GKD-Whimsical Autumn Preview

Blog candy winner---Random.Cara picked #197

Congratulations to Suzy0820, who said "Love the set, your card is beautiful as usual...How generous of you to donate to such a wonderful cause. My Mom passed away from Alzheimers, it's a terrible disease.Suzy C."

Please email me your address so I can send this set to you.

Once again, thanks to everyone for all of your awesome comments/emails!

In Loving Memory Of Clare Lyons

"Mamo"

September 26, 1916 - July 1, 2008

For those of you who read my blog, you know that my grandmother passed away in July. I wrote about it here. What you may not know is that for the past 12 years of her life, she was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

After she was first diagnosed, she moved into my parent’s house where I was living with my daughter. I saw first-hand how devastating this disease can be. I saw my grandmother go from a completely independent and meticulous women to a completely dependent person who lost all of the wonderful memories her life created.

In many ways, my family has been saying goodbye to my grandmother for years...as her energy diminished, her weight plummeted and the memories of her life were erased from her mind.

I had just finished drawing the images for this set when I received a call from my mother telling me that my grandmother passed away. Although part of me was rejoicing because she suffered too long…the selfish part of me was wishing for just one more visit...

After returning from Pennsylvania and getting back to work—I had a resurgence of energy for this new set. I decided the best way for me to honor my Grandmother’s memory was to give back. And so, 100% of my proceeds from this set will be sent to the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Always.

I am so proud that, with Gina’s help, I am able to do this. So thank YOU, Gina, for helping me to find a creative way to give back.
(To read a bit more about Alzheimer's disease, see below.)

So, here is one of the cards I created with my new set called Whimsical Autumn, which will be available after the release party (7-10 p.m. CENTRAL) on Friday, September 5 at Gina K Designs. The squirrel (which was a last minute addition to the set and drawn by Gina K!), the apple, the basket of apples, the leaf (background) are all part of the set. The pumpkins used on this card are from Rupa's new set called So Grateful ....I thought, together, these images would make an adorable fall scene. So I created this tag card:

I water colored the scene with re-inkers and added the pumpkins on dimensionals. I stamped the leaf stamp on the caramel cardstock in the background. The opening tab was created with the Large Flourish punch that Gina now carries at her store. I also used the corner punch to help frame the scene.

I added a bit of faux sewing, raffia and a button...and the scene was complete.

Here is the view from the top of the card so you can see that that tab on the side is for decorative purposes only! The card opens like a normal card!

Here is a close up of the colored image:

Materials used: Stamps-Whimsical Autumn (Carolyn King for Gina K Designs), So Grateful (Rupa Shevde for Gina K Designs); Brilliance black ink; Stampin' Up reinkers-chocolate chip, close to cocoa, so saffron, pumpkin pie, green galore, creamy caramel, more mustard, old olive; Ink-chocolate chip, old olive, bashful blue (Stampin Up!); sponge; cardstock-very vanilla, watercolor paper, creamy caramel, old olive, chocolate chip; Ek Success flourish punch; EK Success corner punch; circle punch (SU!); tag punch (SU!); large grommet (SU!); raffia (Hobby Lobby); sponge; paper piercing tool and mat pack (SU); slit punch (SU!); hemp (Hobby Lobby); button; glue dots; dimensionals (SU!).



******You can see more of the images in this set from the amazing designers on Gina's team by going to her blog!

Did You KNOW?

There are approximately five million Americans who are living with Alzheimer’s disease. This progressive, and fatal brain disease destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. Alzheimer’s gets worse over time, and it is fatal. Today it is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States.

The Alzheimer's Association is the largest not-for-profit organization for Alzheimer’s research, providing millions of dollars for funding research grants and helping to improve the lives of those who live with this disease and their caregivers. Although there is no current cure, there are treatments that, combined with support, can improve the quality of life for those living with this disease.


WANNA WIN THIS SET FREE!? Just post a comment on this blog entry and I will have Random.Cara pick a winner on Friday. I will announce the winner here and at the release party on Splitcoaststampers that evening. (Oh, and subscribers CAN post twice!)


Thanks SO MUCH for stopping by!