Weighted Spinner Hamster Wheel Card | Honey Bee Stamps

Hello, crafty friends! Today, I’m excited to share an adorable interactive card featuring the Lovely Layers: Hamster House Dies, the Lovely Layers: Hamster, and a fun sentiment from the You’ve Got a Friend Stamp Set—all part of Honey Bee Stamps’ brand-new Pet-tastic Release!

This card is extra special because it has a spinning hamster wheel, bringing a playful, interactive element to the design. I used the Sweet Stacks: Circles to create the spinning mechanism and a clever trick to add weight, ensuring the wheel returns to its neutral position when not in motion. Want to watch this card come together? Check out my Reels HERE

CARD RECIPE

Lovely Layers: Hamster House Dies (Honey Bee Stamps)

Lovely Layers: Hamster (Honey Bee Stamps)

You’ve Got a Friend Stamp Set (Honey Bee Stamps)

Sweet Stacks: Circles Dies (Honey Bee Stamps)

Simply Spring Sticker Set (Honey Bee Stamps)

Cardstock (white and assorted colors for die-cut elements)

Acetate (for transparent wheel effect)

Foam dots/foam tape

Button (for spinner mechanism)

Dime (for added weight)

Black pen (for splatter effect)

Ink (for sentiment)

Die-cutting machine

Glue or strong adhesive

Creating the Spinning Mechanism

To achieve this fun effect, I followed these steps:

• Die-cut the front panel – I cut a circle in the top layer of the card using the Sweet Stacks: Circles Dies.
• Die-cut and assemble the hamster and wheel – I used the Lovely Layers: Hamster and Lovely Layers: Hamster House Dies to piece together the adorable hamster and its wheel.
• Make the wheel transparent – To add a realistic effect, I used Acetate as the top layer of the wheel. Since the glue dries clear, it remains unnoticeable.
• Build the spinner base – glue a button to a larger circle, set aside to dry. This will be used in the next step.
• Layer the card front – Add foam tape behind the front panel, and place the button layer behind the opening so it peeks through the die cut circle opening. Glue to the card base. The foam layer will allow for smooth movement.
• Balance the movement – To help the wheel return to its neutral position after spinning, I glued a dime to the bottom of the hamster wheel, adding just enough weight.
• Attach the wheel – Add a foam dot to the top of the button and then attach the hamster wheel on top, slightly elevating it.
• Adjust the spin – If you want less movement, use a button slightly smaller than the opening. To allow freer spinning, add foam behind the front panel for elevation.

This interactive hamster wheel card is such a fun way to bring life to your paper crafts! The Pet-tastic Release from Honey Bee Stamps is full of adorable elements perfect for animal lovers. I hope this tutorial inspires you to try making your own spinning creations!

Would you give this a spin? Let me know in the comments! Happy crafting!
Ilda 🐹✨

To make supplies easy for you to find, I have linked them above. If something is no longer available I will link to a similar product. Affiliate links may be used depending on the product linked. Please help support my blog by using these links while shopping at no additional cost to you. For more information about the affiliates I use, please visit my disclaimer here. Thanks so much for all your support!

Puppy Kisses & Lucky Wishes | A St. Paddy’s Inspired Card | Honey Bee Stamps

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! What better way to celebrate than with a heartfelt, handmade card? This glittery green beauty is full of charm, featuring a lucky pup who’s clearly been having fun in the fresh-cut grass! With layered hearts, sparkly sentiments, and clover accents, this card is the perfect way to tell someone just how lucky you are to have them in your life.

CARD RECIPE

Scattered Hearts Stencil

Lucky to Have You Honey Cuts

Tail Waggers Rubber Stamp Set

Lace Heart Layering Frames Honey Cuts

Bold Background: Vines of Love Honey Cuts

Real Rainbow Sticker Set (Green Gems)
Mowed Lawn Distress Oxide Ink
Slime Green Paper Glaze
Glitter paper (ink-blended to match with Mowed Lawn Distress Oxide Ink)

Vellum
Water-reactive ink
Waterbrush

Background

I started with a vibrant background using the Scattered Hearts Stencil. The first layer was blended with Mowed Lawn Distress Oxide Ink, and for extra shimmer and texture, I added a second layer using Slime Green Paper Glaze.

Sentiment

The sentiment, Lucky to Have You Honey Cuts, was die-cut from glitter paper that I ink-blended to match the background using Mowed Lawn Distress Oxide Ink. This ensured a cohesive look while adding shimmer to the design. To make the sentiment stand out, I placed it on a soft vellum shadow, which helps it pop against the busy background without overwhelming the design.

Focal Image

The adorable pup comes from the Tail Waggers Rubber Stamp Set, stamped using water-reactive ink and then watercolored. To enhance the St. Paddy’s theme, I added green hues to the pup’s paws, legs, and face to mimic the look of playing in fresh-cut grass. I initially used the Tail Wagger Honey Cuts die but opted for a hand-fussy cut look without the white border.

Embellishments

The hearts framing the pup are from the Lace Heart Layering Frames Honey Cuts Set, cut from pink and green cardstock for a layered effect. For a fun shamrock detail, I arranged tiny hearts from the Bold Background: Vines of Love Honey Cuts into clover shapes. To finish, I added some sparkle using green gems from the Real Rainbow Sticker Set.

This card was so fun to put together, and I love how it captures the playful spirit of both St. Patrick’s Day and our four-legged friends. Let me know what you think in the comments, and don’t forget to share your own St. Paddy’s inspired creations!

Be sure to head over to my Instagram account to watch the reel featuring this card in action. Thank you for stopping by and until next time... Happy Crafting!

Ilda 🍀🐶

To make supplies easy for you to find, I have linked them above. If something is no longer available I will link to a similar product. Affiliate links may be used depending on the product linked. Please help support my blog by using these links while shopping at no additional cost to you. For more information about the affiliates I use, please visit my disclaimer here. Thanks so much for all your support!

Fin-tastic Pop-Up Aquarium Card | Honey Bee Stamps

If you love interactive cards, this pop-up aquarium is the perfect way to showcase the beautiful new Pet-Tastic Release from Honey Bee Stamps! This 3D card brings an underwater scene to life and is part of the Pet-Tastic Instagram Hop, so don't miss out on hopping along for a chance to win 1 of 2 $50 Gift Cards from Honey Bee! Also, if you want to see how this Fin-tastic Card Came together, watch my latest Reel 👉 HERE!

Let’s dive into how you can create this stunning pop-up aquarium! 

CARD RECIPE

Lovely Layers: Fish (Fish dies)
Lovely Layers: Tank (Aquarium)
Lovely Layers: Tank: Aquarium Add-On (Tank Decor)
Pet-Tastic Stamp Set and Coordinating Dies (Sentiments)

Other Tools & Materials:
Ink blending brushes
Distress Oxide inks
Bee Creative Intense Black ink (for the inside sentiment)
Bee Creative Brilliant White ink (for stamping the front sentiment)

Embossing powder (for the front sentiment)
Scor buddy board (for pop-up springs)
Acetate (for glass front, and floating fish illusion)
Spray bottle (for water splatter effect)
Chunky glitter (for iridescent aquarium rocks)
Adhesive glue

Foam (dots for dimension)

1. Die Cut the Fish and Add Color
Start by die-cutting the fish from white cardstock using the Lovely Layers: Fish dies. Use Distress Oxide inks and ink blending brushes to add vibrant color to each fish. Once colored, piece the fish layers together to create dimension.

2. Die Cut the Aquarium Layers
Die cut three black layers of the aquarium using the Lovely Layers: Tank dies. To the topmost layer, adhere a piece of acetate to mimic the glass front of an actual aquarium.

3. Create the Pop-Up Springs

For the pop-up effect, cut four strips of cardstock measuring 5" x 1". Score them every 1/4 inch and fold them into a spring-like shape. These will be used between the aquarium layers to add dimension.

4. Assemble the Background and Base Layer
Attach the back layer of the aquarium to the card base.
Blend Distress Oxide inks onto a piece of cardstock for a realistic water background.
Use a spray bottle to add water splatter effects to the blended background.
Attach some fish die cuts directly onto the background to give depth.

5. Add the Middle Aquarium Layer
Glue two pop-up springs onto the back layer and attach the second aquarium layer.
Position and adhere the castle and coral elements from the Aquarium Add-On set.
For a fun floating effect, glue a fish onto a small acetate strip and attach it between the layers.

6. Complete the Aquarium Scene
Attach the front layer of the aquarium with another set of pop-up springs.
Add final fish, coral, and decorative die cuts.
Use wood-textured embossed pieces to create the top and bottom of the tank.
Apply glue along the bottom edge, then sprinkle chunky glitter to resemble the shimmering aquarium gravel.

7. Add the Sentiments
Heat emboss the “You’re fintastic” sentiment onto the front panel using white ink and embossing powder.
On the inside of the card, stamp the “Sending birthday fishes” sentiment with black ink for a fun finishing touch.

Thanks to the springs this Card does collapse to fit into an envelope, but please note that it will still be bulky.

This pop-up aquarium card is a delightful way to bring a creative, interactive element to handmade cards. Whether you're making it for a birthday or just to brighten someone’s day, the Pet-Tastic Release from Honey Bee Stamps provides the perfect elements to craft an immersive underwater scene. Give it a try and let your creativity flow!

Thank you for stopping by and until next time... Happy crafting! 

Ilda 🐠✨

To make supplies easy for you to find, I have linked them above. If something is no longer available I will link to a similar product. Affiliate links may be used depending on the product linked. Please help support my blog by using these links while shopping at no additional cost to you. For more information about the affiliates I use, please visit my disclaimer here. Thanks so much for all your support!