Tag: Spellbinders

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.

Thanks a latte thank you card featuring House Mouse. Cute Coffee Theme Thank You Card Featuring House Mouse
cardmaking · Stamping

Cute Coffee Theme Thank You Card Featuring House Mouse

Karen BrownLeave a comment

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!

Key Products Used:

Cute square "thanks a latte" thank you card featuring the House Mouse Brew-tiful stamp.

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!

I die-cut the panel with the Hero Arts Rounded Jewel Infinity Dies—I think this soft shape fits the cozy vibe perfectly. Then I added craft foam behind the panel and mounted it onto a ColorWheel Rainforest green A2 card base.

Stamped House Mouse scene card featuring a mouse sipping coffee from a giant latte cup.

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!

Thanks a latte for stopping by today! ☕🐭

Copic colored House Mouse sipping a big coffee in a cute thank you card with “Thanks a Latte” sentiment on a green card base.
Girly Spa Day handmade card with Enjoy Today sentiment. Girly Spa-Themed Die Cut Card | Wrapped in Care – December 2025 Club Kit
Cardmaking Kit · Die cutting

Girly Spa-Themed Die Cut Card | Wrapped in Care – December 2025 Club Kit

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Feminine die cut card idea: delightful spa day theme card of a girl in a spa towel turban enjoying a day of beauty.

The Spellbinders December 2025 Large Die of the Month, Wrapped in Care, is an absolute delight—especially if you love creating feminine cards with personality. This adorable die set builds the sweetest girl wrapped in a fluffy spa towel turban, fully embracing her day of beauty. It’s charming, whimsical, and so customizable, which made it perfect for creating a card for my daughter. Naturally, I personalized her hair and skin tone to match!

To build the scene, I embossed my background using a past Embossing Folder of the Month, which gave the card a serene, peaceful spa vibe. The textures really elevate the focal girl and tie the whole design together. For colors, I reached for my ColorWheel cardstock, one of my favorite studio essentials. The shades are Chiffon, Cascade, and Celestial, with additional details cut from scraps.

This blog post also highlights my trusty Swatching Dies and Stamps, which are invaluable when choosing harmonious colors.

Die cutting process photo showing the assembly of my December 2025 Large Die of the Month card.

I included a process photo that shows my Spellbinders Shears, my Craft Stax Tray Set (perfect for corralling all the tiny die cut bits), and of course, I used my trusty Platinum 6 die cutting machine—the real MVP.

A simple chipboard sentiment—“enjoy today”—finishes the card with the perfect message for a little self-care moment.

If you love spa themes, feminine cards, or die cutting with loads of personality, the Wrapped in Care kit is going to be a favorite.

Helpful Links:

Spellbinders December 2025 Die of the Month: Wrapped in Care die cut handmade girlfriend card.
Purse theme handmade card. Spellbinders November 2025 Large Die of the Month – Charmed to Know You
cardmaking · Die cutting

Spellbinders November 2025 Large Die of the Month – Charmed to Know You

Karen BrownLeave a comment
2 handmade purse theme cards created with Spellbinders November 2025 Large Die of the Month Kit.

Today I’m sharing two darling purse-themed cards using the Spellbinders November 2025 Large Die of the Month Kit – Charmed to Know You. This set is pure cuteness with so many ways to personalize your bag design. Think mini luxury handbag boutique… but in cardstock form!

This die kit creates a fabulous purse with dangling charms, handles, layered details, and all the embellishments your fashionable heart could want. While it’s designed for 5” x 7” cards, I also made a 4” x 6” version because these purses are just too cute not to size-down and play.

💡 Crafter tip: I keep a clear pouch full of scrap cardstock and it was PERFECT for cutting the tiny charms. Little paper leftovers finally had their big couture moment!

💜 Card 1 – Cream & Lilac Glam

Feminine birthay card featuring a die cut handbag with three cute charms dangling from the handle.

For my first card, I created a Alabaster cream purse with brown leather straps and brushed gold hardware — classic and chic!

I paired it with a lilac background (ColorWheel cardstock) and added a darling mini change purse, a pink scarf, and two charms:
✨ a sweet little bear with a matching pink neck kerchief
🍒 happy smiling cherries

The finishing touch? A gorgeous La Dolce Vita hot foil sentiment on lilac cardstock:

Make it a Day to Remember

And yes — this purse absolutely feels like it’s ready for brunch, shopping, and maybe a macaron or two.

🖤 Card 2 – Chic Neutrals & Lucky Charms

Fun girly birthday card featuring a gray and gold handbag with three charms hanging from the gold hardware: two dice and a pink pig.

My second purse fits a 4” x 6” card base and features granite and anchor gray cardstock with a brushed gold chain handle — sleek and modern!

I got playful with my charms:
🐷 I turned the Caboodle Bonus Gift pig into a charm
🎲 and added two dangling dice on each side

A sweet mini pink bow sits above all three — because even edgy handbags deserve a touch of sweetness.

The sentiment is a dainty Glimmer-foiled “Happy Birthday” — perfect for the girly-girl in your life who loves a little luxury and whimsy.

2 handmade die cut cards featuring cute charms and purses created from the November 2025 Spellbinders Large Die of the Month Kit.

🌟 Final Thoughts

This month’s Large Die of the Month is a handbag lover’s dream — charming (pun absolutely intended), customizable, and so much fun to style. Try different color palettes, charm combos, and sizes to create purses for every personality.

Interested in my other November Card Kit Creations?

Helpful Links:

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:

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:

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.

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:

Handstiched floral card. Spellbinders Stitching Die of the Month – Beautiful Blooming Florals
cardmaking · Cardmaking Kit · stitching

Spellbinders Stitching Die of the Month – Beautiful Blooming Florals

Karen Brown1 Comment
Handmade stitched floral card with layered pink, coral, and yellow die cut flowers on a Waterfall aqua blue background, accented with gems.

This month’s Spellbinders Stitching Die of the Month is a true floral beauty! The set includes three sizes of blooms, and I couldn’t wait to dive in with floss, cardstock, and gems to create a stitched garden full of detail and color.

You might also enjoy my blog post for the September Small and Large Die of the Month Kit.

🌼 My Stitching Process

To give my flowers a sturdy stitching base, I die cut each bloom twice and glued the layers together before stitching. This little extra step makes the stitching so much easier and helps the finished blooms hold their shape beautifully.

I used two threads of floss throughout, which was just the right weight for crisp yet delicate details.

Close-up of stitched die cut flowers with pale pink and yellow floss, Citrus Spritz leaves, and gem embellishment.

🎨 Stitching Recipe & Color Palette

For this project, I worked from the Color Cubes Palette #391 (Color Cubes Bundle) and pulled together a warm, happy scheme:

The combo of pinks, corals, and yellows pops beautifully against the fresh aqua-blue background!

✨ Finishing Touches

  • I added a touch of sparkle with Woodland Tales gems, which highlight the flower centers perfectly.
  • For the foliage, I decided to switch things up! Instead of using the leaves included in the set, I reached for the pretty die cut leaves from Citrus Spritz (Here is a LINK to a post using the Citrus Spritz Die Set).

💡 Extra Tips for Stitched Dies

  • Don’t be afraid to mix and match leaves, blooms, and embellishments from other kits for added variety.
  • Layering blooms in groups of three always creates a pleasing, balanced look.
  • Keep a small piece of tape handy to hold your floss tails on the back of stitched elements until you’re ready to glue them down.
Handmade die cut and stitched card using the floral Spellbinders September 2025 Stitching Die Club Kit.

This month’s kit is such a joy—relaxing to stitch, yet bold and beautiful when assembled. I can see these blooms being used for birthdays, thank you cards or just becuase.