TCP123

It has been awhile since I have played along with The Cat's Pajamas's card challenges. Being paralyzed has a way of taking the fun out of a girl's life.

This weeks's challenge is hosted by Susan, who challenged us to us any TCP beverage stamp.

When I ordered the stamp set with this tea cup, I also ordered the dies for the flowers. The flowers have holes in them to make them look like buttons. I was going to thread embroidery thread through the holes, but my thread and needles are in the basement and I am upstairs and I have no way to get down the stairs. So, I punched centers for the flowers, and I think the flowers look just about as cute with centers as they do being buttons.

Stuff used:
Stamps: TCP Toni's Tea Set, A Cuppa Set
Ink: Versafine Onxy Black, Stampin' Up Gable Green and Pink Passion
Paper: Stampin' Up Gable Green, Pink Passion, Pixie Pink, Yoyo Yellow (all retired), PTI white
Other: TCP Flower Buttons CutUps die, 1/4" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, corner rounder punches

Elizabeth's birthday card

This is the other card that I made on Wednesday. It is a birthday card for my niece's 21st birthday. She will be able to listen to bands in clubs where she was not able to go before (legally).

I thought that the cocktail glass was fitting, but I also wanted to remind her to not overdo it. The bear inside the card has a "hangover icepack" on his head.


A month ago, I was not able to hold an X-acto knife. This week, I am able to use one to cut paper.

A month ago, I could not use scissors in my right hand. This week, I can cut paper well enough to do some paper-piecing. I still can't cut shapes that have a lot of inward cuts. But I was able to cut around the bear's belly and the balloons to make them from patterned paper.

I wish my hands didn't shake when they get tired. But they have come a long way from being completely paralyzed 8 months ago.

Supplies used:
Stamps: All stamps by The Cat's Pajamas: A Beary Good Year, Coolvetica, You Say It's Your Birthday
Paper: Stampin Up Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Summer Sun, Whisper White; Classic Crest Solar White; patterned paper from DCWV Indian Summer Fall Matstack
Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia, Prismacolor pencils
Other: Oval Nestabilities

Garth's Birthday card

Due to my paralysis, I haven't made any cards since January, except for a couple of cards at my Stampin' Up dealer's house over a month ago. I needed help with those cards since I had to do most things left-handed.

I made two cards on Wednesday. This is one of them: a birthday card for my brother-in-law, Garth. I love the radishes in this patterned paper, and when I saw it I thought of Garth. He enjoys working in his garden.

Supplies used:
Stamps: "So Many Scallops" by Stampin' Up
Paper: SU Old Olive and Real Red, Solar White By Classic Crest, Offbeat 6x6 paper pad by Basic Grey
Ink: SU Real Red
Other: SU Scallop paper punch, circle Nestabilities, Cherry Devine Twine

Where have I been?

It has been over 5 months since I have posted anything to my blog. I have done only a few crafty things during that time. The last card I made was for my mom's birthday in January. I had every intention of posting a picture of it, but I landed in the hospital.

Ed took me to the local hospital, and I was taken by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, Washington. By the time I arrived, I was paralyzed from the neck down. I spent around two weeks at Sacred Heart, where I regained the use of my left hand and arm. Then I spent around 8 weeks at St. Luke's Rehabilitation Institute. There, I regained most of the use of my right arm and hand, some strength in my left leg, and there was some movement in my right foot. I learned how to use a wheelchair and I was almost independent by the time I left. My diagnosis was Viral Myelitis. I was an incomplete tetraplegic, and the paralysis was caused by some random virus. I was OK with it, and I planned to continue to work hard at getting better at home.

We were home for 3 and a half weeks, and I was getting stronger, due to physical therapy. Then I woke up one morning and I didn't know where my right arm was. Ed checked, and there was no strength in my right arm or right leg. We headed to the ER, I was admitted to the hospital, and I was given steroids. That afternoon, I lost the vision in my right eye. We then headed back to Sacred Heart. I was there for 15 days, and that was followed by 3.5 weeks in rehab. My vision is returning, my right leg has some strength, and I am able to move it a little. I still cannot feel my right arm and hand. I have to propel the wheelchair with my left arm, and to keep from going in circles, I steer with my left foot. I am still an incomplete tetraplegic but the paralysis was caused by an autoimmune disease, which we are calling Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO), also called Devic's disease/syndrome. I tested negative for the antibodies, but 30% of patients with the disease test negative. So, I now have a disease that can relapse and paralyze me again.

I am home again, and I hope to stay here. Through drugs, we hope to prevent relapses. Meanwhile, I will adapt to being left-handed. I hope to be able to craft again.