Posted by Spellbinders Team
on March 04, 2026
Hi folks, Kavya from @handmadebykavya here with some tips and tricks to make bold retro-looking cards!
If you follow me on Instagram, you would know that I love finding ways to make my die cuts more fun. In this tutorial, I am going to share some of my go-to ideas to make quick and simple cards!
Step 2: Next, ink blend the center of the smaller rectangle using the Black Soot distress oxide dye ink.
Step 3: Splatter some Yasutomo Pale Gold Japanese Watercolor on the ink-blended cardstock.
Step 4: Now take the larger die-cut rectangle and ink blend the edges using Black Soot distress oxide ink.
Step 5: Adhere the smaller rectangle on top of the larger rectangle using foam tape.
Step 6: Next, die-cut the HBD balloons out of the white cardstock.
Step 7: Ink blend the balloons using a set of rainbow distress oxide inks. I used Picked Raspberry, Abandoned Carol, Spiced Marmalade, Fossilized Amber, Mowed Lawn, and Broken China.
Step 8: To make the balloons look realistic, we are going to give it a glossy finish. First, press the balloons against the embossing ink.
Step 9: Then, emboss the balloons using clear embossing powder.
Step 10: Next, die-cut the balloon strings and the background of the Yay die using holographic cardstock. If you do not have this, you can use any foil cardstock, like silver!
Step 11: Die-cut the Yay letters using Raven cardstock
Step 12: Adhere the Yay letters to the background using foam tape.
Step 13: Place the Yay letters on the card base that we prepared in the early steps of this tutorial
Step 14: Adhere the balloons on top of the Yay letters using foam tape.
Step 15: Using a white gel pen, add details like tiny sparkles
Step 16: And you are done!
If you follow me on Instagram, you would know that I love finding ways to make my die cuts more fun. In this tutorial, I am going to share some of my go-to ideas to make quick and simple cards!
Instructions
Step 1: Start by die cutting two rectangles using the Linear Touch Rectangles and Tag Etched dies and some lilac cardstock.
Step 2: Next, ink blend the center of the smaller rectangle using the Black Soot distress oxide dye ink.
Step 3: Splatter some Yasutomo Pale Gold Japanese Watercolor on the ink-blended cardstock.
Step 4: Now take the larger die-cut rectangle and ink blend the edges using Black Soot distress oxide ink.
Step 5: Adhere the smaller rectangle on top of the larger rectangle using foam tape.
Step 6: Next, die-cut the HBD balloons out of the white cardstock.
Step 7: Ink blend the balloons using a set of rainbow distress oxide inks. I used Picked Raspberry, Abandoned Carol, Spiced Marmalade, Fossilized Amber, Mowed Lawn, and Broken China.
Step 8: To make the balloons look realistic, we are going to give it a glossy finish. First, press the balloons against the embossing ink.
Step 9: Then, emboss the balloons using clear embossing powder.
Step 10: Next, die-cut the balloon strings and the background of the Yay die using holographic cardstock. If you do not have this, you can use any foil cardstock, like silver!
Step 11: Die-cut the Yay letters using Raven cardstock
Step 12: Adhere the Yay letters to the background using foam tape.
Step 13: Place the Yay letters on the card base that we prepared in the early steps of this tutorial
Step 14: Adhere the balloons on top of the Yay letters using foam tape.
Step 15: Using a white gel pen, add details like tiny sparkles
Step 16: And you are done!
Spellbinders Supplies:
1 comment
Love this!