My Family & Other Animals

Wednesday 7 December 2011

"It's A Hard Life"



So this week has been a real challenge for both Jo and I. I have a really bad back problem which has been ongoing for the last 12/13 years now. During all this time Jo has taken really good care of me but now things are beginning to look really bad for us. Jo has recently been diagnosed with severe arthritis and it has flared up like nothing else I have ever seen. She is off work at the moment but I'm beginning to think that Dark Days are coming!

Anyway, onto lighter things. This weeks challenge over at I Love ProMarkers was for a shaped card so I thought it was the perfect time to use my free dies that came with my Grand Caliber (courtesy of Create and Craft, thank you!). Apparently they are exclusive to the deal I got so hopefully you won't see loads of these shaped cards out there.

I used Gorjuss and Lily of the Valley stamps and a Marianne Designs Poinsettia to finish it off. Things have been a bit hectic so it was finished a bit too quickly and the photo isn't very good either but i'm afraid this is as good as it's gonna get this week. Hope you like it and see you again soon,

Andy

x

Entered into: Craft Room Challenge - Make Your Own Flowers

Creative Card Crew - Tis the Season


Tuesday Throwdown #77 - Celebrate The Season

Heartsong Inspirations #27 - Christmas and/or Red, Green and White

Kaboodle Doodles #96 - Colours of Christmas

Make It Monday #66 - Anything Goes

Pollycraft Challenge #120 - Christmas Fun

Truly Madly Crafty Challenges - Christmas images & Colours

Come And Get It - Colour Challenge: Red, Green and your Choice

Dream Valley Challenges #22 - Christmas

Gingerloft Challenge #30 - Christmas and Winter

Let's Ink It Up Challenges - Christmas Projects

Paper Sundaes Challenge #99 - Anything Christmas

The Squirrel and the Fox Challenge #7 - Christmas

2 Sisters Challenge #69 - Christmas

Crafty Calendar Challenge - Cold and Frosty!

CES Challenges #65 - A Traditional Christmas

23 comments:

  1. Pretty little poinsettia thank you for sharing with us at Craft-Room Challenge.

    I hope the dark days will prove brighter than you anticipate XOXO Zoe

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  2. A lovely poinsettia! I haven't seen that die before, and a very beautiful card, I love the Gorjuss stamps. Take care, I hope you are both feeling better soon. Good luck, and thanks for joining in at the Craft-Room Challenge. Maria x

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  3. gorgeous card Andy
    don't forget to check out the TSB site , you 'll be surprised
    http://thestampingboutiquechallengeblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/challenge-21no-traditional-christmas.html
    hugs
    Miranda

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  4. A lovely card saw it on Make it Monday
    Luv Jane xxx

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  5. Hey Andy this is so cute! Love that Gorjuss girl thanks so much for paying at PTW hugs Rebekah GDT xxx

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  6. what a lovely card Andy, love that gorjuss girl!! Hope your sore back and Jo's athritis eases off!!

    Thanks for joining us this week at Papertake Weekly.

    Fi GDT
    x

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  7. Lovely card and cute.
    Saw you on MIM and had to stop by.
    Maria x

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  8. Awesome card Andy. I read your bio and was very interested in your story. I too was partly raised by my Aunt and Uncle, but fortunetly, I had the same last name.

    My 7 year old grandson has arthritis and it is very hard to see someone you love suffer so much.

    Thanks for joining us at Creative Card Crew.

    Mari

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  9. A lovely card and a great poinsettia. Thank you for joining us at Craft-Room Challenge.
    xxx Hazel.

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  10. Firstly, I do hope that dark days do not approach you and your family and secondly...your card is spectacular! I do love the shape and no, I haven't seen any like this out there. Thirdly, just today I visited Marianne's Designs for the first time and WOW!! Now that I've seen it on a real card...I'm sold. :)

    Thank you for playing along with us at Make It Monday!
    Remember, for a chance to win the prize from our sponsor, leave a comment for another entry and mention that you saw them on Make It Monday.
    Lisa xx

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  11. Sorry to hesrof your health troubles, here's wishing things improve for you both..

    Great shaped card and love that flash of re from the poinsetta..Thanks so much for joining our Craft Room Challenge..Esther xx

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  12. Lovely Shaped Card! Thanks for joining at the MIM.

    Preeti
    www.creativegifts-preeti.blogspot.com

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  13. I'm sorry to hear of your health problems. I hope that the dark days stay away!

    Your card is wonderful! Thanks for taking the challenge at Kaboodle Doodles!

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  14. Hi Andy! First, what a beautiful card! I LOVE the scene you created here, and the shape of the card is very fun. Thanks so much for sharing this with us at Tuesday Throwdown. I also wanted to wish you and Jo well. I have both major back problems and arthritis, so I understand how hard it can make things, but at the same time, there is still a lot of light in life. Praying you two are able to find that together. :-)

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  15. Fab card, love the stamp and your colouring is fab. Thanks for sharing with us at LIIU, good luck with the challenge. Hugs Suzanne.

    I hope things don't become as dark as you are expecting and that some brightness shines into your lives.

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  16. Hi Andy
    Love your shaped card. The image is delightful and love the addition of the poinsettia. Thanks for joining us at Dream Valley.
    Mags
    x

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  17. Really different card with a very cool image. I love the flower on the side. Thank you for taking time to play on Come and Get Challenge this week.

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  18. Love your card Andy and a great shape to. Thanks for taking part in this weeks CES & Dream Valley Challenges!
    Clairexx

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  19. Gorgeous card Andy! I love the shape! I hope you and Jo get both have miraculous recoveries!

    Thank you for joining us for the Christmas Fun challenge at Pollycraft!

    Arabella

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  20. Hi Andy,
    This looks beautiful. Love your images & your colouring looks fab. Thanks for joining us at Creative Card Crew.
    Andie xx

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  21. What a beautiful card, I love the fox!

    Thank's for playing along with The Squirrel and The Fox.

    ***Merry Christmas*** hope we will see you again next year!

    Linda xx

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  22. Gorgeous Christmas card :o) thank you for joining us at Gingerloft for our Christmas challenge. Good luck and Merry Christmas, Hugs

    NIKKI DT

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  23. Cute card. Thanks for joining us at Dream Valley Challenges.

    Hugs Liv

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