Sunday, January 4, 2015

You're Such Sweet Friends...Cure for the Monday Blues #37m STAMPlorations~Anything Goes, NBUS #3

Hello my wonderful friends,

I'm popping in with a quick post, as one of the challenges is closing in a very short time.

Back in October, I bought a set of Chameleon pens that I didn't have a clue about (please tell me I'm not the only one who buys something, THEN does the 'how to' research!), until last week. My first attempts at using them took place in my dad's hospital room. I rolled a tray to his bedside, and coloured and chatted...Can I just say, I will so miss his visits to my blog. He never publically commented "on" them, but I knew he saw every card I made. Hmmm...maybe now I'll visualize him looking over my shoulder as I craft and write my posts. Guess I ought to be on my best behaviour *grin*

The pens are, well...at this stage, I'm finding them interesting. Fuse and colour = instant blending, but the tricky part is figuring how much 'distance' I'm getting with the various fusing times. Sometimes it's a miss, with short-lived blending; other times it's a miss with too long before the blending happens. Sometimes it's a score...sort of. Bottom line: a learning challenge, and right now, I'm embracing it!  Much more practice required, for sure.

My husband packed all my STAMPlorations stamps in the mobile crafting unit he brought with me, so I decided to play with a brand new set: Sugar Rush.

This card will be one of many I'll be creating, then sending, to express my deepest gratitude for all of the warm, compassionate, supportive messages and comments I've received from so many of you.

I am so blessed to have you in my life.

Here it is:  a sundae on Sunday *grin*


We've received such lovely bouquets...had to use one as my background.

Zipping my card at sprint speed over at Cure for the Monday Blues #37, where I was inspired by Taheerah's cookie crush colours,




and ever fabulous, sweet, wonderful Darnell's NBUS #3 (pens and stamps are NBUS...but not any more!! Yayyy...)


Sugar Rush also features donuts, macarons, and another sundae...I'm going to 'taste' all of them today. Yummm!

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!


29 comments:

Anita in France said...

Howdy neighbour (over at Darnell's)! Looks to me as though you've done a fabulous job mastering those chameleon pens, Carol ... such great colouring ... love all that glorious white space too! Love how you talk about your Dad ... he will be at your shoulder ... always! Hugs, Anita :)

My Card Attic: Hazel said...

Love that card Carol! Hazel x

Geri said...

You've made my "Sunday" quite a bit "sweeter" when I saw your post! My heart knows the sadness that you are feeling. Knowing that you crafted this card with your dear dad close by makes me smile! It's so sweet and beautiful...just like you Carol!

Cornelia (fun stamping) said...

Hi Carol, I have been thinking about you - glad to see you back. How's your dad? Chameleon pens - I was thinking about buying them. Such a cool idea. Glad you are pointing out the difficulties with them. Your coloring here looks perfect! Great card! Take care of yourself, hugs, Cornelia

Taheerah said...

Absolutely delicious sundae, love your colouring! Thanks so much for playing to find a Cure For The Monday Blues!

Barb Ghig said...

WTG, Carol! I think the colors on your sundae are fabulous and I love how you added pink to ground the image! As always, your CAS is perfect, too!
What a lovely idea to use a bouquet as a background for your photo...it's really beautiful! Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers...Hugs!

Taunya Butler said...

Alrighty then - several things to tell you about this sweet and yummy card!!! Love the way you layered the white on white!! The colors are superb just like in the inspiration photo!! That Sundae for Sunday looks good enough to eat!!! Loved hearing about your experiences with the pens - I always love and admire the way you are not timid about trying new things!! Something for me to definitely work on this coming year!!! I have spread my wings a lot more than I might have - All thanks to you!!! You are an inspiration and a complete delight!! I know all about being there for your mom during this time and having to be strong - I pray and hope that the you will feel the love of others wrapped around you and feel buoyed up by them!! We are all rooting for you!! Take care and know you are LOVED!!!!!

Susanne Vargas said...

Had no idea what Chameleon pens were but thanks to Mr. Google I am now wiser. They sound very interesting! I can see how it could be challenging to get enough of the right shade but I am sure with a bit of practice you will become an expert. I think you already did an amazing job shading with them!
Very "sweet" card! Can't wait to see what you do with the rest of this set!

Darnell said...

It's wonderful to see one of your superb cards again, Carol, and to have you joining in the fun over at my third NBUS Challenge! Thank you for doing that! Your sundae thank you is fantastic!! I think the coloring looks awesome and I'm interested to see what else you have to say about them as you keep practicing. I hope this week goes well with your mom. Give her my love back! Between your dad at your shoulder and all of us having your back, you're going to do just fine!! Big hugs! Darnell

Kylie said...

Oh my goodness, I have no idea where to start! I LOVE that you are experimenting with other techniques. I SO want to try chameleon pens! Just practice. Try different papers. I think that is half the battle. You could try the MFT Hybrid ink but I occasionally have issues with that with my copics...rarely, I confess but it does happen. I LOVE the stamps you've used too. This is one of the reasons I LOVE visiting your blog - you open my eyes to new companies or just designs I would never have considered (and now covet!). As for your card, it is as sweet as you are! Big hugs to you and your Mum! xx

Pop's Cards said...

Good morning sweetie, this is simply stunning, I love the colours too,my friend got a set of the pens and I had a super fast 2 minute play with them, I found them very intresting too, imagine just having a few pens instead of heaps, I would love to play for a few weeks see what I could do with them, your Dad will be with you always <3 hugs Pops x

~amy~ said...

Love what you've done and great inspiration! I'll have to look into these pens...they sound very cool.

Jeanne said...

Never heard of those pens before and had to do a search. They sound intriguing! Would be interested in hearing more as you become more familiar with them. The card you created looks delicious in every way. Your dad will most definitely be watching over you as you move forward. You are a very strong lady and I know he would be most proud of you! Hugs.

Happy Dance said...

If it weren't so bitter cold out, I could go for a sundae! Very sweet card, some pun intended! And I can just see your pops peeping over your shoulder while you create - great image! I have to give you kudos for trying out these pens. I've thought about them, but am too much of a coward to make the purchase! Hang in there babe. We're all here for you! Hugs. Bev

Mandy said...

Hi Carol you card is absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much for popping by my blog over the last week and leaving lovely comments. x

Greta said...

Beautiful coloring, Carol--looks like those pens were a great purchase! The bouquet is so pretty--bringing some beauty to your days. Hugs, my friend.

Kay Miller said...

What a delicious looking card and colored so beautifully! I have heard about these pens and even went so far as to watch a youtube video about them. Haven't bought any yet though because I have way too much invested in my Copics to jump train :) Not that that has stopped me before! haha! Anyway, they look very interesting and I am anxious to see how well you like them. I'm so glad to see you creating cards. Big hugs to you and your Mom both :)

I Card Everyone said...

Great... now I want ice-cream! The pens are news to me, c... but I love what you'd done with them. I often channel my father as I'm being creative... he did teach me how to put a blush to a cheek with Crayons, after all...
=] Michele

Loll said...

Great job with the new pens Carol. I first noticed them being used by Shery. What a great idea to have pens that have built in shades of each colour so you don't have to buy multitudes of pens. Looks like you've mastered it to me ... your sundae looks so yummy!! Hope all is well. Loll xx

Tracey McNeely said...

Carol, I buy stuff I don`t know how to use for my craft room and my kitchen all the time. It is fun doing it that way. Great job using the pens and fun cards! Thinking of you and your dad watching over you :)

Brenda said...

I love your card Carol, that sundae looks so yummy even though it is cold out. lol Ice cream is good anytime right?! Yes, I can definitely "see" your dad hanging out over your shoulder as you create!! What a beautiful picture that paints! I have seen these markers and went to check them out. I found them interesting to say the least! You did a great job with them, looks like you have it figured out to me. Don't think I would though. lol No Carol, you aren't the only one that buys something and then researches it, I think we are all guilty of it. Hang in there sweetie, thoughts and prayers are with you! Big hugs, Brenda

sandie said...

This looks so yummy Carol!! I think your colouring is going really well. I am not good at colouring but it is relaxing x

Marisa said...

Well done jumping in to use some new goodies. Nice way to give the distress inks a rest too wink, wink :) Hugest of hugs to you as you phase back into the routine of life. Know my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Kim Heggins said...

Carol...so nice to see you back in blogland with a new card and it is so stinkin' sweet. I love your yummy looking ice cream sundae, looks good enough to eat. I loved reading your stories about your dad and I know you will miss him but know he will always be with you. Take care and keep making your amazing creations. Sending hugs and prayers your.way.

maria f. said...

You are such a trooper - that you can still "grin". Sundae on Sunday ;) Kudos. I am so sorry to hear of your loss, Carol. What a crappy start to the new year, eh? Let's assume it can only get better. Giant hugs across the airwaves.

Dana said...

Thats such a great memory! Fabulous card, the coloring is great can't see any misses!! The colors you did use are so bright and cheery!!

Monika Reeck said...

I read about your dad and I want cry...my dad still healthy but far away in Jakarta (Indonesia) dear Carol...I always adore your card and this is soooo yummyy and the color are adorable too...great idea to colored and chatted with sick people maybe I can bring too my MIL hospital too LOL..hope my card come soon to your mom home..hugs, Monika

Deepti said...

Somebody is rocking the Sugar rush :)

Katie Ann Brooks said...

Delectably sweet just like you. Hugs.