Retro Birthday Card

Hello, crafty friends!  I'm here today with something totally different for me.  Cec over at Frilly and Funkie wants to see our retro projects straight out of the 60's and early 70's.  I really felt quite at a loss when it came to designing anything for this challenge, because I really don't have a frame of reference for that time (cough, cough).  I did try with brighter colors, a song from the 60's, and a square canvas with my last project, but it wasn't 'til I walked into my neighbor's house the other day that I got a true sense of the 60's and early 70's.  Here is a birthday card I made for my older sister, who might have a better appreciation of that era.

My entire card was based on two things I picked up from my neighbor's house--a strip of 70's wallpaper and a sewing pattern from the 60's.  Another neighbor stopped by and told us they were taking everything out of Hilda's house and taking it to the dump and asked us if we wanted anything.  Well, I'm your girl! Heck, yeah!  If you've been following me for awhile you know I love yard sales, estate sales and have been known to do a little dumpster diving if I think a castoff has a second life (see my Spring in a Drawer for a recent curbside pick up).   In fact, I picked up a ton of stuff at Hilda's estate sale last summer, and I use her vintage seam binding whenever I make a bow on anything. Hilda, bless her heart, was stuck in the 60's and 70's, so I knew this was where I would find inspiration for a retro project.

 I snatched a few sewing patterns and a piece of wallpaper hanging off her walls, among a few other crafty things I missed at her sale. This sewing pattern-dated 1963-instantly reminded me of a plaid (squares) jumper my sisters and I shared through the 60's (them) and then the (cringe) 70's (me); I can remember it like it was yesterday! I pulled a strip of peeling wallpaper from Hilda's dining room wall, and instantly knew this was going on a card to my sister. Do any of you remember those mod foiled wallpapers?  I sure don't--our home growing up was stuck in the 1800's!

I added a few die cut squares and Tiny Tattered Florals ( left un-twirled) and some Flower Power looking blooms from the Tattered Florals strip die, colored with Distress stains and inks in Abandoned Coral and Dried Marigold, Twisted Citron and Cracked Pistachio, and Mermaid Lagoon.  These colors are the perfect compliment to both the pattern image and the wallpaper. A couple of rub-ons added to the corners to sum up the retro feel, and serves as a little private birthday joke. I'll put a personal birthday greeting on the inside.

I'm sure Hilda is looking down from Heaven happy to know her patterns and wallpaper will be brightening my sister's special day!

I would like to enter my retro card into the following inspiring challenges:

Frilly and Funkie Hip to be Square

Word Art Wednesday Challenges # 224 and # 225 Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Anything Goes

That's Crafty All Things Bright and Beautiful

Mixed Media World MMW #12 Vintage

Glitter and Sparkle Challenge # 182 Use a a Punch or a Die I used Spellbinders Square, Sizzix Tattered Florals Strip and Tiny Tattered Florals dies.

My Time to Craft challenge # 318 Girlie Mine is made for my sister; and I used a girlie image.

Cut it Up challenge # 93 April Fools Day!  I included a private joke using my rub ons that only my sister would understand. I used 3 different die cuts.

Thank you for stopping by today and for all your amazing comments!  I read and appreciate each and every one of them!

Hugs and Blessings! 

Sara Emily