Oh my gosh . . . Once again I find myself a little out of sync with how I would normally do my blog posts!  Of course, it didn’t help that I had an unannounced visitor knock on my door this afternoon  . . . an old friend that I haven’t seen for a few years.  I enjoyed just sitting and visiting for a few hours and catching up on what has been going on in our lives.  I know we all have them . . .  people you’ve been friends with for 30+ years that it’s okay if you don’t see or talk to each other every day, but you know that if you really needed them all you would have to do is call.  That was my visitor today!

I have been totally enjoying playing around and coloring some of the different images that I have.  I think it’s because I was trying to meet deadlines, etc., and never gave myself time to play.  Now I am and quite frankly . . . . I LOVE it!  That’s not to say that I won’t have some special projects or deadlines coming up, but right now . . . . it’s just down right fun to play when the mood hits!

For my birthday I gave myself a little treat and placed an order an eclectic Paperie for some new Studio 490 stamps and this one from Crafty Secrets that I’ve been waiting for since CHA.  I saw it in the booth then and knew deep down that it would eventually make it into my collection.   There is so much potential with this set and I’m only scratching the surface of what is yet to come.

The image is colored with Copic Markers and the paper, from Graphic45, is sewn to a base of cardstock.  I did, however, change up my normal layout.  I was in the mood for a change . . . go figure!  Oh and I used some new twine from The Twinery.  Oh my BADness . . . I LOVE it!

I did finish off the inside of the card with some of the same paper and stamped “Happy Birthday.”

• Stamps: Crafty Secrets SL32 Bathing Beauties from eclectic Paperie
• Paper: Graphic45 On the Boardwalk from eclectic Paperie; Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Blue and Brown
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Ranger Archival Jet Black; Copic Markers
• Accessories: Spellbinders™ S4-116 Standard Circles – Small, S4-081 Tags 5, S4-241 Jumbo Scalloped Borderabilities Petite, and S4-288 Classic Diamonds;  May Arts 1/2” White Wrinkle Ribbon from Stamp Simply Ribbon Store; The Twinery Caribbean Twine from eclectic Paperie; Buttons; Foam Mounting Tape; Sewing Machine

Well, that’s all I have right now.  I hope you have a great day and remember . . .  life is short, enjoy the adventure . . . or as my new bracelet says . . .  embrace the journey!