Our Wally is With LuLu Now

It's with the deepest sorrow I'm here to tell you that our Wally passed on September 18.  He took a sudden turn and there was no help for him, so we let him go peacefully.

We shared 14 wonderful years.

Wally and LuLu were two very happy kids.

What a perfect life they had.

I can't say that Wally was ever really quite the same after his little buddy died in June.  

I like to think of them as together again.

This has not been easy for me nor Rich -- our two best friends gone so close together.  I don't even have words, but if you've come to know me at all, then I'm sure you understand.  Rich and I need to ease through this transition and into the next phase.  We will have another Golden in our lives when the time is right.

Additionally, I fell sick on the evening of Sept 14.  Not Covid.  It hit suddenly and then turned into bronchitis, which is more of a big deal than I would have thought.  We're still helping our neighbor friend and his dogs get through their rough time after his triple bypass surgery.  All these events and more power my decision to take an indefinite blog break.  I don't know more to say at this time except to thank you for your patience.

💔

Double D Challenge -- Birthday Balloons

Hi, friends!  It's that time of the month again -- Double D Challenge time.  Darlene is asking for balloons and I think that pretty much guarantees a gallery full of celebration!

I was happy to find this little guy, Benton, in my card parts drawer, all colored up and waiting for a card.  He's from an old Inky Antics set called Pampered Benton which I've loved well in the past.  He's a cutie!  My favorite balloons stamp is a 1998 oldie from Stampendous, and the Impression Obsession sentiment says just what Benton needed it to say.

I love pulling oldies from different drawers and putting them together on a card.  My old Stampin' Up standby, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, provided confetti for the party.  I cut a frame from printed cardstock and stood Benton on its edge.  Colored with Copics, glitter on the cupcake... just fun.

Choosing the top creative winners is a team effort, and not an easy one at that.  There is so much talent out there in Blogland!  The Double D's are giving this prize to a random winner:

Come on over to the Double D Challenge blog.  The team has some great samples to show you, and we can't wait to see yours!

Stamps:  Stampendous Party Balloons, Impression Obsession Cupcake Kind of Day, Inky Antics Pampered Benton, SU Itty Bitty Backgrounds  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, scrap patterned cardstock  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Pixie Pink & YoYo Yellow  Coloring:  Copics  Other:  Stickles Stardust glitter glue, Memory Box Wrapped Stitch Frames

Flowers and Critters and Life in General

Hi, friends.  I haven't had much time to be in my stamp room or the computer and so I'm stopping in to let you know what's going on at our house.  All is well with The Millers, so no worries there, but a friend had a serious life event and we're lending a helping hand.

First a peek at some September garden glamour... pink Amaryllis:

Next is the Butterfly bush.  We cut it down to the ground, thinking it was old and giving up, but it grew back into a beautiful bush with magnificent blooms that lend a heavenly scent to that corner of the garden.  The butterflies are fluttering around in swarms but, sorry, none in this picture.  We have mostly Painted Ladies this time of year.   Did you know that a group of butterflies is often referred to as a kaleidoscope?  I like that better than swarm.

Here's Wally, handsome and fluffy as ever.  He can't walk far or stand long before his legs give out, but he still loves life.

For the last several days we've been taking care of our friend's Goldendoodles.  We walk the block and a half to his house at the end of the street where we give the dogs breakfast, tend the flowers and veggies -- watering and harvesting -- houseplants, too.  We let the dogs out to explore their own yard for a while, then we walk them to our house where they spend the afternoon.  In the picture below you see Lynus howling for his human.  He did that quite a lot on the first day.  Our friend had never seen Lynus howl before, so I took the pic to show him.  Wally is looking on from across the room.  Sadly, Wally no longer has strong enough air to howl.

After the first day Lynus gave up the howling and decided to try and be happy.  In the picture below we're in our friend's yard.  Lynus is eagerly waiting for the next toss of the tennis ball.

Here's Bailey playing tug of war with Rich.  The smallest raggedy scrap that was once a stuffie is the best toy in the basket.   I've loved both of these dogs since puppyhood.

Back home again... Rich was painting some trim and Wally always has to be close to the action.  He burrowed through the branches of the azalea bush and peeked out at the world.

Little did Wally know that this kitty critter was peeking at him from the other side.  This cat has become a frequent visitor.  I think he/she lives down the street, but we're becoming friends.  I told him as long as he doesn't get my birds and squirrels he's welcome to visit.

The Three Amigos at our house.  We're planning to get a new sofa, but this is just so perfect for three big dogs.  Where did I sit?  I didn't.

The last pic is Bailey at our friend's house on the first night.  He looks mournful, but part of that is just his personality.  He's a mega-sweetheart.  Love.

I wish with all my heart that LuLu was in these pictures.

It will be a few days yet before our friend is home.  As I write this he is recovering (I hope) from quadruple bypass surgery.  Someone was supposed to call, but we've heard nothing.

My visits to blog friends will be delayed and brief for a while.  I'll stay in touch as much as possible.  Priorities.  You understand.  It's good to have friends, but even better to be a friend.

Happy Mail

Hello friends!  I'm getting some flowers colored before the end of summer.  My flower pots are still going strong with no indication of giving up for a long time yet, and the pink Amaryllis in the garden are just now in full bloom.  I was thinking of all those colors when I got to work on this.

Again, I've done no-line coloring with Tombows and blender.  The die and stamp are both Penny Black from earlier this summer (spring?), and the birthday sentiment and sprinkles are retired Stampin' Up.

Closer:

I'd like to play along in the following challenges today:

Tic Tac Toe #225.  I've used the center vertical row -- birthday, die cuts stamping.
Triple B September.  The challenge calls for birds, blooms, or butterflies -- any or all.  The beautiful mood board inspires, but is optional.
NBUS Challenge #54.  My never before used schtuff is the Penny Black Happy Mail stamp.

 

Quick question:  Are you receiving my blog post emails?  I recently found all mine in junk mail.  Technology, sheesh.

I appreciate everyone who found their way here today.  Wishing you a beautiful week!

Stamps:  Penny Black Happy Mail, retired SU birthday sentiment and Itty Bitty Backgrounds (splatters)  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, pre-cut green textured card (old Hero Arts), light green and olive green scraps for "happy"  Ink:  Ranger Archival Pale Ochre, SU Close to Cocoa, Palette Landscape (green sentiment)  Coloring:  Tombow markers with homemade blender solution  Other:  Penny Black Happy Edger die

Double D Challenge: Fall Plaids

Hi, there!   Double D Diane is asking to see our fall plaids, and just look at all the beautiful warm colors and patterns in the inspiration board:

Most of my plaid papers appears to be for Christmas or spring and summer, but I found a piece in a Christmas pad and used just a smidgen to set off my brand new-old Heartfelt Creations Rustic Sunflower Bucket stamp with coordinating dies.  When I heard Heartfelt was closing up shop I made a point of picking up a few sets with dies.  The sentiment I used is from another older Heartfelt set.

I stamped everything from the two sunflower sets I bought onto watercolor paper in Ranger Archival Pale Ochre so I could do no-line coloring with Tombows and blender.  It worked out okay, but it does take longer, and I have a lot more no-line sunflower coloring yet to do.

The sentiment and some of the color in the sunflowers picks up the skinny line of burgundy in the plaid.  Get ready for this... the ink pad is 20 year old SU Baroque Burgundy.  I don't even have a reinker for that one.  It's still the original ink in the pad.

The Double D's have a pretty plaid paper pad (say 3 times fast) for a random winner.  Creative winners are by team vote.  You all inspire us!

Pop over to Double D and feast your eyes on the team's fabulous fall plaid samples.  I can't believe I'm saying that word -- fall.  I love the season, but at the moment I don't feel ready to say goodbye to summer.

Sending sunny wishes to all!

Stamps:  Heartfelt Creations Rustic Sunflower Bucket with matching dies, Delicate Aster Vase sentiment  Paper:  Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Cougar vanilla, pre-cut linen texture card base - unknown source, Memory Box Christmas Plaid designer paper  Ink:  Ranger Archival Pale Ochre, Stampin' Up Baroque Burgundy (very old)  Coloring:  Tombow markers and homemade blender solution  Other:  Honey Bee Autumn Afternoon gem stickers, corner rounder, dimensional foam tape, Spellbinders Classic Ovals and A2 Curved Borders One

Peace and Joy

Hello friends!  I've been a tad busy since my last post -- working in the yard and garden, plus making a set of cards for a friend (not sure I'll post them) -- but I also made two Christmas cards because you know how time flies and I'm not even close to having my cards done.

Today's cards represent two of the Cottage Cutz sets I picked up in their Christmas in July sale.  New to me, but not new to Cottage Cutz.  I had a little help from Memory Box and Poppystamps for the snowflake corner and the landscape.  Some gorgeous Mintay Bokeh Backgrounds paper made the wintry sky.

The silver glitter sentiment and snowflakes on the first card are a Cottage Cutz set simply called Peace on Earth.  The snowman comes with the set I used on the next card, below.  Just imagine replacing the wreath with the snowman.  Cute!  It's called Joyful Snowman.  I really need to make another.  Love all that Christmas red and the strip of holly paper.  The white card base is shimmery and I added red Stickles glitter glue to the berries.  The holly corner is an old Cheery Lynn die.

That's probably enough fun for one day!

I'm hurrying to play along in the Peace On Earth challenge which I had in mind when I made the first card.  I don't have a barn, but I do have a snowy scene.

My Cottage Cutz dies are fresh out of the package, so I'm also heading over to Darnell's NBUS Challenge #53.

 

I enjoyed our visit today.  Thanks for stopping by!

Paper:  Shimmer white (2nd card), Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, silver glitter cardstock, Mintay Basic Book II Backgrounds - Bokeh, scrap Christmas paper  Coloring:  Copics  Dies:  Cottage Cutz Peace on Earth and Joyful Snowman, Memory Box Frostyville Corner, Poppystamps Stitched Landscapes, Cheery Lynn Holly Corner  Other:  Stickles Stardust and Xmas Red glitter glue

A Spooky Night in Lavinia Land

Hi, friends!  For today's crafty offering I had another go with my Lavinia stamps, thanks to inspiration from the Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge.  I saw the board and figured I could possibly do something similar.  I need the practice and I do love a silhouette scene.

Lots of ink blending and repeat stamping and masking for the rolling hills.  I tend to lay on the ink rather heavily.  Hooray for reinkers.  All the inks (except the black) are Stampin' Up.  I have so many SU inks from the old days, still going strong.  The bats are vintage Stampin' Up, and the sentiment is nearly as vintage Whipper Snapper.

When I sat down to type today I saw that The Sisterhood of Crafters has a new challenge up with the theme "Make a Scene" so I'll be sending my card over there, too.

And since the never-before-used baskets are bottomless, I'll also share at Darnell's NBUS Challenge #53.  In this case it's the Lavinia Large Owl that's representing.

 

Thanks for your time today, and happy crafting to you! 

Stamps:  Lavinia Large Owl, Tree Branch, Willow, Skeleton Tree Scene, SU Halloween Backgrounds (2004), Whipper Snapper Spooky Expressions  Paper:  X-Press It Blending Card, black card base  Ink:  Various Stampin' Up plus Distress Black Soot

Campin' Out

 

I couldn't help myself.  When I saw the board for the Four Seasons August challenge I knew I had to pull out some of the Cottage Cutz dies I bought during the Christmas in July sale at The Scrapping Cottage.  I'm pretty sure you'll see which corner of the board inspired me.

Campin out Bear on Log, and Campin Out Mountains and Trees.  They're older dies but new to me and I had the best time playing with them and remembering camping in the mountains.  Maybe I'll get back to camping next summer.

As always I used additional dies from here and there to support the scene.  Lots of ink blending for color.  Speckles courtesy of retired SU Itty Bitty Backgrounds.  I don't know how or why they're just the thing to finish a card, but that's the way it works for me.

What a way to start the day -- sitting on a log with a mug of coffee, watching the sun come up over the mountains.

I have multiple photos which I hope you don't mind.  Personally, I think "the more the merrier".  In this case I kept trying to capture the Wink of Stella shimmer on the lake and the sentiment.

I'll be sending this card to a guy friend for his birthday and I think he'll love it.

There's more information in the recipe below my signature.

Linking up:

The Four Seasons Challenge August -- Anything goes summer, with an inspiration board provided if desired.
NBUS Challenge #53 -- Of course, I have to link up here with my never before used Cottage Cutz Campin Out dies.

Thank you all for stopping by.  Have a nice day!

Stamps:  SU Itty Bitty Backgrounds  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, dark brown card base  Ink:  Various Stampin' Up  Coloring:  Inks blended with brushes and sponges, occasional Copic for small spots, white acrylic paint for eye glints, Wink of Stella for shimmer on lake and sentiment  Dies:  Cottage Cutz Campin' Out Bear on Log, Campin Out Mountains & Trees, and Fall Vine, Impression Obsession Have a Nice Day and Tree Landscape Layers (trees removed), Spellbinders A2 Curved Borders One  Other:  2 mm red pearl for 'i' dot.