The year is just whooshing by, because its yet again time for another Squirrels Gone Nuts hop when we make a point to use items we’ve *squirreled away* while creating something for the monthly theme! The prompt for this month is Birthdays and the supply (randomly selected from a loooooong list of possible supplies by a random number generator) is Alpha dies. Before we get to my project, I want to make sure you have the full hop list so you don’t get lost along the way:

• Marie Bingaman
• V Fairchild
• Anna Mahtani
• Karen Page — YOU ARE HERE
• Lounon Riviere
• Natasha Davies
• Bory Yankova – taking this month off

I have several alpha die sets… cause you need different sizes and fonts, right??? Technically I don’t, because I got a Silhouette to avoid buying dies… *but* I got 1 on clearance and 2 at a crafty consignment sale before all the fun stuff got canceled because of a certain pandemic, who shall remain nameless. 😒 Alpha dies are not cheap normally, so for today’s card I was eager to try to use the ones that I actually paid full price for because I *had* to have them, and only used them once. 🙄 I know we all do it, but I hate the guilty feeling that brings! So let’s take a look at what I made, shall we?

The alpha set I have officially used *twice* now is called Letter Balloons from Avery Elle, and I made up for not using the set more by cutting 6 of each letter (3 in each rainbow color and 3 in black to layer behind it), and stacking the die cuts with liquid glue for dimension. The black paper was thicker and the hi-light dots on each letter stayed in well, so I colored them in with a white gel pen before layering the rainbow colors over it. This view might show better the dimension:

The balloon strings are from the same alpha die set and are just 1 layer. The birthday die cut sentiment is from MFT. The cloud background is courtesy of another MFT product… their Cloud stencil, and the ink blending was with Distress Oxide ink in Broken China. A simple card to pull together, but made special by the personalization I was able to get from those good ol’ alpha dies! Here’s 1 last look at the card:

This card is going in the mail today to the best friend a girl could ask for, and I had the blessing of a visit and hug from her recently, just when I really needed it the most. Happy Birthday Sharon, and I hope the card isn’t too late!!! You deserve a better Bestie, but at least you know I will always show you grace since I’m such a hot mess! 🤣 Love ya!!!

Oh, and making this card made me realize that I never posted the first time I used this alpha die set, so I thought I would share it now as a bonus card! Is that cheating??? Pffft! So what! LOL Forgive the lack of photography skills… this card is from several years ago now and the recipient will be of legal drinking age soon. Yikes!

Just a quick summary on the bonus card… the background was stamped with MFT’s Balloon Strings and heat embossed in silver embossing powder. In addition to the Avery Elle Balloon Letters, I *had* to have the Balloon Numbers too. The balloons on the inside and the 1 on the front are all from MFT’s Big Birthday Balloons die set, which also hasn’t gotten its price worth of use! Yes, the silver balloon was heat embossed in the matching silver embossing powder multiple times until it was smooth and shiny. And the inside sentiment is also MFT, from an old set called Gifting Fun that has plenty of snarky and fun sentiments. This card went to 1 of my son’s closest friends that I refer to as an adopted son, and yes, the card had money inside 😁 Shame I didn’t get a better shot of the front with the embossing… I was really pleased with how this came out and the teenage boy was too since I used his favorite color, purple, and personalized it.

I have no doubt that the rest of the Squirrel Girls will have beautiful or adorable cards to inspire you to play with your alpha dies or electronic cutters to personalize a birthday card this year! Now, head on to my good friend Lounon’s blog to see her creation, which no doubt will be amazing! Seriously, ALL of these ladies impress me SO MUCH! And I couldn’t ask for more caring or supportive friends 💓 Thanks for visiting with me today!