Monday 16 July 2012

From Hospital to Hotel; Card Projects To Preserve My Sanity

I'm getting ready to have gastric bypass surgery on Wednesday.  There's been a lot of running around going to different doctors, having bloodwork, doing pre op etc.  I've sat down several times to make cards but I just haven't been happy with what I've come up with.  I've been on a special pre op diet for the last 3 weeks.  4 Optifast shakes a day.  Nothing to eat except celery, cucumber, green pepper, broccoli and lettuce.  Clear liquids and broth are ok to have but NOTHING else.  I've been soooooo hungry at times that I've wanted to chew my own arm off.   OK not really but you get the point.  So I've been going around in circles.  I try to distract myself from my hunger by making cards.  While trying to make cards I'm distracted by feelings of hunger, thoughts of surgery etc. 

So I finally did get a single new card made.  I'm still not happy with my photography skills though.  I never think the pictures look as pretty as the real cards do.  (Note to self:  must correct this after surgery, maybe take a few lessons from a real photographer.)  Thank goodness I had already started some cards that were for other people and for orders from my Etsy shop and I did manage to finish those up and get them on their way.  What I finally decided to do was put together a kit that I could take to the hotel for after surgery.  We're going to need to stay in a hotel for several days afterwards (they want me close to the hospital) and I've been told that I might just be feeling a lot better than I'm expecting.  Well I can't stand to just be idle and sit in a hotel room with nothing to do.  So I've been busy cutting, scoring, punching and assembling everything I can think of that will fit in a carry box for me to take with me.  I probably have enough stuff to keep me busy for a month even though I'll only be there for 4 or 5 days.  LOL.


These were all just scraps from my stash that I cut down in size and punched.  This way I don't need to carry a bunch of heavy punches with me.  This is just a small sample of the amount that I made up.  The stack has got to be about 3 inches thick! 


I've decided to make some bookmarks for my Etsy shop.  I've cut the book marks ahead of time and all I'll have to do is dress them up with patterned paper and embellishments and maybe use some of those punched borders from above.  There were actually 24 different colours of paper and 4 bookmarks for each colour.  96 Bookmarks that I'll have made up.  A bit excessive I must say.  LOL

I will also make up some gift card holders.  Again I've cut them and scored them, and rounded the corners ahead of time.  I have the patterned paper cut to size and will just to glue them together and decorate them with whatever goodies I find in the box.  I'll be sure to post some pics when I get them put all together.  If nothing else I did manage to make a huge dent in my scrap pile.  I still have one more box to go through.  This has definitely taught me that I need to start a new routine of dealing with scraps instead of letting them pile up. 

Wish me luck with the surgery.  I don't mind admitting that I'm a little scared and nervous but I know that I need to do this. There are so many things that I want to be able to do again.  Things that I haven't been able to in a long time.  Check back on my blog later and hopefully you'll be seeing "less" of me as the weight starts to come off.  I'll be sure to post pics of my progress. 

1 comment:

Judy said...

Marianne,

Your cards reflect the beautiful individual that you are both within and out. You have my prayers, love, and thoughts during this journey. Know I am always here for you!

Judy