Happy Birthday Lynn!

Someone oh so special out there in blogland is celebrating her birthday today. Hmmmm...could it be LYNN???!!! Yep. Definitely is! Do stop by her blog, give her a big e-hug, and wish her a happy, happy birthday. Lynn is such a sweetheart. She's kind and caring, shares her family with us all - and what an amazing and handsome group of young men she's a mom to..., she's always encouraging, she's a fun and gentle soul, and her smile lights the world, doesn't it just??!! I'm very blessed to call her friend. It seemed right to celebrate and since it wouldn't be a birthday without a party let's get to it!

A little wine to start off...

Some pretty and casually elegant party decorations

A few flowers

Pretty centerpieces for our tables

Celebratory tablescape

And we'll start off with some fun foods...

And CAKE!! This first one reminds me so much of our birthday girl...

And a few little gifts chosen just for Lynn

And in honor of Lynn, I CASEd this card of hers, which I fell in love with (of course, ALL of Lynn's card are pretty darn fantastic, so it was difficult to choose just one...)

Gorgeous, isn't it??!! And her birthday card from me:

So Happy Birthday, Lynn. May today find you blessed with all things good and wonderful, and your year be filled with love and laughter. Your sweetness, gentleness, and kindness enrich those around you, including all of us out here in blogland. You just personify lovely. Happy birthday dear friend.

TAWS card

It's been quite some time since I've played along with the BE Inspired Challenge over at TAWS. The Alley Way makes great stamps and the BIC always has bright, fun, and interesting inspiration photos packed with tons of ideas. I needed a card for a special friend, and right away I knew exactly which stamp would be the perfect focal point for this card. Then I popped over to BIC, and the colors and inspiration was (if you'll pardon my pun...) right up my Alley! (sorry...well...maybe not....heehee) Scope out the photo:

Some of my most favorite colors ever, and I just had to utilize that garland on my card.

These glasses are one of my all time favorite stamps -- they just scream fun, don't you think?!! Really simple to make. Started with a Recollections base, a scrap of the same for the image and sentiment, and a scrap of blue cardstock. Some SC and Michaels sequins for my garland, and of course The Alley Way Stamps for both the image and sentiment. I colored the glasses with a Copic marker, and added two orange blings. I enjoyed making this, and hope that the recipient will like it too. Happy dances everyone.

Happy Birthday Tracey!!!

Found out this morning that today is Tracey McNeely's birthday. You all know her, you all love her, and who of us hasn't drooled in pure delight over her mad cardmaking skills?!! Well, we must have a little celebration in her honor, mustn't we?!! I'm thinking we should start out like this:

A few decorations for our party...

Stars for our "STAR"

Some party tables so we can gather and celebrate the birthday girl in style...

And you can't have a party without a few treats...

And a gift or two for the birthday girl...

A few bangles for her wrists

Some rings for her fingers

The perfect little clutch

And an infinity scarf to help keep her warm

A special birthday wish for a special friend!

Tracey, may your birthday be everything you want it to be, and may your life be filled with only the most wonderful, happy days. I wish you all the best on your birthday and always.

What would a birthday be without a card? And I think I must have had Tracey in mind (with a bit of a CASE of Kim) when I made this card on our BABES getaway:

I encourage you all to stop by Tracey's blog and wish her a happy birthday; I know she'd love that! 

(And while I'm at it, I thought I'd drop this into Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where it's anything goes.) Happy birthday and happy dances, Tracey!!!

A Quick Muse

Before I get ready for church I thought I'd post the cards I made for the current Muse Challenge. I LOVE MUSE. And since Miss Funherself, the ever sweet and talented Michele from icardeveryone is GD with a super challenge for us, I just knew I had to make a trio. Yep. Not one card, but a threesome. I'd expound more, but need to get ready for church...gotta get those little kids singing... So check out her cards:

Stunning, aren't they???!! Here's my definitely-not-neutrals take:

Michele wanted us to make a trio of cards using one piece of dp, and to use die cuts. Check and check. My dp is an old piece of vellum by Jenna DeAngeles. SSS, MFT, and MB dies. Michaels cardstock for the bases. Random red cardstock, a random sticker in the middle card, a SSS stamp with Versafine black ink, and a little bird sent to me from Maria (reislingmama). And that's it for now. I'd chat longer, but really do need to run. Blessed Sunday and happy dances everyone.

Busy Week and CASology

It's been a little crazy around here. I'm sure you all can relate.... Since I got back from the Adventure in Prior Lake, I've been trying to get back to the realities of everyday life. And I'm dragging myself kicking and screaming back to it...had waaaaay tooooo much fun to want to deal with "normal!!" But here I am. Still managed to find time to play in my craft room, however.

Our dear Miss Darnell sent a present home with each of us with the instructions not to open it till we were home. Oh. My. Gosh. In this package was a 6x6 pad of dp, a vial of various sequins, stickers, bling, twine, washi tape, AND an AE stamp set and matching dies. I'm probably forgetting something.... I was stunned. What a doll Miss D. is! So I decided to make at least a half dozen cards and that's what I've been working on for the last several days (plus a few challenge cards...) Wanna see what I've made? Ok...

I'll just show you one by one, cuz the "group" photo stunk

Got my froo-froo on for this one, and while it's not my usual style, I like the way it turned out.

This one is a see-through shaker card. First try for something like this. 

Miss D. had put a few things in a striped envelope, which I cut apart and used as a panel on this card.

This third card was fun to make. I did cheat a bit here and used my own stamp, blue cardstock, and flowers.

(Almost done...) We got really nice new neighbors and yesterday was closing day on their house. I made this card to go with a bottle of wine as a "Welcome to the 'hood" gift.

And this is the last card of the six I made with Darnell's kit. Something fairly simple in vibrant colors. 

 What??? Wait...Oh! No this isn't from Darnell's kit, it's for this week's CASology. The cue card is "ghost." My little ghostie isn't gray irl...the Wink of Stella is showing up like this in the photo; he's really white...Not a nice photo taking day. 

All the stamps are from My Cute Stamps company. They are going out of business, which makes me sad. Nice quality stamps. The dp is a scrap of Doodlebug, and I colored the moon with a KAISERfusion marker. The black ink is Versafine. I love the little "Oooga Boooga" sentiment! It cracks me up. Anyway, since I've kept you here long enough, I'll stop now. Enjoy your weekend! Happy dances everyone.