It's Birthday Linky PARTY Time!

Did you hear the news?!  The CURTAIN CALL is back in town!  Check out all the details HERE and HERE!

To celebrate my birthday this year, I'm inviting all of my blogging buddies for a Birthday Party...a Birthday Linky Party!  The linking fun begins TODAY, July 1st, and closes on July 10th at noon CDT!

You won't believe the generosity of these wonderful stamp and paper companies that are sponsoring my party today!  Here are the AMAZING PRIZES that you have a chance to win by joining in the Linky Party fun!  

Prize #1 - Verve

Remember This stamp set, Calendar Countdown stamp set, and Summer Sailing Ribbon Collection

Prize #2 - Uniko Studio

Choice of Stamp Set

Prize #3 - The Alley Way Stamps 

Delicate Doilies stamp set

Prize #4 - By LORi Designs

$20 BLD Gift Certificate 

Prize #5 - Craft Junction

Better Together Kit

 Prize #6 - Making Memories/Colorbök

Modern Millinery 12x12 Album

Prize #7 - Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator, 

Julie Davison

Gingham Garden Bundle 

Help me spread the word about this FUN PARTY!  Invite your blogging friends...grab the badge below, add it to the sidebar of your blog with a link back here to Stacey's Stamping Stage!

Here is a birthday card that I made especially for the challenge today!  My sister, Tammy, and I have birthdays just three days apart...mine is July 10th and hers is July 13th.  She always jokes about how our parents brought me home on her golden birthday, the 13th, when all she wanted was a new dress!  I hope I brighten my sister's day a little more this year than I did way back in 1971.

As if today couldn't get any better...I have some more crafty news to share...I am joining the i {heart} papers design team and couldn't be more thrilled!  In fact, I used a few IHP goodies from their fabulous store on my card today.  The patterned paper is called Fancy Pants Trend Setter, and that cute little chevron glassine bitty bag became a perfect layer for this festive card!

i {heart} papers is THRILLED to be adding six new amazingly talented design team members to our current team. We are also welcoming our incredible new July/August guest designer today. To help celebrate we will be offering 6 - $10 gift certificates. Winners will be selected from all of the blog comments you leave as you congratulate and help welcome them to the team so be sure to hop along and comment! Comments close Friday July 5 at noon EST and winners will be announced on the IHP blog the following week. (You must visit the blog to see if you've won. You will not be contacted.)

 Blog hop list:

• Carole
• Deb
• Gretchen
• Judy
• Lindsay - **NEW**
• Lizzie - **NEW**
• Lori
• Sarah - **NEW**
• Stacey - **NEW**
• Tracy
• Vera - **NEW**
• Wida - **NEW**
• Jessica, our July/August guest DT
• Chunyuan, our June/July guest DT
• Libby, social media coordinator
• Kate

Also, be sure to follow IHP on Facebook, Twitter and join our newsletter for sales, new products and other announcements. Plus every month a random newsletter subscriber is selected to win a $10 gift certificate just for being a subscriber. Sign up on the right side of the store homepage. Thanks for hopping along today!

I was inspired by The Pink Elephant inspiration photo and the sketch #78 over at Cardabilities:)

Here's a closeup of my card...can you tell a difference in the photo quality from previous posts?  After all of these years of photo editing, I finally became a PhotoShop Elements user...just grabbed the PSE11 from Amazon Prime this week for a good deal!  Besides, it's my birthday, right?!

I have a lot to learn to get the most from PSE11, so please share if you have any tips for me:)

Ready to join the party and play along?!  

Birthday Linky Party Participation Instructions

• Create a new birthday-themed card
• On your blog or public gallery, share the Birthday Linky badge and post your card with a direct link back here to the Birthday Linky Party at Stacey's Stamping Stage
• Add your name and the direct link of your card below in the InLinkz section

Winners of the fabulous prizes will be randomly selected from the Birthday Linky Party submissions!

I can't wait to see your Birthday Linky Party creations!

Thanks so much for celebrating with me!  

Stamps:  Making a Statement (Verve)

Ink:  Black Tuxedo (Momento)

Paper:  Naturals Ivory (SU), TrendSetter (Fancy Pants)

Dies:  Fishtail Flag Stax & Layers (MFT), Pennant (Verve)

Other:  Riding Hood Red Baker's Twine (SU), Button (PTI), Sewing Machine, Thread