Registered Comments

Only members of this blog will be allowed to leave comments effective immediately. Unfortunately someone left a message in a foreign language and it was inappropriate. Not the kind of person we want leaving messages on this blog. Sir Chester's response to this person is not printable in English but in Cat it was something like "Hiss, Hiss, Rowwww; Hiss Hiss" You get the idea.

So to my friends and family please continue to visit and comment. New friends, please sign up so you too can leave comments.

I didn't want to do this. I wanted to make it easy for people to comment, but there always has to be someone to spoil it.

Now that that is done with..... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Reminder - last day is today to sign up for the swaps on Paper Wishes.
Sew Many Cards will be back up and running on Wednesday (Feast of the Epiphany)
Paper Cutz will be back up next week too.

Back at the Lake

Had to get in some pictures of our grandsons at Christmas. They played so well together and had a lot of fun. We had fun watching them and the big boys had to join in with the Matchbox car tracks. These will be fun photos to scrapbook. I took 77 photos. Will need to whittle that down to a reasonable number.

Happy New Year

Season's Greetings

Well, Christmas is over and New Year's is a few days off so I'm using the generic. Just got back from a wonderful time with all 3 grandsons. Drove to Dallas last Tuesday night ahead of the snow. They did have a white Christmas just for us. About an inch or so on the ground. Just enough for effect. The boys got along great. Max is 3 1/2, Zerek is 2 1/2 and Mason will be 2 in March. 3 bundles of energy. I'll post pics once I find the adapter to my camera's memory stick. I'm staying in KS for a couple of days and then back to the lake for New Year's.

Doodle Beans!!!!

Doodle Beans is sponsoring Sew Many Cards DT this month. Jaden is holding one of their digis to let a friend know how important she is. Can't you just see Jaden making this "love" note to his friend? He looks shy, but determined.

There is a link to Doodle Beans on the right hand side of the site. I have to learn how to do a widget. Then you would have the awesome badges to click on. Maybe John *my awesome son" can teach over the holidays. Hint hint. (He checks in every so often to see what is up on the site)

Now, I am actually a little early. This card is not supposed to be posted until Wednesday, but I'll be traveling on Wednesday. I didn't want you to have to wait until evening so I am doing it early. I'm ahead of schedule!! So, you have a sneak peek by stopping by here earlier in the week.

Have a Merry Christmas. Best wishes from Sir Chester and me.

Friday Freebie & Paper Cutz Challenge

The Friday Freebie from Sew Many Cards is the Candy Cane Heart. I decided to use it to make a thank you card for Christmas gifts. "Heartfelt Thanks" that sort of thing. I used DCWV Christmas paper stack, Thank You Brad Buddy & gold pearls from Paper Wishes. Vinyl tag words from HOTP.
The Paper Cutz Challenge this week will be to make a New Year's themed card. I used Ephemera paper from Paper Pizazz, Heritage Dazzles, gold pearls, HOTP vinyl tag word all purchased from Paper Wishes.
One box has shipped to Chicago and the other is ready to ship to CO tomorrow. Then I can wrap the gifts going to Dallas with us. Still have some shopping to do and the Christmas cards are made, but I'm addressing them in small batches. The last should go out Monday morning at the latest.
Keep the holiday spirit despite the holiday craziness. Everything is relative. Which reminds me, there is still time to sign up for the swaps on Paper Wishes Message Board. Check out the eligibility rules and if you qualify, try one or two or all three. They are fun and you get to see "in hand" what others can do. You swap the actual creation not just a photo. Photos are great, but the real thing is nice sometimes too. I save mine for inspiration. Other people use them like they would their own creations.

Good Night
MSKi

Seeing Christmas Red

The last challenge for 2009 at Sew Many Cards is to create using only red except for your coloring of the digistamp. The digi can be any colors. My Christmas card is made with 3 digis colored with Copic markers. The background paper is from DCWV Christmas Stack and the red brads and red pearls are from Paper Wishes. The next SMC challenge will be January 6th (Happy 3 Kings).

A reminder that the swap signups are going on at Paper Wishes. We have a card swap, an ATC (artist trading card) swap and a scrapbook element swap. Join in for some fun. Be sure to read the rules first.

Gotta wrap and ship. I'll be back soon.

Paper Wishes Swap Call for January

Check out http://forum.paperwishes.com for the January Swap Call. There is a card swap, a scrapbook element swap and an ATC swap under papercraft. All the information is on the message board regarding the actual swaps and the organization of them and the eligibility to play along. We don't want to discourage anyone from joining a swap (it is a month to month sign up) but we do want people who are serious about seeing it through so it is enjoyable for everyone. Sign up is from now until December 31st. Then the mailbox will be locked and the list posted January 1st.

Still working on my Christmas stuff and final exams (writing and giving and grading, not taking thank goodness). No pic today. Sorry.

The swaps are coming, the swaps are coming

The swaps are coming back to Paper Wishes after a month off for the holidays. Check the Paper Wishes Message Board on Tuesday Dec 15 regarding the January swaps. There are a few changes in the "rules" so make sure you read through those. They are designed to make the swaps more enjoyable for everyone. Sign up is Dec 15 to Dec 31 and the lists will be posted Jan 1 and finalized Jan 3 (just in case someone needs to drop off, etc). You will have the month of January to get your swap made and mailed. I'll have more information here Monday night.

Those of you that know me, I've said I could scrap for a year without buying more supplies except maybe adhesive. I've also wished to be more organized. The above pictures a just a portion of my scrapbook room. It overlooks the cove and I can see the main channel (Lake of the Ozarks is actually fed by several rivers) if I peek around the corner of the drape. Now if I could find the scrap table and sofa.... At least the computer and Cricket are visible.

Good night

Friday Freebie & Paper Cutz Challenge

Two new creations to share with you.

The Friday Freebie from Sew Many Cards is the Christmas tree. It is fairly plain to let you decorate - embellish - it as you wish. I had fun adding several helpers to the decorating. Toga brought some gifts for under the tree. Hershey had some trouble with an oversized ornament and Eris is tangled in more lights. The digis were colored with Copic markers. The background paper is DCWV Christmas Stack from a couple of years ago. The red pearls I believe are Hero Arts and the snowflake brads I picked up through Paper Wishes.

Paper Cutz Challenge that will go up tomorrow (sorry, I'm asleep by midnight) is to make a project using a snowman or snowflake. Again I'm using a Sew Many Cards Digi colored in Copic Markers. The paper is from the same DCWV stack and the same snowflake brads. There is also a thin mat of light blue that was in a DCWV small mat stack of solid colors.

Hope to get my cards addressed - at least they're made! - this weekend and out to the PO on Monday. Got a lotta shopping to do too! Take time to enjoy the season

Sir Chester Katt & Mary Ski

Paper Wishes Swaps

The famous Paper Wishes swaps, which took a vacation for December will be returning. The sign ups should be from December 15th to December 31st. New Year, new organizers, and some new rules. Check out the Paper Wishes Message Board next week, December 15th to get all the information. If you've participated before, we hope you will again. If you are new to Paper Wishes and/or swaps/cards/scrapbooking/handmade elements, etc. Make your New Year's resolution to try new things. The Paper Wishes message board is very friendly and helpful. The Webisodes on the Paper Wishes site are archived so you can go back and learn something you've become interested in. Then there is Mom's Warehouse. Specials sale that starts every other Thursday night/Friday morning. This week is one of those weeks. Late tomorrow night or Friday morning the new items will be posted. Some sell out very quickly. High quality, great customer service, inventory you can't find other places. Check it out.

Chester is feeling great again. Excuse me, Sir Chester. I also put up one of my favorite cards. Got a Froggy in your throat?? I have some friends that are fighting the flu bugs.

Take care

Winter Theme Challenge

Almost forgot! Winter Theme Challenge this week at Sew Many Cards. (See link to the right). Not limited to Christmas, anything winter is fine.

Release Day

Remember that little Sneak Peek that appeared on December 1st?? Well, this is what it looks like in its entirety. A little piece of Hershey was snipped off to peak your curiosity. Of course Tayla had to get into the act. She had a pair of antlers too. The background paper is from DCWV's Christmas 2008 package. It came from a 12 x 12 sheet of bows and glitter. The digis are from Sew Many Cards and colored with Copic markers. The light coating of snow is white glitter sprinkled over a dash of glue stick. The Help Wanted ad is all mine.

Michele H from Lake Wales, FL was the winner of the drawing here at Purrfect Sentiments. Her envelope of goodies will be in the mail tomorrow. The correct answers were: CEO Sir Chester Katt, I've been scrapbooking for over 5 years and Tayla is the tiger from Sew Many Cards. Thanks to all that entered.

Please continue to visit here. I'm just getting the blog started and will have more information about websites including Sew Many Cards, Paper Cutz, Paper Wishes, etc. Most of all, enjoy your scrapping. Enjoy your families and friends. Enjoy life!!

2 1/2 weeks left??????

December is already going too fast. Too much left to do, but I have accomplished a couple of things.

The winner of the drawing for Purrfect Sentiments 3 questions has been sent an email requesting her address. Her name will be revealed on Tuesday.

Tuesday will also reveal the digi you had a sneak peak at on Dec 1st right here at Purrfect Sentiments.

Sir Chester is lying low today. He had a 24 hour visit from a German Shepherd (family) but still trying for his highness. He also has had a bout of (no not the flu) but you're close. Fleas. He had to endure another bath this weekend. He is exhausted.

I've received some very nice comments from people about the cards I've posted in some of the blogs. Thank you so much for taking the time. It is one way I can learn what other people like, not just what I like. I use materials from a variety of sources but can usually remember most of the supplies. Some day I will get organized. (Yeah right) So if you are ever looking for something you've seen used in a project or want to know how I got something to look a certain way, please feel free to leave a message at purrfectsentiments@gmail.com

Back to scrapping
Mary Ski

So Much Happening!

First of all, have you made your guesses on the Sneak Peeks for Sew Many Cards? Email your guesses to Sarabeth, Jeri or Angela through the SMC Social Site (NING).

I have included two pics this time. The Tasty Memories card has the new Friday Freebie from Sew Many Cards. Remember you must sign up to receive the newsletter in order to get the Freebie.

The other pic is a Hershey kiss or Candy Cane holder. This week's challenge at Paper Cutz is to use a stamp: rubber, acrylic or digital. Obviously from looking at my posts, I am addicted to digis. Somehow I can't use the kind with an ink pad. I admire those that can.

So check out the New Release Party & Sneak Peeks for SMC, get your Friday Freebie and enter the challenge at Paper Cutz. Now don't say you are too busy. Whatever you make for the challenges can then be sent on to a friend. A Christmas card for someone special or a little something for coworker. Relax and enjoy scrapping.

Mary Ski

Still time to enter drawing

You have until Friday at midnight to answer the 3 questions in the previous post and send your answers to purrfectsentiments@gmail.com to enter the drawing for an envelope full of embellishments. There is a variety of ribbons, brads, etc.

Continue to check in at the NING site (Sew Many Cards social site) to get more sneak peeks. Send your guesses to Sarabeth, Jeri or Angela at the NING site.

I'm posting an ATC I made recently for a swap. I love to use the digistamps multiple times in a single project or multiple digis. The matchbook shown in an earlier post lets me use 4 or 5 digis in one project. What more can one ask for?

Take time for yourselves and your favorite hobbies during this rushed holiday season. Enjoy. That is one nice thing about card making and scrapbooking - you can do Christmas at any time of the year. Scrapping photos from a recent holiday or getting a head start on next year's cards or getting ready for those late summer/fall craft fairs. I often fall asleep with my digis and card stuff on my lap. I like to work on an acrylic cutting board, sitting in the recliner, the CEO at my feet. Sometimes Sir Chester gets a little too involved in the work but who can turn away a cuddly, purring, warm kitty??????

Sneak Peek Day #1 December 1, 2009

Yes I know it may say November 30th, but I'm tired. It's either now or late tomorrow. Here is a sneak peek of a new release image from Sew Many Cards.


This is a week long party with new peeks each day on various blogs of the design team. When you think you know who the character is send an email to Jeri or Sarabeth or Angela on the NING site (Sew Many Cards Social Site). There is a link to the site on the right column of this site. By sending your guess by email, no one else can profit from your detective skills. Look closely and see if you have a guess yet. The answer will be revealed on December 8th.

The second part of this day's party is the chance to win an envelope full of embellishments to add to your cards and layouts. It will include ribbons, brads, and other fun stuff. To enter the drawing you must answer the following three questions and email your answers to the email listed at the top of the page: purrfectsentiments@gmail.com You may enter once a day from December 1st through December 4th. The winner will be notified by December 6th and on the blog on December 8th.

Q#1 Who is the CEO of Purrfect Sentiments?
Q#2 What is the tiger's name from Sew Many Cards?
Q#3 How many years have I been scrapbooking?

email your answers and be sure to visit the other design team members' blogs as listed on the NING site to get other sneak peeks each day. Good luck!! MEOW!!!!!!!

Tomorrow: 2 Chances to Win!!

December 1st starts the Release Party for Sew Many Cards. The first clue will be available right here. Instructions on how to enter your guess as to the character will be available on Sew Many Cards Social Site (see link on right)

Also tomorrow I will post three questions about Purrfect Sentiments. Email your responses to the address at the top of the blog purrfectsentiments@gmail.com to be entered in a drawing to win an envelope full of embellishments including ribbons, brads, stickers, etc. Deadline will be Friday December 4th at midnight. You may only enter once per day for this drawing.

Finally (and most importantly) Happy Birthday to my daughter, Lauren.

MSki

Aluminum vs Cactus

For those of us over 50, remember the aluminum Christmas trees of the 1960's?? They had a multicolored spotlight on them so they would reflect green, red, yellow... This card using the Christmas Cactus Friday Freebie from Sew Many Cards (did you sign up for the email from SMC???) shows two very different "trees". Neither of which is really a tree. The aluminum tree on the left from the 60s and the macho cactus tree with attitude on the right. Guess you have to be of a certain age to appreciate this card. No disrespect intended toward anyone or anything. It is just my wacky take on a Christmas cactus

Hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving. I know we did: dinner with friends, good conversation and some challenging card playing.

This week's Paper Cutz Challenge (see link on right) is an anything goes. Total freedom to create holiday items that you still need or an excuse to do a birthday card or something else that isn't red and green = maybe scrap a page of those summer pictures you know haven't made it out of the envelope yet.

Above, I have used a Matchbook (Sarapapers at Paper Wishes) to make a Christmas card that will also hold a gift card. It opens like a match book. then two "doors" open to reveal the final inside message and/or image. On this one I use three different papers. On others I have used 3 coordinating papers. They are a lot of fun to do for holiday gifts or even Birthday and other occasions. Since they are square, a square card require extra postage. However it will fit in a standard envelope for a 5 x 7 card and not incur that "squarepostage" Have fun experimenting this week.

MSki

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!! Remember that calories consumed standing up or with friends don't count. Enjoy!!

Cutting Cafe sponsor week

This week's challenge at Sew Many Cards (see link at right) is to use a digi stamp(s) from Angela (SMC) and from Regina (Cutting Cafe) to create your project. Regina has some really nice background digis and wording. The ornaments hanging along the top of the card and the "Magic of Christmas" sign are both from CC. Toga giving the gift to Jaden is SMC of course. Two of my favorite characters.

Hmmmm Two of my favorite characters. They are all my favorites. I like Tayla and Hershey and the Polar Bear (does he have a name Angela??) and Halen and Miki and PJ and....and....and.... I guess I'm just addicted to digistamps. I'm no good at the traditional ones. Take a look at the instructions and give it a try! It is all about trying new things, new talents, new techniques, it is almost New Year.

I have an extra day off (tomorrow) for Thanksgiving. Nice to have the loooooonnnnnngggg weekend. Not doing the Black Friday thing in person at least. May hit some Internet Black Friday sales but no longer up to the pushing and shoving and fighting. I may actually get my Christmas cards addressed. Ha Ha - I do have them made at least. Somehow it is the addressing part I'm hung up on at the moment. I have to put all the address changes into the software before I print labels. Then I have to decide which card is best for which person. I made them all unique so this will take some careful thought.

Take care

The SUN exists!!

Seeing the sun for the first sustained time in over a week. Even with leafless trees and brownish water the lake looks pretty with sun reflecting off of it. Getting some birthday cards/gifts together. Lauren (older DD) will be 28 a week from Monday. Am I really old enough to have a 28-yr-old?? Then John (only son, middle kid) will be 27 on 12/2. (Yes, they just missed being Irish twins.) Brett (Lauren's husband) our DSIL will be 36 on 12/4.

I had to include this ATC (Artist Trading Card) I made. I have to remember that not all of the family lives in snow-possible areas anymore. While Dallas may get some snow occasionally, TX isn't known for snowmen and drifts. So I am letting Jaden spread the message while leaning over a multicolored, snowfree wall.

I think sitting out on the screen porch (it is in the low 60s, maybe high 50s) for some fresh air and a nap sounds good. Then lunch and more PLAY!!!!!!

TGIF

TGIF TGIF TGIF TGIF

What a week. Now time to sleep and scrap and scrap and sleep. Sounds like a plan. I promised you my projects with the new Friday Freebie from Sew Many Cards. Remember the Freebie is only available with the newsletter now. I think this little polar bear is just so cute. (Not as cute as our CEO...)

Cutting some Cricut stuff, looking through digis, working on Christmas presents and cards, so much to do and so sleepy too. Hope you have a productive FUN weekend. I plan to.

Seeing double??

Happy Thursday. One day til TGIF, one week til turkey day!!!!!!!

Well, the recalcitrant slide show has stopped spinning, but it appears twice. In the layout it doesn't appear at all. Double the pleasure...double the fun.... with ... If you remember that jingle then you are over 50.

I can't wait to post my creations using the new Friday Freebie from Sew Many Cards that will come out tomorrow. Remember to sign up for the newsletter on that site to get the Friday Freebie. It will no longer be available elsewhere. Hint: it is cuddly, furry and very appropriate for winter. I bet you have as much fun with it as I am. Angela has such great digis.

I need to address Thanksgiving Day cards and mail them out tomorrow. I never used to send Thanksgiving Day cards, but now with card making, I celebrate ALL the holidays. Wonder if Angela will have a groundhog for February??

I got a box from Paper Wishes today. Need to open it up and check my goodies. Most of the order was replacing my favorite items like pearls, Dazzles, etc. Until tomorrow......

Runaway Slideshow

I thought I'd get a little fancy tonight and add a slideshow of some of my recent projects. Well I started with loading photos to photobucket. Slideshow was fine there. Loaded slideshow onto blog and part of the picture was cutoff. Now, even tho the layout edit shows NO SLIDESHOW, I have TWO slideshows trying to load. HELP. I need sleep Good Night.

Hershey is guarding the Hershey's

Yes folks, Hershey the dog is guarding the Hershey kisses. This week's Challenge at Sew Many Cards is to make a creation using only the colors brown, green and orange. So... I made a kisses box (ScorPal projects) using two tone brown striped paper held closed with strips of orange and dark green vinyl cut with decorative scissors. I filled it with Hershey kisses (the end ones have a glue dot under them to keep the kisses from escaping) and then used Hershey the dog (Sew Many Cards' new digistamp) to guard them. Join in the fun and enter the challenge. Sew Many Cards is listed on the right hand side of the page as a favorite of mine. I'm also on the Design Team so I get to see the wonderful digistamps in advance!

Sign up for the newsletter too. That is the only way to get the Friday Freebies from now on. Don't want to miss them. This week is a pair of Dolphins seen farther down this page. Dolphins in November in the Midwest..... Angela (Sew Many Cards) sure likes to challenge us!

I was happy to see how many of my friends stopped by already! Even Chester got some messages. He is demanding blog time. I believe the current message is "Send food: send fish & milk." He is threatening to race through the room and jump on the delete button. I need to upload some projects with kitties. This dog stuff is not his idea but he gave it grudging approval.

Monday, November 16,2009

I have entered the world of blogging. For all my scrapbooking, cardmaking, cat-loving friends, this is my place to share with you. As I learn how to optimize this place, you will find connections to my favorites such as Sew Many Cards, Paper Cutz and Paper Wishes and friends I have yet to discover. Being a cat lover is a plus.