Late Thanksgiving

I was hoping to get another post in before Thanksgiving, but that didn't happen because my husband was admitted to the hospital last Tuesday because he spiked a fever and became dehydrated and lethargic.  He was released on Friday when they still couldn't find any source for the fever or any infection.  During that time his platelet blood count dropped and he was having some issues with bleeding.  Needless to say, he had  MANY procedures and a minor surgery during his stay.  They also, took him off most of his pain medication except his pain patch since he became lethargic and confused so he also went through the withdrawl of all the medications that he has been on for quite some time.  Luckily, he doesn't remember much of it, but now is questioning many of the bruises and wants to know what happened when family and friends make some comments to him.  When he has been in the hospital before, I have had a chance to do some coloring of images or even check the blogs on my ipad; however, this time was much more intense and I wasn't able to do so.  On Thanksgiving evening, he finally was starting to become aware of what was happening and looked at me and said, "I'm so sorry that I ruined your Thanksgiving." and started to cry.  Then I knew he was back.  I also am thankful for my family and my friends who have been a tremendous support through all of this!!!
Paulette has a kit kat wrapper on the Christmas blog from November 11th so check it out.  It makes a perfect treat.  I did my Merry Monday card using some circles and Gingerbread punches.  I used a Zig marker pen to make the face and a small button.  My second card is using an adorable Robin Christmas image from TLC, Create and this weeks Mojo sketch.  The sentiment is also from TLC, Create which is an adorable set about love.  My final card is using another TLC, Create image along with several die cuts.

Patterned Paper:  Recollection
Cardstock:  Bazzil, Core-dinations
Circle Punches:  EK Success
Gingerbread:  Fiskar
Zig Marker
Button:  Dress It Up

Challenges
Merry Monday - Sketch #43  http://www.alwaysplayingwithpaper.blogspot.ca

Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe - Noel
Cardstock:  Card-dinations, DCWV, Recollection
Stamp:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)
Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)
Leaf die cut:  Spellbinder pointsietta
Bling:  Recollection
Circle:  EK Success
Spellbinder:  Small Circle

Challenges
Mojo - Sketch
Creatalicious Challenges  - Winter           http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/

Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe - Caroling
Cardstock:  Core-dinations, Recollections
Stamp:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)
Circle Punch:  EK Success
Pinecone:  Lifestyle Crafts
Ribbon:  Offray
Button:  Dress It Up

Challenges
Sweet Stop - Sketch 186

Elves

My daughter usually comes home every other weekend, but this one she planned to stay at college.  I talked with her and decided to drive to see her for the day.  My parents are on vacation, but I was able to have dinner with my daughter as well as my brother and his family.   I will see him at Thanksgiving, but it was still nice to get together.  My nephew is two and is just so adorable.  I finally got to see my daughter's dorm room which to me is amazing that she is able to live is such a small space.  She loves having a room mate, but she is SUCH a social person that I'm not surprised.
I made this quick card using this wonderful sentiment from TLC, Create.  Paulette is going to have the Winter Club still available for a reduced fee starting on Monday.  That is where I got this sentiment along with many others and lots of Winter papers and images.  It is a great deal!!!

Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe - Christmas Countdown

Cardstock:  Core-dinations

Sentiment:  TLC, Create - Winter Club

Flowers:  Hero Arts

Star:  Making Memories

Button:  stash

Challenges

Verve - week 3

Cute Card Thursday - Starry Night  http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.ca/

Paper Pretties - PWC232 Buttons 

Paradigm Revel

Well, sometimes when you are in a hurry, you just get further behind.  I was searching for the perfect colored flower to match on my Mojo card tonight when I bent over to pick up some of my stash that fell and my insulin pump fell off my waist and hit the floor and shut down because the crack that I had by the battery compartment shattered even further.  So after a few choice words, I came upstairs and pulled out my new pump which I haven't programmed or started to use since it takes a seperate blood glucose meter and I still have several hundred dollars that I have spent in strips for the old pump.  So I had to access my on-line patient chart to program my new insulin pump as well as make one phone call to the support center so hopefully this one will be good to go.  Now, tomorrow I will need to go invest in strips for the new blood glucose meter - YIKES!  Well my new pump is the Paradigm Revel doesn't that just sound cool.  Now that I vented my frustrations of the evening....for my cards.....
I made a thank you card using this weeks Mojo sketch with Echo Park paper and I found a gorgeous Prima flower to match.  My second card is using Spellbinder leaves and embossing background along with another one of Paulette's freebie Thankful sentiments which can be found at TLC, Create.  My final card has non-traditional Christmas colors using Quic Kutz stockings and a sentiment C is for Christmas from TLC, Create.

Patterned Paper:  Echo Park - For the Record II
Cardstock:  Bazzil
Stamp:  Verve
Ink:  Memento, Black Tuxedo
Ribbon:  Offray
Flower:  Prima
Border Punch:  Fiskars

Challenges
Mojo - Sketch 267
Paper Pretties - PPMC65 - Thank You
Papercraft Star - Thank You  http://papercraftstar.blogspot.com/2012/11/challenge-121-thank-you.html

Cardstock:  Bazzil, Core-dinations
Embossing Folder:  Spellbinder
Spellbinder:  Leaves
Stamp:  TLC, Create - Thankful

Challenges
Colour Q 163

Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe - Hula Hoop
Cardstock:  Bazzil
Die Cut:  Quic Kutz
Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)

Challenges
Merry Monday - Sketch #41  http://www.alwaysplayingwithpaper.blogspot.ca/2012/11/merry-monday-41-trio-of-possibilities.html

Explain good

This is a card that I made for my 16 year old son.  He can be a sweet boy...the few hours that he sleeps.  Otherwise, he can be a stubborn teen-ager that fights for his independence.  On Monday, we had a struggle with trying to explain responsibility and it was a no-win situation.  He is taking several advanced placement courses as well as a class at the University of WI- Madison.  So...he has a lot of homework which he is struggling to keep up with.  On Monday, he didn't have class at the high school, but my husband and I could not convince him that he needed to attend the UW.  He refused to drive to the campus.  I told him to get in the car, and I would take him and we were arguing to which my husband so to let it go and have him suffer the consequences.  ARGH!!!  Now you can understand why his Christmas card involves getting coal.

Patterned Paper:  My Mind's Eye; Sweet Shoppe - A Majestic Christmas
Cardstock:  Core-dinations, Bazzil
Stamp:  Sassy Cheryl - Stocking full of coal boy stamp
Sentiment:  TLC, Create - Dear Santa
Circle Punches:  EK Success
Spellbinders:  Small & Large Circle
Ribbon: Michael's

Challenges
Sketch Saturday - Sketch #233

Thankful

Paulette at TLC, Create had this image as a freebie so I couldn't pass up using it.  There are so many things that I am thankful for and it will be a wonderful card to send to one of my family or friends that I appreciate so much.

Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe - Being Me
Cardstock:  DCWV, Bazzil
Stamp:  TLC, Create - Thankful
Circle Punch:  EK Success
Die Cut:  Cherry Lynn
Embossing Folder:  Cuttlebug

Challenge
Splitcoast -CC400

Others

I get so busy with our family making sure my son gets up for school and sending cards to my daughter at college.  Then there is the on going issues of my husband and his cancer in which we usually have a doctor appointment or an issue each week to deal with that I forget about rest of the world at times.  Today, I plan to send a fall card to an aunt that had her husband pass away about a year ago, but just a reminder that we are still thinking of her.  Then my Mother shared some news about things that are happening with my aunt and her family on my other side so I made a card to send to her to let her know I was thinking of her. That is my plan for today to think of others.
My second card is using a stamp from Torico at Birdie Brown with the sentiment from TLC, Create.  I added glitter to the beard and liquid applique to the hat.  I made a stocking that contains Stickles and liquid pearls.
My next card is using this months freebie image from Bugaboo and a sentiment that is from last years TLC, Create Christmas Club.  Paulette will be starting another wonderful Christmas Club on November 10th for 13 days and you can get more information at TLC, Create.
My final card is using a digital image from TLC, Create along with a sentiment that can be found here.

Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe - Chin up buttercup, Jump, Life is an Adventure

Cardstock:  Paper Company

Stamp:  Magic Moonlight- 1913 letter 4 U

Sentiment:  TLC, Create

Button:  stash

Flower:  Recollection

Challenges

Splitcoast - Sketch SC410

Color Throwdown - 217

Patterned Paper:  My Mind's Eye; Sweet Shoppe - 12 months December

Cardstock:  Bazzil

Stamp:  Birdie Brown - see above for direct link

Sentiment:  TLC, Create

Stocking:  QuicKutz

Stickles

Liquid Pearls

Liquid Applique

Glitter - Stampadoo

Ribbon:  May Arts

Spellbinder:  Label #11, Small & Large Circle

Challenges

Sketch Saturday - Sketch #232

There She Goes - Challenge 180 Dress Up Your Coloring

Patterned Paper:  Echo Park

Cardstock:  Bazzil

Stamp:  Bugaboo - bear candy cane

Sentiment:  TLC, Create

Flower:  Wild Orchid , Recollection

Cording:  Wrights

Candy cane die:  QuicKutz

Bling: Mark Richards

Challenges

Stella Says Sketch - Sketch 123

Bugaboo - anything Goes

Dynamic Duos - http://thedynamicduoschallenge.blogspot.com/

Cardstock:  Bazzil, Core-dinatiions, Recollection

Stamp:  TLC, Create

Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)

Ribbon:  Michael's

Spellbinder:  Beaded Oval

Circle Punches:  EK Success

Embossing Folder:  Sixxiz

Challenges

Freshly Made Sketches - Sketch #60

Cupcake Craft Challenge - Get Krafty http://cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/

Pixie Dust Stuido - Fall Colors

Colour Q - 162

Out of this world

I had the opportunity today to have my mammogram which I am grateful that I have health insurance that covers these wonderful procedures.  I know that October was the month for Breast Cancer Awareness and since I have always worked with cancer patients it is good for me to remember and be thankful for all the advances that we have.  It especially hits home since my Mother went through treatment and is a Survivor and I am so thankful to have her in my life.  Today, at TLC, Create, Paulette has an absolutely gorgeous image that is perfect for the season of showing how thankful we are.
For my card, I used this weeks Mojo sketch and another sentiment from TLC, Create and printed it right on top of a map image.  The papers are from the Sweet Shoppe except for the cardstock base which is a brown from Bazzil and the stars.

Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe - Space Cadet and Boy meets World

Cardstock:  Bazzil

Stamp:  TLC, Create -Cosmic 2 (see above for direct link)

Spellbinders:  Small circle, large circle, large scalloped circle

Stars:  Quic Kutz

Challenges

Mojo - Sketch 266

Harder than it looks

My daughter is home for the weekend and we did some shopping.  We found a beautiful breast cancer plate that is perfect for my Mother since she is a Survivor.  My daughter wanted to get it for her and asked if she could use my supplies to make a card for her Grandmother.  She loves that I send her a card a week at college and she keeps them all.  She realizes that it is harder to put them together and "create" them.  She wouldn't allow me to take a picture of her card.  I tried to help her, but she wanted creative rights so I let her go.  It does help her appreciate my cards more.
I made a vintage card using a vintage Christmas image from TLC, Create.  I added some cheesecloth and ribbon along with a wool flower from Jolee.

Patterned Paper:  K & Company, Recollection

Cardstock:  Bazzil, Paper Company, Recollection

Stamp:  TLC, Create - Christmas Long Ago

Cheesecloth

Ribbon:  HobbyLobby

Border Punch:  Martha Stewart

Spellbinders:  Petite Oval Small, Petite Oval Small Scalloped, Leaves

Flower:  Jolee

Pinecone - HobbyLobby

Challenges

Splitcoast - Color CC399

Survived Halloween

Well, I can't believe we are into November.  I wore my winter coat yesterday since the wind sends a real chill.  I love fall; however, I do not care for the cold winter season...funny that I live in Wisconsin.  I sent a package to both of my step-kids with their Halloween cards along with some pumpkin decorations for fall and a Christmas countdown calendar.  That is one thing that my kids would always fight over who would get up first and move the Santa on the Christmas tree that had the numbers to countdown to Christmas.  I laughed to my son, that since his sister was gone last year he could move it every day.  He didn't do it...I guess it wasn't as much fun if there wasn't the fight over it.  I said it didn't pay to put it up, and that I would buy a new decoration to replace it, but I was told by both of the kids that it was a tradition and that I couldn't do that.  So, since my step-kids are 29 and 26, I thought they could start there own tradition.  Unfortunately, for my step-daughter, Danielle, she is going through a break up after a several year relationship which is always difficult.  Paulette at TLC had a great sentiment for that the other day so I used that in a card that I made for her.  I had to get my husband to help photograph it with my light box because of the peach velum it was difficult to do.
My second card uses a wonderful image from Grands9creation, and paper from TLC, Create.

Patterned Paper:  TLC, Create

Cardstock:  Bazzil, Velum - Paper Pizzaz

Stamp:  TLC, Create - SINGLE

Flower:  Jolee

Spellbinder:  Rectangle - small

Embossing folder:  Cuttlebug

Challenges

Chupa - Sketch #82
Colour Q 161

Patterned Paper:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)

Cardstock:  Core-dinations, Bazzil

Stamp:  Grand9creations - free digital download

Embossing Folder:  Sizzix

sandpaper

Brads:  Recollection & Dress it Up

Challenges

Splitcoast - Sketch SC409

Do You Stack Up - Brads  http://www.doyoustackup.blogspot.com