Cath, etc.

Happy World Card Making Day

Happy World Card Making Day, friends! I'm so glad you stopped by to say "hello!"

I'm whipping up some of these babies today. My "I Thee Wed" card is a top-seller from my old Cards by Cath days, and I'm running out. But I love it so much, I've got to have  a stash waiting in the wings, knowwhaddamean?

To thank you for paying me a visit, I'd love to send one random winner 6 of my Cards by Cath creations. Just leave me a comment by Sunday, October 4 at midnight MDT!

What do I love most about World Card Making Day? The knowledge that I am creating cards with the rest of the paper crafting world at the same time. I feel connected to all y'all in a special way, and I hope you feel the same way, too.

Even if you aren't making cards today, I hope you are doing something that you love, because that's what makes the world a brighter place.

Enjoy your day!

~Cath

PS Stop by Paper Crafts Connection today for a chance to win a killer prize package! You won't want to miss this opportunity, I promise!

A Time to Remember

I'm back from 6 parties in 5 days, 3 of which I hosted at my home. It all began last Wednesday in which my Classics Book Club gathered for a fine meal and a discussion of what books we'd like to read next year.  More to come.

Thursday was the Paper Crafts team party hosted by our editor-in-chief, Jennifer Schaerer, in the midst of which I was presented my birthday cake...

...handmade by the multi-talented Stace. Paper Crafts goes all out for birthdays. My theme this year: the Moxie Fab World and becoming green.

On Friday, I went to work and discovered this sign hanging above my cube:

  

...once again, prepared by the multi-faceted Stace. I was presented with a gift card to REI on the way to our company holiday party with which I plan to purchase some Yaktrax so I can hike this winter.

That evening, we attended a super fun party hosted by our friends Jill and Randy. I'm sad to say that we were so busy having a ton of fun that I have no pictures whatsoever.

Saturday was my birthday (not Friday as my birthday blog post would have indicated. Since when does 12:00 AM 12/20/2008 become a December 19 post?) Nicole, Beccah, and Mark pulled out all the stops to throw me the best party evah! (Thanks, guys!) Whilst they were making preparations, my mom took me to lunch and we went shopping. I don't have a ton of photos, but here are some of the highlights of the party:

The luminaries on the sidewalk leading up to the house.

Beccah and Barty

Jennifer, Nicole, and Jennifer

Jennafer, Stace-the-talented, and Susan

Jennifer & Nick

Vince & Charsti

One of the many highlights of the evening--the surprise 6th annual visit of the Tuba Carolers, friends of Nicole's from high school who play Christmas carols on our front porch, the surest way for anyone to be dipped, no dunked, directly into the Christmas Spirit.

 Staci, Nan, Yours Truly, and Charsti--Seriously good times

On Sunday we hosted 28 for the 6th annual Crazy Cousins Christmas Caroling Convention in which we were surrounded by love, warmth, and beautiful music. The highlight of that evening was the moment in which I invited the little girl cousins, the big girl cousins, and the aunts upstairs to raid the Cards by Cath stash. Some left with 3 bags of cards overflowing!

This morning when Mark received an invitation to a work cocktail party for this evening, I respectfully declined. He is there now, and I am home with you. For I have had the time of my life in these last few days. There's nothing like celebrating the good friends in our workplaces, the everlasting pals from our pasts, and the kinship that lies in those to whom we are born. I am writing this wrapped in a glow that will last at least until the next time we meet.

May your holidays be filled with the love and peace of good friends, close family, and the laughter and warmth that fills each day with joy.

For these are the times to remember. And I will, gratefully, remember them well.

A Card Set for WCMD

Hey friends! Thanks for stopping by (again) to see what's happening here at Cath, etc. for World Card Making Day.

I've created my last cards for the day, and I tell you, this has been sooooo good for me. I got to play with some product that I've always wanted to use, I did a tad bit of stamping (need to do more of that next time), and I got to get back into my old favie, dry embossing. I know that dry embossing isn't the most popular technique out there--I know this mostly because we hardly get any submissions for the magazine that utilize dry embossing, but when I had my card business, Cards by Cath, I used dry embossing more than anything else. Creating these cards felt like visiting with an old friend.

I used a template from Lasting Impressions for Paper that I've wanted to use for literally a couple of years and I had so much fun with it and the Moda Bella paper from American Crafts, that I just had to make a set of four.

Each little note card is just 3 x 4 inches. Little bitty guys perfect for gift cards or little how-ya-doin's:

Bitty guy #1:

 

Bitty guy #2:

Bitty guy #3:

 

Bitty guy #4:

 

The whole bitty guy set:

   

I'm gallerified with these as well.

All totaled, I made 6 cards today.

I got reaquainted with my paper crafting space, my supplies, and my creativity, and I have 6 cute cards to give to people I love. More than that, though, I loved knowing that there were thousands and thousands of people all over the world enjoying this hobby together, and you never know, perhaps with all that happiness, the world just might be spinning a little more sweetly today than it was yesterday.

And no worries, I haven't forgotten the drawing. I'm going to go clean up my space (again) and be right back with the results.

Thanks again for tuning in.

WCMD Card #2

Still having fun on World Card Making Day. Are you?

My daughter, Nicole, always says this to me when she says "hello." So this one's for her.

 

I usually complete the insides of my cards as well, could be from all those years creating cards to sell. To me, the inside is as important as the outside, because that's where your heart will pour out.

 

I've uploaded this to the gallery as well.

See with another card soon!

WCMD Card #1

Wow! I am stoked! What fun I am having today!

I haven't made a card in so long that I had to take some time to even figure out what I've got. It helped having an occasion to shoot for, and once I got my bearings again, it all came together rather nicely, if I do say so myself.

I'm also happy to report that my worst fears were NOT realized--my stamp pads have not all completely dried out.  Good to know.

Another first for me: I posted my card to a gallery, the World Card Making Gallery, that is. I've never done that before, and I must say, it was pretty fun!

Have you uploaded your creations to the gallery yet? Please do, because I'd love to see them. Leave me a comment with the link and I'll be sure and check them out.

So, here it is, my first card in a really long time, made with love for Barbara.

 

Thanks to my dear friend Susan Opel for the bling.  I never would have added that until I met her.

And guess what--I now completely understand why it's so hard to get the colors right in the photo for submissions. I had to take about 6 different ones in different locations of my home to get the color right, and it's still quite a bit off. But you get the gist, I'm hoping anyway.

On to the next! Hope you're having as much fun today as I am!