Crafting is one of the best ways to beat the heat, especially during sizzling summers. Whether you’re staying cool indoors or looking for a creative outlet, making a personalized birthday card is a fun and meaningful project. Recently, I had the pleasure of working with some beautiful dies from Cottage Cutz's Folk Art collection. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how I created a charming birthday card using the Folk Art Mixed Flowers Die Set. Let’s dive into the process, and hopefully, it’ll inspire you to create your own.

Step 1: Choosing the Base and Die Set

For this project, I made a side-folding A4 birthday card for my future sister-in-law. The key feature of the card is the intricate and elegant flower dies from Cottage Cutz’s Folk Art Mixed Flowers Die Set. These dies offer a variety of shapes, giving you plenty of options to create vibrant floral arrangements.

Step 2: Cutting and Coloring the Flowers

Once I had selected the die set, I started by cutting out the flowers using white cardstock. If you're new to die cutting, it's simple: place the die and paper into your die-cutting machine and let the machine do the work. After cutting the flowers, I added some personal flair by coloring them with markers. This is where you can get creative! I chose to leave some flowers white for contrast, but you can opt for any color scheme that suits your card's theme. To add dimension to the card, I adhered foam pieces to the back of some flowers, giving them a subtle lift from the card base.

Step 3: Creating the Card Mat

To enhance the floral elements, I selected a lavender cardstock for the mat, which I ran through my die-cutting machine using an embossing folder. The embossing added texture and depth to the card, making it feel more intricate and layered. Towards the top of the card, I incorporated a nested stitched circle doily die, which created a delicate and detailed backdrop for the flowers. I also used a smaller pierced circle die to create a complementary mat that fit perfectly within the doily design.

Step 4: Adding the Sentiment

A birthday card wouldn’t be complete without a heartfelt sentiment. For this card, I used Cottage Cutz's "Happy Birthday Shadow" die to create the focal sentiment. I placed it at the top of the card on the pierced circle mat. The shadow effect of the die cut adds a touch of elegance, making the sentiment pop. Using foam tape, I added some height to the sentiment to give it a three-dimensional appearance, which pairs beautifully with the layered flowers.

Step 5: Final Touches and Embellishments

To make the card truly shine, I added some finishing touches to the flowers. I applied Stickles glitter glue to some of the flower centers, giving them a subtle sparkle. In addition, I used diamond dots for the centers of other flowers, adding a bit of shimmer and texture. These small details elevate the card’s design and make it feel extra special.

Step 6: Assembling the Card

Once all the individual elements were ready, I began assembling the card. I strategically placed the flowers around the die-cut sentiment, ensuring that some flowers overlapped for a cohesive look. The foam tape beneath the flowers and sentiment helped create a dimensional effect, making the card visually appealing and dynamic.

Step 7: Showcasing the Finished Product

Here's a closer look at the final card. The lavender mat, intricate die cuts, and layered flowers come together to create a stunning, handmade birthday card. The sentiment, placed on top of the circle pierced mat, adds just the right amount of elegance. The foam tape used for the sentiment and flowers adds depth, making the card feel lively and textured.

Stay Inspired with Cottage Cutz

If you’re looking for more crafting inspiration, don’t forget to check out the Cottage Cutz YouTube channel. They have a wealth of tutorials and projects that will spark your creativity and help you take your card-making skills to the next level. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned crafter, there’s something for everyone.

Conclusion: Craft Your Own Masterpiece

And that’s it for today’s project! Creating a personalized birthday card is a wonderful way to show someone you care, and using Cottage Cutz dies makes the process easy and enjoyable. If you’re in the mood for crafting, give this project a try and add your own unique touches along the way. Keep coming back for more crafting ideas from the talented designers at Cottage Cutz. Until next time, have a wonderfully crafty day!

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