Happy Halloween! {Lawn Fawn Pivot Pop-Up card}

It's finally here! I honestly wish the Halloween season lasted longer than one month - I say we start celebrating Halloween in June! Now it looks as if I used a million stamp sets making my card but that is only because I used a lot of critters from different sets.

The Pivot Pop-Up card, open to it's full glory!

What I Used to Make my Card: {it's a long list}
White Card Base
Black, White and Brown Cardstock
Silver Mirror Card
Silver Glitter Card
Lawn Fawn Pick of the Patch Stamps, #LF1754
Lawn Fawn Pick of the Patch Dies, #LF1755
Lawn Fawn Happy Howloween Stamps, # LF1206
Lawn Fawn Happy Howloween Dies, #LF1207
Lawn Fawn Costume Party Stamps, #LF1458
Lawn Fawn Costume Party Dies, #LF1459
Lawn Fawn Snow Day Stamps, #LF723
Lawn Fawn Snow Day Dies, #LF724
Lawn Fawn/Simon Says Stamp Nutty or Nice? Stamps, #LF1765 {not available}
Lawn Fawn/Simon Says Stamp Nutty or Nice? Dies, #LF1766 {not available}
Lawn Fawn Beary Happy Holidays Stamps, #LF1470
Lawn Fawn Beary Happy Holidays Dies, #LF1471
Lawn Fawn Meow You Doin'? Stamps, #LF1315
Lawn Fawn Meow You Doin'? Dies, #LF1316
Lawn Fawn Critters at the Dog Park Stamps, #LF515
Lawn Fawn Critters st the Dog Park Dies, #LF520
Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Backdrop Landscape Die, #LF1502
Lawn Fawn Pivot Pop-Up Die, #LF1611
Lawn Fawn Leafy Tree Backdrop Landscape Die, #LF1237
Lawn Fawn Happy, Happy, Happy Add On Dies, #LF1479
Lawn Fawn Starry Skies Dies, #LF1377
Distress Oxide Inks in Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet and Blueprint Sketch
Echo Park Paper, Hocus Pocus Kit by Leah Riordan, #HP91016
Frantic Stamper Brooklyn Alphabet, #FRA-DIE-10415
Wink of Stella in Clear
Watercolor Paper, Strathmore 500 Series, Ready Cut Watercolor Paper 
Zig Clean Color Markers
Water Brush in various sizes
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black

Whew, that is some product list! I have been making these little critters and dressing them in costume for about 2 months now; I wanted to use as many cuties that I could and, believe it or not, I actually have quite a few left over!  I've had a bunch of the sets I've used for a while but, like the Pivot Pop-Up, I just haven't had the chance to use them.  All the coloring and dressing up the critters was SO much fun and I feel the loss of having a big project going already. Enough of that; let's get to how I made the card.

I began with a plain A2 card; most of my cards are A2 sized and if I make one that is a different size I typically note it so you will know.  This card was made  

The paper after being colored

from regular, run-of-the-mill, white card because I knew I was going to color it with Oxide Inks but not use water so the base didn't need to be watercolor paper.  I covered the top and the entire inside of the card with Shaded Lilac, then used Wilted Violet, finishing up with a bit of Blueprint Sketch.  I also colored a scrap piece of white card at the same time.  I know from experience if you don't color at the same time all the components of whatever you're making, it's almost impossible {at least for me} to get the same look on everything.  I let the ink set for a bit and buffed it with a dry paper towel.  

As I said, I've been coloring and dressing these critters for quite a while.  All the animals and costume pieces are stamped on watercolor paper, colored with Zig Clean Color Markers and once dry, die cut.  I ran out of costumes and started using some other items to give them some new costumes; you will see some of those eventually I'm sure!  Now back to the construction of the card.  

I cut with the Stitched Hillside die twice, once from black card and once from

The sparkle!

dark brown card.  The black cut out was used on the inside of the card; I took the brown one and trimmed away the frame so I had just the hills.  Then I cut the Leafy Tree once out of black card and cut the hills inside that frame.  I used those cuts for the front of the card.  To add a bit more pizzazz, I covered the frame and the tree with clear Wink of Stella.

Working on the inside of the card next, I cut a bunch of stars out of glitter card and mirror card.  I placed them on the top, inside of the card as I wanted that to be my Halloween eve sky.  I started choosing-and-placing the costumed animals on the hills that I had glued to the bottom inside of the card but, since I wasn't sure about what the actual mechanics of the card were going to take, I didn't glue any of the critters on the inside at that point.

This being my first Pivot Pop-Up card, I watched the video that Lawn Fawn made to introduce the die and explain how to use the die correctly.  I wasn't sure if I'd be able to put the lettering I was planning onto the part that pivots out or how much space I'd have above and below the pivot.  I won't go into construction details of the mechanics of the Pivot Pop-Up as Lawn Fawn has done an excellent job {as always! Their videos make me feel as if I'm hanging out with Kelly and she is showing just me her newest goodies!} explaining the process.  You can check out the video on YouTube here or the Lawn Fawn site here.  I made the panels out of the extra white card I'd colored with the Oxide Distress Inks and the pivot mechanism out of black card.  It was a lot easier than I

The front of the card

thought it would be - very typical of me to give something I've never done so much power and convince myself I'll never be able to do it {it's that little self depreciating voice we've discussed before.}  I do so much better when I just jump in and try it than wait and get myself in a tizzy.  Anyway, I made the Pivot Pop-Up and cut the letters to spell out Halloween.  I attached the letters to the panels and cut the word Happy out of black card.  Luckily, I left just enough room to put it at the side of Halloween {I had originally planned to put it elsewhere, but the Pivot wouldn't allow it.}   

After letting that dry, I set up my animals and glued them down on the front and on the inside of the card.  That could have taken me another few days if I let it but having a deadline helped rush the process a little bit.   And the card was complete!  I have to admit, I'm very proud of how the card is put together and I'm actually OK with the animals all being where they are {more proof that I need to ignore that little voice.}  I hope you like the card, too.  

I hope you and yours have a wonderfully spooky and not too scary Halloween! I've invited my neighbor to come and sit with us to give out candy; I hope it isn't too chilly!  Thanks for all of your kind comments and support ~ Fondly, Christi           

PS: We laughed ourselves silly, gave out handfuls of candy & had a great time!

I would like to enter my Happy Halloween Pivot Card in the following challenges:
Watercooler Wednesday - #194, Anything Goes {graphic below}
Scrapy Land - #100 - Anything Goes w/ Dies
Die Cuttin' Divas - #393,  Anything Goes
Stamp, Ink, Paper - #174, Trick or Treat
Cuttlebug Mania - A Critter's Halloween
Art Impressions - Lots of Layers {graphic below}
Sweet Stampers - #25, Autumn or Halloween
Sunny Day Crafting - Anything Goes w/ Animals
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Dies R Us - Use Stitched Dies {I used LOTS!}

Watercooler Wednesday

Art Impressions

Happy Halloween ~ Trick or Treat

 👻👻👻HAPPY HALLOWEEN👻👻👻

I am SO happy Halloween is finally here - I've been creating cards so fast I have to carve out time to take pictures and write posts!  I usually don't mind the process of getting cards on here for you all to see, but it's been a struggle lately because all I want to do is play!  This cute little scene was made for the Die Cut Diva's October Challenge - Autumn or Halloween - which is being sponsored by the amazing Dies R Us.  

Dies R Us is offering a $10 Gift Certificate for the winner of this month's challenge and I have to tell you, they carry SO much more than just dies!  Here is my Trick or Treat card:

What I Used to Make my Card:
Black Card Base
Lawn Fawn Stitched Cloud Backdrop, Landscape, #LF1423
Lawn Fawn Starry Skies Die, #LF1377
Lawn Fawn Costume Party Stamps, #LF1458
Lawn Fawn Costume Party Dies, #LF1459
Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Backdrop, Landscape, #LF1502
Lawn Fawn Little Town Border, #LF1233
Lawn Fawn Trick or Treat Border Dies, #LF1490
MFT/Die-Namics BB Witch Way to the Candy? Dies
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Watercolor Card
Zig Clean Color Markers
Happy Bat Die, Unbranded
Black, Grey, Yellow, Brown, Purple and Silver Glitter Card

I cut out all my landscape dies, the clouds in gray and the hills in brown.  I attached them to the black card base.  I had actually had these little Halloween kids already colored and left over from last year, so that saved me some time.  I occasionally will color over something I've already colored and cut, but all in all my habit of coloring and cutting too many images is a good thing!  I always have something lying about that I can use.  The hardest part is finding them!  

The Happy Bat

I cut the border houses out of black card and put yellow behind them to give the illusion of the lights being on, then I cut out the rest of the pieces I used on the card.  I needed a moon and some stars; easily handled with more dies.  I had cut the happy little bat out already and he was flying around my desk; there is whole bunch of them and they are SO CUTE! Once I had adhered all the elements, I popped the bat on at the last moment.  

Dies R Us has an extensive Lawn Fawn stock, including all the newest stamps and dies so if you're looking to add any of these to your collection, I've linked them at the top of the post.  I hope you have enjoyed my little Trick or Treat card.  I still have more of the kids from the Costume Party set left over, so who knows, you might see them in the future! I'd love to see your Halloween or Autumn creations at Die Cut Diva's; you can't win if you don't play! 

And please have a safe, fun and Happy Halloween!!

Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Trick or Treat card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Shopping our Stash - #378,  Halloween

DL Art - M, October Linky

Creative with Stamps - M, Halloween

TTCRD - Anything Goes

Fab 'n Funky - #414, Halloween

Halloween Silhouette Card

Hello everyone! This is a very simple, but striking, card.  I love the background die; it looks so fancy but was so easy to use.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Orange, Black & White Card
Sue Wilson Frames & Tags, Zoe #CED4310
Female Winged Silhouette, Silhouette Cameo
Darice Bling on a Roll, Black Silver, #RH1024
Die-Versions Whispers Morocco Background, #DVW-346
Sentiment, Custom stamp by Stamp Couture

I adore black and white silhouettes; you know, the ones that people have done and hang on their walls as decoration.  This is just a smaller version of that art form.  I searched {and searched - I am amazed at the sheer number of designs in the Silhouette store!} for the design I wanted, chose female winged silhouette and cut the image with my Cameo machine; they have LOTS of silhouette forms, but for Halloween, this winged female was my favorite.  I cut her out of black card and set her aside.

Another Look

There are two parts to the Zoe frame, the plain background and the actual die cut.  I the background out of black card, and layered the frame over it after cutting it out of white card.  I positioned the silhouette in the center of the frame and gave her a little sparkle by using the Bling on a Roll as a necklace.  

To add a bit of interest I decided I needed a background and I think this Morocco Background die is perfect. Yes, it takes a while to get all those little pieces out, but the end result is worth it.  I chose to cut that design out of orange card just to add some color.  I finally stamped the sentiment on some white card and trimmed it.  

I love Halloween - it is truly my favorite holiday.  While I no longer dress up and trick or treat, I do love seeing the neighborhood kids all decked out.  I hope you celebrate Halloween where you are; and if not, who cares? Make some fun, spooky Halloween cards and crafts, you can always send them to me :) Thanks for stopping by ~ fondly, Christi

I am entering my Halloween Silhouette Card in the following challenges:
Die Cuttin' Divas - #393, Anything Goes
Shopping Your Stash - #378, Witchy or Halloween
Bitten by the Bug 2 - Halloween
Always Fun Challenges - #82,  Halloween
Bastel-Traum (Scrapbooking & Cardmaking) - #70, Autumn/Halloween

A Hero Arts Spooky Labels Halloween

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you know I'm not exactly a huge fan of digital stamps.  My discomfort working with digital stamps was a big reason I applied for the Design Team at a2z Scrapbooking; they are THE source for Hero Arts Digital Stamps.  You can't buy them anywhere else!

Following this month's theme of "Frightfully Fun," I used the digital set from Hero Arts called Spooky Labels. Here is my card:

What I Used to Make my Card:
Lime Green Card Base
Hero Arts Spooky Halloween Labels Digital Set, #DK110
Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Seventeen, #S5-025
Carta Bella Haunted House Paper Pad, #CBHH71015
White Card
Glitter Bat Sticker {Dollar Store}

For this card, I also broke out of my comfort zone with color.  Typically, for me, Halloween means black and orange; it's only been a few years since I've been able to incorporate purple!  Using this lime green card base is completely different for me.  But I figure why not go all the way out of my comfort zone; why just go out a little?

The first step for me was using Word to open the digital stamps.  A team mate of mine at a2z Scrapbooking shared a fabulous tutorial she found on how to use digi stamps in Word.  I followed that and I came up with my image.  I even isolated the spider web, which has more to it in the set, and got it to peek out of the corner of my label.  I probably won't ever be able to do it again!  I changed the color of the striped design and my sentiment, then printed the design on regular white card.

Another View

I set to work looking for the perfect background paper, which I found in an old set from Carta Bella.  Next I went through all my shapes dies {and I have a LOT of them} and found the Spellbinders set that I used to cut out the digital stamp and the background paper.  After I put all the elements together, the card still looked plain to me.  What do cardmakers do when something looks plain?  We add glitter; well, in this case, I added a glittery bat sticker.  I think the bat definitely makes this card better!  I've decided that if I want to continue playing with digital stamps, I need to invest in a better printer.  I need one that will print in waterproof ink and I've heard that laser printers work the best.  What do you think?  Do you use digital stamps?  I'd rather hear from you than a bunch of reviewers that I don't know.

You still have a few days to play at the a2z Scrapbooking October Challenge and

Sparkly Bat

if you use a Hero Arts and/or Sugar Tree product and get chosen as the winner, you'll receive a $20 gift certificate to the store!  You don't have to use Hero Arts and/or Sugar Tree, but why not?  If you don't have any Hero Arts {which I can't even imagine!} or Sugar Tree products, you can get a 15% discount at the a2z Scrapbooking store by using code CHRISTI15.  It's a win-win if you ask me. So drag out those Halloween stamps, or open up those digis, and get creating! We'd love to see you there! 

If this is your first time here, why not subscribe so you don't miss one of my spectacularly funny and informative posts?  You can even follow me on multiple social media platforms; all the info and links are on the right hand side.  I appreciate your visit and read every one of the comments left for me.  I'm terrible at commenting on comments, but I'd love to visit your blog and leave you your own bloggy love! Have a very Happy Halloween!

I am entering my Spooky Labels card in the following challenges:
Brown Sugar - M, Halloween or Autumn
My Time to Craft - Halloween and/or Cats
Crafty Catz - Halloween
Daring Cardmakers - Go Glitter {the bat is VERY glittery!}
Try it On Tuesday - Halloween
Crafty Gals Challenges - M, Halloween
Cardz for Galz - Let's go Digital

Black & White Halloween Card

If you are looking for my A Vampire You Could Love card, click HERE

So my card isn't totally black and white; there is that teeny, little, orange pumpkin that isn't black or white.  Honestly, I couldn't think of a better name for the card, so there you have it.  I just got the Spidery Web Collage die today and I had to make a quick card to play with it.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Black Card
Orange Glitter Card
Memory Box Happy Halloween Channel Die, #99558
Memory Box Spidery Web Collage Die, #99200

I had already made the "Happy Halloween" sentiment when I first got that die.  It's a good thing I still had it hanging around my desk because I can't find the die anywhere!  I'm sure once I do my big cleaning after the holidays are over I'll find it; at least I hope so! 

As I said, I literally just got the Spidery Web Collage die this afternoon and I just had to cut it out {I do that with almost every one of my new goodies; please, tell me I am not the only one!}  I chose to cut the collage out of white card and then I put some black card behind that.  The sentiment had to be trimmed a tiny bit on each end to fit on the card, but that was easy enough!  Now I have yet another card to mail that isn't going to make it on time.  Oh well, my friends and family are used to that by now; if I don't see you in person, count on your card and/or gift being late.  My theory is if I get it postmarked before the day it should be at your door I'm good. 

This was another quick and easy card.  I think it is Clean and Simple but still looks sort of elegant.  What do you think?  Do you have any quick and easy cards you rely on to help you out in a pinch?  I'd love to hear about them and I'd love it even more if you'd share the link with me in the comments.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  I'm getting so excited as Halloween is right around the corner!  Hope you and yours have a great one.  ~ Christi

I am entering my Black & White Halloween Card in the following challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks - #426, Black, White & One Other Color
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Spooky/Halloween
Outside the Box - M, #42, Halloween or Candy Themed
CAS on Friday - #144, Halloween or Autumn Card

A Vampire You Could Love!

If you are looking for my Black & White Halloween Card click HERE

When I saw this adorable little vampire die I scooped him up SO fast.  While I completely enjoy all of Halloween's traditional trappings -- the blood, goodies, being terrified out of your wits, the neighbor who seemed so normal and suddenly wants to eat your brains, and screaming at the girl to NOT go down the stairs, this little guy was just so cute; he seemed like a reluctant vampire.  He may appear complicated, but he was easy to piece together.  Here he is, Vlad the Vampire:

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Additional Orange, Purple, Vanilla, Black, Grey and Red Card
Frantic Stamper Vampire Die, #FRA-DIE-09944
Tutti Designs Stitched Nesting Rectangles, #TUTTI-217
Elizabeth Craft Designs, Words 3, Happy Holidays, #1467
Patterned Paper from American Crafts BOOtiful Nights 6" x 6" pad, {retired, but available in many places, and there is a Digital Pack you can get here}
Red Gems {stash}

The longest part of making this card was cutting all the different colors of paper

Pieces of Vlad

to piece together little Vlad.  I used one full cut of the entire vampire out of vanilla card, then glued all the pieces to that.  I used vanilla Vlad as a template.  I purposely made him vanilla so that the white of his shirt would show up and it turns out I was successful with cutting and piecing  every part of him except his shirt.  I tried quiet a few times to get that little triangle to fit where it belonged but I just couldn't coax it.  Perhaps if I had placed his shirt first, instead of last, it would have worked better.   I ended up coloring the shirt a very light beige and when you look at him, you can tell he has a shirt on and isn't trying to be a gigolo for Halloween.  I was actually nervous about trying to use this die; I was convinced I wasn't going to be able to get it right and poor Vlad would have a crooked suit or the wrong shoes on his feet.  Finally, one day I just went for it and I'm glad I did.  He looks wonderful to me.  

For the card background, I used the stitched rectangle die to give it some interest.  I didn't want to make a scene or do anything to take the spotlight off

His Selfie

of Vlad so I chose the plaid paper and the orange paper.  On the orange paper, I used a light purple card for the Happy Halloween words.  I put the background panels on first, then stuck good ole Vlad at an angle; he looks like he is introducing himself along with the sentiment.  He's a good spokesperson, but those fangs. . .   Anyway, the card was done quicker than I expected and I had to fight off the urge to put some sparkle on it - then I saw his eyes {which were literally holes, the plaid paper was peeking through} and I knew I had the best thing for a wanna-be-spooky vampire.  I adhered the red gems to his eyes and, while they aren't as dark as I would have liked, he's grateful he has eyes.

I hope you find him adorable as well and maybe he can give you a giggle.  This

Another Peek

time of year ushers in the stress of all the upcoming festivities and I know that I can forget just the joy of crafting.  I stress myself out about the cards I make.  My mind goes like this: are they good enough?  ...but that one has bled a bit out of line! ...did I make NanaConnie a nice enough card?  ...what on earth do I do for my mother?  On and on and on.  Then I can't sleep and that's it - everything is a horrible chaos.  So, this year, let's try to find the joy of crafting.  I hope you can find yours.  Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Vampire card in the following challenges:
Scrapy Land - 100th Challenge, Anything Goes w/ a Die Brand they Sell
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Halloween/Spooky
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Halloween/Spooky
Cut it Up - #159, CASE a card & Use Die cuts (The card I CASED is on the Frantic Stamper site; it was the card that inspired me to get the die - see 
below}
Moving Along with the Times - M, #83, Halloween
My Time to Craft - #382, Halloween
The Fairy & The Unicorn -M, Halloween/Use a Mythical Creature
Emerald Creek Dares - All the Things in the Night, #ECOCT2018
Fussy and Fancy - #223, Things with Wings
Crop Stop Linky Party - #44, Anything Goes with Plaid

Cut it Up CASED Card

This is a Design Team Project for Frantic Stamper - if you go to this link and scroll down, you'll see the examples that the DT used for this die

Have a Purrfect Halloween ~ 2018 Cat Lovers Hop Day 6 {LAST DAY!}

Thanks for joining me on the LAST Day, Day 6 of the Cat Lovers Hop 2018!

You can check out all the details here {link to the FAQ and Info page}, at Her Peaceful Garden {this is the link to the main hop page}! Hope you can join in, there are tons of fabulous prizes!  If you didn't get to enter the Hop, no worries! You can still go and comment on the entries for a chance to win - you have until Sunday, 11:59 PM to play!

Now the Hop is all done and we will have to wait until next year to play again.  I look forward to this hop every year and I want to that all the sponsors {scroll to about the middle of the page and check out ALL the sponsors; be sure to stop by & give them some love!} and especially Janis who works ALL year to put this together! And I can't forget the ladies who helped me work some magic behind the scenes - D.Ann and Karen Ladd. OK, on to the last card!

This card combines my two loves - cats and Halloween!  It was very easy to make and lots of fun.

What I Used to Make my Purrfect Halloween Card:
Black Card Base
DCWV Fall Cardstock Matstack Orange {retired}
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Hero Arts Luna the Halloween Cat Stamps, #CM202
Hero Arts Luna the Halloween Cat Dies, #DI433
White Card
Die-Versions Stitched Nesting Squares, #DV-572 {discontinued?}
Darice Gem Swirl Embossing Folder, #30008380
Dimensional Dots

I began this card by stamping the cats on white card with Jet Black ink - I stamped LOADS of them!  Then I cut them all with the coordinating dies and set them aside.  I fished around in my card stock and found the Orange background paper and ran it through my Big Shot with the embossing folder.  I didn't even know the card had a white core until after I embossed it.  It was a pleasant surprise and I like how the white just peeks out.  

My idea was to use the cats that hadn't been cut that well.  I don't always line up the die perfectly so some of my cuts come out wonky.  I needed the cats for a different card I was making, so using up the ones that would have gotten thrown

Another Look

away was a good idea {I'm going out on a limb here - anyone else feel badly when they are throwing out a person or an animal that isn't quite cut right?  I feel needlessly guilty; not because of the waste, but because it's a "living" thing.  So I'm the only one, huh? Shocking.}  I rifled through the cats and picked out the ones for this card.

I layered them on the background, leaving two flat and two popped up with dimensional dots.  Then I cut the sentiment out with the square die and popped that up as well.  Glued the whole thing onto a black card and there ya go!  One easy Halloween card, ready to go!  And I bet you'd have never noticed that those cats weren't cut out purrfectly if I hadn't said anything! Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it more than you know! Christi

I would like to enter my Purrfect Halloween Card in the following challenges:
2018 Cat Lovers Hop
Sweet Stampin' - Humor
Crafty Catz - Halloween
CAS on Friday - #144, Make a Fall or Halloween Card
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Halloween/Spooky
CASology - #318, Scary {see cue card below}
Die Cuttin Diva's - #392, Halloween {entry 2}

CASology

Purr More, Hiss Less - Cat Lovers Hop Day 5

As you know if you are a regular reader, I love cats.  I love cats to the point I am almost a Cat Lady {although, I can't understand why that has such bad connotations - I've been called so much worse.}  I even have a page on this blog dedicated to my cats, the Fabulous Feline Five.  Go ahead. take a look, I'll wait.  Now that you're back, I hope you enjoy this kitty card that I made for the Cat Lovers Blog Hop, held every year at Her Peaceful Garden.  

Thanks for joining me on Day 5 of the Cat Lovers Hop 2018!

You can check out all the details here {link to the FAQ and Info page}, at Her Peaceful Garden {this is the link to the main hop page}! Hope you can join in, there are tons of fabulous prizes!

There are a plethora of pretty kitty prizes, so I urge you to take some time and join in the fun!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
10 Window Die from Uniquely Creative, #UCD1764
Hero Arts Purr Stamps, #CM181
Hero Arts Purr Dies, #DI366
Papertry Ink, Everyday Cat Sentiments, #2884
Watercolor Cardstock {I use Strathmore Ready Cut}
Zig Clean Color Markers
Gray Card
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black

As I often do when I get a new stamp set, I had stamped, colored, and cut them out long before I had a card in mind.  I figure you can never have too many cats ready to pop onto a card and I always have all kinds ready to go.  I had so much fun coloring these fur babies there is NO doubt you'll be seeing them on many more of my cards.  

The panel was cut from gray card using a new die from Uniquely Creative.  They are a new company to me and I lucked out by finding them in my local scrapbook/stamp store which features used items.  I did find them online and I am certain you can buy them from numerous online stores.  Once the panel was cut, I saved the interior squares because you just never know and I am so glad I did!  While choosing which cats I would use, I decided only five really fit the card, so I used the scrap squares to fill in the squares without cats.  

Then I placed the chosen cats in various places in the open squares, including the long square.  Next to the stretched out kitty is where I stamped my sentiment.  The set of sentiments was my very first purchase from Papertrey Ink so this card is packed with items I've used for the first time.  In fact, it's the first time I used the cats and dies from Hero Arts, too.

I hope you find some time to join us for the Cat Lovers Blog Hop.  Janis, who runs Her Peaceful Garden blog, always has some fun photos and quips and she's lined up more sponsors than ever! So, get out your kitty stuff and play along! Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Purr More, Hiss Less card in the following challenges:
2018 Cat Lovers Hop
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Use a Little Humor
Aud Sentiments - Use a Funny Sentiment
Southern Girls Challenge - Critter Crazy
Scrapy Land - M, Anything Goes w/ a Brand Die they sell
Time Out Challenges - Use Words to Inspire You {see below} - I am forever grateful for my kitties and this card reminds me to be grateful to others.  Kitties also make me SO happy!

Time Out Challenges

Sympathy. . 2018 Cat Lovers Hop, Day 4

Thanks for joining me on Day 4 of the Cat Lovers Hop 2018!

You can check out all the details here {link to the FAQ and Info page}, at Her Peaceful Garden {this is the link to the main hop page}! Hope you can join in, there are tons of fabulous prizes!  This is a sad one, so get some tissues 😢

My two best friends in the whole world lost their pets in a two week time span.  Tom had to put his dog, Bear, down due to a suspected tumor in his spinal column.  Rather suddenly, Bear, who was about 5 years old and 17 pounds, stopped jumping to greet people, he wouldn't get on the couch, wouldn't eat, and generally seemed to be in a bad way.  Not two days after he began to exhibit these symptoms, Tom noticed that he was beginning to drag his hind legs.  Unfortunately, the tumor had grown and was now either pressing on his spine or a disc and essentially paralyzing him.  There was nothing that could be done. 

Diane's cat was 17 years old and she had stomach cancer.  Kitteny went to meet Bear and all the others a week after her diagnosis.  Now, Tom is a "manly man" and I know he would not appreciate a sympathy card {plus, he & I live about 15 minutes from each other} while Diane lives back East and I know she needs all the support she can get. I needed to express my feelings about both of these unfortunate events, so I made Diane a card.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
KaiserCraft Fairy Garden, 6.5" x 6.5" pad, #PP1039
Distress Ink in Hickory Smoke
Simon Says Stamp, Pawprints on our Hearts Stamp Set, #SSS101425
Simon Says Stamp With Sympathy Die, #SSSD111360
Grey Card
Altenew Modern Cats Stamps & Dies {already colored and cut}

I was pleased that I had the beautiful clouds paper - I felt it worked perfectly with the message I was trying to convey.  I had colored and stamped the cat long ago {as I tend to stamp and color more card pieces than I need - I've ruined far too many projects when I don't have extras!} so once I glued the patterned paper to the white card, then put it under the infamous tile I have on my desk to dry overnight, I decided what I wanted to stamp onto the card, the ink I wanted to use, and cut out the "with sympathy" sentiment, I was done until later.

Once that card base was dry and checked for naughty peeling paper, I stamped directly onto the upper left corner of the card "Cats leave pawprints on our hearts" and glued the "with sympathy" die cut to the bottom right hand corner. 

The cat was put across from the die cut and she was glued down as well.  I have to confess, I have a terrible phobia of stamping directly onto papers when  I have a limited supply of them, and thank goodness I used my Stamp Platform.  I can't even begin to tell you how many things I messed up in the old days due to the placement being crooked or the ink not being dark enough, or not fully filled in.  I am slowly starting to realize that these fabulous inventions, whichever kind you favor, aren't going to let you fail if you take the time to line things up; you can stamp as much as needed without worrying about the ink not completely transferring to your paper.  Wish *I* had thought about {and invented things} to make our lives {as crafters} easier!

I did use the stamp that comes with the Altenew set inside the card.  It just reads "So sorry about the loss of your Cat", but I was so anxious to get this into the mail {it took her birthday card 3 months to get to her but another item I mailed only three days!} since I didn't know if it was going on the same trip as her birthday card or not, that I forgot to take a quick picture.  No worries as you can click the link above, under How I Made my Card, and see all the sentiments that both these fantastic sets offer.  Regardless of the sad nature of the card, I do like it.  I think the gray compliments the colors in the sky very well.  What do you think? Do you have a standard Sympathy card? 

Even though this isn't a happy card, Diane loved it.  I am going to enter it into the Cat Lovers Hop that is held every year by Janis who owns Her Peaceful Garden.  It's a fabulous hop, with tons of great prizes and cat cards!  I hope you can join us - I'll be playing every day from October 22 to the 27, 2018.

Thanks for stopping by! Christi

I am entering my Sympathy card in the following challenges:
2018 Cat Lovers Hop
The House that Stamps Built - #02418, Anything Goes
Crafty Creations - #377, Anything Goes
TTCRD - Always Anything Goes
SUYP - #35, Anything Goes with a Cat
CraftyHazelnut's Pattern Paper Challenge - M, Anything Goes
Sunny Day Crafting - M, Anything Goes w/Animals