We have two guests of honour at this weekÂ’s tea party. Friends Essie and Kip aka Elke and Kendra are battling breast cancer together. We are sending our support and encouragement to these gal pals in Canada. DH is walking to the letterbox with two cards as I type.
I was stressing about this weeks Teapot Tuesday card, as the cheater email didnÂ’t arrive until Monday lunchtime (my time). The challenge was to make two cards for two friends. Potentially that is 8 arms and 8 legs I could amputate during the fussy cutting process. I need a day and a half to make one card, I was seriously stressed about making two.
I can think of three ways to relieve stress. Drink alcohol, eat chocolate or change the situation. I considered becoming an alcoholic chumbulumba for a minute but decided that changing the situation would probably be best. Based on this I have decided to make stairstep cards for our monthly Teapot tickle and make “normal” cards for all the other weeks. I hope that is ok.
I wrote last week that my new years resolution was to give Mixed Media a bash and the first thing I learnt was to finger paint happy little clouds. I have added happy little clouds in the sky above Essie and Kip. The pond looks a bit green mainly because of my distress ink supplies – note to self, buy blue ink.
I have found that mixed media is as dangerous as stair step card making. Remember last week when I accidentally super-glued my scissors to my craft matÂ…well they are still stuck, I have learnt to work around them, unfortunately I forgot they were there when I sat a glass of water down to clean my brushes. Water and paint went everywhere, I however have not sustained any injuries.
Gabby suggested last week that I use a heat gun to dislodge the scissors. My heat gun is very powerful (remember when I blew the head off Hazy or was it Lazy when I was watercolouring), I digress, the heat from the gun melted a small portion of my craft mat, this has allowed me to get a knife underneath the scissor handle. The knife is currently stuck under the scissors but I can wriggle it a bit. I hope to report a successful outcome next week.
Oh I just realized I havenÂ’t written about my card. Essie and Kip started out life as a Sassy Cheryl digi image. I gave the girls different paper-pieced hats. The girls are coloured with Copics (can you tell I have been practising). The sky was done using an acrylic paint dabber by Adirondack, the clouds are finger painted with white acrylic paint and the pond was done with a wet brush swished across Distress Ink pads. Micron pen used to doodle a border.
Now that I have uploaded my card perhaps a glass of wine and a small block of chocolate would be ok. Wish you could join me, have a great week everyone and thank you for looking.
Date: Monday, January 6, 2014 GMT Views: 1854
Favorited:7
Registered: December 4, 2009 Location: Southern Utah's Dixie Posts: 20558
Tue, Jan 07, 2014 @ 7:09 PM
How was the wine and chocolate, Susie! This "normal" card is beautiful and adorable! Essie and Kip are so cute, while enjoying a little respite for the treatments! Fantastic job with the mixed media, too!
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni Favorites Team Notifier Splitcoast Challenge Hostess
Registered: October 26, 2009 Location: Oakhurst, near Yosemite Nat'l Park. Posts: 46799
Tue, Jan 07, 2014 @ 8:09 PM
You are sooo funny Susie!! I LOVE your card and I love how you are trying new things! Love your Copic coloring too...you HAVE been practicing haven't you...me too! Great job on your happy little clouds as well! Love your paper pieced hats too! Well, I guess I just love everything about your card. Wish I was there with you too! Especially for the chunk of chocolate heehee!
------------------------------ Blessings, Robin Encourage one anotherMy Blog-InkMagination , QFTD201,Dirty Dozen Alumni.Impression Obsession DT, DRS DT.Formerly HC DT, ODBD DT.
Registered: February 9, 2010 Location: Mentone, California Posts: 7361
Tue, Jan 07, 2014 @ 10:51 PM
I am just loving your happy clouds! The girls are cute as can be and your copic coloring ROCKS. Your water is the wonderful blue-green of the Bahamas, just beautiful! I can just feel the fishies tickling the toes! About your scissors... The hubby says try acetone. It should melt the glue.. however it MAY melt the matt as well. Test it on a small corner!
Registered: March 11, 2008 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 39766
Wed, Jan 08, 2014 @ 7:11 AM
Susie, Susie, Susie....don't know what is better your stories or your cards. LOVE LOVE LOVE them both. Maybe you should write a book so we could all have many wonderful laughs.......all the while sipping wine and nibbling on some chocolate. hehe This card is super darling and sure to bring BIG smiles. Again, LOVE it!....now heading off to find my wine bottle and chocolate! hehe TFS :0)
------------------------------ Cathy B aka: Mutnik ....or is it Nutmeg?! I get so confused!
Smile.......people will wonder what you are up to! :0) Proud Fan Club Member 2010 DT forRubbernecker Stamps My Gallery
Registered: February 21, 2007 Location: Bay City, MICHIGAN Posts: 17556
Wed, Jan 08, 2014 @ 4:44 PM
What an entertaining post on your card - I love how your mind works when you start talking about things!!
The Sassy Cheryl image - in duplicate - turned out great of the 2 friends, your clouds look amazing, and boo-yah to you for trying new stuff - that is something I am afraid to do!
You really rocked this week's teaparty for Kendra and Elke!!
------------------------------ 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!
Registered: May 9, 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 8703
Wed, Jan 08, 2014 @ 7:39 PM
Hi there Susie Australia!!!!!!!!!! Girlfriend you should be a writer. Your little story had my literally in stitches. DH wondered if I gone off my rocker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This card is so stinkin adorable. Elke & Kendra will surely love them. Love your clouds. I have made up my mind not to start with mixed media. I have too many toys to use. As DH says, do I really need any more stuff? Of course I say yes. When he rolls his eyes, I kindly remind him of how many different drills and wood tools he has. Never mind that he is a cabinet maker by trade, same thing in my book. Toys are toys!!!!!!!!!! Back to your card Susie, it's cute as a button. Now I think I will have some ice cream with fudge topping. I'd have wine too, but that doesn't go all that well with ice cream!!!!
------------------------------ Mary ~~ QFTD #152, FS#514CC Guest Design Team 2012, 2013, 2017 & 2022 2014 CAS Spring Design Team MemberSC Guest Design Team 2015 & 2022 SU Consultant "Life's greatest adventure is finding your place in the Circle of Life" - Lion King
Registered: June 29, 2004 Location: Sugar Land. Texas Posts: 79588
Thu, Jan 09, 2014 @ 5:55 AM
Those two are the absolute cutest! Good luck on that scissor ordeal!
------------------------------ LizThe joy of the LORD is my strength.Right Brain Madness --My blogProud member of the redDivasKSS certified multi-step stamperFan Club member since 2004
Registered: March 24, 2006 Location: Deep in the Heart of TEXAS Posts: 15980
Thu, Jan 09, 2014 @ 8:13 AM
Susie, these little gals are adorable! Great card as usual! Love your mixed media clouds! Your commentary is very amusing as usual!
------------------------------ Phyllis Young at heart, slightly older in other parts. We really never grow up, we just learn how to act in public!! What if you woke up today with only what you had thanked God for yesterday??
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni SCS Gallery Moderator Splitcoast Challenge Hostess Teapot Tuesday TEAm
Registered: July 27, 2007 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 131738
Thu, Jan 09, 2014 @ 9:54 AM
You have me giggling away here, Susie.
A) While we all love your amazing stair-step creations, you should never (not even for Tickles!!) feel obliged to make them if it's stressful. Card making should be FUN.
B) How not to stress if the Cheater email is late; join me and don't get it ;-).
C) Green water - it doesn't look it to me. But even if it did - that would only make me think that there were trees in the background casting green shade on it - you should see the "green" water in some of the photos I take of a little lake in the park here.
D) You melted your craft mat! Yikes - my heat gun is a super-hot paint-stripping one too, so I must remember never to let it get near my mat. Solution to that - a new mat. They're needful from time to time, anyway. My last one was so cut and scored and scratched that I wasn't cutting cleanly on it any more.
And your happy little clouds are so sweet and fun.