CPS #55

Well, after doing loads of scrapping I lost interest for a few days and did absolutely nothing and instead caught up on housework, washing and watching tv! This weekend I decided to try amking some cards so started off with the CPS #55 sketch and came up with this:

I used: Bazzill cardstock, My Mind's Eye Magnolia papers, 7 Gypsies chipboard, Inkadinkado heart and greetings stamps, Colorbox brown chalk ink, brown Marvy pen, Magic mesh, Prima flowers, beads and Kaiser rhinestones.

Jess had her blood test done on Thursday and yet again screamed the place down and was foaming at the mouth! Apparently the reason it had to be done again was that the blood had to go to the lab immediately to be tested and kept in the dark on the way there. We're still waiting for the results though!

We've been told now that Dad died from a certain type of leukaemia that has a sudden onset but I can't remember what type it was. Unfortunately his body still hasn't been released so nearly 4 weeks on we still haven't been able to have a cremation. It just seems like this is dragging on and on at the moment and is really dragging me down with it.

I'm hoping things start feeling normal again soon and I can get "back on track". I'm looking forward t this coming weekend as we're away to my sister-in-law's to stay and go to my OH's cousin's wedding. Can't wait to see the kids all in their outfits together!

Di's card sketch April #4

Here's my card for Di's sketch this week :

I used: Papermill card, DCWV paper from Luxury Stack, HOTP paper, Making Memories ribbon, vintage image from CD bought on Ebay, Prima flowers, beads, Heidi Grace sentiment stamp, Creative Beginnings silver embossing powder, DMC silver thread.

Not doing any crafting tonight as I'm absolutely shattered! Have been shopping for a wedding outfit with Mum today and managed to find one but feel like I've run a marathon! Now sat enjoying a glass of chardonnay before bed.

Taking Jess to the hospital in the morning for her repeat blood test and then doing the weekly shop. Hoping to get some crafting time tomorrow as been looking through my Cards magazines and am feeling inspired.

2 more layouts

These are both 12" x 12":

I used: Bazzill cardstock, KI Memories paper (from funky paper pad II), Making Memories mailbox letters, Dymo, HOTP huge brads with American Crafts mini-marks rub-ons, Creative Imaginations sticker (under construction and blocks), DCWV sticker.

I used: Bazzill cardstock, Heidi Grace A bird's tale papers, Nestabilities die-cut scalloped circle, Heidi Grace bird stamp, black and white Signo pens, American Crafts glitter markers (aquamarine, green peridot and purple kunzite), Zig pink chalk writer and Kaiser rhinestones.

I really enjoyed doing this LO and copying various elements from the patterned papers. Not my usual style but still fun!

Have been unable to access most of my usual sites on the internet due to a problem with our ISP. Hope they fix it soon though! In the meantime I'm still doing as much crafty stuff as I can. The boys go back to school tomorrow so there go my babysitters!

The car is booked in to have a new exhaust on Wednesday and while that's being done I'm meeting my Mum in town to have a look for a wedding outfit - the wedding's in less than 2 weeks and I have nothing to wear yet! Thursday I have to take Jess back to the hospital so they can re-do her blood test and then on Friday I'll be going back in to town if I haven't found an outfit on Wednesday. I really need to get one this week as Mum is going away next week and I need her to come with me so I can have an opinion and she can amuse Jess while I'm trying stuff on!

Di's card sketch April #3

So for Di's sketch last week I went outside my usual comfort-zone of card making and instead opted to make and decorate a box - starting from scratch and using my new Crafter's Companion top-score multiboard:

I used: Papermill card, My Mind's Eye Magnolia papers, vintage Letraset dry transfer lettering, unknown make of ribbon, HOTP button and some rhinestones.

Sorry.....

....too much going on here! Have had my in-laws staying over for a few days which was wonderful. Also had memorial service for Dad on Wdnesday but no cremation yet, for reasons I won't go in to now , followed by a few family problems. Then my car exhaust fell off during the trip home on Wednesday so now have to get that fixed but luckily my wonderful Mum is sorting that out for me. I'm aiming to spend most weekend scrapping and trying to blank everything else out! Love to all my friends and thanks again for your support xx

Happy Birthday Jess!!!

My darling daughter is 1 today!!!

Some more...

layouts. All these are 8.5" x 11":

I used: Bazzill cardstock, My Mind's Eye Magnolia paper, Ellison Chunkadelic alphabet die-cuts, My Mind's Eye Magnolia alphabet rub-ons, ribbon by Strano (I think) and unknown make, American Crafts rub-on, black and white Signo pens.

I used: Bazzill cardstock, My Mind's Eye Magnolia paper, Scrapworks Rubz (red alphabet rub-ons), Making Memories alphabet stickers, EKSuccess button-ups, HOTP brads, red Signo pen.

I used: DCWV cardstock, My Mind's Eye Magnolia papers, SEI Granny's Kitchen alphabet stickers, Queen & Co felt fusion, Basic Grey journalling stamp, brown Colorbox chalk ink, Making Memories tiny alphabet stickers, American Crafts rub-on ("happy") and HOTP button.

I used: My Mind's Eye Everyday Tango papers, Heidi Swapp chipboard alphabet, Ranger crackle paint, Technique Tuesday straight and narrow stamps, black Versafine ink ( more than anticipated as I rested my arm on it and then on the LO hence the mess on the right hand side!), Autumn Leaves Rhonna Farrer rub-on, MOD Kaleidoscope rub-ons, black Signo pen.

I used: Paper Reflections cardstock, K & Co Amy Butler paper, Sizzlits Round-a-bout die-cut alphabet, Fancy Pants chipboard, Lakeland glitter, Around the Block brad , rhinestones and a Marvy pen.

Tomorrow is Jess's first birthday - hasn't the past year gone quickly!?!? I still have a birthday card to make for her but I also need to blitz the house as my Mum and step-dad are coming over tomorrow and then the in-laws are coming down on Wednesday.

Dad's cremation is also on Wednesday so my wonderful in-laws are going to come down really early in the morning and look after the boys while Neil and I go, with Jess, up to Bath. We don't want Jess in the crematorium so Neil is going to look after her and go for a walk while the service is on and then we're heading off to the local golf course for the wake.

I had a phone call this morning from the hospital to say that when Jess's blood was taken they used the wrong vial so I have to take her back next week for them to take some more. Dreading that as last time she screamed the place down and was actually frothing at the mouth as she was so mad!

Di's card sketch April #1

So I finally get around to uploading my card for Di's April #1 sketch:

I used: DCWV cardstock, Making Memories paper, KI Memories paper, My Mind's Eye Magnolia rub-on flowers, ribbon from Bath & Body works, Kaiser rhinestones, Heidi Grace sentiment stamp, black Versafine ink, black Marvy pen.

Forgot to say that we took Jess to her consultant's appointment at the hospital last week. The Dr did agree that her skin looked very yellow/orange and as he didn't think anything was wrong with her liver thought that it may be something called carotene anaemia. This is almost always caused by eating too many carrots but there has only been 2 known cases where it just appeared. As Jess doesn't eat many carrots at all she could just be the 3rd case! Anyway they took some blood from her which has to be tested for carotene and bilirubon levels (just to make sure her liver is definitely OK) and we just have to wait for the results now. This may take a while though as the Dr wasn't sure if our hospital could actually carry out the test or if her blood would have to be sent away. Anyway if it is this anaemia it's not serious and nothing to worry about.

Saving my sanity...

this is what I've been doing. They're all 8" x 8" layouts:

Used: DCWV cardstock, Chatterbox paper, Heidi Swapp chipboard alphabet, Heidi Grace swirl stamp, white Brilliance ink, MOD rub-ons, MM Heidi rub-ons, ROyal & Langnickel rub-ons, HOTP bloom and brad and my sewing machine.

Used: DCWV cardstock, Heidi grace paper, Quickutz Maggie mini alphabet die-cuts, Heidi Grace plastic flowers, Prima flower and HOTP brads, Marvy pen.

Used: DCWV cardstock, Papermania retro floral paper, Quickutz Blossom mini alphabet die-cuts, Queen & Co felt fusion, Heidi Grace flourish stamp, Basic Grey journalling stamp, black Signo pen and black Versafine ink.

Used: DCWV cardstock, My Mind's Eye Front Porch papers, My Mind's Eye Magnolia rub-on ("darling"), 7Gypsies oval chipboard tag, Heidi Grace flourish stamp, coffee bean Brilliance ink, pink velvet ribbon, Basic Grey journalling stamp, Marvy pen, American Crafts rub-on.

Used: DCWV cardstock, My MInd's Eye Front Porch papers, Creative Cafe rub-on alphabets, American Crafts ribbon, Papermania ribbon brad and heart brad, Kaiser rhinestones and Marvy pen.

Thank you....

to everyone for your messages of sympathy and support.

Dad's cremation has been arranged for next Wednesday morning in Bath so I'm now trying to work out what to do with the boys and Jess on that day - having a bit of a nightmare actually!

The post-mortem should have been done today but has been postponed until tomorrow so we're still waiting for some proper answers as to what actually happened as the Drs still didn't know even thought hey tried their best to help Dad.

Sorry I've not visited my usual blogging friends or posted much on forums - I'm finding that sitting and scrapbooking is helping me to get through the days and I'm only popping on to the PC every now and then. Will post some creations some day soon.

Dad.

I got a phone call this morning from my step-mum to say that Dad's condition had worsened so at 3 .00am I left with Jess to go and see him. Luckily I got to spend a bit of time with him while he was lucid and then after that he went downhill rapidly and ended up having to be ventilated. At some point when we all went to my sister's house for a rest Dad otok another turn for the worse andthere was nothing more that could be done. My step-mum and I chose to stay with him while the machines keeping him alive were slowly turned down and eventually he lost the fight just before 1.00pm.

Dad....

has now been transferred in to intensive care. He's had 2 lots of dialysis, one yesterday and one today but his body reacted very badly to today's and he had to be taken off it early. His liver is only working at about 10% efficiency and the Drs still can't figure out why any of this is happening. They're now looking into whether it's his heart that somehow is pushing infection in to the blood and then around his body.

At home I've had the day from hell with Jess and her poorly tummy which I really need to be cleared up before Thursday. She has her appointment at the local hospital for the consultants to check out what's causing her yellow skin. The GP wasn't sure what's causing it so it has to be checked out. Hopefully it won't be anything serious, I can't cope with much more crap at the moment!