This Little Card of Mine

Update on my Mom

This is mainly a card blog but I feel like you have all been part of supporting my Mom (and me) through your beautiful cards and encouraging emails.   I was in PA visiting them this weekend and saw even more of your cards that you sent.   Each one touches my family.  Thank you!

As recently as last week we were beginning to lose hope that Mom would be able to come home.  My Dad approached us last week and wanted to bring her home and try it out.  And if it didn't work she would go back and likely never live at home again. He thought that a change of surroundings would motivate her.   We knew she would need alot of assistance and insisted that Dad get some in-home help.   So we came home to talk to Dad, formulate a plan and then tell Mom.   I must admit that I was not hopeful but agreed we should try it.  I won't drag you through all of the details but....   We went Saturday morning to talk to her about the plan.  Before we even did that she walked more than I had ever seen her do.  Her mood was upbeat where in the past she seemed depressed to me.   Dad called to ask if she wanted him to bring Red Lobster for dinner (her favorite place).  And she said --- "Let's go there!  There is no reason I can't!"   We were stunned.  We always thought she could do more if she put her mind to it but couldn't get past her reluctance to push herself.  To have her say that set off a celebration that was like we had just been told we were going to Disneyland!  SHE wanted to.   It was like we got a glimpse of my Mom back again.  As our visit progressed she was more alert than before, upbeat, funny, animated --- my Mom is coming back.  It was so joyful taking her out for all of us -- and she ate every single bite.   I will never forget how we all felt knowing there is hope.  She will be coming home week after next if all goes well and still has alot of work to do to fully recover.   But we are hopeful again.    And so thankful for your prayers -- we are seeing them being answered.  I hope you don't mind hearing the story -- but I feel like so many of you have been there for us that I wanted to tell you.

My brother took this picture of my Mom and Dad at the restaurant.. I will always feel so happy when I look at it:

Sunny basket card

The minute I saw this Hero stamp I knew it would be perfect for Copic coloring. And it was! So fun!

Supplies:  Hero Arts Sunny Smiles cling stamp set; Hero Arts cerulean notecards; Copics (E33, E35, E37, E39, R20, R59, Y17, B16, B18, G29, YG67, B0000, T8); Ranger Glossy Accents; Fiskars border punch; Memento Black Ink

Made With Love card

I hadn't made a butterfly card in awhile  :-)  so I pulled out this Sweet n Sassy set and used a butterfly I hadn't used yet.  Such a pretty butterfly.  I used Glossy Accents on both the butterfly and the paper strips to make them look like epoxy stickers.

Supplies: Memory Box patterned paper; Hero Arts Greeting; Copics (YG67, BG05, N8);  Black stickles; Ranger Glossy Accents; White gel pen; Memento black ink

A Penny Black card

I  must admit that I haven't used many Penny Black cards but you can't help but want to play with them when you sit at a weekend retreat with Kathy who is the master of bringing these (and any) stamps to life.  I had fun playing with this one.  I loved coloring it with Copics and then creating a soft background with Distress Ink.

Suppliers:  Penny Black stam; Copics (R22, R24, R27, R29, BG01, BG02, BG05, BG07, YG11, YG13, YG17, Y32, Y35, Y38, E000, E00, E01, E29, E35, E37, YR02, YR07, YR09)   Copic Spica Clear glitter pen, Ranger Glossy Accents; Hero Arts stamp (CL351); Hero Arts Cerulean notecard; Paper Trey Grid patterned paper; Ranger Distress Ink (Shabby Shutters and Tumbled Glass)

Have a few minutes to make some cards?

We don't have a card drive going on right now. But we learned about a family that could use our support.  My friend Latrice has a friend who just learned that their little boy has leukemia.  Please go here to learn more and make some cards to bring some love into their lives.  And please keep them in your prayers.

Just sitting here card

What a fun set this Hero Wishing You Were Here set is.  So fun to paper piece with patterned paper.  I just popped it off the card and then added just a touch of black enamel accents to the button tufts on the chair.  I also used a wood floor stamp that I found from a brand I'd never heard of before.   I can see myself using that stamp alot!

Other supplies:  Hero Arts notecard;  Basic Grey Cappella patterned paper; Memories black ink:  Copics (E42,E43, E44, E47 and E49)

Inky Antics goodness

I have had this set for a while but I'm sort of intimidated by animal stamps -- ok, animals with fur. I never know how to color them. When I saw what Nichol did with a kitty stamp this weekend (see post 2 days ago for her spectacularly colored kitty card), I thought I'd give it a try. Yes, trying to be as good as Nichol is at Copic coloring is an exercise in futility. She was kind enough to show me how she did it so I thought I'd give it a try. Here it is:

Supplies:  Inky Antics Charming Kitties stamps set; Memory Box Snow & Cedar patterned paper; Cuttlebug Embossing folder; MFT cloud dies; Copics (E43, E44, E47, E15, W0, W2, W1, W6, W3)

 

 

 

 

Oh Hero how I love your stamps!

I love the look of adding a bit of Glossy Accents to the edges of the flower.  I saw Jennifer do this on one of her cards and wanted to try it.  So pretty and such a great idea.

Supplies:  Hero Arts Stamps (CL491 Made With Love, CL496 Layered Flowers, CG286 Three Leaves), Memory Box patterned papers, Ranger black Enamel Accents dots), Ranger Glossy Accents (around edges of petals and on leaf), Hero Arts pearls colored with Copics

Back home...

from a 4 day retreat with my wonderful scrapping and cardmaking friends.  It has been a long time since I had so much fun, laughed so hard, and was so relaxed and enjoying every single minute.  Spending time with some of the most creative and caring people I know is simply good for the soul.  They all knew about my Mom's health struggles (she is in the hospital again right now) and made cards to send to her.  Before I put them in the mail I just had to share them with all of you.   They are simply stunning. (You won't see one from sweet Jennifer because she had just sent one in the mail)  This is another of those times when I wished my photography skills were better than they are.

This one is from Britta.  I had not met her before and she came all the way from Minnesta, and I'm so glad that she did.  So sweet and talented.   I look forward to seeing her at future retreats.

And this stunner is from Sandi.  There were so many details on this that when I sat down to really look at it I just went from one beautiful part to another.  My Mom will love it.

And then there is Ginger's card.  Hers really touched me.  Maybe it's because of the fact that she doesn't make cards (though you will agree I'm sure that she should!).  Maybe it's the sentiment on the front.   It meant alot to me....

And sweet Heather was ROCKING the Penny Black stamps.  This one makes me smile.

Latrice, my beautiful friend from Chicago --- is this gorgeous or what?  I never would have thought to do this with the stamp. 

And Nichol, who came all the way from Kansas.  Her coloring of this kitty just made me crazy --  good huh?   I tried to color a kitty like this on a card you will see later.  She is truly the master.

And then there is Kathy who came in from DC.....  This card is truly a masterpiece.  It is on the larger size which you can't see well on here but it just made me drool.

Using a sketch

Following the card blogs that I do, I see so many great sketches/templates and I so rarely use them.  Not sure why but I decided to use this Verve one. 

Supplies:  Hero Arts kraft note cards and greeting stamp; Basic Grey patterned paper; Making Memories patterned paper;