High Hopes Stamps - Precious Nativity

Howdy - 

This week for High Hopes Stamps I picked a very sweet special image. I love the warmth and feeling of this image. This is "Precious Nativity" it is a perfect Christmas image for your cards.

I wanted to keep most all the focus of this card on the image - not the papers and such. So I tried to keep it simple. As simple as I can anyway, I tend to go off track and keep doing more and adding more. This image is colored with my Copics (colors below) and then cut out with a Spellbinders die. The edges are inked with Ranger distress ink to give a warmer vintage feel. The pattern papers are from Making Memories, and I liked the music paper with the sentiment from High Hopes Stamps "Away in a manger" 

You know you have the song going on in your head - I did coloring and putting this all together. A gingham bow on top just for a little embellishment. 

This image just makes me happy! 

Copic colors used -

No matter what direction you want to go with your holiday cards. High Hopes Stamps has got you covered. Or you can just go crazy and make lots of different cards! 

Hope you enjoyed - Have a blessed day -

Hugs and

Animal Crackers - What are you looking at?

Howdy - 

So I braved the wind and the mud and went out to see how everyone was doing. The ladies were begging for hay. Now they still have some of their large round bale, not much, but they still have some and for what it is costing right now they need to finish it. We could be eating like royalty daily for what hay is costing right now. sigh.

As I got out there I found it funny that the girls seemed to be staring a hole into the side of the house waiting for "Dad" to come out and feed them fresh new hay. I told them give it up, but nope no one would pay any attention to me as I am not the "feeder" for them. Even Juliet - who is normally a total pushy give me attention donkey. She wanted her "Dad" to come out.

So funny... Here is Patti and Bella staring in the same direction.

Can you see the same total concentration in their faces? 

Pepita same thing. I was trying so hard to get her to come to me at the fence so I could get that one piece of hay off her face. Was really bothering me. But she would not even look my direction. I decided it could stay there cuz no way was I going into the pen - mud was slick and deep. Falling in between all the girls didn't sound like a fun plan.

Went around to the other side of the pens and found Ted E. Bear moving fast to get to the back gate, you see if everyone else was looking towards the house there must be a reason so I better get to the gate quick. 

Such a funny guy! Sorry Dad is not coming out right now.

Wait someone looking at me!!

Jorge had to duck under Valentine to see me but he was looking at me. Valentine was trying to sneak bites of Jorge's hay, Jorge was reaching out and saying no, but as I walked up Valentine played the innocent game. Jorge was snorting and looking at me like "You did see that right?" LOL I kicked his hay further into the pen and told him if he didn't make such a mess with his hay and ate it then the wind wouldn't blow in away so Val could eat it! Silly boys! 

And then in the house the other day - I snapped this one really quick.. sorry for the glare in the photo. But it was so cute I had to share it. Wish you could hear the little noises coming from all three of these - LOL

Just inches out the window on a branch was a squirrel. Was making them all nuts! Ha! Nuts...  They were all chattering and so upset that they couldn't reach it. Now honestly they probably would have freaked as they have never dealt with anything that wasn't stuffed or glittered with a bell, that we bought for them. Something that would fight back could be an issue. Now their Momma Cat - she was a serious hunter outside and brought lots of "trophy catches" to the back door before she became an inside cat. I think having heat, cushioned beds and her food put out in a timely manner to her has her happy at her new inside life. These three... talked for a while in the window and then went back to their feathered cat nip stuffed toy. Ha! 

Hope you have a smile again - and have a safe blessed weekend. Enjoy family, friends and furry kids! 

HUGS and

High Hopes Stamps - Cocoa Gnome

Howdy - 

It has gotten chilly here! Time to pullout the Hot Cocoa and Cookies! And with this adorable image from High Hopes Stamps you also get a cute Gnome! This is Cocoa Gnome -  

 

 

Don't you love that big nose? LOL - I colored with my Copics (colors below). Digging through some older papers I found some Making Memories papers that I liked the dark warm red colors. Not a typical Christmas paper, but I still thought it worked well with this Gnome. For something a little different for me I used a Fiskars corner slot punch to hold the image in the mat. You ever notice when you have a lot of craft items you forget about some favorites. Use to use that punch a bunch back in the day. 

 

For my sentiment I decided that the High Hopes Stamps "Cookies and Cocoa Script" sentiment worked perfectly with this image.  

Copic colors used -

Had so much fun coloring up this image. I could hear the cold front blowing outside my window and coloring up a Gnome in Cocoa just felt warm! 

Make sure to pop over to the High Hopes Stamps web site HERE and see all the fun you could be having coloring up great images!

Have a blessed day - 

HUGS and

Animal Crackers - Cold Fronts are hard on old arthritis!

Howdy - 

Brrrrr.... Cold Fronts are hard on old arthritis!  Its been really chilly here recently, ok chilly for us in Texas. That cold weather makes the joints achy! Libby has been spending her time deep in her fuzzy bed. Cozy and Warm.  I am jealous! I wish I had a fuzzy bed to spend my days! 

 

 

Love that old face! 

 

Darlene my other old lady - I should have done a video of her while "Dad" was making her old people food. LOL she loves her mush. Walks like she is 900 most of the time. But while her Mush is being made and close to being served she trots back and forth the fence making all kinds of moaning and crying  sounds!

She is such a beautiful old girl. 30 looks good on her! That and all that mush that Dad gives her!

Heard a loud banging behind me... OH Chipmunk please stop banging your head on the fence panels!

 

 

I will never understand male goats. Why do they love banging their horns on everything!?  Destroying everything! We will not mention his waist line in this photo...ok? HA! 

Now how in the world is Thelma sleeping with all the banging? She is literally just feet away from Chipmunk and is not bothered at all. 

 

 

But then again the boys are loud most of the time so I guess you get use to it and have to sleep and let it go. I think she was enjoying the sun too much to listen to the noise. 

In the front pasture - the Guys got a new bale of hay Thursday - this is HOURS after it arrived. Messy Messy! But the best hay is a layer down I suppose.

Love this photo of Flavio  - he trotted over closer to us coming in the gate just to make sure we did not have a second round bale for them. Always on the look for more - 

With that belly he shouldn't be worried about getting hungry! But you have to keep a watch on things coming I suppose.

Hubby planted some winter flowers this week.

  

He has to have plants and flowers around. He has a green thumb for sure. Me... uh not so much. I'm not allowed to do anything with the plants. :0) 

Hope you have a very blessed weekend - And Animal Crackers Smiles for sure! 

HUGS and

High Hopes Stamps - Meowy Christmas

Howdy - 

 Time to get those Christmas Cards done! And High Hopes Stamps has my very favorite images!  How can you not love Callie Christmas Kitty?? It reminds me of our kitties... especially Mercedes.. sigh. 

Normally for Callie I go very bright - but for this one I went with a vintage look. I colored with my Copics (colors below) and then I inked around the edges with Ranger Tea Dye ink to "age" it some. But then I just had to add a little bling on those ornaments and candy with Nuvo Decor Glitter - ornaments just have to sparkle right? Then my papers are from Making Memories Christmas - love the vintage country feel of them. I sewed down all the layers with a border punch from Martha Stewart Lattice punch. And then one of my all time favorite Christmas sentiments with any kitty holiday card - "Meowy Christmas!" 

Love how this card turned out! Even if this kitty is in a little trouble. 

Copic cards used -

 

To find so many fabulous images for your Christmas cards - click HERE to jump straight over and fall in love! 

Have a blessed day- 

HUGS and

Animal Crackers - They love winter round bales!

Howdy - 

These girls just love when winter round bales come in. They have a constant food bar with no work for them at all. LOL!

 

 

We had 7/10ths of an inch of rain last week so we are seeing a tiny bit of green in the pastures. Sad we celebrate so little rain, but it was a huge blessing compared to what we missed the last few months. Now the cold fronts are starting to roll in so I don't think we will get any real growth. But it does give a little for them to go after in sport I suppose. The boys in the front pen have even left their hay and are out grazing more to find that green munchies! 

 

Now as for taking photographs... sorry- the girls had priorities and photos was not the top of the list. 

 

I did get one that felt sorry for me and came and said hello - Miss Macie

 

 

I loved all over her - rubbed up and down her ears, kissed her on the end of the nose and then she turned and went off to the water barrel. Uh I think I was just a side note to her getting a drink. But at least I got a little lovings! 

 

Miss Gracie always loves to pose for me! My super model in all ways! Look at those big blue eyes and that grin - oh I adore her grin!  She makes me so happy....

 

 

Now on to that not making me so happy - Domino... this boy has been on my naughty list for a while now. He is just too much ... GUY! 

First a few weeks ago he tried to head butt me! Then yells all the time, head butting the fences and showing off for the girls. We won't talk about his stink and stickiness all over him from showing off to the girls.. yuck! But now... the boy has totally destroyed his hut and cover! 

Look how proud he is of himself here... Well I am sure if it rains before "Dad" gets in there to fix that he will not be so proud. Us maybe so cuz it will be some sort of shower for him! Ha!

Stinky boy! Good thing we love him so much! 

Snapped a sweet photo of two of the girls. Porsche & Ferrari were sharing the window bed the other day. They were so adorable. They are typical sisters... Love each other to pieces, then they have a cat fight in the next minute! LOL silly girls.

Hope you have a smile again this week. And be very glad there is no smell-o-vision here with our boy Domino...  :0)

Have a blessed day  

Hugs and
 

High Hopes Stamps - Little Drummer Boy

Howdy - 

Can you believe how close the Christmas is?? Today for High Hopes Stamps I have a sweet Christmas Stamp - "Little Drummer Boy"  I think he is just adorable! 

 

 

I decided to go a bit more simple a little more "manly" like card.   I colored my little drummer with my Copics (colors below) then found a piece of older stripe paper from my stash of scraps. The edges are sewn down with a zig zag stitch. Then for some reason my large Martha Steward leaf border was on my desk. It seemed to want to be used - so I punched out a green card stock border. The sentiment is High Hopes Like the natural feeling of it. The image and sentiment "Pa Rum Pa Pum Pum" LOVE this sentiment ... I always find myself singing while working with it!   The image and sentiment are matted with the same dark brown card stock used for the base and sewed down with a straight stitch. 

Simple - but love how it all came together. 

Copic colors used - 

Now you just have to pop over to the High Hopes Stamps web store HERE and see all the fun you could be having with their images! so so so much to fall in love with! 

Have a blessed day -
HUGS and-

Animal Crackers - It ain't so bad inside...

Howdy - 

Well Momma Cat has been inside for over a month now. I think she has decided it really isn't so bad living inside. 

Now this photo she wasn't thrilled with me - I woke her up from her afternoon window cat nap. But overall she doesn't meow in the windows like she was in the beginning. ok... once this week she was very vocal at a squirrel outside that she couldn't go out and chase, but other than that she has been pretty happy. Now that weather is starting to turn I'm sure she will be even happier. And also - she and Bubba (Mercedes) have really been doing some insane playing lately so she is getting some chasing exercise with him! LOL

Abigail was out keeping a close watch on me. All the goats were a bit nervous as the wind was really blowing hard. Spooky? For a goat it must be. 

If only the rain that was predicted with the wind had showed up... sigh... just short again so far! Maybe next front -

I was getting the same exact look from Jackie... "I got up and out of the hut in the wind and you have nothing for me??"

 

Sorry old girl. Just photos today, no treats. LOL While I was out taking photographs "Dad" was getting a couple of round bales for the donkeys in the back. So I am sure he will be throwing hay to these demanding goats at the same time. They can be quite convincing, and very loud, when they see others being fed. 

I went over to love on our "senior" donkeys... LOL Black Jack and Darlene are side by side now. Hubby thought it would be nice for making sure they get enough to eat and keep a closer watch on them going into winter weather. Much easier to take out the batches of geriatric mush when you can take it to one place. LOL 

Black Jack was wanting scratches between his ears and on his nose. I was good with the head and ears... but he had something sticky on his nose. Possibly some of that geriatric mush?

I made sure he got extra ear rubs though. He sure is getting gray - but still trotting and running his fence lines! Its super vitamins in that MUSH!

Darlene then made her way from the tiny bit of green grass growing in her pen to get some loving. She has been doing so well lately. Especially since she is getting quality regular mush. And some alfalfa between as well. That is a big plus for her!

But Darlene gets special treat and loves - she deserves it now that she is over 30. :0) 

Now once we got home from our antique show we found that the tomatoes had gone from green to red!

I had hubby stop at the little local market and got some fresh salad fixings! mmmm can't wait for dinner! Darn should have gotten some cottage cheese too... I love garden tomatoes with cottage cheese? How about you? yummy! 

Hope you enjoyed - Have your Animal Crackers Smile this week! 

Have a blessed weekend - 

HUGS and