Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Kitty with Squirrel

Hello, everyone.  Today I made a card for someone special, and I've so happy with how it turned out.  I was inspired to make this card by a challenge (see details below), and once I got started, I really got into the groove.  I used several of my new dies that I got for my birthday last week - thank you, Brian. 


Here are the supplies used:
  • Stamps:  Elsie with Squirrel (Wild Rose Studio), leaves (Clearly Besotted Leafy Accents)
  • SentimentCreate with TLC
  • Ink:  Versafine - Onyx Black and Vintage Sepia, Stampin' Up! - Green Galore and Tempting Turquoise
  • Dies:  Clearly Besotted Leafy Accents, La-La Land Grass Border, Memory Box Moonlight Butterfly and Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Simon Says Stamp Allegro Corner, Spellbinders Labels Twenty-two, Nellie's Multi-frames Ovals
  • Cardstock:  Recollections
  • Patterned paper:  Recess of Carson Dellosa
  • Die cuts:  Recollections
  • Accents:  Acorn (Jolee's Boutique), gems (Want2Scrap, Dollarama), flowers (Crafts Canada), ribbon (Multicraft Imports), twine (American Crafts), leaf charm (candy won from Kaia Hobilehekulg - thank you, Kaia)
I was inspired by the "Anything Goes about Me" challenge at Dreamtime Designs, and it took a bit of thought to decide how I was going to design my creation.  The challenge is a fairly involved one and consists of 3 parts:

Challenge - Part A:
Answer the following five questions:
1) Where do you live?  I love in a small town on the south shore of Nova Scotia, Canada.
2) What do you love most about where you live?  What I love most about where I live is the beauty of nature that surrounds me.  Although I live in the middle of town, I am just minutes away from a woodland park where I love to walk.  More on that later.
3) Who do you share this special place with?  I share my home with my two cats, Honeydew and Kiwi.  Anyone who follows my blog knows how much I love cats, and many of my cards are inspired by my love of cats.  This is also reflected in the card I present to you today, as is my love of nature.  Returning to the question, I also have a frequent guest in  my home, namely, my loving and supportive BF Brian. 
4) What is your favourite season there and why?  My favourite season is early fall, mid-September to mid-October.  One of the reasons I love it is that it starts to cool down and it's great for walking - one of my favourite activities. 
5) What is your most loved thing to do or place to visit and why?  My favourite place in the whole world is the woodland park I mentioned earlier.  Last summer when I became unemployed I walked there nearly every day.  It really helped me get back in touch with who I am.  I now walk there at least once a week and sometimes more.  Why do I love this park so much?  Because it is peaceful, quiet, and spacious, and I love the fresh air.  When I walk there, it's like I have the whole park to myself.  I do occasionally meet another walker on the path but many times I can walk around the park and not see a soul.  And although I do enjoy a mindful walk alone, I mostly enjoy walking with my friends.  My other favourite walking buddy is Brian.  It's a lot of fun when I walk with him because he enjoys feeding the squirrels.  He hands out peanuts, and the squirrels love it.  After doling out the nuts, we double back along the center path, and if we're lucky, we'll see a squirrel with a peanut in its mouth - I laugh out loud every time I see this.   

Challenge Part B:
Create your design / project that reflects the questions above.  My design reflects my answers to the questions above in that I have included a cat (reflecting my love of cats), a squirrel (representing the enjoyment of my woodland park walks), flowers, butterflies, grass (for my love of nature), acorn and leaves (reflecting my love of early fall). 

Challenge Part C:
Take a photo or two of anything that relates to your above discussion so that they can be included in your challenge blog post.   Below are three photos of the park, all featuring squirrels (the second and third photo were taken by Brian).  I've also included a photo of my two kitties. 

This photo shows the beauty of the park - and there's also
a squirrel in the middle of the path.
 
Squirrel on rock at the park.

Close-up of squirrel at park entrance.
 
My kitty inspiration:  Kiwi and Honeydew
I would like to enter the following challenges:
613 Avenue Create #43 Anything Goes with Optional Twist Paper Piecing 3E #2
A Creative Romance Metal Mania (leaf charm) 3E #1
Blessings Ink Amusing Challenge Anything Goes 2E #2
Brown Sugar #65 Autumn 2E #1
Card Crafter's Circle #98 Autumn Splendour 3E #1
Challenges 4 Everybody #32 Anything Goes 5E #3
C.R.A.F.T. #230 Recipe:  1 or more die cuts, 2 or more designer papers, 3 or more embellishments, glitter or bling (got it all) 5E #3
Craftin' Boutique #13 Anything Goes 3E #3
Craftin' Desert Divas #18 Anything Goes 8E #2
Crafty Creations Challenges Make It Yourself 2E #1
Crafty Hands #1 Anything Goes 3E #3
Crafty Sentiments Anything Goes 3E #2
Create with TLC #5 Show it Off Sunday UE
Creative Inspirations Paint Anything Goes UE
Cuttlebug Mania Autumn (Cuttlebug is my only cutting/embossing tool - I used to only emboss until I discovered dies a few months ago, and now I'm crazy for dies - in this card I used Clearly Besotted Leafy Accents, La-La Land Grass Border, Memory Box Moonlight Butterfly and Kaleidoscope Butterfly, Simon Says Stamp Allegro Corner, Spellbinders Labels Twenty-two, Nellie's Multi-frames Ovals)  3E #1
Delightful Challenges Winged Things 1E
Designed to Colour Tie it Up (twine tied in bow on charm) UE
Die Cut Divas Animals and Autumn 4E #1
Die Cuttin' Divas Anything Goes 3E #1
Dreamtime Designs Craft Challenge #1 Anything Goes About Me - The Designer Behind the Project
Flower Love Delice Halloween/Autumn must use flowers UE
Fashionable Stamping #59 Make a Card 3E #3
Hanna and Friends #183 Anything Goes UE
Hiding in My Craftroom #121 Use a Critter 3E #2
Just B Creative Crazy Oct. Linky Party Just Because/Anything Goes UE 1 per day
Lacy Sunshine #20 Anything Goes 3E #2
LEJ Designs #77 Anything Goes 3E #2
Magnolia-licious Anything Goes with Magnolia, Wee, or Wild Rose Studio 3E #1
My Craft Creations Oct.21-Nov.2 Anything Goes UE
Oldie but a Goodie Charming - Add a charm (the oldie on this project is the patterned paper - had for about 5 years) 3E #1
Paper Crafting Journey Anything Goes 3E #3
Papertake Weekly Sketch Free for All (I used Sketch #42 below) 5E #1
Parade Your Crafts #7 Halloween and/or Autumn 2E #1
Party Time Tuesdays #144 Anything Goes 2E #2
Pile It On #43 Embellishment Crazy UE
Ribbon Carousel RCC86 Fall and Halloween UE
Scrapbook Stamp Society #25 Anything Goes with Option Use Kraft 3E
Scribble and Scrap #4 Anything Goes 3E #3
Simon Says Stamp Monday Anything Goes 5E #2
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Anything Goes 5E #1
Sister Act (Cards Only) Anything Goes UE
Sweet Stampin' Wood, Trees, or Leaves (I used leaves) 2E #1
Tammy's Scrapin' Corner #86 Anything Goes 2E #2
The Corrosive Challenge Tic Tac Toe (see below - I went with dies, image stamp, and metal/charm but I think I've achieved every square on your Tic Tact Toe LOL) 3E #2
The Crazy Challenge #157 B is for... Butterfly, Blue, Bling 4E #1
The Cutie Pie Challenge Cute plus Embellishment Bingo (see below - I went with flowers, charm, card candi) 3E #1
The Hobby House #5 Roses 3E #1
The Paper Nest Dolls #16 Anything Goes 2E #2
The Rubber Buggy Challenge #12 Charm it Up UE
Through the Craftroom Door Oct.29-Nov.4 Anything Goes 2E #2
Twisted Tuesday 2TC62 Free for All 3E #1
Use it Tuesday #66 Creatures (the hoarded item on this card is the sparkly blue flowers - I've had them for several years and I only use them once in a while) UE
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes with Uplifting Sentiment 5E #1

Papertake Weekly - Sketch #42
The Cutie Pie Challenge - Embellishment Bingo

Thank you for looking at my card - I enjoy your comments.  Wishing you a wonderful day of crafting.


72 comments:

Arlene said...

A wonderful post - getting to know you. And I love your card, beautifully done and inspired.

Arlene said...

So glad you joined Die Cut Divas' challenge.

Katherine Clayton said...

What a GREAT card! And I love how you were inspired by a challenge . . . it turned out AMAZING! (oh, I love the time between mid-Sept to mid-Oct, too, because of the cooler weather and, as you said, PURRfect for walking . . . I happen to LOVE kitties, too.) Again, GREAT job!!! Thanks so much for joining us again this week at Hiding In My Craft Room !!! Hope to see you again soon . . . and GOOD LUCK!!!

Kathy HIMCR DT
UpintheNightwithKat.blogspot.com

Sammy said...

What a lovely card, and I love how you managed to incorporate all those elements into it! Thanks for playing along with the current CraftyHands challenge. Sammy-x

Kaija said...

What a beautiful card!
Thank for joining us at ScrapbookStampSociety Challenge
Hope to see again next week
Greetings Kaija DT-member

KarinsArtScrap said...

so cute and beautiful card Kitty.

Thanks for join us at ScrapbookStampSociety Challenge.

Greetings Karin DT Coördinator


Anonymous said...

A firm favourite of mine this WRS image and a beautiful card made with it too, great addition of those roses and a lovely entry to the Hobby House challenge
Hugs Kate xx

catherine said...

This looks great and thanks for joining us at Sweet Stampin this week
x catherine

Donna Ellis said...

Aw, KT, what a wonderful garden design - so beautifully vibrant and happy! The perfect place for kitties, squirrels, and all kinds of critters. Your real life photos look extra happy! :-) hugs, de

Chris Hanselman said...

Amazing color. Love image and die cuts. Thanks for joining our Winged Things challenge at Delightful Challenges.

~~Chris
DC-DT

Andree said...

A fabulous card. I love the sweet image and the gorgeous colours.

Thank you for joining in with the Scribble & Scrap challenge and good luck x

Sam K said...

What a fab card, this is beautiful and all the colours and embellishments you have used really do make me think of fall :)
Your cats are adorable and I love that you have used them as inspiration for your card and how perfect to get an image that incorporates a squirrel too. Your photos are great, sadly we don't get red squirrels here in the UK any more :( Although I do love squirrels ours are a bit dull and boring being grey...hehe...
Thank you so much for sharing with us at Dreamtime Designs and thank you for sharing a little bit about you :)
Hugs
x

Little Pear Tree

Joanne said...

A very lovely project! Your card is so pretty and it truly reflects all of the things about you and where you live! From the adorable cat to all the great leaves, acorns, flowers and butterflies, it is perfect! Woodland Park sounds absolutely heavenly. I too am a huge fan of "Mother Nature" and all her wondrous beauty! You are so lucky to have such a wonderful place so close by. I LOVE your cats! They are BEAUTIFUL! Such pretty markings and silky fur! Great cuddle buddies! Thanx so much for taking the time to make such a fab card for our challenge. Your support is very appreciated! I hope you join us again. Hugs, Joanne

Unknown said...

Fabulous make . Thank you for joining in over at LEJ Designs LEJ DT

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for joining us for our inaugural challenge at DDCC! You've so completely embraced the theme of the challenge. Isn't amazing how working with Lisa's questions can lead to a truly spectacular project?
Your card is so sweet in every single way. The color combo is fantastic and the embellishments and diecuts you've use are perfect. And that image...oh that image! I can only image your excitement when you found a stamp with a kitty and a squirrel!
Thanks again for joining in the fun this month. Good luck!!
hugs--
Roberta
Dreamtime Designs Craft Challenge Design Team
Queen Bee Paper Crafts
My Blog Candy

Julie Gleeson said...

Your card is gorgeous! I love the Green and Blue Combo and all of your glitter and sparkle! It is fantastic that you found an image with a cat and Squirrel It suits your story to a tee. Your photos are lovely, I wish I could take a walk in your park! Thank you for joining the Dreamtime Designs Craft Challenge! Hope we will see you again for the next challenge! Hugs from Australia Julie DT x

Unknown said...

You've made a wonderful creation with the fabulous critters in you favorite place for inspiration. So glad you shared at Sister Act!
Hugs!
Trisha-DT

Jennifer said...

Beautiful card! Lovely colours! Thank you for sharing with us at Card Crafter's Circle!

Cindy said...

Your project is fantastic. I really love it. I can imagine you love th woodland park. It is so amazing! Hugs, Cindy

The-Butterfly said...

Fab creation! I love how your taken on board the challenge and nade it your own totally! I love that butterfly! The colours suit your photos and explanations perfectly, and how cute are the nut and leaf's! And of course that cute fluffy cat!
Thanks so much for playing with our first DDCC challenge! We hope to see you again :)


Dreamtime Designs Craft Challenge
Coloured Imaginations


Diane Noble said...

How adorable. Love every single detail, especially the butterfly. Thank you so much for blessing us with your inspiration for this week's challenge at Word Art Wednesday! We love having you join us! We appreciate your support. Diane Noble WAW-DT

Unknown said...

Utterly gorgeous, Kitty, love this card hun, as I do all you work, thank you for sharing with us at LEJ Designs, this week, good luck xxx

ps thank you for your emails hun, I truly appreciate your friendship xxx

Unknown said...

THis card is just amazing! I love all the die cuts and accents!

Mrs A. said...

Hello Kitty,
Nice to meet you. I dreaded being the only one entering the competition so glad you did too. I love your story of the park and the squirrels that you feed in there. Lovely to see a red squirrel as we don't have them here in the UK. If your lucky you might see one with just a hint of red on its head or tail. I'm afraid the grey squirrels have rather taken over. We have one that visits our garden every winter and sits in the tree and eats his nuts. I collect acorns up every year at this time and store in the shed for him and put a handful out every few days for him during the winter months to keep him going. It is a joy to stand and watch him from our patio windows. I too love cats and used to breed Persians up until about 12 yrs ago. I just have the one left now a large black and white Persian who really is afraid of his own shadow.
You have captured the feel of your walks perfectly on your card and the autumn colours.
Hope to see you again on the challenge. Hugs Mrs A.

Laurart said...

What a fantastic card! So beautiful! Thanks so much for joining us at Fashionable Stamping Challenges - Love Laura xxx

The Rubber Buggy said...

Wow love how the card turned out and the challenge sounds like fun. Thanks for playing with us at The Rubber Buggy.

Kellie

Anonymous said...

this is gorgeous! I love your colors and all the textures and layers. Thanks for joining us at Use It Tuesday this week and hope to see you again.
Tammy DT

Terry said...

Love that stamped image and all the pretty details on your card! Thank you for joining us at Fashionable Stamping Challenges!

Valentina said...

lovely! this image is so cute! i adore cats!! thanks for sharing at use it tuesday!

Unknown said...

This is absolutely the cutest!! Love everything about this card. Thank you for joining the TTCRD Challenge and good luck to you.

Unknown said...

You surely have more gumption than I have. You aced the questions with your words and the card. This is just so adorable and I really like the colors you have used. We all appreciate you posting this beautiful art with us. PLEASE come back.
Abundant Blessings,
Carole Robb Bisson
Word Art Wednesday

Crafty Moone Cards said...

Great card, thanks for joining us at Cutie Pie's. Sue x

Michelle said...

What a fun card! I love the bit of Autumn that you added. Such as the leaves and that adorable little acorn. I enjoyed seeing your little kitty Muses too. What a sweet pair of kitties! Thank you for joining us this week for the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge. ~Michelle

Mollie said...

Another awesome project! So many details - LOVE it! Thanks so much for joining us at HIMCR and Craftin' Desert Divas this week!!!

Lisa Walsh @ www.papercraftbusiness.com said...

OMGoodness hun you have done an outstanding job on our first challenge over at Dreamtime Designs Craft Challenge! I am so glad you entered the challenge so that we could find out more about you, Honeydew, Kiwi & Brian :) Not only that but your explanation about your love of nature & your secret hideaway in the middle of your town has totally given me nice warm fuzzy memories of when I was a child in the UK. My Grandparents used to live in quite a busy little town but if you went down a specific pathway it would lead you to the woodland park which sounds so similar to the one that you love. As a child I absolutely loved going there, not just because of the swings, see saw etc, but the tranquility, the birds singing, the swans & yes, the squirrels. They are such wonderful little creatures, cheeky but so cute :)

You card is definitely a fantastic display of your favourite place & what is important to you. The colour combo, the images of the cat & squirrel, the embellies & even the sentiment is purrrfect :) You have done an amazing job on the challenge & one that you should definitely proud of. Thank you so much for not only entering our first challenge at DDCC but also for the childhood memories that you have managed to flood me with :) I have totally enjoyed getting to know you better & I encourage, welcome & challenge you (& your followers) to join us in challenge #2 (that is now on my blog) at DDCC :)

Big hugs & thank you for sharing :)
Lisa xx

Dreamtime Designs – My Blog
NEW- Dreamtime Designs Craft Challenge
My designs @ Etsy
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Lizzie R said...

This card is adorable! I love all the details and your colour choices are perfect! I've never heard of such an indepth challenge before but you certainly nailed it! Great job and thanks for sharing! I'm so glad you could join us over at Twisted Tuesday Challenges!

Dawn T said...

Great card. Thanks for joining us at Die Cut Divas

Unknown said...

Fab creation, thanks for sharing with us this week, good luck with the challenge. Suzanne Sweet Stampin DT

Alyx said...

This is gorgeous Kitty. It's the most adorable image and so beautifully coloured. Great use of die cuts and embellies too.

Thank you for joining us over at the Scribble and Scrap Challenge. Good luck.
xx

OlgaB said...

Your kitten card is simply adorable!!

Kerry said...

Super sweet card. Thank you for joining in with our Autumn challenge at Cuttlebug Mania x

Chana Malkah said...

Very pretty card with loads of wonderful embellishments! The image is adorable! Thanks for dropping this off by our house here at 613 Avenue Create!
Hugz,
Chana, Owner

Lisa Carroll said...

Such a beautiful card! Love the color combo! :) Thanks for playing along over at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog!

KandA said...

Gorgous card. Love the sweet image and fabulous details. Thanks for joining us at the PCJ challenge xx

Karen Letchworth said...

Thank you for playing along with us this week at Word Art Wednesday! It's always a blessing to have you play along with us. Have a blessed week!
Karen
Word Art Wednesday

I have BLOG CANDY!
www.karen-mycuprunnethover.blogspot.com

Ms Scrapmess said...

Super adorable!!! Thank you for sharing at The Rubber Buggy:)

Miss Emerald said...

Lovely card. Pretty image and beautiful details. Thanks for sharing with us at The Crazy Challenge and hope to see you again in our challenges.

Lisa T said...

What an adorable card! I love all of your photographs, too. Thanks so much for joining us in the Designed to Color challenge!

Natali said...

So cute and sweet and lovely card and photos ))
Thank you for joining us at Sweet Stampin` “Wood, Trees or Leaves” Challenge and we hope to see you again soon.
Hugs
Natali

Mayras Designs said...

Super cute ! I love the image , and all of the really cute layers ! Thank you so much for sharing with us at Craftin ' Desert Divas !

Mayra
Mayrasdesigns.BlogSpot.com

Ellie Knol said...

Gorgeous card!
Thanks so much for sharing your card with us at FSC !!

xxx Ellie xxx

Chitra Nair said...

Such a cute card and all elements are great... Thanks for sharing with us at PTT...

Mikha Adriani said...

What a wonderful card that came up with a wonderful story :) You must be really glad for having Kiwi, Honeydew and Brian, dear. What a lovely park you share with us. Now I am imaginating walking in the park, with the squirell here and there, LOL.
There's so much for joining us at the first DDCC. Hope to see you again on the 2nd one :)

Hugs, Mikha - DDCC DT

cabio's craft corner said...

Cute and cheerful card. Thanks for joining us at Magnolia-licious Challenge and hope to see you again :o)
Hugs,
Cabio

Audrey Ernst (hippieaud) said...

Such a gorgeous creation, I just love this sweet image and you have done a wonderful job displaying it. Thanks so much for playing this week at Crafty Sentiments:)

Unknown said...

Such a pretty image and a lovely card.

Thanks for joining in with us this time at The Cutie Pies.

Sarah

Pillan said...

Sweet card. Thanks for joining us at The Crazy Challenges.
/Pillan

tracym110 said...

WOW!!! What a gorgeous card!! I just love every single detail you added to this, it is beautiful and Im sure the lucky recipient is going to love it! Im off to stare at it some more! :) Thanks so much for playing along with us in the Craftin Desert Divas Linky Party!
Tracy
tracyscricutcorner.blogspot.com

Jackie W said...

Hi KT! Such a beautiful card! Love the image and colors! Thanks for sharing with us at Crafty Sentiments!
Jackie W
SchoolinandScrappin
Crafty Sentiments
Crafty Sentiments Inspirations

K Clark said...

Beautiful!!! Thanks for joining us at pile it on! I hope to see you back again this week for a new challenge! Kimberly DT

Unknown said...

Cutest image, and I love all the fabulous details you have added to your card. Thank you for joining our 'Make it yourself' challenge at Crafty Creations Challenge and good luck in the draw.
Anna

Francesca said...

Beautiful creation , thanks for joining us at Oldie but a goodie this fortnight and good luck !

Francesca x

NicoleDesigns said...

So cute love all of your pictures... thanks for sharing with us at the PND challenge.... xo Nikki DT

za said...

Merci pour ta participation au challenge flower love délice.

Sue said...

Great card! Thanks for sharing with us at Paper Nest Dolls Challenge!
Sue DT PND

Nikki Craft said...

Absolutely gorgeous x Thanks for joining us at The Lacy Sunshine challenge x
Good Luck,
hugs Nikki x

Ria Zonnestraaltje said...

So cute :) thanks for joining the Lacy Sunshine Challenge.
hugs Ria

Teresa said...

Thank you for joining us at A Creative Romance with your beautiful card. xxx

Lisa Mensing said...

Beautiful card and that image is so sweet! Love the colors and details. Thank you for joining us at Parade Your Crafts.

Natali said...

Gorgeous card. Lovely details and cute image.
Many thanks for joining us at Oldie but a Goodie` “Charming (use charms)” Challenge and we hope to see you again.
Hugs
Natali

Dips said...

Such a pretty card and a lovely blog post with the background details. Thank you so much for joining us at an Oldie But A Goodie Challenge, keep using up all that stored stash!

Stamping With Bibiana said...

love your kitties! I am an animal lover too, I have 2 doggies
hugs from california
bibiana