Sarcastic Kitties - Cat Lovers Blog Hop DAY 1!

I know I haven't been around lately - life has gotten a bit hectic, but I am still creating! Stay tuned for some goodies to be posted very soon! 

I am excited to be able to participate in the Cat Lovers Blog Hop 2022 (the link will take you to the main page that has ALL the info)! I love this event and look forward to it ALL year! Janis, the event owner and coordinator puts on a FANTASTIC hop with TONS of prizes :) I hope you will join us!

I missed this stamp set during Simon Says Stamp's STAMPtember 2021 event & I was heartbroken! I mean the set has everything I love in it - snarkiness and cats! I was lucky enough to find one for about what I would of paid for it if I'd caught the set; I happened to be looking for it on eBay and people are insane - listing these sets for at least $100!! The Tim Holtz one is going for even more than that! But I digress. . .here is my first creation with the Sarcastic Kitties stamp & die set from Simon Says Stamp and Picket Fence (sadly no longer available, but rumor has it if you bug Simon Says Stamp enough, they might re-release it!)

I used DCWV Playful Pets (not on DCWV website, but readily available) paper and Tutti Designs Nesting Stitched Scallop Squares to cut the sentiment out after I stamped it on white card. The cat and the furball heart are stamped in black ink on watercolor paper and colored in with my Zigs. I cut them out with the coordinating dies.  I used a white card base, covered it with the patterned paper, used a strip of the other side of the same paper and made a little square for the furball heart.  I attached everything together and this is what I came up with. I appreciate each and every comment & visit - thank you SO much :) Fondly, Christi

Happy Hopping!! 

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Cat Lovers Blog Hop
We Love Stamping - Colors of Autumn
4 Season Challenge, #61 - Pets
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - October
NBUS, #43 - Neve Before Used Schtuff, October
Use Your Stuff, #469 - Die Cuts
Addicted to Stamps & More, #440 - Die Cuts and/or Stencils
Crazy for Cats Challenge, #1 - Anything Furrything Goes
SUYP, #82 - October Anything Furrything Goes

Family Challenge at Paper Funday!

Hello everyone! Today is the start of the May challenge at Paper Funday and our optional theme is FAMILY.  I had a few options in my mind for this challenge, but decided to go with a family of cats; if you follow me on any social media I am always posting pictures of my cats (I have eight which is why I found this sentiment to be particularly fitting)  and talking about their crazy antics! I hope you enjoy my card:

I started with a handmade slimline base in white and covered that with the brick paper (this paper is from a pack I got in a bundle from My Favorite Things & I couldn't find it on their website) for the wall and used dark blue cardstock for the floor; pretending it's carpet, to give the illusion of a room.  Then I used my favorite black ink on watercolor paper and stamped all of the cats as well as all of the other items I used in my scene.  The sentiment was stamped on white card scrap and cut out with a fishtail banner die.  I colored everything with my Zig markers, cut out all the items and glued them to the card.  I had found a wooden heart embellishment with a paw cut out (discontinued product)  which I covered with Foundry gilded wax and being it a flat piece, I added some Diamond Glaze to seal the heart otherwise the wax just flakes off - it needs dimension to stay on something.  I watched the Tim Holtz video on Foundry wax and I had to get ALL the colors after I tried out the gold.  The pictures don't do this product justice - it really is amazing!  The heart was the last thing I attached to the card and it was finished.

I hope you enjoyed my card and maybe it will help you think of different ways family can be interpreted.  And most of all, I hope to see you join in at the Paper Funday challenge for May! Thanks so much, Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Krafty Chicks, #610 - Stamp Act
DreamValley Challenges, #269 - 4 Legged Friends
Critter Crazy Challenges, #62 - Anything Goes w/ Critters
Crafty Friends, #155 - Animals
The Diva's That Cut - Anything Goes
Country View Challenges - Cats and/or Dogs

Winter's Night Shadow Box Card

I made this card for the Paper Funday January Challenge, which is anything goes or a winter landscape - not surprisingly, I went with the optional theme. I love making these Lawn Fawn shadow cards!  And the fact that they fold flat to make mailing easier {and cheaper!} is so cool.  I actually found the base of the shadow box already cut in a pile of papers on my desk so I took it as a sign and whipped up this card! 

 

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card
Lawn Fawn Happy Village stamps, #LF1591
Lawn Fawn Happy Village dies, #LF1592
Lawn Fawn Winter Skies stamps, #LF1763
Lawn Fawn Winter Skies dies, #LF1764 
Lawn Fawn Shadow Box Card dies, #LF1486
Lawn Fawn Starry Skies dies, #LF1377
Dark Blue Shimmer Card
White Shimmer Card
Silver Glitter Card
Watercolor Paper {I use this}
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Red Liner Tape
Zig Clean Color Brush Markers

I wanted this card to have a starry night so I cut a piece of shimmer, dark blue card, cut stars out of the silver glitter card, attached the stars to the

Stars from the top of the card

background, and set aside.  I had cut the middle pieces of the card {where all the components sit} out of white shimmer card.  It's hard to see in the photos but it's very pretty.  I set all the shadow box card pieces aside.  

I stamped all of my houses and trees onto watercolor card and colored them with my Zigs.  Once they had dried I cut them out with the coordinating dies.  I then assembled the card.  I could go through step by step, but Lawn Fawn has a wonderful video that tells you exactly how to make this card so if you are wondering what the exact process is, or want to see the construction, just click HERE.   In the video they use white tape, the type you can tear, but I've found the red liner tape works the best for me.  I guess it is all what you prefer.  However, wet adhesive would really present a problem trying to hold everything together properly so you do need to use some sort of tape.

The bright colors of the houses really pop against my night sky.  I'm very happy with how this card came out especially considering I wasn't even planning on making it! Hopefully this inspires you to join in the challenge at Paper Funday!  I hope you enjoyed my card as well.  Stay warm out there and I will see you soon!  Fondly, Christi

 

I am entering my Winter's Night Card in the following challenges:
Shopping our Stash, #461 - Something beginning with S (Stars!!)
4-Season Challenge Blog, #52 - Cottages
Inspiration Station, #21 - Winter Cityscape
Dies R Us Challenge, #184 - Anything Goes with a Company they Carry
Sparkles Christmas Challenge - A Winter's Scene
Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes with Option of Dies

Peace & Happiness

I found this card among my blog drafts - I made it long ago, but never published it.  Well, I think this is a good time to publish this card with all the recent events as I wish all my fellow humans & furbabies health, peace & happiness now & forever. 

When I first began card making, Asian design was all the rage.  We used anything Asian {often mixing countries and regions} on our cards; joss papers, hell money, pieces from advertisements, newspapers, book text, and anything even remotely Asian looking.  I've used more than one take out menu on my cards!  Even replicated coins found their way onto our cards.  I still have a fabulous supply of Asian papers, rubber stamps, trinkets, tassels, papers, coins and charms, and most of the items can be found on eBay, Etsy, or in small craft stores.  There are even a few stamp companies who still make beautiful Asian stamps, Hero Arts being one of them, and I'm lucky to still have many of my wood mounted, red rubber, Asian stamps.  When I received this stamp and die set, it brought back so many memories of the gorgeous creations my fellow crafters would make that I just had to play with it.  I hope you like what I've designed!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Blue and Silver Asian Background Paper {stash}
Hero Arts Japanese Wishing Garden Stamp & Die Combo, #SB148 {retired but available}

Watercolor Paper {I use this}

Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black

Zig Clean Color Brush Markers
Distress Ink in Blue Jean
Alchemy Petal Point Inks from Colorbox {I used the silver ink petal}

Once I had stamped four buildings on watercolor paper and colored them with my Zig markers, I set them aside to dry so I could cut them.  While waiting, I stamped the cloud element and the butterfly a few times on scrap white card

See the sparkle!

using silver ink.  I attached a strip of the decorative paper to the white card base and cut out all my items.  I stamped the sentiment and arranged all the pieces to the card and the card was finished.  I wish you could see the sparkle of the paper; it's raised a bit as if it is embossed {and it may be} and the shine is beautiful!  I have a major collection of this type of decorative papers gathered when I was certain I'd be hand binding books and I'd need them for the covers.  I still do hope to learn to do a hardcover binding but the papers are just waiting to be used, so I snipped a bit for this card.  

This card brings me feelings of peace; it's part of my promise to make more "any occasion" cards that I can just mail out - no birthday or holiday needed.  I

Another Look

am my own worst enemy and will find things wrong with a special occasion card so I tend to let slide on a "just thinking of you" card. I'm getting back to the roots of card making.  I want to have fun with my creations and not worry so much about them being perfect.  As I often say, if it was perfect it would be 'store bought'!  I hope my story has prompted you to drag out some of that old paper, especially that paper you are saving {for what!?!} and some of the stamps you haven't used in a while.  Or maybe purchase a new set in your "old" style; whatever works for you! Just create and have some fun!  Fondly, Christi


I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Classic Design Challenge, #12 - Anything Goes
Cute as a Button,  #75 - Anything Goes option: Vintage Feel
Krafty Chicks, #588 - Stamp Act
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Christmas/Holidays
Addicted to Stamps and More, #419 - Any Occasion
Everybody Art Challenge, #503 - Blue & White
Inspired By Challenge, #198 - Inspired by the Graphic {Blue & White are my FAV colors!}

Paper Funday with CAS-ual Friday Stamps!

 Hi all! Welcome to my monthly design team post for Paper Funday.  Since I am not skilled at using digi stamps I typically don't use the products that our sponsors give us to play with but this time we are sponsored by CAS-ual Fridays and I got to play with a set I've had for a while.  Remember, our challenge is always anything goes, with an optional twist and this month the option is Thanks/Grateful.  I am thankful and grateful for coffee, so my card fits both using the sponsors products and the optional theme!  

I used a white card base and cut out a brown border using a die from Lawn Fawn.  I stamped the sentiment using the CAS-ual Friday Coffee Talk stamp set using my favorite black ink and the word coffee using Hero Arts Cocoa Ink {I received the ink in a My Monthly Hero kit and it isn't available separately right now} right on the card.  I finished by cutting the coffee cup out of Your Next Stamp's paper pad Crazy for Coffee {if you look close you can see there is a tiny coffee bean with the word coffee circling it that makes the pattern - too cute!} and the coffee out of light brown card.  I popped the cup up with dimensional dots and added some iridescent pearls I had in my stash. 

You still have plenty of time to join in and play with Paper Funday this month - who knows, you just might win some goodies! Thanks so much for stopping by & see you soon! Christi  

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
CAS on Friday, #217 - Coffee
Ellibelle's Corner - Use Die Cuts and/or Punches
Allsorts Challenge, #648 - Add a Sentiment
Creative Fingers Challenge, #218 - Anything Goes
A Bit More Time to Craft Extra - Anything Goes
DL Art - Anything Goes

CAS on Friday's Inspiration Photo

 

CLBH Life will be Purr-fect!! {DAY 5}

And yet another card for the Cat Lovers Blog Hop! As most of you know I adore cats and I seem to collect cat stamps almost as easily as I collect actual cats (truthfully, if I had as many real cats as I do cat themed stamp sets I'd go out of my mind - I honestly don't know how people with children get anything done! Between feeding, scooping, loving, breaking up spats, brushing and attempting to cut nails I can barely get anything done. Parents you have my utmost respect!) Anyway, I think these little cats from My Favorite Things are so cute and this card allows me to show them all off properly!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Blue Star Paper, Lucky Prints from MFT {retired}
MFT Mini Meows Stamps, #CS-533
MFT/Die-Namics Mini Meows Dies Set, #MFT-1905
Watercolor Paper {I use this}
Zig Clean Color Brush Markers
Gina K Amalgam Ink Pad in Obsidian Ink
Uniquely Creative 10 Window Frame Die, #UCD1764

I began this card by stamping, coloring and cutting out the cats.  I wanted the colors to be a bit muted, nothing that caused your eye to go to one particular cat so coloring them was quite easy and fast.  I set them aside to dry and cut out the 10 window frame using a retired patterned paper.  Positioning the sentiment in the very bottom of the card, in the largest window of the die, I stamped it directly onto the card base.  I attached the frame onto the card and filled in the other nine windows with the cats.

With all the nastiness floating around this card is perfect to send to someone you literally haven't seen and it shows you miss them.  At the same time, it's cute and hopefully will bring a smile to the face of the recipient.  I hope it brought a smile to your face, too!  Thanks for spending some of your time with me, stay safe and see you soon! Christi

I am entering my card into the following challenges:
Cat Lovers Blog Hop - Day 5
Art Impressions, #315 - Feline Crazy
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes (entry 2)
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Thinking of You
Happy Little Stampers Dies Challenge - Anything Goes w/ Dies (entry 2)
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge, #508 - Anything Goes

Oh Look! {WARNING Adult Humor}

 If you a regular reader of my blog, or a Facebook friend, you know I like some snarky stuff.  Well, a friend of mine knows how much I adore a bit of sass and she sent me a picture of this stamp set.  I loved it so much I HAD to buy it - I hope you get a laugh out of it; I sure did!

 WARNING: Adult Language to Follow - please do not continue if you are offended by naughty words!

 OK - if you haven't moved on by now you should be prepared for adult humor!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Whimsy Stamps, Meme Oh Look, #CWSD366
Patterned Paper from Authentique, DAME, 6" x 6" pad, #CDA011 {available}
Die-Namics Wonky Stitched Rectangle STAX
Watercolor Paper {I use this}
Zig Clean Color Brush Markers
Gina K Amalgam Ink Pad in Obsidian Ink

This was an easy card; what I did first was stamp the image directly onto some watercolor card, colored it with my Zigs then die cut it with the wonky rectangle die.  I wanted to make the card seem old fashioned so I picked a patterned paper that reminded me of the 1950's, trimmed it and attached that to the card base.  Finally I glued the image onto the card base and I was done! Judging from the number of people who commented on the stamp, and the others in Whimsy Stamps "Meme" collection I am not the only one who found the humor in this image!

I hope you like the card and got a chuckle out of it.  My biggest issue now is who do I send it to; and that's because I can think of SO many people who need this card! LOL Thanks for stopping by! Fondly, Christi 

I am entering my "Oh Look" card in the following challenges:
Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers, #196 - E is for Everything Pink {my cupcakes}
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper, - October Challenge
HLS Watercolor Challenge - October Challenge
Dragonfly Dreams - In the Pink {my cupcakes}
NBUS Challenge, #31 - October Challenge {3rd entry}

Sue WIlson Shaker Card

 Hi Dies R Us friends!! Today I am sharing an easy shaker card featuring a Sue Wilson Die. I hope you like it!

What I Used to Make this Card:
White Card Base
KaiserCraft Paper Pad, Rose Avenue, 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" {retired but available}
Sue Wilson Expressions Die, Hello, #CED5401 {out of stock, but this will work as well}
White Card
Foam Tape, doubled
Filler from Stash

This was an easy shaker card to make since the die I chose was rectangular; the hardest part

was cutting the foam tape!  I have a huge roll of foam tape I bought years ago at a convention and I consistently forget I have it; well, this time I remembered! Since the shaker fill has some little gems in it I doubled the foam tape, sticky side to sticky side, then cut it in about half to fit around the die thus allowing enough height for the fill to shake and not get stuck.  I chose sequins, gems and sparkly bits that didn't clash with the paper I covered the card base with. Once I made the shaker part of the card using the die cut, acetate, foam tape and the fill, I attached it to the base that I had covered with a pink paper with a geometric design lightly embossed on it, very pretty I think and the photos don't do it justice.

I certainly hope you enjoyed my card and that will encourage you to pull out some of your dies and make a card to join in on the monthly challenge; just be sure the die you use is from one of the companies Dies R Us carries {shouldn't be difficult, they carry everything!} and join in the fun!  Take care and stay safe! Until next time, 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

As I am stamping away with the NEW Lawn Fawn release I realized I hadn't entered this card in any challenges!! If my card doesn't meet the timeline for entering your challenge, please accept my apologies and delete it ~ Thanks!!  So, without further ado, I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Cardz TV, #150 - Anything Goes
Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes w/ Dies
Creations in Pink, #37 - Anything Goes in MAINLY Pink
Krafty Chicks, #578 - All Occasions
Creative Friday, #290 - Big Word as the Focus
A Place to Start, #9 - Patterned Paper
Creative Fingers, #215 - Anything Goes