibi Cameron and Spellbinders just released a fun Cats and Pugs Collection that is going to be a longtime favorite in the Brown family. I really enjoyed creating this darling card. I added an easy but fun puffy sticker sentiment to finish my card.

I created an extra special big showy 5″ x 7″ (A7) card. Isn’t the expression on the Pug just precious?

Key Products Used:

Cutest Pug Dog card ever!

The Joy of Giving and Receiving

Handmade die cut cards are more than just greeting cards; they are keepsakes that recipients will cherish. The thought and effort put into creating such a card make it a meaningful gesture, perfect for any occasion.

In a world filled with digital messages and mass-produced cards, a handmade card stands out as a unique and personal way to connect with others. So, why not try your hand at crafting one? Spread a little Pug love and make someone’s day with the cutest die cut Pug dog card!

Karen

cardmaking · Hot Foiling

Spellbinders | Glimmer Cardfront Birthday Sentiments 6 Ways

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Spellbinders Glimmer Cardfront Birthday Sentiment handmade card in Rainbow Hot Foil

Making Your Own Backgrounds with Rainbow Strips of Cardstock

Big bold sentiments can really add a lot of impact to your cards, so I was so excited to see Spellbinders new Glimmer Cardfront Sentiment Collection. Today, I am sharing 6 different glimmer hot foil birthday cards featuring the Best Wishes on Your Birthday Foil Plate.

I love bright colored cards so I started with Rainbow Hot Foil and then created coordinating backgrounds made of colorful strips of cardstock. The sentiment panel was die cut using Stylish Oval Nesting Dies. For card #1, I used a paper trimmer to cut fifteen 1/4″ strips of cardstock. Next, I applied a tape runner over a cardstock panel and then adhered the cardstock strips in rainbow order. Surprisingly, this is actually fast and easy to do.

PRO TIP: To assemble my card, I used craft foam and liquid glue to add a layer of dimension under both the background and sentiment panel. On many projects I prefer craft foam to foam tape. With craft foam and glue, I can slide my element and make micro-adjustments for perfect placement.

Don’t you just love the shine and shimmer?

How to make your own Make Your Own Backgrounds with Rainbow Strips of Cardstock

For card #2, I used my paper trimmer to cut six 1/2″ strips of colored cardstock and then I cut five 1/8″ strips of white cardstock. I think the white dividers really brighten up the look! I again used a tape runner to adhere the white and colored strips to the background. For the second card, I used gold foil and and then matted the sentiment with brushed gold cardstock.

Spellbinders Glimmer Cardfront Birthday Sentiments 6 Ways

Using Printed Designer Paper for Quick and Easy Cards

These fun foiled sentiments do all the heavy lifting so it is easy to quickly make cards using printed designer paper for the background. Spellbinders Cheerful Occasions pad (I think this pad sold out) has such fun designs and I used the papers on the backgrounds of cards #3, #5 and #6.

Using Printed Designer Paper for Quick and Easy Cards + Spellbinders Glimmer Cardfront Sentiments hot foiling

Reverse Foiling | Using the Glimmer Hot Foil Negative Space for 2 For 1 Cards

I hated to throw away the foil after I created the cards above, so I created 2nd bonus cards with the leftover foil. The result is so bright and eyecatching! Card #3 uses the negative from the Rainbow Foil.

I cranked up the heat and time and ran the “foil negative” through a second time using a solid foil plate. I used the highest heat setting for 1 minute and got a beautiful result.

PRO TIP: There is a thin protective layer on top of the foil that I peeled off after my card was finished. I kept the foil covered (with the clear protective layer) during assembly to prevent scratches on the foil.

Using the Glimmer Hot Foil Negative Space for 2 For 1 Cards + Spellbinders Glimmer Cardfront Sentiments

Card #5 uses designer paper paired with the negative from the gold foil.

Quick and Easy DIY glimmer hot foil cards.

My final card pairs designer paper, black foil plus I added a second mat die cut from velum. The velum mat is subtle but very pretty.

Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil Cardfront Sentiments Birthday Card

Products Used:

Do you have a favorite? I’d love for you to tell me in the comments.

Karen

cardmaking · Mixed Media · papercrafting

Spellbinders + Cathe Holden Christmas Flea Market Finds Cards

Karen Brown1 Comment
Spellbinders + Cathe Holden Christmas Flea Market Finds Card.

Quick and Easy Vintage Look Christmas Card

Hello! Spellbinders and Cathe Holden just came out with a Christmas Edition of her Flea Market Finds and it was so fun to create with! Today, I used her Home for the Holiday’s paper pad: (CH-021) and Jingle Bells Miscellany die cuts (CH-019). I had fun laying out each item and then coming up with combinations for my cards.

The first card was quick and easy but I love result. My background is made from 2 pages from the paper pad that I combined at the midpoint. Using craft foam for dimesion, I attached the background to an A2 card base. Then, I just popped on the Christmas Tree and sentiment with foam tape.

Vintage Look Christmas card made with die cut ephemera.

Cardmaking with Vintage Ephemera

Cardmaking with Vintage Christmas Ephemera from Spellbinders + Cathe Holden

My second card is a collage style pieced together with designer paper, printed die-cuts and stamps. I used 2 rectangles and two 1.25″ squares of paper cut from the Home for the Holidays paper pad for my background. I distressed my kraft card base, background panel and the die cuts with 3 different Distress Crayons (bronze, gathered twig and aged mohogany) and then added lots of ephemera from the Jingle Bells Miscellany die cut pack. I also used 2 stamps from Cathe Holden’s previously released stamp kit called Handle with Care and added a tiny little paper clip.

Grunged Up Mixed Media Vintage Collage and Ephemera Christmas card.

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

cardmaking · Mixed Media · papercrafting

Spellbinders + Cathe Holden’s Flea Market Finds

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Quick and Easy Vintage Card featuring Cathe Holden's Flea Market Finds Ephemera, printed die cuts and stamps.

Cathe Holden’s “Flea Market Finds” Ephemera

Hello! I am so excited to show you Spellbinders new product line from Cathe Holden called Flea Market Finds. Cathe is a well known fabric designer and collector of vintage miscellany and she just released a wonderful assortment of printed die-cuts, paper samplers, stamps and stencils in collaboration with Spellbinders. Cathe put so much thought into every product and they all work SO well together.

For the past week, I have been playing in my craft room and I’d like to show you what I created. Hold on, becuase I have seven cards to share with you today. The card above was so fun to make!

My Recipe For Card 1:

On this card, I used all the products “as is” with no distressing. I started with the background where I layered 2 different papers, one from the neutral palette and one from the Blue Green pack. Next, I started adding stickers and diecuts. The bird image is framed with a third paper from Cathe’s Neutral Sampler.

Vintage Shabby Chic Card

Vintage Shabby Chic handmade card using Spellbinders Cathe Holden stencil and die cut ephemera.
Vintage Shabby Chic Handmade Get Well Card

For my Shabby Chic card, I started by ink blending Tumbled Glass Distress Ink on my panel. I added Frayed Burlap Ink around the ages for a vintage feel. I let the panel dry and then added Grit Paste through stencil #1 of the Layered Vintage Floral Stencil. I really like how the background turned out. I wanted an even more vintage look so I ran my Tea Dye Distress Crayon around the edges of the background and die cut and then blended the pigment with my fingers. The card base was covered with paper from the Blue Green Paper Palette.

Cardmaking With Ephemera

Vintage Collage Style Card using Spellbinders Flea Market Finds die cuts, stamps and stickers.
Aren’t the little bakers just the cutest?

My third card is a collage style card pieced together with designer paper, printed die-cuts and stamps. I used 1.25″ squares of paper cut from the Neutrals and Blue Green Samplers for my background. I distressed my background panel and the die cuts with a Distress Crayon and then added lots of ephemera.

Grunged Up Vintage Look Card

Grunged up Mixed Media Card using Spellbinders Flea Market Finds Stamps and Stickers.

I started my grunged up card by making a background panel. I blended tumbled glass distress ink and then added a bit of frayed burlap. I then ink blended a second panel for my die cut circles. I used Antique Linen Distress Ink and then added a bit of frayed burlap. I let the panels dry and then added Distress Grit Paste through my bricked stencil. I wanted it to look rough and old so I didn’t cover the entire stencil. After the grit paste was dry, I rubbed a Distress Crayon around the edges and blended it out onto the panel with my finger. I also gently rubbed some on the top of the panel so you could really see the crackle finish. Next, I die cut my circles and rubbed distress crayon around the edges and then blended onto the top with my fingers. I added two stickers to two of the circles and then stamped over them. The middle circle is just the roughly stamped cute flower truck. The matting is from the blue green sampler.

Quick and Easy Vintage Look Card

Quick and Easy Vintage Look Handmade Card using Flea Market Finds Printed Die Cuts.

This was the fastest and easiest card to make. I started with a page from the Neutral Sampler for my Background. I then layered on 3 Happy Thoughts and 2 Home Arts printed die cuts. I stamped a sentiment onto the flower basket and added a fun little paper clip from my stash.

Stenciled Background on Vintage Look Card

Spellbinders + Cathe Holden Layered Vintage Floral Stencil for Card Background,
Stenciled Background

Cathe Holden included a beautiful stencil in her collection and I used it for my background on this card. I added 2 stickers and 1 stamp to complete the card.

Using Printed Die Cuts in Cardmaking

Using Cathe Holden's Flea Market Finds in cardmaking

This was another card that came together very quickly using die cuts and stickers.

Using Flea Market Finds Miscellany on handmade cards.

Here is a group photo of the seven cards I created.

Cathe Holden Flea Market Finds handmade cards.

I had so much fun creating these cards. If you have a moment, let me know which is your favorite.

Thank you!

Karen

cardmaking · papercrafting

Happy Birthday Spellbinders!

Karen Brown1 Comment
Spellbinders Stitched Fringe Cake (S3-452) + Cheerful Occasions Paper Pad (SCS-191) handmade card

Happy 20th Birthday Spellbinders! I just love Spellbinders wonderful papercrafting products so I wanted to create a few projects using their new Birthday Collection to help them celebrate.

Spellbinders Stitched Fringe Cake

I started with the Stitched Fringe Cake die set, which I think makes such a festive confection! For both backgrounds, I used Spellbinders new 6×6″ paper pad (Cheerful Occcasions Paper Pad), which is full of beautiful designs! I added a bit of gold stitching to the cake to finish off the look.

Products Used:

Spellbinders Balloon Party Animal

Spellbinders Balloon Party Animal (S3-450) + Cheerful Occasions Paper Pad (SCS-191) handmade card

For my second card, I used light ink blending on my white die cuts to simulate the look of balloons. I think the balloon animal would also be adorable for a baby shower.

  • Balloon Party Animal Die Kit
  • Cheerful Occasions Paper Pad (I used 3 pages for the background)
  • Ornamental Labels for the white die cut (retired)
  • Sugar Coated Sentiments (retired)
  • Tumbled Glass Distress Ink (for ink blending the balloon animal)
  • Blue Glaze Gel Pen for the accents

Well that’s it for today…thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Uncategorized

WWC245 – Anything Goes Challenge

Karen Brown4 Comments

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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Uncategorized

WWC216 – Dawn\’s "All About Occasions" Challenge

Karen Brown4 Comments

Hello and welcome to Watercooler Wednesday\’s All About Occasions Challenge.  Dawn is our hostess this week.

Lawn Fawn\'s Perfectly Plaid designer paper.

I needed an Easter card so I challenged myself to use patterned paper with limited stamping.  I chose  bright cheery Lawn Fawn \”Perfectly Plaid\”.  I used one pattern to cover an A2 card and then selected a second pattern to die-cut SSS\’s Plush Carrot.   The carrot top is die cut from green embossed paper for some added texture.   I think this would make a darling stuffed ornament, but I needed a card.  Next, I embossed Rubbernecker\’s Three Line Frame on sherbet colored card stock.  I assembled the card using craft foam and Gina K connect glue and then added Lily of the Valley Jewels from Little Things from Lucy.

I am entering this card in:  The Paper Players Plaid or Checks Challenge

Thanks for stopping by?
Karen
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