The Call

Sure enough the call that I have been waiting for came at 4:55 on Friday morning. It was my intense yet painful privilege to be with one friend as her life came to an end and another friend as he begins a new kind of life without her.
Its only Sunday now but that seems like such a long time ago. This will be a very different Easter with a very special funeral on Maundy Thursday - the day when Jesus reminded his friends one last time that his death was coming soon and what it would mean - and a very poignant Easter Day when we celebrate the eternal life we share through the resurrection of Jesus.

And I have a sore throat and a cough.
Which may seem a bit trivial in the grand scheme of things but Ministers need voices - so I have to not talk too much for the next few days in order to do what is needed from Thursday onwards.
The outpouring of love for my friends has been wonderful.
And so has the love given to me as I have walked the road with them. It is very humbling.

Which may make then talking about crafting seem a bit trivial.
But I don't think it is.
Doing crafty things has helped me through some tough times and when I can't craft it is usually an indication that I need to do some self care. So spending time with ink, glue and paper is an important and healing thing for me.

I did actually do my Daring card for this week on Thursday but have only had the chance to photograph it today. The theme is Spring Fling. I woke in the middle of the night on Thursday with an idea of what to do for this card.
I have seen this quilting technique done on scrap-pages and fancied adding it to a card. Its a bit fiddly! Basically you punch out circles and fold the edges over as evenly as possible and stick them together. Next time I might glue all the edges down as it caused a few problems with the flower. The flower was on a spring which went wrong and then I tried three ways of sticking it down before I had to sew it onto the card!
Details: Card: Craft Creations; Papers: Cosmo Cricket Delovely: Punches: Martha Stewart around the page and Woodware circle; Flower die: Tim Holtz; Stamp: Imagine That; InksMemento and Dewdrop; Candi: Craftwork Cards; Sharpie Pen

I've had a little space to do some scrapping as well (see note on therapy above! I have been able to speed up my scrapping by making up kits. I've only got one left so I will have to do some more now as it works well for me
This one had a moment in the middle where I thought I would have to start again but I persevered and am glad I did now. I used a poundland doily as a template. I have had the glass beads for about 5 years and the lace was in another kit bag but wasn't used. I thought I had finished the layout and then found the transparency over the photo caught in the bag and I am glad I used it as it adds a certain something
Details: Bazzil cardstock: Papers: Kaisercraft; letters: Doodlebug; Spray: Tattered Angels; WRMK Corner Chomper; Punches: Martha Stewart; Craftwork Candi; Flowers: Hobbyhorse crafts; Pearls from Imagine That.

Here are the words in closeup

I have just finished this one

Photo was shopped by Phil (thanks hun) My skin is not really so fresh! Its all about the fact that at 45 (ok nearly 46) I have probably lived half my life. The friend who has died was only 7 years older than me which shows you never know...

Details: Bazzill cardstock; Papers:MME; Template: Technique Tuesday; Punches: Martha Stewart; Stamps: MME and Kaisercraft; Ink: Memento; Rub ons: Basic Grey; Bird from a Gottacraft kit; Letters: Papermania and American Crafts; Sharpie pen; Gems from Imagine That.

Don't forget to tell everyone that you love them...