MFTWSC203 Blue Skies Ahead with a Health Update!

Hello, Friends!

 

I finally have some good news about my back, so it only seems fitting that I share it with a card to celebrate!

 

About a month and a half ago, I had a test called a diskogram.  I said at the time it sounds fun.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to the diskogram!"

 

Believe me, it's anything but fun!  They stick needles into the disks between your vertebrae to see how much pain it causes.  You don't get any pain medication and have to go off any pain medication you've been on so they get a true reading.  Well, mine hurt so badly that I started crying during the procedure.  They hit a nerve that went down my leg that felt like what I imagine it feels like when you're electrocuted.  I've had a kidney stone before, which are known for being awful, and that pain made the kidney stone seem like a walk in the park!

 

The doctors had a terrible time performing the test because my back was so bad.  One of the technicians described it as a "diskogram for the ages."  When I met with my doctor to discuss the results, she came in with her eyes wide open after reading the report and said, "YOU NEED SURGERY!"  Now, we actually knew that before the diskogram from the MRI, but the diskogram proved how bad my back truly is and that I definitely need surgery to fix it.

 

On January 9th, I will finally have surgery to try and help with the awful pain in my back caused by two disks at the end of my spine.  At this time, I only leave the house for doctor's appointments because the pain is so bad.  This is why you see a couple of cards and then I disappear.  I might be decent for a couple of days but then I can't get off the couch for a week.  It will be a two person surgery which is why it's still over a month away.  My doctor could do it sooner, but her partner that she will pair with could not.  Having both of them operate on me at the same time will help me with the time I'm under anesthesia, get the repairs done faster, and should help improve recovery time.

Beginning December 5th, I will start to wean off the Fentanyl patch, which I have used for pain control since spring.  I am to be completely off of it the week before surgery to help with my pain control after surgery.  I'm a little, okay- a lot, worried about this because I'm in so much pain with the patch, I don't know what it will be like without it.  So if I disappear in December, you'll know why.

You may remember this has gone on since February 2013 when I just thought I had pulled some muscles moving.  I went to a chiropractor in May 2013 for a month.  When that didn't help, I saw my family doctor in June who sent me to a pain clinic in July.  They assured me that each procedure they tried clear through March of 2014 would help, but nothing ever did.  I saw a surgeon in April, but he was a jerk and there's no way I would have gone back to him.  In June, I got in to my family doctor again, who sent me to the surgeon who is going to operate on me now in July.  After the MRI, diskogram, a couple rounds of the flu, and several appointments, we're finally ready to get something done!

Although my parents have been wonderful taking care of Frank and I because there's a lot of things I cannot do, like bend over, lift anything remotely heavy (nothing more than half a gallon of milk and that is hard), stand for any length of time, etc, it will be great to start to be a functioning adult again. 

Thank you all for your prayers and emails of encouragement.  I can't wait until I am better and blogging on a regular basis again.  Making cards, when I can, has helped deal with the pain and depression that comes along with being in pain this long, having to live with my parents instead of supporting myself, etc.  Hopefully, there is nothing but blue skies ahead!

Thanks for the sketch from My Favorite Things to help me send out my good news!
 





Happy Stamping!

 

 

I used the following products to make this card:

 

Blue Skies Ahead Stamp Set by My Favorite Things

Tempting Turquoise Classic Ink by Stampin' Up

Whisper White and Tempting Turquoise Card Stock by Stampin' Up

Glittered Card Stock by The Paper Studio

Brights Backgrounds Designer Series Paper Stacks by Stampin' Up

Cloud Cover-Up Die-namics by My Favorite Things

Marshmallow Clouds Dies by Memory Box

Pierced Fishtail Flags Stax by My Favorite Things

Corner Rounder Punch by EK Success 

Brights and Neutrals Candy Dots by Stampin' Up

Scotch Double Sided Permanent Foam Tape by 3M

 



White Christmas ABC Challenge and Simply Create #75 with Festive Flurry

Hello, Friends!

 

Do you remember when I lived in Arizona and complained because I missed the snow?  Well, back in Illinois, I don't have to say that anymore.  In fact, we've already had snow and it's not even December!  (It's cold here, too!)  So, today's card reflects a White Christmas with snow, snow, snow!

 

Making an all white card is a challenge I've taken on a couple of times before, but this was the first time I made it a Christmas card.  While looking at another card maker's blog, I found this challenge at two different blogs.  The first was the ABC Christmas Challenge blog.  Beware if you go there, though- there's a countdown to Christmas and in case you didn't notice, it's less than 30 days away!  :)  Actually, it's designed to help you avoid Christmas stress by having a challenge for each letter of the alphabet, so by now you have a bunch of Christmas cards already made.  Unfortunately, I didn't find them until the letter "W" for "an all White Christmas."   However, with yesterday's card and today's I've got two Christmas cards ready and that's better than none!  Now that I know they're there, I can follow along better next year and be ready to go.  It also fits the blog Simply Create, Too that has the theme Snow, Snow, Snow or an All White Card.  This is another new challenge blog to me and their design team has made some beautiful cards.  I encourage you to check them out!  Even kids under age 12 are invited to join their challenges and have a separate category for that age group.  Most blogs don't offer this, which is really awesome that they encourage younger kids to start crafting! 

 

For this card, I used a lot of different textures to make up for the fact that there isn't much color.  Starting with the bottom layer, I used 120 lb card stock to give my card a firm base.  I used the Simon Says Stamp Falling Snow stencil, which I love, and white embossing paste to fill in the "snow" which added another texture to the flat paper.  When it dried, I colored over each snow dot with clear Wink of Stella to make each spot sparkle.  I created a frame with dies from My Favorite Things and then embossed them with the woodgrain embossing folder from Stampin' Up.  I cut out the words "Merry Christmas," rubbed a Versamark stamp pad over them, and then embossed them with white embossing powder.  This gave them more shine and texture so they didn't just blend into the card stock below.  Lastly, I stamped and embossed my large snowflake from Stampin' Up and then cut it out with matching framelits.  I attached it with foam tape so it stands up from the rest of the card.  I added a pearl in the center of the snowflake for my last texture.

 

You might think a white on white card would have to be plain, but it's actually anything but!

 





Happy Stamping!

 

Festive Flurry Stamp Set and Framelits by Stampin' Up

Versamark Ink

Whisper White Card Stock by Stampin' Up

White Card Stock 120 lb by Simon Says Stamp

Falling Snow Stencil by Simon Says Stamp

Wendy Vecchi White Embossing Paste

White Glitter Wink of Stella Pen by Zig

Chalkboard Frame Builder Die-namics by My Favorite Things

Woodgrain Embossing Folder by Stampin' Up

White Stampin' Emboss Powder by Stampin' Up

Basic Pearls by Stampin' Up

Merry Christmas Craft Die by Simon Says Stamp

Scotch Double Sided Permanent Foam Tape by 3M





The Card Concept 23 and One Layer Holiday Home

 

 

 

Hello, Friends!

 

My back is finally cooperating a little bit, so I was able to create a card like I've never made before!  I had this single layer card in my head as soon as I saw this Stampin' Up Stamp Set, "Holiday Home."   A single layer card is a card that is only one layer of paper.  There is no other card stock or patterned paper- just the card base itself.   A lot of people only make single layer cards and they are just as beautiful as cards with lots of layers.  There is a challenge blog that only accepts these cards at One Layer Simplicity Challenge.  Their challenge #11 for the month of November is Home Sweet Home.  My idea for this card went perfectly with their challenge, so I had to get this card made this month, with or without back problems!

 

 

My card also can be labeled as a clean and simple card.  There is a lot of open space.  Besides coloring the house, it would be quick to reproduce.  Although there is more than one stamp used, there is one main image- Santa Claus flying over a house and trees. 

 

Because it's a Clean and Simple card and I primarily used the colors red and kraft (brown), my card fit Challenge 23 at The Card Concept.

 

 

I added a green wreath and some yellow lights in the windows of my house, but otherwise, you'll see it matches the picture above for a Krafty Christmas.  I stamped Santa and the Reindeer in red ink for contrast and the bare trees in kraft.  I stamped my house in black ink and colored it with Copic markers.  I added a light gray shadow under the Santa image.  I used a light blue marker to make a slope for my trees and to make the land for my house to sit on.  I added snow with a white gel pen and white glitter glue.  I love the effect of the glitter glue on the trees, roof, wreath, windows and ground.  Although it's a simple card, it actually has a lot of detail.  It's great for a simple Christmas card and doesn't cost any extra postage to mail, because it's a single layer! 

 

Have you tried making a single layer card?  Although it might be harder than you expect, it's also a lot of fun!  Come back tomorrow to see another Christmas card I made this weekend.

 

Happy Stamping!

 

 

I used the following products to make this card:

 

Holiday Home Stamp Set by Stampin' Up

Real Red and Crumb Cake Classic Ink by Stampin' Up

Tuxedo Black Ink by Memento

Copic Markers

White Card Stock 120 lb by Simon Says Stamp

Signo White Gel Pen by Uni-bal

Dazzling Details by Stampin' Up



MFTWSC200 Turkey Time



 

 

 

Hello, Friends!

 

It's interesting that there is a company named "My Favorite Things" because they truly have become one of my favorite things, in case you haven't noticed from a lot of my posts lately.  They have fabulous clear stamps, red rubber background stamps, and steel dies that are all made in America!  (They also have inks, cardstock, ribbon, buttons and tons of other great stuff that I haven't used yet, but I imagine are just as great.)  One of my favorite lines of stamps that they have are called Pure Innocence.  They are these sweet images of little girls (with a few boys here and there) and fabulous sentiments that go with them.  There are at least three or four sentiments with each little person, which I've found I can use with a lot of other stamps I already have.  The little girl with the caramel apple that I shared last week is a Pure Innocence stamp, although she is retired and hard to find. 

 

 

 

I used "Turkey Time" to make this card.  I love the images because they are all so cute.  They are all easy to color and shade with my Copic markers.  They are also great for paper piecing.  Instead of coloring my little girl's dress, I stamped it on a piece of patterned paper, added some shading with my Copics, and then cut it out.  This way, she has a pretty flowered dress for Thanksgiving.  I used the My Favorite Things sketch for my card's design, so I added one part of the sentiment "Gobble, Gobble!" where the star would be and then put the other half on the other side.  I am not big into fussy cutting, but I don't mind cutting out these little images.  However, MFT has also started making their dies, called Die-namics, to match the Pure Innocence stamp that is released each month!  I always add a little Glossy Accents to the barrette in the little girl's hair to add a bit of dimension and make it stand out from the card. 

 

I have also dealt with the company, personally.  They were so nice and literally went so far above and beyond the call of duty, that I can't even describe it.  While a lot of companies are lacking in customer service these days, this company definitely is not.

 

If you like the Pure Innocence stamps as much as I do or would just like to see more of them, check out

     http://mftstamps.com/clear-stamps/pure-innocence.  Some of them are currently being retired and are half price!  The only thing better than great stamps and dies are great stamps and dies on sale!  Check out the sale category for more stamps and dies on sale besides just the Pure Innocence ones.

 

By the way, I don't work for MFT or anything.  I just love their products and was going to share this card when I got their retirement sale email. 

 

Happy Stamping!

 

 

I used the following products to make this card:

 

Turkey Time by My Favorite Things

Tuxedo Black ink by Memento

Copic Markers

Pure Luxury White Card Stock by Gina K

Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla, Baked Brown Sugar and Early Espresso Card Stock by Stampin' Up

Friendly Forest 6x6 Paper Pack by Doodlebug Designs

Vertical Stitched Strips Die-namics by My Favorite Things

Scotch Double Sided Permanent Foam Tape by 3M

Glossy Accents by Ranger

 

This card also fits the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, Anything Goes.

 

 

 



FabFri53 and The Card Concept 22 Out on a Limb for a Very Special Card





 

 

 

 

Hello, Friends!

 

This is one of the hardest cards I've ever created.  It took me weeks to decide what I wanted to use to make it and the person it is for doesn't even know me. 

 

I made it for our local newscaster, Dave Benton.  Dave comes into our home every night, so I feel like I know him and can call him by his first name.  Instead of just reporting on the news, Dave recently made the news in September when he shared with all of us that his brain cancer had returned and he only had four to six months to live.  I found the video at this link if you would like to see it.   

 

My parents and I watched the broadcast live and all three of us began to cry at this news.  However, it was Dave's bravery, candidness and ability to share his faith as a born again Christian that touched me more than anything else.  I knew when I saw it that I wanted to make him a card and let him know what an inspiration he was to me.  I just couldn't figure out what to use on the card.  I have been thinking about it since that newscast in September. 

 

When I saw this sketch from Fab Friday, I really liked it and knew I wanted to use it for this special card.  I decided to use an autumn tree because the trees are all turning colors here right now and it is beautiful outside.  This went along with The Card Concept challenge to "Thank Fall."  I chose the clean and layered look.  This means the card has clean lines, lots of layers, designer papers, some colored images, embellishments and some white space.  I decided just to stamp "thank you" on the outside and write my personal message on the inside.

 

 

 

 
 

I literally spent hours working on this card.  I had to turn the sketch on it's side to fit the tree.  The leaves are all on one solid die, so I cut the leaves to leave holes for all of them in the lighter card stock called Sahara Sand.  Then I stamped a linen design stamp on several different colors of card stock and cut the leaves out again so they would have a texture on them.  Then, I put random colored leaves back inside the die cut for an inlaid look.  I cut the tree trunk out and attached it under the leaves.  I tried different patterned papers and went back and forth trying to make up my mind which looked best.  I finally liked how everything turned out, but it seemed like it was missing something.  It seemed too plain or sterile.  It didn't convey my message yet. 

 

Then, I knew what to add. 

 

It needed the little wooden heart at the bottom of the tree.   

 

 



I colored it with a Copic marker so it matched the Cherry Cobbler red leaves on the tree.  I like how the heart blends in but is still on the front of the card.  Because it is a wooden veneer piece, it sticks out a little bit from the card, so it is noticeable but not overwhelming. 

 

Then, I knew my card was complete and it was exactly what I wanted. 

 

Isn't that why we send cards?  To let others know how special they are to us- that they matter, they are valuable, and we care.  Dave is still on the news every day.  More importantly, he and his family are in my prayers daily, and with this card, they now know this. 

 

Happy Stamping, Friends.

 

 

I used the following products to make this card:

 

Lisa Johnson Designs Out on a Limb Stamp Set and Linen Rubber Background Stamp by My Favorite Things

Early Espresso Classic Ink by Stampin' Up

Copic Markers

Cherry Cobbler, Tangelo Twist, Hello Honey, Old Olive, Mossy Meadow, Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake and Early Espresso Card Stock by Stampin' Up

A Perfect Autumn 6x6 Paper Pad by Carta Bella

Lisa Johnson Designs Out on a Limb Die-namics and Rectangle Frames by My Favorite Things
Wood Veneer Hearts by Studio Calico 

My card also fits the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, Anything Goes. 

 

FMS160 and Fusion Blooming Roses

 

 

 







 

Hello, Friends!

 

Thank you for coming and checking out my blog again.  This is not the card I had mentioned on Frank's Halloween post, but I'm still really happy with it.  I will be sharing that card later this week when I'm sure the recipient has gotten it. 

 

You may remember I entered the Fusion challenge with the Hey, Pumpkin card I made for Halloween.  It fit the challenge because it was a Halloween card, but it didn't really fit the picture and it wasn't based on the sketch.  So, I decided to make another card that went along with the picture more than the first card did.  I knew I wanted to use a black and white theme with the orange roses.  The sketch at Freshly Made Sketches was perfect for my new card.   

 

I wanted the orange rose to stand out against the black and white and be an encouragement card, since I made it the day after Halloween.  While I was looking for a sentiment, I found the itty bitty stamp set, "Run out of Rain" by Unity Stamp Company which was perfect.  "Blooming Roses" by My Favorite Things provided the rose I was looking for to go along with the picture.  I knew exactly what kind of black and white paper I was looking for and couldn't find it.  Now, I'm glad because I found paper that was even better by Stampin' Up.  Both the black and white raindrops and the black and white arrows which I pointed up went along with my sentiment perfectly.  Then, I just had to put all the pieces together and my card was complete.

 

I've shared about all of my back problems, which are still far from over.  This card is a reminder to me that "even the worst storms run out of rain."  If you are going through something difficult, too, please remember, somehow it will get better.  

"Even the worst storms run out of rain." 

 

Happy Stamping!

 

 

I used the following products to make this card:

 

Blooming Roses by MPD My Favorite Things

Run Out of Rain by Unity Stamp Company

Pumpkin Pie and Tangerine Tango Classic Inks by Stampin' Up

Whisper White and Basic Black Card Stock by Stampin' Up

Back to Black Designer Series Paper by Stampin' Up

Banners Framelit Dies by Stampin' Up

Stitched Circle and Blueprints 13 Die-namics by My Favorite Things 

Wink of Stella Orange by Zig

Stampin' Dimensionals by Stampin' Up

 

 

This card also fits the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, Anything Goes.