Turning Greeting Card Sketches Into Motion Experiments
Every once in a while, after sketching and finishing a new greeting card, I get curious about how the design would look if it suddenly… moved. I’m not a motion designer (at all), but Smart Animate in Figma makes it easy to turn a few card iterations into a quick, silly animation.
These little experiments aren’t polished or precious, they’re just a fun way to replay the design decisions behind the cards. Here are a few favorites, plus the finished cards they came from.
The birthday design that got me hooked
First up: the birthday design that started it all and pulled me into this whole motion-experiment rabbit hole. Here’s a (very loose) “storyboard” showing a few of the early sketches and how I played with layout, spacing, and the switch between solid colors and outlines.
How I animated this in Figma
Start with several frames already designed: I saved out four different versions of the birthday card, each showing a slightly different direction. Instead of rebuilding from scratch each time, I duplicated the previous frame (keyboard shortcut: option + drag), which kept all the elements aligned across versions.
Make small changes from frame to frame: Because everything stays linked, any change — switching strokes to fills, adjusting how the type expands or contracts, or shifting the layout — animates cleanly between frames.
Set up the animation in Prototype mode: I switched over to the Prototype tab, created a new flow, and connected Frame 1 → Frame 2 using Smart Animate. Then I repeated the same connections: Frame 2 → Frame 3 → Frame 4 → back to Frame 1 (so it loops).
My settings for this animation:
Trigger: After delay (200ms)
Animation: Smart Animate
Cycle: Ease out
Duration: 300ms
Preview the animation: Click the little play icon to view the prototype animation. Because each element is consistent across frames, the transitions look smooth as the shapes grow, move, and swap between outline + fill seamlessly.
Inspired by the classic “Benihana Christmas” scene in The Office, this It Is Your Birthday card is the ultimate way to celebrate someone’s special day with a dose of deadpan humor. Inspired by the hilariously deadpan birthday banner from the classic Benihana Christmas episode, this card is sure to get a laugh from any Dunder Mifflin devotee. Pair it with the matching gift bag.
Perfect for:
The Office fans who quote the show daily
The friend who appreciates dry humor and deadpan delivery
Anyone who loves a birthday card with a little extra inside joke energy
Product Details:
A2 size (4.25" x 5.5")
Printed on premium off-white paper
Comes with a matching envelope
Blank inside – Plenty of space for a heartfelt note or a passive-aggressive party planning memo.
Eco-friendly – Printed on FSC-certified recycled paper
Ships from New Jersey with love
Free shipping on orders $50+
Wholesale inquiries welcome
For the birthday person who appreciates a celebration with minimal enthusiasm. This funny “It Is Your Birthday” gift bag delivers the message in perfectly deadpan fashion, with a roomy, sturdy construction made for books, clothes, boxed gifts, and whatever else you managed to buy them.
Perfect for:
Wrapping a funny birthday gift for a coworker, friend, or family member
Giving to someone who appreciates dry, deadpan birthday humor
Bringing a funny birthday bag to an office or workplace celebration
Want to complete the look? Pair it with the matching birthday card for the full effect
Details:
Premium heavyweight board stock for a luxe, durable feel
Scuff-proof matte finish keeps the design looking fresh
Gusseted sides & reinforced bottom for extra support
Metal eyelet reinforcements & braided rope handles for a polished touch
Size: 13" H x 9.6" W x 4.5" D
Ships from New Jersey with love
Free shipping on orders $50+
Wholesale inquiries welcome
Mixing in more color and compositions
This was the point where I realized how addictive Smart Animate is. The fun of this one is in the mix of tiny changes and big swings. It starts with simple color swaps, and then suddenly the whole composition shifts in scale and layout. There’s a lot happening, and it’s the kind of animation you end up watching a few (too many) times just to catch everything.
Let Dad know he’s loved loud and clear with this vibrant “I Love You Dad” card. Whether it’s for Father’s Day, his birthday, or just because, the playful design and bold colors make this greeting card a meaningful way to say what matters most.
Perfect for:
An “I love you Dad” card for Father’s Day
A birthday card for Dad
Everyday appreciation cards for dads who deserve it all
Product details:
A2 size (4.25" x 5.5")
Printed on high-quality FSC-certified recycled paper
Blank inside for your personal message
Comes with a matching envelope
Designed with love and printed in the USA
Three words, so much color, all the feeling. With bold, oversized letterforms this card makes a statement before it's even opened. It's the kind of card that gets propped up on a shelf. Whether it's for Mother's Day, her birthday, or just because — this is the card for the mom who appreciates design as much as she appreciates the sentiment behind it.
Details:
A2 (4.25" x 5.5") greeting card printed on off-white recycled paper
Comes with a matching envelope
Blank inside for your own personal message
Designed with love, printed in the USA
Ships from New Jersey
Free shipping on orders $50+
Wholesale inquiries welcome
Adding in some “bounce”
This is another experiment where I mixed layout and color changes, but what really makes this one fun is the “bouncy” animation style instead of a smooth ease. It gives the whole thing a little spring in its step — the kind of motion that makes the letters feel extra celebratory. It’s simple, but the bounce adds a lot of personality.
This new job congratulations card is the perfect way to hype up a friend, coworker, or loved one for their next chapter. With bold, playful typography and vibrant colors, this card makes it clear—this promotion, career change, or first big gig is a big deal.
Perfect for:
Someone landing their dream job
A coworker heading off on their next adventure
Career pivots, promotions, or finally leaving that terrible boss
First jobs, big leaps, and well-deserved promotions
Product details:
A2 size (4.25" x 5.5")
Printed on off-white FSC-certified recycled paper
Blank inside for a personal note
Includes a matching envelope
Ships from New Jersey with love
Free shipping on orders $50+
Wholesale inquiries welcome
Big cheers for tiny humans.
This playful, color-packed card shouts “yay new baby!” in the happiest way possible. With oversized letters, vibrant tones, and a blank interior ready for your sweet note, it’s perfect for baby showers, birth announcements, or first visits. Modern, cheerful, and anything but boring.
Not sure what to write inside? Check out our guide for thoughtful new baby card messages.
Perfect for:
Baby showers
Congratulations for new parents
Celebrating adoption or fostering milestones
Pairing with baby gifts or gift baskets
Product details:
A2 size (4.25" x 5.5")
Printed on off-white FSC-certified recycled paper
Blank inside for a personal note
Includes a matching envelope
Ships from New Jersey with love
Free shipping on orders $50+
Wholesale inquiries welcome
The thing that really makes this part work is the iteration.
We all make tiny changes as we refine a design, but for these experiments, I keep every single version instead of overwriting the last one. Each tweak becomes its own frame, and suddenly all those quiet little decisions turn into an animation storyboard.
It’s a simple shift, but it’s surprisingly cool to watch all the steps that lead to the final card, almost like a flipbook of the design process. And even though these motion tests aren’t part of my “official” workflow, they do something I really love: they make the behind-the-scenes work visible. All the tiny choices, color swaps, layout nudges, and little experiments that usually disappear suddenly get their moment on screen. It’s a fun reminder that design is built on lots of small decisions, and sometimes seeing them move around gives you a whole new appreciation for the finished card.
If you enjoyed this little peek, I have plenty more tiny experiments where these came from. Curious for more? I post most of these motion experiments on Pinterest.
