Have an Epic Birthday!

Happy Days...this card has been chose as a
SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE WEEK
ENDING OCTOBER 16, 2016

My nephew, Landon, is having a birthday on October 8th.  Hmm. . .where have you heard that date before???  This is card number fourth and final card to make for my October 8th birthdays!  Since Landon is now a teen-ager, I have to change my mojo from boyhood-type cards to teens.  He is the first of my side of the family to have a teen-ager.

Since I know from my two boys, who are now men in the 30s and 40s, video games are still the thing; therefore, I thought I would try out my newly purchased My Favorite Things Game Controller dies and coordinating stamps.  Funny that I just purchased them a few months ago, and then they put them into a retiring sale. . .of course, after I purchased them.

I have some video game, techie-type paper that I thought I'd use for Landon's card.  Though it seems some of this paper is a bit dated (there's even some Space Invaders style), I was able to find a few pieces that are more generic and not specific to a particular game,  This was especially important as he lives so far away, thus I have no idea what games he's interested in or what he actually plays.  My card is bright and cheerful and I'm pretty happy with the outcome.  Take a look below and the finished card inside and out.  I think Landon will be pleased with his one-of-a-kind card made by his Auntie!

Ingredients:  Darice Core'dinations cardstock: Timeless pack.  DCWV Generation Tech Stack.  SU-cardstocks: Basic Blake, Whisper White, Real Red.  My Favorite Things:  Dies--Game Controller, Chevron Stripes; Stamps--Level Up, Chalkboard Greetings.  Impression Obsession dies: Instant Phot Frame corners.  Memento Ink: Tuxedo Black.  SU-Clear Embossing Powder.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".
Favorite info:  10/16/16...Thread #62).

Birthday Greetings to a Mariner's Fan!

My October is FULL of birthdays as you may have already notice from previous blog posts.  The next card needed is for my youngest son, Mark, whose birthday is also October 8th.  I have made many birthday cards for Mark over the past eight years of cardmaking, depicting his many talents and interests. . .vehicles, dirt bikes, tools, a bear beerfest, and Seahawks football are some ideas already used.  I find as I work on other cards, my mind will subconsciously be thinking about designs that I might be able to use on upcoming cards needed.  I pondered, "What shall I do for Mark this year?  One interest that I have not yet covered is Mariners baseball.  I wonder if I could make that work?" 

When the time came to get started, the Mariner idea was right there with some half-formed ideas, knowing that I needed to keep it fairly simple as my time was limited due to an upcoming trip.  For another birthday, I had been thinking of doing a simple cupcake card, but so far had not gone there.  I began to do a little online surfing and "googled" baseball cupcakes, and out popped this picture...I was stoked...what a great idea. 

My creative juice really began to move and jell.  I had seen a punch art cupcake card using circle patterns to make the cupcake icing...see the link here, and thought baseball circles would work perfectly.  Then my brain took another leap and thought. . .Mariner logo baseballs would be even cuter!  From there, I was really on a roll and went looking for bats online as an embellishment addition. . . they leaped right into vertical layers for my cupcake liner.  In addition, I did use them on the inside for an embellishment as well.  Take a look below at the inside and outside of the card created when my juices finally simmered enough to finish my card for Mark.  I think he will really like this new addition to his stash of Mom-made cards!

Ingredients:  Cardstocks: Stampin' Up--Basic Gray, Very Vanilla, Naturals Ivory (retired).  Bazill--Navy, Huner Green.  Stampin' Up stamp: Big Day (verse).  Cuttlebug EF: Happy Birthday.  Cottage Cutz die: Birthday Candle Border (modified).  Online images: Mariners baseball (colored/ resized), wooden bats (black & white/ resized).  Copic Markers.  EK Punch: Bubbles Corner (modified).  Size:  5" x 6".  

A 12th Year AA Birthday

My oldest son celebrates his 12th year of sobriety, and he credits his recovery for all the help he has received through attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and events.  He values the message in the Serenity Prayer and incorporates its words into his life on a daily basis.  I always like to honor his hard work and mark this special milestone in his life by making him one of my handmade cards.

I had just finished a birthday card for his younger brother, in which I chose to use the Mariners baseball team as the theme of his card design.  I made him a birthday cupcake of Mariners baseballs (which will be posted on October 6th), and thought it would be clever to use a cupcake on David's card as well.  I would use the birthday coins received each year to mark how many years of sobriety the person as achieved.  

I went online to search for images of 12-year coins and found a gold and red one that would go nicely with the color scheme of black, red, and gold foil, on which I had already decided.  I would use the back of the coin with the Serenity Prayer as the cupcake's frosting and the front of the red coin to represent the cherry on top.  Take a look below at my finished card inside and out.  I think David will be very pleased with his 12-Year AA birthday card.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up cardstock: Basic Black, Gold Foil.  Pattern: Graphic 45 Renaissance Faire/ Enlightened.  Google online images:  Red AA birthday coin-front and back, cupcake liner.  Cottage Cutz Expressions die: Birthday; Sugar & Cream Alphabet/ Numbers.  Stampin' Up punch: Curvy Corners (retired).  Cuttlebug EF: Happy Birthday.  Wink of Stella-Clear.  Computer-made verse.  Size: 5" x 6".

Fall Flowers for June's Birthday!

Onto my first sister-in-law birthday card. . .her special day is also on October 8th!   She will get a card from my stash that I started at a cardmaking event this past May while visiting my mother in Redding, CA.  This event was hosted by Darla Watson, a Stampin' Up demonstrator who comes to my Mom's area once a month to host card classes and events.  If you get a chance, take a look at Darla's blog, Scrap Happens Here, by clicking here. . .it is an enjoyable site to visit.

Darla's card design features fall colors and a big flower, which put me in mind of a sunflower with its center made from a patterned dsp and its petals from Stampin' Up's Floral Frames framelits.  For my card, I finished it up on my Mt. Shasta Girls' Getaway with my Mom and sister.  I changed up the sentiment message on the front fishtail flag, and added an Early Espresso card base that made four color mat layers.  With this many layers, I decided to adhere my top two layers and pop them up off the bottom two layers.  I think the dark brown cardbase really enhances the big flower's patterned center, and I like that with just a quick glance, the flower pops, and it really catches your eye.  

I really loved the look of this card.  I think the big patterned flower really did it for me, and with my few changes, it still retains its original lovely design.  I think my sister-in-law will really enjoy her fall flower card. . .take a look below at the finished card inside and out.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla (inside), Delightful Dijon, Mint Macaron, So Saffron, Old Olive.  Patterned: Botanical Gardens dsp (Occasions 2016).  Stamps: Sunburst Sayings (sentiment).  Dies: Floral Frames (retired), Botanical Builder, Punch: Curvy Corners (retired).  Large Polka Dot Embossing Folder.  Candy Dots, Pearls.  Fishtail Flag (handmade).  Verse sentiment: unknown (borrowed).  Size: 4-1/2" x 5-3/4".

Birthday Shaker for My Niece

My recent posts all seems to have the same theme...so little time and no time to do it!  I have a niece and two sister-in-laws whose birthdays are on October 8 and October 9!  With "no time to do it" in mind, I went to my card stash to see what I might use.  

I love to go to cardmaking events sponsored by other card-makers and just make cards from the designs they present; meanwhile, I can socialize with other cardmaking friends who also attend!  There are many times that I learn new techniques or get to use a technique that I know about, but am not all that familiar with, either because I have not used it at all or not enough to feel really comfortable with it.  Many times, I may find myself starting the card but bringing parts home to finish, because some creative idea popped in my head that I MUST incorporate into finish the card.  Sometimes, it is just a matter of adding more color layers to bring out the features of the card and making the card bigger in the process.  BUT, sometimes, I just love the design exactly the way it is, and then I just created it as is.  On all of these cards, I always finish the inside later with my own design and verse to compliment the card front.  These are the cards that reside in my stash waiting to be used when I need a card in a quick pinch.

With all that said, my first card is for my niece Shauna whose special day is another October 8th birthday, and for her, I chose a card that I started at an event hosted by the dynamic stamping duo: Dara Peterson and Luci Kirschbaum.  I believe this design was originated by Dara.  I love, love this birthday shaker card, and I completed it according to Dara's original design without modifications, except I added another color layer in the form of a new black cardbase.  The colors are all so rich and the little punched balloon, cupcake, and candle shakers are such a clever idea.  Thanks Dara for such a cute card design. . .it is perfect for my niece.  Take a look below at the finished card inside and out. . .I'm pretty sure Shauna will be delighted. 

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Basic Black, Mint Macaron, Melon Mambo.  Pattern--It's My Party dsp Stack (2016 Occasions).  Stamps--Party Wishes (2016 Occ.).  Ink: Archival Basic Black.  Window Sheets (clear acrylic).  Rhinestones.  Baker's Twine/ Pool Party (retired).  Papertrey Ink stamps: Big Birthday Wishes (verse inside).  EK punch: Scalloped Corners-Medium.  Size:  4-1/2" x 5-5/8".  (Note:  On front-patterned panel popped up),

Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice!

I have another grand-niece, and her name is Farrah.  She is my sixth little niece and my sister's sixth granddaughter!  This little one belongs to my sister's youngest boy (of four children), and she is his second daughter!  Are you confused or what???

For this baby girl, I wanted to use my Cottage Cutz baby clothes dies, which I purchased at least two years ago and have never used them.  I cased a card by Jeannie Donnelly where she used the clothing dies in the "inchies" format, and I thought it was just too cute.  I really liked the inchies idea, but changed mine just a bit.  I used the bib from the Fancy Baby Border, scalloped squares for my inchies, and made them smaller in diameter.  I decided to simplify my sentiment frame, and not added  flowers, making my card less fussy.   

One thing I did find was that to accommodate the clothing dies, you had to use a square at least 1-3/4 inches in diameter, thus my card ended up 6-1/2 inches square.  Because of the amount of room around the clothing, I believe the card that I cased had to have been made with a 2-inch postage-edged square die, which would make that card a minimum of 7-1/2 inches square.  I decided that was just TOO big...my 6-1/2 inches is already pretty darn big!  

I am quite pleased with the outcome of my LARGE card, and I think little Farrah and her parents will like it as well.  Take a look below at the inside and outside of my little baby card.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up cardstock: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Pretty in Pink.  Recollections: Glitter paper (iridescent). Patterns:  K&Co.-Susan Wright Spring Blossom Stack; DCWV Preppy Princess Stack;  Recollections-Southern Hospitality/ Southern Belle; Paper Pizazz/ Soft Tints Yellow/Pink Gingham; Recollections-Dots, Stripes & Plaids stack; Prima-Divine Collection/ Epigram; SU-Love Blossoms Stack (bib).  Stampin' Up Ink:  Pretty-in-Pink, Melon Mambo.  Dies: Spellbinders Nested Scallop Squares (1-3/4" dia.); Memory Box-Typewriter Upper Alphabet; Cottage Cutz-Baby Girls' Clothes/ Fancy Baby Border.  EK Punch: Scalloped Corners-Large.  Size: 6-1/2" square.  

Birthday Niece #2 is a BIG Two!

This is my second great niece with a late September birthday, and she will be a GREAT big two-years old.  I had the chance to spend a little time this spring getting acquainted with Addie, and she is a delight!  She has such a funny little personality, and she is just as cute as she can be with her big blue eyes and her gigantic smile.  

I just love making children's cards because they are so much fun, and it gives me a feeling of  joyfulness during the entire process.  It allows the years to slip away and brings back fun childhood memories.  While in this nostalgic mood, I reminisced about how my brother and I used to look forward to Saturday morning cartoons, where one of our favorites was Mickey and Minnie Mouse and their adventures.  

Thinking about Addie with her adventuresome personality, I thought it would be fun to make her a really cute, little, girly Minnie Mouse card, but I needed a little help getting my children's cardmaking  mojo going after being on a sympathy card binge of late.  I went on line to check out Minnie cards on Pinterest, but found there weren't a whole bunch to choose from.  A few used embossing folder texturing and I like that idea, as it reminded me of my "happy birthday" embossing folder that I had used earlier this year on my young boy "Minion" card.  With mojo arriving, I decided on a pink Minnie rather than the traditional red, adding to my desired girly look.  Take a look below at my finished Minnie card inside and out!  I think it will bring smiles and giggles of delight when viewed by its recipient.

Ingredients: Stampin' Up cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Melon Mambo.  Dies: MemoryBox Stitched Scalloped Circles; Spellbinders Classic Circles; Cottage Cutz Expressions-Birthday, Girl. EK Punches:  Circles-2-1/2," 1-3/4," 1," Victorian Corner (modified).  Cuttlebug Happy Birthday Embossing Folder.  Ribbon:  Stampin' Up 1/2" Scallop Dots-Melon Mambo (retired); 1/8" Taffeta-Melon Mambo; Offray 3/8" Black & White Dot.  Uni-ball White Gel Pen.  Stash: Button, Rose Embroidery Floss.  Size:  5-3/8" x 6".

Birthday Niece #1 Turns A BIG Four!

I have two great nieces who have birthdays in late September.  For niece #1, I decided to use a little punch art to make a cute little girly dress on her card for her special day.  Over the last several years, I have seen several little girl dresses on card on Pinterest, some  done with punch art and some with dies.  Needing to get my creative juices flowing, I decided to re-visit "little girl punch art dresses" on Pinterest to see what I could find.  I found one that looked like a little tutu made from pink vellum for the skirt, using Stampin' Up's Blossom Builder Punch, which is now retired, but, I am happy to say is part of my tool stash.  

Looking at this Pinterest card brought to mind several little girls I had seen shopping with their Moms wearing tutu-style dresses, as it seems to currently be a part of a lot little girls' wardrobes.  These dresses seem to come in all types of styles and fabrics from really frilly and fancy silky fabrics with ruffled tulle layers to a little more casual style with a knit top and gathered ruffles layered about three layers deep.  

Well, my juices were flowing. . .I would use my seldom used Blossom Builder punch to make my skirt and my Spellbinders Decorative Dress dies for the bodice.  I would not use tulle or vellum, but rather complimentary paper patterns.   My little tutu dress card is VERY girly and VERY pink, and I think my two-year old great niece will love her new little dress card.  Take a look below at the finished card, both inside and out.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up Shimmery White.  Darice Core'dinations cardstock pack: Soft Side.  BoBunny Tutu Double Dot.  Recollection Glitter Iridescent White cardstock.  Recollections Itsy Bitsy Ditsy: Cherry Pie (floral).  Stampin' Up sentiment stamp:  Teeny Tiny Wishes.  Stampin' Up Ink: Melon Mambo.  Stampin' Up Labels Framelits.  Stampin' Up Punches: Blossom Builder, Curvy Corners; Word Window (all retired).  Ribbon: Stampin' Up-Melon Mambo 1/8" Taffeta; Offray 3/4" pink check.  Size: 6-1/8" x 5-1/4".

Bee Happy. . .Sweet Friend!

I am planning to attend my Stampin' Up mentor's Totally Lovin' Christmas annual event on October 1st.  She had a special fee running for those that signed up and paid at her last Birthday Bonanza event in August, but refused to take payment from me.  Her reasoning, when I don't pay her directly, I have been in the habit of mailing my payment, accompanied by a specially designed card just for her.  She said she was feeling deprived, because she had not received any lovely handmade cards from me in a very long time, so she would much rather receive my payment via mail.  She said I would get the special rate, but only if payment was accompanied by one of my handmade cards.  Now, I ask you, is that bribery or what. . .LOL!

I was feeling the pressure to really get with it and perform at the top of my game, but I had so many commitments and cards to make with absolute deadlines that it took almost a month before I could begin Liz's card.   Meanwhile, while making  my other needed cards, my creative juices were flowing in the background around numerous ideas for Liz's special card.  

I finally got down to finalizing the design for Liz's card.  Since she is such a sweet friend, I decided to incorporate a bumblebee embellishment die-cut that I made a few years ago at a store that had AccuCut dies for use.  Using this bee, I would make a "Bee Happy" card.  I added Wink of Stella Clear to my bee's vellum wings and to the flowers, but the picture does show off the shimmery wings very well.  Take a look below at my finished card front and coordinating inside design with my little "bee" verse.

 Ingredients:  Stampin' Up cardstocks:  Basic Black, Crushed Curry.  Black & White digital stripe.  Flower pattern: scrap.  Vellum.  Grafix Lt. Chipboard.  AccuCut die: Mini Bumblebee.  Little B work die.  Pretty Pink Posh: Stitched Borders 1.   EK punch:  Trumpet Flower Corner.  Wanelo Washi Tape.  Petaloo Darjeeling flowers.  Prima leaves.  SU Bermuda Bay Baker's Twine.  Wink of Stella: Clear.  Computer verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 5-7/8".

Retirement Congratulationns Are in Order!

My friend and cousin-in-law has just retired after many years working for Koch Industries.  She will now join the ranks of us who enjoy everyday being Saturday and can go to bed at night and not have to set the alarm for tomorrow morning!  To commemorate this milestone in her life, I wanted to make and send her a congratulations retirement card.  I love black and yellow together so that is the color scheme I decided to use.  I hope she is careful to following the suggested things to do during retirement found in the card inside. . .one of which is to relax!  Take a look below at my finished card inside and out.

Ingredients:  Stampin'Up cardstock: Daffodil Yellow, Basic Black.  MFT dies: Flutter of Butterflies.  Cottage Cutz Expressions dies: Congratulations (modified).  Sizzix Original die: Frame-Scallop Oval.  Stampin' Up punch: Curvy Corners (retired).  HugSnug: Goldenrod.  Darice Frosted Gems.  ColorBox: Chestnut Roan (distressing).  Patterned paper scraps.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Getting Better After Surgery. . .

A long-time friend has had surgery, and I am sure she is not feeling her best; therefore, I wanted to send her a little card to let her know that my husband and I are thinking about her and hoping for a speedy recovery.  I thought I would use a card that I made several years ago at a card class given by my sister, Heidi Gonzales, because I thought its sentiment was perfect....simply...."My Friend."  Inside I dressed it up with a little verse I composed and created a design that compliments the front.  It is made with such a bright and cheerful paper, I thought it would bring a smile to her face.

Ingredient:  Stampin Up products.  Cardstock:  Tangerine Tango, Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Yellow.  Pattern:  Summer Smooches (retired).  Stamps: Perfect Punches (retired).  Ink: Rich Razzleberry.  Punches:  Curly Label (retired), 1/2" Circle; 1" Circle, Curvy Corners (inside/ retired).  Embossing Folder: Square Lattice (retired).  Regals Mini Brads (retired).  Technique: Embedded Embossing.  Size:  4-1/4" x 5-1/4"

An 11-Year Anniversary Celebration!

My oldest daughter is celebrating her 11th anniversary in the first half of September, and I wanted to make her a very feminine card this year.  Usually, I try for a middle-of-the-road card that sort of suits a man as well without being too masculine, but their cards have had fish, crossword puzzles, camping, two candied apples in a jar, and more...not really a girlie card; whereas, suitable for a man.  I decided this year Michele deserved one that was made with just her in mind.  Take a peek below at my finished card, which though made with Michele in mind, is for her husband as well!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up papers:  Shimmery White card base, Gold Foil, Gold Glimmer, Fancy Foil Vellum (hearts).  Bazzill Platinum Shimmer Vellum.  Cottage Cutz Expressions dies.  EK Scallop Scalloped punch.  Stampin' Up Curvy Corner punch (retired).  Offray 3/4" Gold Glitter ribbon.  Stampin' Up Gold/White Metallic Twine.  Stash:  Mini pearls, Shimmery sheer flower, Gold leaves.  Size:  5-1/4" x 6".  

Little Reese Turns One!

One of my little nephew's is turning one-year old this month.  Reese has an older nine-year old brother, for whom I have always made birthday cards, so Reese gets to become one of my permanent birthday card recipients as well.  See the finished card I chose for him below:

Ingredients:  Cardstocks: Bazzill--Tapioca (yellow), Aruba (aqua).  Stampin' Up--Very Vanilla.  Patterned paper: My Mind's Eye--Be Loved/ Fond Flowers.  Magnolia stamp: Edwin the Bug Catcher.  Spellbinders: Labels Eight.  Punches: Zutter Corner Rounder; EK Scallop-LG Corner (modifed to rounded corners).  Progresso Koh-I-Noor Woodless Colored pencils with mineral spirits.  Recollections: Gold rhinestones.  Ribbon: 5/8" Offray Chocolate Double Satin.  Distressing: Colorbox Chestnut Roan.  Computer-made sentiment.  Size: 5" x 7".

Story + Tidbits

Reese's card is one that I actually made during a 2010 card tutorial class on woodless pencil coloring and cardmaking skills!  The class and card designs were created by my sister, Heidi Gonzales, who owned a scrapbook store at the time.  Take a look at the wonder coloring textures that she taught us in coloring his shirt.  

Yikes, I just realized this card is way older than its recipient by over five years!  Now, don't think I have never given this card away because I hate the card, but rather, the reason is that I loved this Magnolia stamped little Edwin the Bug Catcher so much that I hated to part with him.  He also represents the last card I have of my first attempts to color using the woodless colored pencils and Gamsol for blending and setting the colors, a coloring technique I used before I jumped to Copic marker coloring.

Another reason I still had it in my possession was because I really considered it a "little boy card," and I waited so long to give it up that eventually all my nephew's grew too old for it.  With the birth of Reese last year, I decided this was the time to part with it, and to Reese it would belong even though he still a bit young for bug catching.  But, you will note that the verse ties in bug catching that will surely be in his future.

When making my card, I tweaked the design just a bit by making it larger, from a 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" size to 5" x 7" size.  In addition, I used a different and larger die set behind Edwin and added a few more rhinestones to the front ribbon.  The inside is completely my own creation from paper to verse. 

Sympathy Card for Sibling-in-Laws

As I mentioned in several posts in the past few weeks, my son-in-law's father passed on to the Lord after a few years of dealing with a terminal illness.  My son-in-law has three sisters, and I wanted to send each of them a sympathy card to let them know that they and their families are in our thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time.  

I made a card for their mother that I delivered while at the funeral, but I did not have time to make enough cards for each of the siblings before we left for Oregon.  I so liked the card I made for their mother that I decided to make three more cards using the same design but changing the color on each of them.  Take a look below at my finished cards for each of the sisters and their families in pastel shades of purple, pink, and soft greens and blues.  See: http://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2016/08/a-sympathy-card-for-family-in-law.html for the original card post.

Ingredients/ All Cards:  SU Stamps-Simply Sketched (ret./ sentiment).  SU Dies-Butterflies & Bold Butterflies.  SU Glitter-Dazzling Diamonds.  Elmer's Spray Adhesive.  SU Punch-Curvy Corners (ret.).  Spellbinders dies-Roman Trellis Background; Classic Ovals SM; Scalloped Ovals LG.  Recollections-Flower.    Computer-made verse.  Wink of Stella-Clear.  Technique: Frosted Glittering (spray adhesive and glitter).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Purple Ingredients:  Paper products: Bazzill cardstock-Purple Palisades.  SU cardstock-Whisper White.  DCWV-Pocket Full of Posies dp.  Memento Ink-Grape Jelly.  Recollections Purple Pearls.  Offray Ribbon-5/8" Stitched Satin; 5/8" Two-tone Sheer.

Pink Ingredients:  Paper products:  SU cardstock-Pink Pirouette, Whisper White.  My Mind's Eye-Everyday Tango Stack 2010.  SU Ink-Pretty in Pink.  SU Pearls (Copic colored).  SU Ribbon-Pink Pirouette Seam Binding.  Stash: 5/8" Metallic Stripe Sheer.

Soft Green/ Blue Ingredients:  Paper products: SU cardstock-Soft Sky, Whisper White.  Melissa Frances-Heart & Home Collection/Amanda.  Recollections Blue Pearls.  SU Ribbon-Pistachio Seam Binding.  Offray Ribbon-3/8" Two-tone Sheer.

A Sister-in-Law Birthday Beyond Compare!

As I've mentioned in numerous posts over the years, I have eight sister-in-laws. . .WOW!  But, on September 1st, just one day after my birthday,  a sister-in-law beyond compare has her birthday.  You may ask why is she beyond compare?  For one good reason, she is extra special because she is the sister-in-law I have known the longest, and she has always been willing to go that extra mile if she can be of help.  Of course, there are many other reasons as well. . .too many to list, for sure!   

For this special birthday card, I thought I would try out my new Spellbinder Birds on a Wire die.  There are ten birds. . .I think these represent her eight sister-in-laws and her two sisters. . .isn't that clever?  I think June will like her card with all those sisters that have come to visit!  Perhaps, we'll all have a cup of tea or a glass of wine during our visit.

Ingredients:  Recollections cardstock: 25 color pack: black, lavendar purple.  DCWV stack: Pocket Full of Posies.  Stampin' Up cs: Soft Sky.  Dies: Spellbinders Shapeabilities: Birds on a Wire; Petite Circles; Petite Scallop Circles; Scallop Circles LG. QuicKutz Scallop Corners.  Punches: SU Curvy Corners (retired).  Stash: 3/4" Variegated Silk Ribbon.  Petite Daisies (Copic colored).  Computer sentiment/ verse.  Size:  4-3/4" x 5-1/2".