Late Entry: Creative Freebie Challenge = Gone Fishing

Hi there Everyone! *Waves a Paw*
Sorry, I have been M.I.A.  but I have been rather ill with inflammation in my entire body. The doctor thinks I may have MS (Multiple Sclerosis).  So please keep me in your prayers.

Onto my EXTREMELY Late Entry:

Gone Fishing Card

Gone Fishing Card Closeup

I gave him a camouflaged shirt to make it appropriately male *wink, wink*

I managed to just barely hike wonderful Silver Falls Recreation Trail.

Climbing Silver Falls

Coming Back down Silver Falls on the other side of the bridge at the top.

Me drinking from Silver Falls at the very top of the falls just past the bridge at the top.

The wonderful view from on top of Silver Falls.

This was a very special trip for me as this may very well be my last one ever due to my legs deteriorating on me.  I wish it had lasted longer, but my body did mot like the cold as it got so cold I hurt so very badly and had to end up running the heater in the van to warm back up. But the one night we stayed there it was like heaven.

I will always remember the babbling of the river, it was so peaceful and serene until the young clueless neighbors moved in and rudely woke us up at 6 a.m. chopping a log and yelling at each other from across the campsite. and as we were leaving another couple was coming in  and we figured it was best we left when we did so as not to get caught in the middle of an altercation between the two campsites. The young male was cocky, arrogant and thought he knew it all which is a very bad combo for out in the wild. (ie: They took off leaving their campfire smoldering with the log stuck halfway out. )

I am waiting on my doctor's office to call back with my Lab tests Results and to see where she wants to go from here. I just finished my last Medrol this morning, so I need to find out if it is ok to go back onto my Celebrex or not. So I hope she calls soon!

Sure have missed everyone {{{hugz}}}

Take care and remember to enjoy the little things as much as you can as you never know when you may lose the ability to do so. As spectacular as the big things are , it is the small things that make up your life, so learn to enjoy them in a new light.  

Wonderful Fabric Contest to Enter + Update on ME

Hi there Everyone,

    Sorry to have been MIA for so long but I have been very ill and in a lot of pain. My dear 85 yr. old father-in-law Pa Bear was in the hospital as he had to have a foot of his intestine removed. He has been in there for the last week and they are hoping to release him early this week.
    I lost a really good crafting friend this past week as well, her name was Lynn Brookside (May She R.I.P.). Her loss was an unexpected one although I believe she knew her time was coming to an end as her last post to all of us was that she wanted us to know that she really loved us. It has been a week, but it is still hard to function at times for missing her. I think,  for me, the hardest part was knowing that she had died alone except for her poor kitty Bonnie Blue who is now missing and that she had been dead for 2-3 days before her friend came to check on her and found her. That is so hard to take in. I just pray that when it is my time to go that I have family surrounding me with love. They think that Bonnie Blue might have escaped while the ambulance was there to remove Lynn. I do pray they find her and that someone loving will take her in. I still need to make a card for Lynn's estranged daughter Angela. I just pray she will accept the card in love which is my intention. I would have done it sooner but I have been hurting too bad physically to do so.

    Onto, the happy news, I received the most wonderful present from my brother (who is in prison for the next 24 yrs.) So it is really special to me. It is a single pearlescent rosy pink rose that sits in a varnished sandstone base. It looks to be hand made. It is so very precious to me as he is.  Today is his birthday so I want to shout out to my brother HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  Stephen I love you and Miss you!!

   The last three days or so I have been keeping busy crocheting little bowls out of yarn. I plan to give a nested set of them to my dear sister-in-law who gave me the yarn to play with :O) I really hope she will make use of them! But I am not telling you who until after she gets them :o)

  Now who wants to win a lot of fabric besides me?
  Well here's your chance!!!

  Win a lifetime of fabric

  Just click on the link and it will take you directly to the form to fill out :O)
  Betcha thought I would keep this little linky all to myself didn't ya?
  As tempted as I was my good side won out so here ya go :o) Aren't I just so very nice?;o)
 
  Anyway, I've got to get back to making more yarn bowls  for my desk and crafting table and fancying up my binder clips. I also have my tote bag to finish. I am gonna try to do a tutorial on the tote bag. Hehe, I guess that is why it is taking me so long to do it as I am a bit nervous. It has been three weeks in the making so far as I can only handle sitting upright for a small amount of time before my back starts screaming at me to lay it down with the ice pack.

  Have a very creative week and hope to see you soon ya'll! *waves a paw*

Creative Freebie Challenge- Young Friends at the Fence

Hey there Everyone,

I'm a running really late with this challenge.

I have decided to use both images on one card this time.

Nothing like young friends in the Summer

The first one I made I ended up trashing as I had spilled water all over it ruining it.

Well, I called today and they said it looks like they are going to approve my Celebrex after my three weeks of being without it.  The lady I spoke with said that I should call back Monday to see where they were in the process of writing and sending the letters to my doctor, my pharmacy and myself. So keep those prayers coming for pain relief until I actually get it into my hands, please. 

I am currently struggling through making another paper crafting project for one of the other challenges that is due tomorrow. I hope to get it done before they close the inlinkz this time. The last time they close it too early. Otherwise, it will be a late project. I just hope it turns out like I want it to. But even if I do not get it done in time I will still post it here. 

Color Challenge- Silver, White,Blue = Family

Hey there Everyone *waves a paw*

This weeks Color Challenge at Outlawz was so fun to do as it featured one of my favorite colors - BLUE!

Here are this weeks colors: The twist was to add a charm.

Colors to use

Here is my entry:

My entry

I stamped the sentiment on Georgia-Pacific 110lb. weight card stock I got on sale at Bi-mart and because they forgot to remove the old sales sticker I got it for $2.00 cheaper. Their mistake but I profited from it at their insistence :o)

The stamped sentiment and the foliage are two Stampin' Up stamps that a church friend loaned me her entire Stampin' Up stamp sets they are the original ones one dates back as far as 1998.  So, Jean, I thank you dearly from the bottom of my heart! 

I chose to add the the sentiment Family as that is what makes Christmas so very special to me underneath the fact that it is Jesus's birthday and such a wonderful gift that God has given us. I appreciate it in so many ways that words can never accurately describe. As we humans do not speak God's language of Love, as His is completely and totally selfless, whole, pure, forgiving, uplifting, and completely unconditional. 

The paper is from my new Coral Couture Stack by DCWV. 

The snowflakes were given to me as a gift. I chose to glitter the one on the right with silver glitter to get my silver in ;o)

Unfortunately, I did not have the exact blue in paper so I chose to hit my bead stash and found one that was close and that is the big bead on my silver and white Christmas bow with the two self made "hat pins" that I made out of headpins for making earrings with.

Last, but not least, I have my little pewter reindeer charm hanging on the bottom left of my card off the silver and white Christmas bow. He is kind of in the shadows so you cannot get a good look at him other than to tell he is a charm.  He was previously a necklace pendant from a broken necklace which was given to me with a bunch of other jewelry and art prints by a previous neighbor when she was moving out of good old Briarwood. So I thank you, Hazel! I sure do miss seeing your sunny face riding your bike and running Layla along side you!

Well, y'all, I sure do appreciate the visits and the comments on my projects and I pray that you will have a most blessed week ahead of you!

Thank you so much for your prayers and support this week. They are greatly appreciated. However, my battles are not over yet. I just got one more thrown into the mix this past week.  I was also finally able to get ahold of my Disability Attorney today...so YAY on that part. But you know what it's all good as for what Satan means for evil, God means for good! and I CAN do all things through  Christ who strengthens me!!!

Paper a la Mode Challenge- Packaging

Hey there Everyone,

This is my entry in the Paper a la Mode Challenge. The theme this week was Packaging. I chose to upcycle a couple of Vlasic pickle jars. I am showing them in action :o)

This has been a particularly rough week for me and it is still not quite over for me. It may be quite some time before things settle down for me.

 But in great news my poor father-in-law is back home and out of the hospital and Praise God he did not need the ileostomy!

Upcycled pickle jars

This week was especially painful but it did not stop me from enjoying my Nature!!!

Karen Michelle Roth

I may look like crap with my hair going every which way but loose, but I am so incredibly happy!!! I love my mountains and looking at my blue sky. No, I did not hike all the way up here. We drove most of it and I only walked a little bit of it. We saw a memorial for a gentleman who was loved. He was a an avid hiker and a hunter. I paid my respects and thanked him for sharing his wonderful beautiful view with us. It was so breathtaking to be able to see so far.

God is an amazing artist Himself......

May each of you have a very blessed weekend and a fantabulous week ahead!

Much Love,

Karen Michelle Roth

Crossings Books

The best Christian Books   Check them out!!!

Color Challenge - Orange You Glad I don't have the Blues

Hi there Everyone,

I hope you have had a better time than I have had this week!

It has been a rough week for me and the family.  So do, please, keep us in your prayers. {{{hugz}}}

These were the colors to be used:

This is my entry in the Color Challenge at Outlawz Challenges : 

Sorry about the poor picture, but the lighting in our apartment is really poor.

I fussy cut the flowers out. For my twist which was to add a flower I used flower shaped buttons under that embroidery floss bow :o) 

My knots on the 2nd card did not turn out that great.

This was as close to the chosen colors that I had in stock.

Well, thanks for the visit and stay creative, My Friends!

Until next we meet....

Much Love,

Karen 

LATE ENTRY: Creative Freebie Challenge-Little Suzy

I had already done Lady Roxann for the Creative Freebie Challenge but I also just HAD to do little Suzy as well!

I am late with her as I have lost the use of my left arm due to extreme pain because my insurance refuses to pay for my Celebrex and my doctor has been out of the office for the last week. Because I am considered a "Complex Case" by the new Hospital's policy( the hospital took over the clinic ) no other doctor in the clinic will treat me because of this policy.  I can sort of see their point, but I think they should make an exception for when my doctor is out of the office or on vacation. I really need access to medical treatment 24/7/365 and not just when my doctor is in. My doctor will not be in until Monday which means I will have gone a week without my anti-inflammatory which means my body is wracked with pain from top to bottom,literally! I have pain in my eyes because they are swollen, I have pain in my left arm due to inflammation, and I have pain in my rump due to having Fibroids on my Piriformis muscle which makes sitting rather painful. I have to sit on an inflatable ring everywhere I go, it is quite embarrassing!

Then on top of that, my poor father-in-law Don a.k.a. Pa Bear or Bear-Bear has ended up in the hospital with his intestine folding into itself and blocking all passage of the bowels. They did a procedure on him last night that so far seems to be working but he still has a tube in place to aid in the draining of his bowels.

We were supposed to be celebrating his 85th birthday yesterday. The poor guy, he should not be in the hospital during his birthday!

So if you could keep him in your prayers I and the family would greatly appreciate it! Thanks!!!

Suzy was a fun image to color, I loved her little dress and shoes...so cute!

So without further ado, Here is Little Suzy.....

Creative Freebie Challenge-Roxann

Hello Everyone,

How are we all doing this fine evening? Great, I pray!

I did  manage to get one of my cards done for the Creative Freebie Challenge. She is so beautiful. She reminds of all the elegance one might see at a ritzy function at say the White House :o)

So here she is : May I present to you for your viewing pleasure, Dear Ms. Roxann from Sandi Huggett over at Outlawz Challenges

Roxann by Sandi Huggett

You cannot see it really but her bodice of her dress is covered in iridescent  glitter.  For the buttons on her gloves I used a shimmering pinkish-red nail polish I had on Hand.

It really does look better in person. The bow is also all shimmery. I have come to really love wire edged ribbons for bow making as they really do hold the shape better and frankly, it just looks more elegant in my opinion. Unfortunately, this was the only size I had on hand in red,lol. 

I am still waiting to hear back from my pharmacy as to which new medication I will be getting since my health insurance is refusing to cover my Celebrex. One gentleman I spoke with thinks it is because they have a couple of alternatives they would rather be used first before they will pay for the Celebrex. But we will have to wait and see I guess. But I do know from past experience that Celebrex is the only one that really worked on reducing the inflammation in my body. I know Naproxen 500 mg. is one of them and that does not work for me. I am curious to find out what the other one is though. 

Well, I pray that everyone has a wonderful week ahead of them and that get to create lots of beautiful cards, notecards, etc.

Welcome

Hello, My Sweet Wonderful Guests! Without you this blog could not be possible and I sincerely thank each and everyone of you who take time out of your busy schedules to visit my little niche of cyberspace. It is my hope to make new friends and share many wonderful creations together. I am truly sorry if I tend to complain too much , that is not my intentions but you know that sometimes you just have to get what is in your heart out in the open to get a better perspective on your current circumstances. Here's my life story for those who are bored enough to actually read it as it is a highly suggested reading if you truly want to get to know the "real" me. First of all, let me introduce myself. My name is Karen Michelle Roth and I’m Bipolar and suffer from PTSD. I am happily married and I own two types of pets, 5 Guppies in a small tank and a sassy medium-sized dog named Pepper. My Background: I was born at Fort Riley at the Irwin Army Hospital. My father was in the military then. We lived in Abilene, Kansas till I was old enough to go to school. My father then moved us to Hutchinson, Kansas in 1977. I do not remember much about my childhood. Over the next few years I was molested, beaten, abused, raped, and stabbed. I was in an abusive marriage before I met my current wonderfully sweet husband. I have two children that I do not have custody of. My son lives with his father. My daughter lived with my parents until she ran away this year to Minneapolis, Minnesota with her boyfriend and his family. I truly pray that she is safe and doing well.  Neither of my children wants anything to do with me thanks to my mother. In fact, my parents disowned me when I moved to Washington to better my life and to be married. I have tried numerous times to obtain my degree, but do to illnesses and the lack of funds I was forced to quit my pursuit of a higher education. My Present Illnesses I am currently battling with my asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder brought on by my smoking for 30 years. I quit smoking October 10, 2007. I am also plagued with Pleurisy which is a very painful lung disease and Plica. Plica is a fold of tissue that keeps getting pinched in between my leg bones every time I sit down then stand up. The pleurisy I have to live with as there is no known cure. I also am plagued with Fibromyalgia. I may now also have Multiple Sclerosis (MS). I used do 3d rendering before my 19" LCD monitor died. Oh, gosh how I miss it! But I cannot afford to ever get another one on my own. The monitor I have now is a CRT I got through Freecycle.org. I have in the past created a number of blank and lined stationery that I would like to sell as well as seed bead earrings I have made. I also crochet ripple afghans for relaxation. I have just recently discovered the wonderful world of making cards and scrapbooking. It has been therapy for me as it takes my mind to a happier place where I can focus on seeing that I can make others happy with my creations. My Dream: It is my dream to eventually open an arts and crafts store. I have always been involved with the arts for as long as I can remember. I fully believe that everyone has a creative streak and just need some coaxing to bring it out. I would like to offer weekly classes such as ceramics, making jewelry, and silk flower arrangements and cardmaking just to name a few . It is also my dream to be the first one in my immediate family to have made it to and through college. I only have 10 credits left. I have come way too far to quit and give up the ship now. I am a firm believer that anyone can rise above their circumstances and become a better person for it. But I also believe that we should always remember our humble beginnings even if they are painful as they are part of who we are rather we like it or not. Not so much as to dwell upon the hurt and pain but to rejoice in just how far we have come and have grown. Now that you have come to know me a little bit I hope you will stick around as I have a ton of love to share :o) {{{{hugz}}}} Much Love, Karen                                              Link to code and pictures