an Elephant never Forgets!!!

Good morning. I am writing a short and quick post this morning before I get ready for Sunday School and church this morning. I HAD this post ready yesterday, but I accidentally deleted it :(. So you get another today. This time I get to not only thank God for my beautiful friends, but for protecting them at the same time. There are a few of my very close friends that were in harms way this week. Those tornadoes touched down very close to home for them and I am just so thankful that they are safe and unharmed.ON MY ACTUAL BIRTHDAY I received these lovely gifts in the mail. For those of you who hopped my surprise Bday hop, you may recognize this card. The BEAUTIFUL and oh so talented Linda created this for me!!! I SQUEALED with delight when I opened it. Don't she just blow you away with her stitching!?! Thank you so much for brightening up my day even more than I thought possible.
Second: the gift giver will remain anonymous (unless you figure it out :) She purchased me these LOVELIES and I would start fussing, but I already did and it will not do me any good now. :) I LOVE them all. I have already created a card using some of them, in which you will see in just a bit. I am forever addicted to these inspiration paints! They are gorgeous!!! and I sat and drew up many of card sketched the other day with circles. I am ready to go!!! :) It was too much ~ but thank you so much TOC!!!
Thirdly: my dear friend Stacy send me a gift I LOVE and she does not even know what it is hehehe!!! She sent me a gifty card to my favorite paper store: Papertrey Inc. Tracy at Eat Sleep Stamp got me hooked on their gorgeous paper and I have not been able to go back. I was running out, so Stacy has no idea how much of a blessing her gift was (well, she does now!)
Stacy, you got me 2 packs of white cardstock (woohoo), chocolate brown, true black, kraft and some SUPER GORGEOUS vine ribbon.
Thank you Thank you Thank you to all of you ladies for making me feel so special. You know how 'weird' I feel about getting gifts, but I also felt all the love and care in every package and please just know how much I appreciate your thinking of me and most of all your loving me and your friendship!

Now on to the cards. This first card was created with my goodies pictured above. I got to dig into my new cardstock, new patterned paper and the blue Inspirations Paints (in which I am not totally addicted to now BTW!~ I have and love shimmerz, but LOVE these MORE!!! they are AWEsome!!!)

OH!!! And you all KNOW how much of a hoarder I am right? When I get gifts I hold on to them and look at them as if they are a piece of the person and I just hold it and kiss it and call it George (anyone else remember that cartoon or am I the only nut around here?) Well, over a year ago the beautiful Tracy at ESS sent me some super cute ribbons and brads. Yes, still in a baggie safely on my shelf looking all cute. I broke into it last night to add to this card. Thank you Tracy for the sweet gift :)
challenges:
Fussy and Fancy - 2W - 2nd wk - Card for a child.
Paper Cutz - Challenge #87: Buttons & bows
Totally Papercrafts - Challenge #62: Springtime.
Off the Wall Craftiness - 3E, SIO - OTWC#51: Easter color inspiration*.
ABC Challenge - C5 - S is for Sugar and Spice (ck out my sugar and spice papers!!!)
Creative Card Crew - Spring
Crafts and Me - #30 Ribbon


OK... while still speaking of Tracy ~ ((yes she is a star~ that is why I keep mentioning her :D)) I created this other card using Daisy's Cupcake with her sketch this week. I used k*i memories specialty paper: flourish with glitter.both cards were colored with prismacolor markers.
Challenges:
Craft Us Crazy - 2W, 3E - Thinking of you with sentiment and/or animals.

OK, so my short post became very lengthy. Sorry!!! Off for coffee and to get dressed. Have a beautiful and blessed day!

HUGS!!!