Thursday 31 January 2013

Just Under The Wire

The end of January wire that is! You see, I made some crafting goals for 2013...notice how I am carefully avoiding the word resolutions!

My crafty goals are tied into my One Little Word of UNLOCK.  A few of those goals tie into the card I am posting tonight.

1. I want to use up stash...It is a bit silly just how much stash I have So far I have been doing fairly good on that front!

2. I want to make a series of cards that have flowers on them...it's another stash thing you see. I have a very long row  of glass jars filled with flowers. It runs the length of my counter top! Lots of them are out of style by a card makers standards...but most of my cards go to people who are not card makers. They wouldn't know if my flowers were current or ancient!  I don't care if the cards are simple, elaborate or my tried and true "quickie cards". I just want to remember to use some flowers every month.

3. I want to make some "inspirational" cards each month. Just note cards...maybe with just one thought provoking word...maybe with a fitting  quote.
My eldest has been spending a lot of the year in France and  Monaco. We missed her dearly in 2012. Emails are great but they are not the same as a handwritten note. I plan to write her a note and mail it in an inspirational card every 2 weeks till she is home.  I just feel that I need that connection with her. There is a special man involved of course so who knows what the future will bring.
It will be fun to have that old fashioned connection with her in the months she is gone..
 
I have managed to post one card with flowers so far this month and finally I have another to share. It is not fancy, it didn't take me forever to plan, decide, and execute. For once I didn't move the elements back and forth and  have a cuppa while I decided where they went...Nope!


I just took a card base and matted a scrap of really old paper (Basic Grey I think) and stuck it down and got on with it. I have to say, I think I like this...No stress, no huge mess dragging out elements I didn't use.  I chose a couple of flowers, found a tag with a sentiment I liked and called it done.
With that in mind I hope to make many more of these!.

This will be the first card I mail my daughter when she leaves for Monaco on Feb 15.

No recipe as these items are so old I would really be guessing...I think the flowers and the sentiment are K and Co but I could be wrong!

I am submitting this card to the Pixies Crafty Workshop - must use snippets. My whole card is snippets

24 comments:

pinky said...

Beautiful creation, love the thinking behind it Maureen.

Redanne said...

Well done for using bits from your stash, adding flowers and putting an inspiration message on - I would say you have achieved what you set out to achieve! It is a beautiful card too. Hugs, Anne x

Sarn said...

This is very nice indeed Maureen. Very pink and girly so it's sure to be well received by your daughter.

Hugs
Sarn xxx

Karen Petitt said...

This is gorgeous and a great way to use up the scraps! I've just finished a year of 'using it up' and have so much left still! I love the photo below where we can see all your lovely pots of flowers! hugs Karen x

Peanut said...

Lovely, Maureen.... the inspiration, your thought process and the card itself. Thanks for sharing ... all of it!
xxx Asha

Pia S said...

It's the "decide and execute" part I struggle with at the moment. Isn't it a lovely feel when thing flows and it the card turns out just the way it was supposed to!

Sue said...

Love it Maureen, its so beautiful thanks for all your inspiration huggles hun xxxxxxxxxx Sue J xxxx

Mary Jo said...

Very pretty card!
And I love that you are planning to send handwritten notes to your daughter.
I think getting mail is so wonderful and am trying to send more myself to keep it going.
The woman who works at the post office literally thanked me the other day for participating in a fun swap with friends and bringing in so many packages to mail! :)

Karen Petitt said...

Hi Maureen - thank you for the lovely comment - I really appreciate it!
I donate my cards to my local hospice shop and also I send them, when I can get out to the post office, to the lovely Caz who runs OBWS, http://obws.webs.com/, they are then sent out to UK service personnel who are 'in theatre' which I think is active service. We've had some lovely emails from the guys and gals in service at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan hugs Karen x

Hettie said...

Very pretty card Mo and glad you are back to yourself. Keep your chin up and take each day as it comes. I am sure your daughter will like this!
Hugs
xx

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Lovely indeed Maureen so know what you mean about moving things around and thinking but you did just so well with this one!! great share, Shaz in Oz.x

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Hi Maureen, just sent you a reply to your email but not sure you will get it as this is a message I had:
"Your message could not be delivered.

The recipient's account is temporarily over the maximum allowed mailbox size." and came from <>

So if you dont get a reply from me let me know and will re-send it .. Shaz.xxx

Glenda Atkins said...

Yup that is the way to create a card, just sit down and put it all together. Wish I could do that, I ponder, and try this and that, put it away, take it out, well you get the picture:O). Your card is very lovely and your daughter will be thrilled to get it. You know she will probably treasure the note as much as the card it not more. Words from Mom when you are far away is just another part of building the ties that bind!
hugs
Glenda

Jules said...

Hi Maureen

I think I like the sound of "goals" rather than resolutions .. . but whatever they are called I have tons of them LOL!!!

Well done on using up lots of your snippets .. .. great layout and colour combo.

Hope you have a good weekend Maureen.

Love Jules xx

MaggieC (Silvercrafter) said...

That is such a lovely way of using up your stash. I do think that we are sometimes led by what we are told is the current trend into buying so much new stuff that no-one needs. We should set the trends not necessarily the designers. We need to become designers ourselves. I am sure your daughter will treasure the love and thought in the cards you will send her, they will come from the heart. Thank you for your visit and for seeing the stained glass effect on the butterflies. I do have to admit to ordering some more of those. Have a good week. xx Maggie

Sally H said...

What a great card, Maureen! I think she will love it. You are right. A hand written card from mum is one to be treasured

Lynn said...

Hi there, thanks for commenting on my blog. I am trying to make a resolution a month. So far, so good. This is a beautiful card. Love the colour combo too. It was Jules who inspired me to use the metallic thread - I do like the look as it is sometimes less 'heavy' looking than ribbon. Have a good weekend. Lynn x

Unknown said...

Hi ya, awww a sweet card to go with a lovely idea! How nice it must be to get cards on a regular basis and so few people keep in touch now with something through the post - I bet your daughter will keep and cherish these cards.

I've lots of flowers stuffed in a drawer (not as organised as you with jars!) and I've found I've hardly used them the last 6 months or so - will have to try harder to put them on cards.

Sarah

PS - Such an interesting comment you left in reply to mine to yours (!!!) about the caravan in the garden - I've always found the differences in peoples lives / languages / way of life, etc fascinating. In some ways are all so different, but in others so similar we could be neighbours.

'Tis why I love blogging!!!

scrapn_momof2 said...

Beautiful card! Your daughter will love it. Great way to use your scrap stash!

Carol L said...

Well done, and I love your layered flower! The tag looks perfect, and I know your daughter will enjoy receiving this :)

DebiJ said...

I think what we do is fabulous Maureen. A few bits & bobs together on a card (or a LO) and a star is born. Love you work!
xx

coldwaters2 said...

Hi Maureen, this is gorgeous I love how you have used your bits and pieces to create this fab card I especially love that flower, the colours work so well together, super work.
hugs
lorraine x

Rebecca said...

Hi Scrappymo i love your creation its very creative! I hope you have had a nice weekend!

Love From Rebecca xx

Sue Althouse said...

I like your "goals" - I'm not big on resolutions, either - and I love your card!