Tag: floral card

cardmaking · Die cutting · papercrafting

Vintage Flower Shoppe Cart | Spellbinders

Karen Brown1 Comment
Handmade square card featuring a die-cut retro French inspired flower cart with a 'Fresh Flowers' sign, filled with coral, pink, blue and white blooms. Baskets of flowers surround the cart, and black enamel dots add detail to the wheels.

Today, I’m sharing a square card featuring the Flower Cart die set from Spellbinders’ Vintage Flower Shoppe collection. With a retro French inspired flower cart, coral, pink, blue and white blooms, and ink-blended details, this project is bursting with charm!

Key Products Used on This Card:

Bringing the Flower Cart to Life

Handmade square card featuring a die-cut retro French inspired flower cart with a 'Fresh Flowers' sign, filled with coral, pink, blue and white blooms. Baskets of flowers surround the cart, and black enamel dots add detail to the wheels. Dies are from Spellbinders Vintage Flower Shoppe Collection and the Flower Cart Die Set. S6-253

I fell in love with the Flower Cart die set the moment I saw it—there are so many creative possibilities! For this design, I started by die-cutting all the elements and then ink blending them to add depth and dimension. The soft shading makes the hand cart and baskets of coral, pink, blue and white blooms pop beautifully!

To give the cart a little extra personality, I added black enamel dots as the wheel nuts—a tiny detail that makes a big difference. And of course, the “Fresh Flowers” sign ties everything together with a market-fresh feel.

My completed card is 5 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ and the Teal Topaz background mat is 5 1/4″ x 5 1/4″.

Charming handmade die card featuring a darling flower card surrounded by baskets of colorful flower blooms + a Fresh Flowers sign.

Try It Yourself!

The Vintage Flower Shoppe collection has so many ways to mix and match floral elements. What colors would you use for your dream flower cart?

Cardmaking Kit · Die cutting · papercrafting

Spellbinders | Club Kit Cards | February 2025

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Spellbinders February 2025 Club Kit Cards: Large Die of the Month, Small Die of the Month and Stitching Die of the Month die cut handmade cards.

Get ready to fall in love with the Spellbinders February 2025 Club Kits! This month’s releases are packed with charm and creativity, and I’m thrilled to share two whimsical scene cards that will have you reaching for your die-cutting machine in no time.

Easy Stitched Die Cut Bunny Card Full of Charm

A handmade card featuring a die-cut bunny in a spring green dress holding a flower, framed with a stitched border. The background is soft blues and warm yellows, creating a fresh and cheerful scene. Spellbinders Stitching Die of the Month + Large Bunny Die of the Month.

This first card features the Stitching Die of the Month paired with the Large Die of the Month, creating a darling stitched frame. Inside the frame, a sweet die-cut bunny dressed in a spring green dress steals the spotlight. She’s holding a delicate flower, making this design ideal for Easter, baby showers, or even get-well cards. The soft blues, vivid greens, and warm yellows lend a fresh spring vibe, while the stitched frame adds texture and an elegant touch.

Key Products Used:

Notes About This Card:

Darling Spring die-cut bunny handmade card with hand stitched frame using Spellbinders February 2025 Large Die of the Month + Stitching Die of the Month Kits.

Step Into Spring with This Floral Shoes Card

A whimsical handmade card featuring olive green die-cut shoes with blue and olive anklet socks, with bright spring flowers tucked inside. The sentiment reads "Hello." Spellbinders Small Die of the Month, February 2025.

The second card takes a playful turn with a pair of olive green shoes, complete with stylish blue and olive anklet socks. The Small Die of the Month works its magic, letting you create a unique scene where die-cut flowers are tucked into the patterned socks. You’ll spot the calves of a lady walking confidently into spring, and the sentiment “Hello” ties everything together. Perfect for birthdays, get-well wishes, or just saying hi, this design showcases the versatility of these dies.

Quick Notes About This Card:

  • I started by looking through my patterned paper for some fun “sock material”. I chose this eye-catching circular pattern, but a small floral or plaid would also work great!
  • Once I had my socks, I pulled together other colors that would work well for my scene. I frequently use my Color Cubes when selecting my color palette.
  • I die cut my Small Die Kit components with my Platinum 6 System.
  • I assembled my scene with Bearly Glue, Foam Squares and Craft Foam.
  • The hello sentiment is from my January Small Die of the Month Kit.
  • I cut the buckle and bows from Brushed Gold Cardstock.
Spellbinders February 2025 Small Die of the Month handmade card complete with a pair of shoes, patterned anklet socks and die cut floral blooms.

Helpful Links:

Handmade cards created with Spellbinders February 2025 Club Kits.

Why These Cards Shine

Both cards highlight the magic of die-cutting, with intricate details and stitching that bring each scene to life. Whether it’s the textured frame around the bunny or the whimsical floral shoes, these designs are sure to inspire intermediate and advanced crafters alike.

Cardmaking Kit · Die cutting · Rainbow Colors

Hero Studio | February Release and Blog Hop

Karen Brown9 Comments

Hello, crafty friends! It’s time to shake off those winter blues as we play with the new Hero Studio February Release!

Smile, It’s a Beautiful World

Bright and colorful handmade card with repeating die-cut 'smile' sentiments in rainbow colors, topped with a heat-embossed sentiment."

For my first card, I used the Hero Studio February 2025 Card Kit of the Month, which is packed with fabulous sentiments. My design features repeating die-cut “smile” sentiments in a rainbow of colors, arranged in perfect rainbow order.

How I Made This Repeating Die Cut Sentiment Card:

  • Each sentiment was die cut three times per color, stacked, and glued together for added dimension and impact.
  • I used my favorite Hero Hues Cardstock Colors: Ultra Pink, Papaya, Kiwi, Bermuda, Paradise, Peacock, Amethyst and Cherry.
  • I found the card layout worked best by gluing in the following order: pink, lime, orange, peacock, paradise, bermuda, red, amethyst.
  • To complete the design, I added a heat-embossed sentiment that reads “It’s a beautiful world”, which is also included in this month’s kit. The result is a bright and happy card that’s sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face
Bright colorful die-cut handmade card created with the February 2025 Hero Studio Card Kit.

What’s Inside the February 2025 Hero Studio Card Kit?

February 2025 Card Kit of the Month: Tulips            
               • Tulip HeroScapes Clear Stamp Set, 6” x 8”
               • Circling Clouds Cling Stamp, 6″x 6″
               • Messages Clear Stamp Set, 4″ x 6″
               • 7 Tulip HeroScape Coordinating Dies
               • 4 Word Fancy Dies with Frame Cuts
               • 5 Messages Coordinating Dies
               • 4 Ink Cubes (Thistle, Azalea, Moss, Blue Raspberry

Rainbow color-themed sentiment card showcasing stacked die-cut 'smile' sentiments on a crisp white card.

February 2025 Hero Studio Kits:

The Whole Studio includes ALL 5 of the monthly subscriptions in one discounted bundle. Cling of the Month, Clear + Dies of the Month, Layering Stencil of the Month, Fancy Dies of the Month, and the Card Kit of the Month.

This month, receive a FREE adorable “bug” die set when you purchase The Whole Studio!

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

A Planter Full of Blooming Delight!

handmade die-cut planter box card featuring wisteria, daffodils, and blue blossoms on a stenciled cobblestone wall background.

The February Fancy Die Kit is a gorgeous planter box brimming with vibrant spring flowers like wisteria, daffodils, and delicate blue blossoms.

How to Create a Cheerful Floral Scene Card:

  • The Kit die cuts are layered with care to create a dimensional, cheerful garden scene.
  • I used Hero Hues cardstock in the following colors: Charcoal, Amethyst, Passion Flower, Iris, Meadow, Periwinkle, Peacock, Mist, Mustard and Papaya.
  • To add texture and interest, I stenciled a Cobblestone background with white Hero Wax, placing it “here and there” for a soft, rustic touch. I love the pearlessence that the wax adds to my project and the crisp white background makes the floral colors—shades of purple, yellow, and blue—pop beautifully.
  • A sweet “My Friend” sentiment (February Card Kit) ties the whole design together, making this card perfect for brightening someone’s day.
  • I added a few Sunset Enamel Dots for flower centers.
Using White Hero Wax to stencil a subtle pearlescent background for a Spring die cut floral card.

These designs are packed with die-cutting fun and stenciled charm, making them perfect for crafters who want to try something fresh.

Two lovely spring die-cut cards in bright fun colors. One is floral and other has repeating smile sentiment sin rainbow color order.

Join the Blog Hop Fun!

Don’t miss out on the February Blog Hop—a celebration of creativity featuring incredible projects from the Hero Arts Creative Team. Be sure to hop along, leave a comment, and check out the other amazing designs. Who knows? You might just discover your next favorite crafting idea!

Hero Arts will give away a $50 gift card, drawn from the comments left across the hop. Enter by Saturday, February 8 at 11:59pm PST, 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!

Hero Arts
Hero Arts Creative Team:
Seeka
Rosie Lopez
Rachel Kleinman
Natasha Vacca
Natasha Polite
Mindy Eggen
Michelle Short
Michelle Lupton
Lisa Tilson
Karen Brown
Jennifer Kotas
Jeannie Lieu
Charlene Madrid
Channin Pelletier
Anna Mahtani
Special Guests:
Nichol Spohr
Rebecca Keppel
Kelly Taylor


Let’s spread some crafty joy—one handmade card at a time. Happy hopping!

Cardmaking Kit · Die cutting · papercrafting

Spellbinders | Large Die of the Month Kit | Colorful Floral Card

Karen BrownLeave a comment

Hello, hello! Today’s card features Spellbinders Large Die of the Month Kit for January 2025. The Botanical Atrium, is a die-cut lover’s dream with gorgeous floral details, a luxurious gold frame, and a fresh aqua-and-coral palette.

Creating With the Large Die of the Month Kit | January 2025

I used shiny gold cardstock to make the atrium stand out against a crisp white background, and wow—does it ever pop! Inside the frame, delicate coral and aqua florals cascade in a lush arrangement, creating a playful yet refined design. I’ll be using the florals on loads of future cards!

Key Products Used:

It’s a great time to buy paper because Spellbinders is having a Paper Party Sale until January 26th!

Textured Touches: The Brick Background

To add a subtle yet striking detail, I stenciled a brick pattern on the white background using grit paste. Just here and there, mind you—like peeking through a garden wall. This little bit of texture gives the card depth without taking attention away from the gorgeous die-cut elements. It’s understated but oh-so-effective!

January 2025 Papercrafting Kits and Blog Posts

This year, I’ll be creating with 3 Spellbinders Kits each month. I’ve already published two posts that you might enjoy reading:

  1. Hello Gorgeous! Crafting with Spellbinders Die of the Month Kit (Dragonfly)
  2. Spellbinders | Stitching Die of the Month | Ladybug

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.

The January Card Kit is both timeless and modern, and is a must-have for your stash. I hope you enjoyed my little creation!

Best Of · cardmaking

Best and Favorite Cards of 2024: The Year’s Most-Loved Designs

Karen BrownLeave a comment

As the year comes to a close, I’m taking a moment to reflect on all the creative projects I’ve shared across my Blog, YouTube channel, and Instagram. The journey has been filled with color, craftiness, and, most importantly, connecting with all of you!

Many of these items featured on my “Fan Favorites” list are currently on sale too!

  • Find Hero Arts New Year’s Eve sale items HERE
  • Hero Arts Final Sale items can be found HERE.
  • Shop Hero Arts HERE
  • Shop Spellbinders New Year’s Eve Sale HERE
  • Find Spellbinders Clearance Sale HERE
  • Shop Spellbinders newer collections HERE.

YouTube’s Card Tutorial: Most Watched Video

Best and Most Popular YouTube Cardmaking Video in 2024.

On YouTube, it was all about bringing techniques to life. Here is the tutorial that flew the highest:

Blog Post Link: Shimmery Snowflake Backgrounds 3 Ways

YouTube Link: Shimmery Snowflake Backgrounds

I created this video for HeroArts Blog and YouTube channel but I also posted on my YouTube Channel for my followers as well.

Top Blog Post in 2024

This year on my blog, I focused on techniques that ranged from beginner-friendly to advanced, and your feedback has been the cherry on top! My most read blog post this year was:

9 Tips, Tricks and Insights for Spellbinders BetterPress Machine

I received a BetterPress LetterPress system for Christmas in 2023, and I had lots of fun learning and experimenting with my new crafty toy. You can read my original blog post by clicking on the link above.

Best, Favorite, Most Popular Cardmaking Blog Post of 2024,

Instagram Reels: Quick Crafting, Big Inspiration

Favorite and Most Popular Instagram Reel in 2024.

This year, Instagram Reels became a go-to for sharing bite-sized creativity. These short videos were packed with techniques, tips, and a splash of fun. Here is my most popular 2024 Reel.

Instagram Reel Link: Floral Trove Stenciled Friend Card

Corresponding Blog Post Link: Stunning Stenciling Magic with Rainbow Colors

Instagram Highlights: Most-Liked and Commented on Creations

Instagram brought quick inspiration and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks to your feeds. Here are the top posts.

For Spellbinders, these were the fan favorites. You can find links to the corresponding blog posts below:

Best Handmade Spellbinders Cards in 2024.

And here are my most popular Hero Arts Instagram posts along with links to the correstponding Blog Posts:

Best Hero Arts Handmade Cards in 2024.

I’m so grateful to share this journey with all of you. Your comments, likes, and creations inspire me every day. Here’s to an even brighter, more colorful 2025 filled with new techniques, bold designs, and, of course, plenty of fun! Let me know in the comments—what were your favorite projects this year? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy crafting, and see you in the new year! ✨☕

Karen

BetterPress · cardmaking · Tutorial

Quick and Easy BetterPress Notecards | Spellbinders

Karen BrownLeave a comment
BetterPress Tutorial detailing how to create easy and elegant letterpress notecards using Spellbinders Florals Through the Year Collection.

Nothing says thoughtful elegance like a handcrafted notecard. I really enjoy the letterpress process and I wanted to create some notecards to have on hand for the coming year. Spellbinders recently released their Florals Through the Year Collection and I think it is quite beautiful. There are 12 plates…one for each month.

I have a detailed tutorial below.

Products Used:

A Year in Bloom

Handmade BetterPress letter press floral Morning Glory card.

May Morning Glory: Symbolizes love and affection.

BetterPress takes the art of letterpress and makes it accessible for all. Its crisp impressions and sophisticated designs bring timeless beauty to your cards. Plus, the ease of use means you can create a dozen cards in a single sitting—perfect for stocking up or gifting!

Better Press Tutorial:

  • I started by using Best Ever Craft Tape to attach my BetterPress card panel to the top plate of my BetterPress System.
  • I tried several types of paper (BetterPress, Watercolor and Cardstock) and they all worked with the BetterPress. I liked cottony paper the best. My preferred paper would be the BetterPress cotton paper or a handmade watercolor paper. 
  • The magnetic lower plate works really well to hold the BetterPress impressing plate in place. 
  • I was careful to ink the impressing plate really well. I did a “Tap and Twist” technique where I tapped the ink on the plate and then twisted the ink pad a few degrees. Don’t smash and smoosh or you will wind up with little pieces of ink pad on your plate and project. I ink well because I only like to roll through the press once for each panel.
  • For smaller sentiment plates, I tapped but didn’t twist. When I twisted smaller plates they tended to move out of alignment. If the plate moves it is easy to reposition with a pair of tweezers.
  • Roll your sandwich slowly through the die cutting machine. I think “Super Slo-Mo” while doing this to help me remember to go VERY slowly. 
  • You will want a good stamp cleaner for the BetterPress and plates. I’ve used Hero Arts Ultra Clean for years and it works great.
  • Waterproof or Hybrid inks well. I used the specially formulated BetterPress Inks. Pigment ink is not recommended. You want a faster drying ink. 
  • I found that my guillotine paper trimmer worked better than my Fiskar’s SureCut on cotton paper.
Handmade BetterPress letterpress Florals Through The Year Violet (Feburary) hand crafted notecard using Spellbinders plates.

February Violets: Elegant and full of love for Valentine’s Day

Spellbinders BetterPress letterpress Floral Through the Year handmade card: Lily of the Valley for May.

Lily of the Valley: A nod to nature’s beauty in full bloom.

With a unique card for every month, you’ll always have the perfect notecard ready for any occasion. Which month’s design are you most excited to try?

Karen

cardmaking · Die cutting · papercrafting

Opening My Crafty Advent Calendar | Week 1 | Spellbinders

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Opening Week 1 and creating with Spellbinders 2024 Crafty Advent Calendar.

I recently opened my Spellbinders Crafty Advent Calendar and, oh my, I can already tell this is going to be an exciting month filled with DIY fun! For those who might not be familiar, a Crafty Advent Calendar contains 24 days of creative supplies and surprises, all designed to inspire your crafting. This week, I dove into the first few projects, and I can’t wait to share the magic of it all with you.

Opening the Advent Calendar: Day 1 to Day 7

Creating an adorable die cut handmade bumblebee Hello Friend with dancing flowers.

The anticipation of opening each little door in the calendar is half the fun! Each day has revealed a mix of supplies and cute embellishments. I could feel my creativity bubbling the moment I opened Day 1.

If you missed it, you can read my Day 1 post HERE.

Here’s a quick peek at what I found:

  • Day 1: Hot Air Balloon: Read my post HERE
  • Day 2: Hello Friend Stamp
  • Day 3: 6 Flower Dies
  • Day 4: Sentiment with Banners
  • Day 5: 2 Squiggle Dies
  • Day 6: Bee Dies
  • Day 7: 3 Darling Floral Stencils

The adorable bee (day 6) captured my heart and I used those dies along with days 3, 4 and 5 to create this cute Hello Friend scene card. The clouds from the Fly Away die set were the only things I added that were not included in the Crafty Advent Calendar.

My Scout desktop die cutting machine was perfect for cutting my die cuts.

I wanted a little more vertical room for my scene, so my white panel is 4″ x 6″.

I loved the inspiration that came with each day’s reveal. I’m excited to continue opening the calendar and discovering what new projects await in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more fun holiday crafts—I’ll be sharing new projects each week!

Have you opened a Crafty Advent Calendar this season? What are you making with yours? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to see your creations!

Happy crafting! 🎄✨

Karen

cardmaking · Stamping

Fabulous Floral Backgrounds | Ink Smooshing + Stamping Tutorial

Karen Brown1 Comment
Two colorful floral cards using Hero Arts August 2024 Cling Stamp of the Month "Orchids" + Ink Smooshing Technique Tutorial.

Hello lovely crafters! Karen Brown here and today I am excited to share with you a simple yet stunning way to create a floral background with a gorgeous new cling stamp called Orchids.

Easy Yet Eye-Catching Ink Smooshing

Easy yet eye-catching floral background in pinks and oranges + Orchids Cling Background Stamp of the Month for August 2024.

Step-By-Step Tutorial:

I will walk you through how to make two colorful cards using the August Cling of the Month: Orchids.

  • I started by making two background panels. I took a Clear Acetate Window Card Panel, dabbed Reactive Ink on the acetate and then spritzed with water. Some spots were watery and others were a bit dryer, and think I think this combination adds more character to backgrounds.
  • I turned the acetate over, bent it so that it touched just a portion of my background, and applied a section of the diluted ink onto Luxe Watercolor Paper. I continued adding different colors until I liked the look of my panel. I wanted contrast so I made sure to leave some white space. You can see my process photo below.

Below is a photo of my completed ink smooshing. I used Fruit Punch, Creamsicle and Taffy for card 1 and Blue Hawaii, Paradise and Pool Party for card 2.

  • I let my backgrounds dry overnight but you could speed things up with a heat tool.
  • I find I get a better result if I season my cling stamps prior to stamping my project. I inked up the Orchids stamp and stamped on plain computer paper and then discarded this test paper.
  • I put my ink smoosh background and cling stamp in my stamp positioner and stamped three times with Intense Black Ink. I wanted a nice dark impression that really penetrated the paper.
  • Next, using my August Card Kit of the Month, I die cut my elements from Pitch Black cardstock.
  • I cut two 2″ x 3″ white panels, and two black mats.
  • I stamped my sentiment (also from the August Card Kit) near the bottom of the white panel and then attached my die cuts with foam squares.
  • I assembled my card, adding a bit of craft foam behind the small black mat.
Floral Background + Blue Ink Smooshing for an eye-catching Hello card with die cut accents.

Here is a final photo of both cards.

How to make colorful ink smoosh backgrounds for your handmade cards.

I hope you enjoy trying out this technique. Happy stamping!

Die cutting · Wax Seals

Adding a Touch of Elegance: Using Wax Seals and Infinity Dies on a Floral Handmade Card

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Adding wax seal elements to your cardmaking.

If you’re looking to add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your handmade cards, incorporating wax seals and infinity dies can elevate your designs to new heights. In this post, we’ll explore how to use these tools to create a stunning floral handmade card.

Today, Spellbinders released a wonderful new collection called Sealed 3D Botanical and I chose Scallop Labels and Tags Infinity Dies and the Forest Mushroom Wax Seal. Infinity Dies are definitely one of my most used craftroom essentials and wax seals are so interesting and fun!

Adding texture to your cardmaking with Mushroom Forest Wax Seals, Scallop Labels and Tags Infinity Dies and embossing folders.

Spellbinders 3D Botanical Collection

I knew I wanted to make a shaped floral card with a wax seal medallion on my vase. Here are step-by-step directions for this card:

  • I started by making a bunch of wax seals, which I really enjoy. If you’d like more details, I have a blog post titled 18 Tips and Tricks for Making Wax Seals that you can read HERE. I decided to use two Royal Blue seals and I planned my color scheme around the two seals. Spellbinders Wax Seal Kit is such a fun addition to any craftroom and I have really enjoyed playing with my kit this year.
  • Using my silver Deco Color Paint Pen, I added highlights to the wax mushrooms and foliage. Interestingly, the color looks a little more gold in the photographs, but it is silver in person.
  • I die cut my vase and flowers using one of my new favorites: Fresh Picked Vase. I used Cosmic Sky, Periwinkle, Charcoal and Coral cardstocks.
  • I wanted a bit more texture so I embossed my vase using my Luxe Backdrop Emboss and Cut 3D folder.
  • As I mentioned, I wanted a shaped card so I took an A2 Side Fold Card Base and die cut my white base with the Scallop Labels and Tag die. I made sure that the left cutting edge was to the left of the fold so it would stay intact. Then I cut a Periwinkle and White Mat and assembled my card with Bearly Glue and a few Foam Adhesive Squares.
  • I also made a coordinating wax seal envelop for my card that you can see below.

As I said, I really enjoy making wax seals so I made some extras for future projects. The other colors are Indigo Ink, Pistachio, Velvet Rose and Gold.

Adding wax seal elements to your envelops.

Conclusion

Using wax seals and infinity dies in your handmade cards adds a level of detail and elegance that will impress any recipient. These tools allow you to create intricate designs and sophisticated touches that make your cards truly stand out. Whether for birthdays, weddings, or just because, a floral handmade card with these elements will be cherished and remembered. Happy crafting!

Karen

cardmaking · Die cutting

Spellbinders | More Fresh Picked Collection

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Handmade die cut Birthday card created with Spellbinders Fresh Picked Vase Bouquet from the More Fresh Picked Collection.

Spellbinders More Fresh Picked Collection offers an exquisite opportunity to create a contemporary cardmaking masterpiece. The entire Fresh Picked series offers modern, contemporary, stylized florals that really ignite my creativity and I couldn’t wait to get started die-cutting.

Fresh Picked Vase Bouquet

Pink, Aqua, Turquoise, Blue and White Floral die cut Birthday card with flowers in an embossed vase.

My Process:

Today, I selected the Fresh Picked Vase Bouquet for my birthday card. I knew I wanted Waterfall leaves and greenery on my card so I did a quick search through my color cubes and decided on color combination #060, and I have to say I love this color palette!

Helpful Product Links:

Final Thoughts

With its sleek lines and intricate designs, the Spellbinders Fresh Picked Vase Bouquet die set allows for the creation of stunning floral arrangements that exude modern elegance.

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen