Louisa is 2!

Louisa loves Kitty!  "Where's Kitty?" is the first thing she asks when I go get her out of her crib in the morning.  He's so patient with her and will even follow her around.  She likes to give him pretend tea.  I don't know what he thinks!

So we had a black cat themed birthday party for Louisa.  Which is also perfect since her birthday is so close to Halloween.  We just used pink and teal as the accent colors instead of orange.

Here's a look at the buffet top.  

Strawberry cake and black cat sugar cookies!  Yummy.  We ate cake at the party and sent cookies home with everyone in the little cat bags.  I found the cute black cat bags at Target. The cat face made an easy decoration for the top of the cake.

Here's Louisa enjoying her cake at her little table (which used to be her mommy's).

I added bows and party hats to black cats and made a tiny card with cat buttons.

I wanted to use the cat buttons, because Louisa loves playing with all my buttons.  She sorts them, carries them around and calls out the colors.  I think her favorite activity is deliberately dropping them on the floor, saying "Oh, no!" and wanting us to help pick them up!

We had so much fun at Louisa's birthday party!  
She was adorable when my mom and dad left: they said "Bye!" and she said, "Happy Birthday to you!"

This Week Needs a Friday.....Free Printable Card(s)

This week needs a Friday....right meow!   Fridays can perk you right up - funny how that happens!

Fridays are also great, because that's often when we head off to Wichita to see my daughter and her husband.  I just got back from a quick visit and it was terrific to see them, but guess what?  I got to feel little Louisa rolling around making her presence known!  (In case you missed it previously, my daughter, Lauren, is due in late October and is having a girl - Louisa.)  We spent most of two days stocking up on things that all new babies need - such cuteness!

I've got some cuteness here too.  A cat card printable you can send to a friend, showing a little solidarity with that Friday lover.  Or maybe show a little empathy with someone who needs a break - right now!  

You can print this card twice to create a shaker card and then use the left over pieces to make another card.  Or you can, of course, just print it once and still have a cute card.

The fun sentiment is included in the download.

I just love this cat:  droopy eye, droopy ear and all!  I get all draggy when I need a Friday right meow, so I totally get it.  You can print this guy twice to make a shaker card and have some pieces left over to make another card.

This is the card I made with the left over pieces.  You could, of course, just print it out as is and it would be super cute.  But, if you would like to, here's how to make the shaker card and cat circle card:

I printed mine on 120lb cardstock.  That makes a lovely, stout feeling card.

These are the pieces to set aside if you're making the shaker card first.  (All you need for the second card is to make a card base.  Plus any embellishments.)

For the shaker:

Additional tips:

1.  I used double sticky tape to adhere the craft plastic to the front panel.
2.  I used a paintbrush to paint glue on the circle frames so they would be covered with
     glue.  That way the glue doesn't ooze and the sequins can't sneak out.  (You know they
     want to.)  I used double sticky tape to adhere the circle to the craft plastic.
3.  Place the sequins the middle of the cat so that you don't accidentally glue them to the
     circles.  You can also strategically glue a couple of sequins where you like them.
4.  It's easier to line everything up if the circles are glued to the front panel.  At least, that is
     my experience.

There are many ways to do a shaker card.  This is the easiest for me.

Download the Cat Needs a Friday Printable Card HERE.  

When the image comes up, wait for a bit and the download button will appear in the top right corner.  If you have any trouble, just let me know and I'm happy to email it to you.

Keep this in mind when you or someone you know needs a Friday right meow!  
Hope we all have a lovely week:  no droopy eyes or ears, please.

baby sequins	princess sequins	PINK SALMON	hot pink twine
orange twine	honeydew twine	Accent Opaque White 120lb	tombow mono glue
Aleene's Tacky Glue

InLinkz.com

Cat Set

Baby Girl Design Pack

InLinkz.com

Charlotte is One - Standing Card

How about making a standing decoration card for a change?  I love this idea for a child's birthday - Charlotte can display hers for a whole year!  

Charlotte got a black cat for her first birthday, because she is fascinated by my sweet black kitty.  When I keep her she loves to follow him around.  The funniest thing is when he sneezes (which seems to be fairly often), she gives a little jump and then let's loose with a huge belly laugh!

One of the best places I've found for really cute graphic and SVG images is Lettering Delights. This adorable cat and cupcake are from Kawaii Kalendar.  (When I made this link, I noticed both the graphic version and svg version are on sale at half price!)  

For Charlotte's black cat, I enlarged the cut file for each layer 110% and for the cupcake reduced it to 50%. 

I used a stick on easel so the cat would stand up and be sturdy.  I just bought this photo easel die by Lifestyle Crafts so the stand can match in color.

What will you be doing for New Year's?  We have an event here in OKC called "Opening Night" with bands and kid activities and fireworks.  But with the weather being in the 20s and having to go to work on Thursday, I will probably be sound asleep!

Here is wishing you the best for 2014!