Getting ready for the Gardner Sidewalk Days fair

Here are several other cards I worked on for the fair this coming weekend.  Each is a one-of-a-kind right now because I only made one each.  The first ones are twist-up cards, fun gifts to give.

The first card shows Chuckie again, but with a Joy Crafts die as background.  And I used all brambles only.














The second card shows two of the many bunnies that arrived so far.  Bunnies are tricky animals to raise, and mortality rate is high.

Here is Tubby, my logo squirrel.  His story is on my blog in last year's March and April section.














Here is Blackie, my first ever black squirrel girl.  She was released about a week ago together with seven other nest mates.  She is doing well, they all hang around and continue to get fed as long as they need it.














A pink design, here are two squirrel babies of different ages snuggled together.
















 And here is Ginnie, my overwintering opossum girl.  She was also released a few weeks ago.  She was a sweetheart, not an aggressive bone in her body.

And here you see a pile of squirrels sound asleep.  It doesn't matter how big their space is, they like to pile on top of one another.













I also made a bunch of Christmas cards, 29 in all.  I used burlap as background and cut out the ornaments, which are Tim Holtz, with chipboard first, then cut out the front and embossed it before adhering it to the chipboard.  The sentiments are Cheery Lynn and Marianne designs.  I needed to cut them out, a stamp would not have looked good on such rustic cards.

I uploaded three cards to show that each one will be a little different from the others. The inside has a sentiment stamped on green card stock and a snow flake attached to it.  

And then, while I was waiting for the final feeding late at night, I kept myself busy with making flower balls.  

Everything you see here is available for purchase.  Please ask for pricing.  I won't upload onto Etsy until AFTER the fair.  

I hope to read your feedback soon!

A card for a Marianne blog challenge

One of our design team members is always on the lookout for fun blog challenges.  Most times I am too busy with my critters, way too often working 16 hour days, but this one just sounded like too much fun. 

So here is my card, a twist-up design.  It is my understanding that it had to be hexacon, there were no other restrictions.  This is Chuckie, the little woodchuck that arrived more dead than alive in mid June, happily munching away on a piece of water melon.  I took that picture a few weeks ago, she is much bigger now and almost ready to be released together with her sister.  I will miss her, she is such a hoot while she is still a youngster.  Her sister is much more reserved and will be a great asset for her once I release them.

The bottom is a Spellbinders embossing folder and I painted the larger daisies for added effect, the daisies are handmade by me, the daisy leaves are a Martha Stewart punch, the sentiment is cut out with a Spellbinders die, and I affixed it with eyelets.  The top background is a Marianne LR-0242, one of the most versatile dies in my collection.  I framed the picture with Memory Box Grapevine wreath 98191 and Bramble circle 98450.

I don't like to overload cards that feature wildlife in my care, I let the picture do the talking.  This is a lucky shot, one of my favorite pictures for a long time to come.

Will they like it?  I hope so, I'd love to add a badge to my blog!  But in the meantime, do YOU like it?  Feedback, please!

Challenges:
Marianne Design Challenge- Hexagon shape

Double embossed Cards and Pinwheels...

Hi everybody!

My apologies for having been so quiet.  Wildlife rehab season is starting to take its toll on me.  Over 50 animals have arrived thus far, and it has been an interesting summer in terms of rescue missions.

But that is for another blog entry, I know most of you want to know what I have been CRAFTING. 

I went to a small fair in early July in hopes to raise some funds for my wildlife rehabilitation expenses, but we got rained out.  So there were hardly any people around.  But I had made some cards and other items, which I will put out again this coming weekend here in Gardner when the "biggie" is held, the two-day Gardner Sidewalk Sales event.  It will be a first for me, I have never even thought to participate because usually my first neonate baby squirrels are here already.  This year I am passing them on to a friend because my rehab room is still full and hope to not get any prior to this weekend...   

The above three cards were made using a technique called double embossing.  It requires separate embossing folders and matting.  I didn't invent the technique, I merely designed the cards.  These can be used for just about anything, they have a fresh, airy feel about them. 



When I decided upon making pinwheels to have something for kids as well, I was looking for containers to put them in.  These owls were on sale at Michaels at 60% off.  Perfect for my table!  Don't you just love those eyes?  They crack me up every time I look at them.

It took quite a while to make all those pinwheels.  But it was also fun. 

As always, I welcome your comments!