It’s time for another Design Team card for The Male Room, and this month’s challenge is “Animals.”
I have had this Patterned Pets stamp set by Inkadinkado for many years, and it is one of those sets that I know I will never part with! It contains lots of lovely animal images, but for this card there was one obvious choice. The cute bulldog was just too perfect not to take centre stage!
I decided to create a fun birthday card featuring the bulldog popping out of an envelope, with a few simple details to bring the whole design together. Here’s how I made it.
What You’ll Need
- Cardstock: white card base, white linen and crumb cake
- Dies: Collector by Tim Holtz, Sizzix; Sweet Confections Label and Banner by Tina Smith, Spellbinders; layering rectangles, Craft Addiction UK
- Stamps: ink splat, birthday sentiments and candle; bulldog by Inkadinkado
- Ink: black
- Adhesive: foam adhesive and liquid glue
- Additional: envelope punchboard, black half-back pearls
Step 1: Create the Background
I started with a 6″ square white card base and used an ink splat stamp to add a random pattern of black ink across the front.
I wasn’t looking for anything too precise here – just a few random splats. They create a fun, slightly messy background and give the card a little extra character.
Step 2: Make the Envelope
Next came the envelope.
Using my Envelope Punch Board, I made a small envelope from Crumb Cake cardstock. Once folded and assembled, I adhered it at an angle across the centre of the card.
It was fun using an envelope as part of a card design because it created an instant sense of movement and gave you somewhere for the images to “come from”.
Step 3: Create the Birthday Images
Now for the fun part!
I die cut several different shapes from White Linen cardstock and stamped the images onto them using black ink.
The first was a candle, followed by an “It’s Your Birthday” circle, and of course the star of the show – that adorable bulldog from my much-loved Inkadinkado stamp set.
Once stamped, the pieces were arranged so that they appeared to be popping out of the envelope. I added a die cut heart in crumb cake to the centre of the birthday circle.
I really liked the contrast between the crisp white linen card, the warm Crumb Cake envelope and the black stamped images.
Step 4: Add the Sentiment
To finish the envelope, I stamped “Happy Birthday” onto another die-cut shape and adhered it to the front of the envelope.
A small Crumb Cake punched star was added as a simple embellishment.
It’s amazing how just a few little details can make a fairly simple design feel much more finished.
Step 5: Add the Finishing Touches
There was just one thing missing – a little more ink!
To continue the ink-splattered theme, I sprinkled a few black pearls around the stamped splats. I think they look a little like small puddles or drops of ink and add some subtle dimension to the background.
And with that, my cheeky bulldog birthday card was complete!
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed making this card, and it was lovely to give one of my old favourite stamp sets another outing. I think we all have those crafting supplies that have been in our stash for years but that we simply can’t bear to part with – this Inkadinkado animals set is definitely one of mine!
The bulldog worked perfectly as the focal point, and I love the way he appears to be popping out of the envelope along with the other birthday elements.
Sometimes a card doesn’t need lots of complicated techniques or dozens of embellishments. A few well-chosen images, a simple colour palette and a fun layout can be all that’s needed to create a card with plenty of personality.
If you’re looking for inspiration this month, why not join us over at The Male Room and share a project featuring Animals? Whether you choose a favourite pet, a wild animal, a bird, a farmyard creature or something a little more unusual, we’d love to see what you create!
Happy crafting!
