i CAN HAZ ice cream!

A layout inspired by several weeks of information at May Flaum's Camp Scrap documenting my 11 year old dog's range of joy after eating her first dish of soft serve ice cream from an ice cream shop. Best 99 cents I ever spent : ). I had to clean the two dots of ice cream off her nose when I figured out she just wasn't going to lick them off.

That ermergerd face cracks me up. When she's really happy her ears are slicked back like she got into some vintage Brylcream.

The Echo Park Summer Days Alpha Sticker set didn't have an exclamation point, so I turned and "i" upside down. I love the low key "best day ever" rub on for the last picture.

Papertrey Ink Lemon Tart cardstock, Alpha Block stamps stamped with Peacock Feathers Distress Ink.
Echo Park Summer Days Alpha Stickers, "lick, lick, lick", the "i" and "ice cream!" in i CAN HAZ ice cream! and "perfect picnic".
Pink Paislee Sweetness glitter stickers "ermergerd"
Amy Tangerine Other Half Aqua Glitter Foam Thickers "CAN HAZ"
Maggie Holmes Open Book rub on "BEST DAY EVER".
K&Company Best of Brenda Walton patterned papers
We R Memory Keepers Foil/Glitter Pack (rub on) "Happy" "Sweet" and decorative elements.

Simon Says i scream for. Simon also Says Sparkle and Shine.

Less than 15 Days

I don't know what it was about this dog. The look in her eyes? The furrow in her brow? She had less than 15 days to adjust to life in one of the highest kill shelters in the country and then she was killed despite the fact that a lot of people were pulling for her. And it. just. broke. my. heart. So I scrapped it.

When I made the page back in 2012, I could barely get the foundation down. But I've been looking at it again for a few months, and even though it still makes me cry, I finally feel I've conveyed what I wanted to say.

I removed the heart embellishment from the top of the pocket and reattached it to the pull out card. I used gold paint on the top of the card. RIP Boo is written on Papertrey Ink White Shimmer cardstock edged with gold paint on the edges. I cut off the points on the side of the mat, and added a pair of gold foiled scissors and leafy boughs from Maggie Holmes. I used Dr. Ph. Martin No Bleed White for the lettering and details around the mat. Then used Gold Stickles to embellish the blue pattern paper.

 The front of the pull out has all of her shelter info on it. .

My journaling is on the back.

Simon Says Sparkle and Shine, there is a LOT of gold paint (two tones), Gold Stickles and White Shimmer cardstock.

If you are looking to add a pet to your family, please consider adopting from a shelter or rescue.

What's New Pussycat?

I've had this stamp set since 2010, and I haven't used it in a project yet so today is the day. The card base is Limeade Ice by Papertrey Ink and I don't think I was able to capture it in this picture, but it is a lovely clear bright tropical lime green without going neon. The stamp set is Cleary Swanky's Cat's Pajamas stamped with Onyx Black Versafine ink.

Simon Says Furry Friends.

He Built a Better Mousetrap

For the record, we don't have "resident" mice, but in colder weather we have passersby who try to find shelter from the cold. Archie's favorite season is winter for this reason. It's an older house (built in 1906).

The bear is holding a sign that says "He built a better mouse trap!" The buttons are from Papertrey Ink (Melon Berry) and so is the Outlines Alphabet stamp set used to stamp "sage advice" with Versamark and Hero Arts White Embossing Powder. I think I bought the polka dot washi tape on clearance (no evidence of a brand), the grid washi tape is from Stampin' Up!

The idea for the layout came when I was testing a mouse stamp I made from an eraser.  I've been thinking about it for a while. When I saw May Flaum's Camp Scrap is working on Monochrome this week, everything fell into place.

I used a pencil to sketch out all the hand writing and the food dish, and then wrote over it with a Fine Line Sharpie. Then I erase for Scotland. The thought bubble is drawn with Tropical Tangerine Stickles, and the speech bubble is drawn with Orange Peel Stickles.

There is more journaling under the photograph, and my customary pocket for more journaling under the "card" element by taping only the sides and the bottom.

As I was making this layout (in a day once I got the idea for the bigger picture and the photograph printed), I started thinking about how much easier using stamps on layouts has gotten for me (touch wood lest the mojo runs away). I think it started by participating in some challenges to use Papertrey Ink stamps by the truly talented Leigh Penner at her blog (chock full of crafty goodness) To The Full.

Simon Says Furry Friends.

Paper: Fancy Pants "Great Pumpkin"(base), Sassafras Bungle Jungle the dish was made from a piece of scrap.

Embellishments: Queen & Co. Embellishments (flower), Tropical Tangerine Stickles, Orange Peel Stickles, Making Memories Puffy Alphabet Stickers, Washi Tape, Papertrey Ink Melon Berry Buttons, Sequins.

Stamps: Papertrey Ink Outlines Alphabet (Versamark and Hero Arts White Embossing Powder), Stampin' Up! Cheerful Critters set (Papertrey Ink Terracotta Tile), hand-carved mouse (Papertrey Ink Orange Zest) and x stamps (Terracotta Tile).

that is SOME [grand] PIG Scrapbook Layout

There was a challenge issued a while back by Leigh at to the full to create patterned paper. And Simon Says Anything Goes. I'm not the best at getting challenges done with deadlines, but I sure do get a lot of inspiration from them : ).

This is my grandpig. The journal tag is also a pocket because I often forget to write down something. If I have a pocket I can just write it on a tag and pop it in. Now I almost always add them. The title is a nod to Charlotte's Web.

I recently realized I can use my camera to store layout ideas. This is the majority of the components just before I bagged them up.

I also realized that I can use a top loading scrapbook to hold pages in progress.

I keep a small box of leftovers and experimental embellishments and mats within arm's reach of my work desk. For this layout I pulled 4 of the box.The crafting cuppie ephemera represents me (grandma). I didn't need all those pillows, so I stamped it on the other side.

To minimize mistakes, I write the journaling out in pencil (which allows me to erase the wonkiest lines, adjust for size, etc). Then I write over the pencil and finally erase it after the marker has had time to really dry.

The Details.
Stamped Patterned Paper:
White cardstock. Large flower from Papertrey Ink's Funky Florals stamp set. Petals stamped with Berry Sorbet, centers stamped with Pure Poppy, details stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with Ranger Ink gold embossing powder.

Hibiscus Burst cardstock stamped with all three stamps from Background Basics: Woodgrain set in Versamark.

Picked Raspberry cardstock stamped with Mod Squad set and Black Soot Distress Ink

Journal Tag
Graphically Speaking Cricut cartridge., Sharpie Fine Line marker, Funky Florals stamped with Versamark

Embellishments:
We R Memory Keepers Extra Large Grommets
White Organza Ribbon
Title Cricut Fonts: A Frightful Night cartridge, Calligraphy Collection cartridge. "[grand]" is run through the little Xyron sticker maker.
Ephemera: Stamping and coloring experiment done a few years ago with Taylored Expressions Crafty Cuppie colored with Distress Ink and Stickles.

Bold and Koi

Simon Says to Boldly Go, so this time it's with Koi. I bought this stamp at the same stamping convention as I bought the pug stamp, possibly the same vendor, but no idea who it was. I used Picked Raspberry Distress Ink to stamp it and Salty Ocean Distress Ink to paint in the water.

To Boldly Go Pug-naciously

Simon Says to Boldly Go, using big stamps and bright colors.  So I used one of the biggest stamps I could find and one of the oldest I have going back about 15 years? I remember buying it at a stamp convention and everything was made of actual rubber.  I felt it needed a little something so I wrote "Pug-nacious?" in a fine line black pen. The ink is Picked Raspberry Distress Ink

WOYWW 222

222 always reminds me of the tv show Room 222 which I watched when I was a barely teen lo those many decades ago. I've never seen it on re-runs so it might not be the classic I remember, but I digress.

It's a bit of finishing up the leftovers from Papertrey Ink's Stamp-a-faire and embarking on some new projects. The leftovers are the shrinky dink cuts that need to be stamped and shrunk (hence the cutting board) and the die-cuts to the left which need to be stamped, and the Kool Aid will be used in scented embossing powder at some point. (edited to add the link for more info on scented embossing powder)

The Peacock Feather Distress Ink is new and followed me home after I finally remembered to carry a coupon with me, and the erasers are going to be turned into stamps. The candy boxes will be turned into notebooks thanks to a pin I stumbled across, only modified of course. The toy wheel will be turned into a spindle (for spinning wool).

The candy will be given with the notebooks, but I'm still sorting out how to wrap it. Ideas are welcome of course lol.

I've been bonding with my "grand-pig" who is tired of being photographed. His name is Arnold Palmer (named after the beverage, not the golfer who made the beverage lol). His hobby is woodworking/home alteration.

If you are wondering about WOYWW, head over to Julia's Stamping Ground and have a gander at crafty desks around the world.

WOYWW 196 and Gertrude's Devil Bowl

Front and center, an actual VHS tape (Handspinning Advanced Techniques by Mabel Ross). Two out of three DVD players bit the dust, fortunately I have a stash of crafty VHS to watch. Just behind it are my two Papertrey Ink ink pads (Ocean Tides and Kraft). They are sort of yin or yang shaped, so the larger side can be used for inking large areas and the pointy bit for getting in the small places. On the other side is part of my freshwater pearls stash. Seriously, I'm addicted to them. The zip bags in the front contain some of my larger PTI dies. I've decided if I keep them there, I'm more motivated to find a better storage solution for them. On the other hand, when they are out, I use them more.

I'm sometimes accused of hoarding because I save odd junk mail and all my PTI packaging, but it's really a useful craft source. And if you don't believe me, you can see it for yourself in this blog post about 25 Creative and Frugal Supplies for Mixed Media from Cloth, Paper, Scissors lol. They didn't specifically include one of my favorites though, which is those subscription cards in magazines which look so different when they are cut.

 This card was made a while ago with second-hand materials and a sharpie.

And a PSA for anyone whose dog is a food gulper. Instead of the fancy $30 dollar specialty bowls designed to slow their eating, I found a $2.79 double bowl turned upside down works really well. This one has a ridge in the middle to really put the brakes on by rocking and turning as she eats. My dog thinks this is the devil's doing, but she is no longer in danger of getting bloat from eating too quickly.

Head over to Julia's Stamping Ground to see more crafty goodness on desks around the world! Better yet, snap a picture of your own crafty space and join in the fun : D.

My Name is Earl

A layout dedicated to one of the sweetest cats I've ever known. Sadly he passed on in 2006 at the age of 14, long before I was ready to say goodbye. I just couldn't bring myself to write my name WAS Earl though.

I used some stripey paper and cut out four of the same stripes and then mitered the corners. The title is from American Crafts (foil). I added a little sparkle by covering the sides of all the letters with Viva Decor Hematite Glitter Liner. I used the same paper to make mats for all the photographs and the journaling. I made the large two photo mat into a pocket for extra journaling by adhering it with ATG tape on the bottom and sides only. Earl is cut from the font on the Birthday Bash cartridge. I welded the shadow together on my Gypsy and then just put the letters on top of that.

I made a hand cut heart to replace the dot for the i, and used Scotch Quick Dry to glue the key on. So far so good. Everything comes from the Club Ruby Designers' October kit.

Introducing Neptune

Neptune is settling in nicely. He followed a trail of food up the ramp to his food dish. He is very industrious and works for many hours a night on his wheel. I wish I could think of something to harness the wheel to. He's still relatively small, only 4 inches.

We have the sounds of little feet in the house again.

I've had one of the best birthday weeks ever (and I've had a few to compare this one with lol), and yesterday my DD gave me a new hamster. Here it is 5:31am and there is a soft whirring of the hamster wheel. Hamsters are exempt from our alphabetic pet naming system, and this little boy is named Neptune. I will take pictures later when he has settled. One thing I've notice right is he just eats the food instead of carrying it away in his pouch. Color me a little older, but happy : ).

A Bright Tiny Light Went Out Today

A tiny bright light went out today. Zeus the hamster died, apparently in his sleep. In his approximately 2 years on this earth, he escaped more than a few times. During a few of his adventures he climbed stairs, spent one night in a pack with one of the cats, and hid in a tube of wrapping paper fortified with lots and lots of wool and was missing for a few days more than once. He had a bright inquistive nature. His stillness leaves the house feeling a lot emptier than his size would suggest. I am immensely saddened.