Lilach

Lilach celebrated her birthday in early January. Her husband sent me this lovely photo of her and asked if I could create one of my "amazing cards" (his words!) to mark her special day.

I carefully recreated Lilach's dark green dress, including the tiny gold buttons on the cold-shoulder sleeves. I also captured her blonde hair and blue eyes, and added little stars cut out to surround the sparkler placed on the table in front of her.

Lilach's daughter also asked me to create a birthday card for her mum! She told me her mum enjoys going to the gym and visiting spas. At the gym, she works out with dumbbells and loves running. At the spa, she enjoys relaxing and getting massages. She's also really into mindfulness and likes reading books on the subject. And, as a fun little detail, her daughter mentioned that her mum loves smoked salmon - so she thought it would be funny to include that on the card. 

I decided to show Lilach working out with dumbbells while dreaming of a relaxing massage. Next to her, I included The Mindfulness Book and a plate of smoked salmon. Her daughter also mentioned that Lilach loves wearing jeans paired with a T-shirt or jumper, and that her favorite colours right now are blue and pink. With all these details, Lilach's outfit was complete!

Lilach was really happy to receive both cards and told me that she was excited to have her own "Lisa cards". She shared the photo I have added to this post on Facebook, writing "In the photo are my birthday cards made by the very talented Lisa Isaacs."

I cannot finish this post without acknowledging the Hamas war on Israel.

On Monday 26th January, the body of Ran Gvili was recovered and identified. Ran, an Israeli police sergeant, was the last hostage held in Gaza. After 843 days, his body was finally brought home.
All hostages taken into Gaza have now been brought back to Israel.
The clock in Hostage Square, which marked every minute and second since 7th October 2023, has finally stopped. We can breathe again, but relief and grief sit side by side.
For 87 families of fallen hostages, 7th October will never truly end. The same is true for the families of hundreds of civilians who were murdered in their homes, towns and communities during Hamas's brutal attack, along with the many fallen soldiers, heroes who gave their lives to protect us and to bring them home.
The road ahead will be long.
But at least they are now home.

* This post has been shared on Craft Schooling Sunday, Happiness is Homemade, Mosaic Monday, Busy Monday, Tuesday Turn About and Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop.

Twins 18th Birthday

I have made birthday cards for twins Amitai and Gavriel many times over the years, the last time being in 2021, when they turned 15. In October they turned 18 and once again their mum asked me to make each young man a special card to mark their big day.

Amitai enjoys spending time in the gym, where he builds up his strength and muscle with dumbbells and barbells. He plays FIFA on his Xbox, and goes to כושר קרבי, or combat fitness, a pre-army physical fitness class. He is also a big Spurs supporter.

Amitai's mum told me that he has a mullet haircut, a style that first became popular in the 80s and has once again come back into fashion!
His birthday card shows him working out, the latest FIFA game, the cockerel and ball emblem of Spurs, and the fitness class logo. A big number 18 marks his age.

Amitai's brother, Gavriel enjoys playing computer games. He loves the family's cat, Molly, and is also a regular at כושר קרבי, or combat fitness, where mum said they mostly seem to run around and crawl though sand!

My card shows bearded Gavriel holding Molly the cat. The computer game Polygon can be seen on his laptop. Once again I added the fitness class logo, and a big number 18 to mark Gavriel's age.

Mum was delighted with the cards and sent me these fabulous photos on the day of their birthday. They were captioned with the simple message "Perfect".

* This post has ben shared on Little Things Thursday and Thursday Favorite Things.

The Student

Ori celebrated his birthday back in September. I have shown him using weights and as a soldier on previous birthday cards. He is now a student at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, so mum asked me to make him a card with a student theme.

I have shown Ori using his laptop computer and drinking coffee, like all students do! Mum told me that he now wears glasses most of the time, so I added them and gave him longer hair and a scruffy beard (mum's words!).  The logo of the Technion is in the background. He also frequents the gym on a regular basis, so I added a bench press to the card as well. A big red number 23 marks his age.

Mum declared the card my best one yet!

* This post has been shared on The Good. The Random. The Fun., Little Cottage Link Party and Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop.

Happy 21st and Sweet 16

Jack was turning 21. His auntie requested a large card for his birthday. Themes should be weights, the logos of his various businesses and Tilly the dog, she said. Jack himself asked if I could show him wearing his hat worn backwards. He has been receiving cards made by me for many years now, so I guess they are no longer a surprise 😂. I do know that they are much appreciated though!

I showed Jack, weights in hand, on the front of his card. His auntie and I had some discussion about his beard and in the end I pencilled in an unshaven look. Tilly the dog is just behind him. I added the logos of the businesses he is involved in and the crest of the University of Leeds where he studies. A big red number 21 marks his age.

"Absolutely fabulous!" his auntie wrote to me.

Emily turned 16. She moved to Israel with her family not so long ago, so is currently learning Hebrew. I suggested showing her holding a pile of Hebrew books and carefully gave them titles such as "Hebrew Verb Tables" and "Hebrew-English Dictionary". I added some Hebrew letters too and the flag of Israel as well. A big number 16 shows her age.

Emily's mum wrote to me on her daughter's birthday and said "The only thing Emily wanted for her birthday was a Lisa card!". Fortunately she was very happy with it. How wonderful is that?

* This post has been shared on Creatively Crafty and All Seasons.