Birthday Shaker for My Niece

My recent posts all seems to have the same theme...so little time and no time to do it!  I have a niece and two sister-in-laws whose birthdays are on October 8 and October 9!  With "no time to do it" in mind, I went to my card stash to see what I might use.  

I love to go to cardmaking events sponsored by other card-makers and just make cards from the designs they present; meanwhile, I can socialize with other cardmaking friends who also attend!  There are many times that I learn new techniques or get to use a technique that I know about, but am not all that familiar with, either because I have not used it at all or not enough to feel really comfortable with it.  Many times, I may find myself starting the card but bringing parts home to finish, because some creative idea popped in my head that I MUST incorporate into finish the card.  Sometimes, it is just a matter of adding more color layers to bring out the features of the card and making the card bigger in the process.  BUT, sometimes, I just love the design exactly the way it is, and then I just created it as is.  On all of these cards, I always finish the inside later with my own design and verse to compliment the card front.  These are the cards that reside in my stash waiting to be used when I need a card in a quick pinch.

With all that said, my first card is for my niece Shauna whose special day is another October 8th birthday, and for her, I chose a card that I started at an event hosted by the dynamic stamping duo: Dara Peterson and Luci Kirschbaum.  I believe this design was originated by Dara.  I love, love this birthday shaker card, and I completed it according to Dara's original design without modifications, except I added another color layer in the form of a new black cardbase.  The colors are all so rich and the little punched balloon, cupcake, and candle shakers are such a clever idea.  Thanks Dara for such a cute card design. . .it is perfect for my niece.  Take a look below at the finished card inside and out. . .I'm pretty sure Shauna will be delighted. 

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Basic Black, Mint Macaron, Melon Mambo.  Pattern--It's My Party dsp Stack (2016 Occasions).  Stamps--Party Wishes (2016 Occ.).  Ink: Archival Basic Black.  Window Sheets (clear acrylic).  Rhinestones.  Baker's Twine/ Pool Party (retired).  Papertrey Ink stamps: Big Birthday Wishes (verse inside).  EK punch: Scalloped Corners-Medium.  Size:  4-1/2" x 5-5/8".  (Note:  On front-patterned panel popped up),