The transition from the Penny Black And More Challenge to the We Love Chocolate Baroque Challenge was more complex than I anticipated so I decided to step away. I create for me, for fun. But when I do create for others I appreciate it when my contributions are welcomed and I feel valued as an artist.

thanks for popping by.

As you know, I’ve been away the last couple of months because my dad was in hospice with end stage kidney disease; he passed away October 21.

I’ll be back soon, even if it is just to post intermittently as I still have a lot to do.

Thanks for popping by.

just a note that i’ve added a new page to my blog, Paper Crafting With RA, where i plan on posting reviews of products that i can use and why.

i’ve sometimes mentioned that i have severe RA (rheumatoid arthritis), an aggressive form that has had quite an impact on my daily life for almost 20 years now. initially, i resisted making any changes to my activity level, but in time i had no choice but to accept my limitations because of lack of mobility, deformed joints, pain, surgeries, etc.

while i enjoy my creative outlet/card making, there are some tools or techniques that are difficult to use and i wish the manufacturers would consider principles of universal access. i have to balance play with rest, which means i create and post when i can and sometimes i colour an image over the course of a few days. i also don’t comment as often as people expect me to or as much as i wish i could, even though i enjoy my reader updates.

today, i have a new assistive device that should make getting out and about easier; it’s a rollator that replaces my cane and since i had my choice of ten colours, i chose kiwi green – it matches my twinkling H2O kiwi. :)thanks for popping by.

i’m playing along with the impression obsession challenge – season’s greetings, using the IO peace die; i love the typeface. this time i attached it using the stick it adhesive sheets which are much less messy than a glue pen but with my RA, just as fiddly.

i’m also playing along with the jingle belles’ prompt to use leftovers on your projects and these strips are what remained after i made a set of cards for an aunt – yet to be photographed; one more thing i seem to be falling behind on.

and i’m submitting this to scrappy mo’s last rudolph days challenge for this year; where does the time go?!

thanks for popping by.

the stamping bella challenge this week is a sketch challenge, which i tweaked just a bit so i could use this SB cake image. i watercoloured with twinkling H2Os, added stickles to the icing and glossy accents to the plate and candles.

i’d also like to enter these challenges:

whimsy inspirations: party time
the paper shelter: special birthday
4 crafty chicks: food and drink

thanks for popping by.

welcome to a couple of new followers and thank you for taking an interest in my creations.

i’ve been playing along with some international challenge blogs and they have a translator widget on their blogs, so i’ve added one to mine at the top of my sidebar on the right; you can click on your country for the link. thanks for popping by.

hi everyone, as a person with a disability, i create when i can with what i can; you’d be surprised by some of the paper crafting tools that are not designed with universal access in mind. one major company even told me that if a child can do it, i should be able to; with that kind of attitude, chances are they’ll never work toward inclusivity.

commenting has been more difficult lately because of my hands, so i ordered voice recognition software and then a microphone, but i developed a rash, which may or may not be due to the materials so the company is sending me a replacement. in the meantime, i’m not using my software and that means i’ll fall even further behind. i always enjoy seeing your cards in my reader (when that behaves), so i just wanted to explain why i haven’t been around. once my new microphone arrives and i spend time on the learning curve, i’ll visit again. as always, thanks for popping by.

i’ll be taking a few days off as i’m having surgery, but i hope to be back to my card making and posting soon.