SURPRISE Blog Hop!!! It's Korin Sutherland's Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KORIN!

When Taylor Usry asked me if I would like to be part of a surprise blog hop in honor of Korin Sutherland's birthday, I signed right up!  

Let me get a little mushy here before I post my card.  Korin Sutherland holds a special place in my heart.  She was the very first person to invite me to part of a design team.  I had never been on a design team.  I had never even applied to be on a design team.  I had just dreamed of being good enough to be on one some day.   

I can still remember my heart pounding with excitement when an email came through asking me to part of the Sweet N' Sassy Digi Challenge DT.  Down the line, I also joined the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge DT which was another surreal moment for me.  I had been playing along with that sketch challenge and had been admiring work of the DT members, particularly Wendy Ramlakhan whom I now consider to be a very good friend.  Korin gave me the chance to be part of that team!   It was SUCH a confidence booster for me!   My success in this crafting word has really taken off particularly over the past several months and I have had the opportunity to design for many wonderful companies and to meet many wonderful people along the way!

While I just recently stepped down from both the Sweet N' Sassy Digi Challenge and the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge to try and regain some balance between my crafting time and my life as a mom/ wife / full-time clinical social worker, I will forever be grateful to Korin for having noticed me among the crowds, giving me a chance to share what I love to do with others, and giving me confidence in myself in this crafty little world of ours!

And so, Korin, here is my birthday card to you!  I had to color up my all-time favorite Sweet N' Sassy Digi image called Rhubarb's Cupcake for this special occasion!

I just love that guy holding his cupcake!  I colored him with copics and paired him with some PTI vintage cream and dark chocolate CS as well as some great DSP from the Simple Stories Happy Day 6x6 paper pad.  I distressed the edges of the image and added some PTI tea dye duo ink around the edges.  Finally, I added a PTI dark chocolate button and some natural jute from the Ribbon Carousel. 

Below is the whole birthday party train....prepare yourself for some fantastic cupcakes and ice cream from these talented ladies!!

Taylor Usry
Beate Johns

Bridget Finlay

Holly McMillen

Lydia Fiedler

Chrissy Dickinson

Dina Kowal

Leslie Hanna

Lisa Hjulberg

Kim Schofield

Jessica Fick

Julie Ranae

Monika Davis

Jessica Diedrich

Cathy McCauley

Makiko Jones

Kim Singdahlsen

Mary Faus

Deb Felts

Lori Craig

Giovana Smith

Kim O'Connell

Wendy Jordan

Julie Smith

Michele Single

Jeanne Streiff

Lee Murphy
 

And feel free to leave Korin some early birthday love, either on her blog, her Facebook page, or the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Facebook page!


Oh, and I have entered this card into the very first Feeling Sketchy Challenge so if you love sketches, be sure to check out the new kid on the block!  Here's the sketch:

UPDATE: