A day for dads

I hope you were all super good to your dads today. Though my dad is no longer with us, the family went out for lunch in celebration of his memory. Dad loved good food so I know he would have been pleased with anything revolving around breakfast, lunch or dinner!

I made this card with some Anna Griffin paper and some scraps of other paper I had in my paper drawers. The flowers are Prima, rubon is Melissa Frances and the pretty lace frame is K&Company.

Things are rolling along and almost back to normal. The cats are good though Kenya is being a little bugger about eating his special food. Now I know why they call them finnicky. Grandma came to visit today so the boys were happy about that. I'm in the midst of doing 6 weeks worth of laundry. I really should do it more often and then I wouldn't find myself facing 4 hours of what I consider one of the worst chores ever. I often think it's easier just to go buy new clothes.

Have a great week and thanks for looking.

Cats and their toys

Who's getting more enjoyment from the new television? Mom or the kids?

Kenya adores his hammock. In fact, the last one got so stretched out that it was literally hanging on the floor. So, in fact, it was no longer a hammock but a piece of canvas on the ground. The new one is a little better. I think these things are meant for petite, dainty 10-pound cats not my 20-pounders. Kenya seems to be almost back to normal with the exception of his extreme dislike for the new food he has to eat. Any suggestions how to get a cat to eat something he really doesn't want to eat???

Meow means thank you in "cat"

I wanted to make a special card for the vet that did Kenya's operation and I thought this was cutely appropriate. The paper is DCWV and the cats are cut from my Cricut "Animal Kingdom" cartridge. I added a couple of corners, a Melissa Frances rubon, a cute little Jolees mouse, some silver eyelets and ribbon.

Getting Better

So, things are getting better both for Kenya and for me though not without a couple of glitches. He went to the vet today and had his stitches out which I'm sure felt good. He was just happy that he didn't have to stay.

It was another busy day for me. I was able to get one project done in between everything else so that's a productive day!. This card uses My Minds Eye papers, a Prima flower, Melissa Frances rubons, a couple of stick on pearls and lace and ribbon.

My new television arrives tomorrow so I am very excited. You don't realize how much you miss something until it's gone. Though I have a small TV in the bedroom, I do enjoy one in the living room as well. I went with a 46" Sony flatscreen which I'm sure will be akin to sitting front row in a movie theatre but what the heck. Anyway, I had to get the 28" Sony Trinitron off its stand and out of the apartment. If you are not familiar with these televisions, they are great TV's but they are behemoths. Luckily, my building owner happened to be around today and he very kindly assisted me. Well, he did the work and I watched.


I spent forever on the computer this morning trying to get Paul McCartney tickets. He is coming to Toronto in August and always puts on a great show. I mean, he's a Beatle - how could it not be great??? I hate the whole ticket-purchasing system because you know there are a million other people with the same goal as you - get any ticket they can For the longest time, the site told me there was nothing available so I figured they were sold out. However, persistence paid off and I was able to get two.

This second card is done with K&Company paper. I cut the butterfly with my Cricut machine and added a few embellishments to make it all pretty.

I know I mentioned at the top of this post that things with Kenya were getting better....which they are. However, this morning he decided he would a) throw up a hairball b) poo on the bathroom carpet and c) do the biggest pee I have ever seen in the middle of the bed. I know he was sick but this is pushing it. I took a picture of the cleaned up pee just to show how big this thing was. It's like a crop circle. And how was your day?

What a difference a day makes

Things have been running much more smoothly around here today. Everyone finally settled down this morning around 5:30 and slept soundly until just after noon. Kenya seems much more comfortable and actually ate and drank a little bit. The vet figures the new antibiotics didn't agree with him so, once we stopped those, Kenya improved. Crossed fingers, it continues.

I love this card. I got the design idea from one of my favourite bloggers, Melissa Phillips. She is one of the most talented paper afficionados I have seen on the web and I aspire to possess one tenth of her talent. I used some more 7 Gypsies paper, a chipboard frame, Making Memories rubon, and some lace, ribbon and various buttons and stick-on embellishments.

I must get myself turned around after last night's fiasco so it's an early night tonight. Have a great week.

A Hellish Week

I cannot tell you what a hellish two and a half weeks I have had. As I posted before, my cat, Kenya, had what I thought was a urinary tract infection. Well, after 3 different antibiotics, it was not getting any better and the vet discovered it was stones. So....Kenya had to go in for surgery last Tuesday. That part went well. He has been home since Wednesday and the first two days, he did great. However, we are now back to him peeing everywhere, including all over the bedding and I am tearing my hair out. He can't settle down so I am up all night with him. Last week, I was on night shift and it just about killed me. At least this week I am off.

I took Kenya back to the vet on Friday and we are watching him over the weekend. Yesterday, he did great. Last night and this morning, right back to ground zero. I just feel so bad for him and I don't know what to do to help.

Anyway....in between all this nonsense, I was able to get a card done. The paper is 7 Gypsies and the embellishments are pretty simple since it's for a male. I have quite a few orders to get done this week. Time shouldn't be a problem since I have a spare 8 hours every day that I'm not sleeping.

Hopefully, my next post will bring better news. I'm right on the edge and we have to get it resolved!

All Things Prima

I am such a fan of "Prima" products. I find they make some of the most versatile papers out there and they are so much fun to work with. Pretty well everything on this card is Prima with the exception of the ribbons, lace and the rubons. I had a panic moment today when the bobbin thread on my sewing machine ran out, having flashbacks to the nightmares I had with the machine a little while back. Not to worry, all went well and it seems to be purring along once again.

Speaking of purring, my cat, Kenya, is sick once again with his urinary tract infection. This seems to be something that crops up a couple of times a year and, according to the vet, we may just have to live with it. Of course it happened over the long weekend, so we ended up in emerg at 6 am on Sunday. That was LOST finale night and I had to work the next day at 6 am. Suffice it to say, I didn't get to bed all night since Kenya was peeing blood absolutely everywhere. For the first time since Saturday, he is settled down tonight so I am praying we're finally on the road to getting better.

Gotta run. I haven't been out of the house for two days so I MUST get up early tomorrow and play catch up with all my errands. Stay cool!

Pet Sympathy card

This is the third card I made the other day from the same template. It's a sympathy card for my vet who recently had to put one of his dogs down. Very sad. The cute pet paper is from Reminisce, flowers from Prima, rubon from Melissa Frances, lace from Fabricland and cute paw print ribbon from who knows where but I love it!

My poor Kenya is sick again with another urinary tract infection. These seem to crop up at least a couple of times a year and we just can't figure out what triggers them. Of course, this happened on the long weekend - as it always seems to - so I can't get to my regular vet. I have some medication left from last time this happened but not enough to get us through to Tuesday in which case, we may have to make a trip to the emergency vet. He can't settle down which means I'm not settling down which means....long and sleepless nights. Just like having a kid.

Pretty Blossoms

I love these flowers from Prima. They add such a nice finishing touch to the card and are all bright and cheery. The papers I used are from Anna Griffin and the rub-on is Melissa Frances. Pretty, pretty.

What a beautiful day today. I am trying to psych myself up for a walk as I feel guilty staying inside with all the warmth and sunshine out there. After a dismal week of cold and rain, I need to get some vitamin D. My 25-year old television died the other day so I have to take the plunge and enter the world of 2010 technology which I am not looking forward to. There are so many models to choose from. I am attracted to all things bright and shiny though I know that's not the best way to make a decision. Oh well....that's for another day. Hope everyone has a great weekend - thanks for looking!

Mothers

Mother's Day is just around the corner - I can't believe how time has flown and we are into May already. I was lucky enough to spend the day with my mom on Saturday. We had a great shopping excursion where we both spent too much money but that's what excursions are all about. Mom loves clothes as much as I do and I often joke we should have been born Trumps.

Looking through blogs, I found a very pretty card on one of my very favourite blog sites, http://iralamija.blogspot.com/. It is sometimes hard to find design inspirations, but one of the cards on Bety's site jumped out at me and this is what I came up with.

I used Anna Griffin paper for both the cards, some bits and pieces of other assorted papers including Making Memories, Prima flowers, lace, ribbon and Melissa Frances rubons. Touch wood, my sewing machine appears to be functioning again though I was ready to throw it through the window last night. You know that feeling when you just want to get something done but nothing cooperates? I think I need to work on the art of patience.

I was lucky enough to be part of the Ontario Police Memorial yesterday and got to march with several thousand officers honouring those officers who have died this past year. The service was quite moving and the weather held off so that nobody got drenched.

I've got a thousand things to get done and half my day is gone already. I was hoping to get the windows cleaned, car washed and waxed, laundry done, cleaning at least half done and so much more but, alas.....well, suffice it to say, all those things are still on my list.

Happy Birthday

I have very diligently been working away getting some more cards done up before I have to go back to work. This card was made with some more K&Company paper, some beautiful Prima flowers, a couple of Making Memories rub-ons, ribbon and a bit of lace. It's for a lady who is turning 75 years young so I thought it appropriate.

What a beautiful day it was here today but, alas, my balcony wasps are back for the 3rd year running preventing me from enjoying my time out there. I think I am going to have to break down and get the big guns wasp killer. For the last couple of years, I have tried to be gentle but I have finally had it with those pesky insects.

I'm off to do some chores which have been too long overlooked. Thanks everyone for looking.

Plain and simple

This is a very simple card I made as it's being sent through the mail so it couldn't be too "poufy". I used a few different scraps of paper then a K&Company tag, some rub-ons, Prima flowers, lace and ribbon.

I'm trying to rush through my chores before "LOST" starts at 9:00. I have to say it's my all-time favourite show and, as much as I can't wait to see it every week, I don't want it to end. Gotta run - thanks for looking!

Paris?

A friend of mine is leaving for Paris on Monday.....at least, I hope he is what with all the mountains blowing up and ensuing flight cancellations. Oh well, if he doesn't get there, he can enjoy the picture of the Eiffel Tower - it's the next best thing to being there.

Ok, so I used some more 7 Gypsies paper here, some Making Memories metal photo corners and then some stitching - yay! my sewing machine sewed. A pretty simple card but strong colours so it didn't need much.

Victorian Romance

I have had this Melissa Frances tag for some time and thought it would be perfect for a wedding shower card I was asked to make. To me, it just oozes love and romance. I combined it with some bits and pieces of equally romantic paper and borders then added some pink Prima flowers and a Melissa Frances rubon. These tags are so easy to use and the perfect size for cards.

Sister

I have been diligently working on some projects this week, to the exclusion of everything else that needs done around here but that's sometimes how it goes. You can't sweat the small stuff. I used some of my all-time-favourite-paper-ever for this card by 7 Gypsies. You can mix and match it with any colour and it always looks good. The little flowers in the centre are by Prima and I added some bits and pieces of ribbon and lace.

As you can see, there are some scattered stitches here. My sewing machine is still being difficult. I did notice that the back of the needle was all sticky so, after cleaning that off, things seemed to go a little better. I'm hoping against all hope that is the problem fixed because I'm out of solutions. Truthfully, I never really had any solutions other than to put the hood up and stare blankly inside the thing. That did nothing, should you deem to try it.

Cold weather returns tomorrow so back to the winter coats. Have a great weekend!

Some projects to share

I have been busy this weekend with some requests for cards from friends and family. I spent half the day yesterday trying to figure out why my sewing machine won't work. I must have threaded it 20 times and, each time, as soon as I started sewing, the thread would break. I have not one mechanical bone in my body so the only thing I could think of was the thread was too thick or too thin. However, three different kinds of thread later and the problem still persists so I give up.

This first card is soooo cute! It's for a Wedding Anniversary so I hope the happy couple likes it as much as I do. The polka dot paper is by Heidi Swapp, the bird embellishments are "Me and My Big Ideas" and the rest is pretty much from my own supply cupboard.


The second card is for one of our Cadets at work who just got made up to Constable. I thought it would be nice to use the police crest as part of the card. Of course, I couldn't do any sewing because....well....see above paragraph...... so the card looks kind of plain to me. I guess there's something to be said for simplicity.

The final project is a sympathy card done in pale blues, greys and black. And, yes, look! There's sewing! This was the 47 seconds that the machine actually worked before dying completely. I love, love, love the little blue flowers by Prima. I have them in about 10 different colours and they are so elegant and pretty.

That's it for another weekend. I still have a few cards to make later this week so hope to post again then. Thanks for looking!

Cookies

I had to post photos of these beautiful cookies that a friend of mine made for Easter. What a creative and talented individual she is and, I'm thinking, the up-and-coming Martha Stewart. Not only do they look exquisite, but they taste good, too! All her projects are works of art and I'll be sure to post more pics of her yummy treats.

Chicks in an Egg

These two little chicks are so adorable - all fluffy and cute. It makes me feel bad that I still eat chicken, is that weird??

I used some more K& Company paper for this card. I don't know why but I seem to go in cycles with paper companies. The little roses are from Prima, rubon is Melissa Frances and the lace frame is K& Company.

I am having one of my procrastination days today - too many things to do and none of them particularly enjoyable. For all the time I have spent thinking about not doing stuff, I could have had it all done by now. Thanks again to my loyal readers - Jan, you write the nicest comments! - and Happy Easter and a great long weekend to everyone.

Two more Easter cards

I'm back with a couple more Easter cards I got done. This first is made with K& Company paper, some silk flowers, gingham ribbon and two cute bunnies. Brown is always one of my favourite colours though I don't seem to use it a lot on cards. I should change that!

This card is made from some more of the We R Memory Keepers paper. When I look at the picture, there seems to be a whole lot going on with the card but I guess there's good to be said for both simple and cluttered.....I suppose "busy" would be a better word or "bang for your buck".

I had a very pleasant lunch today with some friends at work so that was a nice change. The day started out all cold and rainy but the sun is now shining and it's only going to get better from here. The only good thing about the rain is that you can't see how horribly dirty my windows are - 5 months of winter will do that!

Easter

I have been busy this weekend making Easter cards which I love because there are so many beautiful colours you can incorporate. Perhaps, too, it's the whole idea that Easter signals spring is here and winter is over. Yay!

The first card is made with some "We R Memory Keepers" paper. There's about 6 pieces in the set that all have the same colours so you can mix and match to your heart's content.


I have some K& Company sugared flowers that matched the paper and some adhesive cardboard stickers. The little bunny in the corner is adorable - I think I picked up a pack of 10 for $2 or something ridiculous at the dollar store.

The second card is made with some Making Memories "English Garden" paper. These are less the traditional Easter colours but still soft and spring-y. The chick on his egg is an image I printed from the Internet; I added some ribbon, a Melissa Frances rubon, stick-on pearls, vintage lace and a pretty Prima flower.

I have some more cards to post but that will have to wait until tomorrow as I have a million things to do before I get to bed. Speaking of which, Kenya threw up in his favourite bed - a cat hammock that is a million years old and doesn't even hang any more it's so stretched out - so I need to get the cleaner out for that. One run through the washing machine didn't do it and he won't be happy tonight if he can't have his hammock. Kids!