Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with a card that’s equal parts fun, unique, and packed with texture? Today, I’m sharing a project I’m particularly excited about—a turkey cupcake grateful card featuring the rich colors and textures of WOW Embossing Powders. This card is a delightful mix of playful design and autumnal vibes, perfect for letting someone special know how thankful you are for them.
Let’s dive into the details of this festive creation and explore some tips and tricks to bring it to life.
Turkey Cupcake Grateful Card:
Bringing the Turkey Cupcake to Life with Embossing Powders
Embossing powders are such a game-changer in cardmaking, and for this project, I leaned into their texture and shine to make each piece of my turkey cupcake pop. To create the different elements of the cupcake, I started with Superior Smooth Cardstock and pressed my Ultra Slow Drying Embossing Ink Pad in sections. Each area was heat embossed with one of the gorgeous powders from WOW:
Macchiato for the cake and leaves.
Earthtone Olive for the cupcake base.
Pumpkin Spice Latte for the decorative icing and some tail feathers.
Candles for the beak, more leaves, and three of the feathers.
Primary Apple Red for the wattle and a few leaves.
Primary Ebony for the eyes (though I ultimately switched to black cardstock).
Pastiche for the cupcake top.
I’ll admit, the process of layering embossing powders is a bit time-consuming, but it’s absolutely worth it. The richness and dimension they add make each element feel special. My favorite moment was seeing each color of the powders melt while heat setting and seeing those bold colors shine.
Pro Tip: When die cutting from embossed panels, always let the cardstock cool completely. Embossing creates a slick surface, and rushing the process can lead to smudging or tearing.
The Joy of Assembly
One of the things I love most about this design is how interactive it feels while you’re putting it together. Using the Big Fall Cupcake Dies from my stash, I cut all the pieces for the turkey cupcake and started assembling. I won’t sugarcoat it—layering embossed pieces takes a little patience. The shiny surface means glue can take longer to dry, so I used my Glue Press and placed a clear stamping block on top to help everything adhere properly.
When I saw the turkey come together, I couldn’t help but smile. It’s whimsical, detailed, and just so much fun! The tail feathers, in particular, were a joy to arrange. Adding some dimension with foam squares really brought the design to life.
Pro Tip: If you’re working with embossed elements and glue isn’t sticking as quickly as you’d like, try using a liquid adhesive specifically designed for slick surfaces. Patience is key here—it’s worth the extra drying time.
Creating a Bold Background
For the background, I wanted something rustic and warm to complement the turkey’s rich colors. I grabbed my Walnut Stain, Rustic Wilderness, and Wild Honey Mini Distress Ink Pads and swiped them directly onto a piece of Superior Smooth Cardstock. The swipe technique is quick, easy, and creates a beautiful striped effect. It’s also forgiving—if one area looks uneven, you can go back over it or blend with a sponge for a seamless finish.
To ground the design, I layered the panel onto a black cardstock mat and adhered it to an A2 ivory card base. The black mat adds just enough contrast to make the colors pop without overpowering the turkey cupcake.
Adding the Grateful Sentiment
No Thanksgiving card is complete without a touch of gratitude. Using the Autumn Leaves Die Set, I cut the "grateful" sentiment from Superior Smooth Cardstock and layered it onto three shadow layers cut from black cardstock. Stacking the shadow layers gave the sentiment dimension and helped it stand out against the colorful background.
Finishing Touches That Shine
Finally, it was time to add those little details that pull the whole card together. I used some of the leftover embossed leaves and acorns to embellish the base of the turkey and scattered a few around the card front for balance. Adding white gel pen highlights with my Pentel Milky Pop White Gel Pen gave the card a polished look. Those small highlights really make the embossed elements pop, adding a subtle touch of light and texture.
Pro Tip: When embellishing with small die cuts, less is often more. Start with a few key pieces and build out your design slowly. This way, you avoid overcrowding your focal point.
Why I Love This Card
This turkey cupcake card combines everything I love about fall crafting: warm colors, playful elements, and tons of texture. It’s a reminder that cardmaking doesn’t have to be complicated to be impactful. By using embossing powders creatively and combining them with dies, you can achieve a design that feels layered, cohesive, and uniquely yours.
Whether you’re crafting for Thanksgiving or simply want to send a note of gratitude, this card is sure to bring a smile to anyone who receives it.
Thanks for dropping by today I hope that you found a little spark of creative inspiration with my project today. Wondering what I used in this project? Everything is linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails in the Materials Used section, or in the text below. Compensated affiliate links used when possible.
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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