Promised Card

Good Sunday Morning!

I kept my promise and snapped a pic of this card. Wanna see it? Cuz, you know, it's like a quarter of an inch below all this typing so there's really no way to avoid it.


This next part is a tiny bit of the reason why I haven't shared or blogged lately; the supply list. To be honest, I feel like I'm trying to be on some design team when I write it all down. What I've made myself realize is the create of "the list" is also like siting one's sources when writing a paper -- a very important thing. With that in mind....

Base: Kraft card, bought at Hobby Lobby
Pretty: Grunge Paper scrap, painted green.
I used a Crafter's Workshop stencil and Glimmer Mist to create the bricks.
More grunge paper and Cricut (Indie) for the skull -- base is Glimmer Mist (dragonfly); top is painted with Crackle Paint. Small turquoise gems are Prima E-line.
The lime flower is actually from the Prima tube -- that huge one with white flowers -- misted with Glimmer Mist/chalkboard. I poked a small Prima (the new Frenchy line) through the center and used the remaining wire to let Prima crystals "drip" from it.
"Beautiful" is an alpha rub on set.

Honestly, the hardest part about making this card was deciding which of my friends would get it... and "get" it. In the past, the hardest part was starting a card for fear that it would turn out "dorky." This was a nice change of pace.

I've got another "tamer" card made up and ready to send to another friend. I'll have to try getting a pic of that before I seal the envelope. I think it's easy to see which style I prefer.

Thanks for stopping by! If you're a card maker, I'd like your input on what you see. I'm really new to it but think it's becoming fun. Advice on enhancing that would be appreciated.

GOOOOOOOOD News! And, I'm going to try again.

Hello!

I don't know if anyone actually still opens my blog when they see a new post on the roll. More than likely, you all wonder, "And who was this again? Why am I subscribed?" Chances are good we connected on some other spot and that's why we're both subscribers.

Anyway, I thought I'd try coming 'round again. I have good news. I have a whole lot less cancer than I did the last time I posted. I'm that much closer to being "me" again -- writing, crafting, photographing, etc. I have about a month before I start back in on chemo and radiation. I have a love for my crafty things. Earlier in the week, I started creating a little piece that I'd like to put on a card. I have a lot of thank you cards to create and send out. I also have several scrappy pages that need to be made. I have a love for paint, ink, stencils, daily planners, coffee, blueberries and exercise.

I may not always create something amazing, but when I started playing with my goodies this week, I started to feel that special brand of "alive." It felt good to let go and create -- no sketches, no rules, no attempts at seeking approval from anyone but myself. I rather like how it's turning out. I'd like to share, too.

So, I'm going to try. Today, I'm going to try finishing up that little piece with whatever I have and take a picture of it. I'm going to ask one of my friends for her address. I'm going to send it, as a card; then make another one.

After nearly two years of suffering and fear, it's time to have some fun again.

Spring is just around the bend. Let's see what comes.

Oh, P.S., for those of you who were linked to it: What happened to my beloved Bella Creations? I'm trying to root through old blogs for some answers.

Popped in with Promises

Hello! I'd say I'm doing an amazing job on one of my Resolutions this year -- to blog at least once per week. Why, I'm surprised anyone has kept up with all the posting I've done!

Okay, enough sarcasm. I did make that resolution and I still want to have at least 52 posts by the end of 2012, but I've been distracted with a metric ton of Life Happens. Speaking of... Who wants to see a Mama Said with 95% less cancer? It's okay, I raised my hand, too. It's my "metric ton of Life Happens." It's not gone yet, BUT a couple uber competent surgeons will make it so in mid-February. I'm spending a lot of time trying to prepare for that.

AND create something worth bidding on for my son's school auction in March.

AND create an album for the center where I receive my chemotherapy. I want it to be inspirational for new people coming in.

AND catch up on all the scrappy goodness that has happened since September.

AND (I know, right?!) start dabbling more with making cards because it's kinda fun.

AND get my house cleaned properly.

AND Valentimes Day; which will be yucky for me but I want it to be wonderful for others.

AND...I'ma need a lot more coffee and protein, aren't I? Some whole grains and fruits and veggies, too. Maybe a nap. Ya think a nap? Okay, a nap.

*sigh*

I woudn't trade it for all the tea in China. Hi, Shawn! *waves*

Oh, I also have a major craving for paper and fabric flowers. Soooooooooooo many flowers.

Oh, here it is! December Daily Update

Hello!

I was just about to create a post whining about all the technical difficulties I'm having -- on such an energetic week -- and then I found the ever-beautiful cord that would allow me to upload my pictures. Thank. You. St. Anthony!

The past few days have been pretty busy. Even today, which I thought would be so calm and boring, seemed to be frenetic. It's been a cleaning day. I'm nowhere near done, but I am proud of how much I accomplished so far.

On with the show?


On Sunday night, I promised my son we'd make gingerbread men afterschool on Monday. True to my word, we broke out the kit, mixed up the odd recipe....and learned that whoever thought THAT was a recipe for gingerbread men was NOT having a sane day. Luckily, I got him to nap while I came up with plan B -- the gingerbread train I'd stashed away two weeks ago. Everything was already baked, all we had to do was assemble. Yay!


Yesterday, we had lunch with my brother; then decorated his tree. Naturally, my son was all over this task!



Today, like I said, was cleaning day. I was thrilled that I recovered (as in found the top of AGAIN) the sofa table. Since it's also an uber-storage piece, I covered it with a bed sheet to help make spirits bright. I'm wondering how long a) this table will stay pretty; and b) my son will leave alone the nesting dolls. The nutcracker is all his -- a gift from my dad -- as is the frog. But he just lost the tiniest nesting doll -- about the size of a Wonka Nerd -- and I'm not looking to loose more.

Thanks for looking! I know how busy everyone is this time of year. Even I feel like I've only just begun and there are only 18 days left to celebrate!... Okay, did that read "strange" to anyone else?

December Daily Update and a Card

Good Monday Morning!

Okay, am I really the only person on the planet who truly loves Mondays? I swear, it's my most optimistic and productive day. I think it's the fresh start. Case in point, I'm on my fourth load of laundry at 10 AM; snapped pics of my December Daily album (this time with actual events!); and got over myself long enough to make a thank you card. I feel pretty cool right about now.

On with the show? Alrighty then!

Again, the papers and embellies are a mix between Crate Paper, G45, DCWV stacks and K&Co stacks.


Boy, did I get lucky by making the first pages of the album holiday-neutral! We got our first snow of the season a couple nights before I could "officially" start this album. I was lucky enough to be healthy and take him out to play on December 1st. This child has been waiting for Winter since Halloween.

I know, not a lot going on here. It was a crazy busy day; including an hour drive to Detroit to essentially become delivery person for my own scan history. We seem to be at the point that we're focusing on one area and trying to remove the cancer from that area. Aside from all that, my parents and I hit up the local Barnes & Noble to participate in a school fundraiser. Someone is getting a metric ton of new books for Christmas! My parents couldn't wait on this book, however. It's become his new favorite... Like read-it-every-30-minutes favorite.

It's at this point that I remember to point out that the number cards were a free download (E-Cuts), offered on scrapbook.com. Aside from that, someday I WILL get a good photo of this child smiling and NOT wincing from the flash. Poor lil guy!


Again, a pretty basic design. I'm happy that I created a pocket, though. I decided to use the back of the flyer as the journaling spot. I had that much to say. This child was first in line to sit on Santa's lap this year. I wasn't close enough to overhear the conversation, but they both seemed satisfied at the end.


Annnnd the tree! Second in anticipation, to Winter, was decorating the tree. We actually started on the third, but more-or-less finished it up yesterday. Would it surprise anyone to know the bottom three feet of the tree is an ornament festival?! I'm pretty proud of him; they're actually further back on the branches this year. Normally, he just barely put them on.

I decided to make a thank you card today. My son attends a Catholic school and the eighth graders find ways to earn "service hours" during the year, in preparation for Confirmation. This group did an amazing job and I wanted to let them know they were appreciated. The inspiration for this one came from the Crate Paper blog.... And it's been so long since I've made a link, I'm curious to see if that works.

Aaannnnnnd, I've got a table to clean off, lunch to make and a whole lotta lotta to get back to. Thanks for taking the time to read and look. I really do appreciate it.

Doing the December Daily

Good Tuesday Morning! How close to "ready" are you for the rest of this week? Tomorrow is going to be crazy-busy for me; what with my son's school celebration. I get to make and bring sweet potoatoes to the bash... How many four year olds do you think will try them?

Anyway, I've also been a bit crafty this month. I decided that I NEEDED to participate in the December Daily, ala Ali Edwards. I needed the distraction in November to create the album. I need the distraction of "finding the happy" in December, as I'll continue receiving chemo until further notice. Yeah, I NEED the happy! I thought I'd share a few pics of what I've created so far. You'll see that the pages are still really basic. Since I don't know how I'll approach photo arrangement yet, I didn't want to go crazy with embellishments.... except the cover. I'ma go crazy with the cover as time ticks on...

So...


I LOVE to play with paint, chipboard and die cuts. The base is actually that really thin chipboard that supports paper in a package; painted red. On top is a Technique Tuesday tile, painted silver, adorned with Prima e-line crystals. The "25" was cut with the help of the Cricut cartridge, Winter Wonderland. The remaining chipboard pieces are from Crate Paper's Peppermint line. I fully intend to add more and have a go at making a collage, but I want to make it relevant to the events, so I'm waiting.


I'm impatient! I wanted to start having Christmas fun now, so I added a piece of paper to the inside of the cover (Pink Paislee) and brain-stormed a list of activities to fill the month. You know, just in case I find a day with nothing to do. The right side was the beginning of my theme, "The Night Before Christmas." My goal is to have a strip on each page inside.




One of the pieces of G45 that I bought last year. I'm pretty sure this day will be Breakfast with Santa, so I made a pocket on the right for any extras I'd want to include.



Another pocket here, though I have no set plans for that date. I need to get over myself and make some tags for journaling, I think. The polka dot background is more G44, Playtimes Past. I about squealed when I found this at Hobby Lobby. The moment was squashed when my four-year-old declared the whole paper section "lame."


G45 Playtimes Past, some kraft paper for journaling....


A mix-mash of the G45 and K&Co paper, plus the story at the bottom....


Flip side of the K&Co and back to the Peppermint line. I gotta say, I'm happy that this has a good dose of "masculine" to it. My son is really feeling his boyish ways. Who wants to bet at some point, he'll see this album and wonder why I haven't put any skulls or cross bones in it?

There's more, but I think I got the idea of my album across. My next goal is to post completed pages every week or two; trying to keep some sort of frest content and purpose here. I hesitated to try this because I've never completed a mini album and I thought sure I just couldn't figure it out. These are fun! I want to try making more; some even girly!

Surprisingly Still Kicking!

Good Tuesday evening! Guess who's still alive and kicking?! Did you miss me? Did you forget who I was and why I'm appearning on your dashboard?

I miss blogging, too. It's the norm, now, that I have a set number of down days and a whole lotta up days; though I am still fighting cancer. I feel like I want to share tons of pictures and a few crafty moments; but I also want to give you an idea of what I've been doing for the past couple/few months.

In August, I went wig shopping. I call her Molly. She is beautiful, though likely ready for her first bath. I didn't know, prior to my appointment, that she requires special shampoo.... and that I need to keep her from heat. Molly is high maintenance.

At the end of August, on the same day that my son started Junior Kindergarten, I was informed that the national drug shortage had hit home and I wouldn't be receiving part of my chemo until further notice. They also changed my routine and I hated it. By the end of September, I was back on track.

In addition to just dealing the chemo; I've been trying to participate in my son's class activities as much as possible.

I've made quickie cards for his teachers.

There was a school-wide reading day.

I tried to do the field trip to the pumpkin patch, but just wasn't healthy enough. Luckily, my Dad took my place and I'd already paid for Gramma Camera to go as well. I still have photos and a page prepped for the album.

My son has been testing social boundaries, so I've spent as much healthy time as possible just sitting on him. Momma WILL NOT raise a bully.

Halloween was a lot of fun. Yesterday was one of my healthiest days in each cycle so I helped out with the in-class party then finished the day with an hour of trick-or-treating with a pygmie zombie.

Also, after watching his teacher organize and practice for the class' turn at all-school-mass, I've decided she needs one heck of a thank-you at Christmas time. I've started working on a few special gift tags for the upcoming season.

I've had many appointment with my oncologist. My cancer marker -- the number that basically says "how much" I've got continues to drop. When this started in April, I was at 22. As of a couple weeks ago, I'm at 0.9. I have yet another scan in a couple weeks to see what the inside scoop is; and I'm really hoping for continued good news. While I may be settled into a routine, and find a level of comfort in knowing what to expect, I'm mentally done with this nonsense and wanting to move on with life.

That's all I can think to share right now. Once I'm up out of bed, I'll work on taking pics of layouts and the like. They've become quite basic again, but I'm claiming a victory that I'm doing anything at all.