Celebrate Your Birthday

 This month I had a stamping class where we made Birthday Cards.  I used Best Year Ever papers from the Sale-a-Bration catalog.  I just love the colors in this collection!  They are bright and cheery, just what we need this wintery, cold time of year.  I just love this card, maybe because of the colors and pretty papers, but also because of this cute little "critter" guy!  So, come on, Let's Party on with some birthday cards and a gift card holder.

This next card features more papers from the same designer collection.  I cut the papers into thin strips to resemble candles and cut out the flame using the top of the leaf from the Secret Garden thinlits!  The star cut-outs at the bottom are part of the Mini Treat Bag thinlits.  This is a quick and easy card to make if you don't have many rubber stamps.

Next up is a gift card holder to match either one of these cards.  Although there are many ways to make a gift card holder, I used the Envelope and Trim thinlit. 

Here is a photo of what it looks like on the other side.  Cute papers, right?

Let's not forget the all-important birthday cake!  This is made using a set called Big Day.  You could give this card to anyone, especially a guy that's in your life.  Sometimes it's hard to come up with a card that is fit to give to our male friends and family members.

Last, but not least is this Birthday card made with the Four Feathers stamp set and thinlits.  I love the colors in this card, the sparkle in the silver paper and how it all came together.  I used the Gorgeous Grunge set for the background and just added some strips and extra sparkle.  This card could also be used as a unisex card. 

I love to look online at different sites and on Pinterest for ideas on what to make.  Today's cards were made using ideas from Stamp with Amy K, Jan McQueen, Stamping With Sandi, Kay Kalthoff and Amy O'Neill.  

At the end of each stamping class, I always ask the ladies which card that they like the best.  This helps me to know what colors and styles of cards that people like to make.  In this class, every one of the cards got equal votes from different people.  Which one would you choose?