Easter Sweetheart

I have two little bunnies that have made a home in my backyard.

They've been my neighbors since last summer.

I worried about them all winter, and insisted to my hubby that we buy rabbit food to keep them fed when it was icy out. (we fed the squirrels and the birds too, didn't want anybody to go hungry :) Apparently they have become accustomed to us now.

My husband decided late in the afternoon that he wanted to smoke a turkey. So, now it's dark. The smoker is still cooking and we have a big spotlight focused on it so we can keep and eye on how it's cooking. About a foot away from the smoker we have our two bunnies stretched out on the grass enjoying the heat. They seemed to careless about the light. You might think that walking outside would send them running...nope they didn't even look at us. Walking over to the smoker didn't even scare them. One of the little fuzzies actually started giving himself a bath.

Guess I have two new outdoor pets. 

I told my husband we should buy a little hutch for them to sleep in.

Just a little opened door box of some sort. 

Where they can go in and out as they please.

Just a safe place from birds and the elements.

Pretty sure he thinks I'm nuts, but he didn't protest.

Easter Sweetheart Work in Progress

Easter Sweetheart Digital Stamp Cuddlebug Cuties

Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday, full of joy and blessings.

And hopefully this new Cuddlebug will start your day off right.

Enjoy coloring and crafting with Easter Sweetheart, but please give me; Anna Stillwell at Cuddlebug Cuties, credit for drawing her.

Hugs,

Anna

Furballs In The Craftroom

I've been working on redoing my craft room to make it a bit more art studio like.

I felt that I just had to much random hobby craft supplies cluttering up every inch of my limited space. Since my main crafts are drawing and art journaling I really needed more table space than storage for pretties.

I'm in the process of reevaluating my materials. Storing some and donating others all to make room for a small kitchen table to replace my desk. The desk is beautiful but once I put a computer on it I have little room for large and unusual sized sketch books. 

My rattie furbabies are quite alarmed by this entire situation. My craft desk has been around as long as they have and it has changed very little. It's their favorite place to play. Plenty of areas to climb and a hutch to hide in.

I've been letting them explore one last time on it while I clean it off.

Of coarse a photo shoot ensued.

Bear Playing In Ribbon

Bear Getting Pets

Jasper, Hmm What's In Here?

Loki Claims My Old Pen Holder As His

Thor Enjoying a Treat

Thor, Yumm!

Bear, Mine

Bear, No Touch

Bear & Ghost, Fancy Dumbos *brothers

Ghost, sweetest little guy ever

Jasper, Oh That's Good

I think they had fun, and they loved the special treat.

They get fresh veges and fruit everyday but I keep a box of dieters sweets for them for special treats. I figure if it's for a diet they shouldn't get to plump, right? Hmm...you only live once might as well enjoy it :) They are snacking on a Weight Watchers Carrot Cake. Spoiled, I know. That's the way furbabies should be. They love yogurt too, oh but what a mess. That's a photo shoot for another day.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Hugs,

Anna

Adopted Furbabies Inspired Art Journal Spread

I am an animal lover.

I have bought food for my dog when I had none,

 I have patted a mangy head with a bare hand.

I have hugged those that are vicious because they're afraid.

 I have fallen in love a thousand times,

...and I have cried into the fur of a lifeless 

body more times than I could bare.

I am an animal lover, my home is never quiet,

my wallet is always empty,

but my heart is always full.

~unknown

I love this quote. It rings so true to me. 

Recently, I have rescued a handful of new fur-kids.

I am truly smitten with them, but I have faced loads of stereotyped negativity for giving them a forever home.

I really don't understand the idea that some lives matter less than others.

I know that saving one animal won't change the world, but it changes the world for that one animal. Seems like you were given the ability to change a life, why waste it. 

I am an animal lover.

If you asked me what type of animal person I am...
I'd tell you I'm a cat person. There isn't a kitty in this world that I wouldn't drop to my knees and cuddle.

If you asked me who my best friend is...

I'd tell you it's my dog. We have a special bond and we are together nearly 24/7. She's always happy, always makes me smile, always there when I need a shoulder to cry on, she's my buddy.

If you asked me who my most social and well trained pet is...

I'd tell you it's my new handful of fancy rats.

Yes, I did say rats,

Fancy Rats.

This is where the negativity usually begins. I'm not expecting to change anybody's perception, and not really expecting anyone to agree with me. So far, no one has supported me in my decision to rescue them. Honestly, I'm okay with that. I too, had a bit of fear lurking in the back corners of my brain when I first came upon them, but they were in need and I'm not capable of turning my back and forgetting.

In the past several weeks they've have taught me so much about respecting animals.

They are so incredibly sweet and beyond smart.

I easily litter box trained them, they take food so softly and gentle, they come when I call them, and my most special one will run up and kiss you like a dog would. He'll lick your hands or your cheek, it's so cute.  

They all love to snuggle and will sit in your lap endlessly to get petted. 

I have zero fear of aggression from them. They'll let you give them baths, groom them, check their teeth...and not even a squeak out of them. Actually, something kinda interesting; they purr. It's very similar to when a kitty is happy. Sometimes they get so into it their eyes bug out and kind of wobble. It's one of the funniest and most adorable things I've ever seen.

They are not the evil pests that I feared.

They are just like any other animal.

They want to be loved and feel safe.

I love my new fur babies, and I'm okay with being just a little bit different.

This is just who I am, and I except that. I'm not perfect but I have a good heart.

I want to share some fun Halloween photos I took of the new little guys. 

We were having so much fun bonding and picture taking.

I've also have an art journal work in progress inspired by them.

If you are truly afraid / phobic of fancy rats, I understand. 

You may want to skip the following pictures, as I don't wish to give anyone bad dreams tonight. 

And if you can't look it's okay, I can't stand looking at pictures of spiders or sharks; I shudder every time.

This is Thor. He is my heart rat. He is so curious about everything. He spends most of the day on my shoulder then running down my arm to inspect everything he can get his little paws on. When I draw hes sits on my wrist and watches every move I make. He just like being included in everything.

Jax, my snuggler. Loves to cuddle and will except lovins from anybody. He's my biggest guy and I got a really good laugh watching how determined he was to squish is butt into this fish aquarium prop. 

Loki, super sweet little baby and so tiny. He was 5 weeks old when I took this picture. He will start purring almost the moment you touch him. He's just a very content happy little guy.

Jasper, my smallest and palest addition. Loki's brother and also 5 weeks at the time of the photo. He loves to hide in the collar of your shirt. Nothing but his little nose sticking out. 

I have three more adorable cuties, but they came a few days after these photos. I'm not sure if abused is the right term for their previous situation but they all came to me in different states of suffering. But a lot of love, bit of vet visits, some medicine and some dental work and they are all very happy and adjusting well to actually being wanted and loved. I'll have photos of them soon.

And now for the artsy stuff.

This is an art journal page work in progress.

It's dedicated to my new family members. 

Two of my unpictured ratties have dumbo ears, so I had to draw big adorable ears.

And the cuddlebug on the left would be holding Thor. This is where he is most commonly trying to explore from.

Love this Cuddlebug. Definitely going to ink her up and make her a digi soon.

Hugs,

Anna