Creating birthday cards in advance is one of those crafty habits that sounds simple but somehow never actually happens. Until you sit down and make several at once. Today I’m sharing a bright, cheerful card design that was created with mass production in mind, using a few longtime favorite stamp sets and a colorful heart background.
This project started with one very practical goal: build up a birthday card stash without making every single card feel identical. The solution was a repeatable layout paired with playful colors and small character details that give each card its own personality.
VIDEO TUTORIAL
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The Background Design
The foundation of these cards is the Tons of Hearts stamp set from Simon Says Stamp. This is a classic design with multiple heart sizes, including solid and outline images, which makes it perfect for background stamping. I cut my white cardstock panels to 3.75 x 5 inches before stamping. Working at the final size helps keep the design contained and makes assembly much faster later on.
For ink, I chose a bright, happy color palette using Simon Says Stamp Positively Saturated inks. The colors I used include carnation, clay, honey, pearfection, tidepool, and marine. Together, they create a rainbow-style flow without feeling overly bold or chaotic.
Each panel features nine hearts. I stamped six different colors first, then repeated three of them to create visual balance. You could absolutely use nine different colors if you prefer, but I liked how repeating a few shades helped the design feel more cohesive. I also didn’t worry about achieving perfectly crisp impressions. Slight variations add character and keep the cards from feeling too rigid.
Adding the Sentiment
Once the background stamping was complete, I added sentiments from the Birthday Palooza stamp set by CZ. I combined a simple stamped word on the background with a bold sentiment heat embossed in white on black cardstock. This high-contrast combination really stands out against the colorful hearts.
After heat embossing, I trimmed the sentiments using the coordinating dies and added foam adhesive for dimension. Using black foam behind black cardstock helps keep the edges clean and polished when viewing the card from the side.
Bringing in the Characters
To give the cards a little extra personality, I incorporated images from the Journal Jamboree stamp set. I selected a few critters that felt especially appropriate for birthday cards, including one holding an envelope, one holding a heart, and one wearing a party hat. These small images help turn a simple pattern into a mini scene.
One of my favorite things about this stamp set is how versatile it is. The critters can easily be swapped out to fit different occasions, which makes this layout adaptable well beyond birthdays.
Assembly and Finishing Touches
The finished panels were foam-mounted onto colored card bases. I used a mix of fog, lemon chiffon, mint, and cotton candy cardstock. Keeping the card bases colorful but soft helps complement the stamped backgrounds without overpowering them.
By repeating the same layout and changing only the card base colors and critter placement, it’s easy to create a coordinated set of cards that still feels varied. This approach is ideal for building a stash or creating a handmade card set to give as a gift.
If you often find yourself scrambling for a birthday card at the last minute, this is a great project to try. A little time spent mass-producing cards now can save a lot of stress later, and it’s a fun way to make the most of the supplies you already have.
Thanks so much for stopping by today and spending some creative time with me.
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!
 Simon Says Clear Stamps Tons of Hearts Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Clear Stamps Journal Jamboree Shop at: SSS |
 CZ Design Stamps and Dies Birthday Palooza Shop at: SSS |
 Spellbinders Platinum 6 Machine With Universal Plate System Shop at: SSS |
 Hammermill White 100 Lb Smooth Premium Color Copy Pack 25 Sheets Shop at: SSS |
 MISTI Stamping Tool Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Saturated Ink Pad Clay Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Saturated Ink Pad Pearfection Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Saturated Ink Pad Tidepool Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Saturated Ink Pad Marine Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Saturated Ink Pad Carnation Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Saturated Ink Pad Honey Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Nocturne Black VersaFine Clair Ink Pad Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Embossing Ink Pad Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Embossing Powder White Fine Detail Shop at: SSS |
 Black Foam Adhesive Shop at: SSS |
 Wagner Precision Heat Tool Shop at: SSS |
 Altenew Stamp Conditioning Large Eraser Set Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Brush Powder Tool Shop at: SSS |
 Spellbinders Best Ever Craft Tape Shop at: SSS |
