Tag: Die Cut Card

Darling owl theme valentine. Spellbinders December 2025 Die of the Month | Gel Press Print Card Ideas
Cardmaking Kit · Die cutting · Mixed Media

Spellbinders December 2025 Die of the Month | Gel Press Print Card Ideas

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Die cut owl with a flower crown sitting on a branch, framed inside a white Polaroid-style border with a rub-on ‘love’ sentiment. Background and card base are made from textured green, red, tan, and white Gel Press prints

If you love mixed media, adorable woodland critters, and any excuse to use your Gel Press prints, the December 2025 Spellbinders Small Die of the Month – Better Together is going to make your crafty heart flutter. This month’s kit includes two owls and two otters, but for today’s project, I kept things simple with a single sweet owl—perfect for a Valentine’s Day card for my daughter.

How to Use Gel Press Prints in Cardmaking

I reached into my stash of Gel Press prints (one of my favorite studio habits!) and created a simple but visually rich design. The card base is a greenish-yellow pulled print, while the Polaroid-style frame background uses a print with layers of tan, brick red, green, and white. The organic textures and imperfect blends from the prints give this card a soft art journal meets Valentine vibe.

For the focal point, I die cut the owl and assembled her with a tiny flower crown, then perched her on the included die cut branch. She’s framed inside a Polaroid-style photo using the Hero Arts Nesting Journaling Photo Frames, which provide the perfect amount of white space.

A single rub-on sentiment—“love” from the Hero Arts Ornate Frames Transfer Sheet (RT127)—sits on the bottom right of the Polaroid border for an easy, minimal look. Because the background is so full of visual interest thanks to the Gel Press print, the clean sentiment balances everything beautifully.

Handmade Owl Valentine Card using Spellbinders December 2025 Die of the Month Kit + Gel Press Prints.

Key Products Used


✨ Spellbinder Small Die of the Month
✨ Hero Arts Nesting Journaling Photo Frames
✨ Hero Arts RT127 Ornate Frames Rub-On Transfers
✨ Gel Press Prints (my favorite kind of stash!)

Why I Love This Project

This card is:

  • beginner-friendly
  • fabulous for using your stash of Gel Press backgrounds
  • perfect for mixed media fans and Valentine’s Day
  • totally customizable (the kit includes two owls and two otters!)

I also included a process photo showing stacks of my finished Gel Press prints. The print used for the Polaroid background is the top middle print in that photo. I love Gel Press play days, and it feels great putting those prints to use in my cardmaking.

Stacks of completed Gel Press prints in various colors. The top middle print is tan, brick red, green, and white—the print used for the card’s Polaroid background

This simple mixed media Valentine is going to my daughter—and I think she’ll love the sweet little owl with the tiny flower crown.

Foodie theme die cut brunch card. Bold Color Block Brunch Theme Card | Spellbinders November Kit
Cardmaking Kit · Die cutting · papercrafting

Bold Color Block Brunch Theme Card | Spellbinders November Kit

Karen Brown1 Comment
Handmade brunch-themed card with bold color-block rectangles in pink, green, lilac, and blue, featuring die-cut egg, bacon, champagne glass, and waffle with stick arms and legs, plus a 'Thanks a Brunch' sentiment.

Let’s Do Brunch! | Spellbinders November 2025 Small Die of the Month

If you love playful cardmaking and adorable food-themed dies, this month’s Spellbinders Die of the Month — Let’s Do Brunch — is going to spark so much joy! This clever die set is packed with cheeky breakfast and brunch icons, complete with arms, legs, and serious personality. Think cute eggs, dancing bacon, bubbly champagne… all ready to brunch and boogie.

And the sentiment?
“Thanks a Brunch.”

Brunch food theme die cut card created with Spellbinders November 2025 Die of the Month Kit.

My Bold + Graphic Brunch Card

For today’s project, I leaned into a bold, graphic color-block look to really spotlight each quirky character. I trimmed and pieced together four vibrant cardstock quadrants to create a modern grid background. The clean, high-contrast shapes make the little food friends shine!

✨ Card Details

  • Theme: Foodie / Brunch / Thank You
  • Style: Modern color-block + cute character die cuts
  • Colors:
  • Characters:
    ✅ Smiling sunny-side-up egg
    ✅ Dancing bacon strip
    ✅ Cheerful champagne glass (cut from vellum for fun transparency!)
    ✅ Sweet little waffle

Each food item gets tiny stick arms and legs — a charming little detail that gives them so much life.

📐 Measurements

To create the crisp color-blocked effect:

  • Cut four rectangles: 2 1/8″ x 2 ¾” each
  • Tape all four from the back
  • Adhere the full panel to an A2 card base to stabilize

Simple steps, big visual impact!

Close-up of smiling die-cut breakfast characters on a modern graphic card with vellum champagne glass and bright pastel cardstock blocks

Design Tips

  • Vellum = perfect for glasses, bottles, and any glass objects
  • Foam Squares behind your food characters adds dimension and personality
  • Mixing playful images with clean graphic lines = fresh modern design

Don’t Miss This Kit!

If you’ve been looking for a unique, fun die set that works for birthdays, thank-yous, brunch invites, foodie friends, or just-because cards — this one’s a winner.

Be sure to check out my post for the November Stitching Die of the Month too — my favorite stitching kit of the year!

Thanks a brunch for stopping by today — and tell me, which cute brunch buddy is your favorite?

Helpful Links:

Pink handmade card for a Baby Shower. Craft Lounge Live #4 Video Recap | Great Sentiment Stamps
cardmaking · Video

Craft Lounge Live #4 Video Recap | Great Sentiment Stamps

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Pink baby card with die-cut tags, bows, and flowers made using Hero Arts Just Because Stamp & Cut set.

Hello crafty friends! Karen Brown here with a fun recap from Craft Lounge LIVE #4! If you missed our live session, no worries — you can still catch the replay right here 👉 Watch the rerun on Facebook.

The Hero Arts Collective Facebook group is the place to stay connected, share inspiration, and see what’s new in the Hero Arts world.

Channin, Natasha, Michelle, and I had such a great time chatting and crafting together! We all worked with products from the Best Ever Collection, and even though we started with the same collection, our projects turned out completely different:

  • 🎁 Channin created a beautiful stack of gift boxes.
  • 🎨 Natasha made a stunning mixed media background.
  • 🧝‍♀️ Michelle designed an adorable “peeking elf” card.
  • 👶 And I crafted a sweet pink baby card!

My design features two stamped and die-cut tags and bows, embellished with three dainty die-cut flowers. The sentiment — “Just a little something for baby” — comes from one of my favorite sets this season, DC329 Just Because Stamp & Cut. I die cut the tags and a soft pink frame from Tutu ColorWheel Cardstock, then stamped in crisp black ink for a clean, cheerful look.

Screen shot of 4 Hero Arts Creative Team members participating in Craft Lounge LIVE #4,
Screenshot

I’ll be taking this card to a baby shower later this month, and I know I’ll be reaching for these sentiments again and again. The “birthday,” “thank you,” and “just because” options in this set are so versatile — perfect for every occasion!

Screenshot collage of Channin, Natasha, Michelle, and Karen (Kenny's Cards) from Craft Lounge LIVE #4.
Screenshot

Thanks to everyone who joined us live — and if you couldn’t make it, grab your favorite drink, tune in to the replay, and enjoy an hour of crafty conversation and inspiration. 💕

Link to: Craft Lounge LIVE #4

Photo of handmade Baby card with stamped tags with black sentiment reading “Just a little something for baby."
Adorable die cut "Chihuahua in a Purse" scene card. My Favorite Stitching Kit Yet! | Spellbinders November 2025 Stitching Die of the Month
Cardmaking Kit · stitching

My Favorite Stitching Kit Yet! | Spellbinders November 2025 Stitching Die of the Month

Karen Brown2 Comments
Adorable handmade card with a Chihuahua dog peeking out of a die cut handstitched purse with colors in 4 shades of aqua.

If you love stitching dies and adorable pups, you’re in for a treat with the Spellbinders November 2025 Stitching Die of the Month. This kit is pure joy — it features the most darling Chihuahua peeking out of a stitched purse, complete with a tiny sweater and irresistible details. I think this might be my favorite stitching kit of the year!

✂️ A Stitch Above the Rest

For the purse, I followed the etched diamond stitching guide using DMC #964 aqua floss (two strands). I like to die cut each stitched panel twice and glue them together before I start stitching — it gives the piece a nice sturdy base and helps it hold its shape.

The stitching adds beautiful texture, and the aqua floss blends perfectly with the Teal Topaz ColorWheel cardstock.

🎨 My Color Recipe

Here’s the cardstock and stitching palette I used:

Fun dog theme hand stitched die cut card created with Spellbinders November Stitching Die of the Month Club Kit.

👜 The Perfect Sentiment & Finishing Touches

For the sentiment, I used the “Hello” Die from Hero Arts’ November Fancy Die Kit — it’s the perfect elegant touch without stealing focus from the little pup. The background features the Hero Arts Elegant Window Fancy Die, which frames the scene beautifully.

The main ColorWheel palette of aquas and neutrals (Teal Topaz, Blue Spruce, Waterfall and Fawn) keeps everything cohesive while letting that sweet Chihuahua shine. The stitched purse adds just the right amount of dimension, making this card one of those “pick up and look closer” moments.

This one’s going to my daughter’s mother-in-law, who happens to have two Chihuahuas — so I know it’ll be a hit!

I have an adorable Color Block Food Theme card coming on November 11th…come back and take a peek.

Helpful Links:

2 reading theme handmade cards created with Hero Arts November 2025 Card Kits. One More Chapter! Hero Arts November 2025 Release + Blog Hop
Cardmaking Kit · Give Away · papercrafting

One More Chapter! Hero Arts November 2025 Release + Blog Hop

Karen Brown16 Comments
Book theme cards created with the November 2025 Hero Arts Hero Studio Card Kits.

Hello, Karen Brown here — and I am curling up with a good card kit! The November Hero Studio Release is a dream come true for book lovers. This month’s theme, “One More Chapter,” celebrates cozy reading nooks, favorite stories, and the joy of escaping into a good book.

Even better, there’s a Hero Arts Blog Hop to celebrate — and prizes! So grab a cup of tea (or coffee), and come along for some page-turning inspiration.

Die-cut handmade scene card featuring a girl reading a book framed with a postage stamp border and scripty hello sentiment

📖 Card 1: My Happy Place

For my first project, I used the “Happy Place” die set from the November Card Kit of the Month to create a cozy die-cut scene.

Picture this: a girl tucked in with her favorite book, surrounded by soft periwinkle blue and warm orange tones. The card has a charming, feminine feel — like a Saturday morning spent lost in a good story.

I framed the scene with the Nesting Postage Stamp Dies to give it that “happy mail” vibe and added a sweet scripty Hello from the Fancy Die Book Bag set.

This one’s heading to a book club friend who, like me, can never resist reading just one more chapter!

Handmade book theme scene card created with Hero Arts November 2025 Card Kit. Colors are periwinkle blue, orange and brown.

What’s Included in the Kit?


                       • To Be Read Pile 4×6 Clear Stamp Set and Coordinating Dies
                       • Happy Place Die Set
                       • Professional Bookworm 3×4 Stamp & Cut
                       • Gold Hero Wax, 1 oz.
                       • 10 Sheets of Cardstock- 1 of each color, 5.5″ x 8.5″

>>> Receive a FREE Do Not Disturb Stamp and Cut  when you purchase The Whole Studio!

Hero Arts has many different Monthly Kits that you can subscribe to including:

Card 2: Escaping Reality One Page at a Time

Bold die cut and stamped typographic card spelling “JOY” with the O as a stamped oval reading “Escaping Reality One Page at a Time,” layered over a blue checkerboard background.

Next, I pulled out the Stamp & Cut of the Month: One Page at a Time. I love this set — it’s perfect for pairing bold typography with clever bookish sentiments.

I stamped the oval sentiment “Escaping Reality One Page at a Time” and used it as the O in my big JOY design. Then I die cut a bold J and Y from the Letter Fancy Die sets (J–N and W–Z) in bright orange, adding white shadows behind them to tie in the stamped oval.

The letters are large, 2 1/2″, creating a bold and dynamic visual card.

Stamped and die cut reading theme card created with Hero Arts November 2025 Stamp and Cut Kit called "One Page at a Time".

For the background, I created a tone-on-tone checkerboard using the November Cling of the Month — stamped Cornflower ink on Periwinkle cardstock for a crisp, graphic finish.

The result? A bold, cheerful, and clever card that feels fresh and literary — perfect for your favorite reader.

JOY sentiment card created using Hero Arts large alphabet Letter Fancy Dies with blue and orange color palette.

GIVEAWAY 

Hero Arts will give away a $50 gift card, drawn from the comments left across the hop. Enter by Wednesday, November 5th at 11:59pm PT, and the winner will be announced on the Hero Arts blog the following week. Leave a comment on all stops for more chances to win!
  

BLOG HOP ORDER


Hero Arts
Anna Mahtani
Channin Pelletier
Charlene Madrid
Jeannie Lieu
Jennifer Kotas
Karen Brown <<<< You Are Here!
Lisa Tilson
Michelle Lupton
Michelle Short
Mindy Eggen
Natasha Polite
Rachel Kleinman
Rosie Lopez
Seeka
Nichol Spohr

💡 Final Thoughts

I adore how all the November Hero Studio kits coordinate beautifully — from cozy die-cut scenes to playful sentiments and graphic backgrounds. Whether you love to stamp, die cut, or mix both, this release has something for every creative reader at heart.

And if you’re tempted by all the coordinating goodness, consider the Whole Studio Bundle — it’s a $240 value for just $130. That’s a deal worth bookmarking!

You might also want to take a peek at Past Club Kits that are still available.

Die cut and hand stitched "Joy" Chirstmas Card. Spellbinders October 2025 Stitching Die of the Month | Peppermint Prancer
Cardmaking Kit · stitching

Spellbinders October 2025 Stitching Die of the Month | Peppermint Prancer

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Spellbinders October 2025 Stitching Die of the Month handmade Christmas card with a stitched red and white peppermint candy used as the O in JOY, with a playful Rudolph reindeer sprawled across it on a Cascade blue background

The October 2025 Stitching Die of the Month is called Peppermint Prancer, and it’s as festive as it sounds! This month’s design combines the sweetness of peppermint candy with the whimsy of a playful reindeer—perfect for cheerful holiday cards.

🍬 The Peppermint

I started with a Cascade blue background to give my card a crisp winter feel. The stitched peppermint takes center stage: alternating red and white cardstock wedges stitched with contrasting thread—red stitches on the white wedges and white stitches on the red wedges. The result is a bold, candy-like design that feels dimensional and playful.

Die cut JOY sentiment with large stitched peppermint as the O, with Rudolph the reindeer holding on playfully. Card created with Spellbinders October 2025 Stitching Die of the Month Club Kit.

🦌 The Reindeer

Of course, no holiday peppermint is complete without a reindeer! I gave my prancer a bright red die cut nose to turn him into Rudolph, and I positioned him sprawled out across the peppermint as if he’s hanging on for dear life. It makes the whole card feel lighthearted and full of energy.

🎄 The Sentiment

Here’s where the fun twist comes in: the stitched peppermint doubles as the “O” in the word JOY. I die cut a bold J and Y (included in the kit) from the same red cardstock as the peppermint so the word stretches across the entire card front. The peppermint pulls double duty as both candy and sentiment—an easy way to make your design more impactful.

Close-up of stitched peppermint candy with contrasting thread: red thread on white wedges, white thread on red wedges on a Rudolph handmade card.

✂️ Stitching Details & Supplies

I stitched with two strands of embroidery floss and recommend keeping thread taut but not tight for smooth stitches. For those new to stitching dies, I’ll be linking to my favorite stitching accessories and tools so you can jump right in.

Helpful Links:

And if you’d like to see more from the October Club Kits, I’ll also link my other projects using this month’s dies.

Video: Make This Playful Elf Christmas Card
cardmaking · Hot Foiling · Video

Video: Make This Playful Elf Christmas Card

Karen BrownLeave a comment

Today I’m sharing a playful Christmas elf card that combines bold colors, a cheeky sentiment, and a versatile foiled background. Even better—I filmed the entire process so you can craft along step by step.

I have a list of key supplies used below the video.

👉 Or Watch the full video tutorial here!

Interesed in more of my videos? Click HERE to go to my YouTube Channel.

Key Products Used:

Adorable die-cut Christmas elf card on a hot-foiled background that simulates falling snow.

The Background – Snow or Confetti, You Choose!

I started with the Hero Arts Celebration Press Plate (part of the Yule Fuel Collection). I love how versatile this plate is—it looks like snowflakes when foiled in white but could also become a confetti background in bright colors. For this project, I went snowy, since my elf needed a winter wonderland to stand in.

Close-up of foiled snowy background created with the Celebration Press Plate. White foil dots on blue cardstock, resembling falling snow for a handmade Christmas card.

The Sassy Elf

Next came my focal point: a die cut elf from the Yule Fuel Collection. He’s cheeky, a little silly, and absolutely festive. To give him personality, I used ColorWheel Cardstock in:

  • Cascade (blue)
  • Dahlia (pink)
  • Fern (green)

The mix of colors makes him bold and fun—perfect for standing out against the snowy background.

Title: Fun & Festive Christmas Elf Card | Yule Fuel Collection Description: Create a quirky, colorful handmade Christmas card featuring a sassy die cut elf, snowy foiled background, and the playful sentiment “OMG! Santa!”. Step-by-step video tutorial included—perfect DIY holiday card idea!

The Cheeky Sentiment

Every good elf needs a punchline, and this one couldn’t be better:
“OMG! Santa!”

The die cut letters are crisp, bright, and perfectly straight across the card front (in the video, I share my favorite tip for gluing letters evenly every time).

Watch the Video Tutorial

And in my video, I show you:

  • Exactly how I foiled the Celebration Press Plate
  • How to glue tricky die cut letters so they’re straight and evenly spaced
  • My step-by-step process for putting the whole card together

 Or Watch the full video tutorial here!

Handmade Christmas card featuring a die cut elf in pink, blue, and green standing on a snowy foiled background with bold die cut sentiment reading ‘OMG! Santa!’ from the Yule Fuel Collection

Trust me—you’ll be smiling the whole time you make this card.

handmade winter die cut scene card with a child pulling a sled piled with gifts through the snow. Tips for Arranging Die Cut Scenes | Spellbinders October 2025 Club Kits
Cardmaking Kit · Die cutting

Tips for Arranging Die Cut Scenes | Spellbinders October 2025 Club Kits

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Handmade winter card with a girl in shades of pink pulling a sled stacked with three gifts. Periwinkle blue-gray sky with foiled white falling snow and snowy ground. Two decorated Christmas trees frame the scene, with rainbow foiled ribbon sentiment reading 'Christmas Greetings'

One of my favorite things about cardmaking is building little worlds with die cuts. The Spellbinders October 2025 Club Kits are perfect for creating playful, outdoor winter scenes full of joy, color, and personality. Today I’m sharing two companion cards I made using the Die of the Month Kit and the Large Die of the Month Kit—both with matching colors and snowy backdrops.

At the bottom, I’ll also walk you through a few of my favorite tips for planning and arranging die cut scenes.

Sled of Gifts (Large Die of the Month)

Spellbinders October 2025 Large Die of the Month winter snow scene of a child pulling a sled piled with gifts.

I started with the Large Die of the Month Kit, creating a cheerful winter scene of a little girl, pulling a sled piled high with gifts. To set the stage, I added two decorated Christmas trees with colorful ornaments.

The background is periwinkle blue-gray cardstock, foiled in white using the Hero Arts Celebration LetterPress Plate with the Spellbinders Glimmer system. The falling dots create a snowy sky, while snow on the ground grounds the scene.

For the sentiment, I used a ribbon hot foil design from the Merry & Bright Press Plate set, foiled in rainbow foil for a festive and eye-catching finish.

This card feels full of movement and energy—perfect for capturing the joy of the season.

Building a Snowman (Die of the Month)

Handmade winter card featuring a girl in pink and a boy in burgundy and yellow building a snowman in front of a snowy evergreen tree. Periwinkle blue-gray sky foiled with white falling snow. Sentiment reads 'for U' in hot pink cardstock

Since I loved the colors in my first card, I made a companion card using the Die of the Month Kit.

This time, the scene features two children building a snowman.

The background is the same as my first card—periwinkle sky with white foiled falling snow and a snowy ground. Hero Arts Celebration LetterPress Plate + white foil

For the sentiment, I combined a scripty “for” with a giant U (both from the October Caboodle Bonus Gift), both die cut in hot pink. Together, they form a bold, playful greeting.

This card has a storybook charm and pairs perfectly with the sled design.

Spellbinders October Die of the Month scene card showing 2 children building a snowman in front of a snowy sky and flocked tree.

📝 Tips for Arranging Die Cut Scenes

Here are five simple steps I use whenever I build a die cut scene:

  1. Plan Colors First: Choose your key colors. For these cards, I used blue gray, hot pink, and fern green as my anchors. White cardstock provided snowy contrast.
  2. Die Cut All Elements: Having all the pieces ready makes it easier to plan your layout.
  3. Assemble Each Element: I use Bearly Art glue and a Crystal Katana jewel picker to precisely assemble my elements. Once they are fully assembled, it is much easier to determine exactly where I want to place each component.
  4. Mock Up Layouts: I arrange several versions, take quick photos, and then choose the most balanced design.
  5. Construct Your Scene: I like to use glue, foam squares and craft foam to complete my card.

These tricks make arranging die cut winter wonderlands more fun and less stressful.

Helpful Links:

Die cut handmade Halloween Card with pumpkin, ghost and black cat. Spellbinders September Club Kits – Seasonal Fun!
Cardmaking Kit · Die cutting

Spellbinders September Club Kits – Seasonal Fun!

Karen Brown1 Comment
Two seasonal die cut fall/Halloween cards featuring Spellbinders September 2025 Large Die of the Month Kit (whimsical pumpkin house) and Small Die of the Month (smiling Jack-o-lantern with black cat, ghost and flowers)

The Spellbinders September 2025 Club Kits are here, and this month’s themes are packed with seasonal charm—perfect for Halloween, autumn, and everything in between! Today, I’m sharing two cards featuring the Large Die of the Month and Small Die of the Month.

👉 A quick reminder: the last day to subscribe is September 27th—so don’t miss out!

Large Die of the Month – Pumpkin House

Adorable Seasonal autumn card with vivid oranges, teals and greens created with Spellbinders September 2025 Large Die of the Month Kit

The Large Die of the Month is designed as an Acorn House, but I gave it a seasonal twist by transforming mine into a Pumpkin House! I can’t seem to get enough orange this month.

A gray squirrel is making his way to the front door, while the acorn cap roof is decorated with green and teal leaves plus two aqua flowers. The playful colors and crisp white background bring the whole scene to life.

It’s whimsical, unexpected, and full of cozy fall personality.

Die cut "pumpkin" house card, with a gray squirrel walking toward the door. The roof is decorated with teal and green leaves and two aqua flowers.

Small Die of the Month – Boo to You!

Card with a smiling jack-o’-lantern, a ghost, a cat, and flowers in bright orange, teal, aqua, and green cardstock on a white card base. Sentiment reads 'Boo to You' in heat embossed lettering.

This month’s Small Die of the Month might be one of the cutest yet! It features a smiling jack-o’-lantern, along with a sweet little cat, a friendly ghost, and whimsical flowers.

I loved carrying over the same vibrant color scheme from my Large Die card—orange, teal, aqua, and green—so the two feel like companion pieces.

I couldn’t resist heat embossing a “Boo to You” sentiment to go along with this cheerful pumpkin scene. The vivid colors—bright orange paired with teal, aqua, and green—make the characters pop against the crisp white A2 card base. A touch of gray and black adds grounding contrast while keeping the vibe playful.

This card is pure Halloween happiness! 🎃✨

Fun handmade Halloween card created with Spellbinders September 2025 Small Die of the Month Kit.

Coordinated Companion Cards

I love how these two cards—though built with different kits—look like they belong together. The shared palette of vivid oranges, aquas, teals, greens, and neutrals ties them into a cheerful seasonal set.

And if you’d like even more inspiration, I’ll also link to my September Stitching Die of the Month card—another beauty from this month’s Club collection.

Helpful Links:

Fall theme apple orchard homemade card. Apple Picking Scene Card | Hero Arts ‘I Pick You’ Collection
Cardmaking Kit · Die cutting · Stamping

Apple Picking Scene Card | Hero Arts ‘I Pick You’ Collection

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Handmade fall card featuring a stamped and stenciled apple orchard scene with ladder, basket, and boots. Apples are shaded red, leaves in green, and scene is framed with a navy die cut rounded rectangle.

Fall is in the air! Today I’m sharing a heartwarming scene card I created with the Hero Arts September Collection: I Pick You. The In The Orchard Bundle instantly brought back childhood memories of going apple picking with my family at Wiggins Farms—where we’d spend the day filling baskets and sipping fresh cider.

This Collection is also part of an Instagram Hop…come hop with us! @karens_mini

Helpful Links:

🍏 Building the Scene

Hero Arts In the Orchard stamped, stenciled and die cut scene card featuring picking apples in an orchard.

This stamp + stencil combo makes it easy to create a layered, idyllic orchard scene. I stamped the images first, then used the coordinating layering stencils to add color with small blending brushes. To give my coloring more depth and dimension, I used two shades of ink for each color family:

  • Apples: Pale Tomato + Cherry
  • Leaves: Fresh Lawn + Green Apple
  • Boots: Lemon Drop + Spicy Mustard

The combination of stamping + stencil blending creates crisp, dimensional images that still look soft and organic. And Hero Arts stencils always line up beautifully with the stamped images!

Handmade autumn scene card of a whimsical apple orchard and featuring Hero Arts "In the Orchard" stamp, stencil and die bundle.

🍎 Finishing Details

Once everything was colored, I die cut my elements to build the orchard scene—complete with a ladder, a basket, and classic Hunter-style boots. For the finishing touch, I die cut a navy frame using my Rounded Rectangle Infinity Dies to bring everything together.

This seasonal card is full of fall charm and is perfect for sending a cozy autumn hello!