Everything but the Kitchen Sink Sketch Challenge #9

Project Materials:
SU stamp sets-All Wrapped Up & Accessories; From the Kitchen
SU markers-Ruby Red, Blush Blossom, Only Orange, Yoyo Yellow, Green Galore and StazOn Timber Brown
SU Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon
and Other Elements

My Wonderful "51st" Birthday

My day started with my husband, calls from my mom and dad, Brittany, Addie and Elena, Tara, Lola, Abe and Maggie, my sisters and nieces. Many, many texts and facebook Happy Birthday wishes. THANKS SO MUCH TO ALL OF YOU!

I'm writing this after a wonderful birthday spent with my husband. I kind of had the day planned (surprise! surprise) from our b'fast to our dinner. It was GREAT! I recommend everyone taking your birthday to just "hang out" with the one you LOVE!

Our day started at Cracker Barrel. I'm a huge breakfast lover (thanks dad!). I love breakfast food anytime of the day and LOVE to have a big b'fast every morning even though I don't. This dish contained eggs, bacon, cheese, onion and tomato. Seriously, can a day start out any better than this? I think not! I feel the need to confess that I only ate 1/2 of the b'fast.



Gary and me (Alison)



Next stop, my dental appointment. Let me explain that I started the planning process of "4 porcelain" teeth last year on my 50th b'day. I probably didn't have to have this done, but again, a present to myself. I love my dentist, "Dr. D" (Denton) and his WONDERFUL dental assistant and one of my very good girlfriends, Carol Campbell. We go to the same church and are in the same women's Bible group on Monday nights. PLUS, did I say how I enjoy "not" going to the dentist. I really love them, but do not like what they do....so, I elect to have nitrous oxide as soon as I sit in the chair. Then I really don't care what they do! Here they are!



Next stop, Lifeway Christian Store. I asked for a new Bible for my birthday. So, off we went. My current Bible was given to me on my birthday in 1995 (36 yrs old) from Gary, Tara and Brittany. I thought I knew which Bible I wanted until I started browsing. I ended up making a call to my friend Kathy. Here is a picture of my new Bible which I'm very excited about..the NIV Study Bible. I also love the cover of European leather in "chocolate and olive."


























Time to head home for a while. I finished my card for the current EBTKS (everything but the kitchen sink) card challenge. Here's a sneak peak!



Now it's dinner time. Where else, "Buffalo Wild Things!" I LOVE wings just about as much as I love b'fast food. We had such a good time. The food was great and so was our waiter. So great, that he suggested desserts which Gary and I shook our heads "no" to with everything he said, UNTIL he said "a scoop of vanilla ice cream with drizzled caramel surrounded by cinnamon holes," which I shook my head "yes" to. Oh my goodness, absolutely out of this world! I'm so glad my b'day only comes once a year because I did have my share of "food" today.







and...........goodnight to all!!!!!!!

Brittany's Birthday Card

Brittany turned 26 on February 9t. Here's her card. I really like the colors and the look of this card. It was made as a card front at one of my Stampin' Up classes.
Project Materials: All materials are for the card front are Stampin' Up AND other decorative paper used for card background.

Tara's Birthday Card

I made a clean and simple card for Tara's 30th birthday. Here it is.



Project Materials:
SU-Wild Wasabi paper, So Much and For a Friend stamp sets, StazOn Timber Brown ink pad, Elements-Flower Fusion-Pink AND Other Elements

Here are a few cards

Joyce, my Stampin' Up instructor gave us a "color" challenge in January....to make a card using the colors purple, red and pink. So, here's my card!



Project Materials:
SU-Lovely Lilac and Real Red paper, All Wrapped Up Stamp & Accessories and Curvy Verses stamp sets; Scallop Circle Punch, Real Read and Pixie Pink stamp pads, Staz On Jet Black, Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon AND Other Elements

"Rambling's with Ali"

This past weekend was gorgeous. Weather was wonderful. Our "McGuire Grands" (Lola, Abe and Maggie) came over Friday afternoon and stayed with us until Sunday afternoon. Jeffrey and Tara spent the weekend in Chattanoog with their friends celebrating Tara's 30th birthday. I had the grands make "homemade" wrapping paper for their mom's gift and a homemade card. They had a ball. They love for me to pull out the "stamps" when they are here. I have posted some pics below.







Lola is taking violin lessons. Here is a pic of her practicing.

"Rambling's with Ali"

Well, another cold Saturday with possible "snow" on Sunday....again. Well, the sun is now shining and coming through our family room windows....what a welcomed site that is.

So very excited that I have "zero" plans for today. I need to work on labeling my stamp sets, organizing my craft room, again! Then sit and make some cards.

I am happy to report that Valentine's for my grands are done. I mailed Addie and Elena's to them this past week. Elena is only 5 months old so she'll have to wait a little longer to "enjoy" her little gift. We are blessed to have "5" grands (6th due in July), so I usually keep these type of "holiday" gifts pretty simple, but fun. So, here's what I came up with. I used jelly jars and filled them with cookies, chocolates and suckers (I had to make the sucker stick shorter in order for them to fit in the jar). Put their initials on their jar, added ribbon and a Valentine Stamp on top of the jar (SU Happy Heart Day). I added each of their names to the Happy Heart Day stamp "after" I took these pics.

Enjoy your Saturday!

Addie and Elena (the yellow E is really hard to see)





Lola, Abe and Maggie