There’s something about lilacs that instantly feels nostalgic and heartfelt. When I was working on a custom 60th birthday card for my mom, I knew I wanted florals that felt dimensional, elegant, and just a little bit extra. This layered lilac birthday card combines products from Hero Arts and Spellbinders to create a design that’s full of texture, depth, and shine.
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If you love dimensional floral die cutting and 5×7 card designs, this project is right up your alley.
VIDEO TUTORIAL
Watch the video below or on my YouTube channel.
Hero Arts Layered Lilac Die Set
The star of this card is the Hero Arts Layered Lilac Die Set. At first glance, the dies may not look overly complex, but once you start assembling the layers, the magic really happens. The finished lilac cluster is incredibly lifelike and beautifully dimensional.
This set includes:
- A detailed base layer for the lilac bloom
- Overlay layers to add depth
- Multiple tiny individual flowers in different sizes
- Flower centers
- A stem and layered leaves
To create a realistic look, I die cut the flowers from three shades of Spellbincers ColorWheel purple cardstock – Fairy Tale, Lavender, Lilac. Using varying tones adds natural depth without needing ink blending. Lilacs traditionally come in purple, but you can absolutely experiment with pinks, soft creams, or even bold, modern color combinations.
To shape the tiny flowers, I used a ball stylus tool and a soft foam mat. Pressing into the center of each flower and gently shaping the petals adds instant dimension. This step makes a huge difference — the flowers go from flat to beautifully sculpted in seconds.
For the centers, I first die-cut yellow cardstock pieces (which didn’t work for me) and then added small gold gems for extra sparkle. It’s a bit time-consuming, but for a milestone birthday card, it’s completely worth it.
Creating the Vase with a Spellbinders Die
I wanted the lilacs arranged in a container instead of floating on the card front. For that, I used the Spellbinders Gorgeous You Perfume Bottle Die.
I have many card examples with this same bottle die HERE.
Originally, the bottle die cut was too tall for a 5×7 card, so I used partial die cutting to shorten it and create a more compact vase shape. This is such a useful technique when you want to customize a die to better fit your layout.
I die-cut the bottle from brushed black cardstock to create contrast against the soft purple florals. A Chiffon cardstock bow was added to the neck of the bottle for a delicate, feminine touch.
Elegant Embossed Background
To keep the background interesting but not overpowering, I used the Spellbinders Petite Tuft 3D Embossing Folder. This design adds subtle texture that complements the dimensional florals without competing with them.
I embossed chiffon cardstock and adhered it to a sturdy 5×7 top-folding card base. Since this card was going to be hand-delivered, I reinforced the base with an extra layer of cardstock for added stability. If you plan to mail a similar card, you may want to skip the extra layers to reduce bulk.
Sentiment and Custom Number for a 60th Birthday
Because this was a 60th birthday card for my mom, I wanted the design to feel personal and meaningful. I foiled a Happy Birthday sentiment in matte gold foil onto brushed black cardstock. The delicate gold script pairs beautifully with the black vase and gold embellishments.
To highlight the milestone, I added gold numbers “60” using Glimmer Plates from an older design – Yana’s Christmas Sentiments (discontinued). Even if you don’t have number dies, you can easily substitute:
- Gold number stickers
- Chipboard numbers
- Stamped and heat embossed numbers
Mixing delicate script with bolder numbers creates a lovely balance and keeps the design visually interesting.
Assembling the Floral Arrangement
The main lilac cluster was mounted with double layers of foam adhesive for dramatic dimension. Additional lilac stems were tucked behind and slightly overlapped to create a full arrangement.
A few individual blossoms were scattered near the bottom of the vase to mimic fallen lilac petals. This small detail ties the composition together and adds a natural, organic feel.
To finish the card, I added gold gems to the flower centers using Simon Says Stamp gold Positively Dazzling Gems. The sparkle elevates the entire design and makes it feel truly special.
Final Thoughts on This Dimensional Floral Card
This layered lilac birthday card is a perfect example of how detailed die cutting and thoughtful layering can create a high-impact design without complicated coloring techniques.
Key elements that make this card stand out:
- Multiple shades of cardstock for realistic depth
- Shaping die cuts with a ball stylus tool
- Partial die cutting to customize a vase
- 3D embossed background for subtle texture
- Gold foiled sentiment and gem embellishments
If you’ve been wanting to try dimensional floral die cutting but feel intimidated, this is a fantastic place to start. The Hero Arts Layered Lilac Die Set does most of the heavy lifting — you just bring the color choices and a little patience.
And when you’re creating for someone you love, especially for a milestone birthday, adding those extra details makes all the difference.
Have you tried shaping your floral die cuts for added dimension? I’d love to hear your favorite techniques.
SUPPLIES
I’m listing the products I used below. Click on the link to go directly to the product. Where available, I use compensated affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!
 Hero Arts Layered Lilac Die Set Shop at: SSS | HA | AN |
 Spellbinders Gorgeous You Perfume Bottle Etched Dies Shop at: SSS | SB USA | SB UK | AN |
 Spellbinders Crafty Hugs Sentiments Press Plate & Die Set Shop at: SSS | SB USA | SB UK | AMZ | AN |
 Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil – Matte Gold Shop at: SSS | SB USA | SB UK | AMZ | AN |
 Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil System (Platinum) Shop at: SSS | SB USA | SB UK | AMZ | AN |
 Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Dazzling Gems Gold Shop at: SSS |
 Spellbinders Platinum 6 Machine With Universal Plate System Shop at: SSS | SB USA | SB UK | AMZ | AN |
 Spellbinders Detail Tweezers Shop at: SSS | AMZ | AN |
 Spellbinders Brushed Black Cardstock Shop at: SB USA | SB UK | AN |
 Spellbinders Lilac ColorWheel Cardstock Shop at: SB USA | SB UK | AN |
 Spellbinders Lavender ColorWheel Cardstock Shop at: SB USA | SB UK | AN |
 Spellbinders Fairy Tale ColorWheel Cardstock Shop at: SB USA | SB UK | AN |
 Spellbinders Fern ColorWheel Cardstock Shop at: SSS | SB USA | SB UK | AN |
 Spellbinders Rainforest ColorWheel Cardstock Shop at: SSS | SB USA | SB UK | AN |
 Spellbinders Chiffon ColorWheel Cardstock Shop at: SSS | SB USA | SB UK | AN |
 Neenah 80lb Solar White Cardstock Shop at: SSS | AMZ |
 Simon Says Stamp Set of 3 Pawsitively Perfect Craft Pads Shop at: SSS |
 Altenew Petal Shaper Tool Set alt11078 Shop at: SSS | SC | AN |
 Spellbinders Petite Tuft – 3D Embossing Folder of the Month Shop at: SB USA | SB UK |
 Spellbinders 12 x 12″ Scoring Board Shop at: SSS | SB USA | SB UK | AMZ | AN |
 Altenew Instant Dimension Foam Tape Shop at: SSS | SC | AN |
 White Foam Squares Shop at: SSS | SB USA | SB UK | AMZ | AN |
 Bearly Art Mini Precision Craft Glue Shop at: SSS | SB USA | AMZ |
 Glassboard Studio Super Strong Magnets Shop at: GBS |
 Glassboard Studio Glass Craft Mat – Code YANA15 Shop at: GBS |
 Jewel Picker Tool Shop at: SSS | SB USA | AMZ | AN |
