Personal stuff, a card and new crafty stash

Hi all. Thanks for all your kind messages. Once again, I'm so sorry I haven't been able to visit any of you, it's been a rough couple of months culminating in some bad news. My Mum has been diagnosed with bowel cancer. The biopsy she had was inconclusive but we've been told that it's "highly likely" to be cancer. For those of you who are regular readers of my blog, you know that we lost my Dad to cancer last year so I needn't explain how I'm feeling right now. My Mum is having an operation to remove the affected part of her bowel a week on Monday, they then biopsy that to grade the cancer. It feels highly surreal and is hard to believe we are going through the same thing again.

So as you can imagine, there hasn't been much time for crafting but I did manage to get home this week and make this card for my best friend's birthday. I am dearly hoping to get back to my crafting soon as it's a great distraction and release from all the stress so I think I really need to make time to do it for my own sanity.

So here is the card I made using this brilliant Stamping Bella stamp- I just love the sentiment and her palazzo pants! I coloured the image using watercolour pencils and then paper pieced her pants. I used Glossy Accents on the crystal ball to get the shine. The papers are beautiful from American Crafts- I love the bright colours on them! I used a piece of card to thread through my nesties labels instead of ribbon.

I've entered this for the Simon Says Stamp Challenge who's challenge this week is a recipe of one image, two papers and 3 types of embellies. I've used a Prima flower, a punched embellie and a gem stone for my embellies.

Crafty stash used: Stamps (Stamping Bella); Watercolour pencils; Glossy accents; Stickles; Paper (American Crafts); Assorted cardstock; Nesties; Daisy punch (Woodware); Prima flower; Prima gemstone

I also wanted to show you some new stash I got which is crazy really cos I've got some stuff from Christmas I still haven't had a chance to use yet but hubbie was going to the US and I couldn't resist the chance to pick up some stamps cheaply and avoid paying customs duty!! So the clear stamps are Papertrey Ink stamps. I got the 2 On my Couch sets, a sentiment set and the Everyday Button Bits set. The rubber ones below which I've just realised is the worst photo ever- why didn't I spread the stamps out????!! DOH- are Riley stamps which I've coveted for ages!!! I got 8 in the end. I can't wait to use all of these!

So I hope you're all doing OK, better than me anyway!! I hope to visit you all sometime this week. Take care xxx