A happy birthday bubbles card takes one background stamp, stamped twice: color one panel in rainbow Copics, leave the other black and white, then die cut both with rectangle nesting dies and stack them with black mats in between. The sentiments “Happy Birthday” and “Let’s eat cake” come from the Many More Birthdays stamp set.
Colleen here. The July 2023 Background of the Month is a fun and quirky one that instantly reminded me of colorful floating bubbles, perfect for a birthday card.
Step 1: stamp the bubbles twice and color one panel
I stamped the image twice in permanent black ink onto white 5.5×4.25 cardstock, and then, using my Copic markers, colored one of the card panels in the primary rainbow colors. Then I colored in the areas around the bubbles with a very light blue. The other card panel I left alone. You’ll see why in a minute!
Step 2: die cut both panels and stack them with black mats
Next, I built layers to add interest to the background stamp. Using rectangle nesting dies, I die cut both the colored and black & white card panels and a few sheets of black cardstock, all in different sizes ranging from small to large. Then I stacked the layers, alternating the black card panels with the Bubble images. I love how it turned out! Very bold and “birthday-like”!!!
Step 3: emboss the sentiment and add sequins
The final step was to add my birthday sentiment. Using Many More Birthdays stamp and die set, I heat embossed the Happy Birthday sentiment using black embossing powder, then die cut the image with the coordinating die. I stamped “Let’s eat cake” from the same stamp set and adhered both over the colorful bubbles. I finished with a few candy sequins placed over some of the bubbles.
I really enjoyed getting playful with this background! As an alternative, you could either ink blend over the bubbles in rainbow colors, or watercolor for a unique look!
The bubbles stamp was a Background of the Month; past backgrounds are listed there. Thanks for stopping by!
Where to get the stamps
Both sentiments are in the Many More Birthdays stamp set, nine sentiments including “Happy Birthday”, “Let’s eat cake”, and “That’s a lot of candles”. The bubble background was the July 2023 Background of the Month.
There is a sale every week at Unity, so if the timing is not right today, add the set to your wishlist and wait for it.
More ideas: Card Ideas and the full birthday stamps collection.
Questions cardmakers ask
Do I have to use Copics on the bubbles?
No. Colleen suggests ink blending rainbow colors over the stamped bubbles, or watercoloring them, for a different look from the same stamp.
How do you make the stacked layer look?
Stamp the background twice. Die cut the colored panel, the black and white panel, and plain black cardstock at different nesting die sizes, then stack them alternating black and bubbles, largest at the bottom.
What does the Many More Birthdays set say?
Nine sentiments: “Happy Birthday”, “You’re not old you’re just vintage”, “Hugs and wishes”, “Just a little late”, “Let’s eat cake”, “That’s a lot of candles”, “To you & many more” and more.