Cats in a Crate!

Hello Stampin' friends!  Do you like cats?  If so, I have a really cute card to share with you today!!  I made this last week for a fellow cat lover friend using the stamp set, Pretty Kitty.  You can find this stamp in Stampin' Up's annual catalog on page 49.  My daughter is actually the big cat lover in our family.  If I were to choose, I would probably pick a small dog over a cat.  But I love my cat, Sammie, who I inherited from my mom.  She is definitely a one person cat though - me!  When my daughter was a child, there was a house at the end of our alley (in Texas, most houses have the garage at the back of the house and an alley for coming and going) that every few months would have the "free kitten" sign in the yard.  She and I tried to adopt one of those cats several times - even once, bringing the kitten home with us - but Sonny would not have any part of a cat so we walked back and returned the kitten.  Finally when she was in middle school and I was working at the public library, someone brought in a mother cat and her litter that had been abandoned.  It was close to Christmas and the public buildings would be shut down.  They were going to put the kittens and the mama cat to sleep if no one would take them.  I called Sonny and got the "ok" and brought a kitten home to Ashley for her birthday.  She named him Mr. Claus.  She loved that cat - not me so much.  We had him for several years.  Eventually, of course, I ended up taking care of him when she went to college until he got sick and we had to put him to sleep.  No more cats in our life until about 8 years later when someone abandoned a kitten in the parking lot of the hospital in Washington where she was doing her residency.  Since it was a military hospital, we figured someone got transferred and left the kitten behind.  Ashley named him Taco.  He was a great cat!!  Much more lovable than Mr. Claus!!   He made the cross country trip from Washington to D.C. laying on a pillow on the console between us happy as a lark.  Unfortunately, he got sick after 2-3 years and died unexpectedly when he was being sedated to give him fluids.  That was the worst!  She went several years before she'd even think of getting another cat but finally, she and I made a trip to the pound and found Bogart.  He is the BEST cat ever!!  Everyone loves him - even Sonny!!

So - now that you have read all that, I guess you would like to see the card!

This card took a little longer to make than the average card.  I stamped the kittens on neutral card stock (Basic Gray, Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Smoky Grey) and cut them out with my paper snips.  The "crate" is from the Wood Textures DSP.  I used dimensionals on the "crate" and just fit my cats in using Glue Dots.  I used markers to color their bows and put a little pink on the ears.  The push pin holding the sign is from Painters Palette.  I used the Mini Treat Bag Thinlets for the zig zag ends of the sign.

Here's a funny picture for you.  I was doing some spring cleaning Saturday and when Sonny moved the chest in our room so he could vacuum behind it, we found the hiding place for all Sammie's toys:

I think spring will be here soon - at least I am hoping!  These are some pictures I took in the last couple of weeks.

Beautiful sky!

Sunset through the trees.

Flowering spring trees!

Another beautiful sign of spring!

NC Blog Hop - Brusho

Welcome to the NC Blog Hop.  We are happy to share our projects with you.  We are all SICK of winter so we thought we'd make a few projects that will have us thinking of warmer days to come.  Although I really can't complain.  The past few days we have had record warm days here in the Charlotte / Lake Norman area and it is supposed to continue into next week.

I dusted off a stamp set that I haven't used in a while, Pocket Full of Sunshine.  This is a great stamp set for making masculine cards as well as card for the teenagers in your family.

I also used a new product (Brusho) that you can find in the Occasions catalog.  I actually got my Brusho several weeks ago but have not had the chance to play with it.  Today was the day!

Brusho is made up of watercolor ink crystals.  The perfect "canvas" for using them is either Watercolor Paper (which is what I used) or SU's Shimmery White card stock.  When you get your Brusho, do NOT take the lid off!  The powder is super fine and will go everywhere.  Simply grab a push pin, pierce the top and use the push pins for the seal on the bottles.  Each Brusho package includes 5 pots - Brillant Red, Gamboge (orange), Moss Green, Prussian Blue, and Yellow.

You can use Brusho in a variety of different strengths to achieve different washes.  Standard strength can be used a straight forward painting to add washes of color over a design.  More diluted Brusho is excellent for producing pale washes of color.  For extremely intense vibrant colors, only add a very small amount of water to the Brusho.

You can mix Brusho into infinite shades by varying the amount of water.  The colors are fully inter-mixable, making them easy to experiment with.  Try using a sponge or a soft brush to paint with.  Another method is Ink & Wash where you apply Brusho as a wash of paint to inked images to bring an element of color.  First though, make sure that your image has been stamped with waterproof ink!  You can also use Brusho with a mask and apply it either with a brush or with a spritzer.

Also try using Brusho as a Resist Technique!  Stamp your image in Versamark and emboss with any of SU's embossing powders.  Heat set the image; then use one of the following ways to add the Brusho:

• Mix water with a bit of Brusho sprinkled on an acrylic block.  Paint over the image to form a background using an Aqua Painter.
• Spritz watercolor paper with water and then sprinkle Brusho on and watch it spread (that is what I did with my card.)
• Use an Aqua Painter to distribute color where you want it.
• Allow to dry naturally or use the heat tool to speed it along.

Here is the first piece I made using Brusho.  I will use it later in making a card.

Have you been watching the Olympics?  I have so much respect for all the athletes participating!  We have watched them every night for the last two weeks.   After tonight's closing ceremony, I think we will go into Olympic withdrawal!!  My favorites this past week were the shoot-out for the girls hockey team to win Gold and the Curling event which netted the guys a Gold medal!  Here's a card I made for the Olympics also using Brusho.  This time I used my Aqua Painter to move the ink where I wanted it.

Brusho is a fun technique that is pretty easy to do!  Give it a try!

I hope you have enjoyed my Brusho card.  Now make sure you "hop" along to the next blog on the list.  I know Laurie has something special to share with you.

TONI CAMPANA

TAMARA DAVIS

JO ANNE HEWINS

TRACIE EVANS LANGLEY

SHARON MARANICH (ME)

LAURIE MEIER

SUE ROOT

KATHY SVEDBERG

FRANCES WAGNER

CHRISTINA WALKER

February Stamp Club Projects - Lots to Love & Waterfront!!

These are the projects we made in Stamp Club this month.

We first made a little box using the Lots to Love Framelits Dies from the Occasions catalog.  It is really easy to miss this set of dies - I did the first 2-3 times I went through the catalog.  But I really love this little box and it is super easy to make.  I used it at Valentine's and made a bunch of little boxes that I filled with Dove chocolates. 

Whisper White Narrow Note Cards and Envelopes (page 19 of Occasions) were decorated using the 6"x6" Picture Perfect Party DSP.  This DSP makes it super easy to create simple birthday cards!   I gave them their choice of using the Bird Banter stamp set or the We Must Celebrate critters (below).  Blender pens were used to color with.

These are a couple of the Valentine boxes that I made to give to friends.  The hearts framelits are included in the Lots to Love dies.  I just used some old DSP that I had on hand to decorate the boxes.

We also made two cards using the wonderful Waterfront set.  I think this is one of my all time favorite stamp sets!  I wanted the gals to see how versatile AND how easy it is to use this set and make a masterpiece!  Think I sold four sets last week!

The beach scene:

The mountain scene:

The Best Laid Plans!

I decided to make this a priority today!  I think I am just getting lazy and not scheduling any posts.  I am going to try to do better .... but no promises!!  I am the same way with logging in my meals for Weight Watchers.  Now that I am in the "maintaining" position, I have slipped a LOT in counting points and not eating the smart way I should.  Need to get these Dove chocolates (my fav!) out of the house!!  Going out for lunch is not great for my plan either!  Today it was with friends to Outback which recently opened in Mooresville.  OMG - just looked at points for the 6 Coconut Shrimp that I had and they were 20 pts!!  Then add in the French Onion Soup for 8 points and I have exceeded my point count for the day!  Luckily, I didn't eat breakfast (saving up for lunch!) and am making a Chicken Taco Soup that is zero points!  Yesterday, I played bridge and our hostess was really good about planning our entree to make it gluten free and fat free.  It was a delicious taco soup.  BUT .... then the dessert was served and this gal can't say no to dessert!  She had devils food cake with something on top, served with fresh whipped cream AND Bailey's liquor drizzled on the cream - quite decadent!  But we couldn't stop there!  Oh no, then we all had to try a shot of the Bailey's Chocolate Cherry liquor!  I didn't bother to add up those points!  I'm still at my goal weight (at least I was when I weighed in last night) but if I continue to eat like that, I won't be!

(NOTE - I think I was jinxed!  I wrote the above paragraph yesterday mid-day.  I downloaded pictures from my phone to include in this blog posting and would you believe - my computer would not connect to internet after that.  I have been working on getting it fixed since about 4:00 on Tuesday until 6:30 Wednesday night!  I did all I could do before calling for help this afternoon.  Luckily one of our friends that lives in the next subdivision is a computer "guru" and was able to help me.  Although he did admit to me when I told him everything I have tried to do to fix the problem that I probably knew as much about it as he did.  We finally got it running and he installed a malware program and a cleaner program on my computer.  So now I can share some cards with you!)

HAPPY VALENTINE's!!

I think this stamp set is so cute.  It is on page 39 of Occasions Catalog - We Must Celebrate.  I used my Blends to color the little guys.

I decided I might get more use out of the stamp set if I cut all the little critters apart.  Some of them are pretty close together but if you are real careful, you can cut between them.  Then you can make a card like this one easily!  Again I used my Blends to color them.

FAST FUSE SALE

Starting Tomorrow

February 8- February 12th

or

until Supplies run out

When you purchase( 1) Fast Fuse

you will get

(2) Refills for FREE

FYI

Last year the Fast Fuse promotion

ran out a 4 year supply

in a matter of just a few days .

Stampin' Up! is bringing back the

5 day ONLY promotion

BUT

it's while supplies last .

Please act quickly!

Stamp Club Cards

I had my Stamp Club last week and we made these cards:

My Paper Pumpkin came in handy for this card.  They were able to pick which card they wanted to make and if it was to be a Valentine card or another type of card.

I love this panda from the Sale-a-Bration Catalog!  You can get it FREE by spending $50 on anything Stampin' Up sells.  Another great item on this card are the Tutti Free sequins - they have adhesive on the back so they are so much easier to use  The sentiment comes from the stamp set, Lovely Inside & Out.  Some of the gals die cut "hugs" and adhered it on the card instead of stamping HUGS.

• ·        Stamp the panda about 1/2” from the bottom of the Whisper White layer with Black ink.
• ·        Add a shadow under the panda w/High Tide stamp piece with Smokey Slate ink
• ·        Die cut a Lemon Lime Twist balloon using the 3” Layering Circle Framelit die in the Big Shot.
• ·        Add the die cut balloon to the Whisper White layer at the top of the stamped balloon string.
• ·        Stamp “sending you HUGS” in Black ink on the balloon as shown.
• ·        Trim the left side and top of the balloon off at the edge of the Whisper White layer.
• ·        Punch the balloon stem from the Tree Builder Punch and adhere to the balloon base.
• ·        Tie a bow with the black ribbon and add to card where shown with a Mini Glue Dot.
• ·        Adhere panda layer to Basic Black layer and then to card front.
• ·        Add sequins where desired.

Another panda - this time a party panda!  I also love this birthday set - Picture Perfect.  It's a great birthday set with confetti, candles, ribbons and more. 

• ·        Emboss Bermuda Bay cardstock w/polka dots folder (retired).  Adhere to Lemon Lime card.
• ·        Stamp “cue the confetti” on square of Whisper White.
• ·        Stamp party horn with Pool Party & Bermuda Bay (dots); Berry Burst & Peek-a-boo Peach.
• ·        Stamp panda on scrap white & cut him out.
• ·        Cut Clear Envelope apart so you have two pieces.  Wrap one piece around the white square & adhere 3 sides on the back. (like you are wrapping a present)  Put sequins inside and seal up the “package.”
• ·        Adhere white square to Lemon Lime Twist Scallop Square.  Adhere to card.
• ·        Use dimensionals to adhere panda to card.
• ·        Tie ribbon & use Glue Dot to adhere to card.
• ·        Decorate inside of card.

For this card, I used Touches of Texture.  I've had this stamp set for a while and only used it for backgrounds.  But I love the flowers and notice I also used the bee and flower in the background.

• Ø  Stamp flower outline & inside of flower with Sweet Sugarplum ink
• Ø  Stamp center of flower w/Early Espresso
• Ø  Randomly stamp flowers, bee, & splatters on card with Crumb Cake – stamp off for lighter images.
• Ø  Stamp sentiment with Early Espresso

Watercolor Stamp Set is a Keeper!!

I've had a great time today playing with the Waterfront stamp from the Occasions Catalog.  Wow!!  This stamp set can make anyone a watercoloring artist!  The soft, buildable images create scenes from the north woods to a beach front.  It's impossible to mess them up.  Well, I guess you COULD, if you really tried super hard.  The best part about this set is how it made me feel like an artist creating a tiny little scene on a small canvas.  I loved it!  Any time you can come out of your craft room feeling great about what you just made, I'll take it!

The colors I used on these cards are - mountains - Fresh Fig, Trees - Tranquil Tide, Water - Pool Party and Bermuda Bay, Sand - Crumb Cake

I added water marks using the High Tide stamp set

I used watercolor paper on this card and used my Aqua Pen with clear water to blend the colors.

I used Marina Mist for the water on this card.  The little houses are stamped with Lemon Lime Twist, Berry Burst and Tempting Turquoise.

The Waterfront Stamp set was inspired by Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and Million Dollar Sales Achiever, Connie Heisey.

Waterfront is only $17 (what a deal!) but if you need other supplies, now is the ideal time to add to your order.  With every $50 spent, you can choose anything out of the Sale-a-Bration Catalog.

Christmas Cards from 2017

I received some beautiful Christmas cards before I left for Hawaii.  I thought I'd share a few of them.

This was a beautiful frame that my downline, Debbie Michael, made for me.  She did a wonderful job on this!  I love it!

This was also made by Debbie.  It is a many dimensional card!  I asked her if all her Christmas cards were like this - if so, she deserves a medal!!  Isn't it beautiful?!!

Pictures from Hawaii 2018

How do you like that flower at the top of my blog?  That was taken last year.  It is a huge tree in Ashley's back yard.  We call it the Q-tip tree!  It is just starting to bloom now and I am think the flowers will be fully opened before I leave next week!

Thought I'd share a few more pictures from our trip in no particular order.

This was taken on our hike the first week we were here.  Ashley and I are giving the "shaka" sign.

The shaka sign, sometimes known as "hang loose", is a gesture often associated with Hawaii and surf culture. It consists of extending the thumb and smallest finger while holding the three middle fingers curled, and gesturing in salutation while presenting the front or back of the hand; the hand may be rotated back and forth for emphasis.

 Ashley's cat, Bogart watching the birds!  He loves it when we go out on the lanai so he can go too!  He drives us crazy though walking along the ledge.  I am so afraid he is going to jump from there onto the roof and down.  Her lanai is on her second story.

 This was a beautiful sunset on New Year's Eve at Molokai.  That missile looking thing is actually a torch that wasn't lit yet.  This picture was taken from the pool, bar and restaurant area of our hotel.

Ashley & I at the beach on the Marine Corps base while Sonny was playing golf.

Beautiful panoramic view!

Cool picture!  Me & my shadow!

This was one of the views from our hike.

We had dinner at Waikiki Friday night after enjoying a great show.  This was taken at an open air mall that we walked through.  The statue is the late, great Don Ho.

Aloha!

Aloha from Hawaii!

Well, it has been a while since I wrote on my blog.  We are in Hawaii with only a week left.  I will be sad to leave .... especially since back home the temperature hasn't been out of the 20s I don't think while I am enjoying high 70s and low 80s!!  What an adjustment we'll have to make!

The Occasions AND Sale-A-Bration catalog are ready to go.  There are some great products in there - hope you have had a chance to look through the catalog.  I have placed my first order and hopefully, it will be waiting for me when I return home next week!  I can't wait to play with new goodies.  I had a hard time narrowing down my choices since, of course, I wanted it all!!

We have been busy ever since arriving here on the 24th.  We had a quiet Christmas, just the 3 of us eating, visiting and watching football.  We went on a hike one day during the week and saw some awesome views.  The hike was not steep but was long - think we figured it was over 4 miles round trip.  I was glad to see the end!  For New Year's, we flew to the island of Molokai where the leper colony is.  Our plane was definitely a puddle jumper - only held 9 passengers and we were asked our weight before we boarded!  There are only 8 past patients living at the leper colony now.  I don't know what will happen to the "town" once they are all gone.  The only way to get to the colony is by hiking or riding a mule.  We chose the mule!   The route down to the colony was rocky with puddles of water everywhere (Hawaii set a record a few days before with rainfall!).  It was a trail with 26 switchbacks.  It was a little bit scary!!

Sonny and Ashley on the way back up

View from the top.  You can see the colony below.

Ashley made it safe on our puddle jumper!

Ashley in the saddle!  At the end of the ride, we had mud from our ankles to our knees!