Time Spent with Cats ~ 2018 Cat Lovers Hop, Day 1

First, let me say it's FINALLY here - 2018 The Cat Lovers Hop begins today!! My favorite time of year and my favorite animals - it's a win win!!  On to my card!

I found this stamp while searching Pinterest for something completely different.  I've never owned a Stamping Bella stamp; for some reason I thought they only had digital stamps.  Well, I found out how much they really have and I already have a wish list a mile long.  I'm tickled that this card came out the way it did; almost exactly how I pictured it in my mind!  And it was so fun to color!

What I Used to Make my Card:

White Card Base

Watercolor Paper

Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black

Stamping Bella, Tiny Townie Courtney Loves Kitties, #669

Die-Namics Wonky Stitched Rectangle STAX

Tim Holtz/Ranger Oxide Inks

Zig Clean Color Markers

Dimensional Dots

I wanted to try something different with this card.  Since I typically purchase matching die cuts with my stamps, and this time I didn't, I needed to figure out 

The first layer of Oxides

a way to get some color onto the background.  What I did was lay the stamp onto the watercolor paper and used the ink blending tool to frame ink around the stamp.  When I picked the stamp up, I continued to use the Oxide Inks around, using all different colors {which I neglected to write down - sorry} and fill the watercolor paper with color.  I didn't use the Distress Sprayer this time; I just left the inks as they were. 

Then I used my stamp platform to position the stamp right where it needed to be, stamped it with the Jet Black Ink, and then colored the image with my Zig Markers and a detail water brush.  Once I had the image colored, I used the rectangle die to cut it out, used dimensional dots to adhere it onto my card base, sat back and admired my work.  

Another Look

This stamp is so far away from what my style was when I first began stamping; I'm glad I saved pictures of my old work {and no, I am not sharing them!} because when I get discouraged and feel that I'm never going to get any better at this hobby, I look back and realize that I've improved so much, and I wasn't even trying!  I'm much more open to all types of stamps now; before I was wary of anything with a person in it, a sentiment that wasn't a stand alone stamp, and oh boy, did I fight against clear stamps!  I hope you have some of your older creations to review, just to see how you have evolved as a crafter, if nothing else.  Thanks so much for visiting me, I am very grateful! I'll be back tomorrow with another kitty card! Fondly, Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
2018 Cat Lovers Hop
Crafty Animals - M, #19, Anything Goes with Animals
Lost Coast Portal to Creativity - M, #63, Cats & Dogs
The Artistic Stamper - M, Inktober (stamp)
Simons Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Animal Antics
Cardz TV - #70, Anything Goes

Lost Coast Portal to Creativity