Charming Sentiments Zodiac Birthday Card for Alphabet Challenge

Hi, Stampers!

A new Alphabet Challenge is starting today; the theme is “Z is for Zodiac” – not a theme that I have ever had before, so I was more than just a little intimidated. Then, I remembered the new By The Bay designer paper had the perfect image, Crabs! After that, the rest of the card came together quite easily once I researched the attributes of Cancerians. Your cards can be anything related to the zodiac, so we look forward to seeing your makes!

Once you finish here, I hope you visit our Alphabet Design Team gallery for some great inspiration and play along!

My secrets!

• Firstly, I made the card base with Night of Navy cardstock, cut at 5-1/2″ x 11″ and scored at 5-1/2.”
• After that, I wanted a dark designer paper to showcase the light crab images, so I cut the DSP 1/8″ smaller than the white cardstock that was cut at 5″ square. Then, I decided that the card needed just a little bit of balance so I layered a light designer paper onto the card base before adding the background panel.

So now, the fun part!

• After the card base was done, I started cropping out the crabs from the By The Bay designer paper, doing as many I could.
• Then, I typed out the Cancer centerpiece and printed it out on my computer. Confession: I actually did this part twice. The first one was used and I completed the card with the crabs around it, but I wasn’t happy with the quality of the print. Because it looked a bit pixelated, I decided to try another way of printing it and that one turned out much better. This is why you see white underneath the second centerpiece, which I had to cut smaller to fit into place.
• So, after I printed out the centerpiece, I cropped it out with Beautiful Shapes hexagon die. After that, I popped it up in the middle of the card with dimensionals.
• Using the hexagon points as my guides, I popped up the crabs in alternating colors on each side.
• Then, I stamped the sentiment in Night of Navy ink and cropped it out with its coordinating die.
• Finally, I added three little Milky Dots for a little bling.

Then, on the inside…

• So, keeping the inside simple, all I did was cut more designer paper (5-3/8″ square) then layered on top of it a white cardstock panel that was cut to 4-7/8″ square.
• Finally, I stamped the Charming Sentiments stamp with Night of Navy ink.

I’m sharing my card with these challenges:

• 613 Avenue Create
• A Place To Start
• Cut It Up
• Krafty Chicks 
• Pammie’s Inky Pinkies Challenges
• The Paper Funday
• Seize the Birthday
• Use Your Stuff (let me know if crabs don’t count as “animals”!)

Before You Go!

I love hearing from you! Please leave a comment if you have any questions or comments about my project today.

If you enjoyed my project today, please be sure to…

• Firstly, visit my Gallery and Fun Fold Gallery for lots of ideas, and…
• Enter the Creative Creases Challenge HERE with any fun fold card!
• Also, complete this contact information to receive a birthday card from me!
• Then, follow me on Pinterest
• Finally, want to know what’s new with SU? Check it out HERE

Charming Sentiments Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [159985] $23.00	Charming Sentiments Bundle (English) [158734] $52.00	By The Bay 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper [160434] $15.00	Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100867] $9.25	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad [147110] $8.00
Sentiment Silhouettes Dies [158733] $35.00	Seaside Bay Dies [160444] $34.00	Beautiful Shapes Dies [158046] $29.00	Adhesive Backed Milky Dots [160582] $8.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653] $125.00

Stamparatus [146276] $49.00

Paper Trimmer [152392] $25.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229] $8.75

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00

Paper Snips [103579] $11.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755] $4.00

Thanks for scrolling to the end!