Where am I??? Long Story Short...sort of

 

Hello Friends....up until recently I have been missing for a while and a few folks have messaged me asking if I was o.k. I posted a bit about what's been happening on FB but I neglected to post here.  I know lots of you don't do FB so better late than never right?  

So last fall we passed around Covid for a bit which started it all off...later in the year I broke a couple ribs which paired with Covid is not a good combo. Coughing and broken ribs do not go well together. This is the reason I didn't do Christmas cards last year.

 At some point my dad was given the diagnosis of lung cancer (after a lifetime of smoking - Don't get me started) but neglected to tell us until it had progressed so far that he was then dx. with lung cancer which had metastasized to his brain.  We found this out in March. He passed away the end of April. 

A week after his funeral I had a stroke which we were told was from undiagnosed diabetes (and I think the stress of everything else going on).  My right arm was effected, my face had a bit of paralysis and my mouth went numb. 

Since then I've been trying to figure out life with diabetes, poking my finger multiple times a day, trying to regain control over my arm/hand (of course it was my dominate hand) and trying to hold it all together...some days I am better at this than others.  Luckily my dh is here to encourage me and remind me how lucky I was/am.

One thing I've been doing is writing to people I have addresses for to help improve my control over my arm/hand.  Would you like to receive a card/letter? I would be happy to write you if you'd care to share your addy.  I'm not fast and it gets a bit "chicken - scratchy" after a bit but I'm getting better and better with each letter I write. If you're game, you can send your addy to me @  roni jj (at) g mail (dot) com (no spaces).  

Anyway, that's life in my world and what's been going on...

I hope you all are doing well and are healthy.

Lots of Inky Love....Roni

Gothic Alice in Wonderland Altered Shrine

 Last month I was lucky enough to be a winner at Gecko Gals for one of my cards...the prize was a special set of Gothic Alice in Wonderland images and man are they cool. They have a real creep factor going on.  Well I have been having fun playing at the challenges over there this month. I thought I was done but I remembered their Quarterly challenge was Altered Shrines so I decided to give it a go...

Alice in Wonderland

Gothic Style....

I had so much fun making this!! 

It really got me in the mood for Halloween - LOL!!

Gecko Galz Autumn Quarterly Challenge - Altered Shrines

Gecko Galz Steampunk Challenge - September 2023

 I am having fun with the challenges from Gecko Galz...today I have a fun Steampunk challenge card I made....

He's such a great image isn't he? I love him.  I started off by stamping a cream colored panel using the Gears background stamp from Lost Coast Designs.  I also used one of their Calligraphy stamps in Dove Grey.  I then edged the panel with a bit of Acorn ink and mounted it to a card base.  I next added a bit of copper glittery washi tape to the card. I mounted the image on a bit of copper cardstock and added a few tiny metal gears for fun.

Gecko Gals Steampunk Challenge - September 2023

Gecko Galz Christmas Challenge - September 2023

 Another fun challenge from Gecko Galz...this time Christmas!

I really liked this image and thought it would be fun to do a bit of fussy cutting.  I added lots of glitter accents to the image which unfortunately I couldn't capture in the photograph but rest assured the image stands up to the glittery background die-cut I used on the card.

Gecko Galz Christmas Challenge - September 2023

Gecko Galz Monthly Gothic Challenge - September 2023

 I love dark and creepy images so Gecko Galz Gothic Challenge is right up my alley...I started off with the really cool image featuring scary looking bats and ravens perched in a spooky tree framed by an orange colored moon.  

I added the fun Pin-Up Witch which I fussy cut and mounted on the card using foam tape to pop her off the background.  I colored the eyes of the bats/raven with a bit of glitter ink and stamped the sentiment directly on the card.  I finished it off with a few matte dots.

Gecko Galz Monthly Gothic Challenge - September 2023

Gecko Galz - Monthly Card Challenge September 2023

 I am trying to get back into crafting more and so I thought taking part in a few challenges would be fun.  I made a few cards for the Gecko Galz challenges - this one is the Card Challenge.  It's really fun and easy - they give you an image to begin with and then you create a card using it.  Here is my creation....

The image was so pretty to begin with it makes for such a stunning card. I thought I would keep it simple and just add a few pressed flowers and copper skeleton leaves from my collection. I went a bit out of my comfort zone for the card and used a piece of pink pattern paper from Prima which had copper accents as well.  Added a bit of twine and called it good.

Be sure to check out the other entries for this challenge...

Gecko Galz Monthly Card Challenge 0923

Coming Up Roses House Mouse Birthday Card

 I needed another birthday card and here's what I came up with...

just love these little guys!

House Mouse Birthday Card

 Hello All..

Wanted to share this card I made for my youngest sons recent birthday....  He likes the House Mouse stamps and I have so much fun using them.  I used the Sprinkles stamp plus a little candle stamp from one of the HM Cubes.  Just added some extra sprinkles to cover up the bottom of the candle so it blends seamlessly.

I am entering this into the current House-Mouse & Friends Challenge #398 :)

Let's Bling It Up!!!

 The current challenge at Lost Coast Designs - Bling It Up has allowed me to use one of my favorite supplies...GLITTER!!!

I know, I know...roll your eyes if you must but I love the stuff. It's just so pretty and I am usually pretty good about keeping it on the page and not elsewhere.  If you don't like regular glitter you can use Stickles Glitter Glue for a "less mess" option.

I wanted to use the Showgirls stamp because of course they always like a bit of bling. Today they are decked out in red with lots and lots of red glitter!!  As I was assembling the card I decided that why not go for it and cut a full sheet of glitter paper for the mat.  You know you can never have too much bling - LOL!!  Anyway, this is my creation for this very fun challenge.  I hope you can join in on the fun for your chance to win.