My temporary absence

Just to say that I will not be posting for a little while as I go into hospital for my op Tuesday morning.

I really resent having to do without my stamping for a while - excuse me while I have a little tantrum!!! **!*!! Now I feel better. Haven't even had time to use my new stamp sets so sorry, nothing to display this week.

Will fill you in on all my 'fun' times when I return and look forward to reading all your blogs and catching up with what you have all been up to in my absence. Take care and good stamping.

PS: Been thinking lately about the wonderful canal cruise we did for a week on the canals and Avon River in 2004. This photo shows the long boats (ours is the red one with our friend Anne waving! We are moored at Stratford-on-Avon right opposite the statue of William Shakespeare. Such a lovely spot right in the middle of the city. Great fun though we did have a few mishaps with the boat!!

Happy Birthday to Nicky

It was my eldest daughter's birthday last Friday. Don't know how I managed to end up with two daughters with only nine days between their birthdays!

So another birthday .... and another card:

This is another cased card but have changed the DSP patterns and the colours in the card.

Love the wide ribbon.

So Happy Birthday again Nicky and thanks for all the running around you are having to do lately for Dad and I. You're a gem.

12 August - Op Day

Just a quick update - hubby is progressing well in his recovery from bypass surgery.  Has his first session tomorrow at the Cardiac Rehab Clinic.

As for me, I saw the gastroenterology surgeon last Wednesday and he has booked me in for a "anterior resection with ileostomy".  Of course you all know what that is!!!  I won't try and explain but of one thing I'm sure, it's not going to be very pleasant.  He expects I will be in hospital for about 8-10 days and if all goes well, will go back for a smaller op after 6 weeks to reverse the ileostomy (same as a colostomy but higher up in the small intestine).

Well there you are - phase one of my second attempt to beat this ovarian cancer is about to begin.

Once again, heartfelt thanks for all your prayers and wishes.

My entry for kwernerdesign Color Inspiration #17

Well I have finally done it - after admiring Kristina Werner's color inspirations and the fantastic entries she receives - I have plucked up courage and will post my effort.

Color Inspiration #17:

Such pretty, fresh colors though somehow I found it quite hard to mix and match them.

Decided to keep it fairly simple.

So this is what I ended up with:

All supplies Stampin' Up -

Paper: Whisper White, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Sage Shadow, Spring Fling DSP, Prints Sampler DSP
Ink: Blue Bayou
Other: Ribbon, Pretties flower, Round punches, Color Spritzer using Sage Shadow marker (this took away the starkness of the Whisper White CS).

I had fun making this card and using my own ideas rather than having to get inspiration from other people.

Thanks for the ideas ... cased and copied

I find it really hard to visualise a card but I do know what I like and what I don't like, what colours appeal or not as the case may be (excuse the pun!)

If it weren't for all those talented people out there my cardmaking would come to a full-stop so thanks for sharing your creativity with me and allowing me to case and adapt your ideas.

Saw this card on Kristina Werner's blog and as I had just received my new square punches, had to try them out.

Couldn't exactly match the patterned CS that she used but think it looks pretty close.

Also had to use my 1" circle punch rather than the smaller (I think she used the 3/4") punch but it still gives the same scallop effect.

Kristina is certainly one very talented young lady.

Loved this card as soon as I saw it and of course, I could once again utilise my square punches! I was able to use the DSP in the small pallet of designer papers that was a special May offer from SU.

I didn't have the stamp set used in the original but thought that Garden Whimsy looked great on the front. This card was cased from Julie Buhler - http://paperpleasing.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/06/sparkly-sketch.html?cid=120133010#comments

I only case for my personal use and would never use someone else's original design to submit cards in challenges or to magazines etc.