Resurrecting Old Supplies and Using Them With New Ones!

I have had so much more time in my craft room this week and am completely loving it!  It's been a long time since I've been able to craft consistently.  I've been reviewing my older stamps and came across this cute little watermelon and sentiment. The watermelon image is from Hambo stamps (circa 2002!).  Remember this company?  ;)  And the sentiment is from A Muse.  

I am not sure how true the sentiment is....but we'll roll with it! 

I stenciled the sun using Tim Holtz inks in yellows.  I added a shadow using gray Copics. The watermelon was colored and then I added a bit of grass and green stippling. I stamped the sentiment and popped it up vertically. I added a few sequins and a bit of yellow twine

Life hasn't been a breeze for this little cutie. 

She had to have emergency surgery on Thursday to take out a very large bladder stone. She is doing much better now, but not too happy about having to wear this cone!  I did end up going to Pet Smart to buy a soft one, but couldn't resist taking her picture first! 

Thank you for hanging out with me for a bit today!

Have a wonderful weekend!

JustRite's February Release-Hello Buttercup!

Good morning and happy Saturday to you!

I have yet another new stamp set by JustRite to share with you this frosty cold morning!

This set is called, Hello Buttercup!

I love flowers and can't seem to get enough of them....oh...and did I mention that I am water coloring everything these days? ;)

So yet another set was embossed in white and colored with my Peerless water colors. 

I cut the image out with my Spellbinders pierced circles and Lacey circles. I stamped the sentiment in Versamark, embossed it in white, and gave it a bright orange water color wash.

I added seam binding, string, button, and a pearl. 

Check out what the other girlies did with this pretty set!

JustRite InspirationKathy Jones
Sheri Holt

Angela Barkhouse

Michele Kovack

Kristi Schurr

Chicago was hit with about 14 inches of snow last week, and like a crazy woman I was out there in the midst of the blizzard trying to take pictures.  (without getting my camera wet!)  So here are a few that I captured.

My Bischon/poodle mix, Skippers.  He wasn't all that crazy about the snow and stood by the back door to be let into the warm, cozy house. ;) 

This little gal, Myla, LOVES the snow and couldn't get enough of it! 

We have a warm up this weekend which is causing lots of icky wet mud.  And when you have two dogs, that can be a disasterous combination!

Nothing like having to leave a beach towel by the back door to wipe 8 muddy/wet paws!

I am off to catch up on some laundry and cleaning.

Have a great weekend my friends!

Bedtime Kids and a Cute Pup!

Good morning!  I hope you all had a great weekend!  I didn't do anything special, just a bit of grocery shopping, catching up around the house, and a bit of time in my craft room. :) 

I have a Crafty Secret's card to share with you today using the new digital set called Bedtime Kids.

The image was colored using Copic markers and the edges were distressed with brown ink.

I cut out the card using various Spellbinder's dies. (Pierced Circles, Classic Scalloped Circles, , Standard Circles, and Decorative Labels Twenty-Two.)I added some seam binding, flowers, and coordinating string.

Here is the entire set.....so stinking fabulous!!!

One of my friend's daughters is participating in a photo contest for Love Your Melon.  Love Your Melon is a nonprofit organization that helps children with cancer.  If you buy a hat, they donate one to a child going through this battle.  She asked if my furry gal, Myla would do a photo shoot with the hat.  And of course the answer was yes! 

After many shots, (and missed shots, because she wanted the hat OFF!) she was getting a bit sleepy. He head slowly came down, hat and all, until she was fast asleep. With the hat on.  Perfectly placed.

What's better than a sleeping pup with a "way too large" hat on her itty bitty head?

Um. Nothing.

;)

Hopefully this gal brought a smile to your face. 

Be sure to check out Love Your Melon .

Have a happy Monday!

Glitter in my Veins!

Maybe not literally,

but I DO love me some glitter!

My card today uses lots of it!

I used this sweet image by Crafty Secrets.  It is from the Couple of Cuties digital stamp set. IT is normally not a Christmas set, but to me they looked like they were ice skating. ;)  I colored it with Copics.  I matted the image with gold glittery card stock from DCWV.  This stuff is so sparkly in person.  The designer paper is also from Crafty Secrets.  Since it is a digital product, I can control how the big the pattern is.  This is great when you are making cards!

My cards aren't complete unless I've got a boat load of "stuff" on them.  ;)  So I made a little arrangement in the corner.  It included ribbon, glittery die cut snowflakes, a pink rose, and gold leaves. 

I LOVED reading everyone's captions for this photo!  I finally decided on this one.

It really "spoke" to me.  ;)

And the answer to that?

Nope. 

:)

PJ day at school! Happy Wednesday everyone!

Photography....

This past weekend I had my camera in tow everywhere we went. Cortney had a professional shoot with a Chicago photographer, Jeff from Rebirth Photo. I took pictures of him taking pictures of Cort. Totally makes sense right? We had done the photo shoot at Lincoln Park Zoo. I hadn't been there for years, and I have to say it is a truly beautiful zoo. I seriously had my camera in front of my face the entire time. This lion...amazing right? We walked the Lincoln Park area and I took a few photos of the historic Brownstones. Brian snapped a quick photo of me on our walk. We went to a trendy restaurant on Halsted street called, Summer House. The food was amazing!

Cortney had received a gorgeous one of a kind coat from a sweet lady, Ellen. She is owner of Kaleidoscope Wear. She makes each one of a kind coat with so much love and thought to detail. I loved the coat so much that I am getting one too! So I guess when mine is done, we may have to do a mother daughter session! ;)

It is almost time for Halloween....so of course I couldn't pass up the opportunity to dress up my pups! They are always willing models for the crazy lady with the camera!  My husband told me he was disappointed in the photos I took.  He stated that no one is going to know what they are dressed as.  Maybe he is right....but I am hoping with the stripes and little pom poms that people will figure it out! ;)  Maybe I will have to take a few photos from behind.

We went apple picking yesterday....but I was too tired to upload and edit the photos. So those will be coming at a later date. So this is why I have nothing crafty to share. I've been spending my time on my photography skills. Time with my family. Creating memories. My youngest is going to college in less than a year. I need to enjoy these days...they are fleeting. Thank you for humoring me.....and letting me share other passions in my life! HAve a great day!

Images

I have always been a girl who loves images. I love photography and have been fascinated with it since I can remember.  I think that is why I love Pinterest so much.  Yes, I love the content that is there, but more importantly, I am interested in how things were staged and then photographed! From food, clothing, animals, whatever the subject is.  I think it has helped improve my photography skills.  So I have been practicing on anything that doesn't fight back.  My poor pups are defenseless against the Nikon.  (And a yummy dog treat!)  

Flowers are another obvious choice. My son and I took a bike ride recently with camera in tow.  He was very patient as I took pictures from every possible angle.  

In 2014, this is what teens do when their moms are busy taking photos of flowers.  ;)

 

He usually hates his picture being taken, but a little bribery and I was able to get one shot!

And by the way, I would love to follow you on Pinterest, if I don't already! Please leave your link below so I can do that!  And in case you want to follow me, here is mine.... Michele Kovack at Pinterest. 

Have a great day my friends! Off to take Cortney for her school physical and shots today! Woo to the hoo! 

Myla

 Good morning to you!  I have an album to share with you today that was published awhile back in Northridge Publishing's Cricut Magazine.  I wanted to create an album celebrating our rescue dog, Myla. She was an itty bitty puppy who was rescued from the mill.  Her life inevitably would have been living in a cage breeding pups.  She was all of 3 pounds when we got her. She is a full bred King Charles Cavalier Spaniel and is Kyle's dog for sure! She follows him around everywhere!  It is incredibly sweet to see how they interact with one another. 

 The album was painted a soft pink and given some splatters of white paint. I added journaling and several Cricut cuts.

 Myla is quite the character! She is spunky and laid back all in the same breath.  She has a bucketload of personality!

Now she  is two years old, 25 lbs, healthy and happy.  We love her to pieces!

Be sure to stop by on Friday! I will be participating in a Graphic 45 blog hop with Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L! 

Have a great day my friends!