COLLEEN'S ANGRY BIRDS PUNCH ART BIRTHDAY CARD...

Happy Birthday to my baby girl who is 26 today!  I always struggle with making her cards.  She's not a girly girl and I've already done cards with many of her interests.  I thought about a Mario card and I still may do that one in the future.  I ended up deciding on an Angry Birds card as she has been playing it a lot after finding it recently.  So, of course, that meant I would be using Punch Art for this one.  I found a picture online (see below the card) and used it as my inspiration.  I did have to move the birds around to fit them all on the card, but otherwise, they are pretty close to the picture.

The sentiments I used were from the fun Smarty Pants stamp set for the front and On Your Birthday set for the inside.  These have been two of my favorite sentiment sets and I am so sad that they are retiring at the end of the month - especially Smarty Pants!  Be sure to get them before they go!  Here is the inside of the card:

This card was definitely a labor of love!  There was a lot of hand-cutting in this one to shape the beaks especially.  They all started with one petal of the 5-Petal Punch and were then cut and shaped.  This punch and several others are retiring.  Don't miss out on them!  As a punch art enthusiast, I am a firm believer in needing EVERY punch!  LOL.  Most of the other punching was just done on the edge and around as most of my punch art.  Enjoy!

5 ANGRY BIRDS PUNCH ART SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Smarty Pants (#115070 $18.95), On Your Birthday (#111664, $33.95), Woodgrain (#117100, $17.95)
• Card Stock – Bashful Blue, Basic Black, Whisper White, Basic Gray, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi, Pear Pizzazz, More Mustard, Tangerine Tango, Blushing Bride
• Ink – Pacific Point, Real Red, So Saffron, More Mustard, Soft Suede, Basic Gray Classic, Old Olive, Lucky Limeade, Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker
• Punches – Two-Step Owl (#118074, $16.95), 5-Petal Punch (#119880, $16.95 retiring-while supplies last),  1-3/4" Circle (#119850, $16.95), 1/2" Circle (#119869, $5.95), Full Heart (#119883, $16.95), Heart to Heart (#119881, $16.95 retiring-while supplies last), Extra Large (Wide) Oval (#119859, $16.95), Small Oval (#120908, $10.95), Cupcake Builder (#121807, $16.95), Boho Blossoms (#119858, $16.95), Snowflake (#119852, $16.95 retiring), Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer (#122464, $23.95 retiring)
• Accessories – Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95)
• Tools – Color Spritzer, Big Shot, Circles #2 Die (#114526, $15.95), Crop-A-Dile (#108362, $29.95 retiring), Sponge Daubers

LOYALTY REWARDS - When you purchase $50 or more, you qualify for my Loyalty Rewards program!  This Frequent Stamper program is my way of saying "thank you" to my returning customers in appreciation of their business and is in addition to other Stampin' Rewards.  Earn FREE stamps with MarieStamps.com!

CAS FRIDAY, Jungle Pals Birthday...

Today is Logan's first birthday party.  You might remember the alphabet letters I did for his room last year:  L is for Logan.   (do a search of my blog for "Logan" for the other letters).  They are stateside for medical treatment this month, so I get to go to his birthday party tonight.  I can't believe the little guy is already a year old! 

I continued with the Jungle Animal theme for his birthday card, but I made it a quick and easy one.   This is a classic layout that you can use over and over again.  The "Happy Birthday" sentiment on the front of the card is from the Grunge Rock stamp set which is on sale for 30% off through May 31.  The sentiment on the inside is from the Word Play stamp set which is also 30% off through May 31.  Enjoy!

JUNGLE PALS BIRTHDAY SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Fox & Friends (W#117020 $18.95 C#118565 , $14.95), Grunge Rock (W#117080  $14.67  C#120555 $11.17 through May 31 only), Word Play (W#120308  $29.37  C#120651 $20.27 through May 31 only)
• Card stock – Chocolate Chip Textured, Whisper White, Real Red Textured, Old Olive Textured, Tall Tales DSP (retired)
• Ink – Chocolate Chip, So Saffron Classic, Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Real Red, Pacific Point, Soft Suede Markers
• Ribbon – Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain (#109052, $6.95)
• Punches – Scallop Circle (#119854, $16.95), 1-3/8" Circle (#119860, $15.95), 1-1/4" Circle (#119861, $15.95)
• Accessories –  Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95),
• Tools – Stampin' Sponges

Update:  Guess what?  His birthday party was Jungle Animals, too, so I was right on target!  Here is a pic of the birthday boy:

DORA THE EXPLORER PUNCH DIRECTIONS...

Last December I posted a Dora the Explorer card.  Many people have asked for the directions, but I was so crazy busy at the time, that I never got to it.  Sorry about that!  I have now updated the post with as much of the directions as I can remember (I no longer have the card).  You can see them HERE.  Enjoy! 

PATRICK'S ROCKIN' BIRTHDAY CARD...

Today we celebrated Christmas with my husband's family.  We had a great time!  Since our nephew's 15th birthday is in a couple of weeks, we brought him his birthday presents as well.  Patrick is a freshman in high school and sings and acts in his high school plays.  He ROCKS so, of course, I had to make him a rockin' cool card!   He loved it, which is the best compliment a teenager can pay you, right?  Happy Birthday, Patrick!

Here is Patrick with his card:

PATRICK'S ROCKIN' BIRTHDAY CARD SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Extreme Elements (#115181, $26.95), Extreme Guitar (#115328, $8.95), A Little Something (retired)
• Card Stock – Basic Black, Whisper White, Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight, Green Galore (retired)
• Ink – Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, Green Galore (retired) Classic, Basic Black Craft, VersaMark
• Punches – Star (#119875, $16.95)
• Ribbon – Iridescent Ice Emboss Powder (#101930, $4.75), Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder (#109130, $4.75), Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95)
• Tools – Heat Tool

DORA THE EXPLORER PUNCH ART CARD...

My niece Brianna is turning 4 soon.  She adores Dora the Explorer, so I promised her a Dora card for her birthday.  Since Stampin' Up! doesn't have Dora stamps, I decided to try a punch art card for her.  When I googled Dora images to use as a pattern, I found the one below the card.  Genius struck (if I do say so myself)!  The Bear Die would be perfect for Dora!  I just used punch art to turn the bear into Dora.  I can't wait to see Brianna's face when she sees it!

DORA THE EXPLORER TURNS 4 SUPPLIES:

• Card Stock – Whisper White, Basic Black, Early Espresso, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Tempting Turquoise, Retired: Creamy Caramel, Only Orange, Pink Passion, Lovely Lilac
• Ink – Basic Black Marker, White Signo Gel Pen
• Ribbon – Certainly Celery 1/4" Grosgrain (#109031, $4.95)
• Punches – 2" x 1-3/8" (Wide) Oval (#119859, $16.95), 1-3/4" x 7/8" (Large) Oval (#119855, $15.95), Two-Step Owl (#118074, $16.95), Scallop Circle (#119854, $16.95), 1-1/4" Circle (#119861, $15.95), 1" Circle (#119868, $10.95), 3/4" Circle (#119873, $10.95), 1/2" Circle (#119869, $5.95), Tag (#119866, $16.95), Word Window (#119857, $15.95), Eyelet Border (#119853, $15.95), 3/16" Corner (#119871, $6.95)
• Accessories – Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95), 2-way Glue Pen
• Tools – Big Shot, Scallop Square Die (#115950, $21.95), Bear Die (#117977, $23.95), Bear Essentials Die (#117978, $23.95), Timeless Type Alphabet Dies (#115951, $74.95), Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder (#117335, $7.95), Sponge Daubers, Crop-a-Dile (#108362, $29.95)

Update:  I no longer have this card to look at for directions, but many have requested them.  These are the general punch directions from what I can remember.  Enjoy!

DORA PUNCH DIRECTIONS:
The body is the Bear Die with just the head covered with the Dora Punch Art head.  The clothes were all from the Bear Essentials Die, although the shorts were cut down and shaped from the pants.  The use of the Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker to shape and emphasis the facial features is crucial. 

Head:  This was either a Wide Oval or an Ornament punch upside down with the top trimmed off.

Hair:   Punch two Wide Ovals and two Large Ovals from Early Espresso. Position the two Wide Ovals on either side of her head as shown.  Cut the bottoms off to look like a bob as shown in the picture.  Overlap the Large Ovals behind the side hair pieces and the head as the "bottom" of her hairstyle.  Then punch a Wide Oval from Early Espresso and trim it down to a little less than half (lenthwise) and make cuts into it to look like the bangs as pictured.  Attach over the top of the head.  After adhering the head to the card, draw in the hair strands with an Early Espresso marker.

Eyes:  Punch a Word Window (it's possible it was a 3/4" Circle) from Whisper White.  Place on a post-it (on the sticky part) and punch the end of it with a 3/4" Circle to end up with the shape shown for the eyes.  Use the side of a Basic Black marker to color the edges black.  After adhering to the head, used the black marker again to go around the white and emphasize the shape of the eyes to match the photo.

Mouth:  Punch a 1/2" Circle from Real Red.  Place on a post-it (on the sticky part) and punch it again at an angle to produce the sliver shown. I can't really explain it unfortunately - you'd have to see it.  Use the side of a Basic Black marker to color the edges black. After adhering to the head, used the black marker again to extend the black lines as shown.

Bracelet:  Punch six of the smallest circles of the Two-Step Owl Punch from So Saffron for the beaded part and adhere to the wrist. Punch a 3/16" circle with the Crop-a-Dile from Tempting Turquoise. With a Tempting Turquoise Marker, draw in six filled in circles around the edge to look like a flower

Backpack:  Punch one Tag punch from Lovely Lilac. Round the corners with the 3/16" Corner punch. Punch two Word Windows from Lovely Lilac for the straps. Wrap them around the arms as shown and bend behind body. Attach the tag punch backpack.

Sock Tops:  Punch one punch length from So Saffron with the Eyelet Border punch. Cut and trim one "scallop" section for each sock top.

Draw the nose and hand lines on the body with a Basic Black Marker.

SHARK ATTACK INVITE...

The other day Barbara, one of my customers, emailed me about needing a Shark invitation for her 10 year old son's birthday party. Hmmm... the only thing I could come up with was punch art. So I started playing with punches. Let me tell you a shark is HARD!  Barbara didn't want too complex a card as she has to make a lot of invitations.  I am not completely happy with this one, but it will do in a pinch.

For Barbara, I suggest a "You're Invited" stamp like the one in the new Inviting (cute, cute font), Sincere Salutations or Wedding Sweet stamp sets or the adorable Party Here stamp from the new Party This Way set right where my watermark signature is.  I left mine blank as I think I will use this for one of my nephews' birthday and will put the "look who's turning ( )" stamp from the On Your Birthday or Look Who's Turning stamp set there.  Enjoy!

SHARK ATTACK INVITE SUPPLIES:

• Card stock – Whisper White, Basic Gray, Basic Black, Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight
• Ink – Basic Gray, Bashful Blue, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie Classic, Whisper White Craft, White Signo Gel Pen
• Accessories – Mono Multi, wiggle eyes
• Punches – 5 Petal (#119880 $16.95), 2" x 1-3/8" Oval XL (#119859, $16.95), 1-3/4" x 7/8" Oval Large (#119855, $15.95), 2-3/8" Scallop Circle XL (#118874, $16.95), 1-3/4” Circle (#119850, $16.95), 3/4" Circle Medium (#119873, $10.95), 1/2" Circle Small (#119873, $5.95)
• Tools – Stampin' Sponges, Sanding Block, Brayer

SHARK PUNCH ART DIRECTIONS:

• Sky:  Use the Large Scallop Circle to punch out a cloud mask.  Bray Bashful Blue over the entire card including the masked cloud.
• Sun:  Punch one Scallop Circle from Daffodil Delight.  Place on the sticky side of a post-it.  Re punch the Scallop Circle again lining up the space between the scallops in the middle of the scallops already punched to result in a "zig zag" edge.  Punch a 1-3/4" Circle.  Distress each with More Mustard and Pumpkin Pie.  Layer together and place on the edge of the card.  Trim the sun along the card base edge.
• Ocean Waves:  Alternate using 1/2" and 3/4" Circle Punches and punch approximately one half of the punch on the edge of the Marina Mist cardstock.  Sponge the wave edge with Whisper White Craft Ink.  Do this to two layers and when cutting down to fit the cards, offset the two layers.
• Shark Tail Fin:  Two petals cut from a 5-Petal Punch from Basic Gray. 
• Shark Back (Top) Fin:  Large Oval (1-3/4" x 7/8") from Basic Gray, cut as shown and sanded with a sanding block.
• Shark Body:  One Large Oval from Basic Gray.
• Shark Head:  One Wide Oval (2" x 1-3/8") from Basic Gray.  Glue wiggle eyes wide set with Crystal Effects.  See the first picture above on how to adhere the body together (looks strange that way but much of the head will be below the water) before adhering to the card below the waves.  After the body is put together, distress the outline of the entire body with Basic Gray.  The Jaws will be adhered after the card is finished.
• Shark Jaws:  One Wide Oval from Whisper White, one half of a Wide Oval from Basic Gray and one Large Oval from Basic Black.  Gray half Wide Oval goes on the back of one half of the Whisper White Wide Oval.  On the opposite side, adhere the Basic Black Large Oval.  Draw shark's teeth with White Signo Gel Pen.  Fold the Jaw in half.  Glue only the folded edge to the head with Multi glue so that the jaws open independently.  See the close-ups above.  Click pictures to enlarge.