Custom Handmade Birthday Card

The local store didn't have any birthday cards for Grandpas, let alone 85th Birthday cards. So I made one!

You can make your own card like this, it's a super-easy project that can be done in 10 minutes or less.

Here's what you need:

- card stock, 8.5 inches x 5 inches makes a card 4.25 inches by 5 inches (for the card size, measure your envelope and subtract 1/4 inch from both dimensions)
- colorful striped scrapbook paper
- textured red card stock (for the numbers)
- thin ribbon
- hole punch
- glue stick
- sewing machine w/ color-coordinating thread
- scissors
- paper cutter

Instructions:

1. Cut the card with your paper cutter, fold it in half to make the card. Run the edge of a scissor blade along the outside of the crease, shaving off just a little to make a good folded edge.
2. Cut a piece of striped scrapbook paper, fitted to the size of the card but leaving 1/4" on each edge and 1" on the top edge.
3. Position the striped paper on the card and use a straight-stitch to sew it in place. If you use a fancy satin or metallic thread, use it in the top spool (the bobbin thread should be similar or coordinating but could be white or plain thread).
4. Cut out the numbers from the red card stock. You may want to draw the numbers on the back of the card stock in reverse first so you have a line to follow when you cut. Use a hole punch to cut out the centers of 6's, 8's or 9's.
5. Use a glue stick to paste the numbers onto the front of the card.
6. Punch two holes in either end of the front of the card on top. (You don't need to go through both layers of the card.)
7. Thread ribbon through and tie in a bow.

Queen's Party Hat - Happy Birthday Crystal

My friend Crystal wanted to go to Chucky-Cheese for her birthday, with Party Hats.  So I made her a special hat just for the birthday girl.

I was looking for some kind of "paper lace" that I read about in a book, and walking through a craft store I found the closest thing.  Paper doilies for a tea party. 

I cascaded it out like scales on a mermaid, pulling it out to give it some depth.  Next time I might buy white dollies and paint it sea green and aqua marina to really go for a mermaid look.

I couldn't use a store bought party hat as a base because it was just too small, so I used some scrapbook paper (in this case from a 8 bit video game theme).  It actually makes it pretty cool linning for the inside.

I used some ribbon instead of an elastic to let it stay on the head.  Unfortunatly I used some cheap ribbon so it wasn't very comfortable (lesson learned).  I also added some strings of pearls to make it more wild.

Too Many Candles

I made this cake for my friends, cause 4 of them have birthdays in the same month. Thus the number of candles on this cake is equivilent to the total value of their ages all combined.


The smoke detector did go off . . . .


How did i light this? I used fireplace matches. The are really long, so it's not like my hand is always in fire.


The cake itself is a combination of a Russian Nepolean and French Nepolean cake. Meaning two different types of cake are layered together. And the inside filling cream and the outside frosting are also different. This was hella yummy.

Birthday Cake Plushie

This was a present for a friend, I made an everlasting birthday cake for her.  Although I couldn't get the number of candles correct it was still both both cuter this way and I dont think my friend wanted to be reminded how old she was turning.





Tip:  If using glue instead of sewing, try to find a glue that dries soft.  Don't use hot glue, because when it dries you will be able to feel clumps when  squishing and hugging your cute little stuffie