Christmas cards

I received 2 beautiful handmade cards, from two of my crafty friends Tracy H. and Anita Hovey :)! Am impressed with the two of you, for getting your xmas cards made and out...when did you get them done??
Here is Tracy's card:

Ty, so much Tracy for this card...love the layout you used :)!  I used the easel card idea to create an xmas card for a friend of mine, which I will post below in this post....

Here is Anita's card:

Ty, Anita for your beautiful card (saw the one you gave Bernie and Wendy too, beautiful card too)!

Here is the card I created using the easel card idea I got from Tracy's card she sent me:

Thanks for stopping by, and Merry Christmas from my family to yours! Be safe and savor the moments together, and Happy New Years :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Blueberry Hill Pompom hat Giveaway

Please, hurry on over to Pamela Toppings blog and check out the giveaway she is having...she is giving away a Pom Pom hat by Blueberry Hill :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Win the Slice Elite over at the Crafty Charlestonian blog

Head on over to enter to win the "Slice Elite" over on the Crafty Charlestonian blog hurry before it is too late!

Thanks for stopping by,
Catherine

Stamping on Shells

So, I have been meaning to and have also been asked to post my shell that we did during the first class I taught about a month ago. The shells we used were Scallop shells, that Anne (Tabitha's Treasures owner) picked up from somewhere local and she washed them (bleached them too I think) and let them dry outside. I was given a few of these shells a few weeks before the class to play around with the shells to see if they could in fact be stamped on or painted on, the first couple of shells didn't turn out that great.  With some practice (I was glad I had a pile of these shells to play with in case one broke or didn't turn out), I managed to do 3 shells that I was happy with to teach the class how to do.
If you are planning on trying this project out, I would recommend that you have a few extra shells and that you use see through acrylic stamps or stamps that you can rock easily over the shell to get a clean crisp image from.
I stamp set I used is from There She Goes (can't remember what it is called right now, sorry!), and it was really easy to use and was glad that it was see through so one could re-align up the stamp again in case only part of the image showed up. Once we all stamped our images onto the shells, we painted the images in using SU Watercolor crayons or Tombow markers with a watercolor brush and with either one of these methods you have to make sure you don't have too much water on your brush or things will run/bleed. This is even more the case with having the shell as your medium, the grooves in the shell provided great little ramps for your paint to run down! Once we all colored in the images, let them dry, we sprayed them with a protective coating so they wouldn't run or bleed if they got wet again... and some of us even sprayed on some shimmer to make it sparkle a bit.

Thanks for stopping by,
Catherine

Question for all you techies out there

I am working on a new an improved photography blog, the other one that I had been posting on wasn't exactly what I was looking for. Anyways, I am wondering how one posts on the separate pages you have under the "tabs" at the top of the page??? I have tried everything that I could think of, so here I am asking all you lovely people :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

3 X-mas tags

  Here are the 3 Christmas tags that I showed 3 lovely ladies how to make, we also did a small card as well...haven't taken a picture of the card yet, will do that tomorrow for you all :).  I will be doing another tag class next Saturday starting at noon, at Tabitha's Treasures probably some different tags but we will have to see how my week goes.  These ladies were very excited about seeing how easy it is to make tags, especially if you have Spellbinders dies, a Cuttlebug, and of course Cuttlebug embossing folders :)!
   I found "Bakers Twine" at Michaels for about $7, the colors they had were Red, Green, Brown and there are 6 spools in total you have 60 yards I believe the box said. This is what we used for the string on our Christmas tags, the ladies had never heard of "Bakers Twine" and were going to go get some themselves.

Thanks for stopping by,
Catherine

Great News

I am excited to share with you that there is a new little crafty store out near me, it is called "Tabitha's Treasures" it carries mostly Scrapbooking things but she is starting to carry other products like Spellbinders. Anyways, I went in a few months ago and talked to Anne (the lady who owns/runs the store) and she asked me to make a few different cards to have in her store to decorate it/to give people ideas/to sell if people wanted my cards. Then a week or two later I get a call from her asking me if I would be interested in teaching some classes there in her store, I told her that I was very interested in teaching some classes.
The first class I taught was stamping on Scallop shells, with beach themed stamps ("There She Goes" stamps) as well as coloring in the stamped images on the shell with SU watercolor crayons. We had 4 wonderful local ladies come out to this class, these ladies either were Scrapbookers or they were basically beginners. They all did really well, considering they were all basically beginners and they left with a new found confidence which is what I was hoping :)!
A few weeks ago I was asked to do another class, this time would be Christmas tags/cards themed class and we have possibly 5 people coming out to this mornings class. I am excited to show these ladies the many easy Xmas tag/card possibilities there are, hopefully get them all hooked :)! Today we are making 3 tags, all of them different and if we have time a small xmas card which I decided to not totally make up for them. Have them use some of my crafty tools to create their own card, sure I cut out some pieces but left a few of them to do...I want them to use my Cuttlebug to emboss and for them to use Spellbinders. I will let you know how things go this afternoon :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

cards, cards, and more cards

  I know I am such a horrible blogger over this past year, but on a good note I think I got my "crafty groove" back :D! I had to make 11 cards for a friend of my Mom's, she wanted me to make her "Thinking of You" cards and also a few "Thank You" cards...so I finally got around to doing them.

The first 2 cards I made I thought she'd like a Christian sentiment written on it, as she is a Christian and has several Christian friends whom she said she'd like these cards for :).

I wanted this card to be bright and to have tons of flowers on it, I also wanted to use my new Spellbinders dies too...

For this card I used a SU Set that I haven't used in a while, but knew it would be perfect to use and I also used the new "Polka Dot" Cuttlebug embossing folder.

I used the SU stamp set called "Friends Forever", I stamped the flower image out twice the second image I stamped I cut out and used a dimensional to attach it on to the first flower image. I also used some "bling" in the middle of the flower to make it sparkle.

I decided to make her some what of a simple/easy card, that she could write in herself :)!  This patterned paper is shimmery, the floral pattern is white in color and shimmers makes the paper even more beautiful...

I found this patterned paper in my patterned paper drawer, I found a pile of patterned paper that I haven't used yet and thought this patterned paper would be perfect for my mom's friends cards.

I LOVE this patterned paper, it reminds me of the Unity Stamp set called "Feel the Joy" and the cross is a stamp that I picked up from the $1.50 bin at Michael's. Lately Michael's has been carrying several beautiful stamps that are wood mounted, I picked up a few new X-mas stamps the other day :)!

Here is another "Thank You" card

This beautiful purple (I know I used a different color from my usual green colors, lol) patterned paper also came from the same drawer as the other floral paper I found. Was thrilled to come across this patterned paper because it was different and fit what I was looking for to use on the last card :)!

Thanks for stopping by :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

A Photo Contest that I have entered and I NEED your help

  Friends of mine have started a wonderful card company called "Slingshot cards"(you can find them on Facebook), they decided to get the word out there about their new business by hosting a contest. I decided to enter it, in order to enter I had to enter 3 of my photographs I took and then have to get people's votes :)! This is where YOU come in :D, I need you all who follow my blogs to go and vote for my pictures that I have entered into this contest. You have to go onto Facebook, "like" my friends group page and then "like" the three pictures that I have entered...the 3 pictures I entered are a firebush (pink flowers), a Chickadee, and a Waterfall scene.
Here is the link to one of my pictures:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=455387407085&set=a.447679942085.237348.190264087085

Thank you so much for taking the time to vote, and for your help by voting!!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

New X-mas card

 Sorry I haven't been a good card blogger, life happened and I needed a break from being crafty...to a) find my crafty mojo and b) to be able to work on getting my middle son ready for grade 1.
  Here is a Christmas card I made using the "Shapeabilities Pendant Kaleidoscope" dies to make this card, and I did use a card I received from last years Christmas card swap from Kim Prince for some ideas. I got this die set this weekend, for a thank you for doing a workshop out here at a crafty store by me and boy was I excited to see this set :).

Thanks for stopping by,
Catherine

Craft Gossip blog is having a stamp giveaway

Please hurry on over to the "Craft Gossip Blog", because they are giving away a beautiful stamp set, hurry on over and check it out :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Teacher's Gifts

I finally figured out what I was going to do for Teacher's gifts this year, I was at a Dollar store the other day and came across these really neat looking mugs. They looked like clay pots (but with a handle), so I thought that it would be perfect for the teachers if I filled it up with something in one of those little cellophane bags you can get. I went to Bulk Barn, got a PILE of truffles and left there pretty happy with myself...now to go home to create this special gift :)!
I had several teachers to do: My oldest son just had 1 teacher, my middle son has 2 home room teachers that split teach, his Learning Center teacher and his Aide. Plus, I had my son's bus drivers which there are 4 of them and knew this idea I had would be quick and easy to do :)! For Ethan's teachers I wrote a little note that went something like this:
  "The other day I was out running errands when I came across these mugs, they reminded me of clay flower pots and how they help flowers/plants grow by supporting them. They support them by holding them together so they can grow big and strong, then we can transplant them into a garden outside! I then thought of all of you who have taught E* this year, how each of you helped him grow with all the supports he needed and helped him get to where he is now. You haven't just done this with E*, but with all of your students every day and every year! With that we thank you for everything you have done, and each time you take a sip from your mug you will be reminded just how special you teachers are."

I just found out that we are losing our Learning Center teacher that has helped E* excel in so many ways, which is hard because she has that passion one needs to do what she does and you can tell she really truly cares for each child. We are sad she is leaving us, but hope that the person who is replacing her has that same passion and is just as good as she was...will be hard to replace her that is for sure!!!


Inky Hugs,
Catherine

My new blog "Pictures of You"

Just wanted to let you all know I have started a new blog called "Pictures of You", it is something several of my friends have been asking me to start and so I decided to seize the moment. Hope you will pop on over and check it out, let me know what you think :)!
Don't worry I am not stopping creating cards and other fun crafty things, I am doing this other blog in addition to my crafty inky blog :)!


Inky hugs,
Catherine

"Dragon Luck" Sweetpea stamp

I decided that I would challenge myself and use all of the Sweetpea stamps I have to make cards, so on that note my next stamp in my binder of "Sweetpea goodness" I have the stamp called "Dragon Luck". Thought I would do something a bit different with this card, I thought I would make the base of the card to look like a Dragons scales and so I used different colors of green card stock I had in my scrap stash to make it. Turned out really well I think :)! Almost forgot, I also used Glitter Ritz (blue tint) on the flower the dragon is holding to add some sparkle to the card :).
The next "Sweetpea" stamp I will be using is called "Time Flies", thanks for stopping by :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Josh and Erin's Wedding card

My dh's cousin Josh, was getting married and we needed a card to go with the gift that we got them....luckily I just got the SU set called "Blissful Bride" that I could use for this card. You can't tell from this picture, but I used the Cuttlebug embossing folder called "Victoria" on the scalloped black circle which they used on their wedding invitations. The patterned paper that I used came from a pad of patterned paper called "Super Paper Pad" by Family Ties, it has tons of gorgeous patterned paper but the paper is thin not thick which was a bit disappointing :(.

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

2 Sweetpea Cards

Finally, I am BACK with two Sweetpea cards :)! The first card I made I used the Sweetpea image called "Unregrettable Pirate Life", I used another stamp that I just thought was perfect for my card that was a treasure map. I got it with the intention of using it for my middle guys Birthday invitations, but instead he wanted to use Bakugaun ones this year!!

The next card I made I used the image called "Enchanting Gold", and the butterfly is a Sizzix Die that I picked up the other day. Gorgeous isn't it (the butterfly I mean) :)! I also used colors that I don't usually use, but thought I should step outside of my color comfort zone for this card...am very happy with how it turned out :).

Here is a up close picture of the butterfly :)!
Thanks for stopping by,
Catherine

Daily Marker Blog candy giveaway

Please head on over to the blog called "Daily Marker" as she is celebrating her first Blogaversary :)! what you see in the picture is what she is giving away, GORGEOUS stuff right??

Thanks for stopping by,
Catherine

got a new camera, well a new to me camera lol

Yep, I finally did it :)! I finally got myself a new camera, a upgrade from the one I have been using...actually it isn't brand spanking new but it is new to me :)...and I LOVE IT :)! Here is one of the first pictures I took with it, my middle son's feet with my dd's feet in the grass in our front yard...love how this turned out.

Here is my oldest son's feet with my dd's feet :), couldn't do one without doing the other son :)!

 They were having fun with this, as you can see :)! Especially since it was the first sunny day we had in a long time...why not have a fun photo shoot outside.

Still am getting used to this camera...but was quite happy with how these pictures turned out :)! Will be back later with some more pics and some more cards...

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Cards in the mail from April CCE

Sorry that I am so late posting these cards, but a lot has been going on these past couple of months that have been making things around our house extra busy. Anyways, here is a card that I got in the mail 2 months ago for the CCE and this card was by Ardelle. Love the soft colors that she used and the embossed flowers she created :). Ty, so much Ardelle for this card...it is up on my crafty room wall :)!

The next card I got was from Mary Jane Downey, ty so much Mary Jane for this beautiful card and I love the fact it is a masculine card :)! A card theme that I struggle with, and thank you for including some stamped images of the cowboys for me to play around with :).

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Luna Moth

Just had to stop in for a minute, I know I am slacking again on my blog, life has just been to busy and chaotic to be crafty...anyways check this guy out. This is a Luna Moth, he is about 3-4 inches from wing tip to wing tip and about 2-3 inches long...he was beautiful! He is the LARGEST moth that I have ever seen, he was stuck in the grocery store entrance and the lady who works in the floral department got him outside. He then landed on several bags of soil, trying to recover from being inside a hot window...

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Passion for Crafts HUGE bday giveaway

It is Debbie's bday, and she is celebrating by giving all this good stuff away over on her blog called "Passion for Crafts" so hurry on over to wish her a Happy Bday and enter to win these goodies :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

"Oh Alice" challenge 13 Mushroom inspiration

I thought I would redo the card I did the other day, and even use my NEW camera (okay so it is a new to me camera)  to take the picture of the card. For those of you who are wondering I did layer several of the pieces of the card again, I layered the following pieces: her face, the cat's face, the mushrooms and I did so using dimensionals of varying sizes. I wanted to redo this card to do the "Oh Alice" Challenge 13, which you can check out and be part of too :)!

Thanks for stopping by,
Catherine

Chesire Cat Illusion

Yep, I did it again :D! This time I used Sweetpea's "Cheshire Cat Illusion" image to make this card, and I made several parts of the card dimensional again. The funny thing is you can't tell by my pictures straight on, but in person  you can...weird! I cut out seconds of the cat, the mushrooms, her face and put dimensionals on them to make them "pop" off the base image. I will be doing more images this way, gives these GORGEOUS images a new look...

Just to give you a better idea as to what I did, here is a angled shot of my card!


Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Asian card

Here is another stamp that I bought from Deborah, that I have been wanting to play with since I got it :)! I wanted to make the fan look like a real fan, I stamped out the image colored it in and then re-stamped it onto Vellum...then I cut out the Vellum fan. Once I did that, I glued it to the base stamped image on either end and along the bottom of it, so that it would flare out along the top of the fan.

You can sort of see by this picture I took of the fan, and I even made sure that both images lined up so that the color from the base stamped image would show through the Vellum.

Thanks for stopping by,

Catherine

Sweetpea Coral Immersion Card

So this morning I decided to take on a challenge for myself, what challenge is this you ask?? Well first I must say either I am crazy in attempting this or just in need of a challenge which I certainly got by doing this challenge.  I wanted to make this image pop off the page, make her more realistic looking...you can't really tell what I did by this photo but not to worry I will show you and tell you what I did.

Yep, I am crazy :p!  I did exactly what you think I did!  I stamped out this Sweetpea image 2 times, then I colored in the base image and then colored in the 2 pieces I was going to use to "pop" off the page. I cut out the 2 pieces that I used to "pop" off the base image, but before I attached them I ran the base image through the Cuttlebug using the Decal Oval Nesties. Once I did that I attached the 2 pieces that I wanted to "pop" off the page, and then I built my card up from there which didn't take me that long. I would have to say that the cutting out of the pieces that I wanted to use as the second layer was the hardest and the most time consuming. Can't wait to do this with other Sweetpea images :D!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

PaperArtistry card

A few weeks ago at our Crafty night, Deborah brought along some of her stamps that she was looking to sell and asked us to look through them to pick out what we wanted before she posted them for sale. So I picked out a "PaperArtistry" set called "School Days plate3", and decided that this morning I wanted to make a card using this set :).  I wanted the card to be bright, so I picked out a piece of patterned paper that Val gave me in a patterned paper swap we had a few months ago...which I thought was perfect for my card :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

5 Mother's Day cards

Yep, you read that correctly 5 Mother's Day cards! Why do I give out 5 Mother's Day cards?? See there is my Mother, my Mother in Law, my hubbies Nanny, there is my Birthmother (since if it wasn't for her I wouldn't be here today), and my Birthfather's wife. So I looked and looked for a great card to case, and as soon as I came across Kim MacNutt's cards I knew I found the card I wanted to do.

For each of these cards I took some designer K&CO. patterned paper and I ran it through the Cuttlebug using the Flourish Floral embossing folder. Then I added the other touches to the card after :)! 

 Just wanted to show you two close ups of the cards I made :)!  HAPPY MOTHER'S day to you all *HUGS*!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Ty, Brenda Santer

I went to my mailbox this morning to find this lovely card from Brenda Santer, thank you so much Brenda for such a beautiful card :)! It will be up on my crafty room wall, that is where I usually put all the cards I get from friends or other crafty souls like myself..oh yeah, this card is for the May CCE (Canadian Card Exchange). Wait a second...wow, I am impressed you are early Brenda!


Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Card for my Sunday night group

Here is the card we made last Sunday night at our "Encouragement Group" card making group :)!  Everyone, including my Father in Law did amazing with making this card and they want to make our next card harder (plus, they want to use the Nesties and Embossing Folders some more).

Thanks for stopping by,
Catherine

I AM Inktegrity May's Guest DT member

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Catherine and I am a full time stay at home mom of 3 beautiful children...am happily married to an amazing guy for 10 years this June. I LOVE to make cards but also like to alter things, photography (not a professional but love to take pictures), like to make jewelery. My other passion is trying to get better support services/resources for children with Special Needs/Learning Disabilities in all schools across the province I live in (Nova Scotia). I know no small feat, even if I don't move "mountains" at least I would have gotten people talking and perhaps then fix the seriously lacking education system for these children. You are probably wondering why this is one of my passions, well...it is because my middle child has some Special Needs that we are trying to sort out and have found out that the services in our schools are seriously lacking. If I don't speak up who will??

 Okay, so I am the guest designer team member for "Inktegrity" for the month of May, I was sent a few images from the digital set called "Monsters Ink." and here is the card I came up with using one of the images that was sent to me.  I am sorry I took this long to post my card or even say hi, but my computer and also printer were giving me a bit of trouble! I look forward to getting to know the other DT members, sharing my style of card making/craftyness and to meet a bunch of new people that share my crafty passion :). Or is it an addiction?? This card looks a whole lot better in person, sorry for the poor pic...

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

A new me

I had my hair down to the middle of my back, for awhile I have been planning to get it chopped off but then life happened and things just got busier...so in other words it didn't happen. So yesterday, I decided to go for it and make an appointment for this morning :)! They put my hair in a pony tail, cut it off...told me I had the right amount to donate and told me that is my good deed for the day :)! I wanted my hair short but not too drastic, so here is what she came up with for me ...boy does it feel weird and light :)! 

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Sundy night card

I have started teaching a class Sunday nights at my church, and it is for the next 4/5 weeks...I have 5 women in our group and my Father in Law. This class is about Encouragement, so we send out our cards to someone we feel needs to have their spirits brightened...I helped out with a class last year with my friend Anita.

The flowers are from Unity Stamp company (thank you Dejah for carrying this line of stamps), and the sentiment is by Cornish Heritage Farm set called "Friend Centers".

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Crafty night

Here is our project for "Crafty Night" on Saturday night at Julie's house, that Julie found online and Val/Kim helped out with the project :)! This was a really FUN project, and will definitely do it again soon....perhaps a great Mother's Day gift or something. Don't worry my mom nor my Mother in Law don't look at my blog often, so I am not too worried about them seeing this project...

Here is the other side of the box we created, we started out with a blank box from Michael's, painted Gesso onto it, then painted our box whatever color we wanted. We then also made this GORGEOUS flower, which I will be making again and again I am sure :)! I added the beads on the bottom of the box for feet, and will be adding more to the box later but just wanted to show you all what we created.

Every month we issue out a challenge to our crafty group of gals, then the night of our "Crafty Night" we draw names and swap our challenge projects to each other. This time I drew Vals name, LOVE your card :)! Love how you had the pattern on the patterned paper shimmery...beautiful work Val :)! 

I received a card in the mail from Maryann Lawrence in my mailbox, thank you so much for this cute card...very nice :)! This card is part of the CEE (Canadian Card Exchange) that I am part of, where you have to send 2 cards a month once signed up and you get 2 cards from two other people...fun stuff.

Thanks for stopping by,
Catherine