Welcoming A New Neighbor

Hey All! HAPPY FALL!!!!! Hope all is well with you! I'm so sorry it has been over a week for me to do a new post, but sometimes life tends to get in the way of best laid plans! We had some unexpected medical issues with Jay, but everything is good now. Thanks to several of you who sent me emails wondering if I was OK. You are all very sweet to think about me and worry about me! Also, Please read the part about what my dogs did close to the bottom. I think you will be surprised. So on to today's post. . .

We had a new neighbor move in on our Cul-de-sac last week, so I made a card to take over along with some baked goods! Here is the card:



I tried a couple of new things with this card. First, I stamped the butterfly image directly onto designer paper (don't know what the paper is, sorry), then cut it out. The stamp is from Inkadinkado, and the way the stamp is made, the part that isn't inked allowed the paper to become part of the wings. I love how it looks. I then used the same paper to make the first background mat. The second new technique I used was to use my ink pad and cover the inside of the Cuttlebug embossing folder with ink. I used Colorbox black. I put a plain pale orange paper in the folder and ran it through the Cuttlebug. It gave a really cool distressed look to the paper with the embossed image. I've seen this done on many blogs, and I had been wanting to try it. I matted it with black card stock. I then added another small rectangle of the DP with another black mat piece, attached the butterfly with dimensional foam tape, printed the sentiment on the same DP with my computer, added bling to the butterfly and some black grosgrain ribbon and was finished. Below is a detail shot:



I received two RAKs this past week, and I have to say that I don't know what I have done to deserve such kindness! But I will say that they certainly came at a time when I needed a little lift, and I can't thank both of you enough. The first one came from my blogging buddy Jane of Scossie Jane from Australia! It was so cool to get a package from half way around the world! Jane's specialty is scrapbooking and she does an amazing job with them (click on link above). Her layouts are incredible. She also does beautiful cards too as is demonstrated from what was enclosed below:



Jane, this was so generous of you, and I will put it to good use! You really made my day the day it came! THANKS SO MUCH!

I wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to my blogging buddy Sue (Sue's Stamping Stuff). I have always admired her use of the House Mouse stamps, and her coloring is absolutely AMAZING. I was thrilled to receive in the mail a TON of stamped images from her! Look below:



I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened the envelope!!!! So many images! Go take a look at Sue's work on her blog (click the link above). She has one posted now that is just amazing! Thanks again, Sue for your wonderful gift! I started coloring the first image, and I don't think I will ever be half as good as you when it comes to coloring these images! These take real talent to make them look good! Thanks for sending so many of the images, it will give me lots of practice. I just received my first House Mouse stamp that I ordered, and boy is it going to be a MAJOR project! It is called "Don't Leaf Without Me" and it is amazing. Your images will help me get brave enough to tackle it! And Sue, when I make that first card with the new stamp, I'm making that card for you! You really made my day!

Final thing. My "boys" have some painting talent!!! I've been meaning to share this with all of you for some time now, and so here it is. I had my boys paint "masterpieces" last summer. I saw that this was done at an animal shelter fund raiser one time, so I thought "My boys could do that!" Here is what they created!:



I matted and framed them and they are hanging in my breakfast room. I know I'm a proud Dad, but aren't these amazing? Shotsy did the one on the left and Gunther did the one on the right. Here's how they did it. I put there plastic swimming pool out in the backyard. I got Styrofoam bowls and poured several different colors of poster paint (because it is non-toxic) into each bowl. I then put an actual canvas in the empty swimming pool, dipped their paw in one of the colors and told them to get in the pool. I held up a treat and kept moving around the pool, and as they walked around the pool to follow me, they "created". I would repeat this step with each color. I never once grabbed their paws and helped them "paint". This was all random. If you are a pet owner, I strongly encourage you to do this with your pet. Not only does it create great conversation art, it will be something you will always have from them after they are gone. Guests just marvel at the artwork. Some swear that they can see different animals in Shotsy's painting, and Gunther's has been described as looking through a garden with the sun peeking through at the top center right. LOL Click on the photo to see what you can see!

Well, that's it for this post. Hope you enjoyed it. Don't forget the pic of the week below. This beautiful girl was looking up at me and the boys as I took this shot from a boardwalk over a lake. It actually looks like she is smiling at the boys! This was taken this past weekend. I'm off to take a look at all of your creations! I'll be posting soon in the next few days if nothing else happens! See you on your blogs!


Best,


Curt O'Brien
"God help me be the person my dogs think I am."