Twenty Five

Our eldest son turned twenty five a couple of weeks ago and Mister Handmade in Israel spent the entire day saying "I can't believe he's 25!". We couldn't celebrate with Nadav on his actual birthday, but a few days later we drove down to Be'er Sheva, where he and his girlfriend Hila live, and took them out for a birthday dinner. His card was therefore a couple of days late, but was well received nonetheless.

In July Nadav and Hila adopted a rescue pup, who they have called Toro. It was obvious to me that Toro had to be on Nadav's card this year. He is still very much a puppy and requires a lot of attention, but fortunately he gets attention and lots of love in bucketloads! We looked after Toro for a few weeks back in the summer, when Nadav and Hila were travelling, and let's just say it was, erm, hard work! He is adorable though and he has gone to the perfect home.

I showed Nadav and Toro together on the card. Nadav is wearing his uniform beige T-shirt and jeans. Unlike his mum who loves colour, he favours more boring muted tones, and funnily enough was wearing beige on the day we met (see the second photo down).

Nadav and Hila also just bought their first car, a white Kia Seltos. I carefully created a paper version of their new car, even down to the registration plate, though obviously I am not showing you that here.

I added the red Arsenal crest below the car. As I have mentioned many times before, Nadav is obsessed with the Premier League football club and their crest just had to appear on his card, as it has done nearly every year since he was very young. Finally, I added a big red number 25 to mark his age.

I made him a birthday cake as well, although he only got to enjoy it a few days after his actual birthday - and after we'd already been out for a delicious meal! We were all pretty full, but we showed willing and had a slice of cake anyway 🤣. Nadav and Hila finished off the rest over the next few days, and he told me it was really good!

*This post has been shared on Happiness is Homemade, Craft Schooling Sunday, Busy Monday, Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday), Tuesday Turn About, Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop, Thursday Favorite Things and Inspire Me Monday.

Pops

A new customer contacted me to see if could make a special birthday card for her dad. "We call him Pops and he is turning 80" she told me. "He likes cars, good quality whisky and good books, and is kind, generous and compassionate."

I decided to show "Pops" with a book in one hand and a good whisky in the other. Behind him is a bright red sports car, a bottle of whisky and a small pile of books. My customer was keen for me to include his character traits too, so I added them as words surrounding him. Finally, a big number 80 marks his age.
My customer was delighted with the card and was excited to send it to her dad in South Africa.

* This post has been shared on Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop and Happiness is Homemade.

17 and 18

The new customer who saw and loved the birthday cards that I made for Ilana came back to me once again, this time for a card for a daughter whose birthday was in January. I previously made a birthday card for another daughter back in December. Like her younger sister, this young lady also plays netball. She does gel nails as a hobby for clients, and mum told me that she loves to sleep!

I showed the birthday girl wearing the khaki green shirt that her netball team plays in. I showed her younger sister wearing the same shirt. She has a netball in her hands. Behind her is a dream bubble showing her fast asleep in bed! I added some little bottles of nail varnish and a nail file, to represent her work as a nail technician. If you look carefully, you will see that she also has beautiful pink gel nails! Finally, I added a number 17 to mark her age.

I had another request, this time for an 18th birthday card. This young lady belongs to Shevet Modi'in, a Jerusalem based Scout troop. Mum sent me a photo of her daughter's khaki Scout shirt, which is absolutely covered in badges! The khaki shirt is the same across the world for the Scouts' movement. Shevet Modi'in wear a blue aniva, or neckerchief. Much like the khaki shirt, the use of the anivot is the same throughout the movement. It connects each troop to the entire Scout movement.

Mum told me that her daughter always carries a particular water bottle. Along with the badge emblazoned shirt, I also carefully copied the green water bottle. Finally, this young lady drives her dad's green Mazda 2, which the family call 'Froggie' 🐸. I added the car to her card, along with a big pink number 18.

* This post has been shared on Tuesday Turn About, Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop and Thursday Favorite Things.

Arty Stuff

Eden has been receiving birthday cards made by me ever since she was a young girl. Last year I made a card showing her working as a flight attendant for El Al, Israel's national airline, but this year she has changed direction somewhat and is now an art student at the Holon Institute of Technology.

Mum asked me to show Eden doing arty things on her card. She has been painting, creating collage, making Hebrew letters, and designing stuff on her MacBook, mum said. She also suggested that I include Eden's old white Toyota Corolla on the card.

I showed Eden with an artist's palette in one hand and a paintbrush in the other. She is surrounded by paints and pencils, and some scissors to represent the collage work she has been doing. Next to her is her laptop computer with the Hebrew letters Ayin (pronounced "ah-yeen") and Mem on the screen. They are the initials of her name. I added her car too. Finally, a big red number 25 marks her age.
Eden messaged me to say that she loved the card!

* This post has been shared on Craft Schooling Sunday, Happiness is Homemade and Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop.