In The Cat Cave: April 2018

Thursday 26 April 2018

A Farewell to Magical Day | Fancy Friday Blog Hop

It should come as no surprise that I am in love with the Magical Day stamp set and coordinating products. I am so sad to see that it will be retiring in May.... :(

Today's Fancy Friday blog hop is all about casing the Stampin' Up! catalog. My inspiration comes from this castle - while I wasn't intending to re-create this castle, I most certainly was using it as my muse.

I started the card by embossing the Brick Wall Embossing folder (also retiring). #sadness

Since this is a "gate fold" card, you have to emboss each side separately. The ribbon shown in this photo is the ribbon that came in the glimmer ribbon pack during sale-a-bration. It matched so perfectly, I couldn't help by use it. Be sure to use glue dots to adhere it all together!

On the inside, I distressed the gray patterned paper using my nail file. I know, I am quite fancy. Of course all colouring comes from my Stampin' Blends. I couldn't help but include that dragon.

Thank you for dropping by today.

Up next is Dani Dziama.

I am totally in love with her blog design so I can only imagine what today's project will be like!

Are you following me on instagram?

This is where I show the majority of my projects and inspiration, along side my loves and life.

Be sure to find me @cathycaines.

Wednesday 25 April 2018

may your wish come true... | Be Inspired Blog Hop

It should be no surprise that Magical Day has been one of my favorite stamp sets. I have been using the unicorn for months! I still remember winning that stamp set at OnStage in Salt Lake City - I was jumping around the aisle. I am truly so sad to see it go.

For today's hop I decided to use the wizard paired with the Fairy Celebrations stamp set.

PROJECT DETAILS://

The background is a layer of tempting turquoise (heat set) and then berry burst over top. The design of the card isn't much unlike my other projects. I often use the Stitched Shapes in the upper central part of the card.... if it ain't broke, why fix it?

The metallic silver thread gives it a little bit of subtle sparkle.

Thanks for dropping by today!

Be sure to keep hopping to my friend, Louise Sharp! I can't wait to see what stamp set she has chosen!

Tuesday 24 April 2018

The Best of Times | Simple Scrapper SPARK Magazine

It was a beautiful day for a stroll downtown St. John's, Newfoundland.

All four of us wandering in no direction.

Of course, the first stop was the candy store.

I simply can't wait to do it again.

And I am so glad I stopped to take the pictures.

I am even more grateful that I documented them.

I love this hobby.

#scrapbookingforthewin

This layout was created for the MARCH 2018 SPARK magazine exclusively developed for the online Simple Scrapper community. Within the community we are provided with sketches and journal prompts in order to help inspire members.

Cathy

Supplies for today's project comes from Ali Edwards Story Kits

Saturday 21 April 2018

Let's Party! | Simple Scrapper SPARK Magazine

This layout is how I ended my 2017 album.

I ended it with smiles.

Hope for new beginnings.

And quite simply magic.

They don't cost much but those sparklers remind me of magic.

I thanks 2017 for the memories.

And now I will most certainly look forward to 2018.

#goodbye2017

#hello2018

This layout was created for the April 2018 SPARK magazine exclusively developed for the online Simple Scrapper community. Within the community we are provided with sketches and journal prompts in order to help inspire members.

Cathy

Supplies for today's project comes from Ali Edwards Story Kits, Tim Holtz alphas, etc.

First Cup. | Simple Scrapper SPARK Magazine

The first cup.

oh, how I enjoy

the smell of the coffee grounds.

the warmth of the mug in my hand.

and the steaming hot first sip.

Shhhh. Can you hear that?

I can hear all my thoughts.

I am tired but I hear my voice.

It’s making lists.

It’s prioritizing.

But I am remembering my hopes.

I am remembering to stay positive.

Its a new day.

And I am thankful to have

a couple minutes to myself with

a fresh cup of coffee.

I so love the first quiet cup.

#letthemadnessbegin

Cathy

Supplies for today's project comes from Ali Edwards Story Kits, Stampin' Up! stamp and stapler, Lawn Fawn wood veneers, etc

Thursday 19 April 2018

sometimes there's clouds and other times there's lightning. | Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team Blog Hop

I love lightning storms.

In fact, where I live we don't get very much. Certainly not in any capacity like you might see in the movies. So when I travel to Florida, USA I long for the BIG storms. I could watch them for hours. I try to capture the thunder and lightning on film.

Rarely do I get it.

Am I the only one that finds them AMAZING?

And dare I say even calming?

Today's Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team Blog Hop is featuring the Sunshine and Rainbows Polymer Stamp Set and co-ordinating Rainbow Builder Framelits Dies.

While, I totally love the rainbow builder I really wanted to focus on what I love best. The lightning bolt along with a side of clouds.

Focusing on the lightning was super fun.

But it took me a little while to be happy with the projects.

I kept thinking about the word "awesome" while playing with this set.

In the sense that I wanted someone to receive this card as a result of a celebration of amazing-ness rather than weathering a storm.

It's hard not to think about Harry Potter when you see this lightning bolt. And well, he's pretty amazing so pairing it with the Celebrate You Thinlet Dies was a no brainer. But can you pinpoint the sans serif text font? That comes from the World's Best Trophy Stamp Set - while this set may seem limited, it's a set that holds one of my favourite "happy birthday" sentiments and "you're the best".

Pairing trims is one of my favourite things to do. Of course, the more sparkle the better as I mixed and matched the metallics. Of course, clear Wink of Stella was lathered all over the elements in these cards.

Because... well... why wouldn't you want a little extra sparkle?

I am so thankful that you have dropped by to check out my project today.

Be sure to keep hopping to check out the amazing Charlet Mallet!

Are you following me on instagram? That's where you can find me most often!

Are you lost?

Sometimes links break - use this blog roll to get you back on track!

BLOG ROLL

Jenni Pauli

Linda van Wely-Zwolle

Please see below for a list of Stampin' Up! products used in today's project:

World's Best Trophy Photopolymer Stamp Set

Celebrate You Thinlit Dies

Sunshine & Rainbows Photopolymer Bundle

Glitter & Clear Epoxy Shapes

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad

Crushed Curry 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Softly Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Silver Mini Sequin Trim

Basic Black 3/8" Shimmer Ribbon

Whisper White Solid Baker's Twine

Gold Glimmer Paper

Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush

Smoky Slate Light Stampin' Blends Marker

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

Sunday 15 April 2018

Why do you Scrapbook? | Scrapbook Sunday Blog Hop

It was a Friday when we enjoyed the Newfoundland weather.

Have you seen the Newfoundland commercials?

Let me tell you that there are days that they couldn't be more true.

#letmegetyouuptospeed

This place in the picture is Cape Spear.

The most Easternly point in North America.

About a 10 minute drive from my house.

I'll soon be posting the pictures of icebergs, of course.

Were there whales on that day?

While I can't remember, I can tell you they were certainly there.

This photo was taken almost a year ago yet I can remember all the sounds, sights and smells of that day.

For me, it evokes happiness and pure joy.

Now let's talk for a minute.

Why do you scrapbook or preserve memories?

Here's the thing.

I have many reasons and quite often I have to re-visit why I would spend so much of my precious time on this hobby if there's wasn't a purpose.

One of those reasons is to remind myself what makes me happy.

The way I see it...

(...and you might disagree here.)

The way I see it is that my life on this Earth serves very little purpose with exception to working to make the world a better place for future generations.

And right now, the only way I truly know how to do that is to help others be happy.

And well, the only way I know how to do that is to be happy myself.

Being happy is a choice because we all have hardships.

For most of us we have to remind ourselves of what makes us happy every single day.

Scrapbooking is a way that I can do that.

And it's one of my reasons why.

So tell me.

What makes you happy?

Why do you scrapbook?

Cathy

Thursday 12 April 2018

Share What You Love | Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team

Well, the Stampin' Up! Artisan Team has something special for you today. While Stampin' Up! is preparing to release it's new annual catalog on June 1st, they are releasing a very small piece early called Share What you Love. #soexciting

Stampin' Up! is releasing this Share What You Love Suite in bundles in the following ways:

1. JUST GETTING STARTED (149524): a bundle for the stamper just getting their toes wet

2. A LITTLE MORE, PLEASE (149525): a bundle for the stamping ninja

3. GOTTA HAVE IT ALL (149526): enough said

The Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team is showing you ways in which to use these products without using anything outside of the bundles. Today I'll be showing you projects for the JUST GETTING STARTED bundle. Included in this bundle is the following but keep in mind these bundles will not be available subsequent to May 31st so be sure to snag them as soon as your order period begins!

JUST GETTIN STARTED BUNDLE

· Love What You Do Stamp Set

· Grapefruit Grove Ink Pad

· Very Vanilla 8-1/2 X 11” Cardstock

· Old Olive Ink Pad

· Clear Block E

· Very Vanilla Note Cards & Envelopes

Note: Demonstrators are able to pre-purchase products from April 9th to April 30th. Customers are able to purchase these bundles beginning May 1st to May 31st.

Stamping Off: // It doesn't get much easier than this. The floral image is first stamped using Old Olive Ink on a scrap piece of paper and then stamped onto a piece of card stock 4" x 5.25". This technique is called "stamping off". The sentiment is stamped directly onto the Very Vanilla Cardstock.

Distressing:// Each of my three cards have a little distressing on the edges. To make this a little easier, rub water onto the edges of the card. Then roll the paper around with your fingers allowing the paper to roll and wrinkle.

Repeat Stamping: // Repeat stamping is when you stamp the same image over and over to create a background. In the card above you can see that I used several floral images over and over again without any clear pattern. However, on the card below I used the 'splat' in a vertical direction.

Thank you so much for dropping by today! But don't stop here - be sure to keep hopping to check out my amazing friend Charlet Mallet!

Are you following me on instagram? That's where you can find me most often!

Please see below for a list of Stampin' Up! products used in today's project as well as the Love What You Do Stamp Set as well as Grapefruit Grove Ink: