Thank you all SO VERY MUCH for the well wishes, healing thoughts and prayers! I truly apologize for the HUGE gap in time with my communication. I feel that the surgery went well, but it will be some time before I really know the outcome. I am feeling very optimistic being I am getting around extremely well considering everything they did, but it takes the bone 9-12 months to heal and so I will not know for at least another 3 months whether or not they were successful in the reshaping of my femoral head (the bone that fits into the hip socket). Sitting (and walking any length) are still a little difficult (OK, so a lot difficult some days Ü) my behind feels like it is on fire if I sit for too long - LOL and so I have been trying to treat my body "gently" in order to maximize the healing in these first weeks.
It has also been a bit of a challenge for me to have my creative "stuff" separate from my office. I am at the mercy of my DH's schedule right now in getting my "studio" put together at my office. I will then have all my creative supplies moved down there as well and thus will be able to be a lot more efficient. When this is completed I will take photographs and share them with you. I have put quite a bit of thought into the organization of this space and so I hope that everything will have a spot so that I don't waste time looking for stuff - LOL! You know how that goes - we accumulate things to try and then they don't get a home, so we then can't find it when we want to use it :D Well hopefully the storage solutions I am trying will rectify that. J.J. will be working like a trooper this week to get all that IKEA furniture put together and then move my "stuff", so hopefully I will be up and running (well, not literally LOL) by next week.
Now on with the creative end of this post :D
When creating this month's stamp of the month packet I wanted it to be versatile enough to be used for the upcoming month's events. With Father's Day and Fourth of July right around the corner, and it starting to feel a lot more like summertime, grilling and outdoor cookouts are much more on my mind. I also wanted to showcase a fun layout that would incorporate Inchies in to it, thus I picked the IB Hot Dog and IB Hamburger as my focal point.
I stamped these images directly on the White Inchie Squares using Memento Ink. One of the things I had noticed when I stamped on these dense Inchie Squares with any of the other inks I have been using with Copic markers I have always needed to heat set it. So I wanted to try the newest Tsukineko ink with the Copic markers. I must say that I am truly taken with these! I did not have to heat set! I will be carrying these new inks in my store when I get around to being able to place an order, because I was so impressed.
I apologize for not being able to recal all the Copic colors that I used on my Hot Dog and Hamburger. If you are in need of the colors please post below and I will pull them back out and do my best to figure out which colors I used. Everything happened in such a hurry the end of last month and with surgery on May 2nd my life just started spinning out of control - uggh!
The black square was then cut to the size of 1 5/8" wide by 3 1/4" high. I mounted the white Inchie squares, leaving a gap in the center. I then place my two red brads to add some punch in that center.
There were a number of phrases I thought about using, but being I wanted to use this as a Father's Day card I thought the phrase "What's cookin' good lookin'?" would be fun. I printed it out in Word on a sheet of paper. I then cut out my Double Ended Tag. I affixed it using a temporary adhesive directly over the printed words on my sheet of paper and sent it back through the printer again. When I can't find the stamp I would like to use, this is a wonderful way to be able to say whatever I would like.) I then placed my tag back into the die and embossed it.
Next I mounted my tag by running the ribbon through it, putting adhesive on the back and mounting it on my card front. I then mounted the Inchie squares panel and ended by adding a little piercing to give the card front some additional texture.
Thank you all so much for your patience with me during this time. I am most definitely looking forwards to being back on a more consistent basis with more creative stimulation soon!!!
Ellen,
I thought that your father's day project was very clever!, Especially the way you tied all the favorite things together.
Carol
Posted by: carol b. | June 08, 2008 at 07:10 PM
It's so good to hear you are recovering well after your surgery! Hugs!! Your inchie card is adorable!!
Posted by: Rose Ann | May 28, 2008 at 08:41 PM
Glad that you are starting to feel a bit better, Ellen. Great layout for inchie images!
Posted by: Debbie Olson | May 28, 2008 at 06:31 AM
She's baaaaaacck! Thanks for sharing the inchie idea for Father's Day. Really cute card! TYFS
Posted by: kathynruss | May 28, 2008 at 05:59 AM
It's great to have you mostly back!! Glad to hear your surgery went well and you're starting to get around fairly well! Take it easy and pamper yourself!
Posted by: Viv (VivLyn) | May 28, 2008 at 03:47 AM
So good to hear from you and that your recovery sounds like it is going like it should (slow and steady but with some unfortunate rough times)! Certainly have missed you and your wonderful creative inspiration. Rest assured that if I didn't live on the other side of the country I would be happy to help you settle in to your new creative space. You remain in my thoughts and prayers!
Posted by: Beth | May 27, 2008 at 10:03 PM
Good to hear that you are healing well. I know you have a long road ahead in healing as I have been through something similar but you are taking the best approach which is to take your time and not overdo it. All the best.
Posted by: Maria | May 27, 2008 at 07:34 PM
So glad you're back. Can't believe how much I've missed your posts. Having had numerous surgeries, I'm amazed your back this soon, especially given all that's been happening in your life! Take time to let yourself heal--we want you back 110%!! Seriously cute card, too.
Posted by: Kathy | May 27, 2008 at 04:59 PM
What a cute card!!
Posted by: Michele | May 27, 2008 at 04:25 PM
Ellen! I'm so glad you are feeling better. I have been checking simple dreams to see how you were doing and was worried and hoping you were ok. I am glad you are back and feeling a little better. I know it is a long recovery and not very easy to get around.
The inchies are so cute and I may have to check it out myself.
Take care:)
Posted by: Genie | May 27, 2008 at 01:26 PM
Ellen - so glad you're feeling better! i had knee surgery just over a week ago -- it's NO fun not to be mobile! my hubby has been a sweetheart, but i hate making him run around the house to find little 'things' for me ;)
these little inchie stamps are TOO cute. and i just LOVE this layout too.
Posted by: Cat | May 27, 2008 at 11:28 AM