Coffee, Friends, and Birthdays

Howdy.  Me?  I've been crafting.  {smile}  Doesn't saying that statement, just make you happy?  It makes me happy!  One of my best friends, had a birthday last weekend.  And we celebrated today at work.  By 'celebrating' I mean, we had sweets, and ordered lunch.  I was going to make cupcakes, but she loves my fudge-y brownies.  So, I made brownies.  {smile}

I also made her birthday card.  I know that you are not surprised by that.  Right!  I was 'shopping' at a local paper crafting shop, when I spotted this new paper line by Julie Nutting French Flea Market.   This beautiful pattern paper collection, is perfect for both female birthday cards and Mother's Day cards.  

I stopped by one of my favorite sketch challenge sites: Mojo Monday.  This sketch challenge site is very user-friendly, and the design team will certainly inspire you with their creativity!

I love the large circle.  You know I instantly thought: doily!

I also stopped by another favorite challenge site: Word Art Wednesday.  I especially love this challenge site, because of their faith, creativity, and inspiration.    This challenge site, has Anything Goes & Family Friendly.  

and here is what I crafted:

Let me first apologize for the photography of this card.  I made the card @ 4a, and there was no natural sunlight.   And I was not able to download these images until after I delivered the card.  {frown}

Recipe: this is a typical A2 size card: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4".  I used the 'Accessories' paper for the main panel of this card.  I cut a narrow strip of 'Robe de Soiree' paper across the lower third of the card.  

I then sewn a simple border stitch around the card front.

For my large circle, I used a vanilla paper lace doily.  I thought it added a feminine accent.

I wrapped some pale blue seam binding around the card front, and tied a simple bow to the far right of the card.

I cut a scallop square from a die, using whisper white card stock.  I stamped my sentiment onto this scallop square.  I used the Prefect Blend stamp set by Stampin' Up! for the sentiment and the coffee cup(s).  I matted the sentiment square onto 'Belles Fleurs' paper.  

For the coffee cups, I did some stamping and fussy cutting.  I stamped the cups onto whisper white card stock.  And layered different pattern papers onto the stamped cups.  

For the bottom cup, I used back side of the of the 'Robe de Soiree' pattern paper.  I just love the blue damask print.  I used a scrap piece of the same paper for the coffee cuff.

For the top cup, I stamped the coffee cup onto 'Belles Fleurs' pattern paper.  I wanted to repeat the pink polka dots.  I stamped the coffee cuff onto a piece of 'Lettre D'Amour' pattern paper.  I adhered this cup to the card front with foam adhesive.  For a final touch, I added a tiny button to each coffee cuff.

Thank you for looking.  Again, my apologizes for the crummy photos.