Tap, Tap, Tap . . . Is This Thing On?!! LOL

 

Hello My Sweet and Patient Crafty Friends!

 

I suppose you’ve gone away and found other crafty peeps to visit, since it seems like I fell off the face of the earth.  Dang, I can’t believe how long it’s been since I posted here on my blog.  Pleeeaaassseee forgive me!!  My life got a bit frantic following my father-in-law’s funeral.  The day after we returned home from that, we packed our belongings and drove to AZ for the winter.  We arrived in AZ last Thursday, and I promptly came down with some kind of flu bug that kept me away from my creative schtuff until yesterday.  I did spend all day yesterday creating, but can’t really share any of what I made with you . . . just yet. 

I do, however, have a card that I would love to share with you, especially in light of the fact that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.  Cancer sucks, no doubt about it – and sadly it has touched us all in one way or another.  I’ve witnessed the courage and perseverance of two dear friends as they suffered with this horrible disease – and conquered it!!  My father-in-law died from Mesothelioma – a form of lung cancer that very often is caused by exposure to asbestos.  My stepmother is also in the midst of battling breast cancer, and we pray every day that she, too, has kicked cancer’s hiney!!  In fact, she recently completed chemotherapy and radiation.  My dad really wanted to have a party to celebrate the fact that she had completed treatment and has gotten great reports from her doctor.  He asked me to design an invitation for this soiree that he wanted to throw, and this is what I came up with.

 

I knew I wanted to use the negative of a ribbon die cut (created using my Silhouette and an imported ribbon clipart design) – I just love that look,don’t you?!  With my computer and printer, I created a block of several words that describe those that so bravely persevere through this disease – I singled out one word and made it a brighter pink.  I then placed a panel of those words behind the die cut negative, putting dimensional tape between the two panels for added texture.  I chose the word “Celebrate” as the focal sentiment because it was to be a celebration of my stepmother, and the fact that she had completed treatment and was hopeful of a successful result.  Think positive, right?!!

 

The party didn’t happen because she decided that having a party would be just a bit “too much” to handle in the midst of still really recovering from a pretty big year of treatment.  But I thought that this design might inspire someone else to “celebrate” someone they know and love who is fighting this horrific disease.

 

I WILL be back on Friday (really Thursday, for my west coast peeps) with the latest CAS-ual Fridays Challenge.  Man, am I glad to be back!!  Thanks again for your patience with me.  Hopefully you’ll come back again real soon to visit!