~better than Victoria's Secret..

my new Pajamas.. from The Cat's Pajamas! Two new sets in the series Cowboys and Indians have just been released in the Clearly Swanky Clear Stamp sets Havin' a PowWow and Its a Western Thing . They can also be purchased as individual traditional wood mounted rubber stamps. The other series, Love is equally as nice and just in time for Valentine's Day.

Besides the great stamp image there are in my opinion two things that make this card special. Recently my sister called me from Denver while shopping at Joann's and asked me if I had the DCWV The Pets Stack. I didn't, and since haven't been able to find it anywhere else, so she sent it to me knowing my All things Dog addiction. The paper is from that set. The other thing that makes this card special is the dog's hat. Its flocked. I'd never used flocking before and decided what better time to try than on a white cowboy hat. This was a fun card and I'm looking forward to making more with my new stamps and paper.

~The DOG's Pajamas..

~The Cat's Pajamas.. in doggie clothes

Not long ago I ran across Alma and The Cat's Pajamas, a find that ranks at the top of my "places to buy stamps" list. {Privately I refer to Alma's cute and quirky retro designs as The Dog's Pajamas. } A good number of her stamps have already "Gone 2 the Dogs"! This covered tea tin works perfectly as a Valentine's treat jar and can be filled and refilled with your pets favorite treats.

~criss-cross my heart..

won't you Be Mine..
the December My Favorite Things stamp set offered by PaperPretties arrived just in time to headline my batch of Valentine's Day cards and gifts.

This is an adapted version of the criss-cross card which I paired with Stampin' Up's Ginger Blossom Designer Paper, Groovy Guava, River Rock and Whisper White cardstock.
My Copic markers added colour to the box of chocolates tucked into the outer flap on the front of the card. Thank you Kim! ~HUGS~

~an unexpected opportunity..

Yesterday a gentleman visiting the beach for a week's break from the cold Indianapolis winter stopped by our local activity center on a whim and offered to do a one day Stone and Silver Jewelry Workshop. Not since my college days had I an opportunity to work in this medium so of course I said, "Indeed, we would be interested!" Unfortunately for those who were unable to attend today's workshop due to the short notice, they missed out on a fun day and an entertaining, creative, and educational experience. Fortunately for myself and the other gentleman in attendance the nearly private one-on-one instruction was an experience well worth the effort.
Our teacher spilled out a container of unusual polished stones in a variety of shapes. I chose an irregular oval piece of lavender jade for my project. Within only a four hour block of time I had cut and shaped, soldered and filed, sanded and polished pieces of silver and stone into a finished piece of jewelry. When we were finished with our pendants, we were reminded that we had created a one-of-a kind piece and that it was the little imperfections that made it so. I chuckled to myself as this is something I am constantly reminding myself each time I sit down to create a card. Creativity, regardless of the medium, is a personal and unique expression.

~Picture This..

My little helper..




A picture is worth a thousand words! What more can i say?

Samp set: Stampin' Up retired Ruff Day. Paper and ribbon: from my personal stash. Altered frame: from Target Dollar Bin. Dog Bones: Purina One.

~Sweet Sixteen..

for my sweet niece..

Happy Sweet Sixteen

Sweet sixteen! Sweet sixteen!
I can't believe it's true;
The person sitting before is
Is really, really you.

May the days that lie ahead
Bring happiness untold;
Choices that are good and wise
For your life as it unfolds.

Sweet sixteen! Sweet sixteen!
Colored candles on a cake!
I send you a Happy Birthday
With a wish for you to make!

from your very proud Aunt..

~one of My Favorite Things..

As I's said before Kim van der Sanden 's My Favorite Things is one of my favorite things. And of all of her My Favorite Things Let's Go for a Walk tops the list. As a dog lover and a collector of dog stamps its no surprise. For over thirty years at least one loving Gentle Giant, more commonly known as the Great Dane, shared my home. My first was Tweed, a beautiful brindle who came into my life when she was only eight weeks old. Seven, a merle rescue came to live with us in Tweed's older years and after Tweed crossed over to the Rainbow Bridge Abby, another rescue, fine and elegant and blue as cold steel graced my couch. Abby and Seven have joined Tweed at the Rainbow Bridge as has Isis, my first regal and well bred Harlequin. Isis was also a rescue of sorts and lived to the ripe old age of twelve, nearly unheard of at that time in a Dane. I fell in love with bold black and white spots of the Harlequin and after Isis I sought out a perfect puppy of Isis' same breeding. Catherine Von Meistersinger came from Kentucky and shared my days and nights, my ups and downs, and my many moves and a very special place in my heart. Today Zoë, my wild and wooly wonderful Whippet graces my couch or any other place she chooses to lie. She is my constant companion.

Happy Thanksgiving!

~Fun Fall Water Bottles..

Each year our local senior center hosts a craft faire to help welcome our northern winter visitors. One of my good friends asked me if I would help fill her table with some of my work so i got busy trying to come up with something colourful, unique, and fun. After I made a couple of these recycled from my hurricane disaster preparedness stash of water bottles I decided to forward the idea on to my niece who is always looking for cute and unusual handouts to her Senate friends. I AM expecting a photo of her handy work any day... *HINT HINT* The stamp sets and ink are from Stampin' Up!, the ribbon is from my ribbon stash, and the paper from my scrap drawer.

~Nature's Touch Guided by an Artistic Hand..

One touch of nature
Makes the whole world kin
~W. Shakespeare

Words that come to mind when I think of a talented lady with a warm smile and a big heart.

For months a simple choker made of jade and silver, strung on leather latigo, a necklace of no real value but that of a favorite piece of jewelry, lay on my dresser in pieces unable to be worn gathering dust. Not too long ago it was my good fortune to "meet" a multi-talented artist restorationist and poet from southern California. Not only does she create some of the most beautiful southwestern style jewelry but she also, much to my happy surprise, is a creator of cards as well. This is the card I made for Cynthia in thanks for the the restoration work she did for me on my little necklace.

Another Birthday Card .. that actually came first.. Happy Birthday Mom!

I'd run across some really nice cards while blog surfing that were made using the criss-cross fold technique and really liked the overall effect. I wanted something different and special for Mom's Birthday card and decided this would be the ideal opportunity to try one out. The colours in Stampin' Up's Designer Paper Outlaw had caught my eye from the first time I saw them so I decided to combine the Outlaw papers with the Season's of Joy flourish stamp and the True Friend floral stamps. A special thank you to Beate for the inspiration.