This tag has been in the works for a wee bit. I started it and then I set it down and let it "percolate". The desire to create something that recognized the courage my SIL has for fighting breast cancer was strong. Marcy sent a picture on her first day of chemo, it was a MASSIVE syringe filled with her chemo meds. I kept thinking, if the syringe is THAT big.. HOW big is the needle... OH MY OH MY, this can' be happening. There's no way I could muster her courage. And yet SHE did. She has. She continues to do so.
The chemo is doing what it's suppose to. It's killing that cancer. It's also taking a toll on her body. The hair is gone (but her wig is freakin' awesome and she looks GOOD in it), her taste buds, shot for the moment. BUT, family are stepping in, friends are opening doors, the care and child swapping has begun. It takes a village, they say... but it's not JUST for the children. They are brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, aunts & uncles.. people we have zero blood relationship to. But they are family. And the bonds are strong and tight. Amazingly enough, FAITH is strong too. We each share our own thoughts and beliefs, but regardless of the differences.. our individual faiths are strengthened and grow deeper.
My tag is built from a Ranger #8 Manilla tag, I used Tim Holtz honeycomb texture fades, along with inking techniques I learned from Miss Nanci over at Cat's. The entire tag was coated with some crackle accents, just to see what it would do.. and then I rubbed some vintage photo ink along with some ColorBox Chalk ink (rouge). The seam binding was rolled, dipped, spritzed and smeared with spun sugar, tattered rose, and vintage inks. The TH frame was dipped in versa mark ink and then coated HEAVILY with Stampendous Shabby Pink embossing enamel. The word HOPE is stamped with vintage photo ink onto heavy cardstock, then adhered to the frame. I filled with void with Glossy Accents. The courage sentiment is stamped on a manilla envelope using Archival ink. Then stamped over with a french script stamp and white acrylic paint. It's an awesome technique Nanci taught us.. I fussy cut a butterfly from TH Kraft Resist paper pad and colored with the inks. I started pulling little bits and pieces from the odds & ends bucket I keep close at hand. And there you have it..my Breast Cancer tag.
Want to see more creations? Go over and visit Cat & the girls here. There are some beautiful creations, great idea and wonderful inspiration. Don't forget to leave some love, you could win some blog candy!!
5 comments:
Your sister-in-law will love this tag. Family and friends keep us going when times are tough. So glad she has a family to help her out and that the chemo is working. I believe that no one ever thinks they are strong enough to fight cancer until they are faced with it....then you dig down deep inside and find that courage. Love your tag with al of the techniques. Those tag classes are so much fun!
This tag is awesome! What a great way to communicate your inspiration from your SIL. Beautifully done. I love the way you write!
You do what you gotta do, Shaunery. The port comes with numbing cream, so it's only 1 stick on chemo days :), but I will never think of red kool-aid the same again! I have struggled with the hair and make-up aspect in a world that expects at least hair, and I have figured out a bald head with a hat or scarf isn't so bad, and if I don't want to have to explain, then I put my hair on (like to my patients at work). If spring would just get here - my neck gets cold. I do love the tag, and the wording.
Wow! Beautiful tag and beautiful and inspiring story about your SIL. It is wonderful that so many are rallying to her to help and even more amazing her strength and courage! I'm thankful to hear the chemo is working and I pray that it will continue to do so and she is fully restored with good health. {hugs}
~sandy
visit my blog @ sandy's crafty creations
This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen I love it...
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