#IMBRINGINGBIRTHDAYSBACK

If you haven't seen the incredible movement started by Shannon West, you've missed something REALLY BIG!!  But, if you are one of the ones that hasn't been in the loop, the short story is...

Several months ago, Shannon West (a super favorite of mine who works for Stampin' Up! in the home office) started a campaign to "bring birthdays back".  If I'm getting this right, Shannon is cool with the FB movement to be able to send that instantaneous message to friends and family, via the internet, but it takes away from the creativity and artistic beauty, not to mention the indescribable feeling we all get when we get that snail-mail from the ones we care about the most. Who doesn't like to go to the mailbox and find something that's actually sent to us for pleasure?  So cool to find that envelope nestled among all of the bills and recyclable ads.  Right?

So, she created this awesome stamp ( #IMBRINGINGBIRTHDAYSBACK ) and her plan began to unfold.  She posted on FB that she wanted to send a birthday card to everyone and to just message our birthdate and address to her and she would make it happen.

Well, how could I not join in and get my very own card from Shannon, a girl I've admired for years? She is so creative, beautiful and her heart is bigger than life!!  No brainer...info sent...

Here is my bundle I received in April...

So...when it was Shannon's birthday, I was so inspired by her desire to bring back the actual birthday card, I had to create and send HER some of my heart and soul.


As I sat down to create I tried to think about her favorite colors, stamps, and what she might like to see on a card.  I only know her from her presentations at the different events I've attended and her online videos of inspiration, so I hoped I was guessing right.  Not really sure if this is one of her favorites stamps, but it's one of mine, so, without further ado, here is my creation for this gracious lady...

The black and red were kinda no brainers, and I definitely wanted to add bling.  I used the Wink of Stella to color her bow, nose, honey and to do some of the shading and I colored some Crystal Effects (which happens to be retiring this month) with the Real Red Ink Refill and painted it on the Rhinestones with an old Aqua Painter.  Her red belt is decorated with the Red Dazzling Details (which is also going away).  

Today I saw a video on YouTube that Shannon had posted with the 954 birthday cards she has received to this day.  I actually saw my creation toward the end of her video.  WOW!!  Very awesome!!!

I'd love to know what you think!  I really like how my card turned out and of course, I had to stamp with Shannon's creation, #IMBRINGING BIRTHDAYSBACK. 

Have a great Friday and a safe and spectacular holiday weekend!  See you back here soon :)

~Tammie