Birthday Crafting

As I have gotten older, I have realized that there are different phases that you go through, and I seemed to go through them while they were happening to me. After college, in my early twenties, it was entering into an adult relationship. A relationship where I knew the eventual outcome would lead down one of two paths: a breakup or we're in it for the long haul and going to get married. Then came the season of engagement where it seemed like every time I opened my Facebook or Instagram, I saw a picture of a hand with a diamond ring. Then it was my turn, and I got to post that picture. Then came the weddings. It seemed like every weekend for the next two years was another wedding, and in July of 2015, it was finally my turn. Now it seems, I have entered into baby season. Every time I open my Facebook or scroll through my feed on Instagram, someone else is pregnant or having a baby.

My best friend announced that she was having twins Labor Day weekend of 2015, and on Thanksgiving I found out she was having one boy and one girl. Before these babies were even born, they were some of the most loved children I had ever seen. In April of 2016, two of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen entered the world, and I knew that I would do anything for them. At just over 24 hours old, I got to hold them for the first time. They are, to this day, the youngest babies I have ever held (I don't have any of my own yet). At just six months old, they took their first trip to Disney World, and even though I wasn't there, it was one of the most memorable times of my life. I was asked to be a wonderful little girl's Godmother, and how could I say no? So when it came to plan their first birthday, I wanted to be involved in any way possible.

I have gotten to be a pretty creative crafter over the last few years, and my best friend has often taken full advantage. This birthday party was no exception. She told me that they were planning an Uno birthday party, which I thought was quite clever, and asked if I would make a photo board to use at the party. How could I say no? She sent me two examples of what she was thinking, and gave me the creative license to do what I pleased to make it.

Looking at these two, I knew that I didn't need to pay $45 dollars to make it, but I loved the idea of using Uno cards as decorations for the borders of the board. From the first board, I loved the idea of the large letters spelling the word Uno, and knew immediately that I was going to use my Cricut Explore Air to find an image of an Uno card or download the font used on Uno cards. I had begun to formulate a plan, then it was time to gather the supplies:

• Cricut Explore Air - I got this from my hubby for Christmas. I had a Cricut Expression 2, but he decided to upgrade it because the newer ones allow you to create and cut your own images along with being able to use the cartridges. You will also need a laptop computer to run the program,
• 1 Large black foam board for the actual photo board - purchased from Hobby Lobby for $5.99.
• 1 Large white foam board used for embellishment - purchased from Hobby Lobby for $2.99
• Red, Yellow, Blue, and Green cardstock, glitter and plain - purchased from Joann Fabrics 12 sheets for $2 on sale, normally $0.79/$0.59 per sheet
• One Uno Card Game - purchased at Meijer for $5.99, I purchased the game where you could create your own Wild cards
• Xacto knife - purchased from Hobby Lobby $2.99
• Scissors - I already had these at home, most people do

I decided that I wanted the board to look like a giant Uno card with an image cut out in Uno font at the top, the opening where the card design usually was, and then decorations for their birthday as they fit on the card. My husband was a super big help in creating this photo board, and the first thing we did was find a quality image of the Uno card to cut out the word for the top of the board. Creating the layers was a bit tedious, but totally worth it. We cut out the shading layer first, and traced that on the white foam board to create a 3D effect for the shading. The top layer was cut on yellow glitter paper. The shading layer was then traced on the white foam board and cut out using the Xacto knife.


Next was creating the large playing card look. The Uno was centered at the top of the black foam board, and using the design from the newer card games, I drew a large oval to mimic the design. This part would eventually be cut out using the Xacto knife. Then, with the help of my hubby, we cut out some practice letters for happy birthday. We started with 1 inch, that was too small. Then 3 inches, that was too big. We split the difference, cut out 2 inches, and it was perfect. After our practice attempts, we used the glitter cardstock to cut out Happy Birthday! in the correct patter of colors from the front of the Uno card. My final touch was to add the newly decorated Wild Cards, the Uno cards that had 1 on them, cut out the photo opening, and put it all together.

The board was a huge hit at the party, and I will share pictures of it being used as soon as the happy mama posts them! It was such a wonderful and personalized touch that I was happy to add to these two little ones special day.


This is the first of many birthday party plans that I hope to be a part of for these babies. Next up is my four year old nephew, and his Maui (Moana) birthday party coming up in June. I can't wait to see what we come up for him.

Each time I do something for the special people in my life, it makes it harder to wait for when it's my turn to do it for my own babies.

Until next time...