I’ve Had the Time of My Liiife – A Playful Encouragement Card | Featuring Brutus Monroe

Some cards just make you smile—and this one did exactly that for me. With a whimsical shoe-and-sock duo, a nostalgic notebook-paper background, and a little sprinkle of love, this card came together as a fun and lighthearted encouragement design that’s perfect for friendship, support, or just happy mail.

Today’s card features products from Brutus Monroe and leans into layered patterned papers to add texture, movement, and personality.

Project Overview

This card started with a simple idea: let the characters tell the story. The playful sentiment and expressive images do all the talking, while the background supports the scene without overpowering it. Using patterned paper in a creative way helped bring a familiar, school-notebook feel that adds charm and realism.

Brutus Monroe Supplies Used:

Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you’d like to support my work, you can shop Brutus Monroe here: https://www.brutusmonroe.com/stellarcraftsbypam. Thank you so much for your support!

• BRU4509 Alabaster | Cardstock

• BRU5413 Scarlet Cardstock

• BRU9378 You Lift Me Up | Stamp & Die Bundle

• BRU1759 Hall Pass | Paper Pad

How the Card Came Together

1. Stamp, Color & Die Cut

   I began by stamping the shoe, sock, and sentiment from the You Lift Me Up stamp set. After coloring the images, I die cut them to create clean edges and make them easy to layer onto the background.

   
   

2. Create the Notebook Layer

   From the Hall Pass patterned paper pack, I trimmed down the notebook-style paper to fit my card front. To add realistic detail and texture, I die cut holes along the left side—this small step makes a big visual impact and really sells the notebook look.

   
   

3. Add the Text Paper Mat

   Next, I cut a piece of text patterned paper from the same pack, trimming it so there was a ½-inch border visible on all sides. This layer was adhered to the center of a Scarlet cardstock panel, which adds a bold pop of color and frames the design beautifully.

   
   

4. Assemble the Scene

   The colored shoe and sock images were arranged to create a playful, dynamic pose, giving the card lots of personality and movement. The sentiment was added above to balance the composition.

   
   

5. Final Touches

   To finish everything off, I added red sequin hearts—just a few—to symbolize the love and connection between the shoe and sock. It’s a small detail, but it ties the whole story together.

Final Thoughts

I love how this card combines humor, nostalgia, and heart. Patterned paper can do so much more than just sit in the background—and this project is a great example of how cutting, layering, and adding texture can elevate a simple design.

This card would be perfect for encouragement, friendship, or even a just-because note to someone who lifts you up. 💕

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Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope this inspires you to look at your patterned papers a little differently!

Thanks for stopping by! Happy crafting :)