Today’s my husband’s birthday — Happy Birthday, Jay! :) He’s already wearing his main present (a tattoo), but I wanted him to have something to open on the actual day. It was just too sad to think he wouldn’t have anything to unwrap, and I needed to keep costs way down as we’re about to go on vacation.
I saw this idea on Pinterest and loved it! Papervine had done a deck of cards for Valentine’s Day, but I thought it would work just as well for a birthday. After all, who doesn’t want to hear why you love them?
I used a new deck of cards, scuffed them up with sandpaper and gave them a rub with a pigment ink stamp pad, concentrating on the edges. I thought the ink might slide a bit and get all over my hands, but it held fast right from the start. One of the extra cards made a nice template to keep punched holes even,and a couple binder rings keeps everything together. (I may replace them with black ones later, we just happened to have these on hand.)
There are great free labels from Cathe at Just Something I Made. (She has them in red, green, black and brown if you want a different look.) Trimmed an eighth of an inch all the way around, I think they were just right.
These also got aged with the stamp pad, then I just wrote out my list one by one.
Some are private jokes.
Other crafters may relate to some of them.
But I hope they all show him why he is just right for me.
(Mojo is our dog, who loves to be the first one to greet his Daddy when he gets home from work.)
Happy birthday, Baby! Wishing you many, many more!
CoopCrafts 
aww Happy Birthday to your love! Hope you guys have a great day//
Thank you, Dear! :)
I really love the way that you aged the cards – could you explain that a little more? What color ink pad did you get and how did you apply it to the cards? Thanks!
Hi Katy! I used a brown pigment ink pad. I held the card with my left hand and the ink pad in my right, then just kind of rubbed the pad across the edge of the card. You can try it with a piece of paper or even one of the Joker cards to practice if you want. (I used a motion almost like filing my nails or something.) I worried it might smear because the cards were new and slick, but it didn’t at all. After the edges looked aged, I lightly buffed the stamp pad across the middle of the card, too.
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What type of paper did you print the labels on?
I used plain adhesive sticker paper, 8.5″x11″ like regular printer paper. I think it mig have been Avery brand that I bought at Walmart or Kmart, nothing fancy.
did you resize the labels? When I print them out they are rather small. If so, what size and how? Also, what adhesive did you use? Thanks in advance!
I see that you used sticky paper above!
Hi, Leanne! Yes, I used regular sticker paper, and I didn’t resize the labels in any way. If they didn’t come out a good size for you, you might want to try adjusting your printer settings and see if that changes the “print preview” look at all. Mine ended up 2.5″ x 1.5″ including the white border. (I only know that because I can see the measurements above where I was cutting them!)
What a neat idea! I love it. I hope he is very surprised and has a wonderful day!
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Hey I was wondering what kind of paper did you use? It doesn’t look like normal paper, please help!!
I used plain adhesive sticker paper, 8.5″x11″ like regular printer paper. I think it might have been Avery brand that I bought at Walmart or Kmart, nothing fancy.
Thanks for providing the link to the free label download! Did you simply print them as is after downloading the file, or did you have to resize? Also, what size book/binder rings did you use, like how many inches? Thanks again! Great tutorial!
Hi, Vicky! I just printed them exactly as they were, no resizing was needed. I’ve actually swapped out the binder rings since this post. The original ones were larger, but I just measured these for you and they’re 1″. I think the ones in the post photos were 2″ or larger. (I think the one inch ones are a better fit, the scale looks better.)
when you printed your labels did they all print out on a regular size computer paper? mine look very small
Hi, Porscha! I used regular sized (8.5″x11″) adhesive backed paper and they turned out just right. You might need to check your printer settings to make sure it’s not resizing them for some reason. Good luck!
Hi Sarah. I am haing trouble “writing” in the boxes. For example, I am unable to resize the text once I type it change the alinement. Did you download her blank cards as a PDF or word doc. I am trying to get this done before Val. day.
Hi Heather! I downloaded them as a PDF and printed them just as they were, then wrote by hand. Sorry I can’t be any help with resizing the font, as I didn’t do it that way and have no idea. You might consider writing by hand, though — it adds a personal touch and I think it looks sweetly homemade.
Supposed to say,…or change the alignment…. Thanks
This is an awesome idea, thanks for sharin it!
Have a great day.
Always, Queenie
I’m super late replying, Queenie, but I’m happy to share and so glad you liked it! Thank you! :)
Did you glue them or what type of glue do you use for the labels
Hi, Kayla! I printed on self adhesive sticker paper, no glue needed.