So have you ever had to come up with a birthday card for three siblings (1 boy + 2 girls) celebrating their birthdays at the same party, yet their ages range from 9…  down to not-quite-3? Actually, these kids’ birthdays are scattered all throughout the calendar year, but not particularly at convenient “birthday party” times. So last weekend they were all honored at a joint fete at the local splash park – so they and their friends could usher in the beginning of summer.

The “Birthday Card for Three” Dilemma…

So exactly what’s a card-maker to do for such an event? Gifts were discouraged, yet there would be an opportunity to donate some spending cash to a fund for an upcoming family theme park trip. But certainly, a handmade card was in order for an event as unique as this. So I searched through my stamp collection, hoping for inspiration. I contemplated basketball, princesses, and mermaids. I’m sure if I could draw I could have come up with something that incorporated all 3 of their signature themes, but the reason I’m a rubber stamper is precisely BECAUSE I cannot draw! And sure, I realized I could make each kid a separate customized card, but hey, they get their own separate cards for their “real” birthdays anyway. But THIS event was unique…. more like an “all-of-us” kinda party.

Inspiration finally strikes

Ultimately I ended up turning to words and phrases to convey my message. Enter the stamp set “Itty Bitty Birthdays”, paired with some of Stampin’ Up!’s newer colors Poppy Parade, Call Me Clover, and Mango Melody, along with a good ol’ standby birthday balloon from the retired stamp set “Balloon Adventures”. Itty Bitty Birthdays

Itty Bitty Birthdays Cling Stamp Set [148618] $23.00

If you’ve stamped with me for very long you’ve surely heard my philosophy of “You can’t ever have too many flowers, words, or alphabets in your stamp collection”. And once again, this philosophy ultimately resolved my dilemma. What really surprised me, however, was that I found all the sentiments I needed right there in a single stamp set: “Itty Bitty Birthdays”! I’d surely expected I would need to mix and match words from several stamp sets – but that wasn’t even necessary! For a stamp set that’s only been around for a few months, I’ve found myself reaching for it over and over again. I guess that confirms it was a valuable investment!

You can’t ever have too many flowers, words, or alphabets in your stamp collection.

So next time you need to make a birthday card for three (or some other unusual, out-of-the-mainstream theme) and you’re stumped for inspiration, consider using words as main images!