Cat Lovers Hop 2021 Day One!

 Finally the first day has begun!

DAY 1 GAME: Kitty Roll Call and In Memoriam :(

Always, Day 1 Game is Kitty Roll Call where we share with each other the names of each of the cats that call your home 

What a treat to be able to not only share with you one cat – Yassi, but to introduce to you my newest addition – Minnie!

After losing my big black ex-feral ‘Blackie’ at 18yrs of age,

 I was so upset and heartsick that I couldn’t bring myself to get another cat for over a year.  Suddenly,  out of the blue,  I had this urge to go find another kitty to fill this dark space I felt.   

 Definitely  had to be a rescue ( there is no other way) and I found a Tuxie, Yassi .  

She can look pensive even reflective at times.

Her kittens had been adopted out and she was left alone and somewhat shut down in her pen.  Yes, she was the one for me.  I’d bring sunshine to that little heart break she was nursing and she would help me nurse mine.  Yassi is now 4yrs old.  

That brings me to Minnie 18months later – I finally retired and the first thing I was contemplating  was to foster a ‘shutdown’ kitty, so off I set and this tiny little black kitty was as frightened as I’ve ever seen.  Her story…  she had been left in a crate with no blanket in the middle of a freezing winter’s night outside the shelter facility.  When they arrived the next morning, they found a half frozen little cat and within 48 hours, she had delivered one kitten which didn’t live. Minnie was about 1yr old.  I knew I needed to take her.   And weeeeeell, she ended up a foster-fail.  She’s mine, she’s adorable and very very playful, needy and loving – perfect for me!  Ten months on and she’s the funniest little loving clown I could ever ask for.  So very very lucky!

Here's a layout I did about the moments I knew I was going to keep her.....

I never thought I could have another black cat after 'Blackie' but she's perfect!  She's tiny in comparison to Blackie who had a big frame, and she's as light as a feather!  I adore black cats!

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Here's hoping you can join the fun.... there are so so many prizes and a wonderful community I've come to love over the last seven years I've played along!

Hope to see you there xx

2021 Cat Lovers Hop Information

  

 So looking forward to this!!  

                         Hopefully will see you there!!                       

                            

2021 CAT LOVERS HOP
 October 25-30, 2021
 at
Her Peaceful Garden

Don't forget to participate in the following...it's NOT TOO EARLY.
You can do these right now!!:
1. SIGN IN for the 2021 Cat Lovers Hop  (REQUIRED to be eligible for prizes!!)
2. GIVEAWAY - Post the 2021 Cat Lovers Hop Badge (closes Oct. 24th)
3. Please look at the 2021 CAT LOVERS HOP - GUIDELINES and FAQs
4. Get started making your cat projects for the hop!!!

Hope to see you there!!!! 

 

Where have I been???

 Weeeeeell,  my poor neglected blog!  Time for a catch-up.

Where have I been?

The best news - I retired at the beginning of this year and its been so great that I've thrown myself into all the things I love to do but never had the time to do it!

    Scrapbooking, quilting, more art :) AND loving catching up with friends and looking after family.

We've had some sadness in the last 12 months or so with the loss of my beautiful mother-in-law and not long after, my equally beautiful father-in-law.  We think he died of a broken heart.  They had been together 72 years.  My girls broke their hearts too.  We miss them everyday.

What about the girls?... 

Meaghan is the CEO of her own company, has two master degrees and is about to start a Phd after receiving a scholarship.  

Hannah,  bought  her own house, works at our state library and still loves it. Surrounded by books will always keep her happy!

And Paige is now a high school teacher after gaining her masters degree, got engaged in January to Angus, who is a pharmacist and the pair are getting married this coming January - so happy!

Here's a layout I did of them for this blog in 2008

They've come a long way in 13yrs!

December Daily 2020 - Covers

The December Daily covers are done!!  :) 

I had a choice of one side blue, other side grey,

I went with the grey :)  and put some mismatched Thickers fonts in pink and pastels together.

How old is the pearl and diamante Prima stickers... OLD! 

Some handmade fabric and button flowers - a few sequin stars..

And as much as I try to keep it 'clean and tidy'  the grunge part of me just cant help but grunge it ... I tried, truly I did.  Then thought... just a little bit, then it just suddenly became a lot.  

(A bit overworked - should have left it alone but oh well - its done.)

 

New moto is -  Done is better than perfect...

And - use up old 'stuff'! 

See how I go! 

xx

DECEMBER! Yay! December Daily begins!

I'm hoping to keep up with my December Daily !

2020 has been a challenging year - we all know that, so am determined December and Christmas will be a happy one.

There's a start made... truly not much, just a choice of covers (other than making my own)

I think I'm happiest with chipboard covers and making my own pages - It seems easier that way.

So whats in store....

Weeeeeeeell, these old chestnuts!

(Horrified to say sitting in my stash since.... 2011)

Anyway,  its 9"x6", So the insides will prob be about 8x5".   I'd probably like a bit bigger, but I'm gonna use these ole things!  

Blue?  probably, grey is on the inside, could flip them over?  I like pink lately... and soft pastels so anything can happen.

Also really really loving Paige Evan's cut files.  In fact I fell in love with her cut files before purchasing a Cricut... and purchase I did.... so now a proud owner of....

Cricut Explore Air 2 (just got to work out how to use it!)

So December Dailying this year will be a new challenge... hopefully a fun one! 

I've got loads going on this December,

Really really fun and some life changing stuff 

 I'm all in!  

xx

DAY 5 2020 Cat Lovers Hop

 Oh no!  Its the very last day to enter projects for the Cat Lovers Hop!

And I'm so sad about it because:

Its got me out of hibernation and scrapping again!  

I've bought some new stamps after seeing so gorgeous ones out and about in blogland

AND I've caught up with fellow bloggers that I now call my Cat Lovers Hop family even though just once a year.   Afterall... its been every year for six years!!!

So Day 5 is done...

And the game is:

What is the Most Expensive or Most Precious Thing Your Cat has Destroyed?

Sigh, Yassi did when we first got her... she clawed right on top of the arm of our brand new leather couch.  I think we gave her such a fright with both of us raised spontaneously out of our chairs screaming 'noooooooooooo' .......... that's all it took...........that did the trick!  Needless to say she never did it again.

                                        It almost looks like she tried to write something!!! 

But still,.. I was so disappointed, but she wasn't to know and her claws were so hideously long, so much so that I had the vet clip them as they caught in everything she laid her paws on and she would forever be trying to pull out of it.  The vet showed me how to clip her claws and she's been a happy camper ever since . 

The prize for the game is a digital image is from

  Ike's Art digital set 'It wasnt me'

Fleaz Navidad

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My project today is for my Project Life Album

It is a page where in March, suddenly we got the news we were in lockdown and my business had to cease trading, and just try to decipher what was happening.  On the good side, it was a time to hit the reset button, get some quality home time even though my hubby still had to work being an essential worker, and I got to love my cat and my crafts more....

 What a very strange year it has been.

I also just want to say a huge thank you to Janis from 'Her Peaceful Garden' for sticking with us, providing us with this amazing community of cat lovers, and for being the force behind Cat Lovers Hop - its massive!

I also want to say thank you to the community of cat lovers who took the time to leave meaningful and uplifting comments -   heartfelt appreciation for you too!  

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And a card for you all celebrating this weekend!

So for now, I  can say... ... we have a lot on with my mum's birthday - is Halloween! so I'll do my best to get back here.....( I'll try!) 

xx

DAY 4 2020: Cat Lovers Hop

 

                                         Lol, this is my husband and I!  

DAY 4! on the Cat Lovers Hop

(oh no.... only one more day left ....sniff ) 

The game today is..... 

Are Your Cats Friendly with Visitors....or do they sense STRANGER DANGER???!!!  

Yassi is so much better at greeting people, she is discerning though, I think they have to 'smell' right!  She will approach, but wont be stroked she will back away.  It would have to be a REEEEEALLY special person for her to let pat or feel so comfortable to climb up in a lap. Blackie on the other hand, he would have ran the minute the knock on the door - everyone was a danger in his mind.  He wouldn't come out until the visitor/s had completely gone. So with that extreme to Yassi, she does fine in comparison :)

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Day 4 Project....of the Cat Lovers Hop! 

I got Yassi as an adult, she was at a shelter where she turned up with five little kittens.

 I think she had a pretty hard time trying to fend for her kittens and herself.  Her kittens were adopted and Yassi was so sad left behind.  Anyway, I always wondered what happened to her kittens and hoped they found happy homes, and also what Yassi would have looked like as a kitten.  

I was lucky enough to win one of Ike's images and it was purfect for my little project!  I think this gives me a visual to my wondering (very happy smile) I do a lot of project life work, so this little card will be a lovely addition to it.    

A bit of watercolour.

The prize for the game is a digital image is from

  Ike's Art digital set 'It wasnt me'

Fleaz Navidad

Loving every bit of the Cat Lovers Hop! 

xx

DAY 3: 2020 Cat Lovers Hop

 

IT's Day 3!! 

of the Cat Lovers Hop! 

So today's game is a POEM!

My poem, I thought this time I'd write about my dear old Blackie (18yrs) who is now not with us.... being an ex-feral, he hated going outside, but every now and then he got curious but something would always happen just as he got brave enough to dash his hopes.

'Oh black cat creeps out the door,
Check the path back is clear what’s more
Tiptoeing light on black padded paw
Bang, a noise! He’s shot back through the door!'

My Blackie - look how worried he was..... such a scaredy cat.

 

The prize for the game is a digital image is from  Ike's Art digital set 'It wasnt me'

Fleaz Navidad

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My Kitty project today is Little Paper Bags

made just from a single piece of paper - I've used  approximately 10"x7" 

And took no time at all!  They can be stamped or stickered for example, used for parties, 

or like me...  more practical :) 

 

                                                                 Here's the link to PLAY :) 

Love this place!

xx

DAY 2: 2020 Cat Lovers Hop

 Day Two already!!!

So the game today is :

DAY 2 GAME - What weird thing(s) does your cat eat???

The prize for the game is a digital image is from  Ike's Art digital set 'It wasnt me'

                                                              Fleaz Navidad

Weeeeell, I'm sure cats are not weird to eat lizard (oh and she didnt! kinda), but more like what she does...

Yassi is intent on catching little lizards (skinks)  and she will run inside bellowing with the thing inside her mouth!  She doesnt kill the lizard, but it'll drops its tail... and she'll eat that!

The rest of the lizard - she gives to me (gift) and each time the lizards are okay other than dropped tails, so I'll scoop it up and while she is not watching - I'll put them back outside again! 

I've found a recovered one LOL!  (until next time!)

So its weird enough! 

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The kitty project comes from my Flow Book for Paper Lovers, and it was nice and quick on this busy day!  

Arent they just sweet - I've made a scene :) 

Paper cut outs... cylinder-like.

                                                                          A bit of fun!

Hope you join in HERE

xx

DAY 1: 2020 Cat Lovers Hop!

 

Hahaha! 

and...

Have you heard the news.....

DAY 1: 2020 CAT LOVERS HOP

 has started!

There is a daily game, and as usual for the last five years of hops, it starts with 'Roll Call', the kitties owned and/or passed away.  

Weeeell, this is my  Yassi, my little tuxie you all learned about last year. 

 

 She has been the best companion especially when it came to Covid lockdown!  Who knew when I got her last June after being without a cat for over 12 months  (it took me that long to get over Blackie's passing),

              (Blackie)

 that Yassi would be instrumental in keeping me company and sane through what has been a trying year and what has transpired with the world.  The power of paws!

    A day in the life....

There are prizes, even for the daily game :) 

So today, the featured digital image is from  Ike's Art digital set 'It wasnt me'

Oh my gosh!  I totally love this! It reminds me of how Blackie used to hide under our Christmas tree! (so, fingers crossed!)

 

 Fleaz Navidad

 

 

Thats Day 1 done!   

Gotta love this!

xx

Paint Party Friday: Week 33, Year 10 Check-In

 

 I havent played here now for a couple of years, and was so pleased to see it still going!

 

So with a quick little teapot....

this was a bit of fun!

xx

Cat Lovers Hop 2020 - The sixth Year!

I cant believe that I've been away all year! The year has been crazy silly and if not for the Cat Lovers Hop which  has created such a wonderful supportive community, and even though its a push to get moving with my very neglected blog..... I'm inspired :)

Got a gorgeous kitty??  And want to join in?  

Sign up   HERE (very big smile!)

 Its good to be back!

xx

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2019!

MERRY CHRISTMAS 

To my blogger friends.

We celebrated Christmas morning at Hannah’s house

(Without poor dh who had been struck down with shocking flu :( )

We still went ahead with our Christmas photos

And introducing Paige’s significant other Angus who has fit into our family beautifully :)
Then it was the usual, up the farm for lunch with dh’s family and onto the drive down south with dinner with mine.

I hope you all have had a wonderful day!!

XX