In The Cat Cave

Sunday, 7 February 2016

[Loving] right now | around here

Shimelle Laine returned and has been inspiring us with her energy and different perspective.

This week she challenged us to scrapbook a selfie. With that in mind, my friends had a another fast challenged where you had one hour to whip through a sketch. That's not a lot of time. I had already taken the photo early Saturday morning. But I didn't know what I would say at that time. For some reason, I thought I'd talk about guilt that Moms often feel. I'll save that for another day because inspiration arose while putting my 5 year old Jane to bed.

"Mommy. I am thinking bad things again."

Thinking she was trying to get out of going to bed, I responded in a tough love voice, "Jane. You have to learn to think about the positive."

Jane responds, "Right. Nobody likes a gobbly gut."

This came from an earlier conversation where she was sooky and I explained that she had to smile at a birthday party because nobody likes a grumbly gut or a stick in the mud. It makes others feel sad at a party.

"Well, remember when we talk about your bad dreams? And we say that you need to think about something different. Things you love. Like... candy."

Thinking, Jane says. "OK. Ten things I love. Candy. Watching iPad. Birthday Parties. Watching TV. Valentines. Hanging out with my family..." "Now you..."

Holding my hands up, I began... "the quiet."

"I knewwwwwww you'd say that."

"OK. Number two. Reese's Pieces peanut butter cups."

"I knewwwwwww you'd say that."

"OK. Number three. Coffee in the mornings."

"I was going to tell you to say that. And say you love reading with Jane."

"OK. Reading with Jane. Number 5...."

You get the point. Seriously. Inspiration is around you every day.

Also. If you ever wondered... no. I do not re-read my journalling until its too late... And I probably never will.

[loving] the quiet

[loving] early mornings with hot coffee in hand

[loving] listening to Jack explain what's in his head

[loving] Reese's Pieces peanut butter cups

[loving] reading with Jane

[loving] the quiet (again... I really like the quiet lately it seems)

[loving] de-cluttering

[loving] feeling loved with one touch

[loving] Downton Abbey

[loving] renewed scrapbooking energy

[loving] planning for a better me

[loving] very little snow in February

[loving] big and small adventures

[loving] being me

Cathy

Play, Play, Play | Using up your alphas

These old letters have been hanging around my craft studio for years and I took it upon myself to use them up. It's about time to use what i have or give it away. Unfortunately my acts of "refreshing my creativity" is only happening bit by bit.

This layout was created with multi photos but its almost like you need to look twice to notice it. Its a sneaky way for those that find it difficult to create a multi page layout. Use a photo as if its a layer in your project.

Continue telling your stories.

Cathy

Saturday, 6 February 2016

Watercoloring with the Rose Bundle

This die cut is brought to you by Stampin' Up! along with the sentiment. It's a bundle that is not really how you might describe my style. However, when I have lost someone, the last thing you want to do is create a card. Yet, you always need a card... for those terrible moments. The perfect card. And for me, this bundle makes it easy. Something that can never be easy.

I used this bundle for a swap that I did with some amazing girls: Jeanna Bohanon, Jennifer Frost, Cindy Schuster, Mercedes Weber, Krista Frattin, Allison Okimatsu, Kaitlyn Zumbach and Marisa Gunn.

As I played I had other versions but the idea is the same. I cut several die cuts out of water colour paper. I then used by aqua painter and refill inks to colour over the dies quickly. I let them dry. In addition, I used the Stampin' Up! stencils on the base of the card with Molding/Modelling Paste. You gotta love it.

Have a great day,
Cathy

Friday, 5 February 2016

Colour Challenge | #tgifc41

Back again with a quick birthday card as part of the TGIF Challenge Blog's Design Team. Every week we bring you inspiration to create. This week's challenge is a colour challenge - and, its pretty awesome.

I seriously loved this colour combination. I didn't have a lot of time to create this card so I laid out my three Stampin' Up! inks. I selected some stamp sets that had very small icons on it. I also selected a beautiful sentiment. From there I stamped until I was happy...

I will say this... I can't wait for daylight savings time because its still dark here at supper time.

Make sure to play along with us!

Cathy

Thursday, 4 February 2016

Snuggle up | Simple Scrapper

Today I am back to show you my layouts for Simple Scrapper's Spark Magazine.

Jennifer Wilson, the Simple Scrapper guru is always finding fascinating ways to inspire me. This month is no exception and I am thrilled to be sharing my projects with you and her thriving membership.

This first layout was inspired by a sketch that is provided to the site's members only. But her sketch's aren't just sketches. They are colour coded in a way that makes it even easier. This layout began with a photo and journalling. I do love to tell a story.

The next layout I created was a Project Life layout. It is actually from Valentines Day of last year. I tend to leave pages for a long time until I feel inspired to create them.

Are you curious how I keep everything organized while mixing Project Life and traditional pages? Here's some of my secrets as I describe them in a post for Creative Scrapbooker Magazine.

Can you see where I placed valentines in the glassine bag on the bottom row? Of course, I only kept a few.

It's great timing to do this layout - I hope to inspire you to create your Valentines layouts.

Enjoy and I'll be back next month with more layouts for Simple Scrapper!

Cathy

Note: The Premium Membership at Simple Scrapper provides skills and shortcuts to help you simplify and find more meaning in your memory keeping.

Wednesday, 3 February 2016

Birthday Boutique Product Share | Stampin' Up! Occasions Catalog

You get instructions for these four cards if you get a $15 Product Share from me!

Message me for details ASAP to reserve your spot at inthecatcave@hotmail.com

Cathy

In Progress Album | Creative Scrapbooker Magazine

I am back at Creative Scrapbooker Magazine (formerly Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine) with another guest blog post. Join me on the first Monday of every month to bring you some of the latest projects I am creating with Stampin' Up!

Make sure you check out the WHOLE post on how I use my "In Progress Album" to stay organized!