Nov 18 2008
Beate’s Inspiration Challenge #32 and a Birthday.
Beate’s inspiration piece this week is a child’s room. The thing that caught my eye was the lions, monkeys and other animals. They
brought Africa to mind. Now this may be because my son’s girlfriend just returned from spending a month in Africa.. Madagascar to be exact. And did she ever have a unique and wonderful surprise for me! She brought me stamps. Not just any stamps but handmade stamps. She said that this vendor in Antananarivo had a book from which you could choose a design. He would then proceed to carve that design into the rubber. She picked out a couple of chameleon images. I made my card for Beate’s challenge today with one of these awesome stamps.
The raffia on the card is also something that she brought me. It is so fresh that it is still green.
These stamps are such a special gift. I just LOVE them!
Thank you SO MUCH, Elise!
Be sure to check out the other inspiration challenge team’s blogs!
Jennifer Buck
Charmaine Ikach
Silke Ledlow
Danielle Lounds
Dawn McVey
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Inspiration Card
Stamps: Handmade Chameleon from Madagascar, Africa; SU! ‘Happiness is a Journey’
Papers: SU! Tangerine Tango, Basic Black, Whisper White, DSP ‘Patterns’ in Bali Breeze and ‘Haiku’
Inks: SU! Really Rust, Old Olive Markers; Versafine ‘Onyx Black’
Accessories: Raffia, GG Ribbon, Sun Eyelet, Cuttlebug, Circle Nestabilities, Brad
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Today is one of my sons’ birthday. Gosh I think he is turning a quarter of a century today or 2-1/2 decades. How can this be? If he is that old then it makes me REALLY old especially considering that he is my 3rd son! lol I love the sentiment used on the inspiration challenge. So here it is again.. and again.. and again.
Happy Birthday, Gary!!
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Birthday Card
Stamps: SU! ‘Happiness is a Journey’
Papers: SU! Basic Black, Whisper White, Riding Hood Red
Inks: SU! Craft Whisper White; Versafine ‘Onyx Black’
Accessories: SU! Circle Brad, GG Ribbon, VersaMarker, Clear Embossing Powder, Cuttlebug, ‘Distressed Stripes’ Embossing Folder
You’ve used this set beautifully! It is one of the set that I really want to get for myself. My Dad worked for a train company all of his life, so I have a soft spot for train images.
TFS!
Cindy
Two very lovely cards. But I am especially impressed by what lovely and thoughtful gifts Elise brought you. She must be a keeper! Thanks for sharing the information about the stamps and the photos of them - what a treasure they are!
Both of these cards are outstanding, Susan.
I don’t think you could have received a more unique or special gift. Love how your iguana looks. The fresh raffia is the perfect finishing touch.
Happy Birthday to your son! The image you used is on my wish list and really is perfect for masculine cards. Love how this turned out!
Two great cards, Susan, I just bought the train stamp, so thank you for the inspiration.
Susan - this is such a cute take ont he BIC room!!!
Your b-day card for your son is gorgeous!!! He is gonna love it for sure!!! Tell him *Happy Birthday* from me too!!! Have fun celebrating!!!
Hi Susan! That is the most beautiful train card! I just talked myself out of purchasing this set . . . and now you show me this? I guess it goes back on my wish list . . . you enabler you! Have a happy day!
Kay
Wow, these are both fabulous!! Awesome creations!!
What a wonderful and thoughtful gift for your son’s girlfriend to bring you from her trip to Africa! She must know the way to your heart
I love how you used the stamp too, that little starburst eyelet sets it off perfectly along with that awesome raffia!
I have the same train stamp set and just love how it looks, but thanks for giving me a fresh new idea for using the sentiment! That’s a very creative and fabulous look!
Happy birthday to your son! He’s still a young’un and so are you!!
WOW! Those stamps from Africa are off the charts wonderful! What a special gift! Those are certainly treasures for sure. And the card you made with one of them is fabulous! The birthday card is wondedrful too! Happy Birthday to your son! Best, Curt
These are wonderful, Susan!! Great job with Beate’s inspiration challenge, and I love your son’s birthday card too! Happy Birthday to Gary!!
Those stamps are just awesome! How sweet of her to think of you! Definitely seems like a keeper! ;D
Happy Birthday to your son!!! Love the card you made for him! I was impressed with the stamp from Madagascar! Wow! That is so sweet of your son’s girlfriend! Very cool card and so special! Thank you for sharing the pictures of the stamps!
Oooo! Love the train card! And WOW to the stamps!!! That’s crazy cool!!! What an incredible thing!
What a treasure!! Hand made stamps from Madagascar!! How cool!!! Love the handles too!! Love your sons card too!! Gorgeous!!!!!!!!!
POST EDITED: My son just emailed me… The images are of chameleons NOT iguanas!! I knew that. D’oh.
Ok Im speechless… What a totally fantastic train card… but the lizard card just won me over…OUTSTANDING!!!!
Those stamps sure are special - and made a wonderful card. The one with the two chameleons is so sweet.
I enjoyed reading about Madagascar - my aunt worked there a long time (over 40 years!) ago, and recently we asked to see all her slides from her time there, fascinating.
Love those cool chameleons stamps!!! How neat to have those in your collection.
Happy Birthday to your son!!!
Fabulous, love,love, love the look of both of your cards.
That is about the coolest gift I have seen! How fun to know that they were hand crafted just for you!!!
Both of these are beautiful, Susan! I love the rafia on the inspiration card…what a perfect touch!
Hope you are doing well! 
Wow! What an awesome, awesome gift! Beautifully hand-etched. Incredible! You made such a great card with them, too! Love the second one, as well. The train image is one I’ve admired. Happy birthday to your son. 25–wow! Time marches on. It’s easy to get a little choked up sometimes, isn’t it?
i love your inspiration card by that train card makes me want to buy that stamp!!!! Fabulous!!!
Gorgeous, gorgeous cards! What an awesome and thoughtful gift she brought you…she definitely sounds like a fabulous choice for DIL! Amazing card…love the raffia and how perfectly inspired it is! The card for your son is equally wonderful…love the repeated sentiment it fits so perfectly with the train…Love it!
Oh my gosh, Susan, both of these cards are stunning! I didn’t get the train set because I couldn’t see in my mind how in the world I would use it! Well, you have done a marvelous job with this image, my sons would have flipped for this card while they were growing up, especially Stephen, my train lover!
Daniel would have flipped for the iguana card, he was our little Steve Erwin growing up, we thought for sure he’d want to be a vet, nope, he loves biology and will probably choose on occupation in that field. Thanks for sharing these fabulous cards and bringing back wonderful memories of my “guys!” {{{hugs}}}
Love the chameleon stamps, the card turned out beautiful. Nice simple fresh lines.
Happy Birthday Gary!
Wow what neat & special stamps!!
[…] Susan Roberts […]
The birthday card for your son is fantastic. I hope he had a wonderful day. I still can’t get over the fact that you have grown children and little grandchildren. You look too young for that!
Your BIC card looks awesome. How wonderful of your friend to get you these stamps.
Hugs and smiles
How special those stamps are!…your son has a very sweet girlfriend. You did a wonderful job pairing one of your new images with the inspiration challenge. Great card! I love the sun eyelet inside the sun image. And your train card for your son’s birthday is very nice as well — you do such a beautiful job with your ‘guy’ cards. (I need to take lessons!) The repeating sentiment are so appropriate (and true!), and the little touches of embossing powder add some nice highlighting effects. tfs
[…] Accessories: Kraft Corduroy Button, Ribbon Originals “Rustic Retreat”, Piercing Tool and Template; Raffia from Madagascar […]