Snow 'Person' Challenge - SA02

My first challenge of the New Year! I am fairly new to participating in challenges, I just never seem to get to them before the deadline. And then the New Years Resolution comes into play and here I am...

My friend Lorie is hosting a challenge over on the Stamping Around blog on behalf of Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps. "Use a snow(wo)man on your creation." I sent her a quick message to ask if my snow person had to, in fact, be human. She said as long as it is snow, anything goes. So here is my take on the challenge.

In honor of the two critters that we adopted in November, a snow kitty! Although I am happy with most elements of this card, I still think it needs a little something. I have until the 12th to fulfill this challenge, so if you have any ideas to spice up this little guy, feel free to leave a comment below! In fact feel free to leave a comment even if you do not have any ideas



I have not quite gotten the knack of these side photos, but wanted you to see the dimension between the Cuttlebug embossed layer and the cat, plus the liquid applique snow...


Thanks for looking and thanks, Lorie for hooking me up with this challenge

A "Moving" Winter Scene

I was inspired to make this card by someone whom I have never met, JustPaintingAround. I am enthralled by the way that no matter how many layers in her card, the scenery remains the same. I wanted to see what I could do with this idea. My intention for this card was for Paola's Move It swap, but once it was done I realized it fit so well with the SOTC theme of December (create a winter scene), that off it went to Fay instead. Of course, then it was back to the drawing board for Paola's swap, but that will be the next(ish) post...

First I made the shaker box. Riley was stamped and masked. Using some templates bought eons ago (made by All Night Media) I sponged the trees, then the clouds. Riley was colored and Liquid Applique added to the ball of his hat and underneath his skis. Next I took a pinch or two of white Fun Flock and a teaspoon of glitter and stacked them on Riley's nose. Clear acetate, double sided foam tape and a frame cut with Nesties finished the box. Many, many shakes later, the flock and glitter were well mixed; some of the glitter had migrated to the liquid applique, adding a wee sparkle.

Back to sponging, this time to the strips in the background and the card itself. I lost count of how many times I had to wash my hands throughout this entire process. The green border was made by switching out the blade in my rotary cutter (yes, Mom, I have a rotary cutter and have managed not to lose any blood... yet) to a scallop edge and voila! Assembly took mere minutes with my ATG gun.

It is nowhere near the artwork of JustPaintingAround, for she is truly the "Queen of the Scene", but I am quite pleased with the result. Not bad for a first try...

Walking in a Winter Wonderland...

Yesterday I woke up to snow. About four inches. When I went out to shovel, I measured 5.25" and when all was said and done, six inches had fallen. Today I awoke to snow again! Not falling quite so heavily as yesterday. Sometimes the wind gusts and the snow cannot seem to tell which direction it should be falling. Gravity ceases to be the law. What a perfect day to talk about a Winter Wonderland. Jeanette's Forest Winter Wonderland swap, that is.

I stamped the tall pine from SUs Lovely as a Tree (that is one of my favorite SU sets) and then cut out the frame with my Nesties. I am not sure what I am going to do with those scraps, yet. If nothing strikes me they will be donated to the special ed preschool where I send most of my scraps, used card fronts and mistakes. (Plus lots of embossed papers, cut out shapes, ribbons and stickers). A friend is a teacher there and she says the kids love it. They have no idea they are doing me a great service.

The stamp is from Stampscapes and is colored with chalks. The colors are not showing up in the scan, but the rocks were given a slight pink hue and the sky a wee bit of grey. Trees are green, grass is yellowed and the water you can see is shades of blue. Much of the coloring was very subtle, just enough to change it from the cream colored cardstock that was used. I hope the recipients could tell... That is about my limit with Stampscapes, though I have seen some really gorgeous things done with them (Hey Linda - I think I found the class I should take!! Wanna join me?). A glitter pen added a little bit of shine to, hopefully, look like snow in the distance. The ribbon was one of the three picked up when making the previous card

This swap is long over, of course, as I am so far behind in posting. In fact, I have already received my cards back; and what FABULOUS cards they were!! Don't be sad, though, cuz now she is hosting the Enchanted Forest swap and it is sure to be just as amazing. You should join us. (Tell her Gael sent ya!)

New Year's Resolutions

It is that time of year to be thinking again about New Year's Resolutions. Well, actually it is a little bit late to just begin thinking about it, hence the need for a change...

I like resolutions that are quick and easy and then I don't have to think about them again. One year I decided my NYR would be that I would drink more, as in alcohol. This seems strange, unless of course you have the detail that I don't drink, well rarely anyway. Every once in a while I will go on a binge. A binge for me being that I might have a single drink two nights in a row! So anyway, this particular year I decided I will drink more. I don't know if it was metaphoric for have more fun or get out more or what (clearly this is a theme for me as you will see in a minute), but as I told my partner at work (yes this was a long time ago) since I did not drink anything, all I had to do was have one beer and my NYR was complete! Quick, easy, painless. And so totally not in the spirit...

This year I have several thoughts. One idea is to find a hobby that gets me out of the house. You may be thinking, but what about SONE and Tuesday nights? I do leave the house for that. But I am thinking perhaps something with more of a social basis. Although I get to see some wonderful friends there, we are not supposed to talk during rehearsal. And as all my riser mates know, I never do ... Reading is another hobby that gets me out of the house, but alas, going to the library is not exactly social. Shopping for stamping supplies probably would not count either.

Resolution #2 may actually happen. Honor my commitments in a more timely manner. No more turning in swaps at the last minute, or answering emails several days late. I am going to keep my web projects (SONE Facebook and Members Only) updated within days of the request, rather than a week or so later. And this blog, lets see, shall I aim for posting cards within one day of their assembly? (Perhaps start thinking about NYRs before the new year?) You will know as well as I how well this Resolution is working...

My final thought of a NYR is to keep my mouth shut, even when asked for an opinion. ... Yeah, I don't think that one is going to happen either. I guess I will just have to keep getting into trouble. Besides some of my favorite people would be very upset if I went quiet; and since I see them every Tuesday and the others who would like to see my mouth closed much less often... Oh wait, I just remembered we are not supposed to talk on the risers...

Time to Play Catch up

Between moving, then internet connection problems,  and a dead laptop, I have gotten very far behind on my posting. I have some cards from early summer that never even got photographed. For Christmas, however, I received a beautiful new color printer/scanner. Today I hooked it up and scanned some of my cards from December swaps.

This one is from the Sisterhood of the Traveling cards and is from November really (oops, did I say these were December cards? Well I did make this one so late, it nearly was made in December...) The theme was "a Christmas memory" and we were unable to use red or green. My mind immediatly went to this stamp. I have had it forever and every once in a while think about passing it along, and can never bring myself to do so. Took me a while to find it, I had a moment of panic that I really did get rid of it and forgot!

I have no idea what company and I am all tucked up with my blanket and heating pad and am not about to get up to go find out (if it even has it printed on the wood) Eventually I will update this post, assuming the stamp even tells me. After coloring with Prismas, I punched the snowflake border in vellum and laid it over the top for a nostalgic look. Then I had to take a trip to my new LSS (did I mention I have moved and now have a LSS? No? Oh, I am sooo far behind) I picked three different varieties of ribbon, brought them home and tried them all against the card. This was the best fit. The snowflake came from my overflowing drawer of random embellishments. (Someday that drawer will be in a well organized stamp room. I have the stamp room now, thanks to the move, the well-organized part, not so much...)

First Post at New Address

I cannot believe it! I have a follower already! I only just finished typing the new address announcement on my old blog. In checking the post to be sure the link worked I discovered the awesome Viv has beaten me here! Whoo Hoo!

To the rest of my loyal followers - you have found me! Things look much the same ...so far. Imagine my surprise and delight when I discovered I could transfer my entire blog without losing posts or comments to a new address!

Thank you all for coming and I hope you will continue on as followers here. I have some cards ready to post, photos of the new kittens, and of course Princess A, as soon as that router arrives...

Fairy Friends from Pink Cat Studio

Have you heard? Pink Cat studios is having a new release on August 6th called Fairy Friends. Follow their blog to see the sneak peeks beginning Tuesday, August 4th. They are sure to be SUPER CUTE!!