It's all about LOVE!!!

  First, let me start by saying thank you to everyone who has been so sweet, kind, caring and supportive as I deal with my Mom slowly healing from her open-heart surgery.  Today is Day 9 of her being hospitalized and Day 4 Post Op, which can sometimes be the day a patient will be discharged to home.  Unfortunately, for my Mom that will not be the case, but she is doing fairly well.   Today, I am staying home and trying to get up on my life a bit...giving my very sore body a chance to refresh and to also spend some time in my craft room, which I have missed.   As much as I knew card-making was my therapy and my form of relaxation, I never realized just how much I would miss it!!  

   And despite my exhaustion and aching body, I really am so happy to be sitting at my craft desk and putting together some new cards, all of which were inspired by some of my favorite challenges.  I was able to keep up with email and messages, now that I have a "Smartphone", but the idea of trying to bring things to the hospital to do, was too much, plus there is not room and when I'm there, my Mom keeps me busy...getting her things and helping her out.  I'm so thankful that she realized how much I needed a day at home too.  It felt good to not have to make the drive again today.   The eighty+ minutes of driving each day is another challenge for me, but I am managing as best I can.   I so WISH she was coming home tomorrow too, but she says she's not ready and she doesn't even really feel much better...despite truly healing and recovering more and more each day.  It was not fun yesterday, to still hear her say, how miserable she's feeling and how she wished she had NOT had the surgery?  WOW!!   I was shocked to hear that and HOPE in time, she'll remember and realize just how fortunate she was to have a life-saving and very successful surgery.   I know right now, she's extremely fatigues, still very uncomfortable and not  feeling nearly like her old self.  As we were ALL told it's going to take time and I sometimes think that she forgets exactly how much her body has been through.

    After sleeping in, taking some to do some picking up around the house and then taking a very long and leisurely shower this morning  I was ready to get started on some new cards and the first one, will be the one that I'll likely take to Mom tomorrow.  I feel in LOVE with this new Memory Box "Precious Hearts" Die and knew it would be perfect for Valentine and Love cards and thought it also worked out very well for this card, which was inspired the new Cas(E) this Sketch Challenge!

   This card was so quick an easy to make, yet it's one of the my favorite.  I started with a bright white card base (Hero Arts-Snow, Folded Cards) and then used my Scor Buddy to add a 1/4" score line around the edge.  I then cut one of the "Hearts" from some red-striped Stampin' Up paper and adhered it directly to the card, after running it through my Xryon.  To complete the card I wanted a simple LOVE sentiment and chose this one from the Hero Arts "Live Life" Clear Stamp Set, one of my all time favorites; which I stamped directly to my card, using a bright red archival ink.

   I am also submitting this LOVE card to this week's CAS Challenge at The Outlawz, as well as the Anything Goes challenge over at "Through The Craftroom Door".   Come on over and play along!!

    My next two cards were both inspired by today's new Sketch Challenge over OWH's Stars and Stamps Blog.   As you know this is always a favorite challenge and I try to take part every Sunday.   I am always happy to share each weekly sketch and this week we are working with this one, Sketch # 155.

   This cute little Valentine/Love card features one of my newest digi images, (Puddle Jumper-Landon) which I bought over at By Lori Designs.  I adore her sweet little images and you'll see them often on my cards.   In addition to the OWH Challenge, I will also be sharing this cute lil' guy over at Lori's Challenge HERE - with is an "Anything Goes" theme.
 
   I broke out my Copics today, which is my favorite way to relax...coloring up images.  Landon comes with the cute little banner which is "blank" so that you an add your own letters.  On this card, I added LOVE, but think HUGS will be perfect too.   I then used more of my Stampin' UP red lined paper, along with some gray and white cardstock from my stash.  I used a set of oval deckled Nestie dies to cut him out, and a Stampin' up Punch to add the little heart.  I think he's adorable and he makes me happy!!

   My next card also featured another of Lori's cutie pie images and this is little Hattie, who is actually a Bug N Roo images and was created by Lori's daughter Hannah, who has been blessed with her Mom's wonderful artistic skills.   I also used the OWH sketch as part of the inspiration for this card, as well as an all PINK and WHITE theme, with pink being my second favorite color.  Little Hattie, was also colored with my Copics and layered onto another oval die cut.  I added that to a pretty white doily which was adhered to a pink textured background I created with the "Bee's Delight" Embossing Folder, by Craft Concepts.   To complete this card I tied on a simple pink and white bow and added a touch of pink liquid pearls to her cute little hair bows!

     And last, but by no means least, I have one more card to share today and this one, was basically created for fun and another all in what seem's to be my Pink Mode today!!   It also features another of Lori's new Valentine images "Baby Maisie" and also is a card that I think will make anyone happy!

   This card was created for fun and to share with everyone who has truly touched my heart !   I'm really lucky to have such a wonderful world of friends and I appreciate and value you all so much!!   Big Hugs...and Love!!