Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Prayers Answered!

Mom's surgery went very well.  It was the best-case scenario, in that the surgeon was able to remove the kidney laparoscopically.  They didn't have to cut Mom open from front to back and remove a rib!  Thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers.  God is truly great!

Sympathy

Here is one of those difficult cards, for a friend who just lost her husband to brain cancer. *sigh* One would hope that the millions upon millions of $$ spent on research would have produced a cure by now.


Stamps: Thoughts and Prayers, French Foliage
Cardstock: River Rock textured, River Rock smooth, Basic Black
Ink: VersaMark, River Rock Classic
Accessories: Black Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Square Lattice embossing folder, Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, matte black brads (non-SU)

I will be sequestered in my stamp cave today, trying to not dwell on Mom's surgery.

Two Days in a Row!

This was a fun card to make for a not-so-funny occasion. A very good friend of mine, who shall remain nameless to protect her identity (no, it wasn't BFF), had to have surgery to repair her, um.....well, let's just say "nether region".  Needless to say, she hasn't been able to sit comfortably, so naturally I had to choose a chair for her card.  And not just any chair, but a nice, hard, wooden chair.  Well, it really wasn't my choice.....it's just that all the images in this stamp set (Have a Seat) are of lovely wooden chairs, with nary a comfy cushion on any of them!

Anyhoo, I printed the inside of the card on the printer.  It said "I hope you are sitting comfortably very soon, my taut-keistered friend!"  She's been calling herself a tight-@$$ since the surgery. 
Free Smiley Courtesy of www.millan.net
Now I need to make a really special card for my mom, who is having her kidney (and possibly a rib) removed tomorrow.  Please keep her in your prayers!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

A Wish for Peace

One of my stamping friends ordered this stamp set, and was looking for ideas for using it.  This is one that I came up with:

Stamp: A Wish for Peace
Cardstock: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, Marina Mist
Ink: Marina Mist, VersaMark
Accessories: White Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Tinsel Trim, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Scallop Trim Corner Punch, Perfect Polka-Dots Embossing Folder, Big Shot Die-Cut Machine

And the other one:
Stamp: A Wish for Peace
Cardstock: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Marina Mist
Ink: Night of Navy, Marina Mist, So Saffron marker
Accessories: Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Basic Rhinestones, Whisper White 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Smooch Pearlized Top Coat (on church steeple), Frost White Shimmer Paint (used with Aqua Painter for snow in foreground), Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (sponged lightly over all), sponges

Camera settings are still in the experimental stage, but getting better, I think.  Thanks for stopping by today!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Back to the Holiday at Hand

I admit it; Christmas is my favorite holiday, so I tend to get carried away with making Christmas things, dreaming about making Christmas things, and just in general diving headfirst into the whole holiday spirit.  Can't help myself....with or without the mistletoe, I'm obsessive compulsive in the holiday mood!

However, we do still have two holidays that come first, so today I'm sharing some little Halloween treats.





  • These were so quick and easy to make!  Start with 2-3/4" x 4" cardstock.  You can get 8 of these out of one sheet of CS.
  • Score the short side at 1/4", 3/4", and 1-1/4".  
  • Rotate and cut a slit 1/2" from each side (from the 1/4" score line to the 1-1/4" score line).  
  • Fold as shown and slip the candy in.  
  • Add a DSP mat and decorate as desired!
Apologies for the blurry photos.  I have a new camera and haven't figured out the settings for the best quality yet.  Apparently the settings that worked for my old Nikon don't do it for my new Nikon.

Update on my mom - it doesn't look like the cancer has spread to the ovaries, thank God.  Your prayers and well wishes have been most appreciated!

Saturday, October 16, 2010

CASEing the Master

One of the blogs I like to visit is Janine (JanTink) Tinklenberg's Stamps, Paper, Scissors.  She is soooo talented, and immensely humorous, to boot.  Todays' card is a pretty direct CASE of her card HERE.  I changed a few minor details, like stamping the Wise Men in Basic Black, and the star over Bethlehem in So Saffron.  Oh, and just a plain Marina Mist ribbon at the bottom......umm, and used a Not Quite Navy card base.  I guess I changed more than I realized. ;-)

This is one of the cards we'll be making at the Christmas Card Buffet (Session 1) next week.  There are still a few spaces left, if you would like to join us!  You can contact me by clicking on "My Stampin' Up! Website" on the upper right.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Greeting Card Kids

Aaand, a couple more cards from Jill's Demonstrator Day. (Really, you should sign up just so you can participate in this!  I'm not kidding!!!)
 Aren't these just the cutest darn images?  So sweet, and old-fashioned looking!  These were colored with Aqua Painters and Watercolor Wonder Crayons (which, I'm told, are finally going to be available soon).  The manufacturer had some problems, but they've since been resolved, so the new colors in these fabulous watercolor crayons are right around the corner!!!
Mom had her first appointment today and it's not looking too good.  They did an ultrasound and immediately referred her to a GYN oncologist.  Also, the doctor actually referred to the mass in her kidney as "carcinoma" without even having done a biopsy yet, so they must be pretty certain it is malignant. My heart is so heavy.

More from Demonstrator Day

These are another couple of cards we made at Jill Olsen's Demonstrator Day.  It's funny, this stamp set (A Cute Christmas) didn't really appeal to me at first, but naturally, as soon as I saw it in action, I had to come home and order it!
 Speaking of which (are you sitting down?), I won the Grand Prize drawing that day!  Free Smiley Courtesy of www.millan.net
Yep, little ol' me, who never wins anything, won the big prize of $150 in SU goodies of my choice, plus the Level One Hostess benefits!!!  That's a free hostess stamp set, plus $165 in merchandise!  And yes, A Cute Christmas was on that order, along with some big ticket items I'd been coveting, but couldn't afford.

On a more somber note, I really, really enjoyed seeing my mom this past week.  Unfortunately, the time just flew by, and now she is back home.  Her first appointment is tomorrow. :-(   Many, many sincere thanks to those of you who have been praying for her.  It means so much to me.
 Free Smiley Courtesy of www.millan.net
Maybe I can focus on more regular blog posts to take my mind off her health problems.....at least for a while.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Jill Olsen's Demonstrator Day

This was my first time going to this event in St. George, Utah, and I had sooooo much fun!  It is an amazing bargain for Stampin' Up! demonstrators......for $50 we did 24 make n' takes, mostly cards, but a couple of 3D projects, too, plus LUNCH.  The day-long event was held in the beautiful Dixie Center.  I was really impressed with how it was so well-organized.  
There was a swap beforehand for any demos that wanted to swap cards with other demos.  That was my first "event swap", too!  I'm tellin' ya, this is a fabulously fun time, and if you'd like to join Stampin' Up! so you can participate next year, I'd love to have you join my team!  If you sign up before Oct. 18th, you'll get the free tote, too (while supplies last, a $39.95 value).  For more info, click on the button on the upper left.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Family Matters

My apologies for not posting anything for a while.  I have a bunch of things to show you, including the things we made at Jill Olsen's Demonstrator Day in St. George last weekend.  They should be up in the next few days.

I found out last week that my mom has a tumor on her kidney (and on an ovary), which may explain her ¾ pound per week weight loss since last November.  Unfortunately, the tumor is inside the kidney, so the whole thing has to be removed.  They won't know if it's the big C until they biopsy it after surgery.

She is here visiting for a week, and when she returns home will be scheduled for the surgery.  Please keep my mom in your prayers.  I'm so scared for her.  :-(