Spellbinders Advent Day 9: A Shaker Card with Elegant Purple Sequins

Today’s surprise from the Spellbinders Advent Calendar was a beautiful bag of rich purple sequins, and there was no question in my mind that these needed to be featured in a shaker card. Sequins like these are meant to move and shine, and a shaker design is the perfect way to let them do just that.

For this card, I decided to create a get-well shaker card with a clean, elegant look and a mostly gender-neutral color palette. The goal was to let the purple sequins be the star while keeping the overall design soft and encouraging.

Creating a Framed Shaker Window

I started by designing a frame to hold the shaker element. Using two different sizes from the Spellbinders Perfect Touch Rectangles and Tags, I created a frame that would neatly contain the sequins while still leaving room for dimension and detail.

Once the frame was cut, it was time to decide on a background that would complement the purple sequins without overpowering them.

Watercolor Background with Lindy’s Magicals

To complement the purple sequins, I chose yellow as the contrasting color. Yellow and purple sit opposite each other on the color wheel, making them a natural and eye-catching pairing. I also wanted something organic and fun rather than patterned paper.

That led me to my Lindy’s Magicals, which I realized I had not used in quite some time. I used watercolor paper and selected the yellow from the Drop Dead Diva color set. I sprinkled a small amount of the magical powder onto the paper and lightly misted it with water.

A fine mist spray bottle is important for this technique. A heavy spray can push the powder around too forcefully, while a light mist allows the color to bloom naturally. As soon as the water touched the powders, the magic began. I let the color move and spread on its own before setting the panel aside to dry completely.

Preparing the Card Elements

While the background dried, I worked on the remaining components of the card.

Floral Die Cuts

Thinking back to earlier Advent Calendar gifts, I remembered the flower dies from Day 5. These were perfect for adding soft detail without adding more color. I cut several flowers from white cardstock and assembled them, ultimately using two on the finished card.

Embossed Card Base

For the card base, I wanted texture while keeping the color palette simple. I chose the Leafy Helix Embossing Folder from Spellbinders and embossed a piece of white cardstock trimmed to 4.25″ x 5.5″. This panel was adhered to an A2 white card base, creating a subtle but elegant foundation.

Sentiment

The sentiment comes from the Spellbinders Just a Note Sentiment and Tag set. I stamped “Get Well Soon” in black ink on white cardstock and trimmed it down, setting it aside for final placement.

Assembling the Shaker Card

Once the watercolor background was fully dry, I trimmed it slightly smaller than the shaker frame so it would not extend beyond the outer edge. I also cut a piece of acetate to match the opening of the frame.

To assemble the shaker:

I flipped the frame over and secured the acetate to the back, making sure the opening was fully covered.
Next, I created the shaker well by placing 3 mm thick foam tape on top of the acetate, around the opening of the frame. If you do not have 3 mm foam tape, you can double up standard foam tape to achieve the same depth. (It is very important to make sure there are no gaps in the foam tape so the sequins do not escape.)
I lightly brushed the acetate with an anti-static or embossing powder tool to reduce static.
The purple sequins were added to the center.
I removed the backing from the foam tape and sealed the shaker by placing the watercolor panel on top, with the painted side facing the acetate.

At this point, the shaker element was complete.

Final Assembly and Finishing Touches

I centered the finished shaker onto the embossed white background and adhered it securely. The white die-cut flowers were added outside the frame for balance, and the sentiment was placed to complete the design.

Finished Shaker Card Thoughts

I love how this card turned out. The white-on-white frame and flowers keep everything soft and elegant, while the purple sequins and yellow watercolor background add just the right amount of color and interest. This is a great example of how a shaker card can still feel refined and appropriate for a get well card.

Missed a 2025 Advent Project? Links Below

Spellbinders 2025 Advent

Pink and Main 2025 Advent

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Supply List

Spellbinders Advent Calendar 2025 – Day 9 Purple Sequins (Sold Out)
- Alternate – Light Purple
- Alternate – Dark Purple
Spellbinders Perfect Touch Rectangles and Tags Dies
Spellbinders Flower Dies (Advent Day 5)
- Alternate Be Bold Blooms
Spellbinders Leafy Helix Embossing Folder
- Alternate – Plaid Company
- Alternate – Cross My Heart
- Alternate – Woven
Spellbinders Just a Note Sentiment and Tag Set
Lindy’s Magicals – Drop Dead Diva Color Set (Yellow)
Watercolor Paper
White Cardstock
Acetate
Foam Tape (3 mm or doubled up standard foam tape)
Black Ink
Water Mister Spray Bottle
Die Cutting Machine
Liquid Adhesive
Anti-static or Embossing Powder Tool

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