Scrapbook.com Silly Geese Birthday Card Tutorial with OLO Markers
Updated: Aug 12
I love when a card looks like it took a lot more work than it actually did—and this little birthday scene is a perfect example! I wanted to create a cheerful handmade birthday card with plenty of color and personality, but I also wanted the background to feel finished without spending a lot of time building a scene from scratch.
The solution was to let the paper do some of the work for me.
For this card, I combined the Scrapbook.com Silly Geese Stamp Set and Coordinating Dies with OLO alcohol markers, ink blending, die cutting, and a little dry-embossed texture. The result is a bright, playful scene that feels detailed without becoming visually overwhelming.
And that is really the design lesson I want to share with you today: you don't always need to build every element of a card from the ground up. Sometimes the right starting point can make the rest of the design much easier.
Scrapbook.com Silly Geese Birthday Card Tutorial with OLO Markers
The Silly Geese images immediately gave me the personality I wanted for this birthday card. Rather than making the goose the only focal point, though, I treated it as the main character in a little outdoor scene.
That distinction is important when you're creating scene cards.
A stamped image can be cute on its own, but adding even a simple environment gives the viewer somewhere to "place" that character. In this case, the grass, clouds, flowers, and soft background color help turn the goose into part of a story instead of simply placing a stamped image in the middle of a card.
Starting With an Ombre Background
One of my favorite decisions on this card was using a sheet of Neon Ombre Cardstock from the Scrapbook.com 6x8 Paper Pad as the starting point for the background.
Instead of creating the entire sky from white cardstock, I already had a range of color built into the paper. I then used ink blending to soften and develop the background further.
This is one of those little shortcuts that can make a big difference in cardmaking.
If you have patterned paper, ombre cardstock, ink-blended panels, or even scraps of colored cardstock sitting in your stash, look at them as background-building tools, not just pieces of paper to layer onto a card.
The paper doesn't have to remain exactly as it comes.
You can blend over it, stencil onto it, emboss it, die cut it, or combine it with other techniques. Sometimes altering a piece of paper you already own is much faster than creating that same effect from scratch.
Using a Stencil to Turn Color Into a Scene
Once I had that colorful foundation, I used the Outdoor Scenes All in One 6x8 Stencil to add the clouds and grass.
This is another design shortcut I think is especially useful for newer cardmakers.
You don't have to be an expert at drawing landscapes to create a convincing outdoor scene. A few simple shapes can establish the environment.
The key is not to overdo it.
I wanted the background to support the goose rather than compete with it, so I kept the scene soft and relatively simple. The stronger colors and details are reserved for the stamped images.
That's an important composition principle:
The background establishes the setting. The focal image gets the attention.
If everything on a card has the same level of contrast and detail, the eye doesn't know where to look first.
Why I Added Dry Embossing to the Background
The background also received some dry-embossed texture, and this is one of those details that is much easier to appreciate in person.
Dry embossing is a great way to add interest without adding another color.
That makes it particularly useful when you're working with a colorful background and don't want to introduce another distracting pattern. You get texture, dimension, and visual interest while allowing the existing color palette to remain the star.
I often think of this as quiet detail.
It's there when you look closely, but it doesn't shout for attention.
If you don't have a way to dry emboss, don't worry. You could substitute a subtle stencil pattern, lightly ink a background texture, use textured cardstock, or simply leave the panel smooth. The card will still work because the texture is supporting the design rather than carrying it.
Coloring the Silly Geese With OLO Markers
For the stamped images, I used OLO Markers to bring the characters and flowers to life.
When I'm coloring an image that will become the focal point of a card, I don't necessarily try to use as many colors as possible. Instead, I think about the overall color story of the card.
Here, the background already contains several shades of blue and green. That meant I could use brighter colors on the goose's accessories and flowers to create contrast.
The purple scarf is a good example.
That little pop of purple gives the eye somewhere else to travel while still keeping the goose as the main focal point. The warm yellow and orange details do something similar by contrasting with the cooler greens and blues surrounding them.
This is a useful coloring lesson whether you use OLO, another alcohol marker system, colored pencils, or even watercolor:
Choose your colors based on the entire card, not just the image you're coloring.
You don't have to perfectly match every color. In fact, a little contrast often makes a handmade card much more interesting.
Letting the Die Cutting Create the Structure
After all that color and scene building, I needed a way to contain the design.
The Nested Stitched Scalloped Frames Dies were perfect for this because the scalloped edge adds a little softness and personality while the stitched detail gives the frame a finished look.
I paired that with the Nested A2 Rectangles Dies to create a clean foundation for the scene.
This is where die cutting becomes more than simply a way to cut out an image.
Die-cut shapes can establish hierarchy.
The white frame creates separation between the colorful scene and the card base. It also gives the eye a visual stopping point, which helps the bright background feel intentional rather than like color extending all the way to the edge of the card.
If you don't have scalloped frame dies, this same idea can be adapted with:
A plain rectangle die
A stitched rectangle
A deckled-edge die
A simple cardstock mat
Two nesting rectangles to create your own frame
The exact shape isn't important. What matters is creating a clear boundary around your scene.
A Simple Color Strategy for Scene Cards
One thing I really want to encourage you to try when making scene cards is to establish your color palette before you start coloring everything.
For this card, I had three broad color families working together:
Cool colors: blues and greens in the background
Warm colors: yellows and oranges in the flowers and details
Accent colors: purple and pink to add personality and contrast
You don't need a complicated color theory system to do this.
Just look at your background and ask:
"What colors will stand out against this?"
If your background is mostly green, a purple or pink focal detail will immediately attract attention. If your background is blue, warm yellows and oranges can create that same contrast.
This is also a great way to use supplies you already have. Instead of starting with a particular marker combination, start with the paper or ink colors you want to use and build your marker choices around them.
Don't Have These Exact Supplies? Try This Instead
One of my favorite things about a cardmaking project is that the finished card doesn't have to dictate the supplies you use.
The Scrapbook.com Silly Geese images are certainly fun, but the design concept can be used with almost any character or animal stamp.
Have a bird stamp? Make a garden scene.
Have a cat or dog stamp? Put it in a yard.
Have a person stamp? Create a simple outdoor birthday scene.
The same principle applies to the background.
You don't need the exact Outdoor Scenes All in One Stencil to create this look. Any cloud or grass stencil can work. You can even create simple clouds with ink blending and let a strip of green cardstock become the grass.
And if you don't have an ombre paper pad, try blending two or three coordinating colors onto white cardstock. In fact, that's a great way to practice ink blending while creating a completely custom background.
A Design Shortcut Worth Remembering
If there is one idea I hope you take away from this card, it's this:
Look for ways to combine techniques instead of making each technique do all the work.
The ombre cardstock gave me the initial color.
Ink blending developed the scene.
The stencil created recognizable landscape elements.
Dry embossing added texture.
The stamped images provided the focal point.
OLO markers added personality and contrast.
And the die-cut frame brought everything together.
None of those elements had to carry the entire design by themselves.
That's often how I approach cardmaking when a design starts to feel complicated. Instead of asking, "How can I make this one technique better?" I ask, "What can another technique do for me?"
That shift can make designing cards feel much less intimidating.
Make the Design Your Own
Although this card started as a birthday card, the basic design could easily become a thank-you card, friendship card, congratulations card, or even a just-because card.
Change the sentiment and suddenly the same little scene has an entirely different purpose.
You could also change the color palette. Try a soft pastel background for a spring card, deeper greens and oranges for fall, or blues and purples for a more whimsical evening scene.
And don't feel like you have to color every element exactly as I did.
Your version might have a completely different personality—and that's a good thing.
The goal isn't to recreate my card perfectly. The goal is to take an idea, understand why the design works, and then make it work with the supplies, colors, and creative style you already have.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed putting this Scrapbook.com Silly Geese birthday card together because it reminded me how effective a few well-chosen techniques can be when they work together.
You don't need to create an elaborate background, color dozens of images, or cover a card with layers to make it feel special. A simple stamped scene, thoughtful color choices, a little texture, and a strong frame can do a lot of the heavy lifting.
And if you're new to scene building, this is a great place to start. Keep the background simple, give your focal image plenty of room, and let your colors do some of the storytelling.
Most importantly, don't be afraid to experiment with what you already have in your craft room. That's where some of the best cardmaking ideas begin!
Watch the Video
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(Wondering what I used in this video? Everything is linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post, or in the text below. Compensated affiliate links used when possible). As always I appreciate your support of my videos!
Supplies 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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