Some not so good personal news...

OK, at first I wasn't going to say anything at least not for a while, but then I thought I'd share and just maybe someone out there can benefit from hearing this.
I've had a really rough week.
I NEVER want another week like this past week.
I wouldn't wish this on anyone.
This past Tuesday I found out I have breast cancer.

I feel extremely lucky that I found this really soon. It's only about an inch in size and does not appear to be the fast growing type of cancer. We are going to do a lumpectomy and radiation. That's the plan. Course, things can rapidly change, but this is what I am going with.

Now, for all of you ladies reading this - Have you done your yearly Mammogram yet? If not, why not? DO NOT WAIT.

My surgeon was quite skeptical and even commented about me NOT being the person who found this cancer and how they show up occasionally on mammograms, and most women cannot detect this,
but I did find it.
And I showed him exactly the spot, bypassing the cyst which was nearby as that is something I've often felt, and this other was something foreign to me and didn't belong. That's what I had told my primary doctor. I knew it didn't belong there.

It wasn't through a routine mammogram. I have been the one to find everything like this (I've found cysts several times before and I really did think this must be similar or nearly the same, but I still quickly followed up with my primary doctor and got additional mammograms and ultrasounds and ultimately biopsies done!) Hopefully that will make all the difference. I told my surgeon that for over 30 years I've had one of those little plastic signs hanging in my shower that show how to do a self-check! They don't even hand those out to women anymore. But it helps remind me to do it routinely! and Thank God.

So.... on Wednesday - the very next day, my husband and I spent the entire day with me having a double MRI, an hour and half consultation with the surgeon and his surgery tech, and then getting all the necessary things done such as X-rays, blood work, EKG's, and all in anticipation of my surgery next week and the setting the plan in place for the follow-up.
I feel blessed that things are happening really quickly. We were able to get the surgery scheduled for next week.

I've had wonderful support from all my family and my husband's family, and many, many wonderful friends.

I have been amazed at the response from my new (just 7 weeks now) co-workers, and also my wonderful boss, Fr. Patrick, who sent me a dozen long stemmed bright pink roses, as well as putting me at the top of his prayer list!
Every single day this week I've been talking to someone who has offered wonderful encouragement to me.


So everyone, I will most likely not be doing my regular cards for my two teams: Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturday and Squifflefly -- at least not for a couple weeks.
I really hope that is all that I may miss.
Please show all those wonderful ladies on those teams some support in place of me!

And please, pray for me and my family.

Well, better late on one and early on another...

Challenges that is. I am late on posting one for SSDS (should have been yesterday) and tomorrow is due one for Squigglefly and I have it completed. So... Here they are!


I'll explain a little better in the post above. But at least I got them done for this week!

Ohhhh, something big is up at Prima

Prima Marketing has something mysterious going on - and they are making us work for a chance to win some goodies! So, head over there and investigate yourself and see if you can figure it out. You have until Sunday evening.

Quick post for SSDS

I'm wwaayyy behind in some projects here at home since I started working again, so I only have time to quickly post this today.

Here's my card for the "charming" challenge over at SSDS today. I really love this little image, and he's so fun to color. And can work for so many different themes.

I hope to get caught up later and will be back to add some more if possible. Go over to the right sidebar and click on the link to take you to see the other projects by the DT members! They always inspire me.

Free Digi? Here's how...

Want a free digi? Well, now's your chance. In Style Stamps has a way for you to get one. Either Miko or Lina will be made available if you follow the rules. Me, I'm gonna ask for Lina! So check 'em out!

New Squigglefly Challenge

This challenge was to use an animal image and I choose to make a card about the loss of a pet. We had to put our dog down last year, and it's a tough thing to do. And I have seen quite a few notices on blogs recently that others are dealing with the same issues. So I decided to make this card.

I've been under the weather, bad sick with a horrific cold/bronchitis thing that caused me tons of breathing problems. Even had to miss a day of work at that new job (hope they understand).

Check out the other DT members and see what they came up with this week! And don't forget to check Squigglefly because they have many wonderful new images available!! Love the new one with the texting.

Welcome to the SSDS Blog Hop!!

The Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturday Challenge "Hop into Love" blog hop begins today, Feb 12th at 10am CST and will end Feb 14th at midnight CST.

I hope you enjoy my cards, and that you wish to participate in our hop! Next on your list is Boni , please go and check out her wonderful site and card for the hop! I'm sure you'll find inspiration on each and every stop along the way!

If you get out of order, here's the way it will flow:
SSDS (http://ssdschallenge.blogspot.com/)
Regina Jones (http://rjones-scrapcreations.blogspot.com/)
Angie Cortes (http://angiecortesdesigns.blogspot.com/)
Jennifer Kupiec (http://customcreationsbyjenn.blogspot.com/)
Lisa Vaughan (http://lisaspaperfun.blogspot.com/)
Diane Davies (http://www.princessscrapgirl.blogspot.com/)
Cheri Graves (http://creationsdecheri.blogspot.com/ )
Micki Harper (http://www.artfulxpressions.net/)
Terri Scott (http://triesmakingcards.blogspot.com/) ME, or you are here!
Boni Boutelle-Jones (http://bonibleauxdesigns.blogspot.com/)
Shana Tedrick (http://www.scrapinshana.blogspot.com/)
Carlie Mays (http://carliebugcrafts.blogspot.com/)
Rene' Bailey (http://www.creativelycapturingmemories.blogspot.com/)
SSDS (http://ssdschallenge.blogspot.com/)

You MUST comment on every single blog and then comment on the SSDS blog letting us know when you are done.

There will be a prize drawn from those who comment on everyones blog.
A prize drawn from those who complete the sketch and link it to the SSDS blog before the end of the crop.
And one prize from those who sign up as a new follower to the blog!

There may be a few surprises along the way, but you'll have to go to each DT to check things out and see what you can find. We hope you enjoy our hop, and participate often!




And Happy Valentine's Day too!
Here's my card, a little early, for the actual new challenge at SSDS on Saturday, using a cute Tiddly Inks image!

Just ducky!

There is a challenge for "ducky" cards over at Clearly Delightful , and I thought I'd enter this one for the CDBC2.

I have a cousin who is still recovering from losing his foot, and I thought this might cheer him up a little.

Because of the green paper, the yellow didn't show up too well, so I outlined it in a little tan.

Squigglefly news...

You know, I think I forgot to mention some important news! Mel McCarthy of Mel Stampz will be providing some great tutorials using Squigglefly images on each Friday in February. Click HERE to check out her blog. I also have some new cards I've been working on, but they aren't quite ready yet. Stay tuned...

Good Morning! It's another Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturday Challenge!

Today the challenge is to make a Valentine's Day card, with no red. My card fits the bill, but the photo makes it look like it has red in it, but it's really a Hot Pink Rose! I promise, that's the name of the color. But I agree, it looks red.
But it's the only part. The rest isn't any shade of pink! In fact, I chose purple!

I like this little image which is from the Critter Party by Penny Black and the sentiment is from Squigglefly!


This week we have a fabulous sponsor, Michelle Perkett Studios. If you haven't been to Michelle Perkett Studios be sure to pop over there and browse around. One lucky participant will win two images as well as 6 greeting cards. Check the prizes out at the site and join in on the fun!

Just a little reminder: We are having a "Love is in the Air" Blog hop. Mark your calenders and plan to spend a little time with us next weekend. There will be lots of prizes you aren't going to want to miss it!

Here's 4 more cards...

OK, here's 4 more for the Papertrey Ink Birthday celebration, then I'm off to bed. I'm getting way too tired to do any more. I wish I'd known/seen this a few days ago. It would have been really fun to work harder and truly do my best, because tonight was just pushing/rushing me too much. But I do love these Birthday Images!! Thanks!

Here's 3 cards for Papertrey Ink's Celebration

Here are the 3 cards I've made already for the Big Birthday Celebration at Papertrey Ink's 3rd Birthday Party. I hope to make a few more, but the deadline is coming real quick, and I just found out about it today (yea, I've been swamped and didn't get to all my emails)! So I've been scrambling! Love the images, and so I'm going to try to do a couple more in the next hour or so before bedtime! Wish me luck!

I have 2 cards today...

Hello everyone! Well, since I didn't quite know what I was doing, I did 2!!

Today's challenge at Squigglefly was to make a white card with sparkle! And I really struggled with this. Now partyly it was because I was tired. But... also I was thinking how could I use an image, with no color but white.

So I already really, really liked this sentiment and was planning to use it to make a 25th Anniversary card for my brother and his wife which is coming up really soon, and I decided to use a light pink. It's not white, but a very light color! - well that was my thinking anyway!

Then I really like this other sentiment from Squigglefly (did you know they actually have quite a lot of sentiments and not just great images!! And they are inexpensive too) and so I wanted to make a card with it too. So I did!

And that's why you can now view 2 cards for this one challenge!!

Of course, this just got an additional ribbon added, to stay with the theme for the challenge. Once again, a CAS card from me.
I really do know how to make more elaborate cards, but this is my basic style.

So, how about it? Want to come join the challenge fun? Holly, Squigglefly's extraordinaire, just let us know that Squigglefly Challenge has a prize every week!! Did you know that a new challenge takes place every Monday on the Squigglefly blog . The prizes will vary from free images to goodie bags from Holly. A Squigglefly image does have to be used to be eligible for a prize. But there are so many to be won, and so much fun to be had. Come join us!