One Crafty Birthday Celebration

Yesterday was my birthday.  I LOVE my birthday!  I'm like a kid when it comes to my birthday!  I celebrated this year by going to a painting class with some friends.  We went to a local Painting With a Twist studio.  This is one of the teach you how to make a painting places, where the teacher takes you step by step through the painting process, and you supply the food, drinks, and fun.  Here is my final product:

I keep looking at it in amazement!  I am so proud of it.  Of course, it's not perfect, and I have to stop myself from thinking "I should have painted this like that" or "I messed up right there".  But all in all, I think it's quite nice.  Now I just have to get it framed and figure out where to hang it.

I also made my birthday cake.  My husband offered to buy one for me, but I have been in a baking mood for a few weeks, and I finally got to scratch that baking itch.  Here is the cake I made, with the surprise inside:

This was my first attempt to make a checkerboard cake and I think it turned out great (although next time I'll try harder to get the squares straight)!  It was such a fun surprise for everyone!

I also made some "Thank You" goodies for everyone.  I made the milk cartons using the Cricut Tags, Bags, Boxes and More 2 cartridge.  I heat embossed the sentiment, which is a Stampin' Up! stamp.  The cartons were filled with purple and white M&M's.

To further scratch my baking itch, I also made these mini cupcakes.  I took some to my office, and my husband took some to his.  The only way I can bake around here is if I can give most of it away so we don't eat it all!  I think all this baking and decorating should hold me for a while.

I ended my birthday celebration by having a wonderful seafood dinner with my husband and son.  My birthday was fabulous, and I wouldn't change a thing!

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