Simply Cards and Papercraft 176 Ideas and Inspiration



If you like to bring a bit of a garden theme into your paper crafting, you should enjoy the magazine Simply Cards and Papercraft issue 176. This edition comes with the Teacup Garden set which includes 4 small dies, a 15 piece stamp set and some free papers to use.

Issue 176 of the Simply Cards and Papercraft magazine comes complete with a cute set of printed papers, sentiments, stamps and dies. You'll find ideas and inspiration on cards that you can make using this edition with a tutorial enclosed.

As soon as I saw the freebies included in this magazine, I just knew what I was going to make with them. I had an idea in mind to combine another free die from a previous edition PLUS some Tonic Studios tags. Come get some inspiration.

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Simply Cards and Papercraft Issue 176: Ideas and Inspiration from the Magazine


Simply Cards and Papercraft 176 Ideas and Inspiration Card Making Tutorial from the Magazine Using the Teacup Garden Set

Simply Cards & Papercraft magazine is available in selected retailers like WHSmith here in the UK. I get my copy on subscription from moremags.com

I was looking to finish off an 80th birthday card made with a tea time theme decoupage from theworks.co.uk when issue 176 arrived with a teacup die which was just perfect.

Teatime 3D decoupage card Anitas mice tea theme with teacup die 80th Birthday card handmade die cutting

80th birthday card with Anita's 3D decoupage, finished off using the free Simply Cards and Papercraft teacup die.

The central motif is from an Anita's foiled decoupage sheet (purchased at theworks.co.uk) with a wonderful scene of mice at tea time. It's hard to see from the image but this scene is built in layers using 3D foam squares underneath.


If you don't know how to do 3D decoupage and want to learn this technique - here's my tutorial. Anita's foiled decoupage sheets happen to come pre-cut so there is no cutting and only layering involved.

I wasn't sure how to present the decoupage scene on a card until issue 176 of Simply Cards and Papercraft came through with the included teacup die and then it all fell into place.

I used the teacup die and very sweet heart tea bag and paired these up with the Sizzix Brush Numbers set (I got these at Amazon.co.uk) which includes all the numbers plus the word Today. The teacup die provided a really neat way to display the number 80 for me.

Simply Cards and Papercraft 176 and 174 Cardmaking Tutorial


If you didn't bag a copy of the Simply Cards and Papercraft issue 174 which came with the stunning Altenew layered rose die, then you missed out on a real treat. It's a really gorgeous rose flower die that I've been using again and again on my cards.

As soon as I saw the teacup die from issue 176, I had the idea of combining it along with the rose from issue 174 instead of using the stamped images. So here's a tutorial using these free dies.

Altenew layered rose die set free with issue 174 Simply Cards and Papercraft magazine blue paper flower Quickie glue pen

Step 1: Make a Rose Flower in Shades of Blue

Make a rose flower from shades of blue card using the layered rose die by Altenew if you have it. This came free with issue 174 of the magazine.

Alternatively, another flower die or a stamped flower that fits inside the teacup die from issue 176 will also work.

Sakura-Quickie Glue For gluing intricate dies spectacular effects use with glitters or foils The pinpoint roller glue is removable or permanent This package contains sixSakura XONB3 Quickie Glue Pens, Set of 3


I chose 3 distinct shades of blue with a blue glitter card on the final top layer of the rose. A Quickie Glue pen with its super fine nib made sticking this intricate die together very easy.

A fine nib Zig pen is also a great choice for gluing these small and intricate dies together. Either one gives you some time to position your cut pieces before the glue sticks permanently.

Layering the teacup garden tea cup die onto blue card from issue 176 of Simply Cards and Papercraft

Step 2: Cut Out the Teacup Die and Layer it Up

Cut out the teacup die from issue 176. I used the free papers that were included in this magazine issue to cut some teacups. The polkadot papers look especially good with this die.

Because the teacup die is a little on the small side to hold the Altenew rose flower, I decided to layer mine up to make it slightly larger.


I glued the teacup die cut onto some royal blue card using my chisel tip Zig pen - the slightly larger and flatter nib is perfect for gluing small and less intricate die cuts in place.

I then cut around the teacup shape, leaving a small border all the way around. A small and sharp pair of scissors will give you a good cut edge.

Inking a blue stamped sentiment onto the tonic studios tag birthday color box pigment brush pad royal blue

Step 3: Cut a Tag and Ink on a Sentiment With the Free Stamps

I love these free Tonic Studios tags that came with Die-Cutting Essentials magazine issue 18. This tag set is gorgeous.

You can use any tag that you have or just cut out a rectangular piece of card instead.

Cut a tag and stamp a sentiment out using the free stamp set included with the teacup garden edition of the Simply Cards and Papercraft magazine.

I love my mini ink pads for stamping with. Here, I used a Color Box ink pad to add on Just for You, Birthday text.

Altenew layered rose flower die from Simply Cards and Papercraft magazine in blue in a teacup die placed onto a blue tonic studios tag for birthday card

Step 4: Stick the Teacup and Rose to the Tag

Glue the teacup near the bottom of your tag. Any liquid glue or glue dots should work well.

Use 3D foam pads on the bottom of the die cut rose flower. This will give it a little height when you stick it down over the top of the teacup.

I love the Tim Holtz Tonic craft pick for getting the backs off of the foam squares and pads. It makes light work of that if you don't have long fingernails.

Birthday card handmade with free dies from Simply Cards and Papercraft issues 174 and 176 plus tonic tag blue green colors dotty spot papers rose and teacup

Step 5: Layer Up Papers onto a Card Blank

Layer up some coordinating papers onto a card blank.

I loved the free papers included with issue 176 of the magazine and chose the green polka dot paper for the main background.

On top of this paper, I went for the royal blue paper and used my Fiskars deckle edge scissors to cut around it.

On both papers, I inked around the edges before sticking them into place using double sided tape.

I added a sentiment which was included in the free paper pack and stuck the tag on the card.

Blue green polka dot floral tag card with die cut tag, flowers and tea cup handmade by craftymarie

Step 6: Add the Finishing Touches to the Teacup Garden Card

You could use the card as it is but I like to add on some finishing touches.

I cut a couple of flowers from the free paper pack, gave them some body using an embossing stylus and foam pad and stuck them down with a Swarovski gem in the middle.

I added in some gems to the sentiment. The Quickie Glue pen or a Zig pen are both capable of sticking flat backed gems into place on card or paper.

From glitter card, I cut the tiny heart tea bag die out and added to the teacup.

There's another idea using these dies below.

Embossed swirls handmade card with purples lilac colors and rose flower birthday theme Tonic Studios tag and altenew die

Here's a similar card made using the rose in a teacup idea.

I used the butterfly paper included in the free pack and went for a purple and lilac color scheme.

The Divine Swirls embossing folder by Cuttlebug run through the Sizzix Big Shot makes a good background. I'm not sure if you can still get that embossing folder but there are other swirl embossing folders available to use in die cutting machines.

On this design, I added a leaf cut from the Altenew layered rose die.

I hope you enjoyed getting some further card ideas from this magazine.

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Articles are accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.