Wow, I can’t believe it…my blog turns one year old today! When I first started blogging I gave myself six months and I’d see what happened. Well, I’ve been overwhelmed with your positive response to my little stamping blog. You have all been so supportive, like my own little stamping family. And I can’t say thank you enough for following along on this journey. 🙂
I do have a quick birthday card and some blog candy to share but first I though that it would be fun to share a few of my blog stats with you:
- My blog has been viewed over 174,000 (wow…thank you!!)
- I’ve posted 371 blog entries (apparently I talk too much!!)
- You all have left me almost 2000 comments (wow again…thank you again!!)
- Over 800 of you follow along with my blog on a daily basis (wow, wow, wow!!)
And just for fun, I thought that I’d show you my very first card. My blogging style has changed a lot since then (and so have my photography skills!). If you want to see my very first post, click here.
I thought that I’d also show you your favorite card (based on the number of times it has been viewed) that I’ve posted. This is one of my favorites too! If you want to see the original blog post, click here.
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Alright, enough about my blog…here is a quick birthday card that I made with the Sassy Salutations stamp set and a Pretty Presents Designer Bow from Stampin’ Up! I made a card a few weeks ago with one of these bows and mentioned that it looked like Minnie Mouse. I finally made a Minnie Mouse card to share with you.
This was so quick and easy, I adhered a panel of Polka Dot Parade DSP to a Basic Black card base, then I cut three circles from Basic Black card stock with the Circles Collection Framelits Dies. I stamped the sentiment from the Sassy Salutations stamp set (wood mount and clear mount) in VersaMark Ink on the larger circle and heat embossed it with White Stampin’ Emboss Powder.
Then I added the big Minnie Mouse bow that I made from the Pretty Presents Designer Bows pack. I love these bows, they’re all precut and ready to be assembled (you can find them on page 36 in the Holiday Catalog). Just stick them together with Glue Dots and you’re all done!
Because this card was for one of my nieces, I added a little sentiment from the Remembering Your Birthday stamp set (wood mount and clear mount) in StazOn Jet Black ink and a strip of the Polka Dot Parade DSP inside the card.
The complete list of supplies, including card stock cuts is at the very bottom of this post.
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Blog Candy
What’s a birthday celebration without a few presents? 🙂 I thought that I’d offer up a blog candy weekend as my way of saying a little thank you for following along (and putting up with my goofs!) for an entire year. I’ve got one blog candy package today and I’ll be posting another one tomorrow so make sure that you check back!
Today’s blog candy is three ink pads (Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry & Island Indigo) and a package of Frosted Finishes Embellishments.
To be entered to win the blog candy package for today, simply leave me a comment on this post by 8:00 AM EST tomorrow (Sunday, Nov 10) telling me your favorite birthday tradition. It can be something from your childhood or something that you do now.
My favorite birthday tradition is sitting down with my oldest daughter to plan out birthday parties. This started when she was three and she’s been planning all of the birthday parties from the decorations to the cake and the games for everyone in our house since then. As a result, I’ve had everything from Strawberry Shortcake to Barbie themed parties for me.
I’ll randomly draw a winner from those comments posted and I’ll announce the winner on my blog tomorrow morning. Anyone is welcome to leave a comment but I’m only able to ship the blog candy to addresses within the United States. Thanks for your understanding.
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Weekly Deals From Stampin’ Up! Nov 5-11
Click here to see the Weekly Deals from Stampin’ Up! in my online store. The Weekly Deals are only while supplies last and only available at these great prices through November 11.
Digital Scrapbooking Days Daily Deal from Stampin’ Up! All Daily Deals for One More Day!
Hopefully this week has gotten you inspired to start creating with MDS. As one last final surprise to end Digital Scrapbooking Days, the My Digital Studio team has decided to put all of the Daily Deals back on sale for 24 hours! Get your orders in between November 8 at midnight and November 9 at midnight (MT) to get these downloads at 50% off.
Here are the downloads that will be on sale (click on the download name to see it in my online store):
- Amped Up Ampersands Kit (item 134844)
- Hello There Kit (item 133374)
- All Time Fave Photobook Template (item 132915)
- Modern Medley Overlays Kit (item 134839)
- Be Brave Pocket Cards (item 134840)
- Nobody’s Business Photobook Template (item 132812)
- Autumn Traditions Kit (item 127600)
- Afternoon Daydream Kit (item 130861)
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If you need any stamping supplies, I’d be very happy to be your Demonstrator. Just click on the Order Stampin’ Up! Online Now button on the right side of the screen to go directly to my online store or drop me an email if you have any questions.
Don’t forget my November ordering special where you could win one of two $25 gift certificates! Click on my Rewards tab above to read all about it.
Happy Stamping!
Amy
- Visit my online store here.
- Shop the Clearance Rack here.
- Earn FREE Stampin’ Up! Products – Join my Running Shoe Rewards Program – My online customer thank you program!
- In addition to my online store, also take PayPal payments for orders – Check my Rewards page for more information.
- I offer gift certificates for Stampin’ Up! merchandise too! Click on my Gift Certificates page for more information.
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Stampin’ Up! items used to create this card:
Stamps: Sassy Salutations (132070 wood, 126707 clear); Remembering Your Birthday (131347 wood, 131350 clear)
Dies: Circles Collection Framelits (130911)
Embellishments: White Stampin’ Emboss Powder (109132); Pretty Presents Designer Bows (132186)
Card Stock: Basic Black (121045) – 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ card base, three Circles Collection Framelits die cuts; Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper (126902) – 4″ x 5-1/4″ panel, 5/8″ x 4″ strip (inside card); Whisper White (100730) – 4″ x 5-1/4″ panel (inside card)
Ink: VersaMark Pad (102283), StazOn Jet Black Ink Pad (101406)
Adhesive: SNAIL (104332); Glue Dots (103683)
Amy happy birthday. I look forward to your blog each morning. At 8 am my iPad gives the indication I have an email from you. Keep up the good work. Sheila
Amy, on my son’s birthday, I tell him the story of his birth. He is now 26 and he says “Mom – how many times do I have to hear this” Of course I say, “every year because it was a special day in my life”
Amy, I have truly enjoyed your blog and look forward to seeing it every evening when I get home from work! Your designs are such an inspiration! Our family tradition for birthday celebrations is the honoree gets to choose a dinner venue and we all go out to celebrate! We don’t eat out a lot so this is a nice treat.
I love seeing your posts each day–keep it up! Your cards are so inspiring for me & my girls! We don’t do this every birthday, but when we do it is my favorite thing….We go around the table & say at least one thing that we appreciate about the birthday boy or girl. We don’t praise & thank each other enough in this day & age & it is so special to see the eyes sparkle of the one who feels so loved. Thanks for the yummy blog candy chance!
Happy Blog Birthday!! Like the people who commented before me, I look forward to getting your update email everyday to see what you’ve created. My favorite birthday tradition is spending time with my husband on his birthday. He farms and his birthday is in November so I’ve spent a lot of time in the tractor or the combine! Thanks for the chance to win some blog candy. Here’s to many more birthdays!
Happy first birthday on your blog Amy! Like so many others, I look forward to seeing your wonderful creations every day. Since my son lives a distance away from us with his family, it is tradition on my birthday that my husband presents me with my favorite birthday cake from my favorite baker. He is always so proud to remember it and I love him for it!
I’ve only recently found and started following your blog – thank you for helping those of us with little inspiration of our own!
My favorite birthday tradition is having a family dinner for the birthday boy or girl. It is hard to get everyone together with all of their other commitments, so a birthday dinner is something everyone knows to expect and plan for. A homemade dinner and birthday gifts – what’s not to love about that tradition?!
Happy 1st birthday~~~and many, many more! I’ve been following your blog for a little while now and have really been inspired by your creativity.
My favorite birthday memories were with my family when they were young. We were stationed in The Netherlands for almost seven years and there was a beautiful little German village that ended up being our favorite place to visit! It was the most picturesque little village and was gorgeous no matter what time of year we went. We’d play up at the castle ruins that overlooked the town, eat yummy schnitzel, some spice and chocolate covered biscotti type cookies that you can only find in that little village and the grand finale was always take the kids out for fancy ice cream dishes there. Their favorite?? Spaghetti Ice – it looked like a big dish of spaghetti but was all ice cream – strands of ice cream, sauce was strawberry topping and topped with of course mock Parmesan cheese! Thanks for the memories……….and may you have many sweet memories and many more birthday celebrations! Blessings~
catherinesangels@yahoo.com
Love your Minnie card. Very clever and effective! Birthdays were not big in my life and at 77, they still aren’t! 🙂 Dec. 23 was not a good birthdate, especially for a very poor family as I was growing up. I was allowed to open one gift from the box of items sent from friends in Hawaii on my birthday. Mother did create a surprise birthday for me when I was in 8th or 9th grade. It was indeed a big surprise, and I believe all 7 of my classmates were there!
Your cards are always to pretty. I just love them. My favorite birthday was on my 20th when I received the most wonderful birthday gift of all. My beautiful daughter was born on my birthday. She is such a blessing.
I have been following you for quite a while and I am enjoying your work. In our family, we have 5 birthdays in October, so we have a dinner together each week-end that month with a special cake for the birthday honoree. By the time we get to the last birthday of the month, nobody wants cake anymore, so we have cupcakes.
Birthdays at our house start with a favorite breakfast for the special person. The birthday guy or gal is free of all chores on their day and we then finish out the day with the birthday honoree getting the dinner of their choice either homemade or dining out and the cake of their choice. Mom always chooses dinner out.
happy birthday..today my twins turn 37…Have a sweet day.
Hi Amy,
From the Netherlands I say Happy Birthdag…..Take a Birthday cake, and coffee or tea, and singing the whole day happy birthdag too you…
Ask Yvonne , for de birthday cake.
Have a great day,
Miranda Kerver.
Happy Birthday to your Blog !!! We always celebrate with the birthday person deciding what/where they want their special meal ~ breakfast, lunch or dinner. Sometimes it’s more than one meal !!
Love your cards, they are so inspiring. My Birthday tradition is to go out to eat with family and then come home to a hand made cake from my husband!
Love your card….in fact I have unsubscribed from Mary Fish and follow you now. Take that as a compliment!!
Love your blog — especially the fact that you explain the “how” in completing the card with specifics! For family birthdays, we always have a homemade cake of the honoree’s choosing. Then we sing them happy birthday — then in french (once my oldest started taking in French in kindergarten and learned it in school) and then in a silly way that a mexican restaurant sings it. We always have to rush because it takes us so long and the wax starts to drip. 🙂
Cute card. I really enjoy your blog. Our birthday tradition is to have homemade angel food cake.
What a perfect “Minnie” birthday card! I’ve been following you since the very beginning having been referred by Sandi. Keep up the great work and inspiration for all of us card makers. My children are all grown up and a tradition with them is their favorite, angel food cake with mock whipped cream frosting.
We have always like our children determine what kind of cake they want and the food menu. Our daughter isn’t fond of cake so we would have brownies, a pie, etc. After the family and friends party we would always let the birthday child pick out the resturant she would like to eat at and then we would go there and eat our meal with just the family.
Happy Blogging birthday, Amy! Our family tradition is playing party games and everyone, winner or not, gets a prize. My grandchildren, ages 7 and 9, don’t have this same tradition so I threw myself a little party this year and infused the old tradition again. Everyone was surprised.
My birthday is only 10 days after Christmas so I always got the combined Christmas/Birthday gift. My Grandpa decided to change that. He started to take me to the big carnival in town on the 4th of July. His explanation for the carnival was that we were celebrating my half-birthday since no one remembers it at Christmas time, and that this carnival was just for me. I sure miss my Grandpa.
Amy, congratulations on your first blog birthday! I really enjoy seeing what you come up as I like your style of card making. Our birthday tradition is that the birthday person gets to choose what they want for dinner that night and what kind of cake they want. When I was a kid, I could invite a friend over for dinner, too.
Happy blog birthday Amy. I enjoy reading your blog daily for inspiration. Thank you. Our birthday traditions when we were kids was that the birthday boy or girl got to choose their favorite meal and you got to choose what kind of cake you wanted.
Amy, Happy Blog Birthday!! I love your creative talent!! I am so happy when I get your email (Feed burner) I then go to your website to be nosey! LOL!!! Here’s to your continued success!!!!
–‘—-,–@ (a rose for you!)
Happy Blog Birthday! Isn’t it fun to look back & see how far we come in such a short time? My favorite birthday tradition is that my husband sings me a Spanish birthday song from a show he watched in Buenos Aires when he was growing up. When I was a kid my mom would always let us pick our favorite food for our birthday dinner. Here’s to another fun year ahead!
Happy First Birthday and sending wishes for many, many more! I love your style and especially that you go into detail at how you arrived at the finished product. You are an inspiration! When family gets together to celebrate a birthday, we end up playing cards. Next to making cards, I love playing cards!
Congratulations on your one year blog anniversary. I have just discovered your blog and love seeing all of your posts. Thanks you so much for sharing your talent with all of us. My favorite birthday tradition started when I was little. We rarely went out to dinner (even fast food) but for our birthdays we got to chose where we would eat our birthday dinner. What a treat. I carried that over to my kids and now they are doing this with their children.
My heritage is Latvian. We sing a traditional latvian b-day song then all the opposite gender hoist the b-day person (sitting in a chair) into the air however many years they are plus one for good luck …it’s a blast! Congrats on your 1st year, Amy, your the best! ; )
2 hoists for you!
Happy 1 year blog anniversary! The tradition I remember from my childhood is getting $5 from Grandma on my birthday every year until I was 18. Grandma always sent a special card and signed it Lots of Love.
Congratulations to you, Amy. I love checking your blog every day. Nov 10 is my husband’s 70th birthday – wow, is he getting old! I came from a large family and on each person’s birthday we got to pick our favorite meal for Mama to prepare. Believe it or not, I loved liver and onions, which never went over very big with my siblings! I loved the excitement of baking the birthday cake from scratch and frosting it with fluffy icing cooked in a double boiiler. Who does that anymore, LOL! Here’s to many more blog birthdays, Amy!
Hi Amy,
I love today’s card! BUT I was also wowed by your fab craft show display. Wonderful display, so clever and functional! You do inspire…thank you.
Diane
Thanks so much Diane! I was trying to keep it functional and inexpensive. 🙂 I saw similar windows on Pinterest and figured that they couldn’t be too difficult to make…and they weren’t!
Amy, Thanks for the chance to win! I follow you everyday and am awed by your talent and style. The birthday ritual in our home is that the birthday boy or girl gets to choose their favorite meal and desert! We’re a family of cooks so everyone is happy! Thanks for your inspiration! Sheila Thompson