Little Santa with Die Cut Diva's

I made this card in September, thought I had posted it, but I can't find it.  I'm

hoping I am not writing this post up only to find that I actually DID post the card.  Enough about that; let's pretend that I didn't post it.  We would love to see you at  Die Cut Diva's December Challenge of "Winter or Winter Holidays" sponsored by the generous Di's Digi Download's - although the holidays are over, it's still winter!

I am a huge fan of Mama Elephant's "little" stamps - I have every one except the newest release!  I love coloring these little stamps and I thought having Santa peeking out of all of these circles was a fantastic way to showcase him.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Red Card
Authentique Festive Paper Pad, 6" x 6", #FES009 {retired but available}
Watercolor Card {I use this}
Mama Elephant Little Santa Agenda stamps
Mama Elephant Little Santa Agenda dies
Lawn Fawn Say What? Christmas Critters stamps, #LF1778
Uniquely Creative Circle Cover Plate, #UCD1801
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Zig Clean Color Markers
Sakura Gelly Roll Pens, Stardust

I began by stamping, coloring, and cutting all the Little Santas - there are more in the set, but I chose the ones I felt would fit this card the best and set them aside.  I cut the cover die out of the patterned paper, flipped over the surrounding square and one of the circles, and attached all of the background to the red card except for the green circle.  On the green circle, I stamped the sentiment and attached it to the middle of the cover plate.  I arranged the Santas around the circles and glued them all in place.  Lastly, I attached the entire front to the red card and that to the card base.  It was an easy card to make even though I think it looks complicated.  The longest part of making the card was coloring and cutting the Santas and that only took a while because matching up those tiny die cuts with the correct Santa can be a bit time consuming.  In fact, what I finally did with the Little Cat Agenda set was I copied the dies and put them under the stamps so when I used a stamp it was easy to find the die that went with it.  The Santas are easier to find the matching dies because their shapes are distinctly different but I may end up doing that little trick to all my Little Agenda sets.

Thank you for stopping by and reading my little tutorial!  I hope I've inspired you to grab some of your stamps and dies and combine them in a way that's new to you. And don't forget, come play with us at Die Cut Diva's!!  I appreciate you taking the time to visit and hope that your holiday season has been creative and crafty!  Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Little Santa's in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes (entry #2)
Crafting by Designs - Holiday Anything Goes
Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes
CARDZ TV - #79, Anything Goes
CHNC - #418, Anything Christmas Goes
Sweet Stampers - #27, Anything Goes

Spooky Wall Hanging

I am fortunate enough to be on the Design Team for Not Just Cards and up until now I have always created cards for my projects.  The theme every month is Anything Goes, so I decided to get a bit creative. My very favorite holiday, Halloween {in case you didn't know}, is around the corner so I felt it was time to share a wall hanging I made:

What I Used to Make my Wall Hanging:
Blick Canvas Panel, 5" x 7" {any brand will work}
Authentique Spirited 12" x 12" Paper Pad {retired but available}
Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch 2X Ultra Cover in Gloss Black
Foam Board {from the Dollar Tree}
Skeleton Top Hat Frame - designed by a friend; if you want info, let me know!
Vanilla Card
Stitched Rectangle Stax by Tutti Designs, #TUTTI-217
Tim Holtz Idea-Ology Gothic Cling Foam Stamps, #TH93618 {available}
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Stamp Platform by TimHoltz/Tonic, #1707E

This was super easy; and really, any low profile metal die will cut out the foam board.  Think of ALL the fabulous keepsakes you can make! I know this little wall hanging has my creative juices flowing and I am thinking of many more dies I can use to make wall hangings, framed decor, and so much more!  

The first step for this project was to cut the skeleton head out of the foam board.  Using spray paint to color the die cut was SO fast and so much easier than trying to use regular acrylic paints - which is what I would have done in the past.  Just ensure you have the entire cut covered; any white spots will be glaring.  After I sprayed the die a few times, letting it dry thoroughly between coats, I set it aside.  One tip I will pass along for those who aren't familiar with spray painting {personally, I hadn't sprayed anything besides gesso - which I don't recommend - in YEARS} is to wear plastic gloves on both hands.  Not only did my index finger on my right hand turn black but I forgot the item was wet and moved it with my left hand!  Additionally, if you need to stand the item up or turn it around {and you are anything like me} you will forget and both of your hands will be painted.  This stuff is NOT easy to get off, but it does eventually wear off {thank goodness!}

Meanwhile, I covered my 5" x 7" panel with spooky paper and edged around the sides with black ink to give it an aged look.  The stamping of the word took the most work, but it really wasn't as difficult as I anticipated it would be.  The particular set only has one of each letter, so to get my spacing correct, I laid out the letters S, P, O, Q, K, Y,  then I carefully removed the Q, stamped the remaining letters onto the card, and just put the O in the space provided by the Q - I was very proud of myself!  And I think the letters look perfect!  Then I die cut a stitched rectangle around the

Another Look - this one is
shiny - which do you prefer?

letters to be attached to the panel. 

The skeleton hat frame was all dry so I glued that onto the panel and then attached the words below.  Since this panel had no hanger, I used a pop top from a soda can and glued that on with E6000.  Once it was dry, I just bent the tab forward a bit and there you have a hanging decoration for Halloween or, in my house, all year round!  I hope to see your creations, whatever they may be, at the challenge at Not Just Cards.  Remember, the theme is always Anything Goes so get a bit creative and enter your projects!  You never know, you might just win! Thank you SO much for stopping by! 

I have a fabulous friend, NanaConnie {I am sure you've seen her around Blogland}, who graciously edits my posts so I sound much smarter than I really am and I'd LOVE it if you'd pop over to her blog and give her some love!  Just click Grammy's Attic and you'll be there.  She posts nearly every day and her makes are fabulous!  You won't be sorry -- but she can't edit for you, she is all booked up with ME. :)  (Editor's Note: I adore Christi and I paid her to say that! :-D NC)

Thank you so much for your continued support. ~ Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Spooky Wall Hanging in the following challenges:
The Corrosive Challenge Blog - M, #10, Anything Goes
Cut it Up -#158, Halloween Project that Includes Dies
Take it, Make it - M, Anything Goes
Dream in Darkness - M, The BEST Month of the YEAR {I SO agree!!}
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything But a Card
Die Cuttin' Divas - 3D Projects
Happy Little Stampers Mixed Media - M, Men {my skull is a guy!}

The Eyes Have it. . .

This month's theme at Stinkin' Inkers is "The Eyes Have It," which opens up a whole bunch of interpretation!  I struggled with this theme for a bit; I looked through every single pad of paper I have, looked online for some sort of "eye" background paper {and of course, I found one in a paper pad but I cannot remember what pad or who made it!} and went to our fearless leader for some inspiration.  Then I remembered a stamp and die set that I just bought; it's not new, but it's new to me!  That set, coupled with some googly eyes, bore this card:

What I Used to Make my Card:
Purple Card Base
Authentique "Spirited" Paper Pad, 12" x 12", #SPI020 {retired but available}
My Favorite Things/Die-Namics BB Which Way is the Candy Stamps 
My Favorite Things/Die-Namics BB Which Way is the Candy Dies
Zig Clean Color Brush Markers
Watercolor Paper
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
White Scrap Card
Cross Stitched Rectangle STAX by Tutti Designs, #TUTTI-410
Googly Eyes
White Gel Pen

I had already stamped a few images from the stamp set onto some watercolor paper and had colored them in with my Zig markers; one of the images happened to be the bat.  Bingo!  I quickly stamped, colored, and cut four more bats, added the googly eyes, and set them aside to dry.

Another Peek

Even though they are supposed to be black, I think the bats look more purple to me.  I know if I had colored them in solidly with any black marker I could have achieved a true bat black, but I wanted these guys to seem sweet, not scary.  I matched the bat color to the dotted designer paper and mounted that onto the purple card base.  I almost forgot - I used a white gel pen to color in the fangs of the bats.

Once the bats were dry, I stamped the sentiment on a scrap piece of white cardstock, cut it out with the cross stitched rectangle die, {truthfully I only used that die because none of my other shapes fit around the saying} and glued all the pieces together.  The longest part of making this card was waiting for everything to dry!

I think this can be a really fun theme so I hope you can get your eyes on something that will fit and join us at Stinkin' Inkers - you have all month to play and with Halloween right around the corner, I'm sure you have something {monsters, perhaps?} you can use.  Thanks for popping by and I hope to see you at the "The Eyes Have It" challenge. ~ Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Dragonfly Journeys - Happy Halloween!
Stamping Sensations - M, Something Beginning with B {Bats!}
Creative with Stamps - M, #31, Halloween or Leaves

Just For Fun - M, Halloween!
Papercraft Business Challenge - M, #11, Anything Goes, Twist of Halloween
Scrap from your Heart - M, #26, Use Dies
Always Fun Challenges - #78, Dies and Punches
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Cards in Envy - M, Something Spooky!
Sweet Stampin' - Spots
YNS (Fun Friday) - #98, Fall Fun

Shout it Out!

So fall has officially begun.  It's about 70 degrees here, but the other day I was up at Estes Park again {I know, 2 times in five days!} and there were some Aspen trees turning colors - it was amazing!  As soon as my brother puts his pictures up, I'll share them with you.  We also saw a mama elk washing her baby and a few of the moose elks doing their rut stuff - the call they make can be heard through almost the entire park!  Anyway, sorry for all the nature stuff but I am finally able to get out and see what my beautiful adopted state has to offer and it is amazing.  I made this card to reflect the colors of fall as well as be able to give to someone regardless of the occasion.

What I Used to Make my Card:
Kraft Card Base
Authentique Harvest 6" x 6" pad, #HVT028 {retired but available}
The Ton Bold Amazing Word Plate Dies
Mama Elephant Little Dog Agenda Stamps
Mama Elephant Little Dog Agenda Dies
Zig Clean Color Markers
Vanilla Card
Watercolor Paper
Orange Card
Leaves {left over from this card}
Ranger Archival ink in Jet Black
Silhouette Cameo
Red Tape Adhesive
Removable Tape 

I already had the cute little dog with the megaphone colored and cut; since I first saw him, I knew I wanted to make a card that made him look as if he was using the megaphone to shout out something happy and the Bold Word Plate dies fit perfectly!  I used my Cameo to cut out some word bubbles; that took me the longest because I kept making them either too small or too big - I am horrible at measuring and if things aren't life sized I can't seen to figure out which way to go - up or down. One of my many dyslexic issues.  Directions and I have a love/hate relationship because I struggle with them so.  My mom says it isn't a car ride with me unless we turn around at least once! 

Once I fit the word bubble to the words I discovered a great way to make sure all the letters are even; once the letters are cut, carefully put them back into the die.  Use removable tape and tape them together the "wrong" way {as they are in the die, looking up at you}.  Pull the letters out of the die and tape them with removable tape on the "right" side, removing the tape you put on the wrong side.  Use a strong adhesive {I found red tape adhesive is worth the

Another Look

trouble of cutting out those itty bitty, teeny tiny, pieces} and attach them where you want them.  Once they are dry, or adhered, carefully remove the tape that is on top of the letters and viola! - you have straight letters!  I'm sure using a ruler would be faster, but it seems that every time I make a pencil mark on my projects I can't get it off completely.  And I have using the tape down pat so it's easy for me.  I used orange card for the word "you're" and patterned card for the "fabulous."

The words were attached to the bubble and I attached the bubble to another piece of patterned card, placed my little shouting dog, and adhered him and the leaves.  Lastly, the panel was put onto the Kraft card base and I was done.  This card came out exactly as I envisioned it! I just can't get enough of the Bold Word Plate dies and have a few other projects in the works using them.  I want to thank you SO much for visiting. I appreciate each and every visit and comment.  Without your encouragement, I'd never have tried blogging.  Thanks so very much! Christi

I am entering my Shout it Out! Card in the following challenges:
City Crafter - #431, Pet Company
Die Cuttin Divas - #388, Fall Colors
Cards in Envy - Feels Like Fall, Entry #2
Make My Monday - #80, Autumn/Fall Colors, Entry #2
Dragonfly Journeys - #127, Fall Colors, Entry #2
Sweet Stampin' - Dies and/or Punches
Crafty Friends Challenge - #93, Fall Colors
Sunny Day Crafting - Anything Goes w/ an Animal, Entry #2
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - #18, Anything Goes w/ an Animal
That's Crafty! - Forever Autumn 
Cardz for Galz - #80, Thoughts of Fall

Hello Summer. . .

I realize that this really isn't the beginning of summer but when I crafted this card it was HOT and summer was in full swing!  I may not be able to use it this year but I will just put it away and use it next year!

This card was made using Kinda Cute by Patricia digital stamps, who happens to be sponsoring the Die Cut Divas' September Challenge with a theme of "Use Yellow."  

What I Used to Make my Card:
Cream Card Base
Digi Stamp by Kinda Cute by Patricia, Sunflower
Authentique Meadow, 6 x 6 pad
Impression Obsession Hello Summer die, #DIE688-B
Tutti Designs Cross Stitched Nesting Rectangles, #TUTTI-410
MFT/Die-Namics Stitched Fishtail Sentiment Strips, #MFT-1123
Embossed Decorative Yellow Paper {stash}
White Card
Alcohol Ink Markers 

I am just learning how to color with alcohol ink markers - it's not something that makes me feel very confident.  Using the color yellow, digi stamps, and alcohol ink markers and I am actually surprised at how well this card came out.  Since I don't have a laser printer, my good friend Arlene {the Die Cut Divas coordinator} sent me the digi stamps for this challenge.  I wasn't sure how I was going to color the digis but since I was already out of my comfort zone, I figured I might as well use Copic markers.

I colored the five flowers using various shades of yellow and green.  Then I cut the rectangle with all the flowers out first and used the patterned paper, which I cut out using the Cross Stitched Rectangle dies, to add some interest.  I found

Another Peek

this cool yellow decorative paper in my stash and cut out another rectangle to mount the flowers.  The finishing touch on the card is the banner with Hello Summer on it, cut out in yellow card.

As I said, I am actually proud of this card! I've been collecting digi stamps for a while now, but I just can't get myself to truly use them.  That's one reason I really enjoy being on a Design Team - you are sometimes forced out of your comfy box.  I hope this inspires you to break out some yellow, be it markers, card stock, or anything your crafty mind can dream up {just please, use some die cuts!} and join us at Die Cut Divas' September Challenge.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Simply Create, Too - M, #142, Use Stitching, Real or Faux
The Paper Challenge - M, #352, Make it Bloom
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Bloomin' Flowers
Shopping Our Stash - #370, Crazy for Coloring
The Flower Challenge - M, #24, Anything Goes
Take It, Make It - M, Anything Goes

You Take the Cake

I love puns and snarky sayings so when I saw this sentiment in the Lawn Fawn "Some Bunny" set, I knew I had to use it.  I scored a few paper pads at Tuesday Morning and one of them had the perfect background paper!  I made this card in record time, and all the components were meant to be together.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Lawn Fawn Some Bunny Stamp Set, #LF1587
Lawn Fawn Some Bunny Die Set, #LF1588
Zig Clean Color Markers
Tutti Crafts Cross Stitched Nested Rectangles, #TUTTI-410
Authentique Paper Pad, 12" x 12", Jubilee, #JUB010
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Very Old Corner Punch
MISTI

I have to tell you, when I went to look up the paper pad to link it, I went by the name and item number on the pad.  I purchased this pad at Tuesday Morning, but saw nothing wrong with it - well NOW I see - it's named wrong! My pad says IMAGINE, and when I looked at the pads none of the paper matched. And I always check in more than one place, and they were ALL wrong! I thought perhaps they pulled a DCWV, named a pad the same, but put entirely different papers in it, but just to be absolutely sure, I scanned the available products and there it was! Right papers, wrong name.  Even the cover art and font they used is the same as the Jubilee pad - it's just the wrong name! LOL OK, I hope you got a chuckle out of that, I did! On with the card!

Once I stamped all the cakes I wanted, I colored them using the Clean Color Markers and cut them out.  I set them aside to put on the card later.  Then I wrestled with the sentiment for a long time - I just couldn't get it lined up properly, even using my MISTI.  It was too long for what I wanted to do with it, so I split it apart, making it two lines instead of one long line {not literally, I didn't cut that stamp - that would have been easier!} so I had to get the 2 lines without stamping the whole thing on my paper.  I kept getting ghost images of the part of the line I didn't want.  To combat this I came up with an easy solution; I inked the whole sentiment, then put a sticky note over the part I didn't want to stamp, stamped that, cleaned the stamp off completely {that stops the ghosting}, then repeated the process with the other half of the sentiment.  I did discover that you don't want to ink your stamp after you have positioned the sticky note as you will get a big ink blob from the sticky note you used to cover the stamp.  I hope that makes sense! It took me entirely too long to figure it out and, even after I did, I still had to stamp the words about 3,423,546,597 times {OK, maybe only 780 more times - it felt like 3 million!}.  But I'm pleased with the outcome; it's exactly what I wanted.

I then cut the sentiment out with the cross stitched rectangle.  I used an ancient {I'm not even going to guess} corner punch on the patterned paper, attached that to my card, and put it under the tile on my desk to dry thoroughly.  The tile

Another Look

is awesome, it's 12" x 12" and it definitely helps to ensure that the elements on my card aren't going anywhere.  It also flattens warped watercolor paper and I heat emboss on it all the time.  The local big box hardware stores have plenty of these tiles, so when you go to get some to alcohol ink, be sure to grab one of the big ones.  You will wonder how you lived without it!

So, my background is dry, I glue my little carrot cakes to the card, and one on the sentiment cut out {just to add to the cuteness factor} and I'm done.  I appreciate you reading this entire post, and as a reward I'll let you in on a secret.  I've been collecting items to put in my giveaway {and if you saw the haul from the last one you'd WANT to be in on this!} and in order to qualify you will need to comment on the giveaway post & be a follower.  Why not do that now so when I announce the giveaway you will get notified? Anyhow, thank you for stopping by and reading all this - I truly do appreciate {and read} every single comment you leave me.  Hugs! Christi {now I'm starving for some carrot cake, how about you?}

I'm Entering my "You Take the Cake" card in the Following Challenges:
Calling All Sistahs - CAS11, Always Encouragement Card, Insp. Colors Below
Scrapy Land - #68, Anything Goes w/ Dies They Carry
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Happy Little Stampers with Dies - M, Anything Goes {entry 2}
Just For Fun - M, Use a Die Cut
Simon Says Stamp special National Craft Month Giveaway 

Shaker Stars of the Season

My favorite part of the winter holiday season is all the lights, sparkle, and bling! Because I have the Fabulous Feline Four, it's been ages since I've put out any decorations; this year I've decided to make my cards extra festive!  This card not only sparkles, it uses nesting dies to make a very easy shaker card.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
White Card 
Authentique Paper, Wintery, 12 x 12, #WIN011
Die-Versions Whispers Stitched Nesting Stars, #DV-571
Die-Versions Sweet Wordlets, Season's Greetings, #DVSW-013
White Glitter Paper
Silver Glitter Paper
Acetate 
Sequins - Darice Clear-Crystal, 5 mm, #10043-8
              Darice Iridescent White, 5 mm, #10043-17
Twinklets Diamond Dust {manufactured by FloraCraft}
Thin Cardboard {if desired}
Krylon Leafing Pen in Silver {if desired}

I had gotten the Authentique paper a while back and I am so glad I did! There are all kinds of frosty patterned papers and I couldn't resist using one of them for this card.  I glued the paper on to my card base and set it under my drying tile for overnight.  

Meanwhile, I set about making the shaker.  I use temporary tape on many of my cutting dies as I don't have the magnetic platform that is supposed to make the dies stay where you put them {do you have one? Does it work? Please leave me a comment!} so I just set the nesting stars up so I'd get a "frame."  The only thing I have to watch is the tape un-sticking which can result in the dies moving.  That can cause an uneven frame, but in this case, even when the I had to line the dies up again, the margin of error is fairly tiny.  Once the die was run through the machine, I used a toothpick to poke out the frame. 

I die cut a bunch of frames out of white card and added a few cardboard frames as well,  to get the frame higher faster. It's not a must, but the cardboard also gives the design a bit more sturdiness than using plain card.  I layered a few of the card frames, then added a cardboard one and repeated the sequence a few times, leaving out one white frame.  Since I did use cardboard, once the frame was dry, I edged the sides with a silver leafing pen to cover up the cardboard.  

Finally, I used the two stars not used in making the frame, {using white glitter

card} cut them out and placed them on the card.  I used silver glitter card to die cut the sentiment.  I cut the window out of some acetate packaging, attached that to the frame tower and adhered the frame of white card I had set aside.  I didn't want the shaker to be too full, so I carefully added some sequins and Twinklets Diamond Dust.  Honestly, that Diamond Dust has got to be 15 years old and I had forgotten I even had it! I was surprised to see they still made it; the cool thing is that the dust is shard shaped {and according to the website has actual glass in it, but I didn't have any issue using my fingers} and that just makes it sparkle like crazy!

Another Look

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and may you find some forgotten goodies in your stash! 

Don't forget to join in on all 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.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  

Fondly,

Christi

click below for:

STORE
CHALLENGE BLOG
FACEBOOK
INSPIRATION BLOG

FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

I am entering my Shaker Stars of the Season card in the following challenges:

Crafty Girlz Challenges - M, Nov, Anything Goes - optional Christmas

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Always Anything Christmas Goes

Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - M, Anything Goes - optional Tag

Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes w/ Dies - M, Anything Goes

Stemplegartden - #67, It's Almost Christmas

Allsorts - #442, Glitter (card)

Modsquad - Merry & Bright

The Sisterhood of Crafters - M, Let the Sparkle Fly!

a2z Scrapbooking - M, Winter

Creative Inspiration Blog - #283, Sparkle

Thankful with Stinkin' Inkers!

This  month's theme at Stinkin' Inkers is "Thankful".  With so many tragedies happening, it's the perfect time to try and remember what, and who, you are grateful for. I know my gratitude list would be miles long. And if no one told you today, let me be the one to tell you that I'm grateful you're here.

I decided to challenge myself a bit and use nothing but my CAMEO to make a card.  I hope you like it:

What I used to Make my Card:
White Square Card Base
Silhouette CAMEO Designs: Leaf Wreath, by Dresden Carrie, #225912 & 225903
Various Brown Card
Green Card Panel
Authentique 6x6 Paper Pad, Harvest, #HVT008 {retired but available}

After I cut all the pieces out, using the CAMEO, in different shades of brown, I wove the large leaf through the wreath in various places.  I lightly glued the wreath to the green panel - just enough to stick it to the paper, but leaving lots of places open so I could tuck the little leaves around.  I began to tuck the small leaves around the wreath and I decided I needed just one more color.  So I pulled dark brown card out of my stash and just cut the smaller leaves - one of my favorite things about the Silhouette is the ability to pick and chose what to cut, and that you can cut as many as you want with the touch of a button.

After I was happy with the leaves, I took my cutout of the word "Thankful", which was cut from the Authentique patterned paper and them attached to the wreath.  Easy card to male and send to someone your thankful for. I hope to see your creation at the Stinkin' Inkers Thankful Challenge! Thank you for reading my tutorial ~ hugs, Christi

I am entering my Thankful card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Thanks/Thanksgiving
Crafty Cardmakers - #199, Thankful
Dragonfly Journey - #104, Attitude of Gratitude 
Just Us Girls - #418, Thankful

The Purrfect Friend

As I watch the snow fall here in Colorado, I'm thinking of how much fun snow days were. I was lucky to grow up in a neighborhood with tons of kids. And even luckier that my best friend lived right next door to me - our parents even connected our backyards for us.  I don't even remember a life before her! She is an amazing person, and loves cats as much as I do.  Unfortunately,  she has recently gotten a fairly serious health diagnosis - not life threatening, thank goodness, but painful none the less.  I have been sending her the plastic boxes from my old Stampin' Up! sets because she loves them and uses them to store her own bunch of little trinket obsessions. Since I now live halfway across the country from her we don't talk that often, but we message each other daily - actually we message each other a ton of times daily.  I am very grateful to still have her in my life as I have watched time steal away too many good friendships. I made this card to put into the next shipment of goodies:

What I Used to Make my Card:

Stampendous Set, Cat Sayings #SSC1222
Newton's Nook Newton's Antics Stamps
Newton's Nook Newton's Antics Dies
Ranger Archival Ink Pad in Jet Black
Spellbinders Labels Seventeen
Authentique Remembrance 6x6 pad, REM006 (retired but available)
Scraps of Green Paper (from the Remembrance pad above)
Corner Rounder Punch
Pop Dots

I can't recall what I used to color the cats with as I found this duo in my already colored pile, but, I would guess I used my Zig Clean Color markers judging by how they look.  I put the kitties on a scrap of green to anchor them - without the paper, they floated around and looked like they need to be grounded.  After I grounded the cats, I stamped the sentiment on another scrap of green in the same color that the cats sat on.  That is one of the many reasons I love working with coordinated paper - you can always find the exact color you need! I die cut the sentiment with Spellbinders and set it aside.

The Dimension

I trimmed a piece of the purple background paper and then rounded the corners with a corner rounder.  I glued the paper onto the card base, then pop dotted the cats and the sentiment.  That's when I realized I had put the whole thing together upside down - yup, that is what happens at 11:30 at night.  So, I cut the card apart and mounted the panel, with pop dots, onto another card base, this time right side up.  If I had a nickle for every project I've messed up on I could buy the entire Ranger company.  But, I try to look at those mistakes as opportunities to try to figure out how to solve them.  And this mistake was easy to fix and one I have done a million times. 

I really enjoyed making this card and I hope it brings a smile to her face.  I hope you enjoyed my little tutorial and I appreciate your stopping by.  Fondly, Christi

I am humbly entering my Purrfect Friend Card in the following challenges:
ModSquad - Anything but Christmas
ScrappyLand - #57, Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday - #264/265, Anything Goes
Lost Coast Portal (Jan) - #32, Anything Goes
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge (Jan) - Anything Goes w Patterned Paper

Cat Lover's Blog Hop #3 ~ Witchy Kitty

Hi all! Here is card #3 that I made to participate in the Cat Lover's Blog Hop 

If this is your second (or third) time here, feel free to skip all this stuff until you get to "What I Used to Make my Card", that will be different for each card I make for the hop. For those of you that haven't been reading my blog long, you can learn all about my fur babies by clicking on the page at the top of my blog, or, just click here. 

I had colored in a bunch of the Crazy Cats a while ago (I color while watching TV) and water colored them with Distress Markers and Kuretake Clean Color Markers.  If I can recall what I used for each design I will certainly let you know. Everything is stamped with waterproof black ink pads.

OK, enough housekeeping stuff, on to my third card:

What I Used to Make my Card:

Black Card Base

Watercolor Paper

Authentique Background Paper from the "Spirited Collection", #SPI020 (retired but available)

Penny Black "Bewitched" Stamp Set, #30-318

Die-Namics (MFT) Stitched Oval Stax, #MFT-521

Distress Markers

Blender Pen

Corner Cut Punch

Like before, this little witchy kitty was colored beforehand, but I know I used Distress Inks with the blender pen this time.  I die cut the image with a Die-Namics die, one of the Stitched Ovals from the Stax set.  I used a black card base, layered on paper from Authentique, after I punched the corners of the layer with a corner punch.  Adhered everything together and I was done!

I am truly enjoying this blog hop - the other participants are so sweet, and the prizes are awesome.  I hope you get a chance to participate ~ thanks! Christi

I would like to enter my Witchy Kitty card in the following challenges:

Cat Lover's Blog Hop

Marker Pop - #106, Halloween (I used Distress Markers)

Fantasy Stampers - #74, Halloween Fun

Inky Chicks - #74, Too Cute to Spook

Counting on Twofers ~ Challenge #13

I hope some of you stopped by and read my Fifth Saturday Tutorial on Fun with Chalks, but in any case, welcome to Challenge #13 at Twofers.  I got to choose the theme for this round and I chose numbers.  I wish I had a cool story to tell you about why I chose numbers, but I don't.  But, do stop by my wonderful teammates blogs, Zoe and Jane, and perhaps they had an anecdote for you.

Anyhow, this kicks off TWO FULL WEEKS that you'll have to whip up a project having to do with numbers and enter it into our challenge for a chance to win a $20 gift certificate to Alleystamp.

 Please check our few, but strictly enforced, rules here. If  no one from our challenge comments on your creation that means you didn't follow the rules and won't be considered for the prize, so be sure to read the rules! On with the show!

How I Made my Card:
Kraft Card Base
Clock Paper from Authentique,  Accomplished Collection, #ACC500
Sentiment from Quietfire Design, Happy Birthday Plain & Simple, #5899
Embossing Folder from The Paper Studio, A2 Numbers
Sanding Block
White Scrap
Black Scrap
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black

I first picked out the Authentique paper for this project. I really like the quality of their paper and the simple patterns appeal to me. I then embossed the clock paper with the numbers embossing folder and sanded it down to reveal the numbers.  After that, I realized I had embossed the numbers upside down, and it looked really funny (to me) to have the numbers facing a different way from the clocks.  So, I did it all again, being sure that all elements were in harmony.  I glued the clock/numbers panel to the card base.

Once that was all done, I stamped the Happy Birthday on white scrap and cut it down  It seemed too plain to me to just mount the Happy Birthday (which, by the way comes from a fabulous set by Quietfire - there are SEVEN Happy Birthdays, all written in a different font and or size - be sure to check it out!) on the card, so I made a flag out of a scrap of black card.  I adhered the Happy Birthday onto the flag and glued that to the card.  I think this makes a perfect birthday card for a guy.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed my little tutorial! Now, you have 2 weeks to create and enter it into Challenge #13, Numbers (ohhhh - what about the number 13??) here at Twofers! Don't forget, the prize. every challenge, is a $20 Gift Certificate to Alleystamp! Enjoy!

I would like to enter my Numbers card in the following challenges:
Creative Fingers - #102, Anything Goes
Frilly & Funky - Enjoy Your Embossing
Ruby's Rainbow - #122, Anything Goes
Cards & More - #151, Anything Goes
Simply Papercraft - #22, Anything Goes