Today’s card was designed just for me. I had no color challenges, themes or sketches in mind. I just wanted to do the techniques that I love…distressing, water coloring with blender pens, and adding tons of pearls. Although this card may look difficult to make, it is actually easy. But in all honesty, it is time-consuming. I hope you enjoy “Forever and Always”.
The finished card measures 5-1/4″ x 5-1/4″.
- Rough around the edges! The retiring Seven Sided Tool from the Cutter Kit makes distressing edges a breeze! A little Crumb Cake ink added with a Sponge Dauber adds contrast.
- Snip and curl! The sentiment “Forever and Always”, from Loving Thoughts, takes on a vintage twist when stamped with the Waterspot image from French Foliage. A “V” is snipped in one end with Paper Snips, while the opposite end is curled using the File from the Distressing Essentials Kit.
- A touch of lace! Crumb Cake Seam Binding and Victoria Crochet Trim add a vintage flair, especially when threaded onto a hatpin.
Plenty of pearls! The embossed background, created using the Simply Scored Diagonal Plate, provides the perfect backdrop for Basic Pearls! And who can resist adding pearl centers to the water colored flowers!
This card is my birthday card. I make my own for my husband to give to me. I know that sounds a little strange, but I just can’t see having him spend money on a “store-bought” card. I gave him a choice of sentiments, and he by-passed “Happy Birthday” for “Forever and Always”. Awww! How sweet is that! In a few days I will share cards that I received from many of my blogging friends.
Blog Candy
Don’t forget that I am offering “Birthday Blog Candy”…my birthday gift to you! It includes:
- Basic Rhinestones…to represent April’s birthstone, the diamond
- Basic Pearls and Large Basic Pearls…symbols of happiness and triumph over adversity
- Filigree Brads…beautiful and intricate, like our relationships in life
- Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz...a traditional birthday kiss for good luck
I will randomly select one comment from those left on this and Thursday’s posts through 10:00 PM (CST). The winner will be announced on Saturday. I am sorry that I can only ship to addresses within the United States. I know it is not much, but if my first random selection is from outside the USA, I will create a card especially for you and mail it out right away!
As always, your comments are important to me. I do read each and every one. And remember…if you ever have a question about the cards I create or the techniques I use, I am only an email away! Until next time…
What a beautiful card and the sentiment your husband chose is perfect for a birthday card.
I just found your cards on Pinterest and I’m hooked! LOVE your birthday card and I’m looking forward to seeing more of your ideas. I am addicted to Stampin’ Up – it’s my therapy!
Saw your card on Nancy Riley’s iPicks. This card is absolutely gorgeous! One of my favorites ever!
Happy birthday to you! Your card is really lovely! I know how you feel about getting your husband to buy a card for you 🙂 I make my own cake… it’s about the same I guess LOL
I just looked at the card and made a comment without reading the post I am late for work….Happy Birthday and what sweet husband! Many Many More Always & Forevers!
OMGosh….Ann I missed this one somehow…maybe all the hours I am working at work….darn! This is a beautiful card..Love it and will definitely case it.
A happy but belated birthday, Ann!! I hope you had a wonderful celebration with your sweet husband that gave you this stunning card.
I love your tradition…and such a gorgeous card you made for yourself! You provided so many wonderful design elements to enjoy, with the diagonal scoring with pearls at each juncture, the hat pin with lace, and the beautifully colored focal point. Thank you for sharing a bit of your special day!
Stef Perry
this is a vintage beauty Anne-I love everything about it especially the seam binding treatment on the hat pin-a beautiful embellishment-I am also sending you birthday wishes-you made quite a card for yourself
Ann your card is beautiful. It got me thinking about our friends who have for the past 40 years passed the same card back and forth to each other for their anniversary. How wonderful to look back and see what loving words each has written to the other – kind of like early recycling.
Thank you for taking the time to type out what you have done to make each of your wonderful cards. Those of us with far less talent are the lucky ones who benefit from this … just because you SHARE!
Stunningly beautiful! Happy Birthday1
Happy birthday to you! And what a beautiful card you’ll receive! Your hubby chose the perfect sentiment. You are loved.
Loverly! I especially like that it is vintage without being “fussy.” Perfectly executed!
WOW Ann…this is gorgeous….I’m so glad I’m finally catching up on blogs today! Love the pearls and the crochet ribbon detail!
{sMILES}
Breathtaking Ann! So many gorgeous details, this is certainly a standout card.
Have a wonderful Birthday!
Yes, ma’am, this is gorgeous! Such a wonderful way to celebrate your big day…in classic “Schach-tastic” style! Just gorgeous! 🙂
This is gorgeous. Love all the delicious and vintage elements. Your card is much better than a store-bought card. Love the sentiment your husband chose, “how sweet”.
Happy Birthday.
Ann, I hope you have a blessed birthday. Thank you for offering such a kind blog candy and thank you for creating such a gorgeous card to drool over! lol
Ann, What a beautiful card you created from your husband to you! Love the vintage look. Hope your birthday is special for you in every way! Thanks for the chance to win your birthday bling candy.
Oh, Ann!! This ranks right up there in my top favorites. Absolutely gorgeous. Love all the details and the fact that you make your own birthday card for your husband to give to you! Even more special since he picked out the sentiment!!
Happy and Blessed Birthday, Friend!
Wow…love all the pearls…just so gorgeous!
Lovely card! I wish I felt more comfortable doing vintage style cards. I love seeing them, but never feel mine would look right if I tried.
OOOHHH! That is so pretty! Thanks again for the chance at some pretty blog candy too!
Happy Birthday! Your card is beautiful! I love that stamp set and what you did with it. So soft & pretty.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANN!!! Hope you had a WONDERFUL day!! BEAUTIFUL card!!! Thanks for the chance to win.
What a stunningly gorgeous card you and Kim created! All those wonderful rich details! Happy birthday once again with many more happy ones in store.
Chris R. from Iowa
Xiomara
So beautiful B-day card!!
Happy B-Day to you!
When I saw you said this was ‘easy’, my mind translated it to ‘quick’, and I thought, “No way can that be quick!” LOL It is super duper pretty, just dripping with all the things I love to see. Beautiful work, Ann!
Oh Ann! This is utterly GORGEOUS! Looks like a simple design but all those little details you are so talented with…..WOW! Who wouldn’t love to get this wonderful card!?!
What a gorgeous birthday card from your DH, Ann! You included so many techniques with this work of art. And what a sweet sentiment your hubby chose. Think I’ll start doing the same for my DH as hate seeing him pay those exorbitant prices for a store-bought card. Although he does a great job of picking the perfect ones. Ann, hope your special day was celebrated in style ~ just like you! Thanks for the chance to win all that “blingful” blog candy.
Oh my such loveliness. Just my style. Thanks for sharing your amazing talent with all of your readers. Isn’t it fun to just create for yourself? Dar
ooooo this one is so pretty!
Hope you had a fabulous birthday!
Ann, you have a winner here. I love this card. It is a feel good card and gorgeous to boot. Your work is so inspiring. Makes me think out of the box. What did the twins do for your birthday? Thanks again for the yummy blog candy.
Happy birthday, woof, woof, Happy birthday, woof woof, Happy birthday dear Muffy (NO – It’s Ann) Ann, Happy birthday, woof, woof!
Hope you had a wonderful birthday.
Now onto your birthday card – Yikes – you just keep topping yourself! I love, love, love this card. Thanks for blessing my day. 🙂
Love your hubby’s birthday card to you; what a great tradition! I really like the diagonally scored background with the pearls and distressing and ALL the other Ann vintage touches. You have rocked yet another one, Ann! Hope you had a great day.
Love your hubby’s birthday card to you; what a great tradition! I really like the diagonally scored background with the pearls and distressing and ALL the other Ann vintage touches. You have rocked yet another one, Ann! Hope you had a great day.
Wonderful, you made yourself a beautiful card, I hope you enjoy your day!
What a gorgeous card! I think it makes perfect sense to make a card for your hubby to give to you. You get a beautiful card that you’re destined to love & he doesn’t need to go to the store for one of those types of cards. I really love all the details of this card. Those little pearls are my favorite.
Beautiful card for from your hubby. I like that idea. My hubby isn’t a card person; perhaps I’ll offer to make one for me from him. TFS.
What a beautiful card! Love all the pearls and that embossed background. The design is just so feminine – love the soft colors!
What a beautiful card! Love all the pearls and that embossed background. The design is just so feminine – love the soft colors!
Gorgeous, beautiful card. Oh, there are so many wonderful details to this card and a nice sentiment. Enjoy your Birthday!
Ann this is gorgeous!!! I love the scoring and all those pearls added is absolutely stunning! Your coloring of course is perfect but WOW I LOVE the hat pin! GORGEOUS!
Hugs.
I can’t believe (well, yes, I should)I’m #57 w/a comment!! I know you can’t send me any candy, but I do love this card & all the others you post!! (dog licks!)
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! Ann this card is so different from all others I’ve seen made with this stamp set. So elegant and yet so vintage. thanks for sharing your creativity!
OMGoodness!! I ADORE this card!! You know I love ALL your vintage cards, but there’s something about this one that is EXTREMELY special!! I might have to CASE it and make myself a birthday card next year! LOL!
Ann you are so generous!!! I love the bling & would love to win it!!! I adore what you did with the Simply Scored diagonal plate and the pearls! So beautiful. You always have so much to share. Happy Birthday!!!
Thanks, Joan!!!
I love the card Vintage intimidates me 🙂
Gorgeous card…I love the distressing and the light touch you used. I seem to be too heavy handed with the sponges. I look forward to your posts everyday- your creations and updates on the twins. Blessings, Diane
WOW! I haven’t been able to use my internet for a week and so now I’m playing “catch up” with my favorite blogs (Yours is the first one I went to) and THIS CARD IS GORGEOUS!!
I’ll probably CASE it somewhere down the line, cuz vintage/distressing/shabby chic is my favorite “look”. I’m always so grateful for your tips, hints and ideas. Thank you, Ann.
You do shabby chic so well that I am ‘almost’ ready to try it Thanks for the chance to win your blog candy, too; everybody needs bling.
Beautiful as always. Thank you for sharing your talents.
Happy Birthday
Barb Bird
This card is what I would call Classic Ann. And I don’t blame you for making your own card. That’s how you get what you want!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! This card is absolutely, positively, one of the most beautiful cards I have ever seen!! Have a great weekend.
Stunning Ann! This is my all time FAVORITE card you have made! I love how it has your signiture style which is impeccable! How sweet of you hubby to pick that sentiment for you. Ah, true love. ; )
Beautiful Card Ann! Such Detail! Hope the year brings you much happiness. Enjoy!
Beautiful in every way. Hope you had a terrific birthday!
hugs, m
This is the prettiest card I’ve seen yet with the Apothecary Art set.
Happy birthday!
Beautiful Ann! This card is me to a tee. I love the vintage, the pink, the pearls…I love it all! Hope you enjoy your birthday card.
You have exquisite taste in birthday cards! Gorgeous and I love all the scrunchies on the hat pin!
Oh Ann, this is just gorgeous! I love this. I love all the pearls as they add such such a vintage and elegant touch! I would LOVE to win all this bling! I am sad they are retiring from the SU catalog but I have hopes some other bling will be in the new catalog!
Love your card. My husband makes my card. I have a basket filled with paper cut to card sie and he knows where everything is. I only need to lay out the birthday stamps and a retired rose stamp he loves to use.
Happy Birthdy!!!! Enjoy!
This is an absolutely beautiful card. Love that your hubby picked that sentiment. I may have to do this from now on. What a great idea! Thanks so much for sharing it, and Happpy Birthday!
carolyn s
ceashark at aol dot com
I absolutely love everything about this card, I think I will make it with my customers at my next coffee and a card class. Thanks for sharing and have a very happy birthday!!
What an absolutely GORGEOUS card! I love that your hubby chose forever and always as the sentiment! It’s the little things in life, isn’t it.
Ok, I love the fact that you made your own birthday card. Hallmark does not make a card that can compare to the immaculately beautiful cards that you create.
This is so beautiful, I love it! Good for you for making a card just for you, the way you like to with no do this or do that’s, lol.
Beautiful Card,Love the drapped ribbon on the hat pin so clever of you !!
What a great card and sentiment! You always put such detail into your work, and it pays off bigtime!
Happy Birthday, Ann. Such a lovely card, your husband is very thoughtful. I visit your sight nearly everyday.
Gorgeous card – what a beautiful combination of stamping and embellishments. The distressing makes this card. I hope you have a VERY SPECIAL BIRTHDAY. Your cards are always spectacular and I look forward to your daily posts.
Such a beautiful Birthday card Ann. It’s a classic. One of a kind. You would never see one like this in a store for sure. Love everything about it. Have a wonderful /birthday and treasure every moment.
love the score lines—-your cards are always perfect—thanks for sharing—I so look forward to your blog everyday and I always learn something new Thanks
I love your card, just beautiful! The diagonal score lines really set it off, especially with the pearls. Afraid Hallmark could not compete with this! Hope you had a great birthday!
Your attention to detail is nothing short of amazing and miraculous! I am saddened by the loss of the 7 sided tool. It is one of my favorites and makes those distressed edges a snap. The diagonal score plate used to create your diamond embossed background was the perfect touch to compliment this vintage look. You consistently inspire me to always do better.
Really love this card!!!
What attention to detail.
Your cards are always so wonderful!!
Claudia S.
New Jersey
So many gorgeous vintage accents on this card! I love the “smocked background” Happy Birthday..and like the stamp says ” You are what you eat so eat something sweet”!
Wow! Your BD card is spectacular! No store bought card could compete. This is truly an “Ann” card! Love it all, the distressing, embossing, pearls and oh, the pink roses. Maybe I will make myself a BD card like this for next month. This card is one of the reasons I read your blog. Great job and Happy Birthday, Ann!
I have to tell you. I CASEd one of your cards for my Wednesday night card making class at church. It was the one that you made the hysterical video of where you had to go correct the dogs. I made everyone watch it, it was so funny. Anyway, the card was beautiful and the folks LOVED it. I am usually a clean and simple girl but everyone loved the vintage look. Thank you so much for your inspiration and attention to detail.
Oh! This is just GORGEOUS!!!!! If I wasn’t going to be working all day today and tomorrow at a big craft fair, I’d sit down right now and CASE it!
And…wow! Lucky hubby! I make mine make is his OWN for me!!! They’re not “blog perfect”, but I just LOVE them!
Love, love, love that birthday card!
Beautiful, lovely, gorgeous! I think you should frame it.
Ann, today’s card showcases your style in such an elegant manner. The use of diagonal scoring enhanced with pearls takes the card to the next level. How perfect to celebrate your birthday. Sharing blog candy with your followers is a lovely way to let us participate in the celebration.
Well, when you make cards like that, no store bought one will do! 🙂 Such a sweet sentiment from that darling husband of yours too.
Debbie G
Happy Birthday, Ann. Todays card is beautiful.Love the details especially the pearls. Thanks for a chance to win the great blog candy. debbieanng@yahoo.com
I hope that the year ahead will be special for you. Happy Birthday!
I love this card! It is beautiful! I love the scoring and the pearls you added, it completes that card!
I always enjoy your creations!
Good Morning Ann – it is 4am here in CA but I’m having shots in my back in a few hours so can’t sleep. I hope you are having a wonderful Birthday month and what a beautiful card you have designed for yourself. You can never go wrong with pearls! Gods blessings and thanks for a chance at such blingy blog candy!
when this card popped up on my screen I just went “oh!” Short by sweet, that says it all. You should send it to yourself for your birthday : ) Hope it was happy.
Beautiful card. Love the scoring and the pearls especially. Hope every minute of your birthday was wonderful.
Your cards really are amazing! You are also one of the only reasons that I use pearls! You give us eye candy and blog candy! Aren’t we the lucky ones! 🙂
Ann,
Your cards are simply amazing! It seems that each one tops the last.
I LOVE your style!!!
As always you never dissappoint Your card is just beautiful.
Have a very Happy Birthday.
Ann,
Such a beautiful card! Thank you for the chance to win the beautiful bought candy. Your blog makes me smile everyday. Happy Birthday!
Sue
Ann,
Such a beautiful card! Thank you for the chance to win the beautiful bought candy. Your blog makes me smile everyday. Happy Birthday!
Sue
Oh Ann, this is just so elegant looking! I love all the vintage details and what a sweet hubby you have to have picked that sentiment! I hope you had a fantastic birthday filled with all the things and people you love! And that includes the two four-legged people in your home! lol
What a beautiful card Ann!Happy Belated Birthday!!! Have the cake..birthdays only come once a year. You can lose the weight later. Have a carefree day and enjoy your love ones!
Happy Birthday Ann!! Your card is just gorgeous. What a lovely idea to diagonally score and to add the pearls. It is a really special card!
Ann, this is so beautiful. I love the diagonal scoring with the pearls at the intersections. The watercolouring and the sponging create a perfect vintage look.
It is lovely to see that your husband chose such a wonderful sentiment. Have a great birthday.
Beautiful Birthday card.
Such a sweet sentiment your hubby had choosen.
Have yourself a very happy and joyous birthday
ColleenB.
Texas