November 2012

     I can't believe it is November already. It has been an incredible year. (not sure if that is really the adjective I want to use) Thanksgiving will be here before we know it and then comes Christmas. I can hardly believe the year is all but gone.  I am thankful for a wonderful God that has gotten me through this valley/desert time. My church family has also been amazing. I can't not forget my facebook friends either. Everyone has been so supportive and encouraging during this whole ordeal. I do feel like I am stronger (wish I could have gotten here on a different path) I know God is in control and is aware of all that I am going through. He is my rock.

     Dad has done so well during his treatments. I am so thankful to God for keeping him in his loving arms during this time. Dad is in great spirits. I know God has answered so many of my prayers. I know so many friends who have suffered so much more during their chemo treatments. I thank God that dad is doing so well. I am thankful that his body is responding to the treatments so well. God is so good.

     I am praying that with the beginning of the new year I can get back to my cards. My mind just is not focused enough to be creative I guess. I love my paper crafts but when I try to do something I just find myself wondering around with no real purpose, so with that said I will wait and try to resume my "card-making" for a later time. I would really like to make some Christmas cards (maybe I will try) I have so many things going on that I have not even begun to touch on here. I am not going to bore you with the details.

     Thank-you so much for those who prayer for my dad daily. (we can tell) Your words are so encouraging and uplifting! I pray you never have to go through this it is truly a life-changing event not only for the patient but the care-giver as well. I am thankful that God has drawn me closer to my dad this year. We have always been close but this last few months mean more to me than anyone will ever know. I miss my mom (which makes my daddy so much more precious to me) I hope you will take time to call your dad and tell him "I love you" You need to say it and he needs to hear it~

   Thanks for listening Hugs from here
~~Tracy (cardmakermom)

I'm still here ....Really I am

I am so sorry to my followers but it has been a very difficult year. As many of you know my father was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in January. First an update: The tumor in his leg is taken care of (turned to liquid by radiation) and then he had a rod put in his leg to help with pain when he walks. He was having pain in his leg because the bone was weak from the tumor. The rod gives him stability. He says that it has helped with pain. The tumor is no longer painful. He is having some pain in the hip where they attached the rod. He recently received a cortisone shot to help with pain. He says it helped a "little" that means it really didn't do much. He recently had a Cat scan on his lungs. The cancer is unchanged at this time. (but the cancer he has is very slow growing) so we are not sure what these results mean. I feel it is good, chemo has stop the progress. His doctor says we can continue treatment because it seems to be working (b/c its not larger) or we can stop treatment and see if tumor in his lungs gets any larger. Dad has decided because he is not having much trouble taking the treatments to continue and not take a chance for the tumor to grow. If he has any trouble we may rethink that decision. I am so thankful to God for his answers to our prayers! God is so good. Dad has been sick very little. He did struggle with dehydration a little but that now seems to be under control. I am also thankful to dad's doctors and the "AMAZING" nurses. They all have treated him so great. All of the staff that we deal with have been great during this difficult time for us. Cancer is a life changing event not only for patient but the whole family and everyone has been very helpful. I am so thankful to my church family for their continued support and encouragement during this time. Their prayers are so much appreciated!!! I hope they know how much I love them ALL.

WOW what a year! I'm back

Hello everyone,
I'm sorry I have not posted in so very long! My last post was January 10 then we found out on January 31  that my father has cancer. (I was already very busy with my daughter's wedding scheduled for May 12, 2012) This is where my time has been. I have been helping care for him & getting him to his doctor appointments as well as all his treatments. I have not done any craft stuff or even checked out my friend's craft blogs or U stream channels. I miss everyone so much and I want to thank those who have been praying for my dad as well as my family during this difficult time. I have tried to keep everyone posted on my Facebook page. I have just been so mentally as well as physically exhausted in dealing with this. During February & March dad went everyday (Monday thru Friday) for radiation. He had 33 radiation treatments plus they started him on chemo treatments every 3 weeks. He has done very well with his chemo (although he does have to get IV fluids b/c he gets dehydrated after each treatment). So as you can tell I have been more than extremely busy. We are now finished with radiation treatments (so we do not have to go to the cancer center everyday) Plus Amber & Bill had a beautiful wedding!!! (glad that's over) Now, I am just trying to regain my strength, this has taken so much out of me. I am trying to spend as much quality time with daddy as I can. I am so thankful that God has been so good to me and my family during this valley we are in. God has answered so many of my prayers (the way I would like him to) My dad has been so blessed to have done so well thus far. He has had some bad days but I do believe that he has more good than bad (with all the praise going to God for this!!!) He has also had such amazing caregivers at the cancer center as well as the hospital (when he has to be admitted for his dehydration) not to mention the great doctors he has had, the surgeons that put the rod in his leg & the one who put in his port plus the oncologist who is treating the cancer. Wow ...how truly blessed we are. God is good!!!  Well, you have heard me ramble on long enough! I need to focus on dad today It is his 69th Birthday!!! Happy birthday daddy, I love you (your little girl)

"Stack the Deck" mini album (Rosewood collection from Wal-mart)

Hello Everyone,

     I have been busy making a mini album. I am using Laura's (following the paper trail) Stack the Deck method. This paper is from Wal-mart ($5.00) it is the Rosewood collection. I love this paper. It reminds me of old valentine cards. I only have the album put together and paper on the pages I do not have any of the embellishments on the pages yet. I just wanted to let you know what I have been up to.

Front Cover

Like I said I have not done any of the embellishing yet. Here are the pages.

Inside cover

 

Page One

Page Two

Page Three

Page Four

Page Five

Page Six

 

Page Seven

Page Eight

Page Nine

Page Ten

Page Eleven

Page Twelve (Last Pg) 

I have not put paper on all the tags but I have done one. I will show you each side of the tag I have finished. I also want to make some more tags. I need to make some tags with room for journaling too.

Tag 1 (front)

Tag 1 (back)

I think on the other tags I will put photo mat on one side and journal spot on other. I will make one like that and see how I like it. Or on one side put small photo mat and small journal spot. Not sure ...I will make some samples and see what I end up liking with this paper. I am checking out mini albums by other artists that I really like. I have been watching some of Kathryn videos from Scrap Beach. Of course I am checking out other albums from Laura since it is her "stack the deck" method of binding that I am using. Here are links to some of their work.

***Special Thanks *** to Kathryn & Laura for sharing their talents with us.

THANKS, Kathryn Krieger (scrap beach)

Website: http://www.kathrynscraps.com

Ustream: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/live-on-the-scrap-beach

Blog: http://thescrapbeach.blogspot.com

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/desdichaedo

THANKS,  Laura Denison (following the paper trail)

Website: http://www.followthepapertrailwithlaura.com

Ustream: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/followingthepapertrail 

Blog: http://www.followingthepapertrail.blogspot.com
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/FollowThePaperTrail

Big Hugs

Hello Everyone, 

I am so excite about the new cricut cartridge I got "Lacy Labels". The shapes are so pretty. They are very "lacy" and delicate!  

 Row 1 Number 1 (Love You)

     I don't like this card but I wanted to see the different shapes on this cartridge. I guess I will name them by number and then how they show up on the screen. I am not sure how to do it since the cricut lite cartridges don't have a book. They only have a brocure like paper. (which btw is laminated which I really like) Just thought I'd throw that in. ...at no extra cost. hahaha  

     This is the Row 1 Number 1 (on the overlay) It has a layer that says Love You thus the Name "Love You" but I ran out of time today and I wanted to get this posted. I don't like the red background with the red ink (from the stamp "Big Hugs") so this card I am sure will change. I will repost when I get it the way I like it. (fair enough) ...better go it is Wednesday, prayer meeting night at church and I have some errands to do while I am in town (gotta save gas you know) I am leaving a little early to get everything finished.  Happy Crafting

Thinking of You

Hello Everyone,
     I have another card for you. This is from Cricut Lite Cartridge "Lacy Labels"  (ones from Wal-mart) I love this cartridge. I love all the delicate edges & beautiful shapes that it has. Maybe I can do a card for each shape ??? There are a lot of intricate cuts and do not lend themselves to small cards so we will have to see.    

Front

This is very simple and easy card. I cut a piece of white cards stock in half and then folded it in half to make this card (5.5 x 4.25) I cut the blue shape @ 2.5 as well as the other two layers. (white flower layer & "thinking of you" layer)  The dots for the "i" was so small I used a hole punch to make dots.

     I am sure I won't be able to keep up this pace all year. I have posted 3 cards in 3 days but I do hope to post at least one per week.  If I can do more I will (as this week) and if not I hope you all understand. Please leave me a comment and become a follower of my blog. Happy Crafting

~~Tracy (cardmakerMOM)

Guess "hoo" loves you

Hello Everyone,
  This is the card I started for Saturday Dec 31st. I made the "hoo" love you and an owl to go on the front of the card but the card was too small to put both on the front so I added the ribbon and will use the owl on another card. 

     Front

I leave the inside blank to write a note to the children.

owl

Here is the owl that I made.  I am not sure which card it will go on. I will post it when I use it.

~~Tracy (cardmakerMOM) 

If you like these cards please leave a comment & follow my blog. Thanks

I'm bananas 4 you

Hello Everyone,
    Happy New Year! I hope to do more blogging this year. I am sorry about 2011. When Bob went into the hospital it just seems my whole world was turned up-side down.  I can"t seem to get back into the groove of things.  I hope 2012 will be much better. I will try to post cards or 12x12s at least once a week. (no promises, but that is the goal)

Here is a card I did few weeks ago and never got posted. I have a card I made for the children in my Sunday School class.

Front

Inside

As you can see this could be used for any number of reasons. Birthday, thinking of you, get well. just about anything.  I love this little monkey. I am sure this is not the last you will see of him. (tee hee hee)

I have to cut this short b/c I have to run but I will try to post more soon!

~~Tracy (cardmakerMOM)