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

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

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)

I'm One Break-Up Away. . .

*** Looking for the GIVEAWAY post? Click HERE

I was putting away some of my older wood mounted stamps and I came across the sentiment.  I'd forgotten I even had it, but that happens when you have so many stamps!  I finished my cleaning up and sat down at my desk to make this card.  It was a super quick process and I hope you enjoy my little tutorial.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Mama Elephant The Cat's Meow stamps
Mama Elephant The Cat's Meow dies
Prismacolor Pencils
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Hampton Art Sentiment, #PS0781, dated 2006!! {retired but available}
MISTI

Since the sentiment was wood mounted, and I am very experienced at messing up wood mounted stamping {and throwing away TONS of mistakes}, I decided to unmount the stamp.  The process literally took me longer than anything else.  I know there are videos and tutorials on how to properly unmount your stamps, but I just ended up pulling the stamp off the wood and picking off the foam.

Another Peek

  Not recommended and next time I will do it the right way!  The stamp is retired {it was made in 2013! I'm sure I snagged it in a discount bin} but I did a search for it and found a few sellers on various sites. 

Once I was done fighting unmounting the stamp, I set it aside and went to work on the cats.  I used my MISTI and stamped them right on the card; very daring of me but I am trying to become better at one layer cards so risks must be taken.  I then colored them in with my Prismacolor pencils.  Once that was done, I stamped the sentiment directly on the card and I was done!  I guess there is something to be said about these one layer wonders.

I hope my card inspires you to get out some of your older stamps and breathe some new life into them.  Thanks for reading my rant; I appreciate your visit and comments. - Fondly, Christi

I am entering my I'm One Break-Up Away Card in the following challenges:
Crafty Animals - #14, M, Anything Goes w/ an Animal
The House that Stamps Built - #52, Single Layer Cards
SUYP - M, Anything Goes w/ a Cat
Fashionable Stamping - #134, Animals {entry 3}
Crafty Friends Challenge - Animals
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Animal Magic
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - M, Anything Goes w/ an Animal
Country View Challenges - M, Be Humorous
Tuesday Throwdown - #390, Critter Crazy 
As You Like It - Favorite Animal & Why {I love cats - and have five of them! They have such amazing personalities and I love how they can be so calm and then act crazy in the next second - here are my furbabies}

I'm Here Fur You

This card was actually made back in the summer but I completely forgot about it! Lucky for you, my dear reader, I found it.  My set was originally an add-on to the My Monthly Hero Kit of February 2017, but you can now buy both pieces outside of the kit!! 

What I Used to Make my Card:
Purple Card Base
White Card {for base and stamping/cutting the cats)
Hero Arts It's Raining Cats and Dogs Stamp Set, #CM151
Hero Arts Raining Cats and Dogs Die Set, #DI369
Oxide Inks in Broken China, Cracked Pistachio & Wilted Violet
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Spellbinders Nestabilities Curved Rectangles, #S5-006 {discontinued}
Dimensional Dots
MISTI

I started this card by trimming a white panel down 1/4" on all sides, then I stamped the raindrops all over the panel using the Oxide Inks.  While I waited for the ink to fully dry, I stamped the kitties on a white scrap using black ink, then cut them out.  Setting them aside, I stamped my sentiment (using the Wilted Violet Oxide Ink) on another piece of white card and cut it out with the Spellbinders die.

All that is left at this point is assembling the card.  I attached the kitties, three on each side of where the sentiment was going to be, in various tumbling

Another Peek

poses.  Lastly, I used a dimensional dot to adhere the sentiment to the center of the card.  

I love the colors of this card and how well they coordinate, and since we are entering the rainy {snow} season, how appropriate is this card? You could send it to someone under the weather {ha ha}, someone having a tough time, or just to let someone know you have their back.  I am planning a giveaway and in a few weeks I will be posting the rules and such; and I already know one of the rules will be you have to be a follower of my blog, so why not just subscribe now? If you do subscribe, please leave me a message with your info so I may follow you back! Have a wonderful day, Christi

I am adding my Here Fur You card to the following challenges:
Die Cut Divas - M, Anything Goes
Love to Scrap Challenge Blog - #108, April Showers Bring May Flowers
Sparkles Form Challenge - #103, The Weather
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Cardz for Galz - #70, April Showers
Double D Challenges - Friendship
Dragonfly Journeys - #116, April Showers Bring May Flowers

Have a Wonderful Time

One of my best friends is taking a trip for a few days {literally 4 days} and I, along with the Man, will be house/dog/cat sitting while he is gone.  It's going to be a hectic week, {made 100% more hectic because I took a tumble off one of those invisible curbs on Monday & cracked a rib!} but he'll be back sooner than later.  However, this is the first time he is leaving his home and his animals, and he's losing his mind with worry {he's a worrier anyway, one of those people who worries about Christmas in July.  I don't get it.}  I thought a little card for him to open on the plane would ease his mind. UPDATE - he's home, had a blast, Lily {the cat} & Bear {the dog} missed him terribly :)

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Unbranded Frame, Cat & Dog Die
Cat Punch {over 15 years old!}
Hero Arts Stamp & Cut, Wonderful, #DC214
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Gelly Roll White Ink Pen, #10
Scrap Paper

Now, I know there are some of you who detest unbranded dies.  Personally, I've nothing against them until they start to try copying copyrighted material.  I say "try" because I see lots of mistakes in the pirated dies.  I won't buy them, but that's just a personal choice.  I only buy the unbranded dies in designs I've never seen available in branded dies.  If I've posted something created with an unbranded die and you know of an exact branded match, please let me know!  Now that the yucky stuff is out of the way, let's get on with the card.

I started with cutting the paws and bone frame out of dark brown card, and one of three dogs that came with the frame.  I colored the front leg/paw of the dog

Another Look

white because Bear, his dog, has a white leg.  His cat, Lily, is a beautiful little gray kitty and I used an ancient punch for her.  I attached the frame and the animals to the white card base and when it was dry, I stamped the sentiment on the very top of the card.  Then I stamped the "wonderful" on white card, cut it out, and attached it to the card.  I didn't have very much time, but I think I did a nice job.

Thank you for visiting, I appreciate every one who does.  I also read every comment.  Hope you are having a wonderful day! ~Christi

I am entering my Have a Wonderful Time card in the following challenges:
Cardz 4 Guyz - #192, Travel or Transport {hope this counts!!}
Back to Basics and Beyond - #1, Matting and Layering {also, DT tryout}
Double D Challenges - M, Friendship
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - M, Anything Goes w/ a Critter {or 2}
A Perfect Time to Craft - M, Always Anything Goes
Creatalicious Challenge - #137, Anything Goes, Option: Use Dies and/or Punches
Cut it Up - #146, Bugs and/or Critters
TGIF Challenges - #156, Because Kindness Matters {this is actually a RAK, since it's from his cat & dog, not from me}
Creative Friday - #203, For a Boy/Man

Challenge Graphics

TGIF Challenges

Double D Challenges

Happy Spring Kitty

While the weather here in Colorado keeps changing, I know by the calendar that any minute spring will be upon us! And it is with that thought in mind that I created this cute little kitty card to wish you a Happy Spring.  

I came across this cat image, already colored, in my stash and decided it was time to let her out to play!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Violet Crush Paper Pack by KaiserCraft {discontinued but available}
Penny Black stamps, Purrfect Day, #30-027 {discontinued?}
Lawn Fawn stamps, Easter Party, #LF1589
Hero Arts Ink in Amethyst
Various shades of purple card, stash
Die-Versions Whispers Stitched Nesting Squares, #DV-572 {discontinued?}
Tutti Cross Stitched Nesting Rectangles, #TUTTI-410
Derwent Inktense Watercolor Pencils
Homemade Dots (Perler Beads)
MISTI

As I said, this little kitty was already colored; thankfully I actually recall doing it with my Inktense Pencils {but it was over a year ago - in fact, the image is so old I think it's discontinued!}.  I just cut the image out with the Die-Versions die and set it aside.

After deciding I was going to focus on the color purple, I rummaged through the Violet Crush paper pack and chose a few lightly patterned papers to add to the card.  I also went through my papers stash and picked out some matching purple solid cardstock and ran all the papers through my Big Shot using the Tutti Die to add some interest.

I stamped the sentiment (from the Lawn Fawn Easter Party set) using Amethyst ink onto one of the solid purple cardstock pieces and attached all the background pieces to the white card base.  The kitty image became the center of the card and I

Another look

added some homemade plastic dots to give the card a little touch of extra color.  That's it - I'm tickled with how the card came out and I can't wait to share it with my friend.

The card came together as I wanted it and I'm glad I finally used the image.  I'm slowly working on getting my backlog of colored images used; you'll see at least a few more cards coming up where I've finally found good matches for the images.  It's funny, I can pre-color a bunch of images, keep them for the longest time, and suddenly the perfect card comes along and one of those images is just the thing that I need.  I love it when stuff comes together like that!  I hope your weather is turning season appropriate for wherever you are ~ thanks SO much for stopping by! Christi

I am entering my Happy Spring Kitty card in the following challenges:
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes 
Dies R Us Challenge - #94, Anything Goes
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - #13, Anything with a Critter Goes
Fashionable Stamping Challenge - #133, Springtime
Sweet Stampers Challenge - #18, Spring
Craftaholics R Us - #13, Enamel Dots {hopefully my homemade dots count!}
Retro Rubber Challenge - #83, Anything Goes {my PB Kitty image is OLD!}
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Everybody Art Challenge - #422, Spring

Celebrating Janis' 60th Birthday! {week 1 - All Those Cats}

Janis, from Her Peaceful Garden, and I met back when she had her first Cat Lovers Blog Hop {here is the link for the 2017 hop} - she is a cat lover, as I am, and she is owned by about 13 cats; both feral and house cats.  We've become friends over the years and I adore her.  When she began talking about her birthday and how she wanted to do ATC's for her online celebration, I was so happy! I LOVE ATC's and used to participate in many swaps online.  I hope this little party of Janis' encourages ATC's to make a comeback.  

What are ATC's? ATC stands for Artist Trading Cards.  There are no requirements to make them {unless you are participating in a swap, or, in this case, Janis' first theme: All Those Cats} EXCEPT they must be 2 1/2" x 3 1/2", the same size as a standard playing card or trading card.


I'm not going to go into detail about how I made each one; it's fairly self explanatory but, if you have any questions, just ask! 

I try to use scrap papers to make my ATCs - here is a picture of my scrap bin {I only put small snippets in it} just to give you an idea of how small the pieces for your ATC can be. There is a picture of the side of my little bin, and then the bottom.  I save more than I can ever use, but it comes in VERY handy!





Here are my four ATCs for week one of Janis' birthday party:

Paw Prints

What I Used to Make my Paw Prints ATC:
Heavy White Card, cut into ATC size
Snips & scraps of various pink & purple papers 
Penny Black, Nine Lives Set, #30-050
Stampendous, Cat Sayings, #SSC1222
Small Heart Punch
Hero Arts Ink in Pink Tourmaline, Ruby & Amethyst                       

 Balloon Kitty

What I Used to Make my Balloon Cat ATC:
Heavy White Card, cut into ATC size
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Penny Black, Purrfect Day, #30-027 {discontinued but available}
Unknown Coloring {colored this image AGES ago}
DCWV, Tie Dye Stack {discontinued but available}
Distress Marker in Broken China

Sneaky Kitties

The Mama Elephant "The Cat's Meow" stamp and die are MUCH longer than an
ATC.  In fact, it's called "Crowd of Cats" and according to the ME website, it measures 5 3/4" x 2".  In order to make this ATC and the Meow ATC, I cut the image down into two separate groups of cats, then added single cats in places. Also, I colored the kitties with whimsical colors - I figured why not and I need a break from trying to color them realistically.  This goes for both of the Mama Elephant ATCs.  

What I Used to Make my Sneaky Cats ATC:
Heavy White Card, cut into ATC size
Mama Elephant, The Cat's Meow, stamps
Mama Elephant, The Cat's Meow, Creative Cuts Dies
Detail Water Brush
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Clean Color Markers
Watercolor Paper
Palm Frond Punch
Various Green Paper

Meow

I needed a break from using realistic cat colors, so these kitties are colored fancifully.  I cut down some dimensional dots and dotted the birthday hat, the blue balloon, and the meow sign but you can't really tell in this picture. I also added some single cats to round out the group.

What I Used to Make my Meow ATC:
Heavy White Card, cut into ATC size
Mama Elephant, The Cat's Meow, stamps
Mama Elephant, The Cat's Meow, Creative Cuts Dies
Detail Water Brush
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Clean Color Markers
Watercolor Paper
Dimensional Dots
Washi Tape in Glitter Purple

Finally, here is a picture of all four together.

I hope you enjoyed my ATCs.  I really have a great time making them and going through my snippet box to see what inspires me.  My favorite is the meow ATC - which one is yours? Thanks SO much for your visit and I hope you come back soon! ~Christi

I would like to enter all four of my creations in the following challenges -
Her Peaceful Garden Birthday Celebration - Wk 1, All Those Cats
Addicted to CAS - #130, Cat {At least 2 of my ATCs are CAS}
Crafting with Friends - M, #61, Anything Goes
The Outlaws - Twisted Thursday - Twist: Fur {lots of virtual fur here!}
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - M, Anything Goes w/ a Critter
Fairy-Tale Challenge - Use Mini Stamps {The 2 ATCs using ME are Mini Stamps}
SUYP - M, Anything Goes and/or LOVE

A Morning Poem. . .

This card's sentiment is definitely one I can relate to; welcome to card #5 for the Cat Lovers' Blog Hop.   This card has caused me the need to vent a bit; unfortunately, the Man is a talker, and has a tendency to blather on and on first thing in the morning about an all manner of things - and I typically have absolutely no idea what he is talking about until I am on my second cup of liquid caffeine.  I often have to ask him questions like, "Did you say there was going to be 30 feet of snow tomorrow?" and he will grudgingly correct me, "No, dear. I said it is going to be in the 70's tomorrow". Well, I've told him a million times not to bombard me first thing and it's not MY fault if he continues to do it! Heck, he will even ask me if I have seen "so and so on the news" ~ HEY! Do my eyes look open?!? Do I look as if I am up to date on things?! I can't even find the remote, never mind actually turn it on! So, it's no shock that this card is a favorite of mine and again, the Katzelkraft Cat has the BEST expression! 

What I Used to Make My Card:
KaiserCraft Square Kraft Card Base, #CD509
Distress Ink in Ground Espresso
Katzelkraft Cats
Sentiment, Riley & Co., Coffee Poem, #RWD-539
Water Color Paper
Water Brush
Derwent Inktense Pencils
Light Brown Card
Lawn Fawn Love You Latte Stamps, #LF704
Spellbinder Nestabilities Labels Forty-One, #S4-468
MISTI
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black 
Dimensional Dots

I had my cat already stamped, colored and fussy cut out, all she needed was the right card to put her on and this one totally fit the bill! I used Inktense Pencils and a water brush to color her as well as Jet Black archival ink. She was put on the side to wait to be glued onto the card.  

I made my own background using the MISTI , the Lawn Fawn Love You Latte stamp set and Ground Espresso ink.  I just put the stamps I wanted to use in a

It's NOT crooked in Real Life, just in Photo Life

row, stamped, rotated the stamps one over, stamped and repeated the process until I was satisfied.  Since I knew my kitty would be hanging out in the left hand corner I didn't quite finish the background. To be honest, I didn't think the sentiment would cover so much of the background, but so it is.

I stamped the sentiment {that reads: A poem for mornings ~ Coffee, coffee, coffee. Coffee. Coffee, Coffee. Everyone shut up. Coffee.} on a lighter brown than the Kraft card, cut it out with the Spellbinders die and attached it to the card base with dimensional dots. Lastly, I attached the cat onto the card.  I know how this cat feels as I feel it every. Single. Day.  Could be worse I suppose and I do have to give props to him since he makes the coffee {if only he'd do it silently!}

I hope you got a chuckle out of my card and perhaps it inspired you to enter the Cat Lovers' Blog Hop AND share {and enter} my little giveaway?                               Art~Without~Anxiety

presents

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I’m having a small drawing on my blog.  All you need to do is click onto this post, chose the costume you like best & when I get 75 costume comments, I’ll draw a random winner.  Open Internationally! Please feel free to share!

EXPIRES Nov, 1. 2017

Thank you so much for stopping by - I hope to see you on the giveaway as well as the Cat Lovers' Blog Hop! Fondly, Christi XOXO

In addition to the Cat Lovers' Hop, I am entering my A Morning Poem card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Scrapy Land - #76, Anything Goes w/ a Die Brand they Sell
CCEE Stampers - #1743, Cat Day

All You Need is Love & a Cat

and a cat. Or six.  I think this stamp is SO cut with the the kitty's glasses and bow tie! I've had it for a
while but {gulp} I actually forgot about it! I'm ashamed! So when I did recall I had him, I had to make it up to him! In order to do that, I put him on a card just in time for the Cat Lovers' Hop!   

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
KasierCraft Pawfect Cat Collection, PK555 
Meow, Meow, Meow Stamp Set from Unity Stamps, #UK-926A
Watercolor Paper
Derwent  Inktense Pencils
Heart Punch
Red Glitter Paper
Darice Nested Craft Dies, Classic Circles, 2014-74
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black

I started by stamping the kitty on water color paper, then coloring him in with Derwent Inktense Pencils.  I didn't like the heart in the language bubble, so I took a very. very old heart shaped punch and made a new heart out of red glitter paper.  I then stamped the sentiment onto white card and cut it out with circle dies.  I fussy cut {argh, I hate it - wish I could sent it all off to someone

who finds joy in fussy cutting!} the main image out and adhered that as well as the sentiment to the background paper.  Lastly, the background paper was glued to the card base, left overnight under my drying tile and we have a card!

Thanks so much for supporting me and the Cat Lovers' Blog Hop!  I have one more tidbit to share with you - I am having a small giveaway on my blog and I would love for you to enter and share:

Art~Without~Anxiety

presents

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I’m having a small drawing on my blog.  All you need to do is click onto this post, chose the costume you like best & when I get 75 costume comments, I’ll draw a random winner.  Open Internationally! Please feel free to share!

EXPIRES Nov, 1. 2017

Thanks for stopping by! Hugs, Christi

In addition to the Cat Lovers' Hop, I am entering my card in the following challenges:

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - M, Anything Goes w/ a Critter

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Inky Chicks - #90, Animals