Monday, 29 August 2011

Help for Krafty Karen.....

Morning all,

Can I ask that you all please take a little time to read this post!

A very dear crafting cyber friend is in need of some help getting the medical treatment she well and truly deserves and we are asking if you could all please do a little bit to help :)

Some of you may or may not know Krafty Karen


I have known Karen for just a couple of years when she became a customer over at my store Paper Creator. We got talking by email after Karen kindly offered to make up samples for the site and now we have become very good friends a rarely a day goes by where we don't have a chat!

Karen is an amazing woman who is very modest, a great inspiration in the crafting world and an amazing FRIEND!


Karen has suffered constant pain over this last couple of years and has struggled to get doctors to listen to her symptoms and was at one point made to feel as though it was all in her head & imagination, this was until a year ago when Karen collapsed and taken to hospital. Finally tests were done and a diagnosis given and we all honestly thought there was light at the end of the tunnel! After many appointments with doctors, consultants and no joy Karen saw her pain management consultant who agreed that she was in need of an epidural in her neck which would help to relieve the pain.
Unfortunately Karen received a call last week advising that her pain management consultant has gone on to long term sick and all his waiting lists cancelled - you can imagine how devastating this news was for Karen!!

For a little more about Karen's health problems here are a few of her own words...

"
I have Degeneration of the C spine... (My neck) The disks which are damaged by change so far are;-

C4/5 C5/6 C6/7. I also have narrowing to the Exit Foramina which is causing root nerve compression - all of this causes a whole host of nasties for me, not least of which is the pins & needles, numbness to my limbs, loss of use and weakness to my arm, hand, and leg. Black outs, dizzy spells, headaches, loss of vision to my right eye and so many other problems they are too many to mention here.

The biggest thing I live with day to day is the sheer level of constant pain. The pain I have is in my neck, my shoulders, my arm, partly in my back, and in my leg too.
I also get a lot of pain to the back of my skull because of the problems with my neck. I suffer from paralyses and have good and bad days with this.
I also suffer from something called Complicated Migraine, which causes separate issues of it's own, but this is being managed with medication. But it does mean that I am unable to take normal analgesic or over the counter pain relief.


So I go day to day without any pain relief at all.


I have been waiting for such a long time for an Epidural injection in my neck, to give me some relief to my symptoms, which the hospital have just put back - and I am now on an "active waiting list" - I am still awaiting a referral to a London Spinal Specialist - I have been waiting for this referral for a long time now, and again, this appointment keeps getting knocked back.
I am currently trying to raise the funds to visit a private consultant, so that I can get some straight, honest, unbiased answers on exactly what my problem is and what my options are for getting it sorted out., I also want to be able to have the Epidural done if I can raise enough money for this.
I am so desperate to be able to do things with my children again. The worst thing this summer has not been having one single day out with my kiddies. It's made me feel like I've failed them some how.

It is now two and a half years since these symptoms started, and a year since my diagnosis and I am still right at square one for getting any help. I am still suffering daily with no pain relief. I am still fighting to see the right consultant who is willing to help me and give me an honest answer with regards to what procedure is needed.


The only consultant who was honest enough to tell me my neck is in really bad shape, and that I need to go to London, and that I will need a series of operations in my lifetime, has just taken long term sick leave. He was my pain management consultant, and this is the reason why I have now been knocked back yet again, and I am now still waiting for my long awaited Epidural in my neck..
This is why I have been selling some of my crafting stuff in the hope of raising some funds to go and see a private consultant.

The thought of waiting maybe another year to be seen is unbearable 


It seems to just go round and round and round in circles until I am right back where I started..


Karen took up designing a few months back to help keep her mind of the pain & has been a bit of a life saver and you can find her wonderful downloadable card kits both on Paper Creator & Paper Craft Kits. Karen has designed some of the most wonderful kits and all profits from the sales of these kits towards helping get private funding.
So this is where we ask all you crafty people to please spare just a few pounds as profits from each kit sold will go towards the funds required to enable Karen to seek private consultation and finally start to get the help and pain relief she truly deserves.

Karen's digi card kits can be found....




 Throughout this post you will see examples of what can be made from Karen's digi kits and once purchased you have them to make over and over again!


So come lets help Karen get the treatment she deserves and help Karen's children get the mummy back!




A huge thank you for taking the time to read this post!


Hugs Debbie x

Saturday, 27 August 2011

Challenge #6 - All about easels

Morning all,

It's time for our next challenge and this time it's all about

Easel Cards

This can be a card, scrapbook page or any other crafty creation but must an easel card.

Please remember.......

Using products from either Paper Creator or Paper Craft Kits is not required but those that do will receive 2 entries in to the draw.

Please remember to link direct to your entry (no back links).

Where possible please turn of word verification on your comments, if you wish to control your comments then you can still do so by moderating your comments.

There will be 3 winners chosen at random Saturday 10th September where the winner will receive a £10 voucher to spend over at Paper Creator


With 2 runners up who get to choose a kit of their choose also from Paper Creator.

 Now lets take a peek at what the design team have been up to

Made by Debbie using 'Favourite Chick - 6x6 Card Kit'
Made by Karen using 'Cupcake Slimline Easel Card Kit'
Made by Wendy using 'Heart of Gold - Easel Card Kit'



Made by Julie using - 'Stick Em Up - Twisted Easel Card Kit'

We look forward to seeing all your entries :)
Debbie & The Gang  x x




Winners Post for Challenge #5

Morning all,

I am sat here this morning with the sun shining through the window almost blinding me but I know it won't be lasting for long as the grey clouds continue to move over! What ever the weather is there I hope you are all having a lovely weekend and enjoy the bank holiday.

Thank you to all who entered our 'Red & Blue' challenge - stunning entries and again we enjoyed visiting and generally been nosy :) We hope you come and play along in the next challenge?

Now lets announce the winners :)

Scooping the £10 voucher to spend over at Paper Creator and chosen by random.org is......


Kathleen MC with this rather delightful card


Kathleen please email me admin @ papercreator .co .uk (remove spaces) to claim your vouchers.

Now for our 2 runners up both winning a kit of their choice from Paper Creator and again chosen by random.org are.......


Christine & Shelby - please contact me on the address above to claim your prize!

Congratulations to all our winners and don't forget to grab your winners badge from the side bar :)

Hugs
Debbie & The Gang x x

Saturday, 20 August 2011

Thinking Of You.......

Evening all,

Tonight I thought I would share with you a card I made recently for a special person!

Just over 3 weeks ago we received a phone call informing us that our Sister In Law had been diagnosed with cancer. Last week Marina was admitted to hospital after been advised she was not strong enough for treatment and sadly passed away just a few days later.

I made this card and took it to the hospital when we visited last week but Marina never awoke to see it :(

My apologies for such a bad photo!

R.I.P Marina, now at peace and no longer suffering! Never forgotten and always in our hearts.

Debbie x

Friday, 19 August 2011

Last chance to grab 50% off!

Evening all,

Just thought I would do a quick post to let you know that's it last chance to grab a whopping 50% off all products (excludes grab bag) as our SUMMER sale will end Monday :o)



Enter coupon SUMMER to grab your 50% off.

Enjoy your weekend.
Debbie x x

Saturday, 13 August 2011

Challenge #5 - Red & Blue

Good morning all,

Can you believe it is time for our next challenge already & can you believe we have been doing challenges now for 10 weeks... Yup that's right 10 weeks!! Where does the time go?

With out further ado let's get straight to Challenge #5 and the theme this time round is..........

Red & Blue

This can be a card, scrapbook page or any other crafty creation but must incorporate the colors red & blue.

Please remember.......

Using products from either Paper Creator or Paper Craft Kits is not required but those that do will receive 2 entries in to the draw.

Please remember to link direct to your entry (no back links).

Where possible please turn of word verification on your comments, if you wish to control your comments then you can still do so by moderating your comments.

There will be 3 winners chosen at random Saturday 26th August where the winner will receive a £10 voucher to spend over at Paper Creator


With 2 runners up who get to choose a kit of their choose also from Paper Creator.
 Now lets take a peek at what the design team have been up to

Made by Karen - Head DT


Made by Julie


Made By Wendy


We look forward to seeing all your entries :)
Debbie & The Gang  x x


Winners Post for Challenge #4

Good morning all,

I would like to start by saying a HUGE thank you for all your wonderful entries for our "Say it with Flowers" challenge! An amazing 85 entries, we are all overwhelmed and have loved looking at all the entries!

My apologies for the lack of comments from myself, unfortunately it has been a tough week with family problems and I have not been around on the PC much but promise to leave more comments for our next challenge.

Now lets announce our winners :)

Scooping the £10 voucher to spend over at Paper Creator chosen by random.org.............


Crafty Liz with rather colorful and gorgeous entry :)



Liz please email me admin @ papercreator .co .uk (remove spaces) to claim your voucher.

Now for our 2 runners up who win a kit of their choose from Paper Creator and again chosen by random.org are.........................


Doreen & Lovely Linda - please contact me on the address above to claim your prize!

Congratulations to all our winners and don't forget to grab your winners badge from the side bar :)

Hugs
Debbie & The Gang x x

Friday, 5 August 2011

SUMMER SALE!

Evening all,

We have gone a little bonkers over at Paper Creator, I think it must be the weather as we are having a whopping 50% off sale across the store!!!!

(excludes summer grab bag & plate cards bundle)


Come and fill your baskets and grab some great bargains before we gain our sanity back :)

You can even grab 50% of all our preview 'Pick of the Week' bundles.

Just enter code 'SUMMER' during checkout!

Have a great weekend.
Debbie x

Thursday, 4 August 2011

A Card to Share :)

Evening all,

Today has been very wet and I was very unfortunate to be stood outside this morning as the heavens opened and well the words 'drowned rat' sprang to mind... He he!!

Anyways I thought I would share with you the birthday card I made for my better half... Tuesday just gone saw him turn the big 40! Now he is mad on his fishing but it seems every card I have made for him in the past has been fishing related so went for a change of scenery this time and chose to make a card based on his other passion which is washing his pride and joy..... his car :) and what better way than to use the delight Forever Friends!!


The image is from the very first Forever Friends Triple Disc set that was released and so are the backing papers! Wanting to make an 8x8 card I took the papers and main image in to my editing software, re sized as needed and printed them off on to ICE Duo Matte 220gsm card (I love this card, brings the images to life and keeps the colors very vibrant). I printed the main image several times to allow me to decoupage him and love the depth I managed to gain all thanks to my trusty Pinflair Glue Gel. I finished the card with a lovely sentiment from the ever talented Paulette over at TLC Creations.


Jase was over the moon with his card and so was I :)

I would like to enter this card in to the following challenges:

Craft Us Crazy - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
For Fun Challenges - Anything Goes
My Mum's Craft Shop - Monochromatic

Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs
Debbie x