Easy Shaped Cards & Bow: Video Tutorial | Scrappy Boy Stamps

Hey there, crafty friends! Today’s card was one of those fun ideas that started with a “what if” and turned into something completely magical. I’ve been playing with some super cute dies from Scrappy Boy Stamps—specifically, the Believe In Magic Mouse Head Mini Album Die Set and the Layered Bows with Mouse Ears Die Set—and thought, what if I turned that album base into an actual shaped card?

You know how sometimes you have a die in your stash that’s technically made for one thing, but the possibilities stretch way beyond that? That’s exactly what happened here.

If you’ve ever wanted to make a unique shaped card but weren’t sure how to make the fold work or worried about getting the bow to hold its shape—this one’s for you. I’m sharing a video tutorial with all the details, but I’ll walk you through the big ideas and product highlights here, so you can jump in with confidence.

Easy Shaped Cards & Bow

The Magic of a Shaped Card Base

I love a good shaped card. It’s a great way to break out of the traditional A2 format and make something really playful and interactive. But let’s be honest—figuring out how to make a shaped card base that opens properly can feel a little intimidating, especially when your die doesn’t say “card base” on the packaging.

For this project, I used the outline die from the Believe In Magic Mouse Head Mini Album Die Set to create the card base. The trick? Folding a 6" x 12" piece of 12" x 12" Brilliant White 110 lb Cardstock in half, then placing the top edge of the die just over the fold line before cutting. That little overhang keeps your fold intact, giving you a top-folding card with loads of personality.

Pro Tip: You’ll want to use 12 x 12 cardstock here—8.5 x 11 just isn’t big enough to get the full shape at this size. Ask me how I know. I might have tried it twice before admitting defeat and digging into my 12 x 12 bin.

Once I had the shape cut, I just trimmed off the little hinge tab the album die creates. A pencil trace and a good pair of scissors made it super simple to clean up.

Color Combos That Pop

When I think “magic,” I think of bold colors with a touch of sweetness, so I went with Ballerina Pink, Black Suede, and Amethyst, with a splash of Lemon Sorbet and Valentine Cardstocks for the sentiment. I love how these colors bring a touch of that theme park magic without being too on-the-nose.

I used the stitched layer die from the album set to cut the Amethyst layer, then layered the Ballerina Pink and Black Suede die cuts into the word shapes. Because the die gives you both the outline and the inset pieces, it’s easy to create dimension and contrast just by mixing colors.

It’s a little like putting together a puzzle, but one that sparkles when you’re done.

Adding the Bow: It’s All in the Layers

I have to admit, bows have always been a bit of a pain point for me. I love how they look, but they don’t always stay put, and sometimes the layering feels fussy. This one? Totally worth it.

The Layered Bows with Mouse Ears Die Set comes with all the pieces you need to create a dimensional bow with real character. I used a pink polka dot patterned paper from my stash for the main bow pieces and Ballerina Pink Cardstock for the outline on the smallest piece.

Pro Tip: Use your bone folder to gently curl the bow loops before you glue. Just be gentle—ask me how I know again. Let’s just say one of my loops didn’t survive the first pass and ended up in the scraps bin.

To assemble the bow, I used a little liquid glue and held everything together with reverse tweezers until it dried. It’s a small thing, but having those extra hands (okay, tweezers) really helped keep the pieces in place without shifting. Once dry, I layered the bow and added it right onto the mouse head for a playful Minnie-inspired finish.

The Finishing Touches That Make It Shine

I cut the sentiment "Believe In" from Lemon Sorbet Heavyweight Cardstock and layered it with Valentine Cardstock shadows. It fits right into the word shape on the base and really pops against the darker background.

And because no card feels quite finished without a little sparkle, I added some shimmer with a Clear Overlay Pen to the stars in the sentiment. A few gel pen highlights on the mouse head and letters pulled everything together with just a bit of extra polish.

Why This Project Works

This card is playful, dimensional, and definitely not your average shape—and that’s what I love about it. It solves two big card making challenges:

1. Creating shaped card bases without special folding dies, and

2. Building layered bows that actually hold together and keep their shape.

   
   

It’s also a great way to stretch your die stash. Just because something is labeled “album” doesn’t mean you can’t turn it into a card. Thinking outside the package opens up so many new possibilities.

Easy Shaped Cards & Bow Video Tutorial:

Want to see how it all came together? I’ve got a full video tutorial walking you through the entire process—from base to bow—so you can follow along or pause and craft with me.

If you have problems watching the video here on my blog you can always watch it on my YouTube Channel by Clicking here!

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope this project inspires you to look at your dies a little differently and gives you the confidence to try a shaped card of your own.

Let me know in the comments or over on Instagram—what’s one die in your stash you’ve been wanting to turn into a shaped card? I’d love to cheer you on!

(Wondering what I used in this video? Everything is linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post, or in the text below. Compensated affiliate links used when possible). As always I appreciate your support of my videos!

Materials Used:

Here you will find the list of supplies that I used to create today's card. All supplies are linked to supply sources below. Compensated affiliate links may be used at no cost to you.

Happy Stampin'

Rick Adkins

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