Birthday Banner - Stampin' Up! Pretty Perennials

   I feel like I've been getting my money's worth from the Pretty Perennial bundle lately!  All of my new stamp sets are front and center on my stamping desk and this bundle has been one of my go to sets for all kinds of cards.  We have a huge amount of family birthdays coming up in February so I've been concentrating on re-stocking my birthday cards so I'm not caught short once the time comes to get things in the mail.  

  The Festive Friday Challenge has been a fun one to participate in lately.  I love their themes along with the Inspiration List of which at least 3 items need to be used when creating your card.  This time the them is Chinese New Year. I really don't have any Asian inspired stamp sets but I didn't let that stop me!  I used red, banners and flowers as my 3 items for my birthday card.

  At first I was having a hard time with the red as it just seemed "too much" but after changing out a piece of red cardstock for the checked pattern it started to come together a bit more.

  The card base is Whisper White, then the fun Sala-a-Bration freebie Berry Delightful DSP.   I pulled out this retired narrow shimmer ribbon from my stash; I think it's Bermuda Bay?? Next is a layer of Coastal Cabana topped with a Whisper White Stitched Rectangle.  I stamped the birthday greeting from Many Messages in black.

  For the banner element I cut them with the Tasteful Label dies and added the stamped and die cut flowers from the Pretty Perennials set.  The flower outlines are all stamped in full strength ink with the fill being stamped off once.  The banners are popped on dimensionals across the card front.  

 Sometimes it can be tricky lining up multiple elements like this and I've found that starting in the middle and working my way out helps me keep the spacing even and the elements lined up.  Just find the center of your card and adhere the first one then go out from there.  I usually have the other banners (or whatever) in roughly the spot they will go just to judge the spacing.  

  The last things I added to this card were to black candy dots to "hold up" the banner ends.

  This was a fun challenge to do and I'm glad I could get another birthday card made!  

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Pretty Perennials

Ink: Coastal Cabana, Bumblebee, Poppy Parade, Memento Black

Paper: Whisper White thick, Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Berry Delightful DSP (SAB)

Accessories: Stitched Rectangle dies, Tasteful Label dies, Perennial Petals dies, dimensionals, shimmer ribbon (retired), candy dots (retired)