Pages

Thursday, 8 January 2026

Guest Designer - Seize the Birthday Challenge (Make Your Own Snowflake Background)!


Today, I'm excited to share the first of my Surprise Party Guest cards for the Seize the Birthday Challenge, where the theme for the next two weeks is:


This theme is optional, so there's always the option for 'Anything Goes' as long as it's a Birthday card!

For my card, I used a sweet polar bear stamp from a Kanban set that I picked up in a charity shop just before Christmas. I stamped him onto watercolour paper, doodled a line for the snowy ground using a black gel pen, coloured him using watercolour pencils, then cut around the top of the image. For my snowflake background, I embossed a piece of watercolour effect paper, from the 'Mystery Marbles' pad using a Craft Tonic embossing folder, then gently sanded over the raised areas to reveal some of the white core. I added a stamped sentiment, using one of the stamps from the 'What This!' set by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company, then layered the bear over the snowflake background. I matted it onto some navy card, then added it to a white card blank.


For more inspiration from the fabulous Design Team, please pop over to the Seize the Birthday Challenge.

11 comments:

  1. Helen, this is such a cute card. Love that adorable bear and your water coloring. And your background of snowflakes is awesome. Thanks, and welcome as our Suprise Party Guest.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That bear stamp is quite defined and you have used him well. I just love how you have designed this card and his vintage outfit is the best. Wonderful use of our toppings for this challenge and so glad to have you here.
    Barbara DT member

    ReplyDelete
  3. Helen, As you know, I am so happy to have you guesting with us the next two months at STB. Your card could not be any sweeter and your background is so pretty and colorful! Looking forward to seeing what you make next! Take care!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Beautiful card Helen, I love how you fussy cut the bear and snowy landscape, he is beautifully dressed/coloured too, welcome to our team as guest for the next few challenges, Cathy x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Glad to have you guesting with us Helen and I love your card with that cute bear. Your coloring looks great and the background is perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love this cute card Helen - your background looks gorgeous and the little bear is so cute:) Congrats on your guest designer spot xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. A simple, cool background for that cute bear - I love the card! Thank you so much for this wonderful inspiration and looking forward to the next two months!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Welcome, Helen! Glad to have you Guesting with us for a couple months. Your card is so fun. I love that bear bundled in his coat and scarf and the snowy background. Perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  9. This card is so sweet, Helen! I love the colour combo you've used for his clothing, and the snowflake background is lovely. Great to have you as our surprise party guest!

    ReplyDelete
  10. So glad to have you joining us Helen! Your background is gorgeous - love the colours. The image goes perfectly with the background.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Gorgeous snowflake background and I love your colour choices! So fun to have you as our Surprise Party Guest:)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to look and comment on my cards! Helen x