Look who is turning 5

It is the middle of the week, I can't wait until Friday as I am taking a Copic class at my LSS, Paper Vineyard where the talented Jennie Black will be teaching basic copic technique. I have been coloring with copics for awhile now and haven't taken a class, so I am excited to learn new things or just learning how to blend with these markers. I am SUPER excited about this class.

Ok, back to my card, I made this card for my niece, Audrey who is turning 5 this month. She is the one on the left in the picture sitting in my Mom's lap. She wasn't very happy in this picture because she was fighting with her sister over something and her Dad (my brother) gave her a talk. I am the one holding her sister, Charlotte. As you can see I am not very photogenic. I can't believe how much Audrey has grown and she is starting kindergarten this coming September. I truly miss her as I don't get to see her much these days since I move over to Arizona and she lives in California. I have to say that I got a gigantic hug last month when I came back from my Canada trip (my Mom, Dad, and I just drove back from our trip (12 hours from Portland, OR to San Leandro, CA), it sure brighten my day after the long drive, Audrey and Charlotte starting running to give me a big huge while shout "Auntie" (in Chinese). What a welcoming gift. Audrey is so into this ballerina thing, loves to watch Angelina Ballerina on tv.

As always Imy cardmaking process starts with a stamp and a sketch I work to work with. The sketch is from this week's Friday Sketch #113. This stamp is Penny Black, stamped on watercolor paper and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored the image with Tombow markers using watercoloring technique. The applied couple of layers of pink stickles on the number 5. I made clouds in the background which really doesn't go along with the theme unless the little ballerina are throwing stars up to the sky and not have fallen stars.

This week's challenges:

1. Friday Sketch #113

2. Penny Black Challenge #112: 1 Circle, 2 Papers, 3 Flowers

3. Stamp and Create Challenge #4: Flowers

4. 2 Sisters Challenge #3: Punches

5. Colour Create Challenge 50: hot pink, warm orange, and saffron

Card deeds:

Stamp: Penny Black

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Summer Rise PTI, Marvy blue ink, Tombow Markers

Paper: Brazzill, Gina K Luxury ivory, watercolor paper, Cosmo Cricket

Embellishment: ribbon, prima flowers, star pin, hero art number 5, pink and yellow stickles, nestabilities label and oval

Sorry, been MIA

I have been too lazy and feeling down to blog for awhile. I'm still alive. I haven't been making any cards or creating anything though I have been buying things. I wish I am a shopaholic, but I am not. I hate to see money go, but I like to spend if I can. Hopefully, I will start to creat some Halloween cards/gifts. Last Saturday 10/4, was World Card Making Day and I didn't make any card. I really need to push myself to create. While on a happier note, I have been reading all the "Confessions of a Shopaholic" books by Sophie Kinsella. There's a couple more of them I need to find and rent from the library. This books are lighthearted and entertaining novels.

Here's an update - my cat, Rusty (now know as Titan) got an allergic reaction 3 weeks ago. We had to sent him to emergency vet hospital as he was vomitting blood as well as bloody diarrhea. Doctor doesn't know what was wrong with him as cats can't speak for themselves, but they think it was an allergic reaction... maybe something he ate which he shouldn't have, like plant or bug/insects. Anyways, it started the night before as I heard vomitting in my bedroom when we were sleeping. All the vomit was underneath the bed which I didn't see at first. There was vomit on the kitchen floor and family room. I didn't think anything about it as my cats vomit all the time because of hairball and etc. Anyways, I haven't seen Titan the whole day and didn't realize it until at night when I ask DH, "Where is Rusty (Titan) as I haven't seen him all day". They found him downstairs, in the basement and got him to come up to the family room. He laid near the fireplace for a little while I took some pictures, then he left to the foyer area. He started to vomit and I saw blood in his vomit, thus I called DH and said something is wrong with him. We were going to confirm him for the night to see if he is going to get better, but he went and had diarrhea in the basement bathroom instead of the litter box. This was a sign that he was tell us that something is wrong, thus we took him to emergency vet around midnight. We stayed until they ran all the blood test on him. They said he was dehydrated which we know and that his blood level count was too high. We left Titan for overnight monitor and to hydrate him. We got home to find a skunk in front of our porch... sleep next to the pond. I was putting dry cat food in front of our porch when I saw the skunk and ran back into the house without giving food to the feral cats.
Titan looked better the next day when we went to pick him up as he no longer had any vomit or diarrhea. No too heavy favor food which meant no cat food or cat treats. We confirmed him for 2 days and then let him out to be with the rest of the cats, but the other cats had to make a sacrifice they cat food and treats for Titan. Lay was obviously annoyed that we didn't give him can food. Well, Titan is alright now.... but Kutsu hasn't been feeling well the last few days. I need to get pet insurance on Kutsu and Titan, they are the weaker two. Anyway, we change Rusty's name to Titan becasue Rusty mean to rusty and broken down which isn't good, thus we change it to Titan, short for Titanium.

We are still doing our weekly Saturday "Hope for Cats" donation and play with the cats. There are so many kitten and cats that needed to be adopted. DH and I was planning to adopt another cat, but with what is going to our cats and in our lives we don't know if we should take on another one.

Yesterday, DH came home and said the grey cat has been ran over. There is a grey cat that comes to eat on our front porch. He is one of the first ones eating in our porch and he has been netured. He had an eye injury/scabies awhile back, he was fine. We went to see if he was still alive. He was in the middle of the road at the main road outside our community. The cat was dead by the time we got to him. The pool of blood was all dry up around his head. We were sad to see him died. DH took it and buried him in our backyard next to the tree and set him off to heaven. He was taken away by the death god. He is in heaven now. His body is rotten away as bugs/insects are feeding on it. It sounds gross, but this is what happens to all bodies when it is not cremated. Both DH and I shred some tears for this cat even though it was a feral, but we did know it. He had such a short life. He will be remembered each time I look through the foyer blinds/window to watch the cats and skunk eat in the porch area. This is also the reason we don't let our cats outside as we don't know what can happen to them. "A house is not a home without a cat."
Sometimes, we loose touch of what is important to us. I know I haven't been appreciating with what I do have with everything that is going on, but the death of a cat put things back to perspective for me and things that are important to me.

...More Updates

I had a follow-up with my OB earlier this month. My placenta isn't cancerous, so that is a relief. I am feeling much better and thanks for all the well wishes!! Thanks everybody for keeping up with my blog.

Currently, DH and I have a lot on our plates right hopefully that hopefully everything will start to smooth over in over the next few months and things will start to be better by later this year or early next year.

I haven't created anything for almost 2 months and is not feeling the drive to create. I guess I am in a slump. I still read other artist's blogs and SCS and online craft products, but I don't seem to be able to go to my create station and create something. Maybe one of these days, I will find the drive to create.

Currently, we have four cats we are feeding on our front porch. There is one cat that seems to have an eye issue which we are currently trying to trap, but it seems like he/she is already neutered or sprayed. We will be trapping any of the four cats and getting them neutered or sprayed. Maybe one of these days, I will be able to get some photos of them to show you.

More Updates....

I went to my OB appt last Friday because my HCG level was extremely high... over 100K. We found out that I have a molar pregnancy which is when the placenta is still there which caused the HCG to be so high. My OB scheduled for a D&C to be done on the same day... Friday evening because the doctor stated that the placenta may be cancerous if we just waited for it to naturally miscarried. I have to go back for a follow up as they are doing a biopsy of the placenta to make sure it isn't cancerous otherwise we will have to wait for a year to conceive again. This has been such a roller coaster for us over this past half year. I thought it was not as dramatic as the first time because I didn't see the fetus, but yesterday night, this second pregnancy hit me just as hard. I guess I finally realized I miscarried again and my chances of miscarriage increases. I know you guys are saying we are young and there is always next time, but each time it is just as dramatic and frightful. I know friends and family who had miscarried, but at least they have one child that survived. I feel so lonely going through this eventhough DH is going through this with me and just as harm on him as on me. We will continue to try and the thought that I will not be able to have a child though I don't have an inferility problem. I am sure this is just as tough for those that have inferility problems. We really don't know how others feels if we are not in their shoes. Right now, we are going through a lot emotionally, mentally, physically, and financially.

I just want to thank Marisa for the lovely flowers. I am stopping my crafting for awhile. I still have so much other things to catch up on and emotionally and mentally I am drained. This may be the last post for awhile.

Update....

The scare is over. Well, we went to see the doctor and we didn't see a fetus on the ultrasound. Dr. thinks I already had a natural miscarriage and the fetus never formed. I have to get some blood test done. I have been bleeding, not heavy, for the past few days, but I didn't have any major cramping or pain which is a good sign. Emotionally and physically I am doing fine after seeing the doctor and got the answer. There is no more worries.

Because of what was happening this past week, I didn't get to do any father's day cards and I probably won't be making any at this time. I will not be blogging for a little bit during my recuperating period.

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads!

A Scare Yesterday...

This is actually Wednesday after midnight. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the restroom which is common since I have been drinking a lot of fluids. The scary part was there was pinkish blood when I wipe myself. I totally freak out. There was minor spotting as appeared on my sanitary pad in the morning. I was too scared to use the bathroom in the morning because of what may happen. When I did went in the morning it was brownish when I did wipe. The spotting seemed to have disappeared in the evening, but still a little slight brownish residue spots on the sanitary pad this morning. There was nothing major to send me to the ER yesterday. I didn't feel any severe cramping or pain, just slight pulling, sore, or pricking pain on the abdominal area. I didn't vomit, but feel a little nauseated, but otherwise felt ok.

I am putting myself on bed rest and no crafting until I feel better and checking with the physician. I am praying nothing is wrong, for this is so scary for me after the first time. I must try to keep my spirits positive and myself relax. This is all in God's hand right now.

June Card Swap

Finally finish my June card swap with a some gals on SCS. I am the hostess for this month and this is my card. I am so glad everything came together. I had the stamped image and dp selected for a month now and finally got around to do the sketch layout, coloring the image, and cs color choices. I used the Penny Black Hedgehog. Don't you just love this stamp, Harvey (I named him) the Hedgehog is just having a wonderful, relaxing day. I added some yellow flock on the center of the flower for texture.

Today is also my American birthday. My Chinese birthday is not until October. I am so bliss to be pregnant this year as said by my friend, Teresa. I feel really bliss to be "a mom to be", my my health, and my family and friends around me. I am very fortunate and grateful for all I have though it may be tough at times.

This is what I received from my brother and SIL. Isn't this just sweet of them. I love it. The front has "Marked with Love", Charlotte's full name, and birthdate. The inside is a baby stoller bookmark. Yesterday, I spoke with Audrey and she was sad because she misses me. How cute is that! I love her and miss her too. Hopefully, I will to visit them in mid-September. It's been almost 4 months since I went to California. I will not be travelling until I know my pregnancy is going well. That reminds me, I need to call for my OB appointment next week or the week after.

Recipe:

Stamp: Penny Black

Ink: Stazon Jet Black

Paper: DCWV yellow texture cs, purple cs (received from a swap), American Craft dp

Accessories: prismacolor pencils, baby oil, ribbon, and stampendous yellow ducky flock

June, Already!!

June is here, another month gone. I finally did my June month swap card. I just have to finish making them and sent out the packages to my group members. Hopefully, I will have it done by today otherwise Monday. I can't wait to post it up after I am all done.

My brother and SIL sent me a wonderful gift for my birthday. There are photos of my adorable nieces, Audrey and Charlotte. They also sent me a very cute bookmark which was Charlotte's red egg and ginger party favor which I wasn't able to attend. You guys made my day yesterday and what a wonderful birthday gift! I will have to take a picture and post it up.

Have a wonderful month as summer is just around the corner.

Nothing new with me

Just wanted do a short post today. Nothing new. Our Saturdays are relatively routine... we do these activities in no special order.... we donate cat food and litter to "Hope for Cats" at the local Petco as Saturday is adoption day for them, a Costco trip to get food supplies, cat food and litter, and I go to Stamp Works for my weekly fix of make n' take for $2 and buy stamps and craft supplies. The rest of the day we usually stay at home watching movies and I some times do my crafting.

I have been feeling very tired and fatigue to do anything else except rest and sleep whenever my body tells me. I don't think I will be doing much stamping and crafting right now as my pregnancy is my first priority.

Penguin Popsicle

This is a card for a 1 yr old. DH's dental assistant asked me to do a card for his nephew who is turning one. I thought the penguin with the popiscle stamp from Imaginisce would be perfect as it is really hot in AZ now and all children like popsicles. It was cute to add the yellow flock onto the pegiun's nose as kids like to feel and touch things. It feels a little velvety. I added the flock to the giraffe inside, but it doesn't look that good, but oh well, the kid is only 1 so he probably won't remember any of this.

I have to admit, I am not the cleanest person. My craft desk is so cluttered with paper, tools, stamps, and embellishments. I can barely find anything in this mess. It took me two hours to do this card as I was deciding and looking for tools and embellishments to make this card. I need to be more organized, but I never like to clean up after myself once I am done with a project.

This morning I woke up with an awfully bad cramping pain on my lower abdominal. I finally subdued after awhile of deep breathing. There was no blood from my urine, so this is good news. I am concerned I might have ectopic pregnancy where the egg is implanted outside the uterus where if the tube burst it will destroy its ability to carry fertilized eggs on their way to the uterus in future conceptions and could also threaten the mother's life.

Happy News....

I am very nervous, but happy to announce that I am pregnant again. I found out this past Sunday and I went to my OB/GYN today and its confirmed, I am pregnant again. I am very nervous this time around because of my recent miscarriage. This past Saturday, I thought my period was coming because I felt stomach cramps which hurted pretty bad in the middle of the day, so I took a vicodin to ease the pain, but I felt so dizzy afterwards. Since my period didn't come, I took a home pregnancy test on Sunday and it show two lines meaning "pregnant". I guess I am pretty emotional right now because I felt it is too soon to get pregnant again, but I'm lucky to be pregnant again. I am praying every day since I found out the new. I have been feeling fatigue, bloating and gas, dizziness and blury vision each time I get wake off the bed and/or couch, and some cramping. The nurse practitioner said that just as long as there is no period like bleeding, then just take it easy and relax as these may be just some pregnancy symptoms and it is too early to tell, so I will just have to wait. Last time, I didn't have any period like bleeding, but only a little spotting right after the OB visit, but I thought it was nature until the ultrasound confirmed that there was no heartbeat from the fetus. I pray this won't happen again otherwise I know I am the one with a genetic or chromosomal problem. For all the friends and family that reads my blog, please pray for me and my unborn.

Now, onto my hobby. I missed Gina K Designs release yesterday because I was just feeling so tired and went to sleep earlier. The new stamps are really nice..... I like, I like, but I have to save money for my maternity bills. My insurance isn't covering my pregnancy bill and we all know how much medical bills cost. There are so fun sketch challenges yesterday from the Gina K Design's new release, so I thought I will play and see if I can win a free stamp set. I will post those pictures tomorrow.

Busy Week

I had a busy week this week. I haven't have time to play. I did something last Sunday, but haven't have time to upload. I will do it tomorrow when I have get some time to play. I want to do this week's SCS challenges. Maybe I will have some time tomorrow.

My cats have been sick, first it was Rusty which was sick about 2 weeks ago, then he passed on to Shui Di, and now it is Lay and Kutsu. They have been really needy for the past month since Rusty got injured which cost me an arm and leg on the vet bill. Shui Di pushed Rusty off from the play tree while Rusty was asleep and he landed hard on the carpet. He was having problems walking, so we took him to the vet. Likely, his left hind leg was just bruised and sored, and nothing serious. Rusty is fine now, but hasn't went up to the play tree or anywhere really high since his accident. He started playing with his mice and running around the house again which is good new. Right after his accident, he got sick, sneezing quite a bit. We thought he has allegeries since it is Spring, but he stopped after 3 days and then Shui Di started sneezing and this is when we knew the "cat flu" is being passed around. Kutsu has been very needy, he actually slept with us on our bed yesterday. He usually doesn't sleep with us nowadays. I don't think Kutsu got much sleep and he looked sick and so does Lay. Lay was sleeping quietly by himself all day for the last three days now. Lay usually like to bother us and scratch the blinds and "meows" to go out or to get some attention, but he hadn't done that for the last few days. I worry for Lay and Kutsu because they are so much older than the other two and they look miserable. I have to keep my eyes on them to make sure they are ok.

On Tuesday, I had jury duty. I didn't get selected to be a juror, but the people next to me all got selected. Thank goodness, but I wouldn't have minded, but the case was expected to last to the end of April (12 day trial). It was boring and I actuallly spent a whole day for jury service as I was selected to be on a jury panel for a criminal case (murder case) and the judge asked some questions which there were quite a few answers, thus took a whole day.

I have started going to work with Jim a few days a week to save some trees and to keep myself busy.

What a Lame Blogger....

I am such a lame blogger. I haven't been stamping or crafting for almost 2 months except to do my monthly card swap. I am feeling so much better after my miscarriage. I finely got the "all clear" after 1 1/2 month of going to the lab to get my blood withdrawal every week to test my HCG level. I am back in action and getting my groove back. I just finish reorganizing my craft space and finish my month card swap for April. I have a lot of stamping and crafting to catch up on as I spent quite a bit of money on the cuttlebug embossing folders and dies at Michaels on Sunday because of their "BLOWOUT SALE". I finally get to use my cuttlebug. I had bought it 3 months ago and never play with it because I didn't have any embossing folders. I have so many new stamps I haven't ink yet.

I will be uploading some of the cards I made within the following days.

Thanks for looking at my blog. Leave me a message at the below link to tell me what you guys are up to.