April sketch card

 

Happy Monday! 

Today, I’m excited to share a Happy Birthday card I created using both paper and digital ephemera from the Relatively Thoughtful April Fools collection.  These digital papers and ephemera were created to coordinate perfectly with each other.  

There’s something special about sitting down with a table full of paper scraps, embellishments, and a spark of inspiration. This birthday card came together exactly that way — a joyful mix of color, pattern, and whimsy that made the whole crafting process feel fun and intuitive. 

The card features a lively, layered background built from coordinating papers: a festive balloon print paired with bold blocks of green, orange, and blue. Each piece is cut at slightly different angles and sizes, then stacked, so the edges peek out just enough to create depth and movement. The overlapping shapes give the card a scrapbook‑style energy that feels playful without being overwhelming.  At the center of the design is a cheerful jester figure in bright reds, blues, and yellows.

 The illustration adds a touch of storybook charm and instantly becomes the focal point. To balance the layout, I added a small, framed sentiment tag reading “Birthday Wishes”, giving the card a polished, finished look. Three tiny iridescent stars sit off to the side, adding just the right amount of sparkle. This card was a joy to make — the kind of project where the colors guide you; the layers fall into place, and the result feels like a little celebration all on its own. If you love crafting with patterned paper or experimenting with layered layouts, this style is a great way to play with texture and color while keeping the process simple and fun. 

 I began by cutting a 5.5” x 4.25” background panel from the balloon-patterned paper in the digital printable, then positioned it to completely cover my 5.5” x 4.25” white card base.  Next, I cut the green patterned paper from the digital printable into a 5.25” x 4” sheet and centered it on top of the balloon-patterned paper that I previously attached to my A2 card base. I then attached the other balloon-patterned paper from the digital download, which I cut into a fishtail piece, onto the solid green 5.25” x 4” piece. 

I then layered the brown patterned paper onto the top of the fishtail paper and then layered the third balloon-patterned paper, also from the digital download, on top of the brown patterned paper.  

The jester from the free download is elevated with low‑profile foam along with the sentiment. 

I placed three iridescent stars on top of the brown patterned paper to break up the space. 

This stunning, beautifully crafted collection is available in its entirety for free at the Relatively Thoughtful store. 

Take care,

Alisa