Happy New Year!!!

Shoveling Snow! On Sunday, too!

SNOW DAY, December 27th

 

Have spent the day working on cards for
New Year's Day and projects for
Valentine's Day for the Memory Box
company.  Soooo much snow!!! Dad and I
will get the shovels out tomorrow morning
and tackle it then.

Merry Christmas!

Everything is A-Okay!

What a wild ride to Portland and back today!  Rain!!!  Wind!!!  Too much traffic!!!

Good news, though.  My blood counts are climbing back up and I'm back to a regular diet, including fruits and raw vegetables!  Hooray!!!  I've been craving salad!

Hope the wind dies down this evening and we don't lose our power!

Tag #12 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist

Today is the last day of the tag challenge at Ellen Hutson's blog the CLASSroom.
Tag #12 was inspired by Ellen's tag today:

kraft tag
snowflake paper from Simon Says Stamp
Gathered Twigs Distress Ink for edging the tag
trees tissue paper fussy cut to fit tag
tiny white pearls--Memory Box
birds with lights stamp--Memory Box
Happy Holidays! stamp--Studio G
Archival Jet Black ink
BIC markers to color birds and lights
raspberry gingham ribbon

Tag #11 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist

Tag #11 was inspired by Carolyn Peeler's tag on the CLASSroom blog today:  This is my take on shabby chic.

kraft tag
background paper from Simon Says Stamp
ticket cut from Memory Box paper
A Joyful Christmas stamp--Tim Holtz
Distress ink--Gathered Twigs
silver Washi tape
Licorice Distressed Dot paper--Memory Box
scrap of yellow textured paper for poinsettia leaf
tiny white pearls--Memory Box
vintage fabric scrap
vintage lace trim

Tag #9 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist

Tag #9 was inspired by Paula Cheney at the CLASSroom blog:
Kraft tag
Sizzix Holly embossing folder
Distress Stain Peeled Paint
Silver Foil sticky-back paper
2 3/4 inch punch
Frostyville Wreath die--Memory Box
Neenah White Cardstock
Merry & Bright stamp--Memory Box
smaller circle punch
Archival Vermillion ink
Cardinal sticker--Jolee's
dotted red bow
red/white twine

Tag #7 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist

Tag #7 inspired by Julia Stainton at the CLASSroom:
kraft tag
Sizzix Snowflakes embossing folder
Distress Stains Picket Fence
snowflake embellishment--Martha Stewart
Holly Leaves die cut
tiny white pearls--Memory Box
Nenneah white cardstock
Happy Holidays! stamp--Studio G
white organza ribbon

Tag #10 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist

Tag #10 inspired by Maile Belles:
kraft tag
Snowflakes stamp--Hero Arts
ColorBox White ink
red/white striped Washi tape
Neenah White cardstock
Happy Holidays! stamp--Studio G
Archival Jet Black ink
Stick Tree stamp--Memory Box
Hero Arts Shadow Ink Soft Leaf
Memories Ruby Ink
Cardinal sticker--Jolee's
red/white stripe twill ribbon--Simon Says Stamp
white organza ribbon

Tag #8 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist

Here's Tag #8 inspired by Kelly Alvarez:

kraft tag
red/white snowflake paper from Memory Box
Neenah white cardstock
two different embossing folders from Cuttlebug for the snow
Stormy Sky Distress ink to edge snow
candycane stripe paper from Simon Says Stamp
Stamps:  Doghouse and Dog from Michael Strong Stamps
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Distress Markers
Chloe Stem die from Memory Box for the "tree"
Martha Stewart Snowflake Punch
red/white twill ribbon from Simon Says Stamp
black pen to write dog's name on doghouse and "from your dog"




I'm actually going to give this to my sister and brother-in-law along with a packet of coupons from the dog.  The coupons will say things like "good for long walks on a short leash", "good for unlimited games of Fetch", and "good for snuggles by the fire".

Tag #6 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist

Here's Tag #6 inspired by Teri Anderson at The CLASSroom blog today:

kraft tag
snowflake paper from Simon Says Stamp
Neenah White cardstock embossed with Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder and cut into snow drifts
Trees are Neenah White cardstock triangles wrapped in red/white twine following Teri's directions
white pearls
white buttons with red gem centers
red gemstones in two sizes
Stamp:  Merry & Bright from Memory Box

Tag #5 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist

This tag was inspired by Kitty Caracciolo on today's The CLASSroom blog post:

Stamp:  Graceful Deer E1772 Memory Box
stamped in VersaMark and embossed white, cut out
snow:  3 layers of torn Neenah white cardstock embossed with a Cuttlebug folder and then glittered
Tree: Twiggy Tree die 98143 Memory Box, glittered Neenah white cardstock
fringed pieces tucked into snow lelvels:  Fringed Border die 98266 Memory Box, glittered Neenah white cardstock
Memory Box Distressed Dots Blueberry paper
kraft tag
organza white ribbon





After looking at this tag for several hours, I decided to change it up a bit.  I moved the tree behind the top snow layer.  I separated the deer, leaving one at the lowest level and moved the other to the same level as the tree.  Then I added tiny pale blue gems for eyes.  Seems like a better balanced piece.

Tag #4 12 tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist

Here's Tag #4, inspired by Jennifer McGuire at The CLASSroom blog:

Clear acetate from packaging
stamped with Blazing Red StazOn ink (really looks pink)
Fabulous Flourish stamp S5449 Hero Arts
Tim Holtz mirror card
scalloped circle punch
sentiment from Merry Everything clear stamp set from Simon Says Stamp
Neenah white cardstock
TPC Studios pink jewels
PoppyStamps die Lorelai Leaf 839
PoppyStamps die Nestled Bird 817
Bic and Adirondack markers
foam popdots
blue velvet ribbon

Tag #3 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist

Tag #3 was inspired by Julie Ebersole's tag with the glassine envelope.

Kraft tag
Washi tape in dark red houndstooth
Martha Stewart snowflake punch
Neenah white card stock
large white pearls
Merry Everything clear stamp from Simon Says Stamp
mitten stamp, Courtney Ricker @ Your Maine Stamper
white embossing powder
First Snowfall paper from Mistletoe Collection, Memory Box
Archival Vermillion ink
red/white twine
red paper for tag inside envelope
kraft envelope
white organza ribbon

Tag #2 12 Days of Christmas Tags with a Feminine Twist

Tag #2 as a notecard was inspired by Claudine Hellmuth's cute car with tree on top tag.

Hero Art stamps:  Merry Christmas G5452
                             Car with Tree F5528
Memory Box dot papers
snowflake and music papers from Simon Says Stamp
Garnet Memory Box notecard
Memento Tuxedo black ink

Tag #1 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist

I'm participating in a 12 Tags of Christmas event at The Classroom/Ellen Hutson (http://www.ellenhutson.typepad.com/the_classroom_new/).  Tag #1 was inspired by Sharon Harnist's lovely tag.


Kraft tag
Sizzix/Basic Grey Snowflakes Embossing Folder
Distress Sain--Picket Fence
Merry Everything clear stamp from Simon Says Stamp
red gingham paper Memory Box
Neenah White card stock
Martha Stewart Snowflake punch
Virtuoso Music Memory Box Die 98356
Lady Dancing Memory Box Die 98394
Chloe Stem Memory Box Die 98321 (for dancer's overskirt)
Red Pearl Pen
Offray Ribbon Bow
white organza ribbon

I'm DONE!!!! No more Chemo!!!!

Spa Day #6, the LAST ONE! Today,, 11/26

I'm on my way shortly to Portland for the last chemo treatment!  I can't wait!

Spa Day #6, the Final Treatment, is scheduled for Monday the 26th.  I had the choice of having it today but decided not to spoil Thanksgiving this year.  As much as I know how I will feel for at least two weeks after, I am really looking forward to Monday.

Thanksgiving is a simple event tomorrow.  We'll watch the Macy's parade on TV and maybe the Dog Show.  At noon I'll go down the road two houses to the American Legion Hall and bring home turkey dinners for all of us.  I'm going to the bakery today to get pies and rolls and breakfast pastry.

Gracie and Magic?

Spa Day #5 on November 2nd; one more to go!

Last Friday was my fifth chemo treatment.  Only one more!  The cumulative effects of the chemo have been catching up to me this week.

I felt okay on Saturday and Sunday Dad and I went for a walk in the woods and hauled out six fir trees for wreath-making.  All that water to drink over the weekend really irritated my kidneys.  Then Monday and Tuesday were kind of not so good days.  I did go over to the shop on Monday to deliver some fabric to Connie and to pick up some things that I needed for card making.  Then I had acupuncture at the Alfond Center.  Yesterday was pretty much a pajama day.  I am feeling a bit better today, not quite so crampy and uncomfortable.  Food still doesn't interest me much.  Kind of eating a lot of cereal and jello.

Need to get out later to get some groceries--definitely need something to cook for dinner later.

The online card class I've been taking has helped to keep me busy.  I've made about forty cards in the last week and tons of tags.  This week I'm way behind already, but I'll catch up when I'm feeling better.

I'm supposed to teach a class on Monday, but I won't know whether or not I'll do that until I get my bloodwork results on Friday.  This coming weekend there's a quilt shop hop and I may or may not do that with Donna and Linda.  Again I'll have to see how I'm feeling and what my test results are.  One thing I'm realizing is that as much as I want to do things as usual I really can't.  Like there's an auction tonight, but I know I can't go as much as I'd like to.

I also have a ton of sewing to do for Christmas, but I think I'm going to be the last minute elf with all of that, too.

Trying to keep my spirits up and stay positive.  In six weeks or so all of this will be over.

Holiday Cards, Day Five

Memory Box Winter Collage stamp
Memory Box Distressed Tag die
Distress Gathered Twigs ink
Distress Markers
red/cream ribbon

Holiday Cards Workshop, Day Four

masked the outside of the oval while coloring with colored pencils and glittering the snow scene
masked the inside of the oval while using Distress inks and stains for the postcard edges
colored holly and berries with Distress markers
mounted on Memory Box Dill notecard

this is inside the card

4X4 gift cards--I actually made 9 of these, assembly line style
stamped holly in Memento Tuxedo Black
masked outside the edges of the holly and stamped over it with script
colored with Prismacolor pencils
edged with Memories Ruby ink
mounted on Memory Box red gingham

stamped outline poinsettia in VersaFine Scarlet Red
made a mask and cut out the poinsettia image
used the outline mask to expose only the poinsettia
overstamped with different text stamps
added red Stickles for the flower centers
edged with Distress Tea Dye ink
mounted over small piece of Memory Box Winter Wonderland sheet music paper
on Poppy Red notecard
stamped Merry Christmas in Memento Tuxedo Black directly onto the card front

Holiday Cards Workshop Day Three

embossed numbers inked with two shades of red,
antique linen Distress Stain,
and edged with Gathered Twigs

dot background created by selectively dry embossing the dots
leaving the center open for the snowflakes

 

background created by scoring white paper
and inking with a blending tool after
to create a plaid effect