Remember Me??

I’m still here. You would not believe the year I had. I have been experiencing some numbness in one of my legs where I ended up getting MRI. And the next thing, I knew the back surgeon had me scheduled for immediate surgery. My first thought was oh shit, it is cancer. Good news, it wasn’t. The best way, I can describe it is that my spine has been fused, hence the numbness and pain. So the doctor had to basically defused it. According to him, this was the worst case scenario that he had ever seen. Or else, I would have been on a very long waiting list.

Well one surgery lead into two surgeries, 7 months of hospital stay and. bedrest and now, on top of it, I now have a boatload of physical rehab. Fantastic.

During this time, we also been reorganizing the house as getting the walls painted and new floors. So now my bedroom/ art studio/ computer room which is down in the basement is full of furniture and things. I cannot get into it. I’m actually using my mom’s computer. I have been working on a blanket and a toy truck. Which is interesting considering that I do not know of where half of my art supplies is located.

So the big question is what is next? What about Original Things? I honestly have no clue. I’m still recovering from my back surgeries and I need to get my knee fix.

So I am just going day by day.

Doing a 360

You know when you had plans, but they completely do a 360 on you?  These last few months have been 360.  And I do not mean the Corvid-19.  It did take a role in this, but not as big as you would expect.

I actually did a Mother’s Day card video, got it done, did the editing, added music.  But when I pressed playback, the whole video was blurry.  I honestly do not know of how it happened. I am still trying to figure it out.  I’m starting to believe it is the phone.  I do need a new phone . . . . badly.

Its get better, right now, I am bedridden.  My bedroom is now the family room.  My knee has gotten to the point where it has been so painful.  I can’t walk right now.

I’ve already seen the orthopedic surgeon where he recommended that surgery is the very last option because of my health.  Wonderful. I have been prescribed painkillers which has been helping, but they also have been putting me to sleep.  I also started on laser therapy and back to physio therapy which have been helping me alot.  I’m actually walking alot more, with the help of a walker.  But however my balance is still off.

So I have to keep at it.  And be patient.

Wonderful

So as of right now, both Lesley Creates and Original Things are on hiatus for now.  Besides my camera, I can’t go downstairs to make videos.  I can’t even work on cards, which is bad since this month’s is my mother’s birthday and I can’t even make her a card.  And of course, I am getting ideas for you-tube.

So I hope everyone is ok and staying safe.

Easter Tin Basket

Things had changed differently since I last blogged with the threat of Corvis-19 looming over us. The world had pretty much stop spinning.  We cannot leave the house unless it is for food, doctors, or gas.

However right here in Red Deer, there is another reason for staying.  It is snowing.  It’s April and it is freezing cold.  Too damn cold to leave.  Not to mention my knee is still giving me grief.  A ton of grief.

I had one video that is almost done; just need a few steps before completion. Steps that including spray painting outside.  And again, it is too damn cold.

Some of the experts say take the time to reflect, learn something new. And yet, it is ok, not to do anything.  People handle crisis differently.

So how am I handling it? To be honestly, before the quarantine, I haven’t left the house.  My knee is still bothering me and my car still doesn’t work.  The only difference, is that I started seeing doctors about my knee and balance.

They are talking about surgery on my knee and spine. I haven’t made up my mind on yet.  The spine doctor needs another MRI and x-ray before making the final decision.  However with the virus, it has been pushed back.  My big concern it having it inferred with my mom’s hip surgery.  That is the last thing I wanted.

Meanwhile, I did managed to do this video for Easter.

The video is: Easter Tin Basket

The template for the bunnies are: Bunny Template

The Supply List

 

• Tin from the Dollar Tree
• Glass Cleaner and Rag
• Tape Runner
• Scissors
• Paintbrushes
• Chalk Erasable Marker
• Folk Art Acrylic Paint    – Parisian Pink
• Medium Yellow
• Green Acrylic Paint
• White Acrylic Paint
• Black Sharpie Marker

I do admit that I sped up the video a few times. Who wants to watch me painting bunnies in real time, not to mention 3 layers.

I did make the mistake at the end. When I explained of why I couldn’t varnish the tin, cause of the snow, it was suppose the show the snow while I was explaining it.  Instead it showed it at the end.  And by then, it was too late to fix the mistake.

Oh I almost forgot to type this part.

The songs, “Beach Walk,” and “Hurt So Good Blues” by Unicorn’s Head are available at the You Tube Library.

Corrugated Valentine’s Day Card

Corrugated Valentine’s Day Card

So yes, I know it has been months since I last uploaded a video. I know it has been a long time, but honestly, my health is still not at its tip top shape.  Trust me, I know it stinks.  I am really hoping to improve in the future.  I already have a few ideas for Easter, which would be nice to have it work out.

The video is at: https://youtu.be/vkWe5MX9pcY

This is a simple Valentine’s Day card. The supplies you need are as follow:

• 5×7 Kraft Card
• Kraft cardstock
• White cardstock
• Brown cardstock
• Corrugated Cardboard
• Wide Burlap Ribbon
• White Lace Ribbon
• Paper Trimmer
• Cocoa – Colorbox Pigment Stamp Pad
• Black Ranger Archival Ink
• Double Sided tape
• Aleene Original Tacky Glue
• Plastic Palette Knife (option)
• Tim Holtz’s Distressed Stain – Vintage Photo
• Heart Stamp Set from Inkadinkado stamps
• “Be My Valentine” stamp from Craftsmart
• Manuscript Background Stamp- Recollection, but that stamp has been discontinued.

The songs that I used are called, “Waterfall”, “Invisible Beauty”, “Dreamland”, “Til Death Part Us,” and “Arms of Heaven” are from the Youtube Libriary.

I know you will notice the palette knife on the list of supplies and thinking why is it there? The reason is simple, I am still having trouble with the glue, my hand strength is still not there yet.

I hope everyone is doing ok and trying to warm in this long cold winter.

 

In The Year 2020

It is hard to believe that it is already 2020.  This is the year where we supposed to have rocket ships and traveling to the moon would be easy to travel to Mexico.  Well obviously, that didn’t happen.

As well as two Christmas videos that I had planned, that didn’t work.

I had another setback in my recovery.  I am having a very hard time of getting around.  I don’t know if it is the cold weather or the fall, but both of my legs are very stiff and walking around it is very painful.  Oh heck, it has taken me 3 days just to get to the compute to type out this blog because of the pain and the effects of the painkillers.  They work, but they also make me sleep a lot.

The MRI that scheduled last month . . . well . . . lets just it was a disaster is putting it nicely.  I ended up having a panic attack and muscle spasms.  So it has been postponed until March.  With a strong recommendation to get a prescription of a tranquiller.

I was counting on that MRI so I have an idea of what is going on and what is the next step.  Especially with the craft sales.

So the question is what to do now.  I am honestly hoping and praying that I do not become like Peg Bundy.  Although that is what I have been doing for the last week or so.  Sitting on my butt, watching tv.  My Christmas cards are not even done.  I even had to get my brother to do some of my Christmas shopping.

I am hoping to work on You Tube, but that is going to depend on my knee.  Which is ironic because this is perfect time to do more videos.  I’m also been thinking of taking an online course.  I am not sure which one yet.  I am still researching and the biggest factor is I do not want to jeopardized my healing.

I hope everyone had a good new year.

You Tube and COPPA

So I have less than 3 days before Bentley Christmas Sale on Saturday.  So instead of working on last minute cards or knitting a scarf, I have been fretting over You Tube.  A few months ago, FTC had fine You Tube for violating the COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act).  Whereas now You Tube had tighten its reins.

Now don’t get me wrong, there are some videos that I do not think that my nieces and nephews should watch.  To be completely honestly, they should never see them in their entire life.  And yes, I am an overprotective aunt and I will not apologize for it.

However because of the new rules that You Tube has set, it has turned the arts and craft channel into one giant grey area.  And they are saying that we used bright colors or happy music, considered child content.  Nothing is wrong child content except for two major things.

#1.  I don’t get paid.  I am not in it for money.  I have to have at least 1,000 subscribers and I am long away off.  However some of the channels do make money, and it is part of their livelihood.

#2.  You cannot comment in the videos.  So if someone has a question, they can’t ask me in the comment section.

So what did I do in the beginning.  Honestly, nothing computer wise.  Meaning, I whined to everyone who would listen to me in real life.  Ok, that was mature, I realized.  But I didn’t want to delete my channel.  I have heard some people had already deleted their channel.  I had thought of deleting mine, but then the question of what am I going to do now scared me.

And if I was in violation, I would be fined.  $50,000.

$50,000

Can we say oh crap.

Fortunately it has cleared up a bit where I had changed all of my videos to adults.  I honestly, I didn’t like it because my videos are not considered adult.  I don’t swear and the only bad things that happened in my videos is that I misspelled a work and the tripod falling over.  But it is better safe than sorry.

The other thing is that I am not allow to use copyright or fan art.  Like for example, I can’t paint a painting of Mickey Mouse or Channing Tatum.  I mean, I can, but it is a not allow on you tube.  I had two fan based videos planned out.

So right now, my plans are to get through Bentley sale, have that MRI on my knee and enjoy Christmas.  I am still going to make videos.  I have an idea on a penguin wreath, but right now,  Bentley sale is my first priority.

I hope every one is ok.

November Christmas Sale 2019

You know when you had all things planned out and then it all goes topsy turvy?  Well . . . that kind of what happened to the sale.

Well, I mean nothing bad happened.  Both of my legs decided not to work and I was still unsteady on my feet where not only I was afraid of falling, I was afraid of breaking something.  And chances of breaking something expensive is extremely good.

However I didn’t sell much.  In fact, no one at the sale did good as well.  It wasn’t the weather.  Yes, it was raining, but compare to a blizzard that we had a few years back.  The other problem was that we don’t have interact.   We had to turn away 2 customers cause of it.  Nowadays, we can do it on the phone which I need to looked into.

Ghee, you can do everything on your smartphone.  I will be surprised 20 years from now, I will be telling kids, “In my day, we didn’t have our phones to turn on our washing machine or tell us when it was done.  We had to get off the couch to do it ourselves. If you want to unlock the car, you just press the button on your car keys.  I feel old now.

My next sale is next month and in all honestly, I don’t know of how we are going to handle it.  Mom’s hip is still bad and my legs are still not working.  Oh heck, it is Monday’s night and I am still sore.  Just this morning, having a shower was hard.

Which means both of mom and I kind of came up with a decision.  After the December sale, we are going on hiatus with craft sales.  We will still be selling stuff at Koda’s Kountry, and I still have YouTube, but until mom’s hip is fixed and the doctors know of what is going on with my legs and figure out treatment.  We can’t do the craft sales in our currant state.

Honestly, I do agreed with the decision, how the heck, can I help the customers or even walk around the table when we are in so much pain.   But yet, it still stinks.  I am trying to be positive in this.  Besides use this time, to work on You Tube, come up with new products ideas, figure out the online store (it’s the shipping part that is confusing me) and maybe do a book challenge.

That is all for now.

 

 

Spooky Card

I know it has been awhile since I last uploaded a video or even blogged. Unfortunately I had a few setbacks which included a few more falls and a broken lamp.  Even though, it is a good thing that I have extra cushion in my butt, but can’t say the same for my knee.  It has been hurting bad to where standing become painful for me.

I had planned to do 5 Days of Halloween but that turned out to be a flop.  Mainly because when we dug out the stuff for the Bentley sale for November, we realized that we didn’t have much stuff.  Actually I nearly went into full blown panic when we found one box of knitted and crochet items.  It has been nearly two years since our last sale, and tells me that we didn’t do much work. Good news is that I found a second box, but it doesn’t ease the stress.

And yes, I know, “Lesley, you were recovering and still recovering from a brain injury which took you at least 6 months before you were able to make cards and such. And do not forget your knee and balance that it still giving you grief.”  And everyone told you that it will take at least a year to fully recover.  And it will take A LOT of patience.  I hate when they are right.

And I forgot that I sold most of my stuff at Koda’s Kountry. This is a good thing.  But nevertheless that means that I will be knitting and crochet my butt off till the sale.

However I wished that I knew before buying all of the Halloween stuff and threw out the receipt so now I cannot take it back.

But at least I got the Halloween cards done for Koda’s Kountry.

And I am not holding my breath for 5 Days of Christmas. I just need more patience and alittle more chocolate.

The only thing I realized that once I get back to normal or somewhat normal, I am going to have a lot of stuff to do and organize. I think that little more chocolate is going to change to A LOT more chocolate.

I did manage to make one video for Halloween, a card.

Spooky Card

The songs I used are available from You Tube Library.

• Cemetery Clown
• Spookster
• TipToes
• Tragic Story
• She Died Up There, You Know
• Skeleton Dance

The supplies that I used:

• Halloween Recollection Acetate Paper Pad 4×6
• Tim Holtz’s Halloween paper 8×8 (2018 version)
• 5 x 6 ½ inch black Recollection Card
• Double sided tape
• Black Ranger Archival Ink
• Tim Holtz’s Distress Ink – Hickory Smoke
• Sponge Dauber
• White Cardstock
• Black Cardstock
• Cutter
• Spray Bottle with water

This was a simple and easy card to make.  I really like the Acetate paper pack and planning to keep my eyes out for more.  Although I honestly cannot see them as Christmas or Easter theme.

This is Sat is the big sale which I really hoping that the weather and my knee will be fine.  I am planning to bring my phone to shoot another video there.  Hopefully it will better than the one two years ago.

Bentley Spring Sale

Father’s Day Card

I can’t believe that it is already June. This year has gone by so fast.  School is letting out and my oldest nephew is going to be graduating this year.  And Father’s day is upon up once again.

I am not sure of how all fathers feel about that day. With my dad, he doesn’t really care about that day.  He just want to have a nice dinner and he is one happy camper.  That is why for me personally, Father’s Day is one of the hardest cards for me to make, especially for my dad.

This is one of the reasons of why this Father’s day card is simple. You can change the sentiment to “Happy Birthday” or “Thank you” to this card.

The other reason is that I got a new stencil and die that I wanted to try out.

The video is at Father’s Day card

The supplies that I used are:

• 5 x 7 inch brown card
• Double sided tape
• Foam tape
• Art 1^st Paint Pad 9 x 12 – Pacon (cheap drawing paper)
• Brown cardstock (same brown as the card)
• Dark Chocolate Brown cardstock
• 3 ½ x 5 inch medium brown cardstock
• Embossing Folder – Dots
• Cuttlebug
• 3 ½ inch circle die
• E-scenery cutting Die – 3 Deers
• Xyron Machine
• “Happy Father’s Day” stamp from Recollection
• Cutter
• Scoreboard
• Bone folder
• Tim Holtz’s Distressed Stain- Vintage Photo
• Tim Holtz’s Distressed Ink – Vintage Photo
• Dauber
• Tim Holtz’s Stencil – Birch Layering Stencil
• Artist Loft’s Modeling Paste
• Plastic Plate
• Small Wooden Dole
• Plastic Palette Knife
• Washi Tape
• Apple Barrel Colors Craft Paint – Cobalt Blue

I originally brought this paper for that book challenge but changed my mind. It is also cheap drawing paper which made the tearing easy. However it also meant that I couldn’t load it with layers with paint or else the paper will fall apart. I had to go in and out, no fine details. Which was ok, afterall this was a simple card.

Notice the word simple being underlined. Well that was because during the time I was using my embossing folder, the handle of my cuttlebug fell off. Good grief. It was an easy fix, but honestly, I was on a row and it kind of interrupted the flow.

The songs I used “A Revelation”, “Birds in Flight”, “Grass”, and “Wistful Harp.” are from You Tube Library.

With the summer being here, it means warmer weather. Nice to go outside to enjoy the sunshine. Except I am getting ideas for Halloween and Christmas videos. Like 5 days of Halloween and 5 days of Christmas. Can we say oh boy.

Once again, I apologized for the camera moving, my head kept bumping into it. I am going to see if I can fix this weekend.

 

Change of plans.

I had originally planned to enter #Areyoubookenough in Instagram with May’s theme being the alphabet.

My original idea was not only make it into a You Tube video, but to make an old journal, someone to carry who would travel wherever he or she went.  It would be worn out and such.  As for the alphabet, I would have quotes from famous people like Einstein, Henry Ford, and even Batman and the Joker.  I wanted to have their portraits in the journal as well.

Except it didn’t turned out like that.  The printer ran out of ink which took time to get a new cartilage and the drying time.   You can see it easily on Albert Einstein’s picture of the problems I had with the printer.

I even posted on Facebook that if I had a nickel (remember Canada had abolish the penny.) every time I had to wait for drying time, I would be a rich woman.

My friend A suggest to start a piggy bank so I thought why not?  I must be inhaling too much paint fumes or something.

Anyway, I was not happy with the results of the book and didn’t enter it.

I sort of like the binding with the beads, but next time, I would change several things.  Like using canvas boards as cover and no coffee stain paper.  I know that I must be the oddest person who does not like coffee.  When I was staining the paper, my whole room reeked of coffee and add Frebreeze and scented candles, then smelled like vanilla-lavender coffee.  That was nasty.

Let alone, the paper tore very easily.  So I know of how to make a better one next time.  It won’t be for awhile.  But it also meant no video for my channel.  I have a few ideas, don’t worry.

I would like to try the Instragram thing again, but I am not sure when.  I know from October to the end of November is out because of the Bentley sales.

I also know two of the themes coming up are shadows and tickets.  I can’t help thinking that old Beatles’ song, “Ticket to Ride.”  At least, I don’t have to have 26 pages.   I remember when I was a child, there was a song about the shadows.  But dang it, I remember the melody and a few words, but that is it.  I don’t know the title or who even sang it.  I’m getting old.

My big hurdle at the moment is my knee and my balance.

My knee has been killing me for the past two weeks. All I did was one day; it wasn’t hurting so I thought I would clean.

Big mistake because even though I went up and down the stairs twice, my knee was screaming obscenities at me for the rest of the week.

Then I had to go on a few errands and get a mamma today which meant more screaming.  Terrific.  Even my balance was off.

I know, I know TPP&C. Time, Patience, Practise, and a little Chocolate.