To Patricia and Karla

Patricia, my dear friend, you have been my shoulder to cry on, my cheerleader, my prayer partner, my sounding board, and my rock. Without you, I'm not sure I could have held it together this week or for many weeks in the past. You were with me when I was diagnosed with kidney cancer to comfort me, you have made many journeys to the Cleveland Clinic with me, you comfort me when the pain becomes almost unbearable, you cry with me and for me, you are always only a phone call away, you share your medical knowledge freely, and now you, once again, have been here for me during a most difficult time. I hope you know that your friendship is one of the blessings I cherish the most. I am so grateful for you. Love you, my friend.

Karla, you are a new "web" friend, but one that I also cherish. Your website is such an inspiration to me, as are you. The email you sent me yesterday has been read over and over and, each time, I am blessed not only by your generous spirit, but by your willingness to do God's work. You quoted Psalms, "I Shall Not Be Moved." This has always been one of my favorite songs and I know that you were guided to include that quote in your email. It's not often I meet someone I feel connected to, even though I know we meet those we are supposed to meet. I think sometimes we just get too busy and pay so little attention to others that we just don't know that our paths were SUPPOSED to cross. Thank you for not being too busy and for taking the time to pray for me. May you always be blessed and I wish you every success with your faithbooking.

For those who don't know, Karla's scrapbooking site is Lifesong Kreation Freebies.

A Sad Medical Update

I finally heard from the doctors at Cleveland Clinic a few days ago. I've been too upset to write about it, but here's the news: there is nothing more they can do for me surgically. I'm going to have to live with the condition I am in -- an unstable sternum with parts of the bones rubbing together that catches tissue and separates when I use my arms, and a ventral hernia. Because my chest has already been opened three times, none of the doctors felt that the results would be promising or lasting. Believe me, it's not that I WANTED a 14th surgery, but now I just don't know what to think. I've been dealing with bad daily pain as a result of severe degenerative disc disease in my lumbar spine (and being status post four back surgeries) for many years. This is why I use a wheelchair. Now, I find out that the really severe pain and physical limitations in my chest and arms is here to stay. I just can't get my head around this. I am struggling with the "why" of all this; even though I know that God has a plan for me. I ask you to pray for me...for strength, for clarity of mind, and for the renewed faith I will need to deal with all of this.

Without my creative endeavors, my friends and my little great-nieces and great-nephews, I don't know how I would go on. I'm really having a pity party even though I know there are many worse off than I am. I think I am just plain old worn out -- physically, mentally and spiritually. I also am always cognizant of my many blessings: the fact that my emergency open heart surgery was in the nick of time (literally); the fact that my kidney cancer was caught in time by accident; the fact that I have my mental faculties intact; the fact that I was given the gift of creativity; my friends and family; and even all of you - my blog readers and the recipients of my freebies. What good would it be for me to make them if no one wanted them?!?

Please pray for me if you are so inclined or just send good thoughts, and know that you are an important part of this journey I am on...for better or worse.

I pray for blessings for each and every one of you.

Sally
Winged Heart

Victorian Halloween Kit is Finally Here!

NOTE: The MediaFire link is working again!

Good day everyone! I finally finished the Victorian Halloween kit and it is HUGE! No...I mean REALLY huge!!! LOL We're talking 230 mb of stuff! There are 27 papers, four alphas, borders, photo corners, buttons & cords, tags & cords, tons of elements, word art and much more. There's also some lace and a few flowers! Even if you're not into Halloween, there is plenty here that would be suitable for other themes. It took quite a few preview pages to show you everything, but here they are (don't forget you can click on them to get a really large view and see the detail of the designs):








For those with a dial-up connection, I used 4Shared. There are a total of thirteen zips! The password is "bootoyou." Find them here. The password is "bootoyou."

For those with a high speed connection, I used MediaFire as they allow larger file sizes when uploading. There are a total of three zips. Find them here. I couldn't figure out how to password protect them, so there's no password.

I hope you enjoy it as much I enjoyed making it! I would really appreciate your comments! Please read my Terms of Use and remember it is for personal use only.

I want to give a special shout out to KimB's Designs for her "Lace & Trim" commercial use templates, and also to Heather Manning for her "Blissful Blooms" commercial use templates. You can find links to their blogs column to the right. Both of these women are not only great designers, but they have many wonderful products to make it easier for the rest of us! Thanks, gals.

Please check out the post below this one. I'd really appreciate it if you would vote for my friend's daughter. There's only two days left to vote. She's in first place right now but is losing ground. Would you if I said, "Pretty Please" very nicely? How 'bout if I begged a little???? LOL

As always, I'm praying for blessings for each and every one of you!

Sally
Winged Heart

Help me Help a Friend's Daughter!

A friend of mine's daughter is a finalist in a contest run by Clinique -- the Clinique Boot Camp. She used the products and the improvement has been wonderful. She's one of only 20 girls who became finalists and I would love to see her win it all. There's only a couple more days to vote for her before the contest is over! Here's a screen capture of her finalist page:



You can go here to vote for Ashley and you can vote as many times as you like by refreshing the page. You don't have to even sign in or anything and I would really appreciate it if you'd take a couple minutes and vote for Ashley!

Thanks,
Sally

A sad day...

Today, my little great-nephew, Kyle, is celebrating his one year birthday in Heaven. He only weighed 1/2 lb. and was 8 3/4" long when he was born one year ago today. He had Potter's syndrome, or basically no kidneys. My niece was going to carry him as long as God allowed, even knowing he couldn't live after birth, but she went into the beginning of kidney failure herself (she is a diabetic with only one kidney), and it was medically necessary to deliver him. I wonder what he would have been like and know how much I would (and do) love him. Happy Birthday, baby Kyle. Aunt Sa-Sa misses you and sends her love on angel wings to Heaven.

Floral Beauty Layouts

Good Friday to all of you! I thought I would share some layouts made by Patricia who is on my creative team. She used my Floral Beauty kit. They came out great...way to go girl!! Thanks for sharing them.






Hope everyone has a GREAT weekend!!

Sally

Checking In!

First of all, have you checked out Stone Accent Studio yet! The store is now officially open and there are tons of freebies in the current newsletter. Check out the forums to get a copy. There's so much stuff going on, including a scavenger hunt, that I'm sure you'll find plenty to keep you occupied for quite some time!!!

I'm doing pretty good, though no better physically. I've watched my great-niece, Alyssa, a couple times lately and we've just had the best times. Last week she spent an afternoon and evening with me and we did crafts (foam door hangers) and made chocolate chip cookies. She just loves to do "craps" and I'm sure she'll follow in her old Aunt Sa-Sa's foot steps with scrapbooking one day!! Then again, her Grandma Pat scraps, too, so I can't take all the credit (or blame depending on how you look at it!). She's four years old and such a charmer. There are times when she doesn't want her picture taken but that evening, she was gung ho! She would say, "I'm going to be mad (or happy, or silly) now so you can take my picture." Then she wanted her picture taken with P.B. Bear who was playing on TV at the time! She wore me out physically but, oh!, what she did for my psyche!! I tell you, she and my other great-nieces and great-nephews are what keeps me going. I so want to see them grow up!

I still have no news from the doctor. I'm calling them at least once a week but I'm getting truly frustrated. Whatever they are going to do, I want it done and over with! As always, keep me in your prayers.

Check back over the weekend...I'm almost finished with the Victorian Halloween kit! Then I hope to get a Victorian Thanksgiving one finished in the new few weeks. In the mean time, take care and blessings to all of you.

Sally

Pink Wedding Freebie Kit

Hi everyone. I participated in a quick page challenge at Moo Two Designs with a wedding theme and chosen colors. I thought that I would share them with all of you! I also made a matching mini kit for you. Hope you like them!! Here's the previews:





You can download them here. The password is "love" (without the quotes). There are downloads for the complete kit (mini kit and quick page kit), plus individual ones for the mini kit and quick page kit. Also, I forgot to put the TOU and previews in the zips so please remember to download them as they are a separate zip. Getting senile in my old age!! LOL As always, they are for personal use only and I'd love to see what you do with them!! Also, please leave me a hug if you download...I sure can use one!!!

I am beginning work on a Victorian Halloween Kit that I hope to have finished before I have to go back in the hospital. The doctors at Cleveland Clinic still don't know what to do with me. I'm so frustrated and in so much pain. Please keep me in your prayers.

Blessings to each and every one of you,
Sally

Just a Quick Update

Sorry I've been MIA but I'm trying to get everything back in order. My friend, Pat, has been helping me restore my stash but I'm still on quite a bummer. Oh, well...life goes on. I'm hoping to have a freebie for you over the weekend just so you didn't think I've forgotten about all of you! NOT A CHANCE!! LOL Just be patient with me, pretty please!!

Thanks to JennyMary and to Kim for their sympathy!!

On the health front, I'm pretty sick but go to the doctor tomorrow. Hopefully, he'll figure out just what's going on. I haven't heard from the surgeon at Cleveland Clinic yet as to what he and his colleagues are going to recommend for my chest. I'm in tons of pain, but managing to keep holding on. I did get the results of my mammogram and, thank Heaven, it was normal so they are assuming the increased uptake on prior films was from the previous chest surgeries. Hooray!! One less thing to worry about.

Well, it's getting ready to storm big time so I'm going to shut down the computer for now. Hope all of you are well!

Blessings,
Sally

Boy am I BUMMED!

I could just SCREAM!!! If you hear any loud & strange noises, it will be me!!! My external hard drive is GONE...I mean G-O-N-E, caput, DEAD! I just lost almost 300 MB of scrapbooking and graphic stuff! I am just horrified!!! I dropped my hard drive and there you have it. Everything gone. I called around everywhere about data recovery and the cheapest estimate I could find was between $350 and $900. Yeah, right. Boo hoo, yada yada yada.

On a much brighter note, my sister, Carol, and niece, Leilani, are visiting from Montana. Lei is ten. They have been staying with another niece but came yesterday to stay a few days with me before they go home on Wednesday. They brought my little four-year-old great-niece, Alyssa, with them last night and us girls had us a pajama party!! It was so much fun. First we went to McDonald's and then to Walmart where the girls each picked out a little present. Lei picked out the neatest Bratz doll that is a soccer player. Alyssa picked out this pet shop play set that is just the cutest. It was only $6 bucks but she just loves it. There is a little dog and cat (plastic), a shop front, and lots of accessories. She just loves the little bathtub that comes with it to give them baths. All we heard all evening was her high pitched little voice saying, "look at that!" She had to make sure the animals were all cleaned up before putting them to bed! They're about an inch big. LOL We had popcorn and chips, watched Barney and Care Bears, then we had to make the girls go to bed. Alyssa sure is going to miss her auntie Lei-Lei when they go back to Montana. They play so well together. Lei brought one of her American Girls dolls with her but her Mommy was the one to put it to bed. I think she really buys them for HERSELF to play with!! Today we are going to pick up Alyssa's mommy and then go to a Chinese buffet. Yummy. At least the girls are cheering me up after my hard drive disaster.

Well, on the health front, I don't know anything new yet. I had a mammogram last Thursday after the films on the stress test (when I was in the hospital) showed some increased uptake in the left breast. I'm really holding on to the hope that it will just be artifact on the films from the chest reconstruction I had a year ago. Having had kidney cancer the beginning of this year, plus cancerous polyps in my colon in the past, makes me nervous though. I haven't heard the results. My specialist at the Cleveland Clinic wants to wait to see the results before deciding what is going to happen with my chest. He mentioned that they probably will have to completely remove the sternum which causes all sorts of issues. I'm in a lot of pain, but, like always, and dealing with it the best I can. Please keep those prayers and good thoughts coming!! The knowledge that there are people praying for me helps me so very much. I can't get my head around a 14th surgery but with God's help, I'll get through it.

Well...that's it for now. It's after 4 o'clock in the morning and I couldn't sleep, but I better get back to bed. A 10-year-old and a 4-year-old really strains this 55-year-old body of mine. The mind's already gone!!!

Oh, I almost forgot one most important thing. THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who has left such wonderful comments here and on 4-Shared. I appreciate each and every one of you taking the time to leave me a little love! Mwah!!!

Blessings,
Sally

Winged Heart Ohio CT Call

Hello to my sister scrappers! Hope you're having a great weekend!

Even though I cannot be truly prolific because of my health issues, I feel that it is time for me to have a couple people join my creative team. Right now it is just my friend, Pat (of "A Rose for Patricia" fame!!), and she needs some company!! LOL

The requirements are really simple...you would receive all of my kits, paper packs, etc. without charge and would be asked, in return, to create a minimum of three layouts from each kit/pack and post them in three on-line galleries. In addition, I would ask that you create at least one layout from each freebie offered (that is not a sampler of a kit) and also post them in your three on-line galleries. I am asking that, if chosen, you agree to sign on for a six month period of time.

To be considered, please email me at wingedheartohio@gmail.com and tell me a bit about yourself, your scrapbooking style, and why you want to join my team. Also, please include links to any online galleries that you currently have. Don't worry if you are just a beginner, as I am definitely a beginner designer!! LOL We will learn together. The most important thing to me is that our styles work well together and you have good communication skills. A sense of humor is definitely a plus!!! HA HA HA

Sooo....wanna come out and play???

Thank you!

I just wanted to give a big "thank you" to all of you who have left wonderful comments here, on 4-Shared, and on the sites where I left notice of "A Rose for Patricia." Not just the comments on my kit (which I TRULY appreciate), but especially for those wishing me well. JennyMary, thank you for your very kind comment and you are right, I am at the end of my rope. I'm hanging on to that knot but it is hard! Christine, I'm really glad you found my new web home. It saddened me to have to take down my old web site but I just couldn't keep it up the way I wanted to. It became more frustrating than it did satisfying. I'm still writing poetry and will share it here as I did on the web site. Other than that, this blog really does serve the purpose and is much easier to maintain. I really like the new header I created in the wee hours of the morning yesterday when I couldn't sleep.

Being creative really is my life-blood right now. It's not just that I want to create, but that I HAVE to! I certainly have much to learn when it comes to designing digital scrapbooking stuff, but with all of your help, encouragement and feedback, I'll keep learning and sharing. What a wonderful world we live in where we can meet wonderful people all over the world with just a few keystrokes on a keyboard!

Again, thanks to all of you for taking this journey with me, where ever it leads. You enrich my life! Blessings to each and every one of you!

Sally
Winged Heart

A Rose for Patricia Freebie Kit Re-Issued

Hi everyone. I had a request for a prior kit I released as a freebie...A Rose for Patricia. So...I thought I would post it for all of you in case you missed it! I really like this kit (I guess it's okay to say I really like something I created LOL LOL) Here's the preview (as always, click on the picture for a larger view):



You can get it here: A Rose for Patricia. The password is "patsrose" without the quotes.

Enjoy and come back soon for my next kit, "Beloved."

Sally

Update on Doctor's Visit

Well, it looks as if I'm going to have to have another major procedure done on my chest as my sternum is still unstable and "sinking." I'm just kind of beside myself so I would truly appreciate all of your prayers and good thoughts. It's such a struggle...

Well!!! I'm a winner...and loser!!! LOL

Hi everyone. Sorry, I've meen MIA, but my health has once again slowed me down. Boo boo. That's the loser part of this post. LOL Really, everything will be okay but I was admitted to the hospital for a day of testing after going to the ER with chest pain. I had a stress test which showed that my heart is doing okay...no new blockages or anything. Yipee! They did, however, find some abnormalities in my left breast so I have to get that checked out. I'm hopeful it will just be some changes from the chest reconstruction I had as the muscle flap they created to go over my sternum was from left to right. I go Monday to the Cleveland Clinic to have my chest looked at so I'm going to ask the doctor what he thinks.

Now, for the winning! Have you visited the blog of Kim B (Kim B. Designs)? She's my kind of gal...ornery as heck, extremely talented, and a bit twisted! I have enjoyed her blog and her fabulous freebies for some time now. Well, she had a name-that-kit contest for her newest kit which features pretty twisted ribbons and a great "swirly" design. I suggested "Pretty Twisted," and her son, Nathan, picked my entry!! So, I won the kit! I'm so excited. What a nice surprise to come home to. Make sure you go visit Kim and tell her I sent 'ya!

That's it for now, but check back soon. I'm in the middle of creating my newest kit, "Beloved." It's features Victorian ephemera and lovely roses. It all started with a photograph of the roses in front of my apartment building. Of course, there'll be freebies, too! Here's a preview of one of the papers (click on it for a larger view):



Hope all of you are doing great and also (hint...hint) hope to hear from you soon!

Blessings to all,
Sally
Winged Heart

Thanks, LeAnn, for letting me know I forgot the password. It is "beautylives" without the quotes.

I'm getting senile in my old age!

Freebie Quick Pages & Kit for Sale!!

Hello everyone...hope you are all having just a wonderful weekend! I haven't been doing anything but sitting at the computer.

As I had mentioned in a previous post, I am going to start selling a few of my creations to help with my medical costs. Well....drumroll please....I have finished my very first kit for sale. TaDa!!! It's called Floral Beauty. Using photographs I took myself, I created this huge kit (110 mb, 140+ pieces) which consists of 21 12"x12" papers, 7 complete alphas including upper and lower case plus numbers and punctuation, 8 stitched borders, 7 bows, 12 square big brads, 12 round brads, 10 clips, 8 distressed cardboard elements, 8 garden stakes, 7 glass flowers, 12 frames, 10 staples, 15 tags, 5 tag hangers and 5 word arts. All papers and elements are created at 300 dpi so they will re-size easily without loss of quality. The papers include seven full color floral images which are "framed", seven faded pages of the same images, and seven matching solid papers with a bumpy texture. The bold colors include dark red, medium red, dark pink, fuscia, blue, dark green, and orange -- plus a bit of white, gold and silver! You will be able to create MANY great pages using this kit!

Here are the previews (Click on them for a much larger photo!):








If you purchase this BIG kit directly by paying through PayPal the price is only $4.99!!! Please pay using my email address, wingedheartohio@gmail.com, and email me to let me know you have purchased Floral Beauty. As soon as I receive notification from PayPal that you have paid, I will send you the link to the download page at 4Shared. Please note that if you pay through PayPal using your checking account, the links will not be sent until PayPal sends notification of your payment clearance.

I also have it listed on eBay with the price of $5.99 because of the listing costs. Here is a link to the listing: eBay

Thanks for considering purchasing my very first kit for sale.

Now, on to the freebies. I have two quick pages for you made from the Floral Beauty Kit.

Preview of Floral Beauty Quick Page #1:




Preview of Floral Beauty Quick Page #2:



Here's where you get both quick pages: Floral Beauty Quick Pages The password is "beautylives" without the quotes.

I hope you enjoy them!

Blessings to you,
Sally
Winged Heart

Next Two Victorian 4th of July Quick Pages

Hi everyone. Hope all of you in the USA has had a great 4th of July. I had a good time spending the day with my neice and her family. The kids were so much fun! We went out for pizza then to Walmart. The fireworks, however, were a bust. It rained hard, everyone left, then they shot them off anyway! Boo Hoo! LOL Of course, I took pictures!

Here's Taylor (she's 3 years old) who loves to color:



and here's little Wes (he's 17 months old) who slept for the first hour or so he was here:



And here's the next two quick pages. I hope you enjoy them and will leave me a little hug!

Quick Page #4:



Quick Page #5:



Here's the link: DOWNLOAD The password is the same as the other quick pages, "qpone." ENJOY!

July 4th Quick Pages

Hi everyone! Hope you are all having a great weekend!

Well, I'm still working on my Victorian July 4th kit but have created some cool quick pages for all of you! I hope you enjoy them. I'm posting three today and will have three more in the next day or so. Also, I'll be posting the kit probably on Monday or Tuesday.

I hope no one is offended, but I have decided to sell some things to help with my medical expenses. Medicare is really crappy and costs $93.00 a month. So many people think Medicare is free but, let me tell you, it sure isn't!!! Not only that, but they only pay 80% of what they consider the "usual and customary" charges for doctor visits, etc. I usually end up owing more like 40% than 20%. When you have as many health issues and doctors as I do, it sure adds up. All I can say is thank God that Cleveland Clinic is really understanding because I owe them my next 5 year's income!!

Anyway, that's enough of that. I just wanted to explain why I felt it necessary to try and earn a little extra income. I'll ALWAYS have freebies and will always have low prices on what I sell. I'm not looking to make a living, just a little extra to help out.

Now, here's what you came for!! LOL These quick pages are 12 x 12" and are .png files to all you have to do is put your photos behind them!

The link follows the previews.

Quick Page #1: PLEASE NOTE that this quick page has an image with VERY slight artistic nudity. If that is offensive to you, please do not download it and PLEASE do not leave me any nasty comments about it!!! Thanks.



Quick Page #2:



Quick page #3:



Here's the link: Download
The password is "qpone" with no quotes.

Please remember that these quick pages are for your personal use only. I would be honored if you felt they were good enough to share, just please direct people to my blog and not directly to 4Shared.

Enjoy! Please play safe this holiday!

Blessings,
Sally
Winged Heart Ohio

Hey...check this out!

Ruthie has created a new forum for everyone to share their freebies AND to snag freebies also! It's really an easy forum to navigate and is well organized! Soooooo......what are you waiting for??? Get on over to Digital Scrapbook Freebies and share or snag!! Don't forget to leave the love either!!

Digital Scrapbook Freebies



Sally
Winged Heart Ohio