One of the best ways I have found to remember my friends and family on their birthdays is to make them cards ahead of time!

For the March birthdays I want to remember, I created a simple sketch, and made three completely different cards based on it. There’s a playful one for a sweet friend with lots of pink, polka-dots, and stamped accents; a more masculine one for my nephew with primary colors and a fun, stamped cupcake; and a card for Grandma that is a bit more on the elegant side with an Asian floral influence and subtly embossed texture. It feels great to have these cards ready to go!

Birdie Card Instructions:
1. Create card base by trimming cardstock to 4" X 6". Fold in half. Using the circle cutter, cut a 2 1/2" hole on the upper front of the card base.
2. Cut a solid green piece of cardstock 3 3/4" X 5 3/4". Use the stylus and Texture Plate to create the raised grid pattern. Using the circle cutter, cut a 2" hole on the upper front of the rectangle so that it fits over the window on the card base.
3. Cut a 1" X 8" strip of patterned paper to wrap around the lower front of the card.
4. Machine stitch around the border of the card front.
5. Print sentiment on cream cardstock and trim to 1/2" X 4", notch ends with scissors.
6. Using the Compact Stamp Press, stamp the large image from the Asian Inspired Clear Stamp Set onto the inside of the card.

7. Punch an XL Seal of Approval out of brown cardstock. Adhere with Foam Adhesive inside cut-out circle.
8. Punch a bird and adhere in the center of the Seal of Approval shape.
9. Cut a 1" X 4" strip of patterned paper, adhere. Cut and notch sentiment and adhere.
10. Add adhesive gems to card front on either side of the sentiment.

Cupcake Card Instructions:
1. Create card base by trimming cardstock to 4" X 6". Fold in half.
2. Cut patterned paper that is 3 3/4" X 5 3/4". Adhere to card front.
3. Cut red patterned paper to 2 1/2" X 3", adhere to the upper front.
4. Use a black pen to outline the three pieces.
5. Using the Stamp Block Set, stamp the cupcake and candle pieces onto cardstock and patterned paper. Cut the pieces out and adhere, using Foam Adhesive to adhere the icing. Stamp sentiment below cupcake.
6. Adhere gems to the icing with a larger gem on the candle.
7. Cut patterned paper that is 3 3/4" X 5 3/4". Adhere to card inside. Use a black pen to outline the patterned paper.

8. Stamp sentiment on inside.

Dot Card Instructions:
1. Create card base by trimming cardstock to 4" X 6". Fold in half.
2. Cut patterned paper that is 3 3/4" X 5 3/4". Adhere to card front.
3. Cut a 5 3/4" X 1" strip of striped patterned paper, adhere.
4. Machine stitch around edge.
5. Punch an XL Seal of approval, adhere with Foam Dots.
6. Stamp sentiment, punch out with the Large Round ën Round Squeeze Punch. Adhere in Seal of Approval circle. Adhere gem to center.
7. Cut patterned paper that is 3 3/4" X 5 3/4". Adhere to card inside.

8. Cut a 5 3/4" X 1" strip of striped patterned paper, adhere.
9. Stamp sentiment along a 5 3/4" X 3/4" strip of cardstock, adhere below patterned strip.
10. Machine stitch around edge.
11. Stamp a birthday gift on the back and sign your name.