Happy 29th Birthday to me!

As I sit here I sing myself the birthday song! I was for whatever reason, excited about this birthday. Maybe because its my last year in my twenties and I should treasure it? I think I was maybe too excited, cause my life couldn’t live up to the expectation of the day! LOL! But thats all it is ONE day, that will soon be just another.

In all seriousness, I have so much to be grateful for. When I look at my life year to year, there have been bumps, but each one has got me here.  I have been very fortunate! 10 years ago (not only was I a baby) but I didnt know anything! I had no idea what true love, joy and happiness really were! Although I thought I knew it all. I understand why they say youth is wasted on the young! I can only imagine the knowledge I will gain in another decade (God willing) of living life.

So many things have happened over the last 5 years its amazing. I have morphed into a completely different person! Some are attributes, others probably not so much. Depends on who you ask.

I have been through alot in my 29 years. Some things that take other people a lifetime to complete. For all of it, I am thankful.

I have been married and divorced. Been a single mother to a child with disabilities, and done a pretty good job I think. I have all the children I will ever physically bear. I found my true soul mate. A man who brings out the best in me, and challenges me to grow into an even better person. I have owned homes, had nice furniture, lots of money and fancy cars (first marriage) and learned even with all that, without love, that wasn’t happiness. I had a career, then happily became a stay at home mom again, then got a hobby! Alexa got diagnosed with cancer. That was huge! But that experience made my marriage stronger, brought people together that would not be otherwise, gave me faith and hope (cause thats all you can have sometimes), showed me sometimes you can only go UP the ladder, taught me each day truly is a gift. Age doesn’t matter. ANY day could be your last. Always say I love you, never take people for granted, or your life and health for granted. That there truly is a higher power. Sometimes you will have no control, and it will be OK. If I really want to accomplish something, all I need, is hard work and confidence and it WILL happen. Set goals. Somethings aren’t important- Like the laundry being folded or the house being spotless. Friends come in many forms, and from unexpected places. Every moment in life has a purpose.

Most importantly take it ONE day at a time.

And Im lucky to have my husband, children and family! Some people have no one. I feel I have it all. I am blessed.

Wow thats alot of reflection-sorry about that but I feel good.

So I made myself a birthday card!

How many people make THEMSELVES a birthday? I would guess not many, so that would make me UNIQUE! LOL! Or so I like to think.

This is the first of many 29th birthday’s for me-LOL! Im keeping this number for quite some time I think. That’s why I chose this sentiment. I bought it months ago at Impress rubber stamps. View my shopping log to check them out. The sentiment is stamped in craft eggplant, and embossed with iridescent ice EP. The rainbow organdy ribbon is from Michaels.

The Birthday Girl, and sentiment are both by the NEW! 2007 Penny Black line.

I used purple because that is of course my favorite color! The center of the “9” has a faux diamond. I LOVE bling! I also love my cuttlebug-so had to use that. This number set is the Red Tag alpha.

Her dress is purple stickles. LOVE those too. I also love cutting around an image, and some goes outside the border.

NOW-the background! It was a sentiment stamp by Penny Black. When we went to the expo we all learned a JAW ON THE FLOOR technique that was super easy. I bought some purple “Bling Bling” as they call it, so per our agreement (we had to use everything we bought within a week and time is ticking) I used it.

All you do is stamp in versmark. Apply heat & stick powder (heat set). Apply bling paper shiny side up. Rub well, then rip off fast! DONE! How cool eh?

I just love girly images. I am definitely the girly girl type.

So that MY birthday card! LOL!

Well now I must run to the DMV to get a new License. That should be fun.

I have some other cards to post but will let my emotions soak in before doing that! LOL!

Thanks for reading.

Be back later to post some MYTIME MAIL, cards received, and other musings! Stay Tuned!!

Isn’t this beautiful? I mean really?

I know its lame to pat yourself on the back, but when you have a “vision”and it turned out even better than hoped, or you are just please with what you do you SHOULD get excited about it! This craft is all about creativity and expression!

I am in love with the Stampendous stuff @eP! OMG! I cannot stop shopping there! Anyway, this is a favorite flower image of mine called Poppy Stems.

I embossed it in gold onto natural ivory cardstock. Watercolored the stems, centers and bkgd. I then used my new white liquid pearls, and applied it to the flower petals. I cut a few out and put them on dimensionals.

The bottom was done using an Onare piercing template from Ellen H’s store. I used my journaler point of the marker, to connect the “dots” so to speak, so it looks stitched.

The “photo corners” were just the wrought iron punch, cut! Love the elegant look.

The background was this butterfly bkgd I got at the stamp expo. I used my pearlescent pastels over them, so it really shimmers. I did this for the sketch challenge 122.

Tied on some gold ribbon. Stamped “My Mom” from Fancy flexible phrases, punched and layered the ovals and I was done. OOPS Lets not forget color spritzed! Love that tool!

OK that sounds extremely simple but was a slightly time consuming work from the heart!

Thanks for looking-I will be back-again!