*One More Time*

Well, I'm still here in Regina playing the waiting game.  Mom had her biopsy done on Monday afternoon (we spent a long 11.5 hours at the hospital) and we are now waiting to hear that the pathology report is done.  We are all hoping to hear something on Thursday or Friday.  Once we know what's going on and what the options are, we will start to make plans.  Mom is in a lot of pain from the biopsies and is unable to eat anything but things like Jello, pudding and broth.

We're all sick of waiting....  while there is a part of me that doesn't wanna know, I think that in other ways it will be so much better to know what we are dealing with.

Back in the summer I made a decision to get a tattoo for my Mom.  I figured it was only fair since my first tattoo honours my Dad who passed away in 2006.  My second tattoo is for my husband, kids and I.

I asked Mom what she would like me to get... I was hoping for a flower cuz I like flowers... and thankfully she said a rose.

I talked it over with Bruce last week and we decided that it would be cool if I could get it done while in Regina.  I called the tattoo shop that had been recommended to me and then went in for a quick consult to see if anyone would have time to fit me in.

Orrin was available last Saturday so I spent almost 2 hours in his chair getting my third tattoo...

This is a photo I took myself of that tattoo... the top of the photo is where I cut off my toes in the photo.  This tattoo (although you can't see it in this photo) attaches to my first tattoo with the tendrils you see at the bottom left of the photo.

This photo is from my knee, showing the placement of the tattoo a bit... the bottom of the photo is where I cut off my toes.  You can also see the far side of my first tattoo on the top right of the photo.

The good news is that Mom loves it!  It hurt to get since some of it is on the top of the foot and other spots are on boney areas.  And it hurt a bit for the first few days since part of it is where my foot meets my leg and is thus flexed and stretched a lot.  I wore Mom's winter boots for the first few trips outside but have found that the shoes I brought with me work fine as well.

As you can tell, I have a thing about the placement of my tattoos.  I want my tattoos somewhere that I can see them and somewhere that they won't go all weird as time and aging take their toll on my body.  I've just about used up the spots on my feet and ankles....  and I don't want to look like a freak with 100s of tattoos on my feet and ankles.  So this might have to be my last tattoo....  right now I have no desire for a fourth...  I mean seriously, I've gotten 3 tattoos in 20 months!

*I've Been MIA*

I'm so sorry that I haven't been around much in the last 5 days...  my family started on a rollercoaster ride on Friday and we're not sure when we'll be done.  I have a whopping 2 cards in my folder to share with you and since I'm in Regina with my Mom instead of at home (and I didn't pack any crafting supplies) I have no idea when I will be crafting.

We are hoping to have some test results sooner rather than later.... although word today tells us we will be waiting until Friday.  We'd really like to know these test results so that Mom and all of us can figure out what needs to be done next.  We have so many questions waiting for answers....

But for today, a card to share with you....

Unfortunately, I did not think to grab my info sheet on the two cards I have finished.  But I do know a bit....  The cardstock is Stampin' Up! Whisper White and some colour of Coredinations.  The patterned paper is by Reminisce I think.  And I used Stampin' Up! yellow grosgain ribbon and one of the labels sets of Nestabilities.  The ink is coffee bean Brilliance and the stamps are Amuse (the happy birthday) and I can't remember which other company.

I used the sketch challenge at Mercy's blog from last week...  MTSC56 and the birthday challenge from Crazy4Challenges (C4C19)

I'll be back at some point with another card....  and I apologize in advance for any long absences I might be taking....  please don't give up on me!

*Everything Old Is New Again*

Hi Everyone!  I'm excited to be a part of a new Challenge that's out on the blogosphere this morning...  here's the details!

About a week ago, Sue posted a card with a long forgotten stamp set. Allison commented that they should have a challenge where they created cards with a stamp or a stamp set that they would first have to blow the dust off due to lack of use. Sue jumped on the suggestion and now, with the help of some of their personal stamp friends (PSFs), they are hosting the "Everything Old is New Again" challenge.


Want to Join Us? (Of course you do!)

All you have to do is create a card with a stamp set that hasn't seen the light of day for some time. Then, link it up at Allison's blog by Friday, January 22nd at midnight (MDT) and you will be entered to win a $25 gift card to Michael's (thanks to Sue!). If you are looking for some inspiration, have a quick turn through these creations offered up by some great gals:

Allison
Susie
Nancy (hey,that's me!)
Sue
Tina
Chris

Tracy

This is the card I created for the challenge... and I gotta tell ya, I really like it!

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  PaperTreyInk White; Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip

*Patterned Paper:  Memory Box

*Images:  Magenta; PaperTreyInk Mega Mixed Messages

*Ink:  Copic Markers; Coffee Bean Brilliance

*Tools:  Big Shot; Nestabilities

*Challenges:  Everything Old Is New Again; Mojo121; C4C19

I spent a lot of time colouring this image, taking my time with my Copics.  And I love how it turned out.  This is one of those images that I had to have years ago, made by a wonderful Canadian company called Magenta.  I still love it... I think I just got tired of playing with it.

Thanks for the challenge ladies!!

I can't wait to see what others come up with!

Tracy (http://tracyshappyplace.blogspot.com/)

*Another Birthday Card*

I typically don't make a lot of occasion specific cards... I like to keep them "open" so that I can use them for absolutely anything.  Otherwise they tend to just sit there for a while not getting used.

But, the Crazy4Challenges blog has had a challenge for the last week for birthday cards, so most of the cards I've made this week have been birthday cards.

Now to get back into the habit of sending birthday cards to people!!  I've been terrible about it in the last year or so.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  PaperTreyInk; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Images:  Stampabilities; Imaginisce
*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Rocket Red Brilliance; Copic Markers
*Tools:  Corner Chomper
*Embellishments:  American Crafts Ribbon; unknown brad; Stickles
*Challenges:  SC262; C4C19


Yup, two challenges again....  last weeks' Splitcoast Sketch Challenge and the Crazy4Challenges challenge.

And I used my Copics again!  I'm trying!!!

My favourite part of this card?  I love how the Stickles look on the bath bubbles.... gives an iridescent sheen that's just perfect!

*Not So Sure*

Happy Wednesday everyone!  It's been a strange week for me as I seem to be mixed up as to what day it is.  Monday I had an appointment with an opthomologist in the mid-afternoon and since I was getting dilated, Bruce had to take me.  We stopped on our way home to pick up Alex after band practice at school since the bus leaves before practice is over.  We came home, got dinner going and then ran in different directions... Bruce and Alex were off to the school to learn about requirements and choices for high school courses, the ride I had arranged for Matthew to go to TaeKwon Do didn't show up so I quickly got him in my car and dropped him off on the way to my bowling practice (the tournament I'm in is on Sunday).  Matthew got a ride home so I was able to stay at practice.

All was cool until yesterday at lunch when Bruce asked what day it was... "is it Tuesday" he said?  And I thought, couldn't be Tuesday cuz Alex didn't have piano yesterday, but Matthew went to TaeKwon Do so it must have been Monday yesterday.

OH NO!!

Yup, we completely forgot to take Alex to his piano lesson on Monday at 5pm.  First time ever.  Oooops.  I emailed his teacher yesterday and she was wondering what happened to us but totally understood.  I felt like such a dork.

So, today *is* Wednesday right??

LOL

On to my creation...

I'm not sure I'm in love with it, but I don't hate it...  I used a lot of challenges for this one.

Items Used
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Bermuda Bay, Certainly Celery, Handsome Hunter; Staples White
*Images:  Verve
*Ink:  Stampin' Up! Handsome Hunter; Stampin' Up! marker in Pretty in Pink
*Tools:  Big Shot; Nestabilities; Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder; EK Success border punch
*Embellishments:  Stampin' Up! grosgrain ribbon; Kaiser Rhinestone
*Challenges:  CC252; MTSC55

*Simple Birthday*

Good morning everyone... another beautifully warm day here in Calgary... right now we're about 8 degrees (celcius) warmer than our seasonal averages for this time of year.  After the few weeks of a deep freeze and all the snow we got in December, we are enjoying this for sure!  The roads are a mess, but the snow is melting... and that's a good thing in my books.

Just a quickie post from me today as I want to run off to watch Shannon and Hailey (find Shannon's blog under CalGals in the sidebar) at their first swimming lesson!  I wonder if Hailey will like it or not?

I created this card on Saturday based on a Christmas card Alex and Matthew received from their Grandma.  The Christmas card was a smaller size so I think it works better than this card does.  The card also satisfies the requirements for this week's Crazy For Challenges challenge to create a birthday card.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Bazill Bling
*Tools:  Corner Chomper; piercing tool
*Embellishments:  Doodlebug double sticky letters and glitter; Doodlebug brads
*Challenges:  C4C19


Not sure how much I like it....  shoulda made the card smaller.

I hope to craft this afternoon... wish me luck!

*love Love LOVE It!*

I am in love with this card...  It turned out so much better than I had envisioned it would.  The colours make me think of a Tiffany box tied with ribbon.  I think it all just goes together so well!

See?  Don't you just love it??!!!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  some shimmer stuff I had here from years ago; Staples White; Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip
*Patterned Paper:  SEI
*Images:  PaperTrey Ink Mega Mixed Messages
*Tools:  Big Shot; D'Vine Swirl Cuttlebug embossing folder; Nestabilities
*Embellishments:  satin ribbon from Michaels; Kaiser Pearls
*Challenges:  Mojo120
*

*It's Been A Few Days*

So sorry for disappearing on you all! I didn't mean to! I didn't post Wednesday as I was sad after Heather left on Tuesday evening... and I was out most of the day enjoying a pampering day that included a fill on my gel nails, a pedicure and a 90 minute massage!

Unfortunately, I got home yesterday afternoon and just couldn't warm up....  and then my head started to hurt.

Not a good end to a pampering day.

I went to bed with a headache and woke up with one again this morning... got the kids out the door and vegged on the couch for several hours before showering.  The second dose of Ibuprofen finally made the headache bearable.

I created this card while Heather was still here (sniff sniff).... I followed a sketch I found over at Caardvarks.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Staples White
*Patterned Paper:  Imaginisce
*Images:  PaperTreyInk Mega Mixed Messages
*Ink:  Rocket Red Brilliance; Copic Spica
*Tools:  Scor-Pal; Stampin' Up! Scallop Border Punch
*Embellishments:  Kaiser Pearls; unknown metallic brads
*Challenges:  Caardvarks New Year Kick-Off Challenge


I had originally scored the lines but I found they didn't really pop so I worried it wouldn't show up in a photo... so I added the glittery lines.... I should have left it as scored lines instead.

If you have some time, head on over to their blog to take part in this challenge...  there's a prize from Just Rite at stake LOL!  Deadline for submissions is the 15th at midnight.

*Only One More Sleep*

Tomorrow the last of my Holiday Company heads home... it's been wonderful having the people I love around.  I will definitely be sad to see Heather walking through the security check point at the airport.

Sniff sniff sniff

This is another card I created the other day while Heather and I were crafting and watching movies.  We've tried to craft again, but really, neither of us is getting much accomplished.  It took me an entire movie to create a card yesterday.

This card uses three challenges...  the current Splitcoast Sketch Challenge, a Splitcoast Colour Challenge from a few weeks ago, and the current Crazy for Challenges challenge (to use Polka Dots)

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Rich Razzleberry and Barely Banana
*Images:  Unity
*Ink:  Memento black; Stampin' Up! Markers
*Tools:  Big Shot; Sizzix embossing folder; Nestabilities
*Challenges:  Splitcoast CC248; Splitcoast SC261; C4C18

*Hopefully The First of Many*

I can't believe the Christmas break is almost over... the kids go back to school on Tuesday morning.  Not looking forward to a 7am alarm on Tuesday!

Matthew has been so different with his sleeping habits over the last few weeks.  Usually he stays up late on holidays and gets up early... but over the last two weeks, he's been staying up late and getting out of bed late. Really sleeping in!  That's so not like him!  He'll be 13 in March... perhaps the teenage sleep hormone is kicking in?  Tell him to stop growing up!!

Heather and I spent some more time in the craft room yesterday and last night.  We put in some movies and pretended we were crafting.  I managed to get 2 cards done during three movies.  I don't think Heather got anything done.

This is the first card I made for 2010.... It's for both Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge for this week and the current Crazy4Challenges challenge.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette; PaperTreyInk White
*Images:  Penny Black Hugs
*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics
*Tools:  Big Shot; Nestabilities Labels 4; EK Success border punch; Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder
*Embellishments:  Stampin' Up! Kiwi Kiss ribbon
*Challenges:  MTSC54; C4C18