Mixing and Matching Supplies from your Stash for a 1st Birthday Card

There’s something so satisfying about digging into your stash and pulling together a card that feels brand new—even though you technically didn’t buy anything new to make it happen. That’s exactly what happened recently when we needed a card for a sweet little one’s first birthday. I remembered I had the Honey Bear Gnome Stamp Set from Woodware tucked away in my bins. I’d picked it up earlier this year (or was it last year? Honestly, it’s all a blur), but hadn’t had the chance to ink it up yet. As soon as I saw that little bear holding the honey pot, I knew he’d be perfect for a 1st birthday card. And even better? I also had a number stamp set with coordinating dies from way back when, just waiting for its moment. It was the perfect opportunity to mix and match some old and new favorites into a card that felt personal, playful, and completely handmade.

Mixing and Matching Supplies from your Stash for a 1st Birthday Card:

Creating a Playful Foundation

I started with a piece of deep golden yellow cardstock from the Kaleidoscope 110 lb Smooth Cardstock Pack by Harmony Paper Company. I cut it to 3 ¾” x 5” to leave a nice border once it was mounted to the card base. This color reminded me of honey (which fit the theme), but it also gave the design a warm, cheerful feel that felt just right for a birthday.

To build a little background texture, I pulled out the honeycomb stamp from the Honey Bear Gnome Stamp Set and stamped it in Sweet Mustard Ink from Pinkfresh Studio. I used second-generation stamping in a few places to give some variation in tone, which is a subtle way to add depth without overwhelming the main image. I also stamped the tiny bees from the same set in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and scattered them around the panel. A little Clear Shimmer Overlay Pen on the wings gave them a soft sparkle that catches the light when the card is tilted.

Pro Tip: When you’re stamping tone-on-tone patterns on colored cardstock, try mixing solid and outline images for a more dynamic background. It’s an easy way to create visual interest without adding bulk.

Pulling in the Numbers from the Stash

That number stamps and die set I mentioned? I’ve had it for ages. I’m not even sure it’s still made, but I’ve linked a similar one below in case you’re looking. It includes large numbers, a coordinating outline, and some sweet little extras like “st,” “nd,” “rd,” and some celebration-themed sentiments and banners.

I stamped the number 1 from that set onto a scrap of Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80 lb Cardstock using the same Sweet Mustard Ink to tie it in with the background. Then I used the coordinating die to cut it out, which gave me a nice crisp focal point to layer with the bear.

There’s also a little banner in the set, so I stamped the outline on more of that golden yellow cardstock and cut it with the matching die. I knew I wanted to build a sentiment cluster, so I layered in the “birthday” sentiment in the large banner, and then stamped “happy” on a small white scrap and trimmed it down to a strip.

Bringing the Bear to Life

Now let’s talk about that bear—because he completely stole the show. I stamped him in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink on Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80 lb Cardstock and colored him in with my Ohuhu Brush Markers. These markers blend beautifully, and I love how easy they are to control, especially on rounded shapes like the bear’s face and belly.

Once he was colored in, I fussy cut him out using my Mini Recoil Snips, which are my go-to for intricate cutting. They’ve got just the right amount of spring to make the process easy on the hands.

Pro Tip: If you're fussy cutting a lot of stamped images, look for scissors with a spring mechanism or ergonomic handles. Your hands will thank you, especially after tackling tiny details like bee wings or banner tails.

Assembly with a Story

When it came time to pull it all together, I used 1mm foam adhesive to mount the yellow background to an A2 Brilliant White card base (also from Harmony Paper Company). I like using foam tape for background panels because it gives the whole card a bit of lift and makes it feel more finished.

I adhered the bear with liquid adhesive, then tucked the number 1 into his right paw and added the “happy” sentiment strip in his left. The birthday banner went across the top portion of the card, popped up with foam squares for a little extra dimension. A mini flag tucked beside the number added that final festive touch.

To finish things off, I went in with my Opaque White Gelly Roll gel pen and added highlights to the bear, the bees, and the banners. It’s a small detail, but those little pops of white help the images come alive.

What This Card Taught Me

This card reminded me that stash shopping is not only budget-friendly, it’s incredibly satisfying. I didn’t need to buy anything new—I just needed to look at what I already had with fresh eyes. The result was a sweet, custom 1st birthday card that felt just right for the occasion.

If you’ve got a stamp set that hasn’t seen ink in a while, or a die set that’s been collecting dust, maybe it’s time to pull it out and see what it pairs well with. You never know what combination might surprise you.

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 Stampin'

Rick Adkins

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