Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Aaaahhh, the challenges!

So I've been away from home far too often this year, and having just returned yesterday, I've spent the whole morning stamping! What a TREAT!!

I wanted to share why I've been away this time. My "big sister" Katherine, who completed a thirty year career teaching high school, went back to university, and in her sixtieth year, graduated with her Master's degree in divinity last week, from McGill University in Montreal. Several family members travelled from Nova Scotia, Labrador and England to attend her graduation and to celebrate with her. The next step is that she will be ordained as a Presbyterian minister this summer, and will begin working in her own church. We're all just so PROUD of her...wanted to share.

So, now I'm HOME again, and have done several challenge cards this morning. I needed several to mail to various people, so this was a great way to catch up!

The first is for the challenge over at Created by Hand, which is "postage." I used this beautiful sentiment stamp from Quietfire Design and postage stamp frame, masked that, and used parts of this great stamp from Crafty Individuals.

Now this is actually a humourous card, which I'll be sending to my husband at work. We've decided to travel to Paris, the French Riviera and Rome this fall, which is why I selected these particular stamps. So the sentiment reads: "The longest journey is the journey inward." Inside the card, I've written:

"...been there, done that...too expensive...let's go to Paris and Rome instead."

Over at "Art Pieces," the ATC challenge is "My Country." I enjoy incorporating ATC's into my cards, so stamped Impression Obsession maple leaves (Canadian of course! lol) with Clearsnap chalk inks, and the sentiment (also from Impression Obsession) with Tsukineko Memento Black Ink. Then I glued and glittered some of the flourishes in the maple leaves. This card will be going to a friend in the UK who's experiencing some health concerns lately.

Over at Wednesday Stamper, the challenge is "under the sea," and this card with stamps from Impression Obsession again fits that theme nicely. This one will go in the post to a little grandson today.

The final two cards are for the Timeless Tuesday challenge...birthdays. I have a couple of birthdays coming up, so this challenge was timely! The first card uses a sentiment stamp and my favourite heart stamp from Impression Obsession, and the second uses some new stamps from Stampin' Up.


That's it! My morning in my stamping room is finished, and I''m off to my garden to catch up there too! It's a beautiful sunny day here in Nova Scotia, I am so HAPPY to be home. I hope that wherever you are, you have a delightful day!

18 comments:

Sandy said...

Wow Deborah you´ve made amazing cards. Wonderful designs and stamps. Love them all.

Julie Koerber said...

Wow! You were busy!These are all lovely cards and congrats by the way too to your sister! What an accomplishment!

K said...

congrats to your sister! boy you guys look alike! love all your new art and cards - beautiful!

Shirley said...

Wow! Great picture of your sister! Bravo for her. Love all of your cards too! On the one with the Ocean Fish, what did you use for the Background? An emboss plate, etc.?

vintage wil said...

What a beautiful cards!!

krcrafts said...

Great cards! You're a stamping machine!

Big congrats to your sister!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to your sister! And your work on returning is just wonderful, Deborah.
Faye

~*~Patty Szymkowicz said...

Lovely cards, you've been busy, your fish card is especially nice. Congrats to your sis!

Char said...

Wonderful cards. Under the sea is really cute.

thimbles bobbins paper and ink said...

Hurray! You're back to stamping. HUGE congratulations to your sister. What a proud moment not only for her but for her family as well.

Each of your cards is magnificient! I wouldn't expect to see anything less from you, m' friend!

Your art is an inspiration always.

Yogi said...

very nice. That heart stamp is a beauty. Congrats to your sister. You've been busy. They are all beautiful

Suzanne C said...

Congrats to your sister! How wonderful to be going off to serve a parish! Love all the cards and the one for your husband is too funny! Glad you are home! Looking forward to your creating some more new cards!

Merry said...

Beautiful cards as always Deborah and congrats to your sister.

Lynn Stevens said...

congrats to you! and such a sweet card, happy creating!

Lisa Renéa said...

Lovely, amazing art from you, always! I must express my heartfelt congrats to your sister!
What an inspiration for women of all ages! Thank you for sharing her story and kudos to her for living her dream!!! Hip hip hooray!

Joanna said...

Wow I can see where you have been busy :)Each and every card a beautiful piece of art.

Congrats to your sister.

Hugs, Joanna

Gunn Marit said...

Really great Canada card!!

Fredhøy - Gro said...

Love the Art Pieces ATC! And the glitter on the swirls is so great!

Thanks for joining us at Art Pieces!

Hugs, Gro