Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Tulips (X 2 - Three of the Flurry of Posts)...CAS-ual Fridays #112, Seize the Sketch #2

Where has the summer gone?? Today, I'm 'officially' back to work  and hopefully will unravel  the mystery of what exactly my role will be.  Even though I spent a few hours on site yesterday, unpacking boxes, organizing our space, figuring out what to put where, the specifics about my position is still 'out there.' Perhaps more clues will appear today! And while I'm perfectly okay with getting up at 6:00am (start time for my blog visiting), getting myself turned into something 'presentable' and out the door by 8:00 is a different story!  I enjoy immensely sipping my coffee, visiting blogs, leaving comments, thinking about what card to make, dabbling with household tasks...alllll day long!  Time is near to say 'bye' to those hours of flex time and being somewhat a 'lady of leisure'!  Two days back, then Friday + long weekend (which includes a trip to visit my family!!) makes for a 'gentle' entry back into the routine.  I guess.

Just a 'by the way' - I used to be a high school English teacher (I know, I know - hard to believe, given my not-so-fancy-schmancy writing skills demonstrated on my blog!!) for many X several years, until  the seemingly endless marking/prepping  amongst other things made clear that an exit was needed.  Hard decision, and one I'm still contending with (I often 'should' all over myself...should have' done this, or that, or something else...), but overall, stepping 'outside' has been positive (more card-making time!!).  At present, I'm an education assistant/admin assistant at the Outreach portion of our school district, where interacting with teachers and students still comprise a major portion of my day.  I get to 'be at school' but I don't have to take it home with me.  If a "good fit" teaching opportunity opened up, I might think about thinking about returning to the profession, however, it would have to be really, really up my alley.  Perhaps some day... Anyway, morning babble done (and thanks for listening!!).

Two cards today round out the card-making flurry that characterized much of these past few days of holiday.  They're heading off, via personal delivery by my husband, later in September, to my mother-in-law and my husband's sister.  No reason other than 'just because.'

Seize the Sketch #2 called to me when it first appeared


 - the 'perfect' layout for my Hero Arts tulip. I made one - gold embossed and water-coloured pink - and then discovered a colour challenge over at CAS-ual Fridays #112.


One card became two cards...and if I had an audience in mind, I'd likely have made 3...4...5.

Card 1 - for Seize the Sketch #2 only (gold embossed tulip - new technique for me!)


Card 2 - for Seize the Sketch #2 and CAS-ual Fridays #112


Thanks so much for dropping by; your company and comments are ever so welcome and appreciated.




13 comments:

Happy Dance said...

It's always good to read your posts! Changing careers is a hard choice; I gave up being a 'scrub' nurse in surgery, went back to college and used my history degree to work in a museum until I retired (very) early to stay at home with DH. No regrets. It's been a rich, full life! Your cards are lovely. I love how you've used two color schemes. That striped dp is perfect for CFC too! And those stitched mats...gotta get me some of those! Enjoy easing back in, and hey, skip the housework to craft. I'd miss your posts if they weren't up as often!! : ) Bev

Kim S said...

First - I agree with you on the early morning blog time - I have no problem getting up but its mostly because it gives me hours before anybody else gets up. I don't know if I would get up and get out the door. Second - I grew up with a high school English teacher and having helped her A LOT when I was in high school with the marking and the grading - it squelched any desire in me to be a teacher - so I get what you are saying about bringing it home. It sounds like this could be a perfect position for you (once it's all figured out!) Third - LOVE both cards. Seeing them sent me flying to my stamp drawer because I knew that I had that flower and had totally forgotten about it!

Geri said...

Hey Carole....let me know if you find out where the summer has gone, because I want to go there!!! I'm sure that as I age, the days go by quicker! Could be because I am just that much slower!

I digress.....on to what I do know....that you have once again created two amazing beauties that are sure to garner some oh's and awe's from the gallery! Stunning water coloring! I'm calling winner winner on these pretties!

Shannon J said...

It's never easy going back to routine - I don't know WHAT'S going to happen to me when reality comes back and bites me in the you know what!!! And you have been so busy all summer long too - it's no wonder the days just zinged by, you poor thing! As for second guessing career choices (and choices in general), I think we all do that (I KNOW I do!!), but it's the path that has taken us to where we are today, so try not to have any regrets! And if something comes up, and it's meant to be, like you said, you can always go back!!
And those cards...oh THOSE CARDS!!! They took my breath away - they truly did! Your colouring is knocking my socks off, and that subtle gold in the first card is just so beautiful and elegant! Winner, winner FOR SURE!!

Shannon J said...

Oh, and I wanted to say too, that I hope they sort out a role for you very soon - one that you love, and one that you deserve - they are SO lucky to have you!

Greta said...

You really make that tulip look so wonderful, Carol! One of my favorite combinations is gold embossing with pink & this shows why! I'm suspecting you made exactly the right decision--in spite of the sometimes thinking something else might have been possible. I've been there & the old check & benefits would have been nice, but life is way too short!! Hope your year goes well, my friend!

Jinny Newlin said...

Well, I hope you settle in to your new job beautifully. I'm sure it will all work out. Your cards are stunning! LOVE the variance while still sticking with the same design. Such a gorgeous bloom, too! Hey, and thanks so much for leaving me some love on the Wplus9 Design Blog today. Hugs!

Darnell said...

Beautiful tulip cards, Carol! I love the plaid and stripey accent strips!! Good luck with the new school year and finding a contented niche within the District!

Kylie said...

I want to sit and create with you. You are so creative and every time I visit your site I come away inspired. Both cards are so lovely and so different. The gold with the pink is just so pretty and elegant. The second with the yellow colours is so warm and inviting. Might have to look at that sketch myself.

All the best for going back to work. Hope you have an amazing year!

Sylvia Blum said...

Beautiful and elegant cards!
Thank you so much for playing along with us in the CAS-ual Fridays color challenge!
Sylvia xx

Katie Ann Brooks said...

These are both lovely cards! It sounds like you have big changes coming up. They can be hard to adjust to, but you sound ready to take on the new adventure! Best of luck!

Kelly Griglione said...

Good luck going back to work! So glad you were able to share your cards here. They're both so pretty! Thanks so much for joining the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge!

PapierGirl said...

Beautiful cards - love the gold embossing! Thanks for joining us at Seize the Sketch! :)