2022 Cat Lovers Hop Day 2 - Guest Designing - Taylored Expressions

Cat Lovers Hop

Day 2

Hello all, and especially if you've arrived from

 Her Peaceful Garden

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog!

I've the privilege of helping with designing for Day 2 as a Hopper Helper :) 

One of the sponsors is 

Taylored Expressions

so many beautiful stamp and die sets! 

The Stamp Set used here is called 'Whiskers' 

(I was lucky to win this set last year!!)

Its perfect for this created story of my feral cat Blackie who was re-educated,

 lived out the rest of his life as an indoor cat, yet at 18yrs was called away.  

He was certainly an angel. 

DAY 2 GAME: Time to Tattle on Your Cats.  Tell us about something VERY NAUGHTY they have done. 

I found this and how true!!

This certainly applies to Yassi and Minnie!

So it went in my page below!

The pair definitely know the definition of naughty!

Their crimes are - running under my feet to stop me from walking away from their empty food bowls... and I have to feed Minnie seperately because Yassi will eat hers then look for Minnie's  (Minnie is a grazer, so that makes it hard)  When Im not looking Yassi will try sneak into the room where Minnie's food is, and when I say 'YASSI!!!'  She runs away - guilty!! 

I've got another Project Life page for my album... they do feature quite a bit!

Yassi and Minnie start to get closer together.

AND my mum (85) gets a rescue cat... her name is Gracie :) 

Be sure to to jump in and share a project of any kind with a focus on a cat or cats

Wonderful prizes to be won! 

Pad your way over to where all the other cat lovers are gathering :)

Cat Lovers Hop

Cant wait to see your creations!

xx

Cat Lovers Hop - Day 1 is HERE!

CAT LOVERS HOP - DAY 1

So happy to be here again, loving scrapping my kitties.

There are lots of prizes to play for and loads to gain from this wonderful cat loving community that has grown from its inception 8 years ago.  I'm proud to say, I've played along for every single one of them! AND how lovely it is catching up with these wonderful people and their creativity again!

All you need to do is have a cat focussed project of any sort (cards/scrapbooking/OTP, even sewing/quilting/anything created by you  - cats of any kinds (lions, tigers - no bears! Oh my!) so you don't even have to own a cat!  How great is that!

First off is:

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

As usual, our Day 1 Game is Kitty Roll Call where we share with each other the names of each of the cats who call your home (or your back porch) their own....even if it is just a home away from home.  During Kitty Roll Call, you can tell us a little about your cats and you also may add to the roll call any that you have lost since last Cat Lovers Hop.  :( :( :(  Some of you might not have any kitties at home anymore, but please tell us about cats you have had in the past.

I think most of you have read about my beautiful Blackie who still features here and there in my projects, passed at 18yrs.  He was an ex-feral, re-educated and huge.  He also was a one person cat - and he owned and trusted only me.  I feel so privileged to have shared my life with him.  

Before Blackie, though did over cross lives with him, was Cosmo, our beautiful bi-coloured ragdoll who loved my family so much especially my three girls...  He also passed at 18yrs (8yrs before Blackie passed) and our vet thankfully came to our home to help him cross over. We were so grateful for that.  Blackie and Cosmo walked around each other at home and in the yard. Both acted as if the other didn't exist.  It kept harmony.

That brings me to now...  It took a year to think about another cat after Blackie and I suddenly out of the blue got such an urge to get another.  Rescue cat Yassi came into our lives, a mama cat who's 5 kittens were already adopted, and now it was her time, she was pretty shut down but I worked on her and she turned out to be a treasure!  She learned to walk on a lead like a champ!  She is now 4 1/2 yrs old

Fastforward another year, and I retired.  I saw a advert for a small black kitten (yes be still my heart) who had been dumped in a cage in the middle of winter in the middle of the night outside the door of the rescue centre. When the staff arrived the next morning, she was half frozen and within 48hrs gave birth to one kitten which did not survive.  

They tried hard to rehabilitate her, but was having no luck.  She was kept away from the main adoption area - she was in the Scaredy Cats section.  I could not resist and drove 2 hours to pick her up - she was listed as 'Foster to Adopt'.

 We called her Minnie as she was so small - less than a year old. Six weeks of hiding in my sewing room in a cardboard box with a towel in it (was not interested in the comfy cat bed) and with Feliway infuser going (that worked wonders!), she finally came out of the room and slowly began to trust until she saw the TV!  Oh my, that sent her ricocheting!  We had to desensitise her to many things bit by bit.  Now she is the most loving affectionate kitty.  She stretches up on her hind legs with her front paws reaching up like a toddler wanting to be picked up.... and wanting to be carried around!  She's come a long way! She is a little clown and sleeps like this in front of the fire!  She is now 2 1/2 yrs old

So project time!  

My little black panther!

Be sure you join in!  

Here's your link

Cat Lovers Hop - DAY 1!

xx
 

2022 Cat Lovers Hop....

 If you love a creative project of any kind with cats as the focus,

then head on over to

Her Peaceful Garden

I've been away too long and it feels so good to be back!  I hope to see you over at the Hop :)

 

Cat Lovers Hop - Day 5

Day 5 of the 

Cat Lovers Hop! 

DAY 5 GAME:

 In a Room Full of "Identical" Cats, How Would You Identify Yours? 

 Weeeeell, that would be easy for my little black panther Minnie as she'd run straight to me, stretch up with her paws on me to be picked up like a toddler  with  the motion 'up'. I carry her around a lot of the day! She's so needy!

Yassi, weeeeell, she'll be racing all the others to the food, and cleaning up all the bowls! LOL, however, I'm sure she'd be in good company there, so next I'd have to resort her tuxie markings. Hahah!

How would you?

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So, another page of my kitty  antics here .....

Thanks so much to the wonderfully sharing comments left, I love reading about your experiences here and when I've visited you too!  I've seen the most amazing projects from so many talented crafters.

What a hoot this has been! 

Have a visit and see!

xx

Cat Lovers Hop - Day 4

 

Day 4 on the Cat Lovers Hop!

Today game is:

What is the Funniest or Weirdest Trick Your Cat Does?

This would be Yassi, and how she runs inside meowing like a banshee all the while with a mouse in her mouth! Next she drops it at my feet, with  'here's your lunch!' 

If I dont respond straight away (mostly because I'm having horrors!!) she'll tap it towards me!!!

Tap, tap tap!  (Poor little mouse, I don't like them losing their little lives either!)

I have to pick it up and distract her by giving her some biscuits while I dispose of it so

I don't disappoint her by not lunching on it! 

She does the same thing with little lizards, but she does not harm these.

 I recapture them and put them outside!  

                                             I know I should feel honoured!

         And my project today is on how spoilt these my two cats truly are! 

                                   Jump in and join the fun, loads of prizes to be won!  

                                           Absolutely loving playing along!! 

                                                                       xx

Cat Lovers Hop - Day 3

 

 DAY 3!

Its wonderful playing along and its not too late!

Join in here!

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

Every day there is a game... and Day 3's game is:

Kitty Limericks, Haiku, Couplets, 

or Short Free-Form Poems

Cat Poetry : It might seem a little scary at first, but please don't be intimidated! Anyone can make up something about cats. Haiku are easy and follow a 3 line, 5-7-5 syllable form. Here's a great site to inspire you: Cat Haiku.

Here's my simple attempt:

Minnie

Look at me, I'm so small

Hiding curled in a furry ball,

Dark and silent as nightfall

In my new home I’m loved by all.

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So in photos, here's a layout of the antics of Minnie

Hope to see you there!!!!

 

Cat Lovers Hop - Day 2

 

Already Day 2 of The Cat Lovers Hop!

So the game today:

DAY 2 GAME - What is your favourite cat breed, or one you have always wanted?

 I guess I've always been drawn to an Abyssinian.  Intense and intelligent

However, as much as I'd love this, my heart lies with rescues.

Now onto my project for today,

Minnie! 

  If you'd like to join in, you can do any sort of project so long as its got to do with cats.

Loads of prizes to be won and join our cat community!

See you there.....

xx

 

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