Monday, April 4, 2016

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:
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

25 comments:

  1. Now this really makes me smile!!!! Makes me think of ma Grandma (rest her soul). She was always sewing and had sooooooooo many lovely patterns. Thank you for such wonderful memories coming back!!
    Hugs

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  2. Oh wow, it's so creative and fabulous, Sara Emily!! How clever to use the wallpaper and the ladies from a pattern package!! I love how you left the tattered florals untwirled..they look very mod and retro!! What a wonderful card for your sister!! It's so gorgeous!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  3. Hehheheheh - this is wonderful Sara. All good memories for me. I too had a plaid jumper!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE your card. Love reading how this card came about....and what a fun trip at just the right time to Hilda's house too! XXj.

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  4. Superbe! The dress in the middle must be the one I wore on my first day at school!! Typical this time! Great card, Sara Emily! I love it!

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  5. You made fabulous use of those special 'finds' Sara, I love the pattern images, they are wonderful. I think Hilda would be delighted if she knew! Hugs, Anne xx

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  6. When I saw this I had so many flashbacks to my sweet Mother's sewing area. This is a wonderful card. I remember the textured wallpaper and it mad such a lovely background. Thank you so much for entering your creative and beautiful art in our challenge at Word Art Wednesday.
    Blessings, Carole
    DT Member

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  7. Love it sara ... as soon as i saw it i said to myself .... simplicity sewing pattern ... if it isn't they must all be pretty similar from that time lol@!! Big hugs rachel x

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  8. Perfecttttt! Or should I say, "Really groovy, baby..."

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  9. I love this retro look you have achieved Sara and is definitely in my time reference lol. Fabulous use of your great finds and I bet your sister loves it too. Xxx

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  10. Sara Emily, OMG, you are the Queen of Recycling! This is such a cool card and who would ever think to tear off some old wallpaper to use on a card, not to mention the sewing patterns (brilliant, I tell you!). To think of all the wallpaper I removed from the walls at our last house and just threw in the trash...sigh...though they weren't as lively as your find!! Love how you used the tattered floral as is! Great, great card and I know your sister will just LOVE it!!!

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  11. Hi Sara Emily, me again! I want to thank you so much for visiting my blog and leaving such sweet and encouraging feedback about my little Scribbly Birds project! I do appreciate it so much, you have no idea :-)

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  12. Wow, you really channelled your inner hippie for this one Sara! What a fun card, so glad I was too young to remember wearing outfits like that! tee hee. Perfect choice for flowers, they look just like the ones you would have seen doodled onto the side of a van!! Really great job with the theme my friend.

    Thank you so much for joining us at Frilly and Funkie for our 'Hip to be Square' challenge! Hugs, Pamellia DT :)

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  13. Wonderful card Sara! The images and textures look lovely. Great recycling :)
    Thanks for joining us at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
    Mandy xx

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  14. This is rad! I can so totally picture you grabbing the wallpaper off the walls and thinking "Wow, this would be a great background piece!" Lol! Totally groovy design and shagadelic details. Your inner hippie danced her way into this cool piece. Awesome sauce dearie! Hugz to you muffin! ~Punkin

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  15. Making me smile all over!! This was the style when I was in High School - loved the Peter Pan collar and the no waist shift with a-line skirt. Oh those were the days. You are so creative Sara Emily - hey I think I had that pattern and made that jumper/shift. Should have been easy to make. By the way, cough, cough, just how old are you!!!!!
    sandy xx

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  16. I recognized the sewing pattern theme right away! Cool card.

    Thanks for joining us at Cut it Up for our April Fools! (joke or riddle) challenge!

    Evelyn
    http://mylittlecraftblog.wordpress.com

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  17. Wow! You totally nailed the retro vibe with these punchy colors, and fashionably dressed hipster gals! Love the way you angled the square behind the focal image. Groovy! . Thanks for playing along with us at the Frilly & Funkie "Hip to Be Square" challenge,

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  18. I graduated high school in 1963! I am sure I must have had dresses made from that pattern because all of my clothes were handmade. What a fabulous card... such clever use of the pattern envelope and the wallpaper.

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  19. Sara, I am loving this style ! Great piece of art !

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  20. Sara Emily, congrats on your win for the Hip to be Square at Frilly and Funkie - such a great card! I thought about you over the weekend...went to a scrapbook garage sale and there was a box of old patterns on one of the tables! LOL! I went through them, but didn't find anything good, nothing awesome like yours, so I didn't get anything. That was such a great idea you had!

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  21. Sara, your retro birthday card is awesome! I was of that era and you nailed it! :) The colorrs are awesome. The flowers and the stripes are right on. The girls on your cover look like they came off of a McCalls pattern showing the latest fashion of the day ... an A line shift. Love your card!

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  22. Biggest congrats on your top 3 at F&F with this oh so fun collage! Hugs, Autumn

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  23. Yay!!! Congrats on your top 3 win at Frilly and Funkie!! Love this card and how you used the tattered florals uncurled! You're so talented!

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  24. This is so CUTE! I LOVE the retro paper dolls rocking 70's dresses

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  25. Really loved this Retro Birthday Card. The design is very beautiful. Going to host retro birthday party for my mom and looking for vintage party venues in our budget. Hoping to find the venue soon and then planning to hire a planner for other arrangements.

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