Birthdays

Have just entered the busy birthday time - February and March then July, August and September seem to be the most predominant birthday months in our family.

Brenda (my daughter's mother-in-law) had her 60th birthday last week and I made her the following trio:

Here are some close-ups of each individual item:

Then it was my birthday. Thank you so much to everyone who sent me their best wishes - I do appreciate it.

NO - I did not make myself a card lol!! However, I did receive some lovely cards (and pressies):

Later this week it is my youngest grandson's birthday so I borrowed Karen's Ahoy Matey set and made him this card.

Must admit that the idea was cased from SCS but I did add a few extra details on to it. Inside I used the jumbo wheel with the map on it across the bottom.

Now have to start making the next batch of cards. These are predominantly male cards so no pretty flowers and glitter, boo hoo!

Watercoloring

Well have just made this card with the vase of flowers stamped and watercolored on SU's watercolor paper. Oh how easily it colors and looks so great that I haven't even enhanced it with my usual dose of Dazzling Diamonds. The little bee has had Crystal Effects applied to 'pop' it up.

All in all, this card turned out just the way I envisaged so I am happy!!

Colours used - Purely Pomegranite, Pale Plum, Mellow Moss and River Rock.

By the way it is now 4.52 pm when all the poor workers will be starting to make their way home and the weather is absolutely attrocious - strong winds, sometimes galeforce, pouring rain - eek - glad I'm warm and comfy at home!

Cardmaking and chemo

First of all here are a couple of cards I made and sent to all my creative friends as thank you's for all their caring. Other friends received a variety of lovely cards that I have made previously in classes etc.

As is often my style this card was cased and adapted. I did not have any patterned paper with dots to match so made my own by using the matching cardstock (SU Brocade Blue) and embossing with the Cuttlebug dots folder then used my white gel pen to fill in the dots on the indented side. Worked well.

The sentiment has been embossed.

The other card I made in Almost Amethyst.

Whoops, just noticed a blunder on the card on the right. I forgot to tie the Chocolate Chip ribbon bow around the stem of the flower on this card. Hope the ones I sent out were all correct!

The stamp used on both these cards is from the Bloomin with Beauty set in the new Spring catalogue.

This set has now joined my list of favourites.

This next card was a sympathy card I made last week for our good neighbours whose brother died of cancer. It was made in a bit of a hurry and didn't turn out as I had hoped - never mind, this time it was all my own creation!

Sorry about the terrible photo quality :-(

Have had a busy week having to make trips to the hospital three days in a row. Wednesday for an ultra sound, Thursday to Oncology for final assessment and to sign my life away agreeing to the chemo, then on Friday for the actual first dose of chemo. So far, so good and am not getting the terrible reactions I had last time. Worst part is getting the intravenous line into a vein as mine have never recovered from last time, and the only other thing is the medication I am on to counteract the side effects of the carboplatin (chemo) tends to make you hyper and very alert. A lot of people would say that as I am never particularly alert that this is a good thing but it does tend to keep you awake all night. Your body is tired, your eyes can't stay open, but your brain won't stop working!

I am trying to decide whether to let them put in a port-a-cath in my chest to make it easier to do blood tests and administer the chemo. The downside to this is the risk of infection and blood clots and it also means having it done under anaesthetic. Has anyone any feedback on this procedure that may help me to come to a decision?

Anyway back to my cardmaking. I am in the process of doing another couple of cards as I have just purchased (at long last) the lovely Bodacious Bouquet set and wheel. Once again not quite turning out how I want but will keep experimenting and will post these once finished.

Happy creating all.