Hyperlocal creativity & recycling with style

Despite appearances, this is not an attempt to highlight the fact that it was recently my birthday.

Instead, I want to spotlight the creative brillance of Robin Kessler, a fellow Encore Media Group staffer who is an integral part of the City Arts magazine production process (she helps make sure the mags go to press without a hitch each month).

I'm spotlighting her because Robin gave me this orginal handmade birthday card yesterday and I have to show off all of its thrifty genius (forgive my shaky hand photography; it's in focus in real life). Plus, I thought it might give you some creative ideas for making cards for your friends.

First, the card's shell is comprised of pages from a previous issue of City Arts Tacoma. Such a great way to recycle City Arts' beautiful art-filled pages. If you're interested in the details, these particular pages come from two Tacoma stories, both coincidentally written by regular contributor Mark Thomas Deming, which you can read in our online archives here and here. The photograph on the front of the card is a detail of shot by photographer Aaron Locke.

Second: the attached stationery ephemera makes for a sophisticated touch that would be easy to replicate. A paper tag with my birthday and an adorable kitten stamped on it and a single card with the letter "B" on it. She says the card comes from a game called, Probe, which Wikipedia describes as "a discontinued parlour game" akin to Hangman.

Then, the piece of a map referencing my hometown.

Finally, the pièce de résistance: the retro, cardboard bingo card, indicating the appropriate age reference, the first letter of my name and the short and sweet — but still personalized — birthday message, which folds neatly into a pocket — that could also include cash (next year, Robin).

Simple, personal and über creative.

Eat your heart out Papyrus.