Tuesday, 18 June 2013

Card of the Week #001

Well, I wanted to. So I did.

Ombré. I can't get enough.

And with new Bermuda Bay and old but awesome Mambo Melon Stampin' Up inks in hand I played around.

To create the effect I put a couple drops of reinker on my Kraft mat. I added some peroxide. Grabbed a sponge and started swiping away.

This birthday card is on watercolour paper. I didn't see much of a reaction with the watercolour paper... Until I used dazzling details on my soft suede ink. Oops, I should have used an Archival ink like StazOn.
Since I had learned my lesson, I used Staz On for my Card of the Week!  Come back next Monday for another!

And since my craft room just got hit with a tidal wave, I figured I'd see what the sketch was at the MojoMonday challenge #298.  Loved it.  And those My Paper Pumpkin polaroids were just sitting there waiting.
Oh. And just to tease you. I further created a swap card for convention that is a complete original. Stay tuned for it in July.

Cheers
Cathy



Monday, 17 June 2013

Project Life at SOUS: Use Twine

It's crazy how fast time is flying but its time for the second Project Life challenge over at Stuck on U Sketches.  

Here's the challenge: USE TWINE

Easy peezy, right?  Well, if you are a twine-addict like I am... :)
This time I created an Easter layout and I had lots and lots of pictures... so in order to still capture the day I decided to create "flip" pictures for 4 of my PL sections.  I slipped the bottom picture in the page protector and used washi to adhere the pictures together.  I either had pictures under pictures or in the case of this one some patterned paper with a stamp.
Here's a close look at my twine wrapped around a Woodsie heart.
You have until June 30th so play along!! Don't you have some neat page protectors and journalling cards around? Hmmm... (Scrap your stash, perhaps?)
Cheers!
Cathy




Sunday, 16 June 2013

Happy Father's Day!!

"Did you know it's Father's Day today Miss J? Whose your father?"
"It's my DAD!"
Good girl.

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there!
But a special thanks to my husband, truly the best Dad out there. 
And of course my Dad who no longer has to put up with me as much. (Lucky)
And my father-in-law because "there ain't no flies on him". Cool as a cucumber. If I could only be so.. argh.  Well, if only I could be a cucumber.
Which is why my husband is the best.
This idea was from this pin... and it says "We (heart) u Dad"

The beauty of my husband being at soccer all the time is that we have the opportunity to make surprises!!! Like when ... surprise........ Miss J turned the place green!!

We salvaged one out of this mess!

But we moved on and I gotta tell you that my heart lit up like a Christmas tree as Miss J was gluing and exclaimed... "I love this Mommy!"
One for Dad of the Year, Poppy and Gankey.  And lucky them. They get to wear them.

Oh. And a special outfit that I couldn't resist for Mr. J.
... I hope we win on those lotto tickets..
Hmmm.

Cathy





Saturday, 15 June 2013

Paper Pumpkin Mini And Scraps

I cannot tell you how impressed I have been with Stampin' Up!'s monthly kit called My Paper Pumpkin. And I truly mean it!! Its great for beginners and even for those more advanced... Here's why - the first two kits were sets of five cards but this time it was a mini journal.  This time you weren't told what you had to put on each page (although I believe there are templates out there).  Instead I used my own creativity...  And within three hours I had printed mini pictures (thanks to my Canon Selphy), as well as create the journalling and full 8 page album (I added a couple vellum cardstock).

Not to mention that I LOVE the stamp that came with it.. LOVE, right? (Gosh, I just sounded like my friend Catherine).

Well, here's how she went... I largely used just the kit and embellishments plus some extra cardstock, vellum and ribbon from Sale-a-Bration last year.

This album was created special for my grandmother's birthday.  She cook us turkey dinner for every event and she loves it when the grandchildren (now adults) come with her great grandchildren.  Last time we were all together was Easter.  So I created an album of that day and the moments that perhaps she missed. But mostly so she had a little album of memories. Click on the images to get a closer look.





There's lots of little tags and banners within these pages so I thought I'd play along at My Pumpkin Challenge for their tags and banners challenge.  You have until the end of the month to play along.



I have lots of scraps... I might have to hoard those polaroids... I mean.. I will use them.. I vow to you.

My Miss J has her first music recital today.  She is NOT even three.  I will have a video.  And I expect it to be hilarious. This was a class where she should had been three but had been doing well in class so we all thought she could handle it.  And when we say "well", we actually mean that she was talkative.  We gave it a shot.  Well, I snuck out in the first couple classes.  And that just tipped the scales.  Two months of pushing and prodding and tantrums and bribery... we finally got her back in that class all by herself. And you know what? She did awesome.

BUT thanks to her teacher... Miss Sarah.... she helped me to get her to open up.  And I have to thank her for letting me sit in the corner for all those classes.  And watch. And wait. Not to mention "play the game" to get her in there.  Thanks for not pushing us back  into the younger class. Not only that but once she got in there, she loved every minute and gobbled it all up.  Miss Sarah didn't know but I was very stressed out that my Miss social butterfly J was not wanting to go into the "big girl class" by herself. I second guessed having her home with me all day instead of in daycare.  I struggled with wondering whether she will be handle to handle the next levels in swimming and gymnastics.  It was quite the ordeal at the time.  So thanks.  On the day she finally did the class by herself I just wanted to swing her around forever. I was so proud.  Not only that but the 20 minute wait for that darn ice cream cone... as well as the calories... was well worth it.

Thanks Sarah.

Her card was based off the MojoMonday 297 sketch and used the leftovers of the Paper Pumpkin kit.  I used Basic Grey cardstock as well as machine stitched the border.

Talking about scraps... There was two pieces of chipboard in the paper pumpkin box... so, I grabbed them and some paper I had and attached them together using binder rings and my crop-a-dile. I covered the cover and back with the Epic Day This and That paper.. (love).  She's a music teacher so I grabbed my Stampin' Up! music wheel and rolled over the cover and a little bit on every inside page. And of course personalized it using the Stampin' Up! Sketch Alphabet. By the end of it all I created a special journal/notebook special for her.

Oh... and I told her she might be "famous" today so I popped a tag in her card stating so. (You never know.. she could google herself one day) In case you ever don't know what to do with your ribbon scraps... I do this all the time... tie your scrap ribbon on a paper clip. Awesome.
  
And so... my husband just popped down.. and I quote "surely you can whip something up for the kids when they are done..."?!?  What? And in Miss J's words... "Sure I can." These are made from a couple Stampin' Up! punches but uses a Studio Calico stamp I received in the Planetarium kit.... Kind of makes me want a little sugar boost as well. 
I kind of felt like the Moms on "Toddlers and Tiaras" giving their children a sugar rush with the pixie sticks.. except its other children.
Hmmm.

Tuesday, 11 June 2013

Happy Hour!

I was busy making cards this past weekend... instead of playing with my own stuff, I played around with my friend Catherine's stuff.  And I found a nice little surprise in her collection.  HAPPY HOUR!!  (Now why int he world wouldn't anyone buy something so delightful...)

I made a set of five cards but largely tailored towards cards for my favorite friends... the ladies... :) When it came down to it I still picked white on white as my favorites!




Note that I used the new color ink 'smoky slate' as the color of the glasses.  I did this by placing all five individual stamps on a block and stamped in smoky slate.  Then on a scrap piece of paper I stamped one of each color.  I cut out by hand the centres of each one and popped up the centre.  

Of course these are exclusively Stampin' Up and use the colors Pumpkin pie, Melon Mambo, Raspberry Ripple, Pear pizzazz, Coastal Cabana and Crushed Curry.  I used an edgelit for that delightful border, as well as the perfect dots embossing folder. I topped it all off with some pearls and rhinestones to show as bubbles.  If you look closely I even have some crystal effects (glossy accents) on some of the drinks to get that "drinky" effect.
If you are still looking for your graduation and Father's Day cards, I have some available. Just pop me an email at inthecatcave@hotmail.com or visit me on Facebook. They are $3 each or 8 for $20.
All products are Stampin' Up: Papillon Potpurri butterflies, Apothecary Art stamp set, Labels collection framelits, Elegant Eggplant card stock, modern mosaic embossing folder, Old Olive cardstock and Whisper White cardstock, bitty butterflies punch, tea white doily and Sycamore Street DSP
 
Stampin' Up Love and Sympathy stamp set, Crumb cake ink & cardstock as well as the ruffled ribbon (retired) in the 2011 in colors, vanilla cardstock.
Stampin' Up whisper white, Pure Gumption stamp set, white satin ribbon, stripes embossing folder and night of navy cardstock.  Topped off with a small silver brad (1/8 inch).  Colored using blender pens and black ink.

Have a wonderful Tuesday! Hats off!
Cathy








Monday, 10 June 2013

He got swagger!

Just a couple of the layouts I did at my Stampin' Up! retreat! The first layout was created as part of a sketch challenge for Studio Calico and as well as the Crop Circles gang. I love this paper line called Swagger from Fancy Pants.
My second layout is all Stampin' Up! products mostly from Epic This and That paper line, washi and stickers.  I also have used the crystal effects to get some more glossy elements, as well as used the signo white ball pen for faux stitching.

Stay tuned at a mini album made from My Paper Pumpkin' (Loving it!) and cards!

Gotta jet today!
Cathy



Sunday, 9 June 2013

Playing with Digital

I also played around the other night with some digital editting.... I used My Digital Studio from Stampin Up for this.  Its super easy and you can so many cool projects.

This particular picture edit is very easy and can be printed on canvas, etc. its a great gift idea.  This was made for a friend who will be giving it to her husband for their 1st Anniversary! Happy 1st Anniversary Tim and Beth!!
I also helped my friend Catherine create some business for her thriving Stampin' Up! Business. If you want to check out her daily cards and projects check out her blog at Catherine Loves Stamps.

I am no expert but I am not afraid to play around.  And as you play around you learn different things... Try something new!
Cathy