Paige aka Cow Doggie

Whoa!!!  I almost forgot I had to get this layout posted so I could enter it in Imaginisce's Monthly Challenge for July!  I've had this layout done for a week!

Pictured is my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Paige with my best friend and husband Larry.  We use the mule to check on the cattle and Paige is my constant companion when I'm out and about on the ranch.  This day Larry and I would be checking on the cattle and you can just see her head poking over the top watching Mommy take the picture.  She seems to be saying, 'Hurry Mommy!  Time to be Cow Doggie!'

The 4x6 cut-out's on the B side of Doggie Mail Paper was perfect to use to display the photo of Larry and Paige.  The dotted frame to be a journaling spot begged to be stitched in outline stitch to form the frame.  Some Washi Tape from the Love You More Collection to make it all look like it was just taped to the page.   I just couldn't resist using the Imaginisce stamps from the Good Dog line And their Love stamp from a couple of years ago   The Dog House was painted using Zig Brushables to create my water colors.  I couldn't resist using pink and green for Paige. For the collar and the word "Love" I took some mixed media paper and sprayed it with Tattered Angels Candy Apple Red Glimmer Mist.  Once dried I stamped the images and cut them out.  The red matches but the glimmer has a tendency to turn color on me when I photograph the layout.   For this month Imaginisce had only the sketch with no other added rules other then you had to use Imaginise product.  I love this sketch!

To make this even better challenge I incorporated the Pet Challenge at A Cherry on Top.  I had to use a quote and chose the first Stanza of Elvis Presley's song 'A Dog's Life' in my journaling.

Great fun with this layout, thank you Imaginisce!!!  Love your monthly sketch and challenge!  And thank you to Sher who hosts the Pet Challenge each month!

Intelligent

What fun this week's sketch is over at Nuts About Sketches!  It's week #264 with an excellent sketch!

I rotated the sketch and kept the elements using mostly Studio Calico to once again do a layout with Zuby as the focus.  I am also wondering, 'Is vellum coming back in?'  I hope so.  The Studio Calico paper and vellum along with the Simple Stories Burlap paper came in my January Paper Bakery Scrapbooking Kit.  I used the vellum for the circle element in my layout.  Everything else came out of my stash.  Fun sketch....oh yeah, I already wrote that!

My daughter took this photo Summer '09.  I probably have written about how intelligent Zuby is. One of the first things I remember learning about horses is to look at their eyes.  They will always without fail tell you exactly how the horse is feeling at that moment.  You quickly get an idea of his intelligence and character.  I can tell from the base of his ear that they are pricked forward and he's wondering why with interest what Lynn is doing.  At the same time it didn't take him long to become bored with the black box going 'click.'  Having him born in my arms I can immediately read what his mood is and what is interesting him at the time.  And how quickly he will find it either boring or continue his interest.  Lynn took some other photos this day which I will scrap soon. They show it didn't take him long to find much more interesting things to occupy that constantly moving mind of his.

I hope you enjoy this week's sketch and will take a peek at the amazing work the design team came up with!

Until next time!

Ibn Zubaydahh

I want everyone to give a great big wave to Department of Homeland Security for doing their job!!!  It's just little ole me again with my Arabian Horses.  This time it's Zuby, with his registered name Ibn Zubaydahh and as you scroll through my blog you'll find his sire is Tammen and his dam is Zubaydahh.  And he has an older full brother Abcar Ibn Tammen aka AC.  By the way DHS investigator we appreciate you keeping us safe and please

I had an absolutely wonderful time using this sketch from Nuts About Sketches #258!  

Zuby is pictured here in May of 1993 as a young colt.  He's showing off a little and having some fun.

Now at the age of 21 he still plays in the pasture with his friend Bogart when he's feeling really good.  He has lived a year with thyroid cancer and shows no sign of  an additional slow down since being diagnosed a year ago. Everyday I treasure each and every interaction I have with this grand old gentleman.  I noticed this weekend Zuby has self braid his mane in to one horrible mess that only a pair of scissors will fix.  How he does that in a single day is beyond me!  He constantly reminds our now four year old Bogart that with age comes wisdom.  And I have seen in the last year Bogart has learned a huge amount from Zuby on how to live life as well as still defer to his best friend as herd leader although it is only the two of them.

Now you might be wondering why I'm writing about DHS.  I suppose with the recent happenings in Boston they will once again come looking at me.  Zubaydahh was born in the early 1980's given her name by her breeder Tom McNair a respected trainer/breeder in the Arabian Breed.  When I posted the layout in 2010 I happened a little under a week later on looked at the tracking of entries into our ranch website via our web server.  I wasn't surprised I was investigated I just didn't think I would know.  Not my fault my mother's beloved mare would share a name with a terrorist who would be killed by our country or that she would name Zu's last foal after his mother 21 years ago.  The difference is in the spelling of the name Zu had two "h's" where the evil one had one "h". They will find little ole me with Arabian horses, Lowline Cattle, an avid scrapper, and a huge love for my country and it's deep history I so dearly love to continue to learn.  I am a constant reader as it relates to my family lineage all the way back to the Pilgrims on my side of the family and on Larry's side the tidewater of North Carolina and how his family arrived in Texas before Stephan F. Austin.  They will also find out how much I love my state and it's rich history as the only state to have once been a nation.  One of my favorite sites is Texas Courthouses.  We have the most amazing collection of courthouses in the state.  I've started on my journey to photograph all 254 courthouses as well as scrap those photos.  It's a bucket list thing for me. They have written in the past it's a 200,000 mile journey on the Texas Courthouse website.  I am so excited at the prospect to see every one and read of the history of each county on the historical markers that can be found at each courthouse.  And if you wonder here's a layout of the Leon County Courthouse with more to come.

So wave to DHS on your way out and know they are really trying to keep us safe.  Have a great day Mr. or  Ms DHS investigator!

And a big whoop with two posts in two days!  

My Addiction to Shopping for Paper Crafting Supplies

A little shopping, a little playing with Inkadinkadoo's new hot toy, "Stamping Gear."  It will be a fun toy.  In the midst of seeing how this new toy works comes realization I have "no", yes no birthday papers!  Whew....I'm glad I made the realization as I have a layout out to do for the October Heritage Challenge I host over ACOT's forum!

So what did a little shopping mean!  Well way to much out flow of dollars.  A little OA Cakewlk, some stencils or masks, some more Prima embellishisments, Tattered Angels Chalkboard in the color of Chalk (white), and two KaiserCraft Wood Flourishes.  I love love this color, I had the good fortune to play with it when I took Stayce DeWid's class last month.  Then HSN beckoned me with an all day crafting!  Purchased three Martha Stewart Punches and some Am. Crafts POW Glitter Paper.  And yes, I amazingly had, some great restraint.  HSN also presented the "Stamping Gear" and so nice to see some little tidbits of info which made my playing with mine a little easier!  I'm going to have a great time with this gadget!  I'm hooked!

I did a happy dance over some much needed rain at the ranch.  Just before dark we had 1.6 inches in the gauge according to James.  And more to come.  At home in Houston area no rain since 3am yesterday, but it's coming this weekend.  Perfect timing as Larry and Lynn wanted to start fall working of cattle this weekend and moved it to next weekend because I wanted to go to a weekend crop!  So come rain because it's a great excuse to stay inside and scrap instead of hearing grumbling from the family they can not be outside this weekend dove hunting.

I haven't shared my total uncontrollable self at the complete lack of self-restraint when Carta Bella's debut line hit the market.  As soon as it arrived from ACOT I was scrapping with it!  Talk about being smitten about no other line like I was with this one!  And this is my creation.  I'm having that urge again to use it and will on something this weekend!  And as I sit writing I think I'll do the birthday photos with Beautiful Moments instead of OA Cakewalk!!!  Running off to change basket before I hit the send button on payment!  I'm so not fond of most theme papers!

Enjoy my first layout using Beautiful Moments from Carta Bella highlighting Papa Red and Dee-Dee.

Have a wonderful weekend and see ya'll next week!