My Birthday Card Bundle 2025

Usually I scrapbook the events of my birthdays, but this year wasn't too good. My mom was in the hospital so we didn't do any celebrating. The best thing I did was start the day off with a Starbucks coffee, courtesy of a gift card from my daughter. The day ended with frozen custard in the Culver's parking lot (which is a really beautiful place). But I did receive several really nice cards. 

If I did scrapbook my birthday, I would have put them in there. But instead I bundled them up and tied them with a ribbon and made a little tag, stamping the year on it. It's a sweet way to remember the event because not everyone puts the year inside.

The dish that they're in is a little gift to myself of sorts. It's a 1950's Fire King divided dish that is in mint condition for just $5.99. I found it at The Salvation Army a few days later. According to one that's listed on Etsy, the rim is 22 karat gold. However it's stamped on the back that it's oven-proof. I'm not sure how it would hold up after years of use, but I'm glad that someone probably stuffed this in the back of a closet for decades.

As card makers, I'm reminded just how special those folded pieces of paper can be. The gifts are soon forgotten. The money spent. Even memories fade. But the cards we get are often saved and cherished. And that inspires me to get back to my craft room, hoping one of my creations will wind up in someone else's bundle some day.

The Culver's in Seminole, Florida is right on Lake Seminole. You can go through the drive through then park right in front of the lake and enjoy the view from your car. It really was a nice way to end the day!

Happy Autumn Banner

When I read that someone in The Angel Card Project loved to decorate for fall, I had the idea to make a banner for her instead of just a card.

I've made banners like this before, and while I like it, looking at it in the pictures and after it was finished, I wished I had made the stamped letters in a little darker color. I still think it looks pretty good and I'm pretty sure the recipient will like it. Often I'm too hard on myself, but it's also good to think about how I can make things better in the future too. :)

The supplies are simple. I used Stampin' Up!'s Large Letters Stamps and Dies in traditional SU! fall colors. Most are still in the lineup, but one that I used that isn't is called Delightful Dijon. It's the perfect fall ink color in my opinion.

The leaves are also from Stampin' Up! The set is called Vintage Leaves and it too is one of my all-time favorite sets. The wood grain paper came from an old Christmas Paper Pack Set. The banner is strung together with brown twine from Michaels and finished off with some raffia that I tied into bows.

Wishing you a very Happy Autumn too, and thank you so much for stopping by my blog today!

A little bit of a closer look. I think it looks a bit better here! 

Ribbon Tied Keepsake Cards

Last week was my 62nd birthday and I got a fair amount of cards. Saving cards from birthdays is something I've always done. I have a decorative box and for years I've just piled them in there. This year, I tried something different. 

I sorted the cards and threw most of the envelopes away, but I did save a few. The pretty ones made it, and this one on the right, which has my birthday and city and state on it makes a nice memento. Then I chose one for the front of the stack and chose a matching bow. Before tying it, I used a small die to cut out a scalloped tag. I used some small stamps to stamp the year, but you can certainly hand-write that in as well. I used some thin gold thread to make a tie, then tied it all together.

Components of the date tag. 

The last picture below shows the pile of cards. Nice enough, but grouping them together really does make them more special.

As I get older, I realize that some of the cards that I receive may be one of the last ones from some people. I've already experienced that with my step-father who passed away five years ago. He was like a real father to me, and each of the times that he signed a card is twice as precious now. So I'm starting to take treasuring these cards more seriously now. And I think this is a little extra special way to do that!

Stamped Pie Gift Box

I just found out that you can buy individual cardboard pie boxes from Walmart for about $2.00. They're a perfect way for stampers to decorate a box in a personal way that looks so very cute!

Yesterday it was the birthday of my mom's good friend. He just turned 82 and like most men, he's hard to buy for. Since he likes sweet potato pie, and they're hard to find, I thought I would make him one. Wanting to make it special, I decorated the box in a fun way too.

After buying the box, I stamped some background images directly on the box, then used Stampin' Up!'s Vintage Leaves Stamp Set and Dies to cut out the leaves.

For the wording, I used Stampin' Up!'s Layered Letters. The word "homemade" came from an old Michaels set.

But you can really do anything with a pie box. I think stars or birthday designs would be really cute too. And if you don't have stamps, pre-printed ephemera or even images that you grab from online would be really cute too.

Here's the birthday boy with his pie!

I also noticed that if you want bulk pie boxes, there are a lot of really cute styles available too.

I'm looking forward to using this idea for Christmas and other holidays too, and not just for pies. I think cookies would be perfect in these too!

Here is the link to the recipe that I used and that my mom said was the best ever: 

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/12142/sweet-potato-pie-i/

NOTE: I did line the bottom of the pie box with waxed paper, so if there was any grease residue from the pie it wouldn't leak through. This would be really important with cookies too especially if you're going to give them to someone later on.

Thanks so stopping by today, and happy crafting!