Post-surgery update, and thank you cards!

I’ve been thinking about whether I should publicise something this private on my website, but decided that it’s important to share why I won’t be taking Christmas orders this year, and why things might be a little slow-moving here on the blog and also at the Paper Exploits shop.

I went in for surgery last Wednesday (Nov 30) to remove a benign tumour in my right ovary. Don’t freak out, the surgery went great with no complications, and I’m okay! I didn’t tell many people before the operation (I think excluding my family, fewer than 5 people knew) as I was super anxious myself, and did not want to have to deal with questions. I was discharged on Saturday and am now recovering at home. The days in the hospital were not great, if I am to tell the truth (long story– apparently general anaesthesia and I are not friends), but the comforts of home are immeasurable. With a very loving family and boyfriend, I’m improving by the day and can’t complain.

I’m off work at the broadsheet for 3 to 4 weeks– pretty much for the entire month of December. In that time, I’ll be musing about the wonders of life. I will also probably re-watch the entire series of Band of Brothers and The West Wing, and maybe throw in some American Dad and Modern Family. :]

Unfortunately, this means that I am not taking anymore new Christmas orders this year . All customers who had pre-ordered way back when will still be getting their cards (if they haven’t already) as I had worked on them prior to the procedure. What clever little monkeys you were for getting your orders in early :]

Now, reading about a post-op crafter isn’t much fun, so I also wanted to use this post to share a Christmassy thank you card design that I made for my gynaecologist/surgeon, anaesthetist, and nurses. At the moment, I’m trying not to use any overly-fancy techniques that may require lifting heavy things/pushing down on things/moving to and fro points in my room/too many chemicals, etc. That leaves me with a select few punches and pen knives that I can use with minimal effort.

It’s basically a regular flat 4 x 5.5″ light textured cardstock base that I use for my letterheads, punched through with a gorgeous winter-y looking scene.

This’ what it looks like when taken out of the envelope, rather flat and unexciting.

One just has to put their finger under each little cut out, and prop them up gently, one by one. That allows the little village scene to come to live, complete with three Christmas-looking conifers in the back!

I had to use less heavy-weight paper for these, because a thicker piece of cardstock would have been impossible to punch through successfully. So I used what I usually use for letterheads.

Each of the cards comes in this pretty cotton envelope, with a snowflake cut. I decided to do away with my usual Paper Exploits blind embossing on the flap, to let the snowflake take center-stage. The cards have the blind embossing on the bottom left hand corners.

Here’s a close-up of the snowflake, which shows the little spokes poking out from the envelope base.

I hope you and my giftees like the cards! It’s really the least I can do for the good people. I can honestly say I had the best gynae/surgeon one could ever ask for. She is the sweetest lady with a wonderful sense of humour, and with her deft hands I was in and out of the operating theatre in under an hour and a half. The anaesthetist was a good ol’ joker, who made me laugh despite myself. Together, the both of them were making me giggle as I went under. True story.

And of course, the nurses at my ward were so sweet in helping my family and I be as comfortable as possible during my stay. I go in for a follow-up with my gynae tomorrow, and will be giving these cards out then. Tis the season!