Birthday Cards

My oldest brother and twin brothers celebrate their birthdays this weekend. That's 3 birthday boys in two days. I was actually on the ball this year and got cards made and sent off in time! I also noticed that my last several posts have been layouts. You might be ready to see some cards. *Ü* The designs are not mine, of course, but the thoughts of my brothers while I was creating them certainly are!

 Dutch Blue Cardstock, ink, Birthday stamp set (CTMH), Green Tea Stack (DCWV) Gems, (Recollections brand, Michaels)

Kraft cardstock, woodgrain embossing folder (Paper Studio, Hobby Lobby), Green Tea Stack (brown strip and circles) {DCWV}, Gems (Recollections brand, Michaels), Happy Birthday stamp, Cocoa ink (CTMH)

I am a little annoyed with myself. I am pretty sure I saw these first two cards on Pinterest, but I didn't pin them. I just scrolled through while looking for ideas that appealed to me. Now, of course, I can't find those pins. Sorry. But I am not claiming these ideas were mine. You all know me better than that, right? 

This next card was originally created by my friend Barb, here. I just adore how Barb creates her cards. There is so much attention to detail. Plus she shares a lot of little tidbits about the techniques she uses. Anyway, I decided to mimic the card linked above.

I did vary it a bit by changing up the focal piece cut (Framelits by Sizzix, purchased at Archiver's, although sold other places as well). I colored the Meljen's cupcake image with pencils and odorless mineral spirits. (I leave the Copic coloring to the professionals, like Barb *Ü*) I added the gems (from Recollections brand at Michaels). I know I've said that a lot. There is a bigger box of these gems that they sell that have several sizes of gems in the box. That's where these tiny gems are coming from. I used a bit of a glittery pen as well at more of that Green Tea Stack (guess it's my go-to paper for guy cards). I had the same Martha Stewart border/embossing punch that Barb used. All in all, I'm pleased at the final result (although I continue to be iffy about the paper used for the strip across the card...those brown edges look strange to me, but I couldn't find anything else that would even remotely work in my opinion...It is what it is.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Enjoy your day.