Birthday Flowers

Good afternoon, and I bet you thought I'd gotten lost on the trip back from Florida! Nope, just been busy with stuff.  Before anything else, let me give a belated welcome to Lillian of The Leaf Studio.  Since most of the posts done recently were scheduled posts, I've been remiss in giving a Thank You shout out with a link to Lillian's fantastic blog. Please do take a few moments to hop over, browse around & say Hello to Lillian.

Saw the numbers bump back up on the 'face list', but I can't determine if there's really a new follower, or Blogger is playing tricks and returning some of the followers who disappeared! So if you're a new follower that I've not given a welcome, please do let me know, so I can fix that little thing!!! Also seeing information that Blogger is changing things, so you might want to be sure you have a Google account...I'm not sure I understand all I know about that either!!

Now, to update on the truck problem and the dog problem. Truck needed a catalytic converter replaced (evidently this one has a left & right one..I didn't know that!)...and thankfully it was under warranty. Technician told Mr. we made a good decision to not drive it all the way home. Now for the greyhound update: Camera made its appearance the day after we got home, so at least won't require surgical removal. It had stopped in the stomach area (xrays showed it), so don't know why it didn't continue through the intestines. Also the battery dies after 72 hrs, so no telling what the results up to that time will show. Haven't heard any more news, so guess that means nothing dreadful as yet. And Dallas was eating at least, and sort of resuming her normal behavior.

Since we've been home, it's been busy and then Mr. developed a migraine. So that was a lot of tiptoe around trying to keep the noise down, catch the phone on the first ring, unpacking, trip & normal laundry, and getting the file system for 2016 receipts in place. Our weather was sunny & pretty, but it's been cold. Today it's been awfully windy, but at least sunny.

Now here's a card that was started before leaving for Christmas, and just had not been able to get it finished. (and it will arrive late for the recipient's birthday...alas!)

- Versamark applied with a finger dauber through the openings of a Dreamweaver brass stencil.  (Inspiration came from this pretty card by Our Darnell). Then pulled out some pan pastels, swabbed some chalks around. Easy - except for trying to shade. But I think it turned out fairly well. Had fun, and will try this again with some of the many brass stencils collected over the years.

- Diecut with a Sizzix oval (you can't emboss with these Sizzix dies like with the S/Binder ones). Used the matching Sizzix oval (not quite large enough either) - hand traced the outside of that die, fussy cut.

- some lace, green ribbon as a border over the C/B Swiss Dots embossed background.

- HLS Fun Birthday Sentiments for the SU punched sentiment...added a few rhinestones, and finally got 'er done.

Speaking of which: The HLS January Christmas Challenge (theme is Jingle ) is still going along, so hope you can find time to get a head start on 2016 Christmas card stash, and play along with us!

That's it for me. Thanks for not forgetting me, and I hope I can get caught up enough to finish up a more cards. Been putting together the IKEA Alex cabinets bought some while ago. Five in all....now got to start with the organizing. That will keep me VERY busy!

Stay cozy if it's not such nice weather where you are. Big hugs.