Happy Birthday Connor!!!

Today is our middle grandson, Connor's 11th birthday!!!  I've been blessed to be there for the births of all of our grandson, however I almost didn't make it to see Connor's birth.  I originally was suppose to leave for Idaho the day after our anniversary, which is on the 4th.  I had this tugging feeling...something told me that I needed to leave earlier for my trip to Idaho.   I'm so glad that I listened to that inner voice...(I like to say it was Connor speaking to me, telling me to hurry up and get there already!, lol)  After arriving at my daughter's apartment, all of 5 minutes...her water breaks!!!  I call my hubs to let him know we're on our way to the hospital, to which he says, "huh? you just texted me saying you just got there, what happened?"  Five house later Connor was born!  I made it just in time!  Anyhow, I always ask the grandboys what they want for their birthday's and they rarely want anything.  This year Connor asked for a pair of binoculars so he could go on walks and look at birds.  He also wanted books...he loves to read.  Happy birthday Connor!  We love and miss you so much!!!  

I wanted to keep my card clean and simple.  I started off stenciling radiating rays in Yo-Yo Yellow and Barely Banana.  Then I stamped the city from the You're Super set from My Favorite Things.  Next I stamped my image from Super Boy in Memento ink on Neenah, coloring with Copics and die cutting it with the coordinating Die-namics.  I added a strip of Pacific Point and stamped the sentiment in black.  I mounted my image on pop dots.

Happy 11th Birthday buddy!!!

 

My daughter said he took his binoculars our on his walk and was so disappointed with them  I was like, oh no...why?!?!?  She said because he didn't see any birds, haha!!!

His favorite pass time.

Thank you for stopping by!

For the Best Hair Stylist Ever...

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before on my blog or not (I know I have on fb), but I have the most amazing hair stylist you could ever ask for.  Over the years she's become a friend...she's been doing my hair for 17 years!!!  When we were stationed in Idaho Chelsea replaced my hair dresser who was moving.  Shortly after we moved to Tucson she moved to Avondale.  I make the 300 mile round trip drive to get my hair done.  She is so very talented and I'm so very lucky to have been able to keep her as my hair stylist for all these years!  I had my hair done just before my birthday.  I was asking Chelsea for conditioner recommendations since the one I was using Paul Mitchell was no longer making.  She ended up giving me a conditioner for my birthday!  Thank you Chelsea, I just love it!!!

This is the last of my thank you's!  For this one I used Underthehoodybella from Stamping Bella.

Have a wonderful evening!  

 

Thankful Tradition...

One of my favorite days of the year is a tradition my best friend Jeremy started doing when we met.  He made a meal for me on my birthday ( a HUGE pan of lasagna) since I was scheduled for surgery shortly after my birthday.  The following year he asked if I'd like him to make a meal for my birthday or take us out to eat for my birthday.  Since my hubs doesn't cook, having someone else cook dinner is a real treat.  And so...the tradition began.  We now cook every year for all our birthday's.  Each person picks what they want for dinner and dessert and the other cooks it.  This year I picked Green Chili Whisky Onion Burgers and Orange Creamsicle Cheesecake.  Both were absolutely fabulous.  For my birthday this year Jeremy and Kellye spoiled me rotten (not like they don't every year, but they really did do way too much).  Jeremy updated my computer and laptop so I can do my blogging and picture editing more easily.  They also got me some crafting supplies I had been wanting.  I can't thank them enough for all that they do for me, not just for my birthday but throughout the year.  I'm so very blessed to have Jeremy and Kellye for best friends...they are my family. 

Keeping with the same color scheme and layout...  I used Clickabella from Stamping Bella.

Me and my hubs.

Me and Kellye.

Me and Jeremy.

My birthday dinner Jeremy and Kellye made.

Orange Creamsicle Cheesecake.

 

Hope you have a wonderful rest of your day!!!

Thank You Jilian...

My daughter's friend, Jilian moved down here to Tucson.  Her twin boys started school but her apartment wasn't ready for her to move into.  She was staying with her cousin in Phoenix and would be making the trek down to Tucson for two days.  She asked if I knew of a coffee shop she could hang out at so she could use their WIFI and work remotely for those two days.  I gave her some options but told her she was more than welcome to come to my house and hang out, that I wouldn't be home most of the time she'd be there as I had a  ride one day and would be in Phoenix the next.  To my delight she accepted my offer (I wish I could've given her and the boys a place to stay but our guest room is nonexistent at the moment).  When I came home, she had a beautiful plant and card for me.  Such a great kid.  It was so nice seeing her, I haven't seen her since my daughter's wedding almost 6 years ago!

I used Stamping Bella's Pookie Lillipop and stayed with the birthday thank you card theme of orange and the same layout.

Such a sweet and thoughtful young lady!

Me and Jilian.

Have a wonderful night!

 

Thank You for the Teaspoon Brunch Ride...

I have such a great group of ladies that I co-lead a weekly women's ride with for GABA (Greater Arizona Bicycle Association).  These wonderful gals had a birthday ride and brunch to celebrate my birthday.  We ate at a place called Teaspoons after the ride and it was delicious!  I made thank you cards for them and decided to have all my birthday thank you cards with the same layout and color scheme.  Since I was thanking these gals for the same day of events, I also decided to do one blog post for them...I hope they don't mind!   

First one up is a thank you for Brooke.  As most of you know, orange is my favorite color.  Brooke got me this awesome Starbucks stainless steel tumbler in...you guessed it!!!  ORANGE!!!  So I tried to make her a card that complimented the gift.  The image is Perk Me up Peeps from Stamping Bella.  Brooke was also the one who organized the ride and brought lemon cupcakes, they were amazing!!!  Thank you so much Brooke!

This one is for Linden.  I'm not a coffee drinker, but I absolutely love Vanilla Chai Lattes, yum!  Linden got me a tin of just that!  Along with the most beautiful shade of orange coffee mug, teaspoon and this super cool battery operated frother.  Thank you Linden!!!  The image is Earl Grey Peeps and it is also from Stamping Bella.

This one is for Debby.  She got me the most amazing chocolate cupcake ever!  I brought it home and didn't share with my hubs, haha!  Thank you for thinking of me!  This image is also from Stamping Bella.  It's called Turtle Tot Birthday Wishes.

GABA Ride Leaders- Linden, Me, Brooke, Carolyn

Eileen, Carolyn, Brooke, Debby, Linden, and me.  Thank you ladies for all the cards, gifts, brunch, and a wonderful ride!!!  The best way to spend my birthday is playing bikes and spending time with ya'll!!!

Hong Kong Bubble Waffle...AMAZING!

Brooke's Lemon Cupcakes were to die for!

Thank you for taking a peek at my blog!

 

Happy Birthday Eva...

For my sweet dear friend Eva who loves to goes to the local wineries. 

I stamped Winobella from Stamping Bella in Memento ink on Neenah card stock, coloring her with Copics.  I die cut the image using the A2 Stitch Rectangle Stax Die-namics.  I layered it on black.  Then I mounted that panel onto a Basic Grey Ambrosia layer and then a white card base.  The sentiment is from the My Favorite Things Sassy Pants Birthday Greetings #3 set.  I finished off the card with some sequins.  I used MFTWSC552 for my layout.

Thank you for stopping by!

 

Happy 60th Michelle!!!

My dear friend and gym buddy Michelle turned 60!  It was so nice to get together and see everyone and celebrate Michelle's 60th birthday!  I hadn't seen my gym buddies since just before the pandemic.  It was incredibly good for my soul and I was so happy to be apart of Michelle's special day.

I've had this Stamping Bella Lulu Loves Poppies image for well over 10 years and this was the first time it has seen ink!  I'm trying to work my way through my uninked stamps...but new ones keep coming out and it's a never ending circle!  Anyhow.  I stamped her in Memento Ink on Neenah cardstock, coloring her with Copics.  I layered her on Real Red, My Mind's Eye Stella Rose patterned paper then added the panel to a white card base.  I stamped the sentiment from the Pure Innocence Pigg Bank Set on Island Indigo, using pop dots.

Michelle and Me.

Our Platinum Fitness Gym Crew.

Have a wonderful day!

 

Happy Birthday Linden!!!

Linden is the most positive, uplifting, sweet, kind, encouraging, motivating, inspiring, caring, giving, thoughtful and supportive person I have ever meet.  She is one of those people who's company you just enjoy and always feel like you're in a better mood after seeing her.  Linden has been such a positive light in my life this last year and a half and I'm so grateful and blessed to call her my friend.

I had such a great time creating this card.  Linden use to live in Hawaii so I wanted to try and create a Hawaiian Beach.  Not sure if I succeeded that, but I absolutely love how this card turned out.  I started off with Neenah cardstock and masked where I wanted the ocean to end and the clouds to begin.  I used the Cloud Stencil and Tempting Turqouise to sponge in some clouds.  Next I used the Beach Scene Builder Die-namics for my ocean and sand layers.  For the ocean I used Copics in Blue and Blue Green hues, then added some subtle highlights with a gel pen.  For the sand I die cut it in Crumb Cake, then used markers and Copics to create pebbles and folds in the sand.  I wasn't happy with the look so I added some chocolate stickles.  I still wasn't happy with the look so I added Bronze Pearl Pen to it.  It was the first time I've used it and I must admit, I've had it for 10 years...so it was clumpy but it gave the sand the textured look I was wanting.  Next I die cut the Palm Tree and Island, adding highlights here and there.  I then stamped my Pure Innocence Hula Girl in Memento Ink on Neenah with Copics and fussy cut her, then added her to my scene.  I layered the panel on a white card base.  Sentiment is also from the Hula Girl set.

Me and Linden 2021

We're Ride Leaders for GABA Tucson Women's Group Ride.

Thank you for having a look!

Enjoy your evening.

 

Sorry for Your Loss...

Sympathy cards are one of the more difficult cards for me to create.  This one was so incredibly hard for me to make.  I sat down many times to make it and couldn't...my heart breaks for the one I gave this card to.

 I sponged Tempting Turquoise, Pear Pizzazz, and Barely Banana then stamped my images from SU Nature Sihlouettes in black ink.  My sentiment Is from the SU Heal Your Heart set.  I used Smoky Slate and Black card stock.

Hugs--

Happy Birthday to my Hubs!!!

For my sweet hubs for his birthday!

 I saw this  card on Pinterest and wanted to recreate it using shades of blue since it's my hubs favorite color.  I used the Color Blast Die-namics in Night of Navy, Midnight Muse, Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise, Cool Caribbean, and Soft Sky.  Next I stamped my image from the Fast Track stamp set in Memento Ink, coloring with Copics, then die cutting it with the coordinating Die-namics, using Pop Dots to mount it on the card.  I die cut Caption Numbers Die-namics in black with a Wink of Stella then added them to the racecar.  I used All the Encourangement and coordinating Die-namics for the speech bubble then stamped the sentiment.  Finished off the card with some flat dots from Stamping Bella.  

Thank you for stopping by!

Thank You Joanie!!!

A thank you for my friend Joanie for her card order.

 I die cut the bike in Highland Heather.  I added Grape Soda Smooch and a Wink of Stella to it.  Put it on a layer of white then added it to a Pool Party card base.  The sentiment is from Pure Innocence Soldier Boy.  I kept this one clean and simple.

Thank you for taking a look at my blog!

Happy 75th Birthday Erin!!!

My friend Joanie put in a card request for our friend Erin a year ago, giving me plenty of time to create something special for Erin's 75th Birthday.  Joanie wanted a bicycle (and wanted me to replicate the paint job on Erin's bike) and 75 in the wheels.  Here's my finished product.

I started out with a die cut bicycle on neenah card stock.  I played with all the mediums I had to try and create the beautiful paint job on Erin's bike.  Her bike changes from purple to a soft teal blue color depending on how the sun hits it.  I ended up using copics for the base color of the bike then I added Grape Soda Smooch to the purple and a Wink of Stella to the teal blue.  I colored the rest of the bike with copics as well, adding Black Smooch to the tires, handlebars, cranks, and saddle.  I die cut Little Numbers in Pool Party, added some Stickles to the numbers, then mounted them on the wheels with pop dots.  I die cut Fast Track in Black, then mounted everything on a layer of white with a Pool Party card base.  The sentiment is from the Pure Innocence Piggy Bank Set. 

Erin racing earlier, she's an inspiration for sure!

Thank you for stopping by!