A Lilac Birthday

Yep, I'm playing in Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge again!  Here's my other card, 'Thistles', for that same challenge.
Here's the inspiration photo --

...and once again, I pulled out the purples to create a card.  This time, I added green, too.


This is a birthday card for my other mother-in-law, my husband's mom.  She helps us out in many ways, and she recently took a day off from work to accompany me to a 'scary' doctor appointment.  I appreciated that so much.  Luckily, the appointment went better than it could have.  I have some surgery in my near future, however.  I was glad my MIL was there as my companion when I received my news.

Since she loves lilacs, I took out my Flourishes 'Lilac' set and did lots of stamping, coloring and fussy-cutting.

I created my own background paper using the same set, on Perfect Plum cardstock.

A couple of purple jewels dress up the Modern Garland punch.

My friend Stacey G of Stacey's Crafty Creations sent me this gorgeous card last week, featuring one of my FAVE flowers, a hydrangea. 

Isn't it amazing?  I was 'wowed' by all the details Stacey puts into a card.  It is sitting proudly on a bookcase in my living room.  Thank you so much, Stacey!

I found out today that my 'French Flair' card won Spotlight Artist at City Crafter - yay!  Thanks to my friends at CCCB.  :)

Have a wonderful day, and I'll see you tomorrow with a Play Date Cafe post!

Colleen

Stamps:  Lilac - Flourishes
Paper:  Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Always Artichoke - SU; white - PTI; patterned paper Beeswax - Pink Paislee
Ink:  Perfect Plum - SU; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko
Punch:  Modern Garland - Martha Stewart
Other:  Big Shot; purple bling, pearls - Queen & Co.; lace; Copic markers; Labels Four - Spellbinders

Thistles

At Flourishes this week, they've given us an inspiration photo and asked us to create based upon this picture:

If you click on that pic and enlarge it, you can see the purple mums and cream-colored porch pillars that inspired me.

I used only one stamp:  the thistle from Stampin' Up!'s Nature's Pace.   With kraft ink, I stamped it across the card base, and then on a separate piece of cardstock for the focal point. 

Just think of all the possibilities with this clean layout and only one stamp.  Pumpkins, spiders, Christmas trees, pinecones, and so on.

This past weekend, my family and I visited with my friend and Play Date Cafe teammate, Andrea Ewen and her family.  We had dinner and hung out.  The kids all played together, the husbands talked about their shared hobbies, and Andrea and I sat in her craft room (no crafting this time, just talking).  I think we were there for almost 7 hours!  We had a great time and can't wait to do it again.   Andrea gave me a bag full of goodies from the sale at Ranger Industries she had attended that morning.  Thank you so much, Andrea, for your generosity!

Recently, I received a box in the mail from another Play Date Cafe teamie of mine, Jinny Newlin.  Jinny gave me a beautiful card and some stamps that she thought just looked like my style...and they certainly are! (I've had these photos for a while.....but did not get a chance to photograph the wonderful stuff from Andrea)

French themed - hooray!

Pure Jinny Newlin goodness!

Today I went shopping at TJ Maxx, and I found these DCWV large 12 x 12 paper pads for $5.99 each!!
Got two of these:

One of these:

And one of these:

(I had a very difficult time tracking down a photo of the cover of this pad, called Four Seasons. This is the best I could find on the web.)

I also got a couple of stamp sets, and even began Christmas shopping!

I'm giving myself a little shout-out for the two badges I recently won, hope you don't mind.
From The Paper Players for THIS card -

and from The Ribbon Carousel for THIS card -

And one more thing:  one of my cards was accepted for publication in Paper Crafts Magazine for the March/April 2012 issue!  (I also have one appearing in the Jan/Feb 2012 issue) 

Thanks for hanging in there for my VERY long post!  Have a great day!

Colleen

Stamps:  Nature's Pace - SU
Paper:  white - PTI; Basic Black, Crumb Cake - SU
Ink:  Crumb Cake - SU; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko
Other:  kraft seam binding - SU; pearl; Copic markers; dimensionals

French Flair

Hello friends!  I have a little bit of time before my company arrives this afternoon, so this will be a short post. 

Isn't it so....French-looking? 

A lacy border for the card, made with the Modern Garland punch.

This fleur-de-lis brad started life in a very shiny silver way.  I rubbed black acrylic paint on it, then wiped off the excess after it dried a couple of moments. 

The challenges I am entering:

• City Crafter - inspired by a birdcage on a "Sandi Says" card
• Inky Impressions - using die cuts and/or punches
• Paper Players - inspired by music - Mine is "Black Bird" by the Beatles

Thanks for popping by!

Colleen

Stamps:  Floral Damask - Inkadinkado; Notably Ornate, En Francais - SU
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler - SU
Ink:  Going Gray, Basic Gray, Cherry Cobbler - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Punches:  Modern Garland - Martha Stewart; wide oval, Modern Label - SU
Other:  fleur-de-lis brad - Recollections; dimensionals; pearls

Play Date Cafe 101 - Faded Fall

Wine, smudge, leather and parchment....don't those color names sound so rich?  Welcome to the 101st challenge of The Play Date Cafe! 

I love these colors together, but they stumped me for a while when it came to making a card.  I pulled together a few things to help form my creation:  two older stamp sets from Stampin' Up! (With Gratitude and Well-Worn Words), a piece of patterned paper in the 'leather' color (K & Co.), a sketch by Iwona Palamountain (aka Chupa), and a free digital download of a ticket.

Our sponsor this week is

To find out what the fabby prize will be for one lucky winner, head over to The Play Date Cafe!

Thanks for joining me today.  :-)

Colleen

Stamps:  Well-Worn Words, With Gratitude - SU
Paper:  Crisp Cranberry, Whisper White - SU; patterned paper - K & Co.; white - PTI
Ink:  Basic Gray - SU; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko
Other:  free digi download ticket; twine; Copic markers; antique brass brad - Mark's Finest Papers; dimensionals

A Bluebird for My Father-In-Law

Today is my father-in-law's birthday.  He loves birds, and enjoys watching them from the deck on his house.
I made a card featuring a bluebird for his special day.

The bird and branch are from Touch of Nature by Stampin' Up!.

I used a Hero Arts script in the background, on the gray card base.  I used light pressure in some areas on the script stamp, and some heavy, to give a worn look.

The ticket is a free digital download, and do you think I could remember where I got it from ?  No.  I have a terrible memory, and it's only getting worse!  LOL  I stamped a sentiment from Mark's Finest Papers Flourishes and Frame on the ticket.

Thanks for taking a peek at my card today.  :)

Colleen

Stamps:  Old French Script - Hero Arts; Touch of Nature - SU; Flourishes and Frame - MFP
Paper:  Basic Gray, Basic Black, Sahara Sand, Whisper White - SU
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Sahara Sand - SU
Punch:  Wrought Iron Gate - Martha Stewart
Other:  Copic markers; digi download ticket; black satin ribbon - Offray; dimensionals

Embossed Nature

Hello!  Thanks so much to those of you who are still reading my daughter's story of anorexia and leaving supportive, encouraging comments for me.  I truly treasure each comment I receive, but in particular on that post.  Your comments are part of my own therapy, so thank you!!

I have to admit this was a pretty quick card to make.  The bottom portion, which is brown with a tone on tone pattern, and the glittery yellow strip, was cut from a Hallmark card.  I adhered it to a Close to Cocoa card base (which I already had lying about) then zipped the whole thing through the Big Shot with an embossing folder.  The leaf (from SU's With Gratitude) was already colored and cut out (because you'll soon see this same leaf on another project).  The little die cut tag is from a retired sheet of die cuts (also SU).   All I had to do was stamp it and distress the edges with a little ink.

I used a nail file, the squishy block kind, to distress the bottom of the card.

Challenges entered:

• Paper Issues (my first time!) - Tree Hugger theme
• Tuesday Throwdown - Fall theme
• Ribbon Carousel - Fabric of our Lives theme - include fabric (mine is the abaca natural woven material)

Thanks so much for joining me!  I hope you have a wonderful day.  :-)

Colleen

Stamps:  With Gratitude - SU; Butterflies and Wisteria - MFP
Paper:  part of Hallmark card; Close to Cocoa, Whisper White - SU
Ink:  Antique Linen Distress - Ranger; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Other:  kraft die cut tag - SU; Copic markers; twine, abaca ribbon; Big Shot; Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder - SU; dimensional; sanding block

Play Date Cafe 100 - A Little Pie

It's the 100th challenge over at The Play Date Cafe - whoo hoo!  We've got earthy, fall colors for you this week - terracotta, sunflower, and olive.

Our fabulous sponsor is the ultra-adorable Lawn Fawn!  Each DT member got to pick a fun set to play with and I chose My Silly Valentine.  I totally love it!

I was going for the look of a textured kitchen tablecloth, complete with fringe, and a pie stand on the table.  Did I do okay?  I used Stampin' Up!'s Ornament Punch to create the base of the pie stand. 

I am in love with this little pie!  I colored him with Copic markers, then applied SU's Crystal Effects for a pie that looks straight out of the oven.   I drew a shadow under the scallops and along the base of the pie stand with a Versamarker, a tool I haven't used for quite some time.

Let these fall colors inspire you, and link up your creations in the gallery at The Play Date Cafe.  Can't wait to see them!

Thanks for joining me today.  :-)

Colleen

Stamps:  My Silly Valentine - Lawn Fawn
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Summer Sun, Tangerine Tango, Old Olive - SU; white - PTI
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko
Punch:  Scalloped border, Ornament - SU; Dotted Scallop - EK Success
Other:  Big Shot; Petals A Plenty embossing folder, pom pom trim, Crystal Effects - SU; twine; Versamarker; Copic markers; dimensionals

Quick and Easy Christmas Card

Hello everyone.  I want first to say thank you to all who left me comments on my last post, HERE.  Many of your comments made me cry.  It has been such an emotional year for my family.  I know that the prayers said on behalf of my daughter and our family have helped get us this far.  Thank you SO much!

Now, onto a quick and easy Christmas card. 

The tree is from Stampin' Up!'s Wishing You Cheer, and the sentiment is from Mark's Finest Papers Time To Chill.  I drew a line around the card as a border to match the whimsical lines of the tree image.

Challenges entered:

• Paper Players #64 - use animals or plants, CAS design
• Mark's Finest Papers - a one layer card
• Less Is More - anything goes

This took so little time to make, I made three in an hour (or maybe less?).   Whoo hoo!

Thank you for joining me!

Colleen

Stamps:  Time to Chill - MFP; Wishing You Cheer - SU
Paper:  white - MFP
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Other:  Copic markers; black journaling pen - SU

Celebrating My Daughter

I have a special post to share with you today.  Some of you might recall that I had some family issues earlier this year that made me very sad and worried.  With my daughter's permission, I am able to share more of that with you today.

In January 2011, my then-12 year old became very angry and moody ALL the time.  It was so unlike her.  At first we thought it was her age, becoming a teenager and all that goes with that territory.  Then she started skipping breakfast, which I fought her on nearly every day.  Then her lunches came home with more and more food in the lunchbox, until entire lunches were sent home untouched.  As February rolled in, I knew something was very wrong.  She looked thinner and thinner all the time, and spent a lot of time alone.  It used to be that she and her 9 YO sister were the best of friends, but she retreated inward, ignoring her little sibling.

In late February, she was diagnosed with restrictive-type anorexia.  We sought the best care we could find, and that's not easy when your child is only 12.  Many state laws ignore anyone under 14 years old.  Ultimately, we wound up at Woodland Forge in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, an eating disorder treatment center.  We are deeply grateful that we found it.  The doctors there helped bring our little girl back.  After intensive therapy, months of recovery, and pain and anguish for our entire family, she is so much better. My husband and I were a tight team that helped form our daughter's recovery plan, and had the loving support of our entire families and close friends.  My blogging friends have also been a tremendous source of prayers, support and love for me, which I needed to be strong for my child.

To show just how well she is doing now, let me tell you this.  As school has just recently begun again, our daughter found out she'd be having Health class in her first marking period.  One of the topics to be learned is Eating Disorders.  After class, she approached her Health teacher and told her that she had just gotten better about a month ago after having anorexia.  Her teacher was so pleased and touched that our daughter shared it with her.  Then, our daughter offered to speak to her entire class about her personal experience. (!!!)  Her teacher was shocked and so excited.  When my daughter told me, I had goosebumps, tears in my eyes, and pride swelling in my heart. 

My daughter gave her presentation just the other day, and had the complete attention of every 8th grader in that class.  Many asked questions, all looked sad, and some came up to her afterward to express how brave they think she is.  There's another Health class in the 8th grade this marking period, and my daughter offered to talk to those kids, too.  As I write this, she is scheduled to give her talk.

Last night we had Back To School Night at the middle school.  My husband and I had a chance to talk to the school nurse and the Health teacher, who had such excitement on their faces as they told us how proud they are of our daughter.  They are amazed that she wished to talk about this in front of her peers, especially because they are a young group of kids, maturity levels being what they are in that grade. 

I wanted to make a special card to show our profound love, pride and amazement for her.  I have no "Proud of You" stamps, so chose this Verve sentiment instead.

I got the layout inspiration from the Featured Stamper at Splitcoast, llwright.  I kept the layout and hearts, but changed the color scheme, dressed up the card a bit with lace and punching, and of course, that special sentiment.

Thanks so much for joining me today.  I really appreciate you taking time to listen.  :-)

Colleen

Stamps:  Celebrating You - Verve
Paper:  Certainly Celery, Sahara Sand, Lovely Lilac - SU; white - PTI; designer paper - Nana's Kids Nursery Boys - DCWV
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Versamark - Tsukineko; Sahara Sand - SU
Punch:  String Lace border - Martha Stewart; Full Heart and Large Oval - SU
Other:  Big Shot; Heart of Hearts Embosslit - SU; venise lace; white rickrack - Wrights; Filigree and Ice brads - SU; dimensionals

Play Date Cafe 99

Oh, what a pretty color story this week at The Play Date Cafe.  :-)   I just know we're going to see some soft and lovely creations from our players 'hanging' in our gallery there!
Our Design Team was blessed to receive some stamps from our sponsor, Paper Makeup Stamps.

My stamps included this sweet girl and a couple of sentiments:

I stamped the sentiment repeatedly in Barely Banana to create a customized background paper:

We have a new gal starting with us this week at The Play Date Cafe, Stacy Rodriguez.  Stacy is well-versed in scrapbook layouts and 3D items, as well as cards.  We look forward to all the goodness she'll bring to us each week!  Welcome, Stacy!

The prize this week at The Play Date Cafe:  a $15 gift certificate to Paper Makeup Stamps!  Hope you'll get a chance to play with us.  :-)

Thanks for joining me today!

Colleen

Stamps:  Moody for Computers - Paper Makeup Stamps
Paper:  Lavender Lace, Barely Banana - SU; white by PTI
Ink:  Barely Banana - SU; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko
Other:  ribbon - Stamp Simply Ribbon Store; Big Shot; oval and scalloped oval dies - Spellbinders; Copic markers; pearls; dimensionals 

Inspired by a Curtain Panel

I love it when I am able to come up with a concept of a card, create it, photograph it, and upload it to the blog within a couple of hours.  That is SUPER rare for me!  It helps that this is a clean and simple design; makes things move along much quicker.

My inspiration came from two things:

• CR84FN challenge -

• and a curtain panel from Bed Bath and Beyond:

On white cardstock, I used an Anna Griffin stamp three times - in Going Gray and Basic Gray dye inks, and in Versafine Onyx Black.  Tied on a recycled gift bag handle/ribbon, put on a sentiment and bling, and there you go.

I have to show you the amazing difference between dye inks and Versafine, in case you don't already know it:

The Basic Gray ink is in the top part of this photo and has a more 'puddled' unclear look when used with this stamp.  The bottom row uses Versafine, which is meant to bring out the details better in a stamp.  It sure does!  I was thinking "Oh, these Anna Griffin stamps (bought on eBay a while back) are no good!"  But with the right ink, well, that is a different story.  Guess I'll keep 'em! 

The sentiment is one I need to remind myself of allllll the time:

Thanks so much for being here!  I hope your day is a good one.  No, make that a GREAT one!

Colleen

Stamps:  sentiment - Here For You - Verve; design - Anna Griffin
Paper:  white - Mark's Finest Papers
Ink:  Basic Gray, Going Gray - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Other:  pink gem - Queen & Co; ribbon - recycled from gift bag

Botanical Birthday

Today is the birthday of a good friend of mine.  She loves nature, and decorates her home in an earthy palette, with simple, elegant pieces.  I always feel peaceful in her presence. 

I made this card for her, using several beloved sets from Stampin' Up! - Nature's Pace, En Francais, and Botanicals (new to me, from eBay).  The sentiment is from Mark's Finest Papers Just Dandy. 

I used a page from my old Miss Manners book, too, as a background paper (which you can hardly see - doh!).  The lace - love it! - is from Mark's Finest Papers, and the velvet ribbon I think might be old SU stuff. 

Challenges entered:

• Flourishes Colors of Fall challenge - I used 'cedar' (Mellow Moss), 'coffee liqueur' - velvet ribbon, 'nougat' - kraft cardstock
• Tuesday Throwdown - use pearls on your card (gosh, when don't I use pearls on my cards lately??)

Thanks for popping by today! 

Colleen

Stamps:  Nature's Pace, En Francais, Botanicals - SU; Just Dandy - Mark's Finest Papers
Paper:  Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake, Whisper White - SU; Miss Manners  book page
Ink:  Walnut Stain, Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap Distress inks - Ranger; True Thyme, Crumb Cake, Mellow Moss - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Other:  lace - MFP; pearls; velvet ribbon - ?; dimensionals