Basic Gray Wild Bunch Birthday Card

Basic Gray Wild Bunch Birthday Card

When you think of Basic Gray, you might immediately picture masculine cards, industrial themes or elegant monochrome designs. But this week’s Colour Creations project proves that Basic Gray can also be soft, sweet and perfect for birthdays.

For my Week 8 Colour Creations card, I couldn’t resist using the adorable koala from the June Product of the Month, the Wild Bunch Stamp Set. Paired with Petal Pink and soft shades of grey, this little fellow creates a charming birthday card with a distinctly Australian feel.

This card has a special purpose too, as I’ve made it for my youngest niece, who turns eight at the end of June. This sweet little koala seemed like the perfect choice for her birthday card.

My colour combination is Basic Gray, Petal Pink, Basic White, Smoky Slate and Basic Black.

I used a Blending Brush to apply Basic Gray ink onto a scrap piece of Basic White card stock, creating a soft ombré effect. I then used the beautiful Fern & Flora Dies to cut the foliage shapes from the blended piece.

The scalloped circle was cut from a Petal Pink patterned paper from the Lovely Blossoms Designer Series Paper using the Scalloped Blooms Dies. 

For the card base, I layered a slightly smaller piece of Basic Gray card stock onto a Basic Gray card base. Before adhering it, I stamped the branch image from the Wild Bunch Stamp Set across the background using Basic Gray ink for a tone-on-tone patterned effect.

The koala was stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink onto Basic White card stock and coloured using Stampin’ Blends in Smoky Slate, Petal Pink and Basic Black. After colouring, I carefully cut around the stamped image and layered it over the die-cut foliage.

The “Happy Birthday” greeting is also from the Wild Bunch Stamp Set and was stamped in Basic Gray. I then used one of the label dies from the Fern & Flora Dies to cut out the sentiment.

To finish the card, I added a few Petal Pink Dear Dots. These gorgeous embellishments are currently available in the Last Chance section for just $7.50, making them a wonderful bargain if you’re looking to stock up before they retire.

I love how Basic Gray can be both elegant and playful. Combined with soft pink accents and an adorable koala, it creates a card that feels warm, modern and uniquely Australian.

Thanks for stopping by for Week 8 of the Colour Creations Blog Hop. I hope this project inspires you to give Basic Gray a fresh look in your own crafting.

Take a look at some more Basic Gray inspiration on our Insta Hop!

Our blog hop is now an Instagram hop but the good news is that you don’t need to have an Instagram account to view all of the other projects!

Simply go to my Insta handle in a new search engine window to follow the Instagram hop: @whatcathymade.

Next week we are showcasing Berry Burst.

I hope you can join us then.

 

 

Scalloped Blooms Golden Glow Sympathy Card

Scalloped Blooms Golden Glow Sympathy Card

This week for the Art With Heart Team Colour Creations InstaHop we are featuring another one of the fresh new 2026–28 In Colours, Golden Glow. This warm mid yellow/brown shade sits beautifully between yellow, light brown and orange shades. 

My card design was based on my favourite bag, an Orla Kiely matte coated cotton canvas tote I purchased in New York. I love her iconic floral patterns and bold retro-style colour palettes.

Using the bag as my starting point, I paired Golden Glow with Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Daffodil Delight and Lemon Lolly. I absolutely love the rich caramel warmth Golden Glow develops when combined with these softer yellows. 

These colours work together beautifully to create a soft vintage feel while still looking clean and modern. The colours in order from the centre of the flower to the outside are Basic black, Golden Glow, Daffodil Delight and Lemon Lolly on a Very Vanilla card base.

I created the flowers by layering the Scalloped Blooms Dies to recreate the bold graphic look of the original design. I also used the leaf dies from the Scalloped Blooms Dies, along with thin strips of Basic Black cardstock, to create the dramatic black stems and leaves across the card front.

The sentiments on both the front and inside of the card are from the Friendly Foliage Stamp Set and were exactly what I wanted for this sympathy card. I gold heat embossed the front sentiment onto Basic Black cardstock and layered it over a strip of Golden Glow cardstock to help it stand out against the black floral stems.

I also used trimmed offcuts from the flower dies to decorate the inside of the card so nothing went to waste while still carrying the floral theme throughout the project.

Take a look at some more Golden Glow inspiration on our Insta Hop!

Our blog hop is now an Instagram hop but the good news is that you don’t need to have an Instagram account to view all of the other projects!

Simply go to my Insta handle in a new search engine window to follow the Instagram hop: @whatcathymade.

Next week we are showcasing another one of the brand new 2026–27 In Colours, Hydrangea Hue.

I hope you can join us then.

 

 

Social media & sharing icons powered by UltimatelySocial