ThePowerOfACard

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Additional Ways to use the Hot Foil Dies

I am so very excited about today's video!! You may have heard that Stampin' Up! released a new line of products for hot foiling - I love the system and all of the dies/stamps they have released. But this video is not about hot foiling - it is about how to use those hot foil dies in alternative ways than foiling! This will make them more useful and valuable in your craft room. I know they are a big investment and I am thrilled to show you how to get more from them.

I have two techniques that I'm demonstrating in the video and I won't be making a card. However, I have twelve (yes, twelve!) cards to show you using these two techniques. The first one is by using the Impressions Plate and the hot foil die and the result is almost like an embossing folder. I normally like to spritz my paper with water before making my sandwich, but I forgot when filming. As you can see, it works fine, but with the addition of a little water spritz, it will make the paper fibers less likely to crack. You will get a deep impression, but it's not as crisp as what you would get from a 3D embossing folder. The second technique is inking the die, either with Versamark (a clear ink most commonly used with heat embossing) or regular ink pads. For this method, I will be using the sandwich used for hot foiling plus an additional paper shim.

Both techniques require the use of the Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (SCEM). Here are the layers used for making an impression:

Plate 1 (the thick base plate)
Plate 2
Hot Foil Die with smooth side down
Paper
Impressions Plate (the black rubbery one)
Plate 4 (the gray plate used with 3D embossing folders)

For inking, here are the layers:

Stampin' Hot Foil Platform (not hot!)
Hot Foil Die with inked surface up
Paper
Hot Foil Shim
Hot Foil Spacer
Paper shim (I used some of the white paper that comes in the packs of DSP) - you may not need this depending on the pressure in your SCEM

My first card features the Botanical Glow Bundle, which was my favorite set from the first release of Hot Foil products. I made my impression on Crumb Cake cardstock. Both sides look great an I chose the debossed side. Before adhering it to my card base with Dimensionals, I used a Blending Brush to add some Pecan Pie ink around the edges. I completed the card by stamping some of the leaves from the bundle and a sentiment from Words of Beauty on a circle of Basic White.

This one actually features three Hot Foil sets and a little gold foiling too. The background was done with the Starry Night Bundle on white. My tree is from the Twinkling Tidings Bundle (inked with Garden Green, Granny Apple Green and Pecan Pie), and the star and sentiment are from the Magical Christmas Bundle. After doing the initial gold foiling for these words, I used the Reverse Plate to use the leftover foil sheet, thus getting the gold background around "white" words. This is a fantastic die to have because it allows you to get double the designs from a single piece of foil.

My last impressions sample features the Buffalo Check. This is a large die and it works so well to give the detailed impression of the checked design! I was actually surprised at how well it worked with the Impressions Plate. I used the embossed strip on a card base of Daffodil Delight, then used the Fern & Flora bundle to make the rest of the card elements. I love the black and white pieces on the bright yellow. The dots are from the Adhesive Backed Bats Ghosts & Dots embellishments.

Switching to the second technique, the first batch of cards were done with Versamark ink. This ink will leave a darker shade of the paper it's stamped on as a watermark. I used the Lustrous Leaves Bundle (which also has Decorative Masks to color the leaves) and cut out five leaves in each of Granny Apple Green, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Cajun Craze, Real Red and Poppy Parade. My sentiment and label are from the Radiant Sunflowers Bundle. I love the subtle look of the veins in each of the leaves. Since I had so many leaves cut out, I've made several other cards using them and still have leftovers!

This next card once again features the Magical Christmas Bundle. For this one, I didn't cut out the words but left them as the focal point of the card. I have to thank my upline, Dena Rekow, for giving me the idea for this in the first place. She made a card with another Hot Foil die and that got me to experimenting with this being my first card. I used Real Red as my card base and the Pretty Poinsettia stamp set for the rest.

The Echoes of Detail Bundle has three Hot Foil dies and six stamps for making cool backgrounds. I used the brick die on Cajun Craze, matted with Early Espresso and placed it on a base of Crushed Curry. The vase of flowers was made using the Radiant Sunflowers dies and the Sunflower Fields DSP pack. My sentiment is from a recent Product of the Month, Begonia Belle. A bow of Linen Thread adds the finishing touch.

To color my wreath, which is from the Wreath & Wonder Dies, I used Watercolor Pencils and a Blender Pen. I added a double Linen Thread bow and mounted it on an arch cut from Cherry Cobbler cardstock using the Everyday Arches dies, then embossed with the Softly Woven 3D embossing folder. The sentiment (from Stitched Stockings) was heat embossed with white (WOW Embossing Powder Basics) and the background of the card was stamped with texture from Gears & Textures.

The Framed & Fabulous Bundle is one of my favorites, mainly because of the sentiments that are in the stamp set. I inked the large scalloped circle with Versamark on Cloud Cover paper. The smaller circle was used without the coordinating hot foil die and stamped in Secret Sea. The DSP is the 2025-2027 In Color 6" DSP and the ribbon is Cloud Cover Textured ribbon.

This card has both inked and Versamark pieces. I used the Starry Night dies with Balmy Blue ink on white, and Versamark on Balmy Blue paper. The letters were cut with the Party Alphabet dies and stamped with the Starry Night stamp. I added a little shine with a sparkle gel pen and tied a bow with the Balmy Blue Gingham ribbon. My inside sentiment came from the Pretty Poinsettia set.

A Christmas Wish has a large snowflake with Christmas Wishes as the center sentiment, which can be cut with the die. For my card, I inked the die with Garden Green on white, which was matted in the same color and popped up on a Crumb Cake base. The inside sentiment was made with the Magical Christmas Bundle, also using Garden Green ink. I also tried this one with inking and the impressions plate - the result was OK but not as good as I would have liked. Still, it made an interesting sample and I may give it a try again to see if my results are any better.

My Buffalo Check with black on Poppy Parade is the traditional color combo for this pattern. I have to give a shout out to my daughter Kristin for the suggestion. I didn't think it would work as well as it did and it has become one of my favorites! I used the Stitched Stockings Bundle for the gift and sentiments and a little Wink of Stella to add a little glimmer to the bow/ribbon on the gift.

My last card features the Butterfly Flight Bundle. This was part of the first release of Hot Foil dies and also comes with Decorative Masks to color the butterflies easily. Since we can never seem to have enough butterflies in our lives, I made mine with black ink (our foils come in Gold, Silver, Light Pink, Copper, Red, Green and Silver Opal, not black (yet)) and colored them with Darling Duckling, Timid Tiger and Strawberry Slush. I added a die cut black body and mounted it on a square cut with the Tile Garden dies. My sentiment is from All Aflutter and the DSP is the Basics Painted Patterns.

There are so many possibilities for using your Hot Foil Dies! My hope is that knowing you can use them for more than just foiling, you will consider the investment to be worth it. I had a ton of fun making these samples for you - which is your favorite? Which will be the first one you want to try? Please enjoy!

Karen

ThePowerOfACard@gmail.com

Shop my Store! (or use the QR code below)

If you don’t have an on-line account with me as your demonstrator, please go to my store and get one.

https://ThePowerOfACard.blogspot.com

Images Copyright Stampin’ Up!®

Find me on Facebook - The Power of a Card or

Join my Facebook Group (The Power of a Cardmaker): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1042676296088278/?ref=share

When you shop, you earn rewards! For any purchase above $20, you will earn 10% in rewards to spend on a future purchase. And you don’t have to use them all at once as you can save up rewards to get something big for free!

Product List

Stampin' Hot Foil System Na & Craft Class

[170009]

$160.00

Impressions Plate

[167767]

$11.00

Botanical Glow Bundle

[170057]

$52.00

Magical Christmas Hot Foil Dies (English)

[170592]

$39.00

Twinkling Tidings Bundle (English)

[170587]

$52.00

Starry Night Bundle

[170571]

$50.25

Buffalo Check Hot Foil Die

[170590]

$36.00

Lustrous Leaves Bundle

[170559]

$49.50

Echoes Of Detail Hot Foil Dies

[170048]

$37.00

Wreath & Wonder Hot Foil Dies

[170562]

$38.00

Framed & Fabulous Bundle (English)

[170579]

$51.25

A Christmas Wish Hot Foil Dies

[170591]

$30.00

Butterfly Flight Bundle

[170065]

$45.00

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Clean and Classic Cards

The term Clean and Simple is often used to describe cards and while I like them, I often think that simple is the incorrect term. They have a lot of "white" space but some of them are far more advanced than what I think card makers are looking for, especially beginners. Instead, I am using the term Clean and Classic and here are the characteristics I have used to make my samples:

Mostly neutral colors
Layers (lots of them!)
Texture
Small pops of color
No patterned paper
Designs that are more simple than complicated.

In the video, I am making a Smoky Slate card and my samples include Basic White, Basic Black, Basic Beige, Very Vanilla and Crumb Cake. You could also use Night of Navy, Secret Sea, Pecan Pie, or really, any solid color you would wear in slacks or a skirt. As I show you the many examples (11 of them!), I give some useful tips along the way. I am also showing many of the new products that were just released on September 1! I think you'll find plenty of inspiration, whether you're a beginner or seasoned card maker.

Gather your supplies:

Cardstock: Smoky Slate 8-1/2" x 5-1/2", 3-3/4" x 5", 3-7/8" x 5-1/8"
Stamp Bundle: Poetic Petals
Stamp: Fragrant Layers
Ink: Memento Black
Embellishment: Natural Matte Dots
Adhesive and Tools

As you can see, this card comes together in a jiffy. I love this new bundle, which has three different floral designs in a square and three squares, each with a different edge stitching. You can pair them to make a framed flower motif, or use them individually. The sentiments from this set are awesome and quite versatile.

From the smallest layer of Smoky Slate, cut out the flower of your choice. I positioned mine near the lower right corner, making sure I had enough space below the die cut flowers for my sentiment. Stamp the sentiment below the cut out portion and add this layer to the larger piece of Smoky Slate with Dimensionals (and Mini Dimensionals behind the flowers). Don't be skimpy with these as you don't want your card to sag in the middle. Add these two layers with even more Dimensionals to your card base, which you've folded in half and creased with a bone folder. Add a few embellishments to the flowers. Normally, I add my embellishments in odd numbers, but decided that just the centers of the flowers were perfect. I think the shadows you get from adding dimension between layers make this simple card so very interesting.

To finish the card, I stamped my get well message on the inside with black ink. I also used a flower and leaves from the retiring Fragrant Layers bundle to add a coordinating touch to the inside and to the envelope. If you don't already have this bundle, check out the Last Chance List. It's one of my all time favorites and I am sad to see it retire!

My original card was made using Crumb Cake, which is my second most used neutral color of cardstock. I stamped in Secret Sea and chose the same color for my embellishments. The only difference is the envelope where instead of the flower, I stamped the words "Take Care".

We have a new set of square dies that come in a variety of edges and sizes. They are very similar to the circles in the Spotlight on Nature set. I stamped in Berry Burst using the Radiant Sunflowers stamp set, then added this to another square of white using Dimensionals. Before popping it up on my card base, I tied a knot with the Berry Burst Shiny ribbon around the card base. I finished by adding another butterfly on the inside and along the left edge of the envelope. I really love how you see the shadows from the cutouts on the die.

My next sample was inspired by the August Paper Pumpkin kit. (And if you don't have a subscription to this, I would highly recommend it because everything you need is included and it's like getting a fun card class delivered to your mailbox every month!) The five strips of Very Vanilla (3-7/8" x 7/8") were embossed with the Lazy Daisy 3D embossing folder before being added to the card base with Dimensionals. Then a label was punched from the new Advent Labels punch. This has an optional hole you can add for ribbon. I used Mossy Meadow and Very Vanilla Gingham ribbon, which was then tied with some Vanilla Baker's Twine (from the Essentials pack). I stamped in Mossy Meadow ink with stamps from Scalloped Blooms (another great sentiment collection). I added a strip of embossed cardstock to the in inside and embossed the envelope flap with the same folder.

You may have heard that Stampin' Up! recently released the Stampin' Hot Foil System and we have a great selection of hot foil dies, many of them with coordinating stamps! The Echos of Detail bundle is full of textures that are great for making shabby chic backgrounds. I used one of them to make a border along one edge of my raised white panel. Before adhering it to my card, I added a piece of Black Iridescent Ribbon. The Fern & Flora bundle was used for the label, sentiments and ferns. This makes a fantastic masculine thank you card!

I used a fun technique to make my next card. When you take Two Tone Cardstock, which has a white core, and a sanding block, you can make the paper look like it is linen! Run the sanding block (another new product) back in forth in one direction. Then rotate the paper 90º and repeat. The result is a very cool cloth-like look! I added this layer directly to the card base, but you could certainly raise it up too.

My focal point was made using the Fragrant Layers dies (aren't they gorgeous?). The frame was popped up over the second die cut piece of mostly solid flowers. To get the alignment, I peeled off the backings of the Dimensionals on the left side of the frame and stuck it down. This allowed me to slip the second piece under and get it perfectly in place under the flower outlines. Then I went back and removed the rest of the backings so the frame was attached fully. The sentiment was heat embossed in white and also popped up. I cut out more flowers/leaves in white and attached them to the inside, while I stamped flowers/leaves on the envelope in Crumb Cake ink.

https://ThePowerOfACard.blogspot.com Karen Sliwinski Stampin’ Up!®

The Sunflower 3D embossing folder has been around for a while and it's such a lovely pattern with very deep impressions. I added a panel directly to the Basic Beige card base, then added a plain strip with my sentiment stamped in Early Espresso and a sunflower from the Radiant Sunflowers set. Both of these were popped up with Dimensionals. To color the flower, I used the Shimmer Brushes in Golden Glow and a little Crisp Cantaloupe. The final touch on this strip were the Radiant Gems. I left the inside blank, except for a strip of embossed cardstock and the envelope flap was also embossed.

Another favorite embossing folder is Swirls of Magic. After embossing my Basic White panel, I spritzed it with the Hydrangea Hue Shimmer Brush. To do that, simply have the brush tip primed with ink and smack the pen against your bone folder edge. Be careful because the splatter goes where it wants to! Then I cut two circles from the Stylish Shapes dies, stamping my sentiment from the Balloon Festoon set on the smaller one. I adhered the larger circle directly to the embossed panel, then added two strips of Hydrangea Hue Bordered Ribbon around the panel, and finally, popped up the smaller circle. I stamped off the stars on the inside and envelope flap, then stamped Happy Birthday in full strength ink.

My first popped up layer was created by cutting out an arch (Everyday Arches dies) and embossing it with the new Softly Woven 3D embossing folder. I used the Words of Beauty bundle to do my sentiments (layering the because with white as the middle layer) and using black ink. Before adding these with Dimensionals to the arch, I added linen thread. It's helpful to add some Seal under the words - this really holds down the thread. Lastly, I added dots from the Adhesive-Backed Bats Ghosts & Dots embellishments. More embossed strips of Basic Beige were added inside and to the envelope.

To add texture on this next sample, I first scored five parallel lines on the top and bottom of a panel of Crumb Cake cardstock. You can do this with your Paper Trimmer or a score board. Then I used a Blending Brush to add a little color to the outside edges - first with Crumb Cake ink, then to make it a little deeper, just a touch of Pecan Pie. The branch, from Nature's Symphony bundle, was stamped in Versamark ink, cut out, decorated with a little Linen Thread Bow, and popped up on the card front. The sentiments are stamped in Pecan Pie ink and more stamped branches complete the inside and envelope.

The Pretty Poinsettia bundle is one of my favorite new sets for Christmas! By using the Impressions Plate, the petals and leaves of the flower are so striking! I adhered four layers of petals with Mini Glue Dots, plus the center and tucked in a sprig of leaves with glue to my card base. My sentiment was stamped in Cherry Cobbler, then matted with a slightly larger piece of white. Note - each layer is popped up. A stamped poinsettia decorates the inside and envelope. Boy do I love this card!

My last sample features the use of die cut pieces to add texture to a panel. I cut out a full spider web and two partials from the Web of Fun bundle. Before adding them to my popped up panel of Basic Black, I spritzed them with shimmer ink. Several years ago, we had this ink and I still had some of it in a spritz bottle. You could also use Wink of Stella to add shimmer. My letters were cut with the Party Alphabet dies and stamped with Smoky Slate (second generation stamping). I popped them up over the

spider webs, then added little bats (more from the Bats Ghosts & Dots embellishments) and a big die cut spider. The inside panel has Happy Halloween - I used the happy from A Family Celebration stamp set. Another spider web adorns the envelope corner.

So now that you've seen so many samples of Clean and Classic cards, are you going to make some yourself? Which one is your favorite? Do you have a go-to neutral that you use? Please let me know in the comments of the video! Happy card making!

Karen

ThePowerOfACard@gmail.com

Shop my Store! (or use the QR code below)

If you don’t have an on-line account with me as your demonstrator, please go to my store and get one.

https://ThePowerOfACard.blogspot.com

Images Copyright Stampin’ Up!®

Find me on Facebook - The Power of a Card or

Join my Facebook Group (The Power of a Cardmaker): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1042676296088278/?ref=share

Product List

Poetic Petals Bundle (English)

[168271]

$41.25

Fragrant Layers Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[167150]

$24.00

Smoky Slate 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[131202]

$14.00

Natural Matte Dots

[167510]

$8.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$6.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

[144108]

$4.25

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$28.00

Basic White Medium Envelopes

[159236]

$15.00

Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Make Vibrant Backgrounds with Watercolor Paper & Stamping

Watercoloring is one of my many hobbies, so when I can use a watercolor technique in my card making, that's just a bonus! When you combine stamped images, especially background stamps, with watercolor paper and a water spritzer, you get really vibrant backgrounds!

The key to this technique is using watercolor paper. I've used Fluid 100 watercolor paper, which comes in a pack of ten 5" x 7" sheets. This paper has texture, so just stamping on it may not give you perfect images like you are used to getting. But - when you spritz it with water, the colors come alive as they bleed and blend together. It's important to select colors that look good when blended and that's why I suggest using analogous colors, which are colors next to each other on the color wheel. Another thing to note is that the inks in our ink pads are not the same as watercolor inks and they may consist of several pigments. Sometimes, these pigments separate into other colors you might not expect. For that reason, it's always best to test out your colors on a piece of scrap watercolor paper before you make your larger piece.

Gather your supplies:

Cardstock: Pretty Peacock 8-1/2" x 5-1/2"; Basic White 3-3/8" x 4-5/8", 4" x 5-1/4"; Lost Lagoon 3-3/4" x 5"; Fluid 100 Watercolor 3-1/4" x 4-1/2" and a scrap for the sentiment
Stamps: Gears & Textures, You're the Best
Inks: Pool Party, Lost Lagoon, Pretty Peacock
Adhesive and Tools

You will want to work on a protected surface like the silicone mat I use for watercoloring. Start by stamping the swirly design with Pool Party on the watercolor paper. The goal is to have even disbursement of images, some going off the edge. Then switch to Lost Lagoon and stamp some more, overlapping on what you've previously stamped. Finally, stamp with Pretty Peacock to fill in gaps and add the final color.

Clear your workspace of anything you don't want getting wet and spritz the paper. It is better to spritz further away so you get a light coating of water. You don't want the paper to become totally soaked - just enough water to activate the ink and get the colors to come alive. Now comes the hard part - waiting for this to dry! I like to let it air dry, but sometimes I get impatient and use my heat tool to speed up the process. Once it is dry, you may notice that you need some additional color like I did in the video. If that's the case, just add more stamping, spritz again and let dry. I also stamped my sentiment and spritzed this just a little bit to give it the same watercolor feel.

Before assembling the layers, I try to flatten out the watercolor paper as much as possible. It gets warped because it was wet. If flattening it with your fingers isn't enough, you can run it through the Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine. I like to use Seal to adhere the watercolor paper to the Basic White mat. By running the adhesive close to the edge and all along all four sides, this will help it lay nicely on your card front. Add the layer of Lost Lagoon with glue, then glue this to the card front (which I folded and half and creased the edge of the fold with my bone folder). Flag the end of the sentiment and add this with Dimensionals.

To finish the card, I stamped the same image in all three colors so they overlapped on the bottom of the white inside panel and along the left side of the envelope. I stamped my sentiment in Pretty Peacock, then added the layer to the inside. This card is for Penny, who just reached a big milestone in her Stampin' Up! business - I think she's going to love it!

The first card I showed with this technique was done in Strawberry Slush, Timid Tiger and Melon Mambo. I love working with these colors together!! For this one, I also used sentiments from Reason to Celebrate and Sending Salutations. I hate to pick a favorite between these two, but I'd have to pick this one because the color combo is just so bright and happy. Which one is your fav?

Staying with the same Gears & Textures stamp set, here is another one with a fall colors vibe. I used Early Espresso, Pecan Pie and Cajun Craze. The warmth and vitality these colors get when spritzed is so wonderful. I think the Early Espresso is so much richer when spritzed with water! And the Pecan Pie almost takes a Golden Glow appearance. I used regular paper for my sentiment, which comes from Balloon Festoon, and is cut with a die from Stylish Shapes. A tip for the linen thread is to run the thread over the Pecan Pie stamp pad, rolling it as you pull it across. You won't get the even coloring like you would get with Blends, but a mixture of light and dark tones that I find quite appealing. For my inside panel and envelope, I used scraps of watercolor paper and did the same thing as I did on the front.

Since it still summer, I used the Simply Leaves Bundle for this next card, but chose shades of green instead of fall colors. I stamped my background with each of the three patterns of leaves using Lemon Lime Twist, Granny Apple Green and Garden Green. I also stamped and punched out one of each using Basic White. After matting my watercolor paper, I used the Garden Green Chevron Ribbon (it's on sale in the Last Chance section of my store!), then added my sentiment strip and those three cut-out leaves and put it all on a base of Crumb Cake. I stamped more leaves on the inside panel and envelope, just like I did in the video.

My last card uses the Note Cards & Envelopes, something I often forget to use. These are a great size to work with, especially when you want to make a quick and simple card. I used just a scrap of my watercolor paper and stamped images from the Bordered in Beauty Bundle. The designs from this set are smaller in scale and work better on this smaller piece of paper. My sample used Gorgeous Grape, Fresh Freesia and Azure Afternoon. But my first attempt at this card had Berry Burst instead of the Fresh Freesia. I just didn't like how that one looked. Maybe with other stamped images, it would have been OK, but I was much happier after I switched my color combo. My sentiments are from the Framed Violets stamp set.

Over the years, we have had a lot of stamps that would work wonderfully for this technique. Look for stamps used for backgrounds rather than line art. These will get more ink on the paper, which will allow for more blending of colors. Have fun experimenting! If you want to know more about the watercolor supplies I used, just let me know and I can share that too.

Karen

ThePowerOfACard@gmail.com

Shop my Store! (or use the QR code below)