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CARD MAKING · background DIES
3 Spring Cards That Practically Design Themselves
How three completely different cards came from the Catherine Pooler Petals & Purrs collection.
The hardest part of card making is just starting. The perfect background from Catherine Pooler changes everything.
You sit down at your craft table, surrounded by gorgeous supplies, and suddenly that blank piece of white cardstock is just… staring back at you. It’s judging you, isn’t it? Trust me, we’ve all been there.
That “creative block” is exactly why I’m obsessed with the Petals & Purrs Collection from Catherine Pooler Designs and why it’s become my go-to for handmade spring cards, spring birthdays, and everyday cards all year long. This collection isn’t just a pile of pretty things; it’s a complete card making system designed to do the heavy lifting for you. When you let your background dies, cover plates, and layering dies set the stage, the rest of the card practically designs itself.
Today, I’m sharing three distinct card projects featuring this brand-new collection. All three started in the exact same place: with a set of background dies. I chose three dies that are great additions to your card making collection – the Rick Rack Strips, the Channel Stitch Cover Plate, and the Noughts & Crosses Nested Dies. I’m a big believer in designing with ease, which is why I use the same foundations to get completely different results every time.
Skill Level: Beginner–Intermediate
Time: 20-30 minutes per card
Project: A2 Layered Greeting Card
Techniques: Die cutting • Ink Blending • Stamping
Key Skill: Background dies that design for you
To make sure you don’t feel stuck again, I’ve included multiple shortcuts in this post that you can refer back to whenever the “blank page anxiety” hits.
The Secret to Faster, Better-Looking Cards
I want to share something I’ve learned after years at the craft table. The card makers who finish projects consistently aren’t necessarily more creative – they have a better starting strategy.
For these three cards, that strategy was simple. Start with the background.
The Catherine Pooler Petals & Purrs Collection includes background and border dies that add texture, dimension, and visual interest before you add a single stamped image. When your background already looks finished, every design decision after that becomes easier. You’re not starting from scratch, you’re building on something that’s already working.
Let me introduce you to the three dies I used and why each one earns a permanent spot in my go-to supplies.
Channel Stitch Cover Plate
Stitched texture across the panel to create dimension without bulk. Best for clean & simple cards.
Learn More →
Rick Rack Strip Dies
Wavy borders for stripes, grounding strips, and seasonal accents. Best for adding movement and color.
Learn More →
Noughts & Crosses Nested Dies
Rounded squares with X and O patterns. Layer for depth or use as a single focal mat.
Learn More →
[FUTURE POST PLACEHOLDER]
How to Use a Cover Plate Die — Coming Soon
The Channel Stitch Cover Plate appears on two of these three cards. If you’re new to cover plate dies and want a full beginner walkthrough, I’m putting together a dedicated post on exactly how to use them — from cardstock selection to achieving crisp, clean texture every time. [ADD INTERNAL LINK WHEN LIVE]
Card One: Welcome Spring Floral Design
① Place a White A2 panel with the Channel Stitch Cover Plate into a die cutting machine to create the textured background.
② Use the Rick Rack Strip dies to cut cardstock strips from Blue Raspberry, Cotton Candy, Catching Rays, Wintergreen, and Sixteen Candles. Adhere the cardstock strips horizontally across the center of the white card panel.
③ On a separate piece of white cardstock, stamp the large Wild Flower with Sweetheart ink, the flower center with Tiara Ink, and the stem with Seaglass Ink. Use the coordinating dies to cut out the stamped image.
④ On a 3″x4″ piece of cardstock, stamp the “Welcome Spring” sentiment with Black Jack Ink. (for more texture, cut this cardstock using the Dots & Scallops dies)
⑤ Adhere the small white rectangle onto the center of the background. Assemble the flower and adhere in place. If desired, add enamel dots.
If you are struggling with choosing a color palette, pull your palette from something you can physically see. The Rick Rack borders on this card immediately reminded me of Easter egg stripes and that gave me the whole color palette. Inspiration is everywhere! Easter eggs, spring flowers, patterned paper, fabric, even a tea towel have colors you can use on a card. When you observe the world around you rather than guess, the palette almost always works. Check out this post for more spring color palette ideas.
Card Two: Easter Inspired Spring Card
① Use the Channel Stitch Cover Plate on a white piece of A2 cardstock.
② Use the Rick Rack Strip dies to cut four strips from the textured cardstock. Using a blending brush, add ink color to each of the rick rack strips.
③ With Black Jack ink, stamp the sentiment onto a piece of 4″x5¼” cardstock.
④ Adhere the rick rack strips vertically. Add hand stitched lines between the strips.
⑤ On a separate piece of white cardstock, use the Wild Flower stamps to create small flowers with Sweetheart ink, leaves with Mardi Gras ink, and three stems with Black Jack Ink. Use the coordinating dies to cut out the stamped image.
⑥ Using the Ukrainian Eggs dies, cut out two egg shapes. These can be cut from pattern paper or cardstock. Decorate the eggs with the matching stamps.
⑦ Layer the eggs, leaves, and flowers onto the card. If desired, add enamel dots.
Card Three: Easter Inspired Spring Card
① Use the Channel Stitch Cover Plate on a white piece of A2 cardstock. Cut this cardstock using the Dots & Scallops dies, then layer onto a yellow card base.
② Use the Noughts & Crosses die to cut a rounded square from pattern paper. Adhere to the card.
③ Cut a Rick Rack Strip from the Catching Rays cardstock. Adhere in place.
④ With Black Jack ink, stamp the sentiment onto a piece of cardstock. Cut into a tag shape, add twine, and adhere to the card.
⑤ On a separate piece of white cardstock, use the Wild Flower stamps to create a Black-eyed Susan with Goldenrod and Black Jack Ink. Stamp four leaves as well. Use the coordinating dies to cut out the stamped image.
⑥ Layer the flower and leaves onto the card. If desired, add enamel dots.
Enamel Dot Placement for Cards – A Beginners Guide
To enhance each background and create a focal point, I used the new Catherine Pooler party enamel dot collections on all three cards. They’re one of those small finishing details that quietly elevate the whole design. I look at enamel dots like the “jewelry” of your papercrafts. While they seem simple, strategic placement is the secret to a balanced design.
Here is your cheat sheet for perfect placement every time:
Try These Card Backgrounds Another Way
The Channel Stitch and Rick Rack Strips from the Catherine Pooler Petals & Purrs collection were used as backgrounds for each of these cards. They are versatile enough for any occasion and season.
It is completely normal to feel like they need a new background die for every single card, but the real magic happens when you learn to treat one die as a foundation rather than a one use item. By simply changing your ink colors, rotating the orientation, or layering different focal points on top, that single piece of metal can create dozens of distinct looks. When you have a reliable system for your backgrounds, you can spend more time on the fun part: the decorating!
To inspire you to use the Channel Stitch and Rick Rack dies all year long, I’ve put together a specialized guide that takes the guesswork out of your layout. You can find this printable inside my Membership Resource Center.
Three Cards. One Collection. Endless Variations!
A cover plate that adds texture in seconds. Wavy border dies that build color before you stamp a single image. A nesting die that frames your focal element and makes the whole card look intentional. That’s the Catherine Pooler Petals & Purrs Collection!
At the end of the day, cardmaking shouldn’t feel like a math exam. It’s just paper. If you follow the systems we talked about today, you’ll spend less time second-guessing and more time actually finishing your projects.
Now, go grab a fresh cup of coffee (or a re-heated one, let’s be real) and get creating. I can’t wait to see how you use these rules to make the Petals & Purrs Collection your own!
