We all came together to celebrate the birthday of Janelle’s twin boys last week (if you didn’t party with us, check it out here), and what a fun time we had! Well, today is Janelle’s birthday, though, so let’s all sing a big, loud “Happy Birthday” to Janelle!
As you may remember, Janelle and I met in middle school, we became good friends in high school and great friends in college. Janelle (I call her “My Nella”) and I were an unlikely pair – she was The Biggest Flirt Senior Superlative, while I was Most Intellectual. One thing you should know about My Nella – that girl does not like the cold weather! She was born and raised in Charleston, SC (a city that shuts down if the temperature drops below 30 degrees) and moved to Pittsburgh, PA (where, well, I think you know how cold it can get there). Because her birthday is right in the middle of Winter, I decided to make her a colorful, Spring-like card for her big day. What’s the best way to capture Spring? I went right to Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper: 
Tips, Tricks and Reminders:
- Sketch it out. When I sat down to make this card, I drew out a full sketch of the card I wanted to make. I had a panel of the DSP across the bottom with two panels on the left and a circle (with sentiment) in the rop, right corner. My sketch transformed as I completed the card (the end result looked nothing like the sketch), but I stand behind my decision to create the sketch in the first place. It was a really good idea. 🙂
- Stamp-a-ma-jig that thing! So, the only thing I really ended up with that was in my original sketch was the sentiment in a circle. I loved the style of this Curly Cute sentiments and thought it’d look perfect with this paper – cheery and curly and cute. I didn’t want a long sentiment, though, so I collapsed it by stacking the two words on top of each other. The Stamp-a-ma-jig and some good, old fashioned masking with Post-it notes were my best friend in this endeavor.
- Mixing patterns. This Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper has a lot going on – small images with lots of bright, cheery colors. Perfect for My Nella’s birthday card! So that I wouldn’t detract from the gorgeous patterns, I made sure my panel across the middle was large and that no other patterns competed with the DSP.
Stamp sets: Curly Cute Papers: Daffodil Delight, Real Red, Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper, Brights Collection Designer Series Paper Stack, Whisper White Inks: Real Red, Tempting Turquoise Accessories: 2-1/2″ Circle punch, 2-3/8″ Scallop punch, 1-3/4″ Circle punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Stampin’ Dimensionals
Thanks for helping me to celebrate My Nella’s special day!
Thanks for stopping by my blog today!
Brian
Brian, Janelle is going to love this card! Happy Birthday, Nella!! ;D I hope you have a wonderful day today and many more to come!
Fun cheery card……I too hate the snow and cold and I have a January birthday….go figure!!!
Love the colors you picked for this card, Brian. They shout SUMMER!!!!!, loud and clear even if it’s still so far away. I know about Winter up here in the Mid West, sheeesh!! This one it’s been cold and gray so this card for your friend will surely warm her heart. Happy Birthday, Janelle!!!!!
You’re such a good friend! Happiest Birthday Janelle!
Happy Birthday, Nella! What a perfect birthday card to brighten up a cold winter’s day birthday. I love Summer Smooches DSP!
You’ve used it so well on this card, Brian!
Happy Birthday Janelle…!! I had a good friend named Janelle . Me too Suzie, I love Summer Smooches DSP…I know My Nella will love this card. I have a request ….how about you doing a video on how you did the sentiment ? I have cut sentiments apart to be able to use them in different ways but, not with the Stamp A Ma Jig. And since I was not voted Most Intelligent …( I was Homecoming Queen and Best Personality …) I would like to see how you did this . I am sure you have some special tips that would be of tremendous help to the less intelligent !! I bet you would have gotten Best Precision Layering title if they had had that title also. !! Super Summer Smooches card .
A wonderful ‘SPLASH’ of color! It makes me happy! Can’t wait to see all the little flower’s peeking their heads out to reveal their burst of color yet again for another year. Seeing white here in Ohio is getting very boring. Many well wishes for your special day Nella. Happy Birthday! You have a very ‘special’ friend, we all love him!
Love this DSP and the bright colors! Happy Birthday Janelle!!
I love this card!! So bright and cheery!!! Happy Birthday Janelle!!
Happy Birthday Nella! I too sketch out my cards before I start and they NEVER end up the way I had originally envisioned them! LOL But, you need a starting point so I keep sketching despite never ending up with what I started out to do. It’s fun.
wow BEAUITIFUL and bright birthday card for Nella , she’s going to love it Brian !! nice job !!!! your a great friend , tfs , it’s a cas ,
hugs frenchie
Perfect bitprthday card for your. Dear friend…love the combo of DSPs…and how bright, colorful and fipun, the way a birthday card should be!!! This and Hapoy Birthday wishes to your Nella!
Fipun…new word that is sure to be in next dictionary recpvision…yikes! Crazy iPad spelling….lol!
Such a pretty and cheerful card, I’m sure your friend will love it!
lovely card! I’m a beginner and would love to see the process of sketching put a card. Thanks.
Hi Brenda! Welcome to card making. I sent you an email to explain this and would welcome further questions. Thanks!
Thank you BK for my awesome birthday card. I loved it and it brightened my day! What a great friend you are to make me such a beautiful card.
And to all your followers, thanks for the bday wishes!