Thursday, January 17, 2013

Surprise 40th Birthday and Engagement Cards

If you read the title, you may be thinking these cards are for a surprise 40th birthday or engagement party. Not so. The cards themselves contain a little surprise.


First up is the surprise birthday card. It's a feel-good card. Receiving this card you momentarily pause to remember how fun it was to be 29. 

But too quickly you snap back into reality. You're not 29. No way. You're FORTY. 


And then you move around in the light and see the entire card. F-O-R-T-Y. Well, it was fun while it lasted. You can always set this card up against a wall where no light will come from behind. Or you can embrace entering your 5th decade and proudly stand the card on your kitchen window sill. Your choice.


I've always thought it was so cool that the uber-talented JJ Bolton shared her cut files. If you're interested, here's a free, downloadable Silhouette file that I used to make the 40th birthday card. It does not have the fancy easel on the back of the card since that is something for sale in the Silhouette store. The cut file does have the triple target I used around the window, which I can see using on other cards. Keep in mind, I have NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING on the Silhouette, so if something looks odd in the file, it probably is. : )


Next is an engagement card. The platinum ring is cut from my precious American Crafts foil paper. The "bathroom girl" graphic (is there a name for this?!) was copied on-line and traced in the Silhouette. As a new user, I am still blown away that you can find a graphic on-line and use the trace function to have it in your cut file. Just like that.

 
The diamond has a layer of glitter paper, and then acetate on top to give it a more smooth finish. I drew the facets with a permanent marker and ruler on the acetate. 


Here's the back with the built-in easel to stand the card. The easel cut is from the Brochure or Photo Holder in the Silhouette store. I highly recommend buying it, not for the holder, but so you can stand any flat card with the fold down easel. I've used it 4-5 times already.

You can also see here how I stamped the top layer of vellum in pink and blue textures to help hide the "bathroom boy."


In the light you see the "bathroom boy" graphic appear, holding hands with the girl. For the sentiment I really wanted to play on the idea of the girl finding the boy, like "congrats on finding the man of your dreams" or something along those lines. Nothing came to me, so I'll leave it as-is for now. Since it's so quick to cut out another card base, I can wait until I come across the perfect sentiment. Let me know if you have any ideas!


Here's a free, downloadable Silhouette file for the engagement card. Again, no fancy easel on the back, but everything else is there, including the bathroom man and woman.

I'm linking both up to the Moxie Fab Challenge to incorporate a window in your card (bonus that these cards are made to sit IN a window),
and the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge to use a circle to celebrate a milestone.


Thanks for looking!
-Kelly

PS, I've been inspired by Jackie Rockwell to stop listing supplies for each card I've made. I'm hoping this will free up a little more time, and also keep things fun for me as a blogger. I'm a big fan of putting details in my work, but do not really enjoy recording the details. I'll still mention the main elements and would be happy to answer any questions of course.

36 comments:

  1. WOW! That is all. I'm speechless!

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  2. Ditto to Ardyth's comment...you rock girl!

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  3. These are so cute! I love the couple holding hands. You are so clever!

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  4. Wow! Like everyone else that is all I can say. Wow!

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  5. GET---> OUT---->! Your creativity never cease to amaze me...( I think I said that before)! Love the little "surprises" (or shall we say the "truth"?)! So enjoy seeing your lovely lovely work, Kelly! Thanks for joining the fun with us at CAS-ual Fridays!

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  6. This technique is soooo cool! You are the queen of creativity!

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  7. Oh this card is so so cool. The surprise is awesome and funny!
    Love the card

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  8. These are both SO creative and fun!

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  9. You really do take it to the next level - fabulous idea for a window card!!!

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  10. These are both so amazing and clever. I always expect the unexpected when I pop by to see you, and you never disappoint. Interesting idea about the supply list. That may be a trend I will jump all over. We all pretty much buy from the same dozen places!

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  11. ...and Happy Ever After endings.
    FAB cards Kelly - LOVE LOVE this idea!!!

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  12. oh these are SO SO CLEVER! fabulous! could you please send me your email address? you'll find mine easily on my sidebar. thx ; )

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  13. Both of these are AWESOME! You are the one that pushed me over the edge to get a Cameo (that and the free files at Waltzingmouse)...thank you thank you for the inspiration Kelly~

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  14. Very creative cards! Love them!!

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  15. Wow, these are so cool and creative, Kelly! I love them both!

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  16. Pretty cool! I love the engagement card.

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  17. that diamond is the craziest awesome thing I have seen all week. you amaze me with your originality engineer!

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  18. I haven't seen easel cards like yours before. I love the surprise elements you've added to the windows.

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  19. This is so awesomely clever!! I'm still trying to wrap my head around it - but I love them so much!!

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  20. This is such a fun card. And that first one... super witty for those who hate to admit their age :D

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  21. Wow, how super cool are these?! Really amazing :)

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  22. not only are they pretty and so unique but they're also extremely clever!!
    bravo my Friend! You rock!!

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  23. Love your creativity, can't say enough of that! You do magic with vellum! And that diamond ring is just so awesome! Love the details!

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  24. Hey Kelly! Thanks for linking this up to the Make a Card with a Window Challenge in the Moxie Fab World! I'm so glad you joined in on all the fun! :)

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  25. You are the BOMB!!! Congrats! YAY for you :)

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  26. Congrats, I knew your card would win with this cool design!

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  27. Go girl! So, so, so, out-of-the-box Moxie Fab deserving! Love learning from you.

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  28. Oh, I KNEW your card was Moxie Fab! You are a paper engineering genius!
    Congrats on your deserving win!

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  29. Congrats! I love the creativity! I thought the 40th card was amazing and then I saw the engagement card card which I think is even more so!

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  30. I just wanted to say THANKS for dropping by my blog today and leaving such a lovely comment on my Juggling card!! It means so much to me that you took time to do so :). I have been on Cloud 9 today!

    And, I do believe that congratulations are in order for YOUR win in the Moxie Fab World, too!! Your surprise 29th/40th birthday card is so totally clever. I've never seen anything like it!!!!

    Anyway, thanks for being so sweet!!
    Emily

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  31. This is sooooo cool! Well deserved win, congratulations!

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  32. Congrats on the win and I see now where I got the subconscious inspiration for my engagement ring card - sorry that I didn't give you proper credit!

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  33. Congratulations, my little Kelly, for the wonderful win from Moxie for your innovative 29/40 card! Squeeeeee!!!!

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I absolutely love reading comments. Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to leave one! - Kelly