As I receive a Christmas card, I have to hurry and make one to send in return. I try to be ahead of the game and have enough made but this year, the arthritis and carpal tunnel in my hands has prevented me from making so many cards. After three years of trying gloves, creams and pills, the daily pain wore me down and I knew I had to do something about it. I finally saw a hand specialist who injected steroids in my thumbs. Let me tell you, that is a painful thing but so worth it! After a few hours, my left one stopped hurting and it was the worst one. It took a few days for the right one to stop hurting but it DID! Now they only hurt when I use them too much. No more hurting every single day and night. We don't know how long the steroids will last but I pray it will be a long time. I wish I had done it sooner. I had to give up being on the Art Impressions Watercolor Design Team which gave me so much pleasure for many years. I love everyone at Ai and will miss being a part of that wonderful team. But I hope to still make cards, that's for certain. I tell you all this not for sympathy or attention but because I want to help anyone else whose hands hurt all the time. There is relief available.
Back to the Santa card. It's colored with that new Ranger Distress Ink color Lumber Jack Plaid. Such a perfect color! Red is my favorite and I've never used one I liked better. The stamp is from Ai of course and it's the 5572 Santa and Workshop Set. I used the 5472 Christmas Wreath Set to create the foliage around the Santa. I cut it out with the 5065 Oval Double Stitched Die Set. Merry Christmas everyone!
