Sweet Popsicle Birthday

In the Clean and Simple challenge today on SCS Tricia asked us to make a sweet birthday card. Although my usual style is not exactly clean and simple, when I saw this challenge I had an idea so I decided to go for it and I actually love the way it turned out.

I started by die cutting a piece of whisper whit card stock with the Ornate Card #2 Extra Long Bigz Die from Sizzix. Because I planned to use a portrait orientation, I used my paper cutter to trim the semicircle on the non-fold side so that the card could stand (which also made it completely symmetrical.) I then ran the card though my Big Shot with the Note Card Center Simple Impressions Embossing Folder from Sizzix, which gave me a raised rectangle in the center of the card for my image and sentiment.

I thought a popsicle would be perfect for a sweet summer birthday card, but instead of a single "flavor" I wanted a "swirled" popsicle. I inked up the popsicle image from the Mouthwatering set with the calypso coral ink pad and inked up the Baroque Border stampin' wheel with melon mambo ink. I then used the faux shaving cream to create my "swirled flavor" look by wheeling the melon mambo ink onto the popsicle image, making sure to twist my wheel occasionally to create the marbled look. I stamped the image on whisper white and fussy cut just the top of the popsicle.

I broke a real popsicle stick in half and attached it to the card with mini glue dots. I attached the popsicle image to the stick with more mini glue dots. I then used calypso coral and melon mambo markers to color the sentiment from the Cycle Celebration set and stamped it on whisper white before punching it out with the large oval punch. I attached the sentiment to the card with dimensionals. The card still seemed a little too plain to me, so I added strips of gold paper tape along both sides of the main panel. That little bit of "flash" was enough to let me stop.

Since the card base is die cut, I will be posting this card to the QKR Stampede Shaped Cards or Anything Goes challenge. What a fantastic challenge that is - it really got me to try some things that I wouldn't have thought of myself. If you have a little time, try making a shaped card of your own. Sometimes it's good to think outside a rectangle or square.

Recipe:

Paper: whisper white
Ink: Calypso Coral, Melon Mambo
Stamps: Mouthwatering, Cycle Celebration, Baroque Border wheel
Accessories: popsicle stick, Ornate Card #2 Extra Long Bigz Die from Sizzix,  Note Card Center Simple Impressions Embossing Folder from Sizzix, Large Oval Punch, Neutral Arrow Thin Paper Tape from K&Company