I can hardly believe it’s Wednesday already. My first house guest is due in tonight, and I still need to clean. Of course, I could ask them to leave their signatures in the dust – but honestly I’d be a little embarrassed! There are a few things on mind this morning. First, I had a birthday on Monday. My mother is getting older! I received so many cards in the mail and I want to take this opportunity to make a public THANK YOU! I will be sending private messages as well, and I will be showcasing these beautiful cards here on my blog. But first, I have got to pick up and clean this house! I hope you all understand!

Second, my mother is getting older! Yep she is. Well at least that is what I tell her every time I have a birthday! My youngest daughter was born one week after my 30th birthday. I was sick on that birthday and was at home. We had run to the hospital countless times. Finally one week later she arrived – a few weeks early but she got here. Anyhoo, when I forget how old I am, she very politely reminds me – *Mom, I’m 19 so you have to be 49!* She never lets me forget! As I start that slide into the big 5 – 0, I remind myself that it is just a number. And it is just a number! I feel young at heart, but I do find that with every five years, my body takes on a different stage. I tire more easily and I have a few more aches and pains, but I look forward to what is coming my way! When I turned 40, my life took a fabulous turn and I had more fun that I had ever had. Now that I am nearing 50 I can’t wait to see what is around the corner. It can only get better!!!!! I live every day to its fullest, and now do what I want to do. I’ve learned to say *no*, and *that really isn’t my problem*! I’m settling into who I am — what a marvelous feeling it is. One of my favorite mottos is LIVE OUT LOUD – and I will continue to do so each and every day!

So enough of my babblings about getting older (or should I say getting better). Let’s talking stamping. Even though I have two house guests arriving in the next two days, and I so need to clean, do laundry, etc., I had to do today’s Sketch Challenge on Splitcoast. If I didn’t, Roxie would come after me and quite frankly, that is not something I want! So here’s the card I put everything aside to do this morning.

I stamped the little tree from the Lizzie Anne Designs’ set, Christmas in the City, on watercolor paper and then water colored with reinkers, my old watercolor brush and a cup of water. My favorite way to watercolor – for the life of me I cannot get used to a blender pen or aqua painter. So I’ve quit trying! I know brown and green are not typical Christmas colors, but to me it just made sense today. I used a piece of watercolor paper for the background panel on the front of the card (I liked the texture), and just tied a ribbon around the bottom. The sign is raised on mounting tape and I’ve sponged all the edges in coordinating colors. The inside of the card is made with SU Whisper White. This is such a fun sketch and I know when I have more time, I will be making another card!

Stamps: Christmas in the City by Lizzie Anne Designs

Paper: Canson 120lb Watercolor Paper, SU Old Olive, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White

Ink: Timber Brown Stazon, SU Old Olive Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip

Accessories: May Arts Ribbon, Mounting Tape