Designing a fun filled newspaper tabloid birthday card!

Ok, it's high time I wrote my next blog post !

Currently I'm on a GWR train to London Paddington for a couple of days, spending a 'cultured' evening at a concert.

Anyway, back to the blog, I thought it might help pass an hour or two to put pen to paper so to speak which got me thinking about a fun card I made for a 60th birthday!

Imagine all kinds of fun filled memories and experiences we can capture ...

Ann is a truly devoted Strictly Come Dancing fan, worked in the BBC & Jaeger in Oxford Circus, mistaken identity from an Indian holidaymaker, Speedy Gonzales when she loved to drive, French hypermarkets, loves cocktails and Irish pubs, devoted to her lovely family and a truly loyal friend ... I think you get the gist by now!

Well, where do I start ? Let me take you through the process !

Incorporating all this into a heartfelt card posed a wonderful challenge and so I designed

it in the form of a newspaper tabloid - a truly a random humorous and cool way to highlight some special memories.

So, without further ado, I will share how I created this card for a very special lady!

Step 1. Email me over all the relevant details and photos etc you would love to be included & we'll make a start ...

After a long and detailed email exchange, I was ready to start .... thank goodness for emails and WhatApp !

Hi Kate

For Ann's newspaper

I think the headline could read something like:  Strictly's got an out there favourite for this year's winner and she's only 60

us 4 girls met when we were all working around the Oxford Circus area. I worked at the BBC in Portland Place, Sue and Julie worked in Peter Robinson and Julie and Ann worked in Jaeger in Regent Street.  We could say something like:  a lot of alcohol has been drunk since meeting all those years ago.

For one of the headlines:  Beware of a dog called Brandy (alsatian)  If you could find a picture of a brown alsatian and put a name tag on him that would be great.  It could read,

 a young lady called Ann has advised people in the Paris area to be on their guard if they see this dog.....

If I think of anything else, I'll e mail you.  In the meantime, I'll look through my photos and send some over to you.

Thanks Kate x 

You get the idea !

Step 2. Collate all the photos/memorabilia + story line !

The Egypt story. 

We were on a trip to the pyramids in Cairo and we were warned by our guide not to engage with the men holding camels.  Well we had to be rescued by a German tourist when we innocently talked to one of the men - we couldn’t wait to get away. Julie was giving the man cigarettes in the hope that he would go away.

The moral of the story- listen to the tour guide and do what you’re told 😂😂

It doesn't matter where we are in the world there are so many ways to keep in touch and, no excuses - send me anything you think of as relevant to the recipient : photos, hobbies, funny sayings or habits! The more you can give me, the more special it makes for a unique and personalised card.

Inevitably, there will be last minute tweaks as more events are recalled, so, please feel free to keep feeding these through to me !

Hi Kate

If you've got room, I have another headline.

New York taxi driver translates for UK girls.  While shopping in NY Ann and co were reprimanded by an irate taxi driver who corrected their language, telling them, you don't queue, you 'get in line' and you 'put your shopping in the trunk' not the boot

x

Remember - every little detail adds to it's uniqueness !