WooHoo it is tickle a Teapotter time of the month and Lisa (aka ShoeGirl) has shared a fun true story about Grandpa Holmes.
Grandpa took his five children and their families on many great adventures, including the Mayan Ruins in Mexico. On one of their trips Grandpa Holmes came across a teapot that looked like a monkey. The challenge translation is to bring monkeys to the tea-party, thankfully the story said we could be inspired by the idea of monkeying around...whew.
Here we have Duckie, Aguppie and Lucky. Duckie is wearing her sombrero, purchased from Mexico on one of Grandpas trips, Aguppie is upside down swinging from the trees and Lucky the three legged dog is wearing a party hat. I hope all of this qualifies for "monkeying around".
I spend half my childhood climbing trees and hanging upside down. I remember once when I was about 6 years old, the annoying boy next door challenged me to a tree climb, it was more like a double dare so I could hardly refuse. Some of you know how clumsy I am, so you will be happy to read I did not fall, it is safe to read on. I can't remember this boys name (we will call him Eric) but he was one of those kids that always got other kids into trouble and he never got caught himself...until the day of the great tree climb.
I was a tiny thing and shimmied up the tree like a little monkey. Eric was built like a brick outhouse and it took him quite a bit longer. The kids that were gathered around the tree were cheering for me and shouting to Eric that he was beaten by a GIRL!!! Next minute there was an all mighty crack and the branch that Eric was on broke. Thankfully Eric's own body padding saved him from serious injury, however at the time I thought he was dead. All the kids bolted and ran off, frightened to be involved in Erics "death", that and the fact that the old tree had a big sign...Do Not Climb...
I would like to say I learnt something from this childhood experience ..... but nothing comes to mind LOL.
Now about the card, it is my usual smack and squirt technique and an extra wide stair step card. Aguppie and Duckie started out life as Sassy Cheryl digi images and Lucky is an Art Impressions rubber stamp (RAK from Robin). I finally got some new tree stamps by Inkadinkado. The images were coloured with Tria markers, they are very bright so I gently wiped them with a foam blending tool that had traces of gathered twigs distress ink on it. This toned down the colours and looked better with background. A white Sharpie paint pen was used to make the polka dots.
I had heaps of fun making this, even more so knowing it is going to a Teapotter. Have a terrific week ladies.
Date: Monday, February 23, 2015 GMT Views: 2027
Favorited:11
Registered: December 15, 2011 Location: Abilene TX Posts: 11275
Mon, Feb 23, 2015 @ 10:44 PM
Oh, Susie, I was so afraid there for a minute that we were going to hear about another misadventure! I was a big tree climber, too, but unlike you, I actually fell out of a tree I was hanging upside down in. Lucky it didn't break my neck!
The card is so fabulous - what a wonderful imagination you have to go with your artistic bent. I'm sitting here wondering where I'm going to find a monkey, and you didn't need one at all!
------------------------------ JodyLynn - "Love me - love my cats!" DTGD12, DTGD14, HYCCT12, HYCCT13, HYCCT14, HYCCT15, Love Fest 2013, Love Fest 2014 CAS and CC guest designer QFTD 258
Registered: June 10, 2011 Location: Canberra, Australia Posts: 7394
Tue, Feb 24, 2015 @ 2:08 AM
Love this card and the accompanying story. The backgrounds are wonderful and so full of different stamps. Tree climbing was out for me - I broke my arm falling from a slippery slide when I was 4 - mind you it was only 6 inches off the ground then - so from there on trees were out of the question. Can still remember the pain! Love the appendix scar. You think of everything.
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Splitcoast Challenge Hostess Teapot Tuesday TEAm
Registered: January 19, 2014 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 91162
Tue, Feb 24, 2015 @ 4:09 AM
Oh my Susie this is so perfect! Yes it I was hoping some would be inspired by the idea of monkeying around. Whoo Hoo you have represented perfectly. My dear aunt has been sent a link so she can see all our cards. She will just love this one and your story. Thank you so much for making a card inspired by her teapot. Hugs!
Registered: April 1, 2012 Location: Rogers, AR Posts: 28936
Tue, Feb 24, 2015 @ 6:09 AM
Susie how pretty and cute!! This is truly a work of art!
------------------------------ Jan 'Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ'. Philippians 1:6
Registered: February 21, 2007 Location: Bay City, MICHIGAN Posts: 17556
Tue, Feb 24, 2015 @ 8:23 AM
Well, while I am still in the hunting down the right image and idea for the tickle this week, you have already beaten most of us to the punch with your Mexican slant on the challenge!
I, too, was a tree climber and we also had a tree house, so being up in the leaves was "normal" and so was monkeying around.
Love your adaptation, with Aguppie, hanging upside down (scar from a previous fall) and Duckie dancing in her sombrero, while Lucky just seems to be enjoying the fun! We sure never know where your imagination will take you next! Your delightfully fun card with your signature "smack and squirt" making a great BG for this little fiesta, and your VERY colorful characters, is going to be the most sought after card of this tickle!!
Looks like we all have a little "monkey" in us, from the comments - LOL, thank you for another entertaining and enjoyable tale of the adventures of Susie!
------------------------------ SUE aka GREENIE - Twisted Sistah Handmade cards because..No one displays an email on their mantle, or saves a FB post in a box of treasures! Nothing is impossible with God!
What fun! Your imagination knows no bounds. Have you ever thought of illustrating children's books? You could write and illustrate one both. You're the bomb!
Registered: August 15, 2007 Location: Twin Cities MN Posts: 50714
Tue, Feb 24, 2015 @ 9:37 AM
Yup another tree climber here and proud of it! I really love this card and all the monkeying around it illustrates....the colors are amazing, the details..awesome...what else can I say...tickle tickle may this show up in my mailbox....????
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni SCS Gallery Moderator Splitcoast Challenge Hostess Teapot Tuesday TEAm
Registered: July 27, 2007 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 132007
Tue, Feb 24, 2015 @ 12:05 PM
As gorgeous as always. I love your panel on the right especially, with the little bird in the bushes picking at the berries. I spotted the Mexican souvenirs straight away - perfect.
Another person who spent half her time up trees! Irish weather permitting, and all that... I'm glad that particular incident you entertained us with had no effect on you - other than the momentary panic after Eric's fall. We had quite a large garden, and in practice my brother and I could get all the way round from one side of the back gate all round the rest of the garden and back to the gate without ever touching the ground, but it has to admitted that in theory, if we had been obedient to the restrictions about not climbing in the hedge, we'd have had a break partway round ;-). One row of trees was brilliant, we even had three different levels of passages along them. After once getting stuck, my sister didn't really join in and left the trees (and the dugout underground huts) to my brother and me. Oh - and the only tree I couldn't climb in the garden was a Eucalyptus, but I think I told you that before!!
Registered: August 21, 2007 Location: Wayland MA Posts: 105275
Tue, Feb 24, 2015 @ 1:35 PM
We have a long driveway, that circles around an island of perennials, a mountain laurel, birdbath, and a HUGE beech tree. That tree has been climbed by our kids and grands..........and our eldest granddaughter had her Senior picture taken in the tree. How cool is that? I can just picture you swinging upside down as a kid. I was the kid who didn't want to get dirty, and wanted to stay in my room and read! So of course I got children who were out-doorsy!
I LOVE your monkey-ing around kids. Your cards are always so full of FUN!
------------------------------ Anne HarmonFS154, QFTD58, PROUD FAN CLUB MEMBER (photo of our Great Granddaughter Elise, just 6 months old) and me, even older.