Discover the Endless Creativity of Die Cutting with the Morning Grace Layering Die Set

Hello Altenew friends! It’s Reiko here today to share a memory keeping layout and a mini book spread that capture the quiet charm of mornings using Altenew’s beautiful Morning Grace Layering Die Set.

Mornings have a quiet charm — that peaceful, glowing moment before the day fully begins. That’s the feeling I wanted to capture in today’s scrapbooking projects using the Morning Grace Die Set. This gorgeous mini die set may look simple at first glance, but it offers a world of creative possibilities for scrapbookers and cardmakers alike. With beautifully layered petals and soft, complementary leaves, these blooms bring both depth and emotion to your design — just like the tranquil start of a brand-new day.

There’s a special kind of joy that comes with die cutting — that satisfying “click” as your die slides through the machine and reveals a perfectly cut piece of art. Every crafter knows that feeling! With layering dies, a simple sheet of cardstock transforms into something extraordinary — rich in texture, color, and dimension. Unlike single-use stickers, dies are endlessly reusable, letting you experiment with papers, colors, and techniques for fresh results every time.

One of the things that makes die cutting so special is its reusability. A sticker is finished the moment you peel and stick it, but a die can be used over and over again with different papers, colors, and techniques. By simply changing your cardstock — from solid pastels to textured, metallic, or even vintage book paper — you can completely transform the look and mood of the same floral design. This is where the Morning Grace Die Set truly shines, allowing you to create a wide variety of “morning moods” with a single, compact set.

What makes dies so special compared to stickers or pre-made embellishments? It’s simple: dies are endlessly reusable and completely customizable. A single Altenew die can produce countless looks, depending on your choice of paper. Try delicate vellum for an ethereal feel, shimmer cardstock for an elegant shine, or bold colors for a modern pop. Every cut tells a new creative story.

For the first project, the focus is on a clean, sweet 6x6 inch layout that lets the flowers frame a special photo. To echo a soft morning glow, start by creating your background with Crafty Necessities Cardstock in Frosty Pink as the base panel.

For the background, I created a wooden frame by trimming a woodgrain patterned paper from one of Altenew's scrapbooking collection into thin strips and popping them up with foam tape to add dimension. The subtle texture gives the layout a warm, cozy feel that perfectly complements the gentle pink background. I arranged the die-cut flowers in a balanced way around the photo, letting them frame the happy moment naturally. The picture captures a sweet, playful expression of my daughter taken in the fresh morning light — that kind of sunlight that feels pure, transparent, and full of promise. You can almost feel the crisp air and gentle warmth of a brand-new day shining through her smile. This page reminds me how beautiful those little everyday moments can be — when the morning light, laughter, and love all come together in one precious memory.

Here is how I created the layout

• Prepare a base: Trim a 6x6 inch base from Crafty Necessities: Frosty Pink Cardstock for the base.
• Trim a woodgrain patterned paper from into thin strips and popping them up with the Instant Dimension Foam Tape - 1/16'' x 1/4'' x 15m.
• Die cut the florals: Use the Morning Grace Layering Die Set to cut multiple flowers and leaves from Frosty Pink, Soft Lilac, and a slightly lighter purple (I used one from my personal stash).
• Arrange and adhere: Balance the flowers evenly across the layout and adhere the photo in the center. Add purple enamel dots from the Dried Petals Enamel Dots for subtle accents. This creates a balanced composition where the Morning Grace florals provide visual interest while keeping the focus on the photo.

Elevate your memory keeping or journaling with mixed media die cutting! Vintage book pages add whimsy to a basket overflowing with dimensional Morning Grace flowers.

One of the joys of mixed media is its freedom — you can layer textures, colors, and materials without worrying about long-term archival quality. Mini books are the perfect format for this playful approach, letting you experiment with acrylic paints, vintage book pages, and bold washi tapes to create pages that prioritize visual delight over permanence.

This spread captures a cheeky morning moment with my daughter — fresh from waking up, playfully hiding under her umbrella on the bed. It’s one of those joyful scenes that hints at a full day of happiness ahead, making it the ideal subject for a whimsical basket overflowing with dimensional Morning Grace flowers crafted from old book pages.

The vibrant watercolor stripes and cheerful patterns provide the perfect backdrop for the stamped basket, while the crinkled, 3D blooms add organic texture and movement. This project shows how the Morning Grace Die Set adapts beautifully to mixed media, turning simple vintage paper into treasured, storytelling elements that bring your mini book pages to life!

Here is how I created the minibook spread

• Cover the mini book spread with Wide Washi Tape in playful stripes for a textured base.
• Stamp and die-cut a basket image using the Build-A-Garden: Radiant Blossoms and any blown cardstock.
• Die cut small Morning Grace flowers from old English book pages. Fold the centers at two points for 3D pop, then tuck into the basket. Paint edges for vintage flair using the Shimmer Relief Paste - Enchanted Gold.
• Adhere black enamel dots onto the flowers from the Essential Black & White Enamel Dots.

There’s something almost magical about placing a piece of cardstock under a die and running it through your die-cutting machine. In a single, satisfying pass, a crisp, intricate shape emerges — delicate petals, graceful leaves, or elegant patterns that instantly elevate your handmade project.

These projects prove die cutting’s magic: reusable tools mean infinite variety, from clean minimalism to artsy mixed media. Die cutting is more than just cutting paper — it’s about reimagining what a simple sheet of paper can become. Every pass through the machine is an invitation to play, explore, and rediscover the joy of handmade art.

So, ready to fall in love with die cutting all over again? Pull out your Morning Grace Die Set, choose your favorite paper, and let your creativity bloom! This new product offer so many creative possibilities, and I’m so excited to see what you’ll make with them!

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