Meowy Christmas...a Pink Cat Challenge!

WHEW!! Finally...after the stockings were hung by the chimney with care...I headed to the basement to have some time with Pink Cat, before I tore out my hair... ok, bad rhyming I know...it's late, cut me a break, ok??

I've been forcing myself to do housework and decorating all weekend, so I finally demanded some time for myself (it was really hard too, everyone was already in bed *wink* I'm real tough, huh?) and particpated in the Pink Cat Challenge over on Papercraft Planet.

I pretty much only go over there to check on the Pink Cat Thread there...I have so many other things to keep up with, I can't really handle much more! Ha ha ha ha...

Anyway - the challenge was a 1,2,3... 1 Ribbon, 2 background layers, 3 embellishments...so here we are...

See that fabric in the background?? That was my inspiration for the colors of this card. It's a pair of pants I picked up for my daughter at Kohl's the other day...fun, and a bit 'non-traditional' wintertime colors.

Now, check out my ribbon...yep, it's stamped. I used the snowflake images from Lily & Billy Winter, and stamped them on SU!'s 5/8" Chocolate Grosgrain ribbon, with Papertrey Ink's Vintage Cream Ink. This is AWESOME for stamping on ribbon...I hope they come out with a true white with this formula as well...I just love it...look how crisp it comes out, plus the visibility! I added my 3 embellishments here...my cute little bling.

It felt good to get out there and create...I also worked on coloring some images I purchased today from squigglefly... of course I learned about them from Lauren Meader, and fell in love, so I hope to be back maybe even tomorrow with a finished product with one of the images :)

Well, thanks for stopping by - back to work tomorrow...BLECH.

Supplies:

Stamps: Pink Cat Studio, Cat Plate 1, Lily & Billy Winter

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Palette (through PTI) Vintage Cream

Paper: PTI Select White, Aqua Mist, SU! Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: CB Snow Dots Folder, AMuse Creative Candy, stardust stickles, copics, SU! 5/8" Chocolate Grosgrain

Remembering a Friend...

It's been a long week. I hosted Thanksgiving dinner, so between working and cleaning and cooking, I haven't had ANY stamp time...BLECH.

BUT -- I went to an awards dinner tonight, to remember a friend. As most of you know, I'm involved in Fife and Drum, what's that you say?? check HERE. I used to belong to a junior corps, called The Young Colonials. This is actually how I met my hubby. He wasn't in the corps at the time, but his younger brother was, and his sisters taught the fife line, and his 2 older brothers taught the drum line...

On May 31, 1995, something pretty terrible happened. I was home sick from school (I was a Sr. in HS at the time) I got a call from a friend of mine from a payphone (back in the day of *GASP* no cell phones! *sigh*) who had said that one of our classmates Chris, had been in an accident, and that his sister was in the car with him and she died....my stomach dropped. Chris has 2 sisters...Angela, and Michelle...which one was it??? No one knew. I called my Mom (she's a nurse, and works at the local hospital) She answered the phone, and I said "Do you know??" She said "Yes, it was Angela." I still remember that moment like it was yesterday. She was 12. 12. Now being a mom, even moreso I can't even BEGIN to think about how short her life really was. It also gave me a good dose of 'I'm not invincible' reality too.

Angela was an incredible fifer for her young years, and though she was small, and had to hold her fingers a certain way to make sure she covered the holes all the way, she ROCKED the fife. She taught me a thing or two, that's for sure! She always did what was right by the corps, and was the fife sargeant as well...for a little girl, she knew how to command attention!

So, on a weekend where we should have been celebrating our last few weeks as Seniors in HS, Chris (Angela's brother) was in the hospital, and we (my hubby and friends and I) were at Angela's funeral...NEVER will I forget that.

Each year, The Young Colonials hold an awards dinner, where they give out medals to the members of the corps for parades they've won, and they have some perpetual awards that are given out each year as well. One for an outstanding member of the Colorguard, one for an outstanding member of the fife line, and one for an outstanding member of the drum line. That year, they added a fourth award. The Angela Simmons Award, to be given to a member of the corps, that exemplified all of Angela's qualities as a corps member. The recipient would be a member of the corps that demonstrates leadership, encourages their fellow corps members not only to practice, but to just be together and have fun, to have good parade and practice attendance, and to be an example to the younger members of the corps (or even perhaps the older ones!! *wink* ) I was honored to have been given this award the second year.

Well, after 12 years, the plaque is full, and the corps has decided to reitre it, and give the plaque to Angela's family. So tonight, all past recipients were invited to attend the dinner, so that we could all pose for a photo with the plaque to be presented to the family with the plaque.

I still see Angela's Dad now and then, and I'm still friends with her sister Michelle...and always give Chris a hug when I see him...I think a lot about what could have or would have been if Angela were here today...though I know she is in a far far better place, but man, how sweet it would be if she were still here...we miss you Angela!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Wintertime Fun :)

Hello all~

It's been frigid these last few days, here in NY. Brrrrrrrr..... We've even seen a few flakes, but nothing significant to even make a coating on the grass, which I am thankful for...though I *do* love the snow...I'd rather wait until after Thanksgiving if possible.

BUT -- seeing those snowflakes got me wanting to play with Billy & Lily's newest set from Pink Cat Studio.

So Billy & Lily love to go sledding at night...under a starry sky. I wanted to be a little different and use purple, as I'm trying to change my DD's mind about painting her room pink...maybe if I keep using purple, she'll change her mind...(ha ha I could only hope!) There's lots of detail on Billy & Lily...I used white applique on the 'fur' trim. Billy is wearing a suede jacket (it was of course waterproofed...he wouldn't be so foolish!) that was done with my brown velvet fabric pen. The sled is covered in crystal effects, a nice glossy look, but my photo doesn't really capture it.

The stars in the background are Martha Stewart Halloween double sided stickers that I got on clearance last year, perfect for glittering :) Oh, and of course Billy & Lily are popped off the front of the card using a piggy tale. The only downside to these is the shadows when I photograph, but they really add a lot of interest to the cards - and it's great that they flatten down!

Sentiment cut out with one of my new Nestabilities Labels 2 dies (this is the smallest die) and stamped in Dark Chocolate Palette ink from Papertrey.

What was/is your favorite Wintertime activity??? I like to play in the snow with my DD, usually a playful snowball fight....can't wait to hear what yours are.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Supplies:

Stamps: Lily & Billy Winter

Ink: Memento Black, PTI Dark Chocolate

Paper: PTI Plum Pudding, DCWV Glitter stack, PTI select white

Accessories: Copics, star shaped double sided stickers, MS glitter (silver and purple), piggy tail, nestabilities Labels 2, liquid applique, brown velvet fabric marker, crystal effects

It's all coming back...

I've been on the LONGEST creative dry spell...but I forced myself to sit downstairs tonight and use some things...and I feel my mojo coming back...I thought it was back the other day...silly me, I was a fool. But with my warm up card, and the one after that, slowly but surely, I think I'll be back to my normal self by Wednesday or Thursday :)

I think it had something to do with receiving some new goodies...but maybe it was just time...nah, I think it was the new goodies. The funny thing is, I got some new Pink Cat Studio Stamps, but I used a set that I've had. Go figure.

ok ok - here we go...my first card. A get well for a co-worker...not my favorite, but a decent warm up. I used my new Nestabilities labels 1 set...I left the die in place, and colored the background...the image was colored with my Copics. *happy sigh*

Finished it off with a little polka dot aqua mist ribbon from PTI.

The next card...I'm feeling a little more warmed up...another adorable image from QT Hooty...again, colored with my Copics. I used some PTI dark chocolate CS to mat my image, and some dark chocolate twill for some added texture and interest...the 'dew drops' are vase filler from M's colored with my Copics to match my card...

I started on another one, but 1 - it needs to dry overnight... and 2 - I need to go to bed! Morning always comes too early around here!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Supplies:

Get Well Card:

Stamps: QT Hooty - Pink Cat Studio

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper: SU! Chocolate Chip, PTI Select White

Accessories: Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 1 dies, Copics, PTI Aqua Mist swiss dot ribbon

Flock Together Card:

Stamps: QT Hooty - Pink Cat Studio

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper: PTI Select White, PTI Dark Chocolate

Accessories: PTI Dark Chocolate Twill, vase filler, Copics

Thomas...

Remember the 70 invitations?? The Mom called me up and asked me to make labels for some pails...she has someone making candy tree centerpieces for the reception following the Christening, in these turquoise pails...the theme is trains, the whole Thomas the Tank Engine thing I guess...

So she gave me the pail, and it had this big ugly sticker label on it that was tough to take off, wo we decided whatever I did it had to be big to cover the unsightly labels so they wouldn't have to be removed, these could just be placed over them.

The hardest part was getting the 'shape' of the label. Of course, I didn't take pictures (why would I think to do that?!?!) but they turned out alright I think.

I took the pail, and laid it on the cardstock on my rubber mousepad, so there was a little give under it...and pressed and rolled at the same time, to catch the 'curve' as I rolled it. then cut it out, straightened the sides, and voila! I had my template for the other 15 labels...

Mom was thrilled, and I'm hoping she'll forward a photo of the centerpiece complete, but in the meantime, this is what I have.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Supplies:

Stamps: Trajan Monogram, PTI

Ink: SU! Tempting Turquoise Classic

Paper: SU! Real Red, Basic Gray, Tempting Turquoise, PTI Select White

Accessories: MS border punch - train cuttlebug dies

Getting in the Christmas Spirit...

While many papercrafters out there have already 'been there, done that' with the Christmas stuff...I'm starting to get in the spirit of the holiday season, though I actually made this card a while back (a bunch of them really) for a swap on Splitcoast.

There are a few groups on there, of people who have become friends, and chat...I'm part of the PSFs, we were named by Lauren Meader's daughter, Alexa...then there are the HYENAs (Have you Ever Noticed...) the Challenge chasers...and then there are the Dorks...what a great group of ladies. We've really gotten to know some of the Dork sisters pretty well, so, in a thread 'getting to know' our neighbors...we decided to start a swap...we did one with a sisterhood theme first, and this time, we did Christmas cards.

Here's mine:
I used the great 'Little Drummer Boy' image from Stampendous' Christmas Inspiration Line. I got mine at All That Scraps. The image was colored using my Copics...but there was still something missing...so I decided to make a 'light' shine down upon baby Jesus. I cut out a mask to cover the image, and make the 'beam' and just rubbed my Brilliance Galaxy Gold pad right onto the cardstock. It's so shimmery, I got a closer shot...here look:
the final touch was a little cording sewn in a double x pattern down the side. Kind of untraditional color-wise, but all in all, I love this card.

Hope you do too - thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Stampendous Christmas Inspiration Little Drummer Boy & Sentiment
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento, Galaxy Gold Brilliance
Paper: SU! Kraft, Brushed Gold, Really Rust, PTI Select White
Accessories: SU! Gold Cord (retired)

Happy 62nd Birthday Dad!!!

My Dad's 62nd Birthday was last Thursday (the day before Halloween) it was such an emotional day for me...more so than I thought it would be.

For those of you that don't know me so well -my Dad has some health issues...including bad circulation form years and years of smoking. Starting in November of 2006, he's had numeous procedures to restore and maintain the circulation to his right foot, and the end result was a wound on his calf that wouldn't heal. In February of this year, it got infected. So badly, that it sent his body into septic shock, and he was on a ventilator and almost died.

While sedated on the vent, it was decided that his leg would have to be amputated above the knee, if he were to have any chance of living. On one hand an easy decision for Mom to make, but on the other - how do you tell someone that you had to make that decision?? The day he was taken to the OR, I though I'd never see him again...the doctors weren't very optimistic, nor was I...

But - Dad is AMAZING. He pulled through the surgery. He was off the vent about a week later, and day by day his stats improved. a few weeks in the hospital, and another month and a half in rehab, continuous physical therapy - and he's doing AWESOME! He's in good health, and he's walking with a prosthetic, using 2 canes right now, but who knows? Some day, he could be walking like 'normal' again. God is good.

So - back to Dad's birthday - one I honestly thought he'd never see...so that was exciting. My friend Sarah got me the cool Retro 50's set from Pink Cat Studio back for a friendship appreciation swap on SCS a couple of months ago, and Dad was the PERFECT person to use it for! When I still lived at home, he'd make me CRAZY listening to 50's music ALL the time...of course, now I love it too, and look forward to when I can make my kids crazy ;)

Here's his card:

Cool, huh? The jukebox is on a 'piggy tail' and sproinging (I think I just made that word up ;) ) about. Kind of like dancing to music...

The main image is colored with my copics, and my silver paint pen for the 'chrome'...let's take a closer look at the jukebox, shall we?

I used Crystal Effects for the rainbow 'bubble light' on the jukebox, and you can see a little better the dimension from the piggy tail.

Also - did you SEE the newest set from Pink Cat?? Billy and Lily Winter Stamps...OMW - I love them! Go check them out!

Still looking for my mojo in case you find it, but I'm glad to have a little something to post in the meantime.

Oh! And for those of you wondering, Dad had his last cigarette on November 10, 2006 (the day of his first surgery) and is still smoke free!! TRUST me, if he can quit - ANYONE can!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Retro 50's - Pink Cat Studio, Birthday Basics - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento, Whit Craft (SU!)
Paper: Basic Black (SU!), Ocean Tides, Select White (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Copics, piggy tail, crystal effects, silver paint pen

getting things back on track...

Hi there!

Yep - I'm still around, but I think I lost my mojo when my hard drive crashed! If anyone can retrieve it, will they send it my way??? Please?!?!?! :)

Anyway - I hope to be back on tonight with a post and a card and try to get back on track.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Devastated...

Sooooooooooo sad am I. But I've learned and important lesson BACK UP YOUR FILES PEOPLE!!!!

Got word from the computer guy today - he couldn't retrieve any of my files...I've lost almost every photo of my second daughter's first year. I have some on myspace, and some on facebook, and some in some smilebox creations, so I didn't los EVERYTHING, but there was so much more that I had that I never got to do anything with...like her chicken pox pictures - the poor thing looked so cute, but they're gone...and her actual first birthday pictures...yep - those are gone too...Other DD's 4th birthday - and her party...yep - gone.

UGH - I think I'm going to go throw up...

Learn from me, if you haven't already - BACK 'EM UP!!!

MIA...

BUMMER.

So Saturday I got some pictures all ready, and I was going to get a fun post together with a card I made for a Christmas card swap with some friends on SCS and KAPLOOEY. Computer got messed up. *sigh* Not sure what the deal is, but it won't boot up. So, I spent the rest of the weekend without being able to communicate via internet. So weird how used to things you are, you know? I saw something on TV, and I said - oh, I'll go check that out...um, nope. Can't.

I'm at work - so obviously can't spend the whole day blogging away (though I'd LOVE to!)

I just wanted to pop in and say hi - and I hope that the computer guy can at least retrieve all of my picture and music files...here's to hoping!

Have a great day - thanks for stopping by!!