Category Archives: Spellbinders

Spellbinders Gnome Drive Card Tutorial

Spellbinders-Gnome Drive-Hearts for You-Photoplay Serendipity-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Spellbinders Gnome Drive Card Tutorial with Photoplay Serendipity

Hello, Friends!  This adorable birthday card is made with Spellbinders Gnome Drive dies.  It’s part of the August release and it is so much fun to work with.  I’ve paired it up with vibrant Serendipity papers from Photoplay.  This gnome in her snazzy pink convertible looks ready to party!

There are 6 die sets and one sentiment stamp set in this fun release.  Our birthday party gnome is made with both the Holiday and Hearts for You set.  I also got the Spring set which features St. Patrick’s Day and Easter dies, but I’ll share those later when we are closer to the holiday.

If you are only going to get one die from this set, I  highly recommend that you get Gnome Drive Holiday.  That’s because it is the only set that comes with the car and the gnome body.  The other sets are what I call “add on” dies.

Tips for Working with Tiny Dies

Do you ever struggle when working with a die that has a lot of little pieces and layers?  I have a few helpful tips to make the job easier.

  • First, place your dies on a magnetic sheet so that  you don’t lose any of the itty bitty pieces.  It’s no fun digging through the trash can looking for that tiny gnome nose or steering wheel, let me tell you!
  • Save money by using magnetic furnace vent sheets instead of manufacturer magnetic die sheets.  Cut them to the size you need and you’ll save a ton of cash so you can buy more dies!
  • Die cut each piece from 110# cardstock (you can use scraps) before you die cut from patterned paper.  Then use the 110# cardstock as a base for the pattered paper.  It’s so much easier to handle small pieces this way.
  • Keep a small bowl or box at your side and place each die cut piece in it so they don’t get lost.
  • Finally, place each die back on the magnetic sheet after it has been cut.
A Peek Inside

Finish this cheery card with an inside pocket and gift card wallet.  You will learn how to make the wallet in the video tutorial for this card.

Gnome Drive Holiday Card

Here’s our happy little gnome getting ready for Christmas.  I don’t know what it is about gnomes, but they always make me chuckle!  I added googly eyes for even more fun.  Graphic 45 Twas the Night Before Christmas papers work perfectly with the Picot Petite Circle and glittery Christmas paper. Of course, I had to add some rusty jingle bells to the bow.

This simple card “recipe” works for any season or theme.  The same holds true for the gnomes.  Just change the papers, and they become gnomes for all seasons.

Throwback Thursday Gnome Drive Birthday Card Tutorial on YouTube

If you’d like to join me as I put the pieces of the Happy Birthday Gnome card together, please enjoy this video tutorial.

 

You can find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks for stopping by, friends!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Think Happy Bee Happy Bee Themed Card

Echo Park Bee Happy-Spellbinders Tiny Dots Embossing Folder-Reneabouquets-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design-Photo 01

Think Happy Bee Happy Bee Themed Card

Hello, Friends!  This Think Happy Bee Happy Bee Themed Card is a bright and cheery way to start a Wednesday morning.  I had a few Reneabouquets Lemon Branches left on my workspace after making yesterday’s Blue Dream Tea Party in a Box project.  They inspired me to break out my Echo Park Bee Happy paper and a new Tiny Dots Embossing folder from Spellbinders.  This card came together as quick as quick can be!  If you’re a bee lover, like me, I think you’re going to enjoy today’s card.

Sweet as Honey

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Here’s the “recipe” for this sweet as honey card:

  • First, create a 7″ x 5″ top fold card base from black cardstock.
  • Next, mat a 6 5/8″ x 4 5/8″ panel of black gingham paper on a 6 7/8″ x 4 7/8″ panel of white cardstock.
  • Mat a 6 5.8″ x 2″ panel of the small floral print on black cardstock and adhere as a belly band.
  • Now cut a 5 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ panel of yellow tone on tone patterned paper and emboss with the Tiny Dots embossing folder.  Then mat on slightly larger panels of white and black cardstock. Back with foam tape and adhere to the card base.
  • Adhere the Reneabouquets lemon branch, bee hive and bee on the left hand side of the card.
  • Back the ephemera tag with foam tape, top with ribbon, twine and bee charm and adhere on the right hand side of the card.
  • Add the flowers and the bows.

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See?  Told you it was easy!

A Peek Inside

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Dress up the inside of your card with more Bee Happy paper.  And of course, you have to add a pocket!

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What goes in the pocket?  Well, honey of course!  And how about we add  a packet of wild flower seeds so we can make a garden to feed the bees?

Naturally we have to add a Lemon and Ginger teabag to our tea sachet.  It’s the perfect accompaniment to this Think Happy Bee Happy Bee Themed Card.

I’m noticing a lot of pollinator gardens going up in our neighborhood.  Bees are our friends, and I think it is a bee-utiful thing to thank them for all that they do by planting some posies for them to enjoy.

Did this little card add some sunshine to your day?  Then my job is done here!

You’ll find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Stampendous House Mouse Cards

 

Stampendous House Mouse Spring Collection-LemonCraft Raspberry Garden-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design-Photo 01

Stampendous House Mouse Cards

Hello, Friends!  Today I have a trio of super sweet Stampendous House Mouse Cards to share with you.  These are part of the new House Mouse Spring Collection from Spellbinders.  I’m not much of a stamper…well, let me clarify.  I love to stamp…I’m just not great at coloring.  But these images were so sweet that I could not pass them up.  So I broke out my stamping gear and some watercolor pencils and was surprised to find that I actually enjoyed the process.  Here’s a peek at the end results.

Berry Good House Mouse

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How cute is this stamped scene?  These little mice are absolutely gorging themselves on ripe, juicy raspberries!  I can’t decide which mouse I like the best, but I’m very partial to the one who has eaten so many berries that he has to lie down, and the little one who’s trying to reach a tempting treat that is just out of his reach!  I made sure to stain the little mouse hands and lips with a bit of raspberry juice when I colored in the image.

The inside of the card is dressed up with Carta Bella Here, There, Everywhere patterned papers.  I added a pocket (no surprise) and a gift card wallet (also no surprise).  Then I decided I wanted a secret message panel.  Surprise!  So I scored the bottom edge of the 3×4 image and adhered it behind the base panel.  You can write a secret message here, and then add a photo to the top of the 5 1/2″ square card.

Spring Rain Card

That little mouse on the end….right?

Once again, I used the CB Here, There, Everywhere papers to dress up the inside of the card.

Tea for Two

I’ve saved my favorite stamp for last.  What could be sweeter than sharing a cuppa with a friend while perched on a stalk of wildflowers?   This time I stamped two sets of the image.  I created an inky background on the first one.  Then I colored the mice, teacups and flowers on the 2nd image and cut them out.  Add foam tape to the back to create a little dimension.  Then position between two panels of LemonCraft Raspberry Garden paper and stitch around the edges.  This is my favorite card of the three.

Add a sweet stamped sentiment, bookmark, decorated sentiment panel and gift card wallet to the pocket to finish off this card in style.

One of my goals for 2023 was to work on my stamping skills, so these cards were a good stepping stone toward that goal.  I have a long way to go, but I’m mostly very pleased with the way these cards turned out.

Which one is your favorite?  I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

You can find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Red White and Blue Country Road Wheelbarrow

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Red White and Blue Country Wheelbarrow

Hello, Friends!  This Red White and Blue Country Wheelbarrow reminds us that we are coming up on some of my favorite summer holidays.  Memorial Day, Flag Day and Independence Day will be here before we know it!  So I broke out my patriotic Really Reasonable Ribbon and Photoplay Paper Land That I Love collection to dress up this adorable Spellbinders Country Road Wheelbarrow.

Spellbinders Country Wheelbarrow-Really Reasonable Ribbon-Photoplay Paper-Land That I Love-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

This 5 1/2″ square greeting card is all about the stars and stripes!  RRR Striped Satin Ribbon provides a beautiful border above and below the Country Wheelbarrow.  I’ve filled it with patriotic flowers and foliage die cut with the Country Roads Garden Builder set.  Airmail Baker’s Twine Bows add a soft country finish beneath Deep Red Cherry Blossoms and Blue Cottage Roses.

TIP: Fussy cut the floral cluster and flags from the Photoplay Uncle Sam hat 3×4 image.  Then tuck it behind the wheelbarrow to add another layer of depth and dimension to the card design.

A Peek Inside

Don’t you love these beautiful papers?  Red white and blue always looks phenomenal in a project!

TIP: Add ribbon on top of the pocket to create a festive border.  Secure the ribbon with 1/4″ Scor-Tape for a quick and easy finish.

I’m proud to be an American, so I  always look forward to creating festive patriotic projects at this time of year!  No matter what country you are from, you should be proud of your nation, display its colors and celebrate your heritage.

I hope I shared some tips and tricks you can use in your next crafty adventure!

You’ll find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Butterflies and Flowers Girly Grunge Card

Spellbinders Hello You Floral-Beautiful Butterflies Embossing Folder-Simple Stories Cottage Fields-Really Reasonable Ribbon-Mixed Media Card-Kathy Clement-Photo 01

Butterflies and Flowers Girly Grunge Card with Really Reasonable Ribbon and Spellbinders

Hello, Friends!  We’re getting close to Mother’s Day, so I thought I would share this feminine Butterflies and Flowers Girly Grunge card with you today.  Pink was my mom’s favorite color, so I tend to create a lot of pink projects this time of year.

Mom loved pink so much, that when she was living with us, she decided to paint her entire  suite in shades of pink.  From the ceiling to the trim, every surface was a shade of pink.  Even the carpet was pink!  She said it felt like living inside a sunrise. True confession?  I like pink, too.

Tips and How-To’s

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The background for this card is the newly released Beautiful Butterflies 3-D embossing folder. Here’s how I created this girly grunge background panel.  I have a video tutorial that uses a similar technique with a different embossing folder.  You can view that HERE.

  • First, cut a 5″ x 7″ panel of Black/Rose from Simple Stories Cottage Fields Solids. Or use a soft pink sheet of cardstock.
  • Spritz the paper lightly with water, then place pink side up in the embossing folder.
  • Now rub the flat side (debossed) of the embossing folder with Antique Linen Distress ink.  Close the folder and run through your die cutting machine.
  • Remove the panel from the embossing folder and machine stitch onto a slightly larger panel of kraft cardstock.  Dry brush and spatter the folder with Ivory Chalk Paint and heat dry once more.
  • Next, place Bibi’s Hummingbirds Textures stencil over areas of the card and apply a light layer of Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.  Follow this with Ranger Crackle Texture paste.  The ink color will bleed through the texture paste for a great girly grunge effect.
  • Set aside to dry.
Flowers and Finishing Touches

Next, die cut a Picot Petite Oval from Cottage Fields patterned paper.  Ink lightly with Gathered Twigs and apply the stencil just as we did on the background.

Now die cut the Hello You Florals from Cottage Fields Patterned paper.  Layer together and arrange on your card.  You can brush the petals lightly with Nuvo Toasted Almond Mousse to add a little extra shine.

A poufy Pink Chevron Striped Twill bow topped with Brown Sugar Baker’s Twine and a vintage button is the perfect finishing touch for this pretty bouquet.

A Peek Inside

Mom deserves a treat on her special day, so I added a box pocket inside the card.

You can fill the pocket with Mom’s favorite tea, a honey stick, some chocolate, and a cookie packet to enjoy now.  She can plant the wildflower seeds (or better yet…you plant them for her) and enjoy those later.  The precious little vintage silver plate demitasse spoon is a gracious addition to her morning or afternoon tea ritual.

I hope I’ve shared some tips, how to’s and ideas that you can use in  your next crafty adventure.  I’ve added a linked supply list below this post so you can easily shop for the items I’ve used in this project.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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