Finding inspiration was also a challenge and in the end I decided to try my hand at a twist and pop card using instructions found here: http://www.kaisercraft.com.au/blog/twist-pop-this-christmas-with-collette/. Initially I took a photograph of our dog and cut her out of the photo. Then I stamped a party hat, glasses from my Tim Holtz Crazy things stamp set. Die cut them out and coloured them with Prisma Colour pencils and added Nuvo Crystel glaze to the glasses. I had a frame left from another project and I added this to some PP then added the photo to one corner. Added the stamped pieces and a cord bow. I stamped the sentiment onto a small die cut piece and coloured in a border around the piece. Added that to the opposite corner.  For the inside, I created the pop up mechanism and the panel for decoration. I added precut pieces of card stock to each section and then decorated each section. Images were all from either the crazy things set or from the Crazy cats and dogs set except for the balloon die cut which came from Spellbinders. I used a couple of word dies for the inside as well. Added some more Nuvo Crystal glaze over the word die cuts for additional dimension and shine.

Trying to make a birthday card for a hubby who is now retired and home most of the time is a challenge. Add in the fact that he required my help with a project of his own, meaning he has been in and out of my craft space on and off for several days and you get the picture.

I am pretty happy with how it turned out and think it is a good card for a first attempt. I already know what I would change when I make another one.