Kitty Love You

Hi Friends!

Today I am sharing a card that I designed using the Simon Says Furry Kisses stamp set along with a sentiment from the retired Stampin’ Up! set, Short and Sweet.

I love this sweet kitty image from Simon Says Stamp and thought that this card could be used as a Valentine or a general "love you"/"thinking of you" card.  

I am working my way through the over 800 sketch challenges at Splitcoaststampers and this card uses the SC443 Sketch for the layout. This sketch was from 2013 and again, I am so thankful that they do not expire :-)

I am also linking this card to the Simon Says Wednesday “Dies and/or Punches” Challenge (I used the SSS   Open Heart Dies and a retired banner die for this card) and the 2 Crafty Critter Crazies May “AnythingGoes” Challenge.

This was a quick and easy card- heat emboss the kitty images using clear embossing powder and watercolor with water-based markers. Fussy-cut the image and mount onto a die-cut rectangle. Mount the panel onto espresso cardstock, trim close to the edge.

Stamp the sentiment and heat emboss in the corner of the panel. 

Emboss a piece of white cardstock with a pawprint embossing folder, trim and mount onto espresso cardstock.

Create a few banners from designer paper, mount onto espresso cardstock, add to the background panel and mount onto a white card base.

Adhere the main kitty panel with dimensional foam (or, I prefer, chipboard).

Die cut and adhere a few layered hearts to the kitty panel.  Use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the kitty images (of course, this would be optional) :-)

Add a few rhinestones to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Furry Kisses (Simon Says Stamp), Short ‘n Sweet (retired Stampin’ Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Stampin’ Write Markers-Soft Suede, Early Espresso; Clear Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, retired Pretty in Pink; retired Stampin’ Up! Sending Love Designer Series Paper

Accessories: Gemini, Jr™,  Dies- My Favorite Things Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX Set 1, Simon Says Stamp Open Heart; Darice™ Pawprints Embossing Folder, Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, AquaPainter™, Rhinestones

Thanks again for taking the time to visit my blog- I hope all of you are staying healthy and safe- hugs, sweet friends!

Remember

Hi Friends!!

Today I am sharing an emotional card for me.  We lost our sweet "Angel" this past June after her battle with cancer, and we , along with her sweet sister, "Queenie" miss her so.  

Our sweet "Angel" - Queenie's sister

I used the Sizzix™ Tim Holtz® Friendship Words: Script Die for the word “Remember” along with the Stampendous “Feline Fun” stamp for the kitty image and the Simon Says Love Pawprints Die for the pawprint.  

I think that Queenie remembers Angel, but most likely by now, that memory may be fading a bit.  

Queenie now has the luxury of two people completely doting on her:-)  Unfortunately, we found out at her last dental cleaning in September, that she has developed FORLs (a common ailment for cats that causes their teeth to turn into bone).  She had to have two teeth extracted but overall she is doing fairly well for her age.  We are praying that she will be with us for many years to come, but also realize that Queenie is almost 15 , so each day is a gift :-)  

I am linking this card to the Animal Friends #79 “Cats” Challenge, the Dies R Us “Anything Goes with Dies Carried by the DRU Store ” Challenge (Sizzix™ Tim Holtz® Friendship Words: Script Die ) and theAlphabet “O is for One Word Sentiment” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to drop by the above challenge sites yet, I hope you do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

Stamp the kitty image onto white cardstock with Staz-On™ Black Ink and heat set with a heat tool.  Using watercolor pencils and water-based markers, watercolor the image (again I used “Queenie’s” colors ).  Die cut the image with a stitched rectangle die and adhere to a piece of espresso cardstock, trim close to the edge.

Add a piece of 5/8” espresso satin ribbon to the right side of the panel, wrapping the ends behind the panel. .

Die cut three of the script word die, glue all three together to create a thicker die cut. Use a gold paint marker pen to color the letters and set aside to dry.

Die cut the pawprint die from espresso and light brown cardstock.

Layer a panel of light brown cardstock onto a piece of espresso cardstock. Mount the main  focal image onto the card front with dimensional foam or chipboard. 

Add the gold script word onto the ribbon along with the olive buttons - use thin strips of espresso cardstock to create “thread”. 

Mount the layered pawprint die using dimensional foam or chipboard and use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the cat’s eyes. 

Once the shimmer paint has dried, use a white paint pen to add highlights to the cat’s eyes to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Feline Fun (Stampendous)

Ink/Mediums: Staz-On® Black, Derwent™ Watercolor Pencils, Stampin’ Write Markers- Gumball Green, Smoky Slate, Pink Pirouette; SU! Black Watercolor Pencil, Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen, Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen, SU! Gold Paint Marker

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Early Espresso, Soft Suede

Accessories: Big Shot™ ,  MFT Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX Set 1, Simon Says Love Pawprints Die, AquaPainter™,  5/8” Early Espresso Satin Ribbon, Olive Buttons (retired SU!)

Thanks again for taking the time to drop by-  I hope all of you have a fabulous weekend/week!

Love Has Four Paws

Hi Friends!

I love stamp sets with cats and dogs and when I saw this Love Has Four Paws stamp set at Whimsy Stamps, I knew it would have to be part of my stamp collection!  

Plus, I can justify this purchase to my hubby since this cat image looks like our sweet Victoria, plus in addition to creating cards for my friends with fur-babies, it will work well for the Splitcoaststampers Cards for A Cause card drive (one of the ongoing card drives is for the Tri-County Humane Society) :-)

I wanted the cat image to be the focal point so I decided to create a Clean and Simple (CAS) card and used the CAS(E) This Sketch #258 Challenge for the layout.  I am also linking this card to the Simon Says Wednesday “Add A Die Cut” Challenge and the Word Art Wednesday#322-#323 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to check out the above challenge sites yet, I hope you will do so- gorgeous inspiration from their Design Teams as well as their galleries!

To create this card:

1). Ink and stamp the cat image from Love Has Four Paws (Whimsy Stamps) with Versafine™ ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool. Once the embossing has cooled, lightly watercolor the image with water-based markers and die cut with the MFT Stitched Dome STAX Dies.

 

2). Emboss the sentiment from Love Has Four Paws in the same manner as above and hand trim.

3). Add a piece of black cardstock to the white card front and mount the cat image along with the sentiment with dimensional foam.

4). Use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the cat’s eyes to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Love Has Four Paws (Whimsy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™, Stampin’ Write Markers- Smoky Slate, Lemon Lime Twist, Wild Wasabi, Powder Pink; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black 

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT Stitched Dome STAX, Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, AquaPainter™

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope all of you have a purr-fect week!

TCC78 Hello Baby

Hi Friends!!

Woohoo! It’s time for the new #78 Pastel Party Photo Inspiration Challenge at The Card Concept!

I just love all of the fun pastel colors, the sweet stuffed animals and the cat figurine and plate in this sweet inspiration photo that Lesley found for us! I decided to use the new Stampin’ Up! Cat Punch and Quilt Builder Framelit™ Dies to create my Freestyle Collage/Shabby Chic card.

I also incorporated the As You See It #158 "Doily Dreams" Sketch Challenge and the Joy of Sets #006 -“Letter T” Challenge into the design (I used Teeny Tiny Wishes).

If you have not had a chance to do so, I hope you will find the time to check out the rest of the wonderful Design Team cards at The Card Concept as well as the entries at the other challenge sites- fabulous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Trim a piece of Whisper White cardstock, mount onto a piece of Pool Party cardstock, trim again and mount onto a piece of Pink Pirouette cardstock. Mount the entire panel to the Extra Thick Whisper White card base.

2). Die cut a piece of Pool Party cardstock with a stitched rectangle die and mount onto the card front.

3). Create the quilt block using the new Quilt Builder Framelits™- I used retired Stampin’ Up! designer papers- Crushed Curry (from an old hostess pack), Pool Party and Pink Pirouette along with Whisper White cardstock.  I cut four of the quilt dies and pieced all four onto squares of coordinating cardstock (for this card I used Whisper White as the frame and base).  Add a white tea lace doily behind the quilt and adhere the strip of retired Pool Party ¼” stitched satin ribbon with the pink button embellishment.  Mount the entire quilt assembly onto the card front with dimensional foam.

4). Use the Cat Punch to punch out three cats- one from Pink Pirouette cardstock and two from Whisper White cardstock.  Layer the pieces together and mount onto the card front with dimensional foam.

5). Ink the “Hello Babby” sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes with archival black ink, stamp onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock and create the fishtail banner with the retired Hexagon Punch (or by hand).  Mount the sentiment onto piece of Pink Pirouette cardstock (allowing just the end to peek out), tuck the end under the Cat Punch and adhere to the card front with dimensional foam.

Stamp Sets:  Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Extra Thick Whisper White, Pool Party, Pink Pirouette; retired DSP- Crushed Curry, Pool Party, Pink Pirouette

Accessories: Big Shot™, Quilt Builder Framelits™ , Cat Punch, MFT Stitched Rectangle STAX Dies, White Tea Lace Doily, ¼” Pool Party Stitched Satin Ribbon, Pink Pirouette button, Hemp Twine

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by!  I hope I have inspired you today and that you will be able to join us for the #78“Pastel Party” Challenge at The Card Concept! 

SC658 Hello Friend

Hi Friends!

It’s time for the new SC658 sketch at Splitcoaststampers and I just love the sketch that Carey created for us this week, it is so versatile!

I have a few new cat stamps from Stampendous® that I have not had a chance to ink up yet, so I pulled out Curious Feline and paired it with Sunday Sentiments from Mama Elephant.  I decided to color the image based off my sweet "Angel"- this image reminded me of her! She is always by my side when I am stamping or whatever I am doing, so the "Hello Friend" sentiment applies to her as well!

In addition to using the Splitcoaststampers SC658 Sketch for the layout, I am also linking this card to the CAS-ual Fridays #180 “Friendship” Challenge, the PINSpirational #197 Photo Inspiration Challenge and the Tuesday Throwdown #356 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to check out the above challenges yet, I hope you will find the time to do so- as always, gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Ink the Curious Feline (Stampendous®) image with Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink and stamp onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.  Color the image with Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Pencils- I used Daffodil Delight and Old Olive for the eyes, Basic Black for the fur and Whisper White for the hairs in the ears.  I tried to mimic the fur with the pencil strokes and continued to add layers once I added water with an AquaPainter™.  Once the image was colored to my satisfaction, I added a bit more color with a Conté ά Paris Black Pastel Pencil, blending with a paper stump.  Fussy-cut the image and set aside.

2). Layer a piece of Whisper White cardstock onto the Basic Black card base, add a strip of striped black and white designer paper (from my stash) per the sketch.  Mount the card front onto the Extra Thick Whisper White card base.

3). Use the Big Shot™ with the Darice™ Pawprints Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock.  Trim the panel and mount onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock for the front vertical panel.

4). Trim a piece of Certainly Celery designer paper (retired from my massive stash of paper- lol!), mount onto the Basic Black cardstock and create the second vertical panel per the sketch.  Mount directly onto the card front.

5). Add the fussy cut cat image behind the first panel and mount onto the card front with dimensional foam.

6). Stamp the sentiment from Sunday Sentiments with Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink and stamp onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.  Create the fishtail banner with a Hexagon Punch, layer onto Basic Black cardstock, and mount onto the card front with dimensional foam.

7). Use a Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen to add shimmer to the eyes and an Extra Fine Sharpie® White Paint Pen to add highlights.  Once the paint has dried, use Glossy Accents™ to fill in the eyes to finish off the card (make sure you allow the Glossy Accents™ to dry overnight). 

Stamp Sets: Curious Feline (Stampendous®), Sunday Sentiments (Mama Elephant)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black; Stampin’ Write Watercolor Pencils- Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Basic Black, Whisper White; Conté ά Paris Black Pastel Pencil , Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen, Extra Fine White Sharpie® Paint Pen

Paper: Whisper White, Extra Thick Whisper White, Basic Black, retired Stampin’ Up! Certainly Celery Designer Series Paper; Misc Black and White designer paper

Accessories/Tools: retired Hexagon Punch, AquaPainter™

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- hugs and have a great week/weekend!

True Friend- A Quick Card from Scraps

Hi Friends!!

Today I am sharing a quick Clean and Simple (CAS) Mixed Media card designed with scraps from my stash- lol! 

Sometimes I will start a project and realize that it is not turning out the way I had hoped and set the stamped images (r die cuts aside). or as in this case, I will save negative die cuts along with previously embossed background panels.  

I spent this evening organizing a few containers of scraps and pulled out a previously stamped/embossed background as well as a negative die cut to create this quick card.

I wanted to participate in this week's  Freshly Made Sketches #295 Sketch Challenge as well as the Word Art Wednesday#290-#291 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not already had a chance to visit the above challenge sites, I hope you will do so- they both have fantastic Design Teams as well as inspiration in their galleries.

To create this card:

1). Using Versamark™ ink, stamp the retired Bella Toile background stamp onto Whisper White cardstock, apply white embossing powder and heat set with the Heat Tool. 

Once the embossing has cooled, use sponge daubers to apply Pool Party, Marina Mist and Midnight Muse Classic Ink over the embossing, wipe off the excess with a slightly damp paper towel.  Ink the Chicken Wire background stamp with Midnight Muse Classic Ink and stamp over the entire image, allow the ink to dry and once dried, use a paper towel to wipe off the excess ink from the embossing. ***Again, this background was ready to go in my scraps and was a bit "busy" so I think it works well using the negative space in the cat die :-)). 

2). The circular element in the sketch was created from a die cut using Basic Black cardstock (Poppystamps™ Sitting Cat Die and the Circles Framelits™- also in my scraps). 

3). Die cut a piece of Basic Black cardstock with the My Favorite Things (MFT) Stitched Rectangle STAX Dies (again, this was already in my stash), trim a piece of Whisper White to fit within the frame. 

Trim another piece of Whisper White cardstock to approx. 4” x 5 ¼”, mount onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock and adhere to the Whisper White card base.

4). Trim a small piece of the heat embossed Bella Toile background to fit behind the window of the cat die.

5). Trim a piece of retired designer paper and mount onto Basic Black cardstock, add this horizontal layer before mounting the circular die with dimensional foam.

6), Mount the digital image from True Friend (again, this sentiment was in my stash and had been printed onto Whisper White cardstock using MDS and punched out with the Small Oval Punch).

7). Finish off the card with Nuvo™ Crystal Gloss Black Drops.

Stamp Sets: Bella Toile Background, Chicken Wire Background, True Friend (Digital Version)-all retired Stampin’ Up!

Ink/Mediums: Versamark™ Onyx Black, Printer Ink- Black; Classic Ink=- Pool Party, Marina Mist, Midnight Muse; Nuvo™ Crystal Drops- Gloss Black

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, retired Stampin’ Up! DSP

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT Stitched Rectangle STAX, Poppystamps Sitting Cat Die, Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Small Oval Punch

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- hugs and I hope you have a wonderful week!

Kitty Love- Cats Leave Pawprints on Your Heart

Hi Friends! 

I hope all of you are having a great week so far! Today, I am sharing this quick Mixed Media Clean and Layered card for the 2016 Cat Lover’s Blog Hop.

I absolutely love kitties and over the course of forty+ years, I have had six kitties (two sets of three)- my two remaining "girls" are twelve at this time and with the exception of needing to lose a bit of weight, are in good health.  They are my constant stamping companions and are always close to my side :-)  

I decided to use the Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps Kitty Love Clear Stamp Set for my card for the 2016 Cat Lover's Blog Hop and also incorporated the Mojo Monday Mojo471 Sketch Challenge, Global Design Project #GDP05 “Pets/Animals” Challenge and Simon Says Wednesday “Think Pink” Challenge.

If you have not already visited the above sites, I hope you will find the time to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Emboss a piece of white cardstock with the paw prints embossing folder, trim and mount onto the black card base.

Die cut a circle from pink patterned designer paper with a stitched circle die, layer onto the scallop die cut circle from white cardstock and trim to cut off the bottom edge (per the sketch) before mounting onto the card front.

Ink the SNSS Kitty Love Clear Stamp Set image along with the sentiment with black archival ink and stamp onto a piece of white cardstock.

Ink the paw print image from SNSS Kitty Love Clear Stamp Set three times with black archival ink onto scrap white cardstock.

Die cut the kitty image and fussy cut the three paw prints- mount onto the card front with dimensional foam.

Create the banner from the same pink patterned designer paper, mount onto black cardstock, add the heart clip and mount onto the card front using dimensional foam.

Finish off the card by applying shimmer to the paw prints with a clear glitter pen.

Stamp Sets:  Kitty Love (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink:  Stampin’ Archival™ Basic Black; Clear Wink of Stella®

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, retired Love Blossoms DSP

Accessories: Big Shot™, Darice Paw Print Background Embossing Folder, MFT Stitched Circle and Stitched Square STAX Dies, Spellbinders Stately Circle Dies, retired Cute Clips hardware

Thanks for stopping by- your visits are such an encouragement to me!  Have a blessed week, my friends!

SNSS Kitty Love