Posted by Yana Smakula
on September 26, 2026
Create a colorful Christmas card while learning how to apply multiple ink colors to BetterPress registration plates. In this detailed tutorial, you’ll use the Festive Evergreens Registration Press + Foil Plate & Die Set to press a holiday doorway scene in three colors, combining the built-in registration system with a simple masking technique.
The registration template positions the coordinating plates so each layer aligns with the previous impression. Masking selected areas of one plate makes it possible to add separate colors to the door, ornaments, and bow. You’ll also learn how to keep the plate stationary between impressions, correct small gaps, create a coordinating sentiment, and finish the card with dimensional foam and sparkling gems.
Hello there! Michelle Short here to share this step-by-step tutorial using the Festive Evergreens Registration Press + Foil Plate & Die Set from the Create Your Way Holiday Collection.
Project Snapshot
| Skill level | Intermediate |
|---|---|
| Approximate time | 30 Minutes |
| Project type | BetterPress Christmas card |
| Techniques | BetterPress registration, multiple ink colors, masking, die cutting, and dimensional assembly |
| Occasion | Christmas and holidays |
| Finished size | A2 - 4.25 x 5.5 inches |
| Featured product | Festive Evergreens Registration Press + Foil Plate & Die Set |
What You’ll Need
Spellbinders Supplies
- Festive Evergreens Registration Press + Foil Plate & Die Set
- BetterPress Letterpress System
- Porcelain BetterPress A2 Cotton Card Panels
- Malachite and Magenta BetterPress Inks
- BetterPress Black Ink
- Platinum SIX Die Cutting Machine
- Handy Craft Tool Set with Nudger Tool
- Best Ever Craft Tape
- Refillable Tape Runner
- Classic White ColorWheel Cardstock
- Guillotine Paper Trimmer
- White Foam Squares Mix 1mm
- 4-Inch Detail Scissors
- Berry Color Essentials Gems
Other Supplies
- Copic 0.1 Multiliner Pen
How to Use Multiple Ink Colors with BetterPress Registration Plates
Before beginning, tape the magnetic registration insert to the Chase, or base, of the BetterPress Letterpress System. Keeping the insert stationary throughout the process helps the registration template and press plates remain in the same position for every impression.
Step 1 - Position the BetterPress Card Panel
Turn the Platen over and place a Porcelain BetterPress A2 Cotton Card Panel inside the registration marks. Secure the corners with small pieces of Best Ever Craft Tape.
Step 2 - Position the Registration Template
Place the Festive Evergreens registration template onto the magnetic insert on the Chase. Position the template inside the A2 panel marks if you want the image centered.
For this card, position the design slightly lower on the panel to leave additional space above the doorway. Secure the corners of the template with Best Ever Craft Tape.
Step 3 - Press the Evergreen Foliage
Place the foliage plate into the registration template, aligning it inside the pink guide lines.
Apply Malachite BetterPress Ink evenly over the plate. The color appears more blue in the photographs, but it is a dark teal in person.
If the plate moves while you are applying the ink, use the Nudger Tool to carefully return it to the correct position.
Place the Platen over the Chase. The magnets in the corners will hold it in position.
Run the assembled BetterPress system through the Platinum SIX Die Cutting Machine.
Lift the Platen away from the Chase, but do not remove the cardstock panel. Remove the foliage plate from the registration template.
Step 4 - Mask and Ink the Door
Place the door plate into the registration template, aligning it inside the black guide lines.
Cover the bow and ornaments with Best Ever Craft Tape. Apply BetterPress Black Ink to the uncovered door portion of the plate.
Carefully remove the masking tape without shifting the plate.
Michelle’s Tip: Make the first piece of masking tape longer than the others. Partially overlap the remaining pieces onto it. When you lift the longer piece, the other pieces will come away with it, so you do not need to remove each piece separately.
Return the Platen to the Chase and run the system through the Platinum SIX Machine. Lift the Platen away to reveal the black door impression.
Step 5 - Mask and Ink the Ornaments and Bow
Leave the door plate inside the registration template. Cover the door portion with Best Ever Craft Tape, then apply Magenta BetterPress Ink to the exposed ornaments and bow.
Carefully remove the tape without moving the plate.
Return the Platen to the Chase and run the system through the Platinum SIX Machine. Lift the Platen away to reveal the completed three-color image.
Michelle’s Tip: Try not to move the plate while applying or removing the tape. Keeping the plate stationary helps the second impression align with the first. Although no ink transfers in the masked areas, the plate can still press an impression into the cardstock.
Remove the tape from the pressed panel and carefully lift the cardstock from the Platen. If any small areas did not receive a complete ink transfer, fill the gaps with a fine-tip black liner pen.
How to Assemble the Christmas Card
Step 6 - Attach the Pressed Panel
Turn the pressed panel over and apply tape runner adhesive to the back.
Adhere the panel to an A2 white card base measuring 4.25 x 5.5 inches and made from Classic White ColorWheel Cardstock.
If the pressed image is not centered on the panel, trim one side slightly with a guillotine paper trimmer. For this card, trim a small amount from the left side.
Step 7 - Press and Die Cut the Sentiment
Place the sentiment plate from the Festive Evergreens set onto the BetterPress Chase.
Secure another Porcelain BetterPress A2 Cotton Card Panel to the Platen. Apply BetterPress Black Ink to the sentiment plate and press it using the same BetterPress process used for the main image.
Remove the panel from the Platen. Position the coordinating die over the sentiments and secure it with Best Ever Craft Tape.
Prepare the Platinum SIX die-cutting sandwich from bottom to top:
- Plate A - Platform Base
- Plate B - Platform Top
- Plate C - Cutting Plate
- Cardstock with the die positioned cutting-side down
- Plate C - Cutting Plate
Run the sandwich through the Platinum SIX Machine and remove the sentiments from the surrounding cardstock.
Step 8 - Add the Dimensional Sentiment
Apply 1mm White Foam Squares to the back of the selected sentiment. Cut the foam squares into smaller pieces with detail scissors where necessary.
Remove the backings from the foam squares and adhere the sentiment to the card.
Step 9 - Embellish the Card
Place one Berry Color Essentials Gem in the center of the magenta bow. Scatter several additional gems around the pressed image to complete the design.
Tips for Pressing with Multiple Ink Colors
- Secure the magnetic registration insert to the Chase so it remains stationary throughout the process.
- Keep the cardstock attached to the Platen until every layer of the image has been pressed.
- Use the printed guide lines on the registration template to position each plate.
- Return a shifted plate to its correct position with the Nudger Tool rather than using your fingers.
- Use overlapping pieces of tape so several masks can be removed together.
- Apply and remove the masking tape carefully to avoid shifting the plate between impressions.
- Wipe ink from the tape between colors if you plan to reuse the same pieces.
- Correct small gaps after pressing with a coordinating fine-tip liner pen.
- Trim the finished panel only after all layers have been pressed.
Ways to Customize This BetterPress Christmas Card
If you prefer a simpler process, skip the detailed masking and use one color for the foliage plate and a second color for the complete door plate. The registration system will still align the layers and create a beautiful two-color image.
Change the ink palette to coordinate with your holiday style. Use traditional green and red for a classic Christmas card, navy and silver for a wintry design, or shades of pink and teal for a more contemporary look.
You can also press the design higher or lower on the panel, change the sentiment, or add more gems around the foliage. For a flatter card that is easier to mail, adhere the sentiment directly to the panel instead of using foam squares.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a BetterPress registration plate?
A registration plate set uses a printed template to position multiple coordinating plates. Each plate adds a different portion of the design, and the template helps the separate impressions align on the same cardstock panel.
How can I use more than one ink color on a single BetterPress plate?
Cover the areas you do not want to ink with removable craft tape. Apply ink to the exposed portion, remove the tape, and press the image. Mask the previously inked area before applying the next color, taking care not to move the plate between impressions.
Why did my BetterPress layers move out of alignment?
Misalignment can occur if the registration insert, template, plate, or cardstock shifts between impressions. Secure the insert and template, leave the cardstock attached to the Platen, and use a Nudger Tool to reposition the plate after inking if needed.
Can masking tape be reused between ink colors?
The same pieces of Best Ever Craft Tape can be reused if they remain clean and sticky. Wipe away the previous ink before repositioning the tape so the color does not transfer to another section of the plate or project.
What can I do if part of the image does not press completely?
Use a fine-tip liner pen in a coordinating color to fill very small gaps after the panel has been removed from the BetterPress system. For larger missing areas, check the plate position and ink coverage before attempting another impression.
Create Colorful BetterPress Designs with Simple Masking
The BetterPress registration system makes it easy to align multiple layers, while selective masking expands the number of colors you can add to a single plate. With Malachite foliage, a black door, and bright Magenta decorations, this festive doorway becomes a colorful focal point for a clean Christmas card.
If you are not keen on masking, use one color for each plate and enjoy a simpler two-color version. If you want to experiment, the masking process adds very little extra time and gives you more control over the finished palette.
Thank you so much for visiting the Spellbinders blog today. I hope you have a wonderful day!
About the Designer
Michelle Short is the cardmaker behind The Card Grotto, where she shares handmade cards, detailed tutorials, and creative paper-crafting techniques. Visit her blog for more clean and colorful cardmaking inspiration.
Spellbinders Supplies:
