Fluttering by, with a Blog Award announcement

Sincere thanks to TISHA at Tisha's Craft Cove, for awarding me this "Butterfly Award ... for the Coolest Blog I've Ever Known."

I haven't acknowledged one of these awards for a time, but I've been quiet on my blog ... getting ready for a Hop this weekend, and coming up too.  So I promise I'll have some more of my craftiness coming your way soon.  In the meantime, here's some dull stuff about me (a requirement of accepting the award):

1. Name your favorite color:  Turquoise (for today)
2. Name your favorite song: Wow, this depends on my mood. "Sunny Side of the Street" (for today)
3. Name your favorite dessert: Is "All of them!" an option?  (oink-oink!)  OK, Creme Brulee
4. What wizzes you off at the moment:  Rudeness
5. Your favorite pet:  My Bichon Sadie (sorry Morgan!) 
6. Black or white: White goes with everything  
7. Your biggest fear: Losing loved ones  
8. Best feature: Spunk  
9. Everyday attitude: There's something good in everyone!  
10. What is perfection: Deep, soulful laughter
11. Guilty pleasure: Junque, mindless television   
12. When I'm upset, I ... cry. Ugh, I hate this!

Now for the hard part, picking 10 blogs I enjoy, in no particular order:

1. Beckie @ http://justbcreativecrazy.blogspot.com
2. Jeannie @ http://polkacabana.wordpress.com
3. Diane @ http://capadiadesign.com
4. Shawn @ http://craftychicsblog.blogspot.com
5. Sharon @ http://inkiefinger.blogspot.com
6. Becca @ http://amazingpapergrace.com
7. The Team @ http://nikkisdoghouse.blogspot.com
8. Robyn @ http://mypinkstamper.com
9. Court @ http://courtscrafts.blogspot.com
10. Silke @ http://silkeshimazu.wordpress.com

Magical Disney Winner - Blog Hop

Join me in congratulating 
BLOG CANDY WINNER

Gloria Westerman

www.gloriawest.blogspot.com

Gloria wins a personally-assembled Disney scrap package for being the randomly-selected winner from my posting on the Disney Pixar Blog Hop!

Gloria, please send an e-mail to me at cardmonkey@comcast.net with your postal address. And thanks for playing along.

           *     *     *     *    *    *


And now a word from our sponsor, CardMonkey (the fine print):   

Please note that in order to be eligible for any of my blog candy, you must leave a comment and you must be a follower of my blog. If I cannot search your list of "Blogs I Follow" for verification, please state in your comment that you receive my posts via e-mail. If that's the case, I will only contact you with a message like this one posted to my blog to let you know you've won ... and then you have 7 days to contact me to claim your prize. (Gloria's a "follower" who's been verified, so this is not an issue here.)  Snooze, you lose.

*ALSO, please note*: I have taken a pledge to engage in NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST, to keep the awarding of my prizes ethically and morally "clean."  That means no members of my family (immediate or distant) or employees/employers can win blog candy from the CardMonkey.  

Prizes can be shipped only within the United States; at the discretion of CardMonkey, winners outside of the United States may be awarded an Amazon.com gift certificate in the amount of $10 USD, in lieu of the prize announced. I apologize, but shipping, customs and fees often exceed the value of the prize I am awarding.  While I typically send prizes with "Delivery Confirmation", please note that I cannot be responsible for prizes that get lost or damaged in the mail.   

Winning the Scrapbookers' Lottery!

OMG, I totally feel like I've won the Scrapbookers' Lottery! 

Today I saw on the blog for Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker papers that the card I made for little Olivia was chosen as the winner of Nikki's HUGE prize!! 

The info about the win is posted here:
http://nikkisdoghouse.blogspot.com/2011/09/happy-fall-yall.html

The info about the prize (oooh-la-la!) is posted here:
http://nikkisdoghouse.blogspot.com/2011/08/i-have-another-huge-favor-to-ask-of-you.html

But most importantly, here is an update on Olivia, posted on her aunt Stacy's blogsite:
http://stacy-scrappinqueen.blogspot.com/2011/09/post-2-olivia-update.html

And here is a picture of Olivia opening her mail (which I see included my card!). Isn't she an absolute cutie!!? 

Olivia's brain tumor was successfully removed in August, and with radiation she is now receiving, the chances of reoccurence have dropped to 20-30%. I pray that they are soon zero, and that this little girl can get back to the business of being a kid again -- including kindergarten!

For those who don't know Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker papers, please hunt them down and add them to your collection. They're a very fun paper, with bright bold patterns and special punch-outs, add-ons, buttons, brads, etc. all that match. My one local scrapbooking store carried it ... but the store closed this summer, for good. :-( 

I buy my NSS paper online now -- wishing I could find it locally! -- and cherish every bit of it I have. My favorite online shops for it are A Cherry On Top and Stop And Scrap.  Both of those have links provided to their NSS papers. (I've noted that ACOT does not currently have the newly released NSS lines ... BOO! ... but that Stop and Scrap has the line at 25% off right now. Sign up for their website and you'll get a coupon on top of it!)

The Disney Pixar Hop Continues Today!

Yesterday, it was my pleasure to participate in the original and most-fantastic Disney Pixar Blog Hop.

New bloggers with fabulous new projects appear on DAY 2 of the Hop -- so be sure to start back at CRAFTY CHICS (Shawn) to enjoy all new Disney Pixar projects!

You can also link to the Disney Pixar Blog Hop by clicking on the "Disney Dreamer" button (top right on my blog). That will take you to Melissa's super-fun Disney projects blog; Melissa is the co-host of this Hop, with Shawn. Shawn is giving away fun blog candy at her blog -- THIS (below) Cricut cartridge!

While I'm not on today's Hop, I'm still leaving up my two projects -- both cards -- that I made for Day 1's Hop.  Here ya go:

For this card, I fussy-cut an image of Ariel from a special Disney paper. Then I photocopied the paper so I could use the copy as a template to cut paper pieces from silver glitter stock for Ariel's fins, waistband and bra.  I colored the glitter stock using my Copic markers in the colors of my choice. The HAPPY BIRTHDAY was cut using my Cricut Elegant Cakes cartridge. After I glued it to the paper surface, I highlighted the text using a wash of Stickles in aqua.  I embellished the card using flowers that I sprayed with my homemade glimmer mist, as well as some Creative Charms sequined flowers. I also dimensionally lifted her arms, hand and hair, using pop-dots under those areas. The "water bubbles" were made using Ranger's "Glossy Accents."  

Here's the inside sentiment -- a quote from Ariel!

 The second is also a card, this one for Christmas:

For this card, I used a Cuttlebug Disney die to cut the silhouette from black paper.  I mounted it on vellum, intentionally curving the zig-zag edges to make it look more "comic."  I then mounted the vellum on Disney dotted specialized paper, then on red, then on green and then on the card.  I cut green mistletoe and a flower (also using the die) and highlighted Minnie's flower by using a Creative Charms flower embellishment.

 Thank you for "following" me here on CardMonkey, and also for commenting.  Those who do are eligible for my personal blog candy.

What is it, you ask?  I'm giving you a specially-assembled (by me!) Disney kit of all sorts of cuts, embellishments and papers!! 

You can also see more of my Disney-related projects by hopping over to this previous CardMonkey blog listing:
http://cardmonkey-business.blogspot.com/2011/03/disney-pixar-blog-hop-magical-journey.html

Thank you for visiting!

Don't forget to follow CardMonkey and comment for a chance to win candy!

Disney Pixar Blog Hop - September 24

It is my pleasure to participate in the original and most-fantastic Disney Pixar Blog Hop.  

This is my third time hopping along with these fine friends. Scroll down, and I will post links to my original projects, which still make me smile.

Without further ado ...

If you've just arrived from the magical blog of Tami, you're on the right path. If you've just stumbled along here, please do go to the start, at my sistah-in-spirit Shawn's site at  http://craftychicsblog.blogspot.com/

I've made two projects, both cards, because that's what I like to do best:

For this card, I fussy-cut an image of Ariel from a special Disney paper. Then I photocopied the paper so I could use the copy as a template to cut paper pieces from silver glitter stock for Ariel's fins, waistband and bra.  I colored the glitter stock using my Copic markers in the colors of my choice. The HAPPY BIRTHDAY was cut using my Cricut Elegant Cakes cartridge. After I glued it to the paper surface, I highlighted the text using a wash of Stickles in aqua.  I embellished the card using flowers that I sprayed with my homemade glimmer mist, as well as some Creative Charms sequined flowers. I also dimensionally lifted her arms, hand and hair, using pop-dots under those areas. The "water bubbles" were made using Ranger's "Glossy Accents."  

Here's the inside sentiment -- a quote from Ariel!

 The second is also a card, this one for Christmas:

For this card, I used a Cuttlebug Disney die to cut the silhouette from black paper.  I mounted it on vellum, intentionally curving the zig-zag edges to make it look more "comic."  I then mounted the vellum on Disney dotted specialized paper, then on red, then on green and then on the card.  I cut green mistletoe and a flower (also using the die) and highlighted Minnie's flower by using a Creative Charms flower embellishment.

 Thank you for "following" me here on CardMonkey, and also for commenting.  Those who do are eligible for my personal blog candy.


What is it, you ask?  I'm giving you a specially-assembled (by me!) Disney kit of all sorts of cuts, embellishments and papers!! 

As promised, here is the link to my previous projects posted for the past two Disney Pixar Blog Hops, in case you want or need more inspiration: http://cardmonkey-business.blogspot.com/2011/03/disney-pixar-blog-hop-magical-journey.html

NOW HOP ON OVER TO YOUR NEXT STOP:

MY BESTIE: MADISON

at www.funkycards.blogspot.com

Thank you for visiting!

Don't forget to follow CardMonkey and comment for a chance to win candy!

Happy New Home, Alex!

Hey, CardMonkey fans ... today it's my turn to be Guest Designer on one of the blogs that I truly enjoy reading -- Alex Conde's "You Had Me At Craft." 

Alex asked for volunteers to take over posting duty while she does the thing that gives me shudders to even think about ...

... she's packing to move. Now an empty nester, she and her hubby Jamie are realizing a dream to move to the beach. OK, I'm jealous about that part, but not about the pack/move part. I did that 5 years ago ... will likely do it again in my lifetime ... but ... 

Alex gave her guest designers the "open door" to do whatever we pleased, and it pleases me to tell you about how much I enjoy Alex.

I happened across one of Alex's UStream video sessions and inserted my Monkeyness on her during the open chat -- that is, a free-ranging instant message session. I learned a lot and had a super-amount of fun, especially making Alex giggle!

So for my guest stint, I decided to make Alex a card, to celebrate her Happy New Home.  Here it is!

To make this card, I used October Afternoon's Modern Homemaker "Suppertime" shaped paper as the base. I embellished the window boxes with leaves and flowers punched with my Punch a Bunch punches.  A free-hand cut the pennants from an assortment of paper scraps, and used Making Memories' tiny alphas "pink ledger" letters to spell out Happy New Home. Baker's twine threaded through the card serves as the pennant strings; I added brads just because it seemed to need them.  The most fun: I added fussy-cut pictures of Alex and her hubby Jamie to the front window. I lifted these off of Facebook and printed to fit. I ♥ making my cards super-personalized, and think this does it. Do you agree?

Here are a couple of close-ups:

Aren't they the CUTEST?!

Banner with letters ... plus the sweet little flowers

Hop on over to Alex's blog at http://www.youhadmeatcraft.com/ and leave some love!

Revisiting my Grandbaby's Baby Shower

Over on one of my favorite blogs ("You Had Me At Craft", by Alex), Alex's guest designer Suzanne is featuring a monkey-themed diaper cake that she made for the baby shower in anticipation of the birth of her third granddaughter.

Now, I'm not as lucky as Suzanne to have THREE granddaughters -- at least, not yet! -- but last year on my blog, I featured all of my monkey-themed decorations for the baby shower held in honor of the then-pending birth of my one-and-only granddaughter, Charlotte!  

So in this post, I'm going to reprise all of the decorations I made, and I'll link it up to Alex's site.  Monkeys are very "in" right now, with many now featured on Cricut cartridges galore. I hope this gives you some cute ideas for either a baby shower or a birthday party!

Top left is the four-tier diaper cake I made for Charlotte, done in theme-colors of chocolate monkey brown, pink, white and green.

I used the Cake Basics cartridge to cut the large "chocolate" paper icing layer on top, as well as the lime green ring that adorns it. The leaves for the palm tree were also cut using that cartridge; instead of using them flat at the vein opening, I curled them and overlapped them to give them dimension.

See the white paper roses at the top? I'd normally cut each of those petals using my flower punches by Punch Bunch. BUT Cake Basics comes with a lot of single leaves itself, so I set the Cricut to "auto fill" for the 1/2" white petal, hit cut and went about the chore of trying to organize my craft loft. When I returned, some 300 petals were cut from a single 12x12" sheet! Boy, did that save time with the flower punch!

In case you're wondering, the middle layer of the "cake" was made using new printed "designer" Pampers. A single pack has the two complementing designs of pale pink and darker pink. There are also boy colors too, though I wonder if "Real Boys" would wear designer diapees?


Here are the cute wrappers I designed to cover Hershey nuggets.  To make them, I used my Adobe Illustrator program but you can use whatever design program you're most comfortable with.  

Your template should be 1" wide x 3" high to fit the Hershey's Nugget chocolate "pillows".  (I like these because there is more space to decorate than a Hershey's kiss, and infinitely more chocolate per bite that way. Hahaha, one for the shower, one for me, one to decorate, one for the tummy....)



Pick your images from any of the free clip-art programs available and use your theme colors. Our colors are pink, brown and accented with green. To create the patterned paper look, simply type O's, or dots, hearts (Alt-3 = ♥) or xoxoxo ... whatever your heart desires.


Do you have a favorite among these ten designs?  Mine is probably the "precious little monkey" shown at the front (top, here), or the front one on the lower picture, "Welcome Baby Cohick!"  
 I used these in the favor boxes as well as on the tables and on the featured "Candy Station".



Then I also made these cute door-prize boxes for the lucky winners of the Monkey Games we played at the shower...

To make this adorable box, I used one sheet of 8.5x11" deep pink cardstock and my Makes the Cut program. I downloaded the FREE Inkscape file for a "No Glue Party Box" found on the wonderful blog at My Cricut Scrapbooking. I used my Cricut Create A Critter to cut the adorable monkey and the branch behind her. I fussy-cut the pink diaper to make her a baby. The baby monkey hangs through a small hole punched on the edge of the box.


Then I hole-punched a ribbon hole (double hole) in the top handle, folded up the box (or bent up without creasing, would be a better way to describe it), decorated with a bow, and embellished with Martha Stewart self-stick pearls.


This week, I also got in some ADORABLE mylar baby monkey balloons and a matching personalized banner that reads: "Let's Go Bananas! Emily and Josh are having a baby!" Too cute! Meanwhile, thank you to the great website of BigDotofHappiness.com for your fab collection of baby girl monkey party goods!!!



Then, onto the centerpieces...

I made palm trees that the Baby Monkeys can climb on.

I started with styrofoam cone bases, 12" high ($4.99 ea x 6). I purchased two fern fronds for each ($1.99 ea x 12) to add to the top.  Keeping the plastic wrapping on the cone so the styrofoam dust didn't get all over the place, I jabbed each of the fronds into the top of the cone and pushed the stem all the way down the cone. With a little bending, I think the ferns begin to look like palm fronds -- at least a little!

Then I unwrapped the plastic off the cones and covered each of the cones with chocolate brown crepe paper streamers. (It was $0.79/roll at Party City -- you only need one roll for all six centerpieces, with lots leftover.) I figured out if I wrapped the crepe paper from the thinner top to the wider base, the crepe paper adds a nice texture to the "tree" because it doesn't lay flat.

Next, I made a barrel of monkeys, using Cricut Create a Critter again, cut at 2.25" with brown layers #1 and #3, and tan in the center. Some of the monkeys have a black back (layer #1) -- but eventually  I figured out that I liked the brown back, and eyes and nose that show through the layer two cut. The pink diaper was fussy-cut from half of a 3/4" paper punch.

Monkeys play well together, so I made chains of three. Some hold together tail to tail; others are linked by cloth flowers. Some are climbing up vines also cut from the Create a Critter cartridge, some are hot glued to grosgrain ribbon.

Daughter Emily came up with the adorable idea to embellish the monkeys with some of my Creative Charms' July kit brads and gems, as well as some stick-on pearls and rhinestones. I used Stickles in silver to trim out the "diaper pins".

To make it easier to decorate the palm trees on the day of the shower, I decided to make cute little monkey hangers for each trio. I used beading wire, some theme-matching crystals and stitched the 2-3" long bead piece on a silver earring wire I had in my craft stash.

...and still, more crafty ideas!

Last but not least, shortly before the shower, Baby Mama Emily came over to my house to help me make the chocolate-covered pretzel sticks that were part of the "candy buffet" at Emily and Baby Charlotte's showe.




Here's how they turned out -- pretty great, I think! I still want to make more using white chocolate, so hopefully tomorrow night I'll find the time.




Meanwhile, as I was driving home from my day job, I thought about how cool it would be to make little "sour cream containers" for the Hershey's kisses I bought for the candy buffet.


So here they are! I whipped up about a dozen of these in an hour or so ... creating the idea takes the biggest amount of time, I think.




To make these, I cut six equal pieces of paper from a 12x12" sheet (each piece was 6"x4"). I taped one short side and rolled the paper into a tube. Then I pinched the one end shut, using a piece of double-sided tape and a crimper tool. I filled it with 6 Hershey's kisses, pinched and glued the top end sealed (I used double-faced tape), and crimped. Decorated using monkeys from the Cricut Zooballoo cartridge and Creative Charms flowers, ribbons. 

I hope you had fun revisiting the baby shower from 2010 ... and picked up some more ideas. The light-of-my-life, Charlotte, was born a few months after her shower, on December 6.  Now she is 9 months old -- and look what a little charmer she now is!

Charlotte's first time on the slide at our community park!

Winner - One for the Little Guy!

Two of Sadie and Morgan's puppies, sharing love with me.

 Sadie and Morgan helped pick the winner for my blog candy for the DOG GONE FUN BLOG HOP. Don't ask how they helped ... just know they did.


Ok, I'll tell you. They're personal friends with Randy of www.random.org.  They sat at my computer and counted the entries, double checked to make sure each was a follower ... and turned to Randy. 

The winner is:  ALISHA of www.scrappin-happens.blogspot.com.

I contacted Alisha, and gave her the opportunity to pick any gift card she'd like. I love that she told me that instead of PetSmart, she frequents a small, local shop for her pet supplies.  I like her logic to support the little guy!  She chose a craft supplier for her gift card.  Alisha, it will go right out to you! 

Congratulations!!

Day 97 'til Christmas!

I made a bunch of cards this weekend -- none of them for Christmas!  So to keep my line up going, I'm revisiting a card I made last year, and posting it here to recognize:

CardMonkey's 100-day Countdown to Christmas

ONLY 97 More Days 'Til Christmas!! 

That's right -- less than 14 weeks.

Don't say I didn't warn you! 

RECIPE:

I made the paper -- on my computer, using different fonts/colors.
Cut the medallion using Cricut "Basic Cakes" cartridge.
Using cardboard rings, sandwich a piece of acetate between the cardboard.
Add a circle-punched vintage Santa picture behind the acetate.
Before sealing, add a mix of glitter dust and anti-static powder to keep the
glitter separated. Cover the cardboard ring with the red medallion.
Trim with red velvet ribbon, adhere on green framed paper.

Honoring my dearest friends....

Happy Sunday to you!

This weekend, Hubby and I had a dinner visit from our dearest and I dare say, most long-term friends, Star and Bernie. I've known this fantastic duo since 1979 when Star and I worked together at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia. 

They've stuck by me through thick and thin -- including during a time when many friendships get lost, my divorce in 1994. And they lovingly welcomed new Hubby John into my life and circle of friends not long afterwards. 

John and I cherish them!!

Star has been making cards far longer than I, though I may be a bit more of a nut about acquiring and hoarding supplies. I don't know if Star and I could really craft together because I am ... ummmm messy oh let's say creative.  Star is much more meticulous than I. 

Star's birthday is just 8 days after mine, so here is the card I made for my dear friend. 

Yes, I try to incorporate a "star" into the cards I give her -- it may be corny of me, but she's truly a STAR in my world, and that is after all, her given name. 

And Bernie -- well, he used to own a rubber stamp company that he's now passed on to his sons since he retired. I mean, he did rubber stamps pre-laser days and when businesses bought most of them, not crafters. So I guess we were just destined to have our planets collide! 


Bernie's birthday is within a week of Star's, so I have the fun of coming up with something masculine for him ... but also funny. Here's his card:

We've always had that sort of relationship, Bernie and I -- if you ever meet him, be sure to ask him about the time I almost drowned in Punta Cana while swimming with him, because I came up from the water laughing so hard. Trust me, ask him!

Star and Bernie winter in the Florida Keys, and I'm sorry to say (sad for me ... happy for them!) that they're heading south soon.


So while I have their attention (Star checks my blog every morning!), I just want to say: Thank you, dear friends, for all you do for me, for all you mean to us, and for just being you.  

When I look up Friendship in the dictionary, I see a picture of these friends. (Just that it's the picture that Star took of Bernie at my wedding to DH John ... when you see Star, ask her about it!  Just be careful not to ask when you're underwater, or you too might almost drown!)  ♥ you guys!

Welcome to DAY 2 of the 

"Dog Gone Fun" Blog Hop!  

If you've come from Kristy's blog, you're on the right doggie trail. If you've just come across my biscuits here, please go to Haidee's blog to start from the very beginning. Haidee has details on the Apple Shuffle blog candy for this hop, so don't miss out!

In keeping with Haidee's theme, "A Dog leaves paw prints on your ♥, so rescue one today," I made this card that celebrates the joyful adoption of a precious pup:

To make this card, 
I used Cricut's "Paper Pups" cartridge, 
a snip of plaid paper stock 
trimmed with a paper punch 
and tied with a bow.  
I computer-set and printed the sentiment.

Here is the inside sentiment, also computer-set and printed:

(sorry for the lousy photo!)

If you missed this Hop yesterday, I hope you'll scroll down to see the layout I created to celebrate the Muttrimony of my Bichon pups, Sadie and Morgan. The layout is new (=procrastinated!), but the wedding was in 2007 -- four years ago! That's 28 dog years!!

Before sending you off on your next stop on the hop, let me tell you about the BLOG CANDY I have to offer personally for the Dog Gone Fun Blog Hop:

One follower to this CardMonkey blog who leaves a comment on this post and/or yesterday's post will win a:

$10 GIFT CARD!

A comment left on both days = 2 chances to win! YAY!!

Well, thank you for visiting!  

Now for your agility test ... run through to the next post along the Dog Gone Fun Blog hop by jumping over to Stacey at http://creatingacraftylife.blogspot.com/

If you're a lost little puppy, go back to the start
at Haidee http://creatingacraftylife.blogspot.com/http://creatingacraftylife.blogspot.com/
for the complete line-up.

Remember, dogs leave paw prints on your ♥

So rescue one!

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

The following card has been brought to you in living color by our sponsor, CardMonkey!

Follow along ... CardMonkey's 100 Day
Countdown 'til the Big Guy....

DAY 98 'til Christmas!!

RECIPE for this card:
Cricut "Paper Pups" cartridge for image. 
Add Santa hat, bone and wish list.
Merry Christmas ribbon from stash,
Christmas scrap paper from stash

Inside the Christmas card!

Welcome to the "Dog Gone Fun Blog Hop" - September 16 & 17

Welcome to the "Dog Gone Fun" Blog Hop!   If you've come from Kristy's blog, you're on the right doggie trail. If you've just come across my biscuits here, please go to Haidee's blog to start from the very beginning. Haidee has details on the Apple Shuffle blog candy for this hop, so don't miss out!

Here is my layout I created for this Hop, and the story behind it:

I hope you enjoyed my project for the
Dog Gone Fun Blog Hop!

Five years ago, when I started to work from home, the house was too quiet and lonely. 

Shortly thereafter (and after I drove hubby crazy whining about my neeeeeeed for a puppy), little Sadie girl came into our lives. 

Sadie, or more officially, "Mercedes Cien de Cinque Etangs", a/k/a Sadie, Dog of Five Ponds, is an AKC-registered pure bred Bichon Frise.  Sadie is a bundle of love. Within a year after we brought her home, we decided to get a male of the same breed and standard, so they could love each other, play, and make a family.  

Morgan ("Captain Morgan Cien de Cinque Etangs") was a frisky, mottled ball of hair when he came to us from Kansas City. He's a joy and adorable, but he is a barker. We nicknamed him "Security."  

Before we were ready, Morgan decided when the time was right to breed (men!!!) and made his love for Sadie well known on Valentine's Day 2007.  

At the time we knew nothing at all about breeding or even what happened when dogs mate. We were frantic when Morgan and Sadie were stuck together for what seemed like forever!!  It's called a "breeders' lock" ... now we know. And Sadie was soon pregnant. 


Well, as Morgan's parents, we told him a real man takes responsibility for his family, and he must do the honorable thing -- marry his woman and be a good father.

Here are their beautiful five puppies -- 4 girls and a boy -- born a month after their parents' shotgun lovely muttrimony. 

Doesn't Sadie look exhausted? Somehow the real duties of parenting always go to the Mom! 

All of the puppies have long gone to loving, responsible homes, and Morgan has been neutered! Men can be such dogs!

By Kobi Levi Design

This picture made me smile, so I'm sharing it. Do you know that old saying that when your feet hurt, it's "my dogs are barking?"  These shoes bring all new meaning to that phrase! 

Before sending you off on your next stop on the hop, let me tell you about the BLOG CANDY I have to offer personally:

One follower to this CardMonkey blog who leaves a comment on this post will win a:

$10 GIFT CARD!

Well, thank you for visiting!  

Now for your agility test ... run through to the next post along the Dog Gone Fun Blog hop by jumping over to Stacey at http://creatingacraftylife.blogspot.com/

If you're a lost little puppy, go back to the start
at Haidee http://creatingacraftylife.blogspot.com/http://creatingacraftylife.blogspot.com/
for the complete line-up.

SPECIAL HOPPERS
NOTE:

{Please note: The next blog stop was to have been Jennifer @ Creative Army Wife. She must have gotten delayed with her doggies, as her post is not up yet.  I've taken the liberty of hopping over her, to keep the Hop moving ... we don't want any of you puppies losing your way. I'll come back and edit when Jennifer gets her post up. Thanks!}

Remember, dogs leave paw prints on your ♥

So rescue one!

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

The following card has been brought to you in living color by our sponsor, CardMonkey!

Follow along ... CardMonkey's 100 Day Countdown 'til the Big Guy....

DAY 99 'til Christmas!!

RECIPE for this card:
Cut swirly words from Make The Cut software, using
your Cricut. (Yes, you can still do this if you haven't
upgraded your software. Yes, sometimes it pays to be lazy
and not up to date!)

Use TRANSFER TAPE to keep the letters in
position and to move onto your card, as you would
if these were vinyl letters on a wall.

I put Stickled dots of red where the cut/dots
were.