Happy Cake Day - Stampin' Up! Artisan Blog Hop

Hi everyone! Welcome to another Stampin' Up! Artisan Blog Hop. We're all starting to get into this whole design team thing and have some awesome projects to share with you today. You should have just come from Inge Groot's blog. If not just be sure to click the next button at the end of the posts until you have hopped all around the world to visit all sixteen of us!

One of the first stamp sets to catch my eye when the new Annual Catalog was released was Age Awareness. I love all the fun (and truthful) sayings it includes! So, I super excited to see in my August box of goodies.

I loved how the Confetti Celebration Designer Series Paper paired with the Kraft Card Stock, so I used that as starting point for the card. Since the adorable Polka Dot Gift Bags are also kraft colored, I decided to make a little package too.

I am in LOVE with how the Kraft Card stock embosses! The White Embossing Powder creates a great contrast, it just pops right off the kraft color! You really do need to use your Embossing Buddy, as the powder likes to stick to the Kraft Card Stock. Then to emboss the Kraft Card Stock with the Big Shot...awesome! It turned out super crisp and clean with the Arrows Embossing Folder. Like I said, I love it!

I had a hard time picking just one pattern that I wanted to use from the Confetti Celebration Designer Series Paper. So, I choose a bunch and used my Banner Punch to make some cute little flags. I also threw in a Crushed Curry Chevron Ribbon flag to provide a textural difference.

I gave the inside of the card a little bit of love too. Just a couple of stamps and a quick banner make a nice surprise when the card is opened.

I made the Polka Dot Gift Bag gusseted by scoring it at 1" on the three closed sides. I then cut open the bottom to make the folding a little bit easier and closed it back up with a piece of washi tape. Also, I put a piece of Coaster Board in the bottom to give the bag some strength. If you are going to stamp or emboss on your bag like I did, do it after you score but before you put it together. Let's just say it is much easier!

I embellished the bag with the same paper and ribbon that was on the card. The little binder clip came from the Tag A Bag Accessory Kit and holds the bag closed nicely. The little bows of White Baker's Twine finished everything off perfectly! The card and gift bag together would make anyone feel special on their birthday!

Stampin' Supplies:

• Age Awareness Stamp Set
• Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad
• Versa Mark
• Crushed Curry and White Stampin' Emboss Powders, Embossing Buddy, and Heat Tool
• Bermuda Bay, Whisper White, and Kraft CS
• Confetti Celebration DSP
• Polka Dot Tag A Bag Gift Bag
• Crushed Curry Chevron Ribbon
• White Baker's Twine
• Banner Punch
• Arrows Embossing Folder and Big Shot
• Paper Doilies
• Basic Rhinestone Jewels
• Tag A Bag Accessory Kit
• Sewing Machine

Now head on over to Kate Rueda's blog to see the awesomeness she has in store for you today!

Smiles :)
Kaitlyn