Being Thankful
Happy Turkey Day.
My Pastor gave the most amazing sermon last night - one of the best I have ever heard. When leaving, I thought of the perfect way to spend my Thanksgiving morning.
I took a couple hours to create thank you cards for people who would least expect it. One for Colin's doctor. The nurses. The mailman. The UPS man. The lady who works at Brueggers. The grumpy lady who works at Walgreens. The nurse who gives me allergy shots. I came up with 17 names... so I made 17 cards.
With my family close by (Kay doing some amazing drawings, Audrey making cards, Colin gluing everything in the room together and Ken looking at football stats), I created these cards using a Hero Arts greeting set, a Papertrey Ink leaf set and some embellishments.
And I loved it.
On soft yellow and cream notecards, I stamped the leaves with green ink. I then added quick shading with colored pencils and blended with Gamsol. To add a tiny bit of shine, I scribbled a little glitter pen on the leaves. My favorite Hero Arts set provided all the greetings and I picked out favorite pearls, flower embellishments and etc. for some added fun. (Forgive the bad photos - I am too tired to redo. And there are a lot of them.)
For these first ones, I used gorgeous handmade flowers from Pixiepetals. I LOVE them and am off to buy more. You must check them out.
These next flowers were originally white. I then pressed Distress Ink on them to color and then spray a lot with pearlized water. (Perfect Pearls in water.) They end up so fab in real life. I make a bunch of them at once.
These use fancy pearl doodads from Prima...
This large pink velvet flower is from Maya Road. Yum...
These are the super simple ones. Just stamped a tiny flower from the greeting set with red ink.
And, of course, each has a stamped envelope to match.
Supplies: Hero Arts greetings, Papertrey Ink leaves, Adirondack Lettuce pigment ink (for leaves), colored pencils, gamsol, glitter pen, Pixie Petals handmade flowers, Maya Road velvet flower, Hero Arts pearls and gems, Prima flowers and pearl arrangements, Distress Inks, Perfect Pearls, Mini Mister, Black Memories Ink
I am off to snuggle with the girls in our Snuggies. Night.
Love this! What a great idea! and love the cards- so pretty!
Posted by: Victoria S. | November 26, 2009 at 11:16 PM
wow, those handmade flowers are amazing. Enjoy your family. I'm off to meet my SIL for overnight shopping! SO nice to share "thanks" and love for those who don't expect it. smiles...
Posted by: Kelly | November 26, 2009 at 11:25 PM
Wow! These are amazing! Thanks for the reminder to thank the people who we tend to miss.
Posted by: Anita | November 26, 2009 at 11:31 PM
Jennifer, Thank you so much for taking the time to show us these beautiful cards! I love them all! And it is such a great reminder to thank those we usually don't. I work in retail, and it can be a thankless job sometimes. Hope your next few days with your family are wonderful. You deserve it! :)
Posted by: Barb :) | November 26, 2009 at 11:47 PM
very nice!
Sandra
Posted by: Sandra | November 26, 2009 at 11:47 PM
The cards are just too beautiful!! You are amazing!!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by: Swati | November 26, 2009 at 11:50 PM
Your cards are always so pretty! And I love how sweet of an idea this is...! I'm sure you will provide a little something extra in those 17 people's days!
Posted by: Susan C. | November 27, 2009 at 12:34 AM
Loove them! Gorgeous way to use the new leaves stamp set! Can`t wait to get mine... You have to tell us about the reactions of those 17 people!!
Posted by: Vanessa Menhorn | November 27, 2009 at 12:50 AM
These are so lovely, and what a nice thing to do :)
Posted by: Shasta | November 27, 2009 at 12:52 AM
Gosh - those cards are so beautiful and what a great idea to give them to those probably least expecting it. You ROCK! Blessings to you and a *GIANT HUG* :o)
Posted by: Tina Park | November 27, 2009 at 01:10 AM
What a nice thing for you to do, I love the cards! Let us know how they were received, I'll bet they'll be surprised :) Hope you had a happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by: Rachel | November 27, 2009 at 01:23 AM
Love the cards!!
Posted by: sildain | November 27, 2009 at 01:34 AM
They are simply gorgeous, Jennifer!! Thank you for taking the time to share with us today! Hope your day with your family and friends was wonderful! Hugs!!
Posted by: Kiara Lee | November 27, 2009 at 01:37 AM
What a sweet idea. The cards turned out lovely.
Eveline.
Posted by: Eveline van Heijst | November 27, 2009 at 01:38 AM
Beautiful cards.
Posted by: Yolanda B | November 27, 2009 at 01:41 AM
What a great cards. Thank you.
Posted by: Heidi | November 27, 2009 at 02:24 AM
Sweet idea :)
Posted by: ReNi | November 27, 2009 at 02:34 AM
What a nice gesture on your part and they are beautiful.
Posted by: Jen | November 27, 2009 at 03:43 AM
What an awesome idea!! So thoughtful!! Gorgeous cards!!
Posted by: Jane | November 27, 2009 at 04:03 AM
These are great! I'm sure there are 17 extra happy people out there as we speak!
Posted by: Sarah Belgium | November 27, 2009 at 05:00 AM
They are so very beautiful and such a wonderful thing you did!
Take care/Gunilla
Posted by: Gunilla/Nilla | November 27, 2009 at 05:04 AM
These cards are very beautiful .You always have wonderful ideas.
THANK YOU for charing it with everyone.
Have a nice day and lots of greetings from Holland , Miek Vugts
Posted by: Miek Vugts | November 27, 2009 at 05:26 AM
A belated Happy Thanksgiving, Jennifer! Thank YOU for all give to us out here in cyberworld - so much inspiration, fun and love. What a lovely idea those cards are. No Thanksgiving here in the UK but maybe something I could do at Christmas - or just as a random thing :) Are your pastor's sermons available online at all? I don't get to hear the sermon on Sundays as I'm running the Sunday School, so I try to catch up in the week by listening online.
Posted by: Helen | November 27, 2009 at 05:44 AM
What a wonderful thing to do on Thanksgiving day. They are all beautiful, they would also make for a great set of cards. TFS!!!
Posted by: lois skiathitis | November 27, 2009 at 05:46 AM
Just gorgeous! I hope Mrs Grumpy from Walgreens appreciates your thoughtfulness. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Posted by: Anna D | November 27, 2009 at 06:21 AM
Your friends in Canada wish you and your family - Happy Thanksgiving! What gorgeous cards you have created - what a cool idea and it is neat to see how easy it is create a bunch of cards with just a small variation on theme. Absolutely love them - thanks for sharing them with us.
Posted by: Betty M | November 27, 2009 at 06:51 AM
Just wonderful....thanks you for oontinuing to inspire us to recognize the others around us. You may even put a 'smile' on the grumpy lady's face!
Happy Thanksgiving.....
Posted by: Karen from Ontario | November 27, 2009 at 06:53 AM
Jennifer, These cards are simple yet stunning. I'm sure all of your recipients will adore them!
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn | November 27, 2009 at 07:10 AM
great cards, simple yet beautiful. it's good to stop and remember all the people in our life that we don't think about often but are to thankful that they are there when we need them. going to make a list of my own. tfs
Posted by: Mary Kozak | November 27, 2009 at 07:38 AM
Amazing cards! Simple yet stunning!
Posted by: Nancy L. | November 27, 2009 at 07:55 AM
Love, love, love this idea. I just got Turning a New Leaf in the mail and can't wait to give this a try! What a special idea too. I know all those folks will be telling their family and friends what a wonderful gift they received. When I taught full time, it was these little notes that meant so much.
Posted by: Karen | November 27, 2009 at 08:06 AM
Wow! Beautiful cards, Jennifer! Great idea for a gift set too. :)
Posted by: Sarah M | November 27, 2009 at 08:07 AM
Love your cards Jennifer! We all need to be thankful for the little things in life!!
Posted by: Ellen Young | November 27, 2009 at 08:31 AM
Such a great idea. Beautiful cards.
Posted by: JanaMillen | November 27, 2009 at 08:39 AM
Wow! all your cards are just gorgeous! I've been eying that leaf stamp from Papertrey ever since it was released. After seeing your cards I want it all the more. Thanks for sharing!
Happy belated Thanksgiving!
Posted by: Brenda Weaver | November 27, 2009 at 08:41 AM
These are such beautiful thankyou cards, I am sure that every recipient will have a wonderful smile when they see them. It is always so nice to get an unexpected thankyou.
Posted by: Cathy A | November 27, 2009 at 09:14 AM
These cards are simply perfect! You have such a good heart- I'm sure all the recipients of these thank-yous will appreciate them!
Posted by: Cynthia B. | November 27, 2009 at 09:29 AM
wowzers!! love them all!! great idea too!!
Posted by: Donelda | November 27, 2009 at 09:35 AM
I'm amazed at how beautiful these cards are!! So simple, yet a lot of detail! I need to make some pearlized water!!
Posted by: Carla T | November 27, 2009 at 09:53 AM
what beautiful cards. all of those people will certainly feel appreciated! and those crocheted flowers are so cute! i'm going to have to try to make some of those...
Posted by: qsogirl | November 27, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Very pretty cards and a great reminder. There are several people in my life who could use a Thank You! :)
Posted by: Karen Kellenberger | November 27, 2009 at 10:09 AM
those are really nice I don't know where you find all the time, do you ever sleep. between you and tim holtz, you amaze me
Posted by: H20skier | November 27, 2009 at 11:02 AM
I love giving cards to people who don't expect them it really can make their day! Love the simple yet beautiful look of these cards and I love the idea of using gamsol on stamped images. Once again thanks for the inspiration.
Posted by: Deneen Cook | November 27, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Fabulous idea to give thanks to the people in your life who least expect it. Love the simple and pretty designs Jennifer!
Posted by: Susan McRae | November 27, 2009 at 12:31 PM
I love this idea Jennifer. These are so pretty. Thanks for the wonderful inspiration.
Posted by: Dana C. | November 27, 2009 at 12:46 PM
Well, I'm going to take your idea and run with it :)
I just bought this Hero Arts stamp set...now I'll get to put it to good use.
Happy Thanksgiving & God Bless!
Barb
Posted by: Barb | November 27, 2009 at 01:00 PM
What BEAUTIFUL cards Jennifer!!! How sweet to send out so many...even to the "grumpy" lady :) she probably needs it the most. Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by: Tracey | November 27, 2009 at 01:53 PM
Incredible. What a thoughtful thing to do. How wonderful you are.
Posted by: Lucy Abrams | November 27, 2009 at 02:49 PM
LOVE LOVE LOVE the distressed flowers. I gotta make some of those. I never thought of using Gamsol over something inked. Something else I gotta try.
Glad you enjoyed your Holiday.
Posted by: Roz Rhorer | November 27, 2009 at 03:14 PM
Simply stunning cards - can't wait to get my Turning A New Leaf set....I knew it was versatile the minute I saw it and you have proved it.
Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Joyce Stewart | November 27, 2009 at 03:17 PM