Mashin' Up with Some Embellishments

Hello, and Happy Wednesday!

Here is my card for the Friday Mashup challenge.  I finished it earlier today, but nearly forgot to upload.  Sometimes, my brain is on overload!  The challenge was to use the Ombre technique and/or a cluster of embellishments.  I just had to Mash things up!

Recently, one of my aunt's fell and broke her wrist.  I wanted a bright card to cheer her up.  I used some "Irresistibly Yours" specialty paper, and brayered ink in certainly celery, pear pizzazz, and wild wasabi, then placed it on a garden green card base.  I LOVE green, especially in the summer! I added a strip of pear pizzazz twill ribbon (which is almost completely covered up!) The sentiment is from Stampabilities, mounted on basic black so it pops.  I had these Prima flowers from a swap years ago, and added some SU flower brads.  The design was heavy in the lower half, so I added lucky limeade bakers twine on top.





Next, I am going to quickly add 2 cards.

The first is for THREE challenges on SCS:  color, sketch, and Free4All, which was to make a graduation project. My sketch is slightly varied, wit circles instead of squares. The colors are blackberry bliss, wisteria wonder, and pool party.  LOVE!  I love nearly anything with purple tones, second only to green.  Sometimes, it's a tie!  LOL

My card base is blackberry bliss.  I added some wisteria wonder plus more Irresistibly Yours specialty paper, where I brayered colors again.  Some seam binding is used at the dividing line.  I used 4 stamp sets on this card:  "Tassel Time" (for the books,) "Pure Gumption" for the cap (the other was too large,) "Just Sayin'" for the woohoo word bubble, and "Word Perfect" for the greeting.

Finally, a Clean and Simple card for a sad occasion.  The card is simply in pool party, basic black, and whisper white.  I used SU's "Little Angel" and "So Sorry" stamps, plus a non-SU baby hands stamp.  A young couple here in town recently lost their baby.  He was born prematurely after a difficult pregnancy.  He lived outside the womb for 5 weeks.  I know how hard it is to bury your own child. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.  But this couple has tremendous faith, and has already given witness to the gift that their son is to them.  Very inspiring.  If you  are the praying  type, please keep this family in your prayers.

Sorry to end on a sad note.  But I guess as card makers, we know sometimes our craft is used to bring comfort to someone.  That is a blessing and a privilege, isn't it?  Thanks for stopping by!

Inky {{{HUGS}}}
Kim

I will always be Gabriel's Mom

Today, October 15th, is National Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Tonight, here in Danville, Sunset Funeral Homes hosted a memorial service for families that have lost tiny, precious babies.  I was blessed to share my testimony, as I have done for several years now.

The service was brief, solemn, and bittersweet.  There were parents and grandparents, even young siblings.  Some families have been there before, showing that it takes time to heal from the loss of a child.  My son, Gabriel, would be 19 years old if he was still alive on this earth.  He would be a freshman in college...or perhaps he would have joined the Navy like his dad and grandfather.

Every child conceived is very real, made in the likeness and image of God.  I believe these innocent babies have souls which now reside in heaven, eternally alive!  But while there is great joy in this realization for me, I know that many families are facing their grief with fresh tears.  Even when we say good-bye to adults, even when we trust they are in "a better place," there is a natural feeling of loss.  Whether someone lives for 33 weeks in the womb, like Gabriel, or for 101 years, each life impacts someone!  That is because every person matters!  Every life matters! Oh, that our culture would believe this to be true!!

As I was getting ready to leave, a young dad came up to me, to thank me for sharing my story.  His wife had twins, born prematurely.  One is still surviving, the other one is gone.  I could tell the grief is still very raw, so I hope I offered just the right words...whatever those are.  Yep, 19 years of sharing my story...but everyone's story is different.  The "right words" are hard to find.  But trust me.  The presence of a friend, the hugs from family, the permission to grieve can make a huge difference.

If you have lost a child through miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death, or abortion, please know that it is okay to feel sadness and emptiness.  I encourage you to name your child.  Remember your child.  Count your child.  Every child matters.

After all, as I often say... Gabriel is the little boy who made me a mommy."  
And his mommy, I'll always be.


Kim