Where Have the Years Gone?!

I remember very well turning 50.  People at work hung a banner & said they couldn't believe I was that old--haha!  Now I'm starting my last year in the 60s & thankfully no coworkers--love being retired!  Instead I have many dear blog friends who bless my life.  I can no longer say I feel 10 years younger than I am, but I'm so grateful for life.  I never say I don't count birthdays.  So many people would have loved to have a 69th birthday, including my mom.  She was very talented including writing poems for family events.  She wrote the birth announcements for us 3 kids & thought you might like to see mine.  My dad carried all 3 of them in his wallet his entire life & it's his handwriting you see.  The picture was on the front & then you saw the poem when you opened the little card.

Thank you all for your friendship.  I'm off to work on cards before I go get my free Starbucks!
Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  If your blog address is in your profile or comment,
I will visit you.

A Special Birthday

Birthdays are always a time to celebrate the gift of life.  Tomorrow I turn 67 which isn't a "special" BD to most people.  However, my mom died of pancreatic cancer when she was 66.  I'm feeling especially blessed & grateful to be healthy & celebrating another year.  My mom wrote the birth announcements for all 3 of us kids & my dad always carried them in his wallet.  In case you didn't see mine a few years ago, I thought I'd share it again.  The picture is on the front & it opens to the poem.  That's my dad's handwriting.

I also have some cards to share.  First is my entry for W&W BD Bash Use Your Scraps challenge. 

A few weeks ago I die cut the True Multifaceted Border die from black cardstock attached to an adhesive sheet.  I'd taken off the outline, but the little pieces were still in my die along with the outline release paper.  The release paper actually stayed in place pretty well for me on a white scrap while I put each piece in place.  Then I just took off the release paper.  My favorite In A Word: Hello die cut was in a ziplock where I put left overs.  It was brushed with Wink of Stella & mounted with foam tape.  The black panel was also on my table needing to be put with the scraps.  Finished off with PPP Sparkling Clear confetti.  I'm also entering CAS on Friday & HLS Anything Goes with Dies.

Next is my entry for the PTI Retirement List Set Challenge.  I think it's the first year with only one of my sets on the list & that is Mat Stack 3 Collection. 

I got 2 sizes of the dies years ago, not even knowing there was a matching stamp set.  I did discover it a year or so ago & got it, but had only used a sentiment.  I picked the fancy image & white embossed it on the white die cut.  Then I blended on PTI inks Amethyst Allure, Blueberry Sky & Spring Rain with the blue shades toward the center.  The sentiment is stamped in Brilliance Starlite Black multiple times to get it dark enough.  I die cut 2 Butterfly Hope butterflies from PTI vellum & stitched them together with silver thread.  I used an extra fine white Sharpie for the white dots.  Needed something under the butterfly & didn't really want more die cuts, so used the silver thread to make a nest.  The silver glitter negative was still on my table & decided it worked for a bit of sparkle.  Before attaching everything I splattered the card front with Distress Stain brushed pewter.  Decided not to add any gems or sequins & it's already in the mail.  I'm also entering WAW. 


My final card is for the PTI Use Only Dies Challenge.  The die cut word is from Counting My Blessings & the Leaves are Fancy Foliage Details. 

I colored the leaves with 2 green Zigs & a water brush.  The Word was watercolored with Gansai Tambi Yellow gold.  I also added a bit of the gold watercolor to the leaves & splattered it on the kraft card front. 

I didn't glue down the ends of the leaves to give a feeling of some movement.  This one will probably end up being a Thanksgiving card.

I'm having a minor outpatient procedure, so may not be around Blogland for a few days.  Thanks so much for taking time to stop by & I'll catch up with you as soon as I can.