An Important Message

Hello Humans! As many of you know, our Mom works with animals for a living. She sees many bad, bad things that can be prevented. Last week one of her patients died from heat stroke. Unfortunately it won't be the last death from the heat she will see during this hot, hot summer.

We would like to take a moment to remind everyone that we don't perspire like you do. We can't cool ourselves off as easily as you do, and once our body temperature reaches a certain point, we will either die, or have permanent brain and organ damage. So keep us safe by limiting our time outdoors when it's hot, and give us lots of water. For our animal friends that must stay outside, make sure they have a well shaded area as well as lots of water. Maybe you can even bring them into the house or the garage when it's super hot.

You know how much we love car rides. We do, but if you have to leave us even just for a few minutes, leave us at home. Even with the windows partially rolled down, a car will become and oven in just a few minutes.

Mom said that her blogging friends are all animal lovers who would never put their animals in danger. So maybe you can share this information with everyone you know who might not know otherwise. 

Have a safe and happy summer!

Arf & meow from Bubba & Punkie.

PS...Extra treats are a nice summer idea too!

Baby Raccoons

Are these little guys too cute for words or what? A few days ago we got in a turkey vulture that was injured. Whenever we get something in that I've not seen before, I grab my camera and get some pictures. I thought, I'd share the picture of the vulture with you, and I will, at another time. But when I went back there to get it's picture, the baby raccoons were in the cage above. Anyone who has ever rehabbed baby raccoons will tell you, they want your attention and they want it now! So I took their picture too, and that is the picture I'm sharing with you today, even though I have quite a few pictures of baby raccoons.

These guys are too funny. We keep the younger ones in large crates in the back. If you are standing too close, they will try to grab your pant leg. As you walk past them you see all these little arms poking through trying to reach everything and anything. It appears as though they are crowded in a small space, but not to worry, the space is huge, they like to crowd together. God forbid, one should get more attention than another!

The guys in the picture are almost ready to release back to nature. Our mommy jobs will be over.

As for the turkey vulture, I'll show you that one a little later. The post also involves an abandoned water park.

The owl and branch in the scrap page below are from my Owls Rule Clipart/Graphic Set which is available at my Etsy Shop, or by instant download at my Website.

FREEBIE - Foldover Gift Cards

It's time for another blog freebie! I thought it would be a great way to introduce my new line of printables to my Etsy shop and my website. Many of you have already purchased my planners and lists, which have been there since I first opened my shop and website.

These are my foldover gift cards. They come two on a sheet, are blank on the inside, and are the smaller size for attaching to a gift or to hang from a gift bag. They measure 3 1/4 x 4 inches when folded. They are just big enough to slip a shopping gift card inside. I give you both PDF & JPEG files. The JPEG makes it super easy to adjust the size as needed if so desired.

I thought the handmade theme would be perfect for my blogging friends since most of you are crafty. And who doesn't love pets? I also included the envelope template.

All you have to do is download to your computer, print, and cut out. I even give you cutting guides. I did find that the easiest thing to do was to fold the sheet in half along the left edge of the card, then cut along the edges with a rotary cutter or Exacto knife. Enjoy!

You can pick your files at 4-Shared or at my website.

The Datebook Wins!

Everyone who knows me, knows that I love my electronics. I have a laptop, smartphone, and tablet PC. My digital camera lives in my purse and I never leave home without it, even when I take Bubba for a walk. You never know what you're going to see.

However, when it comes to my calendar and my To Do list, I want to see it on paper. I've been using the Lang pocket calendar for as far back as I can remember and that's where I put all my appointments and special events. Wouldn't want to be without it. As for the To Do list, I like to see my list, and I like to cross off my tasks after they are completed.

I gave the electronic calendars and To Do lists a try, but they just didn't work for me.

So how much do you depend on electronics?

Blue frames in photo are from my Frames Templates Set and the teapot is from my Tea Time Set. Both can be found at my Etsy Shop.

Yay for Summer!

Summer is definitely here. We've been in the 90's and the sun is shining. We have the pool open, lots of flowers are in full bloom, and it just feels like summer!

I'm also still on that mad creative streak. Since my pattern shops have been doing so well I've been doing a lot of pattern designing the past few months. After I bought my computer, I came to discover that my graphic shops have been terribly neglected. I've been having so much fun on my new (speedy fast) computer designing graphic and clipart sets. In the past few days I've added six new sets to my shops.

I even freshened up my blog topper using images from my two new sets, Crafting Fun, and Painting Party. Both sets can be found at my website (instant downloads), and at my Etsy shop.

I hope you like the picture above. It was taken from flowers in our yard. That particular flower bush (or whatever you call it) blooms more flowers every year.

Been Doing a Little Shopping!

My husband has been trying to talk me into getting a new computer for quite a while now. I finally broke down last night and did it. I felt so guilty at first, but I'm over it now.

I have so many files and programs that I've been dreading the task of transferring it all. Not only do I have all the graphic files for my business, I have a gazillion photos and my digital scrapbooking hobby. So now I begin the daunting task of loading the new one.

I normally upgrade about every two years but this computer has been with me for almost four. I was thinking about my very first laptop (I always buy laptops) I bought in 2000. It had 32 MB of memory, 4 GB hard drive, and the processor was like, heck I can't even remember that number! Oh yah, and the screen, was 12".  The salesman said I'd never need more than that! 

Do you remember your first computer?

Zipper Bags

I just love quick little projects! I also love to learn new techniques. I've been wanting to make myself a little zipper bag to throw in my purse to hold those tiny little items that will just get lost in the bottom. I was never happy with the way my zippers came out. I'm not sure if they didn't look even, or maybe, they just looked unprofessional, and unfinished. I did some research on zipper techniques and I found a great tutorial on a really cute blog. After I decided that this was the little bag I wanted to make, it took me another hour to head into my sewing room because I got lost on her blog. She's a talented seamstress and her blog is fun and interesting.

I can think of a thousand things to use these little bags for. You can adjust the size as you wish. She gives you a great tip as to how big the zipper should be in relation to the fabric. Each bag took way less than an hour, in fact, you can probably make them both in about an hour. What a cute way to present a little gift to someone too.

Pop over to her blog (link below), check it out, and you might want to make a couple bags for yourself too. So easy!!! I'm off to Etsy now to order some more zippers.

Click Here to Visit Kelly's Blog

When Inspiration Strikes...

Doesn't inspiration strike at the oddest times? It seems like sometimes you go through a dry spell where you just can't think of anything to make. If you're like me, you always have a list of projects to do, but at the moment when you want to make something, none of those sound appealing. Then one day, you're doing an ordinary and routine task and you see something that sparks an idea. Just like that!

That is what happened to me today. I was doing my usual grocery shopping on my way home from work. I decided to head over to the office supply department at Meijer (who has a pretty nice office supply area). I needed one of those 12-section file organizers to organize my receipts by the month. I chose my organizer and turned around to head back to the grocery section and I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw those 12 x 12 cork board squares. Inspiration! Now I know what my next project will be. I'm not sure of the exact plan, but it's going to be awesome!

So has inspiration ever struck you at the oddest time, or at the oddest place?

Swiffer Favorite - Revised

 A while back I wrote a post about one of my favorites as a do every now and then. In this post I wrote about my Swiffer 360 Duster. I got a lot of comments from people loving them, to people who thought they were a bit costly to use all the time. I knew that if I googled "homemade swiffer refills" I'd find the happy medium.

I actually found several tutorials, images, and even people selling them on Etsy. I came across one tutorial which jumped out at me so I thought I'd give it a try. I made two of them and I love them! Not only will it save me money in the long run, but it is so much better for the environment because you wash and reuse, instead of throwing away and replacing.

And if you've never used a Swiffer Duster, you are spending way too much time dusting!

Here's the link to the tutorial, Swiffer Duster Refills. You're going to love her blog too! Her duster also came out so much prettier than mine.

NOTE: You will notice in the picture below, there are two different handles. The one on the right is the newer version. I found that it slipped out very easily so I simply stitched a seam up the center over the first seam. This stitched all 8 layers together, which made two separate casings instead of one, which gave a more snug fit.

Top Sellers & Top Secret

 Since I haven't been blogging so much that must mean I'm locked away in my new craft room creating. That's exactly what I've been doing! As you can see in the photo above, Punkie is supervising the situation just as she always does.

 I'm excited to announce two new patterns. My most recent is this sewing machine cover. It's a cute way hide the sewing machine when not in use. It's available on Etsy, but it's also available on my website and at Craftsy they have instant downloads. No waiting for the files to be emailed.

 Another exciting thing is that my Hanging File Folder Organizer has been on Craftsy's 20 Top Seller List for sewing patterns the past two weeks. The past few days it's been fluctuating between number 9 and number 11. I think people really like the instant downloads there.

Now on to the "Top Secret" part of my post. It was so fun to spend today in my craft room doing personal things. I made a few little surprises for some special people in my life. They all read my blog daily so I can't share right now. I'll post some pics later.

Next "Top Secret" item are two new patterns I've recently completed. I can't show them because the photos and manuscripts have been submitted to magazines. Until (and if) they are published, I must keep them under tight wraps. 

So that's what I've been up to. What about you?