Winter has a way of stripping things down. The holidays are over, routines are settling back in, and the pace feels slower but not necessarily easier. That in-between space is where this card landed for me, and honestly, the humor felt very appropriate.

This card was created using the This Is Life collection from Spellbinders, featuring the Favorite Side Effect dies. The characters say it all. A little tired, a little hopeful, and very much showing up anyway. Sometimes that is the whole story.

I kept the design clean and simple so the sentiment and characters could shine. A soft blue background sets a calm tone, while the dimensional die cuts add personality without overwhelming the card. The result feels lighthearted but grounded, which is exactly what I was aiming for.

Design Highlights 💊

• Favorite Side Effect dies as the focal point
• Clean, minimal background to support the humor
• Soft color palette for a calm Winter feel
• Dimensional die cutting to bring the characters to life
• Simple sentiment placement to keep the design balanced

✂️Studio Tip: When working with character dies and longer sentiments, give them space to breathe. A clean background and generous margins help the message read clearly and keep the design from feeling crowded. Let the characters do the talking.

This card made me smile while I was creating it, and that alone feels like a small win this time of year. Sometimes cardmaking is less about perfection and more about shared understanding.

Have a wonderfully creative day.