Friday, May 10, 2013

Friends With Flair and a Farewell -- it's Friday!!

If you are looking for my first ever post with Get Inky! Stamps, please look here!

I usually LOVE Friday! It's the end of the work week AND it's Friends with Flair.  This Friday, however, is rather melancholy for me.  My favorite online scrapbooking retailer is closing their doors today.  But Cropchocolate.com is so much more than where I get most my scrappy supplies.  It's also where I hang out online with my scrappy friends.  Between FWF and CC, it's where my scrapbookin, creative friendships have formed.  I've been on the CC design team since July, 2012, but have been actively involved in the site since March, 2009.  My final project for them posted yesterday.  I was in the middle of my June project when I got the news that the store was closing.  I lost my mojo to finish the project, but wanted to share with you what I had done. Because it's all about unity.  And Unity.

The theme for June was going to be family.  After thinking about it for some time.  I decided to go with the idea of showcasing my Crop Chocolate family and the friendships I have made there.  My plan was to make cards for those on the design team that I have served with the whole year term.  I wanted to make cards for each of them that represented them or our friendship.  I worked on these cards for most of the afternoon one Saturday.  That evening, I found out the store was closing.  Here's what I completed for the team and the story behind them.

I'll start with Karen -- Karey2005 on CC.  She's also a FWF regular.  She and I are on 2 design teams together.  We click.  This was the first card I made.  She has a boat.  She knows the significance of a good strong anchor.  Yeah, she's my anchor.  I hope our friendship lasts for years to come.

This first card uses Unity's Itty Bitty, Anchored (WIB-453).  Karen has also "encouraged" my twine collection, sending some from her spools, so I used some of it on this card.  I love you, Karen.

And, speaking of twine, this second card is for Corrie.  Speaking of twine addictions, I mean collections.  No one has furthered my stash more than Corrie.  So, this card is for her:


Corrie has a sweetness about her that I will always treasure.  She knows how to cultivate friendships.  I thought this sentiment was perfect for her.  There's lots of twine wrapped around this card -- hopefully in a color or two she doesn't have, that I'll be sending her way.

The third card is for my friend, Miwa.  Miwa, I hope you are participating in FWF this week.  Miwa loves bugs.  I've never met her, but I've seen pictures of her and her girls.  I imagine Miwa looked quite like this as a girl -- running through meadows with a butterfly net, hoping to some day be an entomologist. A scrapbooking entomologist, of Course!


Miwa blames me for her addiction to Copic type markers, but I really don't think it's my fault.  But, just in case I influenced her, I used my Copics on this card for her.  It has bugs, of course -- several butterflies and a beetle.  It uses the Unity/Phyllis Harris stamp set, "let love fly".  And Miwa does.  She experiences life with passion.  I'm so glad I've gotten to know her.  There's also some 3 Girl Jam crinkle ribbon on this card from the new Royal bundle and it was cut out with my Silhouette.

This next card is for Kathy.  Kathy had some major problems with her eyes during the second design team term we served on together. It didn't stop her from getting her assignment done on time, but it did severely limit her time on the computer, and the time she could "chat" with her fellow DT members. She spent many, many hours in the office of various eye specialists. This card is for her:
 
 
 
Kathy has a heart of gold.  She will do anything for anyone.  I will always treasure our time together on the CC DT.  And, I'm quite sure we will stay in touch.  She's too sweet to lose contact with.
 
Michelle, By Belle -- as she's known on the Crop Chocolate site, makes one fantastic creation after the other.  She has a very distinctive style.  I always know her work even before I see her watermark. She is an inspiration to many of us on the CC site.  Butterflies are a common theme for her. She's also longing for a Silhouette.  So, this card is for her.
 
The Unity stamp set used on this card is a Donna Downey studio "Art & Possibility".
 
The final card I got done is for Chris, or Christina, as she's known on CC.  She also often joins FWF, so I hope she sees this card.  Chris and I have much in common, including our love of Goldens -- and aging Golden Retrievers at that.  I made this card for her and her elderly Golden.  I've seen pics of her dog and know she has a gray face, just like my old Molly.  So, I tried for a gray faced Golden for her card.
 
 
This card uses the very first Unity/Phyllis Harris stamp set I ever purchased, "First Love". It is still probably my favorite. And, I just love the little girl with red tennies.  I almost always color her that way.  There's also some 3 Girl Jam ribbon on this card using one of the new colors from the coffee bundle. I'm using this card for the Crafty Creations something old/something new challenge -- old stamp/new ribbon and paper.
 
And that's my friendship cards to share with you this week. But, before I go, I have two winners to announce from my blog candy give away. I hit over 200 followers this week, so I decided to have two winners.  One winner I already heard from -- my friend Christine -- Chris -- who's card you just saw.  The other winner was Jennifer Mitten.  Jennifer, please LMK your address so I can send your goodies to you!
 
Have a great week, and treasure your friendships!
 
I'm entering these cards in the following challenges:
 
Simon Says Stamps -- things with wings
Unity -- Friends with Flair
Crafty Creations Challenges -- something old something new
Really Reasonable Ribbon -- sparkle, bling, and ribbon
Ribbon Carousel -- Celebrations
Oozak- Anything goes with earthtones
Sister Act Card Challenge -- anything goes
Silhouette Challenges -- anything goes
Marker Pop -- May flowers
 




28 comments:

  1. ok--this is so sad! Today is going to be a sad day for many of us, Julie! The CC DT team will love those cards---they are truly awesome. Be prepared for tears from them, though!

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  2. Aww I am tearing up!Great cards and you certainly know your online friends well.
    That card is perfect!It even looks a little like my DD.
    I have loved being inspired by you and the rest of the gals.It has been an honor working with you!I think I might need to get that stamp too!

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  3. Ahh this has got me tearing up you guys are the best and it was awesome being on the team with you. Love that I have another twine addict in my circle of friends

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  4. Oh my goodness..... Your cards are so beautiful and so perfect for those ladies. Lovely.

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  5. Oh, my! I am tearing up again...today is a sad, sad day for all us CC peeps. But your cards are a bright spot shining thru. How well you captured each of your CCDT peeps...they are going to LOVE.your cards!!! I am truly blessed to call you "friend" and know we will keep in touch. **HUGS**

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  6. Julie, this is such a sweet & touching post! I loved seeing my card (of course!) and reading/hearing about everyone else's. It's been an honor and a pleasure to serve on CC's DT with you - I so admire your creative spirit and fuzzy friends! I look forward to seeing what exciting adventures you embark on in the future! :)

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  7. I love your tribute to the CC DT! How wonderful and each card suits the person you made it for (love the eye chart one for Kathy!).

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  8. Beautiful cards Julie. What a wonderful and sweet thing you have done. Thanks for linking up over at Silhouette Challenges

    Have a creative day.
    Nana
    ♥ My Crafting Channel ♥
    ♥ 2 Creative Chicks ♥
    ♥ Silhouette Challenges ♥

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  9. Julie: these cards are so beautiful and it was really nice of you to tailor them to the personalities of the recipients.

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  10. Great projects all of them!!
    Thank you for joining my DL.ART Thankful Thursday Anything Goes May Linky Party
    DIANA L.
    http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com

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  11. AWESOME cards!!!! Very cute! Thanks for playing along with Silhouette Challenges!!

    Steph
    scrappyrae10.blogspot.com

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  12. Awesome cards Julie. It is very sad, I really hope that we can get to know each other better, being on the design team has been such a meaningful experience for me, I was hoping to serve a second term.

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  13. Fabulous & Fun projects!!Awesome job!!
    Thanks for linking up over at Silhouette Challenges
    Have a wonderful day,
    Migdalia
    ♥ Crafting With Creative M ♥
    ♥ 2 Creative Chicks ♥
    ♥ Silhouette Challenges ♥



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  14. Thanks for joining us for the May challenge at Oozak! What a touching post, Julie. So sorry that things are so sad - hope they will look up soon! Your cards are all so much fun! Thanks for sharing them :)

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  15. OMG....I'd been doing pretty well at holding back my tears....until right this moment. You, dear Julie, are one of the kindest, sweetest women I know. Our friendship now and always will transcend CC. This post gave me goose bumps....and made me so happy inside that I had to read each word three times. I love you, dear girl....

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  16. Julie what a beautiful testament to the friendships you have forged through your DT work. Thank you for a glimpse into those you have shared with through your creations for them. Beautiful beautiful work.

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  17. How bittersweet this post is. It is a testament to great friendships made over at Crop Chocolate and it proves that these friendships transcend the miles and kilobytes of "internet" connections. You have grown so much as a crafter, Julie. I am so proud of you! Let's keep our friendship going, both over at CC and Unity as well as wherever else we may find ourselves. I have been following you around to some of the other challenge sites already :)

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  18. Lots of great creations! Thanks for sharing at Sister Act Card Challenge.

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  19. How sweet Friendships are especially those with whom you have connected with creative inspiration. You are a treasure to many!

    These cards are beautiful and full of love .....

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  20. Very nice card!! Thank you so much for playing along with Silhouette Challenges!! We hope you join us again. Good luck!
    Alice B.
    Silhouette Challenges Design Team member

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  21. I'm so sorry to hear that your favorite place has closed down but the projects you've created are stunning! Thanks so much for joining us at the RRR Challenge this time and best of luck!
    Hugs,
    Tammy Louise

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  22. Julie, I didn't realize there was a prize here! I was looking for your email address but don't see it - I am at jenmitten@gmail.com.

    Thanks! I absolutely love seeing your creations every week!!

    Jennifer Mitten

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  23. All of your cards are wonderful!! So pretty!!

    Thank you very much for joining us this week at the Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog!

    hugs...
    Melissa

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  24. How very sweeeeet and dear-ing! A wonderful card! I saw your card for the Marker's Pop Challenge #22

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  25. I am so sorry to hear of your beloved store closing, Julie. Such a sad feeling, but rejoice in all of the wonderful friendships that you made. Those will always be around :) Your cards are all fabulous!!! I can't even pick a favorite because I love them all :)

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  26. Fabulous card! I am sorry to hear this. Your projects are amazing, and you must think of all the great times you had! Thanks for playing the Oozak challenge!

    -Samantha

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  27. I love every single one of these cards! So thoughtful of you. :) Thanks for linking up with us over at Silhouette Challenges!

    Amber - DT Member

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