Friends With Flair and a Farewell -- it's Friday!!

If you are looking for my first ever post with Get Inky! Stamps, please look here!

I usually LOVE Friday! It's the end of the work week AND it's Friends with Flair.  This Friday, however, is rather melancholy for me.  My favorite online scrapbooking retailer is closing their doors today.  But Cropchocolate.com is so much more than where I get most my scrappy supplies.  It's also where I hang out online with my scrappy friends.  Between FWF and CC, it's where my scrapbookin, creative friendships have formed.  I've been on the CC design team since July, 2012, but have been actively involved in the site since March, 2009.  My final project for them posted yesterday.  I was in the middle of my June project when I got the news that the store was closing.  I lost my mojo to finish the project, but wanted to share with you what I had done. Because it's all about unity.  And Unity.

The theme for June was going to be family.  After thinking about it for some time.  I decided to go with the idea of showcasing my Crop Chocolate family and the friendships I have made there.  My plan was to make cards for those on the design team that I have served with the whole year term.  I wanted to make cards for each of them that represented them or our friendship.  I worked on these cards for most of the afternoon one Saturday.  That evening, I found out the store was closing.  Here's what I completed for the team and the story behind them.

I'll start with Karen -- Karey2005 on CC.  She's also a FWF regular.  She and I are on 2 design teams together.  We click.  This was the first card I made.  She has a boat.  She knows the significance of a good strong anchor.  Yeah, she's my anchor.  I hope our friendship lasts for years to come.

This first card uses Unity's Itty Bitty, Anchored (WIB-453).  Karen has also "encouraged" my twine collection, sending some from her spools, so I used some of it on this card.  I love you, Karen.

And, speaking of twine, this second card is for Corrie.  Speaking of twine addictions, I mean collections.  No one has furthered my stash more than Corrie.  So, this card is for her:

Corrie has a sweetness about her that I will always treasure.  She knows how to cultivate friendships.  I thought this sentiment was perfect for her.  There's lots of twine wrapped around this card -- hopefully in a color or two she doesn't have, that I'll be sending her way.

The third card is for my friend, Miwa.  Miwa, I hope you are participating in FWF this week.  Miwa loves bugs.  I've never met her, but I've seen pictures of her and her girls.  I imagine Miwa looked quite like this as a girl -- running through meadows with a butterfly net, hoping to some day be an entomologist. A scrapbooking entomologist, of Course!

Miwa blames me for her addiction to Copic type markers, but I really don't think it's my fault.  But, just in case I influenced her, I used my Copics on this card for her.  It has bugs, of course -- several butterflies and a beetle.  It uses the Unity/Phyllis Harris stamp set, "let love fly".  And Miwa does.  She experiences life with passion.  I'm so glad I've gotten to know her.  There's also some 3 Girl Jam crinkle ribbon on this card from the new Royal bundle and it was cut out with my Silhouette.

This next card is for Kathy.  Kathy had some major problems with her eyes during the second design team term we served on together. It didn't stop her from getting her assignment done on time, but it did severely limit her time on the computer, and the time she could "chat" with her fellow DT members. She spent many, many hours in the office of various eye specialists. This card is for her:

 

 

 

Kathy has a heart of gold.  She will do anything for anyone.  I will always treasure our time together on the CC DT.  And, I'm quite sure we will stay in touch.  She's too sweet to lose contact with.

 

Michelle, By Belle -- as she's known on the Crop Chocolate site, makes one fantastic creation after the other.  She has a very distinctive style.  I always know her work even before I see her watermark. She is an inspiration to many of us on the CC site.  Butterflies are a common theme for her. She's also longing for a Silhouette.  So, this card is for her.

 

The Unity stamp set used on this card is a Donna Downey studio "Art & Possibility".

 

The final card I got done is for Chris, or Christina, as she's known on CC.  She also often joins FWF, so I hope she sees this card.  Chris and I have much in common, including our love of Goldens -- and aging Golden Retrievers at that.  I made this card for her and her elderly Golden.  I've seen pics of her dog and know she has a gray face, just like my old Molly.  So, I tried for a gray faced Golden for her card.

 

 

This card uses the very first Unity/Phyllis Harris stamp set I ever purchased, "First Love". It is still probably my favorite. And, I just love the little girl with red tennies.  I almost always color her that way.  There's also some 3 Girl Jam ribbon on this card using one of the new colors from the coffee bundle. I'm using this card for the Crafty Creations something old/something new challenge -- old stamp/new ribbon and paper.

 

And that's my friendship cards to share with you this week. But, before I go, I have two winners to announce from my blog candy give away. I hit over 200 followers this week, so I decided to have two winners.  One winner I already heard from -- my friend Christine -- Chris -- who's card you just saw.  The other winner was Jennifer Mitten.  Jennifer, please LMK your address so I can send your goodies to you!

 

Have a great week, and treasure your friendships!

 

I'm entering these cards in the following challenges:

 

Simon Says Stamps -- things with wings

Unity -- Friends with Flair

Crafty Creations Challenges -- something old something new

Really Reasonable Ribbon -- sparkle, bling, and ribbon

Ribbon Carousel -- Celebrations

Oozak- Anything goes with earthtones

Sister Act Card Challenge -- anything goes

Silhouette Challenges -- anything goes

Cameo Creations Challenges -- Mother's Day

Marker Pop -- May flowers

D.L. Art Thursday Linky Party -- Anything Goes

Color Me Creative Classroom -- Celebrations