Thursday, January 5, 2012

For You, Mom

I've just had the most stressful week! My house guests left on Saturday after 11 days and I was hoping to have some time to clean the house and relax. On Monday, when my father was admitted to hospital with heavy gastro-intestinal bleeding, we feared the worst. Due to his liver condition, he can't have any kind of surgery, even for his hernia. On Tuesday night, after some tears over the phone, my sister made the decision to drive up with her family so she could see him if he had to have surgery. Yesterday afternoon, after a colonoscopy, the doctors deemed it was an infection and flare up of another condition that was operated on years ago. After a blood transfusion and antibiotics, all is well and my father was able to go home this morning. My sister asked me not to tell my parents she was coming so they were surprised and, hopefully, delighted.

Today was a good day since it was my mother's birthday! It's been almost 20 years since the entire family has been together on my mother's birthday. I ran out to get a cake from Dufflets and she shockingly loved it. My mother doesn't appreciate gifts in general but she's been on a 90% cocoa kick lately so I picked a dark chocolate truffle cake and her reaction was, "Wow, this is good! It's pure chocolate!" She even asked me to leave the cake! Those of you familiar with this story would totally understand. LOL When my mother made her wish, my sister had to remind her not to say it out loud because she was about to. I think we all know what she wished for!

Anyway, I had about 30 minutes to design, assemble and photograph this card before my husband came home and we had to leave to head over to my parents' house to celebrate! Figures I would want to use my new Mini Rolled Roses die for the first time and not be able to figure out how to use them for 10 whole minutes. I kind of just threw these colours together using whatever scraps were next to my paper trimmer, hoping they would look good together. It was pure luck. Then my camera wouldn't cooperate so it doesn't even look like the edges of the card are straight! Needless to say, I started panicking and sweating. That doesn't happen too often when I'm crafting! :P

Sources: Gina K Designs pure luxury white & kraft cardstock; SU Garden Green & Pool Party cardstock; Paper Smooches Word Up; Memento Rich Cocoa ink; Tim Holtz for Ranger Antique Linen & Walnut Stain distress inks; MFT Die-namics Layered Label Die & Mini Rolled Roses; Felt on the Fly red & marigold 100% merino wool felt; SU Basic Pearls & Basic Rhinestones; May Arts brown burlap string; foam tape

34 comments:

kavitha said...

This is so beautiful,love the felt flowers:)

Meghan said...

My best wishes to your dad for a speedy recovery. Your card is perfect!

Jay Gee said...

Oh Emily, I am so happy for you that your dad is well enough to go home and that you were able to have the whole family together for your mum. Love the card. Hugs Judith

Annette Allen said...

This card is beautiful..I bet she loved it... So glad to hear your dad is doing better and well enough to go back home.

~amy~ said...

busy busy week for you...your card is very pretty..love the blooms! Glad that you're dad is doing good! Happy birthday to your mom:)

Anita Rex said...

Oh what a week Emily! It always happens when you least need it right? So sorry to hear about your dad but happy it did work out :> Love this card. The ones that you make last minute with whatever colors you can and as fast as you can often are the best ones! :>

Creations by Shirl said...

I'm glad all is well at your home front and Dad is at home...
HB to your mom and her card is just gorgeous.......
Have a great stress-free evening Emily....

Emily Keaton said...

Oh, my, Emily! You've certainly had your hands full. I'm so glad that your father was able to go home from hospital. This card for your mom is gorgeous! You are truly a natural at what you do, if this "thrown-together-at-the-last-minute" card is any indication. It looks anything BUT! Take care--I'm thinking of you all. :)

Tiffany Ervin said...

Those rolled flowers are so sweet! Beautiful card! Happy day to your mom and so relieved that your dad is recovering! Hugs to you!

Chunyuan said...

best wishes for your dad and happy birthday to your mom. Beautiful card. Love those felt rolled flowers.

Bee's hive said...

rolled flower dies? chocolate cake...now you're talking my language:) I'm glad your Dad is home and the family got together. Now on to your card- incredible treasure is all I have to say, it should be framed.
(you really need to tell me where those dies are...drooling)

Virginia L. said...

Wish your mom a happy birthday! That must have been some week you had gone through! Glad that your Dad's condition has improved! This card is perfect for your mom and I am sure she LOVES it as much as the cake:)

Wendy ten Hove said...

Wauw, Emily, you and your family have been through a lot the past days! I'm so happy that your dad is okay again now, but that must have been stressful and sad! Very, very nice that you were all together on your mums birthday, that surely made your parents happy!!! Love the card you made for her, it's just perfect, even when you were in a rush making it! I love it and I'm sure she did too! Sometimes parents can really scare you! My mum was also in surgery just before christmas and it's always scary, reminds you that you can not take them for granted and that you should show them you love them, like you did with the pretty card and delicious cake!!!! All the best! Please also send my love to your parents!!
Hugs, Wendy

Ujjwal said...

Best wishes for your father! Good to know that he recovered and was able to be at home! Wishing your mum a very happy birthday!

Love the 15 min card! The colors go so well together!

Vicky Hayes said...

Thank goodness all is well with your father - and the silver lining is that the whole family were together to celebrate your mom's birthday! You must have felt weird when the approval came for the cake - but hopefully pleased! You'd never know you were in a rush with the card, it looks gorgeous.

Cornelie said...

What a story! I like to hear that everything is getting better now! Happy Birthday to your mom, and what a great card for your mom!! It has to turn out this way!!
Bye Cornelie

Angela said...

My goodness, what a happy ending! I'm so glad your dad's doing better, your mom loved her cake (bet she loved her card, too), all your houseguests (and their evidence) are gone, and that no one was too mad about your sister's visit ;)

Speaking of the card, it's amazing! Yet another reason to covet those dies. The roses are great, and the burlap string adds just the perfect touch!

Great day all around.

Lynn said...

Ah...so glad your dad is okay. I'll say a prayer for him that everything continues to go well. And...love your mom's card. I am thrilled that she really liked it and the cake!

Meg said...

Whew, glad to hear your dad made it out of the hospital AOK! Hopefully this weekend will be full of naps and cardmaking!

Love the card--I know it would have taken me hours to make, but it's a wonder what one can do under time pressure, huh? Happy Birthday to your mom!

Karen B. said...

Glad to hear things are better. Great card too!

Jingle said...

It sounds like things are going better than expected! Your card is super cute and I do hope that your father recovers fully and quickly!

Anonymous said...

love it Emily! TFS!

*Alison* said...

oh my heavens.. my heart goes out to you..just know our thoughts are with you.. I hope your dad feels better soon.. this is such a beautiful card. Love the flowers :) hugs

Scrapowe Sosasowisko said...

Best wishes for Your Dad! The card is lovely!

Jenny said...

You needn't have worried Emily it looks gorgeous and the colours look great together :) Glad to hear your dad is back at home and you could all be together on your mums birthday :)
Jenny x

Lisa said...

Wish I could "throw" together a card that perfect in 30 min. or less! sheesh!
Sorry to hear about your dad. Wishing him a very speedy recovery!!
Those cakes looked AMAZING! No wonder your mom loved it!
Now try to just sit down and relax!!

Lindsey said...

Wow, what a week! So glad it's ending better than it started, with your dad home from the hospital, and a big family birthday to celebrate. (Mmmm, chocolate truffle cake from Dufflets...)
The card is awesome, of course. I love the roses, and isn't it fun when colours you have on hand work so well together? Wait, you had paper scraps? ;)

Marlena M. said...

Emily, this is beautiful! It doesn't look thrown together at all.
Wow, you have had quite a start to the new year. I pray it settles down a bit for you to take a breather.

farmhouse-story said...

glad your dad is back home, emily:) your card is so very pretty with the felt flowers!

Alice said...

this is so sweet! lovely card, Emily! Happy New Year to you and yours! =)

Erin (Homemade Cards by Erin) said...

I'm glad there's a happy ending to this stressful story... Beautiful card, you'd never know you put it together in 10 minutes.

Jessi Fogan said...

Oh my, what a brutal stressful time for all of you - lots of hugs and good thoughts headed out your way. I'm so glad your father's recovered enough to go home again, but what a scary time :(
Nice that everyone could be together for your mom's birthday - I'm sure that meant a lot to her too after such a frightening time!

Jen W. said...

So sorry to hear about your dad's health scare but glad he's home and on the mend. And congrats on picking a winner of a cake!

walchowDesign said...

Wishing speedy recovery to your dad! I'm glad you did not give up on this beautiful card, Emily! It looks beautiful and am sure your mum love it! Hope you had fun at the gathering!