Easy Chess-Themed Birthday Card Tutorial with Spellbinders Checkmate Collection

Hi, crafty friends! Lea Lawson here today with an easy tutorial featuring the Chess & Checkers die set from the new Checkmate collection.

This card is geared towards beginner cardmakers, but could easily be elevated and adapted with more techniques and design elements. It offers warm colors, easy-to-create texture, and a fabulous birthday sentiment for every queen in your life!

To start, trim a panel of Matte Metallic from the Treasured Cardstock: Gold Assorted Pack to 4” x 5.25”. We are going to emboss this panel with the Harlequin 3D embossing folder. The best plate sandwich that I have found for 3D embossing folders is Platform Base A, a 3D embossing folder with paper inside, and Adapter Plate D.

This should roll through your Platinum 6 machine easily, and the results are STUNNING once complete. There is no need to run the folder back and forth – one time is enough for perfect results!

Cover the back of the gold embossed panel in foam tape, then mount to the front of a top folding A2-sized card base. Not sure how to create the card base? Here are some easy instructions:

1. Cut white cardstock to 4.25” x 11”.
2. Score on the long edge at 5.5”, then fold.

This creates a top-folding card base, which is what I’m featuring today!

Die-cut the chess piece dies as shown from Chiffon, Bellini, and Coral cardstock. Reminder: flip the dies over and cut into the paper. I’m showcasing the dies face-up so you can see which ones I’ve used.

New to diecutting with the Platinum 6? I’ve got you covered! Here is the best plate sandwich for cutting Spellbinders dies: Platform A, Platform B, Cutting Plate C, cardstock, die (face down) and Cutting Plate C. Use yellow tape to hold the dies in place as needed!

Diecut the final detail dies from Mirrored Metallic from the Treasured Cardstock: Rose Gold Assorted Pack.

Gather the pieces you need for each chess piece as shown. Set aside the extra pieces, which you can use on a later card if you’d like! I like to use a grip mat or sticky mat to assemble die cut pieces with multiple layers, but this is completely optional.

Layer and glue together each chess piece from bottom to top until the piece is complete using liquid glue.

Stamp the two sentiments from Well Played Sentiments in black ink to white cardstock.

Diecut both sentiments with the strip die included in the die set for Well Played Sentiments.

Trim the edges from each side of the sentiment, making each one a bit shorter in length.

Add thin foam strips to the back of both sentiments, and only the tops of each chess piece. Add liquid glue to the bottom of each chess piece.

Arrange the chess pieces and sentiments to the card front as shown, then add Aura AB self-adhesive crystals as accents to the front to finish.

I hope you enjoyed watching this simple birthday card come to life featuring the new Checkmate collection from Spellbinders! The color combo options are endless, and you can switch out the chess pieces as you see fit. Perfect for your favorite chess guru or any game-playing friend!

I share lots of inspiration on my Instagram feed and YouTube channel – follow and subscribe to see even more inspiration with this beautiful collection. Happy crafting!

Spellbinders Supplies:

Other supplies

Liquid glue, black ink, 1” foam tape