Inkspirations Challenge 28
WHAT it’s Friday already? No it feels like Thursday! That public holiday on Monday has thrown my week out but loving the short week I must say. You know Friday means 3 things…. 1. The weekend is almost here 2. Teneale updates her blog…. I know, I know you all want me to do that more then just a Friday…. stop telling me 
and 3. A new Inkspiration challenge is released. So what is the Inkspiration challenge for this week? a colour challenge and I really, really struggled with these colours…. I mean struggled….. they are Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Elegant Eggplant and Whisper White! So not colours I use together, if I had a little Old Olive I would of been fine but O.M.G!
Even tho I struggled with the colours and played around with lots of ideas trying to make these colours work for me, I am kind of happy with the end result. I made this card for someone dear to me who is having a hard time at the moment and I was having a heart to heart with her the other day and I spoke about the Carrot, Egg and Coffee Bean? Most Aussie SU! Demos know what I am talking about {yes we do speak a special language sometimes} but it was part of a presentation that the inspirational Derek Christenson gave at last years Convention. For me and many others it really hit home. Want to hear it? Well….. grab a cup of coffee and get comfy….
Are you a Carrot, an Egg or Coffee Bean?
By Author Unknown
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life, and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it, and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first pot, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me what do you see?” “Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied. She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they got soft. She then asked her to take the egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to smell and sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she smelled and tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, “What’s the point, mother?”
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity- boiling water-but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they had changed the water. “Which are you?” she asked her daughter. “When trials and adversity knock on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?”
Think of this: Which am I?
Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a passive heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside, am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?
Or, am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you become better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate to another level?
.
After all that here is the card I made, I know my friend will love it because it will remind her to be the coffee bean.
Inside…. On the left I have slipped in a coffee bag and on the other side I did a little tea cup stack using “Share a Cup” from the current Mini Catalogue. I have not yet put in the message because….. well I like to share with you guys but maybe not the message.
All Materials are from Stampin’ Up!
Stamps: Sip by Sip, It’s your Day and Share a Cup*
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Pumpkin Pie and Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Pumpkin Pie retired DSP
Other: Chocolate Ribbon, Embossing Folder Polka Dots*, Sizzlits Lots of Tags* and Small Oval Punch
*Sold in Autumn Winter Mini Catalogue
Check out the other DT’s creations and be inspired!
Keesh is away at the moment.
June Guest Superstar Lee Pelosi
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27 People have left comments on this post
Jun 18, 2010 - 06:06:17A lovely creation Teneale – the embossed background is great – really pops out. Cute coffee cups. You’ve worked the colours well.
Sweet card Teneale. Love your stack of cups! Thanks for sharing the story as well.
Teneale! You are a genius my friend! What an inspiring story, and it onlt serves to make the sweet gift you made for your friend, even more special!! I adore your coffee card in these colours, and as usual, the inside is as awesome as the outside! This wee cup hasn’t been on my wish list, but is sure is now!!! Thankyou for your inspiration.
Your story reminded me of a similar one a work colleague told me when I was having trouble settling a conflict with a fellow.. “when an urn of perfume is stirred up, it’s beautiful fragrance fills the room. As does the scent of ‘excretement’ when stirred.” ie. when someone stirs you, be the perfume!
Lee x
Teneale,
What a fabulous card…and a great story – definitely something very good to think about! I appreciate it too!
Wow, what an awesome story. Your little project is amazing too. I am sure your friend will love it!!
I love what you have done with the challenge, stunning card as alway.
Rach:)
Loved the story. Inspirational.
Hi Teneale,
a really classy result, no one would guess you struggled with the colours!Using a different colour for each cup is a great feature. I’m sure it will lift your friends spirits.
Kim
Wow! This is sensational Teneale! What a lovely idea for your friend who is struggling. I’m sure she will really appreciate it! You have worked the colours perfectly. Great story … was this the one that we also heard at Canberra Convention??? Hhhmmm … seems to ring a bell … but thanks for sharing it with us! Hugs Andrea xx
Wow, Teneale, I could never tell that you struggled looking at the end result. How gorgeous!! And you used my favorite stamp set, too!
Love the card and love how appropriate it is for your friend. Very nicely done!!
Cindy
Its GORGEOUS!!!! I think your card is absolutley adorable and the story to go with it is even better. Thanks so much for sharing with us…xxx
Great card and story! Thanks for sharing.
Wow, Teneale, that story really brings it home. I loved it and thanks so much for sharing. Sometimes I think we need to sit back and smell the coffee. I love what you done with the card and I am sure you will put a smile on your dear friend’s face.
Karen G.
Love it Teneale! Thankyou for sharing the Carrot, Egg & Coffee Bean story too. I am sure your friend will rise to the challenge of her adversity, whatever it is and come through wonderfully, just like the coffee bean does xoxo
love
Adele
xoxo
What a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing. Its given me lots to think about for me in my situation. And again, love your work! You’re amazing!
Absolutely amazing Teneale, just like always your work is stunning yet again!
love Sally
Ink-redible, Teneale.
This story is wonderful Teneale, how many people have these moments in life when they don’t know how they are going to get through the next week. I had a week a little while ago where I just wanted to do harm to somebody, problem was I couldn’t choose which person! I could have done with a talk from Teneale! And the card is wonderful too, with difficult colors. Brown and orange reminds me very much of the 70′s but you have made the main color purple which takes the heat of the brown and orange.
Loving your card Ten! But I always do!
I would love to be more like the coffee Bean but most times I resemble the carrot! See you Friday for the next challenge!
Love Kirsty xx
Teneale, I really like Your work and would like to subscribe to Your blog, but I can’t figure out for the life of me how to accompolish that???? Please let me know where on Your blog I can subscribe!! Thanks and keep up the good work!!
Linda Henry
Sacramento, CA
This is amazing. Can you share how you made the little pocket to hold the gift cards?
Awesome card, love the little stack of tea cups inside!
What a great story! I am the coffee! Your card is wonderful. I love this set, unfortunately it didn’t make it into the 2010-2011 IBC. You guys are lucky, if You look ahead when we get new mini’s and the IBC You can tell what is going to be new and what is retiring before Your new year comes. However, I know Your IBC is so much smaller…I think they should all be the same!!!
Thanks for the reminder of the inspiring story that Dereck shared with us at Convention……yes I think it was Canberra…..what a great way to use this set…..you have inspired me to get it off the shelf and have a play! TFS Teneale xxx
That is a wonderful story Tenealle! I will have to remember that when things are tough. Thanks for sharing
Lovely coffee card, I like the expression! Great blog!
Hi Teneale!, Love your stuff. Would you be willing to share card stock dimensions for this project? I’ve been trying to reproduce and am not quite getting it. Thank you so much for your inspiration.
kim