The Stamping With Friends Community have 2 blog hops a month where we share our inspiration with you.

The theme for this hop is “Bloggers Choice”

I am sharing a card I have created for the class I ran today.

Birthday Hearts – A Soft, Textured Handmade Birthday Card

Some cards just feel like a celebration without being over the top, and this Birthday Hearts card definitely falls into that category. It’s soft, textured, and perfect for birthdays of all ages – especially if you love subtle layers and tactile details.

The base of the card is Coastal Cabana, which instantly gives a calm, fresh feel. I added a Pool Party embossed mat, using the Forever Plaid 3D Embossing Folder, to bring in texture without overwhelming the design. This combination works beautifully if you like cool tones that still feel warm and friendly.

Across the centre of the card is a strip of vellum, which softens everything underneath it. Behind the vellum I added a length of Petal Pink braided trim, gently fraying the edges for a relaxed, handmade look. It’s one of those little details that makes such a difference and adds movement to the design.

The focal point is a row of three layered squares. I used:

• Perennial Postage for the scalloped squares in Coastal Cabana
• Stylish Shapes for the stitched squares in Basic White

Each square is topped with a heart and flower die cut from Petal Pink and Lemon Lolly, both from the Love, Joy & Hope dies. I angled the hearts slightly so the outer two tilt away from the centre, which gives the card a gentle sense of balance and flow.

The sentiment, stamped using the Reason to Celebrate set in Coastal Cabana, is trimmed closely and lightly matted to keep it clean and unfussy. It sits above and below the vellum strip, drawing the eye across the card rather than straight down it.

This is a design that’s easy to adapt too:

• Swap the colours for a wedding or anniversary card
• Change the sentiment for a “thinking of you” or “thank you”
• Use patterned paper behind the vellum for extra interest

It’s a lovely reminder that you don’t need lots of layers or embellishments to create impact – sometimes it’s all about texture, spacing, and letting the design breathe.

If you’d like to see this card made in different colour combinations, let me know — I think it would look gorgeous in soft neutrals or even autumn tones.

If you’re in the UK and would like to shop the products used on this card, you can find them in my online Stampin’ Up! shop.

You can see a full list of the products I have used at the end of the post, including links to my online shop.

Let’s Hop

I hope you have enjoyed my project. Do leave a comment if you can, because it certainly makes my day. Then it is time to hop around all the other projects

How Can I Help?

Don’t hesitate to get in touch if I can help with your purchases, or if you have a crafty question.

Meanwhile stay safe and stay well

Helen xx