diva sketch challenge 10

here is this week's sketch challenge found at www.utahdivasinternational.blogspot.com

mine is a "loose" interpretation because i wanted to use this gorgeous cardinal from our current mini catty at least once more before it goes away. the sketch calls for a square, but i used a circle.






to tone down the vivid blue i used a paper towel and smeared black ink lightly across the card. i didn't want to use a background stamp, just mute the color a bit. i had a different idea for the hemp and holes that didn't work out. my eyelets were also at home and i didn't have access to them since i was stamping at my mother in law's apartment.

like the concept, but the execution needs a bit of help. the woes have living in two places at once. haha

a very merry christmas!

i do not like taking photos of people because i'm just not very good at it, but i did get a shot of chip's mom, dorothy, missy and chip while we opened presents.















my demon child always! has red eyes.













and then there's chip . . . he is such a cheese dog.


the crab . . . one of several catnip toys the babies got for christmas.













and company . . .

if you click on the photo it will enlarge and you can see i caught saffron with his mouth open . . . rrrrrrrr.

mr dufus had so much fun with the crab.












the others haven't quite figured out that there is catnip to be had. stella still likes just laying in the tree.

the yule log

we had a wonderful prime rib dinner for christmas last pm. chip also made twice baked potatoes and broccoli.

my request for dinner was a "buche de noel". a yule log cake. i went into to the kitchen to take a picture of it and found that part of the log had slid off. i told chip it had been stuck by lightening. it turned out beautifully though and tasted delightful.

a gift for my mom

wow, i just lost this entire post when i tried to publish it. so, here we go again.

this is the gift that i made for my mom. she loves cardinals and i found a gorgeous pin from amy celona at ustamp4fun.com. i had a few technical difficulties that had to be tweaked so mine became a magnet instead.

this is a cd tin i decorated to hold the magnet in place. i wanted to make this cardinal female since the magnet would be a vivid male bird.


the inside of the tin is decorated with designer series paper and cardstock.















i made a couple of cards to have inside of the tin after the cardinal went onto her fridge.













last, but not least, is a close up of the finished magnet. i think he came out pretty good for never having made one before.


cool huh!

look what santa left

santa left stella IN the tree, not under it. haha

merry christmas!

i hope that everyone has a very merry Christmas and safe holiday season.


look, now he's the cute christmas cat. haha.

xoxox

diva inspiration challenge 22

this week's inspiration challenge can't help but put us in the Christmas mood. they are a couple of festive ornaments and can be found at:

http://utahdivasinternational.blogspot.com/2008/12/diva-inspiration-challenge-22.html

i used the colors to create my challenge and made a Christmas tree. let me know what you think.


the lovely colors used are: certainly celery, glorious green, bravo burgundy, riding hood red, and brushed gold. i wasn't sure how the colors would blend together, but i think they work great. a couple of red snowflakes(i know, but it's my card), some gold brads and a wee bit of glitter in the center of the tree snowflakes and we're good to go.

a wicked weekend

it was a wicked weekend here in sw michigan . . . and then it moved on to the NE. i was supposed to go see my mom on friday and return on saturday. unfortunately, that didn't happen. about 3:30 - 4 am friday the snow started. it snowed for the next twelve hours at about a rate of 1/2" to 1" per hour!






yesterday wasn't too bad except for the cold. however, today it was wicked cold with blizzard warnings, treacherous winds and wind chills below zero. there were alot of drifts across our little country roads here.

the snow is to continue for the next several days, so i don't think we need to worry about a white Christmas!

diva inspiration challenge 21

i loved this week's inspiration challenge found here on the diva blog:

http://utahdivasinternational.blogspot.com/2008/12/diva-inspiration-challenge-21.html

isn't that picture gorgeous? it is so serene and peaceful. i tried my hand at it and here is my interpretation of the challenge.



as always, the picture does not do the card justice. i emblossed the silhouette trees in black. the pine tree, my focal point, was inked with versamark, white craft ink and "thumped" with lively lilac, elegant eggplant and tempting turquoise and then embossed with clear embossing powder. i added some more color with a sponge to the tree, though you can't tell by the picture. i used a bit of white ink on a paper towel to rub over the black trees to pop them a bit and also "feathered" it out from the pine tree. i used white and lovely lilac for the oval highlight around the tree. lots of glitter and a purple bling brad finishes the card.

the naughty christmas cat

i "tried" to put my tree up last week. here is the help i got as i was doing it. saffron couldn't wait to put the ornaments on the floor instead of the tree.


of course, then he has to pretend he did nothing by sitting there looking cute and innocent. ha!



four days later the damage is almost done. saffron is still trying to get to the top ornaments on the tree to add to the growing collection we've picked up off of the floor. the other cats seem to like the ribbon and beads better than the ornaments. oh, why do i bother?

what's your name's hidden meaning?

a friend posted this web site and the people that have done it keep saying it is pretty accurate. i'm not sure it is all that accurate for me. so, i'm leaving the decision up to you. let me know what you think please!

what carol means . . .

You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily.
You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind.
A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable.

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.
You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.
You have the classic "Type A" personality.

You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something.
You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense.
You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.

You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life.
You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you.
At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself.

You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow.
You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily.
Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is.

diva inspiration challenge 20

http://utahdivasinternational.blogspot.com/2008/12/diva-inspiration-challenge-20.html

this is the address for this week's inspiration challenge. these are so fun to do, though i cannot participate sometimes because of time constraints. living at my mother in laws (with All! of my stamp stuff there) is a challenge in and of itself. being home twice a week sometimes makes it difficult to take part in the challenge. but, i was able to do this one. i think it is the blue. it is one of my favorite colors . . . after purple, of course. ;)



bashful blue and pm of navy ink are used on this card. whisper white, bashful blue and brushed silver card stock are used as well. i recreated the "grid" of the postage stamps in the "window." i stamped the snow swirled tree in the blues (navy stamped off twice) and made crystal effects icicles for the windows. i finished it off with the greeting in navy on bashful blue and silver and adorned with a mini clip with blue taffeta ribbon. i like the simplicity of it. let me know what you think.

diva sketch challenge 9

hard to believe that becky has been doing these challenges for nine weeks now at www.utahdivasinternational.blogspot.com. i've been able to do all but the first one. thanx for the challenge becky!

this card actually looks better up close and personal than in the picture. i worked quite a while on this card and was happy with the outcome.

old olive, not quite navy, certainly celery and bashful blue are the basics for this card along with the blueberry maine dsp and big shot die cuts.

with sympathy

my friend's dad died this past weekend. here is the card i made for her. i did not want a "traditional" sympathy card with flowers and stuff on it so i used the cardinal set in the Stampin' Up! mini catalog. i like how it turned out.

it's here . . .

and i couldn't be happier!!! i love snow. it brings to mind quiet, peace, serene and is a banket of beauty.

we are supposed to get snow every day this week!!! woo hoo!