Saturday, October 31, 2015

Happy Dia de Los Muertos

I can't believe it is finally here - Halloween or the Day of the Dead.  Miss Rach will be starting a challenge with the theme of Day of the Dead.  I have been doing so many Nativity and Cat cards so here is a fish.  This image will be the FREEBIE that will be available later today.  This sentiment is from TLC.  For my background I used black paper and sprayed it with some Webbing Spray that I had from a few years ago.


Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection
Stamp: Miss Rach - Day of the Dead fish
Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)
Ink:  Memento - Tuxedo Black
Spray - Krylon webbing spray
Spellbinder:  Small Petite Oval
Die:  Die-namic Stitched Oval
Flower:  Recollection

Challenges
Creative Knockout - Ch. 113 Halloween Time
Inky Impression - Ch. 276 Halloween or Color Combo
Crafty Sentiments - Black and White Challenge
Fan-Tastic Tuesday - Ch. 109 Halloween
Crafty Boots - Autumn  and Halloween
A Gem of a Challenge - Ch. 156 Too Cute to Spook
Tuesday Throwdown - Ch. 268 Too cute to Spook

Friday, October 30, 2015

Birthday wishes to my cousin

I have a few birthday cards that I have to get done, and I wanted to make one more cat card for the Cat Lover's Blog Hop.  Mo Manning has this adorable image, and this is what our Casio looked like as a kitten. All cute and innocent.  Now, he is a grumpy old cat that doesn't like to be messed with.  I tried to dress him in a few Halloween costumes tonight, and as you can see he wasn't happy.  The first was a collar, and he just woke up on the couch and he wasn't sure.  The second was a devil hat with horns and you just see his fangs.  The third was a pumpkin hat, and he wouldn't even look at me.








Patterned Paper:  Teresa Collins
Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection
Stamp:  Mo Manning - Boo and tulips
Sentiment:  TLC, Create - Birthday wishes to my cousin
Circle Punches:  EK Success
Border Punch:  Martha Stewart
Pearls:  Michael's
Divine Twine

Challenges
Friday Sketch - Sketch 103
Cat Lover's Blog Hop - Anything Goes
Aud Sediments - Ch. 143 Birthday Sediment
4 Crafty Chicks - Ch. 270 Anything Goes

There's no BUTT about it...

Our male cat, Casio will stick his butt towards you when he wants to show his cattitude.  I've had this stamp from Melgens and have always found it funny along with the sentiment.  For this card I made yarn balls by punching a piece of cardstock and then wrapping it with twine or jute.



Patterned Paper:  DCWV
Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollections
Stamp & Sentiment:  Melgens
Circle Punch:  EK Success
Divine Twine
Jute:  May Arts
Spellbinder:  Grand Label Four

Challenges
Cat Lover's Blog Hop - Anything Goes
CRAFT - Ch. 335 Shaped cards
TTCRD - Anything Goes

You make my heart flutter

I had this image for quite some time, and finally got it put together.  The sentiment is from TLC.  This just reminds me of my cats, because if there is something hanging or on a string it is fair game to be a toy and hit at.



Patterened paper:  DCWV
Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection
Stamp:  Cuddly Buddy - Karen Middleton DS love kitty
Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)
Spellbinder:  Small and large circle; heart circle
Ribbon:  Hobby Lobby
Corner Rounder:  Creative Memories

Challenges
Mojo - Sketch 421
Cat lover's blog hop - Anything Goes
CHNC Patterned - October
613 Ave Create - Ch147 Anything Goes


Boo! bring on the scarey

Here is a mummy cat that I have as a digital image from Gerda Steiner.  I put some gauze behind him.  The sentiment is naturally from TLC.  This is a sketch for Viva la Verve, and I usually like to use Verve stamps; however, I needed to get my Halloween and cat cards done.  So many cards to do, and not enough time - isn't it the whoa of all cardmakers.



Patterned Paper:  Echo Park
Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection
Stamp:  Gerda Steiner - Mummie kitten
Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)
Ribbon:  Offray
Spellbinders:  Small and large Circles
Gauze:  stash

Challenges
Viva la Verve - October wk 4
Cat Lover's Blog Hop - Anything Goes
Gerda Steiner - Share your designs
Creative Knockout - Ch. 113 Halloween Time



Every good and perfect gift is from above

One last nativity card - I just couldn't help myself.  This card is using an adorable image from Mo Manning.  She has such wonderful images, and one of her digital images was the first one that I ever purchased and I have been on a roll ever since.  I much prefer digital images since you can size them the way you want and there isn't a storage issue.  I still have lots of rubber/cling stamps, but I find it easier to print on my printer than to pull out inks and my heat gun.  The sentiment for this card is from TLC, and I think I have used all of them this week.


Sakura jelly glitter pen on the wings

Patterned paper:  Teresa Collins
Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection
Stamp:  Mo Manning - In the Manger
Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)
Circle Punches:  EK Success
Border Punch:  Martha Stewart
Gems:  Recollection
Sakura jelly glitter pen on wings

Challenges
Dream Valley - Ch. 118 Use the color blue
CHNC - Ch. 252 Nativity
CHNC Extra - October
ABC Christmas Challenge - V for Very Cute
Polkadoodles - Wk 44 Add sparkle, bling or glitter

Advice from the cat

Yesterday was National Cat Day - well in my house of 3 Siamese cats - that is everyday!  And they let me know it since they allow me to live with them.  My daughter's cat, Casio is our male alpha cat who really is in charge.  She is allergic to the cats and had built a tolerance; however, now that she went away to college it is gone so when she comes home she wants to be with them and medications just don't control her symptoms.  We have seen an allergist who has suggested she receive allergy shots, but she believes it is too time consuming at this time in her life. She thinks she doesn't have time now.....just wait until she has a family....can't tell them anything though, hehe.  For my card, I used an image from Bugaboo, and a cute sentiment from TLC.





Casio approving my new couch

Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe
Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection
Stamp:  Bugaboo - SB Fireman cat tree
Sentiment:  TLC, Create - Soft side show
Border Punch:  Fiskars
Dies:  Sizzix
Ribbon:  Really Reasonable Ribbon

Challenges
Stella Says Sketch - Sketch 316
Cat Lover's Blog Hop - Anything Goes
CRAFT - Ch. 335 Shaped cards, not square or rectangle
Eureka - Ch. 163 Pets/animals

His Star

Here is another Nativity card that I was able to come up with an adorable image from Saturated Canary.  My sentiment is from a great set at TLC.






Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe 
Cardstock:  Bazzil; Core-dination; Recollection
Stamp:  Saturated Canary - the King
Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)
Sakura jelly glitter pen
Divine Twine & Hobby Lobby
Gems:  Recollection

Challenges
Incy Wincy - Sketch
CHNC - Ch. 252 Nativity 
CHNC Extra - October
ABC Christmas Challenge - V for Very Cute
Cupcake Inspiration - Ch 333 Stars

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Jesus is the gift

I have been going to town with Nativity cards since that is the challenge at CHNC and I just think that is the reason for Christmas cards!  Like I said in a previous post, we just get caught up in all the other stuff in the running around, the hussle and bussle and people forget to be nice.  I know I am MORE than guilty of this myself.  Today, I got new quotes on car/home insurance and found a better price with an agent that is closer to my home.  I have been having problems with my current agent and his staff since my husband passed away (now over 18 months ago) and I have had to make changes to the policies.  Today, I was going to go into their office and tell them that I was dropping them with pleasure, but when I got there I had to fill out some forms and the receptionist confided in me that her husband was just diagnosed with cancer and has brain mets and has less than 6 months to live and that then she will be in a similar situation and they have been married for 45 years.  Being a nurse, I did my counseling and spent time talking with her and she thanked me for doing so, and I left without telling them that on November 6th I will be dropping them.  I just thought it was the wrong time to do so, but felt I was needed in a different way today, and it was better that I was there in person than on the phone.  We have to remember - it's not about me, there are others in this world who have problems/issues to.



Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe - Eskimo Kisses
Cardstock: Bazzil; Recollection
Stamp:  Whimsy - Touched by Love
Sentiment:  TLC, Create - Jesus is the gift
Spellbinder:  Label Number 1
Flowers:  Wild Orchid Crafts
Divine Twine

Challenges
Papertake Weekly - Pick One - Sketch
CHNC - Ch. 252 Nativity
CHNC Extra - October
Fab 'n Funky - Ch. 279 Christmas
Word Art Wednesday - Ch. 207 Anything Goes
ABC Christmas Challenge - V for Very Cute

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Pink Gems Nativity Card

I don't remember why I bought this card back some time ago, but thought I should put it together.  It is layers so I have pop dots between the layers of the card that is pre- colored.



Card:  Pink Gems pre-colored set
Pop dots

Challenges
CHNC - Ch 252 Nativity
CHNC Extra - October
ABC Christmas - V is for Very Cute
Fab 'n Funky - Ch. 279 Christmas

Ye shall find the Babe

I got this image from Mo Manning and couldn't wait to color it.  I used a sentiment from a great set at TLC.  I like using non-traditional colors.





Patterned Paper:  Paper Studio
Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollections
Stamp:  Mo Manning:  Nativity Play
Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)
Ribbon:  Really Reasonable Ribbon & Hobby Lobby
Punches:  EK Success; Die-Naumics
Pearls:  Michael's
Spellbinder:  Small Petite Oval

Challenges
CHNC - Ch 252 Nativity
CHNC Extra - October
ABC Christmas - V is for Very Cute
Fab 'n Funky - Ch. 279 Christmas

Yay! Congratulations Graduate WooHoo

I know of someone who will be graduating from Technical College and then plans to go on to college this December so I made this card using an image from Miss Rach.  This image is available in the ETSY shop for $1.  The sentiment is from TLC.  I made the diploma by rolling up some paper and putting some twine around it.


Patterned Paper:  Sweet Shoppe, My Mind's Eye
Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection
Stamp:  Miss Rach (see above for direct link)
Sentiment:  TLC, Create - Yay! Congratulations Graduate WooHoo
Divine Twine
Border Punch:  Fiskars
Ribbon:  Really Reasonable Ribbon
Ink:  Mementon - London Fog


Challenges
Papertake Weekly - Take your Pick, Sketch
Cat Lover's Blog Hop - Day 3 Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday - Ch. 396 Anything Goes

Coffee a hug in a mug

Today it has been a rainy, gloomy day so a warm cup of coffee sounds good.  My image is from Miss Rach freebies and the sentiment is from TLC.  My cats have been sleeping.  I have bought them wonderful beds, pillows and blankets; however, they don't sleep on any of those instead they sleep in buckets.  When my husband was receiving cancer treatments and wanted a bucket next to the bed in case he would vomit, it was a problem since he would find a cat sleeping in it.  So we had to get extra buckets for them on the backside of the bed and they love it.





Patterned Paper:  
Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection
Stamp:  Miss Rach (see above for direct link)
Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)
Circle Punches;  EK Success
Flowers:  Wild Orchid Crafts
Ribbon:  Offray

Challenges
Cat Lover's Hop - Day 3 Anything Goes
Eureka - Ch. 163 Pets/ Animals
Crafty Creations - Ch.301 Colorful

Congratulations on your marriage

I have a cousin who is getting married next weekend so I had to make a card for her.  I used an image from Saturated Canary and I found a rubber stamp that I haven't used in quite some time.  Pulled out lots of pearls for this card.


Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection
Stamp:  Saturated Canary - Bride
Sentiment:  Congratulations on your Marriage
Ink:  Memento - Tuxedo Black
Ribbon Pearls:  Hobby Lobby
Pearls:  Michael's
Flowers:  Wild Orchid Crafts

Challenges
Incy Wincy - Sketch
Craft your Passion - Ch. 285 Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart - Ch. 83 Anything Goes
Brown Sugar - Ch. 169 Anything Goes

Monday, October 26, 2015

X marks the spot

I have another card that I made as a sample for the challenge at Miss Rach Halloween by the Sea.  This card is using the Halloween Octopus which can be purchased for $1.  The sentiment is available at TLC and the paper was also part of the fall club.




Patterned Paper:  TLC, Create - Fall Festival Paper 14 & 6
Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollection
Stamp:  Miss Rach (see above for direct link)
Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)
Circle Punches:  EK Success

Challenges
SSSC - Sketch 292
Crafty Boots - Autumn and Halloween
Melonheadz - Include a pumpkin
Sweet Stampin' - Halloween
QKR - Ch. 162 Halloween

Leaves with sympathy

For Christmas, I always make my Mom a stash of sympathy cards so this is one for her present.  For this card, I am using a sentiment from TLC that is part of a great set that includes 10 one-liners. I also made this card for the Card Concept Challenge as a Clean and Layered sample.  We did some cleaning up of the leaves today in my yard, but I took a couple of pictures at the end of my driveway.







Patterned Paper:  Teresa Collins
Cardstock:  Bazzil; Recollections
Sentiment:  TLC, Create (see above for direct link)
Die Cuts:  Spellbinder - Leaves, Quic Kutz
Ribbon:  Really Reasonable Ribbon
Pearls:  Prima

Challenges
The Card Concept - Ch. 42 Clean & Layered
Glitter 'n Sparkle - Ch. 160 Fall/Autumn
Cute Card Thursday - Ch. 396 Anything Goes
Crafty Gals Corner - Ch. 42 Ribbon and/or flourishes
Susy Bee's Bloomin' - Ch. 103 Use some leaves