Twilight Tuesday Inspiration Challenge #22

The Twilight Tuesday Inspiration Challenge was issued by Rebecca this week:

New Moon opens with Bella’s 18th birthday and Alice in full party mode. Most people dread turning 30 or 40, but Bella dreaded turning 18 - mostly since that meant she was “older” than Edward. For the Cullens, they were excited - the last birthday they had ever “celebrated” was Emmett’s many decades earlier.

For the creative challenge part - create a birthday themed item - you’re welcome to draw inspiration from the party or just go with “birthday”.

For the comment part - tell us if you’ve ever given or been the recipient of a surprise party or let me know if there was a birthday you dreaded. Or simply just let us know what your favorite birthday gift was.

This passage from New Moon, p.25, was my inspiration for the elements I included on the project I created:

We were pulling up to the house now. Bright light shined from every window on the first two floors. A long line of glowing Japanese lanterns hung from the porch eaves, reflecting a soft radiance on the huge cedars that surrounded the house. Big bowls of flowers--pink roses--lined the wide stairs up to the front doors.

I moaned.

Edwards took a few deep breaths to calm himself. "This is a party," he reminded me. "Try to be a good sport."

. . .

They were all waiting in the huge white living room; when I walked through the door, they greeted me with a loud chorus of "Happy birthday, Bella!" while I blushed and looked down. Alice, I assumed, had covered every flat surface with pink candles and dozens of crystal bowls filled with hundreds of roses. There was a table with a white cloth draped over it next to Edward's grand piano, holding a pink birthday cake, more roses, a stack of glass plates, and a small pile of silver-wrapped presents.

Also, mentioned in this chapter was the gift Bella received from her parents, a scrapbook and camera. So, I created a scrapbook page to commemorate Bella's 18th birthday.

From Semper Papercrafting

It's an 8x8 size page. The Stampin' Up set, Gifts from the Orient, has lanterns in it -- so I knew I HAD to use that stamp!

For the comment portion:
I have never had a surprise party thrown for me, but a couple years ago I threw a surprise 60th birthday party for my mom. My dad and I planned it all through email and a few secretive phone calls. It turned out great. As a party favor for our guests, my dad (who makes wine as a hobby) created a "limited edition" white zinfandel. Here's is a picture of the birthday girl, my mom, and my dad at the party.

From Semper Papercrafting

Now for the birthday I'm dreading. I am turning 29 (the sequel) in June, but I'm celebrating in a big way -- I'm going to Disney World. I can't think of a better place to celebrate a *gulp* milestone birthday than at the happiest place on earth! :)