Clean and Simple Birthday Card Using the Shear Surprise Stamp Set from Unity Stamps

There are days when I want to sit down at my craft table and just make a card—no overthinking, no pulling out every supply I own, and definitely no complicated steps to remember. This birthday card came together on one of those days. I wanted something cheerful, a little playful, and easy to repeat when my birthday card stash starts running low. Clean and simple cardmaking has always been my go-to for that reason, and this sweet sheep image from Unity Stamps felt like the perfect place to start.

What I love most about projects like this is how much impact you can get from a few intentional choices. When you focus on the design and let the stamped image do the heavy lifting, the whole process feels more relaxed—and honestly, more fun.

Why a Clean and Simple Design Works So Well Here

When I saw the Shear Surprise Stamp Set from Unity Stamps, I knew I didn’t want to overcrowd it. The image already has personality, so instead of adding layers or embellishments, I leaned into white space. Clean and simple card designs aren’t about being plain—they’re about giving your focal point room to breathe.

I chose to keep the layout vertical and slightly off-center. That creates visual interest without adding complexity. A soft wash of color behind the image helps ground the design while still keeping the overall look light and airy. This is one of my favorite tricks when I want a card to feel finished but not fussy.

Stamping and Alcohol Marker Coloring: A Reliable Pair

Stamping paired with alcohol marker coloring is such a dependable combination, especially for birthday cards you might need at the last minute. I used Triblend Markers from Spectrum Noir because they make blending approachable and stress-free. Having three coordinated shades in one marker takes a lot of the guesswork out of shading, which is especially helpful if you’re newer to alcohol markers.

For this card, I kept the coloring soft and playful. Instead of pushing contrast too far, I focused on smooth blends and letting the character’s expression shine. This approach works beautifully for clean and simple cards, where bold coloring can sometimes overpower the design.

A few small details—like white gel pen highlights—go a long way. They add life and dimension without adding bulk, which is perfect when you’re aiming for a flatter card that’s easy to mail.

Small Touches That Elevate a Simple Card

One of the easiest ways to elevate a handmade card without complicating it is with subtle sparkle. A tiny bit of Gold Glitter Stickles adds just enough shine to catch the light, but not so much that it steals attention from the image. Think of these kinds of details as accents, not features.

This is also where clean and simple cardmaking really teaches restraint. Every addition should have a purpose. If it doesn’t support the design or the focal point, it probably doesn’t need to be there.

How You Can Adapt This Idea with What You Have

If you don’t have the Shear Surprise Stamp Set, this design works with almost any character stamp. Animals, kids, florals—even a bold sentiment—can all fit into this layout. The key is choosing one strong focal image and building around it, instead of filling every inch of the card.

No alcohol markers? Watercolor markers, colored pencils, or even ink blending would work beautifully here. The goal isn’t the exact supplies—it’s understanding why the design works so you can recreate the feel with your own stash.

You can also change the sentiment and instantly turn this into a thank-you card, encouragement card, or even a just-because card. One layout, lots of possibilities.

Clean and simple handmade cards like this remind me why I fell in love with cardmaking in the first place. They’re approachable, repeatable, and still feel special—both to make and to give. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed or stuck lately, I’d encourage you to strip things back and try a design like this. Sometimes less really is more.

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.

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 Crafting,

Rick Adkins

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