Happy Birthday to me!

Happy Monday to ya! Hope y'all had a great weekend. Yesterday was my birthday and it was nice to just relax and hang out with my family! I did get a chance to work on some birthday cards this weekend. I am trying to refill my stash of cards and add some new stuff to my Etsy store.

I love, love, love this Bella (EmmyBella) for birthday cards! She is so fashionable and fabulous!

I always pair her with one of Amy R's birthday sentiments. This sentiment set is so versatile! I pulled out some more Basic Grey Indian Summer, some Chocolate Chip and Pink Pirouette cardstock for this card. The ribbon is PTI Berry Sorbet. I am addicted to this set of Nesties! I have used it a lot lately. The scallop border punch is Martha Stewart.
Here is a close-up of Bella. I colored her with my Copics and paper pieced the shopping bag. I masked her and airbrushed the background with some R20 copic ink.


For my second card, surprise....I used EmmyBella again! LOL!
I used more BG Indian Summer. I have really had a hard time using this paper - it is beautiful, but when I would sit down to use it, I struggled matching it up with cardstocks and getting the patterns to gel with each other. Do you ever have that problem? Well, I decided to face it head on and challenge myself to use it up! I know this sounds bad, but I will be a little relieved when my 6x6 pad is gone! I really do like the colors, etc - it has just been my nemesis! I have been lurking around to see how others are pairing it up for inspiration. So, for this card, I paired these patterns with some PTI Berry Sorbet paper (but Cameo Coral is a good match too) and ink and some Chocolate Chip. Dark Choc from PTI is a great match too - just trying to use up my SU stuff first! I added some fern leaves, a PTI Chocolate button and one of my hand-crocheted flowers - getting low on these too - need to make more!
Here is a close-up of this Bella. I colored her clothes the same as the first card, but sponged Berry Sorbet around the image and added some Liquid Glass to her purse for more fabulousness!


Supplies: Stamps - EmmyBella (StampingBella), Sentiment (Amy R - All That Scraps); Paper - Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, Berry Sorbet, Stamper's Select White (PTI), Basic Grey Indian Summer; Ink - Copics, Memento, Berry Sorbet; Accessories - Copic ABS, button (PTI), Berry Sorbet ribbon (PTI), fern & scallop border punches (Martha Stewart), linen thread (SU), crocheted flower (hand-made), Tag & Labels 4 Nesties, Liquid Glass (CTMH)

PCS Digi Release Thursday!

Happy Thursday Morning! Hope everyone is doing well today! It is supposed to be beautiful here in sunny FL! I am hoping to open my window and get crackin' on some new images and cards!

Today, Pink Cat Studio is releasing new Digi images! Go --> HERE <-- to check out the new stuff!

Also, Melissa decided to release the Itty Bitty Christmas set as digi's too! Aren't these little sweeties too adorable?

For my first card, I used the new PCS_BirdsMakeCupcake image for this one.

I whipped up this little 'cupcake' pretty quickly. I colored the image with my Copics and used my Circle Nesties to cut out and layer it. I sponged some Pink Pirouette around the edges of the sentiment and image. Of course, this is one of Melissa's new FREE digi sentiments! She is awesome to make these available for free! I had to pull out some of my Urban Prairie DP from Basic Grey for this card - it has to be one of my all-time favorite paper lines! I used some Kiwi Kiss and Baja Breeze to compliment the DP. I added a prima, some fern leaves (MS punch), and a BG pink pearl to embellish the sentiment.

Look Ma, NO sewing! Can you believe it? It has become one of my favorite embellishments, but my hubby gets upset when I do it during his beloved World Series game! LOL! (he watches TV with me in my studio at night) Men and Sports....I have enjoyed watching the Phillies play, though. I like post-season playoffs for most sports. I think there is more on the line, so it is more exciting!
Here is a close-up of my coloring - these little birdies are just, plain adorable! If you look closely at the cherry on top, I applied some Liquid Glass to it to make it shine!

For card #2, I used the BillyRidesPolarBear image. Isn't he sweet? I swear, my 6 year old, has a sweet face like this! I know, I know... I am his Mommy and I am supposed to say things like that, but it really is true! My 3rd punk - the 4yr old has a very mischievous look on his face most days, so you would not catch me saying that about him! LOL! He is a sweetie too, but also very headstrong!

Anywho, I dug deep into my stash and pulled out some Basic Grey Blitzen! (Goin' Old Skool!) I was so in love when this line came out eons ago, that I bought 2 fulls 12 x 12 sets! I still have lots of certain sheets left! Old Olive and Riding Hood Red cardstock goes great with this DP. I used my oval & ribbon tag trio nesties and another Free sentiment! I airbrushed the label with some B91 ink. Here is a close-up of my coloring. I think he turned out pretty cute! To make his fur trim look a little fluffy, I used my Copic colorless blander and used a circular motion to pull up some of the color. I really did not want to use any fluff or bling on a boy card! My 6 yr old would probably set me straight if I did! I did sneak in some stitching, though!

For card #3, I used the LilyRidesPolarBear image.I got the idea for this card from Debbie's (Thinking Inking) post here. I layered some Bo Bunny DP from last year and stitched the hills. (I did it in-between innings, so my hubby could not complain! LOL) I used some Ocean Tides and Kraft cardstock to accompany this DP. Isn't the tag cute? Of course, it is another one of those Free sentiments! I sponged some Ocean Tides ink around the edges and added some Ocean Twill ribbon too.
Here is a close-up of Lily. I colored the image with Copics and cut it out. I added some glitter to all of her fur trim to make it shimmery - I just love some sort of bling or shimmer on all of my cards!

Gotta get some stuff done! I am so glad the weekend is almost here! Sunday is my birthday (30-something) and my parents are coming over on Saturday night for dinner. My Mom is cooking steak au poivre - one of my favs! Med-Rare and with some mushrooms in the sauce of course! Yum-O! I am hungry just thinking about it! Well, I will let ya chew on that morsel! Hugs, ~Tori

Henry Anderson Memorial fund

This week has been a very sad one as Pink Cat Studio DT member Sarah Anderson’s 3 year old son Henry passed away. Little Henry was unable to overcome a virus that made him ill last week.

Lorie Ames has organized a way to donate for a memorial for Henry. Henry loved his local zoo and visited it almost every day in the summer. As a memorial, trees will be planted there in his honor. Melissa at Pink Cat Studio has created a digital stamp to help raise funds for a tree for Henry. All proceeds from the sale of the digi stamp, minus Paypal costs, will go towards the tree. If you would like to donate towards the tree, please visit this webpage to purchase the digi stamp: http://www.pinkcatstudio.com/Digital/DigiStamps/Animals/Zoo/GiraffeAndMonkey.htm

Another way to donate to the memorial is to print out this form and mail in your donation directly: http://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/Parks/PDF/MemorialTreePamphlet.pdf

Please write on the form that the donation is for Sarah Anderson’s son Henry. Once all of the money is collected, a tree and location will be selected. If you have questions about the form please contact Lorie Ames. Lorie will be in contact with Sarah along this memorial journey to ensure that her wishes are followed.To contact Lorie, please visit her blog at http://www.live-love-laugh-create.blogspot.com/

If you don’t know Sarah and would like to learn more about her, please visit her blog: http://scrampinmama.blogspot.com/ Thank you for your help to raise money for a tree for Henry.

~Tori

PTI Tree Trimming Trio

Happy Monday, y'all! Hope you had a Happy Halloween. We had a jam-packed weekend and I am still tired despite getting an extra hour of sleep! On Friday night, some neighbors had a block party. The kids had a lot of fun running around and playing with their friends. At 1:00 AM some kids decided to do a Ding-Dong-Dash prank and wake us up! Luckily, it only woke up my hubby and I! Still, we had trouble going back to sleep! We had to get up early on Saturday for soccer games and then Trick-or-Treating of course on Sat night! On Sunday, our immediate neighborhood had a block party and 140 people showed up! The kids had so much fun and fell into bed at 7:00 PM - YAY!

Onto the important stuff! :) I made a few new Christmas cards using PTI's Tree Trimming Trio set.

Yes, I decided to use more non-traditional Christmas colors! These colors reminded me of the cute colored tinsel trees you can buy - so bright!
For the background paper, I used PTI's new Giga Guidelines set - I am in LOVE with this new set! For this card, I used Hibiscus Burst paper, buttons, ribbon and ink as well as Vintage Cream, Kraft and Dark Chocolate. I used some brown thread to add some stitching around all of the edges. The sentiment is from PTI's Signature Christmas set.

For this card, I used some Ocean Tides paper, ribbon and ink as well as some Aqua mist buttons, Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream and Kraft paper. I also used another one of the sentiments from the Signature Christmas set.

These were relatively simple cards to make. I am thinking of using something similar for my Christmas cards - I have to make around 100, so it will be something more simple!

Have a wonderful day! I have to get cleaning - my hubby's new boss will be at our house on Thurs and Friday! My hubby works out of the house and they are going to be going over administrative stuff for his new sales position. Yikes, I want it to be nice and clean! :)
~Tori

New PCS Digi Images!! Mmmm....Cocoa

Hey Peeps! Hope you are having a Happy Thursday! Today, I have another class party to go to today, this time for my first grader's class! My other son had his yesterday, so we are almost done with all of this partying! Yesterday wore me out - 18 four year olds in costumes...so cute....so much work! LOL!

Today is New Digi Release Thursday over at Pink Cat Studio!

I have 3 new cards to share with you, so grab a cup-o-joe and settle on in!

The first project I am sharing with you today is the new Lily Hot Cocoa image. As soon as I saw these images, I just had to make another cocoa packet holder!! They are so quick and easy to make. Here is the template for making them. Isn't she so sweet with her cup of cocoa and marsh mellows? I {heart} hot cocoa....when it's cold of course! We got up to PA in the winter to visit family and being from FL, I freeze my keister off and tend to chug hot cocoa to stay warm! I am not much of a coffee drinker (except Starbucks Frappucino's of course), but I will fix a coffee with a packet of cocoa and a little milk in it - but only if it's not too hot here! It's still in the upper 80's in FL!! It got colder for about 2 days and back to the heat!

I am trying to use up some of my old Christmas Basic Grey DP lines. For these cards, I opened up Fruitcake. Yup, you read it right....I've had that paper pack for over 2 yrs and never opened it! I love the snowflakes on this DP and it matches Ocean Tides cardstock perfectly! The sentiment is another one of Melissa's awesome FREE digi sentiments available HERE. I used a label nestie to cut it out and then airbrushed it as well. My snowflake embellishment was made using a Martha Stewart punch, a PTI button and some linen thread. To tie the card shut, I used some white swirl organza ribbon from Creative Impressions - love this ribbon so much, I bought a whole roll (25 yds) in white! I have a ribbon obsession! LOL!

Here is a close-up of Lily with her chocolatey-concoction. I colored her with my Copics, cut her out and popped her up using foam tape. I used my Copic ABS system to airbrush Lily's background with a BG72 marker.
Here is the inside of the Cocoa Packet card. These Cocoa packets are so yummy! This one is actually a Cappuccino mix.
Here is a close-up of the sentiment inside. It comes from the PTI set Warm Happiness.

For my second card, I used the Cocoa Billy image.

He is too sweet! My little boys love 'hot cocoa'. I grew up calling it Hot Chocolate, but they are insistent on calling it cocoa! I used some more BG Fruitcake DP along with some Riding Hood Red and Old Olive cardstock. This snowflake embellie was made using a Marvy snowflake punch and an olive button and more linen thread. This is another FREE sentiment! I also added some stitching around the edges of the DP.

I colored Billy with my Copics, cut him out and popped him up. I used the Deckle Rectangle Nesties and airbrushed the background using a G02 marker.

For my third card, I used the Lily Elf image. Isn't she a cutie?

I wanted to use more of the Fruitcake DP and paired it with Blue Bayou and Old Olive cardstock. I added some whimsical stitching around the DP and some straight stitches around the colored image. I also sponged some Blue Bayou around the image and sentiment (yet another FREE sentiment - go check them out peeps!)

Here is a close-up of this little elf!

Ok, I am off and running....thankfully my kids are off school tomorrow, 'cause we have another busy weekend on tap! Happy Trick-or-Treating if I don't get anything else posted! ~Tori

Joy To the World!

Happy Wednesday Y'all! I will make this one quick, since my 4 yr old has his Halloween parade and party today.

I have an easy Christmas card to share with you today. Last year, I made a wreath card and it gave me the idea to make it into a tree instead of a wreath.

I punched lots of fern branches from the Martha Stewart fern punch using Mellow Moss and Always Artichoke cardstock. I cut a triangle for the tree base and glued the branches on from the bottom up. The bling on the branches is from KaiserCraft. I ran a panel of Very Vanilla through my CB with an embossing folder and layered it on some Artichoke paper. The sentiment is from PTI's new Signature Christmas set. I used some red polka dot ribbon (Offray) and a Nestie ribbon tag for the sentiment. That's it! It takes the longest to glue the branches on and let them dry! Very simple, but it looks so intricate with all of the layers in the tree!

Thanks for checking it out! Have a great rest of the day! ~Tori

Can You Guess Who They Are? You Could Win Free Digi's!

Happy Tuesday....again! Just a quick note to let you know that Pink Cat Studio is starting a fun contest today!

~~~~Digi DT Bio Betty Contest~~~~

(say that 5 times fast! LOL! Feeling a bit punchy today!)

Melissa asked each one of the Digi DT members to create a Betty that tells us a bit about herself. Can you figure out who created each Betty ?

If so then you could win some free digi stamps!! (Who doesn't love free digi stamps?)

Visit the Pink Cat Studio blog to learn how to enter the contest.

Aren't these too cute? My fellow DT'ers did an awesome job!

Check out all of the DT member's bios here:

----->PCS Digi DT Bios<------

Gotta run! Hope you are having a fab-o day! ~Tori