3.28.2013

It's the *Happiest* of Birthdays :)

Hi, friends!  

Today is a very *happy* day ~ it happens to be my birthday today :)
But most importantly, a few days ago we received some much anticipated news that brought us to our knees with gratitude and relief.  While it's not 100% what we'd hoped for, it was a ruling out of a lot of scary to rule in a lot more 'treatable'.  Praising God and giving Him all the glory!
And that is one of the BEST gifts a mommy could ever, ever hope for -
I'm humbled and thankful!

AND...  the 28th of the month is also the day the Calendar Girls post our monthly theme creations ~  our hostess is Tami - Miss March.
And did she ever give us a challenge - 
one that had me scrambling my creative little legs off ;)

Here is her challenge for us: 

 MARCH 2013 CHALLENGE


Um, I hope I do not hurt anyone's feelings here but we are all a little bit of paper hoarders!!! 

Well, we are going to have to give up the security blanket for March. I would like to see your best created card with NO designer paper. *gasp*.....*thud* {I think J just hit the floor}.

So go ahead and grab your 'old school stamps' - yep, like a set you have not used in years - and create a card for the Calendar Girls.

Oh, and let's try to keep in theme with 'use what'cha got', please no new purchases for this round. Use what'cha got...well, everything but designer paper that is!

I cannot wait to see what my friends come up with. It is always something to look forward to!


Whew!  No dsp?  Eeek!  What's a layer-it-up, love-my-designer-paper gal to do?!  Embrace the challenge :)  I was so inspired to try the "no dsp" that I made not one, but two cards!
Since this is the 'LINY year', and I'm following 
the MCC "use every stamp" challenge, I said to myself  "Self .. 
continue using stamps that haven't gotten to play and play along with new card challenges - it's a win/win!"

So first up, Happy Birthday Card #1 ~
I saw a similiar card while blurfing around awhile back -  please see the artist's original card here!  I went with a similiar layout - changing up to just one rounded corner and the stamp use and changed the colors to suit ones I wanted to play along with for the new ColorQ challenge.  My stamp - oh me oh my, I've had this for at least 6+ years and inked up the Happy Birthday stamp in this Alphabet Soup set.




 I'm tickled with how it turned out and absolutely plan to make a few of these in a couple of different colors :)  Next up, continuing along with the theme ~
 Happy Birthday card #2:


I went straight for Rich Razzleberry and inked up a Stampendous clear stamp set.  I used the balloon stamps and added 'to you' from the set.  This card made me just laugh and laugh.  I fussed over it longer than I would a card that had multiple layers and dimensions.  I actually added a ribbon after the fact and a few kaiser pearls scattered about and then convinced myself that CAS is okay - really, you'll be fine!  So I took it all back off and well, here it is ~ finished, at least!  I was inspired by the SCS CAS213 Limited Supplies Challenge: Use ONLY line stamps (NO solid ones!) *does not include your sentiment.
Tami, thank you for this fabulous challenge this month!
I enjoyed it so very much as I do all challenges 
but learned that yes, I adore my layers of DSP! :)
Please check out the rest of the Calendar Girls DT blogs 
in my sidebar and see what they've made this month.

Big Hugs, Bigger Blessings!
~Kelly


Card #1:  Entered into:  Color Q #182  challenge
CCEE Stampers - Oldies but Goodies stamps

37 comments:

  1. Praising God with you for good news Kelly!! Love your cards - you did some elegant CAS cards there - love them both.
    Blessings
    Maxine

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hooray for the good news! PTL.
    Love both cards - and love this challenge! It's my initial instinct whenever making a card, LOL. Using DP is a challenge for me
    I really like how straight-forward both of these cards are! In my mind, depending on the color scheme, they can easily be masculine cards as well. Very classic looks on both. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  3. ...Oh...
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kelly, I'm so glad to read your post and hear that bad things were ruled out and treatable things were the case. YAY!!!

    Oh... and Happy Birthday! I hope your day today is absolutely perfect!!!

    Now..... your cards! WOW!!! They are both absolutely lovely! It was a challenge to skip the layers of DP - I know! I felt your pain. But wow! You really did a fabulous job!!!

    I'm so glad you're a Calendar Girl!

    ReplyDelete
  5. ♪♫♪♫ Happy Birthday Kelly ♪♫♪♫

    I love the clean and simple look of both of your cards! I think you really embraced this challenge and really made it work! I also think I may have to CASE the first card, love those colors together!

    Great cards! Great job!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Happy Birthday, Kelly, love your first card! Love the design and the way you used the colors. Thanks for sharing your card with us at the colourQ this week. Hope your day is perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love them both, birthday girl!

    I am as much a CAS girl as you are a layer it up one!

    Great color choices on that first card.....and, you can ever go wrong with razzleberry!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous3/28/2013

    Kelly,

    Happy Birthday...today is my 26th anniversary- so a happy day all around. Love your take on the colors on both cards! Praise God for your great news;)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous3/28/2013

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous3/28/2013

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  11. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Glad you got good news and very thankful! Both cards are adorable, love the birthday balloons!

    ReplyDelete
  12. First--Happy, Happy Birthday to you girl--and I am so glad the news you got was "pretty good". Cute cards--I love the ric rac down the side--what a sweet idea! And-I think the second card is stunning--so simple, but so elegant!

    ReplyDelete
  13. PTL for good news!
    Sweet, sweet cards, Kel! Aren't challenges great for stretching and growing our creativity?
    And......Happy Birthday to you....(and me, too~this weekend! =D)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Happy Birthday friend! And happy for you that the news "ruled out a lot of scary." Your cards are great. Love the colors and CAS look of both. I do see y did get a button on one! Lol!! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Very cute card and I like the rick rack. Thanks, for joining us in the CCEE challenge.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Happy Birthday Kelly and I am so glad that you have had good news. I bet your heart is now considerably calmer.
    LOve the idea of just using a stamp. Bit novel hey what!
    I understand totally about how long simple takes!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Happy Burthday! Your cards came out gorgeous. Amazing how pretty they can be without DP!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I hope you had a wonderful birthday! Glad you received some good news.

    Both cards are fab!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Happy, Happy Birthday, Kel!! Wooo hooo for the good The good news. what perfect timing! Sending a bunch of hugs and best wishes your way!! Love, love your bday cards, especially the second one. You are on a roll with CAS and I'm loving it! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Happy Birthday and hope it was a wonderful one! I love both CAS creations. Just gorgeous in their simplicity. Is that ric-rak border a die? Also, congrats on the encouraging news!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Beautiful card - I hope you'll link up at 52 Card Pickup this week!

    http://www.oldbackporch.com/2013/03/52-card-pickup-213.html

    ReplyDelete
  22. Happy for your family with your good news! I know it is a big load off your mind.

    Fabulous cards. I'm afraid I'm a bit of a paper hoarder myself and always like to put 2 or 3 different pieces on my cards. You did so well with both your cards.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Happy Easter! I am so glad your family received good news! Such a relief am sure. Happy belated b-day, your gift was the best ever! Your cards are great! i love it when people use what they have or older stamps. I have so many that I love to take them out and use them. Your fun rickrack card made me smile.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Happy Belated Birthday Wishes Kelly! I hope you had a wonderful day being spoilt by the family and I am pleased to hear you have had good news. Your cards are both fabulous, I particularly love the wonderful ric rac and CAS design on your first card.
    Wishing you all a wonderful Easter also.
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  25. Well, happy birthday to you! Hope you had a wonderful day!

    I think both of your non DSP cards are wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Happy Birthday! I love both of your cards. I wish you a wonderful year ahead filled with much love, many laughs, and great health for you and your family.

    Hugs,

    Terry

    ReplyDelete
  27. gorgeous 'less is more' card Kells...really like the rick racks on the side and how U implemented that old sentiment stamp....Definatly will be casing this...thank U for the inspiration and PTL that all ended well-medically speaking- I'm sure that's your best Birthday 'present' ever! God Bless!♥

    ReplyDelete
  28. Happy Birthday (a few days later)....and THANK YOU JESUS! for your good news!!!! Lovely cards - as usual. You are a super-duper stamper! :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. Happy belated Birthday Kelly. Your cards are very sweet. I know how much you like your papers so you did a great job of stretching yourself. Yeah for the good new. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Easter.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Happy Belated Birthday Kelly. Your cards are so sweet even without the papers and I know how much you like your papers. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Easter.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Fabulous cards as always Kelly! I'm so happy that you had good news and wishing you a fantastic birthday too! May all your wishes this year come true! And Happy Easter to you and your family too! Big Hugs! :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Awesome cards Kelly ~ they are both super fun!!! Thank you so much for playing along with us at colourQ!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Oh my goodness Kelly, these cards are amazing...and you said you were challenged without DSP...pfffftt...you rocked this challenge...way to go birthday girl and am grateful you got good news on your birthday as well...thinking of you and sending xxooxx...♥

    ReplyDelete
  34. I love these colorful "HAPPY" balloons!! What a sensational birthday design, Kelly!!

    ReplyDelete
  35. I hope you had an AWESOME stay-cation and felt wonderfully celebrated! I hit you up on SCS and FB, but didn't get a chance to make the rounds on blogs to wish you HB here. Beautiful CAS cards! What a great way to make a card with no dsp too! LOVE YA, Birthday Girl!!!

    ReplyDelete
  36. I so hope that you had a good birthday. I am excited that you received news that you were hoping for.

    Two cards! Wow!!! Can you say, extra mile?

    I love the thought of the paper strips on the first card. Perfectly done with the textured paper.

    The second is striking with the colors. I like the layout and how you tied that little hemp cord. Cute!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Both cards are just OUTSTANDing...amazing!! just like you!

    ReplyDelete