Sympathy for a Pet

It seems many of my friends have older pets at this stage of their lives.  Kids are leaving home and acquiring their own pets and we are losing ours.  It's such a sad time.  I made this card so I would have one the next time a friend loses her dog.  

This sweet image and patterned papers are from Scribble Doodle Designs.

When I saw the empty doghouse, I knew exactly where I wanted to go with this one.  The rest of the material list will be published in the TTCRD Magazine coming out in July!  If you aren't subscribed to that, you might want to visit Here to find out more about that!  

My empty doghouse is off to the following challenges:

613 Avenue Challenge:  AG
Crafting with Dragonflies:  Animals

Chocolate, Cards, and Coffee Challenges:  BINGO (Diagonal:  Distress, Pattern Paper, Ribbon)

Be sure to share with us over at TTCRD challenges to see what prizes Scribble Doodle Designs is offering and show us what you are currently doing!  We can't wait to check that out!

Thanks for visiting!

Girls Just Want to Have Fun!

Ok, this digi from Scribbles Designs just reminded me too much of doodling on a piece of notebook paper in History class......not that I ever did that!  I decided to throw all rules out and just color like a kid in class and it was too much fun!  I didn't worry about shading, color groups, or staying in the lines....well, not very much anyway!  hahaha

This design is perfect for a bright cheery hello card. a birthday, or an anniversary card.  I'll be using this particular card as a thinking of you!  I'm actually thinking of some ways to use this design in a scrapbook.  Hmm.......stay tuned for that one!

Here's the material list:

Scribbles Designs A 11 Flower Doodles Digi  

CTMH Cardstock/Paper:  Daisy White and Penelope
Copics:  Lots of them!
CTMH Florence Sequins

This colorful notebook page is off to:
Outlawz Paper Ala Mode:  AG
613 Avenue Create:  Optional Twist:  A2 Card, Thinking of You, Sequins/Doodling

Musical Sketches

This layout was framed and gifted to one of my graduating oboe students this year.  She is heading off to music school to study music education.  I am so proud of her!

I followed the sketch to the left which makes it perfect for the new challenge over at Cut It Up:  Use a sketch and die cuts!  This sketch worked as a wonderful inspiration for me.  I saw the picket fence and thought of a keyboard with the vertical lines.  The flowers with the long stems made me think of oboe reeds, of course!  hahaha  I used the flowers in the corner and went with more vertical lines with the oboe and music stand on the right.

In the upper left had corner I chose to go with a sentiment rather than a banner.

Cut It Up is sponsored by Stinkin Cute for this challenge!  So, choose a sketch that inspires you and be sure to link it up with us over at Cut It Up!


Material List:
CTMH Paper/Cardstock:  Urban, Saphire, Daisy White, Black, Gypsy, Slate, Sangria
Old oboe music (copy)
CTMH Stamp:  Universal Backgrounds
CTMH Inks:  Black, Slate, Saphire, Old Denim (retired), Cashmere
CTMH Embellishments:  Bitty Sparkles, Small Black Flourishes, Epoxy gems Black/Grey (retired), Fabric flower (retired)
Prima music flowers

Cut Details:
Design Space ~ Cuts from following cartridges: Quarter Note, CTMH Artistry, CTMH Art Philosophy
Keyboard, oboe and reeds were either altered from Quarter Note cuts or hand designed from various shapes.

Title was done in Thoughts and Phrases Brush Script font with added flourishes from Quarter Note.
Corner sentiment is from Quarter Note and Musical Notes with addition from shapes.


This layout is making its way to the following challenges:

Heart 2 Heart:  Scrapbooking Month
Outlawz Twisted Thursday:  AG
Scrap it with a Song:  "So Am I"  The lyrics really fit when you are anticipating go to music school these days.  The jobs are so scarce and it can be so discouraging, but sometimes fate takes over.  Music education used to be the fall back for performance majors, but that road can be just as "iffy" now!  This young lady will do well; she's very informed on what she will be facing and that is half the battle!
So are we, are we fulfilling our forsaken needs?
Will we extend this, knowing fights we face?
Will force us back behind the walls we made
Running for the door but still
It's strange how it gets me
It's fate if you ask me

Thanks for stopping by today! Please feel free to peruse other posts and pages.  Have a question about any of the cuts?  Leave me a message below, and I'll get back to you or put it in a video over at my YouTube Channel.  Leave me a comment if you so choose!  When you are done here, click on over to Cut It Up and check out the prize from Stinkin Cute and the sketches the rest of the DT used to create their amazing projects!  I'm looking forward to that myself!

Power!

My son recently acquired a new toy!  He's excited to have this car and it gives me the opportunity to show off the Urban collection from CTMH!  This collection is absolutely perfect for my guy projects!

Short post today since I have to speed off to work!  

Material List:

CTMH Cardstock/Paper:  Urban, Black, Ruby, White Daisy
Cricut Cartridges:  Basketball (DS subscription), CTMH Artiste
CTMH Stamp:  Ink Blot
Versa Mark Ink
Embossing Powders:  Ranger Silver, Hampton Art Red, Stampendous Titanium
Smoked Gears Twill from stash
Stick on letters from stash

While I speed off to work, this layout is racing off to the following challenges!

Heart 2 Heart:  Transportation Challenge

Scrap It With a Song:  "Best Day of My Life"  Ok, a 23 year old guy gets a Z06 Corvette, need I explain how this song inspires the layout!  hahaha
The Male Room:  Transport

Thanks for dropping by today!  Please know you are always welcome here; leave me a message/question, peruse other posts/pages, or just hang around awhile!  

PPinky

Again, I've been experimenting in Design Space!  This time PPinky joined me in the adventure.  This is a FREE, yes I said free, digi used in the  Outlawz Progressive Challenge.  

This image is from Ppinkydollsart.  She's just a little too adorable with that sweet little kitty!  

I chose to do a slider type card.  I chose a slider from CTMH Artfully Sent and used hide contour to subtract flowers in the lower right hand corner.  Then I flattened my image into the empty space.  I used the "writing" feature to add the outside sentiment.  

I created my own card to slide into the sleeve by welding a flower onto the top of the card from the cartridge; I cut one in white and one in patterned paper.  I also cut a two flowers to glue to the card. The large white flower has a message added using the "print and cut" feature.  

After cutting all my pieces, I colored my image with Copics, folded on the score lines and adhered the sleeve.  I then turned to the insert; I glued my white back to the patterned piece, added the white flower onto the patterned side and an inked flower to the white side.  The white side is perfect for a hand written message.  The dot in the middle is covered with Faber Castell Glass Bead Glitter Gel.  

This pretty paper is CTMH Penelope.  

Thanks for joining me today!  My card is off to:

Outlawz Progressive Challenge

Alphabet Challenge Blog:  F is for Furry 

The Crafty Addicts:  AG opt add a sentiment

May Flowers

This card I made for fun!  I was experimenting in Design Space on the background.  I used flower cuts, flattened them and then printed it on shiny photo paper.  I cut the tag shapes and embossed the bottom one.  I printed the Bugaboo image on the front tag and colored her with Copics.  A few sequins and embroidery floss finish it off.  

Material List:

Bugaboo Image:  Girlz - Flowers

Copic Markers

Cricut Design Space

Photo paper

CTMH Daisy White Cardstock

CTMH Inks:  Pixie, Canary, Sweet Leaf

Spellbinders M-Bossibilities Embossing Folder 

Floss and sequins from stash

My girl is off to the following challenges:

Catch the Bug:  Flowers Galore

613 Avenue Create:  AG

Outlawz Twisted Thursday:  AG with opt twist ~ Flowers

Thanks for visiting!  Make yourself at home and feel free to check out other posts/pages, shop, or leave me a question/comment!  As always, I'm so happy you came to check things out here!

Gas 'er up!

Time to make a stop over at TTCRD Challenges!  This week our challenge is sponsored by Limited Runs and as always, it is anything goes!  

This adorable little sports car is from Limited Runs.  Cards for guys are always difficult for me; so, I set out to find a great image.  It wasn't difficult over at Limited Runs!  They had several I could have chosen.

I found this great little car and knew it would be perfect for all the guys in my life.  They are all care enthusiasts.  Side note, my two guys are enjoying the Mecum Car Auction right now!  

I decided to do something a little different and make this card to fit a business size envelope.  The car is colored with Copic Markers and colored pencils.  The background is inked using sponges.  

The car is actually acting as a holder for a gas card!  

Be sure to make a stop over at TTCRD to see what the rest of the DT has to share and then show us what you have been creating this week!  

Material List will be available in the upcoming TTCRD Magazine.  If you don't have a subscription to that, you can find the info here.  The magazine is always packed full of crafting articles, tutorials, inspiration, and a challenge.  Wait, I almost forgot, there is almost always a freebie or two!  

Thanks for coming by today!  Make yourself at home and feel free to check out other posts or pages on the blog!  

Birds of a feather...

Ok, this is one of those "My grandma always said....." posts.  You know the kind when we all hear our mothers or grandmothers rambling on about something or telling stories to make a point.  Well, anyway, Grandma always said, "Birds of a feather, flock together."  

It seems she was always saying this when she was making the point that maybe I wasn't "hanging around" the people I should or when she was talking about people getting into trouble.  She also was known for saying, "a leopard doesn't change his spots," but now I'm simply getting off track!  

Back to the birds.....

Our theme at Path of Positivity this month is empathy.  As I was continuing my thoughts on that word, I couldn't help but think of that saying.  Possibly when we are needing to be understood due to difficult times, we seek out people who can give us more than sympathy.  We look for those who can truly empathize with us.  We want to surround ourselves with those who will understand our pain, frustration, anger, etc.  Possibly this is why some people seek out a support group when they are facing difficult times in their lives.  They hope to find acceptance for who they are and what they feel.  

On the flip side of that, maybe this saying explains why we enjoy being around people with whom we share common interests.  Again, we find understanding and a common joy!   

Let's break down that word; em = en which means "to be in" and pathy comes from Greek meaning "suffering" or "feeling."  

Ok, are we any closer to really understanding and/or defining this word?  I'm not sure I am, but I do know these little Chickadees seem very complacent together!

*   *   *   

So, what are your thoughts on empathy?  How do you define this word?  We'd love to see what you have to share on the subject.  Our prizes this month are sponsored by Sparkle N Sprinkle.  So, be sure to link up for a chance to win!  

My birds are flying off to Fantabulous Cricut Challenge where the theme is Things with Wings.

Thanks for joining me as I rambled on about my thoughts and share my first Christmas card of 2016!  It's always great to have you visit; please feel free to look around my posts/pages and leave me a comment/question if you're in the mood.  Have a great day!

Fluttering by...

Time for a post over at Scribbles Design Challenge!  The most recent theme was bugs, so I chose to do a butterfly card using #8103 Butterfly Mason Jar and the Freebie Friday Butterfly!

But, one butterfly didn't seem like quite enough, so I added another to make a pair of butterflies!

Well, if a pair is good, then a bunch must be better!  

I designed this card in Design Space.  After importing the images and setting up the scene, I could figure out where the circles needed to be cut.  I used the slice feature to cut the circles.  Then I could use those circles to make rings to outline the cuts.  

I colored the Scribbles Designs image with Copics and CTMH inks.  This floral paper and coordinating sequins are from the new Florence Collection.  The sentiment was stamped using the CTMH Artfully Sent Alphabet stamp.

My butterflies are fluttering off to the following challenges:
A Beautiful Mess:  AG
Challenge Up Your Life:  Use exactly two score lines

Crafty Friends:  In the Garden
Aud Sentiments:  AG + a sentiment

Thanks for coming by today!  Be sure to head over to Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog and see what the Design Team has in store for you and check out the challenge!   

Strawberries!

Strawberries!  Yep, that's the challenge over at Cut It Up this time!  Use a die cut and a strawberry on your project!

Our challenge is sponsored by One Happy Cut;  you'll want to check out the great prize they are offering!

My inspiration of a strawberry came from the challenge as well as the strawberries all over this little sleeper Cass had on the other day!  I saw those berries and knew just what I wanted to do with this layout!






I had so much fun using new papers from CTMH for this LO.  I combined the new Florence with the May promotional paper Happy with papers from Charlotte, Penelope and Kaleidoscope.  This really fun background and header are from Happy.  I love this collection of papers; it is so cute!  (You can read more about it Here.)

My Cricut got a workout cutting all these flowers, berries, and the cupcake!  I also cut the frame and made some alterations on it.  I glued it down with dimension by pushing up parts of it.

Here is the die list:

Strawberries:  Preserves
Flowers:  CTMH Artiste
Cupcake:  CTMH Art Philosophy
Strawberry on cupcake:  Country Life
Frame:  CTMH Artbooking
Title:  CTMH Artbooking

Material List:

CTMH Cardstock/Paper: Charlotte, Florence, Happy, Kaleidoscope, Penelope, Sorbet, White Daisy, Pixie, Hollyhock
CTMH Inks:  Sorbet, Hollyhock, Gypsy, Honey, Ruby, Pear, Sunset
CTMH Embellishments:  Grey Enamel Gems, Pink Enamel Gems, Purple Enamel Gems, Red Enamel Gems, Enamel and Glitter Blue Duos, Flamingo Dots, Aqua Dots, Epoxy Gems (retired)
Other:  Studio G Glitter Glue

My little berry is off to:

613 Avenue Create:  Use a die to showcase your sentiment

Scrap Your Stash:  Inspired is the Book Picture to the left and use flowers (The flower heart, summer theme and colors were my inspirations)

Heart 2 Heart:  Baby Love

Die Cut Divas:  Picture to the right (I was inspired by the variety/number of buttons, the reds, and the hearts)
Outlawz Twisted Thursday:  AG (Opt twist is embossing)
Between the Folds:  Use CTMH Happy Times

Thanks so much for dropping by today; we are always happy to have visitors here!  Feel free to peruse other posts, check out the specials under the CTMH Tab at the top of the page, leave me comments or questions, contact me, etc.  Make yourself at home here.

Be sure to head over to Cut It Up to see more strawberry creations and then show us your strawberry project for a chance to win a great prize!

Shabby Chic Flowers

Working on some new "coloring techniques" with my Copic markers.  I've never been much of a color-er, so I decided to take some classes with Sandy Allnock.  I really like her teaching style and I'm looking forward to hearing what she has to say!

In the mean time, I'm practicing with some digis and CTMH stamps.  This particular stamp is Beloved Bouquet ~ a stamp of the month stamp.  Those are such a great buy!  Anyway, I put a couple of them together with some masking and colored with my Copics.  I thought they'd be perfect for a Shabby Chic/Vintage sort of card!

The green background is New England Ivy Cardstock embossed using the CTMH Quatrefoil Embossing Folder.  I backed that with Daisy White embossed using the Floral Folder, but first I inked the folder with Gypsy Ink.  I embellished with a black button and sequins from CTMH Mini Medley Accents Black.  Purple thread and the lace were from my stash.

These flowers are off to the following challenges:

Crafting with Dragonflies:  Vintage

Penny Black and More:  AG Must use a stamped image
Twisted Thursday:  AG opt twist add a sentiment

Thanks for visiting today!  Always great to have visitors.  Please feel free to check out other pages/posts.

Country Ball Jar Bouquet

I love those old fashioned Ball/canning jars!  When I found the jar cut in the  CTMH Artistry cartridge I was so happy!  Ball jars remind me of my grandma and visiting her farm when I was a kid!

I chose these willowy looking floral branches from Home Decor to match the background paper from CTMH White Pines Collection.  Yes, I realize it is a Christmas / Winter collection; however, all of these papers are so versatile they can be used for several different occasions!

My jar was cut from White Daisy cardstock and watercolored with the lightest blue paint from the CTMH Watercolor Palette.  I then went around the edges with Sky ink.

Those willowy vines were cut from Sweet Leaf cardstock and inked int he same color.  The flowers were all cut from Daisy White and inked with pigment inks:  Cranberry, Hollyhock and Honey.

My background is watercolor paper and watercolor.  Once I painted over the piece in a couple of orange type colors, I loaded my brush and flicked some to put some splatters over it.  I went around the edge with Cranberry pigment ink.

I tied it all up with some Sunset Baker's Twine and added some sparkle gems from my stash.

This pretty sentiment is from a CTMH set called Framed (retired).

I'm sending my flowers off to the following challenges:

Bitten by the Bug 2:  Bouquet/ Vase of Flowers
Outlawz Monday Greetings:  Spring has Sprung

Thanks for coming by today; so nice of you to visit!  Please feel free to peruse other posts/pages, check out the great specials at CTMH this month,  leave me a comment/question, or contact me.  I'm always happy to hear from you.

Equitation!

I think this equitation image is adorable from The Stamping Boutique!  Obviously, working in the therapeutic horsemanship field, I have lots of ideas for this image!  Today I'm sharing it as a fun addition to a scrapbook page.

Have you ever had pictures that were just dark, dull, and colorless?  Well, that was the issue with these pics.  We took them for assessment of posture purposes, but I wanted to use them in my grand girl's book.  These digis from The Stamping Boutique are the perfect way to add some fun, color, and life to a serious study page!  hahaha

More information on this page will be available in the TTCRD Magazine!  

Thanks for coming by.  Be sure to check out the TTCRD Challenge; the DT has some great inspiration for you and the details for the challenge are there, also!  

My little equestrian is riding off to these challenges:
613 Avenue Create:  AG
Outlawz Twisted Thursday:  AG

Thanks for visiting today!  

Empathy

Wow, it's May and time for a new theme over at Path Of Positivity!  This month we are pondering 'empathy'; now, this is a tough concept.  Empathy versus sympathy......hmm.....  Let's start off at Dictionary.com, shall we?  

Empathy noun

1.

the psychological identification with or vicarious experiencing of thefeelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.

2.

the imaginative ascribing to an object, as a natural object or work ofart, feelings or attitudes present in oneself:

By means of empathy, a great painting becomes a mirror of the self.

Sympathy  noun, plural sympathies.

1.

harmony of or agreement in feeling, as between persons or on thepart of one person with respect to another.

2.

the harmony of feeling naturally existing between persons of liketastes or opinion or of congenial dispositions.

3.

the fact or power of sharing the feelings of another, especially insorrow or trouble; fellow feeling, compassion, or commiseration.

4.

sympathies. 

1. feelings or impulses of compassion.
2. feelings of favor, support, or loyalty:
   It's hard to tell where your sympathies lie.

5.

favorable or approving accord; favor or approval:

He viewed the plan with sympathy and publicly backed it.

6.

agreement, consonance, or accord.

7.

Psychology. a relationship between persons in which the condition of one induces a parallel or reciprocal condition in another. 

Ok, is this clear now?  ........uh, as clear as a stormy day?  Clear as a mud bog?  Clear as .......ok, still not totally clear to me either!  I guess the difference for me is 'sympathy' is feeling the emotion, 'empathy' is feeling the experience.  Sort of like being out in the storm feeling the wet, cold wind versus sitting inside warm and dry with a hot cup of coffee watching the storm.  Therefore, I guess my quote is how I understand it:  empathy ~ the art of feeling rain in someone else's storm.  

I'm not saying Webster would agree, but it's how I perceive it!  


This adorable digi from Sparkle N Sprinkle was the perfect addition to my quote in my art journal.  Definitely a sweet friend to walk through the storm and feel the cold, wet rain.  

*   *   *   

My journal page is part of my Wildwood Crush Book.  I include memories, quotes, pictures, just whatever I want to keep for myself and view on occasion!  It's also where I experiment using different techniques and play.  There is no theme in this book, it's just a place to store my thoughts and studies....like pondering empathy vs sympathy!  ; )

So, what are your thoughts on empathy?  How do you define this word?  We'd love to see what you have to share on the subject.  Our prizes this month are sponsored by Sparkle N Sprinkle.  So, be sure to link up for a chance to win!  

Material List:

April Showers Digi from Sparkle N Sprinkle

Copic Markers

Wildwood Crush Book (retired)

CTMH Paper/Cardstock:  Fundamental, Watercolor Paper, Black

CTMH Inks:  Crystal Blue, Dutch

CTMH Stamps:  Curlicue Frames, Whooo's Your Valentine (retired)

CTMH Cartridges:  Artbooking, Artistry, Artiste

Studio G Glitter Glue

Thanks for joining me as I rambled on about my thoughts!  It's always great to have you visit; please feel free to look around my posts/pages and leave me a comment/question if you're in the mood.  Have a great day!