Happy Birthday wishes to ....

... our darling daughter Kathryn.  Twelve years ago today our gorgeous girl arrived; she has given us so much - love, laughter and fun.  This is Kathryn's birthday card:

Stamps: Sweet Stamp Shop - Zombies, Dia De Los Muertos; Cas-ual Friday Stamps - Countdown, Stop; My Favourite Things - Birthday Sentiments
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Daffodil Delight, Bermuda Bay, Primrose Petals, Rich Razzleberry; Versafine - Onyx Black; Versamark
Accessories: SU Card - Primrose Petals; SU DP - Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight; White Lustre Card; Scraps from bin - turquoise, white glitter paper; Promarkers - Yellow, Maroon, Antique Pink, Turquoise; Clear embossing powder

I know that Zombies are not the normal decoration for a birthday card, but when Kathryn saw this set she told me that she wanted her birthday card to use this set!!!  Did I mention that my daughter is very strange?  No!  Well, she is and we just love her.

I used the sketch from the current Clean & Simple Stamping - FTL258 challenge for the layout.  The colours are from last week's Colour Q - cQc206 challenge, the colours are so bright and vibrant - perfect for a bold, fun birthday card.

I stamped the Zombie girl's face onto vellum using Versafine, heat embossed with clear powder, cut it out and then coloured the reverse of the image using Promarkers (matched as closely as possible to the SU colours).  Once dry I ran the image through my Xyron to make it self-adhesive.  I stamped the large rose on to some SU design paper and a bit of turquoise scrap and the smaller solid rose on to SU card and heat embossed with clear powder, and then in Primrose Petals on white glitter paper.  I stamped the birthday sentiment on the card - first with a second generation impression and then again with fresh ink.  Then I stamped a couple of pretty borders above.  I attached the roses and then added the Zombie Girl.  For the inside I cut a mat in Primrose Petals and on the white panel I stamped another zombie as well as some roses.  I finished with a bold sentiment which I stamped first in yellow then in black - giving a drop shadow effect.

To complete the look - I also decorated the envelope with the left over bits - the zombie boy and some cute little feathers - all printed on vellum and coloured with Promarkers.

I have to admit that it took me ages to make this card.  I was determined to use the zombie girl image - as Kathryn has specifically asked for it, but my first couple of attempts ended up in the bin!  They were looking more like Halloween cards, but I think this one works.   Here are a couple of pictures of my gorgeous girl:

2003 - In the back garden

2005 - Christmas - Kathryn as Cinderella

 2009 - Kathryn in Benidorm

2011 - Our first visit to Michigan 

2013 - End of August - Kathryn with green hair!!!

If you made it this fair - thanks for reading.  I think you have realised that I'm a very proud Mum ;))  Have a great day - see you tomorrow.