Hi there blog friends!! I made it to the studio yesterday but got so carried away experimenting with the Scor-Tape Flower that I did not get a card done – but I do have a card today. For past weeks I have loved jump starting my creativity using the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenges to get started and today is no exception. This week it is Mojo #184 and I whipped up a quick card and used one of my premade Scor-Tape Flowers. Plus this is a Sneak Peek of a new set that will be released by Our Daily Bread Designs on April 1st called Mother’s Day – no foolin’!!
It was a sad note that this morning I heard that Geraldine Ferraro passed away. I don’t recall much about her politically, but she had Multiple Myeloma – the same cancer that John had. She brought a lot of attention to the disease and I believe her celebrity helped. John was diagnosed before her and given the same terse prognosis of three years. After that many new drugs made their way to the market. I was talking with a friend of mine this weekend and told her — most people won’t know they are in a Health Care Crisis until they are in the middle of it. It will surprise you how much drugs cost and that sometimes you simply can’t get them – insurance will decline them even if they will save your life. John’s drugs for a time – for one drug – was around $10,000 a month. We were fortunate to be able to get this one. In his final months we were fighting for a drug that had been around for 40 years but had not been thoroughly tested with myeloma – in order to get it we would have had to paid around $8000 per month, for two pills, out of our pocket. I won’t bore you further with medical talk, but I was sad to learn of her passing because I know how unforgiving myeloma can be.
Thanks for hanging in there with me :-) I will likely create another video on Scor-Tape Flowers because I have some hints and tips now and have tried some new things. Keep your eyes open.
| SUPPLIES I USED |
| Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs – Mother’s Day Paper: Girls Paperie, Strathmore Acrylic Ink: Blue Dye Based Ink Accessories: Spellbinders Pennants, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Ribbon, Zva Creative Pearls |
The winner stepped forward for the Scor-Buddy Blog Candy but I wanted to thank everyone for playing along. The comments were great!! I don’t think I could even venture what my most used tool is – too many of them are *important* to me! I’ll see you soon!!
Each of your cards gets more beautiful than the one before. I shake my head in wonder every day! God has truly blessed you with a wonderful talent.
GORGEOUS Becca!!~
Becca,your cards are beautiful!
I want sooooooooooooooo much to make cards and bows like Becca!
Many many thanks for your tutorials!
What a beautiful card.
I love this! I think the delicate pearls are so cute on top!
Love how this flower is a little more flat with the center exposed. Very pretty card. I, too, have done the insurance dance and have felt the frustration of seemingly simple mindedness. My story is one of success and you can find more on my blog in the about me section. Have a great day!
Oh this is so fantastic!!! I just love the colors!!! It made me smile when I opened up my email this morning!!! (well actually…ALL your creation make me smile!!!)
You are so right about the medications. I am so angry at “the system” for how things are. I get so stress just from being on the phone with “automated systems” trying to get through to either verify benefits, payment info, coverage, etc, and then with regards to prescriptions…They just want to gouge you…where is the compassion…people NEED these prescriptions and the cost prevents them from what can help/save them!!! It is so not fair (I am really not a whinny baby but my middle daughter NEED a treatment/procedures that will HELP her and insurance won’t cover it…I feel so helpless that I can’t help her w/o $) Ok…I’ll get off my soap box…just know that if I was running the country…I would run it quite differently!!!
Blessings,
Valerie Martin
Very pretty card. Gingham, blue and yellow just say ‘summer time’ to me.
This is so pretty!!!!!
I know what you mean about the drugs…..there is no way a drug can cost that much…..but they know we will pay it somehow…..you should be a spoke person about this ……
I know what you mean about frustration over drugs and drug companies. My younger brother passed away last year from a long battle with leukemia. He was a veteran who had served in Vietnam where Agent Orange had been used. The government had denied him help because they said his type of leukemia hadn’t been proven to be caused by Agent Orange. (Others yes, his no). At one point he almost lost all help with prescriptions because he had reached his lifetime limit. Now that he is gone his wife has received paper work from the government which admits that his leukemia “may” have been caused by his exposure. She is now being asked to fill out forms for help. It is so disheartening.
Lovely, lovely card in colors any mom would love! So feminine and fresh.
I appreciate your thoughts on the ravages of chronic severe illness and know everyone in the US who reads your post can relate. Even folks with something as simple as diabetes sometimes cannot afford medications. It is a tough, tough problem. Meanwhile, we have your beautiful art to inspire us and transport our thoughts to a place of beauty and creativity . . .
Absolutely lovely Becca, any mother would be proud to get a card like this. I like the punched border on this card very much. Nice work. As always Becca, TFS!!! :-D
So beautiful Becca…I love your ribbon flowers.
Love Sheila xx
Beautiful card. I will hearing what you have come up with on your new flower.
Becca! This is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!! VERY SPRING LIKE!!!!!! AND I would have never even thought to put the puffy flower on there with a bow too!!!!!! IT LOOKS GREAT!!!!!!!! :)
This is gorgeous!
I know about the cost of medicines, especially when insurance do not pay. To me it is just ridiculous.
Becca, this is gorgeous!
enjoy *~*
WOW. This is stunning Becca..Loz
Oh Becca, this is so pretty and perky! Nothing says happy like blue and white checks with your adorable yellow bow. A jolly sweet card.
May God be with you in an extra special way today Becca!!
Your card is soo pretty, my mom would love it, I would love it!
And about the FDA, they need to shape up or ship out!!! Same with the fair- weather insurance companies, sure here’s my money when I’m well, but where’s my medicine when I’m not… It’s not like everyone needs the expensive medicine.
Becca,
Your card is beautiful as always:)
In regards to your comment on insurance and meds I too am in the same crisis due to Behcets. Amazingly I just commented yesterday on my blog about this very issue. In my case I have a rare orphan disease (meaning few have it), so the drug companies will not research it. My insurance company just denied me the very drug that the National Health Institute prescribed as my last hope. And it is thousands of dollars per infusion, so it is out of reach for me since I am on disability and a single mom. Amazing isn’t it that the insurance companies get to make medical decisions instead of the best doctors in the country isn’t it?
I so enjoy your blog and look forward to seeing what you create. Thank you so much for sharing.
Absolutely Beautiful – as always!!
Thank you Becca for sharing your thoughts on the medical coverage and you’re so right, I am there right now just trying to help someone with no insurance get treatment. So disappointing.
A happier note, thankyou for sharing the card it’s beautiful (as usual) I have not heard of scor tape but I’ll be looking for it. (LOL) another reason to shop…
Have a great day!
Your talent never ceases to amaze me! Love the flower and the pearls on the loops of the border punch. Hugs to you :)
Becca,
I love your card. It is such a bright spot on a rainy Monday in my part of the world.
Insurance companies are very difficult to deal with. I work in healthcare administration and you have to fight to get paid.
I have also had a son that was very sick and we had to fight the system to get care for him.
Oh my, how beautiful Becca. Dianne
I often wonder how people sleep when they know they are causing many people to suffer with outragious prices on medicine and health care. Oh well, let them enjoy their “ill” gotten gains. This world is only a very short time. Guess we better keep praying for the lost souls of this world. By the way, beautiful card. God bless to you , your family and all of God’s children in computer land. : )
Such a gorgeous card, so bright and cheery!!!! Love your flower too, I did make one yesterday, I nned to get some 1/8 scor tape, 1/4 is about to big!
That surely is a bright, cheery Mother’s day greeting card. I am a mother of two sons. I would love one of them to make me that one. :)
My younger son does dabble a bit but mostly with computer ones.
I do get my ‘lift’ for the day with your creative shared talent.
Have a blessed day.
Hugs, Jeanielou in PA
As always, love your innovative techniques that result in such beautiful cards!
Having worked in the health care system and seen what people have to go through with the process of care/medications/insurance, my heart goes out to all who have to deal with such nonsense when there are more important emotional and physical issues.
And Geraldine Ferraro? She is one of the many incredible women who rose up in the 70s to help women get the opportunities and choices we deserve in work, politics, and home. She was a great example as well, being an intelligent woman, mother, working woman, and volunteer/ spokeswoman. We all owe her our gratitude!
Oh such a beauty! I agree with you with the meds,I too have lots of medication after rec a liver transplant last July. It is so costly to stay alive!
I agree with Denice,how does what sleep at night when setting prices of medications.
Have a wonderful day!
What a beautiful card, so very cheerful!
I agree with your point of view. Insurance companies, drug compaines and the FDA are not only unfair but cruel. I believe a lot of people’s health (including my DH’s) deteriorates not just from their illness but from the stress of fighting their insurance company for what they need to save their lives and or from knowing they are putting a financial burden on their loved ones. The drug companies claim the high cost of drugs is due to the cost of research and development but we all know the government pays for the majority of it. The FDA constantly approves drugs which are later proven to be unsafe. There is treatment effective for a number of diseases available in every industrialized country in the world except the US and Canada. It’s been around since the early 1940’s! It’s not a cure but I’ve seen how it provides amazing relief to patients. Why wont the FDA approve this here? We believe its because this inexpensive treatment would eliminate the need for much more expensive drugs meaning a lot of people would loose a lot of money. It constantly amazes me how people put money above all else. Okay before this turns into a novel I’ll get off my soap box.
Blessings Bernie
I am going to try those new score tape flowers today, another amazing idea from you….thanks again for being so creative. Barb F
Yet another Beautiful, Beautiful card, Becca! I love your colors and wonderful design! Your such an inspiration to me and us all! :)
I am so sad that your husband struggled in his health. My SIL had Breast and Bone cancer for 5 years before she passed away, last year. They figured out that her medical bills were over 1 Million a year. I feel for you and your pain, I know how hard it is.
Still a big fan and praying for you, Amanda
~ Thank you for letting me borrow your pleated card idea for tomorrow’s Flourishes TT Guest Spot :) I am forever greatful!! :)
What a lovely card Becca, I love the paper. TFS
Hugs, Jessica
What a pretty Mother’s Day card. So sorry to hear stories of people having to struggle to get the drugs they need to prolong their lives. The cost of a just a few pills is so exhorbitant — and how can you say “no” to a loved one who needs them?
Thank you for sharing your card with us and although I don’t really know who Geraldine Ferraro was other than an American politician I am sorry to hear of her passing and am amazed at the cost of medications- Iwe had a similar problem when our daughter was ill in 1999 and I have also been a “guinea pig” for medication for asthma when I was a lot younger- it’s just not right. Hang in there Becca we are all here for you.
Another stunning card, I always look forward to each of your posts, they are all a work of art. I don’t comment often but I check in with you every day. My husband has cancer and I can relate with the cost of drug issues, it’s staggering. Makes the fight so much harder when you have to constantly worry how to pay the bills.
I just watched your scor-tape flower tutorial, what a cute easy pouffy bow.I was thinking they would look really pretty on a gift box.
What a pretty card! Loved your latest tutorial on Scor tape flowers, of course, I love all your tut’s! I’ve witnessed many, many friends and family struggle with the cost of drugs and battle with insurance companies. I firmly believe that the struggle has had as much impact on their health as the disease. A friend was recently told that the medicine that keeps him alive would not be paid for anymore. And even if he could come up with the money for it, the manufacturer was going to stop making it! Luckily, at least for now, they have changed their minds both about paying and manufacturing. Who knows what they’ll decide tomorrow?
Thinking of you,
R/
Becca – I can’t seem to locate your Etsy shop. I’d love to buy your Mother’s Day Sneak Peek card with the yellow bow. Thank you.
I agree with you about not knowing when you’ll find yourself in a health care crisis, my DH had a heart attack and luckily survived it, but now he has a preexisting condition so can’t change insureres and the cost of course went up. that is why we need to keep Pres Obama’s health care law. it would prevent insureres from evicting you because you actually had a claim and it would make them insure you even if you have a preexisting condition.
so pretty, Love that border and all the pearl accents!
This is a very beautiful card. I love those spring colours.
Being Canadian I had to look up Geraldine on line. I knew her name (I’m a little versed on the US politics, watching Fox, CNN and Headline news).
An exciting time was had by all!!! Came home yesterday, booted up my computer and could not get on-line….a new modem in hand and 5-6 hours on the phone later, all 4 of our computers are up and running again! Praise the Lord, it’s fixed….I had no idea how much I depend on my computer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sooooooooooo happy for you that your are now cool and comfortable (I used to live in Miami, FL so I understand 85 degrees-inside!). Know you are praising too!
Jan Castle
I love your blog and all your beautiful creations…like the Mother’s Day card and the wonderful ribbon flower tutorial. I also appreciated your comments on health care costs. My husband has Glioblastoma Multiforme IV – a primary brain cancer and I can totally identify with the costs of medications etc. Cancer is a very expensive health crisis and one that we would not be getting through if it wasn’t for the kindness of family, friends, and sometimes even strangers who barely know us. God Bless you and your family!
Jill / Seattle, WA.
Beautiful card as usual, it is so cheerful and Spring like, I love it. I can certainly relate to your comments regarding a health crisis. I had renel cell carcinoma twice, fortunately it was caught early and I only had to have my kidney removed. I’ve had over 30 surgeries including having a tumor removed from the remaining kidney. Needless to say, I have been in a major financial crisis due to the medical crisis I have been in. I’ve had to beg for the insurance company’s approval of medication. Some of the medication I needed was to relieve pain. I said beg because that’s what it felt like to me. You are sick and you have to plead with an employee that doesn’t know you, to approve medication that is life altering… crazy. After reading some of the comments, it is obvious that a lot of people have had similar experiences. I don’t know what the solution is but I hope that one is found soon. We are here for you and we understand your pain. God Bless You,
Sammie
Oh Becca, Thank you for sharing a piece of yourself with us everyday. I really look forward to seeing what you are doing. You are such an inspiration.
BECCA BECCA THE CARD WAS BEAUTIFUL. JUST GOT OUT OF THE
HOSPITAL AFTER FIVE DAYS. HAD TO BEG FOR MORE THAN AN
ASPIRIN FOR A MAJOR PROBLEM I HAD WITH MY THROAT. BECAUSE I HAVE 6 MAJOR MEDICAL PROBLEMS I AM THERE QUITE
A LOT. SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR SHAREING JOHN’S MEDICAL PROBLEMS. I AM SURE
IT WAS HARD TO PUT DOWN ON PAPER WHAT YOU WERE FEELING.
I COULDN’T WAIT TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK ON THE COMPUTER TO
SEE WHAT YOU HAVE COME UP WITH NOW.
SURE DO APPRECIATE YOUR TEACHING US WHAT YOU KNOW.
CYNTHIA
Becca I visit you every day and love to see the awesome cards you make.
We have a special needs son and how well I know about the battle with insurance coverage.
I wanted to share with you my thots about your card if I dare and hope it is ok?
I was fighting myself to break away from the two bow challenge of the sketch. The yellow bow and focus bow was just the right touch but I couldn’t help but wonder why I was fighting to keep focus and it occured to me. You have 2 ribbons, 2 word images, 2 pearl placements and I know the challenge was circles or square but I think if you had somehow broken the 2 of formula it would have been a better pop for me? I would have loved to see a pleated paper medallion used to replace the top ribbon with pleated paper streamer going across and a pearl brad popped in the middle. It would have met the challenge to put something round up there and been unexpected as a ribbon, would have added a third pearl element and the eye would have been better able to celebrate the Mothers Day greeting and the beautiful new scor-pal bow.
I only share this because you encourage comments and enjoy sharing. I wanted to offer this only because I think it would be good food for thought and something to ponder if you ever do this challenge sketch again?
By the way ribbon embrocation is also a lovely texture to imagine on cards with being able to press ribbon and use score tape to secure it that would be lovely to see as well….(pleated ribbon straight across)
I adore you Becca and hope sharing in a alternative way is ok with you!
You are amazing with all you do and share! Thank you!
I think this is when the drug manufactures and the government need to step up and make sure that EVERY person, gets the best medicine available for there needs…
My Best Friend passed away from Breast Cancer in 2009…I was appalled by the fees she was charged for medication to help save her live, but how cheap the medication to help her slip away was…
Your designs are so amazing; I’m always blown away by your work. I know I could never even duplicate your incredible designs, but they are definitely eye candy. Such a treat to see your new cards on your website. I came to know your designs on SCS. Thank you for all the inspiration.
And I’m so sorry about your husband. Mine died 8 years ago last month. He had been a quadriplegic from infection for 3 years before he died from a bed sore gone wild. My sympathies are with you.
Cindy/CA