After I finished this card, I was afraid maybe it look too much like a cabana tent.  But I love the look of Mint Macaron against black, so I decided to stick with it.  Plus with the balloons and the bold sentiment, it has a “I am happy to be poolside IN the cabana” look to it.  What started me on the design was the paper.  I just love it.  It is from the It’s My Party DSP stack.  The stripe has a clean airy look to it and I loved the challenge of doing all the layers on an angle.  I didn’t really try to match them up, but I did try to make sure they did not compete with each other.  I think it came out pretty good.  The sentiment is from the Tin of Cards set.  Again, who says the stamps that go with a set don’t have other uses! The balloons are from Beautiful Ride. I haven’t used Beautiful Ride nearly enough, but I do like the fact there are so many “small” stamps in it.  It allows you to create custom looks.

The 2-color twine in Mint Macaron and Black really set the card. Honestly I stared at the card a long time wondering what embellishment to add until “bam!” it hit me in the head the 2-color twine was the ONLY embellishment I could use! It’s funny how the simplest solutions are the hardest to arrive at!

Recipe

Papers: It’s My Party DSP, Black
Stamps: Tin of Cards, Beautiful Ride
Inks: Basic Black, Mint Macaron
Tools: Banners Framelits, Big Shot
Embellishments: Baker’s Twine Combo Pack

Who doesn’t like roses on their birthday?  I know I love them!  This paper from the Birthday Bouquet DSP has a vintage look to it I really like. I was trying to make it work with Watermelon Wonder as the accent paper, but it looked the best with Blushing Bride. The softer pink with Mossy Meadow set off the paper better and let the deep coral looking color in the roses pop a little.  I also love the paper in this set with the watercolor graphic look, so I used it in the middle as a backdrop to the sentiment.

Pink and green is about as traditional as you can get, so I felt using the Birthday Wishes from Rose Wonder and the a tiny rose cutout from the Rose Garden Thinlets topped with a pearl was in keeping with a very traditional look.  The look is pretty enough your “Aunt Madge” would be delighted to get this card, but the paper also has that hip, vintage look that your college age niece “Amber Tiffany”would be excited about as well!

Recipe

Papers: Mossy Meadow, Blushing Bride, Birthday Bouquet DSP
Stamps: Rose Wonder
Inks: Mossy Meadow
Tools: Rose Garden Thinlets Dies, Big Shot
Embelishments: Basic Pearls

This very quick and very easy card uses my favorite paper from the Botanical Gardens DSP.  I think the Bird of Paradise design on the black background is rich looking and elegant.  So much so, you only need to show off the paper and not clutter up the card too much, which is exactly what I did!

The sentiment and frame are from the Rose Wonder set.  I got the Rose Wonder set as much for the sentiments as for anything else. The lettering font is beautiful and the set is chock full of sentiments for every occasion.  And with a paper this special, I really needed a simple but elegant sentiment.  This one with the lovely font and the framed die cut is a perfect compliment to this paper.  A little gold thread frames it just so.  The Cajun Craze paper mat finishes it off!

Recipe

Papers: Botanical Gardens DSP, Black, Cajun Craze
Stamps: Rose Wonder
Inks: Black
Tools: Rose Garden Thinlets Dies, Big Shot
Embellishments: Metallic Gold Thread