Simon Says Stamp Round of Appaws – Clean & Layered Card Idea

Hey crafty friends! You know those stamp sets that immediately make you smile the moment you see them? That’s exactly how I felt when I opened up the Round of Appaws Stamp Set from Simon Says Stamp. All those playful little cats and dogs just felt like a celebration waiting to happen. I couldn’t wait to get them inked up and onto a card.

For today’s project, I wanted to show how you can use all those adorable images in a clean and layered design that still has a lot of character. This card has a fresh, simple layout, but it’s far from boring—thanks to a fun image stack, a soft stamped background, and a few thoughtful details that pull it all together. It’s the kind of card that’s easy to make and even easier to customize for a pet lover, a friend who needs a pick-me-up, or just because.

Simon Says Stamp Round of Appaws – Clean & Layered Card Idea:

When Simple Doesn't Mean Flat

Sometimes I crave a card design that’s clean and minimal, but not completely flat. I like the crispness of a white card base and the breathing room that a clean layout offers, but I still want some texture, depth, and personality. That’s where layering comes in—just enough foam tape, a little tone-on-tone stamping, and some dimensional embellishments can make all the difference.

On this card, I started by coloring and die cutting all six of the cats and dogs from the Round of Appaws Stamp Set. These images are just the right size to build a focal point that feels full without taking over the entire card front. I stacked five of them in a little vertical parade on the right-hand side and popped them up with foam squares for some playful height. The sixth little guy? He’s off doing his own thing on the left. I love how that small detail adds movement to the design—it feels more intentional than just placing the images randomly.

Pro Tip: When working with multiple stamped images, group them close together and vary the direction they face to create a cohesive, lively scene. Foam tape between each one creates shadow and depth that catches the eye without cluttering the layout.

Soft Backgrounds for a Touch of Warmth

To anchor the images, I created a small background panel with Neenah Environment Desert Storm 100 lb Cardstock—cut down to 3" x 4", which gives you just enough space to play without overpowering your design. I stamped the tiny paw print from the same set all over the panel using Caramel Ink for a soft, tone-on-tone look. It’s a subtle detail that adds texture and personality while keeping the focus on those cute critters.

This little paw print background reminds me of when my tabby cat, Georgie, used to track across freshly mopped floors. It always left just enough of a trail to make me laugh (and re-mop). That’s the kind of feeling I wanted to capture here—playful, warm, and just a little bit mischievous.

Details That Pull It All Together

Once the background and critters were in place, I added a few simple finishing touches that really brought the card to life. I used a black gel pen to draw a stitched border around three sides of the Desert Storm panel. I left the side with the stacked animals clean so the stitching didn’t compete with the vertical line of the images. Little design choices like that really help the eye travel across the card.

For the sentiment, I went with “I Pawsitively Adore You”—it felt perfect for the vibe of this card. I stamped it in Caramel Ink on a small strip of white cardstock and adhered it below the critters, close to the bottom third of the card. This placement keeps the design grounded and balanced.

And of course, I had to add just a few more highlights with my white gel pen. I kept it simple—just dots on ears and cheeks, maybe a little glint in the eyes. These tiny touches add dimension and polish without overpowering your coloring.

Pro Tip: White gel pen highlights are great for giving stamped images that “finished” look. Try placing dots on the upper left or right of features to create consistent light direction.

Why This Design Works

This card is a great example of how clean and layered doesn’t have to mean plain. The neutral background, soft paw print stamping, and dimensional image stack all work together to create visual interest without overwhelming the recipient. It’s sweet and playful but still has a modern, polished feel.

Even better? This layout is so adaptable. Try stacking florals, snowmen, cupcakes, or hearts—anything with a bit of personality works great in a vertical column. You can also change up the background panel color and ink to suit your style or stash.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a fun way to use a full set of images without it feeling chaotic, this clean and layered approach is such a good one to try. I had so much fun with these little pets, and I already have plans to recreate this layout with some holiday characters next.

Thanks for spending time with me today—I hope this card inspires you to pull out a stamp set you love and try something simple yet dimensional. Let me know if you give this layout a try! 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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