Happy Birthday, Jeffrey and Art and Soul

My nephew, Jeffrey's birthday is coming up soon. I can't believe he will be 17 and is finishing up his junior year of high school.

When I saw the Color Me Monday combo this week on Jeanette Lynton's blog (Close To My Heart colors: Creme Brulee, Heavenly Blue, Key Lime and Olive), I thought, "Hmmm. That would be an interesting combo for a teenage boy birthday card. I think I'll try a card for Jeff with this combo and see how it turns out." I am pleased with the results!

The first thing I did was look for a fun card pattern. I found one right away when flipping through Originals, one of the two wonderful card pattern books that Jeanette Lynton has authored. You can purchase it here on my website. It is full of gorgeous and creative cards in many different sizes that Jeanette has designed, and diagrams and step by step instructions on how to put each card together. I chose one of the 3 1/2" x 8" patterns, "Upright" on page 34 (see photo of part of the actual page of the book here on this post).

Jeffrey's birthday is not until March 30, so I am feeling pretty darn proud of myself for having this done so early, as well as using a color combo that when I saw it felt kind of soft and girlish and challenging myself to try it for something masculine.

Close To My Heart products used: Happy Birthday Stamp Set (C1257), Creme Brulee Cardstock (X5754), Heavenly Blue Cardstock (1285), Key Lime Cardstock (1235), Notebook Level 2 Paper Pack, Veranda Level 2 Paper Pack, Topstitch Level 2 Paper Pack, Olive Stamp Pad (Z2137), Round Sponge (Z697), Fresh Shapes Dimensional Elements (Z1019), Dimensional Elements Monogram J (Z1064), Spring Craft Buttons (Z1281), Bamboo Waxy Flax (Z906).

Non-CTMH products: scalloped scissors (manufacturer unknown).

Click here to order from my website 24/7...especially when making birthday cards!

I also wanted to make sure you knew that the new webisode of Art and Soul is out! It's called "A Fling With Spring" and you can watch it on my website by clicking here. Leslie Austin, if you are reading this you will be excited to view it because it demonstrates how to do chalk popping, the technique I was describing to you just the other day. It is also full of lots of other great techniques and springy artwork! It's less than 12 minutes long and more than worth your time.