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!

Hip! Hip! Hooray! (2)

...these mags are on their way,
Not tomorrow or today,
But on a happy otherday
To two gals far away

Let's give a shout Hooray!

Congratulations Amanda Teel and Kerry A! The Random Integer Generator has chosen you as the winners of the World Card Making Day give-away! These will go in the mail as soon as you send me your addresses!

Thanks to everyone who played! It has been simply moxie fab hearing from so many of you during this week of paper crafting love! Stop by again any ol' time!

What was I up to today? Check here, here, here, here, and here.

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!

Progress

I awoke this AM excited for World Card Making Day, but had some things to take care of before I could begin creating cards.

Am happy to report that progress is being made.

Craft table:

 

Book case with room for paper trimmer:

 

Candle scent--baked apple:

 

Music: Debussy's Images

In the meantime, my husband has been busy making arrangements to travel to Florida to attend the funeral of his aunt who died yesterday afternoon. I'm feeling a little torn between my excitement to create cards and the sadness of this occasion, when it occurs to me that it now becomes the perfect opportunity to make cards for Uncle Walter who has lost his wife and for my mother-in-law who has lost her sister.

The holiday itself has been reinforced by its own very nature.  And though my day has turned to more sombre thoughts, it has been underlined with the poignant reminder that card making is, indeed, a craft that gives from the heart.

I'll be back soon with photos of cards!

Happy

...World Card Making Day!

It's finally here! As an editor who has participated in the planning of this event (more on the sidelines than anything else), I can't say enough about how exciting it is that this day has arrived!

There's A LOT that goes into the coordination of an international holiday such as this one, not the least of which is getting the word out to the paper crafting community to celebrate it.

So, I hope the word has reached YOU and that you are taking some time today to celebrate the gift of giving a handmade card.

I simply can't wait to get started. In fact, I woke up at my usual time this morning without the help of my alarm, 6:08. The first thought that popped into my head was, "It's here! Today's the day I get to immerse myself into card making again!"

And I haven't slept a wink since.

When I came downstairs to put the coffee on, I discovered that it's a rainy day here, perfect for hunkering down, lighting a fragrant candle, putting on some tunes, and playing with product.

   

But first, the coffee must be drunk:

 

And second, the craft room must be straightened:

   

I'm going to hold myself to a general clearing-off-of-the-surfaces, because if I clean this room the way I should, there will be no energy left for cardmaking.

Check back with me as the day progresses. I'll post a play-by-play, or a card-by-card, if you will, with the winners of the prizes being announced when I'm completely exhausted from the card making splendor of the day.

Happy card making everyone!

Let Us Gather Together

...to celebrate World Card Making Day on Saturday, October 4!

I don't know about you, but I get the card making bug big time this time of year. And I'll let you in on a little secret. Since taking the job as creative editor at Paper Crafts magazine nearly 3 1/2 years ago, I haven't made a whole lot of handmade cards. Isn't that just the saddest thing? If you didn't know, I used to have a little handmade card business called Cards by Cath--and that's how I was "discovered" by Jennafer Martin and Stacy Croninger lo these many years ago. I answered a local call for resumes for the job and the rest, they say, is history.

But being responsible for the content of the magazine means that I use up an awful lot of creative energy in any given day, and I find that I just don't have a lot left at the end of said day--for cards that is. And oh how I miss it!  The joy of putting together colors that work and a design that wows all for someone you care about a lot. It's a very satisfying feeling.

That's the heart behind World Card Making Day in a nutshell. It's a day set aside for card makers all over the world to celebrate the gift of giving a handmade card. 

Which is why, this Saturday, I'm planning on dusting off the trimmer, inking up the stamps, and whipping up some cards. Wouldn't you just love to join me?

Get in on the action by visiting the World Card Making Day website for all kinds of ideas on how to celebrate including

• Creating your own handmade cards from the dozens of sponsored ideas in the Inspiration Avenue section
• Sharing your unique designs with the world in the Creation Corner Gallery

• Finding and visiting an Official World Card Making Day Retailer for classes and activities that will help you connect with fellow card makers

• Planning your own fun activities with friends and family with ideas from the Celebrate section

I'm so excited about this that I'm prepared to give two lucky commenters a copy of this moxie fab special issue from Paper Crafts magazine:
 

 

Let me know what you love about making handmade cards, what you love about receiving handmade cards, or how you're planning on spending World Card Making Day (even if it's not making cards!) by no later than midnight MST on Friday, October 3, and I'll announce the winners AND post the cards I made on World Card Making Day on the Big Day itself!

Happy card making! I simply can't wait!