We can never have too many birthday cards in our gifting arsenal, can we?
To make this card, I used Close To My Heart's new "Laughing Lola" paper (on the top edge of this card, shown at right), which is one of my favorites. The colors are rich and have a beautiful design.
I cut complementing paper chevrons for the bottom edge of the card -- and added one of my favorite Lovebug Creations' Rumple Ribbon, in Caddy Blue ...
And it still looked like it needed something....
So I took out a new tool introduced by CTMH this autumn, called a 
"Stitch Guide." (Z1852, $12.95) and, using an embroidery needle, I punched the swirl stitch patterns on the card and on the paper pieces. I then joined each of the holes, using a white opaque gel pen (Sakura Gelly Pen).
Now for a message from me ...
a personal update:
I'd like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to many of my blog followers who have selected me to be their Close To My Heart Independent Consultant. As you know, I retired due to disability in December 2012; CTMH has allowed me to modestly supplement my fixed income and retain some of the dignity of having purpose of working within my abilities. The Craft Classes at Kathy Davis Studios also help, both financially and with that sense of purpose.
Let me give you some details, which I seldom discuss here:
I know none of us has the "brain power" we once had when we were younger.
My issues run deeper than normal aging, as I have had several brain injuries (strokes and concussions) that have affected my memory, word-finding, executive decision-making capabilities, and mood.
I battle depression, fatigue and near-constant headaches -- and while I am treating with a new neurologist to see if there's much I can do about what is likely "Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy" (CTE) -- I have found that crafting and cardmaking is the greatest therapy.
Having you, "my blog family", is self-affirming. On days when I confuse the word "upstairs" for "inside", or tell my husband I'm putting his clothes in the "bottle" instead of in the "dryer" (who knows why?!), you make me feel as if there's nothing wrong with my brain. My juicy, creative brain can do no wrong. So thank you!
Your support is vital to me, in more ways than I can adequately express. You make me feel whole, normal -- and often super-powered! Other than my family, nothing else brings me more joy. Thank you.
DeFiaNtLy
DiFfeReNt
&
CreAtiVeLy Yours,
On Sunday, I showed you card #1 of a set I am making to give to a friend as a hostess gift. (Scroll down if you missed the birthday card.)
This is a thank you card for the same set, with cute custom dimensions of 4" wide by 4.25" high, with custom envelopes too.
For this card, the featured image (strawberries) is cut using Cricut's "Preserves" cartridge -- one in the double strawberry, and also the single one. The "girl" strawberry is cut from slightly lighter toned red stock, and is lifted with foam tape for dimension.
They're stamped with Peachy Keen faces that I made a little different by adding lashes and cupid-lips to the girl, and freckles to the boy. Their eyes have been whitened with a Gelly Pen. After stamping and coloring the eyes, I ran the strawberries through a Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder.
The sentiment is a Paper Smooches stamp. Accent papers from the Jillibean Soup kit I blogged about on Saturday (scroll down). The envelope is printed with a "liner" in red/white gingham, using the technique I also described on Sunday. The card itself is Coor'dinations Textured cream stock (smooth inside for writing, which I love.)
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And one more thing ...
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It's my pleasure to announce the winner of my blog candy from the "...and Felicity Makes 10!" Blog Hop yesterday. The winner of the Paper Source "Do Something Creative Every Day" stamp is (drumroll!) ... SUZANNE, "Cricut Craftin Grammy". Suzanne, please send an e-mail to me with your mailing address, and I'll get it out to you right away. Feel free to pick up this winner's button for your blog, if you'd like!
"Stitch Guide." (Z1852, $12.95) and, using an embroidery needle, I punched the swirl stitch patterns on the card and on the paper pieces. I then joined each of the holes, using a white opaque gel pen (Sakura Gelly Pen). 
