Day 5, Heidi Swapp Stamp Journal Challenge

Today's tag page is a reminder message to myself. As you know, if you follow my blog, my husband recently had major MAJOR surgery which he continues to recover from, and WILL continue to recover from for several more months. These days have been rough for us both, and I'm still learning how to be a caregiver. Believe me, I'm not cut out for this type of work! All those in this profession have my utmost respect and gratitude, let me tell you. It has been only a couple of weeks and I'm already pretty beat. 

Thus, today's tag. I think most of us could use a reminder now and then, don't you think, to just slow down, take a breath, and calm ourselves. Life doesn't have to move fast, nor should it. Take some time to enjoy it, be happy with what you have, and be grateful. So for this one, I've used the July Agenda stamp set (the same set I used for Day 2). 

I started with a color collective tag in Blush, the ledger design, and stamped a background of wire fencing in Lost Shadow Distress Oxide. I added elements and words from the Relax set, and added a few more from Set Sail. The bicycle stamp is a super oldie I've had in my stash so long, I can't even read the name of who makes it. The hearts and arrows are from a Heidi Swapp planner set from 2016. I'm having fun going through some of the oldie moldie stamps that haven't seen ink in years! LOL 

Ink colors for this one, include the little bit of Lost Shadow for the background, are Distress Oxides Stormy Sky, Rusty Hinge, and Crackling Campfire. I hope you like it. I like this color combo better than I thought I would! 

Day 4, Tag Journal with Heidi Swapp

Well, I couldn't wait for Saturday when the jumbo tags are supposed to be delivered. So here is day 4 in another 'regular' size tag. I used five HS stamp sets, plus an old BoBunny stamp for the textured background. Super fun to mix up stamp sets, and I also added some tiny hanging tags to this one. Let's go through it.

Do you recognize the design yet? The 'CREATE' and the scissors? That is special to me as it has always been my crafty motto! Not only is it the design on my blog banner, but it was also my first tattoo. It was so much fun to create this tag using these elements from the June Agenda stamp set. 

💗💗💗

I love adding extras, or something unexpected to my projects. This time I used these skinny tags to add a more quotes from the stamp set. 

So many goodies on this tag. Heidi Swapp stamp sets, June Agenda, Heidi lower case alpha, Stamp Society July 22 (cake/party set), Celebrate, Christmas Captions, and roller date stamp. The background stamp is by BoBunny - it's so old there isn't even a name on it. Inks I used are Distress Oxide, spun sugar, kitsch flamingo, carved pumpkin, and fossilized amber. Also a touch of Memento Tuxedo Black, a jump ring, and Hemptique hot pink twine. The tiny scallop along the bottom is a piece of scrap I had in my stash of skinny tags.

Day 3, Heidi Swapp Stamp Journal Challenge

I hope you're enjoying this project. I'm having such fun and really enjoying doing just stamping for these tag "pages". No die cutting involved (so far) and no copic markers on any of these first few. That could change, but for now it's all just stamps and ink and lots of fun. 

My day 3 tag is super fun and more summery that the previous two. The yellow makes it feel sunny, don't you think. I used the Heidi Swapp Lemonade stamp set, Squeeze the Day. I was surprised while putting my design together that there isn't a tiny lemon included in the set (missed opportunity!) but I found one in the Martini Time stamp set by My Favorite Things that worked perfectly. 

Again, I used the white tag pad and the mini white tag pad. (Hoping the jumbo tags arrive tomorrow.) And just one Heidi Swapp stamp set. The background texture is a BoBunny stamp I've had in my stash forEVER! Oh, and the rolling date stamp again. I love that as it works so well on smaller projects.

Distress Oxide ink colors I used are Speckled Egg, Stormy Sky, Fossilized Amber, and Pumice Stone. Yellow twine by Hemptique, and black ink is Memento Tuxedo Black. 

Day 2, Tag Journal with Heidi Swapp

Second tag for the Heidi Swapp Stamp Journal Challenge. I used only a few products here, but what an impact, right? 

I started with the white tag pad, by Heidi Swapp. The jumbo tags I ordered should be arriving in tomorrow's mail, and if that happens, there will be just one more of this smaller size tag before I move to using the large ones. Also, I like adding a subtle background before laying down the main images of the design. In this case, I used the distress patterns stamp set by My Favorite Things to add the splatter in Distress Oxide, Antique Linen.

Heidi Swapp stamp sets I used, July Agenda and agenda numbers (the half burst at the bottom). I also used the rolling date stamp and a piece of tiny, narrow washi tape along the one edge cuz I thought it was cute and the color is a perfect match.

Ink colors for this one are Distress Oxides in cracked pistachio, peeled paint, and antique linen; plus a touch of Memento Tuxedo Black, and a piece of Hemptique twine. 

Day 1, Heidi Swapp Tag Journal Challenge

The first few tag pages of this project are smaller than the later ones will be, but I just couldn't wait to get started! I have the jumbo tags on order and they should be here tomorrow. But in the meantime, here is the first of them from July 25. I have always loved Heidi Swapp since the beginning of my scrapbooking days, and this new project makes me so happy!! It's safe to say, I already have a new obsession. Hope you'll hang with me for it. LOL

In commemoration of my previous cruise trips with my sister (which we are really hoping to carry on again soon, btw), I share my love of the sea and the wonderful feeling of escape I feel when I'm on the water. 

Heidi Swapp products used: Travelogue, Set Sail, white tag, mini tag in white

Other products used: Hemptique twine, Distress Oxides in Peeled Paint, Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, Pumice Stone, rolling date stamp, BoBunny texture stamps, Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad

 

My Favorite Things, Sketch 656

How about this for an interpretation of the sketch? I'm ready for a break after the past few months of whirlwind medical situation with my husband. (see previous blog posts) We have the next few days free of any appointments and I'm so thankful for the break! I'm thinking a stiff drink would be in order about now. Hahaha!

I started my card by creating a background with the distressed patterns and natural dye ink (discontinued color) from My Favorite Things. When my ink pad dries up I'll be sad. I use it a LOT for backgrounds and subtle images.

This small martini glass and olive are from the Paper Smooches, Free Spirits set (no longer available). The martini in the MFT Martini Time stamp set was too big for the look I wanted. I did use that set for the sentiment though. 

After using glossy accents for the glass and the liquid, I thought it needed something to distinguish the the martini from the glass, so I colored over it with a copic marker. Pretend it is pear vodka. Haha

Current sketch 

Product List:
My Favorite Things, Distressed Patterns stamp set

My Favorite Things, Martini Time stamp set (sentiment)

My Favorite Things, Dye Inks, Jalapeno Popper (olive), Natural (splatter, edge stripes)
Paper Smooches, Free Spirits stamps and dies
Copic, Xpress it blending cardstock, G21 marker (martini)
Foam tape, glossy accents, scrap of pattern paper

Progress!

Quick recap: Two weeks ago yesterday, Randy (husband) had a below knee amputation due to sever vascular disease that caused his toes and foot to basically die. It was an amazing process and we were both really pleased with the work of Dr. Smith, his surgeon. You'd never know it was so recent! 

Today Randy got the staples removed. 

The surgery site looks incredible and it's hard to imagine what he went through prior, it looks so good. He has been doing well with the rigid protector; the brace that keeps his leg straight so the knee doesn't heal bent. If the knee doesn't remain straight, the prosthetic won't fit. We still aren't sure how long till the next step, which I believe, is the temporary prosthetic that will be the basis for fitting the first permanent one. 

I forgot to count how many staples there were, but, I did NOT forget to get pictures. LOL There were quite a few of them as you can see by the pile, and the length of the incision site.

This was before noon today. We were so glad to be home and to have NO APPOINTMENTS scheduled for the rest of the week! It feels so good to know we can relax now for a few days. (Prayers that his phantom pain is not too bothersome. It was pretty bad over the weekend. Crossing fingers!)

My Favorite Things, Sketch 655

Part of the new vault release at My Favorite Things is the Watercolor Flowers stamp set, originally released in 2015. I've had this set in my stash for that long! Today I've used it again for the current sketch challenge. I hope you like it. 

No Copics with this one, it's all MFT inks. I was concerned about all the white space, but the more I look at it, the more it seems ok. What do you think? Is it missing something? 

Lots of masking went into this one. I confused myself a few times, but in the end it worked out. LOL The enamel dots are from My Minds Eye and the sentiment is by Ellen Hutson. 

My first project with this stamp set from June 2015 blog post. I really like the color combination on this one. 

MFT Sketch Challenge

Product List:
My Favorite Things, Watercolor Flowers stamps
My Favorite Things, dye inks

   Lemon Drop, Pineapple
   Blue Breeze, Blue Yonder, Blueberry
   Limelight, Jalapeno Popper

My Mind's Eye, Gingham Foundry enamel dots

Doodlebug, Bumble Bee enamel dots

We're moving forward!

We had a visit today from the prosthetist, Sean. He was originally going to see Randy in the hospital, but because of such a short stay, plus he was delayed out of state, he set up a home visit. We thought that was pretty awesome. 

So today's progress was phase one of the new leg. Sean did what is called the "shape capture". Randy was fitted with the socket. This prepares the stump for the first prosthetic; sort of a shrinking process. Shapes the end of the leg and makes sure the stump is no longer swollen so the prosthetic will fit. Over time though, the stump will continue to shrink until it gets to it's final shape and the new leg will need to be replaced with a second prosthetic.

Because there are so many types and ways to make them comfortable and usable for the patient, the prosthetics are chosen in order to accommodate the regular activities of the user. We all know, as I have previously discussed, Randy MUST be able to go fishing with his new leg. No doubt about that! So even that was discussed and Sean had some great ideas that we'll be implementing when that time comes. Which seems to be coming even sooner than we anticipated, and that makes us both very happy!   

I think I explained all of that correctly. It's quite a process and one we would never have thought would be happening in our lifetime, of course, but here we are. Randy continues to heal well and is doing great getting around with the walker. We see the surgeon on Thursday for his first follow up. I'm expecting an A+ on Randy's report card. :) 

My Favorite Things, challenges

Another combined challenge for My Favorite Things. This one combines sketch 654 and color challenge 215.

This cute stamp set from My Favorite Things is called Sunny Vibes. I used the tiny pieces as shaker filler. There is a pail and shovel, sand castle, and seashells. 

The sentiment is from another My Favorite Things set called, SPEC-tacular.

Product List:
My Favorite Things, Sunny Vibes stamps and dies
My Favorite Things, SPEC-tacular stamps (sentiment)
Copic Xpress it blending cardstock
Copic markers
Foam tape, clear acetate, glossy accents, sequins

Randy is home

Edited to add: 
First doc follow up will be Jul 20. Looking forward to another great report! ;)

Amazing. Simply amazing. 

You guys. We are completely blown away by Randy's amazing surgeon! The procedure went so well, the recovery went so well, the first night home (last night) was uneventful and Randy is doing wonderfully, as you can see by the pic. We are so impressed with the great work Dr. Smith did (yes, that's his real name, I did not just pick one to protect his identity LOL). You would never know by looking at his leg that surgery was just two days ago. 

We are so very thankful for all the prayers, love and support we've received from everyone!!! God bless you all, and thank you a million times. 💝

Big Changes, BIG

Today is the day of Randy's surgery. If you've been following at all, you know this is a major life change for us both. He is mentally in a good place and ready to have it done so he can begin the recovery process. I am also as ready as I can be, mentally, to begin a whole new chapter. We've been together 42 years and would have never in a million years thought this would be part of our story, yet, here we are. If you had asked us 15 years ago, we would have told you we'd still be taking motorcycle trips at this stage of our lives. Those were some fun times, for sure. 

Circa 1982

I've been going over in my mind for weeks and weeks the things we'll have to do differently, that I will have to do differently, to accommodate his new situation. He's comfortable with crutches, he insists, so I won't push for a wheelchair until or unless he wants one. We don't know yet how long until he can start thinking seriously about the kind of prosthetic he'll need, but those questions will be answered in the coming days, I'm sure. Praying he heals well and quickly so he can come home in a few days, rather than weeks. 

Right now I'm thanking the Lord for the patience He has given me in these past several years, knowing it's probably the medication, but so thankful still. I was not a patient person in my younger years, so this is fairly new and wonderful. There will be trials, I'm well aware, and over the past several months I've learned even more about just making myself available when Randy needs me. He has never been one to ask for help so this has all been quite difficult, for him especially, just from that aspect alone. He's getting better at letting me know when he wants help, and I'm being less anxious or stressed when he needs me to help out. You really can teach old dogs new tricks. Ha!

My Favorite Things, Sketch 653/Color Palette 214

Today's card combines two MFT challenges. The colors are so bright and cheerful, they just scream summer. It has been so hot these past couple of weeks (thankfully, we are not Texas or Arizona hot, but still in the upper 90s, scraping 100) and these colors are scorching!

It was hard to get a photo, but all the circles are clear embossed and shiny.

I think you can see the embossing a little in this shot. 

Sketch and color challenges, My Favorite Things 

Product List:
My Favorite Things, Dye Inks (colors shown above)
Simon Says Stamp, CZ summer sentiment strips
Honey Bee Stamps, foam strips
Nesting circle dies, clear embossing powder