Happy 24th Birthday, Elisabeth!

I know it's cliche, but it's so true: the years flew by and my first born, my little girl, has become a mature (usually), independent (still, always!), beautiful woman. Happy birthday, Elisabeth! I love you huge.

And now, my dear, if you happen to read this before the evening of your birthday -- which you probably won't because you travel like crazy and you're probably in California (Disneyland with friends for your birthday, right?) -- well, stop right here unless you want to ruin your surprise.

Is she gone?

OK, the rest of you can read on.

I really didn't know what to get Elisabeth for her birthday. Since she has a great job, buying her stuff is silly because she can pretty much buy what she wants. Instead, she wants sentimental, handmade things that evoke an emotion or a memory. Or are just downright silly. So I made her these silly, whimsical things. They're supposed to be coasters, but I have a feeling they'll end of to be... well, things that are stacked on her coffee table and will be observed. Very handy indeed, eh?

Here's what I did:

I went to my favorite craft store and bought some simple wood coaster-like things, some simple acrylic paint, a jar of Modge-Podge, a can of very high gloss, triple-thick acrylic coating, and some paint brushes . Then I got the silliest family photos I could find and cut them to fit into the coasters:
I painted and podged:

...and set the coasters out to dry:

Then I sprayed a layer of a very high gloss, triple-thick acrylic coating on all the coasters:

And let them dry.

Today I'll add a whimsical backing from my scrapbooking paper, and add some felt to the bottom so that, if Elisabeth does want to use them as coasters after all, they won't scratch her table.

I hope she likes them! And if not, she'll just have to always face Kat and I sticking our tongues out at her and Peter oogling his ears at her!