Posted by Oles B
on August 14, 2026
Create a detailed DIY haunted house Halloween card with layered die cuts, playful seasonal decorations, a 3D embossed background, and a polished hot-foiled sentiment. This step-by-step tutorial combines the original City Holiday building with Halloween City Holiday Decorations by Yana Smakula, transforming the elegant house into a delightfully spooky Halloween scene.
You will learn how to build the house from separate cardstock layers, add windows and architectural details, arrange ghosts, pumpkins, a skeleton, and a spiderweb, emboss an A2 background, and create a coordinating sentiment with the Glimmer Hot Foil System. The gray, black, orange, white, and gold color palette gives the finished card plenty of Halloween personality while maintaining a polished, graphic appearance.
Hi, crafty friends! Lea Lawson here with you today. I’m creating this haunted house Halloween card featuring the Halloween City Holiday Decorations by Yana Smakula. You will also need the original City Holiday Etched Dies to complete the card.
I love how the Halloween additions transform the original City Holiday building into an adorable haunted house. Below, I’m sharing the complete process with detailed instructions and step-by-step photos.
Project Overview
| Skill Level | Intermediate |
|---|---|
| Approximate Time | 60 Minutes |
| Project Type | Handmade Halloween card |
| Techniques | Layered die cutting, 3D embossing, hot foiling, and dimensional card assembly |
| Occasion | Halloween |
| Finished Size | A2 card |
| Featured Products | City Holiday Etched Dies and Halloween City Holiday Decorations by Yana Smakula |
Supplies You’ll Need
Dies, Embossing Folder and Press Plates
- City Holiday Etched Dies
- Halloween City Holiday Decorations Etched Dies
- Molded Frame 3D Embossing Folder
- Happy Halloween Sentiments Press Plate & Die Set
Cardstock and Foil
- Fog Cardstock
- Anchor Cardstock
- Raven ColorWheel Cardstock
- Classic White ColorWheel Cardstock
- Carrot ColorWheel Cardstock
- Rainforest ColorWheel Cardstock
- Brushed Gold Cardstock
- Polished Brass Hot Foil
Tools and Adhesives
- Platinum 6 Die Cutting and Embossing Machine
- Glimmer Hot Foil System
- Universal Plate System
- Liquid glue
- Foam tape
- Thin foam strips
- Low-tack craft tape
- Fine mist of water
- Cardstock shim for hot foiling
Spellbinders Supplies:
Step 1 - Die Cut and Assemble the Haunted House
Begin by cutting the architectural pieces from a combination of gray, black, white, and metallic gold cardstock. Separating the building into layers makes it easier to add contrast and emphasize details such as the windows, roof, door, and steps.
Cut the Building, Roof, Door and Windows
Die cut the building from Fog cardstock using the City Holiday Etched Dies. Die cut the roof from Anchor cardstock.
From Raven Cardstock, die cut the door and three window layers.
From Brushed Gold Cardstock, die cut three additional window layers, the large window, and the windowsills. Die cut the step layers from Anchor cardstock.
To create six white window outlines, tape the two window-layer dies together and cut the combination from Classic White Cardstock. Die cut the large window from Classic White Cardstock as well.
Layer the Windows, Sills and Steps
Adhere the black and gold window layers to the Fog building. Add the Raven door, Anchor roof, and layered steps.
Adhere the Classic White window outlines over the window layers. The white outlines provide contrast against both the Raven and Brushed Gold cardstock.
Finish the architectural details by adhering the Brushed Gold windowsills to the building.
Designer Tip: Arrange the small window pieces in groups before applying adhesive. Working on one window at a time makes it easier to keep the black, gold, and white layers in the correct order.
Step 2 - Add the Ghosts, Pumpkins and Skeleton
Die cut the Halloween City Holiday Decorations from the following cardstock colors:
- Classic White for the ghosts, skeleton, and selected details
- Raven for the backers and dark accents
- Carrot for the pumpkins
- Rainforest for the pumpkin stems and greenery
- Brushed Gold for metallic accents
Adhere the Raven backers behind the ghosts and pumpkins so their facial details are visible. Cut one additional black backer and place it behind the skeleton’s eyes.
Arrange and adhere the Halloween decorations around the house. Place the ghosts near the roof and windows, arrange the pumpkins around the steps, and position the skeleton near the entrance.
Continue adding details until the house feels balanced. The decorations can extend slightly beyond the edges of the building, but keep the final A2 card dimensions in mind when positioning the widest pieces.
Step 3 - 3D Emboss the Orange Background Panel
Trim an A2 panel from Carrot Cardstock. Place the panel inside the Molded Frame 3D Embossing Folder.
For the Platinum 6, build the following sandwich from bottom to top:
- Platform Base (A)
- 3D Embossing Folder with the Carrot cardstock inside
- Adapter Plate (D)
Run the sandwich through the machine to emboss the detailed frame into the orange panel.
Tip: How to Keep Cardstock from Cracking
To help prevent the cardstock from cracking under the pressure of a 3D embossing folder, lightly mist the back of the cardstock with water before embossing. Some crafters prefer to mist the front, but Lea has found that applying the water to the back works best for her.
Use only a light mist. The cardstock should be slightly relaxed rather than saturated.
Step 4 - Hot Foil the Halloween Sentiment with Glimmer
Turn on the Glimmer Hot Foil System and allow it to heat. When the green indicator light confirms that the platform is ready, place the selected Happy Halloween Sentiments plate on the platform and press the timer button.
While the plate heats, cut a piece of Polished Brass Hot Foil and prepare a piece of Classic White Cardstock.
Tip: Add a Shim for Sharper Foiling
Place a cardstock shim in the middle of the Glimmer sandwich to add pressure and help a press plate foil more accurately. Machine pressure can vary, so test the sandwich with a scrap of cardstock when trying a new plate.
Place the Polished Brass Hot Foil over the heated plate with the pretty side facing down. Position the Classic White Cardstock over the foil.
Remove the platform from the Glimmer base, add the required plate sandwich, and run everything through the Platinum 6.
Carefully remove the foil release sheet to reveal the Polished Brass sentiment.
Position the coordinating sentiment die around the foiled greeting, secure it with low-tack tape, and run it through the Platinum 6.
Step 5 - Assemble the Card
Adhere the embossed Carrot panel to the front of a white A2 card base. Make sure the edges of the orange panel align evenly with the card base.
Add the die-cut spiderweb to the upper-left corner of the card.
Mount the completed haunted house on the card front with foam tape. Add the foiled sentiment with thin foam strips, positioning it below the house.
Trim any part of the spiderweb that extends beyond the outer edges of the A2 card to complete the design.
Tips for the Best Results
- Organize the building pieces before gluing. Separate the roof, windows, outlines, sills, steps, and door so the small layers do not get mixed up.
- Use a precision-tip liquid adhesive. A fine applicator makes it easier to attach narrow window outlines and other small details.
- Add dark backers behind facial details. Raven Cardstock makes the faces on the ghosts, pumpkins, and skeleton easier to see.
- Mist cardstock lightly before 3D embossing. A small amount of water can relax the fibers and reduce visible cracking.
- Test the hot-foil sandwich. If the result is incomplete, a cardstock shim may provide the additional pressure needed.
- Use different adhesive heights. Standard foam tape behind the house and thinner foam strips behind the sentiment create dimension without making the layers feel uneven.
Variations: No Foil Machine? Different Colors?
Create the Sentiment Without Hot Foiling
If you do not have a Glimmer Hot Foil System, replace the foiled sentiment with a stamped, BetterPress, or die-cut greeting. Gold embossing powder or metallic cardstock can provide a similar touch of shine.
Try a Different Halloween Color Palette
Replace Carrot Cardstock with deep purple, dark teal, lime green, or black. Keep the house neutral, or reverse the contrast by cutting the building from Raven Cardstock and using Fog or Classic White for the roof and architectural details.
Make the House More Distressed
Add ink blending around the edges of the building, roof, door, or embossed background. Dark gray, brown, or black ink can create an aged, shadowy appearance.
Create a Flat Version for Mailing
Attach the house and sentiment with liquid adhesive instead of foam tape. The card will retain its layered paper details while having a flatter profile.
Use the Building for Another Occasion
Change the Halloween decorations to seasonal pieces from the original City Holiday collection. The same building can become a Christmas house, winter scene, neighborhood card, or celebratory city design.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need both City Holiday die sets to make this card?
Yes. The original City Holiday Etched Dies create the building, roof, door, windows, sills, and steps. The Halloween City Holiday Decorations Etched Dies provide the ghosts, pumpkins, skeleton, spiderweb, and other seasonal details.
What is the correct Platinum 6 sandwich for a 3D embossing folder?
For the Platinum 6 and the Molded Frame 3D Embossing Folder, arrange Platform Base (A), the 3D embossing folder with cardstock inside, and Adapter Plate (D). Consult the instructions included with your machine when using a different system.
Why does cardstock crack in a 3D embossing folder?
The deep impression can place stress on dry or rigid cardstock fibers. Lightly misting the back of the cardstock with water before embossing can help relax those fibers. Avoid saturating the paper, as too much moisture may affect the finish.
Which side of the hot foil faces the plate?
Place the hot foil with the pretty or colored side facing down toward the heated press plate. The cardstock is positioned over the back of the foil before the Glimmer platform is run through the compatible die-cutting machine.
How can I add dimension without making the card too bulky?
Use standard foam tape behind the main haunted house and thin foam strips behind the sentiment. Attach the smaller decorative layers with liquid adhesive so the focal point remains dimensional without adding unnecessary height to every element.
More Halloween Card Ideas
- Explore Halloween City Holiday Decorations by Yana Smakula
- Discover More Projects with the Original City Holiday Etched Dies
- Create Halloween Greetings with the Happy Halloween Sentiments Set
- Find More Handmade Card Tutorials on the Spellbinders Blog
Create Your Own Haunted Halloween Scene
Layered die cutting makes it possible to transform the City Holiday building into a detailed Halloween scene filled with playful ghosts, pumpkins, and spooky architectural accents. Complete the design with a deeply embossed orange frame and a polished gold sentiment, or customize the card with your preferred colors and greeting technique. The result is a dimensional haunted house card that brings Halloween City to life.
I hope you enjoyed seeing this fabulous haunted house come together with Yana Smakula’s latest addition to the City Holiday collection! I share more inspiration on my Instagram feed and YouTube channel. Follow and subscribe to see more ideas with this collection.
About the Author
Lea Lawson is a cardmaker who shares layered handmade card projects, detailed tutorials, and creative inspiration. Follow Lea on Instagram and subscribe to her YouTube channel for more cardmaking ideas.
