My nephew is a summer baby (well, maybe not a baby — he’s turning 25 this week), and I wanted to make him a whimsical card with a line of dogs conga dancing, as he’s an avid dog lover (like his aunt). I made this monochromatic card by layering several patterned papers that I die cut out, and I stamped and fussy cut out puppies that were simply heat embossed, rather than Copic colored (my normal go-to).<\/p>\n

<\/a>The plaid papers I used came from an old DCWV paper collection called “The Alphabet Stack,” and I cut around the actual alphas on the papers so that the patterns could really shine (one of them is actually glittered). I used the smallest of the My Favorite Things Die-Namics Stitched Scallop Edges die set<\/a><\/span> to cut out the background plaid layer, and I used the second largest of the My Favorite Things Die-Namics Stitched Rectangles STAX die set<\/a><\/span> to cut out the background softer plaid pattern behind the pups. I also used the stitched rectangles die set to create a white card stock frame to set off the inner softer plaid background from the bolder dark plaid background as well as to frame the focal point dancing puppies.<\/p>\n

For those puppies, I used Momento Luxe Tuxedo Black ink to stamp out the three smallest pups from the Penny Black “Man’s Best Friend” stamp set<\/a><\/span> and used Recollections Clear Embossing Powder to give them a bit of shine and a slightly raised finish. I hand fussy cut all of them out with a tiny white border all around them. I also used Momento Luxe in Love Letter <\/a>Red ink to stamp out a tiny butterfly from the same stamp set and used more clear embossing powder to give it a matching shine and finish. I thought it would be funny to add that last pup looking in the wrong direction, distracted by the butterfly (our dogs are often so easily distracted I knew my nephew would get a kick out of this). I popped all of these critters up on foam dots to add to the dimension and interest on the card.<\/p>\n

I also heat embossed the sentiment on the card front that reads, “HOT Diggety DAWG,” which is from the CAS-ual Fridays Stamp Set called “Exclamations.”<\/a><\/span> The inside liner sheet is made from left-over scraps of the patterned plaid papers, an extra dancing pup, and a birthday sentiment from the My Favorite Things “Lucky Dog” stamp set<\/a><\/span>, which reads, “WOOFING YOU A HAPPY BIRTHDAY.”<\/p>\n

The following is a process video, sharing how I made this card:<\/p>\n