Sunday, May 8, 2016

Happy Birthday Sydney Harper!

We have a dear canine friend named Sydney Harper.

And she is famous...locally, anyway...
She has a weekly column in our local paper.
The Russell cats have written Syd a many times
with their numerous antics and dilemmas.
So when her birthday rolled around
naturally we wanted to help her celebrate!
So here is what we did...


This was the front.
Digital stamp image from Mo's Digital pencil
And I added the die cut cats to represent our crew...
The stamp sentiment is from Stampin Up

On the inside


Stampin Ups birthday pop up.
And, since Syd loves hot boiled peanuts, 
I altered the message a little...
And of course our present
was a bag of them!

What fun we had making this!

We had a very special treat at our house last night!
Moe came to eat and, since everyone else was corralled elsewhere,
I opened the front door, sat in the doorway
and he came in to eat!
Second time in less than a week!
Hoping maybe come winter he will want to be inside out of the cold.

I love this picture of him looking at me as if we were having a very deep conversation...


we were, actually!

Well, that's all for today.

Until next time,
Happy stamping and scrapping!
Blessings,




Saturday, May 7, 2016

Long Time No Post... Moving Forward!


Been away forever it seems...truth be told my camera and Windows 10 and I 
(and my (new-er Dell computer do not get along (but then does anything get along with Windows 10...?! I absolutely hate it!) 
And I've been learning to live with Psoriatic Arthritis. Finally a correct diagnosis, an AWESOME Doctor...and a lot of life-changes to try and slow the progression.  So been rather busy.

And I have had a little time in  the craft room!!
 I have Personal Trainer #2 and she was moving.  
Wanted to make something for her and since she is up and down  our island on her bike...
this seemed like the perfect fit... 
Here is the box 
(remember-iphone pics-so not the greatest--but pics nonetheless!)



The wheels on the bike actually turn! 
Of course the bike it popped up (necessary for the wheels to turn freely).
It is made with a stamp and die set from Papertrey Ink
And stamped with Close to My Heart ink.

Here are the cards...



Here is the inside of the card (above) and,
Since we cannot have any naked mail, the envelope (below)!
Yes, I die cut the bike and then just used the front half for the envelope.



Now-confession time.
I have been stamping for eons. 
This bike is a very very small area and to try and line up
The clear stamp (which means I can see the die cut underneath
as opposed to red rubber stamps you cannot see through...)
It was still hard. Dirty-word hard!
And I threw a ton out and went through
probably a box of envelopes because I didn't line them up right.
Fast forward a few days and the lightbulb went off.
In my stash of craft tools I have
Stampin Up's Stamp-a-am-jig.
This little tool allows you to line up your paper and stamp perfectly
Every. Time.
Did I think to use it on my project...?
No.
Will I remember to use it next time?
You can bet your sweet bippy I will!

My PT LOVED THEM!
She had really rough move
(in that everything that could go wrong did---
must've been something in the air last Sat!)
So I was glad to put a smile on her face with these.

Oh-that yellow thingy  on the box I found in a new line Michaels is carrying 
and I thought they looked like a sun when I bought them
and I was right!

That's all for today in the crafty kingdom.
 Have some other things I have worked on to share later
and sadly, today I need to make a sympathy card for a friend.

All kitties in our household are doing well...
Our senior citizen, Inky has become very loving and much more interactive.
The LITTLES as I call Lady Liberty, Sirs Stirling and Sebastian are full of themselves. 
Moe, our elderly resident feral actually cuddled with me 
on our chase lounge earlier this week!
We have a sometimes feral we call Spot
as he is cocoa colored with a little white spot on his chest.
He also has a hurt paw but refuses to let us near him
and avoids the trap no matter what we bait it with.
So sad to see him suffer and not be able to help.

Here is Sir Sebastian... I think there may be a slight "misfiling" 
going on in my linen closet!
Usually it's Sir Stirling in there 
and, truth be told,
the photo I missed was of both of them in there at the same time!



Well, with my health issue comes the ability to deduct a hot tub from our taxes
and hubby has been working extra hard to get ready for delivery please God on Monday.
A friend has graciously let me use hers until mine arrives
and being in the hot water is a sure time for all pain to stop.
Not a cheap fix--but anything for relief!
And I need to move on myself and help with the final preparations.

Until next time (and I sincerely hope it won't be nearly as long!)
Happy stamping and scrapping!
Blessings,


Saturday, March 26, 2016

Long Gone...But now I am back!



Wow! I was finally able to log back into my blog today! First I upgraded to Windows 10 😱😤😡😪😰 then upon said upgrade my camera software wasn't 9and sadly still isn't) compatible...then my health issues got worse but the good news is-I finally found the right doctor and got the right diagnosis and am on my way to better health -- while learning to live with Psoriatic Arthritis.

So all that said...I will be posting some of the things I've been up to-and that will give me a reason to spend more time in my "magic kingdom"! Pics may not be great but I will have some!

Until then, have. Blessed Easter! I serve an awesome God and will be sharing some of that journey too!
Happy stamping and scrapping,

Friday, October 9, 2015

Switchy Witchy...

So if you follow any Stampin Up blogs
or view Pinterest
or any other paper crafting site
you know the Witches Hat clothespin
is all the rage!
 
They are everywhere!
They are ADORABLE!
They are made with SU's new Christmas tree punch,
some circle punches,
black glimmer paper,
their mini clothespins
and their bow builder punch.
WOW!
Quite a shopping list!
 
Unfortunately
this little Lady Liberty
is sick.
Chronic vomiting led to a new diet
(24 cans = $ 75! YIKES!)
and an ultrasound
which has led us to schedule exploratory surgery
and we are praying hard that it's not that "c" word...
The good news is...the new diet is working--NO vomiting!
And so I am praying that whatever was seen on the ultrasound
was just something terribly inflamed that didn't like the old diet.
PLEASE God....not another sick cat-and a baby at that!
 
That said-Momma's crafting budget just can't buy every new thing out there
that I'd like---
so I got to thinking....
my CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge has a Christmas tree...
and  a circle...
WM had the medium mini size clothespins
and hey, black cardstock may not be a pretty as glimmer paper
but we'll go with what I've got-
some Halloween ribbon---


and I have a CTMH witch's treat bag clip
just as cute as SU's! 
And, for the record,
I did order some other SU products
so I don't feel too bad casing their project.
I am going to use the same concept
for some Christmas Santa hat gift clips for the
upcoming craft shows...so stay tuned.
Before that tho,
I have to finish the treat bags for the vets, techs and staff---
we spend a lot of time with them
and they do an awesome job
even when my kids aren't too cooperative
(Lady bit a tech during her ultrasound!)
 
Until next time,
please keep your paws crossed for us
and surgery next week Friday morning...
This little gal has stolen my heart
and acts completely normal!
 
Happy Stamping and scrapping!
Blessings,


Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Scrapbooking Meets Quilting....


So as if I do not have enough hobbies...
I fell in love with an applique quilt and,
when I couldn't find someone to make it for me...
I found someone to teach me how.
So here's to yet another hobby!
 
I had my first lesson
to see what I have, what I need (to buy!),
and to identify all the parts of the kit.
 
which had virtually no instructions.
I had no clue where to even begin!
While I was searching for someone to help,
I fell in love with this quilt....**
(**note that the link goes to the PATTERN ONLY--not the quilt kit!)
which sounded easier as it was precut and backed
with fusible web.
So I got it, too.
 
Well,
there are a lot of itty bitty teeny tiny pieces
to that turtle's shell---
and one of the things suggested
was to trace the pattern on clear plastic
so you can lay it over your pieces
for proper placement.
Easier said than done!
The plastic slipped and slid and...
then I remembered my ancient Basic Gray Magnetic Mat
that almost got tossed out/resold.
And the tons of cheapy page protectors from various scrapbooks
I bought.
I cut the page protectors apart,
put the pattern down, covered it with plastic,
anchored it with my magnets
and off I went!
My pattern was traced in no time!
 
 
So!
Now when I put kitties to bed
I can begin putting the puzzle-er, quilt pieces together!
 
Speaking of kitties,
this little gal had her spay surgery last week
was vomiting over the week-end
and yet....she does this...
Too funny!
Crawling inside the pillowcase!
Bummers-Blogger won't play the video---boo hiss blogger!
She is climbing in, out, tumbling over, chasing her tail...
being a completely normal kitty--except for stitches!
I sure wasn't up to that after any of my surgeries!
 
Now back to the craft room to work on yet another project!
That involves stamping and big shot and tape and...
Until next time,
happy stamping and scrapping!
Blessings,
 


Saturday, September 12, 2015

ATG GUN: LOCKED AND (RE) LOADED!



So anyone who knows me or has followed my blog
can probably guess what, compared to pop dots fun foam
is my next absolutely-cannot-craft-without item...
so much so...
that I now have back up!
So when I run out of "ammo" I can "throw it down"
and start again without having to stop and reload.
Ammo--throw down---reload...
get it?
It's my Scotch ATG gun!
Yep, I have two.
Because Murphy's law---if I am in the middle of a project
and particularly if under a time constraint
it's a given that I am going to run out of tape.
I LOVE my ATG gunS!!!
What I don't love however
is after having to travel 2 hours round trip
to get more ammo
and pay a pretty penny for it...
to go to load and discover the roll was loaded
BACKWARDS!
I've done the contact Scotch to get replacement thing
several times-
more often than not the rolls get pulled out and tossed aside
and I go to pack 2 that I picked up and pray that it isn't the same way 
('cause the second roll in the first pack inevitably backwards too.)
WELL---
NEVERMORE!!!

Weather here has been sunshine-rain-sunshine-rain-and more rain.
My fibro is off the charts so I just put myself down for the day-
and have been on Pinterest and Facebook all day.
After hours and hours I came across a video
on how to fix a roll of ATG tape that's loaded backwards!
I ran to try it-only to discover
my tape gun was on the opposite side of the door Inky was on
(all the other kitties were with me).
Of course-there was a break out--
and of course Momma and Poppa had to break up the cat fight that almost ensued
not once but twice.
Everyone re-corralled and back to the trial.
It didn't work.
So I Googled it
(no clue why I never thought to Google it before---)
and I found
video-
and it worked!!!
Thank you, Tammy! 
So easy.
And since I was down to a small tidbit of tape
besides the backwards roll---
I'm good for a few more rounds!
Give it a try!
It really does work!

Maybe some projects later in the week.
But not today.
The kitties and I are back to Pintrest and Facebook.
And the storms are rolling in again.

Until next time,
happy stamping and scrapping!
Blessings,