Happy Birthday, Wesley!

 

 Today is a very special day for a very special nephew – it’s Wesley’s 7^th birthday! To honour this special occasion, I made him a birthday card, featuring a little skating penguin (Wesley’s quite the skater) with a message for the birthday boy.

Supplies:

·      Sheet of 8 1/2” x 11” dark blue card stock

·      Sheet of 8 1/2 x 11” white text weight paper

Equipment:

·      Paper trimmer

·      Bone folder

·      Glue stick

·      Glue runner

·      Snowflake punch

·      Skating penguin stamp

·      Black ink stamp pad

·      Markers and/or pencil crayons

·      Blue glitter glue

·      Paint brush

·      Wax paper

·      Black felt pen

Directions:

1.     Use the paper trimmer to cut the dark blue card stock in half to get two pieces measuring 5 1/2” x 8 1/2” each. Trim the white text weight paper into two 3 3/4” x 5” pieces. Save the rest to use as scraps.

2.     Punch four snowflakes from one piece of the dark blue card stock. Save the rest of that piece for future projects.

3.     Spread the glitter glue on to the snowflakes using the paint brush (technique here - steps six and seven). Set the snowflakes aside until dry.

4.     Saturate the stamp with ink from the pad. If desired, do a few test stamps on the scrap white paper. Stamp the penguin on to one of the 3 3/4” x 5” pieces of white paper (centered near the bottom of the paper). Let the ink dry.

5.     Fold the other piece of dark blue card stock into a 4 1/4” x 5 1/2” card (technique here) using the bone folder.

6.     Colour in the dried stamp with the markers and/or pencil crayons.

7.     Write outside sentiment above the stamped penguin. Write the concluding sentiment on the other piece of 3 3/4” x 5” paper.

 

8.     Glue three of the snowflakes around the penguin. Adhere the last snowflake on to the other piece of white paper.

9.     Use the glue runner to attach the penguin stamped piece of paper to the front of the card and the concluding sentiment piece of paper to the inside right panel of the card.

This was my first attempt at stamping. It took me a few tries and I found I had to enhance the black ink on the penguin. I’m interested, however, in learning more stamping techniques and improving on the limited stamping knowledge I have so far. Can any of you give me any tips, advice, techniques, etc.? Drop me a line here and I’ll feature your input in an upcoming post!

See you on Wednesday, everyone!