Happy Birthday, Carol!

Last week, my mother-in-law celebrated her birthday. Carol is a lovely person. She’s always excited about things and has such a zest for life – it’s pretty inspiring! She’s the one who always wants to find out what’s around the next bend or what’s over the next hill when we’re out walking. She’s incredibly crafty (crafting fairies, knitting, crocheting and felting are her specialties) and she has the most amazing garden with such beautiful plants and flowers.

And so, here is a bold, bright and sparkly flower card to celebrate the day of my mother-in-law’s birth.

Supplies:

·      Sheet of 8 1/2” x 11” bright green card stock

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

·      Scraps of purple and pink glitter card stock (big enough to punch out two flower punch sets from each)

Equipment:

·      Computer

·      Printer

·      Paper trimmer

·      Bone folder

·      Multiple flower punch (see picture in step 5 for example)

·      Glue runner

·      Glue stick

Directions:

1.     Create a new letter-sized document in a design layout program (or Word) with 1/2” margins. Create a 3 1/4” x 4 1/2” text box in the upper left-hand corner and write in the text, “Happy Birthday” at the top of the box. Centre the text horizontally. Print the document on to the white text paper.

2.     Trim the white text paper with the paper trimmer to create a 3 3/4” x 5” panel. Cut the bright green card stock in half to create two pieces, measuring 5 1/2” x 8 1/2”. Set one aside for future use.

3.     Use the bone folder to fold the bright green card stock into a 4 1/4” x 5 1/2” card.

4.     Attach the white text paper with the “Happy Birthday” sentiment to the front panel of the card with the glue runner.

5.     Punch out two sets of flowers from each scrap of glitter card stock.

6.     Glue the flower pieces together, alternating the colours.

7.     Glue the finished flowers to the front panel of the card, alternating colours and flower design.

This week was my first week back working full-time (plus a three hour commute, round-trip). I have plans to keep posting, but please be patient with me if I, once in a blue moon, have to skip a week!

Have a wonderful weekend. See you next week!