How can it be 2 years since the AAA Birthday challenge blog was first launched? I’m so grateful to have been given the chance to be on this design team with the wonderful Jane at our helm. We wouldn’t still be here two years on without the support of all of you…the amazing creative community who enter the challenges.
This months challenge is simply HAPPY BIRTHDAY and we would love to give you all the opportunity to win some crafty goodness. We have 9 amazing companies who have graciously sponsored this special month. See further down for all the details of how to win.
We also welcome Kuni as our guest designer for this special month.
For my DT card I’ve used My Favourite Things stamps and dies.
Fun Extra way to win
We are a multi country DT and have all placed our country’s flag on our personal blogs. We’d love for you to go on a flag hunt to discover our countries.
Note down each DT – there are 13 – and their country and email your answers to Jane – aaabirthdaychallenge@gmail.com.
All correct answers will be put into a draw and one lucky winner will receive a $25 MFT gift certificate.
Visit all the Design Team blogs below to search for the flags:
PRODUCTS
- My Favourite Things
- Stitched Rectangle Frames Dienamics
- SY – Pawty Time stamp set
- Loose Lemon Crafts Mini Tag Dies
- Pink Paislee Birthday Bash patterned paper
- Copics, embellishments, gold embroidery thread, green glitter card
Process
I won’t go into too much detail but just give a few tips on how I go about working out my card layout.
- Decide on images to use – dog/present and streamers – and what medium I want to use. My usual go to is copics for images but the streamer I just stamped in a coloured ink as there is enough detail on the image I don’t need to colour it in.
- I chose the background patterned paper next so I could use the colours from that in my images.
- Once the images are coloured and cut out I arrange the images on the background paper. I felt the composition needed more dimension as the paper was quite busy and the image didn’t stand out so I decided to add tags. To match the colour scheme I coloured plain white cardstock with the copics I used in the image. I then stamped the confetti stamp image onto the tags with a darker ink to give them a tone on tone look. The sentiment also fitted perfectly on the larger tag.
- I arranged the images again and still wasn’t happy with the overall look so added the frame, diecut out of more paper from the same paper pad. The size of the frame was perfect for adding the streamers.
- Notice how each side of the frame has parts of the central images handing over the edge. This gives a bit more interest to the look of the card.
- Using different thicknesses of foam tape gives extra dimension – I try to avoid placing everything on the same layer.
finishing
- The last thing I do is add all the little embellishment touches
- enamel dots on the streamer and present
- glitter dot to the hat
- small glitter heart
- tie on the tag
- glitter pen on the dogs hat and scarf
- Once these had been done I knew I wanted one last element so I matted the patterned paper onto the glitter cardstock.
I hope you’ve been inspired to join us in this months challenge.
Thanks for stopping by and have a good day.
Handmade by Pip
Kia Ora from New Zealand