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Monday 29 August 2011

Shiver Me timbers

Well I had the chance this evening to play with one of Karen s Downloads
love this pirate card and had no idea until a few days ago Karen had designed it.

 I have added some button card candy to the sentiment plaque.
Glittered the waves around the boat and used some pearl drops for the pearls on the treasure 
Hope you are having as much fun with Karen s designs as I did this evening
Challenges
Cards for men- masculine
Forever friends- include and animal
Make it Monday- anything goes
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Help For Krafty Karen


Please read the whole post some of it is Karen`s  own words

A crafting friend that I have been chatting to for a few years on the crafter companion forum is in need of some help.
This Is Karen( Krafty Karen)
She is in constant pain over the last few years and it is getting worse, I and the other girls on Crafters Companion Forum have heard about Karen s struggle to get doctors to listen to and believe in her symptoms and send her for testing.
She once said they made her feel as if it was all in her head and her imagination, well a year ago after Karen collapsed she found herself I hospital and finally the tests were being done.
Well she was given a diagnosis, and thought this is it ,help is on the way at last.
A year later she is still in constant pain .

I meet up with Karen a month ago while I was holidaying near her home, she invited both my husband and I to come and meet at her home for Coffee.
Meeting Karen was like meeting a long lost friend, and her kids were wonderful and polite( she has 5 ranging from 15 to 3)
While visiting I could see for myself how much pain Karen was in ,every movement caused her pain, her husband and oldest daughter are helping Karen with the younger kids and everyday life.
Karen was saying that any day soon she would be going to see her pain management consultant and that she would be having an Epidural in her neck that would help a lot with the pain and her mobility .

Well last week Karen phoned the hospital to find out that her pain management consultant has gone onto long term sick leave and all his waiting lists have been cancelled., She is devastated by this news.

I noticed that this week Karen has been listing lots of her crafting items for sale on E bay.
I also know that crafting has been Karen s escape thought all this trouble .
I asked her why she was selling her stuff.
Karen feels that the only option left open to her is to go to see a private consultant and is trying to raise funds for her fees.
That why she is selling her much loved crafting Items

This weeks I asked Karen for the first time about her illness, in depth, what it was and what were the problems it caused.


Here are Karen s own words As she Emailed to me a few days ago


I have Degeneration of the C spine... (My neck) The disks which are damaged by change so far are;-

C4/5 C5/6 C6/7. I also have narrowing to the Exit Foramina which is causing root nerve compression - all of this causes a whole host of nasties for me, not least of which is the pins & needles, numbness to my limbs, loss of use and weakness to my arm, hand, and leg. Black outs, dizzy spells, headaches, loss of vision to my right eye and so many other problems they are too many to mention here.

The biggest thing I live with day to day is the sheer level of constant pain. The pain I have is in my neck, my shoulders, my arm, partly in my back, and in my leg too.



I also get a lot of pain to the back of my skull because of the problems with my neck. I suffer from paralyses and have good and bad days with this.



I also suffer from something called Complicated Migraine, which causes separate issues of it's own, but this is being managed with medication. But it does mean that I am unable to take normal analgesic or over the counter pain relief.

So I go day to day without any pain relief at all.



I have been waiting for such a long time for an Epidural injection in my neck, to give me some relief to my symptoms, which the hospital have just put back - and I am now on an "active waiting list" - I am still awaiting a referral to a London Spinal Specialist - I have been waiting for this referral for a long time now, and again, this appointment keeps getting knocked back.



I am currently trying to raise the funds to visit a private consultant, so that I can get some straight, honest, unbiased answers on exactly what my problem is and what my options are for getting it sorted out., I also want to be able to have the Epidural done if I can raise enough money for this.
I am so desperate to be able to do things with my children again. The worst thing this summer has not been having one single day out with my kiddies. It's made me feel like I've failed them some how.


It is now two and a half years since these symptoms started, and a year since my diagnosis and I am still right at square one for getting any help. I am still suffering daily with no pain relief. I am still fighting to see the right consultant who is willing to help me and give me an honest answer with regards to what procedure is needed.



The only consultant who was honest enough to tell me my neck is in really bad shape, and that I need to go to London, and that I will need a series of operations in my lifetime, has just taken long term sick leave. He was my pain management consultant, and this is the reason why I have now been knocked back yet again, and I am now still waiting for my long awaited Epidural in my neck..
This is why I have been selling some of my crafting stuff in the hope of raising some funds to go and see a private consultant.

The thought of waiting maybe another year to be seen is unbearable 



It seems to just go round and round and round in circles until I am right back where I started hun..


Well I just felt so angry on Karen s behalf and felt the need to do something.

This where I was wondering if you lovely crafters out there would be willing to help.

Karen has designed a few kits for sale at paper creator stores.
She is very modest lady and I did not know that she was doing this until a few days ago, She said its to keep her mind of her pain and designing has been a bit of a life saver for her this last year.
Well her kits are lovely and are available at paper creator stores,
I emailed Debbie at the PC store and she told me that Karen gets paid for every kit that is sold..( a few I have included in this post)
Well a light bulb went off in my head( it does not happen very often ROFL).
What a great way to raise funds for Karen s treatment.
If you buy a kit or two it will all go to Karen s private Consultant fund and get her the help she needs ASAP.
If you are feeling really generous how about buying the whole set,
This way we are all helping a fellow crafter in need and have a few lovely card kits to play with as well.
So please click on these links and take a look and help if you can.
These links will take you to Karen s Designs.
There are two site you can order from ether, Karen has a few extra kits to choose from on the USA site

Uk site
USA Site
These are the links to Karen s designs
The 5 kits shown on paper creator site and 9 kits shown on Paper crafts site.
If you are looking at the stores side bar to find Karen s kits they are listed under the title
EXCLUSIVES 
"Karen works alongside the Crafty Gals and uses the Crafty Gals EXLCUSIVES logo at the two stores."
It would also be great if you could post some links about this onto your blogs , face book pages and forums that you visit.

Lots have emailed me asking for a donate button to be set up, for those who are not crafter`s but would still like to help.
I have added one at the top of my page in the side bar


If you do buy one of Karen s kits, I am sure she would just love it if you popped over to her blog and left her a link so that she could come see your cards.
That would be a sure way to help her feel better
This is Karen s blog, Some of you in crafting land may already know her.
Please pop over and say hello, she could do with your support,


Karen never moans Just gets on with it.
Well Lets all help Karen s Children Get their Mummy Back.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your help and support
Wendy

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Saturday 27 August 2011

Paper Creator Challenge 6

We are on challenge 6 over at Paper Creator Crafts
This weeks Challenge is one of my Favourite style of cards
Easels
So pop on over and join in a £10 gift voucher for the store is waiting for the winner

This kit is called Heart of Gold and you can find it and many others at Paper Creator Store
This is so easy to make up and looks stunning
All I did extra was to add a little glitter to the paws and ears
So come on over to the challenge blog and show us your easel cards

Challenges entered
Inspire me Friday-Anything goes
Mami Doodles-Shaped cards
CCEE Stamper - Gold
Craft Us crazy-Anything goes
Stamping B- Easels

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Tuesday 23 August 2011

A touch of Black



Over on Sugar Nellie's Facebook page Fee has challenged us to make a card in black.
Here is mine
The papers are from one of my Bearly Mine Cds , The image is a Sugar Nellie's Digi 
Coloured in with my Spectrum Noir Pens
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Thursday 18 August 2011

Bubble Fun

Had great fun colouring this image she is sooooo cute.
I used my Spectrum Noir pens and the image is Nanny Bubbles from Kelley Kids 
 The background paper has been printed onto thick Hammer card ( this goes through my new Canon printer like a dream) and it is from Bearly Mine Designs
I glittered up the bubbles with glamour dust, cut the shape using nessties and chalked the background while still in the die
 This shows you a close up of the card fold, Its really easy to do and gives you a nice surface to work on the pop out front

Challenges entered into
Kelley Kids Challenge- pink and brown
Crafter Companion Monthly- glitter and glitz
Diva designs- Birthdays
Tuesday taggers- Anything goes 
Karen doodles - fancy folds
Make it Monday-Anything goes
Stamp and Doodle- Fancy folds

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Wednesday 17 August 2011

Necklace and watch set

OK its not a card today, I have been having a play with my beads
This set is made using
the following beads
Howalite 
Silver leaf Agate 
Black obsidian
Brown Picasso Jasper
 I just went for a simple floating necklace .
This is one of my favourite styles for day time, nice and comfortably to ware not to heavy a feel to the necklace that you can get when using more semi precious beads 

The watch I have been meaning to make for ages, I bought his face the same time as I did the pink watch that I blogged a few months ago
 Again I have used the same bead as listed above.
All threaded onto stretch elastic.
I find because I have small wrists the stretch elastic gives a better fit.
I dont like to feel the watch moving about, and thats what happens if I use a clasp
much easier to take on and off too

 Just a few close up photos, love all the warm brown shades in
these beads
Thanks for looking
Challenges
Creative challenges- anything but a card
Try it on a Tuesday  -Anything
Craft your passion- Anything but a card
Make it Monday- anything goes 


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Saturday 13 August 2011

Paper Creator`s Challenge

Here we are its challenge time again over at Paper Creator`s Crafts Challenge blog
For this challenge we want to see
RED AND BLUE
So click the link above and come and join in the fun, There is a £10 store credit for the winner and two runner ups get to pick a kit of their choice

 For my first card I have used Choo Choo Easel Plateau  Card kit
As you can see this card has loads of dimension and really stands out.

 I have just added a bit of glitter to the steam 

In the next card I have just taken the topper sheet and added it to a pre made square scalloped edge card
 Again I have added glitter to the steam coming from the train

This second kit is called Greatest Show on Earth

This is a very cute fun card all I did to this one was to spray the background with Crafters Companions glitter spray, just not showing up to good in the photo 

So pop along to the challenge Blog you can find it
Challenges entered in to are
A day for Daisies_ fancy folds
Crafty Ann`s Challenge- Scallops  or fancy boarders
Fabulous Friday - Animals
Fuzzy Wuzzy- include Animal- shaped card
Inspire me Friday- Anything goes
Stamping Boutique - cards for young males


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Thursday 11 August 2011

Baby Cake

 love this image had it a few months, think I got it from crafts u print
Coloured with Species and pro markers
Added a little glamour dust to the icing on the cake.
The background paper is from a Bearly Mine CD

The sentiment comes from create with TLC
Then just popped a little card candy buttons to finish
Challenges entered
Kelley kids- bring on the babies 
Craft us crazy -Anything goes
Make it on a Monday- Anything goes
KB Challenge-Anything with a digi

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Wednesday 10 August 2011

Thinking

 Love this image from Kelly Kids, reminds me of my niece when little always had bunches and her finger in her mouth looking as if she in deep though
I used Pro markers to colour her in, A bit of faux stitching on the main card mat, the blue mat came from DCWV blossoms stack
Challenges entered 
Make it Monday - Anything goes
Craft us crazy - Anything goes in August
Catch a bug Challenge- Anything goes
Ali factory - anything goes

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Saturday 6 August 2011

Paper Creator Sale

Evening all,

We have gone a little bonkers over at Paper Creator, I think it must be the weather as we are have a whopping 50% of sale across the store!!!
(excludes summer grab bag and plate cards bundle)




Come and fill your baskets quickly and grab some great bargains before we gain our sanity back :)

You can even grab a whopping 50% of all our previous POW's.

Just enter the code 'SUMMER' during checkout to get your discount.

So pop over and check it out

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Friday 5 August 2011

Paper Bag Mini Album

Well This little Paper bag Album has been on the go for almost a year.
I finished the Album then took awhile to find the right photos to go into it and make the mats for them all.
Its been sitting finished on my craft table for the last 3 months waiting for me to take all the photos and blog about it.
Well I had to move my craft room yesterday and bring everything from our spare bedroom down to the front room ( I will blog about the move tomorrow, with photos)
So I had the Album in my hand and thought Wendy Do it now before I forget again
So here it is

Front cover Handsome guy with the hat is our grandson Keaton.
Flower I made by cutting the petal shapes onto Brown card joining 4 layers together with a gold brad
Then spraying with gold shimmer spray and sprinkling with glamour dust.
The frame was cut on the cricut using a Penny Duncan file
 The paper I used for the Album came from DCWV Blossoms & butterflies stack.
I have made two pockets on each side to pop some mats with photos of Keaton on both sides
 Again I have made some more pockets to slip in photo mats staring Keaton trying to stand on his head and helping Bampy sweep in the garden 
 Another pocket added to the page with slip in photos and tags, the other page has another if Penny`s frames with my two sleeping beauties , Keaton and his daddy worn out after playing on the skate board that you can just see in the first photo
 More tags for Journalling and a little fold out button envelope
 More photos Keats with his lion puppet frighting  someone with a loud roar, the other after his bath
 Keats in the bath with bubbles on his hair and riding his train out the back last summer, since then he has moved up onto a bigger balance bike
 Mor pockets with him sleeping again, and him in his first summer cap like his daddy, he did not take it off all day
( very like his daddy whose hat is permanently stuck on his head  even in the house)
 Back view and the bottom photo shows the double sided mats that slip inside each page opening
These have some of my favourite winter photos of Keaton in his first snow just before Christmas.
Thanks for looking
I know this is a long post
Challenges entered
Craft us crazy - Anything goes
Crafting purple frog- anything but a card
Crafts and me - Anything goes
For fun challenges- Anything goes
ginger snap creations- babies and toddlers
Kelly kid`s- anything goes
7 kids college fund- anything hut a card
The sister hood of crafters- simpy handmade
Paper take weekly - Anything goes


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