Celebrate the next birthday with a card and cake made by you. Birthdays are celebrated all year long and can come when the weather is preventing you from leaving the house. Don't despair; you can make a personalized card -- and cake -- in advance of that special birthday celebration!
Grab your package of Birthday Coloring Cards (#48232) and choose one of three designs to color. The weather can be challenging during many seasons, so lighten the stress by coloring one of these fun designs. I tried to make my letters deep and bold, while still being playful. I used colored pencils and markers, then added some glittery color with gel pens.

My colleague, Pam, colored the same design as I did. It's a great comparison to see another's finished work with their use of colors and media. I really like the different way her card makes the word "Birthday" POP off the page!

Another birthday card has a design for you to color without the birthday greeting printed as part of the design. Don't ever feel like you have to color the entire design area for your coloring to be complete.

Prepare for some added fun -- it's time to get your make-ahead birthday cake ready now! I was so intrigued by making a cake out of a tea light that I had to give it a go. I was first inspired by these photographed steps showing how to easily make spiral flowers and spiral paper flowers here. Then my wheels began turning...
I started gathering items I would need which included a new craft supply for me, Paper Shaper Craft Scissors (#47596). I grabbed one of my tea lights (#47150) from my stash, and since I enjoy using my paper supply from my coloring books, I tore a page from one of my recently obtained coloring books, Art of Coloring Vintage Collection (#7041).

Reviewing the images of the spiral flowers, and spiral paper flowers, I cut my spirals using the pink-handled scissors. I then curled each flower by holding the outermost edge with my needle nose pliers. NOTE: depending on which way you curl the paper, the printed design may appear on the inside or outside of the flower petals. I chose to curl in different directions to add more dimension to my final birthday cake.
Each flower had a dab of hot glue placed at its base. I used Washi Tape to decorate the outside edge of my tea light birthday cake. Then I hot glued each individual flower around the flame on the top of the tea light. This was so much fun! As I worked, it dawned on me to make a two-tiered cake. Since I wasn't sure I wanted to keep forever multiple tea lights with the same pattern from one coloring book page, the additional tea lights on the bottom cake tier only had a removable paper circle placed over each flame (see the cut slits in each flower pattern center).

Make the birthday person's place setting extra special with your colored birthday card and tea light birthday cake presented on a plate!

Here's a different look for announcing the birthday honoree...
Even with the flames turned off, the tea light birthday cake stands out announcing someone's special day!
The tea lights are not permanently glued together. They are stacked and can be moved until the perfect setting is acquired for the Birthday Boy or Girl.

No matter how you choose to celebrate someone's birthday, you will make it stand-out by adding your special touches with a personalized colored birthday card and everlasting tea light birthday cake!
Have a happy day!
Martha