Hello, crafty friends, and welcome back to the SCT blog. It’s Enza Gudor here, and today I’m excited to share a new card project featuring my all-time favorite technique: die-cutting!

While I love experimenting with various crafting supplies, die-cutting truly has my heart. The creative possibilities are endless, and I’m constantly inspired by how easily you can mix and match sets to build unique, layered designs. Other techniques may offer similar effects, but for me, nothing beats the versatility and satisfaction of a well-cut die.

When considering a design idea that showcases the versatility of die-cutting, I focused on three key elements: a unique card shape, a floral centerpiece, and a cozy autumnal vibe. While color plays a big role in setting the seasonal tone, I also leaned into nostalgic details such as a classic coffee cup and a timeless silhouette to bring that seasonal feeling to life.

Supplies | Hero Arts: Coffee or Tea Stamp & Cut; 49 & Market: Snap And Swap Merry Christmas Thinlits; Spellbinders: Step Into Spring – Small Die of the Month; Pinkfresh Studio Ink Cubes in Wild Truffles and Indian Summer, Altenew: Red Sunset Enamel Dots; Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L: EZ Runner Grand repositionable dots dispenser; Scrapbook.com: Reverse grip tweezers, Craft Pick Pro tool, dotted adhesive roller; Other: Sizzix Cardstock, Catherine Pooler Anchored 6×6 Patterned Paper, Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue

As always, I started by selecting cardstock in cozy shades of cream, orange, teal, and brown to create the perfect autumn-inspired palette. Then came the die-cutting! I used the Spellbinders Step Into Spring die set, which includes the sweetest tiny flowers, ideal for building a full floral arrangement. Their petite size also made them a perfect fit for embellishing my coffee cup.

For the cup, I stamped the outline image from the Hero Arts Coffee or Tea Stamp and Cut set using Pinkfresh Ink in Persimmon and cut it out with the coordinating die. Since the die doesn’t include an opening at the top, I carefully created one with a craft knife, just enough to tuck in the flowers and give the arrangement depth and a more realistic feel.

Next came the sentiment, which I stamped using Pinkfresh Ink in Espresso for a rich, warm tone. Since both the cup and sentiment were cut from orange cardstock, I added a brown shadow layer behind the sentiment to help ground the design and add depth, making it stand out against the background.

Before arranging the flowers and foliage, I built my background panel using the 49 and Market Snap and Swap Merry Christmas set. I started with a base layer of cream-colored cardstock and added a warm brown frame to anchor the design. At first, I thought the layout was complete, but once I began placing the cup and florals, something felt off. The design lacked contrast and depth, and it needed a grounding element to tie everything together. That’s when the Catherine Pooler Anchored patterned paper came in handy. Its soft plaid pattern and mustardy yellow tones added just the right touch of warmth and texture, creating the perfect autumn-inspired backdrop.

To add even more dimension, I used foam tape to adhere all my elements to the background, but not before double-wrapping a piece of twine around the coffee cup for a more rustic look.

A few enamel dots in coordinating colors finished the card.

Here is a tip for you! While you can use dies to cut a shaped, foldable card base at once, my go-to method starts with die-cutting two identical layers from sturdy 110lb cardstock. I score one of the layers about 7/8″ from the top to create a hinge, then adhere that flap to the back of the front panel, forming a clean, foldable card that holds its shape beautifully.

And that’s a wrap on today’s project! I hope this autumn-inspired card sparked some creative ideas and showed just how versatile die-cutting can be, especially when paired with cozy colors, layered textures, and a touch of seasonal magic. Whether you’re crafting for fall or just love a good shaped card, I’d love to see what you create. Thanks so much for stopping by, and see you soon.

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