Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Tuesday, March 30, 2010 Hello Little One

This is the cover page for a chipboard book I made in a chipboard book swap. Mary (the girl I was making this for) asked for something feminine, soft and with pinks, and purples and a baby theme. Well I finally got it finished a week or so ago and now was the time to share it.
Well I hit feminine, pink and purple as well as the baby theme in this chipboard book.

First thing I did was use my BIG SHOT to cut out the chipboard in this square scallop shape (although the die says rectangle scallop -- it looks square to me). Then I took 12 x 12 white cardstock and my old retired stamp set ROSES IN WINTER and made one sheet wonders.



A one sheet wonder is simply a page of stamping in any direction. Later you cut it apart to use as you wish. I needed a floral, feminine background, so I created my own with the one sheet wonder.



I used the retired Pink Pirouette ink, then added Regal Rose to create the roses. The smaller flowers are Lavendar Lace and Almost Amethyst. The greenery is Certainly Celery.



I used Lavendar Lace, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery and White cardstocks to create all the layers. As you see, I sponged all the edges (I did go back and remove that baby bottle and sponge the edges there too!)


I used sizzix dies, quickutz dies, several punches (ovals, oval scallops, circles, lace edge, etc) as well as many, many dimensionals (pop up dots). I stamped many, many images from various Stampin Up baby themed stamp sets I own.

I even used vellum on this final page for the title PICTURE PERFECT.

I tried to make each page unique and in this book. There are hidden pockets, tags, and various mat styles. Even added some bling to a few of the diecuts (like the baby rattles on one page, and the heart on the Princess page) as well as letter beads to spell out PRETTY.
I also sent along some embossed butterflies to add to the pages. They were cut out of Lavendar Lace cardstock. Figured that would give some embellishments AFTER the photos were placed in the chipboard book.
Hope you enjoyed this.
Arlene








Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 Goodbye Zio

At 11:30 p.m. Italian time (4:30 p.m. Central Standard Time) our Zio Corrado (also known as Zio Qua Qua, and Zio Diablo) left us. This photo of him at Christmas 2009 is most appropriate. Beside him is his nephew Fabio Taddei. Fabio was with Zio in his final moments.

Zio Corrado found out in late December that he had terminal brain cancer. I got the pleasure of going back to Marina di Pisa and staying with him for 12 days. The hardest thing I have ever done was to say goodbye to him that final morning. I knew I would never see him again on this Earth and here he was telling me he loved me and in June we would travel together to Assissi

In January, he received radiation treatments for his cancer. It did reduce the brain tumors, but it was also found that the cancer had spread to every organ but his heart. I guess his heart was just too strong for something like cancer to take root in it. I know he shared that heart with us all.

Two weeks ago he went to hospice with pnuemonia. He managed to survive thru several crisis with his breathing and his lungs. His body may of been willing to leave but his mind was determined to stay. Finally in the past 2 days, it got to be too much. He was given morphine to take the pain away and be able to slip quietly away from us all.

Goodbye Zio until we meet again. I love you.
Arlene