Birthday Card for My Sister-in-Law

Good Morning,

Tomorrow is my sister-in-law Denise's Birthday and I wanted to make her a special card.  I am about to tell a story that many of you have heard before so if you have already heard this story, feel free to get up and get yourself a BIG cup of coffee or maybe put on some music and dance through this part of my blog and come back and join me when I get to the card.

 So...Once Upon A Time (every good story starts with Once Upon A Time as you know) I was working for the Federal Government and I really loved my job.  Then the horrible Meniere's Disease struck me down and I had to retire on disability.  The weird thing about Meniere's you can be sick for weeks, then better for weeks, then sick again.  You never know when it is going to strike so you can't plan your life around it.  I was so sorry to leave my job!  I really loved my job.  I didn't have a lot of friends outside my co-workers and I didn't have any hobbies.  I would get up in the morning and watch all of my neighbors go to work and wonder what in the world I was going to do with myself that day.  Have you ever heard the saying "When God closes a door He opens a window" well, in my case, He opened two windows.  The first thing that happened was that I rescued my dog Louie from a kill shelter.  It really opened my eyes to the plight of dogs in this country.  I started working with shelter dogs and it has become a huge part of my life.  The second window was my sis-in-law Denise.  At that time, she was a Creative Memories Consultant.  She talked me in to coming to her house so she could teach me to scrapbook.  I am laughing as I write this because I didn't like it very much!  I just found it very confusing...there were these stickers and you had to crop your photos and place them on the page...it seemed overwhelming.  Denise is an incredible teacher.  She has so much patience and boy she needed it with me!  The reaction of my husband and children was so rewarding.  They really liked my work and they were so encouraging, suddenly I could see the value in taking all those old photos out of boxes shoved into the back of the closet and making albums filled with love, joy, sadness...well, filled with my heart.  Over all of the years and all of the different people that I have scrapbooked with, Denise has remained my constant "buddy"  we just recently were Copic Certified together.  So Happy Birthday Denise!  I love you and I thank you so much for bring out a part of myself that got lost somewhere along the way.  You have made these years that could have been so difficult a lot easier and I can never thank you enough!


Recipe for Card

Digital Stamp - http://www.kennykdownloads.com/colormejanette-digi-stamp.php
Sentiment by me
Copic Markers
Paper - My Minds Eye "The Sweetest Thing"
Miss Caroline 6x6 Paper Pad "Hoowdy Doody"
Embellishments - My Minds Eye "The Sweetest Thing"

Challenges
http://kennykskraftykrew.blogspot.com/

12 comments:

  1. so cute and your sister in law is lucky you like her ha ha

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    Replies
    1. Or..you could say Rhonda...I'm lucky she likes me!

      Hugs,
      Chriss

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  2. Oh Chris I never knew you have Meniere's Disease. So sorry your had to quit a job you loved. They say everything happens for a reason and I guess your reason was to tap into your creativity and to me all of us WONDERFUL people. lol

    I love your card and I know she will as well.

    Take care my friend.

    Hugs
    Nana
    ♥ My Crafting Channel ♥
    Email Me

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I have had Meniere's since I was 28 years old and my kids were babies. I woke up one morning, lifted my head off the pillow and the whole world went spinning. I used to go into remission for years at a time, but now I pretty much have vertigo at some point every day. I have just gotten used to it.

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  3. How sweet!! Love how personal the card is!! Happy Birthday to Denise!!
    Kristan

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  4. Whew that sure was a long posting! Nah just kidding, love your explanations to everything....
    I see Louie is one big part of your life, I hope you get a partner for him before he retires....Love that stamp that was made for you.. Don't forget to put it in a frame and put it on your craft desk....
    Lovely card for your SIL, perfectly colored...
    Hope you are enjoying your crafty weekend!
    Sweet hugs~

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  5. What a great card Chriss! The image is awesome and your coloring is fantastic! One of these days I need to take a copic coloring class...Denise will love it! Happy Friday!!
    Sherrie K
    http://sherriescraps.blogspot.com

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  6. HI Chris!Before I tell you about your card...let me tell you that the last 2 years of my life have been very hard...financially..I had a great job and was able to help all those around me who needed me.I would place everyone before me.My wants would wait.But due to the recession as they say,my place of work changed and I took a big cut on my finances.I never knew that I would struggle so much.And that when I needed the help from those that I helped...that They too would be having their own issues.My heart took this very hard..it did not affect me physically but emotionally it did.I keep asking why is this happening but as you know there are certain things that are not for you to understand but to pray.So I did!Now if you know how the lord works..it is at his timing.I learned that and I am still learning and adjusting to my new life.So when one door closes..its because a BIGGER one opens!I am a living proof.I am returning to work and its fun. but so right for me.I am smiling but filled with JOY.During those 2 years,of my finances being affected,I have met crafty friends and it allowed me to find my joy which is paper.I love it!When I am blogging/crafting I am so happy.And thats what the lord wants you to be.When I am crafting I forget about all other issues around me and I am learning to trust on the lord about everything.As I was reading your comment on my blog,something in my heart told me to go to your blog and as I read your post ...I understood why that feeling was in my heart.You just confirmed that yes when one door closes the other door opens.A bigger one.Thank you for this lovely post.A beautiful card for Denise!She will love it!I do!Happy Bday Denise!Thank You again,Chris!Have a wonderful weekend!
    Migdalia

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  7. What a beautiful story, Chriss and a gorgeous card!! You are fortunate that after the door closed, you recognized the window God opened for you!! Your SIL will love this awesome card!! I hope you have a wonderful weekend my friend :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  8. This post was such a wonderful thing to read. It made me smile and sad and smile and thankful and blessed and much more. I am thankful that God brought you into my life. I know that God works in mysterious ways. I am so glad he brought Louie into your life. I am glad he placed someone in your path that brought out your creative side and that you were inspired to share your heart and love through your creations. You are a beautiful and amazing woman and I love you to pieces!

    HUGS!!!

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  9. Fab story and great card for the occassion... Thanks for sharing your talent with us at Kenny K's Krafty Krew. Good luck!
    Hugs,
    Jodi

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“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

― Fred Rogers