I have been in a real rut since I have been so ill with pancreatitis. Those broken ribs have taken so much strength out of me, so while surfing the web one day this week I checked out one of my favorite stamp blogs: http://sparklecreationsrubberstamps.blogspot.com/

The contest this week is entitled SRCSC88 You are my sunshine. I decided to attempt to play along. I don't have any of the swim type stamps yet but I do own this cute Cruising Chloe. I figured when I look at her I think sun, since it is the only time you put the top down. And I found the sentiment in another stamp by the same company in the stamp Rainy Day Ruby. I searched my stash and found some bright paper, grabbed my Copics and came up with this simple card which I think covers what they were asking for and could be used for either a friend who is having surgery in the morning or another friend's birthday next week.

I'm still struggling to get some oomph in my step with my two hospital stays but I think this has me on the right track.

Need to get motivated

Sadly my hospital stays and recovery time have zapped all my energy. I'm really hoping that next week is amazing and that I can actually accomplish something creative!

Second hospital stay

I did spend another week in a different hospital, had surgery, ended up with pancreatitis, a major infection, intractable vomiting and broke my ribs on the left side from all the vomiting. UGH! I am finally improving with more energy and more desires to accomplish more. It was a horrible time and I seriously thought I wouldn't survive the hospital stay, it was bad. Real bad! But I am slowly improving and am extremely grateful for that and for the power of prayer that sustained me through it all.

Multi-colored cupcakes

I had the bright idea of making Rainbow Colored Cupcakes for St. Patrick's Day but sadly my belly was not feeling great so I didn't get them made. I did make them the next day. They turned out great and were fun but oh were they time consuming. Would I do them again? I don't know. Perhaps with just 3 colors instead since it took so much time to make them with 5 colors. I even used the 1M tip from Wilton's which made them look professional. Well, as professional as my one handedness can make. ;-) (Although the nicely frosted one is not shown in the pictures sadly.)

I saw the idea for these on Our Best Bites

Apple oatmeal cookies

I had leftover apples from the mini apple pies and needed to do something with them. I had them in the refrigerator and they already had cinnamon, nutmeg, etc on the them. So perfect solution....Apple Oatmeal Cookies!! How were they? Pretty good. I would have liked them to be more moist though.

Recipe came from Food.com although I did add 1 tsp Baking soda instead of 1/4 tsp and some extra cinnamon.

Mini apple pies in a cupcake maker

I have all these apples in the refrigerator that are getting soft and I needed something to do with them. I decided to try to make mini apple pies in the baker. It worked out wonderfully and they turned out so cute. Would I do it again? You betcha. I would love to try mini Pumpkin Pies out next. Wonder how they would do.

Bookworm Ruby

Here is a card that I created for SCRS Challenge #75 using the beautiful Sparkle Creations stamp Bookworm Ruby. I made the card for my daughter-in-law's college graduation. I wish I knew how to take a better picture though. Image is colored with Copics, not the best job that I ever have done, and the papers, etc are random things that I own. I saved the picture the correct way, but it will only post sideways. Weird!

I spent the first week of the year in a hospital bed being quite ill and in great pain. Once I recover from the hospital stay and the upcoming surgery I will be here--starting my new blog, and having fun Kreating, Krafting, Making & Baking. I am so excited!!!