As many of you may already know, I was diagnosed with breast cancer in early August of this year. I was incredibly devastated by the shock of this diagnosis, and I did not handle my new reality very well. For several months I wandered around in a state of such terrified stupor that I had all I could do to put one foot in front of the other to get through each day.
I am fortunate to be blessed with scores of devoted friends but they are scattered all across the country, and my local support system is slim to none. When my dear friend Cindy (Mothermark) found out about this, she started a thread, the Maddy Mason RAK Request ( Forums at Splitcoaststampers ) which she has run with tireless devotion for close to 5 months. I was soon deluged with scores of gorgeous and supportive cards, along with many other beautiful and comforting gifts. It has been this endless outpouring of love, support, comfort, prayer and all the beautiful cards which have sustained me along my slow road to recovery, and have made such a profound difference in my life. I savored each and every card I received, and stored them all in shoe boxes, organized by state. I will be putting them all into scrapbooks to be cherished forever and shared with others. I figured I'd gotten some 150 cards, with many people having sent me 2, 3, 4 or even more cards.
For a long time I didn't think I would ever stamp again, and, in fact, this is the first card I have made in over 7 months. But I am feeling so much better and more optimistic in the last few weeks that I began cooking up a plan- I would stamp simple Christmas postcards that would double as thank you notes to everyone who had so kindly sent me a card. With fewer than 150 to send out, this seemed very doable. But last night I finally sat down and counted my cards, and was totally stunned to discover I'd received well over 350 of them! Wow! And they are still arriving nearly every day! I then realized that sending out nearly 400 postcards was simply an impossible task; I would not be able to do it. Therefore, this is my thank you card to all of you wonderful SCS Angels that I am unable to thank personally.
Card details are:
This is for Wednesday's Sketch Challenge #154. I chose the retired SU stamp set See with the Heart, as it perfectly epitomizes the depth of my gratitude for my beloved friends here on SCS. The main image of the lovely young woman (with the words Friendship and Hope printed next to her) is stamped with Olive Staz-On ink onto paper vellum, and the edges distressed by tearing, curling, and burning with a match. I then adhered the vellum to a photograph of a tree peony flower I took in my garden last summer. The edges are gilded with Versamark and Gold Detail EP. The fuzzy pink fibers are attached through 3 eyelets on the left hand side. I mounted this panel at an angle to 2 other pieces of CS, with all corners punched with the ticket punch. The background panels are stamped with the Fine Lace background stamp in Regal Rose ink. The sentiment, *An act of kindness is long remembered* expresses so much how I feel. It is embossed in Gold Detail EP, and mounted over the pink breast cancer support ribbon. Everything is popped up on foam tape.
Once again I would like to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for all the love and cards that continue pouring into my mailbox almost daily. I do wish I had a way to send each and every one of you a personal thank you note, and a Christmas card, too!
Love,
Maddy
Date: Thursday, December 13, 2007 GMT Views: 3119
Favorited:19
Registered: April 23, 2006 Location: Looking For Teapots! Posts: 59742
Thu, Dec 13, 2007 @ 12:18 PM
OMG! Maddy...how touching this is! I am so happy that you are beginning to stamp again and look at this amazing and wonderful card you made! Thank you so much for doing this for all of the people that have sent you cards....It was my pleasure to keep your thread going and I was also touched, like you, at the wonderful out pouring of support and love sent to you through everyone at SCS! I am gonna do my best to get this card viewed by the many who sent you cards and gifts because I know how very much it means to you to personally thank them.
I knew you were getting alot of cards but I had no idea....over 350! What a wonderful thing! Thank you so much for this....it's very touching! Hugs to you! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Registered: January 21, 2005 Location: I escaped from NY! I ♥️ my new state of SC! Posts: 22756
Thu, Dec 13, 2007 @ 12:50 PM
Maddy! It is wonderful that you are stamping again ... and lovely that you shared with us! It is an amazingly beautiful card (of course) and I am thrilled to be placing it into My Favorites as soon as I post this comment.
I send you continued good wishes and hope you have a happy holiday season.
Registered: July 21, 2005 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 24948
Thu, Dec 13, 2007 @ 12:52 PM
Aw, I'm crying I'm so glad to see you back and stamping! This card is beautiful! I wish I had found the time to send you a few more cards, but obviously you were not lacking! Keep up your strength and have a wonderful holiday! Stay strong!!!
Registered: June 15, 2004 Location: Denver, Co Posts: 14474
Thu, Dec 13, 2007 @ 12:54 PM
Your feeling better and stamping again is an early Christmas gift for all of us. This card is beautiful and we call all feel the love that went into it's creation. Looking forward to more of your cards.
Registered: April 13, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 65381
Thu, Dec 13, 2007 @ 1:04 PM
Thanks for sharing this loving tribute to the kindness of others with us!! It is a gorgeous piece of art. We are all so thrilled to see once again your amazing work!