November Theme Challenge 52CCT

 Back in May my husband, adult kids and I welcomed a precious little maltese mix that we named Ziva into our lives.   At the first of September an emaciated cat settled on our front porch and the man who takes card of our yard asked if I had food and water (which I did).  As it turns out my neighbor has adopted this sweet cat and she is starting to thrive...That's how love works!    In the process of all this we met (I renewed acquaintance with her) with a cat lover in the cul de sac behind us.  She was going through that mini woods behind our fences looking for her cat a big yellow cat and Catalina is black and white.  She ended up finding her cat which we were thankful for.   All this leads me to share why a fox family picture card for this Winter Countryside theme challenge from Gill over at 52 CCT.   It seems there is a fox den in the mini woods and the fox suns him or herself in one of the neighbors in the cul de sac's back yard.   We think we have raccoons, we know we have deer, squirrels and rabbits.   People have spotted cayotes and we have a huge hawk.   This has all happened in the last few years!  When the leaves fall we can see the houses behind us.  The animal habitats continue to be invaded and they are doing the best they can.   Ziva at 10 lbs. always goes out on a leash and we keep a close eye on her, mainly because she loves to grab acorns, mulch and sticks in her mouth.   I perform mouth sweeps 2 or 3 times during an outdoor potty break.   

As for the card the sentiment is stamped (SU retired).    But the scene was built using the fox family etsy image, the trees digital from Jan's digitals (Copied and sized and then copied several more times as transparent images.  That's why they overlap.   The foxes were sized and then copied as transparent to the panel.  I was able to continue tweaking their size.   I printed an extra panel and cut and popped the fox family up.     I had in mind a card that is actually a newsletter on the inside where the family puts the picture on the front.    I also used the snowflakes to create a Currier and Ives look. I topped the snowflakes with green SU Elements from the current catalog.   It was a lot of fun and I'm pleased with the result.   It actually came together in a couple of hours (once I figured out what I wanted to use)   I was surprised at how easily I was able to use Word and Paint to layer the images.     

Once again I am grateful to all of you who visit faithfully and leave such encouraging comments..    May the Lord grant to all of you who will celebrate Thanksgiving this next Thursday have what you need and may we all look for ways locally to help those who are in need.   Love and prayers,   Kathy

the sentiment on my card reads:

May the Christmas season bring you

special moments & happy memories     

 

November Colour Challenge 52 CCT

It has been such an honor to be a member of the 52 Christmas Card throwdown this past year.   I'm so excited to have cards that I have made to send to family and friends.  Some on the cards I made with specific people in mind and I'm quite sure this will mean so much to them!       For today's color challenge by Gill, we are to use  kraft, black and white on our cards.       Thanks for stopping by and I would love for you to join us this week over at 52 CCT.     Smiles,   Kathy  

October Theme Challenge 52 CCT

This weeks theme challenge 52 Christmas Card Throwdown  that was chosen by Majda is  "Christmas Cup."    Some time ago I had downloaded from ETSY this cute gingerbread man in a hot tub (Cup of Chocolate)   I tried coloring the image and just couldn't see quite well enough for that yet!  However, since  I can fussy cut using my readers and a craft magnifying glass that has lighting I decided to do paper piecing. .  Perhaps you remember back in January we were challenged to do "paper piecing" on a a card.  I don't think this guy realizes that he is actually on the menu at a Christmas Party.  The papers are SU Sweetest Christmas (first use) and  the white embossing was accomplished using an Alltenew EF Organic Linen..  I touched up the fur on the cap with Wink Of Stella as well as the berries and icing on his arms and the milk in the hot chocolate.  Not sure this shows up in the photo, but it really added a lot on the card.  I've included a photo of me in my readers holding the magnifying glass to cut the small pieces.    Thanks for stopping by and be sure and check out the lovely cards made by the 52 CCT Design Team.    We would love to see what you create.    Smiles,   Kathy

 

September Technique/Stash Challenge 52 CCT

Stencils, are not my friends or at least in the past.     I think because it wasn't big when I first started card making and attended classes at local stamp stores (and there aren't any now in my area), I don't have a place to watch it demonstrated and then do it.   Having said this, I realize there is you tube etc. Sometime this past year I bought this slimline stencil from the The Crafter's Workshop.    So this week I started on what I was certain would be a disaster and for awhile it was.    I started off  using  a regular small stencil brush and the above shows what a disaster that turned out to be.    I decided to continue practicing on this card and ended up coloring the ornaments with an  SU Marker    I then cut them out to pop on the second card.   I remembered that I had ordered these brushes for stenciling from Amazon and  I was able to create the Pine garland on the second card without any problem.   I used some gold berries that I die cut on the garland,  then I tied gold twine bows around the ornaments before popping them up on the garland..    The sentiment is from a retired snowflake set, I borrowed from my  SU friend and supplier, that isn't in the packaging anymore so Ii don't the name of it, but it is retired..   I really like this card and I plan to make more cards with these stencils.  Challenges force us out of our comfort zones,  which is one of the reasons that I love to do them.  The challenges Rosi has had for us this month have been very enjoyable and challenging.    So thanks to all of you who stop by, leave comments and are faithful followers of my blog.   I sure enjoy being part of such a wonderful community of  cardmakers.   Now it's time to head on over to 52 CCT where the challenge is "use a stencil."  I look forward to seeing what you do.   Our Design team has some beautiful work for you to check out! Smiles to all,   Kathy

 

September Theme Challenge 52 CCT

The past week has been a bit of a challenge.  On Tuesday I had cataract surgery on my right eye.  At this point all is well with that.  They were able to place a plain lens with no correction on that side for now.  I will get the left cataract done on Oct. 3rd.    There ae however, quite a few don't to observe.  The most difficult one being do not bend over from the waist and do not pick up anything over 15 pounds.   3 weeks ago Ziva was spayed and she developed an allergic reaction to the sutures and the top two layers of her stitches had to be replaced and they followed up with staples on the exterior this time.   All total she had to wear a cone for about 3 weeks when we couldn't watch her.   She was miserable, poor baby.   This Thursday she had her staples out and she is out of the cone.   She is so sweet and we love her so much, it was so hard to see her so miserable.   So we are thankful for that also.   My daughter helped me with this card (she is a nurse and took time off to help us all.  I downloaded these adorable mice from ETSY and they gave came in groups of two and single images.   I wanted to line 3 in a row so while I can't tell you what we did (going to keep practicing we were able to make the little mouse a transparency !   So my sweet daughter gets an Honorable Mention and huge thanks for all she has done this week.   I have a second cousin that this card will go to this year.   Her daughter is somewhat of a tomboy (participates in Rodeo events).  I am actually going to use a thin black pen and write their names up close to the their mouse!   It was a fun but was very challenging ,  I would love to see what you do with our "mice" theme this week.  The sentiment I used is  "Wish Love and Hope."   Be sure and check out tje great and inspiring work by the 52 CCT design team.    Thanks for dropping in and all the encouraging remarks.   Smiles,   Kathy

 

52 CCT August Theme Challenge

Today's theme challenge is Christmas Food over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown.  When I think of Christmas food I think of family favorites such as turkey, dressing (not stuffing-a good Southern girl knows the difference) Gravy, Ham, Rolls, Sweet Potato Souffle, Green Beans, Broccoli Salad,  Sweet Iced Tea, Pumpkin Pie and Red Velvet Cake ( my mother in law made this for my husband through the years and yellow layer cake with "real fudge" icing for my brother in law.   She quite often (not at Christmas made my favorite (Country Style Steak with gravy and rice--another awesome Southern dish.)      But getting back to Christmas --we had plenty of cookies on hand but somehow I never quite thought of them as food, but I guess since you can eat them they qualify.   I bought these litlle decorated cookies on Etsy a couple of years ago and have used them to make some Christmas cards when this theme came up at other challenges.   I went online and put in a search engine "sentiments to use with cookies to make Christmas cards and came away with this.  I hope I do not get sued, since I am not claiming any kind of original credit for it.   I just don't want to get in trouble for plagiarism.   .    The sentiment reads it's the most Scrumptious time of the year".        I really like my easel card...some things that I found out a little late is that it is a little "front" heavy with that huge plate of cookies.   Also someone "chewed" on the gingerbread men,  the left leg, right leg and the head on the guy in the center (as if he wasn't in enough pain trying to balance on this head for the photo.   This was my 3rd easel card and it worked much better with the simpler ones here .

As always thank so many of you for being precious blog buddies.   I really do feel that I know so many of you and you make such a different in my life. So love to all of you and I love to see my blog family grow so you are welcome to leave comments and I will try and visit you all and leave comments of encouragement also...We all need it!   Smiles,  Kathy

also linking this to: 

  

ABC Christmas Challenge  P=presents, Q=Quick, R=Robins   (presents -  my friends gives our family cookies every year for Christmas and this is the card I'm giving her this year)

 

Pale blue with pop(s) of red card

 

It's the second Saturday in July so time for a color challenge over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown.   Color challenges are definitely that usually.   Pale blue with a pop of red is the direction I decided to go with my card.  and  I purposely kept it simple.   I struggle with doing clean and simple.    I think everything is SU except for the snowflake embossing folder.  

Where I live we seldom have snow at Christmas, it's usually just cold and rainy, so this card will be fun to send to a friend or family member.     Right now it is hot and humid, still the temperatures are lower than so many other areas of the country.  

Thanks for visiting with me and head on over to 52 CCT and enjoy the Design Team's fabulous cards created to encourage  you in your card making endeavors.   We would love for you to share your work with us, your card might be chosen as the challenge winner and you will be invited to be a future guest designer.  We really appreciate all of you who play along with us regularly or just when you can find the time.   Be sure and read the guidelines for sharing your work.   Again thanks to all of you who leave encouraging remarks.   I think of so many of you (who I have never met in person) to be a good friend (who I would enjoy spending time with in person).       Smiles,   Kathy

distressing Inks/blending Christmas Cards

Trying new techniques is quite challenging to me, and the last Saturday of the month over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown features a technique challenge.   This is the first card I've created a background blending  Distress Inks.  I need to keep working at it, but it was fun!   I used 2 ink pads and 1 spray ink to create my background.   I actually took the sprayer out of the bottle and coated a brush sponge for the blue.  The green and the cream were ink pads.    The nativity is CTMH Unto Us A Child is Born.    The sentiment reads,  "For unto us a child is born."   Thanks for stopping by and the design team invites you to make and share your creation with us this week.    Smiles,   Kathy

 

Candy Canes Christmas Card...

Candy Canes are perhaps the most iconic Christmas symbol the world over!   And today for the theme at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown they are the theme Elizabeth has chosen.    The image of my card is from Power Poppy and I think it was a free years ago and I have used it several times over the years.  I printed the image and stamped the SU sentiment before die cutting it with the hemstitch die cut backed it with a vibrant green panel that can only be seen through the die cut holes and mounted that on the dark green card base.  I then fussy cut the colored image and popped it over the bottom colored image and topped it off with some  gold sequins from a pack of red/green I had picked up at my local thrift store on customer appreciation day awhile back.  Please go on over to 52 CCT and check out all the beautiful cards the design team has created.   We would all love to see what you create for this theme challenge.      Thanks for stopping by and I appreciate those of you who take the time to comment.     Smiles,    Kathy

The sentiment on my card reads:   Thinking of you at Christmas Time

June 52 CCT Sketch Challenge

 

It's time for a sketch challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown.  For the top card I used a current Close to my Heart Christmas set and SU CS.   I used colored pencils for the image and cut a die cut star from another current CTMH Christmas set.     I made a second card using this sketch with just a few extra details using a Tree sticker from Carta Bella.   It's a versatile sketch and I like the way both of these cards turned out.   Thanks for stopping by!        Smiles,   Kathy      

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