Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Under the Weather & a short story

Social media can be a blessing at times. We can keep up with one another, share our lives, and find long-lost friends!!! Such is the case of Janet S. and me ♥

Janet and I had fathers in the US Army. Our dads retired in the great Pacific Northwest, hers in DuPont and our dad in Steilacoom, both near native American lands, the Pacific Ocean in Puget Sound and many land resources. It was filled with thick, tall pine trees, wild rhododendrons and azaleas everywhere you looked, as well as endless ferns and beauty bark paths through rain forest country and majestic mountains of the Cascade Range. Mt. Rainier was our constant companion, especially when the sun was out (every 10 months or so).

We were both cheerleaders all through junior high. This was in the day when our moms sewed our outfits, we just had to pick out matching socks and make the biggest, roundest pom poms we could. In high school she joined the tennis team and I had two knee surgeries, having done the long jump in track and both knees bent backwards. Yes, it hurt. Yes, they got stuck. She kept having fun while I ended up in a long leg cast for much of my sophomore year. All my physical activity stopped. I ended up in guitar and choir, both sitting down and fun. But Janet and I went our separate ways. She is now a microbiologist for the government and I went into nursing after a few years working for attorneys. ANYWAY....

Janet recently had to have knee surgery herself. I'm sure that 33 years later they have improved their surgical technique and she should hopefully mend up thoroughly and quickly. Me, not so much. But her son just moved to Maui and Janet is thinking of moving to either Big Island or Oregon (she's an east coast girl) to be closer to her family. This card is for my old buddy, newly found, Janet.

The stamp set is by Rupa Shevde for Gina K. Designs. I took GREAT liberty adding to the background, including the wallpaper, crutch, and picture of cheese on the wall because I imagine mice like to look at cheese. I even drew a cast on the leg and gave the mouse long eyelashes. This is watercolored with love. The envelope art and inside card is all Prismacolor Pencils, no gamsol, just thin pencil lines. I love this stamp set and it's a joy to get it inked up! Janet --- Get Well Soon! We need a cure for Zika and Dengue asap!

Entered into StampTV challenge this week with Silke Ledlow -- a SKETCH (I'm not a sketchy type person, but I tried on this one) Click here to see Challenge!

Stamp Set: "Under the Weather" GKD; Clear Stamps Floral Vine background stamp (on white base with VersaMark and clear embossing powder)
Cardstock: GKD 120# white; SU pirouette pink; thick vellum (sentiment)
Stratford Cold Press watercolor paper
Ink: Memento London Gray for images, VersaFine Black (and clear embossing powder for sentiment)
Spellbinder Large Circle die; Corner Rounder; small heart dies from MFT
Koi Watercolors; Prismacolor Pencils
Memento Markers (for the wall paper flowers)
Signo White Gel Pen (all the polka dots on the bedspread and stripes on the pillow case)
Martha Stewart dark green glitter on double stick tape for the stripes and hearts
Diamond Stickles as embellies on the pink half circle
3D Crystal Lacquer on the embellies, cheese painting and nail, the crutch and mouse nose






Prismacolor Puppy and Tomato Soup front of Envelope



Inside the card, color pencils squirrel 



Thank you for stopping by!
I am grateful for every single person in my life ♥
With aloha!!!







11 comments:

  1. Oh how wonderful for you to have your gal pal move closer, hope so! LOVE your sweet wonderful personalized card....you do nothing, shall I say, half assed, you're always ALL in! Love hearing about your youth and friendship....your writing is very picturesque! xo~

    ReplyDelete
  2. Glad you found your friend. You two can commiserate together with your orthopedic issues. Your card is lovely and colored beautifully. I can see the sketch in your card, so you did great with it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a cute card. I loved all the detail and love you put into it for your friend. It's always fun to hear the story behind a card, so thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Awe - loved hearing something personal from your past. Janet is going to love this....especially since it came from you, and you took such great care to make it so special just for her. You are such a sweet and loyal friend!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a cute and wonderful card. I am glad you reunited with your friend and I know see will love the card too.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is adorable! How nice to be reunited with Janet!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your cards are beautiful and it is wonderful that you have reunited with a high school friend

    Blessings,
    Kathleen

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wonderful story about a lost friend. I so enjoyed it, and the card that you made for her, will bring tears of joy to her eyes.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Cute, cute, cute!!! How wonderful for you and your friend to reunite, she will love the card.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Absolutely love it Rosy. Made me smile. hugs

    ReplyDelete

Your kind comments really encourage me a TON! Mahalo nui loa!