Speaking of Winter...

There is a "Let it Snow" greeting card design contest at the GCUCommunity Website, and I'd be grateful for any votes I get (hint, hint if you're reading this, click here and scroll down). :) Here's my card (a snow family having an ironic and playful snowball fight - lol), and it's number 10 in the list of entries. Thanks!!! :)

Cancer. Bummer.

I was diagnosed with cancer about 12 years ago. I guess since I'm still here I'm a survivor. Celebrate with me by giving Paper Greeting Cards for Cancer Patients.

I don't really want to write about cancer today, even though it is the first day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. But what I will do is give you a link to my story about how the chemo did a real number on my brain and memory. The article is from a special time that I DO remember, and that was when I was asked by Corrie Kuipers to share one of my greeting cards in GCUCommunity's Design Spotlight.

I'm also going to include three poignant XKCD comic strips, because they express what I feel better than I can. These comics really hit home for me; but the last one because it's just so funny...and when you can laugh about cancer, you're going to get through it ok.

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Okay, if you've stayed with me this long... I'll share one more thing with you just for shitz and giggles. This is a picture of me when I was bald from the Chemo back in May of 1999. Made me cry a lot back then, but I can finally laugh about it now. :) Besides, I have a head full of gorgeous, natural curly hair now. :)

Update: When I started writing this I forgot what year I was diagnosed (my chemo brain gets me every time). It was 1998 rather than 1999, so it's been about 13 years instead of 12.

Later update: A poignant card that I made to give encouragement to people with cancer was chosen as Greeting Card Universe's Design of the Day for October 3rd, 2011. I am so very honored and humbled. Here it is (and also thank you, XKCD, because I got the idea from one of your comic strips).

Luna... A New Family Member (adorable alert!)

My daughter and her boyfriend just got a sweet little kitten a couple days ago. They named her Luna (pictured). I haven't made it to PA to meet Luna in person yet, nor have I had the opportunity to make a card with her picture on it, but I promise I will. In the meantime, here are some of the cutest kitten cards I've ever seen. I may have gotten carried away, but where does one stop when the selection seems endless (all images are clickable to see a larger version).




Artists (not necessarily in order): Doreen Erhardt, Ricky Knowles, Yvonne Carter, Great Scott Designs, Catherine Sherman, Valerie Waters, Tamera Dawn Adams, Photography TK, Dogbreedz, Michelle Dokos, Moonlake Designs, Sharon Miller, Ed Denton, Elizabeth Williams, Morgan and Cameron, Kimberly Palmer, JustbyJulie, Samantha Bell, Debbie Fieno, Christy DeKoning, Carolyn Grossman, Maria Dryfhout, Polly McMillan, Michele McCauley, Natasha McManus, Bobbi Holmes, Lisa Solonynko, Joline Railey, A January Production

Update: Here are a few cards I made using Luna as my model.