Bloggers' Challenge -- Happy Birthday!

Birthdays are always fun to celebrate.....and just yesterday I needed a card for a good friend and stampin' sister who is about to celebrate her special day, so a few of us went over and helped her celebrate in style. BUT, since my MOJO seems to be taking a seriously loooonnnng holiday...this simple card took me about 2 hours to make! (Maybe it's all the meds I'm still taking?) YIKES! I began with an entirely different layout in mind, but somehow it evolved into this, a rather classic layout.

As you can see, I used that fun little set, Flower for All Seasons. Not new to this year's catalog, but it's a set that I earned during Sale-a-Bration. The images are just so darn cute.....and it's a set that had been on and off my wish list for a long time....I'm so happy to now have it in my collection!

The image was stamped onto Very Vanilla CS in Jet Black StazOn and then colored in with markers....using the marker and blender pen method. And that background paper?.....it's from the new, about-to-be-released Holiday Mini catalog. (You'll be able to order from this incredible mini in just a few weeks...it goes live on September 1.) Just WAIT till you see all the great stuff in this mini! You're going to LOVE everything! And this DSP is just about the nicest I've ever used. Seriously!! It's double sided, with a different pattern on each side. It's textured....very much like our textured cardstock. AND it's heavier, kind of like a cardstock itself! Guess that's why they are calling it Specialty DSP! Not to mention the fabulous colors.....oh, you are just going to drool when you see these papers in person!!

When the girls saw this last night, they told me it looked "polished." Hmmm.....I choose to take that as a compliment! But, I think it's the colors....that new Early Espresso seems to give things a really classic look.

Thanks for stopping by today. Don't forget to check on the others to see what they've been up to. And hopefully, it won't be too long before I post again! (I actually made a card for last week's Challenge....twice!.....but since I hated what I made, I didn't post!......sorry.)

Stamps: Flower for All Seasons, Occasional Quotes (Hostess Level 3 offering)

Inks: Jet Black StazOn, Early Espresso

CS: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso

Markers: Chocolate Chip, Daffodil Delight, More Mustard, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie

Misc: 1 3/4" Round Circle, Modern Label Extra Large, Word Window, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Extra Large, Very Vanilla 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Neutrals Designer Button, Linen Thread, Glue Dots,Autumn Spice Specialty DSP, Dimensionals, Blender Pen

Please note: ALL materials used to create this sample are from SU and are currently available (except the DSP, which will be available on 9/1).