RS49 - Sorry for your loss

My friend asked for a doggy sympathy card and without knowing if it was a boy or girl dog - I made two cards using the Retro Sketches #49 layout:

I used a combo of Inkadinkado, There She Goes and Skipping Stones stamps.

Here's the sketch - but the challenge closes at 11:59pm CST today:

Have a great Friday!!!


Thanks for your visit!

FTL#221 - Doggy Sympathy

Sadly, I made another doggy sympathy card (hopefully it's gotten to it's recipient by now) last week for a blogging friend who lost her senior doggy too.  I used the Clean and Simple Sketch#221 for my layout.

The minute I saw the sketch - I knew I wanted to use an 'xxoo' theme and the layout was perfect.
So, I die cut my "x" and "o" from my Sizzix dies and laid them out on the card front.  I hand cut my sentiment banner using a MFT cocker spaniel stamp colored with my pencils and a Skipping Stones sentiment embossed in white.  I felt the card was still too stark - so I drew border lines around the card with my Sharpie.

Here's the sketch I followed:

Thanks for your visit!

I'm so sorry

Hiya Friends!  Hope you are well today.  I made this card last week for a friend who had to put her dog Brandy down.  She was 14 years old, which is quite old for her breed, but even still - it is a tough loss for them.

When I saw the Mojo#270 sketch - which was two week's ago - I kept it unread in my Google Reader because I liked the sketch and knew I wanted to use it even if I missed the deadline.

I used papers from My Mind's Eye pack, which I just love the pink/brown combo.
I die cut hearts from a Verve die and the heart border is Memory Box die.
The sentiment is Studio G and I forget who makes the pawprints.

I hope this gave some comfort to my friend.  Have a great day!


Thanks for your visit!

Happy Labor Day!!!!!!

Wow - it's been a while!  Hope you have something fun planned today. We'll be  hanging at the pool if the weather cooperates........

So............the BIG news is DESTINY GOT ADOPTED YESTERDAY!!!!!!  Along with another one of our CT Humane Society dogs Chi Chi.  Here's a picture (although blurry) of her new family:

When we got the call that she was going home - Frank and I hopped in the car and drove up to say goodbye. I gave the new mom my email address - so hopefully she'll keep in touch.  I will miss Destiny GREATLY!

I also have a quick card to show - this has sat on my work desk for a week and I finished it up Sunday morning for my friend Jim (even though it has flowers on it - oops)

I took the picture using my cell phone AFTER giving him the card!!

I used my new Memory Box tree/moon stamp and a PTI owl and sentiment.

I really don't love it (Sorry Jim - my next card for you will be MUCH better)

I kind of 'forced' this card because my mojo went out the window.  Hopefully it comes back soon!

Well, have a great day!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your visit!

Friday Video!

Haven't been crafting this week - but........I did make this video of Destiny!  It's 3 minutes - so I understand if it's too long for you - but I had fun making it anyway :)

Have a great weekend!!!!!! Thanks for your visit!

Quick Check-in

Hola!
Sorry I've been MIA on my blog visits...haven't spent too much time in front of the computer or at the craft desk.

On Sunday, we brought home Destiny to foster for a bit.

Isn't she gorgeous?  This poor girl was in a NY shelter for a year and a 1/2.  She was transferred to CT Humane and was doing well, but kennel stress was getting to her. So, we're de-stressing her at home and she's doing WONDERFUL already!!!  She's 4 years old, loves other dogs (and even cats I hear), is housebroken and pretty mellow - if you're local to me and want to meet her - she's up for adoption through CT Humane in Westport.

Here she is along w/ my crew and our neighbor's dog Junior having some leftover steak from Sunday dinner:

Hope to make some blog visits too!

Thanks for your visit!

Congratulations!!

Happy July everyone!!!  Summer is coming on strong here!! Hot Hot Hot!!!  Can't wait for the 'guys' to be done working in the back yard so I can start enjoying the pool!!!  I feel funny being out there while they are working away back there!  So, in the meantime, I've been coloring!

This is a card I sent to my friend's Erin and Lisa who came and adopted Max, now "Archie" from us at the CT Humane Society!  They were thinking about getting a playmate for their dog Kody and I've been telling them about particular dogs I thought would be a good match.  They actually came up to see our 12-year old sweet old man "Bowser", but ended up chosing Max/Archie.

The card is pretty simple.  I stamped the MFT dogs on watercolor paper and used Distress Inks to color in.  I then took a marker and tried some 'flicking' to represent Archie's terrier hair.  How do you like that wobbly sewing??  :)

I initially started the card with the Memory Box heart die.  I cut the brown paper and then glued them down leaving the negative space showing the hearts, but it was a bit boring.  So I die cut the light blue paper and added Stickles to bling it up!

Here are Kody and Archie taking a rest from playing:

And here they are back at it!!!

Congrats to Lisa, Erin, Kody and Max and we're so happy they chose to 'rescue'!!!


Thanks for your visit!

Doggy Sympathy

Good Morning!  Thanks for coming to take a look today.  Sadly, it's not a happy card today.  One of my co-volunteers at the CT Humane Society suddenly lost her dog last week.  Tyson was at our shelter for a while after coming in as a neglect case (along with his sister, Hanna, who Cindy adopted).  Tyson was probably 30lbs and should of been 65-70 lbs.  But, with great care, he filled out and was adopted by our husband-wife volunteer team.

Tyson had some separation issues and ended up doing quite a bit of damage to their home, but they stuck by him through good and bad times. Unbeknownst to them, Tyson had cancer and it all came to a head last week and they had to put him to sleep.  We all loved Tyson and feel their pain.

I used my Skipping Stones sentiment and pawprints along with American Crafts paper and a PTI bloom die. (sorry - I had to take picture with my iPhone).

Here are a few of my favorite shots of Tyson from the shelter:

Here's Taz and Tyson after a fun run-a-round.  Can you say exhausted??

RIP Sweet Boy!

Thanks for your visit!

SSD122 - Long Time No See

Happy Easter Everyone!!!!!!!!  First thing I'm doing this morning is putting a spoon in my Nutella jar!!!!  I gave up sweets for Lent and I've been missing my Nutella!!!!!!!!! But, I lost 7 pounds over Lent so I really can't complain too much!!

Hope you have something nice and sweet this morning too!!!

I'm sure not too many people are posting on Easter Sunday..........but I wanted to get in my card for the Skipping Stones Design Sketch # 122.   I actually made two similar cards:

I used my Skipping Stones Designs stamps and heat embossed the doggy with black powder.  I gave him a little color using Distress Inks.  I used American Crafts paper too!!   That's about it!

Oh - here's the sketch:

HAPPY EASTER!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your visit!

Sweet Pea......

Hi!  I picked up Sweet Pea from the vet yesterday.  She was pretty doped up - which was good because she HATES being in the car - so I was glad she wasn't stressed on the ride home.  She's a bit whiny...but I've been told they tend to get that way coming out of anesthesia.

Here's a picture of her with her pink wrap.

So sad............hopefully she feels a bit better tomorrow.  Thanks for those who checked in on her!  :)

Thanks for your visit!

Eat Cake Graphics - "To The World........

you might be one person. But to one person, you just might be the world".   I love this sentiment - so of course I had to get it with my last order from Eat Cake Graphics.  It also helps that there is a dog in the image!!!  And as someone who tries to do her part in animal rescue, time and again.......to one animal, rescuers are the world.

I once again used my prisma pencils to color in the image and used my new DCWV "Green Stack" paper pack I got in FL while visiting my parents.  It's got a bunch of fun papers in there - so you'll be seeing a lot more of it!!

This sentiment has truly come to life in the past week.  There's been a rescue going on in our lives and without further delay...........may I introduce "Sweet Pea"

Sweet Pea is the newest family member.  She's had a bad run of luck the past few months.  Surrendered to the shelter when her owner (eh-hem)..had to go to "college" as we call it.  She did not show well in the kennel at all and her stress level was elevated.  She did actually find a home, but was returned for a bite, then a whole mess of stuff went on, and she was very close to never getting out of the shelter.  We decided to be Sweet Pea's "world."  So after doing a whole bunch of introductions with Nolie and Buddy.......she officially joined the family this past Saturday.

And as wonderful as the adoption of is Sweet Pea, it doesn't come without drama.  After getting her home and bringing her in the backyard........she decided to take a leap onto a 2 1/2' wall and blew out the ACL in her knee.  (FIVE MINUTES.......FIVE MINUTES is all it took for her to get injured!!!).

She is scheduled for surgery next Tuesday and then will have 6 weeks to rehabilitate.  So, obviously not what we had bargained for when we decided to 'save' her, but it comes with the territory and thankfully my husband has a HUGE HUGE heart (even though he says he's not a dog person).

Welcome to the dog house, Sweet Pea!!!


Thanks for your visit!

Eat Cake Graphics - Sittin' Pretty!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!!!  (If you celebrate this holiday - hope you have a great love-filled day!!)


I'm back with another Eat Cake Graphics card!!  Can I just say how much I love these stamps??  Have you gone to their site yet to check them out? You should!!!

When I picked out this wagon from the store, I already knew I'd be popping a few of the pups in it for a card!  He he he - I love how it came out!  Again, I used a lot of masking on the card.  (Directions will be below).  I also used Mark's Finest Papers sentiment and paw prints.

Directions:
1) Stamp wagon with Memento Ink onto card base AND onto masking paper.
2) Cut wagon from masking paper and cover on wagon on card base.
3) Stamp three pups using Stamp-a-ma-jig for alignment.  Stamp three pups onto masking paper.
4) Cover card base pups with masking paper pups.
5) Use ruler to create road/sky separation.
6) Use Distress Inks and cloud template to make sky
7) Use random inks to make road.
8) Remove all masks and color the wagon and pups with prisma pencils.
9) Add glossy accents to pups tongues!



Thanks for your visit!

Frank's Christmas Gift

I meant to write this post up a while ago, but since the few projects I made recently can't be added to the blog until next week - I thought I'd show you what I gave my hubby Frank for Christmas!!!

In October 2010, we were in Savannah, GA for a wedding and went into this art gallery that had the best paintings of dogs!  We purchased three of them to represent Lily, Nolie and Layla.  They hang in our hallway.  After adopting Buddy.........and Frank's super duper LOVE for him.........I thought that having a portrait done of Buddy by the same artist would be a terrific Christmas gift.  So, I contacted the artist, Steven Schuman, and he said he would do it!!

I had to send him a few pictures of Buddy and he picked this shot to paint:

Steven sent me progress updates of the painting: 

The painting wouldn't arrive in time for Christmas....so I had to think of a creative way to give Frank the gift.  I decided to print off the 'progress' shot and I hand cut it into a puzzle.

.

I packaged up the puzzle for Frank to open.

Here is a picture of Frank putting together the puzzle on Christmas Eve with some company

It's coming together!!!

On about January 7th, the original painting arrived and here it is hanging on our wall!!

Isn't it AMAZING??????????

I still have to take a shot of Frank with Buddy AND the painting. 

You would think that would be easy to do....but we just haven't done it!

If you have a beloved pet that you'd like re-created in this style....I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend Steven!!!

Thanks for your visit!

FTL174 - Thank You

Just a quick post today - here is another Thank You card I sent out to friend's who sent a nice little gift in memory of Lily Pumpkin Pie.  I went back to my DCWV dog pack - because it works so well.  I followed last week's Clean and Simple FTL#174

Thanks for your visit!

Friday's Reflection - Lily Pumpkin Pie

So, I put off this blog post for a few days because I just felt I was on a run of sad posts.  So after giving you blog readers a couple of days of happy cards, I'm fessing up that we said goodbye to our Lily Pumpkin Pie on Tuesday.  There's nothing worse, but it was her time and I vowed not to let her suffer in order to keep her with me any longer.   Lily's FAVORITE time of year was winter, so wouldn't you know on Monday night....snowflakes fell from the sky?  On Tuesday morning she got to lay outside in the snow for a bit too.  It made me happy that she was able to enjoy some snow on her last day.

I thought I'd show you a few of our favorite pictures of our 'first born'

This is Lily during her first week home with us.  We adopted her in December 2002
from Pet Rescue in NY  - which is a GREAT rescue group!!  She came up from West Virginia with two other siblings.

Yes - we did have a first birthday for Lily and Hayley (Cindy's dog)

Lily always had the best head tilt!  Here she is with Nolie

This is one of my all time favorite shots. First, because I was able to catch the action. 

Secondly, Nolie looks like the most viscous animal on the earth (which couldn't be farther from the truth)

And third - Lily's doing her Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon move

Lily didn't always love going to the park like Nolie and Layla...but she'd sit for a pose 

as long as needed if 'C-O-O-K-I-E-S' were involved.

She didn't mind a close up either

And this shot is from this summer taken on my cell phone. I just think the pool reflection is awesome.

So Rest In Peace little girl.  We will see you again.

Thanks for your visit!