Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Happy Birthday...STAMPlorations Bi-Weekly Sketch Challenge #12, Just Us Girls Challenge #242: Photo Inspiration

I'm back...

If you read my previous post (and thank you for doing so...I know I'm a chatterbox at times), you'll know how much I adore my niece and nephew.  Leaving them is not fun. Not even a little bit.  This time, the 'heading home good-byes' took place at the birthday party we were attending, as I had to be back at my mom's to meet up with my husband, who was working at a bike race.

My nephew, just turned two, is on stage with this highlight...

Me:  Okay, Mr. C... Aunty C  has to go now.
Mr. C:  Why? (and a cutie-patootie little sad face is now in my field of vision...sighh...).
Me:  Because I have to go back home...
Mr. C:  When I going to see you again, Aunty C? (okay, my heart is melting at this point. Little gaffer knows how to push the buttons...)
Me:  In two weeks, and then you'll be coming to Aunty C's house (more on that later).
Mr. C: No two weeks, Aunty C...two minutes (and with that he gave me a big hug...and headed off back to the crazy, zany birthday festivities).

Another tug of the heart-strings. It's neat that they don't quite have a concept of time at that age, but I do.  I want the two minutes version of seeing them again!!

My card is another 'must attempt the diagonals' creation, rather than run the other direction! Inspiration for the sketch is from STAMPlorations Bi-Weekly Sketch Challenge #12




My Beautiful Bloom is making another appearance, this time purple/pink embossed (I was trying out some old Versamark inks to see what happened if I added clear embossing powder). 


 In real life, it has a lovely shimmer....

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments make my day!

29 comments:

Deepti said...

This is gorgeous :) love the color combo, looks so elegant !

Sharyn Polesel said...

Love the black and white background and your sparkly flower! Thanks for joining us at Just Us Girls!

Lesley said...

Gorgeous!

Marisa said...

Another beauty! Gorgeous flower and thanks for joining us at JUGS :) So glad you had such a fabulous time with the kids. Nothing melts your heart more than the open sincerity and love of a child :) Have a wonderful w/e!

Sue VanDeVusse said...

Very striking! Love that black and white background with that gorgeous flower! What a sweet little guy that obviously loves his Auntie. Thanks for playing with us at JUGS!

sandie said...

great job on the diagonal shape dn that bloom really does look stunning! Thanks for joinng us Stamplorations

Happy Dance said...

Awwww... I know just what you mean. Last time I left C&K's house, Lily, 6, started to cry. Being loved that much is such a gift from God, and I know you know exactly what I mean with T&C! Your card is awesome. Am fully loving the large black panel, then the angled dp one. By using them, your flower absolutely pops. This is magnificent. LOVE this. Have a great weekend, dear friend! Bev

Cindy Lovell said...

You must be an amazing Auntie...well,i know you are!! It's so sweet to know just how much they adore you!!!
Your card looks fab sweet Lady!! Love...love the black and the of course my fav color...puple!! Beautiful design!!!
HUGS,
Cindy

Susanne Vargas said...

This is a gorgeous card!
Hope that the two weeks feel like two minutes to you! I know that my weeks feel like minutes to me but when you are waiting and longing time usually drags... Well, you will just have to keep very busy and make tons of cards! ;)

Monika Reeck said...

Cute dialogue and I am not aunty till now :(( but I have two little boys around me they made me always busy Carol hihi LOL..
Now about your card..its really PERFECT in black Cardstock..love the flower and the DP you choose and the use of the sketch from Stamplorations..its a great card as always my dear Carol... and the flower is in PURPLE...oooh dear..may I have it...I am fan of purple color...and I will jump if I get a card in purple color....now happy Thursday and I was having a bit time to make a card using the same sketch like yours...see you soon on my Blog,hugs hugs and hugs...Monika

Anita in France said...

Um ... gasp ... Carol, this is so striking and gorgeous! Love how that stunning blooms pops against the bold black and white! Another memory made with little Mr C ... how wonderful! Hugs, Anita :)

Kay Miller said...

Ooooooh what a striking and gorgeous card!! Those colors are fabulous!! I love the black background with my favorite color purple! Gotta try that ;) I love the skewed panel too. Been seeing that around and it's on my list to try too! And how lucky you are to have such abprecious little niece and nephew who say the sweetest things! I can tell they love their aunty. My niece and nephew are 22 and 25 now! They don't say cute things anymore, but I still love em to pieces!

Loll said...

Gorgeous Carol. Love it on the black background ... really makes your gorgeous bloom pop! Loll xx

Shannon J said...

I think Mr. Nephew knows exactly what the difference is between two weeks and two minutes!!! He does.not.want.to.wait!! And who could blame him!! He has the best auntie ever!!!
Um, my heart pretty much stopped when I saw your card! Wa-wa-wowza!! So, SO pretty, Carol!! I think this could qualify for Lisa A's Wanna Sketch too - have a lookie to see!! Absolutey in love with it!!

Vicki Dutcher said...

Quite a fabulous inspired card with a great use of the sketch! Thanks for joining in with both JUGS and STAMPlorations!

Marina said...

So elegant - love the colour combo you've used. I thought this sketch was hard but you've made it look easy. (Shimmer, shine , glitter, never seem to show up in my photos either!)

Pop's Cards said...

Ohhh this is absolutely gorgeous!! hugs Pops x x x

~amy~ said...

um, WOWZA. this is gorgeous and elegant! LOVELY work and there's another sweet cutie patootie story....love hearing them!

maria f. said...

Methinks you should do diagonals more often! They look good on you(r cards)! Thanks for joining us at STAMPlorations.

Kim S said...

Ahh....two minutes...what a sweetie and what special aunty you are!!

I am loving the black and white on this card - it makes the flower beautifully rich and vibrant. I love your simple touch of splitting that panel - it adds great interest!

Anonymous said...

You know, Carol...for someone who "fears" diagonals, you certainly came up with a gorgeous card! I agree with Maria -- you ought to do diagonals more often :o) I quite enjoy reading the "slices of life" you include in your posts -- and this is one of those posts of yours that made me go "Awww!!!" Your nephew is such a sweetheart and I only know too well how hard it is to say goodbye to precious ones. (I said goodbye to my niece, The Adorable One, a year and a half ago. I so miss her and hope I'd get to hug her again real soon because she's growing up too fast -- turning 3 in a few months!!) Can't wait to read your posts later when he's visiting you!! Hugs!

Marlena M. said...

Awww, tugging on heartstrings for sure!!! so sweet~Your card is gorgeous~I love the black and white tilty panel

Dana said...

Gorgeous!!! I love how the panel dosen;t reach the top!! Very eye catching!!!

Anonymous said...

Glad you tried your hands on diagonals and made this very elegant and stylish card. Thanks for joining our Sketch Challenge at STAMPlorations. Good Luck! Monika

Unknown said...

LOVE! The diagonals have been very good to me...a good thing since I'm a little diagonal meself ;)

Your nephew is adorable. He's smart to love his Aunty C so much :D My nephew Kaelan is 11 now and he still says "Aunt Barbie, I wish you could stay overnight...are you sure you can't?" UGH...kills me everytime...

Kim Heggins said...

Wow...this is simply one gorgeous card! So stunning and elegant with the black and your sweet purple posie. I love it. Your niece sounds just too cute for words! I love reading your sweet stories. Enjoy your weekend!

Brenda said...

Ok your niece and nephew are just too cute!!! I love the conversations you have with them-kids can be so dang cute and innocent and you just want to squeeze them up!! Love it!! Love the chatter too!! Why? Probably because I'm a chatter box. lol Now I am so loving these diagonal sketches and I'm so glad that you are running in the other direction because you are really good at them!!! I so love that paper and OMGosh that flower, oh that flower! You know how much I adore that flower!!! lol Yes, I'm yelling because I love it so! Great card Carol. I really must try a sketch like this. Hugs, Brenda

Greta said...

Oh wow--I LOVE this card, Carol! That little guy--what a sweetie! You'll have to frame this conversation!

Geri said...

WOW!!!! Stunning elegance! Don't you wish that the photos could actually capture what we see IRL! Beautiful clean & simple design - great way to showcase that fabulous image!

I could almost feel the pull of the heart strings when I read your post...those wee ones sure know how to make their Aunty C feel so loved and so special!