Crush On Colour: Because Belated Happens

This post originally appeared on the Stampin' Up! Corporate Blog. The content herein is my sole creation.

Hello friends! As the holiday season approaches, I started thinking about birthdays...

Wait, what?! Yes, birthdays! Throughout November and December, it seems the holidays consume us - between the shopping, the decorating, and the baking, the visitors from out of town and the holiday parties, we are running on fruit cake and shortbread for two months straight! We all know someone who has a birthday in the midst of these festivities, though, and I’m sure we’ve all heard the battlecry of the December babies -

“I never get to celebrate my birthday - it just gets lumped in with Christmas!”

I’m here today to help share some completely non-Christmas birthday joy with those people - because we all know them, and they deserve their own day!

But here’s the kicker... we’ve been busy. It’s the busiest time of the year. And if you’re like me, you’ll be sure to get that birthday card in the mail... eventually.

If you’re already late, that’s okay - there’s no time like the present to celebrate, even if you’re a little slow.

I brought out the adorable Quirky Critters Stamp Set to create some fun Belated Birthday cards - after all, who knows more about being late than a sloth and a snail?

The stamps in Quirky Critters pair perfectly with Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers, and I couldn’t wait to get colouring! Starting with the sloth, I stamped the image in Tuxedo Black Momento Ink and, once dry, coloured him in with Stampin’ Blends in Pool Party and Smoky Slate, then brushed his tree branch with my Lemon Lime Twist Stampin’ Write Marker. After die-cutting with the Layering Squares Framelits using my Big Shot, my adorable focal point was ready! A few quick layers of cardstock and a bit of Basic Black Bakers’ Twine and this adorable card was ready to go!

After creating the sloth card, I thought the snail image from Quirky Critters would make an adorable birthday card, too - however, he was paired with a different sentiment altogether! No problem - masking to the rescue!

To create this image, I masked off the sentiment on the snail stamp using washi tape, then stamped the snail in Momento Tuxedo Black Ink, then masked the sloth stamp to add the sentiment. Just perfect! The snail needed a little colour, so I filled him in with Stampin’ Blends in Calypso Coral and Crumb Cake. Isn’t he darling? A few pops of colour from Daffodil Delight Cardstock added just the right amount of brightness, and a twirl of Whisper White Bakers’ Twine completed the card.

Or did it? I needed the rest of my sentiment!

Using the same masking technique, I added the remainder of the sentiment on the inside of the card. Too cute!

Everyone deserves a birthday card, but sometimes life gets in the way and we’re a little behind schedule... and that’s okay, when you’ve got a snail and a sloth to help you out! Send those cards - separate of your Christmas greetings! - and whether they’re on time or not, you’ll be guaranteed to bring a smile to someone’s face.

But wait! Before you sneak off, check out what else is going on this month!

December Ordering Bonus: My way of saying thanks for supporting my business! With every $25 spent during the month of December using host code X29US6SH in my online Canadian Stampin' Up! Store, you'll receive a yard of ribbon absolutely FREE! Valid in Canada only, does not include shipping and tax.