Monday, August 29, 2022

High Hopes Stamps - Pumpkin Patch

Howdy - 

Trying to feel Fall! Coloring it up seems to work for now. This image is from High Hopes Stamps and is called "Pumpkin Patch" - love that potted flowers next to those pumpkins!  

 
Looking back I probably should have colored the flowers red to match the papers better, but I was really in a purple flower mood... LOL I colored with my Copics (colors below) and then went to find papers to match up (see how the red should have been my choice) The sentiment is also from High Hopes Stamps - Happy Harvest
 
Two pieces in my scraps that felt fall like. stripes from SEI and then that fun brown circle paper from Farmers. A dark brown card stock for a base, and everything is sewn down after inking around the edge of the image with Rangers Tea Dye ink. Makes that thread pop I think. After looking high and low for the pumpkin buttons I know I have - I gave up and found three orange enamel dots instead. I'll find those pumpkin buttons in winter or spring I am sure. 
 
Copic colors used -

Love this image - it just has that fall crisp air feel to it. There are so many from High Hopes that just make me feel the season. Have you visited the website and fallen in love with so many? Pop over HERE and you will I promise! 

Have a blessed weekend - 

HUGS and -


Saturday, August 27, 2022

Animal Crackers - Taking in all the Sounds

Howdy - 

Libbie has her place in the hallway - she has always loved laying in the hallway, the center of the house. But since she now is blind, it is her place in the house to listen and know everything going on the house. 

 
Now that sounds very simple. But in our house there is LOTS of noise. Inside - us, 4 cats, her daughter Chica, plus all the household things. Then outside all the goats, donkeys and chickens are always making some sort of sounds. So she has a whole lot of sounds to keep her busy taking it all in. 
 
Went outside early - right out the backyard gate were the three stooges enjoying breakfast  - I was trying to snap a photo of our old girl Cocoa.. actually we have no clue how old she is as we got her years ago as a rescue donkey, she was pregnant with Valentine when we brought her home. 
 
 
 
Man that was nearly 20 years ago! Anyway her son Valentine is always near ... love how he was peeking under her head to see me!  He is nearly 20 and still a big baby boy! 
 
Speaking of baby.. our youngest little girl Penelope. I love when her Mom is busy, only then Penelope will come right to me and let me love all over her. 
 
 
Head to toe I loved on this little beauty. I just Love her! 

Oh my if only you could hear the noises coming from Domino's pen... girls are teasing him... its all very loud.

And he is falling for it. This is his I am hot, a good looking dude for sure! Hot? not sure adorable Yes!

Then always at my feet when I am out taking photographs. My sweet Moxie. 

Is it just me, or a lot of my fur children sticking their tongues out at me lately? LOL

As I came back towards the house... I found Chica - eating Momma Cats breakfast. I yelled now and told her to get in the house now!

This was the face I came in the back door and found. OH MY Melt my heart. Its ok Chica you are so adorable I still love you completely! Such a sweet little girl ... eating the cat's breakfast is about the only rule she breaks ever! She is a great little girl. 

Now as for this little boy... sigh...


That is a LARGE Donkey puppet that normally is found up on a shelf in my office. The other morning Hubby and I were working packing up items for the post office when Mercedes, "Bubba" is about all he is called now it fits so much better. Anyway Bubba goes trotting between Hubby and I dragging this donkey behind him. We just looked at each other and cracked up. Now should have run right after him and got it away from him, but seriously it was so so funny we just couldn't. And the I found him with it again yesterday. Oh my this cat is a riot! The only boy of the four, he just is always getting into things and doing daredevil things to get into trouble. But we adore him completely. He is a love! 

Hope you have a smile - and have a blessed weekend. 

HUGS and

Monday, August 22, 2022

High Hopes Stamps - Guard Duty Rudy

Howdy - 

Coloring up a little Fall today with High Hopes Stamps - Lg. Guard Duty Rudy,  such a cute little scarecrow.  

Sweet guy is colored with my Copics (colors below) and then highlighted with white paint pen. I found some older papers from Simple Stories Generations collection. Loved the warm fall feel of these papers with the scarecrow. I sewed down the layers, inked up the edges of the image, and then added the High Hopes Stamps sentiment "Happy Fall Y'all!" - a favorite fall sentiment as it goes with so many things and I just love that font! Three enamel dots as they were on my desk and matched perfectly! 

Copic colors used -

There are so many fabulous images at High Hopes Stamps to fall in love with! They make me smile and happy when coloring. Click HERE to see the High Hopes Stamp Web Store . 

Have a blessed day! 

HUGs and -

Saturday, August 20, 2022

Animal Crackers - Ladies in Shade

Howdy - 

Got outside a little later than normal yesterday to snap a few photos and chat with my fur children. While there were a few up front finishing off breakfast, most all the ladies were enjoying the shade from one of the enormous trees in the back pasture. 

 
I think there are 10 girls back in there... but the shade was much much cooler than the afternoon sun! A few are sound asleep there too.. ha look at Patti's ears on the left - yep she's snoozing there!
 
Darlene was out near the water. I decided to stop and have a conversation and get a little advise from the old girl. 
 
 
You see I officially became a "senior" citizen this last week according for some discounts anyway... so Darlene could hopefully share her knowledge on how she looks so good for an old gal. Then again she is fed pretty well.. has shelter, water and has very few worries in the world. So I guess that has a lot to do with it huh? Love that old beautiful face! 

Speaking of loving a face.. HA! Valentine had just gotten a refreshing drink. There are many of the donkeys that will stick out their tongue and swish the water around for a minute or ... five minutes to enjoy the cool water. Why that tongue has to come out I have no clue... but it always good for a photo shot! 

 
Miss Hannah was deep in thought. I so wish I could know what was going on in that silly little head. 
 
 
Or do I? It could be scary too I suppose. She is always usually so hyper and .. well nuts! LOL But gorgeous! 
 
Walking back towards the house I found Teddy... Big guy was making sure that there wasn't a single piece of hay blown outside of the goat pen. Now don't worry that he is starving here folks! He has his own area with his own breakfast still sitting there. 
 
 
But that found goat hay is always better! And I suppose if it is on alfalfa day it is.. but sorry big guy its a coastal hay day just like you get! 

This photo Hubby took for me - we have a little batch of young Armadillos moving around. Cute? Or Not? 


A bit of both maybe? Lol as long as they stay around the outer parts of the property and not up by the house or goat pens I am ok. But man they do some major damage with their digging! 

Hope you enjoyed and have your Animal Crackers smile this week - Hope you have a very blessed weekend!

HUGs and -

Monday, August 15, 2022

High Hopes Stamps - Frankie and Bride

Howdy - 

Boo! A little Halloween card today with a fun High Hopes Stamps! This is Frankie and Bride. Too fun! LOL Cute couple right?

 
 I colored this image with my Copics (colors below) and then cut out with a circle die cut. For my papers I used black card stock and then an couple of old Gorjuss papers  from my stash. I loved the spooky dark grass in the bottom of the purple/gray paper. The papers are all sewn with a zig zag stitch. 

The image I did a faux mat with a green copic marker. I love the faux mats... color matches with my image and well.. its fast and easy. I then went in search for a sentiment. The High Hopes Stamps "Frightfully delightful" fun for the happy couple don't you think? It is punched out with an EK Success ticket punch. 

It needed just a bit more.. so out came some dark sparkle enamel dots. Love them! 

Copic colors used - 

Was a fun Halloween card to color - although I was having a hard time with Frankie's green skin. ha! 

Hope you enjoyed - to see lots of fabulous image for your cards pop over to the High Hopes Stamps Web Store HERE

Thanks so much - have a blessed day! 

HUGS and -   

Saturday, August 13, 2022

Animal Crackers - Beards can be a messy thing

Howdy - 

 I suppose that beards can be messy thing... at least it seems that way for Mr. Chipmunk! 

He is such a handsome man - well other than the messy beard, but hey everyone has one of those bad hair days. 

I headed out to see all the ladies - I was surprised they were all up at the barn in the middle of the afternoon. But they were finishing off all their breakfast, which they are very good of not wasting. As high as it is in the these drought times I appreciate that they don't waste any of it! AnnaBella was topping of her hay with a little salt block. As hot as it has been they do love their salt and mineral blocks.

 
Juliet was being her normal pushy self and shoving her nose right in my face. And then out of NO WHERE - Macie pushed in and wanted attention. This was a shocker! She is normally so calm and never one of the pushy gals. But yesterday she wanted her fair time I suppose! 
 
 
She is so beautiful I made sure to give her lots of head scratches, ear rubs and that kiss on the nose! No worries about Juliet though... she made her way right back to me for her 110% of the attention. 
 
Patti was being so pretty and standing off to the side, with those big brown eyes looking at me. Posing for a Glamour shot I am sure! 
 
 
And that nose got a kiss too... Love this sweet old lady -

And speaking of old ladies.. Miss Scarlett was out finishing off the goats hay. Ok.. the goats are not quite as good at not wasting... sigh.

 
She is totally the boss of the lady goats. It is hard to believe that she is one of our old ladies now. She was so tiny when she was born - and so sweet and silly. We use to have an issue that she would jump and climb on Hubby's back, and then to his shoulder when she was little, cute when little but that had to stop pretty quick as she got bigger. LOL 

Now I had to zoom quite a way across then pen her but it was so funny I had to capture it... Penelope is asleep! I am assuming that Mom Abigail was laying up there and there wasn't enough room for her daughter? Not sure but that front half is propped up and standing in the back!
 


I called out to her after snapping my photo of course - she yawned stretched and then very slowly pulled one leg down then the other. Yawned again then laid down in the shade of the hut! Afternoon nap had been disturbed I guess. Bad me.. Sorry Penelope 

Earlier in the week I went out with the dogs and was sitting on the back porch and Momma Cat who came to spend time and chat with me. Funny... we never refer to her as Tuxedo anymore. That was her name when she appeared here - doesn't really fit her now. Momma Cat is who she is.

Hubby would love for her to come and live inside with her children. But she won't have any part of it. She like her outdoors yard, her domain. We worry about her as an outdoor kitty is not a safe life. As we know - her son Shadow disappeared a while back and we haven't found him since. Hubby has looked and looked. So now we try and get Momma Cat to come in - she steps in a couple of steps then bolts out. Maybe one day... Hopefully before something bad happens. We do love her to pieces, she has become such a sweet friendly kitty. Just like her children inside.

I hope you enjoyed and have a smile this week! 

Have a blessed weekend - 

HUGS and

Monday, August 8, 2022

High Hopes Stamps - Tommy's Fall Fun

Howdy - 

Raise your hands if your ready for Fall? Me Me Me... so over summer and ready for the pretty colors of Fall and the cooler weather! So I colored up a little Fall for today's card. This is a fun image from High Hopes Stamps "Tommy's Fall Fun" - Love how happy he is with those leaves! 

 
I had fun coloring those leaves! Ok Tommy too :0) - I used my Copics (colors below) then dug through my older stash and found some vintage Basic Grey papers with great fall colors. I layered and added a scalloped border from EK Success. The sentiment is also High Hopes Stamps "Happy Fall Y'all!"  love that "Y'all!" ha! Then I was looking at enamel dots, then buttons, and just couldn't find anything that felt right for a little embellishment. Then on my top shelf I saw the large maple leaf punch from Martha Stewart! Yep that would work! I punch out three leaves from some of the same Basic Grey papers, a little copic on the edges and then some Martha Steward branch punches to add to the leaves. Love them! And I love using older tools that need some attention! 

Copic colors used - 


There is so much to "Fall" in love with at High Hopes Stamps - to see all them fabulous images in the web store click HERE - any subject you can find something that will make you happy to add to your projects!
 

Have a blessed day - 

HUGS and

Saturday, August 6, 2022

Animal Crackers - Don't Mess with me when I'm Eating!

Howdy - 

Went out during breakfast yesterday morning - Pretty much everyone stopped to say hello to me.. well everyone but Macie ... she was into her meal and didn't want me messing with her at all while she was eating. LOL

 
She is a funny lady and like me takes eating very seriously!  
 
Darlene strolled over to see me - She is looking so good - its that expensive geriatric feed and extra vitamins! 
 
 
She is so worth it and when you get over 30 you do deserve a little extra! 
 
Jolene was being weird - She didn't want to make the effort of walking over to me unless it was worth it. That is a really intense look isn't it?

 
 It wasn't worth it... she watched me talk and love on everyone, and then went back to munching... Later she did come over just in case.. and she really did want some ear scratches.
 
 Miss Hannah was in a real lovey dovey mood - being very sweet and calm. Almost concerned me that she wasn't being her normal self.  But then she grabbed my shirt and nearly ripped a hole in it.. She's ok.. that is normal Hannah! 

 
And where Hannah is there is Juliet. She was very very very concerned about the new neighbors dogs barking. She doesn't like their dogs... they have made there way over a couple of times and hopefully learned that the donkeys don't really want them over here. She was making sure they were staying put on their own property... 
 
 
It was all safe... they stayed and then she could go back to being pushy and shoving me everywhere. But she is a great watch donkey and we love her! 

I looked over across the yard to the goat pen. Love the sisters just chillin' in the morning breeze. Lizzy and Jackie were really enjoying their spot - 


Abigail was actually being calm and sweet too - usually she is jumpy, but she allowed me to come right up to her and snap a posed photo.  Such a beautiful lady -

Our house guest Ammo went home - we sure enjoyed our week with him. Was like having a little part of Autie back - we have always loved Ammo, as one of Libbie and Autie's puppies.. but now he has an even bigger part of our heart.


He is welcome whenever he needs to stay! We called it summer camp - Cats were a new thing for him but he ended up really liking them. 

Have a blessed weekend - 

HUGS and

Monday, August 1, 2022

High Hopes Stamps - Halloween Kitty

Howdy -

Can you believe it is August? Year is going by so fast! Time to get those Halloween / Fall cards done! And High Hopes Stamps has so many adorable images for your cards. 

This is Halloween Kitty - love any image with a cute kitty in it!  

Ok, even the mouse, bat and ghost are cute too. I have colored with my Copics (colors below), then I inked around the edges with a Rangers Distress Ink for a little aging. I found some pattern papers from Prima Marketing Moulin Rouge collection. Love the colors and patterns with this image. I sewed down all the layers and then punched the High Hopes Stamps sentiment "Happy Halloween!" with a EK Success punch that I created a faux border with Copics. 

Had fun coloring this one! It can be challenging coloring a background but I just keep at it until I like the shading and it looks even to me. The card was sitting in front of me and I was getting ready to photograph it... those letters enamel dots were sitting on my desk - it needed a BOO right? ha! 

Copic colors used -

To find all the fabulous image at High Hopes Stamps quick - click HERE and jump on over and see all the fun! 

Have a blessed day - 

HUGS and