Love is…. for alacardmonkey

Hi Everyone.  Happy Tuesday.  I hope you are all having a wonderful week so far.

I'd like to start off this post by thanking the wonderful design team at alacardmonkey for choosing to highlight this card in their challenge a couple of weeks ago.  I was so thrilled and honored and even more delighted that they have asked me to be a guest designer for their new challenge starting at the end of this week.  So don't forget to check back then 🙂

I saw their fabulous sketch this week and couldn't wait to play along.  However, what made the challenge even more fun was that there was a theme attached to it.  the theme?  happiness.  Well, what says happiness more than people in love 🙂

Here's the sketch and theme

Seriously, isn't that adorable?

Well… I knew exactly what I wanted to do with this sketch……

It was really difficult to photograph the very vanilla – all that white space.  It is a lovely card in real life though and I love the Real Red with the Very Vanilla.  Not a combo I normally go to.  Generally I would pair Very Vanilla with Cherry Cobbler, but I really wanted a true red for this card.  

I pulled out an old embossing folder and a sentiment from Wordsworth.  It's a beautiful sentiment and deserves to be center stage.

So, why not pop along to alacardmonkey and check out the fabulous design team and submission cards – and play along!

On a personal note:

No packing done today.  Nothing.  Nada.  I swear I can hear all those cardboard boxes screaming my name like the sirens and if I don't get packing soon, the boxes are going to feel more like the Three Witches from Macbeth portending chaos and conflict.  Surely, it will be chaos at the last minute if I don't get something done soon.

However… last night…. my sirens were the characters in Downton Abbey.  Thank you, Adelle.  On your suggestion, I found season 2 on PBS…. Ah…… yes….. Needless to say, I didn't get to sleep until 2.30 this morning.  The worst thing about all of this is that I have had instant gratification for season 1 and 2 – being able to watch them one after the other and now have to wait for months for season 3.

What is it about Downton Abbey…. certainly the era.  The topics it covers in terms of the Titanic, World War I, class distinction, the fall of class distinction, the raise of the Irish, the fight for the right for women to vote, the ridiculousness that surrounded women who were considered "feeble minded" and unable to form – or hold – an opinion of their own.  The birth of inventions such as the telephone, electricity, indoor plumbing.  So much occured during this time.  So much changed during this time.  The empire fell during this time.  Disease was rampant and Fleming had not yet discovered penicillin.  A time when countries were created and others destroyed.  It's a fascinating time in history.

More than the history though – and I'm a history buff – it's the fact that the characters are so fully fleshed out.  You might hate them – or love them – or find them tiresome, but they are truly memorable characters.  The sets and clothes are fascinating.  I find myself getting lost in detailed photography.  Oh.. and yes… I admit it… I'm entirely envious of that house!!!!!

Today… it was 63 degrees.  I cannot believe it.  The sun felt warm as it streamed through the window.  I had the door to the deck open and the breeze ruffled through the house and it was fabulous.  Oh… I love this time of year.

I also love that you visited with me today…. you know that your visits and your comments mean a great deal to me.   Warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight.  Beth – don't forget… we want a photograph of little Lucy when you get back!

Hugs

Jaydee