Hello and wecome! Today I have 2 things to share: first, I’m trying to BetterPress with non-BetterPress inks (and I must say successfully!), and second, I’m joining Spellbinders for their Fave Holiday 2023 Product Blog Hop.
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I wanted to create a Christmas card that looked like a little holiday package wrapped in twine. For this, I used Spellbinders Dune cardstock (it is very similar to Neenah Kraft) and pressed the Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Press Plate in watermark and white pigment ink.
VIDEO TUTORIAL
Watch the video below or on my Youtube channel.
CARD DETAILS
BetterPressing works best on specialty BetterPress cardstock and with specialty BetterPress inks, but it also works okay on other types of thick quality cardstock and with other inks, although the impressions might not be as crisp. Using white pigment ink and watermark ink gave me unique results for my cards.
With the backgrounds done, I wrapped red twine and tied it into a large bow, I love this look. Next, I added beautiful die cuts created with the Spellbinders Christmas Bird Poinsettia dies.
The sentiments for these cards were made using BetterPress plates, but I foiled them using gold foil, I love doing this – foiling with better press plates always gives me fantastic results.
I wanted to add faux snow to my cards, so I splattered some using white acrylic paint, I went a bit overboard on the card above and also added Pearl White Stardust Butter to emphasize the snowy look.
THESE ARE THE MAIN SUPPLIES I USED
BLOG HOP + GIVEAWAY
Join us for a blog hop filled with loads of inspiration featuring Spellbinders 2023 Holiday Goodies!
Spellbinders Blog
Yana Smakula – you are here!
Tina Smith
Zsoka Marko
Sandi MacIver
Kristie Marcotte
Annie Williams
Nichol Spohr
Daniel West
Allison Frazier
Bibi Cameron
Lisa Mears
Jean Manis
Deepa Robbins
Linh Van
Vicky Papaioannou
Heejung Hunsberger
Jennifer Kotas
Mindy Eggen
Stacy Jeraul
Bonnie Crane
Michelle Short
Lien Leysen
There’s also a giveaway happening on the Spellbinders blog. Don’t miss it!
To celebrate this blog hop, Spellbinders is giving away a $25 gift certificate to 3 lucky blog readers – selected from the comments on the Spellbinders blog. Giveaway closes on Sunday, November 19th, 11:59 pm MST. The winner will be announced on the Spellbinders blog hop post the following Wednesday. The winner is responsible for shipping costs, duties, and taxes.
SUPPLIES
I’m listing the products I used below. Click on the link to go directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!
 Spellbinders Christmas Bird Poinsettia Etched Dies Shop at: SSS | SC | SB USA | SB UK |
 Spellbinders Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Press Plate Shop at: SSS | SC | SB USA | SB UK |
 Spellbinders Merry & Bright Sentiment Strips Press Plate & Die Set Shop at: SSS | SC | SB USA | SB UK |
 Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil System (Platinum) Shop at: SC | SB USA | SB UK |
 Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil Roll – Gold Shop at: SSS | SC | SB USA | AMZ |
 Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil System (Bronze) Shop at: SSS | SC | SB USA | SB UK | AMZ |
 Spellbinders New & Improved Platinum 6 Machine With Universal Plate System Shop at: SSS | SC | SB USA | SB UK |
 Spellbinders Betterpress Letterpress System Shop at: SSS | SC | SB USA | SB UK |
 Spellbinders A2 White Card Bases – Side Fold – 25 pack Shop at: SB USA |
 Neenah Classic Crest 80 Lb Desert Storm Shop at: SSS | AMZ |
 Spellbinders Poppy Field Color Essentials Cardstock Shop at: SC | SB USA | SB UK |
 Spellbinders Pomegranate Color Essentials Cardstock Shop at: SB USA | SB UK |
 Spellbinders Dune Color Essentials Cardstock Shop at: SB USA |
 Spellbinders Rainforest Color Essentials Cardstock Shop at: SC | SB USA | SB UK |
 Spellbinders Fern Color Essentials Cardstock Shop at: SC | SB USA |
 Spellbinders Forest Color Essential Cardstock Shop at: SB USA |
 Stardust Butter Pearl White 1.7 Ox/50 Ml Shop at: SB USA |
 Spellbinders Clear Embossing & Watermark Ink Pad Shop at: SSS | SC | SB USA |
 Vivant Red and White Cotton Twine – 54 Yards Shop at: SB USA |
 Simon Says Stamp Cardstock Gold Glitter Shop at: SSS |
 Spellbinders Tool ‘n One – White Shop at: SSS | SC | SB USA | SB UK | AMZ |
 Simon Says Stamp White Pigment Ink Pad Shop at: SSS |
 Tonic Studios 8.5 Inch Paper Trimmer Shop at: SC | AMZ | GBS |
 Spellbinders 9″ Pro Shears Shop at: SSS | SC | SB USA | SB UK |
 Glassboard Studio True White Glass Craft Mat Shop at: GBS |
 Jewel Picker Tool Shop at: SSS | SC | SB USA | SB UK | AMZ |
 Bearly Art Mini Precision Craft Glue Shop at: SSS | SB USA | AMZ |
 White Foam Squares Shop at: SSS | SC | SB USA | AMZ |
WOW these are absolutely STUNNING! Amazing work!
A gorgeous card!! Love the bright red against the kraft!
WOW Yana! This is wonderful! I love it so much!
Love your cards! Truly inspirational!
This is a stunning card, I love it! Feel free to send me one of these so gorgeous!
So very very pretty.
This card immediately puts in the holiday spirit! It is stunning!
I think kraft cardstock works so well for holiday cards. Love these.
Yana’s cards are always beautiful! I love her combining the Better press plate woth the dies! Absolutely gorgeous!
OMG, your talent is beyond amazing. Always gorgeous!
WOW, that is amazing and gorgeous!!
Great job! Love the cards. You make it look so simple.
I love the lawyer look of the poinsettia! Is that the paper you used or did you use a varnish or some other medium to get that result? I look forward to seeing what other creation you come up with in the future. By the way, I also love the candy cane with the poinsettia. I normally am unenthusiastic about poinsettias, but adding the candy cane (my favorite) gave it oomph!
There both just gorgeous!
I’d love to get a gift that looks like your cards! They are gorgeous !
Wintery, classic and cheery!! Love your cards, Yana! I wish you, yours and all the people of Ukraine a peaceful holiday season and may the new year bring an end to all suffering. Peace to you.
The Christmas Bird poinsettia is one of my favorites this year!
These cards are incredible! Thanks for trying products not meant to be used together.
Your card examples are beautiful.
Ooh so beautiful! Really like a beautiful gift wrapped present! Awesome textures!
These cards are beautiful. I’m glad to see the different inks and paper with the BetterPress.
These are stunning, Yana!
Yana, thanks so much for all your beautiful videos and excellent techniques. I have always wanted to be able to use white on various cardstocks. Thanks for demonstrating how it can be done with a BetterPress plate.
Wow, gorgeous cards!!!
Absolutely love the white ink method!
Beautiful. Love the watermark backgrounds and the snowy look.
I love it. So elegant. I am liking the Betterpress system more and more. Hmm, hello Santa…
Beautiful cards! Thank you for sharing!
Beautiful cards. Very vintage and elegant.
Love that Christmas Poinsettia and Bird set. Such inspiration in this entire blog.
Beautiful!
Wow! these are both gorgeous cards! thank you for sharing.
Love this card so much. That background is so perfect for the focal point Poinsettia!
Thank you for showing more ways to use the betterpress. This was gorgeous.
Stunnng as usual
Gorgeous! I love the mixed media look!
I love these. I’ll have to try the white pigment ink. I love the look!!
I never thought of making a card look like a package before. That’s pretty.
Wow! This is beautiful! I love the snowy effect on the card and the white pigment pressed background!
Very inspiring and enabling!!
Awesome and perfectly executed package/card! Can’t stop looking at it.
You’ve done it again, Yana, twice! Two gorgeous cards!
Beautiful Cards.
Beautiful cards. I always enjoy watching you put a card together. The finished product is stunning.
Spellbinders’ holiday release is by far the best. I love all of it. But I’ve got to say, Yana, you have made me fall in love with the Better Press. This card is so stunning I said Ohhhhhh right out loud when I saw it.
Gorgeous as usual Yana!!♥️♥️♥️ I too have tried different card stocks. You do get a good impression but it’s not as crisp as the better press card stock…
Beautiful!, as always, Yana. Just makes you want to ‘but it all’. Thank you for sharing your time.
Love these beautiful cards. Also love the way you have given us an idea to extend the use of our betterpress plates. Thanks for the inspiration!
Absolutely beautiful! Added to my wishlist.
Beautiful as always!
These are gorgeous Yana
Love the layering and beautiful design! Gorgeous cards!