card making techniques
Ferns & Gratitude
This clean and elegant thank you card was made using products from the Moments In Time release by Simon Says Stamp. I featured layered fern fronds with soft, natural color blending and placed them over a gently inked rectangle to ground the design. A few subtle embellishments add just enough texture, while the “thank you” sentiment keeps things simple and heartfelt. The result is a modern, minimal card that feels thoughtful and refined — perfect for showing appreciation in a stylish way.
Thank You with a Twist – Blackout Technique
This thank-you card features products from Simon Says Stamp’s Moments In Time release — and a bold twist on the Blackout technique! Instead of using traditional black for the background, I opted for a rich navy blue to let the colors shine while keeping things soft and deep. I used the Floral Bundles embossing folder and colored the raised flowers with bright pinks and greens, letting them pop against the moody base. The Giggle Thank You die adds playful charm, and a bit of white twine and pearls finish off the look. Bold, modern, and full of personality — perfect for sending some standout gratitude! 💙
This Bee is Ready to Party 🐝🌼 + Blog Hop Day 1!
This bright and cheerful bee-day card was created using products from Simon Says Stamp’s Moments In Time release — and it’s full of sunshine and smiles! 🐝💛 The star of the show is the dimensional tattered daisy, paired with a party-ready bee and a fun embossed sentiment on a diagonal yellow strip. The colors are warm and happy, and a few translucent embellishments add just the right amount of sparkle. Whether it’s for a birthday or a just-because moment, this handmade card brings the buzz in the best way!
Relax, You’ve Earned It 🌿
This handmade card was created using products from Simon Says Stamp’s Moments In Time release, and it’s all about calm vibes and creative texture 🌿. I featured a bold snake plant and used multiple types of embossing paste to add rich dimension to the leaves. Each layer was carefully applied and allowed to dry completely before adding the next — a slow process, but one that was totally worth it for the depth and tactile finish. A soft dotted, double-stamped background and a bold “Relax” sentiment tie everything together in a clean, grounded design that feels just as peaceful as it looks.
A Sweet & Sunny Card with Buzz-Worthy Charm
This handmade birthday card was created using products from Simon Says Stamp’s Moments In Time release — and it’s full of bright color and playful charm! 🐝💛 I paired a party-ready bee with a sweet, layered cake, both colored in sunny shades to match the softly ink-blended background. A circle of shimmer vellum helps those images stand out without losing the warmth of the color underneath. With a cheeky “Happy Birthday, Honey” sentiment and a few sparkly gems, this card is perfect for sending smiles to someone sweet!
Dimensional Cosmos + a Clever Foil Twist
This card features the stunning cosmos from Susan Tierney-Cockburn’s Summer Solstice Garden Collection at Spellbinders — and wow, do they bring the drama! These dimensional blooms are shaped and shaded for a lifelike effect that truly pops off the card. Because of all that lovely height, this card isn’t mailbox-friendly — it’s best hand-delivered or sent in a box 💌. And check out the sentiment! I created it using leftover foil from a prior BetterPress plate foiling — the negative foil became a second, high-contrast version with white text on a black background. A sweet “thinking of you” moment with texture, color, and a clever twist!
Say Cheese
This oval-shaped birthday card is full of retro charm 📼 and vibrant colors 🌈 — all thanks to the Take Note Collection from @teamspellbinders! I used the 🎞 Reel Color Die to create a vintage viewfinder look, complete with a colorful mix of squares and a tiny camera 📸 front and center. That camera steals the spotlight with its bold red lens 🔴 and layered details. The sentiment 🥳 ties it all together, making this the perfect card to send snapshot-worthy celebration vibes. With its unique shape and cheerful palette, this one’s definitely a keeper! 💌
Dear Friend Poppies
Hi everyone! There’s something timeless about a red poppy — bold, elegant, and full of meaning. For this card, I...
Bright Skies Ahead
📌 I created this 4.75” x 4.25” card using several charming elements from the Spellbinders Take Note Collection! I used the BetterPress Take Note Press Plate two ways: first, traditionally with ink for the notepaper look, and second, dry embossed into the background for a subtle bit of texture. I built a rainy day scene layered with clouds, raindrops, and a cheerful umbrella — complete with playful touches like a sunshine corner, push pin, and the sweetest sentiment: “Friends make every view brighter.” A bright little reminder that cloudy days don’t last when you’ve got good friends nearby!
Petunias in Bloom and A Hummingbird in Flight
This dimensional card features gorgeous products from Susan Tierney-Cockburn’s Summer Solstice Garden Collection at Spellbinders. I used the Petunia Cascade embossing folder to create a soft, elegant background, then layered in 3D petunias and a delicate hummingbird for a lifelike, garden-inspired look. The blooms are shaped and shaded to add incredible depth — perfect for showcasing by hand or in a gift box (definitely not one for a standard envelope ✋💌). This card is a little breath of summer in paper form, and it was such a joy to create!