Cats and Cake, and More Cats

Hello and welcome!

Well, apparently today (October 29th) is National Cat Day in the USA and since the Cat Lovers Hop is still going on (it's the last day) I decided to spend a little time making one more card for the hop. So this is my 3rd and final card for the hop. I wasn't able to complete all 5 cards (the maximum) but three is definitely better than 1 which was all I did last year for the hop. 

The cute image is from Penny Black set Happy Critters, stamped on Bristol Vellum paper and I used my Zig Clean Color brush pens and a Zig Detailer watercolor brush for coloring, then fussy cut.

For the card front I masked the edges of my card stock with washi tape then inked with Twisted Citron and Rustic Wilderness oxide inks and used  Penny Black's Hypnotic stencil too. I didn't bother fussy cutting around all the whiskers, instead stamped the image again directly onto the green background before adhering the fussy cut image onto it so all the cats could have their whiskers.  

The ticket sentiments and die are from Whimsy Stamps but long retired and no longer available. I added some green jute twine and stickles glitter to finish off the card.

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!

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I had so much fun joining in again this year at the Cat Lovers hop, everyone shared such wonderful cat themed projects and loved playing in the daily games too! 

Below is a recent photo of my two cats. It's so rare to see them together like this, you would never guess that they barely tolerate each other but if you look closely you can tell Fussy has her eyes open and isn't really so sure about this situation or that it was caught on camera. Photo was taken by my cousin who was visiting from Germany last month. 

The photo below was taken when we first adopted them back in October of 2010. A rare picture of shy Fussy not hiding away (which was what she did for many years before she accepted us). Seeing both of these pictures you'd think they are inseparable but that's far from the truth LOL. 

By the way, this was my second card for today, if you'd like to see my "Pacman" themed card for Allsorts' special 700th challenge please click here. 

Just a few more hours before the cat lovers hop closes. You can find all the info on how to join in by clicking on the logo below or click HERE to visit Janis' blog who is hosting this wonderful event. 

I am also sharing with these challenges:

• Penny Black Saturday Challenge - PB Stamps
• Colour Crazy Challenge - Coloring
• Crazy For Cats - Cats
• Krafty Chicks - All Occasions
• Simon Says Stamp - AG 
• Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game! - Stencils
• AAA Birthday - Favorite Technnique (Stenciling)
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And link parties:

•   Inspire Me 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 // Spread the Kindness Linkup @ Shelbee on the Edge // Wonderful Wednesday // Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life //  Funtastic Friday //   Link Up On The Edge

If you are interested in joining the end of year "Year in Review" hop where we share our favorite creations of 2022 please click here for all the details. 

A Pacman Themed Birthday Card for Allsorts Challenge - Celebrating 700 Challenges

Hello and welcome!

It's surely been a busy week in blog land with the cat lovers hop going on. I've only managed  to make 2 cards but that's better than 1 which I did last year. Maybe I'll sneak in some crafting time later today and join in one more time before the hop ends... But I don't usually get time to craft on Saturdays so we shall see...

There is another special occasion happening right now in blog land and that is  Allsorts' challenge 700th challenge! What an accomplishment! Huge congrats to our team leader Brenda for running the challenge so successfully over the many years! Of course we are celebrating with several fabulous prizes which you can see at the end of the post. Hopefully you will join in with us for your chance to win!

For my Celebration themed card I decided to make a "Pacman" type card, it's definitely not my typical card style but I think the recipient is going to love it and that's all that matters!

There are several Pacman card ideas on Pinterest and my card was inspired by a mix of several ideas with a different design and stamps. 

The cupcakes are part of a Penny Black sentiment set. They were stamped in different colors and fussy cut. The large cupcake is from Whimsy Stamps (Meljens Designs) but no longer available. Colored it with Copic markers and fussy cut. The yellow Pacman face was cut with a circle die and I cut a small triangle out of it, then added tiny googly eyes. "Happy" and "Birthday" are from a CTMH set I found at a thrift store and "Game On" is from a retired Whimsy Stamps sentiment set. 

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I added stardust stickles glitter for some sparkle on the cupcakes/candle. 

As promised, here are our prizes for the week - remember to have to join in at Allsorts challenge following our Celebration theme for a chance to win!

Prize 1: A mixed media bundle

Prize 2: Dies from Highlight Crafts

Prizes 3 & 4 (this lot will be split into two prizes)

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!

PS: If you would like to join in this year's Year in Review hop with your own favorites, please visit this link or click the logo below to find out more. I'd love for you to participate!

Challenges I will link up to:

• Krafty Chicks - Any Occasion
• Simon Says Stamp - AG

These challenges below are Always Anything Goes so will try to link up here as well:

Crafty Catz // Creative Fingers // The Paper Funday // Word Art Wednesdays // A Perfect Time To Craft // Ally's Angels // Arty Divas // Classic Design  Challenge // Crafts Galore Encore // Creatalicious Challenges (opt. themes?) // DL.Art Linky Challenge // LeAnn’s World 101 // Let's Craft & Create Challenge // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // Through The Craft Room Door // A Place To Start // Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges (exc. 5th Monday) // Path of Positivity // 613 Avenue Create // Lil Patch of Crafty Friends // The Corrosive Challenges // We Love 2 Create (creative/mixed media) // A Gem of a Challenge // Taylor Made Cards 4 U

And link parties:

  Inspire Me 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 // Spread the Kindness Linkup @ Shelbee on the Edge // Wonderful Wednesday // Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life //  Funtastic Friday //   Link Up On The Edge

A "Meowy" Kind of a Christmas Card

Hello and welcome!

The 2022 Cat Lovers Hop hosted by Janis from Her Peaceful Garden is still going on and I decided to make another card to share because I have so many cat stamps that sadly don't get used as much as I really like to. Ok,  it's my own fault but somehow I seem to gravitate to the same style of stamps over and over while others are getting neglected. So for today's card I used a set I've only used a couple of times before. 

I do absolutely love this set but somehow I always dread dealing with matching dies for whatever reason and these stamps just seem easier to use when die cut.

The set is no longer in production but it did find it on Amazon along with the matching die set (sold separately). 

I stamped the tree on card stock I inked with Rustic Wilderness Distress Oxide ink then I used the matching die to cut it out. Cats and presents were stamped, colored with Zig Clean Color markers (brush pens) and then I used the matching dies to cut them out. I tried to add more details to the cats' fur with my colored pencils but it didn't really work the way I wanted to, think the paper was still a bit damp too when I tried adding colored pencils so I just left them as is.

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Before assembling my card, I used a brick stencil I've had for years but I don't remember anymore which brand it is (options here). I used Tattered Rose ink for a soft peachy pink color. 

Stickles glitter glue in Stardust was used on the tree, ribbons and bows for some sparkle. 

If you are a cat lover I hope you'll join in the fun. Janis has lots of prizes on offer too and most of all you get to see some fabulous cat themed creations by joining in the hop!

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!

Oh, and another reminder about the end of year hop I'm planning where we will share our own favorites of 2022. Looking for participants to join in so we can share our favorites with each other. 

The sign- up is now available and you can read all about it HERE or simply click the logo below:

I'm sharing with these challenges:

• Peace on Earth - AG Christmas
• Fab n Funky - Seasons Greetings
• Simon Says Stamp - AG
• Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game! - Stencils
• Unicorn Challenge - Spooky or Cute 
• Christmas with the Cuties - Cute Christmas
• Use Your Stuff - Die Cuts (I used matching die cuts)
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - AG Christmas
• Di's Digis Designs - Spooky or Cute
• Crazy For Cats - Cats
• Jingle Belles - Not a Creature was Stirring
• Most Magical Time of the Year - Christmas or Halloween

These challenges below are Always Anything Goes so will try to link up here as well:

Crafty Catz // Creative Fingers // The Paper Funday // Word Art Wednesdays // A Perfect Time To Craft // Ally's Angels // Arty Divas // Classic Design  Challenge // Crafts Galore Encore // Creatalicious Challenges (opt. themes?) // DL.Art Linky Challenge // LeAnn’s World 101 // Let's Craft & Create Challenge // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // Through The Craft Room Door // A Place To Start // Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges (exc. 5th Monday) // Path of Positivity // 613 Avenue Create // Lil Patch of Crafty Friends // The Corrosive Challenges // We Love 2 Create (creative/mixed media) // A Gem of a Challenge // Taylor Made Cards 4 U

And link parties:

  Inspire Me 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 // Spread the Kindness Linkup @ Shelbee on the Edge // Wonderful Wednesday // Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life //  Funtastic Friday //   Link Up On The Edge

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Gold and Silver for Allsorts Challenge      Handmade Valentines Card with Red Black and Gray

Cat Lovers Hop 2022 - I Don't Have to be Good

Hello and welcome! 

Did you hear there is a cat lovers hop hosted by Janis of Her Peaceful Garden going on right now?? This is only my second year participating but had so much fun seeing all the cat- themed projects last year that I made sure to join in again this year. And the time has arrived! 

And here is the card I made using a cute Christmas cat by Penny Black.

This cat is part of the set Gather Around, stamped with Versafine Onyx ink on Bristol Vellum paper. I recently decided to purchase the new Distress watercolor pencils and that's what I used here for coloring. I really didn't need another watercolor medium but since I like the range of distress ink colors and thought these would be something I could use for watercoloring while in the living room without having to bring all Distress ink pads downstairs, I decided to purchase them. I have set 1 and set 3. While I do like the intensity of actually distress inks more, these are a good alternative when not in my craft room. 

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The patterned paper is from a 6x6 paper pack I recently purchased at Hobby Lobby. Sentiment is also from a Penny Black set - Dear Santa. It works so well with all the cute critter stamps. I just love it!

Before assembling the card I used a dots stencil on the background. Then finished with some red and white twine. 

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By the way - if you haven't heard yet - I'm planning for another Year in Review hop at the end of the year where we will share our favorite creations of 2022 and I am looking for co-hosts. The sign- up is now available and you can read all about it HERE or simply click the logo below:

 

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'd like to link up here:

• Peace on Earth - AG Christmas
• Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Christmas
• Di's Digis Designs - Spooky or Cute
• Penny Black Saturday Challenge - AG with PB Stamps
• Crafty Catz - Twine
• Jingle Belles - Not a Creature was Stirring
• As You Like It Challenge - Traditional or Contemporary Christmas (I prefer traditional colors for an old time Christmas feeling)
• Little Red Wagon - Spots
• Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game! - Stencils
• Critter Crazy Challenges - Critters 
• Lost Coast Designs - Cats and/or Dogs
• The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up - AG
• Christmas with the Cuties - Cute Christmas
• Double Trouble Challenges - Use at least 1 circle (Theme Thing 1)
•  Crazy for Cats Challenges - Cats

These are Always Anything Goes and I hope to enter when possible:

Crafty Catz // Creative Fingers // The Paper Funday // Word Art Wednesdays // A Perfect Time To Craft // Ally's Angels // Arty Divas // Classic Design  Challenge // Crafts Galore Encore // Creatalicious Challenges (opt. themes?) // DL.Art Linky Challenge // LeAnn’s World 101 // Let's Craft & Create Challenge // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // Through The Craft Room Door // A Place To Start // Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges (exc. 5th Monday) // Path of Positivity // 613 Avenue Create // Lil Patch of Crafty Friends // The Corrosive Challenges // We Love 2 Create (creative/mixed media) // A Gem of a Challenge // Taylor Made Cards 4 U

And link parties:

  Inspire Me 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 // Spread the Kindness Linkup @ Shelbee on the Edge // Wonderful Wednesday // Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life //  Funtastic Friday //   Link Up On The Edge

Autumn Leaves and Flowers

Hello and welcome!

It's time already for a new theme at Allsorts challenge. Brenda is hosting this week and she chose  "Colors of Autumn" for the theme. Hope you can join us for a chance to win a prize by AALL and Create, the beautiful Acorn Collage stamp set.

Before I get to my card I wanted to let you know that next week we are celebrating 700 challenges at Allsorts and there will be some wonderful prizes to give away so be sure to mark your calendars so you don't miss it!

For my card I decided to use a new to me stamp set that I was lucky enough to win in a recent We Love Stamping challenge. I thought these flowers would look beautifully in autumn colors as they reminded me of Chrysanthemum that are always in bloom this time of the year here in the Midwest.

The large stamp is part of Vintage Inc stamp set Laced to Perfection set 2. I'm not sure if it's available in the US but can be found in the UK from Highlight Crafts. 

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I stamped it with Versafine Onyx ink then used Distress inks for coloring. A Tim Holtz Harlequin stencil was used on the white space with Speckled Egg Distress Oxide ink. "Happy Autumn" sentiment is part of an older Hero Arts monthly stamp kit. The smaller autumn verse is from a retired set by Whimsy Stamps "Autumn Letter Seals". I added a piece of burlap print paper with some staples and tied natural jute twine around. 

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Above is a closeup of the beautiful verse by John Burroughs.

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!

Challenges:

• The Card Concept - My colors were inspired by the fall mood board. I would say my card theme falls into the "Shabby Chic & Vintage" category. 
• Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game! - Stencils // 
• Happy Little Stampers - Stencils // 
• The Crafting Challenge - Autumn Colors // 
• Dragonfly Dreams - Autumn // 
• We Love Stamping - All things Autumn
• Crafty Catz - Twine
• FarmQuest Challenge - Denim or Burlap

These blogs below are Always Anything Goes and I hope to share with them:

 Crafty Catz // Creative Fingers // The Paper Funday // Word Art Wednesdays // A Perfect Time To Craft // Ally's Angels // Arty Divas // Classic Design  Challenge // Crafts Galore Encore // Creatalicious Challenges (opt. themes?) // DL.Art Linky Challenge // LeAnn’s World 101 // Let's Craft & Create Challenge // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // Through The Craft Room Door // A Place To Start // Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges (exc. 5th Monday) // Path of Positivity // 613 Avenue Create // Lil Patch of Crafty Friends // The Corrosive Challenges // We Love 2 Create (creative/mixed media) // A Gem of a Challenge // Taylor Made Cards 4 U

  

And because this post is all about the beautiful colors of Autumn I decided to share some pictures I took last weekend on a walk through a nearby nature preserve. The colors were glorious but sadly they don't last long. 

 

And then something unexpected... a beautiful tall periwinkle colored wildflower and bee. I was surprised to see it as we already had our first frost of the season but apparently this pretty Blue Cardinal Flower ( or Great Blue Lobelia) does bloom in late summer to mid fall here in my area.

Thanks for visiting and for scrolling to the end!

By the way - if you haven't heard yet - I'm planning for another Year in Review hop at the end of the year where we will share our favorite creations of 2022 and I am looking for co-hosts. The sign- up is now available and you can read all about it HERE or simply click the logo below: