Work Process and Birthdays

Sometimes, when you need to make a largish number of cards on the same theme, it can be helpful to begin by pulling all the related stamps, punches, dies, designer paper, embellishments, etc., that relate to the theme into one place.

I needed a fair number of birthday cards, so here's what I found in my stamp and punch stash that was suitable for birthdays.

I certainly wouldn't need all this, but having it gathered into one bin certainly helped spark some ideas...such as the idea for this card.

I love the tall, skinny profile of this 3.5" x 6.25" card. (It fits in a ready-made envelope from Marco's.) To make this, I took a largish scrap and created an alternating pink-and-orange pattern with a border stamp from CAS-ual Friday's Bold Wishes set. This stamp was very easy to line up, by the way. After stamping, I cut the scrap down to fit nicely on my card base and set it on the card where I wanted it.

Note: Do NOT glue pieces to a base on which you plan to stamp. Set them where they need to be, and then stamp. No matter how good a stamper you are, you will screw up stamping every now and then. You'll miss a spot while inking, or you'll drop the inked stamp on the card, or you'll have a dog/cat fur on your stamp that leaves a mess, or you'll press too hard or not hard enough, leaving an ugly image. See? There are just too many things that can go wrong. If you've glued the piece down, you've ruined the whole thing. But if you just position pieces on a card without glue, you can always grab a new card base and use the pieces parts of your previous effort to make a fabulous card.

After stamping the sentiment (and making sure it was right!), I glued down the stamped panel, added bling, and sat back with a smile!

These large rhinestones are so shiny and pretty! I love how this card is modern feminine. It's kicky and not floral and ever so blingy. What's not to love?

Supplies
stamps: Papertrey Birthday Bash Sentiments, CAS-ual Fridays Bold Wishes
ink: Hero Arts orange soda, bubble gum pink; Memento Luxe black
paper: Papertrey white
accessories: rhinestones