I'm still here!

If there is anyone still out there, good morning and thank you for stopping by!

I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to update you since my last post.  As most of you will know, I had my lumbar spinal fusion and I'm now 5 weeks (tomorrow) post op.  I had a difficult time in surgery as I suffer from a blood clotting disorder.  Despite being given 5 units of a substance called Octaplas by transfusion before my operation, I still lost 4.75 pints of blood during surgery.  I was told this equated to my body weight in blood and was over half of my body's blood supply.  In the 5 days following surgery, I had 4-5 units of blood transfused and another 25 units of Octaplas to help stabilise my haemaglobin levels and blood pressure.

The usual procedure for my surgery is that they remove the offending disc and thereby releasing the trapped nerve.  They then use a mixture of bone graft and bone substance to fill the area between the two verterbrae where the disc was and put a protective cage around the area affixed with two screws either side.  Due to my substantial blood loss, I only have two screws on my right side securing the cage in place.  I was told that they had to make a  decision based on my safety and that there was no time to put in the other screws.  My surgeon has said that there should be no problem with just having the screws in on the one side, I hope he's right because I don't fancy the thought of having to have a further operation to put them in!

I am now wearing a corset to help support my back whilst the bones heal and start to fuse.  I should wear this for a minimum of 6 weeks.  I am going to keep wearing it until I start my physio on the 2nd April and see what they suggest.  This is also the day that I am currently scheduled to return to work, but I will see how I am progressing before rushing back.

At the moment, I don't feel too bad.  It's hard to describe, but there are times when I can "feel" that there is something in my back that shouldn't be there.  Having had previous metal work in my back, this feels different to me and I don't know if it's because it's right at the base of the lumbar spine.  Like I said, it's very hard to describe!

Card making is currently a no-go area for me I'm afraid.  It's surprising how much bending we do whilst making a card!  4 weeks stuck at home so far is driving me mad so I'm hoping to have a go at knitting and see how I get on with that! Wish me luck as I wasn't much good when my dear gran tried to teach me many, many years ago!!

I didn't get a chance to say before my op that the lovely Tracy of Dies To Die For asked me to me on her new challenge blog design team - Die-ing for a Challenge.  There is a new challenge running at the moment, so please pop over and have a look!  I was able to participate in the first challenge as I made the card before my op, which was also my husband's valentine card.

Tracy is offering a fabulous £25 voucher for you to spend at Dies to Die For

Sorry for the long post, I hope that I've not sent you all to sleep!  I'm sorry that I've not really blog hopped since I've been back.  It may sound strange, but it's difficult to look at everyone's wonderful creations when I'm unable to do anything.  It gets me quite down and frustrated and that isn't a good place to be.  I hope you understand.

I just wanted to let people know that I'm still here.
xx

Love in in the Air

Thank you to everyone who left comments on my last card, it's so nice to know that you're all still keeping an eye out for me.

A friend asked me to make a card for their partner for Valentine's day.  I have so many "lovey" stamps to choose from that I didn't know where to start but ended up going with a sweet Forever Friends image which I coloured with copics before cutting out with a square nestabilitie and mounted on a scalloped square of Real Red by Stampin Up.  The background is made up more Real Red and some heart paper printed from my Forever Friends cd before adding another layer of cardstock and embossed heart background before adding a strip that has been punched with my MS Lace Valentine Heart punch.

 Here's a close up of the little cutie!

I would like to enter this in to the following challenges:


Simon Says Stamp - Love is in the Air
Crafting When We Can - Love  & Valentine
Dream Valley - Valentine
The Squirrel & The Fox - Valentine's Day
Forever Friends Monthly Challenge - Valentine
Delightful Challenges - Love
Stampavie & More - Love

There are so many challenges out there that I could link this up with, I'd be here all day!

I hope you're all having a lovely weekend.  I've only got a few more days to go until my op and then it might be a little while before you see anything from me again.  I hope it won't be too long.  My room still isn't finished unfortunately, I think it will have to wait now until I'm home and I can tell Jon and my dad where I want things to go.

Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx

It's been a while!

My word, I can't believe that I've not posted since just before Christmas.  I am truly very sorry but in all honesty, I haven't really crafted or felt like it so took a bit of a break.  I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas and the first month of the new year has been kind to you.

I finally have a date for my operation.  It's scheduled for 16th February and I'm keeping everything crossed that it doesn't get cancelled.  I'm currently trying to fight a cold!  I'm also in the middle of changing my craft room around.  The double bed has gone and has been replaced by a sofa bed, I have furniture coming from IKEA and I'm also giving away a fair bit of my old stash to the childrens ward at my local hospital.  The aim is to get it all finished before I go in for my op because I won't be able to much for quite a while afterwards.

You may be surprised to hear after all that that I have actually made a card!  I was asked by a friend to make a card for her daughters friend's birthday.  I took the opportunity to make it fairly girly for me and used one of the my old Miss Anya stamps for the very first time (shock horror)!  The papers are from the gorgeous Bumbleberry Cottage Nitwit set and the cardstock is Core'dinations.

Supplies:

Stamps: Miss Anya Collection and Woodware sentiments; Inks: Copics & Memento Tuxedo Black

DP & CS: Bumbleberry Cottage - Nitwits, Core'dinations; Tools: D'vine Swirls CB folder, Label 4 Dies



Considering it's been a while since I made a card, I was really pleased with how this turned out, esepcially the colouring. I have been colouring a few images up ready to make some cards, so hopefully it won't be too long before I have some more to show.

I will try and do some blog hopping this evening whilst watching Masterchef!

Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

xx

Merry Christmas

Santa is on his way! I've been tracking him on the internet and Twitter and it won't be long until he is here.  I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and to thank you all for perservering with me this year.

I've not really crafted much since my last posts as Christmas has taken over as well has having lost my mojo with the loss of Bozzy.  I'm hopeful that 2012 will be a better year for me as my sister is getting married in May and hopefully my operation won't be to much longer to wait.

I hope that you all have a fantastic Christmas and that along with lots of lovely presents, Santa brings you all health, love and happiness.

Sarah xx

Jolly, Jolly Snowman!

Hello, I hope everyone is keeping well.  Thank you for all the lovely comments on my last card, it's so nice to know that people are still will me despite my recent lack of cards.

I have made another card tonight to share with you all.  I was sat on my laptop when I suddenly told myself to get off my backside and make a card - so I did!!  I made it with this weeks Penny Black Saturday Challenge in mind.  When I saw it on Saturday, I knew I had to take part.  For those that haven't checked, it's Christmas + Red & Embossing..  You all know how I love my red and white Christmas cards which always have an embossed background.  Add that to my love of Penny Black stamps and you have a perfect combo!  What better stamp could I use other than trust old Snowy himself! I've only had him a year, but I LOVE him!!  He's such a joy to colour.

 I apologies about the poor photos.  The only decent time for me to photograph at the moment is the weekend as it's dark when I leave for work in the morning and virtually dark when I get home.  Oh for those long summer days again!

His bobble & fur trim have had the usual glamour dust treatment.  It wouldn't be a Christmas card without a bit of sparkle! He's been coloured with my trusty copics.  The embossing folders are snow dots and snowflakes.

I'm going to go and have a look at what you've all been up to now. Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

Sarah xx

Lottie Love at Christmas

I hope everyone has had an enjoyable Monday, if that's at all possible! I always feel much better once I'm home and I know that the day is over for another week.  I really don't like Mondays, I think I'm very much a Garfield person!

The card I have to show for you today was made a couple of weeks ago but, understandably, I've not felt like posting it until now. It's another card using my Humphrey stamps, but this one is Lottie.  I think my last card also featured Lottie too, but I said it was Humphrey.  This stamp is called Snow Fun and was a dream to colour in.The background has been embossed with the snow dots embossing folder and backed onto Real Red SU cardstock which I get from the lovely Jules.  I've then cut a smaller strip of red which has been punched with an old Fiskars punch and then a strip of white card has been embossed with swiss dots folder and finished off with a gorgeous piece of gingham ribbon from Sew Sweet. The finishing touches are a Martha Stewart punch and a gemstone

 The snow drops have been glittered with Glamour Dust but I don't think it shows up too well in the photos.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Hooked on Crafts - Winter Wonderland
Kaboodle Doodles - Bundle up for Winter
Stamps R Us - Emboss It
Addicted to Stamps - Christmas Card
Gingerloft Challenge - Christmas and Winter
Penny Black & more - All Creatures Great & Small
Stamptacular Sunday - Anything Christmas
Sweet Stampin' - Punches and Dies
Simply Create Too - All About Christmas
Totally Papercrafts - Christmas
Crafters Companion - Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it Snow

Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you may leave, they are greatly appreciated.

Sarah xx

Thank You Christal

I would like to thank everyone that left a lovely message following the loss of Bozzy.  One week on and it still feels so painful. It's funny how you miss the smallest of things like hearing his meow or even just seeing his face looking back at you.  The mornings are difficult for me as I've lost my breakfast companion who had to be fed before I could do anything else and then wanted a cuddle when finished.  We'll get there slowly.

I have managed to make a card as I wanted to say a thank you to Bozzy's vet, Christal.  She is a wonderful lady who thought a lot of him and was so gentle and kind.  Even after he'd passed away, she was talking to him as she carried him out of the room.   I've wanted to do this since that day but haven't felt able to.  In the meantime, Christal took the time to send us a card with the following message:

"Boris was a super cat.  He was really lucky to have you look after him so well - allowing him to live for so long in comfort.  I know letting him go was not easy for you.  Thinking of you. Christel xx"

That meant so much to us.  I don't know many vets that would do that.  On the very same day, we also had a lovely card from a very good friend Michelle and one of my best friends, Sarah. 

This is the card that I have made and it obviously had to have a cat as the focal point.  The stamp is part of a Penny Black transparent set called In the Garden and has been coloured with copics.  The paper is from the first SWALK cd rom from Crafters Companion and is mounted on core'dinations cardstock.  The embossing is from a Crafts Too embossing folder called Daisies and the sentiment is from Craftwork Cards.

I hope that she likes it.  We'll be taking it in on Wednesday hopefully with a tin of Celebrations chocolates for them all.  I just wanted to let her know that we appreciated everything that she did for Bozzy when he was with us.

I hope you've all had a good day.  I've made a fish pie for dinner tonight and two mince beef pies to freeze for other days.  I like to try and keep busy so that I don't have too long to sit down and think sad thoughts as I know Bozzy wouldn't want that.

Thank you all for stopping by and for the lovely comments you leave, they are greatly appreciated.

Sarah xx