Followers

10/14/2017

Birthday Birdhouse

Good evening, and welcome. We're just back from celebrating an 89th birthday with a big family dinner. Actual birthday is tomorrow, and my family must have some strong, long-lived genes. My parents were 85(Mom) and 89(Dad) who was 20 days away from 90; got a couple aunts who lived past 100, uncles in the 90-s. So it looks like the 2 oldest brothers got these genes. The remaining brother is 81, is in very good health, active, good eyesight...which we feel is a blessing, since our family seems to have the Macular Degeneration curse. My brother's 4 daughters came to celebrate with their Dad for this special birthday, some of his grandkids, and 4 gr-grands. Brother #2 (87) went with us. It was noisy! A bit emotional for the birthday fella too, when they brought out the cake and sang Happy Birthday. I was wishing they hadn't done this, as I felt he was embarrassed to have gotten a bit teary. I think he was pleased however.

Here's the card he got from me. Someone had to tell him what it looks like as his vision is poor.


Die is a Gina K scallop frame--cuts out the scalloped center piece along with the stitched frame. Oxide Ink distressing around the edges, inlaid the center; added a bit of WoS, some bits of DP for trim. Found a set of bird motif brads - sort of a darkish pewter, decided to add one.

Cut the sentiment at a slant, since the font is a little on the wonky side. Did 3 efforts thinking it was OE, finally decided the stamp is meant to look like this. A bit of distress ink edging again. Tucked it under the bird brad. Added some Walnut Nuvo pearls, one of which is on top of the brad, but don't think the photo shows it well.

Been working on the baseboard cleaning gig & nearly done. Started in the office, which is a smaller room than the living room, so thought that room would go quickly. Moving a bunch of 'stuff' out to get at the baseboard took most of the day to get the task done. While doing so, decluttered some: think small packs of hardened rubber bands, dried out glue sticks, rusty paper clips, old pictorial calendars I had saved for 'some reason', bags that were to be decorated, memorabilia from by-gone trips. Just office supplies past their Use By Date and all dust collectors. So living room (or den...as it's not at all formal) will finish up this effort.It also has a chair rail trim which will need to be wiped down  as well as the baseboards. Already found what is to be the next task before all my motivation is gone: Emptying 2 bookcase of every single item, and wiping down. Usually I just dust the edges where you can see the dust. May do some cleanout there too.

Ya'll have a wonderful Sunday, and thanks for your visit this evening. God Bless and Big Hugs

31 comments:

  1. What a gorgeous, colorful card Mary. Just spot on for an autumn birthday. Doesn't it feel good to get rid of useful stuff? We had another clean out last weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gorgeous card Mary, looks like a lot of love put into it.xxx [aNNie]

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such a sweet image, Mary ... love how you added layers and texture ... your brother could feel it all while having the card described to him! How wonderful to have so many loving people around to celebrate ... tiring and emotional, I'm sure, but wonderful all the same! Happy Cleaning!! Hugs, Anita :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a wonderful card Mary. I do love your birdhouse. Sounds as if you had a great time at the party. Must write you soon. Hugs Rita xxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Perfect image for a masculine card Mary and fabulous colours for this time of the year as well as being bright and cheerful.....the weather here is lovely and most unseasonably warm so making the most of it in the garden getting cleared up....enjoy your Sunday xxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Mary, Glad the birthday celebrations went well.

    Fab card.

    Hope you continue to get through your dg duties. Sue

    ReplyDelete
  7. Beautiful card Mary, lovely image and colours. Sounds like you all had a wonderful birthday celebration, Kate x

    ReplyDelete
  8. Glad the clean up and clear out went well Mary and adore this beautifully coloured card for your brother and love those papers too. x

    ReplyDelete
  9. I hate that he can't see this beautiful card so well. It is so bright and vibrant andjust the surround a birdhouse needs. You are putting me to shame with your cleaning. I have two big jobs, windows and the finish of the garage, to do and only started a teeny bit. Good for you!

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a lovely card with a lot of texture! How nice your nieces could come to celebrate. I wish I could get inspired to do some deep cleaning. Actually I need to just do some maintenance as that's been put off. Dust is getting to dangerous levels around here!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love your card Mary. Brought smiles to my face as it reminds me of a stamp I bought years ago when I started crafting having visited friends in Virginia. Thanks for the memory stir and sharing your lovely card. What a great birthday to celebrate. Zx

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love hearing how the family is doing, Mary. The party for your brother sounds like it was wonderful, even if it was very emotional for him. Your birdhouse card certainly is wonderful, too! We all enjoy its beauty so thank you for sharing! Good job on all the cleaning and decluttering. Funny, I just did my bookshelves last week after hemming and hawing about it for over a year! That led to doing my glass hutch, too! It was an all day job, but well worth it. Don't overdo now and have a relapse!! Hugs, Darnell

    ReplyDelete
  13. So glad the party for your brother went well and that the card was a success. I can see why it was as well as it is so fantastically created and colored. A great design in all ways.

    ReplyDelete
  14. You certainly have been busy, partying and de-cluttering, well done you! I love the birdhouse on the card for your brother - great colours too! Hugs, Anne xx

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a gorgeous card, Mary!! I love the beautiful birdhouse!! It sounds like a wonderful birthday celebration!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

    ReplyDelete
  16. A super card Mary, a fabulous image and lovely colours.
    It sounds like a fun party.
    Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
    x

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a lovely card Mary, great colours. How lovely that you had a get together to celebrate a happy occasion after such a horrid time recently xx

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wonderful birthday card, lovely image with perfect colours.
    Glad you had a lovely time.
    Hugs Pam x

    ReplyDelete
  19. Gorgeous card, super image, lovely die and a nice mix of papers.

    Kath x

    ReplyDelete
  20. Mary, what a lovely card. Even though your brother wasn't able to clearly see your card I'm sure he appreciated it. Sounds like he had plenty of company to celebrate with him. That is definitely a milestone. My mother was 89 when she passed away. Her mother lived to be over 100. Macular degeneration is so common these days. I was diagnosed with it too. Take care. Have a wonderful week!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Mary, this is so cheerful and so fresh looking! Love the beautiful, spring colors and your coloring is impeccable. Love the layout too!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi Mary,
    sounds like a wonderful get together of all the family, and you can't beat those can you.
    Your card is wonderful and bright, and such a great design too.
    Love that very sweet image as well.
    Beautiful inking and I love the shaped sentiment.
    Sounds like you are still very busy, and you put me to shame as mine need doing badly, but I would rather be crafting. LOL.
    Love and big crafty hugs from my house to yours. Jenny L.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Beautiful card Mary and belated happy birthday to your brother and embarrassed or not I bet he enjoyed the family get together -things which seem to happen rarely nowadays unfortunately--I see your energy is still ongoing and wish you good luck with your cleaning and decluttering-I have just given a bagful to someone who has just started craft classes -I have more than enough to use in 2 lifetimes!!!
    Carol x

    ReplyDelete
  24. Mary you put me to shame with all your cleaning :-)... I will excuse myself as I am gardening, and trying to get to going now the rains seem to have finally abated - for the moment.
    Your card is gorgeous - love the wee bird house. Yes MD is a curse, having lived with DH having it.
    Blessings
    Maxine

    ReplyDelete
  25. A lovely card Mary and what a great event to celebrate.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Mary, I've always been a fan of your coloring. This is gorgeous! What a cheerful card to make for your friend. I see nothing at all wrong with your watercolored images either! I struggle with watercolor and seldom use it for that reason. What a shame to not use these!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Beautiful card Mary, love the image and design! It's wonderful y'all were able to get together for your brothers birthday!
    Hugs, Sherry x
    Loose Stitches and Unraveled Threads

    ReplyDelete
  28. Lovely card for your brother's 89th birthday. Happy Belated Birthday to him!! So nice that all his daughter's could be there for the celebration, along with lots of other family. Made for a very special event, I'm sure. Getting emotional during the singing of happy birthday just shows how much this gathering meant to him. Good for you for all your hard work of cleaning out and decluttering. It's something I need to do, but always put off. :) xx

    ReplyDelete
  29. You made a really beautiful and happy card for your brother's birthday. Belated Birthday Wishes to the Birthday boy. It sounds as if you all had a good time. How wonderful to have such a wonderful family gathering. Barbxx

    ReplyDelete
  30. Sounds like the birthday celebrate was a good one. Nothing wrong with getting teary eyed either, shows he is human and has emotions! I am very happy your brother enjoyed his celebrate gathering! I love the birthday card you made for him, such a happy and beautiful card! And of course the coloring is just beautiful. Hugs, Brenda

    ReplyDelete