More Cards to Share

In May, Canadian Scrapbooker hosted a Card-a-Ganza in which the design team showcased sixteen companies by creating a variety of Mother's Day cards.

This was a difficult assignment for me.  Truth be told, I procrastinated a bit because it was my first Mother's Day for which I did not have a mom to honour - my mom passed in 2004 and my mother in law, this past August.

I finally did get a couple of cards done but then of course packaged them up to send to the magazine and completely forgot to snap photos first (again)!  I've had them back for a few weeks but am finally getting a chance to blog and share them.

Here's my first card:

Supplies:  Bazzill Basics cardstock; Magenta patterned paper; myStamp BOX stamps (Straightforward); Tim Holtz Distress ink; Spellbinders Shapeabilities dies (Foliage); My Favourite Things Die-namics dies (Mini Rolled Roses); Ranger Color Wash; Glue Dots; The Twinery twine; doily from stash.

The other one I completed was a tri-fold card that I have seen some friends make.  It looked so interesting that I thought I'd try it!  You can find tons of tutorials on the web - just Google "tri fold card".  Here's my version, using the Colour Me Softly line from Magenta:

Supplies used:  Bazzill Basics cardstock; Magenta patterned paper; Spellbinders Nestabilities (Standard Circles - Large) and Shapeabilities dies (Foliage); My Favourite Things Die-namics dies (Loopy Bloom, Mini Rolled Roses); Marvy Uchida scalloped punch; Glue Dots; Making Memories rhinestone brads.

Using my printer, I printed the sentiment, "Happy Mother's Day to someone who is like a Mother to me" onto white cardstock, making it more suitable for those who are missing their moms on Mother's Day.  This is what the tri-fold looks like when opened:

Happy Belated Mother's Day to all of the moms and pseudo-moms out there!  Be sure to check out my CS teammates' and guest designers' cards, too, for inspiration:  Christy (here and here), Jayme (here and here), Jennifer, Connie (here, here and here), Kelly (here, here and here), Cari, Jackie (here and here), Kim and Katharina.

The Gift

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Yesterday morning, I was awakened by the sweetest little voice, whispering in my ear, "Happy Mother's Day, Mama - I love you"...

I drifted back to sleep and woke up around 9:30am, heading into the kitchen to see why it was so quiet... The kids popped out of their hiding spots to shriek, "Happy Mother's Day!!" and to lead me to the table laden with gifts and cards.

The kids both created a scrapbook page for me - I will definitely have to photograph them later, to share!  I also received a beautiful keychain and bookmark from Aili, and a card from Connor with a letter inside that brought a tear to my eye.

From inside a little bag on the table peeked a new pair of slippers (the only thing I asked for!), but there was more!

A little box, wrapped in shiny silver paper and a satin bow.  And what was inside that box, you ask?

A lovely new charm for my Pandora bracelet!!  Isn't it beautifully displayed?  It's a bucket of flowers with a  little gold tag that says "Love"...  so cute!

We had a lazy day, too, just hanging out and went to Kelsey for dinner.  I even turned into bed early!!

Well, early for me! :D

Happy Mother's Day

Since my mom's passing, this day has always been rough on me.  It's a day of appreciation for your mother - the woman who bore you, raised you, made you into the person you are today (for the most part). 

My mom was a huge influence in our lives, growing up.  I can see bits and pieces of her in my sisters and I:  the way my eldest sister can never sit still and always has to have something on the go; the gentle quietness that she passed down to my middle sister; her sense of adventure, tempered with sensibility that I inherited (okay, maybe not the sensible part, so much...)

I think, as with all things, we sometimes take things for granted and never truly appreciate them until they are gone from our lives.  It makes me so very sad to think of my children's future, bereft of their loving, kind and generous maternal grandmother.  That my daughter will never know her Nonna (grandmother in Italian) is simply heartbreaking.

So, on this Mother's Day, I wish you the happiest of Mother's Days.  And while you should delight in your role of Mom (if applicable), also take the time to reflect and be thankful for your mother.  Call her and tell her you love her, appreciate her and am so very grateful for her.  Because one day, you may not have the chance.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom - I love you.

Gina Puglia

1930 - 2004