The Cricut Birthday Bash cartridge is chock full of fun images that are applicable to more than birthdays.  This is a card for a young couple that recently became parents for the first time with the birth of their daughter Cadence Marie.  I wanted something vibrant and fun to suit their positive outlook.  I think the fun kangaroo and baby on Birthday Bash suited this task perfectly.

However, it’s not just the cartridge cut that makes the card – it is also the paper, pattern, colors, and layers.  I used Lori Whitlock’s “This and That” (6×6 paper pad) from Echo Park for the patterned papers.  The rose was purchased (gasp, it came in kit from Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients).  I used my Spellbinders Oval and Beaded Oval to make the frame behind the kangaroo mom,  rounded the corners of the patterned background paper with my Corner Chomper, and added pink and red baker’s twine for the balloon string.

This is a simple and fun little card – it measures 5 inches square and is an easel card.

From Birthday Bash, the kangaroo and all of the details were cut at 3.75″.  I used my Copics to color the balloon and hand wrote the baby’s name with a gel pen before layering several doses of diamond glaze.  The “pouch” was also colored with Copics and both mom and baby were shadowed with Copics.  When the pieces get so small as to be challenging, I will use Copics and pens to add the missing details (in this case, noses, mouths, and eyes were added with a gel pen – and the baby cheek was a Copic dot of pink.)

On the card front, the multi-color background paper was cut at 4.75 inches and the background Lagoon measures 5 inches square.  I used a Signo Uni-ball white pen to add the “stitching”.  To make the easel base, I used one sheet of 8.5 x 11 card stock and cut it at 5 inches wide along the length of the paper.  Cut the 5 x 11 strip into a 5 x 10 strip.  Score at 5 inches and again at 2.5 inches.  Using a bone folder, fold at the score lines.  Next, fold your card base in half at the 5 inch score mark so that it is a square (fold line at the top of the square as you look at it and the 2.5 inch score line visible).  Add sticky tape to the bottom 2.5 inch section of the card base and place the card front directly on top of the base (matching side, bottom, and top edges).

In order for the card to stand, make a sentiment that measures about 3 x 5 inches.  I used white card stock at 2 by 4 inches for the printed sentiment, added a border of 2.5 x 4.5 inches (with the corners rounded), and a Lagoon base of 3 x 5 inches.  Attach to the interior of the card base with pop dots.  And voila, a fun and outgoing baby card – now to find a little gift with reds, pinks, and blue greens.  I hope I can find something but I am sure to have fun looking….