Monday, November 2, 2009

A Birthday Wish

Happy Monday everyone!  Today is a very special day for me...and my mother I suppose ;]  It's my birthday!  I'm officially 36 years old today...wow.  I am closer to 40 than to 30!  Weird to think considering I don't feel a day older than 25. 

Many of you already know that today is my birthday thanks to my wonderful friends and JUGS teammates who planned a surprise blog hop in honor of my special day!  They made me feel so good that they did that :]  Each team member was sweet enough to make a card just for me (and a magnet from Maria :)...so if you arrived here after hopping along each team member's blog, thank YOU also for taking the time to help me celebrate my special day!  If you didn't, you definitely want to pop on over to the Just Us Girls site so that you can see the BEAUTIFUL projects the girls made for me :O)  I'm so lucky to be a member of the fabulously creative team!  These ladies are the BEST in my book ;]

Okay, since we're on the subject of birthdays, let me share a birthday card I made for a dear friend of mine...before I go through the list of birthday goodies I received :O)

I used the Color Throwdown challenge (CTD66) for my palette:

...and I used the Limelight Sketch challenge for my layout, featuring Celebrity Guest Designer, Lauren Meader (part of the challenge is to incorporate butterflies in your project):

I stamped PTI's Background Basics, Text Style on the Bordering Blue cs and layered it under my main panel. I also punched my Martha Stewart butterfly from the stamped cs.  I used PTI's Wishing You set on my main panel.  I popped up two of the larger tulips using dimensionals, added a couple of pearls to the layered butterfly (can you see the razzleberry butterfly under the folded one?), and tied a bow using some satin white ribbon.  Easy stuff, but hopefully worthy of my good friend's special day! 

Onto my birthday goodies... :O)

My sweet husband bought me a new camera to replace the one that kicked the bucket a couple months ago.  I've been using his and was so surprised by how well his camera photographed my projects compared to my old camera, it was almost a blessing in disguise that mine quit working.  I used to STRUGGLE to capture a good shot before and would take like 20 pictures before I would settle on one I deemed good enough to post.  With his camera, I can take one picture and it's good!  He bought me the same brand and make so hopefully I will be equally successful with mine :)

My daughter, Tia, and her friend, Hazel, made a birthday poster for me and Tia bought two sets of stamps, some Rochelle candy and LOTS of peanut butter cups (my FAVORITE)!  Her stamp choices were sooo sweet...she decided on the "Family" set from Stampology (awwh...tear).  She also bought a cute sentiment set that I will be using repeatedly, I'm sure!  Oh, and the basket she picked up to display my goods is extra cute and I can definitely use it to store some craft supplies ;]

My mom sent me my Great Grandmother's Swedish Bible that I have been requesting for years.  It is by far one of the most thoughtful gifts I've ever received.  The Bible is leather bound and intricately engraved on the front, back and spine, and it's written entirely in Swedish.  There is a date written on the front page with her name and what I believe is the name of her Pastor, along with a raised seal.  I believe the date signifies my Great Grandmother's first communion.  It is dated September 17th, 1911, which means she was just entering her teen years when she owned it.  What I find REALLY neat about the Bible is that she tucked a few things inside the book that she treasured.  I found two pressed flowers, one unique blade of grass (or what almost looks like it could have been baby's breath), a tiny card with a heart shaped sticker and her mother's name written on it, a scrap of newspaper or phone book type paper that I assume was simply a bookmark for her, a small leaf, and a lock of her hair.  My daughter was creeped out by the lock of hair, but I find it fascinating!  It's almost as if a part of my Great Grandma is with me...still as thick and pretty as it was when she used to brush and curl it :]  Just warms my heart.  Oh, and don't let me forget that my mother also sent me a gorgeous pair of birthstone earrings!  LOVE them!!

My sis bought me a PTI stamp set that I've been wanting but putting off forever!  The Fancy Flourishes set :O)  I can't wait to get my hands on that one!!  -->UPDATE:  No sooner did I type what my sister ordered from PTI did the mailman arrive with yet another package from my sis!  She bought me a ton of stamps, embellishments, patterned paper and a scrapbook!!  She also sent money...she's in soooo much trouble when I get a hold of her!!  LOL

Last but not least, my friend, Dan (who is actually my husband's best friend) bought me a hand painted wine glass titles "Queen".  It has a bunch of tiaras and crowns on it, rhinestones and glitter!  It's so unique, I love it!  I even used it last night already ;]

I hope I didn't forget anyone...though if any of you made it this far, I'm sure you're bored out of your mind by now!  LOL  Thanks again for sharing my special day with me, and thank you for all the well wishes!  I'm having such a wonderful day :O)

22 comments:

Tammy Hershberger said...

WOW! Will you let your family know when my birthday is, too??? And WHAT a fabulous gift from your Mom! That Bible is a treasure!

Beautiful card, Birthday Girl! I LOVE it!

Martina said...

A big happy birthday from me to you and from over the Pond!

Best wishes from Germany!

LeAnne said...

WOW--I wish I had known it was your birthday--you keep a good secret! It sounds as if it was very special..that Bible is going to be something wonderful that you can pass on to Tia!!! You have a wonderful family--no wonder you are so sweet! Enjoy the day!
Hugs,
LeAnne (4 days......)

LeAnne said...

Gosh, I was so excited in gushing about your b-day, I forgot to say HOW MUCH I LIKE YOUR CARD!!!! So cute---that little tulip stem making the "i" in wish---just adorable! Love it!

Silke Ledlow said...

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTIN!!! Hope you are having a fabulous day and it sounds like you already got spoiled!!! Good for you - LOL!!!

Enjoy your special day!!! Big b-day hugs ~S~

Silke Ledlow said...

Oh and I totally forgot to tell you your card is gorgeous...awesome take on the color combo!!! Hugs ~S~

Sue Lelli said...

Happy Birthday! I just LOVE Birthdays and am so glad yours was terrific! What FAB gifts and what a FAB card YOU made! LOVE your blog and all the girls at JUGS!

Jenna C said...

Happy Birthday!!

Charlene said...

Happy Birthday to you....happy birthday to you...sounds like it was wonderful! Your family and friends sounds so sweet. Hope you had a great day! :)

AKiteFlier said...

Wow Kristin- can your family adopt me?? LOL What thoughtful and lovely gifts for a thoughtful and lovely lady! THIRTY SIX! Phhhshhhhaaaaaw! Enjoy it dearie. :-) Time goes all too quickly. So glad you had a great day and wonderful gifts. Birthday hugs!

Andrea M said...

Happy Birthday!!!! Sounds like you're having a great one. Enjoy all the awesome, thoughtful birthday gifts :) Of course the Blog hop was a wonderful idea as well (such a fitting gift :)). You've made a gorgeous card for your friend! I just love those colors.
Again, wonderful birthday wishes for a wonderful, talented person. I'm so glad you're having such a great day!

Cassie said...

happy birthday! i really enjoyed the hop and i hope you day was full of all the people and things that you love!

Mona Pendleton said...

I hope you had a WONDERFUL birthday Kristin & I hope you had the opportunity to spend it with the people you love! :)

Mona Pendleton said...

Me again! Your card is BEAUTIFUL! I love how your take on Lauren's sketch combined with the colors from the CTD! I like how you pieced the Tulips & gave them dimension! The pearly dots on the butterflies add such elegance :) TFS

1CardCreator said...

Sounds like you had a lovely birthday filled with sweet moments and surprises. ~Diane

Mandy said...

This is absolutely GORGEOUS! I love all of the elements of this, and your colors are beautiful. :) Thanks so much for playing along... And happy birthday! :)

Nancy L. said...

Happy Birthday!! Yummo, PTI goodies ;)

Whimsey said...

Happy birthday - you scored big with the gifts. YIPPEE!!!

Hope your day is extra special!!!

Elise said...

WOW! Kristin! Not only do you have fantastic friends and family, but way to kick off the day with a top notch, super fabulous card! Delicious use of those colors... and gorgeous stamping! I hope you had a fabulous birthday, dear crafty-craftress! Here's to another wonderful year of sharing your mighty talent and creative spirit! Enjoy!

Mary J said...

Happy, happy birthday!!! Sorry I'm a little late - work, work, work has stopped me from doing my daily blog viewing! What a wonderful generous family you are. And you can take comfort that you will always be younger than me!!

Dana Gustafson said...

Wow! What a Birthday! From stamps to priceless and precious family memories and everything in between. Awesoem! YOu deserve it all :)

Lisa Kind said...

Holy Moly, does your family cherish you or what? LOL!! What great gifts! How lucky you are to have that cherished Bible from your grandmother. I loved my grandmother very much. She died at almost 90 years of age, and we were very close. I miss her. I have her engagement ring and I wore it at my wedding (Gram was alive then) and I wear it on special occasions. I treasure it! Oh, and tell Tia that I have a lock of MY hair from my first haircut! My mom thoughtfully saved a curl and wrapped it for safekeeping! Love it! My hair is still the same color (with help)! LOL!! Oh, I just put my card to you in the mail this weekend....sorry so late! ;-)

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