Happy New Year!

As I sit here, early on January 1, 2017 and the house is quiet, with my hubby and youngest daughter and best friend and her hubby sleeping after a very late night, I'm reminded that 

even when life is tough, it still goes on and there is much to be grateful for.

I don't know about you all, but 2016 was HARD!

Emotionally, physically, mentally...it was just down right hard.

So I've made two commitments for myself in 2017.

I'm not calling them resolutions.

Resolutions get broken to easily.

I want, no I need these two things to happen.

I'm committing to get my health under control.

I have RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) and Endometriosis and obesity 

(wow, that's hard to say, even when it's been true for 20 years).

I've suffered with the first two for many years.

I'm doing something about the Endo, SOON!

Surgery in the form of a complete hysterectomy is going to happen.

I've put it off for more than 15 years. We tried and tried to have another baby

after Rachel was born but alas it wasn't meant to be.

I'm 47 years old and I'm ok with waiting for the girls to be married and give me

grandbabies to love and spoil. :)

The RA is affected by so many things, 

what I eat or drink, the weather, my meds, my hormones, my stress levels, and

well you name it and it makes an impact.

My doctor has committed that when my recovery from surgery is complete, we will

attack the RA head-on and find a treatment plan that will make my days

better, with less flare-ups and more quality of life.

I'm sure your wondering why we have to wait.

Well RA is an immune disorder.  It is an overactive immune response where 

my own body attacks the joints.  That understood, I have to be off almost all my meds for weeks before the surgery, so I my body will heal as well as possible. 

Otherwise, a post-up infection could be deadly. 

So I know that not only will my body be cut open 

(yeppers, can't make it easy, no robotic tiny holes for this gal...

a full cut down...think c-section...for me)

and trying to heal, but my joints will be stiff, swollen and feel as

though someone's holding a blow torch to them all the time.

BUT I WILL SURVIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's not cancer (although we did that scare in 2016 too).

My hubby, Mom, girls, friends and family have all committed to

helping in any way they can during this time.

Commitment number two?

To being more positive and present, through my faith.

My hubby went on a Emmaus Walk weekend in 2016 and it really helped him

recommit to his faith, our marriage and I want to take that step too.

I'm convinced that these trials and tribulations are just another

opportunity for me to recommit to my faith in God and 

that through Him all things are possible.

Ok, now that you know the story, I hope you'll help to keep me

on track, keep me and my family in your thoughts and prayers.

 Send an encouraging word now and then and 

keep plugging along too.  If I can prayer for you please shoot me a message.

I've got the best group of online friends and crafty supporters around and for

that I'm eternally grateful.

Paraphrasing Col. Potter from the A War for All Season episode of  M*A*S*H, 

"May (2017) be a damn sight better than 2016 and may we

all be happier and healthier for it.

And to my hubby, who I've happily been married to for 24 years today,
Happy Anniversary!
Thanks for being on this journey with me. I couldn't and wouldn't want
to do it without you. You make me laugh, cry and want to strangle you and I know I do the same for you.  We've been through the wringer and still come out the other side together.
You make my days worth getting out of bed.
THANK YOU and I love you more today than I could even fathom
all those years ago when we were young. 

Happy New Year

from 

The Knopf Family

Ron, Taylor, Rachel and Theresa (aka Gracie, that's me)

and

Xavier, Snowflake, Sampson and Sierra 

(our doggy entourage). 

Last Minute Gifts Blog Hop

Welcome to the

We hope you've enjoyed the hop so far.

If you've missed any of the stops or you are starting here,

you can find the entire list of participants at the bottom of the post.

Be sure to comment on each stop in the hop for a chance to win a 

$20 Stampin' Up Gift Certificate.

Now on with the projects...

I created a set of 5 cards.  I'm calling them A Year in Cards Color Me Set.

I've included with this set of 5 cards:

 a set of sentiment stickers, a set of markers and envelopes.

I thought I had a picture of the total gift, but alas it was to out of focus to use and

the gift is already wrapped and on it's way to it's destination.

All the cards are one layer cards on Paper Studio Heavy-weight white cardstock.

I used a variety of Impression Obession background stamps and 

Brutus Monroe and Ranger embossing powders.

I created a holiday card (could also be used for a December birthday), 

a fall card (for a Thank You or fall birthday),

a summery floral card,

(Sorry, I did this one in white embossing powder and it's hard to see the flowers.)

a masculine or kid friendly design,

and last a feminine flowery one (this one could also be used for a wedding or anniversary).

I really love how simple these cards are as is and the receipent might choose to use

them without coloring but add a little color and they are stunning.

This set only took about half and hour to put together and with the envelopes, markers and

stickers only cost around $15.  A great gift idea to put together for you gift closest and

have wrapped and ready to give any time of the year. 

This would make a lovely hostess, birthday, mother's day or teacher gift as well.

I thought I'd show you a couple of the cards with color added.

This is a sample of the feminine card design that I created and used Brusho Color Crystals and

Shimmer mist to color in. Add a simple sentiment and the card is ready for the mail.

Here's the circle card with white embossing powder and Ranger Distress Inks for color.

Or add just a simple embossed sentiment and no need to color at all for a

stunning and simple holiday card. 

I hope you've enjoyed our hops this year.

We love bringing you new ideas each month.

With the insanity that is my life however, I've decided to scale down my

commitments for 2017 and so this series will not returning next year.

BUT...

Join me the third Saturday of each month in 2017 for

a new card technique adventure and blog hop.

Today's Hop Lineup:

Alicia ~ http://goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.com

Amanda ~ http://salnclts76.blogspot.com

Sue ~ http://suek86401.blogspot.com

Kim ~ http://katydidcards.com

Holli ~ http://sunflowerholli.blogspot.com

Lisa ~ http://lisaslittlerascals.blogspot.com

Jearise ~ http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com

Card A Day Challenge blog ~ http://cardadaychallenge.blogspot.com

Theresa ~ http://scrapsbygracie.blogspot.com  YOU ARE HERE!

DON'T FORGET 

to give them all a little love in the comments section.

PS:  HUGE THANKS

to my friend and crafty co-hort Alicia for taking over

the hops when my life got to insane.

to my friend and crafter extraordiare Denise for taking over

the CardADayChallenge blog which would have come to an abrupt end if it weren't for you.

BTW, if you aren't checking them out daily, you should be! 

Denise and the DT members do an awesome job making new cards daily for your inspiration.

to my fellow crafters and blog hop buddies, who hung in there and rolled with the punches

but didn't abondon the dream of a monthly blog hops series (x2).

You ladies make me smile, laugh and jealous of your talents every month.

to you my readers, thanks for sticking in there even though the posts

are erratic and sometimes the only ones for the month are the blog hops.

I appreciate you being here more than you know.

Thanks too for all the comments of encouragement and those of you that

follow me on Instagram and Pinterest.

Happy Holidays and 

Happy Crafting!

Theresa

A Year of Card Techniques December Blog Hop

Welcome to 

Can you believe it's month twelve of a Year of Card Techniques?

Here are the links in case you missed a month:

January       February  March     April     May  

June    July     August    September   October  November

Be sure you've hopped and commented on each month for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Stampin Up or Blitsy.com. (Winner's Choice)

This last month of the year we are focusing all our attention on metallics, 

whether it's foil, embossing powder, inks or cardstock, anything metallic 

and since it's December we just had to make it holiday too. 

Now on with the projects. 

These are the four I made specifically for this hop.

I LOVE Brutus Monroe Metallic Embossing powders!!!!

Brutus Monroe Sterling EP, background stamp by Impression Obession and
sentiment from Catherine Pooler Designs

Brutus Monroe Penny EP and Impression Obssession background stamp
colored with Brusho Color Crystals

Ranger Brushed Gold EP and Impression Obssession background stamp
colored with Brusho Color Crystals

Brutus Monroe Gold EP, background stamp by Impression Obession and
sentiment from Catherine Pooler Designs

Then I got to looking through my card album from the last year
and thought I'd share a few more from months past.

  

  

    

  

    

  

  

Apparently I like metallic embossing powders and metallic alcohol inks a lot!

We hope you've enjoyed this year in card techniques.

We'll be continuing the series in 2017, so join us

every third Saturday at 8 a.m. for more card fun, frustrations and experimentation. 

Happy Holidays

Theresa

Today's Lineup:

Theresa  You are here

  Lisa  Go here next!

Kim

Jearise

Sharon

Claudia 

Amanda

Debbie