Hello, crafty friends! I’m so excited to share today’s card project featuring the Tea & Coffee Time Stamp Set from Pajama Crafter Stamps. This playful little monster holding a coffee cup is just too cute for words, and he became the star of this birthday card design. Whether you’re making a card for a coffee lover or just want to brighten someone’s special day, this card has a fun mix of stenciling, bright colors, and a whimsical focal point that makes it stand out.
I’ll take you through how I approached this design and share a few tips that helped me pull it all together. Let’s jump in!
It's Your Birthday Card:
The Star of the Show: A Playful Monster
For me, stamping is always where the magic starts. I love how one little image can spark an entire design. This time, it was the monster holding his coffee cup from the Tea & Coffee Time Stamp Set. I stamped him in Intense Black Ink onto some Marshmallow Cardstock—a sturdy cardstock that holds up well to ink and blending.
When it came to coloring, I reached for my Ohuhu Honolulu Brush Markers. If you haven’t tried these yet, they’re a fantastic budget-friendly option that offers great blending. I colored the monster in blue-violet shades, which really made his orange eyes and spots pop. I decided to keep his coffee cup neutral but fun, with a green top and brown band. These kinds of small choices—like adding contrast with the eyes—really help bring your characters to life.
Pro Tip: When fussy cutting detailed images like this monster, I find it helpful to use precision scissors, like the Tim Holtz Mini Roil Scissors. They make it so much easier to navigate those tight corners. Don’t rush it! A slow, steady hand works best.
Building the Background with Stencils
Once I had my monster ready, I knew I wanted to create a dynamic background to help him shine. I’m a huge fan of layering stencils for creating intricate designs with minimal effort. For this card, I used the Layered Sunflowers Stencil set over a masked circle background—such a great way to add depth and interest without overwhelming the focal point.
I began by cutting a second piece of Marshmallow Cardstock to standard A2 size (4 1/4" x 5 1/2"). I secured it on my Waffle Flower Grip Mat, which is perfect for holding things in place when you’re doing detailed ink blending. Using some Best Craft Tape Ever, I taped down a large circle stencil from my stash (Background Basics Stencil from Penny Black) to mask off the area where I’d later place the monster.
Pro Tip: When working with layered stencils, I like to start with my lighter colors and work up to the darker ones. This helps avoid any muddiness in the final image.
For the sunflowers, I blended Mustard Seed Distress Oxide Ink for the petals, followed by Rustic Wilderness for the leaves, and Scorched Timber for the centers. The combination of bright yellows and deep greens really sets the stage for the playful monster to take center stage.
Adding Finishing Touches to the Design
Once the ink blending was complete and everything had dried, I wanted to define the masked circle area a bit more. So, I traced around the edge with a Sakura Black Medium Gelly Roll Pen. This simple line gave the design a polished look and added a bit of visual structure.
I stamped the sentiment “It’s Your Birthday, Time to Par-tea!” below the stenciled circle using Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink, which always gives me a crisp, bold impression. It’s such a fun sentiment, and it ties the whole coffee-loving theme together perfectly!
Bringing It All Together: Assembling the Card
Now came the fun part—putting everything together! I attached the ink-blended background panel to a top-folding A2 card base made from Neenah Solar White Ultra Thick Cardstock. If you’ve ever worked with this cardstock, you know it’s a dream for card bases—sturdy and clean, it holds its shape beautifully.
I used 1mm foam squares (both small and large) to pop up the monster, giving him some dimension. I love using foam squares to add depth to a card—especially when you have a central focal point like this. I placed the smaller foam squares in tight spots and the larger foam squares where there was more room, like under the larger areas of the stamped and colored image.
Pro Tip: Don’t forget to vary the height of your foam adhesive when you want to create extra interest. It can take a flat card and give it a whole new level of fun!
Finally, I added five New Penny Rhinestones from Pajama Crafter Stamps around the sentiment—three at the top right and two at the bottom left. I love how they add just a touch of sparkle without distracting from the main design. I’ll admit, I had planned to add some white gel pen highlights to the monster, but I got so caught up in the design process that I forgot. It happens to all of us, right?
Final Thoughts
This birthday card was so fun to make! From the playful monster to the layered stenciling, I love how everything came together. It’s a perfect example of how you can mix simple techniques, like ink blending and fussy cutting, to create something special. I hope you feel inspired to create your own version of this card—don’t be afraid to experiment with different colors or sentiments to make it uniquely yours!
Thanks for dropping by today I hope that you found a little spark of creative inspiration with my project today. Wondering what I used in this project? Everything is linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails in the Materials Used section, or in the text below. Compensated affiliate links used when possible. If you do try it out, be sure to share your creation with me on Instagram or in the Pajama Crafter Stamps Facebook group. I’d love to see what you make!
Ohuhu Honolulu Brush Marker Color Combinations:
Color combos listed below image are listed from lightest to darkest colors in the color combos. (They may not be listed the same way on the photo).
Monster - B350, V370, V390, V450 (body); YR4, YR090, YR3, YR190 (spots); YR4, YR090, YR3 (eyes); R180 (tongue)
Cup - G1, GY43, G7 (cup top); ZERO, CG020, CG2 (cup); Y230, E440 (cup band)
Materials Used:
Here you will find the list of supplies that I used to create today's card. All supplies are linked to supply sources below. Compensated affiliate links may be used at no cost to you.
Happy Stampin'
Rick Adkins
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