Hi everyone! I’m back today with another top-folding birthday card that I’m really excited to share. This one was all about playing with textures and finding that perfect balance of color and shimmer. I ended up using quite a few different techniques and some of my favorite products to bring this one to life!

I started with the background, which is where the magic really begins. I went with a soft watercolor wash in shades of purple and blue. Once that was dry, I moved on to some heat embossing. For the leafy branch, I used a stamp set that I actually designed myself! It’s available over at rubberstamps.com if you want to check it out. I embossed the leaves with a glittery, shiny embossing powder that adds just the right amount of sparkle when the light hits it.

When it came to the card base, I had a little bit of a “crafter’s dilemma.” I initially thought about doing white-on-white, but I just couldn’t resist adding a bit more color. I created a teal striped rectangle that’s the exact size of an A2 card base. To save on cardstock, I actually die-cut the center out of that teal piece since only the outside frame would be visible anyway—always a good tip for stretching your supplies!

For the focal point, I used these gorgeous butterfly dies from scrapbook.com. I am absolutely in love with this die set; I’ve already used it so many times! I layered them to give them some dimension and placed them fluttering over the embossed branch. To finish it all off, I added a “Birthday Wishes” sentiment and a few silver gems for some extra “bling.”

I’m really happy with how this soft, ethereal look came together. If you’re curious about the specific butterfly die set or any other supplies, feel free to leave a comment or send me a DM—I’d love to chat!

Happy crafting!
~Varada