High Hopes Stamps - Terri's Flower Cart

Howdy - 

 Today for High Hopes Stamps I found a happy flower image to color up! I've been so cold here the last few days and I thought the best way to bring color and happiness is to color up some pretty little flowers! Terri's Flower Cart is perfect for this! 

 

 

 My image is colored with my Copics (colors below) and then I cut out the handles so I could use a oval die cut to cut out the image, while making sure that the handles where attached and sticking outside the oval. Felt like flowers needed a lace mat so I found an older die that left plenty of pretty lace around the oval. The pattern paper is an older piece of paisley paper with a dark red card stock base. Love the pop of red! A silk ribbon as a band around the bottom, then the sentiment "Too many to count" is perfect with all those pretty little flowers! 

To finish off my card I added dots of Nuvo Pearl paint in the corners. You have to love pearls, lace and flowers all together right? 

Happy little card right? I love sweet little cards with frilly lace and pearls. There is so much to fall in love with at High Hopes Stamps - too see all the images - click HERE to pop right over to the High Hopes Stamps web store. ADORE! 

Have a blessed day -
HUGS and

Animal Crackers - Hot Cold Hot Cold

Howdy - 

So first part of this week it was nearly 90 degrees... then the next day there was a more than 50 degree drop! Hot Cold Hot Cold.... it would be nice to have a happy medium for a few days! LOL After the cold wet weather came in I was out checking on the animals and found the three stooges hiding around the backside of the house. It was out of the wind and rainy weather. Cocoa was really back in there... Smart Donkey!

 

 

I then went to check on Big Al - technically he has been sold but they don't have his shelter and pen done yet so he still lives here. I'm ok with that ... really hate to see him leave. He is such a sweetheart! 

 

Now at this time I was shivering and decided it was time to make my way back to the house. 32 and rainy is too cold for me! I stopped at the chicken coop to say hello... it amazes me cold, hot doesn't matter they were all buzy and doing their job... scratch scratch ... cluck cluck. Always busy.... 

 

 

They are happy good looking ladies aren't they? 

 

 

Love our chickens... and their yummy eggs of course ;0) We have been talking about the fact we need to get a few chicks this spring.... I think maybe we should get some different kinds of chickens this time. But Hubby says what ain't broke... we do really well with the kind we have, they are healthy and produce well. I guess that makes sense. Last time I got "odd" chickens they didn't last long and had issues.

On the back porch I found Tuxedo or Momma Cat as we now call her. She was toasty warm snuggled in the corner under her heat lamp. She loves that heat lamp. Hubby has invited he inside, but she will only come to the door, look inside and then bolt out into the yard. She is happy outside especially with that heat lamp when it is cold.

 

Thought I would show off a happy smile this week. I added another Steiff Kitty to my little collection. I adore antique steiff animals - I of course have a couple of the little donkeys... but we have 1/2 dozen of the little kitties. They made so many cute ones. Well we found one we didn't have this last week. In wonderful condition still with her button ear tag!

Funny how little things like this make you smile. We need that once in a while don't we?

Hope that this week you got a smile from my fur babies and feathered little chickens. Have a blessed week. 

HUGS and

High Hopes Stamps - Dreamy Willa

Howdy -

This is one of the cutest images! High Hopes Stamps Dreamy Willa - adorable right? 

 

 

I colored with my Copics (colors below) and then used pencils for a some shading and "hair". I found some older pattern papers from Scribble Scrabble, love pattern papers that are two sided so they match up perfectly. A cream colored card stock and then sewn down pattern paper. The image matted with the brown pattern paper side and then I used a Fiskars corner punch. Been forever since I used this punch and I do love it. 

 

The sentiment is also from High Hopes Stamps - "All Dreams Come True" works so well with Willa! For some embellishment I found three buttons that matched up with the dark reds in the pattern. 

Copic colors used -

 

Went with fun bold papers, which when I started coloring I was going to go calm and sweet - but sometimes your mood just pulls you in a different direction. This one took me to a card that makes me smile. For LOTS of image to make you smile pop over to the High Hope Stamps Store HERE and have some fun filling a cart! 

Have a blessed day - 

HUGS and
 

Animal Crackers - Reflections

Howdy - 

Its been a quiet week around here. funny how a house with two dogs and 4 kittens can feel quiet, but it does. Autie was a large heart in our home, and it is going to take some time before things feel normal I suppose. But we have many fur babies that we need to hold on too and cuddle - 

Libbie has been normal herself, and I guess that is due to being blind and I do think now going slightly deaf. Hubby says it is selective hearing, she only listens to him. Ha. She lives in her own world, and doesn't roam around a lot.

I think besides me and Hubby, Chica is the only one that has really been missing Autie. She has looked for him and keeps going to his "places" in the house. She is now settling down. Like me trying to find her new normal.

 

 

Moxie loves the extra attention.  She has always been such a sweet dog and loves scratches and especially belly rubs - Always been her favorite thing.

 

Now the kittens have really been doing their part to bring some smiles to us - ok insanity to us...

 

This is a horrible photograph I know.. but it happened so fast across the room I was lucky to capture the moment. 

Mercedes is for sure the little trouble maker, he is into everything. A dare devil you could say. You never know.. climbing my blinds, hanging from all kinds of things, opening cabinet doors and climbing in... he is there... I honestly don't want to say out loud some of the things he has actually done around here. Sometimes you just have to stand there and laugh.

Now many times he has a partner in crime. McLaren ... she is "Touched" - as we have been calling it. She is NUTS. Aggressive in wanting attention, pushy and shoves herself at you. She now now started nipping at you if you don't pet her. I don't allow that.. yea I know right... 

One night this last week I came around the corner and found Mercedes and McLaren attacking the
Wheel from Wheel of Fortune.

And a few days earlier McLaren was dragging my kitchen rug around then rolling up in it. I was calling her Taco-Kitty - I would put the rug back in place and tell her to stop it, and she would then do it all over again. Such a silly Kitty -

I went out yesterday afternoon to love on some of the Donkeys - I was a cold but sunny afternoon. Valentine and Teddy were enjoying the what is left of their round bale.

I couldn't get them to stop eating and come to me for hugs. But hey I understand, food comes first. I did finally go around the ring and love on Teddy a bit. Valentine then went off to look for his Momma, Cocoa. He can't stand it when she gets more than 15-20 feet away. Big Time Momma's Boy. I love that about him. But one day it may not be a good thing. But for now it is adorable. 

I do hope you have a blessed weekend and do please hug your fur baby and enjoy them! They are a blessing each one of them. 

HUGS and -

High Hopes Stamps - Andy & Alex Mouse

Howdy - 

Happy Valentine's Day!! This is a big day in our home - Our 35th Anniversary is today, and also Hubby's birthday. So it is a favorite holiday here. And I adore High Hopes Stamps images - so making my Valentine's Day cards with High Hopes Stamps is a win win Love! 

 This week I am using Andy & Alex Mouse - are they precious or what? 

 

Oh so cute! I colored with Copic and then did a little high lighting with pencils. I found a pattern paper from SEI that had lots of hearts, shades of pink, grey, brown and silver. Loved the color combination - especially with these little mice. 

A few pieces of grey and brown card stock and then some zig zag stitching, made a great background - I then cut the couple out along with a few of the hearts to pop on the card. For the sentiment I found "Love Nest Valentine" that worked out so sweet with the couple. 

Copic colors used -

I just love how sweet this image is and with lots of hearts it is even better. For lots and lots of fabulous images make sure to pop over to the High Hopes Stamps web site HERE and see them all and fill a cart!! 

Have a blessed day -

HUGS -
 

Animal Crackers - Hardest Post - A Piece of my Heart

Howdy - 

This post is going to be one of the hardest ever.... already bawling and I haven't even started it yet. This week I lost a piece of my heart. Our boy Autie passed away. I knew it was going to be hard. We knew the day was coming at some point, but I wasn't ready, I never would be ready that was for sure.

I love all my fur babies. But honestly Autie was special. He is my baby. My shadow. He was always at my side. Cooking dinner at my feet. At my desk he was under my chair. Sleeping at night he was on my feet or right at my side. When I didn't feel well or was sad, he was right there to comfort me, he loved to cuddle.

It has been a days now and I am still waking up at night in panic because he isn't there. Found myself stepping around his spot in the kitchen, and rolling my desk chair out and around because I don't want to roll on him... but he isn't there.

Going back through photographs was really tough. I had forgot how little 

and skinny he was as a puppy. And never really realized how much Chica actually looks like him -

 

How he and Libbie were so adorable and played together. 

 

 

He was always the best puppy sitter, and loved baby anything.  Just over a week ago he was playing with the kittens and letting them run and climb all over him.

 

 

He really is a piece of my heart - the best dog ever. 

 

 

It is going to take a long time before thinking of him, seeing a photo of him will not bring tears to my eyes. 

My Buddie, My Shadow, My heart - I love you Autie - There will never be another like you.

Hugs -

High Hopes Stamps - Horsin' Around Horsey

Howdy 

I am totally in Love with these Valentine Images from High Hopes Stamps! There are a few different images with the vintage school house valentine look - but today I am playing with "Horsin' Around Horsey"  

Now I know this will sound silly, but this is one of the hardest cards I have made in a while. I wanted that childhood feel of opening that decorated shoe box full of silly valentines. So Clean and Simple was the plan. No frilly ribbons, flowers, buttons or bling. Just the wonderful fun image and sentiment. 

I colored with my Copics (colors below) then cut a red card stock base. I created a faux mat around the image with my pink copic. I will be honest.. here are ribbons, flowers, buttons and bling all over my desk as I kept trying to add to my card. But in the end I was strong and just went with my original plan. Clean and Simple. This also helped in the fact I wanted to create a few of these sweet cards. So coloring, cutting glue down and done. 

This just makes me smile and happy! I feel like I need to find a shoe box and decorate it! Wouldn't these images be perfect for your child to color their own valentines?? Oh that is such a sweet idea!

Copic colors used -

To find more of these fabulous Valentine images at High Hopes Stamps click HERE and you will pop right to them all!

Have a blessed day -

HUGS and

Animal Crackers - A Cold Brisk Sunny Afternoon

Howdy - 

It's been a bit cold here in Texas the last few days... ok I know for some you would smirk at that, but for us here in south Texas below freezing for a few days is cold. Things shut down and we shut in! But when you have all the fur babies life keeps moving and still have things you have to look over and take care of. Hubby does such a great job. But yesterday afternoon the sun came out and I braved out into the cold weather to snap a few photographs. Ok... so I worked fast... while Hubby was handing out some extra hay. 

 Crissy was all hunkered down into a pile of fresh hay. Enjoying the sun but staying out of the cold wind. 

She is such a pretty lady - really a total sweetheart. 

All of the lady donkeys were all stacked up watching close to "Dad" and the fact that it looked like fresh hay was coming soon! Jolene such a beautiful lady - with her dark nose and gorgeous fur all puffed up in the cold.

Pavo was right there standing and waiting for his share. I love their faces when they are all puffed up protecting themselves from the cold breeze.

 

 

Handsome man in a land of pretty women! Speaking of love - this photo I snapped of these girls. Patti standing over her gals. With Bella laying in the sun in front of her. Hannah her daughter giving some affection to her Mom. 

 

 

 Love it!  Hannah is such a sweet affectionate girl! LOL 

 

As I was making a fast break back to the house. Hey this gal doesn't run, but I was freezing cold! I saw this off to the side. Had to slow down be very very sneaky and quiet... Old Momma cat was out sunning herself next to Jorge's pen.

 

I snapped this photo and then tried to move around to the front of her... that was it. BAM! she was gone! In a flash, but she stopped and looked back at me. Once she saw I was backing up she slowed down and as I moved on she went back to the same spot. Must have been a really nice warm spot. 

As coming inside.. McLaren has a nice warm spot of her own. She had claimed the one back window with the sun streaming straight in like a heat lamp.

 

What a beauty - These four kittens have added so much drama, stress, mess and total chaos to our lives. But they also have added so much love, cuddles and laughter.. lots and lots of laughter! 

Hope you have a wonderfully blessed weekend - 

HUGS and