Tag: capturing smiles

Photography-Themed Birthday Cards – Make Them Now. – Capturing Smiles – Crafting with Ashee – Independent Stampin’ Up! – Lincoln UK.

If you have a photography-loving friend or family member, these photography-themed birthday cards are a fun way to celebrate their special day. Today I’m sharing two colourful birthday card ideas featuring the Exciting Times stamp set and Rounded Rectangle Punch, along with the Capturing Smiles stamp set and matching dies.

I love how these cards combine cameras, travel and little everyday moments to create a playful handmade birthday card. Even better, the basic layout is the same for both cards, so once you have created one, you can easily make another in a completely different colour combination.

Two Photography-Themed Birthday Card Ideas

For these cards, I wanted to create something bright, cheerful and a little bit different from a traditional floral or patterned birthday card.

The Exciting Times stamp set is perfect for this type of project. It has lots of fun images that work beautifully together, and the Rounded Rectangle Punch makes creating the little framed images quick and easy.

I also used images from the Capturing Smiles stamp set and matching dies. The camera images are particularly fun and make an excellent focal point for a birthday card.

The sentiment, “Happy Birthday to You”, is also from the Exciting Times stamp set and fits perfectly into the rounded rectangle design.

Melon Mambo and Barely Blush Birthday Card

The first card is all about bright, happy colour. I used Melon Mambo as the main background colour with Barely Blush as the accent colour.

The bold Melon Mambo really makes this card stand out, while the softer accent colour helps to balance the design.

I added the little heart pattern to the Melon Mambo background, which gives the card some extra texture without taking away from the main images. I think the hearts work particularly well with the photography theme because they add a lovely personal touch.

Colouring the Photography Images

One of my favourite parts of making these cards was colouring the little images using Stampin’ Blends.

The images have lots of small details, but they are still really easy to colour. You can use different colours to bring the little photographs to life and make each card completely your own.

For the first card, I kept the colours bright and playful to complement the Melon Mambo background.

I also love the way the little camera image sits within the rounded rectangle frame. It gives the impression of a photograph or snapshot, which fits perfectly with the theme.

Coastal Cabana and Lost Lagoon Birthday Card

For the second card, I completely changed the colour combination. This time I used Coastal Cabana and Lost Lagoon.

This colour combination gives the card a much cooler, more relaxed feel while keeping the same cheerful design.

I used the Hearts of Love Embossing Folder on the Coastal Cabana background. The subtle heart texture adds another layer of interest and is a lovely way to bring some texture to the card without adding lots of extra embellishments.

I think embossing folders are one of the easiest ways to add something special to a handmade card. You get plenty of texture and dimension without making the card complicated.

Creating the Little Photograph Frames

The little framed images are what really bring these cards together.

I stamped the frames and then added the smaller images inside them. The Rounded Rectangle Punch makes this especially easy because you can quickly create the rounded rectangle shapes needed for the design.

The Capturing Smiles stamp set and matching dies are a great addition to the Exciting Times images. The camera gives the cards an obvious photography theme, while the other images create the feeling of photographs capturing special memories.

For the coloured images, I used Stampin’ Blends, choosing colours that coordinate with each card.

Adding the Artisan Sketched Garden Designer Series Paper

Another element that I used on both cards is the Artisan Sketched Garden Designer Series Paper.

The little pattern of flowers and leaves adds a lovely background detail without overwhelming the rest of the card.

I particularly like how the DSP peeks through around the sentiment panel. It gives the design a little more interest and helps to tie all the different elements together.

A Simple Card Layout You Can Use Again

One of the things I really like about these cards is that the layout is easy to recreate.

Once you have decided on your colour combination, you can simply change the images, colours and sentiment to create a completely different card.

You could even use this same design for occasions other than birthdays. The little framed images would work beautifully for a congratulations card, a thank-you card or even a card celebrating a special trip or achievement.

Which Colour Combination Is Your Favourite?

I think both versions have their own personality.

The Melon Mambo and Barely Blush card is bright, bold and playful, while the Coastal Cabana and Lost Lagoon version is a little softer and more relaxed.

It’s amazing how much changing the colour combination can alter the overall look of a card, even when you use exactly the same basic design.

If you enjoy making handmade birthday cards, I hope these photography-themed birthday cards have given you some inspiration. The Exciting Times and Capturing Smiles stamp sets work beautifully together, and the little camera images make this a fun design for anyone who loves taking photographs or capturing memories.

And, of course, you don’t have to stick to my colour combinations. Why not try your favourite Stampin’ Up! colours and see what you can create?

Thank You for Stopping By!

I hope you enjoyed this papercrafting project and found it inspiring! Below, you’ll find a supply list linked to my online shop and a video tutorial to guide you step by step. You can also check out my Basic Craft Products, which include the essential tools I use regularly.

Product List

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Until next time, Enjoy Being Creative!
Ashee xx