Sunday, November 13, 2011

Happy Birthday to Me!

OK, first of all, some housekeeping - Blogger deleted some blogs from my reader, I *think* only the newest ones that I'd added in the last few weeks. I hope I haven't missed re-adding someone, so if I usually stop by your blog, I'll be back once I figure out what's gone wrong! Darn free service not working perfectly all the time, how dare it? lol!

Since I've had looooooads of coffee this morning already this could be a long and chatty post, but if you hang on it'll be worth it, I promise! I couldn't decide which card I wanted to post, and then I spied this one:
Supplies: All stamps from The Cat's Pajamas;
Memento Tuxedo Black ink;
velvet paper from Kaisercraft "Chapter One;"
brads from Basic Grey; Liquid Applique;
Stampendous Fun Flock (Cotton Ball & dark Green);
Martha Stewart Flocking Kit - grass, light green flocking;
Sakura Stardust pen, clear glaze pen; standard circle Nesties
The sentiment is just right.

35? C'est impossible. I certainly don't feel like I could be 35 years old, but that's what I am. Thank goodness I don't have to act like one ALL THE TIME or that would be horrible.

A close-up of all the fuzzy goodness & puffy Applique
Besides the sentiment, this card features so many soft, fluffy, glittery, touchable elements that it made me happy to make it, and happy to look at it :) Even though that little patch of dark green flock was an unsuccessful attempt to create a ground for the penguins to stand on....lesson learned, flocking without colouring first just doesn't look the way I think it should.

In other news, I got a tattoo yesterday, in honour of a friend.

on my left arm, above the inside of my elbow
Once it's finished healing, it will be a more yellowish hue, in honour of those fighting all kinds of cancer. A local Relay for Life team is hosting a Tattoo-a-thon on Friday November 18th, at Flesh Impressions on Church Street. All the tattoos they're doing that day will be ribbons for cancer awareness (colour of your own choice, and style of ribbon), and proceeds are going to Relay for Life. There is also a silent auction taking place at Flesh Impressions, and I've donated several card packs to the table. Since I'm participating in a craft sale on the day of the Tattoo-a-thon, I popped in to ask if I could participate in the fundraiser on a different day, and they were able to fit me in. So, I'm the first tattoo-ee for the fundraiser. My other tattoos were really for fun, I guess, and I found this a very emotional experience. Seeing it every day will hopefully remind me of how precious life is, and how we never know what lies ahead, for any of us, no matter how young.

Ahem. No more sad. Now something funny: Abby!



So the other day I walk into the kitchen, and see Abby sleeping curled up in her blankets....except she's not curled up in it, she's managed to get stuck in it! She shreds fabric, and her blankets are pretty tattered. This one apparently had an almost Abby-sized hole, and she got herself mostly wriggled through it.


My laughing & taking pictures woke her up. When I tried to pull the blanket off, guess what? See how her fur is kind of puckered near the edge of the blanket? She was stuck! I had to use a pair of scissors to get her out! I don't know how that was comfortable, but she had no marks on her skin (we can see through the fur on her legs, it's so pale) and no apparent discomfort, so she's no worse for wear. She does normally sleep covered in blanket - if she's in our bed, she sleeps with everything under the covers, even her nose. Funny little dog :)

So, finally, the last thing - blog candy :) I'm not taking a picture, though, since I don't feel like it, and it's my birthday so I don't have to! I have two pads of Christmas paper to give away to someone who comments on this post - one from Bo Bunny, one from Jillibean Soup. I'll pick a random winner on Wednesday, November 16, and it's open to anyone world-wide. If you don't happen to be a paper crafter, you can leave a comment to win a package of 6 Christmas cards - just let me know in your comment if you'd prefer to win paper or cards!

That's it...for now...thanks for hanging around with me :)

xoxo,
Jessi

ETA: The blog candy is now closed - but you can still leave a comment :) The winner was Allison, announced here. 

16 comments:

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday Jess!!! Hope you have a great day!

Your pup is AdOrAbLe! I miss having pets with their distinct personalities and silly antics. Landlord won't allow them. Time to find a new landlord me thinks!

And, last but not least...paper please!!! And, thanks for the chance to win ;)

Sandy Ang said...

Happy, happy birthday !

Theresa said...

Hi Jessi - Blogger can be annoying can't it!!

Happy, Happy Birthday to you. 35 Heh you still a chippy.I hope you have a marvelous day.

Cute card too!!

lisa arana said...

What a fabulous post. Happy birthday for sure! Celebrate 35!!! Your sweet b/w penguin card is so fun. And your tattoo is amazing. What a great cause to get one. And your sweet Abby is so silly. Funny how they get into jams like that.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Jess! Wishing you all the happiness ever!
I love your new tattoo and what a fantastic cause too! Cancer touches us all and anything that can be done to help is just awesome! Have a fab day on the fundraiser!

Jen W. said...

Happy happy birthday, fellow 35 year old! :) So glad I made it to Blogland tonight and didn't miss you big day! Love the card. The sentiment is perfect - does anyone ever feel grown up? I still feel like a 12 year old a lot of the time. Love the puffy icing and the flocking.

Congrats on your tattoo and taking part in such a fabulous fundraiser!

Abby is hilarious. I look at my guys sleeping sometimes and think that they really cannot be comfortable but they seem totally unfazed. :)

Emily Keaton said...

Happy, happy birthday, Jessi!! I hope it was a fabulous one, filled with lots of {paper}. Great tattoo! Abby is a doll :D.

Allison Rankin said...

Happy birthday! I am older than you and I will continue to be 22 in my state of mind. Love your card...those penguins rock!

walchowDesign said...

Happy Happy Belated Birthday, Jessi! Hope you had a great day!

Such a cute card with all the penguins and love the polka pp! Abby is sooo adorable!

Karin Ã…kesdotter said...

Sorry, I'm a day late, but BIG CONGRATS!!! Lucky you - only 35 (-: I just passed the 4-0 and whoo - it is sooo scary to say it out loud when someone asks how old I am (-: I'm like you there - it just can't be true - not me !!!
Anyway, Love your posts!!! I always leave here with a smile or thinking of something important that you've brought up - and always inspired of course! Love your Penguin card!

hugs, Karin
Thanks so much for the giveaway chance - If I should be lucky, I'd LOVE a Christmas paper pad.

Meg said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

What a fantastic card--those TCP penguins make me smile every time.

That tattoo is such a wonderful gesture to your friend.

HAPPY THOUGHTS!! ABBY!!!! STUCK IN A BLANKET!!! AWESOME!!!

JJ Bolton said...

Happy Birthday Jessi! You're just a baby:)

Hope your birthday week is spectacular!

Wendy ten Hove said...

I'm too late.... but late happy birthday to you!!! I know what you mean about not feeling 35 yet, I'll turn 34 December 26 and I don't feel like that number yet. I know I will be, but still... Loooove your bday card! What a cute stamp that is! And the black and white background is stunning with it!!
Hugs, Wendy

CinnamonSally said...

Happy Belateted birthday wishes to you Jessi, hope you had a fabulous day. Lovely birthday card and your tattoo is fabulous a contant reminder of your friend.

Alanna said...

Happy birthday :) What a special, meaningful tattoo you got on your arm :)

Paper for me please :)

Jocelyn Olson said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! And hey, there's nothing wrong with 35. In fact, you'll grow to love that number year after year. ;)

The card is awesome! The penguins are really cute. I'm loving the puffiness of the cupcake frosting...is that the liquid applique? I'm going to have to find some.

Nice tattoo...it's very sweet.

Abby is so cute. I'm laughing at her, too! I love that you share pics of her.

On my blog you asked about the heat embossing. I usually just add e.p. after I've embossed first (while it's still hot). If it's not hot, I add Versamark, but sometimes that takes off some of the first layer.

Okay, that's the longest comment ever! Hope you had a great bday!