"monochrome" Christmas Card

While I love using lots of color when I make Christmas cards, I really like today's challenge over at 52 CCT.   Monochrome--I chose green and I really like the way it came out.  Thanks for stopping by and have a nice week end.   Smiles,   Kathy

Snow family fun!

 

Hi friends,   I got this card made and linked to the 52 CCT Challenge, but didn't explain anything about the card.   I've been sick this week with Covid,  first time I've had it.   I started this card a few weeks ago when the theme challenge was Snow people.  I had this cute pack of paper I had bought from Michaels with this snow family on a couple of the pieces.  So I die cut a circle and then fussy cut and popped the top piece.   I never got to the point of assembling it so when I saw the embossing challenge I did a white snowflake on white and added the sentiment and "snow family."   One of my favorite techniques is embossing,   it adds so much visual interest and depth.   This was a fun challenge.  Thanks for dropping in!         Smiles,   Kathy

Field Flowers and Birds for Sweet Baby Tracy....

Field Flowers and Birds for Tracy Onchuck

The basket on Tracy's grave

Inspiration Station Challenge Photo Prompt (Sept.2024)

my mother's homeplace

a close up of the home place (not quite as clear)

my brother-in-law Captain Richard Bernarde (USMC)

my sister Marlene Young Bernarde

my maternal grandmother (she died when I was about 3 (I think)

my mother's younger brother Carl - he died in outdoor swing accident at age 2 or 3

my mother's younger brother Carl died in an outdoor swing accident when he was 2 or 3

my mom and dad, Jack and Geneva Evitt Young

my mom and dad's first two babies, one was stillborn and the other one died at six weeks.

For my sweet niece Tracy who died at 2, I wanted to create an arrangement of field flowers and I could just imagine how she would have giggled if we walked upon it and startled the birds into taking flight.

My earliest memories included a pilgrimage on the forth Sunday morning in August to the Evitt (our family) cemetery.   Although later when we moved to South Carolina my mother would buy flowers for her loved ones, I have wonderful memories of watching her cut, shape and dip crepe paper flowers in wax.  She gathered the wreath bases that were being thrown away when the cemetery was cleaned by all the family who gathered to do this before each decoration day (4th Sunday in August).   In addition to the beautiful flowers she made she gathered fresh greenery from the creek banks and arranged all of this on the wreaths and put on the stands she also collected.   She was so talented, her arrangements were simply beautiful.    She moved in with my sister in Texas when she was a little over 80 and I took over being responsible to make sure the graves that she had always cared for, continued to be adorned on Evitt Decoration day (4th Sunday morning in August).   I started out buying them at a local florist, my brothers and sisters contributed to the costs)   When I saw an ad from the local tech school for a floral arranging course lasting 4 consecutive weeks at night I enrolled,  and way before stamping and cardmaking my hobby was arranging flowers.   I did several weddings including my nieces in Wisconsin.   This was in 2000, which was good since I didn't want to loose my tools or the silks I was doing for the wedding venue, I packed it all in my carry on.   My checked bags arrived arrived thankfully or I might have had to borrow some clothes for the wedding.  This was before 9/11 or who knows I might not have been allowed on the plane with "that" carryon.   Anyway after all these years they are still happily married and have 4 super sons (they really are.)   

Of course, I have to share the story behind the cemetery.   Mothers grandparents lived in the white house and they raised crops in the field in the picture.  One day my great great grandmother looked across the field to where the cemetery is now and told her husband that when she passed away she wanted to buried upon that beautiful tree shaded knoll.     So a certain portion of land officially became the Evitt Cemetery and nobody seems to know for sure which family member was buried there first.

Thanks for visiting.   

PS I was inspired by the field in front of the buildings and at the house at the very back of the prompt photo!   One of my favorite things about the Inspiration Station Challenge Blog, is you can do whatever artistic presentation you would like too, you are not limited!  So show us what you make.   Smiles,  Kathy

Famer's Market Card

The photo at the Inspiration Challenge blog is so "colorful" this month, I'm quite certain it will spur your imagination.    I kept thinking farmer's market.  I haven't gotten beyond the super market this summer, because it is so hot.  I had a Mohs procedure to remove a "basal cell" cancer from my nose, so I'm staying indoors mostly.  (The Dr. got it all and it is healing nicely/)   I decided to use some cute digital papers from the "Farmer's Market Collection" at Nit Wit Digitals.   The image is mostly "colorful" vegetables and the saying is one our family doctor used to say with his mom as her dementia grew worse.   All his life he would say to her "I love you a bushel and a peck" and she would finish with "and a hug around the neck."  Up until the end they were able to do this.  He shared this all with me when she passed away.  It's funny how things strike a chord with us.  Nit Wit digi sets have background papers (the green) and images and embellishments.  For this I did a transparent set of veggies on top of the green check and then added the sentiment, which I left  with a white background because it was kind of hard to see when it was added as a transparent image.   I  then printed a second set of veggies on a white background and fussy cut around it and  popped up with dots.   I used colored pencils to add a more natural look to the veggies and for the buttons I printed some single veggies that I cut with an SU button die cut that I have had for ages.   Thanks for stopping by and the Design Team has done some awesome work with their creations this month.   So head on over and see how the photo inspires you.  We would love to see your creation (s).  Be sure and tell us how you were inspired by this photo.  Smiles to all,   Kathy

 

Sending Warm Wishes

Today's card is made using the photo prompt from the Inspiration Station Challenge Blog.   It is more than "warm" here in SC it is hot!  But I was inspired to create a beach look.     The base panel (SU DSP) reminds me of "shiplap" a favorite of  Joanna Gaines.   I created the sentiment (loosely based on some I saw online).   The sand dollars and seashell came from a CTMH set which I bought a couple of months ago, since they were going out of business I bought quite a few sets of stamps and thin cuts for around 6.00 dollars each.   I added some SU embellishments to top the look off.   Go on over to Inspiration Station and using this prompt let your imagination soar.   Tell how you were inspired and you might win a fun summer stamp set.    Thanks for stopping by and try to stay cool.  Smiles,   Kathy

52 CCT June sketch 2024

It's been awhile since I made a card for the 52 CCT challenge.   Sketch challenges are my favorite for sure and I like how this card turned out.     Thanks to all of you for dropping by.    I'm trying to clean my craft room/guest bedroom and get a ton of laundry folded today and tomorrow!  But, I just had to have some fun!    Smiles, Kathy

Graduation "Celebration" cards

Today's "photo" prompt at Inspiration Station Challenge Blog is so sweet; little girls celebrating at a birthday party.   My take away was "celebration."   A few weeks ago my daughter's friend asked me to make a couple of graduation cards for her.  As I was making them,  I couldn't  help thinking how quickly they go from sweet little girls at birthday parties, to seniors graduating from high school.   We cry as we see them walk across the stage, after all it seems like only yesterday we were making the birthday party rounds.    I shared what I was thinking, so now it's your turn to make a card using the June prompt and tell how you used the prompt to get your creative juices flowing!   So head on over to the Inspiration Station Challenge Blog and check out all the fabulous projects from the design team and then add yours for us to enjoy!   Blessings to all of you and thank those of you who follow my blog and leave such encouraging comments.   I am thankful for my friends from all over the "globe."      Smiles,   Kathy DT

I computer generated the sentiments and bought the cap and diploma image from Etsy.  I created the background paper on the purple card, by dotting with gold and purple sharpies.