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Jumat, 20 Mei 2016

As I was getting up and grabbing my morning coffee, I was getting ready to post a sad and "poor me" kind of post.  But then I saw something in my news feed on Facebook that made me happy . . . well, a little happier . . .

FDA will consider banning dangerous Esssure device

Click on the text above to read the full story, but in summary it sounds like the FDA is really listening to the voices of the women who have been suffering due to this device.

Okay . . . now about me personally . . .

This week I started going back into the office full time.  I worked a little bit last Sunday in case there was a day that I was too tired or sore to do a full day, then I had a few hours "banked".  I think that Monday or Tuesday I left around an hour early, so it was good that I did this.  I was listening to my body and when it hurt, I said "I am done".

As the week went on, I was noticing that I was doing better every day.  YEAH!!!!!  There was one day that a co-worker even mentioned that I was not moving as slow as a turtle any more.  Not back up to my old "Shawn speed" but at least snails, turtles and old ladies in walkers were not passing me up any more.  Thursday we had a training meeting that required us to walk around to look at how some things are built . . . lots of walking and standing . . . and I noticed by half way through that I was leaning on things or needed to sit down every once in a while.  Then the really dumb thing came . . . I was talking with people and was not taking my time going up the steps like I should have . . . went a little too fast I think and I was just out of breath.  Even MORE stupid, since I was talking with people I just kept talking and moving with them, when I really should have said "I cannot do the stairs.  I am taking the elevator and we can talk when we get back up to our desks." I was not sore, just feeling out of breath, so I figured no harm no foul.

Friday . . . I was tired, but I figured that was due to doing a little too much the day before.  No big deal.  I left work around 2:30pm because Beth had a lacrosse game and a hockey game that night.  While at the lacrosse game I noticed I just could not get comfortable.  I would switch between sitting and standing.  Once we got to the ice rink . . . yes, we went STRAIGHT from the lacrosse game to the hockey game . . . yes, we are nuts . . . the game was at the Blaine Super Rink . . . 8 rinks in one building.  Drop Beths stuff off at the rink she is playing at, then she needed a Gatorade so we go up the stairs (no elevator at the end we were at) to the skyway/walkway and over 4 rinks to a Concession Stand . . . back DOWN the stairs to the stand.  Now she has to go back to the rink where her game is and a parent needs to fill out paperwork.  Well, Jeff and I still needed to eat something also so we wanted to hit the main concession stand that has a full dinner menu.  So Jeff goes back to rink 7 with Beth to do paperwork while I slowly make my way from rink 5 to rink 1 where the main concession stand is so I could sit and just wait for Jeff.

I am tired, but not in pain . . . still doing okay.

After we had dinner it was time to walk BACK to rink 7, back down the stairs and find a place to sit.  I had a hoodie on the entire time, but I did not have it zipped up.  Once we are in the rink for the game, I zip up and put on my winter coat and zip that up too.  It was around the end of the first period that I started to feel "weird".  Light headed, dizzy and like I wanted to throw up.  Between the 2nd and 3rd period when they were cleaning the ice Jeff (who had been standing behind me during the game) sat down and that is when he noticed something was wrong . . . he could just see it in my eyes.  When I leaned back against him in more of a reclined position things got a little better.  I ended up watching the 3rd period reclined back against the side of the bleachers.

Once we got back to the car I THINK I figured out what the problem was!  I was taking off my winter coat and unzipping my hoodie, and that is when I noticed that the bottom of the zippers hit me right at the spot of the lowest incision!  I had 2 layers of stiff metal zippers right at that incision!  Once I unzipped I noticed the dizzy and nauseous feels went away pretty quick .  Jeff said "that is why reclining helped . . . took the pressure off".  But things still felt sore.

By the time we got home, I was in a lot of pain.  I ended up taking a pain pill.  This is the first time in over a WEEK that I have taken pain meds in the EVENING.  That kind of made me sad.  Felt like a set back.

So here is the part of all of this that makes me REALLY SAD . . . .

Beth has lacrosse and hockey games again today.  First game should be starting any minute.  Jeff knew I needed my rest and that if I was awake I would have pushed myself to get ready in time to go to the games, so he let me sleep.  I did not realize this until I heard Beth said "Time to go!" as she always does when she is ready but one of us are not downstairs at the door.  So now I am home, resting, and missing seeing her play.  Watching her play sports is something that brings great joy to both Jeff and myself, but due to the pain I have to miss it today.  That makes me said.

Also, I was planning on trying to start to wear "real clothes" to work next week, instead of the yoga pants.  Well, if the zipper from the hoodie and the jacket put me in that much pain there is NO WAY I am wearing pants with a zipper any time soon.  Looks like it is yoga pants for another week for me.

#Essure #EssureProblems



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Sabtu, 14 Mei 2016

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links.

If youre new to the wonderful world of crafting -- or even if you consider yourself to be more of a "basic" crafter -- then Cricuts brand new machine is just for you! This nifty new machine is called the Cricut Explore One™ and its perfect for crafing beginners and basic crafters because it offers a simplified design-and-cut system that is incredibly user-friendly. The Explore One™ actually offers most of the same features as Cricuts other Explore machines, its just priced lower!



In addition to its affordable price, here are a few other things about the Cricut Explore One™ that youre sure to love:

  • It can cut over 60 different materials, from the most delicate materials like vellum to thicker things like leather. It can also cut cardstock, vinyl, fabric, balsa wood, leather, and more…without complicated settings.
  • Youll have free access to Cricuts Design Space™ online software and iPad® app so youll able to design on your computer or your Pad®. Youll also be able to use a Bluetooth® adapter for wireless cutting.
  • The Explore One allows you to cut a wide range of shapes and sizes with exceptional precision, from ¼" tall up to 11½" wide x 23½" tall. You just select the material that youre using on the Smart Set® dial. From there, the machines Cut Smart® technology will deliver a clean, professional cut.
  • You can upload your own images and use your own fonts -- for free!
  • Each machine comes with over 25 free 1-click projects and 50+ free images to get them started right away.
  • If you want to use the machine to write or score, you can easily swap out the cutting cartridge with the Cricut Explore One™ Accessory Adapter and Pen.
The Cricut Explore One™ makes it easy, fast, and affordable for you to explore your creativity and delight your loved ones with personal handmade projects and gifts! And if you purchase your very own Cricut Explore One™ before the end of May - youll get free shipping when you use code MAYSHIP!
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Sabtu, 30 April 2016

I dont consider myself a stamper. Yes, I own some stamps, ink and pens/markers but really I mostly use the inks on the edges of my die cuts to cover up the white core of the paper that might show through. When I stamp, it is normally JUST a sentiment in black. The idea of stamping an image and then messing it up when I went to color it in scared me . . . so I just never tried to do it. Also, I see images that other people do with this beautiful shading and I would think "there is no way I can do THAT!" so I just would not try. Then there are the supplies . . . what ink do I get? What pens? I was basically overwhelmed.

 That is the reason I signed up for the Gina K. classes at the Bella Craft Connections event going on at the Mall of America this weekend. I figured I could learn some tips and tricks and test stamping out . . . if I took the classes and the cards looked terrible, I would know to never try this again . . . if they looked nice then I would be opening a whole new avenue of use for my supplies.


In the class we were using Ginas new stamp set called Youve Got a Friend in Me.  We made three cards.  I will show you the sample cards that Gina had at her class first, and then my cards are at the end.




One thing I really liked about these cards if that they all follow the same basic idea.  Pick a patterned paper and one or two solid colors that accent that patterned paper and layer them.  

Layers are (from the bottom up)
1) Solid color base
2) Solid color accent, or white
3 Patterned paper
4) Smaller rectangle in a solid color (either the same color as the base or the same color as the #2 on this list)
5) White cardstock that you stamped your image on

Then you use a rectangle for the sentiment and back that either the same color as the base or the color used in #2 on the list above.  I love this because then I am not looking for lots of different colors and patterns and trying to figure out if they work together . . . just pick one pattern and two colors and you are good to go.



These images are for cutting sizes.  I did not measure everything out, but since I laid them all on this grid you can figure out all of the sizes you need to cut.  Each square on the grid is 1/4" big.


Now it was time to stamp.  (OMG . . . can I really do this!?!?!?!)


Those look pretty cute!  Normally this is where I would stop and just say "Dont do any more . . . you will mess it up" but I am going to face my fears.  Below are the pens we were working with.  I do own a blender pen, but I always thought that they were only for blending one color into another, or for when you just wanted a soft halo effect and you would blend out a harsh line you drew.  


Gina taught me that with just a few pens and a blender you can CREATE pattern and interest to your images.  Below is an example of what I am talking about.  I used two different green pens on the trees below, coloring every other one alternating between the light and the dark green.  Using my blender pen I went back over them and added patterns . . . polka dots, criss cross, lines . . . what ever I wanted.  Now this is starting to look like something I would have done with my die cutting machine, cutting each tree out of a different patterned paper.


To assemble the card, just stat to adhere the layers to the base.


And now for my cards.  Personally, the owl one is my least favorite.  I feel like the dark brown was too dark.  I did like the technique that Gina showed us to use the pen to create a feather pattern on the owl.  I also used a green ad their feet and blended it out to kind of make it look like they are standing on the grass.


Oh . . . and if you have a box filled with old buttons that dont match anything you own, cards are the perfect way to use those up!  Put some twine through them and tie a bow and you have a cute little accent.  And if you are like me and you are a messy stamper, you can place the button right where you smudged some ink to hide the mess.  


I think I like the tree card the best.  And to think I consider myself a non-stamper kind of girl.  I think after this weekend that might be changing.


And the little bird card.  On this one I was going to do the body purple with green wings, but I did not stay inside the lines too well on the bird on the left so I just made him all purple.  Afterwards I decided to just accent the wings by adding some green over the top on just parts of the wings.  

For the second bird I colored the wing green, and I was coming in afterwards with the purple and got to close to the wing and purple started to bleed in . . . I was so upset!  Then I watched it and thought "That looks kind of cool" so I added some more purple at the base of the wing and let it bleed into the green  I think it has a peacock feather look.

Final touch . . . a button with some twine.

If you want to check out Gina K. and her amazing Design Team, I have included some links for you below.  Tell them Shawn sent you!
Gina K. on Stamp TV // Blog // Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest // YouTube // Shop Gina K.

If you would like to attend the Bella Crafts Connection next year, be sure to follow Bella Crafts at
Bella Crafts Publishing website // Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest // YouTube

#BellaCon15










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Senin, 18 April 2016

It is time for my post about the second class I took with Gina K and her Design Team at the Bella Crafts Connection event at the Mall Of America.  If you want to see the post about the first class, just click HERE.  This class was focused on watercolor inks and pens.  Here are all of the sample cards on the display table.


For this class we were able to play with Ginas Wild Blossom stamp set.  I am so glad we got to take this one home with us!  I think I am really going to have fun with this set.


Supplies for the first card . . . pink base, black piece to go behind the stamped piece and a pink trim.


Here is Gina showing us how to ink up and use a LARGE stamp like the vine stamp in this set.


She recommends putting your stamp on the block, inking it and then laying the piece of cardstock on top of the stamp to get the image on the cardstock.  This way you are not messing around with that HUGE block.


Here is mine.  I got a little ink smudge in the lower right corner . . . I will take care of that later.


This is a close up of the sample card.


And then mine . . . with the smudge  :(


Next card!  This card is made with the Smacking Acetate technique.  Yes, we all laughed about the name. 


 Take a piece of acetate and three different colors of watercolor markers and scribble on the acetate.   You dont need to purchase acetate for this project . . . just use the clear piece that comes with your stamp set.  Since you are using watercolor markers it will clean right off.  Then spritz the scribbles with water.  Then put a piece of cardstock down on top of the acetate  


And you end up with this beautiful background!  You can run a ink pad over it to fill in any white space if you would like.  Then just stamp your image and sentiment.


I was having SO MUCH FUN I totally forgot to take in progress photos for this last card!  Here is Ginas sample.  The gray background piece that looks like woodgrain . . . that was actually a white piece of cardstock and we took an ink pad and ran it down the length of the whole piece of cardstock.


Okay, are you ready to see my finished cards?


As you can see, I used my favorite form of "cover up" . . . the rhinestone sticker sheets from The Buckle Boutique!  Since they cut so easily, I could cut a piece just the right size for what I needed to cover.  I used a portion of the Tie Dye print for this, which was nice since it gave me several of the colors that were in the card.  The Tie Dye is on sale right now . . . $8 for a sheet 10" x 20" . . . while supplies last so hurry!

Here is my second card.  I really like this one since it is so quick and easy!  I feel like I could make several of these in a very short time and be ready for all of the family birthday gatherings, yet each card will be different because of the colors and the way the markers will react with the water.


And my third card . . . which also ended up with a smudge on it . . . so more bling for "cover up".


These cards might not have turned out perfect, but they did show me that I dont have to be afraid of using inks and markers.  Even I can do this!  And the more I do it, the better they will get.

If you want to check out Gina K. and her amazing Design Team, I have included some links for you below.  Tell them Shawn sent you!
Gina K. on Stamp TV // Blog // Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest // YouTube // Shop Gina K.

And make sure to tune in Tuesday September 28th at 7:00 PM Central Time to see the new stamp launch!  Tell them Shawn sent you!

If you would like to attend the Bella Crafts Connection next year, be sure to follow Bella Crafts at
Bella Crafts Publishing website // Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest // YouTube

#BellaCon15










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