Shabby Chic Layout Featuring Sydney the Hemingway Cat

Today I want to share a layout I made a few weeks ago featuring my beautiful cat Sydney. Before I go on, I wish I had made the photo bigger but it's ok, it's done and it's still pretty!

I used a paper stack I bought a few years ago, I can't remember the name of it because I lost the cover, so I apologize if you were wondering. I printed the photo in black and white only because my printer was messed up and wouldn't print magenta ink so everything I printed in color looked really funny. But it goes well with the layout because of course all colors go with black and white! I used the pink damask paper as my base and added a torn sheet on top of it and rolled the edges under and back and inked them with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink. I used a stencil from Walmart with Victorian Velvet Distress Ink to help the page have some more interest. Next I started cutting out shapes from the paper stack (circles and other shapes) and layered everything. I used gold lace and a half-back pearl string to outline the photo area. I used lots of I Am Roses and a couple of flat Primas. I added a Tim Holtz adage ticket and a Tim Holtz metal frame for the word "play." Since I am running low on letters I used a cutout from the paper stack as my title, A Moment Captured. I really need a Silhouette die cutting machine!

In the photo Sydney is lying on my legs in a big recliner with my zebra print blanket. I disturbed her slumber with a photo. I just think she is so gorgeous! She's a gray tuxedo and polydactyl/Hemingway cat meaning she has extra toes on her feet, and it looks like she has thumbs! Here's a photo of her where you can see her wittle thumbs :)

Everyone thought I should have named her Mittens!

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your day!

Katie

Shabby Chic Square Card – Challenge!

I am on a posting roll, let's keep this up! I am definitely enjoying it :)

I am sharing a card with you today for the House of Cards Challenge Blog and the Craft Your Passion Challenges Blog. The challenge this month is to use a bird or a specific color scheme given on the blog. I chose to use a bird to make a shabby chic thank you card. I agonized over what kind of theme to go with but had the most materials for a shabby card. If you'd like to participate in either challenge click the links above :)

If you'd like to know the details for this, read on! This card was pretty involved. I decided on a square shape. This card will be non-machinable so it will have to be given in person or via the post with extra postage (due to shape and thickness). I used 3 sheets from the Mambi Sheets paper stack from Me & My Big Ideas for the base, background and what I am calling the mat (inner square). Once I put the background on I added some burlap and glued it on with white gesso and went over the top with it, too, to make it shabbier. Then I added a smallish paper doily that just peeks out around the edges. I added some glittery brown tulle over the mat, I like how it reminds me of fish netting. For the frame I used another sheet of Mambi paper and the Sizzix fancy labels die. I used two sizes to cut out the outside shape and the inside to make it a frame. I inked the edges of the frame with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink. For the bird I just did a free clip art search and printed out that elegant but cute birdie. I attached the frame and bird and started my favorite part – embellishments! I used three different laces (one is hard to see as it's under a flower cluster on the bottom left) and a lot of flowers from my shabby jar of embellishments. I also used a few Prima flat white flowers with tiny I Am Roses flowers in the center. Lastly I added half-back pearls to finish off the card.

I really enjoyed this card and I hope you can find some inspiration from it! And don't forget to check out the House of Cards Challenge Blog for a new challenge each month, October will be here soon! Create on, my friends,

Katie