Birthday Greetings with Seize the Birthday

Every day is a great day to create and share a birthday card.  Heaven knows, we all need to have them readily on hand and available.  So, having a FUN challenge blog like Seize the Birthday is a great way to inspire us all to stay caught up on making those birthday cards.  I'm blessed and honored to be continuing on as the July/August Surprise Party Guest at Seize the Birthday Challenge Blog, and it's been great fun creating birthday cards.  The optional "topping" for this new challenge is "No Flowers", so I refrained from any flowers to my card.

This FUN card started with cream cardstock that I layered with some pretty patterned papers from the Emma's Shoppe line by Crate Paper.  I cut the bigger background pieces using the Dot Dash Nested Rectangle Dies from Brass & Bliss Craft Co.  I cut three layers with those fun dies.  That created my fun colorful layered card base.  My stamped sentiment is found in the Year Round Typewritten Sentiments Stamp Set from Stamp Simply.  

Next, I used scraps of the Emma's Shoppe patterned papers along with the FUN Candles with Layers Dies (also from Brass & Bliss Craft Co.).  I cut each candle from a different patterned paper, and I placed them across the bottom of my card.  This is very simple, but I just LOVE all those layers of delicious paper.  Come on, you know you need to make a few birthday cards.  Why not come play along?

I'm so grateful to have you visit me here today.  I hope you'll Follow me here and then stop by my Instagram Page to say hello and Follow me there as well.  I always enjoy your visits, and I also enjoy being inspired by your art.  Please leave me a note so I know who was here and where I can find you to say hello.  Have a blessed and creative week, and don't forget to join us at Seize the Birthday Challenge Blog.  It's always more fun when YOU can join the FUN.

I'll be sharing this fun birthday card in the following challenges:

Just Us Girls Challenge Blog - Challenge #788 - Word Week - Birthday

Inspiration Station Challenge Blog - August Challenge #76: Inspiration Photo - The elements in this photo that inspired me include the Birthday theme, the bright fun colors and the cake/cupcakes which, of course, need candles!

Which fun challenges are you playing along in this week?

Happy crafting,

Karen

Celebrate Your Special Day

Like most of you, I just LOVE making cards.  It's especially exciting when I'm able to make cards that are purely just for fun.  This is one of those cards.  I also enjoy playing along in challenges when I'm able, and that's what I'm hoping to do with this card.  If you know of a good challenge, please let me know.  I'm always on the look-out for fun challenges - especially when there are prizes involved.  Although I don't win anywhere very often, it's always fun when I'm able to try.

I pulled out some of my favorite patterned papers from my stash.  They're from an old Crate Paper line called Emma's Shoppe.  They include the papers, stickers and chipboard piece I used.  That super FUN party hat die-cut I used is from The Greetery.  I posted a different version of this card today on Instagram that included a 2" honeycomb ball.  I created this version so that the card can be placed in an envelope and mailed.

When I changed out the honeycomb ball, I used the Honeycomb Party Hat Die Set to cut the fringed circles instead.  In the center, I placed a cute little plaid Cabachon Flatback Embellishment from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  This gives it dimension but still leaves it flat enough for the envelope.  This is such a cute color combination, and although not everything is perfectly matchy-matchy, I'm fine with that.

The little journalling card behind the Party Hat is from We R Memory Keepers, and it is a SUPER old item from my stash.  I've been trying to incorporate some of my stash items.  AND....if anybody (in the United States) is in need of stamps or ephemera, please let me know.  I'm happy to share my ridiculous over-load of product.  God has blessed me exceedingly abundantly - just as His Holy Word says He will.

I also used a cute (older) stamp set called Wishing You from Paper Sweeties to stamp my sentiment and the cute party hats on the matching envelope.  Please let me know if you have any questions about the products I used or whatever.  I would be most appreciative if you'd stop by my Instagram Page to FOLLOW me there as well as here on my blog.  I thank you for stopping by today.

Here's where I'm linking up my card - simply because I LOVE to play along:

Seize The Birthday Challenge - Challenge #290 - Theme/Topping:  Retro - I think my card is a bit "RETRO", but I'll let the experts decide.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes - Entry #3/5 - I entered another card like this earlier today that had a different topper on the Party Hat; but because I wanted another version that would fit in an envelope, I made this one along with a matching envelope.

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge - Challenge #600 - What a CELEBRATION!  I love to play along here whenever I can.  WOW!  Talk about some amazing sponsors.  Happy Birthday, Cupcake Inspirations and your wonderfully creative Design Team.

Double D Challenge - SHAPES - This card is a rectangle base with a triangle party hat, circles on the hat topper and a square sticker.

Blessings,

Karen

Hip Hip Hooray!

Hip Hip Hurray, and welcome by today!  It's always a treat to have you visit my blog.  Last night I had some time to myself, and I was able to make a couple things for some fun challenges where I love to play along.  I don't always find the time to create just for fun; so it's always a treat when I do.  I made a tag using lots of (long ignored) washi tape for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge that I shared on my Instagram Page.  I also created this sweet Summer card for another FUN challenge blog, Dar and Diane's Double D Challenge Blog where they are celebrating Summer.  Let's face it friends.....I don't need for it to be Summer to celebrate with ice cream.  But it's as good as excuse as any other.

I used a white cardstock and a few of my much-cherished Emma's Shoppe patterned papers, a sticker, and a journalling spot from Crate Paper.  I used a couple of different Paper Sweeties stamp sets.  One was for the sentiment, and the other, Sweet Wishes, was for the adorable ice cream cones.  I stamped the cone on cork paper, and I stamped the ice cream parts on white cardstock and colored them with my Copics.

I wrapped some Raspberry Baker's Twine around my card to give it some extra texture and personality.  I absolutely LOVE baker's twine.  When I was finished, the card just needed a little somethin-somethin at the top; so I added a Tim Holtz miniature rusty paper clip, and placed a small pink metal flower on top of that.  You know me....more is more.  I tend to pile it on, and I'm just FINE with that.

As I mentioned, I'm playing along in some FUN challenges that I'm linking below.  I hope that you've had a creative week, and that you're playing along in some fun challenges as well.  I always appreciate your visits and comments, and I look forward to seeing what YOU have been creating.  Have a wonderful week, everyone.

Karen

Here's where I'm playing along:

CRAFT-alnica:  Challenge #291 - Pike (Use Polka Dot Patterned Paper) - I used a yellow with white polka dots

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Dar and Diane's Double D Challenge Blog - Colors of Summer