Imaginisce July Challenge {& a confession}

Imaginisce is having another sketch challenge this month! Here is the sketch by Tammy Wark:

I have to be honest, it was nice to play with the clean, simple lines of this sketch. I love using sketches, but sometimes feel they are too busy for my liking. I also thought that it was pretty cool that Imaginisce posted a card sketch for this month. I flipped it to the left to make my card for the challenge:

I love this springy sticker! It is just too cute! I have two more, and I think that for my next two cards that I make with them, I am going to put them on the inside, so it pops up when you open the card! I also used the sketch to make this layout of my daughter's seventh birthday:

You'll have to pardon my bad photography on this one. It is clouded over something fierce and I'm sure is about to start pouring any second now. Anyway, don't you just love the layout? I had so much fun adding that birthday hat to her picture! And did you notice I added seven candles???

The confesssion: I am sure you are all wondering how I got my hands on some of this brand spankin' new, absolutely wonderful, positively gorgeous Imaginisce Birthday Bash collection. I'm not even sure if it has started shipping yet. I'm not part of their design team (I wish!!!), so how, you ask, did I get it? My scrappy girlfriend is insisting that I blog the story behind this (so this is for you Tracey!). The truth is I received it in the mail about a week ago. The only thing is, I have quite literally no idea who it is from. The "to" shipping name & address was mine, but the customs and "from" labels had been ripped off the box so I don't know where it came from. I also don't remember winning any challenges or contests where this amazing collection was the prize, so....I don't know. For honesty's sake, I was so in shock (& thrilled) over receiving this surprise in the mail, I didn't even open the bag until yesterday. I was almost waiting to be contacted by someone telling me there had been a huge mistake and could I return it. But as my friend pointed out, it was my name & address on the box, so I opened it. I love, love, love my new goodies! So, a HUGE thank you to whoever sent this to me. You totally made my day! :)

Card supplies: Imaginisce Birthday Bash paper pack, Imaginisce Piece of Cake springy sticker, Imaginisce Birthday Streamers ribbon, Core'dinations cardstock, Cricut Accent Essentials

Layout supplies: Imaginisce Birthday Bash paper pack, Imaginisce It's My Birthday chipboard stickers, Imaginisce Birthday Streamers ribbon, Core'dinations cardstock, Orange Peel Stickles, Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip ink, Cricut Straight from the Nest, Storybook & Accent Essentials