There’s something about a hummingbird mid-flight that makes a card feel alive — and when you set one against a soft, dusky purple background, the whole thing turns into a little moment of calm. This is a “Thank You” card I made using the Block Print Soaring Hummingbird, and I’m so happy with how serene and pretty it came out. Let me walk you through how it came together.

Starting with the base

I kept the foundation clean and simple — a crisp white card base — so all the color and detail could really sit front and center. With a design this layered, I find it helps to start neutral and let the dies do the talking.

A soft, leafy background

Before adding anything else, I built out the background panel in a gentle dusky purple using a patterned paper sheet from the Lavender Bloom Paper pack from Memory Box. I love the way the tone-on-tone leaf-and-berry pattern fades into the cardstock — it gives the panel depth and movement without ever competing with the main scene. That subtle botanical layer is what makes the bright greens and the hummingbird pop the way they do.

Die cutting the foliage

Next came the greenery, and this is where the card really started to feel like a little garden. I cut the leaves and branches from a mix of greens using the Foliage Bunch die set. Working with two greens instead of one gives the foliage so much more dimension; some leaves come forward, others recede, and suddenly you’ve got a believable little thicket for your bird to fly through.

Building the hummingbird

Now for the star of the show. The Block Print Soaring Hummingbird is such a beautiful, layered die — those long, fanned wing feathers are what give it that gorgeous sense of motion. For this version I went cool and dreamy: a soft lilac body paired with layers of sky blue and periwinkle across the wing and tail. I used cardstock colors from Memory Box in Blueberry Mist and Lavender Bloom.

I foam mounted the finished hummingbird up off the foliage so it sits of the panel.

A scatter of berries

To tie the scene together a bit more I took the berry die from the Block Print Mod Branches die set and cut some pastel blue ‘berries’ out. I added clusters of soft blue berries nestled in among the leaves.

Adding the sentiment

For the greeting I kept it short and warm — a simple “thank you” in the lower right corner using one of the beautiful gold foil greetings from Memory Box (p.s. they also come in a beautiful gold foil on black!). I love using these sentiments, especially when I’m short on time, because they are beautiful and easy to adhere to any card.

The clean little gold sentiment is just enough; with so much happening in the florals and the bird, the card didn’t need a long phrase.

Finishing touches

To finish, I scattered a handful of iridescent gems across the panel since I can’t resist adding some sparklies!

The finished card

The end result is a card that feels soft, a little bit magical, and genuinely peaceful — exactly the energy I want a thank-you to carry. The dusky purple background lets all those cool blues and fresh greens breathe, and the hummingbird brings just enough movement to keep your eye dancing around the whole scene.

Have you made a card with the Block Print Soaring Hummingbird]? I’d love to see your version — tag Birch Press and share what you’ve created!

Happy crafting,

April

Sometimes two dies come together and create something that just feels like pure Spring joy — and that is exactly what happened with this card. The Block Print Radiant Butterfly and Block Print Daisy Flower dies were practically made for each other, and I had so much fun bringing this little garden scene to life.

Building the garden scene

The card base is Memory Box Powder Blue cardstock — and from the moment I cut it I knew this was going to be a happy card. That soft blue sky color sets the whole mood — fresh, airy, and full of possibility. Memory Box is a sister brand to Birch Press Design, and their cardstock is my go-to for all my Birch Press projects. The colors are rich, the weight is perfect for die cutting, and they coordinate beautifully with the Block Print die collection.

The daisies

The Block Print Daisy Flower die creates the most beautifully detailed daisies. The die set comes with two flower sizes — one taller and one slightly shorter — to give the composition a natural, garden-grown feel. Both I cut from heavy weight white cardstock with the flower centers in Memory Box Golden Wheat. The stems and leaves are cut from Memory Box Key Lime and Leaf Sprout, which together create that lovely variation of greens you see in a real garden. Using two different greens side by side adds so much depth to what could easily be a flat background element.

The star of the show

The Block Print Radiant Butterfly is everything. The wing layers in this die set are stunning — so detailed, so satisfying to piece together — and the combination of Memory Box Summer Squash and Orange Peel for the upper and lower wing layers gives this butterfly such warmth and vibrancy against that cool blue background. The antennae are cut from the Memory Box Glossy Paper Pack in Black, which adds that crisp finishing detail that really brings the whole butterfly to life.

The butterfly is foam mounted over the daisy stems so it feels like it’s truly landing in the garden — that little bit of dimension makes such a difference in the finished card.

The finishing touch

I finished the card with a happy birthday sentiment from the Open Studio Greeting Tabs. Simple, clean, and lets the garden scene do all the talking.

The result is a card that feels genuinely alive — like you caught a summer garden at just the right moment, butterfly wings still mid-flutter. I hope it inspires you to pull out your own Radiant Butterfly die and see what garden scenes you can create!

A little sneak peek for the curious

If you’ve ever looked at a layering die and wondered where to even begin with all those pieces — you’re not alone. I’ve been working on cut maps for my Birch Press dies to help map out the layering order before I start, and I made one for this butterfly. I’m not ready to share the full tutorial just yet, but if you look closely at the photo below, you might get a little preview of what’s coming. 😉

Stay tuned — there’s more to come on this one!

I’d love to see what you’ve made — tag Birch Press Design and share your version!

Happy crafting,

April

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