Saturday, September 29, 2012

Cancer Cigar Box Part 4

If you are following my cancer journey, you know that a melanoma was taken off my right foot and a wonderful plastic surgeon, Dr. Sergio Zamora (Daytona Beach) reconstructed the bottom of my foot. Although my foot is sensitive, I'm walking and I have started driving my car.

The cigar boxes that I up-cycled for the doctor will be in the fundraiser today. In exchange he gave me several boxes to work on and so far I finished one real beauty! The outside is so nice, that I didn't want to mess it up.

I worked only inside the cigar box carrying a South American theme of the 1920's. The city street was made using a Sheena Douglass rubber stamp several times cut and colored (Tombow Markers) buildings. The Graphic 45 "Curtain Call" paper collection was used in the box. The car and dressy figures were cut from good cardstock using the Cricut "Art Deco" cartridge. This cartridge is my favorite.


My wonderful and supportive husband figured out the really tricky pop up features. He always makes my visions a reality!

Saturday, September 22, 2012

A Curtain Call Cigar Box

If you have been following my blog, you would know, that recycling cigar boxes  using Graphic 45 paper is a favorite hobby of mine.


This week I finally finished the inside of a box, which I had started a while back. The box is covered inside and out with the Graphic 45, "Curtain Call," paper collection.



The tricky part was putting the jazzy dancers on a stage inside the box. The dancers were cut from cardstock and layered using my Cricut "Art Deco" cartridge. The smallest you can make the figures is at the 5" mark. The stage is made from real wood scrapbook paper. My husband helped me to figure it all out. Without his help my vision of how I wanted it, as a pop up box, would never have happened. His birthday was yesterday. He supports me in everything I do!


Happy Birthday, Sandy!

Saturday, September 15, 2012

A Special Masculine Birthday Card

Most people find it difficult to design masculine cards, I know I do. Well when I need to be inspired I look around the internet. I found a card with a cute saying and paper cuts, but I'm so sorry I don't remember where I found it.

If you have been keeping up with my cancer journey, you know that, I have been to many doctor's offices and have had a couple of surgeries. Throughout this ordeal my husband has supported me in every possible way; not just taking me to offices, but helping me to make the difficult decisions. He even shops and provides me with healthy food choices to heal my foot and maybe kill any remaining cancer cells. So for my special guy, I want to give a very special birthday card.

I used my Cricut Gypsy with the Cricut Classic Font cartridge to cut the words and my Cricut cartridge "Paper Doll Dress Up" for the two deer. Wood grain cardstock and cardstock printed with leaves make an attractive background and still let the blue cardstock sentiment show. Some smaller details were enhanced with a white Gelly Roll marker.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SANDY!

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Cancer and Cigar Boxes Part 3

In August I had a melanoma taken off the bottom of my foot and a couple of days later a plastic surgeon reconstructed that same foot. I'm currently healing and trying to walk...it's not easy!

That plastic surgeon is a warm and compassionate doctor, who spent time talking to me about my situation. He and his nurse gave me pep talks discussing what comes next. In appreciation for their concern, I gave them each a thank you card I had made. They loved them and asked where they could buy the cards. I said I would bring them to my next appointment. I did and the doctor and his staff bought $86 worth of my cards. When I showed off a recycled cigar box, the doctor offered me a deal...he would give me lots of cigar boxes (he doesn't smoke in the office) in exchange for 2 of my decorative boxes. He in turn would donate them to a breast cancer fund raiser. 



Well, I brought the newly decorated boxes to the doctor last week and he loved them.

I used ribbons, lace, Tim Holtz supplies and the Graphic 45 "Ladies Diary" paper collection. I'm really proud of these and hope they go over well at the fund raiser.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Cancer and Cards Part 2


Yes, I'm doing my art work on my cards in my studio, but before I tell you about it, I will give you the latest on my journey to find the right treatment for my melanoma. It takes time and several explanation going over the same questions to understand and be satisfied with medical recommendations. Having a discussion with a second opinion doctor, an independent unbiased physician gives peace of mind and satisfaction about the treatment options.

I saw the doctor at the Mayo Clinic simply because I wanted to be sure that there is no stone left unturned in my care. The doctor at the Mayo saw me as an individual and looked at what I would be facing with the prescribed treatments. He knew my quality of life would change with little benefit of the courses of action proposed by my previous doctors. His estimates of benefits matched what the nurse from the Cancer Society said on the phone only a day before. He outlined the risk and complications and how he would monitor me in the future, if I were his patient. I believe what we decided was the best for me and I asked him to take over as my Oncology doctor, putting myself in his care.

By the way the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville is wonderful and it's only a short distance from my children. This will be a good fit for me. This doctor is on the same page with me and my children are close by!

Doing my art work not only keeps me busy , but gives me peace of mind taking my mind off the healing foot. I enjoy using my Tombow markers and the water brush. Sheena Douglass rubber stamps have such wonderful detail. My latest cards were done with "A Little Bit Sketchy" "Mile Stones and Moments." The stamp comes unmounted. Since I really wanted a scenic card without a sentiment, I cut off the wording and trimmed the stamp close to the scene. Then I adhered the trimmed stamp on EZ Mount and from there I mounted this lovely country lane scene to an acrylic block.

When I was all set to stamp my image onto my Arches 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper, I realized my "Stazon" ink pad wasn't wet enough to make a good print. I like "Stazon" for my work with water color because it dries fast and doesn't run. So I tried my  new "Memento" dye ink pad. For this I stamped images the night before and let them have time to dry. It worked, the "Memento" ink was just fine!

Oh I just got a new and juicy "Stazon" ink pad and new paper too! Now I need to be careful to not get my images over loaded with ink...everything is working great now!