Only 11

My sister-in-law's 40th birthday is this weekend. I found this card on Pinterest, and thought the concept would be perfect for this occasion! I have actually been sitting (quietly) on it for months, waiting for her birthday, so I could put it to good use. :)

I didn't copy the card exactly. I looked at it before making my version, but used the card only for inspiration. I die cut the numbers using Lawn Fawn's "Quinn's 123's" from a scrap of patterned paper from Pink Paislee's "Birthday Bash" 6x6" pad. I stamped the numbers onto the die cuts with the matching stamps in Versafine Onyx Black ink. Finally, I ran them through my Xyron Sticker Maker, to apply adhesive to the back.

I stamped the Scrabble-looking letters using the "Game Tile Letters" set from Simon Says Stamp. I used Versafine ink again, since I was using real cherry wood veneer paper to stamp on. I thought this ink would bleed less than a water-based dye ink. I was right on that point, but I hadn't realized it wouldn't dry! I tried heat-setting it, but it still lifted when I (carefully) pressed my finger against it. So I finally took the paper outside and sprayed it with a matte fixative, which solved the problem. I let the paper sit for a few hours, as per the instructions on the spray, then cut the letters out with my scissors. I glued them to a piece of brown craft foam, and put them under acrylic blocks until the glue dried.

For the background, I used the largest of Lawn Fawn's "Small Stitched Rectangle" dies to cut a panel of mint cardstock. I matted that with another pattern from "Birthday Bash," that I'd cut to A2 size. I lightly adhered my "40" to the mint panel, just to judge where to stamp my first line of letters. I determined it would look best to have about 1/2" from the top of my mint panel to the tops of the numbers, and the same distance from the bottom of the panel to the bottom of my tiles. I used my MISTI to help me position & stamp the letters from Lawn Fawn's "Claire's ABC's" set in Versafine ink directly onto my panel. After the ink had dried, I permanently adhered the "40" & "11" centered side-to-side on the panel in their respective spots. Finally, I used small pieces of Scor Tape to adhere my game tile letters, and this card was done! I considered adding sequins or something, but decided in the end just to leave it as is.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create Challenge #213: "Anything Goes" (not playing the twist)
Dies R Us Challenge #105: "What's Your Number?"