Hi everyone! Do you ever find yourself loving a card design so much that you want to make it again and again? That’s exactly what happened to me after I created my last detective-themed card using the Case Closed collection by Hero Arts. I couldn’t stop at just one—I ended up making four more! (And just between you and me, I have another couple of designs in progress. I’m just waiting for a craft order to come in so I can complete them).
Is It Cheating to Repeat a Design?
Now, you might be thinking, “Isn’t that cheating making the same card?” Absolutely not! I’d say it’s smart, efficient, and still very creative. Plus, it enables you to practice your skills. Also, the cards will be going to different people, so no one but you will know that you’ve duplicated the design.
You don’t need to start from scratch every time you sit down to craft. Revisiting a card design you already love allows you to refine it, experiment with slight variations, and—bonus!—save time. That’s especially helpful when you’re batch-making for occasions like birthdays or when you’re short on mojo. And let’s be real, sometimes you like a card and just WANT to make the card again….and again!
How To Change Things Up
For these cards, I kept the core design the same: the stylish detective character, her iconic houndstooth outfit (with one exception), and of course, that fabulous magnifying glass. But here’s what changed:
- Sentiments: I played with different phrases from the same stamp sets like “It’s no mystery”, “Case Closed” and “The evidence is clear.”
- Layout: some of the cards feature the large magnifying glass highlighting the sentiments; one of the others has the small magnifying glass raised over her eye.
- Paper piecing: While three of the four cards are coloured using the Houndstooth Layering Stencil, one was paper pieced with some Lawn Fawn patterned paper.
- Finishing touches: Varying the number and placement of fingerprint images, the use of heat embossing for certain words, and how the elements were popped up all made a difference.
Each card still feels special, and I didn’t have to reinvent the entire concept every time.
Here are the cards…
Give It A Try
Next time you create something you love, don’t stop at one! Try repeating it with slight adjustments. Swap the colours, change the sentiment, and/or flip the layout. You’ll be surprised at how different each version feels and how fun it is to explore the possibilities.
Have you ever repeated a design you loved? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you have a great day!
Supplies
(DISCLAIMER: I’m a member of several affiliate programs, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through the links I share—at no additional cost to you. Rest assured, I only link to products I genuinely use, love, and recommend (though I may occasionally link to a different size or variation). I purchased all items featured in my projects unless stated otherwise. Thanks so much for your support!)
