Sometimes creativity seems to take a backseat, and the ideas just don’t flow the way we want. When I find myself in one of those funks, I turn to one of my favorite methods for jumpstarting creativity: CASEing (Copy And Share Everything). There’s something magical about taking inspiration from a project you’ve admired and making it your own. That’s exactly what I did today, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the result. The concept artists at Stampin’ Up! came up with this card, and I CASEd it from the online site.
This adorable birthday card started with a Crumb Cake card base. From there, I added a square of Basic White cardstock, which I brightened up with some Lemon Lolly ink using a Blending Brush. It created such a soft and cheerful backdrop, perfect for the playful vibe I was going for.
Next, I turned my attention to the star of the card: a cute little doghouse! Using the Country Birdhouse dies, I die-cut a doghouse from Country Lace DSP and paired it with a roof cut from Pecan Pie cardstock. To give the doghouse even more character, I added a door, also cut from Pecan Pie. It came together so perfectly, and I loved seeing the texture and color combination unfold.
The focal point of the card is the sweet pug from the One More Year stamp set. I stamped the pug in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and brought him to life with Stampin’ Blends. Fussy cutting might take a little extra time, but it’s always worth it for the dimension and detail it adds.
For the sentiment, I went with the playful greeting from the same set: “You’re How Old?! In dog years you’d be…” It felt just right for the fun and quirky theme of this card. I stamped the sentiment in VersaMark ink on a bit of Lost Lagoon cardstock, added White embossing powder, and then heat embossed. The crisp white text against the Lost Lagoon background really pops, tying the sentiment beautifully into the overall design.
Assembly was so much fun! I layered the doghouse, roof, and door on the Lemon Lolly-blended Basic White panel. The sentiment was adhered just below the doghouse, and finally, the little pug took his place front and center, lifted up with dimensionals to give the card extra depth and interest right on top of the sentiment.
For the inside of the card, I kept it simple yet coordinated. I added a layer of Basic White cardstock for the sentiment, matted with Lost Lagoon to echo the card front. It’s always nice to carry the design through to the inside for a cohesive look.
Here’s the video from my YouTube channel for the card:
This card has such a cheerful, playful personality, and I can’t wait to send it to a dear friend for her birthday. It’s sure to bring a smile to her face! If you’re ever stuck in a creative rut, remember that CASEing can be a wonderful way to find your inspiration and get back to creating. Happy crafting!
Measurements (in inches):
- Card Base (Crumb Cake) – 8-1/2 x 5-1/2, scored at 4-1/4
- 1st layer where Blending Brushes were used (Basic White) – 4 x 4-1/4
- Sentiment Piece (Lost Lagoon) – 1 x 4
- Inside (Basic White) 3-3/4 x 5 and coordinating cardstock (Lost Lagoon) 3-7/8 x 5-1/8
- scraps of Basic White to stamp and fussy cut the pug, scraps of Pecan Pie for die cuts, scrap of Country Lace DSP for die cut
Supplies used to create the card: