birthday adventures

   My day started out quite nicely - when I kissed my husband good morning, he said "The live trap we bought yesterday worked perfectly, we got the raccoon."  I should have taken its picture, it was a calm and pretty little thing.  It is not welcome here, though, since we have outdoor cats.  Then I opened my email and found an Amazon gift card from my darling daughter and her husband, and a birthday coupon for bonus points at Speedway.  After I accomplished a bit at work this morning, I decided to take the afternoon off so I could collect my bonus points, after renewing my driver's license and plate tabs.  I also used my Elder Beerman birthday coupon for $20 off and my free birthday beverage at Biggby Coffee.  When my handsome husband offered to meet me for dinner, I suggested Applebee's so I could cash in my free birthday dessert coupon, but later I changed my mind - the offer is available until the end of the month, as is the free Hungry Howie's birthday pizza offer.  When I returned home, I found a birthday card from my super stepson and his wonderful wife with an Amazon gift card.  One could ask, "How can your day get any better?"; I would have to answer "I could spend some time making cards, there could be photo opportunities, and maybe I would have some time to browse Amazon."

    Can you believe, my delightful day did get better!  I made this card for Shopping Our Stash, where the challenge (last week) was S-O-S:

My supplies are all Stampin' Up!® (the first S), it's an Ocean scene, and I used Sandpaper (the last S).  Unfortunately, I was too late to enter.  I hope to do better this week, and find some neglected tools to feature.

Then I made a card for Jingle Belles, where lovely Guest Star ♥Candy Blake♥ is asking us to celebrate the holidays by bundling up ... so the Belles are asking us to add lots of layers (three or more!) 

   I'm preparing for a workshop Thursday evening, and one of the ladies requested a card that I had offered at a previous 10-for-$10 stamp-a-stack.  I looked and looked for the card, and finally decided that I must have mailed it to Heather so she would have more "thank you" notes.  I was going to have to change the base card color from the original, anyway, having forgotten to order more Poppy Parade, so here is the new version on Peach Parfait:

   After all that "work", I was really hungry, so I drove to town to meet Tom for dinner, and found this photo opportunity:

Awesome!

   Now, I think I may do some browsing at Amazon...