Today is World Cancer Day and time for me to come clean. Last October I was diagnosed with endometrial adenocarcinoma and had surgery early in December. In January my cancer was confirmed as Stage 1a and that the surgery was completely successful. As a result I don’t need chemo or radiotherapy. I’ll have 6 monthly check-ups for the next 5 years but that’s a small price to pay. So today it seemed appropriate to create this project using the Very Best Occasions Stamp Set and Flight & Airy Designer Series Paper (DSP).

FLIGHT & AIRY START

Blue is one of the colours of World Cancer Day and so that ‘s what I was looking for among the designs in the Flight & Airy DSP. I settled on the pair of birds on a branch with blue blossoms. from the left side of the sheet. Then using my Paper Snips I carefully cut around the image. With that done I attached small pieces of Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals to the back and set it aside.

Next I cut a 2-7/8″ x 2-7/8″ piece of the same paper and flipped it over to reveal the leafy background design on the reverse. Then I cut a 3″ x 3″ piece of Misty Moonlight Card and mounted the leafy background onto it using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow). That’s when I noticed that this ‘leafy’ pattern wasn’t as random as I’d initially thought. These were delicate branches, and some of the ‘leaves’ were actually small birds!

So with that in mind I carefully added the fussy-cut birds to the background, making sure both layers of birds were the right way up.

MORE CUTTING & STICKING

Now I needed to cover my pale blue 3″ x 3″ Post-It® Notes pad. I began by using my Paper Trimmer to cut a 6-3/4″ x 3-1/8″ piece of Lost Lagoon Card. Then with the long side at the top I scored it at 3-1/8″ and 3-5/8″. After folding the card along the scored lines I sharpened the creases really well with a Bone Folder. Finally I wrapped the card around the Post-It Notes pad, and glued it to the back.

Continuing with my blue colour scheme I cut a 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ piece of Misty Moonlight Card. Then using liquid glue again, I mounted the wrapped pad in the centre. Next I added the assembled bird layers to the top with Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals.

For my sentiment I chose “endlessly grateful” from the Very Best Occasions Stamp Set. Using Misty Moonlight ink I stamped it onto a scrap of Basic White Card before cutting it out with Paper Snips.

To finish I glued the sentiment to the background layer and then added a few Rhinestone Basic Jewels. With that my project was complete and I’m reminded again how grateful I am to have had a positive outcome to my diagnosis.

In case you were wondering, my cancer diagnosis came after I reported a pink-tinged discharge to my family doctor. I had no pain, no unexplained weight gain or loss, no lumps. In fact I had no outward signs at all. However I did know that any suggestion of vaginal bleeding in post-menopausal women needs to be investigated. If you didn’t know, now you do. Please pass it on. Early diagnosis improves cancer outcomes and could make the world of difference to someone you love.

For more projects using the gorgeous Flight & Airy DSP see these earlier blog posts:

• Happiness is free stuff
• Flight & airy

PRODUCT LIST

FREE PAPER – The Flight & Airy DSP is not available to buy as it’s one of the exclusive products in this year’s Sale-A-Bration promotion. But you can get it for free simply by choosing it when you place a minimum $60CAD order (before shipping and taxes). Sale-A-Bration ends on February 29th, however all free Sale-A-Bration items are only available while stocks last.