Time's Still Flying

Well, it's been even longer between drinks on this li'l ol' blog!  I can hardly believe four weeks have gone, but they have - and what a packed four weeks it's been, but more of that later :-)  Today marks the start of another new challenge at the Di's Digi Designs challenge blog, this time with the what-could-be easier theme "Birthdays"  I made an easel card, here it is

I finished the "easel" slightly differently than usual, leaving some of the layers protruding above the fold instead of decorating a whole front panel like I usually do - I think it shows the fancy glittery mat off better :-) Addicted to Stamps has a "fancy folds" challenge and Paper Crafting Journey want us to make an easel card, so I'm entering there.

The image is a new one, "With All My Love", available here... how cute is this little mouse with his big bunch of flowers?! It's coloured with Copics and Prismacolor pencils.  Crafty Little Fairies have Furry Friends as their challenge theme so I'm entering there.

The mat is cut with Nestabilities Fleur De Lis Rectangles, the glittery card is so sparkly IRL it just about takes an eye out, lol; Tuesday Throwdown want to see Sparkle, man, am I in!  Stamping Sensations have a Dies and/or punches challenge, so I'm in there too.

I used the sketch from Sketch and Stash, when the card is shut is when you see the sketch.  The papers are from Kaisercraft's, Digi Sketch Challenge wants to see Flowers, plenty here... in the image, the paper and the little punched flowers at the top of the image panel (a carl punch I think) so I'm entering there and The Crazy Challenge is Spring, so I'm in there too.The pearls are from my stash.  The sentiment is from Craftworks, I hand cut the mat for it, Aud Sentiments wants to see a Birthday Sentiment so I'm in, Colour Me Copic has Birthdays so in there too and Seize the Birthday is always Anything Birthday so, you guessed it!

Through the Craftroom Door, That Craft Place, My Mums Craft Shop, Little Miss Muffet and Whimsy Inspirations Challenge all have Anything Goes challenges on, so I'm in there too.

Well that's about it for today's card.  I hope you get a chance to enter the challenge, there's a great prize on offer from the Frantic Stamper, this fabulous die valued at $25.99 and don't forget that if you use one of Di's gorgeous images you go into an extra draw with a prize of two more lovely Di's Digi Stamps :-)  

I hope I can get a bit more time to craft now, the madness of the last couple of months has been exhausting.  We've got the pool area to the stage where we can do a bit every weekend without feeling like it's consuming our lives, the babies have had their birthday, my hubby has had his 60th and his family have returned to New Zealand.  

We went "Down South" with them for a few days, but just my luck at 3.45am on the day we were to leave (Monday) I woke up in excruciating pain, by 4.45 I was vomiting and on my way to hospital... it's a 5mm kidney stone (I've had one before, they do HURT!) and when they did the scan they found two gall stones as well, though they're not really a problem (yet!)  I was so determined to get my holiday in Margaret River (last year's stay was terminated after one day when our son had a serious accident) that I got a good supply of super-duper pain killers and checked out of hospital.  We got down there a little late but it was all okay... I only had one bout of pain and vomiting (it's the intensity of the pain that makes you sick) and felt a bit off for four days.  On the way home I got a phone call from the hospital saying they had got my microbiology report back and I have a "serious but not life threatening" kidney infection, I picked up antibiotics on the way home and have to start the GP/scan/specialist treadmill next week :-(  The good thing is that the anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers I was on were so strong my hip didn't give me a minutes trouble... I was even able to walk the length of Busselton Jetty (1.8 km each way) after climbing all over Canal Rocks and doing a half hour bush walk first thing!!

I'll try and get some pics of the twins' birthday cake and "stuff" organized, and I still have a gazillion "unblogged" cards to post, so I'll be back with something soon. Until then, Happy Crafting, Donna xx