Monday..Monday and today is a very SUPER special day as today's is my dear John's 60th Birthday! What perfect timing to be able to celebrate right after tax season. The best part is that the (3) peeps came home for the weekend and it was a total surprise – truly the best gift one could have! (Please feel free to skip the next 4 paragraphs but I just wanted to share)
Peep #1 left his home in North Carolina around 8 p.m. on Thursday night with his adorable new puppy he rescued, Leo and at midnight I had a text from him that he was getting too tired so he pulled over and stayed at a hotel (smart choice). He has a phone meeting at 9 a.m. on Friday so he woke up super early and arrived home before 8:30 and scared John to death!
Peep #2 left her college at 2 p.m. on Friday and arrived home around 8 p.m. and she came bopping through the door and said – "Hi Dad" – John was stunned and the best thing was, his eyes filled up with tears of joy as we had just seen Hannah.
Peep #3 left Boston at 4 p.m. on Friday and the other 2 tried to keep John up watching movies (I was long gone in bed) and at 12:45 a.m. – in through the back door Will came in and once again scared John to death as they were watching an intense movie and he never in a million years thought that Will could come home.
Needless to say it was very, very special for John and WOW was he surprised and the best thing is…we did absolutely nothing other than being together here at the house…Hannah and I played with the horses…the guys worked in getting the garden ready….we took the boat out for a great time together…cooked together and I even talked them into play Scrabble with me – a perfect weekend! Yesterday was hard to see them go back but it was just fabulous and oh so special to both John and I!
O.k. – sorry for the personal scoop but I must say, that's what I adore about blogging…I feel like I get to share with you a bit of who I am…let's get to the card!
Today's Monday challenge is to make a masculine Birthday Card! We all seem to struggle with masculine cards so how about it? Hopefully you can find some time today or tomorrow (9 p.m. Eastern) to make a masculine Birthday Card and email it to me and I will randomly pick the winner and announce it on Wednesday and you will win a white get pen and this card!
I have blogged many times about this bundle…and you can see that today's card is another example of how versatile it is. Remember, in the Occasion Catalog it is a bundle (which saves you an instant 15%) but when the new catalog comes out, it might not be in a bundle so I would not wait – it's a keeper!
I am the very 1st to realize that it is a super expensive set but I will say that the mileage you get with the stamps and these amazing diecut sentiments…WOW!
I am a huge fan of Jennifer McQuire and she posted this video on using hearts in a circle! Today's card is created from her inspiration. I used the circle framelits as my "template" and truly did not spend much time at all…The over all card is a 5" card in Vanilla and this piece is 1/4" smaller (4 3/4")
Because time was against me and because I have the stamp set in the photopolymer, I took the plunge and eye balled it as shown below.
I know it is not perfect but it is from my heart, I stamped in between the 4 stamped "birthday" again . I simply bent ever so slightly the stamp to make a subtle arch.
One product that I think is overlooked in the catalog and something that I think is very useful is the very vanilla coaster board. I used it for my Easter Berry Baskets and I also think it is great to use it with these sentiments.
Today – I doubled up on them as I really wanted the sentiment to be "front and center" for my card! I used the good old "green glue" to adhere!
I hope that you can find some time to make a masculine Birthday Card. This was not only fun, but it really was fast and I think that you could have fun adding to it, but I am super happy with just the way it is!
Remember, please email me your answers to the Blog Candy Challenge I gave to you on Friday! I am giving away (2) $25.00 shopping sprees and I cannot wait myself to see the retiring list and also go thru to see who are the winners!
Today is also the last day to take advantage of the weekly deals! There are some keepers this week! Thanks for popping by and I hope that your day is as special as mine…John is a wonderful husband and Dad and he is taking the day off to enjoy his special day!
Until tomorrow…it will be super exciting as the LIST WILL BE UNVEILED!!!! Woot-woot!
Belated b.d. to John and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE reading about the surprise visits from your three children – what a wonderful gift they gave their dad on a special birthday! You are indeed very blessed! P.S. Leo is adorable and I love today’s card; the coaster board make a HUGE difference and I love it! Hope you have a super week, Susan!
What a fun card! Maybe I will get to try the thinlits before long.
Sounds like a wonderful couple of days with everyone home for John’s birthday! That is so great that all three of you peeps could be there!
I know you have tons of emails to read, but perhaps we can skype soon.
Cyberhugs!
Great card! Your family sounds super awesome!!! Happy Birthday to your hubby!!!
Good Morning Susan,
I love this card. It think it is the best Masculine Card ever. I have three to make today and I think I’ll just case your’s directly. Happy birthday to John. What a great gift to have all the family together . . . just perfect, and a surprise to-boot! How is your ankle? Are you free of the boot yet?
Have a great day!
🙂
Happy belated birthday to your hubby, and many more. What a wonderful surprise that your three kids came home to add to the celebration, I think that was the best gift of all for him…..and you too.
Your card is CAS but it packs a punch with that amazing HAPPY raised like that, what a fabulous detail.
Thank you for sharing.
Happy Birthday to John! How amazing that all three children made the journey home to celebrate! I love this card!
YAY ! So glad all of your family was together for John`s big day !
I loved reading about it ! Leo is adorable ! John is adorable …this post was adorable ! Oh…the card …it is adorable too !
Happy happy birthday (belated ) John !!
Happy Birthday, John. What a wonderful way to celebrate…surprises, family and fun.
What a wonderful weekend for John and yourself! Simplicity is fabulous in life as well as card making! Happy belated birthday to John! Leo is adorable!!!! People who rescue animals are amazing. As ALWAYS your card was a card to add to the to do list!
Happy b-day to John! That was so very kind and considerate for your children to come home and surprise their papa! You raised a beautiful, thoughtful family! Your card is really great for a masculine birthday and I love the coaster board under the wording! Also, Leo is so adorable!
What a great birthday for John and happy birthday John! Wow, the coaster board really makes a difference in popping up the word! What a great card. I watched the video with the hearts and that was interesting.
I loved your stories of the kids coming home! My Daddy turns 70 this summer and I’m trying to decide if we will come home as a surprise (10 hour drive) or if we will plan a trip and party with him knowing.
Your card idea is great! I loved how you made the Happy the star of the card. I’m going to have to try that now! Thanks for all the fun ideas you post. I enjoy reading your blog every day.
Happy belated bday, John. Susan, I so love all the family news and doings you share in your blog, a wonderful way to begin my day… A visit from you. And your lovely cards and ideas are icing on the cake, today’s is one I must try as I’m expecting that bundle to arrive here today! Gotta get some poster board soon. Thankful for YOU!
Susan, I just love your personal posts, so please don’t apologize, and keep them coming! It’s so nice to be able to hear the excitement and happiness in your “blog voice”. Love it! Happy Birthday to John! Whoo hoot!!! This is also a super great card. I had not thought to use coaster board for the thickness of this, and that’s a great idea! This card is darling…and your tip about the circle is great! Thanks so much for the inspiration!
Happy Birthday to John. I love how you share your tips/techniques with us. Great job!
Susan, What a great weekend you had with John’s birthday. Happy birthday John. You are not sixty years old, you are 6 perfect 10’s. (LOL) Susan, it is so wonderful that all your peps came home for their dad’s 60th birthday. Your card is so sweet. You have a great day. Ellen Hinds
Your story brought tears to my eyes. Times like last weekend are so special, so I’m glad John had that wonderful surprise. I lost my husband suddenly a year and a half ago so our little family won’t ever get to have those beautiful family times again. Steal every chance you can to have your family together.
I love how you share your family and having been in on surprises like that know it warmed some hearts in John’s special day. The card is fantastic. I love the coaster board but hadn’t thought about doubling it. Did you cut them out separately then glue them together? Have a wonderful week.
Happy birthday, John! I hope you have a great day! What an exciting weekend to have all of your Peeps come home to surprise John! I got goosebumps when I read how each of them caught him off guard at all different times. Of course, you know my family loves dogs, so I cannot comment without mentioning the adorable Leo! His picture melted three hearts in Wisconsin today!
P.S. I love playing Scrabble, Susan! My hubby and I play at least one game a week. Too bad we didn’t live closer… 🙂
love the cute circle card idea….so easy with the PPM since it’s see thru and “bendy”! I really enjoy your blog….your style of quick and cute stamping fits my preferences very well and you are a good write and share fun info and the family stories are a bonus, right?
Thanks for sharing…..I know the ladies at my CAS classes will be seeing circles soon! 😉