December 27, 2016

Card Collections

I think I might have shared before about my niece who is also undergoing cancer treatments and has been doing so for a couple of years.  On January 7th, they are having a fund raiser in her hometown.  I know she likes my cards as she had asked me to make some for her.  You can read about that here.  I decided to donate some handmade cards for her auction.

I made up four bundles, each one containing 15 cards.  The packaging isn't very glamorous, but it is more about what is in the packaging.

Hanna and I mailed off these four collections this morning.  None of the four collections are the same and they each have a variety of birthday, thank you, friendship, and sympathy cards.

My hopes are that I will be able to attend the benefit on January 7th, but realistically I doubt it will be possible.  I do love the fact though, that I can take something I love to do and help other people with some of the things that I make.

The last few days have been a whirlwind of activity.  The girls and I went shopping for a little while yesterday morning and combined with all the excitement of Christmas, it is making itself evident.  This should be my tired week and tired I definitely am!!  I am hoping the extra medicine they gave me last Wednesday will prevent my counts from dipping really low but that shall remain to be seen.   I would love to be in my stamping room, but that will probably have to wait till after the first of the year as well.

Hanna left a couple of hours ago and I don't think I have moved an inch in my recliner since she pulled out of the driveway.  Good thing there are a lot of college football games on right now, because  I don't intend on doing much this week!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!! 

Happy Stamping!!

December 26, 2016

Pay Attention!!

I love when I can use my stamping supplies for other things that just making cards or scrapbooking!!  Sine the beginning of my diagnosis back in August my son-in-law has been saying these words to me over and over . . . . "Pay Attention . . . everything is going to be just fine!!"  Whenever I would get the least little bit discouraged I would get an email or verbal reminder to Pay Attention to him.  

Cardstock: Garden Green, Real Red, Whisper White

Accessories: Layering Circles Framelits, 

Large Letter Framelits, Big Shot

So when it came time to wrap his Christmas present I thought this would be an awesome way to do it . . . you see he needs new glasses but has just been putting off getting them.  In each of these bags is one letter of his puzzle he had to put together before he opened his real gift . . . . a gift card to help with those new glasses.  I thought maybe he really would pay attention and go get those new glasses!!!

He had the puzzle put together once with just the letters in the right order, but since patterns are important in stamping I told him it wasn't quite right and to try again.  

We decided it was a dangerous thing when a mother-in-law has been cooped up in a house too long and has too much time to think and scheme!!  

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!! 

Happy Stamping!!

December 25, 2016

 Paisleys & Posies

I know I have used this sentiment on most every card lately but it truly does define my life right now so I just had to find a way to incorporate it into our family Christmas card.  I am really pleased with he way these turned out!!

Believe it or not, even with every thing else going on I was able to get 100 of these made and sent out all from the comfort of my recliner!!

Stamps: Paisleys & Posies

Cardstock: Whisper White Thick, Night of Navy, 

Whisper White, Silver Foil, Silver Glimmer Paper

Ink: Night of Navy

Accessories: Starlight Thinlit Dies,

 Lucky Stars Embossing Folder, Big Shot, 

3/8" Ink Glitter Combo Pack Ribbon,  

Rhinestone Jewels, Glue Dots

I got a wonderful surprise delivered to the house yesterday morning about 10:00.  A Hy-Vee delivery truck pulled up and delivered a Christmas meal, compliments of my friends, Bev and Bruce!!  I can't possible thank them enough!!!!  Like I said earlier . . . . thankful, grateful and blessed!!!!

It is early, early Christmas morning and I am the only one up sitting in the dark looking at the Christmas tree lights and reflecting on life and many past Christmases.  This year has definitely made me reflect on my life and even though I have always known this to be true I have been reflecting on what is truly important in life . . . . family, friends, and the memories we make!!

I have truly been blessed in all of these areas!!!!  

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!! 

Happy Stamping!!

December 14, 2016

1300 Die Cut Pieces

Where have I been lately??  I think crazy for one!!   I have been die cutting 1300 small pieces to make this beautiful pine cone embellishment for 130 custom Christmas cards.

Check out this pile of pine cones ready to be adhered to the card.

Besides all of the die cutting each card had a Merry Medley copper embossed layer.

This was a super labor intensive card, but turned out oh so pretty.  I believe I got the original card in a swap at some point this fall, but since my memory is a little fuzzy these days I have no idea from whom or even where I got it.

Stamps:  Merry Medley

Cardstock: Early Espresso, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz, Copper Foil

Ink:  Versamark

Accessories: Pretty Pines Thinlits Dies, Big Shot, 

Copper Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Stampin' Dimensionals

I am still feeling very blessed that the lymphoma is in compete remission, but the last two weeks have been anything but smooth sailing.  I ended up in the ER on Saturday with dehydration, vertigo, and extremely low white counts. After two bags of fluids and a bunch of tests, they were going to keep me until I promised them that I would stay at home and wear a mask if I left the house, which I have not since I am still not feeling that well.  I had to go back to the doctor yesterday for labs and they have not improved at all so there was talk of hospitalization again, until I once again promised not to leave the house unless it was for an appointment.  Now I am on three different antibiotics because I have no immune system.  I have to go back again on Friday to see where my counts are.  I am hoping they have improved because I am not sure what the next steps are if they have not.  

I am hoping the antibiotics start to make me feel a little bit better because I have all these new stamps that I want to play with and just have no energy to even go to my stamp room.

    

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!! 

Happy Stamping!!

December 9, 2016

Look What's Under My Tree

Look what I found under my Christmas tree!!  My pre-order from the occasions catalog came yesterday afternoon while I was sleeping . . . . something I have done a lot of lately!!

I can hardly wait to start creating with all of these goodies from the Occasions and Sale-a-Bration catalog . . . . but it will have to wait for a while.  While I am still feeling good, the latest round of chemo has made me extremely tired so I have been doing a LOT of sleeping and just sitting in my recliner!!

The Lighthouse and the Dancing Lady sets from the catalog are definitely my favorites.  I love the sentiments that come with both of these sets.

My plan is to have my last round of chemo the week before Christmas and then give myself about a month to regain my strength before starting in again with stamp nights and classes  I have definitely missed them and cannot wait to get my life back to normal . . . . whatever that might be.  Until then, my recliner and I are becoming best friends!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!! 

Happy Stamping!!

December 4, 2016

Merry Mice

I finally was able to get out yesterday and go to pick up my mail.  On chemo weeks it seems to sit there for quite a while before I can get to the post office.  Waiting for me was this awesome card from my stamping friend in Ohio, Sally.

This was not a set I had chosen to get so I was thrilled to see an actual card made with it!!

I love sitting here looking at the first snow of the season, but I do hope it stops soon as I want to go to Iowa City this afternoon and attend a stamp class that my friend, Susie, is doing in North Liberty.   I was thrilled that I felt like going so I hope the weather does not spoil my plans!!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!! 

December 1, 2016

Christmas Pines

Here is another awesome swap card from my friend that lives in New York, Rory.  This card fits my feelings perfectly which I will explain below.

I always love the way Rory puts different stamp sets and things together that I would never ever think of!!

Tuesday I posted as I was waiting to see the doctor for my PET scan results and to receive my chemo for the day.  Hence the Christmas blessings . . . my PET scan shows the lymphoma is in complete remission . . . words I did not expect to hear out of my doctor's mouth quite this soon.  I knew it would happen, but not after just four rounds of chemo.  So after the chemo on Tuesday, I have only one more round the week before Christmas and then another PET scan the end of January.  If that still shows total remission, I will just be monitored very closely, but life should get back to a more normal status.  Definitely a Christmas Blessing!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!