Photoplay Notting Hill Birthday Card
Hello, Friends! If you have an avid reader in your circle, then I think you will appreciate this Photoplay Notting Hill Birthday Card design. Our sweet daughter in law celebrated her birthday this month, so I had to take a step away from all the Christmas papers for a few moments. She is a lover of books. The book club she started years ago is still going strong to this day.
She and our son also have 2 lovely kitties. So, books and cats seemed to be a good design direction to pursue. Since I had just received this Notting Hill collection from Photoplay, making her card was a cinch. I’m happy to share some of the tips and tricks I used to create this vibrant card.
Design Tips
- Tip #1: Balancing Act: This color palette is much more bold than my “go to” choices. So I balanced the the brilliant blues and neon greens with a softer plaid background that almost reads like a neutral.
- Tip #2: Pops of Color: Choose smaller panels of the really bright patterns from the paper collection and layer them in small doses.
- Tip #3: Think about shapes. It’s always a good idea to add round or oval elements on a square or rectangular card. The oval die cut in the center of the card provides a welcome relief from all the sharp corners and edges. The same is true of the plant pots.
- Tip #4: Elevation: Fussy cut the napping kitty from the 3×4 card. This is not a very big image, but by backing it with foam tape, you give it more of a presence on the page. Then surround it with the potted plants to draw the eye right to it. By fussy cutting around the image, you also give it more of a dimensional feel. It’s a simple trick, but it makes a big difference in the card design.
A Peek Inside
Naturally, I added a gift card pocket to the card interior. I also repeated themes (the sleeping kitty) and patterns (the plaid background) inside to reinforce the elements used on the card cover.
This little gift card wallet is the perfect place to add my sentiment and a shopping spree at a local bookstore.
This is a great collection for anyone who keeps a journal of the books they read each year. And if you belong to a book club, you’ll find lots of great patterns and themes that will come in handy when you make cards for your fellow bookworms.
You can find a linked supply list below this post. I hope I’ve shared some helpful design tips with you today. If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.
Oh, and there will be no Throwback Thursday this week. I have family coming in for Christmas, the Littles coming over to bake cookies…and presents that need to be wrapped! So I’ll be taking a few days off to enjoy the holidays. I have a full line up of posts for the following week, including a really fun Throwback Thursday!
Wishing you all a blessed, merry and happy Christmas!
Cheerio,
kathy
SUPPLY LIST
- Photoplay Notting Hill Collection
December birthdays can be difficult for some. My hubby’s birthday is Dec. 17. He had a hard and steadfast rule that there would be nothing Christmas in his house until after his birthday…this told me that, in his childhood, his birthday got lumped in with Christmas. So, we all adapted accordingly. I’m so glad you are celebrating a family birthday with this card. Merry Holly to you and yours and may your Christmas pudding be the best ever!!
The cats/books theme reminded me of the work of one of my favorite artists, Charles Wysocki.
https://www.google.com/search?q=charles+wysocki+cats&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi579PKmfP0AhWBCZ0JHfK5BtgQ_AUoAnoECAEQBA&biw=1408&bih=624&dpr=1.36
As I read the comments I do see that there are still some book lovers out there. I am one of them. I just like the feel of a book in my hand & turning the pages. A lovely card & am sure your daughter-in-law will just love it. Merry Christmas to you & Dale & your entire family Kathy. Be well, a Happy, healthy & prosperous New Year. TYFS
Lovely card but definitely out of my comfort zone in the colour palette. So different from what you or I would normally do. It’s growing on me though! I used to read, a lot, now not so much anymore. I knit instead. Happy Monday Kathy my friend! Stay warm and cozy.
Merry Christmas Kathy! Thank you for your incredible gift of design, I have been so inspired by your projects weekly. Enjoy your time with family, we all need to focus on the meaning and beauty of Christmas.
I must get that Photoplay collection, Kathy, as I have a few book and cat lovers in mind (me, too, but I don’t send myself cards…) And I’m saving your card to kind of give me ideas… I have a folder in my email collections marked “Kathy by Design!” I save too many to put with other card ideas. Have a wonderful and merry Christmas with your family, Kathy!
Book Lover here! Yeah what a beautiful way to help her celebrate this special occasion. I am with Gena, give me a book any day over those digital reads. There is something magical about holding the book and letting yourself melt into the story. Hope you have a magical Christmas and enjoy your holiday with family & friends.
Kathy, this is such a darling card! I LOVE books and cats! The colors and images in this collection are absolutely fantastic! What a perfect card this would make for a bookworm. To me there is nothing like holding a real book in my hands. None of this digital stuff for me. LOL Absolutely love the sentiment on the tag. It’s so true. Thank you for sharing! Hugs!