50 doesn't mean you're a fossil!

When coming up with a name for this card creation for my brother-in-law’s 50th birthday, I thought it would be humorous to poke a little fun at being archaic at the age of 50. This card utilizes the faux fossil technique using reinkers, glossy stock and rubbing alcohol so it just made sense to call the card Fossilized 50th Birthday. The numbers are from an older Inque Boutique set, Shari Numbers, which is a favorite of mine to use for momentous birthdays. The Stampin' Up! verse on the inside is another personal favorite for birthday wishes! Hope these ideas inspire a great card idea for a special birthday recipient.

Sweet 16, oh, WOW!

When a momentous birthday rolls around, a special card is in order. For my DD's 16th birthday, it needed to be hip, fun with an added surprise. Some new In Colors from Stampin’ Up!® combined with fun diecuts, punches, and the cool new Circle Circus stamp set did the trick! Add in some pop-up floral elements on the inside, and I achieved the right mix to make Ashley feel special on her 16th birthday. I played off the dots in the ribbon to create the numeral 6 from the floral circle stamp, and I used the overlapping circles stamp to create the patterned background. This set rocks, especially when used with florals, but I will also post other ideas for using these great patterned circles. Order it now from the new SU 2009-2010 catalog. Go to my Stampin' Up website, click on the shop button to browse and order all your new favorites!

Birthday Sale-A-Brations!

With just two weeks left of Sale-A-Bration, I wanted to showcase another Birthday card made with the Sale-A-Bration Yummy stamp set. I call the top card Birthday Yum. It is another fast and easy to duplicate card using a wheeled background, hand colored stamp with hand colored verse. Selective coloring is a stamping technique shown in these two card samples where you choose portions of the stamp design to add different color(s). In the Birthday Yum card (top), I applied markers directly to the stamp to make a colorful cupcake. Since the sprinkles are reversed out, I added those marker colors in after the design was stamped. I used the same selective coloring technique to add emphasis to the word Yummy by making it red in the verse. The ribbon is red gingham threaded through a tiny slit in the seam!

In the second card, Candles and Sprinkles, I got a little bit trickier by coloring in the top of my cupcake in brown, using a versamarker (clear ink) on bottom, stamping and embossing the cupcake liner in silver EP. I then went back and added the color sprinkles afterwards. I used the same Illuminations wheel on each background. Instead of using the candle in the cupcake, I repeated it at the bottom of the card as a graphic pattern. I separated the color block panels with a white scallop edge border that I punched. All supplies available on my SU website for order! Don't wait because the S-A-B sets are only available for a limited time, until March 31st!

The birthday set used in both of the cards is my new Stampin' Up! favorite...Party Hearty!

Bold & Yummy Birthday Cards

Here are two more cards that are fast and fun to make. I love using high contrast colors with a bright splash of color to create some eye-popping drama, as shown on the Pop Floral Birthday card. It features a floral rubber stamp from the Sale-A-Bration Botanical Blooms set stamped repetitively in alternating colors along with the Brithday Wishes verse from Sincere Salutations set. Try colorizing the cupcake & candle stamps (Party Hearty Set) with markers, pairing with a swirled framed verse (Yummy S-A-B limited time only set), tied ribbon and a wheeled border to make this cheerful Cupcake Yum card. Use these ideas to make your next birthday card creation bold & yummy! These cards can be duplicated in 10 minutes or less.

Birthday Card "Spot"light

Now is the time to earn a FREE Stampin’ Up!® Spring/Summer catalog & idea book, by placing an online order on my SU website. Hurry, this offer is good while supplies last! Also, it is Sale-A-Bration time, and you can choose a FREE S-A-B product with the purchase of $50 in merchandise. Or two FREE ITEMS with $100, etc. It is the best time to scrape together your scrap and stamp funds to take advantage of these bonus giveaways!

CS Colors used: Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, Old Olive and Whisper White.

Party Hearty Birthday Card

I wanted to share with you this birthday card I made for my dad’s upcoming birthday on the 4th of January. I wanted to make something bright and fun to put a smile on his face. My dad will be turning 71, however he is very young in looks and still knows how to tease his daughters. This was made using Bold Bright papers and markers from Stampin’ Up!® using my favorite new birthday set, Party Hearty and a verse from the Hugs and Wishes set on the inside. I included a smaller preview of the inside view, too! So as you get ready to celebrate the New Year, think of this set as a great one to use for birthdays or New Year's cards.

P.S. My daughter Kai has her endoscopy tomorrow, so please pray for good results and progress in the New Year in finding a cure for EE and EGID, and for all those affected by it.