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

On a Card-making Roll -- Feminine Congrats Card

Yes, another post for another card! I really like this one. It's intended to be a congratulations card for a variety of occasions. I try not to use huge embellishments all the time but this flower stem was just too perfect to pass up. I believe it's from I Am Roses years ago. I am entering this card in the following challenges:

• Craft Your Passion Challenges Blog #331
  http://craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/
• Crafting From The Heart Challenge Blog #129
  http://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
• Ooh  La La Creations Challenge Blog #214
  http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.com/

I used corrugated cardboard for the sentiment mat and an epoxy flower as an embellishment. The "a perfect day" sentiment is a die cut from a paper stack long gone. I used some glittered paper in different patterns (one sheet with lines of different designs) and added some wide flat lace on top. Some thin brown stitched ribbon finishes off this card.

Keep calm and craft on!

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