It's a beautiful day....

  Every day I feel well is a blessing and I've learned to live that way for many years now, primary due to having to live with Fibromyalgia for so long, but now also because of my Cancer battle.  I also try to remember to Cherish every day and to make sure that all of my family and friends know how much I LOVE them!  

    As you all know, one of my greatest passions to making cards and spending time in my craft room and I'm delighted to be back at it again!    I never imagined earlier this week, that I would be feeling this well and that I'd have a bunch of new cards to share, which I'm happy to do right now.

  

    My goal for this weekend was to try to plan in the Hero Arts "90 Minute" Scramble that was hosted by my friend, Barb in the Hero Flick Group yesterday.  You can read all about it HERE!  And I'm thrilled to have just learned that I was the Lucky Winner!!  YAY!   I won a $20 Gift Card to Simon Says Stamp, which I'm sure you know is one of my favorite craft stores!   Thank you Barb!! 

   

     I really LOVE the Scrambles and had missed many, so I was so happy when I saw that it was going to be hosted on a day and time that worked and was even more excited with Barb shared her theme, which was to us an "Angle" on your project.   Here are the two cards that I created and this first card was created with one of my newest Hero Sets (from the new release).  It's called "You're so Lovely" and you'll find it in stock over at a2z Scrapbooking!   There is also a matching die set, with the same name, due back in stock very soon!! 

Card Supplies:Hero Arts Card Base (Pool)Hero Arts Stamps CL 949 - You're so LovelyHero Arts DI167 - You're So Lovely DiesHero Arts Snow Layering PaperHero Arts Ombre Ink (Teal)Bow and Bling - StashMy Favorite Things - Wavy Die

   This card was also entered in the March / Spring - Bling Challenge hosted over at LOVE - Handmade Cards Group on Flickr, which you'll find HERE!

  After I finished that card, I realized I still had time to make one more and quickly was able to get this one done and posted in time.  It's more simple, but still was fun to create.  For this cards I used the Acts of Kindness Stamp set, which is one of my favorites.  It was inspired by Jennifer McGuire, who we all know and love.

Card Supplies:

  Hero Arts Layering Paper  

Hero Arts Butterfly Frame Cuts DI135  

Hero Arts C911 Acts of Kindness 

Hero Arts Ombre Ink (Pink) 

SSS Die Cut (Angles) 

 Snow White Card - Hero Arts

   After creating those two cards, I was on a roll and feeling good so I kept going and made these fun new cards.   The first two featured "pups/dogs" which is always a special theme to me, because I love my pups so much.  Both were created with digi images and colored with Copics.

 Card Supplies:

Digi from - By Lori Designs

Card Base - Hero Arts

Patterned Paper - Lawn Fawn

Colored with Copics

Croygen White Cardstock

White Signo Gel Pen

Sentiment from SSS - Circle Friends

    This next card was inspired by the new "Touchy Feely" challenge being hosted this week at the SSS Wednesday Challenge Blog.   The idea was to add some texture, which I did with a fun new embossing folder!!

 Card Supplies:

Digi by - DigiStamp Boutique 

Black Card Base - Hero Arts

Stampin' Up Embossing Folder

Colored with Copics

Cryogen White Cardstock

White Signo Gel Pen

Bazzill Cardstock (Blue/Black)

Sentiment - SSS Circle Friends

    And one more, which was created with some of my favorite colors (Purple and Pink) using a fun digi image from Bugaboo Stamps.

Card Supplies:

Digi from - Bugaboo Stamps

Colored with Copics

White Signo Gel Pen

Hero Arts-Purple Gems

Bazzill Cardstock (Pink/Black) 

Cryogen White Cardstock

Sentiment SSS - Lovely Spring

    And that's it for this weekend...but I do HOPE that I can now continue to feel great and be back with many more cards very soon.

   PS:  I am super excited about a new online that I just found out about.  It's sponsored by Altenew and will be taught by the fabulous Laura Bassen starting on March 16th!!    It's called "Clean Simple and Color Techniques" -- and you can go HERE and sign up!   NOTE:  I also learned when I signed up that they offer one FREE class and several others that sound really fun!  Please join me!!! 

 NOTE:  Today my blog and the formatting seems to have a mind of it's own and no matter how may times I try and fix it, it is doing it's on thing! Yikes!!!   I tried, but now I'm tired of it, so I'm giving up for today!  Thanks for understanding!!

I have Excellent News!!!

   My CT Results were wonderful,  my lung tumor is GONE!!   I think I am still partially in shock, but, I am SO HAPPY!

   I saw Dr. O'Meara, (my Pulmonary Oncologist), today and was thrilled to learn the the CT Scan from Wednesday shows no sign on the tumor, except a tiny "blip" which they consider to be scar tissue.  On top of there is also so sign of Cancer that showed in my abdominal CT Scan-WOOHOO!!

   I know I probably should be screaming from the rooftops and believe me, I am ecstatic, but if you have followed my journey you'll know that I had this same great news in August, when I learned that both my tumors (brain and lung) were gone.   I'm still thrilled and super happy that my brain tumor has never re-occurred and hope it never will...but I am cautious with the lung tumor, since we know that it already came back one, and was then larger and more aggressive.

  At this time we are not sure if this is a results of the "Opdivo" treatments, the Radiation, I had in November, or a combination of both.  When I had my first follow up CT Scan after the Radiation, the tumor had shrunk, and that was at the very beginning of the Opdivo Treatments, so we all think that was a results of the Radiation.  I also learned today that "Radiation" can continue to work for up to a full year after treatment, which is also great news.

   Dr. Sunkara (my Medical) and primary Oncologist, also met the the Radiologist to review my abdomen scan to be sure there is 'nothing' there and they were happy to report there is nothing they see nor any sign of colitis....which is wonderful.
 
   Why, I've been feeling so lousy and tired, is very like still a bit of jet lag and also likely from the treatments, which will continue.  I'll be back the AGH on Tuesday for my labs and my visit with Dr. Sunkara and she does plan to continue the Opdivo Infusions with my next one scheduled for Wednesday morning!

   I am SO happy, but again being cautiously optimistic.   I really want to speak more with her and ask if this is consider a form of "Remission" and if it's accurate to now consider myself to be Cancer Free!  It sure feels good and I'm hoping to celebrate this weekend.  I am feeling better and less tired, which is also great!

   Special thanks for everyone who continues to pray for me, send me happy thoughts and for all the encouragement and support you have all provided to me.  I feel like this is a bit or a miracle and now hope and pray it stays gone forever!    

Happy Friday!!

  Today is a bit of a bittersweet day for me, as it will be my last week as a Design Team Member for the Festive Friday Group over at "The Outlawz Challenges", and possibly my last post as part of any design team, due to my health.

    By the time the post goes live, I will likely be at an appointment with my Pulmonary Oncologist, where I will be reviewing the results of my most recent CT Scans, done on Wednesday.  I am hoping very much that I'll have good results, but must admit that I'm a bit anxious, because I have not been feeling very well, ever since my last "Opdivo" treatment, which was a week ago today.   As I sit and type this on Thursday afternoon, I am finally feeling a tiny bit better, but have had relentless fatigue, nausea and belly pain for the past week and it's been awful.  

   Because of this, and the fact that I've been too exhausted to manage to create, I have made the hard decision to step down from the team.   I feel so lousy and did not want to be a burden or not do my part, and right now I'm simply not able to keep up with designing or even posting.   Luckily, I had several cards made in advance for the challenges and today's card is the last one, which is why this will be my last week on the Festive Friday Team.   I hope you'll continue to support The Outlawz and continue to play in their challenges.  I am a prize sponsor for the next three months and have put together three awesome "Goodie Bags", which will go to one lucky winner each month.

    I also want to express my thanks to a2z Scrapbooking who is now a monthly sponsor for The Outlawz and is generously donating a  $20 Gift Card to their a2z Store each month, as well as "Hero Art Digital Kit" to another winner of the Festive Friday Challenge!!    

 

  

   For this week's Festive Friday Challenge, as we do each week, we have four fun themes to chose from:

• National Pig Day
• National Agricultural Day
• National Old Stuff Day
• Alexander Graham Bell Day

   I chose "National Pig Day"  and created with fun card with an adorable digi image from Bugaboo Stamps.  Please come on over and join the fun!  I would LOVE to see you play in my last challenge!

  Thanks for stopping by, and as always Happy Creating!!

Longing for Spring...

Hi, I'm back from my trip to California and while it was WONDERFUL to spend time with Brian and my friend, Pat, the trip overall was a huge bust and ended up being VERY expensive.

The Airbnb rental I had found, was not at all suitable for me...it was not very clean, (I spend the first three hours cleaning, and that was NOT fun)...plus it was in a building that was not well maintained, no fault of the host.   He, was very sweet and when I moved out after only 6 days, he and Airbnb refunded me for the all the nights I did not stay there and also reimbursed me for the Sheets/Linens and cleaning supplies, I had to buy!  UGH!   I do give a positive review to Airbnb and their Customer Service Rep, Brian, who was wonderful and made it so easy for me to leave and not lose out on any funds.  They also have given me a credit and hope that someday I'll again use Airbnb, which right now, I admit, it not at all in any future plans.

It was so fun to spend time with Pat, and I'm so grateful for her company, I'm sure had she not been with me for the first week, I would have left the apartment even sooner, as I did not like being there alone...did not feel safe for comfy and never slept well, since was so noise, between constructions outside all day, and noisy neighbors at night!

We moved to the "Hard Rock Hotel" on Sunday and it was very nice, loved the super clean room, the pool and their restaurants.  I would have stayed there for the rest of the trip, but they did not have rooms available for all my stay.  Turns out there was a big Conference in town and also was the "Presidents Day" Holiday week, which made the hotel rates sky high.  UGH!!  Not at all what I had hoped or planned on.  I moved to the Hotel Solamar, on Tuesday and planned to be there for the rest of my stay....but they had a darn Power Outage the night before I left and i had to move to the a new hotel, just after getting into bed...had to get up, pack up with my cell phone flashlight, they had none available and move down to the Hilton.   They did not charge me for the room, clearly and paid for taxi fare, but it was a real pain and I was exhausted and then had to fly out the next morning.  The worst part, was that it was a known power outage, but they "forget" to tell me (and other guests) who like me, were VERY upset when the power went out and we learned it would be out for a least 8 hours.

  My flight home was long...and I was so happy to be home in my house at 10pm that night but also exhausted and I have not felt all the great since.  It was sadly too much for me and that's a bummer.

  I also met another online craft friends, LesLee and we had a nice lunch together and then went to a scrap store called "The Stamp Addict" which was really fun.  I enjoyed time with her and had a nice day, but sadly did not feel that great by afternoon, and ended up back in my hotel about 3pm.  As it turned out, she needed to get on the road then and did hit traffic and did not get home until bout 6pm. but she said that was okay and typical.  Happy to have met you LesLee and again thanks for a fun day!  

   I'm so happy to be home and hoping that every day will be better.  I have been back to see my Oncologist and had an Opdivo treatment this week, which is sure is also one of the reasons I still feel fatigued. 

   Looking forward to Spring....after loving the wonderful weather in San Diego.  I sure did luck on on the weather and loved that warm sunshine.    I'm also looking forward to getting back to creating and wanted to remind you to hop on over the "The Outlawz Challenges" where you'll find me in the Festive Friday Challenge.  This is the card I created this week, based on "Floral Design Day".

Supplies:
Cardstock by Bazzill Floral "Roses" Dies - Simon Say Stamp Colored with Copics and Wink of Stella Large Banner die by Mama Elephant Baker's Twine/Doodlebug Hero Arts Gems

A snowy Friday....

....not exactly the weather I had hoped for today, but better today then on Sunday, when I fly off to  sunny, warm San Diego!  Woohoo, I can't believe it's now only two days away!     I am SO excited and happy to be making this winter escape and also that I'll be seeing my son, Brian, who I miss so much!    I had originally planned to do a lot of little errands today, but thankfully, I can do them tomorrow when I go out for my day of "pre-trip" pampering.  I'm having my hair done, followed by a wonderful Mani/Pedi!   Yay!!  I am also thrilled that I decided to fly out early (for Superbowl) and make those changes a couple of weeks ago, which turned out to be a blessing, since the forecast is for more snow Monday into Tuesday, which is the day I was originally leaving!   PHEW !!  Now, I'll already be in San Diego enjoying gorgeous sunshine and temps in the mid 70's!

   I love Fridays despite the snow and now that I am part of the Festive Fridays Challenge Design Team over at "The Outlawz Challenges", it's they are even more exciting.   This week we have another fun challenge, and as always we have four fun themes you may choose from, all based on fun days and events celebrated this week - 

Backwards Day

Inspire your Heart and Art

Groundhog Day

 Weatherman's Day

    At the time I picked my theme and created my card, I did not realize that "Groundhog Day" would have already gone by.  However, since it was celebrated this week, it is one of the themes you may choose and I hope these two fun cards might help you also decide to go with that theme, especially since we now know that we can expect an early Spring!!

    Both of my cards were created with Digital Images that I bought over at Melonheadz Doodles a fun store on Etsy.  Melonheadz has a wonderful selection of super cute images and I have always been a fan of Nikki's adorable designs.

    And speaking of stores on Etsy that I love, I am also very excited that a2z Scrapbooking, is now a monthly prize sponsor for "The Outlawz Challenges", where they will be gifting a  $20 Store Gift Card to one lucky winner, each month.  On top of that a2z is also now the sponsor for the "Festive Fridays" challenge and one lucky winner from that challenge will win their choice of any of the wonderful Hero Arts Digi Kits from the store!  My special thanks to a2z for being so generous.  As your know, I'm very fond of the entire a2z family and loved being part of their DT for the past two years.   Happily, I will still be part of the team taking on Guest Spots from time to time, Yay!!

    If you LOVE Hero Arts you'll love a2z Scrapbooking, and right now you can find lots of goodies in stock from Hero's latest release!  Love it !!  And you can also save with the current store promo code - LOVE15   which will save you 15% off any and all orders of $25 and up (excluding shipping)!!  Be sure the enter the code at check-out.   I'm also inviting you over to the a2z Blog where they have a brand new Design Team, which you can read about here, an of course, their own challenge, which this month is all about "Masking".   

Click Here to Shop!!

      Wishing you all a Fabulous Friday and a wonderful weekend!  I will be taking my Laptop to San Diego and do plan to stop by from time to time to post updates.  I'll also plan to post pictures and updates on Instagram, where I'm also known as "ThePurplePlace".  

       PS:  Before I go, I want to also remind you all to join me in the fabulous 30 Day Coloring Challenge over on Kathy's Racoosin's Blog - The Daily Marker!   It's already been so much fun and I hope you are enjoying it as much as I am!!  She is amazing and I adore her!