Always Jingle

I consider myself very blessed to have such a great relationship with my brother; especially because he is twelve years older than I am.  The older we get the more alike we are and we both have a sense of humor that leans on the darker side.  I made this Christmas card for him.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Holiday Patterned Paper {from stash}
Katzelcraft Cats stamp set, #KZT152 {the image was already colored and fussy cut}
The Ink Road Happy Holla Days stamp set
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Die-Namics Stitched Circle STAX

I put this together in about 10 minutes, of course it helped that the cat was already stamped, colored and fussy cut.  So all I did was cut the circle out of white card. stamp the sentiment, glue the cat on, attached the patterned paper and let the whole thing dry.  Easy as pie!

I always stamp, color and cut out extra of whatever I am working on, it makes putting cards together SO easy {IF I can find the images; I have a horrible filing system that is basically a huge pile in a tray.}  I'm going to work on that.  I hope you like my snarky holiday card; I think this card is perfect for those who see things a wee bit skewed and my brother fits the bill.  Thank you so much for visiting! I'd love for you to let me know you were here so I can visit you back! Happy holidays! Christi

PS: I just have to share with all of you - it is incredibly hard for me to type out Christmas and not just type my name! You have NO idea! LOL

I am entering my Always Jingle Card in the following challenges:
Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - #125, R is for RUDE Christmas

The Artistic Stamper - M, Christmas
Dies R Us Challenge - #111, Anything Goes Christmas
Animal Friends Challenge - #69, Anything Goes Christmas
Cardz TV - Anything Goes
Creative Friday - M, #220, Christmas Animals, entry #2
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Christmas
Shopping our Stash - #384, 'Tis the Season
SUYP - Meowy Christmas

A Meowy Christmas To All

I love cats. I have five fabulous felines and they are the loves of my life.  Since I can't possibly get any more cats {well, I could, but I'd need a better paying job!}, I collect cat stamps and I have since I began stamping a long, long, time ago.  The set I used to make this card is one of my new favorites; I mean, who wouldn't want a Christmas tree full of cats? A Catmas tree!!  Here is my design team entry for Not Just Cards - why not link up one of your holiday creations and join us?

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Scrap White Card
Watercolor Paper {I use this}
Mama Elephant Oh Kitty Tree stamps
Mama Elephant Oh Kitty Tree dies
Zig Clean Color Markers
Sakura Gelly Roll Pens, Stardust Set
Distress Ink in Hickory Smoke
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black

I have to tell you, I couldn't remember if I posted this card or not. I made it a few months ago and I looked through my blog posts to see if I had posted the card, couldn't find it, but I still wasn't sure.  To keep track of the products I use when I am making something, I have a notebook where I write the card name and then the items I used to create the card or project. I couldn't find the list in my book.  Now I KNOW I made the card because it's sitting right here in front of me.  For me not to write down something, even if I only get as far as the stamps and dies I've used, is not like me.  This card was a mystery.  I asked my friend who helps me with my blog if she'd seen the card before, and I checked my pictures.  Turns out I'd taken a few pictures, but the card wasn't ever posted.  Lucky you, I figured it out!  I can tell what I used by looking at the card and I know I started this one by stamping the Catmas tree on a panel of watercolor paper, then I colored in the cats, and cut out the tree.  The tree looked lost when I placed it onto the white card base, so I used a scrap piece of white card and inked it up with a light coat of Hickory Smoke just to give the tree something to be "on."

I stamped the sentiment onto the inked panel, then attached the Catmas tree to the panel, the panel to the card, and I have this adorable card.  I am in love with the cats that Mama Elephant puts out and I am so happy I got this set {I got it as soon as I saw it - I just could not help myself.}  I have a few other cards in the works using this same set and you will be seeing them soon.  Do you have a system for keeping track of what you've posted on your blog, or Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, or any of the other social medias?  How do you know when a card, or project has been "done"?  In addition to my book, I used to keep my cards in separate piles by my computer, but my little, fat, black, cat, Mew, has decided I actually put them there for her to chew, so that system was abandoned.  Now I keep them out of her immediate reach; she's too lazy to figure out how she can get to them, thank goodness!  I hope you enjoyed my post for Not Just Cards! Thanks for stopping by and reading my post; I truly appreciate it!  I'd love it if you'd drop me a comment so I can come and see your blog and share some blog love with you!  Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Meowy Christmas card into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Warm Winter Wishes
Papercraft Challenges - #26, Winter, Wintertime
Show Us Your Pussies - #37, Anything Goes with Cats
Coloring in Scrapland - Anything Goes - Option - Christmas
Winter Wonderland - End of Year Anything Christmas Goes
Crimbo Crackers - #173, Anything Goes
Christmas Sweet Stampin' - Anything Christmas Goes
The Little Red Wagon - #475 House Pets
Card Mania Challenge - #111, Christmas
Stampin Sensations - Winter Sparkle {the little ornaments really do sparkle!}
Archi-scraps - Anything Christmas
Do-Al(l) Creative - #24, Christmas/New Years Eve/New Years Day
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - #21, Anything Goes with a Critter
Merry Little Christmas Blog - #5, Anything Christmas Goes
Inkspirational - #175, Designers Choice, Anything Christmas

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

By the Pricking of My Thumb... 2018 Cat Lovers Hop, Day 3

"...something wicked this way comes," from good old Shakespeare, was the inspiration for this card.  I was lucky enough to grab this Joy Clair stamp set and I think it is PERFECT for Halloween! It has a bunch of spooky Halloween words on it, a skull banner, and much more.  Good score on my part!  I honestly had never heard of the brand until I spied these stamps and now I am adding more and more and more of their products onto my wish list.  Anyway, I knew I wanted to use the sentiment as soon as I saw it and here is what was born from just one stamp set.  

What I Used to Make my Card:
Purple Card Base
White Card
Joy Clair Spooky Greetings Stamps
Hero Arts Luna the Halloween Cat Stamps, #CM202
Hero Arts Luna the Halloween Cat Dies, #DI433
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Dimensional Dots
Sequins from Little Things from Lucy's Cards, Happy Haunting
Raindrops from Little Things from Lucy's Cards, Raindrops Mix
Wink of Stella in Clear

Another Look

I stamped a bunch of the kitties, as well as the cauldron, on plain white card.  The sentiment was also stamped, in the lower, left-hand corner, on a panel of white card.  Once the kitties and cauldron were stamped, they were cut with the coordinating dies.  I put the kitties in a circle, well, what's loosely based on a circle, around where I was going to place the cauldron.  I used a dimensional dot to pop up the cauldron in the center of the card, placed my circle of kitties around that, with one more kitty on the right hand side at the bottom.  

I was actually going to leave the card at that, but then I spied a bunch of little

The Sparkles Up Close

sparkly packages I had just gotten from Lucy's Cards.  I thought the sight of the cauldron hissing and spitting bubbles and what-not would really benefit the card so I used some of the sparkly gorgeousness from the little bags.  Once everything was attached to the white panel, I just glued that onto the purple card base and I was done!  Oh, wait, not quite done; I swirled around some clear Wink of Stella, just to add a bit more sparkle.

Thanks for joining me on Day 3 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!

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and card.  I appreciate all your kind comments and thank you for stopping by! Fondly, Christi

I am entering my By The Pricking of my Thumb card in the following challenges:
2018 Cat Lovers Hop
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Halloween/Spooky
Die Cuttin' Diva's - #392, Halloween
{PIN}spirational - #227, Picture Inspiration {see below}
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Halloween/Spooky
Carlin's Card Challenge - M, #3, Cat + Black
Joy Clair - M, October Challenge, Inspiration Picture {see below}
Dies R Us Challenge - #107, Anything Fall
Lost Coast Portal - M, Halloween {see below}
Lost Coast Portal - #63, Cats & Dogs {see below} 

{PIN}spirational Picture

Joy Clair

Lost Coast Portal

Lost Coast Portal

Sweater Weather - 2018 Cat Lovers Hop, Day 2

Thanks for joining me on Day 2 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!

I just could NOT resist this set from Simon Says Stamp - I knew when I saw it that I want to make a blue and white winter card showcasing these adorable cats {but, honestly, show me a cat that isn't adorable!}  So when the package came in the mail, I got right to it.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Light Blue Card
Shimmer Dark Blue Card
Simon Says Stamp, Right Meow, Stamps & Dies Bundle, #SET335RM
Sue Wilson Dies, Indian Ocean Collection - Mauritius, #CED10014
VersaMark Ink
Simon Says Stamp Detailed White Embossing Powder
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Watercolor Paper
Zig Clean Color Makers
Water Brush
Silver Gel Pen
Pink Sparkle Gel Pen {for their noses}

First I made the background paper.  Choosing the cute little kitty in the sweater, I stamped the image randomly using VersaMark ink to get that tone on tone look.  I actually used a paper much larger than I was going to need so I could choose where to trim it.

After setting aside the background paper, I stamped the cats on some water color paper and used my Zig Clean Color Markers to color them up a bit.  The one on the left reminds me of my cat Sylvester because he always gets himself tangled up in various toys! Each one of the three cats I used reminds me of at least one of my five.  It's a shame I can't gather up all the fur balls and knit a sweater out of that; well, the more I think about it, maybe not.  Anyway, I colored in the kitties using a silver gel pen for every other square on the scarf the kitty on the right is wearing, then cut them with the coordinating die.

I used the VersaMark ink as my embossing ink, sprinkled some detailed white

embossing powder in the sentiment and heated it.  No matter how many times I do this, I literally get mesmerized by the process.  Watching that powder melt is just amazing to me and even more amazing is that I'm making it melt!  Once that was cooled, I used one of the many dies in the Mauritius set to cut it out. 

Finally, after I trimmed my background, I attached all the components and there you have your card!  I love white, blue, and silver together for winter cards; I just think it looks so put together.  Maybe not so on this card but it's hard to be 'put together' when you have kitties on your card!

I appreciate each and every one of you stopping by; without your support, I wouldn't have kept going with my blog.  I hope you and yours are having a wonderful day!  Christi

I am entering my Sweater Weather card in the following challenges:
2018 Cat Lovers Hop
Creative Sketchy Girls - M, #29, Make Your Own Background
Do-Al(l) Creative - M, #22, Make Your Own Background
Southern Girls Challenge - M, Animals
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Animal Antics
SUYP Challenge - M, #35, Furrything Goes

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

You Are Pretty Amazing

I am SO sorry this is late - I thought I had scheduled it correctly! I am off to lunch with my mom, sister & cousin :) 

Hi all! Today is the last day to enter the Die Cut Diva's August Challenge, Silhouettes.  If you get a chance to enter, you will be in the running for a gift certificate from our sponsor, Cheapo Dies.

I had to make at least one cat card when I start crafting for my Design Teams, and this one is made with some new goodies I just got.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Kraft Card
Black Card
Penny Black, FeLINE die, #51-145
Simon Says Stamp You Matter Stamps, #SSS101645
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Stitched Rectangle {actual die cut was a gift}
Tim Holtz/Tonic Stamp Platform

I love the way this card came out; I am always surprised when a project actually looks the way I envision it!  And it's a super easy card to make.  To begin, I took the FELine die and cut it out three times - once from white card, once from black card and once from Kraft card.  I pieced together the white cats, using the black cut as the background.  Then I trimmed one of the Kraft cats and just glued it on right over the corresponding white cat.

The cats were then layered onto a white stitched rectangle that a dear friend sent me; I inched the cats closer to the top so I had plenty of room for my sentiment.  This was the first card I'd made with my brand new Tim Holtz Stamp Platform.  I'd been using my MISTI until my sweet friend offered me a Stamp Platform at near cost; how could I resist such a great deal!?!  I have to be honest, as much as I adore my MISTI, the Platform is easier for me to use.  The big game changer for me is the ability to switch from clear stamps to red rubber stamps by just flipping the top around.  So much easier!  Anyway, I lined up my sentiment and stamped it directly onto the stitched rectangle.  I just have to say how amazing it is to be able to get a clear, semi-straight {straight is NOT one of my many talents - I still struggle and I imagine I always will} image, and not

Another Peek

worry if you don't since you can ink it up again!  I shudder when I think of the "old days," using wood mounted stamps and not being able to see exactly where you are putting the image, and how much cardstock I wasted because the stamp didn't give me a good impression {mostly due to my error, but still}.  I would have NEVER stamped directly onto a card as one of the last steps; it had to be done first, just in case I flubbed it and had to begin again.  

Anyway, once the sentiment was stamped onto the rectangle, I adhered that to a trimmed piece of Kraft card that was then glued onto my card base.  There you go!  An easy card, ready to be popped in the mail.  

I hope you have been inspired this month to get inky with silhouettes, and if not, never fear, as tomorrow the new month begins and a new challenge starts at Die Cut Diva's.  Thanks so much - Christi

I am entering my You Are Pretty Amazing card in the following challenges:
CARDZTV - #63, Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Sunny Day Crafting - Anything Goes including an Animal
Papercraft Challenges - #19, Animal
That's Crafty! - Animal Magic
4 Crafty Chicks - #418, Anything Goes

Bear Hug

I went on bit of a shopping spree and picked up a bunch of stamp sets that I've had on my wish list forever.  This adorable set from My Favorite Things is one of the sets I got; after all, I can't just use cats in everything, can I? {Just don't tell the cats that I had a choice and used bears, deal?}

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
My Favorite Things BB Bitty Bear Stamps
Die-Namics BB Bitty Bear Dies
Watercolor Paper
Clean Color Markers
Frame Die {unbranded}
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Kraft Paper Background
White Card
Detail Water Brush {my new favorite is this one from Pentel}
MISTI

First step for making this card was to cut the frame die, which I did out of white card, and make sure the little bears fit into the squares.  Once I knew they would, I chose a bunch of the different bears I knew I wanted to use in my card and stamped them onto watercolor paper.  I colored them using the Clean Color Markers and a detail watercolor brush, trying to give each bear his {or her} unique color, which isn't as easy as it sounds given there are only 4 true brown markers in my set.  I am lucky enough to have the Clean Color set of 36 but I am asking for the 90 color set for my birthday {I'll settle for the 80 color set, but I figure I might as well go large.  I've been watching too many "American Pickers" episodes!} *I did get the 90 Marker Set - Woo Hoo! Getting old has its perks! 

I digress.  I colored my bears and any extras they may have been holding, let them dry, and cut them out.  The frame die I used is an unbranded die that has

Another Peek

the 9 squares and a larger square at the bottom.  I just cut off that bottom piece.  Then I decided I needed a background color so that my frame wouldn't blend into the white card base.  I just happened to have a piece of Kraft brown on the desk so I trimmed it and attached it to the card base, dotting each corner with glue so I could tuck the little bears into the frame if they were a bit too large to sit in the square.  I proceeded to fiddle with the bears to find the right design, and tucked and glued them into place.  Using my MISTI, I stamped the middle square with the sentiment, and that was that.

I have a feeling these little critters are going to find their way into many more creations.  I already have a holiday card rolling about in my head.  I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and perhaps this will inspire you to use some of your new goodies that you haven't used yet.  Thanks for reading and stopping by! Christi 

I am entering my Bear Hug card in the following challenges:
Dream Valley Challenges -#184, Animals
Quick Quotes - #90, Add Any Animal
Little Red Wagon - Lions, Tigers and Bears!!
That's Crafty! - Animals
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - M, Anything Goes with a Critter (or 8)
Sunny Day Crafting - M, Anything Goes with an Animal
Cute N Crafty Challenge - M, #7, Animals

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)