That's What Friends are For

My youngest son Simon finishes primary school in our local village today.  We have decided to put him into a specialised school for children with special needs.  Initially it was to be a partial integration but he loved his week long observation, so he will be attending full time when school commences in September.

I was more than a little sad as I was preparing these cards yesterday for his class mates, many of whom he has spent the last seven years with.  I can never thank them enough for the assistance they have given Simon during this time, for always watching out for him and including him in their games even though he isn't the ablest of players, but mostly for their friendship, for seeing the person behind the handicap(s).  

My friend Jaine of Basement Studio was having a sale on paper sets so I picked up this I Love Sunshine set from Echo Park for a steal.  Some women love shoes, but I love pretty papers.  I find it difficult to use them mind, but with 14 cards to make in one day (plus a few others for teachers etc.) patterned papers can make a simple design effective and quick so I dove right into this pack!   I knew it would work very well with the Partly Cloudy die set and Rise Above Stamp set which came in my most recent Verve order.  This sentiment made me think of the Dionne Warwick song That's What Friends are For - Keep smiling, keep shining … so it seemed appropriate on more than one level.

 I was inspired by Mojo Monday 456 which had this cool sketch - I saw a sun in that circle.

The trouble with sketches is I think I remember all the elements but when I finish my card(s) I take another look and realise I have something backwards or something omitted.  Last week I had the banner the wrong way around, this week I have the panel tilted in the wrong direction.

Here's a few more using various papers in the set.  I used Ranger Enamel Accents for the enamel dots - I wish this came in a range of colours - I'd buy them all as they are so convenient !!!

In the end I changed the sketch so I could use up all the little left over strips of paper, this gave me a way to minimise the pink (for the boys) without them becoming too bland.

Inside is a little poem I wrote to thank them (one of my older sons helped me translate it into Luxembourgish) and a photo of Simon.

Time Out Challenge #61 has the following text as inspiration so I'll be entering there as well

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine"

Anthony J. D'Angelo

Thanks for stopping by, especially if you take the time to leave some feedback,

Kate

A Grand Piano

I have my last solfège lesson for the year tonight and I made this card for my teacher.  Solfège is music theory - in Europe the theory and the instrument are taught separately.  I learnt musical theory alongside the piano, guitar and violin when I was young but if I wanted to continue with the saxophone here, I was told I would have to study solfège.  I started reluctantly 3 years ago but I have to say I love it, so much so that I am considering an Open University degree.  

I cut three of this Die-namics Grand Piano to make the shape a bit more solid and then double embossed it with black embossing powder, then a sprinkling of gold embossing powder and finally a few coats of UTEE.

Here's the inside

I'm entering my card at Mojo Monday #455 (hey it's competition week and I love Verve stamps)

and  Shopping Our Stash Challenge #259 Shopping Our Stash Challenge #259 "Say What" - to use a speech bubble - the circle in the upper left corner put me in mind of a speech bubble,

and my favourite type of challenge at Addicted to Stamps 

Thanks for stopping by, especially if you take the time to leave some feedback,

Kate

Stained Glass

One of the members of my church choir is leaving Luxembourg soon and this card is to thank him and wish him well.

I coloured an acetate panel (upcycled packaging) with alcohol inks to give a stained glass effect behind the Gothic arched window.  The musical script stamped background is still clearly visible.

I can't say it's the best card I've ever made - my mojo seems to be having the weekend off.  I don't think the piano border really works with the gothic arch, but as Ciaran has helped out when our pianist has been away I wanted to include a piano in the design. 

Simons Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge has an Anything Goes challenge this week, so I'm entering my card over there.

Thanks for stopping by, especially if you take the time to leave a comment.  I really appreciate your feedback, and I'd love to return the compliment,
Kate



Stamps : De Stempelwinkel Musical Background
Dies : Memory Box Piano Border, Memory Box Musical Motifs, Spellbinders D-Lites Windows Three, Frantic Stamper Village Sky (the little stars), WMS Stitched Rectangles