My ink is bleeding under my die cuts. What am I doing wrong?

You're likely loading too much ink, or your low-tack tape isn't sealing the edges. Tap off your blending tool more aggressively before each pass, and make sure your tape runs along every edge that touches bare cardstock.

Can I use these techniques with a die set that isn't Christmas-themed?

Yes, absolutely. All four techniques (background shape dies, layering for dimension, ink-etching, and one-die-two-looks) work with any die set that has a repeatable shape, etched detail, or a border/background die. The holiday collection is just the example.

What if I don't have the exact Spellbinders dies used in this post?

Look for the same shape category in a set you already own. A repeating shape (like leaves, dots, or circles) for backgrounds, any multi-layer die for the layering technique, and any etched die for the ink technique.