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So I need to whip up a 40th Bday card for a party we're attending tomorrow night(good friend of hubby's) and I just really really want to use my MS graveyard border punch because I haven't gotten around to making my Halloween party invites/Halloween cards. So....... we came up with a little graveyard scene on the front with "Here's to your 40th" and then on the inside--- "another year older and one foot in the grave". Whatcha think?? A little wrong?? Possibly losing a friend??
I love it and I LOVE the inside saying as well ... I am over 40 and had I got a card like this on my 40th birthday, I would have had a good laugh. I say go for it, as long as your friend has a good sense of humour, I'm sure he'll love it!
Oh thanks! He does have a good sense of humor and thinking about it--aren't black balloons customary for a 40th?? I know I'd think it's funny. Not quite there yet but soon. Very soon.
Just to throw another opinion in there, I'd be careful. It may be funny, but is it tasteful? I guess if your friend has a good sense of humor and isn't struggling with any age/health issues, it might be fine. But I'd think it through really well first.
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I sternly told all friends I didn't want any of that black, graveyard stuff at 40...I said why can't they make cards that say, "Still looking good" or something like that. My one friend did throw me a 40th birthday party that soooooo surprised me!!! I had mentioned to her that I hoped I didn't get any "one foot in the grave" stuff and she threw a really great party. I think the only thing that was there were black balloons. I did get a cane with a horn on it that I didn't appreciate and a lovely homemade basket that had wine glasses sticking out, but it didn't have wine...the bottle was wrapped and was prunce juice. That WAS funny...so I vote NO OVER THE HILL stuff...just You're looking good stuff!
__________________ All I want is the chance to prove money won't make me happy!
I'm always careful with these types of cards. If the receipient has a great sense of humor, it can work well; but since death and references to death freak out a lot of people and so I say it depends on to whom it's going!
I like the 40 sucks idea!
__________________ Donna Love my puppies! Thor 5 years; Maddee 5 years
Sadly (lol) my 40th has come and gone. My girlfriends threw a party for me at Olive Garden and when I got there, they had a HUMONGOUS "Lordy, Lordy Look Who's 40" balloon tied to the chair of honor. They'd managed to get a table in the very center of the restaurant too. One of my friends gave me a card addressed to "Old Lady (insert last name here)and I received pamphlets on hip replacements, etc. Having said all that, I had a GREAT time and would have fallen off my chair laughing if someone had given me this card! These ladies knew me very well, though, and knew I have an irreverant sense of humor. I say if you know the person and know they'd get a kick out of, then do it. Otherwise, I'd' go for something less.....ghastly
__________________ "As a matter of fact, I am a mad scientist!
Sounds cute. If you know the friend well, he isn't going through health issues (as stated above), and hasn't had a death in the family recently, I see nothing wrong with it. Personally though, I'm with Allistamps123 and was glad that no one did that for me on my 40th birthday. Just not my kind of thing. But if your friend would like it, go for it!
35 years ago our group of friends thought this was a very funny way to celebrate milestone birthdays. Our best friend had a surprise BD party for her hubby's 25th (he was depressed about turning 25). He was killed on duty about 3 months later. His widow carried so much guilt over this for many years.
__________________ Rubber Stampin' Square Dancin' Round Dancin' Mary
I think that if you have any doubts or reservations at all, don't. (I personally HATE that theme for birthdays. Life is to be celebrated, cherished, enjoyed - and that includes getting old!)
35 years ago our group of friends thought this was a very funny way to celebrate milestone birthdays. Our best friend had a surprise BD party for her hubby's 25th (he was depressed about turning 25). He was killed on duty about 3 months later. His widow carried so much guilt over this for many years.
So sorry to hear about your friends. I hadn't thought of this specific circumstance, but definitely, I'm not one for joking about death. But some people may not mind.
Scrapcat, you seem to be getting opinions on both sides of the fence. Didn't you say this was your husband's friend? Have you asked your husband's opinion? He knows his friend (and how he will receive this kind of card) better than any of us. JAT
Thanks for all the opinions on both sides. I really hadn't dropped in again to look at this since there were only a few comments before our party yesterday and we decided to drive on with the card. It's my husband's friend/coworker(soldier that worked for him) and he does know him well. In fact, at the party he talked about how his wife sent him a bright yellow hat when he was deployed to Afghanistan--joked she must've wanted the increased insurance.
Although he didn't open any cards/gifts at the party, I'm sure he got a laugh out of it. Soldiers are a tough crowd and can take the ribbing. Probably shouldn't have brought in on here to ask opinions. Tasteless? You betcha. It was a guy, a soldier, and death is no stranger so why not laugh a little?
(I was also reminded by hubby that this is the same guy who was totally instrumental in pulling off a practical joke on a soldier who was "accidentally" listed as dead. They decorated his desk at work one morning with a tombstone and black balloons.) No worries about an offensive card here.
I think this one is a judgement call. Depending on of course how well you know the b-day recipient and what his/her sense of humor is like. I think it's funny to give to a close friend but if it was someone I was not really close with, maybe not so much. HTH
eek, it's too late to offer an opinion, but in case others are considering this...since the guy was a soldier, I would definitely have NOT put that "foot in the grave" sentiment in there. I think teasing someone about getting older is fine, even the black balloons and stuff (although that traditionally was done at 50, I thought?)...but yeah, humor can go too far sometimes. Just my 2c
__________________ Lynn
"Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right�--Lincoln
Thanks for all the opinions on both sides. I really hadn't dropped in again to look at this since there were only a few comments before our party yesterday and we decided to drive on with the card. It's my husband's friend/coworker(soldier that worked for him) and he does know him well. In fact, at the party he talked about how his wife sent him a bright yellow hat when he was deployed to Afghanistan--joked she must've wanted the increased insurance.
Although he didn't open any cards/gifts at the party, I'm sure he got a laugh out of it. Soldiers are a tough crowd and can take the ribbing. Probably shouldn't have brought in on here to ask opinions. Tasteless? You betcha. It was a guy, a soldier, and death is no stranger so why not laugh a little?
(I was also reminded by hubby that this is the same guy who was totally instrumental in pulling off a practical joke on a soldier who was "accidentally" listed as dead. They decorated his desk at work one morning with a tombstone and black balloons.) No worries about an offensive card here.
I think you did the right thing...............
__________________ ~Valerie~ My Altered States "If you cant be a good example then at least be a horrible warning."
I forgot to mention--I changed the wording on the card from my OP. It ended up reading on the outside "here's to 40" and on the inside "now taking reservations. Happy Birthday". This was hubby's idea and his friend. I told the guy I had nothing to do with it except the execution(heehee).
40th Bday card question...Is this wrong??
