A Very Happy Birthday, From the Branches of the Hundred Acre Wood

Hello, my craft friends! I’m so excited and honoured to be joining you today as a guest designer on the Spellbinders blog! June is such a joyful month, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to share a special step-by-step photo tutorial featuring the utterly charming Say Cheese Classic Pooh Birthday collection by Simple Stories. If you’re a fan of sweet nostalgia, soft colors, and all things Winnie the Pooh, you’re in for a real treat. This project was such a joy to create, from the whimsical artwork to the playful patterns, everything about this collection just sparks happiness and a sense of timeless childhood wonder. Whether you’re crafting for a little one’s birthday or just want to add a smile to someone’s day, I hope this tutorial inspires you to dive in and create something magical. Let’s jump right into the fun!

Step 1:

Trim a piece of Classic White cardstock to 4” x 6”. Using a blending brush and Distress Ink, blend green at the bottom, fading into white in the center. Rotate the panel and blend blue from the opposite end. Once the ink is dry, trim 1/8” off each side to clean up the edges. Your final panel should measure 3¾” x 5¾”.

Step 2:

Using the Classic Pooh Birthday Accessories die set, die-cut 6 banner base shapes from Classic White cardstock. Then, die-cut the banner detail layers from six different cardstock colors: Beeswax, Carrot, Coral, Tutu, Waterfall, and Malibu.

Step 3:

Layer each colored detail die cut onto a white banner base using liquid glue. Alternate stripes and polka dots to create a fun and unique look for each pennant.

Step 4:

Die-cut 3 branches from Acorn cardstock using the branch die from the Rabbit & Owl set. Glue one branch near the top left of your ink-blended panel (about ¾” from the top) and another branch near the bottom left (about 1” from the bottom).

Step 5:

Attach two banners to each branch in a soft “V” shape using glue, as if they’re strung across the branches.

Step 6:

Glue the third branch about 2” up from the bottom right of the panel.

Step 7:

Once all the glue is dry, flip the panel over and trim off any excess banner or branch using your Spellbinders Pro Shears.

Step 8:

Die-cut the owl pieces from the Rabbit & Owl set as follows:

• Main body and one wing set from Fawn cardstock
• Body layer and second wing set from Truffle cardstock
• Beak and talons from Carrot cardstock
• Eye backing circles from Raven cardstock

Step 9:

Glue the black eye circles behind the owl’s head.

Step 10:

Begin assembling the owl by layering the main body (in Fawn) over the darker base layer (in Truffle). Attach the feet (in Carrot) and glue the light-colored wing (Fawn) together with its dark-colored wing (Truffle), slightly offset to create a shadowed, dimensional look. Repeat this for both wings.

Step 11:

Glue the light-colored wing set (Fawn over Truffle) underneath the left side of the owl’s body. Then, attach the dark-colored wing set (Truffle over Fawn) on top of the right side of the body so it appears layered above the belly. This creates a natural, balanced pose with open wings!

Step 12:

Attach a small banner across the owl. One end should overlap the left wing, and the other should tuck under the right wing.

Step 13:

Emboss a panel of watercolor cardstock slightly larger than 5” x 7” using the Classic Pooh Birthday Numbers 3D embossing folder. After embossing (which may shrink the cardstock slightly), trim it down to 4⅞” x 6⅞”.

Step 14:

Flip the embossed panel over and apply glue only to the raised areas that will contact the card base.

Step 15:

Create a 5” x 7” card base from Peridot cardstock. Center and adhere the embossed panel onto it, leaving a soft green border all around.

Step 16:

Apply adhesive to the back of the inked front panel using your Spellbinders Refillable Tape Runner.

Step 17:

Mount this panel onto another piece of Peridot cardstock trimmed to 3⅞” x 5⅞” for a clean, matted look.

Step 18:

Add more adhesive to the back of the now-matted panel.

Step 19:

Center and adhere it onto your embossed card base.

Step 20:

Attach foam squares to the back of your assembled owl with banner.

Step 21:

Position and adhere the owl over the middle tree branch, creating a fun focal point.

Step 22:

Secure a Porcelain BetterPress A7 cotton card panel to the BetterPress clear plate using Best Ever Craft Tape.

Step 23:

Place the A Very Happy Birthday Sentiments plate onto the magnetic platform. Position it so you can stamp two sentiments at once, while leaving enough room to cut around them. Ink with BetterPress Black Ink (or archival ink).

Step 24:

Run the platform through your Platinum 6 die-cutting machine to press the sentiment.

Step 25:

Align and tape the coordinating sentiment die over the pressed images and die-cut using the Platinum 6.

Step 26:

Die-cut the same shape from scrap cardstock a few times to stack behind your sentiment for dimension and durability.

Step 27:

Glue the stacked sentiment to the bottom centre of the card, between the two lower branches.

Step 28:

Add a second stamped sentiment on the up centre and your final bunting banner to the top right corner of the inside of the card.