Monday, February 22, 2010

How Many Panels??!!


When I first saw this sketch I freaked out.  Waaaay too many panels for my little mind to have to deal with LOL!  However, since Canada lost to the US in hockey last night I was more than a little bit feisty and welcomed something to take it out on - ha!!  I think making this card added rather than subtracted from my frustrations of the evening, but at least I can say I've done the sketch LOL!  

I went with a green monochromatic look as it was an easy out.  The colours lent themselves to my Mike's $1.50 tree stamp and some chocolate chip quite nicely so I ran with it.  The leaves on the tree are actually celery and olive, but you can't really tell the difference- yup, my night wasn't improving much LOL!  I framed the image with some nesties and, used the Distressed Lines embossing folder because it reminds me of tree bark. The rest was kept rather simple because it felt like a masculine card so I added a sentiment panel rather than a bow below the tree image.  Not sold on the card, but it fit in rather well with the emotions of the evening....what can I say, we Canadians take our hockey very seriously and hate to lose!  However, as one who has personally competed in many a sporting event, I can honestly appreciate and commend Miller for his outstanding performance in goal!!


On a lighter note, our family ventured into Vancouver yesterday to catch some of the Olympic festivities.  I think the sunshine and warm weather (13C - 58F) brought most of the Lower Mainland to Vancouver yesterday because it was a zoo down there!  I should have taken a picture of the crowds!  Line ups for any of the pavilions were anywhere from 2 - 6 hours long.  In addition, people actually show up around 6:30 a.m. to line up for some of the more popular venues that open at 9 or 10 a.m.!!!  Reminds me of when Expo was in Vancouver.  One lady coined it perfectly :  "Disneyland has nothing on these line ups!"  Needless to say, there was no way our kids would stand in a line for that long so we took in the cauldron, walked around for a few hours, enjoyed the atmosphere (it was incredible seeing so many wearing red and white!) and called it a day.  If the venues are open through the Para Olympics we may head down and try again but no sooner. Here are a few pics of our day out.

They had a really fun topiary display.  A curler, a hockey player and Vancouver 2010 .  Just had to take some pictures.  My kids cooperated at this point but by the end of the day they were done smiling for the camera LOL!

This is a picture of all the flags by the Athlete's village.  You can see the Swiss flag at the top of the one building and there are others up as well.  The Canadian's had a huge flag over a balcony just the right of the picture but the angle was wrong so I couldn't catch it.  Wish the wind had been blowing a bit as it would have been a fabulous picture with all the flags extended.   These next pictures were taken on the shores of False Creek near the Russian Soshi Pavilion (they are hosting the next Winter Olympics).  There was a 4 hour line up to get in so we passed and decided to enjoy walking along the seawall. On our way we tripped across an amazing sight.  On the banks of the seawall there were hundreds of Inukshuks people had made with the rocks.  It was a truly amazing sight.  Lots of adults and little kids were down there making their own to add to the count.  It's little pleasures like this that just make me smile.  Here are pictures of a few that were made and the bottom picture is just a portion of the ones that lined the short.
 



This is the type of day where Vancouver just shines in all its splendor.  Beautiful blue skies, warm temps, flowers blooming (I saw tons of daffodils and even a cherry tree in bloom), snow covered mountains in the background (what's left of it anyway!), and a beautiful blue ocean.  Believe me this is NOT our  normal February weather!!  We are usually growing webbed feet by now due to all the rain so don't be fooled LOL!

Thanks for letting me ramble :D  Have a glorious day :D 





What's In It?
Stamps:  Mike's $1.50 Stamp, All year Cheer I
Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Tan
Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Certainly Celery
Accessories:  Label 3 Nesties, Circle Nesties, Distressed Lines Embossing Folder, 5/8"  Brown Satin Ribbon, Large Oval Punch, Tag Punch Paper Piercer, Half Pearls, Dimensionals

14 comments:

Laural-Lee said...

Fantastic photos Marisa. Thanks for sharing those wonderful pictures of Vancouver during the Olympics. So wish I could be there and it makes me miss the lower mainland so much :) I even miss the rain!

I too was disappointed with the game but Miller did an incredible job.

Your card is beautiful btw. I love texture you gave to the background panels and your label die. Love the calming feel to it!

Mary J said...

Hello Marisa! I love your take on the challenge - great idea! I'm going to go and get some inspiration from the rest of your blog!

Wanda Cullen said...

My condolences to you on the hockey game loss - lol! Due to my work schedule, this is the first Olympics that I haven't been able to follow at all. Loved your pics...thanks so much for sharing! We're getting rain now, but it's better than the white stuff! BTW, your card is great and the textured panels are a perfect back drop for the tree image. I groaned, too, when I saw the sketch...cheated a bit on my card by keeping all the panels the same color CS. :-)

Alex said...

Great photos Marisa, thanks so much for sharing!!!

Your card is gorgeous, I love the colors and the textre! I have this one on my desk to work on tonight!

*STAMPIN HUGS* Alex

Vickie Z said...

I understand the hesitating when you saw the sketch...did this one too but, haven't posted yet. Love the panels with embossing-perfect with the tree!! Glad you had fun walking around at the Olympics!!

Dawn B. said...

I love love love seeing your pictures.. I have watched the Olympics each night. I have to think that it being warm would be better than it being below 0... Your card is also beautiful.. I LOVE all those panels and I have to give this at try.. Great job Marisa... Your daughter looks just like you... :)

Maureen said...

what a fun day!! I love all the inukshuks!! My family said it was crazy busy too and they only went into Vancouver because a couple of their events were cancelled. My brother and BIL met Mike Babcock in a restaurant and had their picture taken with him :)

Love your card and the embossed panels...once I found out that it's really only 5 panels and not 10, it was easier to deal with...just had to play with paper a bit...nothing wrong with that!! LOL

Pam Speidel said...

As a big fan of the Olympics, I really enjoyed your photos Marisa! Thanks so much for sharing them with us!
It was a very challenging sketch and your card ROCKS! Smiles, Pam :)

Lea L. said...

Your card is lovely! The embossing gives it the perfect amount of texture, and matches the tree stamp so well!! Great job with the sketch!

And I am so jealous that you got to to go Vancouver and participate in some Olympic activity!! Looks like a wonderful time!!

♥♥♥Lea

Unknown said...

I not only enjoyed looking at your beautiful card Marisa, I loved the little bit of insight into the Games as seen from a personal perspective. Your photos are amazing and a joy to see.
you have a beautiful family.
Love viv xx

Linda Callahan said...

Thanks for sharing your Olympic pictures - I am going to miss them when they are over! I have to say I am amazed how beautiful and springlike your weather is!

TrishG said...

Love the tree card. The colors you chose for the panels and the embossing look great!

Thanks for sharing some olympic pics. I'm in Canada too! Must be fun to be there.

Nance Leedy said...

I, too, said "Aaaaaa" when I saw all the panels in this sketch but while I ran for the hills you rocked it! Glad to find your blog and thanks for your comment on mine!

ChristineCreations said...

Well the card is fantastic...but I also loved seeing your pictures of Vancouver, I can't believe your weather! And what adorable kids you have Marisa! Looks like you had a fun family day!