In The Cat Cave: March 2017

Friday 31 March 2017

Stampin' Up! isn't just for stamping | #tgifc101

This week for the TGIF Challenge Blog 'Anything Goes'.

No better time than to show you how you can use ribbon and embellishments for simple hair bows.

All you need is a glue gun and some ribbon. And seriously - Stampin' Up! has the best ribbon and in awesome quantities. The ribbon that I used was the Watermelon Wonder Mini Ribbon and the Very Vanilla Lace Trim.

These bows are considered "double hair bow". I used this youtube video to figure out exactly where ~~to burn my fingers~~ to make the folds.

It took no time and my daughter wore it to a birthday party within the hour.

Thanks for dropping by!
Cathy

Thursday 30 March 2017

You're Cool | Fancy Friday Blog Hop

Honestly... just looking at these popsicles makes me feel angry.

It's Spring on the calendar but I can assure you that it's the deep depths of winter here in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. The weather reports are telling us we have 30-50 centimeters of snow on the way over the next 3 days. It's indeed possible that you all may have to come and dig me out next week...

... so when making these cards with popsicles... while they are super cute... I wouldn't touch a popsicle with a ten foot pole right now.

Yes. I am that angry at Mother Nature... and Old Man Winter. That guy is the worse.

This month's hop is based on this basic sketch created by one of my favourite pilots and friends, Jennifer Timko. The idea is that we create a basic card aimed for a beginner stamper and then create a second card for a more experienced stamper.

Basic Beginner Card: // If you know me at all, you know that I will ALWAYS pick the simple card over a busier card. This sweet little card uses the Stampin' Up! Cool Treats stamp set. To create the popsicles, you will need to stamp multiple times in order to create the images. We call this two-step stamping. I've created a couple layers onto the Sahara Sand card base using the Tasty Treats Designer Series Paper, as well as the whisper white Stitched Shapes die cut.

Stepped-Up Card: // The stepped-up version of this card includes many more layers and also some hand cutting (fussy cutting). The pink tab is actually a small strip of paper folded and tucked under the layers. The super cool chevron paper is Stampin' Up! Pop of Pink Designer Series Paper.

Hope you had fun - thanks so much for dropping by...

But please.... send me the sun... I can't take much more.

Krista Frattin is up next so be sure to keep hopping.

I always love her style so she will be sure to inspire you.

Friday 24 March 2017

A donut in tribute of Mercedes Weber | #tgifc100

Hello my dear friends.

I have been friends with Mercedes Weber since 2013 when we first were celebrating one of our most proudest moments together in our lives. I live on the East Coast and she lives the West Coast of North America. We were joined by our creative love through a company called Stampin' Up! We have shared many ups and downs. Sometimes its easier to say the hardest things to people outside your current environment. And that's what she continues to be. Like a secret society... that lives in a fancy compound where no one can find us. Except its not just Mercedes, there's 10 of us. And we would be the 2013 Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team. I have never met a group like it. And I am certain I will never again. I am so grateful to have gotten to know that group of ladies and will forever call them my friends.

Mercedes.

Yup Mercedes.

When I think of her I think about Karaoke and Piano Bars. Some green drinks and some blue drinks. I think about hoodies. I think about California raisins. And rocks. And pins. And cute irregular sized cards.

But mostly when I see a donut I think about Mercedes.

Yup. Donuts.

She made a card once. And it was years ago. In fact, its the one in the picture below. I wonder if Jeanna whom made the graphic connects Mercedes with donuts as much as me. (Jeanna is also part of the special group of 10.)

Does Mercedes love donuts? I don't know.

But she made that card and she's pretty much a genius.

So I made a donut.

For her... except not for her.

Regardless.

Another reminder of great friends in beautiful warm places.

You are going to want to know what's in the container. Well, it's a CUPCAKE.

Yes. A cupcake.

That's not a donut.

You see, you can really never know exactly what I am up to... and I wanted the cupcake... not the donut for a friend that was sick on her birthday. She is working hard lately... besides who wouldn't want a cupcake in the shape of a unicorn?

Cupcake is from Sugar Mama's in Mount Pearl Newfoundland

Happy Birthday Nieresa.

Don't forget to take a moment to yourself in the midst of taking care of everyone else.

I hope your day is as sweet as you are...

#forreals

You have a week to play along with our TGIF Challenge. It's our 100th so please join us!!

Cathy

Cathy Caines
Mecedes Weber Marisa Gunn
Breelin Renwick
Ashley Van CampCarolynn SanderAndrea Tracy-TuckerHolly HobbsElizabeth PriceSue PloteJeanna Bohanon
Charlet Mallett
Melissa Stout
Rochelle Blok
Kaitlyn Zumbach

Friday 17 March 2017

... the world just got cuter | #tgifc99

Hi Friends!

This little Made With Love stamp set has been in the Stampin' Up! annual catalog since last year and I finally picked it up. I can't believe I've lived my love this love without it.

I continue to be drawn to simple one layer cards; however, I've been adding a "glow" and some more dimension.

Don't be afraid of simple my lovely friends.

Not to mention how fun watercoloring is so much fun!

This week at TGIF Challenge Blog its all about the babies. I want to see you fill your card basket with babies!! Show us what you got!

Thanks for popping by,
Cathy

Thursday 16 March 2017

Dragonflies has another meaning for me | Stampin' Up! Artisan Blog Hop

Dragonflies.

They remind me of my friend, Natasha.

She lost her battle with stomach cancer just over a year ago.

She had this thing with them. She loved them like someone would love a butterfly.

She had funny quirks where she hated the sight of a horse.

But a dragonfly would get her giddy.

And so this stamp set, Dragonfly Dreams had another meaning for me.

The How:// I coloured the large dragonfly on water colour paper using my aqua painter and Stampin' Write markers. I simply coloured with the marker and then blended all the colours together using the aqua painter. I added some dimension using the fine tip glue as well as some iridescent ice glitter on the edges. The co-ordinating die cut makes cutting out this dragonfly a breeze.

As silly as it make seem, this Serene Scenery Designer Series Paper spoke to me. In my mind, there was an angel captured in the image. Only because of the lighting effect on this paper.

I added a thin layer of the gold foil sheets under the paper - it is a nice break between the white and the patterned paper. And of course, added an array of sequins, pearls, doilies and ribbons to finish this project off.

Because I always play with multiple projects at one time, I finished the card below by colouring the dragonflies in the same way as the other card. Again I added a layer of the gold foil behind the images and several white perfect accents and pearls.

There's just some people you meet that you know you really aren't finished with yet. And today I felt exactly that as I wrote my post. We thought we had more time and before I knew it, she was gone. I would have loved to ask her "What really matters? What matters when you are given a diagnosis?" I would have liked to have heard her answer for that question. I like to think that dragonflies and the other things that remind me of her will point me to those answers... although she'd probably say something grim and hilarious at the same time.

Natasha, "thanks for the smile and everything else".

Thanks for stopping by and listening - I would love to hear what stamp sets or items in your homes that have other meanings to you. And keep hopping because you are going to see some amazing inspiration on this hop.

My lovely friend Dani is up next.

Tanya Boser

PRODUCTS USED:

Dragonfly Dreams Photopolymer Bundle

Serene Scenery Designer Series Paper

Gold Foil Sheets

Metallic Gold Thread

Aquapainters

Brights Stampin' Write Markers

Gold Sequin Trim

Stitched Shapes Dies

White Perfect Accents

Friday 3 March 2017

a chicken on a box | #tgifc97

It's a colour challenge at TGIF Challenge Blog this week! Well, that was easy! I took out my Stampin' Write markers and water coloured this adorable little chick and used him to create a perfect tag.

Colour challenges are great to get yourself out of "duplication syndrome". I get this as I tend to lean towards the same colours. Although I am not fond of this combination, I was able to create a project that I adore.

I always try to wrap ribbons and twine multiple times around a project.

Make sure to play along with our challenge this week!

Use the hashtag #tgifc97 when posting to Social Media!

Cathy

Thursday 2 March 2017

may all your chocolate be solid | Stampin' Up! Artisan Blog Hop

Welcome back to another Stampin' Up! Artisan blog hop - we always love when you drop by and say hello! This month I am playing around with this Basket Bunch Bundle.

I had some serious fun. The images are darling and the die cuts were so easy. Check out the connected die cut below with the mini eggs. Yup. That made life so easy.

Here are the ins and outs of this project:

The Bag:// The bag is actually the Petite Cafe bags cut down to 3". These bags are lined so they are perfect for any baked goods or loose treats.

The Fringe:// I die cut several of the grass dies from the Basket Bunch thinlets using pear pizzazz card stock. I then distressed the edges with a sponge and old olive ink.

The Tag:// Stamp your sentiment on the Stitched Shape. Colour several images to adhere to your tag. In my case I watercolored several images at once and then played around with what works best.

How do I watercolour? Many people have asked so I'll put my old video link at the end of this post.

The Inside:// The best part of this project is the liner that I created to place inside. The paper I used was the Succulents Garden Designer Series Paper. To see the score lines and the size of the paper, see my picture below.

As always, I have multiple projects going on at the same time. You can see me clustering and playing around before I am happy with a project. This card came out of the aftermath of the treat bag above.

The fringe on this card pops up similar to the fringe on the bag above.

Of course, in my own style my preferred card is a simple 3.5 x 5" card on water colored paper. I am here to remind you that simple cards are beautiful.