Color Block Squares

There are days when color just shows up and steals your heart — and this card is absolutely one of those days. Today I’m sharing a project that is full of interesting tones, clean lines, and a very satisfying graphic feel, and I honestly can’t stop smiling every time I look at it.

I started with four two-tone cardstock colors that play beautifully together: Secret Sea, Cloud Cover, Pecan Pie, and Crumb Cake. Each color was cut into five 1 x 1 squares, which makes this technique feel a bit like building a tiny mosaic. The base for the design is Very Vanilla, and that soft neutral really lets the deeper tones shine.

Once the color block panel was finished, it was layered onto another piece of Very Vanilla, and a bit of Linen Thread wrapped around the panel and tied into a bow slightly off to the right, adding just the right amount of softness to balance all those crisp edges. The entire piece was then popped up with Dimensionals and centered on a Very Vanilla card base.

The sentiment, “Sending Smiles” from the soon-to-be-released Lovely Arrangements stamp set, was stamped in Secret Sea ink on Very Vanilla, die cut with the coordinating sentiment die, and tucked over the thread on the left side of the bow using Mini Dimensionals. A few finishing touches made it sparkle — two Secret Sea and one Cloud Cover 2025–2027 In Color Flat Pearls added around the sentiment for a bit of shine and texture.

Inside the card, the color was carried through with slim strips of Secret Sea cardstock — one light strip and one dark strip — layered along the right edge and topped with a Very Vanilla panel. There’s plenty of room to write a message, while still keeping the inside coordinated and fun.

The color palette on this card feels strong and modern, the design is clean and graphic, and it would be perfect for a guy — though honestly, I’d send it to just about anyone. I’m especially happy with how the tones play together and how the two-tone cardstock really does all the heavy lifting.

I’ll be entering this card into the Cut It Up Challenge, where the theme is Anything Goes (with at least one die cut), and I think this project fits right in.

I CASEd this Color Block Squares technique from Brandy Cox, and I’m thrilled with how it turned out. I also have a video to share showing how this card came together linked below:

I’ve got a PDF tutorial as well that I’m sharing exclusively with my newsletter subscribers in my bi-weekly newsletter coming out on December 29, 2025 – so if you’re already on my list — keep an eye on your inbox. If not, this might be a fun reason to join.

Thanks so much for stopping by today and sharing a little creative time with me. Cards like this remind me just how powerful color can be.

Supplies Used: Available January 6, 2026 – Lovely Arrangements stamp set (No. 167169) and Lovely Arrangements die cuts (No. 167175)