Birthday Card for a Friend

I've put together a birthday card for a friend of mine and thought I would share with you before I mail it/drop it off.  It's a little bulky so I haven't decided how I'm going to get it to her.  I've used Graphic 45's gorgeous, gorgeous, did I say gorgeous paper "A Ladies Diary."  I received my very first order from Wild Orchid Crafts the other day and the flowers were stunningly gorgeous and I just thought this card was the perfect opportunity to try them out.  Some of their flowers are so tiny and yet perfectly exquisite in detail!  I loved working with them and will order more from them in the future. I used Glossy Accents to adhere the flowers and lace and everything else used.  I made the stickpin that's inserted into the middle.  The lace also comes from Wild Orchid Crafts as well as the paper doily.  The cardstock I used was Gina K's heavy weight cardstock.  I knew I was going to be adding a lot of embellishments so I wanted a good weight cardstock to build my card on.  I used a very light weight cardstock to use as a liner for the inside of the card.  When I asked my sister what she thought of the card, her response was "every card you make seems to be getting better and better than the last." 

I can see that.  When I look back on the first set of cards that I placed in my Etsy shop, as well as the first cards shown on here, I do believe I've gotten better.  That is my goal. To get better and better.  Next year I'm going to start entering a lot more challenges.  Those can only help me to get better as well.  My other goals for the New Year are to eventually try out for a Design Team, (I know I'm not good enough for that yet), I would like to submit some of my cards to some of the card magazines and see if any make it.  I do need to still focus on my photography skills as well.  I never feel like the true essence of my cards shows up in the pictures I take.  Well here it is, I hope she likes it! I'm proud of it.