Good News!

Hello Friends!  It's been a while since I've posted and updated here so I thought I'd pop by and share the great news that this past Tuesday was my 230th and LAST daily iv infusion treatment for my Lyme Disease!

That was such an exciting day for me.  230 days is a long time  (almost 8 months) to be dealing with iv placements, walking around with the iv in place (sexy!), dealing with supplies, meds, infusions, nurses, pharmacies and so much more that you can't even imagine. But we did it.... and we are finally done.

Unfortunately, I am not in remission like we planned but we will keep working towards that and I have seen a lot of improvement so we are headed in the right direction.  We will be continuing with much less invasive treatments for a while and I am praying to see remission sometime soon.  I've fought so hard and I will get there.

Here's a picture of the last treatment on Tuesday morning.  Not my greatest picture, but a great picture to share!

Also, there is more news!  We moved!  In October, my husband and I moved into a gorgeous 1880's historic home on the main road in the center of our little town and we love it.  The house needs a LOT of work and will do that slowly but it's coming along and it's a wonderful, happy home.  I am so happy here.

The down side of this is that my art studio is not ready yet.  That room is not finished yet and all of my art supplies have been packed in boxes since October.  I have no idea yet when I'll get my studio back but you can bet that I'll be ready to play when it's ready!  I really miss it and I need to get my creative outlet back before I really lose my sanity.  Actually, it might be too late.  ha ha

The fun part is that I get to create a whole new art studio from scratch again.  My last studio had lots of built in cabinets and an island that had to stay with the old house so I'm really starting over.  I'm already thinking of lots of ideas.  It will be fun to come up with a whole new studio.  I'll keep you posted on the progress here.

You will know when my art studio is ready because I'm sure I'll be ready to create and share!  Until then, I will keep in touch and maybe push the dear husband to bump the art studio a little higher up on the to do list.  The to do list is pretty long!

I hope you are all well. And thank you all for continuing to visit me here.  It amazes me how many visits this site still gets despite my illness delays.  Thanks for making me feel so special!

I'm Still Alive...

I just realized it's been about six months since I've posted a new card or anything to this blog and thought I should let you know that I am still alive.  My creativity goes in spurts with my Lyme Disease and the past six months I haven't spent much time in my art studio, as you can see.

I'm currently on my second round of daily IV infusions and today is day 59, which is awesome because I only made it 40 days last time and I'm doing well with this round.  I'm just not in a creative mode lately but it will come back and I'll be back... hopefully sooner, rather than later but we'll see.

We will be moving my art studio to a new space soon so maybe that will spark some creative juices.  Lots going on here.  Hopefully you'll see more of me soon.

Bold & Bright Magazine Page Card

 This card is made for two challenges:

Crafty Ann's #59 Bold & Bright Challenge and Mojo Monday #229 Sketch Challenge

 What I love about this bold and bright cards is that the beautiful background paper is actually a page torn out of a magazine.  It was Gucci ad and I wish I'd take a picture of it before I cut it apart.  I was flipping though InStyle Magazine over the weekend and the page just jumped out at me and I knew it would make a beautiful card.  I just love the way it came out.  

SUPPLIES:

Stamps/Images: Sentiment is computer generated, Images are Stampin Up

Paper:  Georgia Pacific White Cardstock, Pomegranate Cardstock, Magazine page

Ink/Coloring: Pink and Red pigment ink with clear embossing (ink up stamp with lighter color then add darker color around the edges before stamping).

Accessories:  Tearing ruler, Oval punch for sentiment, Corner Chomper, Ribbon, Swarovski Rose Flat Backed Crystals.  

Embossed Grapes

I made this card using a sketch at a challenge blog that I later realized that has rules that you can only use Stampin Up supplies in order to play along with them.  I think that just stinks so I won't even mention who they are.  

I made this card by embossing a brass stencil with the cuttlebug and then tearing around the edges of the embossed rectangle it made.  This is a great way to put your old brass stencils to use.  Emboss them with the embossing mat the same way you would spellbinders dies.  

 After embossing the grapes, I held the stencil over the embossed image and rubbed some green pastel chalk over it to highlight the grapes.  

 Here's the inside:

SUPPLIES:

Stamps/Images: Sentiment is computer generated, Grapes brass stencil embossed with cuttlebug and highlighted with green pastel chalks.   

Paper:  Georgia Pacific White Cardstock, Moss Cardstock, K&Company DP

Ink/Coloring: Pastels

Accessories: Spellbinders Die Cuts- Fancy Tags, Button, Ribbon, Peridot Crystals, MS Arch Lattice Punch,  Tearing ruler.

Mojo Monday #228- Sweet Birthday Wishes

 This is my card for this week's Mojo Monday #228 Card Sketch.  

 The inside of the card:

SUPPLIES:

Stamps/Images: Inkadinkadoo 

Paper:  Georgia Pacific White Cardstock, The Sweet Stack Paper Stack, Paint Chip

Ink/Coloring: Pastels, Black Pigment Ink w/ clear embossing 

Accessories: Spellbinders Die Cuts- Round, Labels, Lace Edge Circle, Flat Backed Pearls, Ribbon, Brides Flowers/Brad.

White on White Birthday Card

 This white on white birthday card was inspired by the following two challenges:

CCEE Stampers #1207 White on White Challenge

Terrifically Thrilling Thursday Anything Goes Challenge

 I've been using a lot of computer generated sentiments lately.  I find it easier to make what I want on the computer and print it out than to keep buying sentiment stamps.  Is that cheating?  I'm not sure.  I thought I'd share with you how I make my sentiments.  

I print out what I'd like in the size I'd like on either plain paper or a large label.  If it's on plain paper, I use my xyron to add adhesive to the paper and stick it to white cardstock, or I stick the label to white cardstock.  Then I can easily cut that out with a Spellbinders die and use it on my card.

If your printer can handle printing on cardstock, then you can do this even easier and print right on the cardstock.  There's no limit to your sentiments this way.  Sentiments, sizes and fonts are limitless.  

 Here's the inside.  I always make the inside match the card not only because it's a nice detail but with layers on the front of the card, the card is more balanced when it has at least one layer added to the inside.

SUPPLIES:

Stamps/Images: Sentiment is computer generated 

Paper: Georgia Pacific White Cardstock

Ink/Coloring: none

Accessories: Spellbinders Beaded Oval Dies,  Grosgrain ribbon, Lace, Buttons, Cuttlebug/Embossing Folders, Flat Backed Pearls.

Clean & Simple #177 Sketch Challenge

 This birthday card uses this great sketch over at Clean & Simple Challenge #177.  

 The 3 dimensional flower is super easy to make using the Cricut and George & Basic Shapes Cartridge. If you cut the flower in several sizes, curl the petals up a little and hot glue the layers together, it makes a gorgeous 3 dimensional flower.  

 Here's the matching handmade envelope. 

SUPPLIES:

Stamps/Images: Sentiment is computer generated.

Paper:  Georgia Pacific White Cardstock, Celery Cardstock, K & Company SW Botanicals Paper Pack

Ink/Coloring: none

Accessories: Spellbinders Tags Die Cuts, , Flat Backed Pearls, Leaves cut with Accent Essentials Cartridge/Cricut, Pearl Brad.