<p class="has-drop-cap wp-block-paragraph">So, today I am 50 — ;and, as my (older) brother helpfully pointed out, I actually started my 50th year on my <em>last</em> birthday, so technically this one is not that big a deal. Despite that, this is a hard trip around the sun to greet with my usual insouciance, followed by a concerted effort to change the subject. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This year, I&#8217;m grateful for the many, many gifts all around me, eclipsing the urge to make the quasi-New Year&#8217;s Resolutions I&#8217;ve made on earlier birthdays. But I do feel that by 50, I should have some wisdom to show for my journey thus far. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As tempted as I am to write a pithy, bulleted list of aphorisms — one I must confess I started in my head several times — I&#8217;m abandoning that route. First off, my list would be embarrassingly short, and in my opinion, these sort of things always sound brilliant in your head, but not so much written out. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So instead I will use my newly acquired half-century wisdom to leave the long lists for others to make on Facebook, and instead focus on where my expertise lays: cards, and in this case, some of my favorite birthday cards. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Let&#8217;s start with the Chanel suit of birthday cards: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://sugarpaper.com/" target="_blank">Sugar Paper</a>. This beauty is letterpressed in sailor blue and paired with a pale pink envelope and gold foil dot envelope liner. It&#8217;s absolutely exquisite from every angle!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><img src="https://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Sugar-Paper_birthday-card.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10002206" width="1100" height="628"/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This design by Tay Ham succeeds on so many levels. Look, your loved one wants you stick around forever — just like most of us feel about RBG! </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><img src="https://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/402-Tay-Ham-RBG-Forever-Web.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10002191" width="1243" height="1492"/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I love <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Emily McDowell &; Friends (opens in a new tab)" href="https://emilymcdowell.com/" target="_blank">Emily McDowell &; Friends</a> just like anyone with a pulse, but ideally this is the year I finally stop lowering my IQ via reality TV and use the time instead to do a deep dive into, say, the Russian classics. In reality, I&#8217;ll consider myself lucky if I don&#8217;t get sucked into another one.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><img src="https://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/GC379-Reality-Show-Birthday.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10002196" width="1108" height="1108"/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">No one does letterpress quite like<a href="https://riflepaperco.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" Rifle Paper Co. (opens in a new tab)"> Rifle Paper Co.</a> — the majority of their cards are digitally printed, so when they delve into this printing method, you know every dot on the card is going to be artfully placed!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><img src="https://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/G4B002-JardinBirthday-02.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10002195" width="1066" height="1136"/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Meanwhile, here&#8217;s a more typical Rifle design, complete with Anna Bond&#8217;s signature sensational flora &; fauna. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><img src="https://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/GCB024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10002198" width="1122" height="1234"/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Another really talented maker is Mindy Carpenter of <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Carpe Diem Papers (opens in a new tab)" href="https://carpediempapers.com/" target="_blank">Carpe Diem Papers</a>. Her work is a joy to get lost in (as I always do every time I hit the High Design section at <a href="https://www.americasmart.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="AmericasMart (opens in a new tab)">AmericasMart</a>!). For years I have been asking her to send me images, and this year, as an early birthday present, she did! Yum :)</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><img src="https://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/mindy-carpenter_Vintage_Birthday-copy.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10002204" width="1089" height="1368"/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I must be middle aged, since Rosé makes me sluggish, then sleepy — so I&#8217;ll stick to appreciating this alluring gold-foiled design from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/allmylayers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" label="All My Layers (opens in a new tab)">All My Layers</a>. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><img src="https://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/all-my-layers_BirthdayRoses.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10002192" width="1245" height="1245"/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This type of experience is definitely more my speed. Thank you <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Hammerpress (opens in a new tab)" href="https://hammerpress.net/" target="_blank">Hammerpress</a>!</p><div class="inline-post clearfix"><div class="see-also byline">See also</div><div id="block-wrap-16251" class="block-wrap-native block-wrap block-wrap-23 block-css-16251 block-wrap-classic columns__m--1 elements-design-3 block-ani block-skin-0 tipi-box block-wrap-thumbnail ppl-m-1 clearfix" data-id="16251" data-base="0"><div class="tipi-row-inner-style clearfix"><div class="tipi-row-inner-box contents sticky--wrap"><div class="block block-23 clearfix"><article class="tipi-xs-12 clearfix with-fi ani-base tipi-xs-typo split-1 split-design-1 loop-0 preview-thumbnail preview-23 elements-design-3 post-23138 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-off-the-press tag-design tag-fabric-napkins tag-gift-boxes tag-gift-toppers tag-gift-wrap tag-holiday-collection tag-napkins tag-partyware tag-ribbon tag-sarah-schwartz tag-stationery tag-sugar-paper tag-sugar-paper-los-angeles tag-sugar-paper-x-target tag-target tag-thank-you-stationery tag-the-paper-chronicles tag-velvet-ribbon" style="--animation-order:0"><div class="preview-mini-wrap clearfix"><div class="mask"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/sugar-paper-x-target-collection-18/" class="mask-img"><img width="100" height="100" src="https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_0445-print.jpg?resize=100%2C100&;ssl=1" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_0445-print.jpg?resize=150%2C150&;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_0445-print.jpg?resize=200%2C200&;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_0445-print.jpg?resize=293%2C293&;ssl=1 293w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_0445-print.jpg?resize=75%2C75&;ssl=1 75w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_0445-print.jpg?resize=390%2C390&;ssl=1 390w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_0445-print.jpg?resize=585%2C585&;ssl=1 585w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_0445-print.jpg?resize=24%2C24&;ssl=1 24w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_0445-print.jpg?resize=48%2C48&;ssl=1 48w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DSC_0445-print.jpg?resize=96%2C96&;ssl=1 96w" sizes="(max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px" /></a></div><div class="meta"><div class="byline byline-2 byline-cats-design-4"><div class="byline-part cats"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/category/off-the-press/" style="color:#b79b0d" class="cat">Off The Press</a></div></div><div class="title-wrap"><h3 class="title"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/sugar-paper-x-target-collection-18/">Sugar Paper x Target Collection &#8217;18!</a></h3></div><div class="byline byline-3"><span class="byline-part date"><i class="tipi-i-calendar" aria-hidden="true"></i> <time class="entry-date published dateCreated flipboard-date" datetime="2018-10-26T12:37:53+00:00">October 26, 2018</time></span><span class="byline-part likes-count"><a href="#" class="tipi-like-count " data-pid="23138"><span class="likes-heart"><i class="tipi-i-heart-o" aria-hidden="true"></i><i class="tipi-i-heart" aria-hidden="true"></i></span><span class="tipi-value">0</span></a></span></div></div></div></article></div></div></div></div></div></tipimidc>



<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><img src="https://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Hammerpress_70s_VIBES_Chill_Birthday_card.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10002200" width="1115" height="1115"/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">And this is not off the table either, unfortunately. Not that I&#8217;m getting maudlin or anything — I have a 13 year old daughter, so the next five years or so are bound to be emotional ones. This heartbreaking work of staggering honesty is from <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Tick Tock Press (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/TickTockPress" target="_blank">Tick Tock Press</a>. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><img src="https://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/tick-tock-press_Ugly-Cry-Birthday-01.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10002207" width="1094" height="1094"/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As tempting at is to hit a colorful object with a stick and get candy as a reward, I am probably (ok definitely) too old for a piñata, so I will stick to appreciating the engineering artistry (replete with laser-cut lettering) that is <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="UWP Luxe (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.uwpluxe.com/" target="_blank">UWP Luxe</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><img src="https://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/uwp-luxe_AL045-Birthday-Typography-CMYK-copy.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10002209" width="1088" height="704"/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">At my age, no birthday post is complete without a nod to the Over the Hill theme. I rather like <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Waterknot (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.waterknot.com/" target="_blank">Waterknot</a>&#8216;s take on it. This up-and-coming maker was a great find in the <a href="https://www.lasvegasmarket.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Las Vegas Market (opens in a new tab)">Las Vegas Market</a>&#8216;s Pavilions. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><img src="https://i0.wp.com/thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/waterknot0677.jpg?fit=791%2C1024&;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-10002211" width="1088" height="1407"/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This beauty is also from Waterknot, and it&#8217;s definitely more where my head is at today!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><img src="https://i0.wp.com/thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/waterknot_635.jpg?fit=792%2C1024&;ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-10002210" width="1082" height="1398"/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Finally, this lovely card from <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Ginger P. Designs (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.gingerpdesigns.com/" target="_blank">Ginger P. Designs</a> just sums up the season for me, and puts a figurative design bow on the whole birthday kahuna. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I have nothing but gratitude to all this industry talent for helping us celebrate those we love! Take it from this old-timer: That is really the greatest gift of all.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><img src="https://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Ginger-p_CB007-Summer-Birthdays-Picture.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10002199" width="1103" height="1175"/></figure>