Meowy Christmas ~ cat lovers blog hop

In my opinion things can't get much better than cats & Christmas!  This is my first attempt at a slimline card, so please be kind!

 

 What I Used to Make my Card: 

Slimline White Card Base

Watercolor Paper {I use this} 

Zig Clean Color Brush Markers 

Gina K Amalgam Ink Pad in Obsidian Ink

Lawn Fawn Meow You Doin'? Stamps, #LF1315
Lawn Fawn Meow You Doin'? Dies, #LF1316

Lawn Fawn Cheery Christmas Stamps, #LF1216 {the Santa hat}
Lawn Fawn Cheery Christmas Dies, #LF1217

Lawn Fawn Louie's ABC's, #LF688

Authentique 6x6 Pad, Festive, #FES009

Dots (made out of Perler Beads)

I had already had all the cats colored and cut out {I always have a supply on hand for those ideas that pop into my head} so all I had to do was cut the letters and find the Santa hats.  I made my own slimline card base after searching for a definitive size.  At the time, it seemed as long as the card fit into a business sized envelope any size worked.  I love the idea of the cat juggling the "o" and that was really the start of the card.  I assembled everything and here you have it!

Hoping this post finds you and yours healthy & happy!   Fondly, Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Her Peaceful Garden {cat lovers blog hop, day 3}

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge, #82 - Anything Christmas Goes 

SUYP Challenge - Anything with a Cat Goes

Arty Divas, #30 - Anything Goes

 

Happy 2019 with a2z Scrapbooking!

I am still in that holiday coma as I completely forgot I needed to have a post ready for the a2z Scrapbooking's January Challenge, which is the wonderful {and easy} theme of ANYTHING GOES! Thank goodness I had already made the card and only had to write up this post.  As you can see, I was really feeling the festivities and went a bit overboard on the embellishments and the bling, but hey, it's only once a year, right? And it was SO much fun to just go a bit crazy!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base {5" x 7"}
Grey Card
Black Card
Hero Arts Birthday Celebration, stamps, #CM123
Hero Arts Birthday Celebration, dies, #DI343
Spellbinders Filigree Numbers, #S6-141
Hero Arts Embossing Powder in Silver, Gold and Silver Sparkle
WOW! Embossing Powder in Silent Night, #WS101R
Hero Arts Intense Black Ink, #AF345
Gold Card
Couture Creations Embossing Folder, Chiaro, #723156 {available online}
Memory Box Happy Birthday die, #99684
Iridescent Plastic Dots, Mixed Colors and Sizes
Studio Katia Clear Round Dots, Mix 1, #SK2410

When I think of New Year's Eve, images of women in gowns, men in tuxedos, confetti, champagne, and classic elegance come to mind.  I wanted this card to convey some of that festive party mood so I used a classic palette of silver, gold, black, and gray.  I used a white 5" x 7" card base since I knew I wouldn't be able to fit all the elements I wanted to use on my usual A2 {5 1/2" x 4 1/4"} sized card.  I trimmed down the gray card and ran it through my Big Shot using an embossing folder that I didn't even remember I had!  I tend to keep the crafty items that I don't use that much in the back of whatever storage I have and this one was hiding.  Being a larger size than I typically use means I put the folder in the very back.  However, I think it helps the festive nature of the card and I'm glad I came across it.  Once the card was dry embossed, I glued it onto the base and stuck it under the tile to dry overnight.  I've had trouble getting intricate embossed paper to stick to the base so I knew if I loaded it up with glue and set it to dry overnight it would stick.

Another Look

Meanwhile, I stamped the balloons with embossing ink and embossed them with black, silver, gold embossing powder, and a little silver glitter powder, then I cut and set them aside.  I did the same with the balloon strings.  I stamped the drinks in black ink and die cut them as well.  I don't have many number dies and I bought these without having a project in mind, but I knew they'd come in handy and they did! I cut them out of gold card, sort of a dull gold.  Lastly, I had to decide what "happy" I wanted to use and eventually settled on one.  I didn't want the "happy" to be the focal point of the card so I chose a small one, cut it out of black card, and all of my elements were ready to go.

I added all the die cut pieces and then went a little crazy with some iridescent and clear dots.  I started wanting the bubbles to come up out of the glasses like champagne but that didn't work so well so I just put the dots anywhere and everywhere I wanted.  I think it makes the card a celebration all on it's own!  Thank you for reading my tutorial and I hope you join us at a2z Scrapbooking this month; after all, you can't win if you don't play and how can you not play when Anything Goes! Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Happy 2019 Card in the following Challenges:
2 Sisters on the Blog - Use Numbers
Dies R Us - Anything New {New Year! New Die!} Entry 2
Mix it Up - #21, Anything Goes w/ Sentiment as the Focus
Sparkles Forum - #112, New Year, New Stash {the stamps & dies are all new}
Tuesday Throwdown - #423, Embossing {I used dry & wet}
Crafty Gals Corner - #183, Make it Sparkle
A Blog Named Hero - M, Crafter's Choice