Simon Says Stamp Furever Grateful Birthday Card with Copic Marker Coloring

There’s something about a clean and simple birthday card that just feels timeless. I love layers and texture as much as the next crafter, but sometimes I want the stamped images and coloring to do all the talking. That’s exactly what inspired this handmade card featuring the Furever Grateful Stamp Set from Simon Says Stamp.

When I sat down to design this card, my goal was to create something playful and bright, but still polished and intentional. I wanted the focus to stay on the sweet guinea pig images and the coloring — not on complicated layers or bulky embellishments. That decision guided every design choice that followed.

Designing Around a One Layer Focal Panel

Even though this card has a layered look, the focal area itself is a one layerish card design. I stamped and masked the images so they could interact naturally — giving the illusion that they were all part of one cohesive little birthday scene.

Masking is one of those stamping techniques that can instantly elevate a design. It allows you to build depth without adding dimension. For clean and simple cards especially, this is powerful. You get visual interest without overwhelming the layout.

By keeping everything on one panel, I could focus on smooth Copic marker coloring and soft ink blending in the background. The blended color gives the scene atmosphere while still leaving plenty of breathing room. Notice how the brighter pink at the top fades into lighter tones and then transitions toward the bottom — that gradient keeps your eye moving through the design.

If you’ve ever struggled with “empty space” on clean cards, ink blending is your best friend. It fills the space intentionally without making it busy.

Why I Added a Colored Mat Layer

One design decision I especially love here is coloring the white cardstock with Copic markers to create the mat layer. Instead of reaching for colored cardstock, I custom-colored my border to coordinate perfectly with the images.

This is a simple trick that gives you complete color control. When your mat matches your focal panel exactly, the entire card feels cohesive and professionally finished.

It’s also incredibly stash-friendly. If you don’t have the exact shade of cardstock you need, use your alcohol markers to create it. This works beautifully for clean and layered card designs because it keeps the palette tight and intentional.

Teaching Moments from This Design

There are a few subtle lessons in this card that I think are worth sharing:

1. Let one element shine. Here, the Copic marker coloring is the star. Everything else — the simple stamping, the soft ink blending, the restrained embellishments — supports that focal point.

2. Contain your scene. Using a masked focal panel inside a stitched rectangle frame helps define the design. It keeps the bright colors feeling grounded instead of floating on the card base.

3. Repeat color intentionally. The orange tones appear in the images and then again in the mat layer. That repetition creates harmony and balance.

When you’re designing a handmade birthday card, these small decisions make a big difference in how finished the card feels.

How You Can Adapt This Idea

You absolutely do not need this exact stamp set to recreate this concept.

Any small character stamps will work beautifully for this layout. Think critters, florals, even simple cupcakes. The key elements to borrow are:

• Masking your images into a grouped focal scene

• Adding soft ink blending behind the stamping

• Custom-coloring a mat layer to coordinate

• Keeping embellishments minimal

If you’re newer to Copic marker coloring, you could simplify the blending on the images and still achieve a lovely result. If you prefer colored pencils, watercolor, or even simple marker shading, the layout still works.

You could also shift the color palette entirely. Imagine soft pastels for a spring birthday, or bold jewel tones for a more dramatic look. The clean and simple framework makes it easy to personalize.

Encouragement for Your Craft Table

Sometimes we think clean and simple means “easy” — but in truth, it requires thoughtful design choices. When you limit your elements, every decision matters more.

I hope this card encourages you to experiment with masking, try custom-coloring your own mat layers, and trust your coloring skills to carry the design. You don’t need complicated techniques to create a beautiful handmade birthday card. You just need intention.

And remember — the more you practice building small stamped scenes like this, the more confident you’ll feel designing your own clean and layered cards from your stash.

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

Affiliate Disclaimer:

Just a friendly reminder, as part of my commitment to transparency, please note that some of the links provided maybe affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your support is truly appreciated!

Additionally, I kindly ask that you always accept the tracking cookie for the affiliate websites. Rest assured, this will not in any way expose your computer to viruses or compromise your information. It's simply necessary for the company to attribute the sale to the affiliate, ensuring creators like myself receive their rightful commissions.

Your trust and support enable me to continue sharing creativity through my email lists, blog, and YouTube channel. Thank you for being a valued part of our crafting community!