Sunday, March 23, 2014

Surprise, Maria!!! Happy Birthday!!!



Someone, actually Someone Special, has a birthday today. You all know her, it's Maria from reislingmama. (How's that for a fun blog name?!!) And it's one of those 'ending-in-zeros' birthdays... Shirley Bampton, from shirley-bee's stamping stuff has organized a wonderful surprise party for her, including a link so that we can put the cards we make to help celebrate Maria all in one place! So sweet of Shirley to do that! Be sure to stop on over at Shirley's blog to see more of this party! Dang!, I just love parties!!!

Our 'birthday girl' is pretty awesome. Maria is a talented cardmaker, she's been published, and since I "met" her, I've found that she's about one of the sweetest ladies out in blogland! As a newbie blogger, Maria welcomed me with open arms, encouraged me with kind comments and passed on the Leibster Award to me. Can I just say that she made me cry with that wonderful gesture?!! A girl originally from the Midwest, she's warm, funny, caring, and adventuresome. I love her card making style. Very cool. Eclectic, whimsical, modern, soft, sweet, and fearless (and lest I forget, Maria is the undisputed Queen of Bokeh)! If you're reading this blog, and haven't clicked on her link either in the paragraph above, or in my right sidebar, you really must. See how she puts her soul into the cards she makes. I think that's what I like most about Maria's work. You can see her soul there.



Bokeh dots;  dots stamps from PTI and Technique Tuesday (but many stamp makers have dot stamps); die cut heart

I so wanted to CASE this gorgeous bokeh card, but all I ended up doing was staring at it on my computer monitor for what felt like hours. But now, it's time to get this party started! Have a stroll beneath a series of bokeh arches, and come on along as we celebrate Maria. Happy Birthday my friend.


ای نفست یار و مددکار ما کى و کجا وعده ی دیدار ما



The card below is one I chanced upon when I knew I wanted to attempt to CASE one of her cards as a little birthday tribute. I studied it. Loved the colors, the whimsy, and wonderful textures found here. After a bit, I actually read the post which accompanied it. And about fell out of my chair. In it, she speaks of "pings," a word which I use when an idea literally pings into my brain! You can read that post here. And as a coincidence, one of Maria's friends was celebrating a banner birthday too, hence, her card!






And this is the card I made for Maria. Happy birthday, my friend. It's mighty, awfully good to have to join my decade! Hope your day year is as wonderful as you are!






18 comments:

Ardyth said...

Love this - clean, graphic and very celebratory with all that shaperkle and shine!

Ardyth said...

Ooops - "sparkle". I promise I'm not just sitting here inventing words!

Tenia Nelson said...

Very very cute!!

Tracey McNeely said...

Bev this is fabulous for Maria, I LOVE all the sparkle.

Geri said...

Love your design and love the colors...of course, the polka dots rock! Beautiful birthday post for Maria! Not only can you craft up awesome card after awesome card, but your ability to put your words to paper is second to none!

Craftychris said...

Brilliant card! Love the design, Maria will love it! xx

Kristie Goulet said...

Perfect, Bev! Love all the sparkle!!!

Lin said...

What a lovely tribute to Maria! Your card is a sweet one, too - just right for this milestone birthday!

Lynn said...

Bev, what a beautiful heartfelt card for Maria. It is perfect. I love your kind words for her.

Susanne Vargas said...

Great CASE of Maria's card! Graphic and cool! Love it!

Kim Heggins said...

Bev...love your card for Maria! So much fun and I love both hers and your take on it. I will have to case this too, just so fun and I am sure Maria will love it.

shirley-bee said...

What a fab tribute to Maria, Bev, and a fab CASE too! Thanks for linking up :)

~amy~ said...

Love seeing how you were inspired...awesome card!

Deepti said...

Oh my goodness lovely !! you are on a part spree. Love ur creations and the sparkly 50 :)

Anita in France said...

What a lovely tribute to Maria, Bev ... so beautifully put! Love your card ... cool and graphic and gorgeous ... and full of shimmer and sparke! Awesome! Hugs, Anita :)

cm said...

I'm slow in commenting (my husband and I are on a wee road trip), but here I am, nearly in tears, at the eloquent, genuine, heart-warming tribute you wrote for Maria! And your card: perfect! As much as you speak of her being a welcoming spirit when you first started blogging, so were YOU with me! I know for sure that without your encouragement, I likely would have signed out long ago! Thank you for all your support and your uplifting comments! You are much loved!! Hugs x Hugs~c

maria f. said...

Awww, girlfriend. Can you feel the ginormous hug coming across the airwaves?!?! I don't think I'd ever really thought about it, but I think a bit of my soul really does go into the cards I make. Thank you so much for enlightening me! "Sweet" is a word completely and totally reserved for you, my dear.
I smiled when mentally strolling down those pavers beneath the bokeh lights. Thanks for that treat too.
And I think it is just too perfect that you chose to CASE my sparkly "hello 50" card. I had the most wonderful birthday and am looking forward to this decade. Thanks so much for joining my party, Bev. Maybe one day we can have a real one somewhere in the Midwest!

Hannelie said...

I popped over here because I could remember!
This IS fab!