Ahhh… back in the blogging saddle again.  I’ll admit I’m feeling a little rusty (I know it hasn’t really been that long but it feels like ages to me!), but kicking back off with a blog hop is a great way to get the blogging and creative mojo happening again – for sure!

Summer has finally hit and I’m getting super excited for the Stampin’ Up! convention next week (yay!!!  And yes, like prior years, I’ll be sharing my pictures, excitement, and info while at convention on my facebook page – so watch there for the good stuff )

But that also means this month’s Blog Hop theme – Birthday Bash – is a perfect way for me to get out my enthusiasm because you know birthdays are fun and exciting, filled with clapping and cheering…. or is that just me at parties? hee hee

This is the card I had to share with you for the hop this month:

I LOVE this Sketched Birthdays stamp set.  The images are a perfect blend of not quite vintage-y, not too cutesy, not too real…. just kind of funky and perfect for any age… and guy cards!

Ok, so I used a lot of pink in this card, so maybe it isn’t the most manly… but squint and pretend those are red and brown, or other guy colors and it would totally work!

I tried doing a close up to show you a fun details that is really cool in person but apparently is impossibly to photograph well, which is adding some Silver Dazzling Details to the scallop around the Happy Birthday, Cupcake image.  I put a dot of Silver Dazzling Details in each scallop and it adds some subtle sparkle that is really nice!

And YES!  That birthday hat patterned paper is hand stamped paper!  I just grabbed the hat image and stamped it multiple times in different colors until I was happy with the look.  Do that on a full sheet of white paper and you can make a ton of cards lickety-split!

Have you heard?  A new DAILY inspiration blog for you is coming and I’ll be on the design team!  Join me and some of the very talented monthly Blog Hop Demonstrators as we help give you more daily doses of crafting inspiration! This site will go live the day of our August Blog Hop, August 8th.

But if you want more inspiration now check out more birthday celebrations at the rest of the folks on this month’s blog hop:

Blog Hop Participants:

• Pam S. of Stampin’ in the Sun!
• Rose C. of Stamp with Rose
• Tonya B. of Stampin’ with Tonya
• Dawn S. of Dawn’s Creative Chalet
• Darcy J. of DJ’s Stampin’ Place
• Pamela W. of Stinky Tofu
• Kim R. of Stamping with Kim
• Jennifer B. of NW Stamper <— YOU ARE HERE
• Bree R. of Craft-somnia
• Diana E. of Stampin’ Fun with Diana
• Annie L. of Love Me Cards
• Jamie H. of Unique Ink
• Jennifer C. of Happy 2 Scrap 4 Life

So thanks for visiting and I hope you come back soon!