Happy National CAT Day!

Goliath thinks this is him and his tail has miraculous grown for the day.

Well, DUH!  Every cat, cat lover and cat owner knows THAT!

Except maybe Grumpy cat.

But we know better.

YUP!  Just like any other day.

A huge thanks to Janis from Her Peaceful Garden and all the wonderful sponsors and participants of the Cat Lovers Hop.  Hate to see it end.

Since my Goliath and Jezebel aren't feeling particularly photogenic at the mo, I thought I'd share the the kitties I've been collecting since the last Hop.  All hand made by artists from around the world.

I may be back with a project, but first...COFFEE!  We'll see...

Friends Fur-ever for the Cat Lovers Hop

It's the last day and possibly the last post for the Cat Lovers Hop at Her Peaceful Garden.  At least for me, anyway.  I have some errands to run and we're going out tonight so...  Besides, I've got my contacts in (because I'm too vain to go out in public with glasses on) and I have all kinds of trouble coloring without my mega strength pair. 

I've had loads of fun on the Hop and decided to experiment with some REALLY OLD stuff from my stash.  Does anyone use rub-ons anymore?  I thought they were cool at one time but had no idea that they can be difficult to use when they're OLD.  This whole floral background is a rub-on by Heidi Grace circa 2009.  Ahem...  I thought it might make a fab background for a bunch of colorful kitty stickers I've had in my stash since before then even.  Not the worst ever, but it took me a half hour trying to decide what color to mat with.  Eiyiyi!  Step AWAY from the crafting table.  Sentiment is STAMPED with a clear sentiment from My Pink Stamper that I had to cut in half to fit the space.  Even with my Misti it's crooked.  (Must be those contacts)  Heart paper is Heidi Grace too.  Of course NOW I've found the Ai stamps I bought at the Scrapbook Expo in February just for this Hop.  Maybe later, or tomorrow for National Cat Day...we'll see.

I'm also adding this to the SYUP Furrything Goes challenge, the DL.Art October Linky challenge and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #68 AG.

Another for the Cat Lovers Hop

It's the last day to link up for the Cat Lovers Hop at Her Peaceful Garden and I still have so many ideas!  Again I will say "So many cats, so little time!)  Well, we'll see how it goes, eh?

This adorable image is from THE EAST WIND called Super Chunky.  Isn't she the cutest kitty EVEH!?!?  I'd colored it previously with Copics and pencils (for fur detail) but it never made it onto a project.  I'd used the png version and placed it on some digital knit paper cropped in a heart in my printing program and then fussy cut.  I need a baby card and thought now was the time to pull it out.  The DP is from the old MAMBI Baby Girl stack.  The pinks don't match exactly, which was my trouble the other day, but I finally inked around the heart with a number of Distress pinks and Hickory Smoke and finally decided it would have to do.  Those metal words from Colorbok are coming in handy these days, eh?

I'm also adding this to the SUYP October Furrything Goes, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies October AG/w critter and Simon Says Wednesday AG.

Another Quickie for the Cat Lovers Hop

Last night as I was about to head downstairs I noticed some scraps on my desk that got me thinking about another quickie for the Cat Lovers Hop at Her Peaceful Garden.  Today is the last day to link up projects, but you can still comment and play in the daily games through tomorrow which is NATIONAL CAT DAY!  WOOHOO!   I will be so sad to see it all end.  Goliath and Jezebel, however, were quick to point out that EVERY DAY is CAT DAY so there ya go.

Anyway, here's the card.  The frame was the negative from a previous project and I'd already die cut the tree but decided not to use it on something.  I'd been sorting through my Halloween crafting goodies and forgotten about these adorable kitty stickers from Recollections.  I do use embellishment stickers occasionally, but rarely as the main deal on a card (doesn't keep me from buying them though, especially KITTIES!)  Well, the tree (from Memory Box) fit purr-fectly in the frame so I cut a moon and assembled the Halloween kitty stickers for a Meowloween party under the harvest moon.  The sparkly crow and Halloween banner sentiment are from Recollections too.  Purr-ty cute, eh?

I'm also adding this to the SUYP October Furrything Goes/Meowloween challenge, Simon Says Wednesday AG, and Lil Patch of Crafty Friend #68 AG.

Love Mew for the Cat Lovers Hop

I'm so irritated!  I spent the better part of the day looking for paper, for an image I'd colored, to no avail.  Since it's so late in the game and it's Friday night, I thought I'd switch gears and do a quickie so here ya go for today's offering for the Cat Lovers Hop at Her Peaceful Garden.

Card embossed with tiny heart Cuttlebug folder.  Red Heart Ribbon die cut from Die-namites.  Yin Yang cats freebie from the net cut and matted with Spellbinders Circles.  Sentiment stamped (yes, don't faint, you heard right, actually  STAMPED) after embossing no less, with the help of my Misti, from the Stampendous clear stamp and cutting die set by Fran Seiford.  YAY, ME!

I'm also adding this to the SUYP October Furrything Goes challenge, Simon Says Wednesday AG, the Outlawz Sunday CAS Cats (OF COURSE) or dogs.

Smile for the Cat Lovers Hop

Okay, then.  Here's another for the Cat Lover's Hop at Her Peaceful Garden.  At least now I've got 4 projects in 4 days, and considering the fact that any deadlines have recently sent me into a tailspin, I'm doin' good.  (Is it wine o'clock yet?)  Silly me, it's wine o'clock somewhere, eh?  

So as soon as I saw this image, called Smiley Cat from Bloobel Stamps I thought of the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland and the wheels started turning.  I remembered an embossing folder I had from Crafts Too and pictured Smiley Cat in the tree, but I didn't want him to be all embossed too, so I cut a hole in the tree after embossing from which he could peek out.  A rectangular card seemed a bit boring and since the majority of it would be white, I decided to cut the top of the tree in a circle (with Spellbinders Grands) and back it with a Scalloped Circle to add some color.  I embossed the tree again, trimmed it to fit and added the trunk and ground to a square card base and lined it up.

Here's a closeup of Smiley Cat. He's colored with Copics in the colors of the more recent Alice in Wonderland movie.  Because he's a digi, I was able to resize him to fit in the hole I'd cut purrfectly.  The sentiment is an old metal sticker from Colorbok.  I'm making this sort of a Thinking of You card so inside it will say "It makes people wonder what you're up to."  Cheers!  

I'm also entering this in the SUYP October Furrything Goes challenge, Simon Says Wednesday AG and the Outlawz Festive Fridays for the theme Thinking of You.

An ATC for the Cat Lovers Hop

I'm gonna stop numbering my Cat Lovers Hop at Her Peaceful Garden posts because, as you can see, I already missed Day 3.  Not that you HAVE to post every day.  You can post as much or as little as you want...or even not at all, since you can win prizes just by commenting on the daily posts.

I may try to catch up today, but my mojo took a dive, not for lack of inspiration, but the impossibility of making a decision as to what I want to make.  Too many cats...too little time?  Meah, maybe.

I did just manage a cute ATC from one of the sponsors of the Hop Knitty Kitty.  I even had trouble making a decision on which Knitty Kitty I wanted to use.  I finally decided on Lucky Neko #59, because I had cool Asian inspired trim stickers and tiny sentiment.  Colored with Copics, cut with a Spellbinders Gothic Arch and added a gem. Yay, me!

I'm also adding this to the SUYP #23 Furrything Goes, Simon Says Wednesday AG, and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #68 AG.

Cat Lovers Hop Day 2

Welcome my contribution to Day 2 of the Cat Lover's Hop.  Have you checked out this fabulous Hop that Janis from Her Peaceful Garden has put together?  This is the 3rd year and it just keeps getting bigger and better.  If you love cats, you gotta go see.  Great games, prizes and inspiration.  Link up as many projects as you like and get the deets HERE and check out the daily games, too.  This year you'll have all week to participate in them, as well.  WooHoo!

This project was inspired by the Outlawz Tuesday Color challenge photo and greatly influenced by the Cat Lovers Hop.  (Gee, ya think?)
  

I thought this was a tough challenge until I found holographic paper in my stash and finally my "Peace" die from Sizzix resurfaced from???  Perfect for a sparkly Christmas card, but WAIT!  Peace became "Peaceful" in honor of Her Peaceful Garden with the addition of a few letters from my QuiKutz Alphabet and loads of kitties from my Inspiration Obsession Die joined the scene.  Wishing all cat owners a Peaceful Christmas.  (Is that even possible with all of those fun decorations to play with?)  These kitties look pretty mellow.  Added some sparkly snowflakes from JoLee's and called it done.  PURRFECT!

I'm also adding this to the SUYP October Furrything Goes/optional Meowloween challenge and 2 Crafty Critter Crazies October AG w/critter.

Cat Lovers Blog Hop Day 1

YAY!  I'm so excited it's the start of the Cat Lovers Blog Hop at Her Peaceful Garden.  You know I love me some kitties and I hope you do, too.  There's gobs of inspiration and fabulous sponsors.  All the info is on the main Hop Post HERE, and you can join in a little or a lot.

I hope to join in A LOT, not only by commenting, but also by crafting, but we'll see how it goes, eh?  I've had some mojo trouble since my old computer went kaput and I lost all of my digis (still trying to retrieve them) so I didn't manage to work ahead at all.  YIKES!

My first project just happens to be for Meowloween using the adorable new digi #1876 Jacko Head Kitty by Sandra Caldwell that happens to be on sale for only $1.50 as part of her FB Challenge.  He's colored with Copics and I used the Outlawz Wednesday Sketch.  Papers are from Graphic 45 and Authentique (alpha stickers, too).  Bats from my stash.

I'm also adding this to the October SUYP #23 Furrything Goes + Meowloween Challenge.

Wine Sprite Bottle Topper

Just a few more hours to get this new Wine Sprite from Aurora Wings for FREE with a $5.00 minimum purchase from Aurora Wings.com or Aurora Wings Etsy.  (OOPS!  Too late for the freebie, but check the *Edit* below.)

I love her so much, I can't stop playing with her.  This time I've made a little bottle topper for the Chardonnay we're bringing to friends.  It's an easy peasy project that really dresses up a bottle, don'tcha think?

Here's the closeup.  I've cropped her and colored with Copics, this time with the colors of Chardonnay grapes.  (See previous project HERE.)  The leaves behind are again from Finedigitalarts.  The gorgeous hand dyed crinkle ribbon from DL.Art from the Halloween Bundle, Gold Bundle and Fall Bundle.

*EDIT!!!!*

Well if you missed the giveaway, she is now available HERE at AW.com and HERE on Etsy.  I used the png version on both of my projects and now she's available to you (the freebie was jpg only).  WooHoo!

I'm entering this in the DL.Art October Linky Challenge, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #211, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends AG, Your Scrapbook Place AG, The Ribbon Girl October any image challenge, And more, but I've gotta go...

Wine Sprite Gift with Purchase from Aurora Wings

I hope you've all had a chance to view the new Double Showcase Release on the Aurora Wings Showcase Blog, and see the gorgeous new stamps Mitzi has added to the Aurora Wings family.  I had the pleasure of joining them, not only for this adorable new Gift with Purchase Sprite, but also for the release of 'Queen of the Autumn Forest'.  Please visit my post HERE to see my project with this new beauty.  But who is this cutie?  Meet Wine Sprite, my personal Guardian Angel Sprite that you can get for FREE (see coupon below).

I've used the png version of Wine Sprite (you will receive the jpg version as your freebie) and backed her with watercolor clip art from Finedigitalarts to reflect the bounty of the harvest.  She's colored with Copics, matted with burlap and will have a place of honor on my wine bar.  The sentiment is computer generated  and popped with foam.  I've got about a bazillion other ideas for her since my town of Livermore CA is the heart of this valley's wine culture.  Love, love, LOVE this new little Sprite!

Tell me this isn't the cutest Sprite EVEH!!!!!!  And you can get her for FREE with a minimum $5.00 purchase (after coupon) today through Sunday, October 22nd.

And what's a Showcase without a coupon?  Here ya go!  available at both Aurora Wings.com and Aurora Wings Etsy.  Can you combine them?  That would be YES!  

I'm entering this in the DL.Art October Linky Challenge, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #201 AG, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends AG, Pile it On #135 Fantasy, Crafty Friends #68 AG, The Fairy and the Unicorn Anything Mythical Goes, Crafting-With-Friends #52 AG, CCC Digi Creations Fantasy, the Classic Design Team Open Challenge Oct AG, the World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #27 AG, 613 Avenue Create AG, Glitter 'N' Sparkle #261 AG, TTRCD AG week of Oct. 17th, {Pin}spirational Challenge #201, Crafty Sentiments Designs Leaves, Digi Choosday Wk 42 AG, Ike's World #99 AG/Autumn, Double D 'Leave it to Me', Simon Says Wednesday Photo Inspiration, Crafty Addicts Challenge #41 Autumn Colors,

New Release Double Showcase at Aurora Wings

Once again I'm thrilled to be joining the Showcase Team for a gorgeous new double release on the Aurora Wings Showcase Blog.  I had the pleasure of working with the new Queen of the Autumn Forest, available HERE on AW.com and HERE on Etsy.  This beautiful new stamp is in the same loose and dreamy style as Lady Butterfly and Lady Butterfly 2 from the previous Showcase HERE.

Here's a closeup of Queen of the Autumn Forest.  Although I've colored her with Copics in Autumn hues, she'd be equally beautiful using palettes inspired by the other seasons as well, don't you think? I've added Distress Stickles in Frayed Burlap to her wings and gold gel pen throughout her dress and hair.  What an elegant celebration of my favorite season.  The pearl swirls remind me of Autumn breezes and I've added additional texture with real skeleton leaves and artificial velvet ones.  The DP is K&Co and I've matted with metallic copper, gold and white crinkle vellum and gold glitter paper.

And there's another gorgeous new mermaid, too!  Be sure to check out the gorgeous new Fins and Pearls, available HERE on AW.com and HERE on Etsy.  The Showcase Team has done such beautiful things with her as well.

And what's a Showcase without a coupon?  Here ya go!  available at both Aurora Wings.com and Aurora Wings Etsy.

And if that isn't exciting enough, looky HERE!  Can you combine them?  That would be YES!  

Tell me this isn't the cutest Sprite EVEH!!!!!!  And you can get her for FREE with a minimum $5.00 purchase (after coupon) today through Sunday, October 22nd.  Please check out my project with Wine (or Grape, yeah, not in MY house) Sprite HERE.  I consider her my very own special Sprite.  ;D  Don't miss her!

I'm entering this in the DL.Art Thankful Thursday Fall Colors Challenge, the Outlawz Festive Fridays Autumn Colors, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #201 AG, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends AG, Pile it On #135 Fantasy, Crafty Friends #68 AG, The Fairy and the Unicorn Anything Mythical Goes, Crafting-With-Friends #52 AG, CCC Digi Creations Fantasy, the Classic Design Team Open Challenge Oct AG, the World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #27 AG, 613 Avenue Create AG, Glitter 'N' Sparkle #261 AG, TTRCD AG week of Oct. 17th, {Pin}spirational Challenge #201, Crafty Sentiments Designs Leaves, Digi Choosday Wk 42 AG, Ike's World #99 AG/Autumn, Double D 'Leave it to Me', Simon Says Wednesday Photo Inspiration, Crafty Addicts Challenge #41 Autumn Colors,

New Challenge at Aurora Wings

WooHoo!  New challenge at Aurora Wings with the fun and exciting theme of

You know this is one of my faves, but you need not be as creepy as I've been.  Any Halloween, or dark fantasy image is fine (even creepy cute).  But I just couldn't resist goring up the gorgeous Siren, available HERE on AW.com and HERE on Etsy.  I first became a little obsessed with the idea of a "blood moon" and looked up images to serve as a background on Yahoo.  I colored that first, in case I screwed up.  Filling in an entire background takes a bit of time, and I found that stepping away every so often and continuing to layer colors as needed kept me from tossing it in the bin.  After all that work, I decided that I would keep this rather CAS but couldn't resist adding the tiny Bat Confetti from Um WOW.  Had to use tweezers and a toothpick to apply the glue but I think they added just the right touch.

As for the gorgeous Siren, here's a closeup.  She's shaded with Copics in grayscale with a bit of the R 20-29 on her embellishments.  I love that Mitzi is open to creativity with her images, so I made her live up to her macabre legend by cropping the skeletal part of Ghost Bride's face and sizing it to fit.  I later decided that the hands caressing the skull from Secret Kisses would really complete the picture so I went back to my printing program and flipped and sized them accordingly, then fussy cut them to add to the scene.

The sentiment was computer generated and cut and embossed with a Cuttlebug Emboss Plus folder, then inked with Distress and stamped with the Inky Dreams rubber set by Smeared Ink (NLIB, sniff, sniff), my "go to" for blood splatter.  Beware, indeed!

Finally, I glittered her up with Stardust Stickles and used Glossy Accents on her eyes, lips and the starfish in her hair (which for some reason is showing pink in the pic at this angle).  Perfect Pearls and Nuvo Drops added a bit more texture.

YAY!  I'm thinking this was just what the doctor ordered to jump start my mojo after a couple weeks of recuperation from our party planning and other events.

Hope you enjoy this fab challenge as much as I did and just so you know, the current FB challenge is Make It Creepy so your entries will work for both.  

Here's how to keep up with what's happening at Aurora Wings.

Aurora Wings Challenge Blog

Aurora Wings Showcase Blog

Aurora Wings Etsy Shop

Aurora Wings Digi Shop 

Aurora Wings FB Group

Aurora Wings FB Fan Page

I'm entering this in the DL.Art October Linky Challenge, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG Challenge, Dream in Darkness Oct, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #201 AG, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends AG, Pile it On #135 Fantasy, Crafty Friends #68 AG, The Fairy and the Unicorn Anything Mythical Goes, Crafting-With-Friends #52 AG, CCC Digi Creations Fantasy, the Classic Design Team Open Challenge Oct AG, the World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #27 AG, TTPH #135 AG, 613 Avenue Create AG/Optional male card, Glitter 'N' Sparkle #261 AG, TTRCD AG week of Oct. 9th,