Hope Your Summer Starts Off Right: A Poolside Pals Card

On By islandyu

Hello crafters! Is it getting warm where you are? Summer is definitely in the air, and my creative mind has taken a trip to the poolside. Today’s project is all about making a big splash with the wonderful Spellbinders May 2026 club kits.

The entire scene was inspired by the fantastic May 2026 Embossing Folder Club of the Month (Poolside Plaid). I couldn’t resist creating a literal swimming pool with this intricate pattern! To get started, I embossed a piece of Seaside cardstock and then added vibrant color using blending brushes. For that extra pop, I went in with a white gel pen to draw over the embossed lines, creating the look of shimmering white tiles in the water.

To frame the pool scene, I used the lovely Wildflowers Collection Scallop and Stitched Edge Ovals Etched Dies. I cut a decorative oval frame from white cardstock and layered it over the embossed panel with foam tape, giving the card wonderful dimension and the illusion of looking down into a pool.

The adorable poolside pals were die-cut using the May Small Die of the Month (Dive In). The cute cat and dog both needed stylish sunglasses for their day in the sun! The large striped umbrella was borrowed from the May Large Die of the Month (Pop of Summer) collection – every good poolside spot needs some shade! For the perfect final touch, I stamped a sentiment from the May Clear Stamp & Die of the Month (Burst of Summer), die-cut it, and attached it with more foam tape.

Step-by-Step Process

  • Step 1: Use the May 2026 Embossing Folder Club (Poolside Plaid) to emboss a panel of Seaside cardstock.

  • Step 2: Apply coordinating inks over the embossed panel using blending brushes to add color and depth.

  • Step 3: With a white gel pen, trace the lines of the embossed pattern to simulate the grout and texture of a tiled pool floor.

  • Step 4: Die-cut the white cardstock panel using the Wildflowers Scallop and Stitched Edge Ovals die to create a decorative window. Layer this window panel over the pool background with foam tape.

  • Step 5: Die-cut the cat, dog, and all their cute accessories (sunglasses!) from the May Small Die of the Month (Dive In) set.

  • Step 6: Die-cut the decorative striped umbrella from the May Large Die of the Month (Pop of Summer) collection.

  • Step 7: Stamp and die-cut the summer sentiment from the May Clear Stamp & Die of the Month (Burst of Summer) set.

  • Step 8: Arrange and adhere the characters, umbrella, and sentiment to the card.

I hope this poolside scene gives you all the summer feels! Combining the different club kits is such a fun way to create unique, dimensional scenes. The mix of the textured embossing folder, the detailed dies, and the dimensional frame really brings this little pool party to life. Thank you so much for following along with my May club creations—I can’t wait to share my next project with you!

Happy Crafting, Heejung

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