My son had a birthday party to attend this weekend so I made up an interactive card to hold the gift card he was giving.

 It's our nephew's 7th birthday this week and here is the fun gumball shaker card I put together for him! 

 I am so glad I got this set a couple of years ago - it has been put to good use! Our little friend is having a construction themed party this week, so I couldn't help but put together a little construction scene for his birthday card!

 Good morning! I'm up on the Studio Katia Blog today sharing my Birthday Balloons Shaker Pocket Card. I started out by creating a base for my card using the Mini Slimline: Small Hearts Cover. I used some low tack tape to cover up the pierced detail around the cards so that I could maintain a clean white border. Next, I took out the Birthday Balloons Duo Stencil and inked up the first stencil with some Lost Shadow distress oxide ink using a blending brush. For the second stencil in the Birthday Balloons Duo Stencil set, I mixed some sparkle glitter with some black texture paste. Using a palette knife, I spread this mixture over the stencil. I removed the stencil to let the paste dry.

 Good morning! I am up on the Studio Katia Blog this morning getting a jump start on my Christmas card stash. With all of the Christmas in July inspiration out this month, I decided to take out one of my favourite Studio Katia Christmas sets: Merry Poinsettia. I tried out the following technique so that I could make four coordinating cards all at once.

 I am up on the Studio Katia Blog today featuring a new technique I wanted to try: ghost embossing! The name sounded interesting so I just had to check it out. I started out with the Dotted Slimline - Set Two large stitched rectangle and cut it out in some kraft cardstock. Next, I took out the Sunshine of Hope sunflower and started in the middle of the card. I inked up the sunflower with Vintage Photo distress ink and stamped the image twice. Then, I shifted the slimline panel over to the right and down ever so slightly. Next, I inked up the sunflower with some white pigment ink. I stamped the image 3 times. This produces the 'ghost embossing' effect by giving the illusion that the sunflower has been embossed!

*TIP* the amount you want to shift your panel to achieve this effect really depends on the thickness of the image you are using; the lines of this sunflower are not very thick, so I did not shift it very much!

 Not my typical colour palette using Spiced Marmalade + Lumberjack Plaid + Prize Ribbon distress oxide inks, but when a little guy tells you those are his favourite colours, you try to make them work!

 Today I am over on the Studio Katia Blog sharing a quick birthday name shaker card! My son needed some birthday cards for a birthday party for twins in his class. First, I took out the Black on White Paper Set and die cut a background using the Mini Slimline: Small Hearts Cover. Next, using the Chunky Alphabet, I die cut each of the names out of white cardstock.
*TIP* save the negative cardstock from the die cut letters to hold the letters for easy ink blending

 I put together a birthday card for one of our friends this week and couldn't help but try to make it into a shaker card - I'm a bit obsessed! I took out the Beer Blueprint stamp set from Tim Holtz x Stampers Anonymous and stamped it onto Distress Watercolour cardstock. Next, I took my exacto knife and cut around the inside of the beer mug.