Digital Design: Birthday Card with Nicecrane Designs & A Special Shout Out

 

Hello all!  At the beginning of April I shared with you about my good friend Pat's Birthday Bash Blowout.  Well today I'm going to tell you a little bit about her and showcase the digital card that I have made for her using images from Nicecrane Designs. 

I originally met Pat back in the fall of 2013 through my challenge blog, the Path of Positivity.  At that time she had been entering challenges for a couple months and had been chosen once by the Voters as a winner and once by the team as our Most Inspirational choice.  We started talking at that time and she let me know how much she enjoyed participating in our challenges.  We as a team were always thrilled to see not only her creations but also what she had to say on our theme each month.  Often during the month, I'd receive a message from one or more of our team members stating,  "oh you have to go and see what Pat has written" because she always had something so positive and incredible to share in her posts.  This is one of the things that drew me to her.  We were very fortunate to procure Pat as a full time team member in January of 2014.   Since joining she has added another role to her job description as she writes for a special column we have called, "Ponderings Along the Pathway".  If you haven't read any of her positive reflections then you are truly missing out on something incredible.  I was also lucky enough earlier this year to have Pat come on board the team for the 12 Months of Christmas Challenge that I co-coordinate with Monica Taylor.  It is great having her on both of my teams.  I can always count on a thoughtful project and post from her.  

Throughout the past year our 'work' relationship has blossomed into something more.  As time has passed I have come to learn more about Pat and I can honestly say that I am fortunate and blessed by the relationship we have developed.  While we have never met in person, I can truly call Pat my friend. You can count on her to cheer you up with something funny or just to listen if you're having a hard day.  When I found out that she was planning a birthday bash, I just had to jump on board as one of her sponsors and of course as a cheerleader!  My life has been truly enriched since Pat has come into it and I hope that you too get the opportunity to become friends with this wonderful lady.

Not only is she a talented writer but Pat also makes really wonderful projects with a focus in mixed media art so be sure to go and check her out.  You can find all her creative endeavours on her blog, Patacake Pages.  Be sure to go and check out her incredible birthday blowout going on until the 15th for your chance to earn some amazing prizes.  You can find out a little bit about the bash along with the previews of the prizes I am offering up by checking out the post I did earlier this month (click HERE for that information).  The Heartland set is up as a prize for today's task so be sure to head on over to Pat's blog to learn more about what to expect.  You can find Pat's initial post about the blowout by clicking HERE.

Happy Birthday Pat.  May you have a fabulous birthday on the 15th and continue to be blessed throughout the year to come!  Here is a special digital 'card' that I have made for you in honour of your special day!

Check it out...

 
P.S.  If you're visiting Pat today, you'll see part of this post on her blog as well.

Now for all the details...

Digital Images Details: 

• Young Hearts:  I just thought this sweet image would be perfect for Pat's card.  She is always wanting to explore and seems to be fearless so I figured she'd have no qualms hanging from the moon.  For this digital card I used the image you see in the top right hand side of the preview below.  There are some really interesting images in this set that would be great for a variety of occasions.  Click on the name or the watermark below to take you to its location in the store.

• Nature Notes:  I have also used one of the bird images as an accent on this card.  This bird is part of the nature Notes set.  I took the blue bird (located roughly in the centre of the preview) into Photoshop Elements and recoloured it to better match the birds in the Young Hearts image.  Once again, clicking on the name or preview will take you to its location in the store.

Digital Sentiment Details: 

• This great sentiment was created by Paulette from Create with TLC.  I thought it went really well with the image.  I picked it up as a freebie a while back.  For more great freebies, click HERE to go to Paulette's blog and to purchase some wonderful sets, click HERE to go to the store.
• 'Happy Birthday Pat' was added to the frame using Picaso font.

Digital Paper Products:

• Handmade Papers:  I have also used a paper from Nicecrane Designs for the background of my digital card.  I used the one that you see in the middle of the bottom row of the preview below.  Once again, clicking on the name or preview will take you to its location in the store.

Digital Embellishments Details:

• I have used a frame from Janet Scott, a designer with Pixel Scrapper. 
• The shape used for matting in behind the sentiment is simply a shape created in Photoshop Elements.  I've just added a blur to it to soften the edges.
• The shadows to give each element some depth were created with a layer style from Sheila Reid, Pixel Scrapper.

Challenges I am hoping to enter... 

• http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.ca/ -- Always Anything Goes
• http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.ca/ (3E) -- Always Anything Goes
• http://www.scribbleandscrapcrafts.blogspot.co.uk -- Anything Goes
• http://yourscrapbookplace.blogspot.ca/ (3E) -- Anything Goes (3rd and final entry for April)
• http://deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.ca/ -- Things with Wings (All the birds have wings.  You don't state anything in the rules about not accepting digital projects so I hope this is okay.)
• http://craftingforallseasons.blogspot.ca/(3E) -- Animal Magic (3rd and final entry for April)
• http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.ca/ -- They Who Have Wings 
• http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.ca/ -- Use a Birthday Sentiment or the Number 5 (I hope the 'Happy Birthday Pat' is sufficient for a birthday sentiment)
• http://digitallysweetchallenges.blogspot.ca/ -- Birthday Layouts (this project is 100% digital)
• http://www.drsdesignsblog.blogspot.ca/ -- Birthday Blues (It is meant as a birthday card and it has blues throughout.  You don't state anything in the rules about not accepting digital projects so I hope this is okay.)
• http://seizethebirthday.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes Birthday (You don't state anything in the rules about not accepting digital projects so I hope this is okay.)
• http://scrap-craft-inspiration.blogspot.co.uk/ -- Frame It (You didn't say it couldn't be a digital frame so I hope this is okay)

Before I go...
It is time to share another wonderful set available at Nicecrane's Designs.  Since the spring is now upon us, I thought I'd showcase something appropriate to the season.  The pack is called Vintage Spring Time.  What is great about this digital stamp pack is that not only do you get the images in colour, you also get them in outline format all for the low price of $4.50.  Not only would these images be nice on their own, they'd be great as accent pieces for a larger design.  Be sure to go and check them out while you are at the store (click on image below to head to its location).

Don't forget, to stay current on ALL the latest releases and to check out the fabulous inspiration from my fellow DT members, be sure to head over to the Nicecrane Designs blog.

I am so happy that you had a chance to pop by and check out my latest creation and also learn a bit more about Pat.  I'll be back again soon!

Until next time,