~ Inspiration and Blessings

  ~ Hello everyone,
 here's my card for the latest SOTC swap....
 Judy was the hostess for last Jan/Feb spot, and she challenged us to make a card
 using an 'Inspirations and Blessings' theme.

   Here's in her own words:
 Theme: Inspiration and Blessings!
It’s been a time of reflection the past month and now a time to look forward. So I would like you to create a card that expresses your hopes, dreams, and/or aspirations, for you or someone you would like to inspire and bless.

Extra option/challenge: 

Be creative and try something new….a new technique, never used before stamp, etc.

I am not sure if I did Judy's challenge any justice ....fact is I got stumped three times as my creative flow has been greatly diminished lately, to the point that I was seriously considering leaving the stamping world behind....yet I am hoping to get over this slump once more, soon...

Anyways, on my fourth attempt my mind took a new approach (took the opposite way...) and went with it: I thought of WHO inspired me so much throughout my life , who challenged me the most over my growing years and who was both a constant inspiration and my own true hero...Once my thought were in place this card emerged...This amazing person was the strongest one I have ever known, the most loyal one, the most helpful, the most generous,the most caring, trustworthy...etc etc...
                That person is my Dad.

Years ago I made a card for his birthday using same oak tree image , and wrote a poem to him that he appreciated very much. (Dad also used to write poetry amongst so many of his talents)
I also know he kept that particular card , along with so many others. I know he liked it very much and his tears of appreciations confirmed it. In my poem, one of the lines was comparing my Father's strength to the one of a majestic oak tree....
For this challenged I used same image, creating a totally different card and this is the result.
..







Feeling so blessed and grateful for my Father , for his inspirations, his love and guidance....for everything!
I just wished he still knew how so very much he's loved....

ok, 'nuff with this 'liquid stuff' streaming down
my cheeks now....

Even though these cards were sent to destination very late, I hope the recipients will like receiving them ,
if only for all the love and caring thoughts that was put into them....♥

   

On the left , the finished inside of the card, re-purposing the stamped circle from the front panel's die-cutting. Incidentally, the background stamp, En Francais, was finally inked for the first time , after having it purchased in 2007!! Yikes! :)

                 

♥Many, many blessings to you all! ♥
           thanks for visiting... 
                                                                                  

Card Deets:
Stamps: En Francais , Lovely as a Tree , Curvy Verses ,
               Warm Words (all from SU)
Card Stock: Very Vanilla , Soft Suede 
Inks: Versa Fine Onix Black , Versamark ,Mellow Moss , Certainly Celery , Olive Green , Soft Suede , Baja Breeze , Soft Sky.
Accessories: butterfly punch, glitter, round Spellbinders, swiss dots E/F, hair spray, dimentionals, ribbon (SU), green crystals.
Tecnique: window card,  sponging , dry embossing , punching , coloring with pastels .