Friday, September 25, 2020

Birthday Linky Party for Nancy!

Hello, there!  Today is all about wishing an extra happy birthday to my friend, Nancy, so we're having a linky party organized by Loll on her blog.  Check it out, and then we hope you can create a birthday card and link it up to wish Nancy a happy birthday.  Pretty sure Nancy won't mind us saying it's a milestone -- 75 years young.  Seriously, if I can be as young as Nancy at 75, I'll be a happy girl!


My card makes me think of Nancy, not only because I made it for her, but because she loves nature and simplicity and alcohol inks.



This is actually regular ol' SU inks which I spread around with 91% alcohol on photo paper.  I don't remember if I spritzed the alcohol or dabbed an alcohol soaked tissue, paper towel, or cotton ball.  The important thing is dye-based inks and 91% alcohol with either photo paper or glossy paper.  It's fun to experiment with whatever you have laying around.  I'll experiment more soon and see about taking pics along the way.



I layered the die cut trees, and finished the card simply with an embossed sentiment and a die cut leaf, all on a shimmery copper card base wrapped with copper cord.


Thought I'd share a pic of Nancy and me for old time's sake.  Photo was taken April 2004 in her driveway after we'd been garden shopping (we did that a lot).  Nancy and I worked at the same medical center for many years, started our stamping journey together, and shared plenty of other interests, as well.  Until COVID we continued to enjoy play dates and visits, sigh.



When I was looking for this picture I came across a wealth of other pics showing activities with friends, fun groups, lots of laughter.  That has all quieted down for the time being.  Someday we'll be normal again.

Happy birthday, Nancy!!  Big virtual hugs!


Stamps:  SU It's Your Birthday sentiment  Paper:  Photo paper for background, shimmery white, shimmery ivory, shimmery copper  Ink:  SU inks for background (cannot remember colors), Versamark for sentiment  Other:  Terra Cotta embossing powder, copper cord, 91% alcohol, Poppystamps Boddington Tree Border, Impression Obsession Small Leaf Set


31 comments:

Loll said...

Absolutely the most perfect birthday card for Nancy!! Gorgeous card Leslie! Thanks for sharing the photo of the two of you!! And thanks for joining Nancy's Birthday Party! xx

Julia Aston said...

Love the backgground you created for your lovely die cut trees Leslie - and how nice you live near Nancy and you craft and garden together - great photo!

Sue N said...

Beautiful card, Leslie! I love the inked BG for the trees! I know how much Nancy and Denny like taking their walks in the trees! Love the picture you shared of you and Nancy! Take care. Sue N

Mac Mable said...

I so enjoyed reading your post and how wonderful your friendship with Nancy x. What a stunning card, full of colour and mixing the medias and just what Nancy loves x.

Viv said...

A gorgeous card Leslie and lovely to see that pic of you both.

Cat Craig said...

Beautiful card Leslie, and reminiscent of shared activities the best kind. The inks are fabulous especially with the white diecuts overlaid. Hopefully next spring we'll all be back to a more fun social normal. Hugs.

Lynette said...

Your card is so pretty, Leslie! Happy Birthday to Nancy. I love that you did that without alcohol inks. Great picture. Yes - some day we'll be "normal" again. Hopefully before TOO long!

Pauline said...

Wow! another spectacular card Leslie! Your background is wonderful, and love the row of trees, so fitting for Nancy as you say she is a nature lover! The little leaf and copper cording is perfect to finish this off. Love your picture you shared of both of you, what wonderful memories. So nice to look back at these during times like this. Take care Leslie, hugs,

Bonnie said...

You are so clever, Leslie! You don't need any alcohol inks when you can get the same look with regular inks and alcohol. What a beautiful background for this fantastic die cut! Just perfect for Nancy!

aussie aNNie said...

Great card and fabulous background and die.....lovely photo. xx

HilaryJane said...

What a gorgeous card, I have never tried making that sort of background with regular die inks, it looks fabulous so I will have to give it a go. That is such a gorgeous die and it looks fabulous cut in white over that background. A really special card for a really special birthday xx

HilaryJane said...

Thanks for sharing the photo too xx

crafty-stamper said...

Beautiful card love the die-cut trees against the inky background-love the photo a reminder of a normal life
Carol x

Ros Crawford said...

Fabulous card for Nancy who I would never have guessed was 75! LOVE the photo... See I learned something new today... You two worked together etc., Thanks so much for sharing and enjoy your weekend, hopefully one day you will be playing together again

Darlene said...

Your card is FABULOUS (as always) and I love the inked background. I need to take a day and play with all my inks but unfortunately, NOT today! But you have inspired me and I will be doing this one day soon! LOVED seeing the photo of You & Nancy ... I have LOVED meeting and linking up with crafty friends (like our common friend Diane) but WOW, you & Nancy go way back ... that's even more awesome!! Lots of treasured memories there! Happy Weekend my friend and yes ... hopefully one day soon things will return to normal. HUGS

Kathy Krug said...

I love how you picked up the dark brownish red color from the background pieceIt is such a beautiful contrast. I would have probably played it safe and chosen a blue or green, but the darker color really provides the WOW. Great design.

pam said...

Beautiful card you created for your special friend Leslie.
This virus has a lot to answer for!
Hugs Pam x

Verna Angerhofer said...

Beautiful design and one that works for a man or woman.

Yogi said...

wonderful card. Love the bkgr'd. wishing your friend a very Happy birthday. Have a great day

Ida said...

Love your card! The background turned out great (now I'll have to try that) and that tree die is super cool. You have so many awesome dies. What a wonderful picture of you and your friend, Nancy. She sounds like a lovely lady.

Conniecrafter said...

How fun to have had a close friend to share your hobby with in person. She is going to love that you used the things she likes for her card. You did a great job on photo paper, I don't have quite the luck with that, Yupo seems to work the best. Love your choice of copper card base and cord to go with this!

Christine Alexander said...

wonderful photo of you and Nancy, you've known her longer than me but we both know she such a character. I can't believe she's 75rs young :)

Darnell said...

Aw, you gals look just adorable and as pretty as your posies! (Except Nancy has her grandpa's pants on, lol! And the fact that I can tease her like that shows what a fun-loving friend Nancy is!) But, now, seriously, Leslie, this birthday card for Nancy's milestone birthday is spectacular!! Can you imagine a necklace made of stones like this??? It is so gorgeous however you did it with that fun stand of white trees! I love the copper accents and cord! Now when you said 91% alcohol, does your paper have a hangover the next day? Keep well; we WILL be norm, er, back together again some day! Hugs, Darnell

Cindy Beach said...

Oh my goodness, LOVE the photo of you and Nancy Littrell! I had no idea you were close to each other in real time distance. Your card is exceptional, Leslie! I am encouraged to try this with my SU inks. Can't wait for more inspiration from you!

Jo said...

Such a rich textured background so reminiscent of Nancy's connection with nature. I do love this technique, something I must give a try. Love the balance of you white die cut trees and white sentiment strip, along with the copper stamped sentiment and copper strip below. This card is so very special, I love it and Nancy must have been delighted too. xx

Nanny's Pansy Patch said...

What a great card and picture! Love the die cut trees and the alcohol background. I'm sure she loved it and the great picture! I turned 75 this year and it's hard to believe where did all the time go! My hope as well is that we will get back to normal soon. We actually went out to dinner this weekend and it was such a treat. Fingers crossed!

nancy littrell said...

I LOVED your Gorgeous alcohol background using SU inks on photo paper...Wow!!! Wonderful die cut trees, colors, copper paper and cord, which brought all your elements together so beautifully. Your color combos..as always are so beautiful. Thank you so much for digging deep for our 2004 gardening shopping spree together...such wonderful memories. Made me think of the 28 years together at the clinic and our continued friendship since I retired 15 years ago in Dec...and we both still love to garden and paper craft:-) I sure miss our playdays together. Enjoyed our phone visit today:-) Much Love and Big Hugs, my dear forever girlfriend. I am so pleased you played along in Loll's birthday blog hop:-)
Nancy

Diane said...

Beautifully created card for Nancy, one I am sure she will treasure for sure (I know I have every card you have ever sent me)!! Pretty background and a great way to use those SU inks, who would of thought...clever~clever! Sorry I am so late getting here, life just keeps getting int he way of what I 'want' to do!!

laurie said...

Awesome design for use with alcohol inks. Beautiful!!

Robyn Oliver said...

A wonderful Nancy nature card - Leslie... and special that you shared your story and photo - life long friends in craft and gardens..hugs Robyn

Stacy Morgan said...

I am sure she will love this, pretty and perfect for your gardening pal. Normal will come once again and you will be able to hang out. I like the picture of you two young things. :-)