Birthday Blog Hop THANKS!!...Paper Smooches: Anything Goes

 Hello – only three more sleeps before we head north to celebrate with my family, and I think the excitement (and pressure – still cards and tags to make!) has me in a flap!  I made some tags, a couple cards, hiked up to husband’s office (he’s in a bit of ‘forced work-aholicism’ these days with biathlon events back-to-back-to-back),  went to Canadian Tire where I scored a super sale on a much needed flat iron for my wacky hair (the other one blew its fuse on Friday…at least it timed its expiry to coincide with a sale) as well as some little storage bins (we’re spilling out all over with my crafty stuff!), made an ‘effort’ at a couple more tags and then. ..hello!!  I realized that the PS challenge is near to closing!  So, here I am…and I’m shifting back, briefly, to the most wonderful birthday celebration I was treated to on Monday. 

In addition to the blog hop (spectacular x 10000!!), my family had a couple surprises for me, too.  Chats with my mom and sister were wonderful, and the Skype call with my niece and nephew: fabulous!   Ms. Niece sang Happy Birthday and Jingle Bells (she’s certainly not shy!), showed me her ‘jump off the stairs and pirouette’ (sort of) new learning from gymnastics, and decided that I *had* to see the shoe wardrobe for one of her doll sets.  Mr.  Nephew, to my extreme delight, when he saw me,  jumped up and down, shouted” Aunty, Aunty” (I listened very closely, and he distinctly said “AunTy”, not AnDy, which he’s been able to say for a while now…hmmm!!), then ran up to the screen and gave me a big smooch!  Heart melted!  Of course, my niece joined in…I can only imagine the lip prints on their iPad.   Excited to see them SOON!!

And then, there’s my dad…oh, he’s so funny sometimes and quite clever!!  He made me  a ‘card of cards’, using images of cards I’ve made as his ‘design’ template.  Judging by the selections, I think he just might read my blog on occasion!!  Inside was one of his poems, which I’m sharing here.  He’s spot on with capturing the ‘essence’ of what making cards is all about – and last I checked, I’ve never seen a poem with this as a topic (trust me: as a former English teacher a whole lotta poems have crossed my path).  Yes, it’s quirky, but it’s also awesome, because my dad made it for me…and I’m ‘spreading the love’ to all of you, passionate as I am about our craft:

This birthday card of cards is just for you,

to show some things that you have done and like to do!

The making of a card starts a threefold expansion of joy:

first to the creator who decides on the theme to employ;

next to the sender who passes the card on to another;

then to the receiver who can enjoy its fond wishes forever!

A card can show many things, places or seasons.

They are given to others on special occasions or for no reasons,

just as a reminder that you are thinking of them and do care

about what they do and the good will you want to share.

We hope this card is one you can enjoy and remember

it is part of our best wishes on your birthday this December!

I think it’s sweet!

My card today, heading for the PS Anything Goes Challenge

is for all of you - my crafting family and my family family – who made my birthday something truly out of this world!  Yes, I’m still basking in the glow…(and I managed best I could to stay on my Christmas-themed only diet...)

It's simple, but it comes from the heart!  

Thank you, Bev, Ardyth, Anita, Geri, Kimberly, Shannon, Darnell, (sidenote: check out Darnell's baking blog: hilarious!!), Barb, Amy, Dana, Cindy, Savannah, Greta, and Kylie!!

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments make my day!!

NOTE:  So delighted to be selected as a Featured Player over at PS! Thank you!!!