Birthday Blessings

Today my good friend and fellow Bah! Humbugger Irene celebrates her birthday.  Happy Birthday Irene!
I really wanted to make her something special as a gift and as she loves vintage,  this was the obvious theme to follow, despite it not being something I feel particularly competent at.
I had some beautiful ivory cardstock with a wonderful pearlescent sheen so that was cut to DL size and used for the base card.   

The vintage lady was a free image downloaded from Craft Stamper website and I simply colourised it in Paint Shop Pro before printing.  This was then trimmed and matted onto cream card before placing over a similar sized piece of vintage paper from a K. & Co. collection.   A narrow strip of paper from the same pack was torn and inked along one edge and then wrapped with brown ribbon, before placing horizontally across the card front. 
The image was then placed at an angle over the top before adding a few prima flowers and a peel off greeting.
Then I got adventurous and went one stage further by making a matching notebook with my recently acquired Bind It All - a fabulous secondhand bargain bundle which included the Zutter DreamKuts.

More of the pearlescent card provided the covers and once they were bound together with the paper pages, I decorated, inside and out, with coordinating K. & Co. papers, embellishments and a vellum friendship quote. 

I really enjoyed putting it all together but kind've wish I'd added some lace for the full vintage effect.   That's definitely something to remember for the next time. 
Hopefully Irene liked her gift and will think of me whenever she uses her wee notebook.   Ooooo'errrr ... How scary is that?
My project fits in with a couple of challenges this week as listed below.
Lots To Do 18 - Friendship
Crafty Cardmakers 20 - Distressing
Creative Card Crew - April Showers Bring May Flowers

Hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend ... wherever you are and whatever you are doing and thank you for visiting.