Bringing Birthdays Back

As I mentioned in a previous post, Shannon West has started a movement to bring back the sending of traditional birthday cards in the mail. Too often these days we rely on social media to stay in touch, and I believe we are drifting further apart as a result. We can spend several dollars on a cup of coffee in a coffee shop, but then think it's too expensive to send a card or letter. Really? In my opinion, forty-nine cents isn't too much to tell someone happy birthday, or even that you're just thinking of them. And that birthday card might be the only one they get! How can you NOT send a card?! Okay, hopping off my soapbox now.

I did forget to mention in that post that I am also participating in the #imbringingbirthdaysback movement and will send a birthday card to anyone who sends me their name, address, and birthday. I promise to try to get it sent on time! (And if you want to reciprocate, my birthday is February 6th.)

The card above was sent to someone who didn't even ask to be a part of it, but his keynote speech at the Stampin' Up! Convention a couple years ago really touched my heart. I noticed his birthday was coming up (one good thing about Facebook, I guess), so I asked for his address. I hope he likes it!

I liked it so much that I made eight more similar cards, using up some neglected DSP. If you want to make some quick, cute birthday cards, these would be just the ticket!

Card base: 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" colored cardstock to coordinate with DSP, scored and folded at 4-1/4"
Image panel: 3" x 4" Whisper White
Mat behind image panel: 3-1/8" x 4-1/8" same color as card base

Stamp balloon strings first, making sure to leave room for the stamped small balloons at the top. Stamp small balloons in whatever color your card base is, unless you are using black. (But I guess if someone is having one of "those" milestone birthdays, black balloons might be appropriate!)

If it's a darker color, stamp off once to produce a lighter color. The dots at the bottoms of the balloons can be full strength. On a scrap, stamp the large balloon and dots as you did for the small ones. Punch out with balloon punch or fussy cut, and pop up on Stampin' Dimensionals. Add whatever greeting you want. I did stamp the bow on the first card, but ended up tying little baker's twine bows for the others. I think they looked cuter.

Supplies listed below are for the first card.
STAMPS: Balloon Celebration, Sky Is the Limit (SAB)
CARDSTOCK: Basic Black, Whisper White, Cherry on Top DSP Stack
INK: Basic Black Archival, So Saffron, Crushed Curry, Watermelon Wonder
ACCESSORIES: Balloon Bouquet Punch, Clear Wink of Stella, Stampin' Dimensionals

Doe, a Deer

We have a lot of deer around here and really enjoy watching them, as do our neighbors, Erika and Iven. His birthday is coming up in a couple weeks, so I thought a deer-themed card would be very appropriate. Iven is the one who told us about putting a salt lick out for the deer, which we did. They discovered it a couple days ago. They are such beautiful, graceful creatures!

STAMPS: In the Meadow, Sky Is the Limit (SAB)
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Kraft
INK: Basic Black Archival, Pool Party, Copic Markers BG11, E13, E15, E39, E50, G24
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Woodland embossing folder (coming back in the annual catalog in June!), Sharpie Extra Fine White Poster Paint Marker, Pool Party seam binding ribbon (ret.), Stampin' Dimensionals

And Then THIS Happened!

We got our first real snow at our new home two days ago, about 6-1/2". Pretty exciting stuff for these SoCal to Tennessee transplants. Yesterday it warmed up and about 2-3" melted, but today and tomorrow we are getting the edge of Winter Storm Jonas, so we may get another 5-10 inches! Today's total so far is 3 inches. The picture is the view out of my craft room window. I'm all warm and cozy with the wood stove behind me, a cup of mint tea beside me, and the occasional WHUMP of snow sliding off the roof outside. Fun times!

I'm making and sending birthday cards like crazy, so that's probably all you'll be seeing from me for a while. Just remember, you can change the greeting on them and use them for almost any occasion, not just birthdays!

I am so in love with the Sale-A-Bration stamp sets! Isn't this one just the sweetest? It's called Flowering Fields and it looks like what I'd expect to see in a wild meadow in the Spring, complete with butterfly! And yes, I did have to bling the flowers and butterfly up with some Wink of Stella. It really made the perfect embellishment on this CAS card!

Don't forget you can earn the S.A.B. items for FREE with a qualifying purchase. If you are in need of an Occasions catalog or a Sale-A-Bration flyer, let me know!

STAMPS: Flowering Fields, Build a Birthday
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White Thick, Watercolor Paper (2-1/8" x 4-1/2", stamped, colored, and cut into thirds
INK: Basic Black Archival, Calypso Coral, Crushed Curry, Watermelon Wonder, Blackberry Bliss, Mossy Meadow, Cucumber Crush
ACCESSORIES: Blender Pens, Clear Wink of Stella, Gold Wink of Stella, Stampin' Dimensionals (*gasp* no Mr. Big, again!)