Giving Thanks for Friendship ~ I'm back!

It's been a really wonderful week. At the beginning of November I gave my notice at the hospital for my photography position. Although I love working with newborns, the position just isn't "as advertised". My daughters' tuition is secured for the rest of this school year, so I'm moving back to stamping full time!

This week I've had several reminders that I'm doing the right thing. I really love Stampin' Up and sharing what I love and what I know. I was reminded at a workshop I did last night for Elaine and friends. I showed them all my tips and tricks for using our products with ease and was reminded that I am doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing, at exactly the right time and with the right company. I'm surrounded by friends and people who love me and support my decision to return to doing what I was meant to do. Sometimes you have to go through it to see what was in front of you the whole time. I forget that everyone just doesn't make cards.. it's so second nature for me. Does that make sense? Anyway, it was a wonderful week.

This morning, I'm reminded again why this is what I'm supposed to be doing. My friend, who shall remain nameless, has some wonderful friends who want to do something nice for her and contacted me to help. They asked me what she likes and if I can help them place a "gift" order for her. Later today, she will receive this card and a few items that her friends picked out (with my assistance) so that she'll be able to enjoy making cards. Now, her friends aren't particularly crafty, they just want to make their friend happy. What a beautiful thing that is to witness! My friend, who is so deserving of such friendships is going to be so surprised and excited!

So here we go.. This is my giving thanks card for my anonymous friend who will be receiving the gift of stamping today and many of the items she will need to recreate this card!

Speaking of friends, I haven't had time to play along with the awesome sketch blog mojo monday in quite some time, and this morning, I decided to pull some inspiration from their sketch this week. So away we go...

So how about some measurements:
Base 8 1/2 x 5 1/2", scored and folded in half at 4 1/4", vanilla
Layer 2: soft suede 5 1/8" x 3 7/8"
Layer 3: Morning Mocha DSP 5 x 3 3/4"
Layer 4: I punched a 2 1/2" circle from one of the patterns of cardstock, then matted it with 4 scalloped oval punches.. it makes a really wonderful background for that circle
Layer 5: 2 x 5
Layer 6: 1 3/4 x 4 1/2" dsp again. I used a square punch to make the V in the paper, then just used a pair of snips to get layer 5 to match. It makes a nice clean square.
Layer 7: soft suede 1 5/8" x 3 3 5/8 (note this is just 1/8" bigger than layer 8 to matte the sentiment)
Layer 8: Very Vanilla 1 1/2" x 3 1/2"

Off to go play stamping santa clause! This is how it's supposed to be! Thank goodness.

Rubbah hugs!
Selene Kempton