Hey fellow craft enthusiasts! Marie from Marie Nicole Designs is back to share some more inspiration using the delightful Love On The Rocks collection from Spellbinders. This collection is absolutely perfect for creating heartwarming Valentine’s Day cards, and I’m excited to show you how to make the most of these fun dies and BetterPress plates. The “on the rocks” theme brings a playful and sophisticated touch to your handmade Valentine’s, and I can’t wait to dive in and show you some creative ideas.
I’m particularly in love with the My Heart Beats for You BetterPress plate. The intricate floral design with a central heart is not only stunning as a focal point but also makes a beautiful background. Today, I’ll be showcasing three different card designs that highlight the versatility of this plate and the entire Love On The Rocks collection, proving how easy it is to create unique and charming cards centered around this playful theme. Let’s explore how to get creative “on the rocks”!
For my first card, I wanted to create a fun shaker element using the adorable tumbler die from the Love on the Rocks die set. To begin, I die-cut the tumbler shape directly into my white cardstock front panel, positioning it exactly where I wanted my shaker to be. This creates a perfectly sized opening for the shaker window. I then adhered a piece of clear acetate behind the opening to create the transparent window. To give it a clean and finished look, I layered a second die-cut tumbler piece directly over the acetate, framing the shaker element beautifully.
Shaker Valentine's Day card featuring a tumbler filled with sequins and a heart, using the Love On The Rocks collection.
To build the shaker element, I used foam adhesive around the edges of the tumbler opening, creating a well to contain the shaker elements. Before sealing it completely, I poured in a mix of clear sequins to mimic ice cubes, and for a touch of Valentine’s flair, I added a small heart sequin to float amongst the “ice”. This gives the card a playful, interactive element that’s sure to delight.
Next, I adhered the die-cut drink layer behind the tumbler, using foam adhesive to give it dimension and depth within the shaker. I also glued the tiny stir stick die-cut piece to the tumbler for an extra detail. The sentiment, “Happy Valentine’s Day,” is from the Valentine Happy Hour Sentiments BetterPress plate set and perfectly complements the “on the rocks” theme. Pressing the sentiment adds a crisp, letterpress feel that elevates the card.
Moving onto my second card, I wanted to really showcase the My Heart Beats for You BetterPress plate as a background. I took a piece of black cardstock and used embossing ink to press the floral heart design onto it. Then, I generously sprinkled black embossing powder over the inked design and heat-embossed it. This technique creates a stunning, subtle black-on-black effect with a beautiful shine, providing a sophisticated and textured backdrop for the card. This embossed background beautifully sets the stage without overpowering the other elements, allowing the “on the rocks” theme to shine.
Elegant Valentine's Day cards with embossed floral background and gold tumblers filled with pink hearts, from the Love On The Rocks collection.
For the focal point, I die-cut two elegant tumblers from gold cardstock and adhered them to the embossed background using foam adhesive for dimension. Inside these gold tumblers, I added pink die-cut drinks and sprinkled in tiny hearts, similar to the shaker card. To create the illusion of liquid-filled glasses, I adhered acetate over the drink sections before layering the tumbler die-cuts on top. While not true shakers in this design (as I didn’t use foam adhesive around the liquid section), the hearts appear to be suspended within the “drinks,” adding a whimsical touch.
To further embellish this card, I added a charming chocolate-covered strawberry die-cut with an arrow through it, creating a sweet and playful detail. I finished it off with another sentiment from the BetterPress sentiment plate, perfectly tying in the “on the rocks” Valentine’s theme with a touch of romance.
For my third card, I wanted to experiment with color and create an ombre background using the same My Heart Beats for You BetterPress plate. This time, I used two shades of pink ink to press the design, creating a beautiful gradient effect. Starting with a lighter pink at the top and blending into a deeper pink at the bottom, I achieved a soft and romantic ombre background that adds depth and visual interest to the card. This ombre technique enhances the “on the rocks” design, making it even more eye-catching.
Ombre Valentine's Day card featuring a black tumbler with acetate ice cubes and pink liquid, using the Love On The Rocks collection.
I die-cut the tumbler again, this time from black cardstock, providing a striking contrast against the pink ombre background. Behind the black tumbler, I added pink die-cut liquid, echoing the pink hues in the background. For a unique twist, instead of using sequins or hearts, I die-cut ice cubes from acetate to place inside the tumbler. This gives the “ice” a realistic clear look, adding a cool and refreshing element to the “on the rocks” design.
To ensure the black tumbler and embellishments stood out against the ombre background, I layered a piece of vellum behind the tumbler. Using an oval die from the Essential Stylish Ovals Spellbinders nested set, I cut a vellum oval just slightly larger than the tumbler and placed it behind. The vellum softens the busy background, creating a subtle layer that helps the main elements pop.
Layered Valentine's Day card with vellum oval, black tumbler, acetate ice cubes, and pink ombre background, from the Love On The Rocks collection.
Finally, I added a few more embellishments and another sentiment from the collection to complete the card. The vellum layer not only mutes the background but also adds a touch of elegance, making the “on the rocks” theme feel both fun and refined.
The Love on the Rocks collection truly offers endless possibilities for creating love-themed and Valentine’s Day cards. The playful tumblers, sweet embellishments, and versatile sentiments make it incredibly fun to mix and match elements. I hope these three card ideas inspire you to explore your own creativity and discover countless ways to use this charming collection. Whether you’re creating shaker cards, embossed designs, or experimenting with ombre backgrounds, the “on the rocks” theme is sure to add a special touch to your handmade Valentine’s greetings.
Spellbinders Supplies:
Other supplies
White cardstock, black cardstock, gold cardstock, pink cardstock, inks, ink blending tool, vellum, acetate, clear sequins, heart sequins, scissors, glue, foam adhesive, embossing ink, black embossing powder, heat tool.
Thank you for joining me today and exploring the Love on the Rocks Collection! I can’t wait to see what you create.
Until next time,
Marie
