Sunday, September 23, 2012

Cold Turkey


Two years into marriage, I remember purchasing a turkey breast for a special Thanksgiving dinner for my husband and I. Not a whole turkey where I'd be too frightened to cook it and not the turkey lunch meat we usually got, but a compromise. I remember feeling icky that Thanksgiving evening (our first born would arrive just one month later) so in the freezer it went. Sometime around mid-January I excitedly prepared the turkey breast and a few fixing and just as I pulled this gorgeous looking mini-turkey out of the oven, we got a knock on our door. It was the neighbors coming by for a visit to see the baby. I put the turkey back in the oven to keep it warm so we could have a short, social visit. By the time the guests left, the turkey and the fixins were cold... That is my version of the origination of cold turkey.


Such a fun week this will be as Lil' Inker Designs has a whole slew of new, amazing products debuting. If you are following the Blog Hop, you should have arrived from Laura N.'s Blog, otherwise you can start at the beginning here! There are hidden prizes along the hop, so please be sure to comment on every stop for your chance to win! 


My first card to show today, the one above,  uses the cute Thanksgiving Wishes set that features a Sugar Kissed Cottage images and a few corresponding sentiments that I got to design. I colored the image with marker and lightly brushed everything with some distress ink. The background is from the interior Textured Frame and the sentiment has been trimmed out with the Sentiment Flag.


This next card features the new fabulous die set, Balloons and a corresponding sentiment stamp set, You're Invited (that I designed!)! Lil' Inker Designs really has such fun dies with cute details, but this die is something I've never seen before. You have the capability to create custom designs with a "punch out" die! I used the dies as a masking tool on this card.


I told you, right?! So many amazing products debuting this month from Lil' Inker Designs! Remember, for more inspiration and your chance to win, hop along and comment! Your next stop is Mary Johnson's Blog!

(And for those of you wondering: I have yet to cook a whole turkey, eleven years later!)

52 comments:

  1. Poor cold turkey!!! ;) But super sweet card!
    The second one made me GASP! It is pure amazement. Your masking is nothing short of perfection- I ADORE this creation!!! (and congrats on another set!)
    xoxo

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  2. Wow, cool goodies, can't wait to see more... and I haven't either, if it makes you feel better :)

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  3. LoL, your too funny Karen! Love both your cards - the masking is brilliant :)

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  4. My hubby cooks the turkeys in our house - thank goodness! Love both cards, Karen! The pilgrim couple is adorable and I love the way you used the dies as a mask for the balloons - looks amazing!

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  5. Karen both of your cards are fantastic! The technique you used with the balloons is crazy amazing.

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  6. Ha ha ha ha.... You made me laugh!!! too funny...

    both cards are stunning....the masking is way too gorgeous.... brilliant as always...never failed to amaze me with your beautiful creations.... have a great week a head.... hugs..xoxo

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  7. Karen, loved your turkey story! We must all have one in our early years of marriage.....mine is that I cooked the turkey and didn't even get to eat it for hours due to an ER visit because I cut my hand on some cheese for snacking! ughh! Anyway, I love your sentiments in the new set....and the balloon card is awesome! Have a great week!

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  8. What an adorable Thanksgiving card, love the CAS style! How inventive to use the balloons as a mask the effect is breathtaking! xx

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  9. fabulous cards beautiful colouring and awesome balloon card the colours are wonderful!
    thanks for the ideas
    suzie qx

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  10. Okay...how sad am I that it took almost 20 years for me to make a real turkey and then Pat made it! :)

    Your cards are both awesome...the inking on the second one is incredible.

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  11. Love the stunning Ballon Card!!!!
    Great Work!!!

    Big Hugs
    Hilde Loch

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  12. Great idea using the balloon dies as a mask Karen! Lovely cards!!

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  13. Had a good laugh reading your story. Luckily in The Netherlands we don't have thansgiving, so I will never have to experience this turkey thing, brrrr. I LOVE your masking card. It is so inspirational. It's on my to do list now!

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  14. chuckling at your cold turkey story....

    Love your cards...especially the 2nd one...very neat.

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  15. wow amazing especially the masked card, very inspiring!

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  16. Love the cold turkey story and what a great memory to have.
    The card as usual is fabulous.

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  17. Wow - that balloon card is amazing! Love that you can use the dies as mask! Such a unique look!

    Great Thanksgiving card too! I love your turkey story!! LOL

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  18. Great story! Terrific cards! Love the masking technique.

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  19. Those are great cold turkey memories! Loving your cards. The little couple is so cute and so well colored, but that second card takes my breath away. It's just GORGEOUS! Love it!

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  20. Cute cards- really like the hazy look of the balloons. Your stories always crack me up. :) I think I've only made one whole turkey since we were married- 14yrs now. We had the parents all up for Tgiving a few years ago and I tried a basted turkey recipe. Took about 3 extra hours to cook that blasted thing since we kept opening the oven to baste it and the heat kept coming out. I'm not a turkey fan so I haven't made others but we did help out with the best one I've had and one I might actually make again. It was brined for 2-3 days in a lemon/tea brine and then grilled. Even I'd say it was good. :) http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Grilled-Tea-Brined-Turkey-with-Tea-and-Lemon-Gravy-231086

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  21. Thanks for sharing that story, lol. Your projects are adorable. LOVE that green background on the first card, makes the image pop!!

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  22. These are FANTASTIC Karen! Love what you've done with the balloons. I used to cook a whole turkey you know for the whole Thanksgiving "look" and we never ate the dark meat, drumsticks...so now I just do the large turkey breasts!

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  23. Wonderful and simple first card it really showcases the image. The second card is just stunning with the way you masked the balloons.

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  24. That second card is absolutely fantastic, Karen. I love everything about it, but the technique especially. Way to work those dies!

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  25. wow you colored that adorable little image so awesome..I love the new release...

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  26. Oh, your masking idea is wonderful! Two great cards, today!

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  27. Your post is too funny Karen. It really made me laugh...lol.
    Superb cards..esp. the one with masking. Brilliant!!!

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  28. Both are great cards Karen, but the masking with the balloons is stunning! Beautiful work!

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  29. I was a little worried where your story was going - cradling a turkey vs. a new baby - I imagined the neighbors taking one look in your arms and seeing a turkey!!??! Those balloons are truly amazing - I cannot believe they are simply masked!

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  30. Great cards. Love them. Love the way you did the balloons too.

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  31. Karen, your sentiments are fabulous! I feel like I'm seeing your work everywhere these days! It's so exciting!

    Loving both your cards especially those stunning masked balloons. Love the sweet, soft feel!

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  32. They are both fabulous...
    but dying over the incredible balloons...
    love it!!

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  33. Adorable thanksgiving card and wonderful way to use the dies for masking on the balloon card.
    I like your cold turkey story.

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  34. Wow, Karen! I'm totally blown away! Your thankgiving card is utterly adorable but your balloon card really steals the show. It's incredibly artistic. It looks like a painting. I am just blown away at the beauty of that card! WOW!!!!
    Thank you so much!
    Laura

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  35. I will always think of you when I hear cold turkey now!

    Your Tday card is so cute, I love the vintage feel. Good 'ol Pilgrims :) And the balloon card is so fun, love how you used the dies as a mask.

    And I love your stamp set you designed. So many possibilities :)

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  36. lol such memories :)
    your cards are awesome girl (as always!!!

    might try just the breast this year as i am sooooo tired of all the left overs from a whole bird.

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  37. How clever, Karen! I love hwo you used the dies and your cute couple are so darn CUTE!

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  38. Such a cute story!

    I love love your Thanksgiving card! Totally adorable and precious!

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  39. *thud* That balloon card is crazy amazing! LOVE. And your Thanksgiving card and story made me giggle!

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  40. I think we all have those first turkey dinners to look back and laugh at now. Great story I enjoyed it. I love your cards and really love how you did the balloon card. Great idea. Still loving that die set. Hum may have to make a shopping tour.

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  41. Looooove the balloons! Such a great idea!
    -Janna Bowling

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  42. beautiful coloring on the first image and thanks for sharing the lovely story behind it. we stopped making whole turkey for thanksgiving a couple of years ago since it really stressed hubby out (he is the cook of this household). we now make short ribs or ham. much easier and stress free. =) love love love the balloon scene you created on the second card. the colors are divine!

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  43. So creative with the masking! Ahhh, cold turkey :>)

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  44. The Thanksgiving card is cute, but the balloon card is spectacular. I really love it.

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  45. Both amazing cards!

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  46. my gosh...i love that balloon card. can you do a tutorial on how you layered everything? it looks like one melded image! how did you get the stars to show so clearly...utterly gorgeous! this card is a new favorite for me...love it

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