Paper Kisses and Inky Wishes

Yes, I am still among the living............

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:49:00 +0000

Gosh it's been awhile since I posted anything. Life got away from me the past two weeks; everything from a trip out of town for my job to a bridge near my house being replaced and let me tell ya all that banging and booming is NOT conducive to creativity :-( At one point my back yard was a concrete dust cloud and I had to cover everything in the Sun Room Studio and when the dust settled, go out and give my flowers and veggies a bath. Gonna be an interesting summer. Then my brother-in-law had a heart attack and ended up in the hospital for a three-way bypass. My sister is in very poor health herself so she needed some assistance...................you get the picture. I've been pretty busy.

BUT, I did get a card made for Squigglefly, actually two of them, both the same but different if you know what I mean ;-) One is on the elegant side and the other is fun and colorful. My granddaughter Emma will be promoting from eighth grade next month and she is fun and colorful so that one will be her card. I cut all the layers with my Cameo and for the burgundy card I ran each individual layer through an embossing folder and after assembling dusted the petals with a little Perfect Pearls. For the other flower card I used two different patterns of polka dot paper that had the same color scheme and ran a McGill flower tool down the center of each petal and gently shaped each one then assembled, holding all the layers together with a brad. Both cards use the same Squigglefly sentiment on the inside. I know we are all busy, busy, busy this time of the year, but if I can find a few moments to create, I am sure you can too. And it's so necessary for one's mental health. Mine anyway. I need all the help I can get!!!! Please join in this week's challenge over at Squigglefly.blogspot.com to use a square peg in a round hole. In other words something DIFFERENT than the usual card you make or use supplies in a different way, or use something that isn't normally used in card making. The design team has come up with some fantastic samples to get your creative juices flowing. You don't have to use a Squigglefly image to participate, we'd still love to see your creation, but if you want to play for the prize you do. The inside sentiment "You Did It" is the Squigglefly image I used. So go ----- create, post, win! Thank you so much for stopping by today!!

Yep ---- that last card is not positioned correctly in the photo, but it does show off the hinged portion a bit better, doesn't it ? :-0

Fairy Ring

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Tue, 08 May 2012 08:05:00 +0000

It was a wonderful, busy weekend, but I did get my card done for the challenge over on the Squigglefly blog. ......My son and two of my grandchildren came up for the day on Saturday and we went to Zachary's baseball game. He looked so darn cute in his little uniform. I got some great action shots and can't wait to scrap them. Then I worked on some of the roses and cupcake wrappers for my youngest son's wedding. From here until half-way through July it is going to be busy, busy, busy around here.
But like I said, I did get my card done and I rather like it. Our design team leader chose Stickle Me Up as the theme for the challenge; make a card using Stickles or any other glitter glue on your card. I just had to use Fairy Ring by Daphne van der Zanden that is the fourth image from One-A-Day-in-May. It's so fun to receive a new image each and every day.
I printed the image, colored it with Copic markers, added Stickles to her gorgeous wings and cut the ring off the bottom of the image. I wanted her sitting on a 3-D flower so I attached her to a rose I made. I added a rhinestone studded doily, some leaves and vines cut with my Cameo and stamped the sentiment using Stampin' Up! ink. Cardstock is DCWV. Have a fabulous week and I sure hope you can join in the challenge.

Hugs, Shawna

Hello!

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:59:00 +0000

Good Monday morning. I hope you had a wonderful weekend. I was on call this weekend, so unable to leave town (like I leave town a lot???? LOL!) and my days were spent working in the yard. Got the whole place mowed and it looks pretty darn good. Now if it would just stay nice and green and not grow!
I don't have a card today --- I worked in the yard, remember--- but I did want to remind you of a couple of things happening at Squigglefly. One-A-Day-In-May is wrapping up. TODAY is the last day you can order, so if you would like to get 31 digital images for $30 you better hop to it. They only have this fantastic offer once a year and it's the perfect opportunity to get great Squigglefly images for less than 99 cents each. The other thing I wanted to mention is that the other design team, Rhonda's Rowdy Rascals, have the new challenge up with fabulous inspiration to get your creativity going; make a card using pink and blue. Can you just see some really darling baby cards coming out of this challenge? Visit the Squigglefly blog and see what's happening.
Thanks for stopping by Paper Kisses and Inky Wishes. Hugs, Shawna

Yes, indeed

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 08:57:00 +0000

The surprise was on me. I made this card for the Squigglefly challenge "Mother's Day" and forgot to post it on my blog! Didn't even realize it until one of the design team members said she tried to find it and couldn't. Thanks Charlene!!! At least I didn't forget to post it on Squigglefly's blog!!! What can I say? Life is crazy right now.
This sweet image is called Noah's Surprise Gift by Cheryl Alger. How cute is that image? I hope you get a chance to check out the Design Team's beautiful work for this week's challenge and have a bit of time to make a card and join in. We'd love to have you play!

Thanks for stopping by! Hugs, Shawna

Supplies: Digital image Noah's Surprise Gift can be found at Squigglefly.com , DCWV DP and card stock, Letraset and Copic markers, Martha Stewart punch, sentiment tag written using the sketch pen feature and then cut out using the Silhouette Cameo.

Digi Kitties

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 08:15:00 +0000

Today I have a card that I made quite awhile ago and never posted. It just happened to fit in one of the Outlawz challenges so I entered it there. Isn't this image sweet? It's called Three Little Kittens and Lynne Stansbery -- Squigglefly digital stamps -- is the artist. I love her work! I believe I've said that already this week! LOL!
I am keeping it short and sweet today. My hand got a workout yesterday and I definitely do not want to over-do. Hope your week is going well. Hugs, Shawna

Supplies: White core card stock, mulberry paper roses by Recollections, Spellbinders, Copics, Squigglefly

Tulip Display

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:02:00 +0000

Hey there ----- thanks for stopping by! Today I have another card using a digital image from Squigglefly by the very talented artist, Lynne Stansbery. I love all the artists at Squigglefly, but Lynne is my very favorite. Her realistic images are absolutely gorgeous and a real treat to work with, and this new image titled Tulip Display is no exception. I love it! And Squigglefly, if you are listening, put a bug in Lynne's ear would you? I would love to see this same vase filled with flowers from each of the seasons: We have spring, now we need summer, fall, and winter. Wouldn't these make a beautiful wall display? I think so, and I think others would, too. Just a thought....................

Details: Squigglefly digital image "Tulip Display" by Lynne Stansbery, colored with Letraset alcohol ink markers, chalked background, DCWV card stock, half pearls by Studio 112, generic eyelash yarn.
PS There's no sentiment on this card because it is going in my stash and when an opportunity presents itself then I will add a sentiment. Hugs, Shawna

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:55:00 +0000

Hello everyone --- happy Saturday. This is the second time I have tried to post so let's hope this one goes through. I think Blogger has changed things around again and I don't see any place to store a draft in order to come back to a post-in-progress. OK, where was I? Oh, yes. Today's card. Today's card is made with a Squigglefly image given to me to work with called Shredder by Sandy Sommerfeld. Doesn't Shredder look like he knows just what he is doing with the skate board stuff? The perfect image to make a card for my middle grandson's 13th birthday coming up next month. The card stock base has some interest to it, but it doesn't show up in this picture. The left side was embossed using a small wave pattern and the right side has vertical score lines. It really added to this card and I wish you could see it.

The new challenge on the Squigglefly blog starts Monday so please check it out and see what inspiration the design team has come up with. And don't forget ---- One-A-Day in May is fast approaching. This is a deal you have to pre-buy; 31 images for $30. What a deal!!!!

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Shawna

Will the DRAMA never end?

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:06:00 +0000

I must be a horrible klutz or Murphy is on my case big time. I hate Murphy (Murphy's Laws) but he seems to adore me. Or adore messing with me anyway. I don't know how good your memory is--mine stinks-- but as a refresher I will state that I hurt my wrist/hand last summer while doing some gardening. It has never quite healed because I can't give it the rest it needed to heal. Long story short, I re-injured it this past week, a different spot this time, so now I have the cut injury and two tendon injuries. Oh joy. Seems I am bound and determined to do it up right and I am seriously thinking it might be better to just cut it off. KIDDING! Don't be calling that psychiatrist! What I will do differently this time is keep it in the brace 24/7 for at least three months; even when it feels better, which is where I may have messed up with the first injury. Oh well. I can still get things done, it will just take longer.
I didn't get anything done for Silhouette Sunday, but I did do a bit of organizing over the weekend and thought I would share what I came up with. I wasn't satisfied with the way I had my ribbon stored and while purging some things at the salon several months ago I ended up with several plastic storage containers that housed nail tips. I saved those plastic boxes because, basically, I am a pack rat at heart and just knew I could find a use for them. They turned out to be a happy addition to my craft storage and my ribbon now takes up much less space and is easy to find, too. There really isn't any rhyme or reason on what ribbon went where (you know, like shades of the same color, brands, or type) because I don't have that much compared to some people I could name (but won't! :-) If you could use this idea and have your nails done, put a bug in your nail tech's ear and ask her save some of these boxes for you. I am sure they would work for a lot of small items that need a good home and good organization. Have a wonderful week my friends. Thank you so much for stopping by Paper Kisses and Inky Wishes. Hugs, Shawna
PS Don't forget, the new challenge begins today at Squigglefly. Rhonda's Rowdy Rascals are up to bat and they have some great cards made for inspiration.

Another PUNNY card

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 07:18:00 +0000

Good morning! I have another card for the challenge this week at Squigglefly. Holley Hobbyist's Design Team members were to make a card(s) to inspire the challenge participants with these guidelines: an orange and yellow themed card, a punny card, or one with fruit in some way, shape, or form. Lots of choices so please play along!

I was challenged just getting one card done (see yesterday's post) , but I kept thinking about the other image I was given and I was suddenly inspired. A template was floating around the web a few years ago that could be used as bikini top OR bottom and I decided it was the perfect back drop to use with Monica Estill's funny moon/arrow digital image. And I know just who I will be sending this to when the calendar date is just right.

Thinking of YOU

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 08:56:00 +0000

Good morning! another work week is upon us..... *SIGH*. I had a little accident on Friday; no biggie, but it did slow me down a bit. While taking a jar of almonds out of the cupboard I lost my grip and the jar shattered on the counter top. Natural reaction was to try and catch it, but I missed. Cut my wrist in a couple of places, neither very serious but I ended up going to the doctor's office because I couldn't keep the skin together and didn't want to get an infection. Doctor's office personnel are a suspicious lot ------ I think they thought I had tried to harm myself even though I stated I CUT my wrist, not SLIT ---- :-) . On reflection I could have worded it all differently, but I didn't. They sent the psychiatrist on his merry way without talking to me once they saw I was of sound mind. Of course that's their opinion. Others may view that a bit differently :-). No restrictions other than not to use it much for a couple of days. And I had to have a tetanus shot which also comes in combination with whooping cough and diphtheria. . If you haven't had a tetanus shot lately you may have forgotten the pain involved so I am here to tell you my arm is SO SORE!!! The shot was nothing, but the after effects. OUCH! Feels like some big bruiser punched me as hard as he could over and over and over. BUT, I'm good to go for another ten years!
Today's card is one I feverishly worked on to get it done on time for Squigglefly's weekly challenge inspiration. The design team leader gave us three choices: Do something punny, use orange and yellow, or use fruit some way some how. I chose to go punny along with orange and yellow (because I can't wait for summer and those colors remind me of warm summer days!) Hope you can join in the challenge this week. The artists are feverishly working on One-a-Day in May images, but they aren't skimping on the weekly designs.

Have a wonderful week! Hugs, Shawna

Ah Spring!

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:56:00 +0000

And a lovely mid-week to you! Don't you just love all the pastel pretties this time of year? Even if you don't have spring outside, you can still have it inside and inside your heart! Drink it in because it goes fast.
And don't you just love this cute little bunny? It's a Squigglefly image, of course, called Daffodil Bunny and it's by Diane Carubia. How sweet is this? My salute to spring :-)
The weekend is just around the corner so keep on keepin' on!
Hugs, Shawna

Easter Bunny Treat Bags

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 03:17:00 +0000

The snow only lasted one day and is now all gone. YIPPEEE!!!!! I want some soft, warm spring weather. And I want it now. HA! Not likely, but I can hope anyway. :) I got my Silhouette project done. A little late, but it is finished; a darling bunny bag topper to finish off some treat bags for Easter. I cut all the individual pieces with my cameo, inked up the edges to give a bit of depth and then assembled which was easy peasy.

There's boy bunnies, and girl bunnies, scared bunnies, sweet bunnies, and surprised bunnies. Something for everyone!

Hope the coming week is a good one for you. No Silhouette Sunday next week, so I will wish you all a wonderful Easter now. Thank you so much for stopping by!
Hugs, Shawna

Soaked Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 17:33:00 +0000

It's pouring rain here in Nor Cal and it's supposed to snow. Just what I love ---lots of winter when it's supposed to be spring! And there's a graveside funeral service I have to work this afternoon. . . . . . . anywho on to happier things.
Weather report aside, what I really wanted to pop in and tell you about is a deal Squigglefly is offering. It's called One-A-Day in May and you pay $30 for 31 images. This is a great opportunity to get 31 brand new images at rock bottom prices. Please go HERE for all the details.

I am hoping to get a post done for Silhouette Sunday, but it's been a crazy week and I haven't had much time to work on things, but I am going to give it my best shot. If I don't get it posted tomorrow, would you mind if I posted the project a day late? :-)
Thanks so much for stopping by today. Enjoy your weekend!!!
Hugs, Shawna

Squigglefly Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 08:04:00 +0000

Hello!! So happy you could stop by today. The new challenge over on Squigglefly starts today along with the announcement of last week's challenge winner. This week Holley's team designed cards with an "ANYTHING GOES" theme. Don't you love these kinds of challenges? Sometimes you just have a card design in your mind and it works perfectly with a challenge. I had the "I Miss You" image by Lynne Stansbery to work with. She has such fabulous drawing talent!!! This digital image is exquisite and the nice thing is, it's perfect just the way it is if you don't like coloring. I wanted my beautiful kitten to be white so I just colored the chair, throw, and the kittie's eyes and I think it turned out beautifully. I used some silver foil paper for the larger mat and it looks much prettier in real life. I was losing my natural lighting so I had to go with what I had already taken. Hope you can stop by the blog and check out the teams' inspiration. And join this week's challenge if you can!!!!

Another Silhouette Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 08:46:00 +0000

and this time it's a card. An anniversary card for my best friend and her husband. We've known each other for 40 + years and although we don't see each other for years at a time, we keep in touch via SNAIL MAIL. Snail mail ---- I know ---- *GASP*!!! I must say she writes much more often than I do. She understands my time is limited, but letters to her are a priority so I do write as often as I can because the guilt factor is immense :-) (love you chicky ----- you know I do!!!) Going to the mail box and finding a letter from her is like winning the lottery and because she writes about four times a month I WIN a lot. You are the BEST, girl!!!!
I wanted something different for her this year and because their anniversary is on St Patrick's Day (WHO does that? Really? :-) I gotta razz ya, you know I do) I wanted to incorporate that, too. Toasting glasses was in my mind from the start and the only St. Patrick's Day paper I had was the one I used for the outside of the card. The glasses are a Silhouette file and instead of cutting a piece for the "liquid", I colored with Copics instead and then highlighted with some gold Ranger's stuff. I was hoping the half-beads I used for bubbles would show up better in the photo, but they didn't so guess you will have to use your imagination. I embossed the black background and rubbed some Stickles over it to give some bling. The card itself I designed in Studio and I used a Just Right stamp for the Happy Anniversary sentiment and cut it out with a flower punch. I threaded it onto the ribbon I wanted to use to close the card and tied a bow.
Hope you are having a wonderful weekend. Poo, it's almost over and a new work week is lurking..........
Thanks for stopping by! Hugs, Shawna

The Completed Rose Card

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 08:22:00 +0000

Hi there! Welcome to another Silhouette Sunday. The Silhouette Store gives away a free file each week and a few weeks ago it was a nice cut file for making 3-D roses. The Silhouette Plus Forum (a site for Cameo and SD digital cutter owners to chat and problem-solve) holds a weekly challenge encouraging the members to make something with the free file. I made my roses but wasn't sure what I was going to do with them until today.
I cut several of the patterns and then worked the paper over good with the McGill flower tool set (they are double-ended tools with a metal ball on each end and come in several sizes) to soften the paper which makes the petals easier to shape. I also used a little spritz of water. Once the paper was good and soft I crumpled them all up in my hand and then ran an orange ink pad over the paper. The crumpled paper caught the ink at all the high points and gave the roses some nice depth. Once the ink had dried, starting in the center, I rolled the rose around a pair of long-nosed tweezers (you can also use a pencil) to give the rose a loose curled shape, making it easier to do the gluing. Gluing is the next step and all you do is put glue on a small section, begin rolling, add more glue, roll some more and continue in this manner until you have the paper rolled up and resembling a rose. Notice that the center of each flower is much tighter and then "blooms" as you shape the flower. Let dry and then bend and shape the petals to your liking. It's amazing how the same pattern used by different crafters makes each rose different and one of a kind. Please keep in mind that you can cut the rose pattern with scissors, too, you don't have to have a digital cutter. These are fun and rewarding to make and I like to work on these while watching TV in the evenings. Here's the roses before I made the actual card.....

I knew I wanted to have them clustered on one side and that I wanted to use the cut out shown in black, and it all finally came together in this card..................

It's hard to read in this photo, but it says "Happy Birthday Dear Friend" and I used a sketch pen in my Cameo with the Black Rose font. It's also hard to see on the finished card, but I ran the black frame that is around the sentiment through my Wizard using the Swiss Dots embossing folder. It does show up in the first photo,
Here's another card I made with another cut file, sized way down to make these tiny roses.
Thanks so much for stopping by today. Have a wonderful week. Hugs, Shawna

Lazy Paisley

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 08:56:00 +0000

Isn't that a cute name? I loved working with this image from Fawn Palmer, it just has so many possibilities, from coloring to using it as a black and white image to printing on patterned paper as I did here, etc. And the sentiments you could use with this are endless, too. 'Relax,' ' Take it Easy', 'Sit Right Down', 'Enjoy some Down Time on Your Birthday'. See? Lots of possibilities. Let your imagination run wild with this one. You gotta go to the Squigglefly Blog to see what the other Hobbyists came up with for this week's release and challenge. Lots of inspiration using a paper clip (regular or shaped), a flower, and some patterned paper. Join in!

As always, thanks for stopping by Paper Kisses and Inky Wishes. Have a lovely week! Hugs, Shawna

Squigglefly Sneak Peek!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:46:00 +0000

Only one more day until the new images from Squigglefly will be released, including this sweet little image called A Present From Kitty by Diane Carubia. How precious is this???? Grab a cup of coffee tomorrow morning and browse to your heart's content, then hop on over to the Squigglefly Blog on Monday and get some inspiration for using this week's digital releases. And join the challenge!! You have until Sunday to make a card that WOBBLES . The winner will be announced on Monday and a new challenge will begin.
Have a wonderful weekend! Looks like our weather will be nice then we are to get some much-needed rain (we are 12 inches below normal. YIKES!!!).

Thanks for stopping by! Hugs, Shawna

Think Spring please

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:37:00 +0000

Hi all! Wow, what a weekend. This should have been posted already, but things were crazy here. My granddaughter brought me a puppy she found and Burger HATED it. I spent a lot of time keeping those two apart and then finally found one of our local animal ladies that would take the sweet thing. Long story short, it will be heading to a Labrador rescue center up north. Then I had some junkie knocking on my door at 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning, and right after that the next door neighbor's car was stolen. Same guy or one working with him I assume. A lot of missing shut-eye between that and talking to local law enforcement. This really freaked me out and I am now armed with pepper spray and big metal bar. Use your imagination............ :-(
On a happier note, Squigglefly released some truly adorable images on Saturday and this is the one I got to work with. Isn't that penguin the cutest? I have another Chinese character one that I just did not have time to work up, but am hoping to correct that sometime this week. Gotta run. It's mort week and I have to be there at 8 o'clock. There oughtta to be a law..... :-) Thanks for stopping by!

Paper "stained glass" tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 09:03:00 +0000

Hi! Thanks for stopping by today. This Silhouette Sunday will be a tutorial for a "stained glass" technique using your SD or Cameo. First, just let me say this is my very first tutorial so please bear with me and please be kind! :-) Let's get started.

First choose a file with a lot of cut-out pieces. Frames work great and that is what I am using for this tutorial. I used a frame for my Hungry Dog post on February 16th and from that frame I was inspired for this technique.

Once you have your file up on the the design board in Studio adjust it to your desired finished size. Next decide how many colors you want to use and choose your papers accordingly.
The next step is to cut the exact same file as many times as the colors you have chosen for your design. Six colors? Cut six designs, all the same size.

Choose what color you want to be the main frame and weed. Weed the other frames as well. These weeded pieces will be used for the different elements inside the edges of your frame. Save them someplace safe where they will not get knocked around and lost. I find it is easiest to place the weeded pieces inside a shallow pan or in a box lid in a pattern loosely matching the design pattern. I say loosely because it does not have to be exact. The idea is to have them in enough order so that you can choose the right piece for the right cut out. Believe it nor not, even mirrored images can be a tiny bit off in size and if you get a piece meant for the right side in the left hole and vice versa it might not fit properly. Back and front orientation is important, too. You can save the extra frames for another project or use them to make additional "stained glass" because you will have enough pieces left to do that if you wish.

Glue the frame piece onto your card front or your scrapbook page or make a backing for the frame that has no cutouts (do a trace and offset in Studio if you choose this last option) and carefully glue your frame to it.

Once you have all the colors weeded and in approximate order the fun begins. Now you get to pick and choose from among the different colors placing them in whatever color order you wish inside the frame.
Once you have your pieces in the colors you want in the places you want, remove each piece one by one adding glue to the back of each piece and placing back inside the frame.

You can even take this one step further. Before you glue the pieces into the frame, run the tip of a black Copic, Letroset, or other marker around the cut edges of the main frame and then around each individual weeded element. This gives a thin black line that mimics the leaded edge around each piece of real stained glass.

Using black card stock for the frame gives you a another option for the "leaded" frame.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and are inspired to try it. Have a wonderful week!
Hugs, Shawna

TGIF I say,

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:40:00 +0000

TGIF!!!! It's been a very busy (work-wise), very emotional (family-wise) week for me. It's back to the vet for Toonie Mae this afternoon and I am dreading the outcome, but I also know that I will do whatever is the best decision for HER. So, I wanted to make a very quick post and give you a sneak peek on what's in store IN THE STORE :-) at Squigglefly tomorrow. Both of these images were drawn by Diane Carubia. First up is "Kitty Cuddle." How sweet is that image? The second one is titled "Friends Forever" and I can think of several people to whom this would apply in my world. Thanks for stopping by today!!!! It makes my day to know you take time out of your busy schedule to read my little blog. Hugs, Shawna

I see where I need to touch up a few areas on Kitty Cuddle. Sorry, I have to be in too big of a hurry. And unfortunately you can't see the Glass Effects I used on his precious little nose.

Hungry Dog

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:24:00 +0000

I love this image. Except for the pugged nose and ears being a bit more rounded, this little guy looks remarkably like my little Toonie Mae Hound Princess Dog of Burney. My Bostahuahua (Boston terrier and chihuahua cross). She is the sweetest little dog you could ever imagine. Like all my dogs have been, she is a rescue animal and although she was not physically abused in the sense we all think of, she was raised in a cage and fed an inappropriate diet. Her owner was very ill and could not take care of her properly and when he died little Toonie was taken to the sheriff's office compound to be taken down the hill to the animal shelter. Taking her in was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
She used to look like this digital chubster until she got diabetes via two horrible rounds of very painful pancreatitis. She is thin now, on a special diet, and receives two injections of insulin a day. She is also blind. As cute and funny as this digital image is, I do not recommend feeding your doggies an over abundance of food, and never give them people food. The effects of this are horrible on our canine babies. Sorry, but I just had to say that. Toonie Mae is just about at the end of her life from this horrible disease and I knew when I was given this image to work with, it was for a reason.
So, after getting that off my chest I must say that Eszster Csokas is a very talented artist and her images are truly works of art. I have loved every one of the images she has drawn for Squigglefly, I truly treasure it.

Burger sends a Valentine

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:56:00 +0000

Oh yes, Burgie has a girlfriend. He met her online. Her name is Riley and she is a foxy little wire hair. He's head over heels and he begged me to make her a Valentine. So what's a mom to do? Make that Valentine of course! So Riley, darlin', enjoy your Valentine from the handsome and goofy Burgie. It's in the mail and on its way to you. You can't see it in this photo, but Riley's name is all glittery.
All elements (not the bow) cut with the Silhouette Cameo.

Notice the muddy paw print? That's Burgie's actual signature :-)

It's time for Holley's Hobbyists to strut their stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:54:00 +0000

Hi everyone! Today is the day for the Design Team to show off their creations on the Squigglefly blogspot and kick off the new challenge.. The assignment is HEARTS. A heart-shaped card, heart DP, a heart somewhere on the card. You get the idea. I chose to use an older Squigglefly image the "Sewing Machine" by Nina Brackett (the image is retired now, so if you love it your are out of luck :-( ......and add the "I Love to Sew" image from the new 3-image set by Diane Knott. Inside it says "Sew (so), I am sewing (sowing) birthday wishes to you!" Pretty bad when you have to explain the sentiment. LOL! I hope you will join in the challenge.
I also wanted to let you know that Squigglefly is welcoming new artist Linda Birkinshaw. I already have her "Valentine Pup" on my wishlist. It is so adorable. I hope you checked out all the new releases last Saturday. Great images!!!! Thanks for stopping by! Hugs, Shawna

And now there's an anniversary coming up

noreply@blogger.com (Shawna) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:33:00 +0000

for one of my clients and her husband. Married on Valentine's Day ----- how romantic is that? I chose Lynne Stansbery's "Here's to Anything" digi stamp from Squigglfly. I knew the second I saw it that it would be perfect for the card I had in mind for my friend and her husband. The "envelope" that holds the card is a Silhouette cutting file and I backed it with some gorgeous rose DP and added two heart brads and a bow to hold it together. The inside of the envelope is lined with another heart that I embossed with a Cuttlebug folder. The card itself is three graduated sizes of hearts -- so easy to size and cut with the Silhouette Cameo. The Squigglefly image was colored with Copics and the "champagne" is Stickles. I added some "pearls" to rim the first heart --- it was the final touch I was searching for. Thanks for stopping by today. Have a wonderful week!