Cats & Houseplants!!

Hey everyone!

Finally had some time to sit down and make something! I'll tell you, I always knew that crafting had a calming effect on me but until I couldn't do any of it did I realize how much more it does for my mental health! Boy am I crabby when I can't play with some paper, stamps, dies and markers! I tried to keep it inside since I had a house guest and I didn't want him to feel uncomfortable, but it was not pretty.  But, take a breath, because all is calm and I have my room to myself again.  I am still no where near settled in, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I was lucky enough to get my taxes and stimulus money in the same week and I went shopping! One of the items I bought was the My Favorite Things Cats and Houseplants kit {sold out now, but available separately} and I have had SO much fun playing with this kit! The card I am posting today is the first card I made with the kit:

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
MFT Wallpaper Patterns Paper Pad
MFT Housecats Stamp Set
Die-Namics Housecats Die Set
Die-Namics Window Dressing Die Set
Die-Namics Cats & Plant Perches Die Set
VersaMark Ink
Super Fine Black Embossing Powder
White Card {curtains}
Various Colors of Brown Card {plant stems, curtain holder and border on top & bottom of card}
Various Colors of Green Card {leaves}
Scraps of Card {plant holders}
Watercolor Paper {I use this}
Zig Clean Color Brush Markers
Gina K Amalgam Ink Pad in Obsidian Ink 

If you follow me on any social media then you will know that I am a serious cat lover; I do love every animal {except spiders, but they aren't really an animal are they?} but cats have a huge place in my heart.  I grew up in a house with 5 cats and 3 dogs and my mom was an avid gardener both inside and outside, so when I saw this set, and especially the cat in the plant hanging from the ceiling, I knew I had to have it.  As usual, I began by stamping, coloring and cutting all the needed items and I also covered the front of my card with the brick patterned paper found in the paper pad.  I added a strip of dark brown card to the top & the bottom of the card to ground it a bit. I also cut out the window dressing items {I used a scrap of pre-made sky that I had made using oxide inks and a splatter of metallic watercolor paint - I figured it could be snowing outside, or raining or it could even be the stars you see through the window, your choice!} and I trimmed the curtains some. I then cut out the two perches and started placing the items I had to ensure they'd all fit on the card where I wanted them to.  Next I stamped and embossed the sentiment and glued everything down.  

I enjoyed making this card so much that I made a whole bunch of houseplants using nothing but the dies; stay tuned as those cards will be on the blog soon.  I hope this post finds you all happy and healthy! Thanks so much for reading my little tutorial.

Fondly,
Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
The Cutie Pie Challenge Blog, #158 - It's Raining Cats & Dogs!
Happy Little Stampers - April Anything Goes with  Watercolor Challenge
Happy Little Stampers - April Anything Goes with Dies Challenge
Shopping Our Stash, #433 - Plant Life
SUYP, #65 - Furrything Goes
Unicorn Challenge, #64 - Include an Animal
Crafty Animals, #49 - Anything Goes w/ an Animal
Moving Along with the Times, #129 - Animals/Birds
NBUS Challenge, #25 - Anything Goes as Long as it is Never Used Before

 

 

Happy Spring!

Hello everyone,

Since moving I have found {and am STILL finding!} a bunch of craft and card making items that I'd forgotten all about.  Some of it needs new homes and some of it needs to be used! I found this package of white flowers I had gotten from the Dollar Tree ages ago and that is how this card started!

What I Used to Make my Card:
5" x 7" white card base
DCWV 180 Floral Fair Cardstock Stack {available but not on the DCWV site}
Tutti Rose Frame Die, #TUTTI-178
Tutti Birdies Trio, #TUTTI-102
Distress Oxide Inks in Peeled Paint, Tumbled Glass, Tattered Rose and Brushed Corduroy
Lawn Fawn Tree Before 'n Afters Stamp Set, #LF2018
Picket Fence Studio Blending Brushes, 6 pack
White Flowers from Dollar Tree {any small white flowers will work}
Die-Namics Stitched Fishtail Banners

Product I Used

As I said, finding these flowers inspired me to actually USE them, so I started going through my dies and found the two from Tutti Designs that sing "spring" to me.  Instead of deciding on which one to use, I decided to use both; I like how the Birdies Trio fits in the Rose Frame.  Next came the paper I was going to use; I had previously looked through my patterned paper {the cover of the exact stack I used is pictured} and pulled out a few sheets I liked.  Luckily, in the same paper pad, there was a yellow shade of paper that matched my chosen design wonderfully.  I started the card by cutting the frame out of my previously picked paper, then the birds out of the matching yellow.  One thing to remember when using dies from across the pond, they may not

The Dies

fit our standard card sizes, so I moved to a 5" x 7" card base and centered the frame and birds and glued them to the base.  I colored the flowers with the Distress Oxide Inks {I love the fact that you can make these inks as dark or as light as you want to; I inked the flowers with a small blending brush until the color matched the patterned paper!}, cleaned off the center gems so they'd sparkle. Lastly, I finished off the card with the sentiment that I had stamped onto white card, using the Brushed Corduroy ink,  and then cut with a stitched fishtail banner.  

Detail Close Up

These colors are outside of my comfort zone, I typically
struggle with pastel colors. This year I am trying to step out of my comfort zone and experiment with making projects that include colors, techniques, and subjects I am not comfortable with {I am actually going to USE the items I've purchased to make a light up card!} and I would love it if you'd join me on this journey!  Thanks SO much :)

Fondly,

Christi

 

Don't forget to come join in the fun at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog. There's a new challenge
theme offered on the 1st and 15th of each month and one lucky randomly drawn winner will receive a gift voucher prize to the Dies R Us Store.  

   For your convenience, all the important Dies R Us links are provided below.

 click below for:

STORE

CHALLENGE BLOG

FACEBOOK

INSPIRATION BLOG 

FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Always Fun, #209 - Pastel Colors
Dreamvalley Challenges, #245 - Springtime
Use Your Stuff, #420 - Spring/Easter
Crafty Catz, #546 - Anything Goes
The Flower Challenge, #55 - Pretty Pastels
Moving Along with the Times, #129 - Animals/Birds {I used birds}
Inspiration Station, #3 - Photo Inspiration = Love the beautiful, soft flowers & that inspired me to use soft colors on my card.

Sending Wishes. . . with Dies R Us

Happy Wednesday! I am thrilled to be back on the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog Design Team; Dies R Us is a fabulous store that has so many other things besides dies, I do hope you will go have a look and don't forget to enter the fortnightly anything goes giveaway!  Spring is FINALLY here in Colorado, sort of.  We have been having 80 degree days, and then 60 degree days - still, it isn't rain or snow, so I'm a happy girl :) If you are a regular reader you know I am in love with Lawn Fawn and I pretty much buy every new thing they come out with {I'm happy, wallet is NOT happy!} because I just have to have it! Here is a new spring card I made with some of their products :) 

What I Used to Make my Card
White Card Base
Lawn Fawn Dandy Day stamps, #LF2217
Lawn Fawn Dandy Day dies, #LF2218
Lawn Fawn Spiffy Speckles Petite Paper Pad, #LF1868
Lawn Fawn Stitched Windy Backdrop, #LF1425
Lawn Fawn Grassy Border die, #LF613
Lawn Fawn Fancy Wavy Banners, #LF1923
Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 17, #S5-025
White Card {for frame}
Clear Wink of Stella 
Watercolor Paper {I use this}
Zig Clean Color Brush Markers 
Gina K Amalgam Ink Pad in Obsidian Ink
Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive Glue

You can see the sparkle a bit in this photo

I stamped, colored and cut all of the components, ran a pretty piece of Spiffy Speckles through the die machine using the windy backdrop {if you look close, the mice seem to be speckled too; before I cut them out I had used a bleach clean up product on my desk and got the speckled mice, not on purpose, but a fun accident. Kind of different!} I framed the background with white card cut out using Labels 17 and before I glued it down, I pieced the scene together.  I went over all the dandelions with clear sparkles to give the card a bit of pizazz, you can't really see it in the pictures but it's there.  I glued all the pieces onto the background, added the banner with the sentiment and I was done.  This was such fun card to make and I love that the flowers are included with the set as coloring grey {hmmmm, rainbow mice? Sounds like a plan to me! Oh! How about some pastel mice to help usher in spring!?!} mice all day can get really boring!

I hope you enjoyed my mini tutorial {truthfully, I run out of ways to word them and honestly, who is going to read this that needs a how to? But it is my way of blogging, so you are stuck with it! I like to blog like you & I are having a conversation so that's what I do!} and you are getting some signs of spring in your neck of the woods.  I appreciate you guys so much and your comments give me the push I sometimes need to continue with my hobby.  Please continue to be careful as the world slowly begins to open back up! Fondly, Christi

  

Don't forget to come join in the fun at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog. There's a new challenge theme offered on the 1st and 15th of each month and one lucky randomly drawn winner will receive a gift voucher prize to the Dies R Us Store.  

   For your convenience, all the important Dies R Us links are provided below.

 click below for:

STORE

CHALLENGE BLOG

FACEBOOK

INSPIRATION BLOG 

FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

I am entering my card into the following challenges:
Moving Along with the Times, #129 - Animals/Birds
Crafty Animals, #49 - Anything Goes w/ an Animal
Crafty Calendar Challenge - Spring and/or Easter
Make my Monday, #145 - Spring and/or Easter
Try it on Tuesday - Hello Spring
Lawn Fawnatics, #98 - Happy Spring

 

 

Party Like it's 1922!

I have been a fan of Hero Arts since I started stamping and when they came out with their My Monthly Hero kit I HAD to subscribe!! I've been crafting for a long time and the value of these kits amazes me every month!  With moving {again!} and helping my friend pack his home and prepare for his move cross country, plus all the fun things life throws at you {like needing a new car and a kitty with tooth issues!} I haven't been able to play with the kits as much as I'd like to, but I did manage to make a cool retro card with the kit from February {the stencil in this kit is calling my name!} I think this card is especially relevant since we have all been inside all winter and now it's getting warmer; puts me in the mood to PAR TAY! 

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Black Cardstock
Gold Card
Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Kit, February 2019
Hero Arts Gold Embossing Powder, #PW100
Wink of Stella Clear
Die-Namics Stitched Fishtail Sentiment Strips
Krylon Gold Leafing Pen
Dimensional Dots

I glued the sized, black card to the base, then attached the background piece which I cut out of gold card.  I kept the largest piece from the background cut and glued that back into the center of the card.  The dancers were embossed with the gold embossing powder, as was the sentiment on the banner.  I cut the banner and dancers and attached them to the card, using dimensional dots for the banner.  It was then I decided to add some sparkle with the Wink of Stella pen in clear.  

I learned something - don't start with an old pen and finish with a new pen! The difference between the sparkle was very evident, so I went over the spaces with the new pen.  Honestly, it would have been easier if I had gone over the black panel before putting the background die cut on, but I rarely do things the easy way!  When inspiration strikes, you need to listen!  I also decided to lightly edge the banner in gold after it was attached to the card - not the brightest move, but it came out better than expected.  Leafing pens used to be all the rage and that is what we used to use to make alcohol ink backgrounds {called Polished Stone back in the day} before companies released all the cool mix ins formulated specially for alcohol inks.  The pens can be costly, I've seen them up to $10 apiece {I've also seen them for under $6}, but they last such a very long time I feel they are worth the price.  Plus, I use them for other things than just art - I've used my silver leafing pen to touch up jewellery {the leafing pen is duller than polished silver, but I've put clear coat on the touched up spots and it blends in fine} and many other uses that escape me at the moment.  

Anyway, this card is so festive and while it is traditionally a birthday card, I think I could send it out to anyone needing a lift.  I hope you like it as much as I do!  Are you on social media?  I am and I would love it of you'd give me a follow.  If you do decide to subscribe to me, please leave me a comment so I can return the favor!  Thanks so much for reading,and have a fabulous day!  Fondly, Christi

 

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
TTCRD - Anything Goes
Pammie's Inky Pinkies, #2114 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Layer It
A Place to Start, #4 - Anything Goes & Make it Elegant
Crazy for Challenges, #578 - Party Themed Card

Thanks for reading all of this and stay safe & healthy!!

Spring has Sprung at The Paper Funday Challenge!

Hello everyone!

First, sorry this is late!! Moving has got my life all upside down!! For my Paper Funday Design Team card this month I used a card I made a while back, but hadn't decided what sentiment to use. The Paper Funday Challenges are always "Anything Goes" and I used the April Twist of Spring has Sprung! When I made this I hadn't played with stencils in so long that I wasn't even sure how the card was going to turn out, however, I'm happy with it and I hope you like it too! 

 What I Used to Make my Card:
5" x 7" White Card Base
Hero Arts Large Flower Stencil, #SA069
Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Inks in Worn Lipstick, Dried Marigold, Squeezed Lemonade, Cracked Pistachio, Tumbled Glass and Seedless Preserves
Neat & Tangled "Hello Spring" Die {retired but available}
White Card
Purple Card

It was so easy to make this card and the background came out so well that I have been ordering more stencils to play with! I hope to be able to show you more cards using stencils and ink blending; it's one of those techniques that looks complicated but is SO easy to do! I began by blending Oxide inks {using the "make up" blending brushes that I am absolutely in love with!} in the middle of the flower and worked my way to the outside of the stencil.  I used Purple Tape to hold the stencil onto the paper and, if I had known how pretty it was going to come out, I would have stenciled directly onto the card base but, being unsure, I used another sheet of regular heavy weight cardstock. Once I removed (and cleaned thoroughly) the stencil, I trimmed the design down a bit and centered it on the 5" x 7" card.  I rarely use other sizes than A2 {5 1/2 x 4 1/4} but lately I've been so inspired by the slimline cards I have made a bunch of larger cards; postage isn't an issue since I plan on hand delivering them.

Once the background was finished, I let it set overnight {honestly, I don't know if this is necessary, but I felt like I could somehow rub the Oxides and ruin the stencil and I didn't want to take any chances. I am happy to say the ink has stayed put with no problem} and then started searching for a sentiment. I recently changed my stamps & dies storage system from sorting "by manufacturer" to "by season", "occasion" etc, and I found so many products I'd never used simply because I had forgotten I had them and this word die was one of the "finds".  I cut the shadow of the die out using white card and the inner piece using light purple, to match the ink colors.  This simple sentiment fits this card perfectly as I didn't want to obscure too much of the design and I have plenty of room to write anything else on the inside of the card.  I hope this inspires you to get some stamps and what not out that you haven't played with for a while {maybe even forgot you had like I did!} and give them some love. I'm glad I did! 

Thank you SO much for stopping by and I hope to see you in the May Paper Funday Challenge! 

Fondly, Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
A Bit More Time to Craft, #137 - Anything Goes
The Crafters Cafe, #263 - Anything Goes
Creatalicious Challenges, #208 - Anything Goes w/ Option of Flower(s)
MIUCB, #48 - Anything Goes & No Stamping
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Easter/Spring
Try it on Tuesday - Hello Spring!
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Easter/Spring
Make My Monday, #145 - Easter/Spring
Stamps & Fun = Creativity, #386 - Spring and/or Easter
Make the Cards, #10 - Colors

Thanks!!!