A blog devoted to the cards I make in my tiny upstairs space. When my sister stays there, she calls it an "artist's garret". I'm not an artist, but am an enthusiastic cardmaker - hence the title "Cardmaker's Garret".
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Sunday 24 January 2016

Bittersweet Christmas Tea

This week's Merry Monday challenge is "Hot Beverages".  In the last couple of months, I drank many cups of tea - many of them sitting in a Toronto hospital with my Mum.  To my everlasting sorrow, she passed away on January 6th.  I'm recently back home from Toronto and am trying to get back into my usual activities.

I haven't had much enthusiasm for anything but yesterday my friend Christine (calex on SCS) and I spent a wonderful day at Loll Thompson's house playing around with some techniques (the results from that will show up on future posts).

It sparked a desire to get into my craft room so this morning I checked recent challenges and realized I just had time to get a card done for Merry Monday.  The challenge is perfect for right now as my Mum loved tea as much as I do and we must have shared thousands of cups together over the years.  I also brought back many of the corrugated cup sleeves from the Tim Hortons coffee shop in the hospital to recycle in card-making.

So here's a cup of tea in honour of my wonderful Mum.


I trimmed the corrugated cup sleeve down to a rectangle and went over it lightly with gesso.  I bordered it with red cs to match the ink I stamped the mug in.  For the steam coming out of the tea, I used part of a Memory Box snowflake flourish.

My Mum loved to go out for English "high tea".  Here's a photo of her from July with me and two of my three sisters when we went out for high tea:


I just wish my Mum would be here next Christmas so that I could send this card to her.  Cheers, Mum - wherever you are now, I'm sure there are endless cups of tea.






Supplies:
Stamps - SU mug, Northwoods
Ink - SU Cherry Cobbler
Paper - white and red cs, corrugated cup sleeve
Size - A2
Accessories - gesso, SU mug die, Memory Box snowflake flourish, gemstone



9 comments:

  1. What an honor for you to share your Mum with us, Susan! You keep that card and pull it out every Christmas so a bit of your Mum will be with you. I pray that your happy memories will help you through your loss. Warm hugs, my friend and thanks for sharing this wonderful card. I love the corrugated piece and the way you did the steam!

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  2. What a lovely tribute to your mum, Susan. You have so many wonderful memories and that will help alot during this very difficult time. Such a lovely picture of you, your mum and two of your sisters. It looks as though that was a fun day for all. Such a great picture to have of a happy time you all shared.

    Yesterday was so much fun. Thank you and Christine for coming over. I love our fun, creative time together to share techniques, along with lots of laughs.

    Your card is so sweet and fun, and a great way to recycle those cup sleeves. xx


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  3. I just shed a tear for your sweet mom and my own sweet mom that we lost 16 years ago at the age of 83. A day never goes by that I do not think of my parents. I hope your memories bring you as much joy :-)

    Your card is so sweet and a perfect tea time memory. I love Bonnie's suggestion of bringing out your card every Christmas and a way of sharing a cup of tea together.

    What a beautiful photo of your mum and sisters. Thank you so much for sharing my friend.

    With Love and Sympathy, Nancy

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  4. I agree...wonderful tribute to your mom mf. I am sure she is smiling down from Heaven. Lovely photo and such great memories...these are the things you will keep in your heart forever!
    my thoughts and prayers are with you and thanks for sharing your story with us. I really do feel for you.
    hugs,
    Karen

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  5. Such a sweet card in tribute to your mum! Just love the texture and the snowflake "steam". Thanks for sharing with us at Merry Monday and may your happy memories bring comfort in your loss!

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  6. Love this card. Especially that crimped layer.

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  7. Susan, what a wonderful card to remember your mum and it's such a beautiful picture of you all.
    I love the corrugated card from the Starbucks coffee, great way to recycle. What a clever way to make the steam for the cup:)

    I'm so glad our get together yesterday revitalized your card making after such a tough couple of months
    Christine

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  8. What a great photo of your family, (( HUGS )), love that you kept the holders to use on cards so much Susan :) tfs.

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  9. Very nice card! I love that corrugated background! Love your steam too!

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