Saturday, October 24, 2009

I wish I could think of something funny...


..to say about pigs. Or Swine Flu, or H1N1... but today wasn't very fun or funny. I gathered up the wee-children, books and art materials, snacks and hot chocolate and got on the road, WAY early for us on a Saturday morning, to hit a "drive thru" flu shot clinic. I figured me, a few hundred other concerned parents, kids and a handful of teachers and health workers would converge on a local high school parking lot, wind through long, coned-off serpentines to the tune of several hours and many rows of eager, dedicated health care workers... a lot of patience...

Okay, try SIX hours! And THOUSANDS of car loads of local families! Not enough traffic control or planning... and a freakishly hot October day... *Phewwweeeee!* Miraculously, though, patience did prevail and even though I considered quitting several times.. we made it. I'm not exactly laughing, but I am feeling relieved... In fact, I felt so relieved that my kids are a little more prepared to face this scary flu season.... THAT I CAME HOME AND MADE A CARD!





Oh yeah, baby! All that time, reassuring my kids that mom is NOT crazy and that we must STAY the COURSE... Meanwhile, "in my happy place" ~ I'm thinkin' about something to do with Dawn's latest colors in her Raspberry Suite #18 color challenge! Talk about your multi-tasking!!





If you've seen all the crazy-GORGEOUS cards Dawn has been making on her blog this season, you'll understand why I had to go all Christmassy on these colors! Here's a close up of some of the fun!





{I am POWERLESS over this snowman!} I just want to share some of my favorite discoveries as I made this card in joyful celebration of surviving "H1N1" flu-shot festival 2009... Okay, first there's the sueded hat! I had a tiny swatch of light brown "faux suede" paper, kicking around on my desk top, so I stamped it with dark brown Staz-On! I just think it looks so REAL! {Just the kind of happy discovery that comes from a table-top leftovers!} THEN, there's the Rich Razzleberry Christmas Tree Ornaments... One of my favorite techniques - EVER! { Okay, I don't actually know if its a technique } Instead of paper pieceing "ornaments"... I paper punch.. and then POP contrasting paper BEHIND the image.. there's just something so electric and magical about this! Yes, I was the kind of kid who would set up shop, right under the family Christmas tree and just STARE and STARE at the web of blinking lights... I was fascinated by the layers upon layers of mismatched strands, lights blinking, some constant... BUT all, creating the unforgettable holiday magic of LIGHT! And THAT was the effect I wanted for these trees! I hope it works a little magic for you, too!




ALSO, another fun discovery in the making of this card was when, tired of using my same scallop punches AGAIN and again... I was inspired to take my new, square shaped Sizzix/S/U! Die with Chocolate Chip Card Stock and then lopped off either side to make this handy lil' panel with scallops on the top and bottom... Fun, fun! So, that's it, sweet friends! I'm up just a wee-bit late trying to get this post out before an even busier Sunday morning starts knocking... For now, I hope you know how much I enjoy sharing all of this fun with you! Thanks for stopping by and THANKS for always, ALWAYS being a source for inspiration and and a little solace after a long day of doing "big girl work!" I hope you're all safe and healthy and look forward to seeing what you've been making this weekend!

Supplies -

C/S - Stampin' Up!
Ink - Stampin' Up! & Staz On
Stamps - Cosmo Cricket (Snowman), CTMH (Sentiment), Stampin' Up! (Trees & Snowflakes)
Ribbon - Michaels
Punches - Stampin' Up!
Square Die - Sizzix/Stampin' Up!

18 comments:

Dotty Jo said...

Well, helloooo Wonder Woman Elise: crafty Diva AND survivor of the great Swine 'flu jab fiasco of 2009. They'll be talking about that one for years to come...
Best to get those precious kids protected. I am packing my parent's off for their jabs next week.
Love your card, that little snowman is a total sweetheart. I LOVE what you've done with the little punched holes - what a wonderful way to trim those cute trees!
Thanks for your sweet comments on my blog. Don't some weeks just seem to test you a bit more than others? I love my job, but sometimes juggling budgets, giving talks, running Rhymetime and handling challenging behaviour from customers can stretch a girl a wee bit!
Big hugs to you, Jo x

Rosemary said...

Well, Sweeet Elise!! What an adorable card!! I love that snowman (and WANT that October Afternoon set soo bad!). I'm just so amazed, always, at what you come up with!! Great stuff, friend, great stuff!

Sharron said...

First, that is just the most adorable snowman! Then he is 'topped off' with the perfect hat! And your trees-wow!--love the punches--will definitely want to try that technique. Great card all round! So glad the kiddos are all protected--this whole flu thing is becoming more challenging every week.

diane said...

I've missed your sweet blogo all week! what a darling card, and yes, the snowman is the most adorable! well... i'm glad you were fortunate enough to get the h1n1 shot in time, over here @ the ordunas my alex came home with it on friday, not pleasant, high fever, bad headache, horribe cough snd today the sore throt began. luckily, he's a healthy boy and should fight this off. at thirteen he's handleing it well. lots of time for scrapping yesterday. xxxooo diane

Maureen said...

What a fun card!! The colours work perfectly on it. Love the rounded edges too...just more visual interest...thanks for sharing :)

~amy~ said...

OMGoodness...you poor dear...6 hours??!! That is insane...BUT I'm soooo glad that you stayed on course and was able to complete the task...it IS a scary flu season...but aren't you the smart whipper snapper to be multi-tasking...your card is soooo over the top creative....I LOVE it!!!!

Ink, paper and BLING! said...

Gorgeous card!
I still stare at lights; they completely take my breathe away every year!
R

Janelle said...

I'd say your six hours in line paid off, if for no other reason than you got a GREAT card idea out of it. This is terrific on so many levels that I just can't even start listing them. Love, love, love it!

Karen said...

Ack! I have sure missed out on some crafty goodness here!! My apologies and now that I am starting (emphasize "starting") to come back into the land of the living, I hope to not miss out again! I cannot believe you were able to get into your happy place after sitting in the car for shots with kidlets for six hours......I think I'd just want to crawl into a hole after that. But, GOOD FOR YOU!!! You, you wonderful Mama YOU! You took care of your kidlets and then made yourself and all of us a dandy fine card with such love! Love that sueded hat and yes, those razzleberry ornaments DO pop!! Thanks for making my current smile bigger and getting me into a wee bit of a festive mood! :>:>

LeAnne said...

Good heavens....six hours and I would have thrown myself off a tall building.....patience is a virtue you must have! Well, anyway, this is a cute lil' card and I love how you altered the scallopy thing to make it work! CUTE!!!

Sue Lelli said...

LOVE the suede top hat and punching holes for the ornaments is just GENIUS! LOVE your card. It's so happy!

Kelley Eubanks said...

Oh my goodness Elise!! Another perfect card!! That snowman is the bomb! :) I can not believe that you waited six hours in line for the H1N1 shots... you are a better mother than me. First off... I don't think we are getting them and second... SIX hours? Oh my!! :)

Jane said...

GORGEOUS! Love the design!!

Andrea M said...

This is too cute!!! What a great card. Great job. Thanks for sharing!

Winter said...

So cute! Love the snowman! 6 hours?! WOW! I'm a little freaked about the shots, don't plan on getting them, but getting the flu is SCAREY too! Just keep praying that we will all be fine! :)

Courtney Baker said...

SIX HOURS! Did you just write 6 Hours? Surely you meant 1 hour. I'm going to pretend you wrote 1 hours, because I'm sure that's what you meant.

Seriously 6 hours, that's insane. Super cute card. Did you make it in your head while you waited?

Ann said...

SO darn cute! I love me some snowmen, and this little guy is adorable!

Dawn said...

Glad you made it through that wait! And what a CUTE card that came out of that relief!

I have an award for you over at my blog! ;o)