Hi everyone, I just wanted to let you all know that I'm still here and kicking. They put me on a new chemo drug this last Monday and it has been making me really sick. So, I have decided not to take it any longer. I see the Oncologist this Monday to see what the next steps will be. All I know, is if I'm too sick to not be able to stamp, then it isn't worth it. 

I found this cute pug image while surfing. I hope it brings a smile to your face as it did mine. 

Hugs, 

Alena :o)

Welsh Corgi

Hi everyone, this is a card I made for my fiance's sister. 

She raises Welsh Corgis. One Christmas, I almost came home with one, 

but decided that I needed the $500.00 more. She normally sells them for $800.00, so I guess the 500 was a deal. Yikes!! Think of all of the stamping supplies that could be bought with that. LOL....

Any ways, my Dad informed me that the footprints on my card were Cat prints, so I guess I need to find some dog prints. I thought it was cute either way. 

Here's the recipe:

Stamps: The Stampin Place = Corgi, Paw prints are unknown. 

Inks: Stampin Up Baroque Burgundy (Retired) Paw Prints, & Corgi = Close to Cocoa.

Paper: Stampin Up Naturals Ivy, and Whisper White. 

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Dew Drops, Stampin up Baroque Burgundy Ribbon (Retired), Mini Glue Dots, Prismacolor Markers used on Corgi = Blondwood on rear, Deco Pink on tongue, and Light Tan for the Body, and then Light tan again on the highlight areas, and lightened in the ears with the Colorless blender. Sponged Baroque Burgundy on the Whisper White panel, while keeping the circle nestability in place as a mask. Scotch Double Stick tape, to put it all together. 

Enjoy,

Alena 

Hi everyone, I hope all of you had a good Christmas. 

I have to apologize for not being around much. My chemo treatments have been making me really tired, so I haven't had much energy to stamp anything new. 

Plus, I have something called Ascites, which is a build up of fluid in the Peritoneal cavity. This fluid builds up so much so that I have to go to the hospital to get it drained every 5 to 7 days. They usually get a little over 3 1/2 liters out of me. The chemo doesn't seem to be working, so they will switch the kind of chemo that I'm on, next week, or when my oncologists gets back from India. 

Any ways, I just wanted to share with you all, a photo of my parrot Merlin. He's a Senegal and about 4 years old. He's too funny, and loves to sit under the head rest cover on the recliner. He's very needy and screams when I leave the room, but I love him any ways. LOL....

I hope all of you have a Happy New Year.

Hugs, 

Alena :o)

Hi Gang, thank you for all of you that left comments about my Christmas cards. The consensus was the Snowman card being reserved for my special people that will appreciate my efforts. Then the other two and a few extras will be for everyone else. 

Any ways, here's another Christmas card I just made. I love this Owl made by Pamela at Firecracker Designs. The santa hat is a stamp from

Coronado Island Company.   Sorry, no photos along the way. But, above are the supplies that I used. If you actually want to know how I did something, then ask, and I'll be happy to let you know. 

Here's the specs: 

Stamps Used: Stampin Up = The snowflakes from Trees Three, and the Merry & Bright saying from All Yea Cheer I, Firecracker Designs by Pamela, and Coronado Island Co. 

Paper Used: Stampin Up Whisper White, & Pacific Point.

Ink Used: Stampin Up Baja Breeze, and Pacific Point, and Versamark and Palette Noir Black. 

Accessories: Prismacolor Markers, Crimson Red, Mahogany Red, Light Cerulean blue, colorless blender for the Santa Hat. Then, Cool Grey 10%, Buff, Sand, Cool Grey 30%, Black for the Owl. Hodgepodge Hardware from Stampin Up. Ranger fine detail embossing powder. Sponge, brayer, scissors, Fiskars Glue Pen, and Scotch Double stick tape.  Last but not least, my Scorpal.

Hugs to all, 

Alena :o)

Christmas Cards

Hi everyone, 

I did a test run on some Christmas cards, trying to figure out which ones I liked the best. So I thought I would ask you guys . Which card is your favorite. Then, that will be my card that I send to my friends and family. 

Sorry I don't have tutorials for these. I'll try to remember what I used though. The photo of the Markers are the ones I used on the card with the Snowman. 

Card # 1 Red & White Card. 

Stamps Used: Stampin Up = "Best Yet" Christmas Saying, "Background Basics," HamptonArt.com Acrylic Candy stamp set.

Ink Used: StazOn Jet Black, and Stampin Up Real Red.

Paper Used: Stampin Up Real Red, and Glossy White.

Accessories: Sponge, scissors, double stick tape.

Card # 2 Snowman with Critters.

Stamps Used: The Stampin Place Snowman and Critters. 

Inks Used: Palette Noir Black, Stampin Up Baja Breeze, & Pacific Point, and VersaMark. 

Paper Used: Stampin Up Whisper White, & Pacific Point. 

Accessories: Uni-Ball Signo White Gel Pen. Prismacolor Markers seen in photos above. Frrom Left to Right, Colorless Blender, Flagstone Red, Sand, Cool Grey 70%, Cool Grey 80%, Cool Grey 10%, Mahogany Red, Crimson Red, Sienna Brown, Dark Brown, Black, Orange, Burnt Ocre, Pale Vermillion, Sky Blue Light, True Blue.

Scotch Double Stick Tape, Ranger Super Fine Detail Embossing Powder.

Card # 3 Ornament With Owls

Stamps Used: Gina K. Designs Winter Foliage. The Stampin Place Ornament. Great Impressions   Owls stamp # F378.

Inks Used: Stampin UP Black, Always Artichoke, and Chocolate Chip.

Paper Used: Always Artichoke & Chocolate Chip. 

Accessories Used: Zig Painty Zilver pen. Prismacolor Markers = Crimson Red, SiennaBrown, Dark Brown, White Gel Pen. Scotch Double Stick tape. 

I hope all of that makes sense. 

Hugs to all, 

Alena 

Well, I didn't win the House Mouse contest. I'm totally bummed and don't feel like playing in anything ever again. How's that for a poor loser. I never win anything. Poop. :o( Does that mean that I really suck, or that there are a ton of other people entering too, and being hit with lightening is more likely than winning? hehehe.

Any ways, the winner card is above, my house mouse card is below. I still like my card better, so that's all that matters. The winner's name is Beth Scott. You can see her gallery here.

Hugs, 

Alena

Hi everyone, 

sorry about not posting a card today. I had to undergo chemo and then parencentesis which is a procedure where they stick a needle in the side of my stomach to drain the extra fluid out of the cavity. Fun stuff huh? I wish that they knew what was causing the extra fluid to build up, but they don't. They just say that it's all part of being stage 4 cancer. The chemo does slow it down, so that's good. 

I did find a JoAnn's Fabric store locally. I didn't know that we had one. The stamping section was kind of hurting, but I ended buying 2 of the $1.00 sets that were clear and for Christmas. Oh, and at Michael's I finally bought a "Stamp-in-ma-jig." That should be fun to use. Maybe my stamping will be neater now. LOL....

Until next time, 

Hugs, 

Alena :o)