Hello everyone and welcome to the Control Freaks February Blog Tour. Our Theme this month is It's My Party -- Projects and Ideas for Birthdays!
There are only 14 stops so it won't take you long and I guarantee, it will be well worth your ride. If you want to see some great artwork and be inspired by fabulous birthday ideas for all ages, hop on the bus, put up your feet and enjoy the ride. It promises to be a great tour! If you're already on the tour, you probably arrived here from the blog of my friend and the super-talented, Patty Bennett. Patty always has something surprising and amazing to share!
Now I ask, what SCREAMS birthday more than colorful polka dots? And when they are contrasted with a black background, they are even more dramatic and fun!
I created this dynamic duo with circle punchies, lots of them, using the 3/4", 1" and 1 1/4" Circle Punches. I just went to town punching out circles from Real Red, Certainly Celery, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie cardstock scraps (it's a great way to use scraps). I then just attached them randomly to Basic Black cardstock with a bit of SNAIL adhesive.
I used the Big Shot and the Square Lattice Impressions Folder to do the Embedded Embossing Technique (okay, I know I've used this technique a lot lately but I"m am truly in love with the look it creates).
The stamp set (what little stamping I did on this project) is Bring on the Cake from the Occasions Mini Catalog. Other supplies used include Sticky Strip Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals and a sparkly Glitter Brad.
I also used the Word Window Punch on the inside of the Gift Card Holder to punch the opening for the all-important Gift Card (oh yeah, what would a birthday be without a Gift Card). As you can see, I added more polka dots on the inside of the Gift Card Holder as well as a Whisper White layer to allow for a personalized and hand-written message.
I know you're going to ask (LOL) so I'll tell you now, the Gift Card Holder was created using a base of Real Red Cardstock cut at 5.5 x 11". You score at 4.25, 8.5 and 10", folding on each of the Score Lines. I "lined" the inside of the Gift Card opening (created with the Word Window Punch) with a small scrap of Daffodil Delight cardstock so you get that little "pop" of color and contrast. The entire "flap" of the Gift Card Holder is secured down using Sticky Strip adhesive but be sure and don't apply adhesive to the inside of the slot where the Gift Card Holder goes (I say that from experience -- LOL -- as that is exactly what I did on my first go-around with this Gift Card Holder). Other than that little detour, this was an incredibly easy, fun and fast Gift Card Holder to create. Click HERE for a downloadable PDF template for the Gift Card Holder.
The crowning glory on both the gift box and the gift card holder are 3" strips of Pumpkin Pie Cardstock with multi-colored jumbo scallops created with the 1" circle punch and topped off with a colorful bow created from 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon. How cute is this! For the box, I used a different color of ribbon on each of the 4 sides. Click HERE for a downloadable PDF template for the Birthday Box.
I love the way this set turned out. It's very festive looking and yet not so juvenile that it would work for any age or even gender for that matter. It's just plain fun! And isn't that what a birthday should be all about?
Well, that will be it for now. I do hope you enjoy the tour. I know you will get TONS of fabulous ideas from my Control Freak Friends. Just click on the button below to go to the next stop, the website of the fabulous Dawn Olchefske.
Thanks so much for stopping by! Enjoy the tour and Happy Stamping! And please, come back again soon!
Sooooooooooooooooo fun... looks like a bag of M&M's exploded all over... just super cute and funnnn! Patty
Posted by: Patty Bennett | February 19, 2011 at 07:08 PM
To Cute for words. What a great birthday idea.
Posted by: Rose Ann Marr | February 19, 2011 at 07:28 PM
oh, oh, oh...this is so eye poppingly amazing! The black just sets the colors off perfectly!!!
Posted by: Mary Brown | February 19, 2011 at 07:29 PM
Love love love these Gretchen...so festive! Off to grab my circle punches and get to work.
Posted by: Barbara V | February 19, 2011 at 07:30 PM
These colors are great, nice job. I too love that technique!!
Posted by: Barb | February 19, 2011 at 07:33 PM
Cute, cute, cute!!! Love the bright colors on the black!
Posted by: Connie Babbert | February 19, 2011 at 07:47 PM
These are so darling Gretchen! Love all the bright colors !!
Posted by: Sue Dyas | February 19, 2011 at 08:47 PM
Your polka dot box and gift card holder are fabulous, so much fun and sure to bring a smile to the recipient. Great job.
Posted by: Rose Kerry | February 19, 2011 at 08:59 PM
♥, ♥, ♥ the polka dots...on anything, anytime, love the polka dots!! Great colors Gretchen! Becky
Posted by: Becky Roberts | February 19, 2011 at 09:40 PM
I love the polka dots! And such fun, bright colors, too!
Posted by: Debbie Currier | February 19, 2011 at 09:55 PM
OMGosh...Amiga I am so recreating your artwork! I LOVE IT! It's SUPER WOW! TFS!
Posted by: Marisol Gutierrez | February 19, 2011 at 10:27 PM
I LOVE polka dots! These are fun, bright, cheerful and they scream Happy Birthday! Great job, Gretchen!
Posted by: Lisa Martz | February 19, 2011 at 10:44 PM
Absolutely fabulous as usual! Love the polka dots on black!
Posted by: Rhonda L | February 19, 2011 at 11:35 PM
Adorable!!
Posted by: Stephanie Perry | February 20, 2011 at 02:14 AM
Great color choice for a boy or girl birthday party. I love all those circles.
Posted by: Pockets of Inspiration | February 20, 2011 at 04:18 AM
You did a great job. I loved this polka dots with color. I can't wait to make one. Thanks for sharing. Big Hugs.
Posted by: Rebecca | February 20, 2011 at 06:39 AM
What a fun idea! The polka dots are great!
Posted by: Jen Smith | February 20, 2011 at 07:37 AM
Love you card! The polka dots on the black do shout birthday! TFS
Posted by: Dale Morin | February 20, 2011 at 07:43 AM
Very cute, Gretchen! Love the embossing on both polkadots and background!
Hugs,
Sharon F.
Posted by: Created By You | February 20, 2011 at 08:07 AM
Love it! Those dots look like part of the original cardstock with the embossing plate mashing them together! (Does that make sense?)
Posted by: Alicia | February 20, 2011 at 08:46 AM
these are fantastic! Fresh and bew, thank you~~!!
Posted by: Shelli | February 20, 2011 at 09:10 AM
super cute box and card...I'm gonna have give the embedded embossing a try!
Posted by: Dawn Olchefske | February 20, 2011 at 10:07 AM
I LOVE your birthday set! Your Polka dots do scream Happy Birthday :o). I really like the look of the embedded technique. I know I'm a dork for asking, but, what are the dimensions of the box and how did you put it together?
Posted by: Jayne | February 20, 2011 at 10:43 AM
I thought the same thing Patty did - M & M's!!! I LOVE it! And what a brilliant idea to use different ribbons on each side of the box!
Posted by: Lisa Young, Add Ink and Stamp | February 20, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Gretchen...I love this card! Certainly one of my top tens! Thanks for sharing...
Posted by: Amy | February 20, 2011 at 07:04 PM
What a clever idea, Gretchen! Will have to try this embedded embossing ~ the effect is awesome. Helps that you chose such bright "birthday" polka dots for your color scheme. Love it.
Posted by: Kathy Mc | February 20, 2011 at 11:35 PM
What a simple gift card holder idea and in such a cheery card! Thank you for your generosity in sharing with us!
Posted by: Cas Rifkin | February 20, 2011 at 11:42 PM
This is great girl. I love bold colors and you did an excellent job with this little box. Love it!
Posted by: Wanda M. | February 21, 2011 at 06:54 AM
Grethen I LOVE how you embossed the dots into the CS. So stinkin' cute! Very cheery and bright will work for boys AND girls. TFS
Posted by: diane oliver | February 21, 2011 at 07:44 AM
Can't tell you how much I love this! The circles are brilliant! Hope you don't mind when the CASEing begins! :-)
Posted by: Jen Timko | February 21, 2011 at 07:56 AM
Very cute projects for the young and the young at heart. Love them! I too would be interested in the box measurements if you are willing to share.
Posted by: Holly Pedersen | February 21, 2011 at 02:18 PM
Super Cute!
Posted by: Miranda | February 21, 2011 at 03:36 PM
This is really cute!
Posted by: Debbie Britland | February 21, 2011 at 11:09 PM
AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME! Your work is beautiful and absolutley tunning!! I love this.
Posted by: Candi Hume | February 22, 2011 at 06:23 AM
Just too adorable!! Love the bright colors and all the extra work!
Posted by: Teri | February 22, 2011 at 06:34 AM
This is so bright and happy and cheerful ... what's NOT to love!! I am a circle/polka dot freak, so this really hit me where I live!! GREAT treat box idea!!! Wonderfully put together, girl! :)
Posted by: Wendy W. | February 22, 2011 at 11:12 AM
The color combination in these great projects is spectacular. You do such great work, and I really appreciate your sharing your creativity.
Posted by: Laura | February 22, 2011 at 08:38 PM
Gretchen, this is truly outstanding!!! Your color combinations is fantastic. I love it. Hugs,
Posted by: Carla Bazhenow | February 23, 2011 at 08:34 PM