These Boots are Made for Hobbling

Morning, Glories!  Long time know see.  I could tell you everything that's been going on in my life over the past couple of weeks and why I've been ignoring both my stamping and my loyal, devoted, highly intelligent, incredibly attractive readers, but I don't want to relive the trauma.  It's still too raw.  Suffice it to say, life has treated me like a dishrag: drenching me in scalding hot water, scrubbing dried oatmeal and burnt bacon grease off several dozen pots and pans, and then wringing every last drop out of me until I'm shriveled and threadbare. 

But enough about me!  Let's talk about this week's My Favorite Things' Wednesday Stamp Club Challenge.  It's the first of the month, so you know what that means: Sketch Challenge!  This month, Frances has come up with a fun, versatile sketch sure to spark your creativity.  Here's what I came up with...

Don't you love her?  I used MFT's Candy Cane Kisses a la mode (illustrated by MY NEICE, Amanda Baird :) ) and colored her in mostly with Prismacolor pencils (all but her skin, which I fleshed out -- get it?  'fleshed out'... I still got it! -- using my trusty Copics).  This little trio of stars embellishing the oval layers are some Making Memories chip-board buttons that I've had in my stash forever.  They're tied off with Cherry Divine Twine from The Cat's Pajamas.  For a little texture and winter flair, I embossed the Aqua Mist cardstock with my Cuttlebug Snowflakes embossing folder, then ran over the bumpy parts (that's a technical term) with a Vintage Cream ink pad.  I gave the Candy Cane a coating of Glossy Accents to make it nice and shiny.

Take a look at her kicky boots.  You like those?  Me too.  But I won't be wearing any like that for a while.  Instead, I'm in something much more feminine and fashionable these days.  Check it out...

Fancy, huh?  Kinda puts a damper on my marathon training.  Last week, my ankles were a bit sore, but I thought I was just getting used to running in my Vibram Five Fingers.  On Saturday, I ran the Tulsa Run, a 15 K race.  I could feel a twinge in my left foot from the get-go, but I kept going.  About mid-way, through, something happened.  But there I was -- stuck in the middle of a race with thousands of people all around me and only one way to find Sean (who was also running the race), which was to get to the finish line.  It hurt just as much to walk as it did to run, and running got me there quicker, so I finished the race.  Within a couple of minutes after finishing, I couldn't put any weight on my foot without excruciating pain.  We went straight to Urgent Care and had X-rays taken, but they didn't reveal much.  On Monday, I went to a sports med. orthopedist, and he thinks I probably have a stress fracture and maybe some tendon damage.  I have MRIs scheduled for this Friday, and a follow-up appointment next week so I should learn definitively what's going on. 

Between me, Carter, and Gretel (our basically three-legged German Shepherd), over half our household has serious mobility issues.  At least I've gotten some flowers out of the deal -- can't remember the last time my hubby sent me flowers when I didn't have a birthday, anniversary, or wasn't giving birth.  I used to always want to have crutches when I was a kid, and this has given me an opportunity to get that desire completely out of my system.  So there are a couple of positives associated with the situation.  Gotta look on the brightside...

Speaking of bright, there are few people in the world brighter than my dear friend Kim, also known as the MFT Lady.  Why not hobble on over to her blog with me right now to see which of the other MFT Challenge and Creative Team designers have samples to share?  It'll take our minds off our pain & suffering.  Plus, if you play along in the challenge?  You'll be eligible for our weekly Wednesday Stamp Club drawing for a $15 MFT voucher!  All you have to do is upload your creation to your Splitcoast gallery using the keyword MFTWSC11032010.  Piece o' cake!

Now, I must leave you.  But here's a little more silver lining to my current predicament before I go: now that my two big papers for the semester are done and my marathon training is on hold, I have more time to stamp!  I'll be back sooner than later. 

BCNYA!

Supplies Used -- Stamps: Candy Cane Kisses a la mode by My Favorite Things; Paper: Aqua Mist & Hawaiian Shores by PTI, Natural White by Neenah, Cosmo Cricket Jolly by Golly 6" x 6" pad; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Adirondack Earthtones Red Pepper, PTI Vintage Cream; Accessories: Nestablities ovals, Prismacolor pencils, Copic Markers, Glossy Accents, Cuttlebug Snowflakes embossing folder, Making Memories Chipboard buttons, Cherry Divine Twine from The Cat's Pajamas, gingham ribbon, red brads, SU! dimensionals.

Comments

[Lesa (Grasshopper)]

Ah sister, I feel your pain. I suffered from a stress fracture myself about a year ago. I highly recommend decorating your boot with some fancy schmancy trim from your collection. I promise it will make you feel better!

Love your card! What a great idea to use light ink on a color cardstock. Why didn't I think of that?

[Jenny Peterson]

Oh No! Hope you're feeling better soon! At least you can still manage to put together an amazing card and an equally impressive blog post! That'll teach you for exercising I guess- Just kidding of course! Get better soon, but until then, keep up the stamping:) Looking forward to your next post (I know what you're thinking, but I have 3 little boys and an extra nephew today, so your blog is honestly the biggest excitment I'm going to get today;)
Jenny

[Jodi]

Oh no Carole! You poor thing! I hope you feel better asap! I, of course, ADORE your card!!!

[nicky manel]

You are amazing! Not only are you still smiling but you were able to also make an amazing card. Hope you feel better real soon

Hugs
Nicky

[Cindy haffner]

Amazing girl!!!

[gabbe]

WOW WOW this is just an incredible card!! LOVE it! i'm so so sorry you're injured-hope you'll feel better soon!

[Jessie/knightrone]

Oh NOOOOO!! You poor thing!! I hope it is nothing serious and you are back to chasing kids and men, alike!!;)

Your card is GORGEOUS!! Probably my FAVE a la mode!!

[Kim]

Oh no!!! Are you still going to make it to FL in Jan??? You HAVE to be OK!!!!!!

[Dawn Easton]

Oh my gosh girl!!! Hope it turns out okay and isn't too serious! I wish you a speedy recovery!!

LOL...gmta eh?! Love that you embossed the paper and added those fun stars!

[Carolyn King]

Your card is adorable.
More importantly....wishing you a speedy recovery...hope the worst of your troubles are in the past :)

[StampOwl]

awesome card Carole, love all the extra. Hope you are feeling back to normal soon

[Christina Fischer]

Ouch!! I hope you are on the mend and feeling better each day! I'm sure you'll come up with some stampy way to spruce up that leg contraption!

I DO love this card -- it's full of holiday sweetness! :)

Hugs, my friend!

[Amy Rohl]

Fabulous, fabulous, fabby fab card, Carole! BUT...the whole foot/ankle deal...hmm...God's way of making you slooooow down! Take care and give your ankle a kiss from me!

Hugs,
Amy

[Leigh O'Brien]

Good Lord, Carole! What a mess! I can definitely commiserate with you on all of that but what the heck?! How did it get that bad that quickly without you really knowing it?

On a side note, I also got some long awaited flowers from Bill...or should I say a single flower and a card from the hospital gift shop. And while the thought was there for getting that card, I realized that it was talking about a new beginning or something like that and it was actually a "congrats! you had a baby" card. HA! Oh well, thought that counts, right? I do, however, firmly believe that I am now the proud owner of an iPad for my 15th anniversary due to him feeling really sorry for me with all of my issues in the last two months. Hey, works for me!!

Hugs to you, silly girl...hope you're feeling much better soon!

[Deborah B.]

Oh my goodness! SO sorry to hear that! Keeping happy thoughts for you! And that card....just the best as alwaya!

[Pat Jandacek]

Well, you spoiled MY fun...I had a very clever smart-alecky comment to leave...until I saw the foot all trussed up! My advice now is to make the most of it; you can stamp and color much easier than cook and clean. That would be my story anyway! Fast healing to you and I really am sympathetic.

[Libby]

Oh no Carole, so sorry about your foot! Good luck with the MRI today. How frustrating that must be!

The card of course is wonderful!

[CherylR]

Hoping that your foot/leg heals quickly so you can get back at it. I, too, was pulled into marathon training back in January. At the time I couldn't run 3 miles but can proudly say I just completed the Chicago Marathon on 10-10-10. 4:54:05 I have no doubt you can do it but I can vouch that it certainly takes time to put in those miles. Good luck!