Out of the Box Birthday

Hidy Ho, crafty peeps~

I just got home from a GLORIOUS trip to see my bestee in Colorado. It was way too short, but then again, anything short of being there permanently is way too short.

Before I left on my trip, I was hired to make a birthday card for a dear friend (by her sisters). Their instructions were that it had to be quirky and out-of-the-box. Other than that, I was left to create whatever my muse dictated.

I decided on a card-in-a-box format...what better format for an out-of-the-box theme? I calculated out all my measurements, because I knew this was gonna need to be a HUGE card...and a standard A-4 size just wouldn't do.

Here is the outside of the card. It measures about 8.5" by 9". I stamped up Kraft cardstock with my favorite woodgrain stamp (Stampin' Up) and paper pieced it to look like a stack of shipping crates. I even penciled in breathing holes in the top right crate.

Here is the back side of the card. I left a large section empty so that her sisters could write their greeting/wishes on it.

And, here is what it looks like when you open it up! There is a party going on inside!

All the party-goers are nestled in the packing material. There are 4 "snooty" people in there...all boring and, thus, colored monochromatic sepia as they sneer at the birthday girl. Then there is the "party girl" (which represents the birthday girl). She's technicolor and all decked out with interesting "gear". She is even sporting rose-colored glasses! There's even a DaVinci-esque guy flying by with a "Happy Birthday" banner!

A final gal anchors the sentiment on the card. She even brought her binoculars to get a closer look! Both she and DaVinci dude are mounted on springs so they jiggle and wiggle!

All the images on the card are vintage, royalty-free images that I snagged from the internet. I constructed the birthday girl out of various bits and pieces of vintage nicknacks--some goggles, a plant stand, a clock, and a hand fan.

Thanks for comin' out to Left Field!!