Test Run

Moppet, my Maltese, has been an only child now for a long time and our next door neighbor, a groomer, showed up with this sweet little Yorkie girl who is homeless as a result of a divorce.  We're going to see how she does here.  Isn't she adorable?!  Her name is Bella.....for now anyway.  Just had to share.

My exciting news!

If you're like me, maybe you've always had a desire to help out the less fortunate or improve the world in some way beyond the reaches of your family and friends, but weren't exactly sure how.  Here is an awesome program just right for us papercrafters and scrapbookers that gets to the heart of why we love what we do.

 

There is a non-profit organization here in Phoenix called  Arizonans for Children (AFC).   They exist to improve the fragile lives of the abused, abandoned, and neglected children in foster care.  Among the numerous ways they help is through the Lifebook Program.  A volunteer prepares a beautiful scrapbook for a child in long term foster care.  The book documents and emphasizes the positives and gently explain the circumstances that brought the child to their current homes.  Many children sign up for the program, but must wait several years for a volunteer to be assigned to them.  

This is what I am doing and I am loving it!  Usually, volunteers are assigned one child at a time, however I am doing two books for a little girl and her brother who are in foster care together.   May I suggest you check to see if such a program exists in your community.  From time to time I'll share more information and some photos.  If you're interested in learning more about AFC, check out this link:  http://www.arizonansforchildren.org/page.php?link=life_book

You're getting up there...

My baby brother's birthday is Monday.  He's been a space junkie all his life and has taken flying lessons, to the point of solo'ing.  I think he just needs to log more hours to get his license, and it's rather pricey so it's going to take awhile.  Anyway, isn't Mo Manning's adorable little aviator just perfect?  I colored him with Prismacolors and Copics and used Teresa Collins World Traveler 6x6 pad paper.  Very simple card, but I think  it will tickle Don.

Have a terrific weekend, my dear friends.

Hugs,

Kathy 

Challenges:

The Kraft Journal - Anything Goes

Wags 'n Whiskers - Use Craft

Moving Along with the Times - Birthday

PaperPlay Challenges - Flags/Pennants/Banners

Simon Says Stamp - Sporty

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Stars

Make it Monday - Challenge #95

Mo's Challenge Blog - Straight from the Heart

Spread your wings

Sweet niece Hillary just graduated from high school and in a few months she'll be headed off to university.  She's been very anxious to spread her wings and now it's going to happen, so a special card was in order.

Here it is folded for mailing.

I went looking for inspiration.  Have you noticed just when you think you've seen absolutely every possible folding card technique, up pops a new one?  I'm always up for learning new fun stuff so when I stumbled upon this one at Marriannes papirverden blog I couldn't wait to give it a go...plus I had just received this SB floral oval die set which she uses on her card.  She names her tutorial simply "folding card" but that could certainly get confusing in my tutorial favorites folder, so I'm calling it a winged oval folding card.

Here it is with its wings spread. 

Pretty unique.  I like. 

Bazzill cs; MME Miss Caroline Dolled Up dp; SB Floral Oval and Classic large oval die, Recollection Pearls, MS butterfly punch, Paper Smooches sentiment stampler stamps, Sharpie white poster paint marker, Stickles, foam dots, ColorBox chalks.

Hugs,
Kathy

Let's celebrate the day...

you gave up on finding anyone better than me.
Happy Anniversary Steve!

Quick post today...my sweet mom-in-law and niece are here for a weeks visit from Texas and we're having a blast gossiping and snacking and relaxing and just enjoying each others company.  I had to make a quickie anniversary card for my sweetie though and when I saw this sentiment somewhere on line, I knew I had to use it.  Paper is BasicGrey Two Scoops, vintage bathing beauty image from the internet, EK scallop punch, SB label die, some black ribbon and rhinestones from my stash with a bit of Timmy Holtz tattered rose distress ink finished it off.  I popped the scalloped edging for a bit of a beachy umbrella-y effect. 

 Hope everyone is well and happily anticipating the weekend!  xoxoxxo Kathy

Challenges:
Make it Monday - Anything goes
Divas by Design - Tickled Pink (lots of pink)
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Anything Goes
Fashionista Challenge - Wedding Anniversary or Wedding Shower
Lexi's Creations - Black and White and one other color
Lollypop Crafts - Just for Him
Basic Grey - Challenge #68 Anything Goes (must use Basic Grey)

Bunnies and Motherhood

Beatrix Potter (1866-1943)

 I confess an abiding adoration of all things Beatrix.  She wove whimsical stories with rich, witty, understated prose and beautifully rendered illustrations reflecting her great love of the English countryside and nature.   Beatrix was never blessed with children of her own but her books have delighted generations of little boys and girls.

Meet Benjamin and Flopsy, two of her most recognized and well-dressed bunny characters. These two obviously have a very attentive mother who makes certain they are properly dressed and admonished prior to an outing.

My daughters had sweet bunnies as pets growing up.   Bunnies there...bunnies here...inspiration enough for me to snag a lovely Beatrix Potter illustration from the internet to adorn this card made for my grandchildren to give their Mom for Mother's Day.   Happy Mother's Day!

Bazzill CS; MME Indie Chic Safron, Kaisercraft Pearls, SB circles and lacey circles dies, MS Fence edge punch, Colorbox chalk ink, Studio G Clear Stamps. silk ribbon from stash.

Challenges

Stamp Scrap and Doodle Saturdays - Challenge 1 Mother's Day

The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - I love you Mum

Craft your Days Away - All Creatures Great and Small

Stampin Sisters in Christ - Any type of animal, bird or bug

Raise the Bar - Mother's Day

Joyful Stamper - Inspire Me Friday

4 Crafty Chicks - Sentiment stamping only

Crafts and Me - Challenge #83 Punches & Diecuts

Crafty Creations Challenges - #169 Frame it!

More than Favors Wacky Wednesday - Mother's Day

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenges - I Love you Mom

Tuesday Throwdown - Challenge #97 Motherly Love

New MME's "Indie Chic Citron" Mother's Day

Excellent timing in that I received my order of scrumptious My Mind's Eye new "Indie Chic" line of 6x6 pads on the very last day that I could finish up a Mother's Day greeting for my dear Mom-in-law and get it mailed off to Texas in time.  I used the "Citron" pad and one of A Day for Daisy's sweet bird digistamps, which I colored, embossed, pieced and popped.  I like how it turned out, probably mostly because I LOVE this paper line and that sweet bird.   Wish I were more skilled at photograpy to pick up dimension.   Maybe when my sweet very talented friend Wendy (Mrs. B) and her hubby come for a visit next month she can teach me some tricksies to use the expensive camera Steve bought me.  Anyway, off to the mailbox with fingers crossed it arrives on time.

Bazzill CS, MME dp, MS doily punch;  Dies: SB Labels 2, Circles, Lacey Circles, Fancy tags, CB corner, Copics and Prismacolor pencils; Foam dots, Recollections pearls, Colorbox creamy brown ink; can’t remember where I got the sentiment stamp, ribbon from stash (used the bow easy for my bow).

Hope you each are having a terrific week...it's hump day for all you workaday folks so cheer up, the weekend is in sight (oh how well I remember)!

Hugs,

Kathy

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Creative Mondays - Challenge #7 Anything Goes

Crafts and me - Challenge #83 Punches & Diecuts
Crafty Creations - Frame it
More than Favors Wacky Wednesday - Mother's Day
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge - #79 Mom
Anything Goes Challenge - Things with Wings
Celebrate the Occasion - Mother's Day
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Happy Mother's Day
Tuesday Throwdown - Challenge #97 Motherly Love
The Outlawz Monday Greeting Card Challenge--anything goes plus sentiment on front
Make it Monday - always anything goes