Simple designs with the December Product of the Month – True Blue Florals DSP
The start of a new year always feels like a creative reset to me. The holidays are behind us, the schedule settles down, and it finally feels like there’s space to sit at the craft table and actually create again.
If you received new craft supplies for Christmas—or maybe a gift card that’s burning a hole in your pocket—this is a great project to ease back into crafting without overwhelm.
Today I’m sharing three easy birthday cards using the True Blue Florals Designer Series Paper, December’s Product of the Month. These cards are clean, classic, and beginner-friendly, but they don’t feel boring. The paper really does most of the work for you.
🎥 Watch the Full Video Tutorial
In the video, I walk you through each card step by step, share a few layout tricks, and show you how to stretch one pack of designer paper into multiple designs.
If you enjoy cardmaking tutorials like this, make sure you’re subscribed to my YouTube channel so you don’t miss future videos.
Why I Love True Blue Florals DSP
The True Blue Florals Designer Series Paper features a gorgeous mix of Balmy Blue and Night of Navy, with both floral and more generic patterns. That combination makes it incredibly versatile—perfect for birthdays, thank you cards, sympathy cards, and even more masculine projects.
Some patterns are bold and darker, while others are light with white backgrounds, which makes mixing and matching effortless. If you love classic blue-and-white designs, this paper is a winner.
Good to know: True Blue Florals is still available for $5 with a $75+ order, while supplies last.
You can purchase this paper and the coordinating supplies I used here.
Card One: 1″ x 1″ Square Grid Card
The first card is a great way to showcase multiple patterns at once. Using twelve 1″ x 1″ (2.5 cm x 2.5 cm) squares, this layout highlights both sides of the paper while still keeping the design balanced.
I like to loosely group the squares by background color—Balmy Blue tones together, Night of Navy tones together, and lighter or white-based patterns together—before gluing anything down. Lay everything out first, adjust until you’re happy, and then glue one square at a time.
Measurements:
- Thick Basic White base 8½” x 5½”, scored at 4¼” (21 cm x 14.8 cm, scored at 10.5 cm)
- Balmy Blue 1 ¾” x 1 ¾” (4.5 cm x 4.5 cm)
- Basic White 1 ½” x 1 ½” (4 cm x 4 cm)
- True Blue Florals DSP 12 pieces at 1″ x 1″ (2.5 cm x 2.5 cm)
A simple “Happy Birthday” sentiment and a small faux bow made with Sheer Balmy Blue Ribbon finish this card without stealing attention from the paper.
Card Two: Seamless Designer Paper Strips
The second card uses three vertical strips cut from one piece of designer paper, which creates a seamless flow across the card front.
Here’s one of my favorite little tricks: lightly label the back of each strip with a pencil (left, center, right, or top, middle, bottom) before adhering them. That way, if they get mixed up, you’ll always know how they go back together.
Measurements:
- Night of Navy base: 8½” x 5½”, scored at 4¼” (21 cm x 14.8 cm, scored at 10.5 cm)
- Balmy Blue layer: 5¼” x 4″ (14.3 cm x 10 cm)
- True Blue Florals DSP: 5″ x 3⅜” (13.8 cm x 8.7 cm), cut into three 1⅛” (2.9 cm) strips
- Basic White: 5¼” x 4″ (14.3 cm x 10 cm) for the inside plus a scrap for the 2″ (5.1 cm) circle punch
I share tips like this regularly—if you’d like weekly inspiration, tutorials, and updates delivered to your inbox, be sure to sign up for my email list.
Card Three: Stack, Cut, and Shuffle Technique
This last card uses the always-popular stack, cut, and shuffle technique. It looks fancy, but it’s incredibly forgiving and perfect for double-sided paper like True Blue Florals.
Measurements
- Balmy Blue base: 8½” x 5½”, scored at 4¼” (21 cm x 14.8 cm, scored at 10.5 cm)
- Basic White: 5¼” x 4″ (14.3 cm x 10 cm) for the inside plus a scrap for the 1 ⅞” (4.8 cm) circle punch
- Night of Navy: scrap for the 2” (5.1 cm) circle punch
- True Blue Florals DSP: two pieces: 5¼” x 4″ (14.3 cm x 10 cm)
Stack the papers together, cut them into sections, then shuffle and reassemble. There’s no right or wrong layout—each version turns out a little differently, which is part of the fun.
This technique is a favorite among both beginners and experienced stampers, and it’s one of those layouts you’ll come back to again and again.
If you’ve ever thought about turning your love of cardmaking into something more—extra discounts, creative community, or even a small business—I’d love to talk with you about joining my team. Learn more here.
A Simple Reminder for the New Year
All three of these cards follow the same philosophy: keep the layout simple and let beautiful paper shine. When you start with great designer series paper, you don’t need to overcomplicate things.
If you have questions about any of these designs, leave a comment or send me a message—I’m always happy to help.
Here’s to a creative, crafty start to the new year.
Stay crafty,
Judy 💚