Birthday Blues

We woke up to gray skies and snow on the ground here in central Minnesota this morning. On April 16th, three weeks into spring. If that's not enough to make someone feel blue, I don't know what is! To cheer myself up, I'm posting this springtime-pretty birthday card. Although it has a primarily blue color scheme, the soft and pretty flower paper really lightens things up. The stamp set, patterned paper, punch and embossing folder used on this card are all available in the 2011 Occasions Mini Catalog, available for order through April 30th.

To "frame" the punched sentiment, punch out two shapes from NQN cardstock, then adhere one to the back so it frames the top, and the other so it frames the bottom. This is a quick and easy way to create a frame!

The pretty bow is an idea borrowed from SU demonstrator Mary Brown, known online as StamperCamper. They are easier to make than you might think, and she has posted a great tutorial on her website here: http://stampercamper.com/cardpost/making_bows

Recipe
Stamps: Bring On the Cake
Paper: Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze & Not Quite Navy cardstock; Springtime Vintage Designer Series paper
Ink: Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Framed Tulips embossing folder, Decorative Label XL punch, Victoria Crochet Trim, Jumbo Brads 5/16" Neutrals, Stampin' Dimensionals

Hope you have a sweet day!