All Dressed in Pink

The weeks leading up to Valentine's Day were blustery as they usually are, interspersed with a few bright, warm days of sunshine. Miss Mimi, a gift from a special friend, brightened up my stamping corner in her festive pink dress, decked out for the holiday with lots of sparkle and delivering love-filled balloons to another dear friend. There are three Mimi's in the set, "Mimi's Love" along with an adorable deer. I stamped and embossed all of them, and then had a difficult time deciding which one to create with first. Mimi was watercolored using Distress Markers; I am really enjoying this medium for coloring and watching the images come to life.

There is quite a bit of sparkle on this card, just what is needed for a Valentine wish! Unfortunately, it doesn't show up well in the photos. The hearts in the die cut background are each coated with Wink of Stella, as are the hearts in Mimi's headband, the white bow, and the ruffles on her dress; her sweet pink shoes received two coats of the glitter pen and are especially sparkly. I inserted a transparency behind the open heart balloon to resemble a mylar balloon.

The sentiment was included in the stamp set from My Favorite Things, "You Have My Heart." I divided it by stamping part of it on the front and the rest as a surprise on the inside. Friends really are the best things for our hearts! The dangling heart was also included in this set and I added a die cut heart from a piece of watercolor paper I painted for a previous card. I don't usually add embellishments to the inside of my cards, rather letting the sentiment stand alone. I tried adding the outer border from the frame on the card front and found I liked it as a decorative element on the inside.

Another photo session and my helper cat assistance continues... I keep wondering why I don't have enough light on my photos...

It's a brilliant sunshiny day here, although quite cold. We're sending a little sunshine warmth and hugs your way. You really are so good... for my heart!

Blessings,

Materials:

Cardstock: Neenah Solar White; Archivers Watercolor Paper; My Favorite Things: Pink Lemonade

    Pink Shimmer Paper

Stamps: Penny Black: "Mimi's Love"; My Favorite Things: "You Have My Heart"

Dies: Poppystamps: Heart Balloons; Simon Says Stamp: Falling Hearts; Frames; Memory Box: Heart Delights

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black

Other: Distress Markers; Copics; Wink of Stella; White Gelly Roll Pen; Zing Clear Embossing Powder;

     Dritz Silver Thread; Ribbon

Believe

When I saw the challenge at Merry Monday this week to use a Santa , I instantly thought of the vintage Santa stamp I have had for many years that has never been inked. Loved it when I purchased it, love it still, his sweet face makes me happy! I believe I found it at Hobby Lobby or Michaels when I first started collecting acquiring a variety of stamps for different occasions. 

I began by stamping the Santa with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink on Neenah Solar White cardstock and die cutting it into an oval. The oval was then distressed with Antique Linen with more of the Gathered Twigs around the edges. I colored the glasses frames with Atyou Spica "Sand" and added a bit of Spun Sugar Distress Ink for Santa's rosy cheeks, followed by Stardust Stickles for his beard and eyebrows. 

And then came the difficult task of selecting papers from the stash of 6 x 6 paper pads. After many combinations, I decided on a vintage combo to complement the Santa. I assembled the layout, and then added the Taylored Expressions Dotted Lattice Embossing Folder to resemble quilting on the patchwork of papers. I have attempted to add ribbon and/or lace to the last few cards I've made, but without success. Finally, this card allowed the use of both and I was quite a happy cardmaker! I do seem to think every card needs a bit of ribbon to make it complete, but then I find that isn't always true.

The Penny Black "Believe" sentiment was die cut twice from Kraft cardstock and once from gold, then glued together to add more dimension to the design. A few gemstones were added along with a couple of Impression Obsession snowflakes coated with two layers of Clear Rock Candy Distress Stickles and a second completed card was added to the Attic's 2015 Christmas basket. 

Blessings,

 

Materials:

Cardstock: Neenah Solar White; Kraft; Recollections Gold

Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Christmas; Kaisercraft - Turtle Dove

Stamps: Rubber Stampede "Santa Collage"

Dies: Penny Black: "Exultations"; Impression Obsession: "Small Snowflake Set"

    Spellbinders: "Classic Ovals Large"; "Classic Ovals Small"

Ink: Distress Inks: Antique Linen; Gathered Twigs; Spun Sugar

Other: Taylored Expressions Embossing Folder: "Dotted Lattice"; Atyou Spica "Sand"; 

    Stickles: "Stardust"; "Clear Rock Candy"; Hero Arts Lace; Papertrey Ink Scarlet Jewel

    Ribbon; Recollections Clear Gemstones

Kitty Love

I hope each of you had a wonderful Valentine's Day filled with love and all that makes your heart complete. Dh and I stayed in most of the day tending to some tasks each of us wanted to complete and then ventured out into the cold for a nice dinner in the late afternoon. Once we arrived back at our car, it didn't take long for me to decide I just wanted to head home where it was warm since the north winds were bringing a promised snowstorm Sunday evening. We received about three inches of snow last night and the cold continued today. It was a good day to bake stuffed peppers, read some blog posts, and write one of my own.

This card was made using Penny Black's, "Furry Affection" stamp set and "Heartfelt" dies. I finally decided to try the Distress Markers I've had for quite a while for a beginning attempt at water coloring since that is such a trend right now. I also colored a scrap of water color paper for the die cuts. It was quite relaxing coloring with them and I can imagine stamping several images, spending an afternoon simply coloring. Wouldn't it be great to have images ready for a card and then simply select papers, layout, and embellishments? Might be fun to find out! 

Once I colored the kitty and waited for it to dry, I cut it out and adhered it with dimensional adhesive so it would stand out from the background which was die cut with Simon Says, "Falling Hearts" die. The "Frames" die was used for the outer edge. Each of the background hearts was painted with Wink of Stella as was the "love" sentiment, the heart the kitty is coloring, and the scattered hearts as well. I'm so glad the "WOS" came into my life; no more glitter issues here!

The inside was framed with another "Frames" die cut and the sentiment was added from the "Furry Affection" stamp set. I love this simple sentiment. Sometimes the simplest words are the most profound amongst friends, one of the blessings of knowing each other so well! 

And here's Miss Sleepy Helper Cat, scrunched into her tiny space outside the photo tent. She was reminding me her kitty bed was there first and I was invading her space! Sweet girl...

I am entering this card in the Simon Says Stamp "All Creatures Great and Small" challenge along with the SSS Flickr Challenge #12, "So Sparkly. "

SO SPARKLY!

Blessings,

 

Materials:

Cardstock: Neenah Solar White; Archivers Watercolor Paper; PTI Aqua Mist

Stamps: Penny Black "Furry Affection"

Dies: Memory Box: Heart Delights; Simon Says Stamp: Frames; Falling Hearts

    Penny Black: Heartfelt

Other: Wink of Stella Clear; Distress Markers; White Gelly Roll Pen; Marvy LePlume Black Pen;

    Versafine Onyx Black Ink; Zing Clear Embossing Powder

Newton's in Love!

Newton's adventure abroad brought him the true love he was hoping to find. She is everything he ever dreamed love would be. Naughty Newton, however, knows he shouldn't leave graffiti on the Parisian walls, but his heart was singing with love and he just had to let it out! And look at her, so sweet, blushing beautifully at her handsome beau's romantic gesture. She knows he is the one for her! Oh yes, she brought him balloons, not just one, but three to proclaim her affection!

Just a few notes about the design. The background was dry embossed with a brick embossing folder and I pounced versamark ink lightly over the raised texture. It was then wet embossed with Ranger "Brick" embossing powder. It leaves a very rough, flat texture, and feels like real brick. The powder includes bits of gold and rose colors along with black and reds. The Penny Black heart from the set, "So Very Much" was then embossed with white embossing powder over the brick wall. A gel pen was used to go over some of the words.

Newton and his love (from Newton Dreams of Paris) were stamped and embossed on watercolor paper and colored with distress markers. Wink of Stella was added to her sweater, just because every Valentine's sweater needs some sparkle! The "love" sentiment was die cut four times and adhered together on pink shimmer paper and the clear balloon is backed with transparency to allow the "love" to shine.

I am submitting this to the challenge at Newton's Nook #17 Inky Paws Challenge, "Use A Heart Shape." 

May your days always be filled with love,

 

Materials Used: 

Cardstock: Neenah Solar White; Pink Shimmer; Bazzill; Watercolor Paper

Patterned Paper: My Minds Eye, "Lost & Found Two - Blush"

Stamps: Newton's Nook: "Newton Dreams of Paris"; Penny Black: "So Very Much"

Dies: Penny Black "Heartfelt"; Poppystamps: "Heart Balloons"

Other: Tim Holtz Brick Embossing Folder; Ranger Brick Embossing Powder: Hero Arts White and Clear 

     Embossing Powders; Versafine Black Ink; Versamark, DMC Light Gold Thread; Distress Markers; 

     Gelly Roll White Pen, Transparency (for balloon) 

"Yes, Abbey Girl"

"Of course you may have your day on the blog."

I suppose since the blog is named after Abbey, she can be featured every now and then. I just wish her request had been a bit more subtle, with a lot less cat hair left behind. Super sticky lint rollers to the rescue! This is what I found after last week's photo session when I returned to clean up the aftermath from cardmaking and composing the blog post. I assume she was waiting patiently for her own photo session and wasn't any too happy about that card being in her way. After a few photos, and her exploring and playing in the tent (notice the felt liner partially disconnected in the tent), she did manage to turn the card around all on her own.

Such a sweet girl, our helper cat wants to be involved in everything we do.

Unfortunately, she tires easily from a photo session and can quickly go from "happy Abbey" to "crabby Abbey" in a flash!

Sunday was the Kitten Bowl and we looked forward to it just as much as last year. Abbey wasn't very interested though; she only watched it for a little while. Last year she watched the entire game! I had to wonder if perhaps she was more interested in the game time munchies than in the game itself. She's probably been observing me too closely!

I think I saw a bit of "kitty love" in her eyes when Joe Montuna appeared on screen! He was a pretty handsome kitty!

Actually, even though it was a snowy afternoon, one usually good for kitty naps, Abbey was more interested in playing with her brand new box from Costco. Around here, Costco boxes are the best toys around - forget all the cute sparklies in the toy box! A simple new box can entertain her for days!

We spent some time playing with her Christmas sparkle wand and she had great fun chasing it through the box and stalking it from behind. This Santa Cat decided it was a must have new toy since it was a part of the "Frozen" collection at the pet store. The movie itself is a "must see," filled with beautiful music and graphic effects. Highly recommend it! I don't usually purchase movies, but it is definitely one I am considering. I see it becoming one of the acclaimed Disney treasures for all time, the message so empowering and timeless.

Yesterday was another day of taking photos, and yes, I made the mistake of leaving the photo tent up once again. I've only recently started using it and I have found it does make a difference when I take the time to set it up. A good sunny day also helps! And so, we had another bit of a photo session and more sticky roller sheets to the rescue!

Just like everyone else, sticking her tongue out for the camera!

"Ah, no Abbey. Don't start getting too sleepy or too comfy. This is not your new kitty bed!" Although, her bed usually sits atop this cabinet, so I can understand why she might think the tent is hers. Poor kitty, every time I need to take photos, she is displaced.

It is a typical snowy, windy February Wednesday afternoon here in the Midwest as I finish this blog post. We've only had four snows this winter so far, so it has been a very enjoyable day especially since I didn't need to be out and about. Saturday it's supposed to be 70, and a week ago today it was 76! I fed the birds earlier and here are a couple of photos to share. 

Abbey and Spirit have spent the day tucked in warm and safe under their blankets; Abbey in front of her heat vent, and Spirit on the cat tower where she can nap and watch bird TV to her heart's content whenever she awakens.

Abbey has enjoyed her day on the blog. She is already looking forward to helping with a new post and a card soon. 

May your journeys be safe and your spirits be warm.