It's Birthday Season!

Most of the people in my life celebrate their birthdays in the next 4 months and I just found out that April 21st is my favorite boss's birthday; I literally made this card in a few hours since I was seeing her the next day and then she had some time off.  I wanted to be sure she had this in time for her birthday.  Deana, my boss, loves the color pink and the bunnies have a special meaning between us, so you know the card had to include both! Here is the card I made for her:

The colors actually do match in real life!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Avery Elle Balloon Elle-Ments
Lawn Fawn Some Bunny Stamps, #LF1587
Lawn Fawn Some Bunny Dies, #LF1588
Derwent Inktense Pencils
Die-Namics Stitched Oval Stax, #MFT-521
Hero Arts My Monthly Hero, March 2018 {used the word Birthday}
3mm Gems {these are marketed for nail art - MUCH cheaper than craft gems!}
Pink Glitter Card
Light Tan Card
Pink and White Card
Hero Arts Ink in Bubble Gum
Hero Arts Pink Accent Pearls
Momento Ink in Tuxedo Black

I was really pressed for time {I typically take at least a day to design a card} but I had this type of birthday card in my head since I got the Balloon Letter

Dies. I grabbed 2 pre-colored bunnies and set them aside; these were left over from my spring cards and colored with Inktense Watercolor Pencils.  I cut out the word HAPPY using the Balloon Elle-Ments and accented them with tiny gems.  I got 12 colors of these gems in the nail art section - I think I paid about $6 for the bunch and they come in their own little container!  I have enough of these to bling everything and anything for quite some time.  If you want info on where I got them, send me an email using the contact form on the right side.  

Next, I attached the string cuts, styling them as needed so the bunnies could hold the balloons.  

I stamped the sentiment {it is incredibly hard to find a birthday stamp - tons of Happy Birthday, but just birthday? Thank goodness the Hero Arts monthly kit had one!} on some white card, cut it out using the stitched oval stax, and then used a larger oval to cut out the glitter card.  I know in the photos the pinks don't look like they match, but they do compliment each other in real life just fine {I hate it when I can't make the colors look right!}  I attached the sentiment oval onto the glitter card and set it under the tile to dry and adhere really strongly - I've found that glitter card doesn't always take to something attached to it, so the weight of the tile works wonderfully.

Meanwhile, I adhered the bunnies and the balloon letters to the card base.  I used some pink pearls I had and punched out some tiny hearts from the left

Another Look

over pink glitter card.  I arranged the pearls and hearts where I wanted them, then attached the sentiment.  I'm very pleased how well it came out and how well the design transferred from my head to actual paper!  She loved the card and that's another birthday down! You can be sure I added it to my calendar so I won't be caught off guard next year.  

Thank you SO much for stopping by! Since you have read this entire post I will let you in on a secret - my giveaway is coming up by the end of this month! One of the requirements is going to be that you are a follower of this blog, so why not do that right now while you are thinking of it and so you'll get notice of the giveaway.  I'm actually thinking of having two separate prizes, but more info on that will be in the post.  I appreciate all the follows and comments; I read each and every one! I hope you got a bit of inspiration from my card and I'll see you soon ~ Fondly, Christi

PS: She LOVED the card :) xo

I am entering my Happy Birthday card in the following challenges:
Pattie's Creations Challenge - #145, Bunnies and/or Ducks
Cute Card Thursday - #527, Pretty in Pink
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Cards in Envy - It's Birthday Party Time!
Sweet Stampers Challenge - Too Cute

I'm Here Fur You

This card was actually made back in the summer but I completely forgot about it! Lucky for you, my dear reader, I found it.  My set was originally an add-on to the My Monthly Hero Kit of February 2017, but you can now buy both pieces outside of the kit!! 

What I Used to Make my Card:
Purple Card Base
White Card {for base and stamping/cutting the cats)
Hero Arts It's Raining Cats and Dogs Stamp Set, #CM151
Hero Arts Raining Cats and Dogs Die Set, #DI369
Oxide Inks in Broken China, Cracked Pistachio & Wilted Violet
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Spellbinders Nestabilities Curved Rectangles, #S5-006 {discontinued}
Dimensional Dots
MISTI

I started this card by trimming a white panel down 1/4" on all sides, then I stamped the raindrops all over the panel using the Oxide Inks.  While I waited for the ink to fully dry, I stamped the kitties on a white scrap using black ink, then cut them out.  Setting them aside, I stamped my sentiment (using the Wilted Violet Oxide Ink) on another piece of white card and cut it out with the Spellbinders die.

All that is left at this point is assembling the card.  I attached the kitties, three on each side of where the sentiment was going to be, in various tumbling

Another Peek

poses.  Lastly, I used a dimensional dot to adhere the sentiment to the center of the card.  

I love the colors of this card and how well they coordinate, and since we are entering the rainy {snow} season, how appropriate is this card? You could send it to someone under the weather {ha ha}, someone having a tough time, or just to let someone know you have their back.  I am planning a giveaway and in a few weeks I will be posting the rules and such; and I already know one of the rules will be you have to be a follower of my blog, so why not just subscribe now? If you do subscribe, please leave me a message with your info so I may follow you back! Have a wonderful day, Christi

I am adding my Here Fur You card to the following challenges:
Die Cut Divas - M, Anything Goes
Love to Scrap Challenge Blog - #108, April Showers Bring May Flowers
Sparkles Form Challenge - #103, The Weather
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Cardz for Galz - #70, April Showers
Double D Challenges - Friendship
Dragonfly Journeys - #116, April Showers Bring May Flowers

Happiness Is. . .

I took a tumble a bit ago and twisted myself in such a way that I was in a lot of pain on my side.  It was one of those invisible curbs that got me; I'm naturally clumsy, so when I stumble, I stumble all the way.  I did the "I'm trying not to fall" jig for a bit, then scraped my knee, tore my jeans, and twisted like a pretzel. I ended up going to the walk in {they are set up to help the backlog in emergency rooms; so you go to a walk in if you are injured, but it isn't life threatening} only because I needed a note for work as I knew I wouldn't be able to cashier, and the doctor told me he thought I broke my rib.  There is no treatment {unless your rib is so broken perhaps you need surgery} and I had known this, but I needed that note.  The Man was a fabulous help during the full week when I couldn't even bend over to put my pants on, so I made him this card.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Verve stamps, Happiness is. . . #VS-0257
Verve dies, Coffee Word, #VSDC-060
Verve stamps, Coffee, #VS-0219
Verve dies, Happiness in a Cup, #VSDC-093
Distress Ink in Ground Espresso
Tutti Designs Stitched Nested Rectangles, #TUTTI-217
Brown Scrap
MISTI
Dimensional Dots

First, I arranged and stamped the words so that I could fit the coffee word die in the middle of the sentiment.  I used Ground Espresso on all the stamps.  Then I

Before Coffee

die cut the coffee word and attached that to the white card.  I used the Tutti rectangle die to cut out that panel.

I stamped the coffee cup twice, once on what is to become the smaller panel and once on scrap white card.  I die cut the cup on the scrap card and used dimensional dots to pop it out a bit.  I also stamped the steam {it looks SO cool in person, sort of a paisley pattern} above the cup, then used the Tutti rectangle die to cut out the panel.

I attached some brown card to the white card base, then glued the two panels onto the card.  It made an excellent man's card - got the "lovey" point across without being too sappy, and it was a snap to create.

Another Look

Thanks so much for reading my little tutorial - I appreciate it! Since you have made it this far, I'll let you in on a secret; I'm getting ready to have another giveaway, but you are going to need to be a subscriber to my blog to win, so why not beat the rush and subscribe now? You never know when I'll be announcing the new giveaway and you don't want to miss it! Thanks again, Christi



I am entering my Happiness is Card in the following challenges:
Crafting with Dragonflies - #102, Card Using Dies and/or Punches
Happy Little Stampers - April - Anything Goes with Dies
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Not Just Cards - M, Anything Goes
Die Cut Divas - M, Anything Goes

Be Pawsitive!

I wanted to enter the 3D challenge at Lawn Fawnatics {#27} since I saw it, but things have been pretty hectic {I hate it when life gets in the way of my crafting} and I have just now gotten the card done.  Without further ado, I present my Be Pawsitive Shadow Box Card:

What I Used to Make My Card:

Momento Ink in Tuxedo Black

Light Blue Card {for the box}

Brown Card {for the hills}

Lawn Fawn Meow You Doin' Stamps, #LF1315

Lawn Fawn Meow You Doin' Dies, #LF1316

Lawn Fawn Shadow Box Card Die, #LF1486

Derwent Inktense Watercolor Pencils

Water Color Paper

Die-Namics Stitched Fishtail Sentiment Strips  

Lawn Fawn Really Rainbow 6 x 6 Paper, #LF1655

Strip of Acetate

Now, there is a wonderful video on how to make these adorable little cards, so I am not going to waste your time explaining how it was made; if you really want to see step by step, check out my "It's Written in the Stars" post.  I literally  offer photo step by step instructions on making a shadow box card. 

 

Once I had the box constructed, I realized my die cut machine had incorrectly cut the sides of the box.  At first, I was just going to trash the box and begin again, but I really didn't want to waste the cardstock so I got a bit creative.  Using some pieces of the Really Rainbow paper, I just attached them to the sides to hide the cuts and to give the box some strength.  It worked so well I decided to add some same color panels on the sides as well.  Creativity strikes again! You can see the add-on's I made in the pics above.

Ignore the spikey thing - it still folds!

Now, when it came to assembling the inside of the box, I used some kitties that I had already colored  and cut; all I needed to do was stamp and cut the ball of yarn and the mouse. I thought it would be really cute, as well as add some interest, to have the ball floating above the cat as if the cat was playing with it, so I glued the yarn onto a small strip of acetate and attached that to the cat.  

Another peek

Lastly, I stamped the sentiment and cut it out using the fishtail banner, attached that to the front, and my card was done. I think that it is SO cool that the card folds down to fit into an A2 sized envelope!  I am very pleased with how this card came out and I have one other type of 3D card to enter into this challenge, if I can get it done in time!  I'll be trying it for the first time.  Thanks SO much for your visit & I hope to see you again soon!  Fondly, Christi


I am entering my Be Pawsitive card in the following challenges:
Lawn Fawnatics - #27, 3D cards
Fashionable Stamping - #134, Animals
Crafting with Dragonflies - #102, Cards using Dies and/or Punches
Fussy & Fancy - #210, Add a Die Cut
Die Cuttin' Divas - M, Anything Goes
Creatalicious Challenges - M, Anything Goes w/ Option of Die Cuts

Have a Wonderful Time

One of my best friends is taking a trip for a few days {literally 4 days} and I, along with the Man, will be house/dog/cat sitting while he is gone.  It's going to be a hectic week, {made 100% more hectic because I took a tumble off one of those invisible curbs on Monday & cracked a rib!} but he'll be back sooner than later.  However, this is the first time he is leaving his home and his animals, and he's losing his mind with worry {he's a worrier anyway, one of those people who worries about Christmas in July.  I don't get it.}  I thought a little card for him to open on the plane would ease his mind. UPDATE - he's home, had a blast, Lily {the cat} & Bear {the dog} missed him terribly :)

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Unbranded Frame, Cat & Dog Die
Cat Punch {over 15 years old!}
Hero Arts Stamp & Cut, Wonderful, #DC214
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Gelly Roll White Ink Pen, #10
Scrap Paper

Now, I know there are some of you who detest unbranded dies.  Personally, I've nothing against them until they start to try copying copyrighted material.  I say "try" because I see lots of mistakes in the pirated dies.  I won't buy them, but that's just a personal choice.  I only buy the unbranded dies in designs I've never seen available in branded dies.  If I've posted something created with an unbranded die and you know of an exact branded match, please let me know!  Now that the yucky stuff is out of the way, let's get on with the card.

I started with cutting the paws and bone frame out of dark brown card, and one of three dogs that came with the frame.  I colored the front leg/paw of the dog

Another Look

white because Bear, his dog, has a white leg.  His cat, Lily, is a beautiful little gray kitty and I used an ancient punch for her.  I attached the frame and the animals to the white card base and when it was dry, I stamped the sentiment on the very top of the card.  Then I stamped the "wonderful" on white card, cut it out, and attached it to the card.  I didn't have very much time, but I think I did a nice job.

Thank you for visiting, I appreciate every one who does.  I also read every comment.  Hope you are having a wonderful day! ~Christi

I am entering my Have a Wonderful Time card in the following challenges:
Cardz 4 Guyz - #192, Travel or Transport {hope this counts!!}
Back to Basics and Beyond - #1, Matting and Layering {also, DT tryout}
Double D Challenges - M, Friendship
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - M, Anything Goes w/ a Critter {or 2}
A Perfect Time to Craft - M, Always Anything Goes
Creatalicious Challenge - #137, Anything Goes, Option: Use Dies and/or Punches
Cut it Up - #146, Bugs and/or Critters
TGIF Challenges - #156, Because Kindness Matters {this is actually a RAK, since it's from his cat & dog, not from me}
Creative Friday - #203, For a Boy/Man

Challenge Graphics

TGIF Challenges

Double D Challenges

Hoppy Spring

I have fallen in love with the Lawn Fawn bunnies; every single one of them.  I thought having the bunnies from the Easter Party set holding a sign would be a cute card; I hope you agree!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Lawn Fawn Hoppy Easter Stamps, #LF1319
Lawn Fawn Easter Party Stamps, #LF1589
Lawn Fawn Easter Party Dies, #LF1590
Tutti Designs, Cross Stitched Nesting Rectangles, #TUTTI-410
Derwent Colored Pencils
Distress Oxides Background using Mermaid Lagoon, Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade, Squeezed Lemon, Shaded Lilac and Cracked Pistachio
Ranger Watercolor paper 
Distress Spritzer
Versafine Ink in Black Onyx
Dimensional Dots

As usual, when I want to use Distress Oxides for my background, that's the first step I do, considering the drying time {I like to have them dry overnight} and that they sometimes look different to me the next day, needing a bit of touch up.  So I made the background using the most spring-like colors I could find and spritzing with the Distress Sprayer in between layers.  I have also found that using a paper towel to dry some of the spots where ink has pooled lightens the color, so I have a few paper towels folded up on my desk for just this occasion.   

Another Look

The next day, I took some of the bunnies I had already colored and found a pair {did you notice that one is female and one is male in the Easter Party set?  Check the eyelashes!} that went well together and they became the sign holders.  I stamped the sentiment and made the sign using one of the rectangle dies in the Tutti set.  Then I fooled with the bunnies, finding the way I wanted them to hold the sign, and attached them to the Oxide Ink background using dimensional dots.  Then I trimmed that down a bit and adhered the background to my white card base.  And I was done!

I think it took me longer to choose which die I wanted to use to cut out the sign!  I adore these cute little critters and I know I will be using them all year long.  Thanks so much for the visit and I want you to know I read every single comment left on any of my posts; I appreciate your kind and encouraging words ~ fondly, Christi

I am entering my Hoppy Spring card in the following challenges:
Sunny Day Crafting - #15, Bunnies
Inspiration Destination - #148, Anything Goes TWIST: Use a Real Stamp
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Bunny Rabbits
{PIN}spirational - Anything Goes, 6th Anniversary Celebration
Die Cut Diva's - Anything Goes
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes w/ a Critter
Simply Create Too - #137, Use Die Cuts
Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies - April Challenge
Fab 'n Funky - #388, Anything Goes w/ Critters
Creative with Stamps -#25, CAS w/ a Sentiment {2nd Anniversary!!}

Where did I find all these marvelous challenges?? At Challenges for Days :)

Keep Calm. . .

For years I couldn't drink coffee - my stomach just didn't approve of it, so I drank tea 'cause, you know, I need my caffeine.  I also have a huge addictive personality {just one look at my craft room will tell you that!} so if I made a pot of coffee, I drank the entire pot {this was before the single serve coffee pots came out}.  The good thing is, I can drink coffee again!  I've been a bit crazy buying coffee stamps and these are one of my new acquisitions - I LOVE them and I hope you do, too!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
STAMPlorations Stamp Set, What's Brewing, #STMP1353
Tutti Designs Stitched Nesting Rectangles, #TUTTI-217
Your Next Stamp 6" x 6" Paper Pad, Crazy for Coffee, #YNSPP011
Versafine Ink in Onyx Black
Clean Color Marker, Beige
Distress Ink in Ground Espresso

This was a quick and easy card to make; doesn't take much time at all.  I stamped the coffee cups, using the 'to go' cups, facing each other, on white card using the onyx ink.  Then I colored the holders with a Clean Color marker in beige.  I stamped the sentiment under the cups using the Distress Ink and then

Another Look

cut out the rectangle using a die.

I trimmed a piece of plaid paper from the Crazy for Coffee paper pad, mounted the stamped card onto that, then mounted the entire thing onto a white card.  That's it!  I think this would make a great masculine card {you know how difficult it is to make those!} as well as the perfect card to give any coffee lover.

Thanks for visiting and leaving comments - I do read each and every one of them and I appreciate them SO much!  Don't forget to follow me and, if you do, leave me a note so I can follow you back - again, thank you for stopping by! Christi

I am entering my Keep Calm card in the following challenges:
STAMPlorations - M, April, Focus on the Sentiment
STAMPlorations Never Ending Anything Goes
Moving Along with the Times - #68, Food and/or Drink
Mod Squad Challenge - Simply Clean & Simple
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - M, April, Anything Goes
NEW CHALLENGE Crafts Dreamy - M, Mood Board {Coffee!!}

April is Simply Made at Stinkin' Inkers

When I found out that the April Stinkin' Inkers challenge was Simply Made {a one layer card}, I knew it was really going to be a challenge for me.  I never make one layer cards, ever.  So, I went to Pinterest and found this amazing card by Wanda Guess.  I literally bought my Prismacolor pencils because of her beautiful coloring. I want to be able to color like that!  I recently was gifted the Altenew "Adore You" set, so, I CASED Wanda's card.  I practiced a few cards on Kraft cardstock, but I couldn't get the vibrancy that Wanda achieved.  So I switched to a Bristol vellum cardstock; a smooth, white card.  Now, I researched this a bit because I couldn't wrap my head around the vellum part - all the vellum I knew was the regular, no good way to attach to your card, see through vellum.  Well, I learned that apparently vellum is a very smooth texture as well as a paper.  After all of the trials, I produced this card:

What I Used to Make my Card:
Strathmore Bristol Card Base
Altenew Adore You Stamp set
Prismacolor Pencils
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
MISTI

I first made masks of all the flowers and leaves from the set that I wanted to use.  I just used plain old sticky notes, like we used to before there was all these fancy masking products.  I cut the masks out using the matching Adore You dies and set about placing the images.

Another Look

Once I was done stamping the flowers and leaves in Jet Black ink, I just colored.  I didn't use any blender except the colored pencils.  Once the coloring was done, I finished the card by stamping the sentiment.  That's it.  A simple, uncomplicated card.  Honestly, I wasn't expecting much from the colored pencils; I'd had a cheaper set I bought years ago and didn't have any luck coloring, or blending, with them.  This is a clear case of you get what you pay for.  I'm very pleased with this card and you will be seeing more Prismacolor coloring from me in the future.

Now, do you make one layer cards? Regardless if you an old pro or, like me, new to the one layer card, now is the time to enter them into the Stinkin' Inkers April challenge - who knows, maybe you'll be one of the winners!  Thanks so much for the visit, I really appreciate it ~ Christi

I am entering my Simply Made card in the Following Challenges:
Calling All Sistahs - #11, M, CAS Challenge using Photo {I used flowers}
DL Arts Thankful Thursday Challenge - #225, Thank you or Flowers
Altenew Challenge - Best Altenew Project {my first one actually!}
Emerald Creek Dares - Spring has Sprung!? 
Creative with Stamps - #25, M, CAS w/ a Sentiment
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Spring Flowers
Incy Wincy - Nature and all of it's Beauty

Happy Spring Kitty

While the weather here in Colorado keeps changing, I know by the calendar that any minute spring will be upon us! And it is with that thought in mind that I created this cute little kitty card to wish you a Happy Spring.  

I came across this cat image, already colored, in my stash and decided it was time to let her out to play!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Violet Crush Paper Pack by KaiserCraft {discontinued but available}
Penny Black stamps, Purrfect Day, #30-027 {discontinued?}
Lawn Fawn stamps, Easter Party, #LF1589
Hero Arts Ink in Amethyst
Various shades of purple card, stash
Die-Versions Whispers Stitched Nesting Squares, #DV-572 {discontinued?}
Tutti Cross Stitched Nesting Rectangles, #TUTTI-410
Derwent Inktense Watercolor Pencils
Homemade Dots (Perler Beads)
MISTI

As I said, this little kitty was already colored; thankfully I actually recall doing it with my Inktense Pencils {but it was over a year ago - in fact, the image is so old I think it's discontinued!}.  I just cut the image out with the Die-Versions die and set it aside.

After deciding I was going to focus on the color purple, I rummaged through the Violet Crush paper pack and chose a few lightly patterned papers to add to the card.  I also went through my papers stash and picked out some matching purple solid cardstock and ran all the papers through my Big Shot using the Tutti Die to add some interest.

I stamped the sentiment (from the Lawn Fawn Easter Party set) using Amethyst ink onto one of the solid purple cardstock pieces and attached all the background pieces to the white card base.  The kitty image became the center of the card and I

Another look

added some homemade plastic dots to give the card a little touch of extra color.  That's it - I'm tickled with how the card came out and I can't wait to share it with my friend.

The card came together as I wanted it and I'm glad I finally used the image.  I'm slowly working on getting my backlog of colored images used; you'll see at least a few more cards coming up where I've finally found good matches for the images.  It's funny, I can pre-color a bunch of images, keep them for the longest time, and suddenly the perfect card comes along and one of those images is just the thing that I need.  I love it when stuff comes together like that!  I hope your weather is turning season appropriate for wherever you are ~ thanks SO much for stopping by! Christi

I am entering my Happy Spring Kitty card in the following challenges:
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes 
Dies R Us Challenge - #94, Anything Goes
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - #13, Anything with a Critter Goes
Fashionable Stamping Challenge - #133, Springtime
Sweet Stampers Challenge - #18, Spring
Craftaholics R Us - #13, Enamel Dots {hopefully my homemade dots count!}
Retro Rubber Challenge - #83, Anything Goes {my PB Kitty image is OLD!}
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Everybody Art Challenge - #422, Spring