Masculine and Feminine Birthday Cards by Lynne

Happy Birthday! What? Not your birthday? Not mine either but I'm sure it must be somebody's birthday! After creating my recent birthday reminder project, I realized there was a major shortage of cards in my stash that were ready to be mailed or delivered when I needed one. I figured it was a good time to put a couple together and a great chance to use some great chipboard pieces!

For the masculine card I distressed and layered squares and rectangles of paper after inking the edges.
The "happy birthday" piece was run through an embossing folder then painted with brown acrylic paint. I rubbed gold paint lightly over the surface to highlight the embossed gear pattern.

The gears and tools were painted with the same brown paint before I heat-embossed them with Distress embossing powder to create a rusty effect.

The feminine card includes some fussy-cutting as well as inking and distressing; I loved the pattern in the green paper and wanted to make it stand out. The chipboard pieces were run through an embossing folder then painted pink. I rubbed them with an iridescent white ink to emphasize the raised pattern.I then rubbed a bit of pink ink along the very edges.

I love the way the round frame echoes the shape of the metal sentiment and the way the butterfly adds dimension! Now all I have to do is remember to check my birthday reminder tags far enough ahead to actually send someone one of these birthday cards in time!! Hmmm...maybe I should stick the tag on something I use often - like my tea kettle?? Or my laptop??

Gypsy Soul Items Used
Birthday Shape Set
Gears Shape Set
Miniatures Shape Set-Guy Thing
Delicate Frames and Ornaments Shape Set

Other Items Used
Donna Salazar Antiquities 12x12 papers
Kaisercraft Rustic Harmony 12x12 papers
Ranger Distress embossing powder-Vintage Photo
Prima roses