Fun Ways to Use Small Dies for Big Impact

DISCLAIMER: This is a sponsored post for Honey Bee Stamps. All products featured were selected and chosen for use by myself.

I’ve said it many, many times, but it’s worth repeating…dies are some of the most versatile products to have in your arsenal! I’m almost always most drawn to die sets that have lots of little dies included. You know, the dies included to create flowers and accents. But seasonal “add-on” dies are some of my favorites as well. The Christmas Market Cart Add On and the Lovely Layers: Front Porch Holiday Add On dies are perfect examples. Even if you don’t have the main set for these, there is still so much you can do with them!

I had a blast going through my stash and finding things to pair with these. I had a lot of options to choose from, but landed on a past favorite of mine – the Joy Noel Wreath die. I just love the scale of the Joy and Noel words included in this set and was excited to show it some love again.

For the first card I die cut the letters “J” and “Y” from brushed gold cardstock. I decided to swap the “O” out for a wreath. There is a wreath in both of the add on sets, and both would work perfectly, but I chose the wreath from the Christmas Market Cart set. For the background, I used the Kaleidoscope 3D embossing folder – another past favorite of mine. And for the sentiment, I went with the Mini Messages: Holiday stamp set and cut it out using the coordinating Mini Messages Banners. All of my cards today feature sentiments from this set. It’s such a good one!

For the next card I went with a little more of a homespun feel.

This time I cut the letters from white cardstock and chose to nestle the adorable little snowman from the Lovely Layers: Front Porch Holiday Add On set inside of the “O”. This little guy is so much fun! His little outstretched arms were just begging to hold a strand of Christmas lights, and I was happy to oblige. 😉 I add a trimmed down string of lights from the Christmas Market Cart add on set and adorned the bottom of the “O” with a little greenery and bow from the same set. I went simple and old school for the background and ran a piece of Kraft cardstock through my Fiskars Paper Crimper for a corrugated look. I just love how the “O” now resembles a wreath with the snowman popping out from the center.

Now, let’s use the same supplies and take it a little more modern.

I flipped the orientation to portrait for this one and arranged my letters vertically-ish, a little staggered. I cut greenery and holly from the Christmas Market Cart Add On and decorated each letter. The sentiment is white heat embossed onto brushed gold cardstock. I can’t believe I haven’t thought to do this before, I absolutely love it! I wanted a more subtle background for this one and the Woodgrain 3D Embossing Folder fit the bill perfectly. A few gold pearls from the Metallic Mix Pearls adds the finishing touch.

I’ve got one more to share with you. This one has a very traditional feel, and is just plain fun!

How cute is that? This time I decided to use the “JOY” as a backdrop for a simple scene. I used the same lights from the second card to string across JOY. And the greenery and bows are the perfect size to add at each junction. I’d like to think this little guy is at a tree lot picking out his perfect Christmas tree. LOL The subtle texture of the Burlap 3D Embossing Folder adds the perfect amount of texture to scene.

I hope you enjoyed these fun cards. And don’t forget to take a look at the dies you have in your stash, I bet you’ve got some hidden gems in there!

FEATURED SUPPLIES

Christmas Market Cart Add-On Shop at: HBS	Lovely Layers: Front Porch Holiday Add On Shop at: HBS	Joy Noel Wreath Shop at: HBS	Metallic Mix Pearl Stickers Shop at: HBS
Burlap 3D Embossing Folder Shop at: HBS	Mini Messages: Holiday Shop at: HBS	Onyx Cardstock Shop at: SPB	MSP Precision Glue Press Shop at: HBS | SHOP
Tsukineko Versamark EMBOSS INK PAD Shop at: HBS	Precision Heat Embossing Tool Gun Hero Arts Shop at: SSS	MINI MISTI PRECISION STAMPER Stamping Tool Kit Shop at: SSS | HBS | SHOP	WOW Super Fine Bright White Embossing Powder Shop at: HBS
Spellbinders Platinum 6 Shop at: SPB	Cottontail Embossing Powder Tool Shop at: HBS | SHOP	Concord & 9th Cardstock – Poppy Shop at: SHOP	Concord & 9th Cardstock – Sampler Pack Shop at: SHOP
Kaliedoscope – 3D Embossing Folder Shop at: HBS	Honey Bee Adhesive Foam Sheets Shop at: HBS	C9 Cardstock – Wheat Shop at: SHOP	Brushed Gold Cardstock Shop at: SPB
Spellbinders Brights Sampler Pack Cardstock Shop at: SPB	Woodgrain 3D Embossing Folder Shop at: HBS	Mini Messages Banner dies Shop at: HBS	Timber Cardstock Shop at: SPB
Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb cardstock Shop at: HBS