Spellbinders | Good Fortune Horse

Hello there, I am delighted to be over on the Spellbinders Blog today, sharing a step by step photo tutorial using the new Good Fortune Horse Clear Stamp & Die Set. The set features dies to create a horse (perfect for the Year of the Horse 2026) as well as a sentiment stamp set that works well with it. 

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.

I die cut the Good Fortune Horse from Classic White ColorWheel Cardstock and used Treasured Gold for the hooves, mane and tail. It was popped onto a card base made from Poppy ColorWheel Cardstock with a little ink blended added around the edges. I went with traditional red and golds for Lunar New Year but you can definitely use this horse all year round for other occasions. The sentiment was heat embossed using Gold Embossing Powder. 

SUPPLIES:

Here are the links to what I have used on the project. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.

For more information and step by step photos for the card, please visit the blog post. Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it it. I hope you have a great week ahead! 

Altenew | December 2025 Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hello there, I am delighted to be joining Altenew today to celebrate the December 2025 release with a fun and inspirational blog hop (with prizes!). I already shared one card using the release, which you can see here, and today I have another three cards to share all featuring birds!

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.

WHISPERS IN THE CANOPY

My first card uses the Altenew Craft Your Life Project Kit: Whispers in the Canopy. This fabulous kit includes a stamp set, die set, embossing folder and stencils (there is an optional add-on die set too for the sentiments). I focussed on the die set for today. 

I started off by die cutting the birds from the set from Altenew Crafty Necessities: Iceberg, Ultramarine, Azurite and Jet Black Cardstock. The pieces were layered up and adhered using liquid glue. I then die cut the bird house from Altenew Crafty Necessities: Sand Dunes, Milk Chocolate and Espresso Cardstock. Again, the pieces were layered up and adhered using liquid glue. 

I die cut the stem and leaves from the set from Altenew Crafty Necessities: Bamboo Cardstock. I used the branch piece as a stem but in hindsight, I should have cut it from brown cardstock and made it a branch! Never mind! I added the top piece of the bird house (the hanging part) around the stem/branch and then adhered them to a black US A2 sized card base with liquid glue, followed by the leaves. 

I then adhered the bird house on top using Altenew Instant Dimension Foam Tape, followed by the birds. I stamped a sentiment from the kit stamp set onto black cardstock using Altenew Embossing Ink. I applied Altenew Pure White Crisp Embossing Powder and heat set. It was cut into a strip and adhered to the card with more foam tape. To finish, I embellished with Altenew Clear Iridescent Stellar Sequins. 

FEATHERED BEAUTY + SHAPER TOOL SET

For my second card, I used Altenew Creative Cuts: Feathered Beauty. The set creates a large bird as well as some foliage and flowers. I die cut the bird from Altenew Crafty Necessities: Iceberg, Ultramarine, Azurite and Jet Black Cardstock. I die cut the ends of the wings from white cardstock. The pieces were adhered together using liquid glue. 

I then used the new Altenew Petal Shaper Tool Set to add some dimension to the wings. I placed the bird on the foam mat and then using one of the stylus tools, ran it over the wings to help shape them. This tool set is perfect for flowers but as you can see, works for other things too! 

The bird was adhered to a US A2 sized black card base (I will need to create a customised envelope for this card to fit into but I loved having the bird overlap the side of the card base!) using Altenew Instant Dimension Foam Tape. 

I then stamped a sentiment from the Altenew Craft Your Life Project Kit: Whispers in the Canopy Stamp Set onto black cardstock using Altenew Embossing Ink. I applied Altenew Pure White Crisp Embossing Powder and heat set. It was cut into strips and adhered to the card using foam tape. To finish, I embellished with Altenew Clear Iridescent Stellar Sequins. 

DECORATIVE LANTERN

My last card for today uses the new Altenew Decorative Lantern Layering Die Set combined with the Altenew Craft Your Life Project Kit: Whispers in the Canopy. I die cut the lantern from Altenew Crafty Necessities: Ultramarine and Azurite Cardstock. It was assembled and adhered using liquid glue. There is a candle that you can add to the lantern but I left it off for this card. 

I die cut the leaves from the CYL project kit from Altenew Crafty Necessities: Bamboo and Parrot Cardstock. They were adhered first to a 4.25" x 5.5" card panel using liquid glue. I then tied thread through the top of the lantern and adhered it to the panel using foam tape, adhering the thread behind the panel with tape. I then adhered the panel to a US A2 sized black card base. 

I tied a bow at the top of the lantern and then created the bird. I die cut him from Altenew Crafty Necessities: Dew Drops, Aqualicious, Teal Cave and Jet Black Cardstock. The pieces were adhered together using liquid glue and then adhered to the card using a combination of liquid glue and foam tape. I stamped and heat embossed a sentiment from Altenew Build-A-Garden: Hellebore Haven onto black cardstock, cut it into a strip and adhered it to the card. To finish I embellished with Altenew Clear Iridescent Stellar Sequins. 

BLOG HOP:

As mentioned, this post is part of a blog hop. Please click on the other participants links below to visit their blogs. 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

GIVEAWAY:

$300 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $100 gift certificate to 1 lucky winner and a $50 gift certificate to 4 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by December 18th for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 5 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew's Blog Hop Post on December 20th, 2025. The winner of the $100 gift certificate will be chosen from comments left on the Altenew blog. 

SUPPLIES:

Here are the links to what I have used on the projects. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.

I love using black card bases as I feel that, especially colourful die cuts, really pop from them. The downside, however, is that when taking photos, they never look that clean. I can assure you that in real-life, you cannot see those little specs of white on them! Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a great weekend! Take care! 

Simon Says Stamp | Birds in the Pines

Hello there, I hope you are well! Today I have a card to share using the Simon Says Stamp Birds in the Pines Embossing Folder and Die Set from the DieCember 2025 release. These embossing folder and die sets are great because you can either using the embossing folder as is, or die cut the focal point (in this case the birds) and use them as an extra layer or separately. 

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.

I started off my card by placing a panel of Spellbinders Teal Topaz ColorWheel Cardstock inside the Simon Says Stamp Birds in the Pines Embossing Folder and running it through my die cutting machine. I then die cut the birds from white cardstock and placed them inside the embossing folder and ran it through my die cutting machine again. 

I added ink blending to the background first using Altenew Sweet Dreams Fresh Dye Inks, focussing the darker shades where the pines are. I then added a little Altenew Jet Black Fresh Dye Ink to the corners of the panel. I splattered on Dr Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White Paint, again, mainly where the pines are. Once the panel was dry, I adhered it to a white US A2 sized card base. 

I added the lighter shades of Altenew Sweet Dreams Fresh Dye Inks to the birds, focussing mainly on the wings. Since the Teal Topaz cardstock gave more of a green hue to the background, I added Altenew Mystic Lake Fresh Dye Ink to the birds to try and match the colour. They were then adhered to the card using thin foam squares. 

I stamped a sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp Jingle All Way Stamp Set onto Hero Arts Pitch Black Cardstock using Versamark Ink. I applied white embossing powder and heat set. It was cut into a strip using the Simon Says Stamp Sentiment Labels Dies and adhered to the card with more foam squares. To finish, I added teeny tiny Spellbinders Onyx Color Essentials Gems to the birds for the eyes, and embellished with Concord & 9th Dew Drops.  

SUPPLIES:

 

Here are the links to what I have used on the project. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.

Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a wonderful day! 

Hero Arts | Get Well Soon

Hello there, today I have a card to share using some sets from the Hero Studio December 2025 release. You can see the cards that I made for the release here. Today I am using the Die Set and the Cling Stamp. 

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.

I started off my card by die cutting the Hero Studio December 2025 Die Set of the Month from Spellbinders ColorWheel Cardstock. I used Classic White for the bowl, Terra Cotta for the soup, Cinnamon for the swirl and Alabaster for the pasta.  To make the soup into minestrone, I die cut the coordinating die from the Hero Studio December 2025 Stamp & Die Set of the Month to add some extras. I used Spellbinders ColorWheel Cardstock again - Carrot for the carrots, Rainforest for the peas and Fawn for the croutons. 

I adhered the soup to the bowl, followed by the swirl and then the pasta, carrots, peas and croutons on top. I added dots to the soup using E08 and E07 Copic Markers. I then die cut the spoon from Spellbinders Matte Silver Treasured Cardstock and the hand from Spellbinders Classic White ColorWheel  Cardstock. I added Copic Marker shading to the hand with E11, E00 and E000 Markers. 

I adhered the soup to the spoon, followed by the pasta 'get well soon'. The spoon was then adhered to the hand. I took a panel of Spellbinders Waterfall ColorWheel Cardstock and stamped the Hero Studio December 2025 Cling Stamp of the Month on top with Hero Arts Paradise Core Ink to make it look like a placemat. It was adhered to an A2 sized white card base, followed by the bowl using thin foam tape. I then adhered the spoon part to the card with more thin foam tape and the hand part with thicker foam squares. 

SUPPLIES:

 

Here are the links to what I have used on the project. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.

Have you seen the news? My Monthly Hero Kits are returning to Hero Arts from January! There will be a My Monthly Hero Kit and a Super Hero Kit. I am really excited for them to be coming back! Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a great day! 

Altenew | Hellebore Haven

Hello there, I hope you are well. Today I have a card to share using the new Build-A-Garden set from Altenew called Hellebore Haven. It is part of the December 2025 release, which is out now! 

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.

I started off my card by stamping the floral image from the Altenew Build-A-Garden: Hellebore Haven stamp set onto white cardstock using Altenew Obsidian Pigment Ink. Using the coordinating stencils, I added colour to the image with ink blending. 

I used Altenew Lapis Lazuli Fresh Dye Inks for the petals. For the leaves, I used Altenew Whispering Woodland (Limeade & Lime) and Green Valley (Grass Field) Fresh Dye Inks. It was die cut out using the coordinating die and then adhered to a white A2 sized card base with Altenew Instant Dimension Foam Tape, cutting off the excess with scissors. 

I die cut the 'friend' sentiment from white cardstock for the base and Altenew Crafty Necessities: Jet Black Cardstock for the word itself. The layers were adhered together first and then onto the card base. I stamped the accompanying sentiment from the set onto white cardstock with Altenew Obsidian Pigment Ink. Cut it into a strip and adhered it to the card. To finish, I embellished with Altenew Clear Iridescent Stellar Sequins. 

SUPPLIES:

Here are the links to what I have used on the project. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.

I will have more cards to share on Saturday for the blog hop, so I hope to see you then. Thank you so much for visiting me today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a wonderful day! 

Spellbinders | Heart Owls

Hello there and happy Monday to you! Today I have a card to share using the Spellbinders December 2025 Small Die of the Month Club Kit called "Better Together". It features two sets of animals - owls and otters. I used the owls today but I'll definitely use the otters in future too, they are so cute! 

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.

I started off by die cutting the owls from the Spellbinders December 2025 Small Die of the Month Club Kit from Spellbinders Fawn, Truffle, Raven and Classic White ColorWheel Cardstock for the owl on the left, and Spellbinders Alabaster, Fawn, Raven and Classic White ColorWheel Cardstock for the owl on the right. The heart wings were both cut from Spellbinders Pomegranate ColorWheel Cardstock. 

I then assembled the owls using Bearly Art Glue. I die cut the branch three times from Spellbinders Acorn ColorWheel Cardstock and adhered them one on top of another (for added dimension) and then on to a black A2 sized card base made from Hero Arts Pitch Black Cardstock. The owls were adhered on top using thin foam tape. 

I die cut the flower crown from Spellbinders Peridot ColorWheel Cardstock for the base leaf layer, Classic White for the flowers and Beeswax for the flower centres. It was adhered to the owl on the right. I then die cut the larger flowers from the set, along with the leaves (from both Peridot and Rainforest ColorWheel Cardstock) and adhered them to the branch. 

I hot foiled the 'Happy Anniversary' sentiment from the Spellbinders A Special Toast Sentiments BetterPress Plate & Die Set onto more Pitch Black Cardstock using Spellbinders White Foil and the Glimmer Hot Foil System. It was die cut out and adhered to the card (with another two die cuts underneath). To finish, I embellished with Spellbinders Onyx Color Essentials Gems. 

SUPPLIES:

 

Here are the links to what I have used on the project. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.

These owls would be great for Valentine's and other general love projects too but I always need anniversary cards, so I was happy to add one to my card box to use for a future occasion! Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a great week ahead! Take care!

VIDEO | Pinkfresh Studio Lush Elegance Embroidery Hoop Card

Hello there, I was delighted to be over on the Pinkfresh Studio YouTube channel yesterday sharing a fun embroidery hoop shaped card using debossing with dies and the beautiful Lush Elegance suite of products. 

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.

I started off my card by stamping the floral stamp from the Pinkfresh Studio Lush Elegance Stamp Set onto white cardstock using Pinkfresh Studio Detail Black Ink. Using the Pinkfresh Studio Lush Elegance Stencils, I added colour to the flowers with ink blending. I used Slumber and Sapphire inks for the flowers, and Fresh Pear and Key Lime for the leaves. 

They were then die cut out using the coordinating die. I die cut two of the largest Pinkfresh Studio Double Stitch Circle Dies and added debossing on to one using the Pinkfresh Studio Trellis Coverplate Die. Not sure how to do this? I share how to in the video below! I then die cut the largest of the Pinkfresh Studio Embroidery Hoops Die three times from white cardstock and adhered them on top of another onto the debossed piece. 

I cut a little off the bottom of the other circle and then added a score line at the top to create a hinge. I added adhesive to the hinge and adhered to to the back of the embroidery hoop piece to create the card base. The flowers were adhered on top using liquid glue and foam squares. 

I stamped the sentiment from Pinkfresh Studio Lush Elegance Stamp Set onto white cardstock using Pinkfresh Studio Detail Black Ink. It was die cut out using the coordinating die and adhered to the card. To finish, I embellished with Pinkfresh Studio Sky Blue Clear Drops. 

VIDEO:

Here is the video showing how I made the card:

If you are viewing this blog post via email subscription, you can watch the video HERE on YouTube. 

SUPPLIES:

 

Here are the links to what I have used on the project. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.

As I mention in the video, I think this would make a really pretty tag too but I am definitely partial to a shaped card! Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a wonderful day! 

Simon Says Stamp | DieCember 2025

Hello there and happy DieCember to you! If you are new to DieCember, it is a month long celebration held by Simon Says Stamp for the month of December celebrating all things die cutting. The main DieCember 2025 release is out today but there will be other collaborations and giveaways throughout the month. Simon Says Stamp kindly sent me some new products to play with and I will be sharing the cards I made throughout the month. 

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.

My first card for DieCember 2025 uses the new Simon Says Stamp Resting Dove Pair Dies. As the name suggests, the set consists of two doves (with separate dies for the bodies, wings and beaks), as well as an olive branch. I die cut the doves from white cardstock, using Spellbinders Beeswax ColorWheel Cardstock for the beaks, and Hero Ats Pitch Black Cardstock for the eyes. 

I then die cut the older Simon Says Stamp Clustered Leaves Die from Spellbinders Peridot ColorWheel Cardstock and added ink blending on top with Altenew Green Valley Fresh Dye Inks. I took an A2 sized card base made from Spellbinders Cosmic Sky ColorWheel Cardstock and added ink blending around the edges with Hero Arts Nautical and Pitch Black Core Inks. 

I die cut the leaf cluster another two times and adhered them on to the card base one at a time, cutting off the excess off from the sides using scissors. The ink blended one was adhered on top. The doves were then adhered on top of the leaves. 

I stamped a sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp Tiny Words Christmas Stamp Set onto more Cosmic Sky cardstock using Versamark Ink. I applied white embossing powder and heat set. It was cut into a strip using the Simon Says Stamp Sentiment Labels Dies and adhered to the card with thin foam tape. To finish, I embellished with Concord & 9th Dew Drops. 

 

SUPPLIES:

Here are the links to what I have used on the project. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.

Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a wonderful day! 

Hero Arts | Hero Studio December 2025 Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hello there, I am delighted to be joining Hero Arts today for a fun blog hop to celebrate the Hero Studio December 2025 release. The theme this month is soup!

The Card Kit of the Month, Stamp & Cut of the Month, Dies of the Month, Layering Stencils of the Month, and Cling of the Month all released on Monday. You can also purchase the Whole Studio which includes all of the kits and a free gift. Today, I am focussing on the Card Kit and Layering Stencils. 

PLEASE NOTE: This post contains affiliate links. Please see below for my full disclosure.

HERO STUDIO CARD KIT

The Big Squishy Hugs Die in the Hero Studio December 2025 Card Kit is a fun one! You cut out two panels with arms and then they fit together to create a card front. You can then pop the heart behind (or use something else for the person to be hugging!). You can cut these from different colours of cardstock but for my card, I decided to cut them both from white cardstock. 

I cut the arms again from Alabaster ColorWheel Cardstock and cut just the hands off and adhered them over the white die cuts. I cut the base layer of the sleeves from Fairy Tale ColorWheel Cardstock and the stripes from Lavender ColorWheel Cardstock. I adhered the arm panels to a white A2 sized card base and then cut the heart from Lilac ColorWheel Cardstock and popped it behind the arms. 

I stamped the sentiments from the kit stamp set onto white cardstock using Intens-ified Black Ink and die cut them out using the coordinating dies before adhering them to the card. To finish, I added white gel pen highlights to the heart. 

WHAT’S IN THE KIT?

The Hero Arts December 2025 Card Kit includes:

You're Souper Clear Stamp Set
You're Souper Coordinating Dies
Big Squishy Hugs Die Set
Brown Acrylic Speckle, .5 oz.

10 Sheets of Cardstock- 1 of each color, 5.5" x 8.5" (Poppy, Pomegranate, Carrot, Terra Cotta, Cinnamon, Beeswax, Saffron, Tuscan, Truffle, Alabaster)

HERO STUDIO LAYERING STENCILS

The Hero Studio December 2025 Layering Stencils create a soup can pattern. The different layers of the stencils create different layers of the cans (including background panels) to create a whole background panel. As you can see, I went in a slightly different direction ...

I decided to create two soup cans from shades of purple ink (Orchid, Amethyst & Grape Juice Core Inks) and omitted the background layer. I fussy cut them out and popped two on a card base with a strip of Pitch Black Cardstock at the bottom. The sentiment is from the Hero Studio December 2025 Card Kit. To finish, I embellished with black enamel dots and fine liner pen dots. 

BLOG HOP:

For the hop, you should have arrived here from Mindy. Next on the hop is Michelle. If you get lost along the way or want to start the hop from the beginning, please head over to the Hero Arts Blog. 

GIVEAWAY:

Hero Arts will give away a $50 gift card, drawn from the comments left across the hop. Enter by 7th December 2025 at 11:59pm PT, 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!

SUPPLIES:

Here are the links to what I have used on the projects. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.

Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a wonderful rest of the day!