Sarcastic Kitties - Cat Lovers Blog Hop DAY 1!

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

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

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

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

Happy Hopping!! 

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

Lawn Fawn Hope Card

The current situation in the world is making me feel so helpless; I can't do much to help any of the people affected by these events, so I made a card with Ukraine in mind. I actually feel for ALL the civilians involved in this catastrophe and while I may hold strong opinions about world leaders, I do not wish harm to come to any innocent civilian. I have to say, crafting truly does help heal because I feel better, a bit brighter.  I like that this card has a cheerfulness to it.  All the cute daisies actually bring spring to mind as well; and spring is a time for hope. So, this card has two meanings; works for me! Here you go:

 

All of the dies are from Lawn Fawn; I made the daisies using the Little Flowers set {while not new, this is the first time I have used this set}, using gold glitter card for the flower centers, the grass from this border die, the sun background is this die and the letters are from this set.  Obviously, the colors are sort of the Ukrainian flag's colors {I struggled with incorporating enough blue, but I really loved the sun as the background instead of a blue sky}.  The letters were half pressed {inspired by Jenn Shurkus and how beautifully she does this sort of technique} into embossing ink and then embossed with Wow! Clear Hologram Sparkle embossing powder. The grass is popped up using dimensional tape, some of the daisies are glued to the card and some to the grass. The papers are from my stash, but I think they are Core'dinations because they do have some texture to them. Thanks so much for stopping by ~ stay safe, Christi

PS: Do you want to help Ukraine but don't know how? Go to Yana Smakula's post here - The coordinator, Denzil Quick is amazing! I emailed him and he responded within a DAY!! #freeUkraine

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends, #177 - Anything Goes
The Paper Players, #581 - Spring is in the Air
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Use a Die Cut (#2)
Dies R Us, #188 - Anything Goes using a Product they Sell
NBUS Challenge, #36 - Anything NBUS (#2)
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Add Some Green
The Friendship Challenge, #75 - Anything Goes
Creative Knockouts, #442 - Sparkle & Shine

 

Who Knew?

 Hi all! The current challenge at Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers, which is N is for Naughty,  inspired me to actually make this card - I'd had the Santa already put together and I had the sentiment on my desk for ages, but the current challenge was the push I needed!

I covered a white card base with patterned paper from DCWV Red & White Christmas paper {doesn't show on their website, but it is available online if you HAVE to have it}; and then I used Hero Arts Infinity Nesting Circle dies to cut the checkered paper from the same.  I used a circle I had left over from my Joy Ornament I made, so that is what I stamped the sentiment {from Riley & Company Funny Bones; I bought a ton of them recently so they will be showing up a lot!} on.  Like I said, Santa, which is from Frantic Stamper, was already made - I just added some googly eyes. I attached everything and added some beautiful bubble gems from Trinity Stamp.  There ya go! 

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers, #198 - N is for Naughty
Stamping Sensations - Christmas
International Art & Soul, #122 - Winter
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas, #569 - Christmas
Happy Little Stampers Dies Challenge - Anything Goes w/ Dies

 

 

Haunted Times Wall Hanging

If you are looking for the Cat Lovers Blog Hop post, click here :)

 As I was scouring the internet for Halloween miniatures I stumbled across these small {5" x 5"} wooden shadow boxes in a well known large craft store - they also had some other sizes - and the price was so good, I bought a bunch of them. I try to make something 3D for Halloween every year {last year I made a spell book that you can see here} and this shadow box is this years' 3D project.  It's the first time I used one of my new shadow boxes and I had a blast making it! 

 

Haunted Times

First, I primed the wooden box with white gesso, then painted it black.  While the box was drying I shaped the skeleton, which I got at the Dollar Tree {they are sold in a garland with 4 or 5 of the plastic skeletons tied to a piece of jute. Since the skeletons are plastic, I heated up where I wanted with my heat gun and gently bent him; a plus is that their arms and legs move so even though I bent his legs to make knees the left leg is movable still. This way the box can either be hung on the wall and his leg can dangle, or you can gently put his foot onto the bottom of the shadow box and have it sit on a shelf. I shaped him to be sitting down by bending his legs and I bent his arms to create elbows.  I glued googly eyes to him and set him aside.  I also purchased the hay bales, the silver bat sticker and the background ribbon I used in the box from the Dollar Tree. 

 

I cut the ribbon to fit the back of the box and glued that down, glued a Tim Holtz/Idea-ology drippy candle onto another hay bale and put some googly eyes on the pumpkin which I sat on some paper leaves from my stash.  The metal letters used to spell out spooky are from Memory Makers, which has gone out of business, they were actually buttons, but I trimmed off the shank.  I cut Happy Halloween from DCWV metallic silver glitter paper using an Impression Obsession die and attached that to the back wall of the box, glued the silver bat under that and added the hay bale with the candle on it to the scene. The last thing I made was the "Haunted Times" newspaper; this is the reason that Mr. Skelly Ton has the googly eyes.  See, he is reading about himself in the gossip portion of the newspaper.  I actually typed up the paper and sized it down to fit in his hands which makes it almost too small to read so I thought I'd post the entire newspaper above.  You will need to click on the image to be able to read it.  If he had lips they'd be open in surprise but he doesn't so let's move on.

Lastly, I glued Skelly Ton on the hay bale, attached the newspaper to his hands and I was done!  I Hope you find this as humerus {see what I did there?} as I do and enjoyed the peek into Skelly's life ~ thanks so much for stopping by and above all, reading the entire post! Christi

Entering my Halloween Wall Hanging in the following challenges:
Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge Blog, #76 - Anything Mixed Media Goes
My Time to Craft - Halloween or Fall Colors {Halloween}
More Mixed Media Challenge - Anything Goes, Option of Orange
Crafty Catz, #569 - Anything Goes w/ Option of Layers
Mixed Media Palace - Mood Board {inspired by all the Halloween-like pictures}
Mix it Up Challenge - Anything Goes
The Corrosive Challenge - Anything Goes
Use Your Stuff, #434 - Halloween or Pumpkins
Love to Scrap, #150 - Anything But a Card
Mixed Media Academy Challenge Blog - Mood board & compulsory item is BUTTONS {word spooky was buttons, I removed the shank!}

 

World's Best Sister Card for River of Creativity

 Hi friends! I struggled with this month's theme at River of Creativity - I just could not think of a way to incorporate the theme - One Earth - into a project! But, since we really want to see interpretations on the theme, once I got going I made two cards!! You can see the other one on the 23rd.   My sister is the best and I like to show her how much I appreciate all she does for my mom and the family.  Here is my card:

What I Used to Make my Card:
Top Fold A2 Card
DCWV Maps, Texts & Ledger 8" x 8" Stack {retired but available}
Concord & 9th Globe Greetings Stamps & Dies {retired but available}
Distress Oxide ink in Salty Ocean and Gathered Twigs
Simon Says Stamp Embossing Ink
WOW! Embossing Powder Primary Ebony

 I had the globe part of this card already stamped {I used salty ocean for the water & then over-stamped the land with gathered twigs} so all I needed to do was cut out the background paper and emboss the sentiment and globe stand.  I used embossing ink and then embossed both with black powder. Simple!

I hope you do join us this month at River of Creativity! We accept all crafts, not just cards, and we'd LOVE to see your creations! Thanks! Christi

You're Dog-Gone Awesome!

As some of you may remember, I have a good friend who is absolutely dog crazy and I made this card just to brighten her day a bit. And, it just so happens that the August monthly theme for Paper Funday Challenges is Cute Critters {you can also choose Anything Goes}!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
DCWV Playful Pets 6x6 Stack, #PS-006-00154 {not on DCWV site, but available}
Reverse Confetti Double Stitched Window Cover Panel
Avery Elle Furry Friends stamp set, #ST-15-13 {retired but available}
Avery Elle Furry Friends die set, #D-15-13 {retired but available}
Lawn Fawn Howloween Die Set {crown}, #LF1207
Sizzix/Tim Holtz Mini Bird Crazy & Things die set, {bow tie}, #660949 {retired but available}
Watercolor Paper {I use this}
Zig Clean Color Brush Markers
Gina K Amalgam Ink Pad in Obsidian Ink
Small Piece of Mirror Gold Card
Small Piece of Glitter Pink Card
Red Sparkle Gel Pen

The Inside

As usual, I started this card by coloring and cutting all the pieces of the dog, including the crown, bed, and bow-tie.  Then I used the cover die to make the window panel out of the patterned paper.  I adhered the paper to the card base, placing the items where I wanted and gluing them, too.  I finally stamped the sentiment in the front of the card and inside.  Fairly simple card considering all the elements I used.  :)  I used the mirror card on the crown to pick up the foil accents on the paper and the pink bow because Lola is always dressed to the nines; she has more and better clothes than I do!

I hope this card gave you a smile!  I enjoyed making it and got to use some new {to me} stuff, like the cover panel. I hope to see you at Paper Funday entering your own Cute Critters cards! Have a GREAT day - fondly, Christi

 

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Crafty Animals, #53 - Anything Goes with an Animal
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - Anything Goes
Die Cut Divas - Watercolor, Real or Faux {the dog is water colored}
Creatalicious Challenges, #216 - Anything Goes w/ Option of Animal{s}

Simple Slimline Thank You Card

Hi everyone! 

While I do love to get out my markers and a bunch of stamp and dies, there are times when I just need to make something a bit easier.  I love using paper packs and Birch Press Designs dies when I need to make a quick card; I especially love that the intricate nature of the dies make it look like I worked for ages to make the card, yet all it typically takes is a few turns of my die cutting machine.  This week for my Dies R Us design team post I am showing you this simple, yet elegant, thank you card:

What I Used to Make my Card:
Slimline White Card Base
DCWV Paper Stack, 12" x 12", Peri & Peach
Birch Press Designs Flora Heart Layer Set, 56120 {This is a NBUS set of Dies for me!}
(you could also use Caprice Heart Layer Set,  Dahlia Heart Layer Set or Petal Heart Layer Set)
Birch Press Designs Big Thanks Sugar Script, 57142 
Nuvo Delux Adhesive
Sequins from Stash

Once I had made my slimline card base, I set that aside and cut out a bunch of the hearts using all of the beautiful papers in the paper stack.  I recommend keeping each layer separate while you are doing this as it is easier to assemble them, I have a tendency to mix up some of the layers and don't realize it until I begin to put the layers together.  I use a toothpick to dot the adhesive onto thin die cuts like these but have found the tip of the Nuvo glue works so well with dispensing a tiny dot that I have been able to cut down on using  tooth picks! In the past I've tried the needle precision tips {and a bunch of others} but they always clog on me, not so with this glue! Putting these hearts together was a breeze! I had cut enough layers to make 5 complete hearts so I saved the other two to be used later.  I chose to use the "thanks" sentiment rather than a more formal sentiment to keep the card playful and not too elegant.  Dies R Us carries an amazing selection of Birch Press Designs Dies at the best prices I have found online - my collection is growing quite fast now!  I hope this little tutorial finds you and yours healthy and happy! 

Fondly, 

Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Addicted to Stamps & More, #405 - Use Dies and/or Stencils
Pammie's Inky Pinkies, #2119 - Anything Goes
Dragonfly Dreams - Add Some Sparkle {paper I used & sequins}
Just Us Girls, #583 - Trend Week, Layers
Carlin's Cards, #34 - Flowers & Hearts {Flowers = patterned paper}
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - Anything Goes w/ Patterned Paper
Mix it Up, #49 - Anything Goes w/ 3 or More Layers {each heart is 3 layers}
NBUS Challenge, #26 - Anything Goes with Never Before Used Schtuff

Happy Spring!

Hello everyone,

Since moving I have found {and am STILL finding!} a bunch of craft and card making items that I'd forgotten all about.  Some of it needs new homes and some of it needs to be used! I found this package of white flowers I had gotten from the Dollar Tree ages ago and that is how this card started!

What I Used to Make my Card:
5" x 7" white card base
DCWV 180 Floral Fair Cardstock Stack {available but not on the DCWV site}
Tutti Rose Frame Die, #TUTTI-178
Tutti Birdies Trio, #TUTTI-102
Distress Oxide Inks in Peeled Paint, Tumbled Glass, Tattered Rose and Brushed Corduroy
Lawn Fawn Tree Before 'n Afters Stamp Set, #LF2018
Picket Fence Studio Blending Brushes, 6 pack
White Flowers from Dollar Tree {any small white flowers will work}
Die-Namics Stitched Fishtail Banners

Product I Used

As I said, finding these flowers inspired me to actually USE them, so I started going through my dies and found the two from Tutti Designs that sing "spring" to me.  Instead of deciding on which one to use, I decided to use both; I like how the Birdies Trio fits in the Rose Frame.  Next came the paper I was going to use; I had previously looked through my patterned paper {the cover of the exact stack I used is pictured} and pulled out a few sheets I liked.  Luckily, in the same paper pad, there was a yellow shade of paper that matched my chosen design wonderfully.  I started the card by cutting the frame out of my previously picked paper, then the birds out of the matching yellow.  One thing to remember when using dies from across the pond, they may not

The Dies

fit our standard card sizes, so I moved to a 5" x 7" card base and centered the frame and birds and glued them to the base.  I colored the flowers with the Distress Oxide Inks {I love the fact that you can make these inks as dark or as light as you want to; I inked the flowers with a small blending brush until the color matched the patterned paper!}, cleaned off the center gems so they'd sparkle. Lastly, I finished off the card with the sentiment that I had stamped onto white card, using the Brushed Corduroy ink,  and then cut with a stitched fishtail banner.  

Detail Close Up

These colors are outside of my comfort zone, I typically
struggle with pastel colors. This year I am trying to step out of my comfort zone and experiment with making projects that include colors, techniques, and subjects I am not comfortable with {I am actually going to USE the items I've purchased to make a light up card!} and I would love it if you'd join me on this journey!  Thanks SO much :)

Fondly,

Christi

 

Don't forget to come join in the fun at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog. There's a new challenge
theme offered on the 1st and 15th of each month and one lucky randomly drawn winner will receive a gift voucher prize to the Dies R Us Store.  

   For your convenience, all the important Dies R Us links are provided below.

 click below for:

STORE

CHALLENGE BLOG

FACEBOOK

INSPIRATION BLOG 

FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Always Fun, #209 - Pastel Colors
Dreamvalley Challenges, #245 - Springtime
Use Your Stuff, #420 - Spring/Easter
Crafty Catz, #546 - Anything Goes
The Flower Challenge, #55 - Pretty Pastels
Moving Along with the Times, #129 - Animals/Birds {I used birds}
Inspiration Station, #3 - Photo Inspiration = Love the beautiful, soft flowers & that inspired me to use soft colors on my card.

Sparkling Snowflake

I just love pairing Birch Press dies with some calligraphy!  I think the combination is just so elegant!  The Quietfire Design company, which is now sold through Elizabeth Designs, has all sorts of beautiful stamps, die cuts, and electronic files featuring this beautiful calligraphy {just do a search for Suzanne Cannon; she is the calligrapher behind all these gorgeous products!}

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
DCWV White Christmas Paper Stack, 12" x 12" {not on the DCWV site, but available}
Elizabeth Craft Designs, Let it Snow die, #1234 {on SALE right NOW!}
Birch Press Issa Die Set, #56082 {retired but available}

One of the beautiful things about Birch Press dies is that there are 3 layers for you to mix, match, and use as you please.  This creation only used 2 layers of the set; I die cut the bottom layer out of light grey paper and then the top out of glittery paper.  I assembled my snowflake, glued it onto my card base, then cut my sentiment from light gray paper.  This is one of the quickest cards I have ever made and I think it looks almost as good as those you can find in the store! 

I hope you are getting in some "you" time after all the craziness of the holiday season.  It feels wonderful to not have all that pressure around anymore.  I am thrilled to pieces that 2020 is gone and I am hoping that 2021 is going to be better for everyone!  Hoping you and yours are healthy, safe, & happy!  Hugs, Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Dies R Us, #160 - Anything Goes
Challenge up Your Life, #131 - Snowflakes
Dream Valley Challenges, #239 - Winter and/or Snow
A Place to Start, #1 - Anything Goes
Love to Craft, #54 - Anything Goes
Happy Little Stampers - Anything Goes with Dies