Fabulous Fifties

Have you ever wanted a birthday card that was youthful yet traditional? Well I've got a hint for you. Try making a card like this one.

I started off by selecting a fabulous designer paper from The Best of Brenda Walton paper collection by K&Company. The paper had a variety of beige, tan and white with words like 'happiness', 'memories', 'believe' and other inspirational words. I thought it would look nice when paired with plain mid and chocolate brown textured cardstock from the DCWV Cardstock Neutrals Stack.

Before starting, I decided that since the card would have a circle, I needed a square base card and cut one that was 5" x 5". I then cut a circle with the phrase, Oh Happy Day, on an inside circle from the Wild Card Cricut cartridge. After adhering the patterned paper on the front, I placed the circle and the phrase, Oh Happy Day, slightly off centre. I framed the inside circle and phrase with chocolate brown so it wound stand out. After that, I added "50" cut from the Gypsy Font cartridge. I chose a lovely chocolate satin ribbon for the front of the card but I thought a bow would be too much so I just slipped the ribbons though it's own loop and notched the ends.

Sometimes a typical and occasionally fussy card does not suit the upcoming event. In this case, my friend is a vibrant career woman who suited this type of card and not one with unnecessary frills. Simple said it all.

Olivia the Owl

I named this owl, Olivia. She is so cute with her yellow ribbon in her fur beside the sentiment that reads, Thinking of You. I started this card with a lovely designer paper in an orange houndstooth pattern from K&Company. The card was cut using the Wild Card Cricut Cartridge. What a wonderful image! I curled the paper up to give more dimension to the card. Then I gave her some big blue eyes. I think she turned out well.

I made this card to enter into the Cricut Cardz Challenge which was a color challenge to make a card using only orange, yellow, black, blue and white. However, I missed the deadline - silly me - so it's going into the next challenge #38 which is "Anything Goes".

Argyle Anyone?

Argyle is really an old fashioned pattern that you usually find in tennis or golf attire or in men's socks. It's popularity has come and gone but I personally find the pattern fascinating I guess because it is so complex. There are really three layers of pattern which you see in my card. The first is a background layer which I chose to be green. The next layer is more visible - mine is the mauve patterned paper and the top layer is the overall grid which in my card is white. When all assembled, the layers form a cohesive pattern that is pleasing to the eye. This card was cut using the Wild Card Cricut cartridge. I also cut the matching envelope which has a green, mauve and white lining. I edged the card with moss green and antique linen ink. I made this card for my great aunt who is 99 years old and until last year had lived in the same house for 55 years. She is still a healthy and vibrant senior in her retirement home, she had all her marbles and goes for walks about the complex 3 or 4 times daily. She is truly a marvel.