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