In Memory of a Lovely Lady

My husband's last surviving aunt just passed away in July.  She celebrated her 93rd birthday in late June, and we certainly were not expecting this sudden turn of events.  She was a wonderful person, so kindhearted and personable, and quite humorous as well.  She will be missed, but we know for sure that she has been welcomed with open arms into God's home in heaven.  We wanted to share our sympathy with her children, John's cousins and let Dan and Vali, and Sister Rebecca  know that we have been thinking of them often and praying that their loving memories of their mother give them solace from their grief.

For sympathy cards, I finished a few cards that I had started at a cardmaking class several months ago with Liz Thayer and converted them to sympathy cards.  I made just a few changes to Liz's original designs to change their sentiment focus.  I think Liz would approve of the changes I made for this time of sorrow.

 

Recipe Card #1:  Stampin' Up products: Cardstocks: Midnight Muse, Whisper White, Brown Sugar; Stamps: En Francaise background, Flowering Flourishes, Four Frames, Petite Pairs; Ink: Midnight Muse, Kraft White, Burnt Brown Sugar; Punch: Decorative Labels; Ribbon: Midnight Muse Stitched Satin; Button: Very Vintage.  Sizzix: Top Note die (inside). Technique: Embossed Resist; Sponging. 

Recipe: Card #2: Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks: Strawberry Slush, Black, Whisper White; Stamps: So Very Grateful (Spring 2014), Love &Sympathy; Simply Pressed Clay--Blossoms Clay Mold; Ribbon: Primrose Petals Satin Stitched ribbon. Ink: Strawberry Slush, StazOn: Black.  Spellbinder dies: Ovals SM, Scalloped Ovals SM.  Sizzix: Top Note die (inside).  Technique Crayon Resist, Sponging.

Birthday for Sister-in-Law #4

My sister-in-law, living in Colorado, celebrated her birthday in July as well!  That's three sister-in-law birthdays and one sister to celebrate this month!  I blame it all on my husband with his big family of seven siblings, who are all married!  So, with my busy month of getting ready for vacation, I decided I needed to use some of the cards in my stash, and I came across this little "Hello" card that I made several years ago at a card class taught by Misty Bradley in Redding, California.  

I love the soft pinks and grays together, and I am sure my sister-in-law will be pleased with it.  Knowing I would be seeing her this month at the sibling family reunion, I knew I would be able to hand-deliver it to her.  I hope Jeanie enjoyed her card when she opened it on her birthday as much as I enjoyed making it, creating the inside coordinating design, and finding just the right inside verse for the occasion.

Recipe:  SU cardstock:  Whisper White, Pretty-in-Pink.  BoBunny Double Dot: Shadow Dot.  SU punches: 1-3/8" Circle; 1-3/4" Scallop Circle.  Offray: 3/8" pink satin ribbon.  Liquid Pearls. (Size: 4-1/2" x 6").

July 2014 Anniversary #8!

My youngest son, and youngest child, is having his eighth wedding anniversary in the month of July.  It is difficult to believe that eight years have gone since this wonderful occasion.  His bride was as lovely at the wedding as she is a person, and we are all so happy to have her as part of the family!

For their anniversary, I wanted to convey this note of happiness, so I chose a card from a kit designed by my sister/ card mentor, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner @ blogspot), and completed it with my own tweaks and changes to make it more me.  To do this, I added two more layers of colored cardstock that accomplish three things:  it added more color to the card (which originally only had a vanilla base); it added more layering; and it enlarged the card size from the standard A2 size.  I also added a little twine bow to the front embellishments and rounded the corners of the vanilla layer.  I decided to add decorative corner cutouts to my new blue layer, to add more detail, and then after trimming the vanilla sides a sliver, I attached the top vanilla unit to my blue layer.  I finished by popping this entire unit off the base card.  I think the additional colored cardstock layers enhanced the front banners and made them pop more.  I also think the whole card is even more eye-appealing than it already was in its original lovely design.  I think Mark and Ginger will be please with their So Happy for You anniversary card.

Recipe:  SU cardstocks: Crushed Curry (base), Island Indigo, Very Vanilla.  Pattern Papers: DCWV: Adhesive Cork; MME--Miss Caroline-Dilly Dally/ Dolled Up/ Fiddlesticks.  Papertrey: Stamps-Mini Blooms (sentiment); Dies-Delightful Dahlia (leaves).  MFT dies: Fishtail Flags.  SU punches: 5-Petal Flower (ret.), Boho Blossoms, 1" Circle, 1-1/4" Scallop Circle, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle, Scallop Border (inside).   Spellbinders: Labels 1.  WRMK Corner Chomper: Scallop.  American Crafts: Corner Rounder (small).  Queen & Co. Goosebumps (some colored w/ Copics).  May Arts Hemp Twine.  Stash: Sage felt.  (Size: 4-3/4" x 6").

Birthday for "Sister Dear"!

My only sister celebrates her birthday during the month of July.  I wanted to send her a birthday card to let her know that though we are miles apart, she is in my mind daily.  Now, there are many reasons for this, but three primary reasons are: 1) she is my sister, 2) she is my loving friend, and 3) she is my very first cardmaking mentor.  In other words, she is responsible for my very favorite hobby of my entire lifetime...cardmaking.  She has taught me right from the first novice stages:  how to cut paper; how to save paper while cutting; what glues to use; how to use a tape runner gun; how to make a mini album; how to color and shade, first with woodless colored pencils and then with Copic markers; and finally, she got me involved in Stampin' Up.  She has more patience in her little finger while teaching real beginners than I have in my entire body!  She also has more creative genes in her little finger than I do in my entire body!  So, I thank her and wanted to make her this little birthday card, which says it all "LOVE!"

Recipe: Paper: SU cardstock: Whisper White, Crisp Cantaloupe. Authentique-Grace: Poised/ dots, Beauty/ flowers, Sweetness/ Words. Computer-made sentiment.  SU Punches: 1-3/4” Scallop, 1-3/8” Circle, 1” Circle. Flower punches: Blossom + Pansy. MemroyBox: Typewriter Upper Alphabet dies. Seam binding ribbon dyed Crisp Cantaloupe. Recollections Brad pearl.  (Size: 4-3/4" x 5").

Birthday Card for Cousin Junie!

My oldest cousin will be having a birthday in July, and I wanted to make her a birthday card, which meant I had to get busy because of my looming motorhome vacation.  I was pretty sure we might still be traveling when her card needed to be mailed, so I needed to complete it and take it with me.  I decided to case a design from another little card I made at one of Liz Thayer's card classes and add a few modifications to see how it turned out.  I added a third flower to its original design and a few more leaves.  I also changed the sentiment to a birthday theme and stamped it on a separate pieced of white cardstock instead of directly onto the card front.  I tweaked its location  and popped up with two decorative punched layers peeking out behind.  I tried a little punch creativity by using the Blossom flower punch to punch out the bottom green layer of the sentiment. 

I then went to work creating a decorative design for the inside to coordinate with the front.  I decided the little Boho punch flowers and rhinestones that I used on the front Flower Shop flower centers would be a nice touch on each of the verse corners and, maybe, I'd throw in a few tiny leaves under each flower and it would be just right.  I was pleased with the additions I made to the original card design, my birthday verse,  and the coordinating inside design.  I think my cousin will enjoy her birthday card.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up cardstocks:  Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Gumball Green.  SU stamps:  Flower Shop. SU Ink: Primrose Petals.  SU Modern Mosac EF.  SU Adorning Accents Edgelit.  SU punches: Bird Builder (leaves); Boho Blossoms; Modern Labels; Pansy; Blossom punch (modified for green sentiment back).  SU rhinestones. Computer-made sentiment/ verse (Xiorama font).  (Size: 4-1/2" x 5-3/4").

My Son-in-Law's Birthday!

My son-in-law's birthday was coming up in mid-July, and I was leaving for a few weeks on vacation...our first excursion out in the motor-home this year.  With our leave date coming up soon, I needed to be proactive and get Don's birthday card made early to leave as we would be gone on his actual birthday. Yikes, I was feeling the pressure to get busy very quickly.

Now, he is a big coffee drinker, so I decided to use my Perfect Blend Stampin' Up stamp set with his card. Then, I remembered a really cute card I had started at a class taught by Liz Thayer several months ago where she taught the masking and reverse masking techniques.  We used the Perfect Blend stamps with the reverse masking technique to make this card.  I had all the parts stamped, cut, and embossed, I just needed to assemble the card that was almost complete, but I decided I wanted to modified my card's design a bit to put a little more "me" into it.  I wanted to enlarge it and add more color for interest, so I added a black card base to make a fifth layer, which accomplished both things.  I also added the printed belly-bands to the two outside cups instead of just on the middle cup.  I decided to use red scrappers floss ties on my ribbon instead of twine and put it on the top as well as on the bottom.  I then added a larger dark brown glimmer ticket as a base layer to my ticket sentiment and a red star with his initial on the center cup.  I also added an inside pocket to place a Starbucks gift card inside, and made a birthday verse for the inside with decorations to coordinate with the front.  I think my additions enhanced Liz's original card creation yet preserved its original cute design.  I hope Don likes his card as much as I enjoyed make and modifying it.

Recipe:  SU Papers:  Cardstock-Basic Black, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla; Neutral Paper Stack; Red Glimmer.  DCWV Glittery Glitz: Dark Brown.  SU stamps: Perfect Blend.  SU Ink: Soft Suede.  Spellbinders die: 5-Point Star.  SU Punch: Ticket Corner (ret.).  SU Decorative Dots EF.  SU Chevron ribbon.  Making Memories Glitter letter (colored with Copics). Stash: Red Scrapper's Floss.  Technique: Reverse Masking.  (Size: 4-1/2" x 5-3/4").

2014 Sister-in-Law Birthdays - #3

So, with two of the eight sister-in-law birthdays already under by belt, it is now time for sister-in-law #3's birthday.  Dianne used to be a tea drinker in her younger years when we live near each other in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Wow!  That was 40 years ago...a lot of time has gone by.  She has lived in at least three states other than California since then, and the same is true for me.  The only other state we both lived in was Virginia, but our tenure was separated by at least ten years.  Each of our other states of residence have been totally different areas of the country.  It is amazing how a husband's work career can move you around the country.

Back to Dianne's card...remembering our tea drinking days, I decided to make her a little card depicting a teacup...I just love all the stamps and dies available to do just that.  I chose a Papertrey Ink set of stamps and dies to make this little card.  I cased a card made by my sister several years ago, and changed it up a bit by enlarging my card to a 5-1/2" square and adding a darker aqua layer and more sewing machine stitching.  I also coordinated my tea bag color with the card...that was a bit of luck!  I add a little homemade verse and coordinated the inside decor with the front of the card.  I hope Dianne likes her little tea card!

Recipe:  Papers: SU Whisper White cs (base), Coastal Cabana cs.  Papertrey Ink patterns: Green Boutique, 2008 Bitty Dots, 2008 Bitty Box Basics.  Papertrey stamps/ dies: Tea for Two Additions.  SU Ink: Soft Suede, Baja Breeze. Zutter Corner Rounder. Colorbox Chestnut Roan (distrressing).  Machine stitching.  Computer-made verse (Tempus Sans ITC font). EK punch: Fancy Photo Corners.  Stash:  Baker's Twine.  (Size: 5-1/2" square).  (Thank you Heidi Gonzales for design to CASE).

A Coast Guard Retirement...Congratulations!

My son-in-law has decided to retire after 27 years of service in the Coast Guard.  His last duty station was at the USCG Operations Center in Kearneysville, West Virginia - the software development center for the Coast Guard and Homeland Security.  His first question upon receiving this assignment was:  West Virginia! Is there any water or boats in West Virginia?  And, the answer was, "No!"  For a man used to being on a boat in the ocean, I would say this was disconcerting to say the least! 

I am a lover of U.S. history, and I found the Coast Guard's history very interesting.  Here are a few of those items I found to be interesting tidbits:

• The Coast Guard is the oldest continuous seagoing service of the United States, and its original purpose was to collect customs duties in the nation's seaports under the U.S. Treasury Department, starting in 1790.
• It has changed the department that it reports to seven times in its history, as follows:  U.S. Dept. of Treasury (1790-1917); U.S. Dept. of Navy (1917-1919: World War I); U.S. Dept. of Treasury (1919-1946); U.S. Dept. of Navy (1941-1946: World War II); U.S. Dept. of Treasury (1946-1967); U.S. Dept. of Transportation (1967-2003); Dept. of Homeland Security (2003-present).
• It can be transferred to the U.S. Dept. of Navy by the President at any time or by Congress during times of war; therefore, its motto is Always Ready.
• It is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission with jurisdiction in domestic and international water, and also a federal regulatory agency as well.
• In terms of size, the Coast Guard, by itself, is the world's 12th largest naval force.

For Don's retirement, effective July 1st, I made this card with a few photos of "boats" and/or duty stations to which he has been assigned throughout his 27-year career to commemorate and thank him for his years of service to our country.

Recipe:  Bazzil cs (cardbase): Admiral; DCWV: Glitzy Glitter Stack/ The Corrugated Stack; Authentique: Pride/ Unified/ Amend; BoBunny: Dark Denim Dot; Recollections: Photo Burlap.  Recollections Essentials Distressed.  Dies:  Sizzix Tim Holtz Picture Reel BigZ; Spellbinders Labels 15/ Stars.  WRMK Deco Corner Chomper.  Zutter Corner Rounder.  Recollections Star brads.  Stash:  Button, Scrapper's Floss.  (Size: 5-3/4" square).

Thinking of a Friend...Feel Better Soon!

A good friend has been under the weather for over a week, and I wanted to send her a little pick-me-up card to let her know I was thinking about her and wishing her well.  

I decided on a card I made a few weeks ago that has been waiting to be chosen for the perfect person it was surely meant for.  The bones of this card are from a lovely design of my sister's, Heidi Gonzales/ My Lil' Scrap Corner.  While putting it together, of course, I had to make a few adjustments to make it more me.  I added two base layers, changing the card base from white to navy and adding a little aqua layer in-between it and the first patterned-paper layer.  I also decided to add a corner design to the navy pattern so it was not just a plain square by using my WRMK Deco Corner Chomper.  It also sports a navy ribbon with a double bow instead of an indigo blue single layer bow. 

I hope my friend enjoys her very colorful little card, and it perks her up, and she knows she is thought about often!

Recipe: Stamp: PTI Mini Blooms (sentiment/ mini flowers). Papers - SU cs: Night of Navy, Pool Party, Whisper White. WRMK Yellow cs.  DSP: WRMK-Feelin’ Groovy: Harmony (diamonds), Stripes (back: scroll print).  Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Spellbinders die: Scalloped Squares. PTI die: Happy Day. WRMK Deco Corner Chomper. Colorbox Chestnut Roan (edge distressing). Hug Snug Skipper Blue seam binding ribbon. Recollections mini rhinestones. 

Daughter's Birthday to Celebrate at "Home!"

My daughter, Michele, has returned to Washington now that her husband is retiring from the Coast Guard!  She has been "home" for three months and has been busy refinishing all the floors in her house and painting up a storm!  I was anxious to go over and see all the wonderful progress when I got home from my long trip to California.  And now, we are so excited to be able to look forward to celebrating her birthday with her for the first time in two years!

While on my semi-annual trip to California, I got busy and made Michele's birthday card.  I have seen so many wonderful card made using Stampin' Up's new Pansy punch and the Flower Shop stamps, and because Michele is quite the gardener, I wanted to see what I could come up with.  I also wanted to try the Crisp Cantaloupe In-Color, so I started with these ideas in mind.  

Of the six choices of flower designs available in the stamp set, I chose the most solid flower and stamped a staggered row toward the left side on my Very Vanilla cardstock.  I then stamped eight additional flowers to punch out for layering and popping.  After punching out four of the full flowers, I then used the Boho Blossom punch to punch out the centers of the other four stamped flowers.  I applied Dazzling Delights to the four full flowers and the four punched out flower centers.  When dry, I curled up the edges, layered two together, and adhered them, ending up with two layered sets.  I positioned these on my card front and popped them for dimension.  I curled the edges and glued the four flower centers to each blossom on the card front.  I was lucky to have some Studio 21 large pearls in the perfect color to use as the very center of each of my flowers.  I am very happy with the results, and I think Michele will like her birthday card.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up cardstocks:  Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Crisp Cantaloupe.  BoBunny paper: A Gift of Love/ Olivia.  SU stamps:  Flower Shop, Express Yourself (sentiment).  SU Ink: Crisp Cantaloupe.  SU punches: Pansy, Boho Blossoms.  SU Dazzling Details.  Studio 21: Peach Large Pearls.  (Size:  5-1/8" x 5-1/2")

A Sister-in-Law's June Birthday to Celebrate!

The Card Story:  It is one of my eight sister-in-law's birthday in late June, so I wanted to keep up my record of the past two years of getting a card made for each of my sister-in-law's birthdays each year.  But, of course, I also wanted her know she is a great gal to know and has a special place in my heart.  I wanted to make something summery and cheerful, and earlier this week while I was shopping at Costco, I saw their lovely Bing cherries and for some reason it reminded me of a patterned paper I had seen several years ago.  I was sure I had a piece and I figured I'd go home and pull it out and see what I could do with it.

Well, in muddling through my scrapbooking supplies, lo and behold, I found a box that contained several partially started but unfinished cards.  There was one with that very paper I remembered with the cherries.  Thinking back to several years ago when I started this card, I remembered it was one of a set of three or four from a card class held when my sister had her scrapbook store in Redding, California with Misty Bradley as the instructor.  I remember it being a very busy day...one of those where you are trying to fit in everything and just can't quite get it all done (probably from poor planning on my own part. . .LOL)!  I was late to class, didn't get all the instruction, and I didn't finish all of the cards in the set.  No worries, I figured I'd just take the pieces home to finish later.  

I pulled out the partially completed card and looked over the pieces in the baggie.  I trimmed some excess paper to save and use on the inside with the verse and decided to change the center popped piece.  I re-cut new pieces and place a birthday sentiment on it and added a popped flower with fussy-cut leaves and it was ready to go.  I wrote a little verse and prettied up the inside to coordinate with the front.  I'm hoping Thelma likes her cheerful and summery little card full of cherries! 

Recipe:  SU cardstock colors: Whisper White, Gumball Green, Melon Mambo (inside), Pool Party.  Pattern: MME: Fine & Dandy/ Tickled Pink "Cheery".  Spellbinders Big Scallop Rectangles LG/ SM.  Martha Stewart Scallop Dot Edger.  EK punches:  Circles Large Edger, Scallop Photo Corners.  SU punch: Boho Blossoms (front flower).   Colorbox: Chestnut Roan ink (distressing).  Buttons: Dress It Up.  White embroidery floss.  Stash: Rhinestone. 

Celebrating Birthday #93 and Counting!

Of 10 aunts and uncles from his father's side of the family and 11 from his mother's family, my husband's last surviving aunt is about to have her 93rd birthday!!!!  I, being from a small family, have always found the size of my husband's family mind-boggling!  Being the last of her generation in the family, I have been trying to be sure I make and send a birthday card to Aunt Joanie every year.  I even made two cards for her several years ago when the entire family "showered" her with cards for her 90th birthday. . .two because I made one for my husband's mother to send as well.  Aunt Joanie has an amazing sense of humor, and it is certainly easy to keep her in a special place in your heart.

I love tag card, so decided to borrow a card design made by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner blog) several years ago that I have always admired, and I thank her for the idea.  My card uses the same color tones and some of the same papers, but is 5-1/2" square instead of an A2 size.  I have also added another background layer, sewing machine stitching, pearls, and changed the sentiment and placement.  I hope Aunt Joanie likes her card, which will travel from Washington to Kansas for her birthday.

Recipe:  Paper: Georgia Pacific White cs (base); Recollections-Dots, Stripes & Plaids; MME-Everyday Tango (blue-green dot);  MME Fine & Dandy-Tickled Pink Delicate/ Engaging/ Delighted.  Papertrey Ink stamps/die:  Delightful Dahlia.  Copic Markers.  SU punch: Word Window/ Scallop Edger.  Zutter Corner Rounder (pocket).  Martha Stewart punch: Lace Floral Edger (inside).  Computer-made sentiment/ Xiorama font.  Stash:  Button, Baker's Twine, Pearls, Crochet Lace.  Sewing machine zig-zag/ straight stitch.

Thinking of You & Thank You!

I just had a nice, long visit with my mother in California.  I went down to help her out because she was in a car accident at the end of March where a young woman ran a red light and hit Mom's car as Mom was making a left turn on her green arrow.  Her car was totaled in that it was a 2001 model, and therefore, the repairs exceeded its value in the eyes of the insurance, BUT in Mom's eyes her immaculate car, with only 42,000 miles, was no longer her's to drive.  The car had been garaged its entire "life" and was like brand new inside and out.  Though she personally received little physical damage visible to the casual observer, she was pretty badly bruised in the knees and chest, receiving bone bruising that took over eight weeks to finally subside to a bearable level of pain.  Mom has "coughing" asthma, and actually could NOT cough when her body said she needed to because the pain was so severe.  According to the doctor, it would take from two to three months for the pain to completely subside, and the only thing she could do was try to be as immobile as possible and give her body a chance to heal.  My visit extended a little over two weeks longer than I anticipated trying to help her out by taking over the cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, errands, and driving until she was able to do it for herself again, in addition trying to help her figure out some sort of transportation for her.

I wanted to make a little card to thank her for the visit and "putting up" with me for such a long period time, and also to let her know I am thinking about her and glad to hear she is almost back to normal.  It is difficult for people as they get older to relinquish their independence, even if only for a few weeks, and have someone around all the time when they are used to being alone and being self-sufficient.  This is my little card that I started to make at a card event hosted by one of my cardmaking mentors, Liz Thayer.  I did change it up just a little by adding a designer paper layer between the top layer and the cardbase.

Recipe:  SU cardstocks: Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Old Olive.  Pattern:  Crate Paper: Paper Heart Collection.   Copic Markers.  SU products: Stamps/dies-Secret Garden; Stamps: Happy Days; Perfect Dots EF; Dazzling Details; 3/8" Coastal Cabana Ruffled ribbon; Delicate Details Lace Tape.  Recollections: pearls. EK Basketweave Corner punch

A Nursing Graduation with High Honors!

As many of you may have read, my youngest daughter complete her R.N. degree back in December, 2013 and passed her R.N. NCLEX licensing test in early February, 2014.  We are, as we should be, extremely proud of her.  She gave her all in the pursuit of this goal, working only part-time, and living at home again.  The results were graduation with high honors of a 4.0 GPA and a Presidential Medal Nominee.  As she says, I may never "walk" for a degree again with high honors and two gold cords, so she plans to do just that.  Her next goal is to complete her B.S.N. at the University of Washington, and I'll be greatly surprised if she isn't just as successful with that course of study.  But, as she says, "I'll be working full-time as an R.N. and going to school part-time, so I may not have as much time to focus just on school work."  She laughs and adds, "And besides, I'm not getting any younger!"

To commemorate achieving this goal with such success, I wanted to make her a special card.  I made several "owl" graduation cards a few years ago and decided to use owls again for Jackie's card, but there would be two owls on her card, one with a cap and gown (and gold cords, of course), and one transforming into nurse scrubs.  I hope Jackie likes her little owl graduation card, as it was a lot of fun making it for her.

Recipe:  Papers: Recollections Navy cs (cardbase); SU Lucky Limeade; SU Soft Suede cs (tree/sponged); SU Always Artichoke (sponged); DCWV Collage Art Stack; MME Everyday Tango Collection; Recollections Essentials Distressed (blue inside); DCWV Shimmer Stack; October Afternoon: Cakewalk/ Hula Hoop (stripe); SU Red Glimmer paper.  SU stamps: A Dozen Thoughts.  SU Punches: Owl Builder, Itty Bitty Circle (cap)/ Flower (nurse cross) punches.  EK Punches: 3/4" Square (hat-cut to diamond), Fancy Photo Corners (inside). Dies:  Lifestyles-Eyelet Ovals; Nesting Ovals (modified smaller). Sizzix Sizizlit: Little Leaves.  SU Woograin EF.  Lion Gold Metallic fine yarn. May Arts: Hemp Twine.  Uni-ball Signo White Gel pen.   (Size: 6" square). 

Birthday for Cardmaking Mentor!

One of my favorite people is having a birthday this month in June.  I wanted to be sure to honor her on her birthday, plus thank her for all the wonderful cardmaking extravaganzas and events that she sponsors where we get to make wonderful cards and learn exciting cardmaking techniques.  She has been responsible for many a fun-filled day and evening that I have spent in the last two years!  

I had to give it a lot of thought because I wanted Liz's card to be as special as I think she is.  And, then a thought came to me.  I had shown Liz a card that I designed about nine months ago that she tried to talk me out of right then and there, because she like it so well.  At first, my thought was that I would send it to her in the mail as a surprise, but one thing led to another and I never got it sent.  So, I decided it would be perfect to make a card from its design that was especially made with just Liz in mind, and that is what I did.

Liz likes bling and glitter and girly stuff, so I decided to make her a pink card.  (I seem to be into pink when I think of a girly card!)  I do have to admit that I have never seen Liz wear pink, so maybe it was not a good choice, but I do hope so, as I was pretty pleased with the way it turned out.  I then went to work on a verse for the inside that I felt would be perfect for Liz as well.  I hope Liz likes her card, inside and out, because it was made especially with her in mind instead of the original which was just an "oh, let's try this idea card," that happened to turn out well.  And, here it is:

As it turned out, I was able to hand-deliver Liz's card with a little libations gift and take her to lunch with another cardmaking buddy.  We had a great time chatting it up and also enjoyed a little songfest with fabulous cheesecake for dessert.  What a way to celebrate!   Liz can have more birthday's any day!

Recipe:  Papers: Stampin' Up: Whisper White cs (card base); K&Co. Watercolor Bouquet Specialty Pad; Michaels' open stock (green circles), Recollections Essentials Distressed (pink-inside), SU Feeling Sentimental (retired) (penny-farthing bicycle). SU Ink: Chocolate Chip.  Punches: SU-Lace Ribbon punch (retired), SU-Modern Label; WRMK Corner Chopper-Deco; EK-Fancy Photo Corners (inside).  Prima: Pink Rosebuds.  Recollections:  Pink Flower/ Rhinestones.  Offray ribbons: Pink stitched, 3/8" Satin Loop.  SU Dazzling Details glitter adhesive.  Computer-made verse (Xiorama font).