Thursday 14 April 2011

Sunshine and Apples

Well better late than never! Here is my weather inspired DT card for this week's challenge on the Cute Card Thursday blog. Our sponsor for this challenge is Simon Says Stamps - pop over to the CCT blog for all the details.

I've inked up this Belles 'n' Whistles stamp design by Elisabeth Bell, and it's only the second time I've created with this image! My older stamps get put in a box and left on the shelf - I really must get them inky again especially as I've got tons more crafty stuff to make embellishments these days to decorate my creations. I've chosen bright summery colours and found the busy patterned digi paper by Designer Digitals already printed out in my stash - so that was the inspiration for my colour choices. I've coloured with Copics, pricked the edges of the image and the papers to resemble stitching, then embellished with various Marianne die cuts and Nellie's Choice punched bits and pieces. For the card layout I chose the sketch from the Stamp With Fun blog, but put the text on the other side of the image as it fitted there much better. I also added the horizontal strip of die cut lace - this is a very pretty Marianne die although I do the embossing the old fashioned way with a ball tool so it stand out more - it doesn't take long to do and is easy to guess where the holes are!

Copic colours I used to colour:
skin tones with E000, 00 & 21
hair and basket with YR20, 21, 24 & E35
blues with B21, 24 & 26
greens with G12 & 14
violet pinks with V000, 01, 12 & 15

The For Fun challenge is to use a selection of bright spring colours - at least 3 from the list on the blog. I've got blue, purple, green and sort of yellow on my card.

Thank you for asking how I got on at the hospital, and to answer Marja's question, yes ME is more or less the same as CFS depending on who your doctor is! The classifications overlap and until there is a definitive test, or several tests, to identify what exactly people are suffering from there will be lots of different people with different symptoms all put into the same box.

I am fortunate in that my 'type' of ME has been more to do with my immune systems, although I also get some of the joint symptoms as well but thankfully I am not disabled by them. The good news is that I have been discharged from the care of my ME consultant as he is primarily an immunologist and my immune system is now working more or less normally. But, my auto-immune system is totally up the creek, especially the temperature control bit. I have learnt what aggravates things, and should play by the rules to control the rest of the ME symptoms .. .. but sometimes you just have to let your hair down and suffer the consequences! My energy levels are way below normal and I tire easily, it can take me several hours to do the most basic household chores with lots of stopping and starting - but thankfully I am able to look after myself and enjoy crafting as a form of therapy. Yesterday I was pretty shattered and couldn't even finish putting my card together and I know I have loads to catch up with, but it will have to take time. I'm sending love and hugs to all the other ladies I have met through blogging who also suffer from ME, CFS or Fybromyalgia.

18 comments:

  1. What a gorgeous card! I love the colors and you did a truly fab job on the coloring for your image.

    Thanks for joining us at Stamp with fun and good luck!

    ~ Heike

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  2. another sweet card Anniel love he colouring
    hugs

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  3. Such a gorgeous card Annie,the image is fab,love the colours.
    Hugs Sue xx

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  4. Great to hear are better hun, but taking it easy can be hard sometimes!! Big hugs to you!!

    Your card is soooo stunning!! I ADORE This image and your got her beautifully colored in here girl!! Take care!! Smiles, Vicki

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  5. This is so pretty Annie, love all the bright colours and what a pretty image. Take care.
    hugs
    wynneth
    x

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  6. What a lovely card. Smashing! Thanks for playing with us over at For Fun this week.
    Love n hugs
    Marie

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  7. what a wonderful image .. its delightful
    Lisa x

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  8. Beautiful colour combination! Beautiful card! Hugs, Lesley

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  9. This is beautiful! Love the colours and I have a real soft spot for Elisabeth Bell images. Thanks for joining our FOR FUN colour challenge this week with your fab card! Hugs, Ali x

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  10. Love this Annie, the flowers are fab and the colour palette is perfect
    Hugs Laurie x

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  11. Oh this is so adorable Annie, gorgeous card.
    luv
    Debby

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  12. Hi Annie honey, a beautiful card, just love that design and the colours you've chosen. Hope you feel better soon... hugs Sharon x

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  13. I'm glad it went well & it sounds like you have a good attitude to what you have to contend with. That lacey border is delightful & I love the deep blue of those little butterflies. I have this image but haven't had enough confidence to colour her yet.
    Paula (PEP)

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  14. Another beauty. lovely colours & papers and your little butterflies look fab. Hope you feel a bit perkier real soon.
    Kaz xx

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  15. Hi Annie, what a beautiful card. I love the image and papers you've used. Thanks for joining in with our sketch challenge over at stamp with fun this week. Hugs, Denise x

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  16. How sweet.Thanks for playing along on For Fun.

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