Polkadoodles Layered Cards with Monty from the Fluffy Friends Collection

If you’re anything like me, you probably love making and receiving layered cards. There’s just something so nice and special about a card with lots of dimension, pretty papers, and thoughtful details. I always feel that heavily layered cards look extra fancy and show the love and effort that went into creating them.

So for today’s project, I created two cards using the same layout and products, but with a slight variation. One card uses patterned papers only, while the second version adds solid cardstock mats for even more depth and contrast. Both feature adorable Monty from Polkadoodles’ new Fluffy Friends collection, along with several coordinating patterned papers from the same release.

Materials Used

• White cardstock
• Digi stamp
• Patterned papers
• Sentiment
• Foam tape
• Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue

Instructions

1. Start by creating an A2-sized card front using a piece of patterned paper trimmed to 4.25” x 5.5”.

2. Choose a coordinating patterned paper and cut it to 2.75” x 5.25”. Adhere this vertically along the right side of the card front, leaving a narrow border around the edges.

3. Next, trim another patterned paper to 2.25” x 4.75”. Position it on the left side of the card front, centering it between the top and bottom while leaving a small border around the edge.

4. For the focal panel, cut a piece of patterned paper measuring 3” x 4”. If desired, use a notebook border punch along the top edge for added detail. 

5. Color and fussy-cut Monty, then adhere him to the focal panel using foam tape or adhesive of your choice.

6. Attach this panel with foam tape, positioning it slightly above the center of the card to create dimension.

7. Create a sentiment banner by printing or stamping your chosen greeting onto a small pennant shape. Layer it onto a slightly larger pennant for contrast, then attach it to the lower right area of the focal panel.

8. Finish the card with embellishments such as enamel dots, enamel hearts, ribbon, or any coordinating accents you like.

Adhere your card base to your card. Prepare the card by trimming a white cardstock to 5.5 x 8.5, scored at 4.25.

Alternate Version with Cardstock Mats

To create the second version of the card, follow the same layout but add solid cardstock layers beneath the patterned paper panels.

For the right-side panel, cut solid cardstock to 2.75” x 5.25” and layer a patterned paper piece measuring 2.5” x 5” on top.

For the left-side panel, cut solid cardstock to 2.25” x 4.75” and layer it with patterned paper measuring 2” x 4.5”.

This simple change adds extra dimension and helps the patterned papers stand out beautifully.

I really enjoyed creating these cards because they allowed me to mix and match several of the pretty patterned papers from the collection. Sometimes it’s fun to showcase more than one favorite design, and this layout is perfect for doing just that while still keeping the card balanced and cohesive.

I hope these cards inspire you to pull out your favorite papers and experiment with layering. If you’re a pet lover, an animal enthusiast, or simply someone who enjoys cute and whimsical designs, be sure to check out Polkadoodles’ brand-new Fluffy Friends release. It’s packed with adorable characters, beautiful coordinating papers, and plenty of elements to inspire your next crafty project.

Happy crafting!

Polkadoodles Digi Choosday Project | Bright & Fun Father’s Day Gnome Card

Hi crafty friends! This week’s Digi Choosday Design Team prompt is all about Father’s Day and bright colors, and I enjoyed making this cute beer-holding gnome! How cute is he?! I paired him with matching beer-themed pattern paper from the Gnome Men BBQ collection, and the result is such a fun and cheerful card - perfect for celebrating Dad.

For this project, I used my Cricut Design Space to create a custom-shaped card with a bold “DAD” design. I know I usually love sharing my Design Space files, but unfortunately, this one includes copyrighted digi stamps, so it can’t be shared. But don’t worry! I’ve got you covered with a step-by-step Cricut tutorial below so you can recreate something similar!

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Materials Used

• Cricut Maker
• White Cardstock
• Pattern Paper - Polkadoodles Gnome Men BBQ collection
• Digi Stamp - Polkadoodles Gnome Father Celebration Party
• Mirror Cardstock
• Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue

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Cricut Tutorial - How I Made This Card

Start by opening your Cricut Design Space and create a new blank project.

Create your sentiment by clicking on Text and typing DAD, pressing enter after each letter so they stack vertically. Choose your preferred font, then adjust the spacing by going to Format and decreasing the line space until the letters touch. Once they do, select all letters and click Combine → Weld.

Next, upload your digi stamp and resize it to fit nicely with your DAD design.

Now, select both the welded DAD and the gnome image, then click Effects → Offset. This offset will become your card base. Adjust it to your desired thickness.

To make sure the base cuts as one solid piece, select the offset layer and click Contour. Remove any inner cutouts (small holes) so your base stays intact.

Resize everything to fit within an A2 card size (maximum 5.5” x 4.25”). Mine ended up at 4.92” x 4.25”.

Now hide the DAD and gnome layers temporarily. Duplicate the offset, flip it vertically, and align it with the original so they slightly overlap at the top. Select both and Combine → Weld to create your folding card base.

Insert a score line where the two shapes meet, then Attach it to the card base.

Unhide your DAD and gnome layers again. Select the DAD and create a slight outline using Offset—this will be your layering piece.

To add pattern paper to the DAD letters, upload your chosen paper, place it over the DAD, then select both and click Slice. Delete the excess pieces until only the patterned DAD remains.

Now you’re ready to cut!

• The DAD letters and gnome will be Print then Cut
• The rest will be Basic Cut

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Assembly

Once everything is cut:

• Fold your card base along the score line
• Adhere the patterned DAD to the mirror cardstock layer
• Attach the DAD to the card base
• Pop up the gnome using foam tape for dimension

And just like that - you’re done! 

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I hope this little Cricut tutorial helps, especially if you’re just starting out with your machine. It’s such a fun way to create custom cards!

Don’t forget to join the Anything Goes Digi Choosday challenge over at Polkadoodles - you might even win some amazing goodies! And if you’d like to see more of my projects and behind-the-scenes crafting, come hang out with me on my socials:

Instagram: @my.cat.and.crafts

Facebook: My Cat and Crafts

Happy crafting and happy Father’s Day creating!