I Love Hanging Out With You + Blog Candy

Welcome back to another day of the Winter Coffee Lovers Hop! They say today is National Hot Cocoa Day… What DON’T they have a day for? Incredible! I guess Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts didn’t hear of it because there were no free offers like on National Coffee Day. lol!

I’m bringing back Newton the cat, who really loves his cocoa.. (And, unlike his breathing feline friends, he can safely have it.)

How do you like my Flour Sack Towel with those lovely cups? More on that in a bit. Meanwhile, let’s look inside this card, since I rarely decorate the insides…

Those Graphic 45 papers make great household decor, don’t you think? I love that these two stamp sets of Newton match perfectly for front and back pairing! Did you notice the picture of young Newton on the wall? >^.^< The scenery out the window is a picture I cut out of Florida Design’s Art Galleries Magazine. “That Day in the Glade” by Henry Von Genk III. It looks like a true winter’s day in South Florida.

Materials used:

• Newton’s Nook Naughty Newton and Newton Loves Coffee stamp sets
• Graphic 45 Raining Cats & Dogs Collection paper, banners, tags
• Spellbinders Tranquil Moments and Labels 11 dies
• Copic Markers: C5, 7; E11, 23, 33; R24; YR02, 24; W5
• Tombow Xtreme and Mono Permanent Adhesives, Adhesive dots
• DCWV card

I’m playing along in the following hops and challenges:

• Coffee Lovers 2015 Winter Blog Hop: http://wp.me/p5K3PQ-4w
• And my colors fit Verve’s  A Cup of Kindness challenge  http://vervestamps.blogspot.com/p/inspiration-challenge.html

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***********    giveaway now closed    ***************

Since you’ve been so patient with my many posts of late, I figured today was a good day to offer my kind commenting readers some blog candy. Did you like my Flour Sack Towel with cups on it? Well, I have a brand new one to give away:

If you’d like to have a chance at winning this cute kitchen towel, pay close attention: Leave ONE comment on this post telling me: Which hot beverages do you put in your cups? Coffee? Tea? Cocoa?  before 8 am EASTERN time, Sunday, December 20, 2015. If you don’t tell me what hot beverages you put in your cups in your comment, I’ll assume you’re not interested in the blog candy. If you are (or become) a follower of this blog, you may make a SECOND comment telling me so for an additional entry. On December 20, 2015 I will use Mr. Random org to draw a winner from the comments that qualify and announce it here on the blog some time before noon EASTERN time. The winner will have 72 hours to contact me with their snail-mail address or another winner will be chosen.

Thank you again for all your kind support!

-D.Ann

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p.s. Any ads you may see are placed by WordPress and are not endorsed by me.

 

Meoooow! – Cat Lovers Hop – Day 1

Meow! Which, in cat, is as ambiguous as Aloha in Hawaiian.

Hello, again! Good morning, and welcome to the first Cat Lovers Hop put on by Janice and her four-legged friends over at Her Peaceful Garden.

You can read all the details about the hop – like how to play and who the fab sponsors are – HERE. Be sure to read all the way to the end of this post for an additional surprise!

My first card happens to feature a couple of the sponsors’ kitty products –

Naughty Newton from Newton’s Nook and Graphic 45’s Raining Cats and Dogs:

(click on photo to enlarge)

Every cat owner who had (past tense!) mini-blinds knows they don’t last long with cats around! >^.^< Naughty Newton is no exception – he’s all wrapped up in ’em trying to get at whatever it is he sees in that window!! There are even a couple of Graphic 45 cats framed as pictures on the wall in Newton’s house. : )

Newton is right at home in this house full of kitties… If you’ll notice in the background by the carved wooden kitty there are even cat-tails and pussy willows!

Materials used:

• Newton’s Nook stamp sets: Naughty Newton & Boo Crew
• Graphic 45 Raining Cats & Dogs Four-Legged Friend paper
• Spellbinders dies:
  • Window two
  • Fancy Framed Tags one
• Copic Markers: C1, 3, 5; E79; YR 21, 24
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• Coredinations cardstock
• Craft Smith card
• Recollections faux pearls
  • I love how you can use Copic markers to make your pearls match any project!
• Piccolo Flower Curls
• Offray ribbon
• Misc. wire, beads, twine, metal frames, cardstock, adhesives.

 

***********    giveaway now closed    ***************

Now, for more fun… What’s a hop without a few extra little giveaways? I have a small cat lovers BLOG CANDY package up for grabs!

A ‘Life’s better with a Cat magnet, a foot of paw print ribbon and a couple of kitty embellishments for your next cat card.

If you’d like to have a chance at winning this little package, pay close attention: Leave ONE comment on this post telling me: What is your favorite type of cat?  before 11:59 p.m. PACIFIC time, Sunday, November 1, 2015. If you don’t tell me your favorite type of cat, I’ll assume you’re not interested in the blog candy. If you are (or become) a follower of this blog, you can make a SECOND comment telling me so for an additional entry. On November 2, 2015 I will use Mr. Random org to draw a winner from the comments that qualify and TRY to announce it here on the blog. I will be in an area with spotty internet, so if there is no announcement on November 2nd, I will announce the winner on November 10, 2015. The winner will have 72 hours to contact me with their snail-mail address or another winner will be chosen.

I’m joining the fun at these hops and challenges:

• The Cat Lovers Hop: http://herpeacefulgarden.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-cat-lovers-hop-is-here.html

• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Throwback I went back to April’s In the Middle challenge (HERE) and put my focal point, Newton, both in the middle of the page and in the middle of the mini-blinds!   http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/?p=3130

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Wrap it Up (both for the paw-print ribbon wrapping the card and for Newton being wrapped up in the blinds!)  http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-wrap-it-up/

I can’t believe I didn’t look at Newton’s Nook’s current challenge to make this fit, but I’ve been wanting to make this card for a long time. Perhaps I can play along next time. Anyway, if YOU want to join the fun over at Newton’s Nook, here’s the link:  http://www.newtonsnookblog.com/2015/10/inky-paws-challenge-26-color-challenge.html

Before I leave, I thought I’d add some fun little kitty comics as I always love to see what ones Janis has on her blog. Here are today’s – so apropos:

Thanks for stopping by today. I look forward to seeing you here all week for more fun kitty cards!

**** Edited to add: Thank you for the honor of being spotted by Newton’s Nook! ****

-D.Ann

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p.s. Any ads you may see are placed by WordPress and are not endorsed by me.

Coffee Cat, happy accident + Blog candy

A hearty welcome to both new and regular visitors stopping by today!

If you were here yesterday, you know there are a several fun blog hops and challenges going on this weekend…

• The SUMMER COFFEE LOVERS BLOG HOP (clickHERE for more info)

• the WATERCOLOR BLOG HOP hosted by PRETTY PINK POSH (click HERE for more info.)

• TheDailyMarker.com‘s 30 DAY COLORING CHALLENGE (click HERE for more info.)

Todays card also took inspiration from

• Newton’s Nook Designs Inky Paws Challenge #21 – Color (click HERE for more info.) Newton’s Nook is a Super Sponsor of the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!

• This week’s Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge – Royal (click HERE for more info.) Simon Says Stamp is a Sponsor for both the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and Pretty Pink Posh’s Watercolor Blog Hop!

Anyone can join these fun events, so head on over and check them out!… But, wait! You’ll want to go there AFTER you’ve gotten to the end of my post as there is a blog candy giveaway! (I”ll put the links at the bottom of this post too.)

As those of you on Instagram know, this card started out with a disaster… I had picked up a watercolor card pack on clearance and was trying the ‘smoosh’ method with some dye inks, but as it dried, it started flaking and peeling. Whaaat?! Then I reread the box… DUH it was watercolor ‘texture’ PRINTER paper. Argh! (Note to self: always read FIRST!). However, I used a spray finish to stop the peeling, stamped and fussy cut a nifty tabby kitty named Newton. So not all was lost! Yay!

Note to tea drinkers and puppy lovers… I love tea and puppies, too. I just thought this naughty, hyperactive kitty needed to be a COFFEE cat with an attitude. >^.^<

I didn’t have flowers the color I wanted, so I took my Copics and colored some white flowers with teal words to give a little summer pop to the card.

Materials used:

• Newton’s Nook Designs – Naughty Newton stamp set
• Spellbinders dies – Tea Cups, Romantic Rectangles
• Heartfelt Creations – China Fragments stamp set
• Papertrey Ink Dye Inks: Summer Sunrise, Orange Zest, Terracotta Tile
• Memento Dye Ink – Tuxedo Black
• Versamark ink
• Inkadinkado Linen White embossing powder
• Copic markers R20, R32, R35
• Prima Calypso flowers
• Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L E-Z Runner & Crafty Foam Tape
• Canson watercolor texture PRINTER paper… hahaha!
• Krylon clear finish
• Misc. cardstock & pearls
• Sentiment was typed & printed off the computer

I’m entering this card in the following blog hops and challenges:

• SUMMER COFFEE LOVERS BLOG HOP  summer flowers
• the WATERCOLOR BLOG HOP hosted by PRETTY PINK POSH Watercolor cat
• TheDailyMarker.com‘s 30 DAY COLORING CHALLENGE #thedailymarker30day2
• Newton’s Nook Designs Inky Paws Challenge #21 – Color Coral Peach Mint (Looks like teal to me, but there is mint in the center of the flowers.)
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge – Royal Teacups fit for a queen.
• #sbspotlightsunday

If you’d like to play along with any of these, just click on the colored text to go find out what you need to do. Have fun!

Thanks for stopping by today!

****************************   But, WAIT, there’s more!!   ****************************

***********    giveaway now closed    ***************

For those of you patient enough to get this far, I have a small blog candy package to give away:

As I said yesterday, I figure any coffee loving cardmaker will love these adorable ‘Brewchitecture’ napkins by Jill Seale. One pack is “coffee” the other is “café presse.” And, since we are cardmakers, there’s also a new, small Studio g stamp set: ” delight in little things.”  If you would like to have a chance to win this package, all you have to do is leave a comment on any of my blog hop posts from now through June 12, 2015. Of course, I appreciate those who sign up to follow the blog, but it’s not a requirement. From all the comments left on my blog posts from June 5 – 12 that have “Blog candy” in the title, I will announce a winner, selected at random, on June 14, 2015. (This date is revised from my original post.) The winner will have 72 hours to respond, or I will draw another winner.

Have a fun day!

-D.Ann

p.s. Any ads you may see are placed by WordPress and are not endorsed by me.

Inky Paws Challenge #19 & April Showers Challenge

I needed a break today, so decided to do something just for fun.

Newton’s Nook is currently running the Inky Paws Challenge #19 – Use Watercolor:

and Tombow is running the April Showers Challenge with this mood board for inspiration:

So I decided Newton needed to be playing inside a yellow umbrella with a rainy watercolor wash background ( or is that blue skies?! *wink*):

Newton: The sun’ll come out tomorrow!

(click on picture to enlarge)

In case you’re interested, here’s how it was done:

I die cut some watercolor paper with Spellbinders A2 Valiant Honor. I scribbled Tombow makers (195 Green; 243 Mint; 443 Turquoise & 451 Sky) onto an acrylic block and picked up the color with a Royal Langnickel Agua-Flo brush and brushed it over the inner part of the die cut watercolor paper.

While that was drying, I die cut some black cardstock using Spellbinders Tear Drop Circles. I also cut some yellow cardstock using Spellbinders Umbrella trio and the tag from A2 Valiant Honor. I couldn’t find a sentiment I was happy with, so I hand wrote ‘The sun’ll come out tomorrow!’ with a Uniball micro pen. I colored around the frame and the handle of the umbrella with Tombow 025 Light Orange marker.

Next, I stamped Newton with the flower pots from the Naughty Newton stamp set and cut him out without the flower pots. I colored him using just Tombow 025Light Orange except for his ears and nose which got a shot of 942 tan and his collar which used 443 Turquoise and N65 Cool Gray 5. I love that the 025 Light Orange starts out a pale orange yellow and the more you go over it, the more orange it gets!

To attach Newton and the umbrella to the black tear drop circle and the label to the watercolor base, I used Tombow mono dots adhesive. I like using the dots on intricate dies. I then gently rub a rubber cement pick up square over the edges and it picks up any stray dots sticking out. I used Tombow Xtreme Permanent Adhesive to attach the black tear drop circle to the water color paper and to attach the watercolor paper to the turquoise card base.

Now it just needed a little something to balance the card out, so I used more Tombow Xtreme to attach the Prima Marketing Calypso Tin Teal flowers. To finish off, I attached three Queen & Co baby blue rhinestones and ran the Tombow 443 Turquoise marker over them, just in case it helped them match better.

Thank you for stopping by today!

-D.Ann

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Again, if you want to enter either of these challenges, the links are:

Newton’s Nook Inky Paws Challenge #19 – Use Watercolor:

http://www.newtonsnookblog.com/search/label/Inky%20Paws%20Challenge

Tombow April Showers Challenge:

http://blog.tombowusa.com/2015/03/30/april-showers-challenge/

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I’m also entering this in Simon Says Stamp’s Monday Challenge: Pastels

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/?p=2568

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* update 4/13/15:  Tombow winner… Thank you, Tombow!!!

http://blog.tombowusa.com/2015/04/13/april-showers-challenge-winner/