Gosh it's great to see you here! And look how wonderful you look! I hope this Thanksgiving Eve finds you well and surrounded by friends and family. And because it is the eve of Thanksgiving, at the end of this post, I'm going to list the top 10 things that I'm thankful for. OK, on with the post!
This is a pet sympathy card I did for the medical office manager at my doctor's office. When I was there last, she told me that she had lost her beautiful dog to cancer. I wanted to make her a special card. I kept it simple and somewhat sombre. To make it special, I added the little silver paw charm on the ribbon. I was given this charm by my very sweet friend, America, who used to be my team member when I was with House Mouse.
The next two cards are Christmas cards. One has a little surprise! Take a look:
I made the three trees simply cutting out triangles in 3 different sizes then adding DP in the center. I colored the back part of the trees with distress ink. The SURPRISE on this one is the "sky". Can you guess what it is????? It is a sheet of paper towel! LOL When I bought this brand (Sparkle) every time I would look at it, it reminded me of a quilted wintry sky. And I kept that idea in the back of my mind until it was time to use it. I tore the "hills" and glittered the edges for some sparkle, then drew the star, cut it out, and covered it in gold Stickles. I really like how the "sky" turned out. For once this is what I had visioned in my head.
The background script is by Stampabilities, and what I love about it is that it goes horizontally instead of vertically as most word stamps go. I stamped it on white card stock then changed the color by using Old Paper distress ink all over it. I did the same on the face of the base card as well. It was originally white. I stamped the tree on white as well then colored the paper too. Added the red ornaments using Stickles. I also just tore all around both the red and the worded paper to give it a very distressed look. Added the photo corners colored with the same distress ink I used for the tree (forest moss). Added the greeting and done.
I saved this next card for last because it is a Thanksgiving card which ties into my list of things I am thankful for. Here is the card:
I made the background paper! I used a tiny set of leaves by Hero Arts combined with two peg stamps (curly vine and pumpkin) by Tapistry stamps. I used 6 different colors of distress inks and randomly stamped the pattern. I colored the turkey with Sharpies. I hate that I don't know what stamp set this is. I bought it two years ago and didn't label it as I do now with the stamp sets I buy. But I really love this turkey. The sentiment is also part of the set. I actually "mass produced" this card and sent it out to friends and family and some neighbors. It was really quick and easy to make once I got the production line down.
OK, here is my list of the top 10 things I am thankful for (although I have many more):
1. I am thankful for my family. Even though there are just a few of us, we are close and I'm grateful for that.
2. I am thankful for the men and women in the armed forces that are sacrificing so much so that I am free. I can't thank them enough for their sacrifice and their families' sacrifice, and I think of them and pray for them everyday.
3. I'm thankful that I have a roof over my head and live in a safe community. I will think of those less fortunate who are homeless and hungry today and keep them in my thoughts and prayers.
4. I am thakful for my beautiful dogs, Shotsy and Gunther. They are what keep me grounded and have taught me so much about unconditional love and loyalty. I will always be grateful for their lessons.
5. I am thankful that I live in the best country in the world. Though we have our problems, there is nowhere else on earth I would rather be.
6. I am thankful for my relative good health. Although I have some problems, they are far less than some people who suffer horribly every day. I keep them in my thoughts and prayers too.
7. I am thankful for my 24 year relationship. Even though it is difficult sometimes taking care of Jay, we have had a great run so far. I know that there are lonely people who have no one, and I keep them in my thoughts and prayers too.
8. I am thankful for my creative side and that I have an outlet for it. It has given me an escape from the day to day struggles and helps me put things into perspective.
9. I am thankful for the every day necessities that we sometimes take for granted. Food, clothing, warmth in the winter, cool in the summer, a craft room of my own, etc. I always try to remind myself that these every day things are something that some people would consider a luxury. How fortunate I am.
10. And finally, I'm very thankful for you, my blogging friends. Without you, what would this blogging thing be worth? You don't know how you all make my day when you leave comments to brighten my mood and bring smiles to my face. You have all been so kind and have truly become an important part of my life. I love you guys!
OK, last but not least, is the "Pic of the Week". I took this photo this week. The boys and I were sitting and resting after our walk on some steps leading down to the White River. It was a grey dreary day, and as I looked down I saw this really stunning (at least to me) reflection of the trees linking the riverbank:
Again, thanks so much for stopping by and looking at my "stuff". I hope all of you who celebrate Thanksgiving here in the US have a wonderful holiday tomorrow. And to all my other blogging buddies all over the world, I hope you have a great weekend!
Best,
Curt O'Brien
"God, please help me be the person that my dogs think I am."
40 comments:
First I love all 4 of your cards and the shabby one is fabulous even though not your usual style.The pet one is sweet and I hate to hear of needing one. The paper towel sky is brilliant as are the simple but very effective trees. That is my favorite. I loved your thankful list and just wanted to wish you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving. And thanks for sharing yourself on your blog. I have so enjoyed getting to know you a bit even though I am usually a quiet follower. :-) Hugs, Judi
Curt, you never cease to surprise me with your "repurposing"... a paper towel! That's just wild and so very cool! :) That turkey stamp and the card that houses him is wonderful - great background stamping, friend! Wishing you and yours a very safe, healthy, blessed Thanksgiving! :)
Great cards this week Curt...you again are stamping up a storm. Wish I could find time and the inspiration...I need a kick in the behind! Keep em coming!
I love the pictures of your dogs and your picture today of the trees in the water is awesome! You have so much talent, thank you for sharing it with us.
I really enjoy your cards and always look forward to new postings. I loved the use of the paper towel... when I first glanced at it I wondered which embossing folder you had used! :-)
Thank you for so eleoquently expressing all the things you are thankful for. Being grateful is so important to having a good life and often can turn a bad time in your life to a good one if one does the inventory.
Happy Thanksgiving...
Peggy in Mentone, CA
gorgeous cards Curt and you are so thoughtful to send the lady a sympathy card, I am sure she really appreciated that !!
fab idea to use a kitchen roll too ,,,lateral thinking !! I love it :-)
Wishing you a happy thanksgiving and hope you have a lovely celebration with Jay and your family and friends :-)
luv
Lols x x x
Hi ya Curt
fabulous cards as always, very clever idea to use the paper towel, looks fab, luv the scrpit stamp i have one but as you say its upright.
Stunning piccie of the tress just up my street.
We don't do thanks giving but im thank full for what i have, always been happy with me lot, always someone worse of eh. take care, hugs, sue,x
The paper towel technique is amazing you clever thing you. Happy Thanksgiving to all in the USA. Thanks for the comments on my blog I hope you saw the painting of my sadly departed Schnauzer Daisy she was 15.
All lovely cards, Curt! Please see my blog for my excuse!! Hugs Nilla
Curt-Run, skip, whatever it takes and enter that tree photo into some contest. Are you a member of Costco? If so, they have a member photo contest every year. It comes up after the first of the year, I think. There are all sorts of places to enter, and if you don't win something, I am gonna stab somebody! It is truly stunnning.
NOw I am thankful that I won't be eating a turkey. I am vegetarian but this year, I am trying completely vegan. We usually go to my daughter's for dinner but since she got married, she has reverted to eating and cooking stuff her hubby likes. (It was really hard last year, as I ate my dandelions with garlic and they ate BABE!). So I am cooking for me and my hubby and if he doesn't like it, he knows where Wendy's is!
Have a warm and loving day. And skritch those doggy ears for me. My Marley and Jackson send a high paw!!
Happy Thanksgiving, Curt! I loved reading your post! Your 4 cards are fantastic! I love the little added dog charm, the paper towel sky, the leaf and pumpkin background and the vintage look! I love everything that you are thankful for which covers a lot of mine! Thanks for stopping by my blog the other day and leaving those sweet comments! I am thankful to have you for a blogging buddy!
WOW Curt,loving those cards all so unique and imaginative as always my friend.Great idea with the paper towel,it really works.Pic of the week is awesome i love it.Your 10,thankful things brought tears to my eyes and made me think.Hugs to all,and a Huge cuddle for the big furry boys.xx
Happy Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving, my American friend!
Looks like you have been busy creating some great designs. Your style is so clean and uncluttered ... easy on the eyes!
Your thankful list is one that everyone should stand up and take notice of. Very poignant. That's what makes you so special.
As always enjoyed my visit tonight . You certainly did share a beautiful selection of cards , all inspirational . Loved your photo of trees ....LOVE TREES.
Happy Thanksgiving to you
Curt, you are a treasure!! I am so happy I found your blog one day and have checked on you all the time. Your 10 Thankfuls are wonderfule & should remind all of us of the many things that are right in this world and our own. My grandson should be home from deployment at Christmas. We have been lucky enough for him to be home last year and this one. We don't always know exactly where he is all the time, but we can make educated guesses. So to all of your bloggers who have family & friends in the service may you all have a great Turkey Day and be blessed. For those of you who may have lost a loved one we are so very sorry, but are very appreciative of the many sacrifices you all may have endured and the service to our country of your loved one. Amen.
And last, but certainly not least thank you Curt for sharing your lovely and inventive cards with us today. HUGS to All!!
Curt
I am thankful for so many of the things you listed but I am also thankful I found your site. You really did a great job on all the cards and (again) you have inspired me to get off my duff and get busy.Your pic of the week is stunning.
Paper towel indeed, who woulda thunk it? :)Love it!!
Myrna
A Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving my friend.
I am so thankful to be included in your list of friends-I thank you for the beautiful card.Sorry I was behind this year for Thanksgiving and didn't mail but a few cards.
I always enjoy your posta and creations because you always put your heart in all you do.
Enjoy all those lovely cards but especially the "vintage" one because it is my style LOL
Hugz to all of you
You've outdone yourself with these cards. I have been so busy lately knitting for a charitable organization that I haven't done my cards lately...sigh.
Although they are all gorgeous, I've gotta say the vintage Christmas is my fave! That is so my style and you have rocked it! I'm really eyeballing that script stamp! Anyway, your blog is one of my favorites and I love it when I get my email Wednesday Evening Post. It's so nice that you have listed all you are thankful for. Sometimes we forget to do that! Have a great Thanksgiving Day.
Happy Thanksgiving..
What a wonderful idea and wonderful sympathy card for animal lovers.
Love those Christmas trees and wonderful idea for paper towels, I just love the design in this paper towel :). This is gorgeous all in white.
Always look forward to read your post and love your pic of the week.
Blessings :)
Curt,
What a wonderful list!
Beautiful cards too! Love he "surprise" on the winter card. Looks just like the winter sky.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
How clever was the use of the paper towel...love it. Your photo is totally beautiful. Happy Thanksgiving. Pat
Hi Curt!
I love all the cards and the paper towel is such an offbeat but perfect medium! The tree photo is gorgeous an I agree with you about the monochromatic-ness. Very cool.
Robin
Oh Curt! Your blog today was wonderful - just gave the warm fuzzies to my ole heart. Read through your post, sat back, and just gave a very contented sigh - to have someone so talented and with such a kind and loving heart in our lives is something we all can be thankful for. Your cards are over the top fantastic and your top 10 reasons to be thankful speaks to us all. May you, Jay, and the boys have a delightful Thanksgiving. Thank you, my friend, for being YOU. Hugs and blessings
Happy Thanksgiving, Curt! I hope you are having a wonderful day!
Your cards look wonderful!
Hugs and smiles
Happy Thanksgiving, Curt!
Your sympathy card is so sweet. I adore the little charm. How fun to use paper towel. Is there no end to your creativity?!?!? Gorgeous vintage card. That isn't my typical style either, but I went with it too. Fun Thanksgiving card. Love your background.
A very Happy Thanksgiving to you! All four of your cards are wonderful. The sympathy card is perfect with the little paw charm. I LOVE the Christmas Card using the paper towel for the sky! How clever and it looks way cool! I like vintage cards and this one is beautiful. How cute your TG card is too! All of your 'thankful' comments are right on and I'm happy I have found your blog. Have a wonderful weekend ahead!
Hey Curt!
Great cards as usual!
Paper towel, whoodda thunk it!
I'm behind of course, so hope you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Your pic of the week is awesome!
Amazing cards again!! Such a clever idea with the paper towel!
I really enjoyed reading your 10 item thankful list. I am very thankful for many of those things too!
Your pic of the week is great! Such a neat shot!
Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving yesterday!
Hugs!
-Stacie
GREAT BLOG.....I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT I HAVE A GREAT SON WHO IS ALSO VERY TALENTED. THE "PIC PF THE WEEK" IS BEAUTIFUL, REMINDS ME OF INK SKETCHING. LOVE YA, MOM
Hi Curt! Great post today - what a gift to me! I love your cards, they are just amazing and creative and inspiring (as always!). I, like others, was thinking "man, I want that embossing folder" then you explain that it's paper towel! WHAT GENIUS! The photo is amazing - and I love that I will see amazing photos when I visit here.
Your thankful list is such a good example. I am visiting with my DD and her BF and we plan to work on our thankful lists today after brunch. It's usually our New Year's Day plan - but we both find that we don't do it when we're not together so we decided to do it today (while I'm still in Boston).
I hope your arm is healing up nicely -
Hugs!
I just stumbled on your blog, and I'm so glad I did! I linked over from SCS. I enjoyed perusing your wonderful gallery over there and the beautiful photos that you've posted here. Loved reading your Thanksgiving grateful list, too. Thanks for sharing all of these things! I just moved up to IN from FL. I'm glad the wooly worm you found (or wooly bear caterpillar, as I call them) predicts a "cute" winter, because this transplanted Southerner is nervous about what's to come:)Kathy
Hi Curt! Your cards are fantastic! The vintage card is gorgeous and I love that script stamp! I enjoyed reading the things that you are thankful for! What a wonderful post!
Hugs, Tammy
Curt, you have the most amazing posts! Your cards today are all wonderful.. from the simple but poignant pet sympathy card with that sweet little charm, to the wonderful Christmas cards (love the paper towel) and the darling Thanksgiving card with the beautiful hand stamped background.
Loved reading your list of thanks. We truly are blessed to live in this incredible nation where we enjoy so much freedom.
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Blessings to you.
Whew....I finally made it here! It has been a whirlwind week! Your cards, once again, amaze me! My DH was laughing at me today, as we had to make a quick run into Borders, and I was checking out things in the kiosk's for their packaging! So diggin' the paper towel pattern! I usually buy the plain VIVA, but no more! I'm lookin' for the fun stuff, mister! Thanks for the inspiration! I am so excited about the pet loss card. I've been wracking my brain for an idea for one that is not cutesy. Most pet stamps and sentiments are cutesy. You saved my life, dear friend! Your vintage card turned out beautifully, and you know how much I love the Thanksgiving card!!!!! It is truly gorgeous! Thanks for your Thankful list, as well. By the time I got to #3, I was doing my usual sentimental blubbering! You rock, my friend. Love that picture of the week too! Can't wait for Guenther and Shotsy to get all dolled up for Christmas! Have a great week - cya Wednesday if not before!
Oh Curt,
I love all your creations and especially your Thanksgiving card because I was one of the very lucky friends to receive one. It is spectacular irl!
I'm thankful I have you to lean on for Zorro, he had 2 seizures yesterday, but at least it wasn't the usual multiple cluster.
Hugs,
Gina
All of these cards are fantastic, each one different from the other and very creative! I can tell from your list of what you're grateful for that you are a "glass is half full" type of person which I think is wonderful. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
PS I love the reflective picture of the trees in the water, it does remind me of the SU stamp set Lovely as a Tree.
Love the entire post...everything was so well said...the cards are beautiful too, and once again you amaze me with your talent...paper towels...who would of thought!! Pic of the week is great, too!
Eeek! So cool....a paper towel! I love it, I'll have to scope that brand out just so I can make a card with it! LOL! All your ideas and creations are wonderful Curt! HUGS!
Pic of the Week makes our daily window view look stunning, Curt. This photo gives reflection a positive twist! Nice display.
I'm so glad you have ten plus many many more thankful reasons for being the creative person that you are, Curt. How fun it is to stop by, browse, and learn from your willing exploration in this creative world of papercrafting! Contact Sparkle with your site idea and press them for management from your nook supplying case loads of doable projects with purpose to expand their product usage line!!! You go, Curt! We blog buddies will be using their product for sheetloads of grand designs. I see this project going to the local Youth Center for Faith and Family night activities...if we may case so boldly from your super envisioning! Thank you, Curt, so very much. Good looking, lower cost, at hand, casual supplies make this Youth Center outreach to kids 'having nothing positive to do' possible. Nursing home, hospital, two low income housing units, and a senior citizen center will benefit from your Sparkle application as the youth make things of joyful reminder He Is The Reason For The Season. Yeah!
Keep Looking UP!
mt23stamperatyahoo
Curt, Curt, Curt, I just love you!!! You are so amazing! Honestly, I love all your cards but the one with the paper towel is awesome. After you mentioned what it was and I went back to look at it again, I realized it is a paper towel -- I have the same ones in my kitchen!!! LOL! I never would have noticed that!!! How crafty you are and what an eye you have to have seen that!!! I am truly impressed!!!
Now I'll be checking out every darn piece of paper coming in my door to see what I can use it for! LOL!
aww Curt, I love that Doggie Sympathy card. how sweet of you!! And what a great CHARM touch. :) You know I love it! So glad to see you using those! That wintery Tree card is fabulously creative! The one with text as a BG is beautiful too. The turkey on eis way CUTE!! i think I may have that stamp. i have so many that I cant remember all that I have (that should not be allowed!!)... heheh. Your cards are so beautiful, each with fun details and your awesome coloring!!!!! You had so much to be thankful for. You are every Blessed my friend. :)
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