Saturday, January 20, 2018

Have a Pawfect Day with Gunner info!




Hello, Friends!

Happy New Year!  I realize we're actually more than halfway through January, but this is my first post of 2018.  So, I'm going to wish you all a 
Happy New Year even though it's not that new anymore.  

As you probably guessed from my absence, I have been having a lot of problems with my back.  There is nothing that can be done right now to help.  I just have to live with the pain in my lower back and down my legs.  When my back hurts so much, stamping and card making are out of the question.  As a result, I missed getting to make, share and send Christmas cards this year.  That was a huge disappointment because I look forward to making and sending Christmas cards a lot!  Luckily for me, there are Christmas Card Challenges that go all year long so I can still get those stamp sets inky!

This past week, my back finally started to feel a little bit better.  While I was trying to catch up on email, I saw that Kathy Rascoosin was starting her 30 Day Coloring Challenge again on January 15th.  I try to participate in it every single time she does it.  I usually make it a few days and them I'm out because of my back.  I'm not a quitter, though, so I decided, once again, I'd give it a try!  I am able to tolerate sitting in my "spot" on the couch and coloring images with my Copics pretty well.  I've been able to color 7 different images that I wanted to put to use, including the one above since January 15!

The first card of the new year that goes on my blog is always special to me.  I like it to have an extra special meaning.  It didn't take much thought at all to decide this year's card should feature Gunner James!  

Gunner is a sweetheart.  We've almost had him for four months.  He is my shadow!  He rarely leaves my side.  Gunner is definitely my dog, much to the dismay of both of my parents who would like to be able to pet him and hold him like I can!  Gunner isn't willing to do this yet, but he's better with them than when he first got here, so we are making progress!

No matter where I am, I can guarantee you Gunner will be very close by.  Even if I have to stay in bed most of the day, Gunner stays right with me.  He knows when I am really hurting and snuggles up right beside me to comfort me.  I'd prefer he'd go downstairs than stay in bed all day, but he will not.  The one time my Dad took him downstairs, as soon as his feet hit the floor, he ran right back upstairs to me.  

Just like the dog in the stamp, Gunner loves to be held and he loves to give kisses.  I am more than willing to hold him as much as he wants considering all he is willing to do for me.  My favorite part of the day is when he takes an after dinner nap in my arms with his little head on my chest right near my heart.  It is the sweetest thing!  Since Gunner wants to be held several times a night, this makes it more difficult to color stamped images!  However, I am not complaining!  When you have a chance to hold a puppy, you should always hold the puppy!

With all of this in mind, it was easy to pick this image from the My Favorite Things Birdie Brown stamp set, New Best Friend, to use for my first card of the year.  One of my goals this year is to add finished cards to my stash that I have on hand so I have a variety to choose from when I need one.  That's why I picked this "pawfect birthday" sentiment.  I chose my colors for the girl's clothing from the patterned paper which came from Echo Park's Fashionista 6" x 6" paper pad.  Of course, the dog is colored to look similar to Gunner.

  

My design came from Freshly Made Sketches 320th sketch.  The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge this week is to Add a Sentiment.  I tried putting my sentiment across the bottom of my frame like it shows in the sketch, but it didn't look good at all.  So, I decided to stamp it on the black cardstock and emboss it in white inside the frame instead.   

The Pink Pirouette cardstock base by Stampin' Up looked a little plain next to the framed image.  I cut another piece of the same card stock 1/4" smaller than the base on all four sides.  Then I used my Lil' Inkers Quilted Stitched Pattern Die to cut the little stitching lines into my card stock.  This gave it a very subtle pattern that didn't overwhelm the focal point of the card.  After I adhered everything together, my card was complete.  

I was able to honor my Gunner Boy in my first post of the year and add a birthday card to my stash!  

What I learned from making the card is that my back is a lot better at sitting on the couch coloring than it is at sitting at the table putting the pieces of a card together.  As a result, be prepared to see a lot of very clean and simple cards with nice coloring on my blog in the near future!  That's better than no cards and no coloring, though, so I will be happy with that accomplishment!



I am also entering my card in the "Just Add Something New" Just Add Ink Challenge.  The Birdie Brown New Best Friends stamp set and matching dies, Quilted Stitched Pattern Die and the Our Family Frame die I used were all brand new before this card! 

I pray your New Year is off to a great start!

Happy Stamping!


I used the following products to make this card:

Birdie Brown New Best Friend Stamp Set by My Favorite Things
Birdie Brown New Best Friend Die-namics by My Favorite Things
Our Family Frame Die by Altenew
Quilted Stitched Pattern Die by Lil' Inkers
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko
Copic Markers
VersaMark Ink Pad by Tsukineko
Pink Pirouette and Basic Black Card Stock by Stampin' Up
80 lb. Solar White Card Stock by Neenah
Fashionista 6" x 6" Paper Pad by Echo Park
Opaque Bright White Super Fine Embossing Powder by Wow!
MISTI by My Sweet Petunia
Heat Tool




8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wonderful card! See, now you have a birthday card for my birthday in March. Just kidding! Your coloring is so wonderful - I love it. The pink background is perfect being embossed like that - a nice backdrop for the flowers etc. I really like the black and then the white sentiment - it really stands out! Such a cute card, love it. You did well and made me smile!

Chris R. from Iowa

Darnell said...

What a perfectly colored image for conveying Gunner and his love of being held and giving kisses! Fantastic card! I'm sorry to hear about your back, Angela, but so, so happy that you have Gunner and coloring to take your mind off it!! Hugs, Darnell

Anonymous said...

Oh this is so sweet and matches your own pic so perfectly. The quilted back ground is lovely. Chantell Just Add Ink

Nikki Spencer said...

Such a sweet image Angela! I love a tilted panel and the quilted effect in the background is gorgeous. Lovely card and fabulous colouring too!
Hope you get some relief from your back and Thanks for sharing at just Add Ink.

Teresa Kline said...

hello angela! super fun card, luv the colors and embossing...very cute! I am so glad you played along with us at simon says stamp wednesday challenge!

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Tina said...

Aww, what a sweet way to honour your dog. Such a lovely card, and beautifully coloured. Thanks for sharing with us at Just Add Ink.

ColourmehappyDi said...

Oh my, so adorable, Angela. Love your colour choices & the layout is really fun. Hope your back feels much better soon.
Thanks again for playing along with us at Just Add Ink this week.
Di

Rachael Lewsley said...

Such an adorable, sweet card. I love all floral touches and the oh-so-cute image you chose. Thanks for sharing with us at Just Add Ink x

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