Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Mother's Day Part II and a Sketch Card

For those of you who were sympathetic to my Mother's Day camping trip, I decided to fill you in on the second part of my Mother's Day. (For those of you who just want to see the card, scroll down!)

After we decided to bail on the camping trip...we drove home and got everyone back into bed around 2 a.m. My husband and I collapsed into bed too.

When I awoke the next morning, my husband and son were coming in from grocery shopping (the girls slept in!) My husband told me that there was only the "mostly" dead flowers left in the store for those last minute guys who left buying them until the very last minute (like himself!)* But when my son Ben saw this--he HAD to get it for me because he knew I would love it:

Yep..a Beta fish. The kicker is that my husband let him. Knowing my aversion to fish...

You see--I have a lot of allergies and when my now almost 12 year old was about 6, I told her she could only have a fish because I was too allergic to dogs. So she got a beta fish. That sucker lasted three days--it developed some sort of fuzz fungus and was so gross and eventually died while she was at school. Well, knowing she would be very upset that he died so soon, I did what any mother would do....the switcharooney. I went to the pet store and found a fish that looked exactly like it and replaced it ---thinking that she would never know.
She didn't and all was fine....for about two days. I had to replace that fish two more times and then I just gave up...mostly because it really grossed me out to keep seeing a dead fish in the bowl.

Soooo.....I could have killed my husband when he pranced in with this thing. But, I can write this post because---IT IS STILL ALIVE. I have had "fishy" (named by Ben of course!) for 4 days and he is still happy and showing no sign of fungus! Woohooo!!! (Of course, now that I wrote this he will probably die tonight.)

(*BTW: I should add that my hubby cooked me a wonderful Mother's Day dinner too!)
*******
Now for the card. Well, life is throwing me a lot these days and my stamping time is suffering. Our house sold (whoohooo!) and we are going house hunting this weekend. My son is having his much awaited dental surgery (cracked tooth and cavities) this Friday. With so much going on in the next few days, I wanted to get a bit of stamping in before the weekend.

I loved today's sketch on Splitcoaststampers so I used that as the springboard for this card.

I used the Share Laughter set from Hero Arts (available at Stamper's Dream) for this card---it is a fantastic set and has about 17 images that paired in different ways can produce wonderful designs. I can tell I will be grabbing this set a lot!
I stamped the flower design and cut it out. I layered the Prima on top and then added the SU crystal brads that I keep forgetting that I have!
I used my rectangle scalloped Nestabilities to frame the sentiment. The punched scalloped piece was too wide for the sentiment so I cut a section out of the middle and re-attached the pieces. I added the strip of decorative paper in the center to cover up the overlap!
This card was easy and came together very quickly! Just what I needed today!

Materials used: Stamps-Share Laughter (Hero Arts); ink-celery, blue bayau (Stampin' Up!) cardstock-white, blue bayau, SU designer paper; ribbon-celery (Stampin' Up!); crystal brad (SU!); Prima flower; paper piercing tool and mat pack; dimensionals (SU!); Cuttlebug and scalloped rectangle nestability dies (Spellbinders).

Thanks for stopping by!

46 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your fish story had me laughing! I haven't seen those fish in the vase for quite a while around here. They must have all died. Your card is sweet!!

Alli Miles said...

Hahah for the fish story! I think we all have those stories. I fell SO lucky that we live in the sticks. There is NO pet store here and I know the fish would never make the trip with the roads the way they are here so I just use that as an excuse to not get fish. I have AWFUL memories of cleaning the fish tank when I was a kid that I swore I would never get fish in my adulthood...until my son (3 at the time) convinced me we needed a fish. We bought two and one died within a week. *sigh* When we moved (14 hours of move time) we decided to leave the fish behind knowing they would never survive the move--I was never so grateful!

Unknown said...

A fish, huh? You're so lucky! (not a big fan of fish here either, too many bad experiences with that fungo stuff....eewwwww)
HUGE congrats on the house sale.... woo-hoooooo, now you get to stop cleaning it like a madwoman and have more time to stamp?!
Good luck house hunting!
And GORGEOUS card!

Juanita B said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous card!! I love the colors and layout.

Your fish story is sooooooo funny, what a great laugh I had. TFS.

Anonymous said...

Ah, motherhood! What can you do!? I certainly can't tell by your card that your stamping time is suffering because it is lovely.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Fantastic card! I love the layout and the gorgeous flower you used!
Hugs and smiles

Charmaine said...

I love the card...especially the colors...my faves.

Thanks for the fishy story :), you had me laughing.

Charmaine

Denise Marzec said...

Ugh, beta fish. I had no luck with those either...had a few as a kid. They're beautiful though. Good luck with this one!!

Your card is beautiful...such clean lines and crisp colors!

carole (TruCarMa) said...

Congrats on your new pet! My he live a long, long life. (Yuck -- I don't really care for fish, either... those beady eyes) Great card, of course, and a HUGE congrats on selling your house! In a market like this one, that's no small feat! I hope you find one soon that you like as much or better. (Keeping my fingers crossed for you!)

Hopefully things will settle down for you soon and you'll be back in stampin'/fightin' mode before too long. (I think the natives are missing our 'performance art'!!) Big HUGS!!

Amy said...

Oh Cammie! I was gone and missed your last several posts. I had to go back and read it...too funny or well not really! It's the thought that counts right?! Love the card too. Congrats on the sale of your house and best wishes with the move!

Jessie/knightrone said...

Hilarious!! I once had a fish, and was too lazy to go downstairs to get a clean cup to get water in, so I put some water in my Clearly Canadian bottle(one of those flavored fizzy waters), needless to say, it got fizzy, the fish got dizzy, and the rest is history!!LOL Love your card by the way!!

Erin... said...

Funny story!! Hate to tell you this but I've had the exact opposite problem with beta fish... I can't get them to die!!We got one for my daughter and I was waiting for it to "go" since we were moving..nope that sucker hung on and we had to move him to the new house!! Beautiful card!! Love all the details in that fancy flower!!

Lydia Fiedler said...

Well you shared some laughter with me!!! I was laughing so hard by the time I got to "he will probably die tonight" my stomach hurt!!!

The whole story, camping, etc cracks me up. My idea of camping is having wine on the back porch until I see the first mosquito!!

Thanks for the giggle!!

Donna Baker said...

that's funny! you shouldn't feel bad about the betas, they really are the fish with the shortest life expectancy. My sister had one that lasted about 6-8 mos at one time, I think. I also heard the smaller the fish bowl the better, but I'm no expert. I am grateful I'm not allergic to animals because I LOVE them! Anyway, congrats on your house selling - woohoo! you do have a lot going on! be sure to take care of yourself! I love your card! the colors, the set your embellishments!

Kimberly Gajewski said...

So glad that "Fishy" has made it through 4 days...lol! Your card is beautiful! These are such pretty colors together! :D

Maria said...

Your story made me giggle. Good luck with the house hunt and congrats on the sale. Great card!!

Alex said...

You crack me up girl!! That fish story is hilarious!! Thanks for making me laugh!

Your card is really cute! *STAMPIN HUGS* Alex

Charmaine (CharmWarm) said...

That story was hilarious! Thanks for sharing! Hope the fish is still alive! :) LOVE the card too! So happy and fun!

Karen Kelly said...

All of your Mother's Day exploits have been cracking me up and I think it's hysterical that your hubby let your son get you that fish...hope it makes it through the week! Congrats on getting the house sold--happy hunting!

Bee's Zen Garden said...

Argh, I have had to buy a few betta fishes too (even though mine were living in an aquarium with filters and bubbles etc...), but I told my daughter they were dead and she wasn't so troubled! (insert shocked face here!)
At some point I had 2 small 1 gallon aquariums on a bookshelf and there was regularly one of the bettas that would developp the yucky fungus or something else. I was so grossed out to watch them die that I finally gave up and after flushing the last one in the toilet i threw away the aquariums....
My husband's office had a betta under a plant just like yours and it lasted a few years! It's actually a really cool ecosystem! :-)

your mother's day week-end expedition sure made me laugh, especially since I hate camping and heat so just thinking about camping and heat together made me shiver with horror!...

Rita said...

I think as you said we have all done the ole switch aroo thing, hahaha!!! Oh well thats moms for you! Good luck!

Today's card is just so beautiful, I luv the whole design & those colors are so awesome!

Lee said...

Oooo.......very pretty card!! That sure is a pretty sketch and I love your cut-outs and colors!!!! I hear ya about stamping time....we move to the new house in 3 days!! And then we have to get the old house ready to rent out or sell........it sure does cut out into the stampin' time!!! LOL CONGRATS on your house selling!!! I hope you find the perfect house quickly and your move goes well!!

We had the opposite problem with fish.........we bought some and my son kept forgetting about them......they survived for 4 years thru all kinds of issues.....when did they die??? When he finally remembered to add more water and feed them!!!! LOL

Unknown said...

Love the fish story!! Hope Fishy does well and lives for many years happy and fungis free! :)

Anonymous said...

Cammie,
I have a beta...they need room temperature water and its needs to be changed about every three days.

Libby Hickson said...

Congrats on selling your house, yeah!!! Can't wait to join you in that category! Your fish story was too funny - ugh - I've now decided never to get a fish for my kids! :-) Love your card too. :-)

Christina Fischer said...

Beautiful card!!! Love the colors, the piercing, and the cut-out images!

Congrats on selling the house!!! I hope life settles down a bit!

Your fish story cracks me up! About a month ago, Chris brought home a Beta ("it will be fun for the kids"). I didn't think there was a chance it would live a week, but it's still alive! I just cleaned the bowl today, because somehow Chris and both of my teenagers were oblivious to the funk that was growing inside of it! My little girls do love him, though -- Caroline named him Peter, after Peter Pan...

Julie Koerber said...

Beautiful card Cammie -- and hysterical fish story. Aren't hubby's great. Sometimes that common sense gene just - well - kicks off! Sounds like something mine would do! Thankfully we love them and have a sense of humor!! LOL! Hope all is well!

Dawn Easton said...

LOL @ your fish story...think a lot of us have done that switcharo...haha! Hope this one makes it ;)
Your card is awesome. I can see that I'll need that stamp set...thanks for enabling me!
Good luck house hunting and with your sons dental surgery. When Chloe had hers we had her knocked out, but she had tons done, so it was less traumatic.

Anonymous said...

congrats on finally selling your house! Best of luck with the move - I don't envy you! Been there/done that:)
Your card is lovely! Very nice.
Although the fish story was comical, nothing tops your camping adventures on Mother's day:) You are just too funny:)

Deb Wood said...

Glad to hear fishy is doing good!! This card is sooooo pretty, love the colors and the way you did the flower!

Congrats on selling your home and happy hunting!

Christi Flores said...

Loved the fish story! I'm glad you had a good Mother's Day! This card is fantastic!! So crisp and clean. Love it!! Try not to stay too busy...I'd miss your creations too much! :)

Alhambra Club said...

Great fish story, he will probably live forever. Your card is beautiful, love the flower and how you did the leaves.

dpkennedy said...

Sounds like Mother's Day wasn't a complete dud after all!

Yeah, I did the same thing with a tadpole...I think #4 made it to froghood. My son still thinks it's the same one, whew!

On the other hand your card is gorgeous! And how fun to go house shopping?!

Enjoy!!

Barbara Schram said...

Love the fish story, Cammie! Blessings to you as you and your family move and settle into a new home and neighborhood soon!

Carolina said...

Thanks for the second part of the story...that's just too funny!

GORGEOUS card!!! Love the flower treatment and the color combo is just sooo yummy!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous!!! I love the colors!!! (On the card, not the fish.) :)

Becky G said...

Your camping and fish story made me laugh! So funny! Good luck with the fishy, that is, if he's still hangin in there. He he!
I love your card! The colors are fantastic!

Stampin hugs,
Becky

jjcreations said...

Oh my gosh....this card is gorgeous. The white stands out so much for me that it makes everything so bright and wonderful.
Cute fish story. We got a Beta about 4 years ago as a table prize and my son's jazz band funraiser dinner. I've kept him in a vase just like the one you have....only this February did I transfer him to a large tank because he was a bit sluggish. He now swims around quite happily.

Laura lok said...

i just love your posts they just crack me up

Silli said...

Wonderful card and great colorcombo, I love the flowers. Have a nice day:-)

Kathleen said...

LOVE that card! I've been thinking of your son today and prayed that he would be at peace in the midst of a scary time! I hope all goes well~

stampmonkey said...

Congrats on the house sale!!! We're still waiting for our two pieces of property to sell....

Your fish story is too funny! lol -- They're fun to watch...in someone else's aquarium. ;) Is it still breathing?

Hope your son's surgery went well today. That can't be something he was looking forward to...poor little guy. My 10-YO son is having braces put on next week, and he is definitely NOT looking forward to that.

Beautiful card -- so soft and pretty!

Jennifer Buck said...

this is totally cracking me up! My middle son talked me into a beta fish sometime last year...can't remember when but he sits on my desk in the basement. I will let you know that we started similar to this...in just a beta bowl...looked like a giant wine glass...hey...my son didn't know!...now he's in a small 3 gallon tank that has a filter and everything...it's easier than cleaning it every couple of months...I have also added some kind of algae eating fish...now the sides are no longer green! Yup...worlds laziest mom! I will go to great lengths to keep from cleaning! ;) Love your card...it's adorable!

Ila said...

I've had lots of catching up to do here. Loved the fish story..Congratulations on selling your house...
I love your Beautiful card..the colors and layout are Wonderful!!

Giovana said...

Your card is really pretty!!! I love your creations.
I have a Beta too!!! Well, supposesly belongs to my daughter, but I am responsible for feeding, cleaning and cahtting, LOL.
We had 1 for almost 6 months, but suddenly he died, my DD was destroyed, poor girl (she is 4), then my sweet husband decided to buy another one, this one is red, eats all day thinking he is a shark and he is the most craziest Beta I've ever seen.
I have Redie Eddie (yes, he is red) in a tank without natural plants (to avoid fungis), he likes to hide underneath the water heater.

So far, I like my fis, he is the only one who doesn't complaint when I am talking too much, LOL

Have a blessed day
Giovana

Antje said...

Love your card, with all the beautiful details and colors - I'm a huge fan of those crystal brads :-)
your story cracked me up and as you said, soon it will be history a funny story to remember.