Friday, August 10, 2012

Dotted Elephants

I've just returned from vacation, and have many things to share with you.  This is kind of a long post, so if you just want to look at the card below and be on your merry way, go right ahead!  I don't mind.  :o)

One thing to share is a card that is published in the Stamp It! Volume 9 issue of Paper Crafts magazine, and it's featured on page 49.

Here's my card --


I used a DeNami elephant and some Copic markers to create this little 'parade'.  A Copic blender pen helped remove some of the red ink to show pattern on the middle guy.


We were on vacation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a week, visiting my in-laws and just got back.  We had a good time, and I was able to finally kick this bronchitis-turned-bronchospasm problem I've had for a few weeks.  (Amen to that!)

A dock by the sound.  This is a short walk from the house, and this is where we crabbed.
Okay, so you know how most of us do laundry or grocery shop when we get home from vacation?  Well, we had to look for a car.  Hmph.  My oh-so-dependable, well-maintained mini van's transmission had a sudden death while my family and I were out getting supplies to go crabbing.  As my hubby was driving into a parking lot, the car made a loud, strange noise and I said "That doesn't sound good."  He agreed.  He drove a few more yards and it made a louder sound, combined with a lurching motion.  We decided we'd better head back to the house instead, and he tried to pull out of the parking spot when it lurched all of us quite violently.  We were now in a lane in the parking lot (in people's way) when the car stopped altogether.  The engine was still running, so my hubby wanted to push the car while in neutral to a safer spot.  No dice.  It wouldn't budge.  It was as if the emergency brake was on, but it wasn't.  My father in law came to get me and the girls, while AAA came to tow our car to a garage.  The price tag was almost $4,000 and a 3-day work time to put a different (read:  not brand new) transmission in the van.  Based on many factors, my husband decided not to fix it.  It was a 10 year old car, but the good thing was that we had owned it and there were no more car payments on it.

Our little crabber, helping her dad.
We had to leave the car down there, and donated it to a charitable organization.  Luckily, my in-laws were able to lend us a car for the ride home, otherwise we'd have to rent one one-way.

One of 15 crabs caught - and returned - in the sound.
We're leasing a 2012 Chevy Traverse, which is an SUV crossover vehicle.  I get to pick it up tomorrow.  I'm a little excited to drive something new and different, but we were just not prepared for another car payment so soon.  :/

The clouds just seem bigger down south!
We had fun on vacation, despite this unexpected event.  The kids and Daddy went on a waverunner, and they all enjoyed that.  I stayed on shore to take pictures, but they didn't turn out so good.  I'm better at photographing things that don't move too much!

This is Hazy Daisy.  She lives at the pottery shop we always visit when we are in Manteo.
We also took a Dolphin Cruise, and saw about 6-8 of them.  Again, didn't get any good shots, plus it was raining that day so every photo is gray, and shows maybe the tip of a dorsal fin.  ;-)  There were two good beach days, and the water felt so warm.  I did not find any beach glass this time 'round.

I shopped (when I still had the car), and found a scrapbook store, TJ Maxx, antiques shops and Tuesday Morning all within a short distance.  I came home with some fun 'souvenirs'.  ;)

The sun seems to dip very quickly at the end of the day.  I ran for my camera and almost missed it.  You can just barely see it above the sound.  This is the view from the deck.  It's really, really lovely.
When I came home, I was delighted to see so many comments on the posts I had scheduled this past week.  Thank you ALL for leaving love for me!  It was a good end to my trip.

I also discovered that my hydrangea card earned honors at City Crafter, CASE Study and The Shabby Tea Room.  Thank you to all the ladies at those challenge sites!

Well, that's it for me.  I hope I can do some crafting soon...I missed it a lot!  And I've missed visiting your blogs, so you will see me soon.



Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Elephant - DeNami; Timeless Tags - The Craft's Meow
Paper: white - PTI; Baja Breeze - SU
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: white crochet lace - Simplicity; red satin ribbon - craft supply
Other: pearls; Copic markers; corner rounder punch - SU

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like and looks like you had a great time even with the car episode. I don't envy buying a new vehicle.

I haev that issue but really haven't looked at it much. Now, I gotta check out your card! Those elephants are fun! Love that ribbon treatment. Congrats on another publication and those other honors! Wow!

Chris R. from Iowa

Unknown said...

Such a sweet card! Do get back to your crafting, it will be quite therapeutic after the week you had! Love Hazy Daisy who looks a bit Lazy!

Sandie said...

Congratulations on the card publication ... and your holiday sounds like it was a lot of fun... loved the photographs!

Lin said...

Your card is darling, Colleen! Congrats on the pub! And so glad to hear that you are feeling better. I really enjoyed your vacation pictures today, too - thanks for sharing. Sounds like you are rested and refreshed; looking forward to seeing some more beautiful cards soon!

Vicki Dutcher said...

Congrats on published card. It's very cute.

Bummer about the car, but a new one [to you]is going to be fun! :)

Unknown said...

Congrats Colleen! Always enjoy seeing your name in these mags :)

I don't know if you see what I see, but in your cloud pic, I see a perfect dolphin! LOVE IT!

Rebecca Deeprose said...

Oh Colleen! How adorable is that card and Congrats on all these well-deserved honors!!! Your vacation looks heavenly~

Linda Breedlove said...

Well you sound happy and refreshed in spite of your car problems. Love your photos... beautiful!
Congratulations on being published again... how wonderful and so deserved!
Hugs!

Lisa Elton said...

Oh gosh what an event with your van Colleen, glad it worked out ok for you. My transmission went out on my SUV while we were pulling the boat on the highway. The tow truck towed it along with the boat! We must have looked like a band of gypsies with that set up!!

Sue Lelli said...

Colleen, CONGRATS on the publication! What a CUTE card! Just so ADORABLE! Also LOVE your vacation photos and anecdotes! Sounds like you had a FABULOUS time!

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

Your card is beautiful!! I loveeeeeeeee the elephants!!!! Sorry bout the vehicle... but looks like you had a great vacay!! LOVING the photos!!!!!

Michelle said...

Colleen, I just love the sweet elephant card!!! So adorable! Congrats on being published!
Love the pics you shared! Aside from the dead vehicle...sounds like a relaxing vacation! My family and I just finished jarring our tomatoe sauce....come by with some crabs and we'll have a delicious dinner! :)

Martha Herrera said...

Congratulations, Colleen! That is F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C!
Your card is amazing. Thank you for sharing your beatiful picturs. I'm so happy to hear you are feeling much better.

Savannah O'Gwynn said...

Congrats on your publication!!! HOOORAY:) I love the vaca pics--glad you got away and had a good time:)

Bonnie said...

What bad luck to have your car die on vacation. We had a vacation like that one year! It was a National Lampoon like vacation that year. I was so glad to get home. That's such a beautiful area of the beach. Your elephants are adorable with the red ribbon woven through the lace to show them off to perfection.

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Congratulations on the publication of your beautiful card. I love the elegant & cute look of the red & white creation ! Looks like a great vacation with the exception of the car troubles. Thanks for your kind words at my blog :) Shirley

Vickie Z said...

Ahhh.. Wonderful complicated trip ( for want of a better expression)! Live in NC and have been to NC/SC beaches but, have never hit the outer banks...you're reminding me I need to do that! Love your vaca pics...wonderful card too!

Karin Ã…kesdotter said...

Your card is soo super sweet and what wonderful pictures - glad to hear (and see) that you've had a nice time!
Hugs, Karin

walchowDesign said...

Congrats on our publication, Colleen! Such an adorable card!

Sorry about your van and hope your new car will give more pleasure.

Thank you for sharing those lovely photos and it's so nice to see another part of the world!

Maria said...

Looks like you had a lovely vacation! The photos are gorgeous! Sorry to hear about your car. Same thing happened to us while vacationing in SC many years ago. Big congrats on your sweet elephant card being published! And, have fun driving around your new car...take care, hugs!

Stella said...

I love your cute card but I am an even bigger fan of your romantic/feminine cards. ( hope you don't minde...)
I had so much fun looking at the photos but the story of your car...to put it mildly...very inconvenient.
We only have 1 car (quite normal here in Holland and distances are not that big...) and buying another car is quite expensive...) We paid ours the moment we got it so never ever had to face car payments. But I know what you mean; everything is expensive these days...

Good to see you back!
XXXXXX

Carol Hurlock said...

Welcome back from your vacation Colleen. So glad to hear you are over that nasty stuff you were struggling with. Your pictures of your vacation are gorgeous. Your card is cute too!!! Sorry about your vehicle. It stinks having to buy one and have a car payment. We have found that we make out better with used. Have a great Sunday.

Bear hugs,
Carol

Janny's Cards Creations said...

Lovely cards on your blog. Lovely vacation pictures en sorry of your car. Janny

Unknown said...

I just love the way you didn't let the car problems ruin your whole trip. And it sounds like a lovely vacations. I would love to go crabbing some time. And congrats on getting published again. That must be so exciting.

Hugs~

Benzi said...

Who doesn't love dotted elephants..I sure do. Great card, Colleen. And, so many honors. You are rolling.
Your trip down south sounds awesome and I'm so glad you shared the photos. But, what a downer with the van. I guess that is life and what has to be dealt with occasionally. Too bad.
Congrats on your publish!!! Well done, girlie. :-)

Deb Hickman said...

Congrats on been published, love the cute card. Thanks for sharing your beautiful holiday photos, look like you had fun. Deb xxx

Chunyuan said...

congrats on being published. such a cute card. sounds a great vacation.

Jinny Newlin said...

HUGE congrats on your honors and publication, Colleen! So well deserved! And thanks for sharing all those marvelous pictures of your vacation! What a dream! So sorry about your van, too. Ugh! We've been there and done that! Unfortunately, we're still fixing our car, instead of getting a brand new one. The budget just won't allow for that. Sigh.

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