Love has Four Paws

Good morning! I'm so glad you stopped by and I hope you like my most recent card for Die Cut Diva's.  This month's theme is Anything New and this image, provided by our sponsor, Bugaboo Digi Stamps is brand new; at least to me!  You still have a little time to enter this month and I hope to see you there!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Pink Card
Alcohol Ink Markers
Bugaboo Valentine Pup Set, #BUGVALPUPSET
Kat Scrappiness, Pet Sentiments dies
Darice Mini Hearts embossing folder, #1219223 {retired? Still available}
Tutti Scalloped Stitched Nesting Circles, #TUTTI-419
Altenew Enamel Dots, Red Cosmos, #ALT2591
Wink of Stella, Clear
Gelly Roll Gel Pen, Clear
Gelly Roll Gel Pen, White, #10 {I highly recommend the 3 pack}

I had printed this pup out on two different type of paper just to see if different

If you look close you can
see the sparkle on the
heart and a few around
the puppy.

paper printed better - I could see no difference.  I just grabbed the image closest to me and started to color away with my hodgepodge of alcohol ink markers; the reason I don't note the colors I've used is because I have such a mix of the markers half the time I'm not even sure which manufacturer I'm using!  The picture was colored and I added the white dots around the smaller heart {which is a different color than the large heart - I'm not sure if that is clear on your monitor}, some clear Wink of Stella around the large heart and I added some little sparkles around the dog with my clear gel pen.  

Once the image was colored I concentrated on the rest of the card.  I like the light pink background but it lacked something; the card needed more interest so I embossed the background paper with the mini hearts folder.  I trimmed that paper down and adhered it to my card base.  I then cut the dog out using the stitched scalloped circle die and cut the love out twice, using white and red card.  I inlaid the paw with the red pieces and glued that to the card.  Finally, just to add a bit more embellishing I finished off the card with three enamel dots on the lower right side; one of them blends in very well with

Another Look

the pink card so you might have to look for it.  

I am becoming more comfortable with using digital stamps and I still plan on learning how to use my alcohol markers properly.  I realized while coloring this image that alcohol ink markers use color to highlight and blend not a blender.  Might not sound like a breakthrough to you but I was happy; I felt as if I cracked one of the many secrets of using these markers.  I'd love to hear your secrets to using alcohol markers, please leave me a comment {complete with your info so I can return the blog love and visit you!} with your breakthroughs or tips and tricks, I could use all the help I can get!  As I said, there is still a bit of time to enter this Die Cut Diva's challenge, using the theme of Anything New,  but if you can't make this one there will be a brand new one tomorrow.  I hope to see you there! Fondly, Christi

I am a day late in adding my card to some challenges! I forgot I had this card scheduled :)
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - #23, M, Anything Goes w/ a Critter
Pearly Sparkles Challenge - #37, M, It's a LOVE thing
Dies R Us - #114, Use the Color Red
Color Crazy Challenge - Anything Colored Goes (week 4)
Creative Friday - #223, Love is in the Air
Cut it Up - #166, Hearts
Kat Scrappiness Challenge - Hearts

Anything New with Die Cut Diva's

Happy New Year! I hope your holiday season was wonderful!  Since it is a new year, Die Cut Diva's has chosen the January 2019 challenge to be Anything New and we are sponsored by the fabulous Bugaboo Digi's.  Bugaboo is offering a

$12 gift certificate to our winner; you can get some great digi's with that much credit!  For my Anything New entry I used these Altenew dies which are brand new and, honestly,  I probably would not have purchased them myself, so I consider them a new design for me as well.  They came in a box of stamps and dies I had bought from a designer; lots of popular designers get so much given to them and they typically design for more than one team, that they can't possibly use it all.  Now, since they can't resell the items {which I didn't know}, a few have put together charity boxes where they stuff as much product as they can into a box, sell the box, and then the proceeds go to their charity of choice.  It's a win for everyone; the designers get to clear out some stash, the buyer gets FANTASTIC deals on stuff, and the charity gets money!  

What I Used to Make My Card:
White Card Base
Grey,  White, Yellow, Red, Orange, Blue, Green & Purple Card
Altenew Shattered Triangles Die Set, #ALT2031
Die-Namics Fishtail Sentiments Strips Die
Altenew Painted Rose Stamps, #ALT1542
Wendy Vecchi Ink in Watering Can
Line Stitched Die {literally a metal line with a pattern on it - manufacturer unknown}
3mm Crystals
Orange Copic Marker

Click to make photo larger

The first step in making this card was cutting out all of the triangles.  I used the smaller set of dies and I first cut out the top of six triangles in white, which are actually the detailed dies in the picture, then cut out the bases, the solid die.  I made a "cheat" sheet of how the dies look so it would be easier for you to understand my references.  Then I cut out the colors using the detailed top again.  I chose muted primary colors - not exactly pastel but I didn't want the colors to be the focus of attention.  I wanted you to notice the intricate detailed "tops." 

Tons of Triangles

Once all the triangles were pieced together and glued, I set them aside.  I cut a panel from gray card and covered the white card base.  Then I used the fishtail die to cut a small banner.  The sentiment was stamped onto a scrap piece of white card.  I wanted some stitching on the sentiment panel but I don't have a die the right size; this is where the line dies come in handy.  I used the stitched one and put stitching on the top and bottom of the sentiment, tucked the gray banner under it, and attached those to the card.  While I was pleased with the triangles, I felt they need a little something more so I put matching gems on each one.  I didn't have an orange gem to match so I colored a clear one with an orange Copic marker.

Finally, after trying out many configurations, I decided to just glue the triangles

Another Peek

randomly onto the card.  I did keep the colors in rainbow order but I didn't place the triangles in any special manner.  I love this card and I'm already thinking of ways to use these triangles; I could cut them out in red and green for the holidays, metallics for special occasions, and tones of red for Valentine's Day!  Making this card has opened up so many possibilities for the geometric dies I have.  I'm thinking of how I could use all the shapes I have in different ways, other than just to mat images or sentiments.  

I hope your imagination has gotten a bit of a spark from this creation and you look at your geometric shape dies in a different way!  I especially hope to see your Anything New entry in this month's challenge.  It's the perfect time to try a new technique, new stamp set, and of course, new dies!  Thank you so much for stopping by!  I'd love to visit you back so be sure to leave your blog, Instagram and/or Pinterest link in your comment.  See you again soon!   Fondly, Christi

Since I posted this late, I am now entering my Card in the following challenges:
Fab 'n Funky - #422, New Beginnings {well, new product?}
City Crafter - #444, Give Piece a Chance
Cuttlebug Mania - New {new product}
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Use Something New
Make my Monday - #87, Use Words or a Sentiment
Challenge Up Your Life - #103, New {new product}
Papercraft Business Challenge - Anything Goes, option of New Beginnings 
Take It, Make It - M, Anything Goes
Cardz TV - #80, Anything Goes
Happy Little Stampers - Anything Goes w/ Dies

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

Mom's Birthday Card

This month for Not Just Cards Anything Goes theme, I decided to use my Happy Birthday card for my mother. I can't sleep so I figure maybe I will write up some long overdue posts.  If you are a regular reader, you know my mother is essentially blind; she can see shadows and a bit more on a good day.  In case you aren't familiar with my mom's sight issues, here is a quick rundown: she has advanced glaucoma and macular degeneration.  She stopped using her glaucoma medicine after she retired thinking Medicare wouldn't pay for the drops. By the time she let me know there was a problem, she had already lost a good bit of sight in her left eye.  For her birthday this year I made her a card she can touch and actually feel the layers of the flowers and leaves and, if it's a good day, hopefully see.  By the time you read this she will already have the card since her birthday is June 27th. I'm sure she loves it!   

What I Used to Make My Card:
Vanilla Card Base
Altenew Layered Rose Die, #ALT1787
Coordinating Shades of Red Card
Coordinating Shades of Green Card
Memory Box Happy Birthday, Upright Script, #99684
Dimensional Dots

I also wanted to share the versatility of this rose set - so I am going to show you some different combinations you can make with the dies.  Here is a little "cheat sheet" I made.  The dies are in this order; the outline, the detail, and the base die.  Don't forget, if you want to make the picture bigger, just click on it!

For example, this sample uses the base die and the detail die.

This rose uses the base and the outline die.

This leaf uses the outline die layered over the detail die.

The base die and the outline die were used to make this leaf.

And, finally, this leaf uses the base and the detail dies.

I'd say you get a good value with this set!  When I made the card, I used different shades of red for the roses and green for the leaves.  I began by cutting my lightest shade with of the base die, the middle color is a bit darker and I used the detail dies, and finally the darkest shade was used for the outline.  I glued all the pieces together and let them sit overnight under my

Another Peek

drying tile just to ensure they'd be nice and sturdy.  I layered the roses on a vanilla card blank, moving them to the left hand corner so I'd have room for my sentiment.  Also, I used dimensional dots to mount the last rose {it's the one closest to you} just to give the card a little pop.  Then I attached the leaves around the flowers.  Lastly, I cut out the sentiment from the same card I used for the outline of the roses.  The computer seems to have dulled the two darkest reds a bit and it's difficult to see the difference in them.  You'll just have to trust me on that!  I hope to see you at Not Just Cards; it's an easy Anything Goes theme and you have all month to play :) 

Hope you are having a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by. ~ Christi

I am entering Mom's Birthday Card in the following challenges:
Always Happy Birthday - M, Anything Goes
Happy Little Stampers - M, Anything Goes with Dies
Let's Craft & Create - #140, M, Anything Goes, option: Lots of Layers
Cardz TV - #60, Anything Goes
The Cat's Pajamas - #349, M, Birthday

Just Fur You - My first Project for Not Just Cards!

I am thrilled to announce that I am now part of the Not Just Cards Design Team! Today is my very first post and I hope you enjoy it!

I love cats. All cats, but especially the Fabulous Feline Five.  I collect cat stamps {as well as other cat things} and I love to make cat cards.  If you are a reader of my blog {or a friend, family, casual acquaintance, basically anyone who has ever talked to me - you know I love cats!} you will have seen, and will see again, many cat cards.  I made this one as part of using the huge bunch of images I've already stamped, colored, and cut.  Enjoy!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Altenew Modern Cats, stamps
Altenew Modern Cats, dies
Sue Wilson Die, Indian Ocean Collection, Mauritius, #CED10014
Distress Ink, Mermaid Lagoon
Clean Color Markers
Core'dinations Sea Glass Paper Pack

Like I said above, I had already colored and cut out the cats and the yarn, but I know I used Zig Clean Color Markers to color in the cats because I recall how excited I was about the look of the orange cat.  I simply colored the stamp, took a baby wipe and took a bit of the color off, and my cat looks like he has white spots! These stamps are SO fun to play with due to all of the color combinations you can make; there is no outline, so when you color directly on the stamp you can give your kitty any colors you want. 

I stamped the sentiment and the yarn using Mermaid Lagoon ink, then cut the sentiment using the Sue Wilson Mauritius die.  Then I attached everything to a piece of matching card, put that on the card base, and I was done.  This was meant to go to the troops, but I think it is a bit too heavy for them to post, so it will sit in my card box until I decide to send it out.  

I know this is a short tutorial but the card was simple to make.  I'm very pleased with the cats and I like the entire card.  I hope you do, too! I'd love to hear what you think so leave me a comment or, better yet, follow me and I'll be sure to follow you back! Also, if you aren't familiar with the Not Just Cards challenge please click on the link and stop by! All our challenges are ANYTHING GOES and we'd LOVE to see your creations!  Hugs, Christi

I'd like to enter my Just Fur You card in the following challenges:
Crafty Animals - M, #16, Anything Goes, Must include an Animal 
Dream Factory - M, #57, Nine Lives
Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge - M, July 2018 Theme: Animals (entry 2)
2 Crafty Crazy Critters - M, #16, Anything Goes w/ a Critter (entry 2)
Fashionable Stamping - #137, Use Your Inks
SUYP - M, #32, Anything Goes with a Cat (entry 2)

Happy Mother's Day!

I actually made this card before I made the Hoppy Mother's Day card; mostly because my mom LOVES flowers! When living in the house we grew up in, my mom would spend all spring and summer gardening in the vegetable gardens which, as we grew up and moved out, she turned into flower gardens.  In fact, when we sold the house, one of the things the new owners loved most was the beautiful gardens.  But after I made the card, I got worried she'd just be frustrated at not being able to see the flowers so I am going to give this one to my neighbor.  

What I Used to Make my Card:
Pink Card Base
Altenew Sweet Rose Bouquet Stamps
Hero Arts Inks
Computer Generated Sentiment
Die-Namics Stitched Fishtail Sentiment Strips, #MFT-1123
Green Card

This was an easy card, and I actually started it thinking it'd just be a sample.  I adore the beautiful Altenew sets, but I'm not talented enough to be able to layer the components flawlessly {I rely heavily on the downloads and videos that Altenew supplies}; so I typically test out the set.  This card was my test.  I am so proud at how it came out {well, except some of the leaves but if you didn't notice, don't look}, I decided to turn it into a card.

My only dilemma was the sentiment, so I made my own.  That alone took me

Another Look

MUCH longer than the card because I am a font junkie.  I admit it.  I must have over 3,000 fonts in my computer, so I auditioned entirely too many; then I had to size it.  Once I settled on the sentiment, I cut it and some coordinating green card using stitched fishtail banners and attached that to the stamped panel.  That was it.

I think it looks like it took me much longer to make and I know Helen will love it.  She saves all the cards I give her, just like my mom used to do.  It warms my heart!  I hope you had a fabulous Mother's Day; my cats got me a box of chocolate truffles {YUM!} so I'm a happy stamper! Hugs, Christi

PS: Please don't forget to enter my giveaway! All the details are here.

I am entering my Happy Mother's Day card in the following challenges:
Use Your Stuff - For the Moms
Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday - Apr/May,  For Your Mom, Mum, etc.
Crafty Gals Challenge - #165, Add a Flower
Crafting by Designs - Mother's Day
Fashionable Stamping - #135, Floral
Addicted to CAS - #136, Mom

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