Today is My Birthday!!

Today’s my birthday (na-na-na-na-na-na NA-NA)!! We’re gonna have a GOOD time (na-na-na-na-na-na NA-NA)!! And I AM seriously 27 . . . again . . .

It was also my turn to hostess the LSC for SCS (LSC235), so I had MORE than a MAGNIFIQUE (oh WAIT!! That's FRENCH, not GERMAN!!) time making up these little birthday card $$$/gift card holders to share! I only had three "rules" or limitations for the challenge (which I oh-so-appropriately titled "It's Al About ME!!).

First rule: You need to make a birthday gift card or money card holder type of creation (any type/style will do!).

Second rule: You need to include at LEAST one butterfly SOMEwhere on your card (as many of you know, I AM the Butterfly Queen!). I LOVE butterflies!!

Third rule: I LOVE CHOCOLATE!! (Like, who doesn’t??? Seriously???) Sooooo, with that in mind, you MUST include Chocolate Chip OR Close to Cocoa cardstock (or the closest thing you have to it) in your card somewhere!

This little faux leather wallet is SOOO cool!! (I DO love it!!) I got the idea from Yvonne (YvonneAna) over on SCS. She very graciously offered to tell me how she made it so that I could copy the idea and share it with ya!! Here's a link to her AMAZING creation:

Yvonne's Sweet Peas Paper Wallet

I do believe I feel a video tutorial coming on!!! Once I return from Germany/Austria (FOUR MORE DAYS!!), I will put one together for ya!! Here are a few of the basic instructions if you wanna try to create one before then:

I cut the cardstock to 6" x 9" and scored at 3" and 6.5" on the 9" side (Yvonne's was only 5.5" wide, which would make it easier if you are using a Cuttlebug - a Big Shot or Wizard could handle the wider width better). Run the cardstock through your machine (whichever you happen to use) with an embossing folder of your choice. You will need to run it through four times to get all areas of the cardstock covered. Then, rub the cardstock with craft or versamark ink. Sprinkle with clear embossing powder and heat set. To create the little side panels, cut a piece of matching cardstock (in this case, Chocolate Chip) to 2" x 2.5". Score at .5" intervals along the 2" side and accordion fold. Adhere this piece to the front and back of the textured piece AFTER you have sewn some coordinating dsp to the back side of it (make sure to put the textured side DOWN in the sewing machine, as it tends to catch on the presser foot if you don't). Decorate and embellish to your heart's content!!

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Sincere Salutations
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla, Blue Bayou, Bella Bleu dsp
Ink: Chocolate Chip (craft), Not Quite Navy
Accessories: 5-petal flower punch, MS butterfly punch, Cuttlebug Tiny Mosaic and Swiss Dots embossing folders, small oval punch, 1/2" circle punch, large pearl sticker, Blue Bayou ribbon, hodgepodge hardware ribbon slider, velcro stickers

This is my SECOND creation for the challenge. I haven't made a giftcard holder like this since Christmas 2007! (There was a TLC on SCS in November 2007 introducing this little technique - TLC196. Super fun to create!!

Special thanks to Mary Brown for inspiring the layout/design of this particular gift card holder with the card she has posted HERE for the last Control Freaks Blog Hop!! You are AMAZING, girl!!



And dang-it-all but I have to work today!! 'Cept we are going to have an EXCELLENT party at my aunt and uncle's house tonight (which is, sadly, not really for my birthday, but to say goodbye to some out-of-town guest our extended family has had visiting here from - you guessed it! - Germany!). At least I can PRETEND that it is all about ME!!

Stamps: For All You Do, Matchbox Messages
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry, Very Vanilla, Dusty Durango
Ink: Crushed Curry, Chocolate Chip, Dusty Durango, Old Olive
Accessories: 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches, scalloped border punch, vintage brad, word window punch, chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon, pop-up glue dots, sewing machine