Need a Clean & Simple Birthday Card Idea?

What about an idea for a card that you can make in five minutes?  If so, let's dive right in….

When it came to starting this card, I started with my patterned paper.  I knew that I wanted polka dots on it.  Why polka dots?  Because that is just my thing, I am a self proclaimed “Dottie”.  They cheer me up, give a pep to my stamping, a smile on my face…. I think you get the idea.

So I dug through my patterned paper looking for just the right polka dot paper for my friend.  When I found the one I wanted, then I chose my colors based on that package of paper and what coordinated.  The back side of this double sided polka dot paper has a pattern with Basic Gray on it, so that was what I went with.  Not scientific, but simple!

The patterned paper is the I Am Me paper from Stampin' Up!

Next came the stamps.  I went with one that I just got in, it's the That's the Ticket from Stampin' Up!  It's odd that I have had the punch for a while and not the stamp set.  Being such a sucker/enthusiast for coordinating stamps and punches, I usually get them at the same time.

But then I wanted a BIG birthday sentiment.  One of my fave stamp sets of all time is the Four You Stamp Set from Stampin' Up!  I love the size of the stamps and the fonts used for it.  The “Birthday Wishes” was the perfect size to stamp across the middle.

Colors picked, stamps picked, so now it is time for the layout.

You will now want to start with the card base, Basic Gray, 4-1/4″ x 11″, and score it at 5-1/2″.  (So you can get 2 card bases out of 1 sheet of 8-1/2″ x 11″ card stock.)

The layer of Whisper White card stock is 5″ x 3-3/4″.  (I would usually use a top layer of 4″ x 5-1/4″, but I wanted more of the Basic Gray to show for this one.)  If you are a newer stamper, one of the best pieces of advice that I can give you is to stamp before you adhere it to your card.  It never fails that when you put the entire thing together and then stamp, then you mess up the stamping and have to start all over.

There is a gift that the paper crafting God's have given us, and that is that all card stock has two sides to it.  Never forget that!  When you mess up, flip it over and stamp again.

So after you stamp your sentiment just below the middle of the Whisper White piece using Calypso Coral ink, then adhere it to your card base.

You will want an extra piece of Whisper White for your tickets.  I stamped all the white tags using Calypso Coral ink.  Then they all got punched out with the Ticket Duo punch shown above.  Then I also added two punched pieces of Basic Gray using the Ticket Duo Punch.  (You can stamp these too if you want.)

Hint:  When you go to build your layer of tags, attach them all to each other first, and then put the entire group onto your card front.  It is much easier to get your spacing right doing it that way.

The strip of Polka Dots is 1″ x 4″.  Simple add that under your sentiment.

Then all you have left to do is the accessorizing, which is both a joy and a pain many days.  And today was no different.

It is VERY helpful to have accessories from the same company that creates your card stock and patterned paper, if their big selling point is coordination, like Stampin' Up!'s is.  It took me three seconds to pick out my ribbon.  It is the Basic Gray Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon.

Grab your 10 Second Bow Maker and in 10 Seconds, you have your perfect bow tied with your ribbon!

A glue dot is the favorite ribbon adhesive among paper crafters.  You simply take your bow, “kiss” it to your glue dot to pick it up, then it will be stuck to your bow.  Then all you have to do is press it to your card front.

Now for the inside…

There are a couple of ways to go for your inside.  You can add an additional piece of Whisper White to make it easier to write your note.  If you do this, again, write first and then adhere to the inside of your card.  (Just in case you mess up.)

Or, you can go a bit more trendy and use either a white gel pen or another fave item of mine – the Chalk Marker.  This thing is de bomb!  I love it!

You can doodle with it, write with it – have fun with it!  It is one of those things that I cannot live without.

And while we are talking about it, let's talk about it.  I hope that by now you know me well enough to know that I am a demonstrator with Stampin' Up- which means I sell their products.  But I am also an avid paper crafter and  I know that sometimes their particular product isn't my favorite.  When I use something of theirs and put it on my blog, it means that I really like it.  If I don't like it, I don't use, and therefore, you won't see it here, or anywhere else. 

I'm sure that at some point in your life you have been involved in a conversation that went like this:  “This tastes awful!  Here, you try it….”  RIGHT? 

When it comes to stamping and card making, that's is NOT what you will get from me.  I won't ask you to try something that is awful just so you can share in my agony.

Back to the chalk marker…  I have used several that are on the market.  And Stampin' Up's are simply the best.

The other things I tried on this card were rhinestones, they didn't add in any way.  And also remember that the goal of this was a card that anyone could make in five minutes, a clean and simple card idea.  Less is more when it comes to meeting that goal.

And you are done!

Quick recap:

1. Cut and score your Basic Gray card base.
2. Stamp sentiment in Calypso Coral ink on Whisper White, adhere to card front.
3. Stamp three tags in Calypso Coral ink and punch out using Ticket Duo Punch.
4. Punch out two Basic Gray tags using same punch.
5. Attach punched pieces to each other, then attach to card.
6. Attach patterned paper.
7. Finish front with a bow using 10 Second Bow Maker.
8. Go crazy with your Chalk Marker for the inside of your card.

Here is the list for all of the items used and links for you to my online store:

• That's The Ticket
• That's The Ticket Clear-Mount Stamp Set
• Four You Wood-mount Stamp Set
• Four You Clear-mount Stamp Set
• Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad
• I Am Me Designer Series Paper
• Basic Gray 1/4″ Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon
• White Stampin Chalk Marker
• Basic Gray 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock

Quick question for you… Did you like the way this blog post clearly spells out how to make the card?  It is different than how I usually share, but I wanted to try this for you and your feedback would be wonderful.  Was it too much detail, not enough?  Leave me a comment in the comments section, I really appreciate it!

Now it's your turn – see if you can create this card or one like it in 5 minutes!  I love clean and simple birthday card ideas, and I hope that you like this one too.