Pretty Kitty Birthday

 I made this card for a friend who has a tabby cat who is the love of her life.

The sweet kitty is a Vinyl Sticker from Kawaii Pens that I adhered to a die cut circle with clear dots. It is holographic so is really sparkly in the light.  The circle is adhered to the card base with foam dots.   This is a 4"x4" card.  

I'm sending my card to:

Try It On Tuesday

Oh So Sweet ends 4/28

Seize the Birthday

Layer It ends 4/22

I.D.E.A.S.

Week 2 - Dies

Paper: Whie, DP Bitty Big Lilac Grace - PTI

Other Supplies: Stitched Square and Circles dies - Penny Black, foam dots, glue dots, Cat vinyl sticker - The Stars and The Moon Dream - Kawaii Pens, computer generated sentiment, enamel dot - Altenew.

Rocker with a View

 I purchased these wonderful dies (Sitting Pretty and Sitting Pretty Accessories) from The Greetery when they first came out about a year ago and then filed them away and never got them out to play with - until now.   

This is one of my favorite things to do -  Sit in a rocker on a porch with a view, reading a book or just breathing the fresh air!  I'll have to shoo that kitty off the rocker before I sit though!

Linking my card to:

Die Cut Divas - Anything Goes

NBUS 

Paper:  White, True Black, Green Parakeet, New Leaf, Canyon Clay, Pure Poppy, Soft Stone - PTI, Oatmeal Core Stock - Parklane/JoAnn, DP Almwiessen (Alpine Meadows) - Charlie and Paulchen (Germany)

Accessories:  Sitting Pretty and Sitting Pretty Accessories dies - The Greetery, Small Talk Sticker/Occsions - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology 

Love and a Cat

I've been trying to organize my very full, very messy, craft room and I recently put all my cat stamps and dies in one box.  I have a lot of friends with cats (I have one too) so I decided to make some cat cards with some of my newly rediscovered stamps and dies!

The lovely background that looks like I might have water colored -  is actually a piece of designer paper (cheapy from Joann!) and worked perfectly as a location for my cat to be sitting - cast shadow and all!  

I stamped the cat and then added more color markings with a Spiced Marmalade Distress Marker. Then I spritzed it very lightly with water to soften the marks.  Stamped the sentiment in blue on a watercolor paper square and added a red enamel heart in the center of the paw.

(there was already an open space heart there from the stamp).

I'm linking my card to:

Inspired By

Kent and I got our 1st Covid Vaccination shots this week - so thankful!  Will get our second shots at end of month.

Stamps:  Kit'n Caboodle - Papertrey Ink

Paper:  water color - Canson Cold Press, Clouds and Grass Paper Pad - Joann, white - PTI

Ink:  Chamomile, Honey Druffle, Espresso - Altenew, Enchanted Evening - PTI

Accessories:  Kit'N Caboodle dies - PTI, enamel heart - Altenew.

Remembering Cleo

My friend recently lost her sweet older cat Cleo who had struggled for a while with poor health.  This is a picture of her on a camping trip with her family this summer.

I wanted to make my friend a sympathy card coloring the cat like Cleo. I found this sweet image Cat Under Covers from Impression Obsession in my cat stamps drawer.

I placed the stamp in my Misti and inked the face section with Distress Spiced Marmalade ink, wiped off any ink that got on the blanket part, and stamped it onto watercolor paper.   Then I inked the top blanket part of the stamp with Distress Broken China, wiping off any of the blue that went on the cats face and stamped it onto the paper.  There is a little bit that over lapped and turned green with the mix of colors but I thought it looked ok, sort of like a shadow.  

I added Cleo's name in die cut letters using alphanumeric Tiny Type from Tim Holtz/Sizzix and cut the panel with Pierced Feature Frame: Rectangles from PTI.  The outside piece of the frame is up on foam dots.

I'm linking my card to:

The Paper Players

Stamps:  Cat Under Covers - Impression Obsession

Paper:  water color paper - Canson Cold Press

Ink:   Spiced Marmalade and Broken China - Ranger Distress

Accessories:  Pierced Feature Frames: Rectangles - PTI, Alphanumeric Tiny Type Upper - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, foam dots.

CAS Christmas - Mid Month Reminder - Cats and/or Dogs

 Just a reminder that there is still time for you to join us at CAS Christmas Card Challenge this month!  The link is open through 2/24!

For today's card, I used another fun cat image from Technique Junkies - Christmas Carol Kitty.  

The sentiment is attached to the cat stamp along the bottom - so I blocked off and stamped each line of the sentiment piece on white and punched out each line.    

The letters stamp a bit close together -  so in case you can't make it out in the photo it says  "Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree"  and "Your ornaments are history."

I stamped the cat, masking the sentiment so it would fit on the die cut center panel, and colored her with Copics.  I added three red enamel dots.

I die cut the background with a Bold Borders: Polka Dots die from PTI (not currently available).  The cat and the sentiment strips are popped up on foam dots.

So please join us and get another Christmas card made!  You'll find the CAS Christmas Card Challenge and Mr. Linky here!

I'm also linking my card to:

NBUS Challenge

new cat stamp!

Stamps:  Christmas Card Kitty - Technique Junkies

Paper:  Bristol Smooth Surface, White - PTI

Ink:  Obsidian - Altenew

Accessories:  Bold Borders: Polka Dots Die - PTI, foam dots, SU punch, Copics R29, W2, RV32.

February CAS Christmas Card Challenge - Cats and/or Dogs

February already!  When our minds turn to Valentines -  the CAS Christmas Card team is also thinking Christmas!  Susan is our creative hostess this month and she wants to see dogs and/or cats on our cards this month!

I love, and have had, both cats and dogs but presently Kent and I have a sweet older kitty, so I used a newly purchased cat stamp for my card.  It's called Christmas Mug Shot  from Technique Junkies - funny right?  Luckily, none of the 3 cats I have had has ever knocked down our tree, although our present kitty, Scout, does like to hit the ornaments near the bottom with her paw! 

I stamped the image on watercolor paper, colored it with Copics and adhered the panel to a card base cut with Noted: Scalloped Square from PTI.  The card measures 3 3/4" x 3 3/4".

So we hope you will get out your cat/dog images and make a Christmas card so you won't be so rushed at the end of the year!   Check out all of the inspiration from the DT, as well as our lovely Guest Designer this month Jane ( Onions and Paper), over at the CAS Christmas Card Challenge Blog. 

I'm also linking my card to:

Christmas Crafts All Year Long

Something that Starts with C and/or D

CAT

Holly and Ivy Challenge

Anything Christmas Goes 

Merry Little Christmas Challenge

Anything Christmas Goes

 

NBUS Challenge

My jailed cat is a new stamp!

Stamps:  Christmas Mug Shot - Technique Junkies

Paper:  Watercolor paper - Canson Cold Press

Ink:  Obsidian - Altenew

Accessories:  Copics Y17, YG03, N2, E04, Noted: Scalloped Square die - Papertrey Ink.

Purrfect

Today I have a card to share that I made for three challenges.

The cat and sentiment are from a set called Kit'n Caboodle from Papertrey Ink.  I embossed the background with Weathered Embossing Folder from Taylored Expressions.  The cat is popped up on foam dots above the sentiment 'shelf'.

Here are the challenges I was inspired by:

Splitcoaststampers Inspiration Challenge

I was inspired by this dress from Miss Vogues website

Fab Friday

for my sketch

Color Throwdown

Stamps:  Kit' N Caboodle - Papertrey Ink

Ink:  True Black - PTI, Hero Hues Sea Salt.

Paper:  white, True Black, Fine Linen - PTI

Accessories:  Kit'N Caboodle Dies - PTI, Weathered embossing folder - Taylored Expressions, Sentiment Strip dies - Neat and Tangled, Lacy Edge die - unknown, foam dots. 

We are Better Together- Eileen Hull's new Sizzix Display Stand Die

Today I'm sharing my 2nd project for Eileen Hull - using the 2nd of her new Chapter 1 Sizzix Dies - called Display Stand.   

I used it today to create a  photo frame with a little a display platform along the bottom 

(you can turn it upside down to design with as well - but I'll show that on my next project using this wonderful die!)

This project features my two sweet sister cats, Scout and Boo, as well as little plastic kitties that I got in a package of dogs and cats at the Dollar Store!  In the photo Scout is on the right and she's a little smaller than her sister, Boo, on the left.  

First I die cut the Display Stand out of matboard.  It's all one piece and looks like this.

I'm going to show you how it folds together - it can seem tricky at first, but once you do it - it's really easy!

So first you just fold it on the score lines

Then you push the top piece  on the right above, down through the opening in the middle.  Here I have just started pushing it through and when you push it further - that tab in the middle......

will slip right into the slot on that piece in the middle there

Then you fold over the piece under my thumb above on the left - and the slight tab pieces tuck right under the corners on right and left -  see the area under my thumb below. 

(hint:  this is the other way you can hold the Display Stand)

Here's how it looks from the back - such a clever design!

So - to make the frame piece on the front - I used one of the frame dies from Eileen's Journaling Cards: Flowers and Leaves die.  I cut a piece of watercolor paper 4"x5" and cut out the center with the wavy frame die.

I ran 1/8" Scortape along three sides of the frame - right on the outside edges - leaving the top open.  I adhered it to the top part of the Display Stand.

I cut the photo down to 4 3/8" x 3 3/4" and it slipped right into the frame - so I can switch it out for another photo at any time!

I cut a piece of patterned paper to adhere under the plastic kitties. I adhered the kitties with a hot glue gun to hold them on securely.  I stamped the sentiment from the Better Together stamp set from Altenew.  I glued on little flower sequins around the kitties as well as on the top left corner of the frame.

 This sweet photo Display Stand measures 5 1/4" x 4" with the stand piece coming out 1 1/2" in the front. The perfect size for display on a desk or shelf!

All of Eileen's Inspiration Team are creating this month using her two wonderful new dies - Display Stand and Gift Box - so be sure to check our Eileen's blog every Wednesday in January to see all the creative ideas for using these dies!

I'm also linking my project to:
Country View Challenge: January
Love

Try it on Tuesday:
What a cutie - make someone smile

Die Cut Divas
New Things (a new die!)

Stamps:  Better Together - Altenew
Paper:  Little Sizzles Matboard - Sizzix, watercolor paper - Canson, DP - Petite Places Patterned Paper Pad - PTI
Ink:  True Black - PTI
Accessories:  Display Stand Die,  Journaling Cards: Flowers and Leaves die - Eileen Hull/Sizzix, photo, plastic cats - The Dollar Store, Mixed Flower Sequins - Simon Says Stamp, hot glue gun, 1/8" Scortape, Tombow Glue.

Mid Month CAS Stencil Card Stencil Reminder - Patterned Paper

I'm here today to remind you that you wanted to join in on the CAS Stencil Card Challenge this month - you did tell me that, right?!  AND you still have time!   Mr. Linky is open through Oct 24th! 

Loll, our October Hostess, wants us to stencil over patterned paper - easy peasy right?!    

For my reminder card I made another Halloween card (we're having a sale at my church soon!)

I used another piece of patterned paper from Abandoned Paper Stash paper pad by Tim Holtz/Idea-ology for my background (I used a more subdued one on my first challenge card) - there are so many beautiful papers in it!  

I laid my Cats Stencil from Stencil Girl over the panel of PP and spread a thin layer of Wendy Vecchi Black Embossing Paste over it with a plastic palette knife.  I removed the stencil and let the panel dry (clean your stencil right away!). I layered the panel over a black panel, then onto a white panel and slightly larger black panel.   I added 3 Halloween Clippings Stickers for the sentiment and stamped Boo to You inside!

Please join us over at CAS Stencil Card Challenge and show us how you stencil over patterned paper! 

Paper:  White, True Black - PTI,  DP Abandoned Paper Stash - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology.
Accessories:  Wendy Vecchi Black Embossing Paste - Stampers Anonymous, Cats Stencil - Stencil Girl, plastic palette knife, Clippings Stickers Halloween - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology.

Pinterest Inspired Illustrations

I'm excited to say that I was just chosen to be one of the Dirty Dozen over at Splitcoaststampers! I joined SCS in 2006 so it was a long wait - but I finally made it into the Dirt Pile!
So, today I played along with the SCS  Inspiration Challenge  - where our inspiration was an Illustrations Pinterest Board.

I was so inspired - I made two cards from two different illustrations.

Here is the illustration that inspired my first card - isn't this a sweet nighttime scene?!

source

and here is my inspired card:

 First I stamped the Spooky Tree Background stamp from Waltzingmouse on a white panel using True Black Ink from PTI. I stamped the foliage and daisies along the bottom with Archival Jet Black Ink. I made a mask by punching a piece of Eclipse tape with a circle punch and placed it where I wanted the moon to be. I sponged the whole panel with Smokey Shadow Distress Ink and then sponged the edges with Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink. I placed my Tim Holtz Speckles Stencil over the panel and inked over it with a Dew Drop Brilliance Midnight White ink pad to make my starry sky. I removed the circle mask and layered my die cut kitty from Poppy Stamps onto the tree branch with a foam dot. 

Here is the illustration that inspired my 2nd card

Source

and here is my inspired card:

First I stamped the skyline by inking the stamp with Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink and then just pouncing Ground Espresso Distress ink on a few spots to give a two tone look. I spritzed the stamp with water and stamped it on my white cardstock panel.
Then I sponged a little bit in the center with Distress Spun Sugar to represent the pink of the sunrise (or sunset) on the buildings. I stamped the Runway girl over the skyline and the sentiment in the corner using Ground Espresso Ink.
Next I sponged the whole panel with Distress Weathered Wood Ink. I sprayed some water into my palm and then flicked water onto the panel with my fingers to give the illusion of looking through the apartment window (like the illustration). I drew the lines with my black fine point Micron pen and layered the die cut kitty with foam tape.
I'm also linking my skyline card to:
Seize the Birthday - Toppings - Splatter (water splatter)

Cat in the Full Moon 
Stamps: Spooky Tree backgrounder - Waltzingmouse, Daisys Cornish Heritage Farms, Foliage - Art Impressions
Paper: White, True Black, Smoky Shadow - PTI
Paper Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Ink: True Black - PTI, Archival Black, Ranger Distress Stormy Sky, Chipped Sapphire, Brilliance Midnight White Dew Drop
Accessories: Speckles Stencil - Tim Holtz, Cozy Kitties die - Poppy Stamps, foam dot, Eclipse tape 

New York Sky Line
Stamps: Hand Written Sentiments, Runway, City Scapes - Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous
Paper: White, True Black - PTI
Paper Size: 4 1/4 x 5 1/2
Ink: Ranger Distress Grand Espresso, Chipped Sapphire, Weathered Wood, Spun Sugar
Accessories: Black 01 Micron Pen - Sakura, Water, foam dots, Cozy Kitties Die - Poppy Stamps.