Birthday Cards

I'm so pleased to be showing you a couple of birthday cards that I recently made.  I'm highlighting them at My Craft Spot today as well.  It seems as though negative space is all the rage right now and I've been so inspired by the many cards I've seen that I decided to use the same technique on my cards.  It's quite an easy technique but one that really makes a statement.  Everybody seemed especially impressed with these two cards... and they really were quite simple to put together!  

I made the first card as an extra for my daughter's 18th birthday.  I used my paper cutter to cut the card base and patterned paper mat and then used my Gypsy to cut the top layer with George and Basic Shapes, with "18" cut out of the cardstock using Plantin SchoolBook.  Corners are all rounded with the Creative Memories corner rounder.  Once cut, I embossed the top layer using my Cuttlebug using the "Bloom Dots" folder.  I attached the top layer using pop dots to leave some space between the patterned paper and cardstock.

To finish things off, I cut a tiny tag and shadow from the My Craft Spot Tiny Tags metal die set and stamped it with a little sentiment from the My Craft Spot Tiny Tags 2 set.  I finished everything off with some Blueberry Blue baker's twine from My Craft Spot.

The second card was made for my daughter's boyfriend.  I used the same technique as I had used for Erin's card, but this time, cut the word "birthday" using Opposites attract.  The little balloons are from Celebrations and tied with Blueberry Blue baker's twine from My Craft Spot.

I finished the front of the card by using a stamp from My Craft Spot's Sweet Sentiments - Set #1, using some cellophane tape to cover the "birthday" portion of the stamp.  If you try this, just remember to remove the cellophane prior to stamping!  

Don't forget that the My Craft Spot Fall Stamp Release Party starts on Monday - and you are ALL invited!!  Check HERE for more details.

Also, I am giving away a $15US gift certificate to My Craft Spot.  Click HERE to enter if you haven't already!  

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Carson's Creations Embossing Blog Hop

I'm so delighted that Georgiana (Carson's Creations) invited me to join her embossing blog hop.  Embossing is my favourite technique to add to my paper creations - so I jumped at the chance to be involved!  At each stop along the way, designers will be showcasing their projects and sharing embossing techniques - both heat and dry.  There will also be prizes up for grabs along the way!

I made my card for my son's friend who LOVES wolves.  I used My Community for the wolf and Celebrations for the hat and balloons, which were stamped with Peachy Keen faces.  

For the main mat, I used a Cuttlebug Happy Birthday folder.  I added a few gems to the little embossed flowers.  Adding gems, stickles, brads, etc., can be a great way to dress up your embossing. 

I used D'Vine Swirls for the wolf's fur.  This folder is a great one to use with your animal cuts.  I used the same folder on my little Easter lamb card earlier this week. 

The sentiment is from My Craft Spot and I used Stampin' Up punches for the little frames.  I did some inking and stitching and my card was ready for my son's wolf-loving friend!

If there's anything I really like about blog hops, it's prizes!  Here at Small Bits of Paper, I'm giving away your choice of one of the NEW My Craft Spot stamp sets!!  Just leave your name and contact information in a comment on this post.  I will announce the winner on Tuesday, April 3.  (I'm also taking part in the My Craft Spot Stamp Release Blog Hop today - beginning at 8am EST.  Be sure to check out that post for your chance to win a Happily Ever After stamp set, courtesy of Kimberly at My Craft Spot.)

Georgiana (Carson's Creations) is also offering prizes - for participating in the blog hop AND for creating a project trying an embossing technique!  You can view the guidelines and link up your project at Carson's Creations.

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Now it's time to hop along to visit Gwen at This and That, your next stop on the Carson's Creations Embossing Blog Hop.

Here's the rest of the lineup if you'd like to visit all the stops along the way:

Georgiana

Carri

Karen

Jessica

Anita

Colin

Kate

Gwen

Pat

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Birthday Banner for a 9 Year Old

I am so excited to be a guest designer for My Sheri Crafts!  This week's challenge is "Party Favours" - and it's actually a two week challenge which means that you have 14 days to get your submissions in.  The theme is perfect for me as all my children have August birthdays - so our month will be filled with parties, cakes and lots and lots of fun!

I decided to make a banner for my youngest, who is turning 9 years old.  I chose some bright, fun colours for the banner.  The main scalloped squares were cut with Celebrations and the letters for "NINE" were cut with Mickey Font.  I embossed the top layers of the letters with two different Cuttlebug folders.  The party snakes are from Create a Critter.  I assembled the banner with some ribbon and added some tulle to finish things off.

I actually took some time this week to make this banner and also created a card which I will post tomorrow.  (My other projects for this month were all completed before my July class started.  I have next to no free time - but it was such a delight to turn on my Cricut again and take a mental rest.  I have just one week left of classes.  I am enjoying them and learning so much but am certainly looking forward to a break too!

Please head over to My Sheri Crafts and link up your own "party favour" projects - and see the rest of the fabulous design team inspiration.  Thank you, Sheri, for allowing me to guest design for you!  

*I've also added this project at Decorate to Celebrate for their child's birthday challenge.

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CropStop Challenge - Valentines for My Boys

I was so excited to read that CropStop has started their own challenge blog.  The first challenge is based on a sketch by Gloria Stengel (see below).  I actually made two cards - valentines for my boys.

The first card is for my youngest.  Although the image (a Me and My Big Ideas sticker) might seem a bit odd for a valentine, it just fits my youngest perfectly.  He loves to visit and go places - and is only 8 so still needs reminders of what and what not to pack.  I thought the embossed sentiment (Cuttlebug) tied in perfectly and I coloured it to make it stand out a bit more.  I used patterned papers from the DCWV Pet Stack and cardstock is from a Textura pack.  I used Celebrations for the banner, with the XOX created with Mickey Font.  The corners were cut with Jasmine.  I also cut a heart with Jubilee and embossed it with a Cuttlebug folder.  I added a few half beads too.

(I will also enter this card at The Cuttlebug Spot, where this week's projects are to be inspired by a song.  I was disappointed as I missed the challenge last week - but just realized that it has been extended so I can join in! I was playing the Beatles as I made this - and also YouTubed the wedding scene from Love Actually.)

The second card is for my middle guy.  He loves anything with fur, fins, feathers or scales!  I used papers from the same stacks, but used an EK Success punch for the corners.  I made the banner the same way I did the card above.  The background mat was embossed with another Cuttlebug tiny hearts folder and the little pup silhouette and shadow were cut with Paper Pups.  The sentiment is Studio G and I used my Creative Memories cutting system to cut it out, along with a shadow.  I also used an EK Success border punch for one of the mats and frames.  Half beads were added to this card as well. 

I'm so pleased with how these cards turned out!  It feels good to have the first two done!

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