Friday 30 January 2009

A Labour of Love for David's Birthday!

It's David's Birthday today! He's 36, and as he says closer to 40 than 30 now. I'm sure he won't mind me telling you. Happy Birthday David, I love you!

I made this card in celebration of his Birthday. I only made it yesterday as I'm not very good at making cards for a real occasion. I'm much better at doing what I want, as my mood takes me, and then fitting them to an occasion.

Have you ever made a card, and changed your mind about a thousand times, and that's before you have even stuck anything down? This was the case for this Labour of Love. The layout must have been moved around umpteen times before the final composition was decided, then I stuck down the spotty panel before deciding that I wanted to wrap string around it. So off it came, and string was applied.

Then I coloured the bear and didn't like how dark it was, but I was happy with the belt and the tool box so I cut them out and started again. I used vivid inks applied to a non-porous surface for a change to my whispers pens. I was so happy when Do Crafts started distributing them, as I live using them in so many different ways! I also tried using the chalk inks in this way too, and it worked and still gave a chalky appearance. I'm still not happy with the watercolouring of the bear though (a bit too dark for my liking), but David loves his card so I suppose that's all that matters.
For the greeting I wanted it to look a bit grungy, so after I had inked it up I pressed my ruler edge into the ink to create lines. I think it turned out pretty well! I really hope you like it as much as David does.

Supplies for the card

Papers: Anita's Essential A5 paper Stack; Core'dinations Cardstock in black and burgundy; Papermania Cardstock in Latte, black A6 card blank. Stamps: Forever Friends; Happy Birthday taken from the Anita's Ferrari Wooden stamp. Inks: Vivid inks in Inky blue, Brown, Coffee Bean, Color Box Chalk ink in warm red; Colorbox Pigment Ink in Dragonfly Black; Heat it up! Clear embossing Powder; Anita's Acrylic paint in Metallic Silver; Embellishments: String; Papermania Silver Brads.

We are going to a hotel for a couple of nights starting today, as David also has his New Year Ball on Saturday night, so I'm really looking forward to relaxing in style.

See you soon, Love, Clare x

21 comments:

Susie Sugar said...

Great cute card Claire I bet David will love it and you !! bless
I hope you both have a great time
Love Susie x

Beckie said...

Great card clare! HAve a fab weekend! Enjoy! ;)

Kath Stewart said...

gorgeous card Clare and I'm sure hubby will love...have a great weekend away....chill out
Hugs
kath
xxxxx

Diane.W. said...

Gorgeous card,luv the brown stripey paper too.
Happy B'day David!!!

Have a fab time at the hotel & enjot the ball :o)x

Kim Dellow said...

Wow Clare this is gorgeous. You can see it is a labour of love. It must have taken ages to cut all the tools out. Stunning. I'm glad someone else changes their mind all the time too :) Kim

Chris said...

Your card is gorgeous Clare and I'm sure your hubby appreciated all the work that went into it :D
Have a lovely time at your hotel.
hugs
Chris xx

Michele Roos said...

Fabulous card. Love the FF image and the colouring is fantastic. Your husband will love it.
Michele x

Julie Allain said...

Your card is great Clare!!

Happy Birthday David :)

pinky said...

Beautiful card, just love the colours you choose. I like the idea of the string.
Pinky

Mina said...

Happy Birthday David and i hope you both have a fantastic time at the hotel...its a brilliant card, mens cards are always the hardest to do arnt they xxx

Emma said...

Gorgeous card & Happy Birthday to David.
Have a lovely time away and destress and chill...have fun!
Emma x

Marcea said...

This is a fab card and I love that string - deffo worth taking the dotty panel off for!! Have a fab weekend hun and you better pack some extra undies .... with the predicted snow you may have an extended stay .... have fun!
-x-

Elaine Stark said...

I'm sure David loves his card, its great. Enjoy your weekend. Elaine

Nikki Fairbairn said...

Your card is adorable Clare and love his little tool belt and box, Love the design, Have a great weekend away, Big Hugs, Nikki x

clare said...

aww..what a gorgeous card..hope david had a great birthday..and that your having a brill weeked away.
and a happy belated birthday david.
i hope clare hasn't eat the birthday cake to herself...lol only joking hun.
love yer..hugs clarex

thanks for your lovely commentx

Dawny P said...

I think it's fab chick xxx And I bet DH will just love it - happy birthday to David :)) Have a great weekend in your hotel as well. Know exactly what you mean re making cards for a specific cos I work better when I do me own thing then adapt it. Hugs xxxx

sharon said...

cheers hun...hope your enjoying your weekend.x

Unknown said...

Beautiful card!!! I just LOOOOVE the shade of blue!! Wonderful!! And the bear turned out sooo cute, beautiful coloring!

And Congrats on your new lamp!!!
I got mine for Christmas, and I`m in looooove!! Can`t imagine crafting with out it now!

Hugs,
Jorunn

Sunshinecoastgrl said...

Love this card!!! All that paper shuffling turned out very well!!That stamp is sooo cute!! Cheers Colleen

Zoe said...

Ooooh this is just gorgeous - i am not suprised in the slightest that he loves it soo much. What a labour of love indeed but oh so worth it!! I am with you on the making the card and changing my mind. I have been moving things around on a card blank for HOURS before!!! hehe,
Zoe x x

Joey said...

Hi Clare, this is absolutely fabulous, I love it, great colours. joey.xx