Cat Lovers Hop 2021

Hello and welcome! 

I'm so excited to be participating in this year's Cat Lover's Blog hop!! I first discovered it last year when it was at the end and too late to participate, but made note to keep an eye out for it for the following year, and that time has arrived! 

I feel right at home on this hop with all the cat loving card makers and if you too are a cat lover and would like to participate, you can check out all the details here on Janis's blog. This is the 7th year of cat lovers hop, I must have been living under a rock for not knowing about it sooner! She has lots of sponsors lined up and anyone can join in with a card during the time frame of the hop, which ends on October 30th.

Do you ever completely finish a card, take picture and then you're just not loving it?? Well, that's what happened to me with the first take of this card (shown at the end of this post),  not sure what exactly it is, maybe the designer paper, but in any event, this post is later than I had planned because I completely re-designed the card. You can see the original make at the bottom of the post. 

So here is my second take on the card:

This stamp set - Penny Black Gather Around - was from last year's Penny Black release but when I finally decided to order it last year, it was out of stock. This year I started looking for it ahead of time and I was lucky to have found it. Unfortunately it's once again out of stock at many retailers, there is one available through an Amazon seller. 

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I stamped the image on Bristol Vellum paper using Versafine Onyx ink,  then colored with distress inks. After re-thinking my card design, I decided to fussy cut the image using my Cutterbee scissors.  

To make the background I used a brick wall stencil (Options HERE and HERE)   and Pumice Stone Distress Oxide ink. I also used the floorboard from Penny Black's Floor Die set to add to the scene, also inked with  Pumice Stone ink. 

The fun sentiment is from Penny Black from the set "Dear Santa". It works so well for all kinds of cute images not only for cats :-) You can take a peek at it below. The image does lead to Amazon when you click on it, where it will be easier to read all the fun sayings. 

Oh, and I used the Classy Stripes stencil on the very top of the card before stamping "Dear Santa". "Please Define Good" has been stamped with Versarmark ink on black cardstock and then heat embossed using detail white embossing powder.

Leave it to me to add the sentiment crooked and when I tried to straighten it, a little bit of paper got torn and so I ended up removing the sentiment and adding a snowflake border die (old - options) behind the sentiment to cover it up. LOL, but I do like how it turned out now. 

               >>>>>>>>Ad: Scrapbook.com Holiday Cardmaking Sale Going On Now!

If you are a regular blog reader, then I'm sure you've seen photos of my cats before, and they are on the side bar, but here are a couple more.

This is one I shared when we first adopted them in 2010. They've surely grown into their ears :-)

And here they are all grown up. This is Thomas. He loves to chase away the squirrels in the backyard and loves to wake us up at any time during the night. 

Surprisingly, Fussy's fur turned a bit more brown-ish as she's gotten older. She is our shy kitty and for some time she would only come out of her hiding place when it was time to eat. She's turned into a very snuggly kitty and now only hides when we have visitors. 

And here is the rejected card. I think it's a combination of the floor die I used and the patterned paper I used to frame the image that makes me not like it. It just doesn't look right to me, but thought I'd share it anyway since I went through the work of photographing it before changing my mind :-)

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

I'm also linking up here:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - PB Stamps // Everybody-Art-Challenge - Fun with friends // Cute Card Thursday - AG // Critter Crazy Challenges - Critters // Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Patterned Papers // Happy Little Stampers Dies // Jingle Belles - Creatures // 

A Vintage Christmas Card with a PSX Stamp

Hello and welcome! 

 A new challenge starts today at Allsorts, Mervi is hosting and she selected the theme of "Vintage" with an "Anything Goes" option, so if vintage isn't your things we'd love to see you playing along just the same! There are two prizes this week, the beautiful Indigo Blu Rose Blush stamp and we have a digi prize from  Ruth Hamilton Designs where the winner gets to choose 3 digis from their shop.  

It's another Christmas card from me, this time I used an old PSX stamp I found on eBay a few years ago. I just love the style of these stamps, while no longer in stores they usually are available on eBay or Etsy. PSX Stamp: K-2431

It's been stamped on Bristol Vellum paper using Versafine Onyx ink and I used Distress inks for coloring. 

I recently purchased Tim Holtz's Splatter Brush and it's what I used here to create the splatter using Tea Dye Distress ink. It was my first attempt at using the brush and may have gotten too many splatters on the card. Maybe I need to play with it some more to get better control of the splatter. 

I also inked the edges with Tea Dye ink and then distressed using a distressing tool (similar option). You don't need this tool, you can use the back of a pair of scissors, but I had just found mine after having it misplaced for some time :-)

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My striped paper is an oldie from Stampin Up and I did more distressing here. Before adhering to the card base, I used my paper piercing tool and template (old from Stampin Up) to pierce around the edges. My card base is one of Stampin Up's greens, but I no longer sort them by color name, and I don't know which green this is. 

The beautiful sentiment is from the Penny Black stamp set Winter Pine. I just love the font and think it pairs so well with this image. 

I used platinum and frosted lace stickles glitter, I also added glossy accents to the berries, but that was after I had photographed the card, because I didn't think of it before :-)

Thanks so much for visiting!

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

I'm linking up here:

Get Creative Challenges - Holidays // Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges - AG // Bastel-Traum - Christmas // Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Something Starting with "S" (Splatter, Stripes and Scene) // Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Patterned Papers // Let's Craft & Create Challenge - Things with Wings // Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog - Christmas // Sparkles Forum Christmas - Christmas with Flora/Fauna // Sweet Stampers - Stripes or Dots // The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up - Christmas // 

Always AG and Link Parties: 

Taylor Made Cards 4 U // Crafter's Castle // 613 Avenue Create opt. twist watercolor // Crafty Creations // Creative Moments // Lemon Shortbread // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // A Bit More Time to Craft // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge * // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Love to Craft // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // 

Dare to Share //  Sunday Showcase (first Sunday) // Inspire Me Monday //  Link Up Potpourri  // Hello Monday // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now // Shelbee on the Edge Spread the Kindness //  Effortlessly Sophisticated // Wonderful Wednesday // Classy Flamingos // Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life   

Light Blue, Red and White Christmas Card with a Touch of Silver

It's the 18th of the month and that means it's time for some midmonth inspiration at Stamping Sensations! Our theme is Animals, Birds and Bugs, there is still plenty of time to join us if you haven't already and you may enter up to 3 different creations for more chances to win our prize from Stamp Addicts.

As a reminder, our Design Team Call is still open. Anyone using traditional stamps is welcome to apply, you do not have to have previous Design Team experience, but you do need to have an active blog. You can read all the details here. 

I decided to make a Christmas card as I know it'll be here before we know it, and with the way things are going, cards need to be mailed sooner than usual this year. My sketch was inspired by a sketch I found on Pinterest. 

This little guy is actually part of the stamp Holly Jolly Critters. It's a pretty long stamp including 4 critters, but they each work individually too for different card options.

Stamped with Versafine Onyx ink and I colored with Distress inks and Zig Clean Color markers. The image has then been cut out with a basic circle nestablities die, then I inked with Tumbled Glass Distress ink. I layered the image onto another die cut shape, this time I used a Deckle die set I had found marked down at Michaels, but there are plenty of similar sets available.

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An old Stampin Up paper piercing tool has been used along the edges, more inking with distress ink and then I flicked some ink directly onto the white paper before adhering to the patterned paper (by Stampin Up - old). I tied some silver cord around the card before adhering to the card base and before attaching the image panel. I used foam tape to adhere the image panel.

. 

For a sentiment I decided to dig out my old "Merry" die which I've had for many years from my time as a Whimsy Stamps designer and "Christmas" is part of a wood mounted Merry Christmas" stamp by Stampabilities, also old and found in the Clearance bin at Hobby Lobby some years ago. 

Frosted Lace stickles glitter was applied for some snow and fur on the hat.

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Thanks so much for visiting!

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

Linking up here:

As usual I like to share with lots of challenge, but wanted to say there is a newer challenge blog - River of Creativity where you can share any type of craft following their given theme: 

And this month their theme is "Wildlife". If you are any type of crafter, please consider joining in the fun as the challenge blog may close if participation doesn't improve by the end of the year. 

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Use PB stamps // Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Christmas // Krafty Chicks - Christmas //

Always AG and Link Parties: 

Taylor Made Cards 4 U // Crafter's Castle // 613 Avenue Create opt. twist watercolor // Crafty Creations // Creative Moments // Lemon Shortbread // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // A Bit More Time to Craft // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge * // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Love to Craft // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // 

Dare to Share //  Sunday Showcase (first Sunday) // Inspire Me Monday //  Link Up Potpourri  // Hello Monday // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now // Shelbee on the Edge Spread the Kindness //  Effortlessly Sophisticated // Wonderful Wednesday // Classy Flamingos // Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life   

Autumn Scene with Lavinia Stamps

Hello and welcome!

It's time already for a new theme at Allsorts challenge. Brenda is hosting and she chose the simple theme of "Anything Autumn"! We have a prize from Lavinia Stamps this week, the Spotty Toadstool, and a second prize - a Tim Holtz die. Hope you'll join in the fun this week for your chance to win!

I decided to use fall colors along with some Lavinia stamps to create my card.

To start out I used a deckle die to mask off around the edge. My die set was found at Michaels when they were marked down on clearance, but there are many deckle dies available. I also added a circle die cut for a moon. 

 

I inked with a mix of Distress inks in fall colors, then used a torn paper piece to ink up some hills. Then flicked some water droplets onto the card and let dry.

After removing the die, I stamped the fairy Aurora and Star Blossom using Versafine Onyx in with the help of my stamp platform. 

I've used Tim Holtz Quotations metallic stickers for a sentiment. (I seem to be using this sticker set a lot with my Lavinia cards.) 

White card stock was used as a base and I used a white Faber Castell Pitt marker for some highlights on the flower. A white gel pen would have been better, but all my white gel pens dry up after just a few uses and I am tired of replacing them. If you have a tip of what kind of gel pen works and doesn't dry up so quickly, or what else you use for white highlights, let me know in the comments! So frustrating when products don't work the way they should!!

Thanks so much for visiting!

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

Linking up here:

 
Inspiration Station                                                          Double Trouble

Inspiration Station - Autumn Photo above (Inspired by the pretty autumn colors) // Double Trouble Challenges  - Inspired by Fall Garland photo above // We Love Chocolate Baroque Challenge - Anything Autumn // Craft Rocket Challenges - Autumn // Cute Card Thursday - AG // Unicorn Challenge - Autumn // Crafting Happiness Challenges - Use Orange, Purple, Green, Black (any or all) // Path of Positivity - Anything Positive // Use Your Stuff - Fall Colors // 613 Avenue Create - AG // Dare 2B Artzy Challenges - Fall // 

Always AG and Link Parties: 

Taylor Made Cards 4 U // Crafter's Castle // 613 Avenue Create opt. twist watercolor // Crafty Creations // Creative Moments // Lemon Shortbread // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // A Bit More Time to Craft // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge * // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Love to Craft // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // 

Dare to Share //  Sunday Showcase (first Sunday) // Inspire Me Monday //  Link Up Potpourri  // Hello Monday // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now // Shelbee on the Edge Spread the Kindness //  Effortlessly Sophisticated // Wonderful Wednesday // Classy Flamingos // Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life  

Fashion Over Forty: I Added Some New Things to my Closet

Hello and welcome! 

We finally made it to our yearly apple picking fall activity! While some years we managed to go twice starting very early in the season, this year we struggled finding the time and so far only were able to get the apples from their shed already picked. As the kids have gotten older, their schedules naturally changed and so it's getting harder to plan these things. Yes, hubby and I could have just gone by ourselves, but I do like to make/keep this an annual "family affair" for as long as possible, so I just kept postponing it. Last Saturday my son finally had a day off from work and even though my daughter  had dance rehearsals until 3:30 I was able to bribe her into going afterwards by promising Olive Garden restaurant 😊. Food always helps! Of course this turned into eating dinner at 8pm (unlimited salad is never a good idea this late :-) but that's ok on a rare occasion. The orchard is closed on Sundays so that made it a bit harder, but I don't blame them for taking Sundays off, in fact I think more businesses should!

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

It was a warm but overcast day, and this is what I decided to wear to the orchard and the restaurant. 

Everything I am wearing here is new to me this season (minus the bag), but I purchased at Marshalls & eBay meaning I didn't spend too much $$. And since I've been really good over the summer and hadn't bought a single clothing item for myself, I thought I could treat myself to some new things this fall!

I found this pretty vermillion colored tank top for only $8 at Marshalls. I love this color for late summer and early fall, and I can also wear it under a light jacket or cardigan when needed. The brand is Rachel Zoe.  I have another tank by this brand and really love the softness of both! I don't have a link and have no idea where else this clothing brand is available, as both my tanks were found at Marshall's. 

On the same day I found the tank, I also came across these chunky heel leather boots at Marshall's, by Enzo Tesoti, made in Spain. Not a brand I've heard of before, but I find them to be very comfortable. They do run about a half size too big, but they didn't have a 7.5, so I got the size 8 which I normally buy for boots. I made them fit better by adding a pair of my Birkenstock insoles. Now they are even more comfortable! I've had my insoles from a pair of Birkenstock loafers I used to have "back in the day", but you can get Birkenstock insoles at Amazon. 

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If you've been following any fashion blogs and topics, then you will know that Chelsea boots  have been trending since last year. While I don't normally follow trends, these types of boots I do like because they are a casual boot and practical, and I don't see them much as a fashion boot. You can find more Chelsea boots at DSW, Amazon and any other shoe stores. 

I do like to spray my leather boots with a waterproofer spray like this one, so I can wear them in wet weather too without worrying about ruining them. 

I envisioned these boots with a pair of black kick flare jeans and since I didn't already own a pair of black non-skinny jeans I went on a jeans hunt. I'm very picky when it comes to jeans, most importantly they have to be comfortable because I do wear jeans them all day, so I decided to purchase a pre-owned pair of AG jeans from eBay. These are the AG Jodi kick flare crops. (They fit more like an ankle lengths on me since I am only 5'2" tall and it was how I wanted them to fit.) 

I really like how these jeans pair with the black Chelsea boots, but I have no idea how to style them with any other shoes and I might just wear them with these boots whenever I wear them :-)

My Fossil crossbody bag was a Goodwill find from a couple of years ago. They are quite costly brand new.

I was surprised to discover some apple blossoms in October, and have never seen that before, but apparently it does happen occasionally. 

Lots of apples still left. 

What is one of your favorite fall family activities? Apple picking is definitely up there on my list! 

Thanks so much for visiting!

I'm linking up here:

Friday: Fancy Friday hosted by Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style // Lizzie in Lace //  Friday Favorites at Penny's Passion // A Little Bit of Everything // Friday Favorites // A Fireman’s Wife // Shelbee on the Edge //  Fabulous Friday Link Up with Lucy  // A Morning Cup of Joe

Saturday: Dare to Share

Sunday: Style Splash linkup // Sunday Showcase (first Sunday) //  You're the Star Blog Hop Link Up @ Stonecottage Adventures

Monday: Away From Blue // Glass of Glam // Inspire Me Monday // Hello Monday // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Beauty by Miss L // Sharon's Souvenirs //  Link Up Potpourri //

Tuesday: The Fashion Canvas // Shelbee On the Edge Spread the Kindness // I Do deClaire // Elegantly Dressed and Stylish // Myriad Musings // Jenerally Informed Happy Now Blog Link // Style Splash linkup // Tuesday with a Twist @Stonecottage Adventures // I Will Wear What I Like Linkup  // Randomosity - Good Random - Fun // Travel Tuesday

Wednesday: What's Up Wednesday? (last wed. of month) // The Queen in Between Style Six // Straight A Style // Jersey Girl, Texan Heart // Fashion Frenzy at Seeking Sunshine and Rosy Outlook // Is This Mutton? Wow on Wednesday // Effortlessly Sophisticated // Wonderful Wednesday //  Welcome Wednesdays //  Classy Flamingos // ,My Corner Of The World,

Thursday: Fashion Files at Doused in Pink and Curly Crafty Mom // Your Own Twist Linkup with Shelbee and Monica (3rd Thursday/month) // Elegance and Mommyhood // High Latitude Style // Mummabstylish // Thirty Minus One // Mutton Style // Thursday Favorite Things //  Little Things Thursday // Traffic Jam Weekend @Being a Wordsmith // Slices of Life (Encouraging Hearts and Home) // Ageless Style Linkup 3rd Thursday