Sweet, simple birthday cards

Have you ever glanced at your calendar and realized that you need to mail a birthday card the next morning? Or realized that your stash of birthday cards has been depleted as you're getting ready to go to a party? I know there are times when we all need a quick birthday card. But quick doesn't mean it can't be cute, too. Here are a few ideas for simple -- but still sweet -- birthday cards.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up!^® unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Happiest Birthday Wishes
Card stock: Confetti White, On the Bright Side - One card stock pad (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Baja Breeze
Accessories: Petite Pennants Builder punch, mini silver brads, paper piercer and mat, Simply Scored tool, Glue Dots

I love the simplicity of this card and how the fun colors and patterns on the pennants really stand out. This was a very easy card to make and definitely took less than ten minutes. To create the border, score a line on each side of the card front about 1/8" in from the edge. For the banner, punch out five pennants from patterned paper and use a paper piercer to make a hole in the top two corners of each pennant. Use mini silver brads to connect the pennants together and attach the banner to the card front. (Tip: Once you have the banner assembled, lay it on the card front and decide where you want to place it. Then use the paper piercer to gently mark the location of the holes in the pennants on the ends. Move the banner, poke the holes in the card front -- be sure not to poke into the back of the card -- and then attach the banner with the brads.) If desired place a Glue Dot under each pennant to keep the banner secured to the card. The last step is to stamp the greeting along the bottom of the card.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Big Bold Birthday, happiest Birthday Wishes
Card stock: Very Vanilla, Lucky Limeade
Ink: Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Island Indigo, Basic Black Stampin' Write Journaler, white gel pen
Accessories: 1/16" hole punch, 1/8" Lucky Limeade organdy ribbon

To start, fold your card base and then cut 1/4" off the top and the unfolded side so the card measures 4" x 5-1/4". Stamp three balloons near the top left corner of the card and add accents on the balloons with a white gel pen. Use a black marker to draw the balloons' strings, making sure the lines come together near the bottom of the card. (I used a ruler so the lines were straight, but wavy lines would work just as well.) Punch a 1/16" hole on either side of the spot where the lines meet, thread the ribbon through the holes and tie a knot or a bow. (This step took me the most time because I am not a good bow-tier. I always have to try a few times before I get a decent bow.) Stamp the greeting, create a doodled border around the card front and then mat the card with a 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" piece of Lucky Limeade card stock.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Create a Cupcake
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla card stock; Brights Collection Designer Series Paper (DSP) stack
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Real Red
Accessories: Cupcake Builder punch, 1-3/4" circle punch, 2-3/8" scallop circle punch, Tombow Mono Multi liquid glue, Dimensionals

For this card start with a 4-1/4" x 3" piece of DSP, mat it with a 4-1/2" x 3-1/4" piece of Very Vanilla card stock and adhere the panel to the middle of the card base. Stamp, punch and glue the cupcake together (the "sprinkles" are punched from the same DSP as the main layer) and adhere it to a Very Vanilla circle with Dimensionals. Stamp the greeting on a narrow strip of Very Vanilla card stock, trim the right side in a V shape and glue the left side to the back of a Chocolate Chip scalloped circle. Adhere the scalloped circle to the layered panel and add the Very Vanilla circle and cupcake to the middle of the scalloped circle.

This card took me a little longer to make the other two cards because it had more steps. But you could simplify the card by omitting one or both of the rectangular layers, punching the cupcake pieces from colored card stock (instead of stamping and then punching) and replacing the punched and glued "sprinkles" with rhinestones or pearls.

Thanks for stopping by!