A site for my handmade cards, accompanied by my photos and written meanderings which are occasionally witty, often tongue-in-cheek, and rarely profound. Beginning in June 2013, you'll also see lots of NBUS, which is an acronym I coined for Never-Before-Used-Schtuff. Note: my Privacy Policy can be found at a tab below and you can find my NBUS Challenge online. I hope you'll join in the fun there! Thanks for coming by! Have a beverage and enjoy!

July 2, 2012

My Birthday Tribute to Loll ~ SCS FS282 "Quit Yer Lollygagging!"

Today is my birthday!  Sing it with me!  No, really, today IS my birthday.  I'm at that age now where the HAPPY is really in the birthday, 'cause I'm really HAPPY to be around to have another round!

We celebrated with the kids and our dear friends Jeff and Susan on Saturday, pictures below, but first things first.

Loll Thompson is an amazing and prolific card crafter.  She has appeared over the years more than any other artist in my Binder of Inspirations.  Here is a direct link to her SCS Gallery.  Be prepared with a beverage and if you get past the first page in the gallery without your jaw on the floor, well, I can't even image how that's possible.

So it is quite exciting that Loll is the featured stamper over at Splitcoast Stampers.  In honor of Loll, other crafters are CASEing one or more of her cards.  It is HARD to pick one!  And it's intimidating to think about CASEing one in the first place and then publishing it for all the world to compare!  But it's my birthday, and filling out my big girl panties gets easier with each passing birthday!

Here is Loll's beautiful original artwork:


And here is my CASE:



You see how the flowers in her window box look neat?  And mine look all tangled, like the photo is blurry, but it's not, it's just that I added too many?  Teacher / Student.  I'm okay with that and am grateful there are card artists like Loll for me to perspire too.

Now let's talk about me.  I have one of those "slap-your-forehead" birthdays that fall on the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd of any month.  You know how you turn the calendar and see it's so-and-so's birthday and dagnabbit your card is going to be late?  It's really okay to be that so-and-so because we get to receive cards for several days AFTER our birthdays!  Mister always says I'm the only person he knows who celebrates for an entire week.  (Me, grinning.)  Included in that week, of course, here in the USA, is the 4th of July.  People always say that I must have been born a premie because I'm definitely a firecracker!

Here are a few photags from the party on Saturday.

Jeff, Susan, Dan, Rachel, Kevin (Mister/Papa)
Duke the Dog
~~~

The twins helped make birthday cupcakes for me (Bama) and Susan:


Adam, Bama, Henry, Susan

Jeff and Susan have been friends for 35 years.  I don't mean friends with each other, although that's true, too, I'm sure; I mean they have been our friends that long.  That's a gift right there!  Susan is included in the celebration because her birthday is also in July, on the 25th.

I received the coolest bracelet ever!


(A momentary aside:  The bracelet is laying on one of the old day-to-day placemats we've been using for about five years now.  Note the trendy chevron pattern!)

I also received a very cool planter full of cacti . . .


. . . which we are going to endeavor not to kill. Mister and I tend to overwater cacti, while Dan and Rachel, on the other hand, are skilled at maintaining extraordinary cacti gardens at their place. Thank you for the great party and the gifts!

Enjoy! As always, thank you for stopping by to visit. Special thanks to you if you take the time to join as a follower or leave a comment!


Paper:  PTI rustic cream; SU violet
Stamps:  Leaves from Rubber Stamp Tapestry
  Flowers, SU Pocket Silhouettes; sentiment,
  SU Party This Way; W R M Botanicals 42035-4
Ink:  SU crumb cake, Marvy old olive, violet,
  and lavender
Pop Dots


24 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Darnell, today is Tuesday here in Aussie so this is a belated happy birthday wish for you. Glad you had a fabulous day.
Here's to many more, cheers.
Elaine

Carole of Brum said...

Happy Birthday, Darnell!

Hi there, I just popped by to say that I am sooooo glad you found my blog post about storage space for a free blog useful - that makes the time spent researching that particular problem worthwhile, and thanks for the lovely thanks you sent too! Had to giggle when I read your post about Blogger, you write so well! I think we all relate to the frustration of dealing with Mr Blogger and his funny ways.

Am leaving my comment here so that I can comment on today's post too.....great bit of CASE-ing, and I love how showed the card with the similar real-life flowers in the background....clever!

Had to become a follower :) CoB

Bonnie said...

Well, HAPPY Birthday, Darnell! I hope you enjoy it all week long. Love the card and full and tangled window boxes look best.

Susan said...

Well happy birthday to you. It just so happens that today is my hubby's birthday too. Love your cased card.

Sandy said...

Happy Birthday to you. Looks like you had a lovely day. Love your card and so glad you sorted out your photo blogger problem. Sandy :)

Anonymous said...

Oh Happy Birthday! Such adorable birthday cupcakes! And I love your CASEd card. The flowers are pretty ^_^

Amanda said...

A very happy birthday from me too. Certainly looks like a fun party and great gifts too. Loved the cased card and now need to grab a cuppa to go look at Loll's gallery. hugs, Amanda x

Victoria said...

Hee hee ... in honour of your birthday, I will only extend my pinkie once during this whole message :)
Your window box has more of a wildflower feel and the colour is lovely. Everything in simplicity.
Happy birthday... wait for it... !

Linda said...

Happy Birthday Darnell x
Have a fabulous time - week long celebrations are the only way to go. Looks like they got off to a great start. Love the bracelet by the way.
Super little cased card too. Have fun, lots of love Linda xx

shirley-bee said...

Happy Birthday, Darnell! I love your CASE card, and the fact that your flowers aren't all neat, reminds me of my garden :-)
You know what they say, if you keep anything long enough it comes back into fashion...
I'm off to look at Loll's blog

Craftychris said...

Happy Birthday for yesterday! Your card is just as good, just different - I love them both! You had some fab gifts and the photos look very happy. I hope this is the start of a brilliant year xx

Anonymous said...

Looks like you had a fabulous birthday, I totally adore cupcakes! Lovin' your CASE, the stamped leaves are perfect!

Redanne said...

I don't understand how you can post on Monday and it does not get here until Tuesday, so I missed your birthday! If I had known I would have sent you a card! Looks like you had a good day. I love your Case-it card, you have done an excellent job on it, also love the look of those cupcakes......Crafty hugs and belated birthday wishes, Anne x

Jean said...

Belated Happy Birthday, sounds like you had a very nice day. Love your CASE ~ definitely like you Ivy shaped better than the original!

Michelle said...

Happy Birthday, Darnell!!!!! :-)

It sounds like you had a wonderful celebration on the week-end! And enjoy that birthday week that follows!

Vicky Hayes said...

It sounds like you had a wonderful birthday Darnell and I hope I'm not too late (!) to send more birthday wishes. I've never been a fan of neat flowers and foliage so your card definitely gets my vote! Vicky x

Suze Bain said...

Happy birth'week' Darnell, bet those cupcakes were scrummy. Love your 'wildflower' window box, have a great week. xx

MaryH said...

Darnell, HAPPY BIRTHDY (mine was 6/29). Love BOTH these cards. Have the MB windowbox die. Gotta try this. TFS.

Zippy said...

Happy birthday for yesterday! And I love your card! Xxx

Loll said...

Darnell, happy belated birthday!!! Looks like you had a good one! Mine was last week - so we are only a few days apart.

Thank you so much for the wonderful tribute - I appreciate all your kind words. I really enjoy your blog. Your stories are always entertaining!

Lovely card - always love purple and green together. You did a fantastic job!

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Happy Birthday !!!!!!!!! The photos show a happy & vibrant group of people. Love the bracelet & cupcakes and yes your creation too ! Cheers, Shirley

Kim Heggins said...

Happy Birthday! I hope your day was filled with joy. Your card was so fabulous and just as beautiful as your inspiration piece.

Di said...

Belated Happy Birthday! You look just as I expected Darnell - only I guess they took the strait jacket off for that beautiful photo? Sometimes I laugh so much at your blog I do wonder, only sayin'. Hugs, Di xx

Sarn said...

Came over to see this post from the Snippet Playground link . . .belated Happy Birthday wishes going your way Darnell xxx