Sunday, May 11, 2008

A Camping We Will Go--and a Gift Tin

Hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day!

Here is a quick account of my Mother's Day "surprise!"

My husband thought it would be wonderful to take the kids camping overnight---thinking it would get them out of my hair and give me a peaceful day at home by myself. (mistake #1) I, however, felt a bit sad at the thought of being all alone on Mother's Day so I decided I would go too (mistake #2). I don't camp--I love to hike and be outdoors but I don't like bugs and I prefer a nice clean shower and bedroom to sleep. But I really wanted us all to be together. How bad could it be?

So, we spent about 2.5 hours getting ready--packing everyone up, purchasing firewood, ingredients for s'mores, batteries for flashlights, etc. After we were on the road, we discovered our DVD player wasn't working. (Since it was a two hour trip to the campsite--this was not good!) Then, I decided it was a good idea to color some stamped images in the car (mistake #3)...didn't feel well for more than half of the trip. While we were driving, we watched the outside temperature gauge rise to 103 degrees (oopsie!)--not ideal camping weather but at least it wasn't raining! (mistake #4)

We finally arrived at Enchanted Rock (which is GORGEOUS if you live in Texas and are looking for a fantastic place to hike/camp!) We set up our campground and realized that during the whole rush to get packed our son, Ben, had taken off his sneakers and socks and replaced them with flip flops....eekkk!!! (mistake #5)
We spent the next two hours hiking the amazing mountains there and then returned to cook hot dogs and s'mores. After it got dark we attempted to go to sleep. My oldest daughter fell right asleep (she had a softball game earlier that day and was up late the previous night so nothing bothered her!) My littlest two were hopping and jumping all over the place and could not settle in. My husband was hot and couldn't sleep anyway.

Finally....at about 11 p.m. we decided to cut our losses and pack it up. We loaded up the car and went home. The kids all fell asleep immediately as we left the campground site....and we had a peaceful 2 hour drive home! (good idea # 1)

Next time, I am going to let my husband go with my son! The girls will stay home!

******
Here is a cute little gift tin I created yesterday before the trip. I used the fun hinged window tins from Gina K's site and her Baskets of Happiness set that I love so much to create the belly band for the tin.

I used my Nestability dies to frame the image and create the belly band focal point. I traced the paper to fit the bottom of the tin and the top of the lid. I stamped the "Thanks" sentiment from the Spring Blooms set all around the lid. I adhered the chocolate grosgrain ribbon around the edge of the lid using Scor- Tape (Scor-Pal).


Materials used: Stamps: Baskets of Happiness, Spring Blooms (Gina K Designs); hinged tin (Gina K Designs); ink-black, choc chip (Stampin' Up!); cardstock-white, chocolate chip (SU!); designer paper (My Mind's Eye); Prismacolor Pencils; Copic markers; Cuttlebug (Provocraft) and Nestability dies (Spellbinders); hemp (SU!); silver eyelets (SU!); Scor-Tape (Scor-Pal); Cropadile; Sakura stardust gellyroll pen; Dimensionals (SU!); silver tag (Hallmark).

Hope you created some wonderful (or at least "funny-when-you-look-back-at-them") memories this Mother's Day!
Thanks for stopping by!

23 comments:

Lee said...

Oh Cammie.........that reminded me of many camping trips early on in our marriage with little ones!!! I got smart a few years ago and refused to camp unless we got an RV........so now we "camp" in style!!! LOL And hubby and kids go hiking.....I bring stamping stuff!!!

The tin is just beautiful!!! I've got one and haven't decided what to do with it yet.......I love your design!!!

Have a Happy Restofyour Mother's Day!!!!

Anonymous said...

You really are good at telling funny stories! I was crackin' up laughing as you numbered your mistakes! LOL You have a natural knack for writing comedy material. Thanks for giving me a real laugh today :) Camping stories are always the funniest ones anyway and yours was no exception.
I love the tin, love the story and I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't have "normal" mother's days! LOL

Rita said...

I have to give you lots of credit for trying the camping thing! I know I would never even attempt it! I love your idea for next year though! But you were all together as you wanted.

This tin is really beautiful! I luv the scalloped layers & the hemp cording!

Alli Miles said...

Ummm ya...I haven't gone camping with the kids yet! *lol* Your story had me in stitches. Sorry you had to come home ...but since it really was for the better...I am glad. Beautiful tin!!!

Donna Baker said...

lol - adventures in camping, your kids are all cute! I think the best thing learned is that it's good to be together even if things don't turn out as planned. I still need to see Enchanted Rock!

carole (TruCarMa) said...

SUCH a cute story and a super-sweet tin! Happy Mother's Day, friend!

Deborah Anton said...

Now see??!! This is why the movie RV is perfect for me.. uh.. US!! LOL!!! I prefer my bed too...

The tin is darling!! In the midst myself in making a tin for dear mil....

Jennifer Buck said...

What a beautiful tin! I hope the rest of your Mother's Day was a success! ;) Take care and have a great night! :)

Kacey Elliott said...

I loved your account of the day/night - you have a real gift for storytelling :-) Thanks for the laugh! My husband keeps "suggesting" that we take our two little ones camping (both under 4), I however, have my reservations. Can't wait to show him this post, then maybe he'll undertand why! :-)

Dawn Easton said...

Happy Mother's Day Carolyn!! Sounds like you had a very interesting weekend...lol...great that you can laugh about it now.
Your tin is beautiful...love the nestability cirlces!!

Maria said...

OH WOW! Well it's def something you will remember and laugh about at some point! You were brave to at least give it a try, I would never go camping or even try! LOLOL! The tin is great!!

Robyn said...

Your camping trip sounds exactly like what would happen to my family!! We have a lot of great ideas but with little children they don't always go as planned. Didn't it feel good to sleep in your own bed??

Your tin is just beautiful! I hope you had a terrific Mother's Day!!

Laura lok said...

Well its a mothers day weekend to remember thats for sure. \

cute tin

Jessie/knightrone said...

Not to quote you or anything, but me thinks you got had, again!! Super cute story and I love that you gave up and came home, my DH never lets me do that!!! Happy Mother's Day to you!!

Anonymous said...

I smiled listening to your story! I am not a camping person either. Your tin is lovely! Great job!!

Chris Scrappin and Stampin in Texas said...

Oh Cammie...this is hilarious...but I am not sure at the time..A good story to tell the little ones when they grow up. I had a girl scout....so we camped in cabins..and my son is a scout...and is always camping. Hey is camping all about the smores' anyway???LOLI have heard Enchanted Rock is gorgeous, I know my son has been there several times. Sounded like a nice plan by your hubby.

dpkennedy said...

I adore your tin! Love that stamped image and the belly band was a great idea...love the hemp you used on it! Now the camping...that was funny! Sorry, but at least you had two peaceful hours in the car! OMG I can see me in that situation...over and over again,lol! Happy Mother's Day!!

Erin... said...

Cammie, I love your stories!!! People on TV couldn't write stuff that funny!! My idea of camping is staying at the wilderness lodge at Disney...very rugged!! Hope you've all recovered!!

Rose Ann said...

I'm sorry the camping trip didn't totally work out, but I love the picture!! Your tin is fabulous too!!

specialcraftmom4 said...

Oh no, we are planning our first camping trip with our 4 children under 8 years old in a week! This is my first time camping, and I am a fine hotel sort of mom (:
*Check out my blog, I awarded you the Bloggers with Purpose Award!
You have a great Blog!!!!!
Julie

Libby Hickson said...

First of all, love your tin! Second, you have a beautiful family! And finally - I love Enchanted Rock!! Sorry the trip didn't completely work out but at least it sounds like you enjoyed your day there at least a little. :-)

Deb Wood said...

This is fabulous, I love the colors and the way you stamped thanks around the rim, the flowers are really beautiful.

On the way back from our Honeymoon we decided it would be fun to do some camping, rent a boat, maybe do a little fishing etc. All the way there it was gorgeous and the day went pretty well. That night however, there was a horrible storm, thunder, lightning, pouring rain and there just happened to be a hole in the tent. I was sleeping peacefully, go figure! My husband woke me up and said we better get in the car, so we get soaking wet getting to the car and try to sleep there, not. So he is miserable by now, gets out throws everything in the trunk of the car including the tent with the whole and we spent like 6 hours driving home, soaking wet and miserable. Haven't been camping since!!

stampmonkey said...

Oh, my -- what a way to start off your Mother's Day weekend! Glad it all worked out (finally). At least you ended up with a cute story to tell. ;) (I talked my hubby into buying a trailer, so LONG GONE are our tent-camping days...can't say I miss 'em. lol)

Really pretty gift tin, Carolyn! What did you fill it with?