Guest Designer at the Four Seasons Challenge

 I am so excited to be the Guest Designer at the Four Seasons Challenge for this month.  

Here is the Mood Board for this challenge.  I can't wait to see what you create with this! This is my card - hope it feels Fall to you!

I had made this background of leftover glitter paper quite a while ago but have been saving it since the colors speak fall to me; the glitter is crisp and the colors are so pretty! I stuck strips of the various glitter card to a piece of plain white card then cut it out with a stitched scalloped slimline die.  That was attached to a white slimline card. The sentiment is cut from 2 different dies; happy is from Elizabeth Dies (the die is discontinued, but if you do a search you can find it - item number is 1161, Happy Birthday 2) and the fall is from this Pinkfresh Studio's Alphabet, both are cut from Curious Metallic's Ice Silver card.  Once I attached the words, I decorated the card with various gems from Picket Fence Studio (they have the BEST gems; they are a bit pricey but SO pretty and sparkly in person!).  

I am so looking forward to the start of fall weather! I've had enough of the heat and am SO ready to snuggle under some quilts and break out my flannel shirts! 

Thank you so much for stopping by and please be sure to check out the Four Seasons Challenges! Fondly, Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Dragonfly Dreams, M - Halloween/Autumn
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Fall Colors
Dream Valley Challenges, #281 - Dies and/or Punches
Try it on Tuesday - Sparkle and Shine
Die Cut Divas - Anything Goes
Inspiration Station, #40 - Harvest (honestly, the word inspired me more than the picture!)

Cat Lovers Blog Hop Day 6 - Last day to enter!

 Yes, another Happy Halloween cat card for the Cat Lovers Blog Hop, Day 6!!

This is going to be a quick post as I am VERY late getting my card up for this last day to enter (I'm shocked! No, not really) and I need to get cracking on the comments! So I used a white slimline card base, covered it with black card and cut out the grey star paper with the scalloped frame die from this Lawn Fawn set.  The kitties are all from the newest Tim Holtz Mischievous Die set, I cut them all out and then popped on the extra faces so all of their heads are on black foam tape.  The colors don't match my cats, but there are eight die cut cats, one for each of my own (yes, I have 8 cats).  Then to add a bit of color I used dark purple glitter card for the sentiment which is from Elizabeth Designs Words 3 (sadly, discontinued, but it is available on Amazon).  I used nothing but scrap card to make the kitties, it is a great way to use it up!

 

Thank you so much for visiting and hopping - I appreciate any followers on any of my social media (I've got them all linked on the sidebar) and if you do decide to follow me, please let me know! Fondly, Christi 

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Cat Lovers Blog Hop ~ Day 6
Allsorts, #700 - Any Celebration
Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers, #221 - H is for Halloween
Sweet Stampin' - Colors of Halloween
Happy Little Stampers - Anything Goes with Dies
Lost Coast, #154 - Cats and/or Dogs
CRAFT Challenge, #656 - Halloween
Through the Purple Haze, #197 - Halloween and/or Color Palette

You're Sweet at Paper Funday!!

Boy, pink is a TOUGH color to photograph! But I still love this card and made it for the Paper Funday February "Hugs & Kisses" challenge.  I adore Lawn Fawn Products and this was made with some of the older ones, but I have some new ones in the works, so stay tuned!I

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Slimline Card Base
Pink Card
White Card
Lawn Fawn Slimline with Hearts, Landscape, #LF2476
Kat Scrappiness Slimline Never Ending Nesting Dies
Lawn Fawn You're Sweet Line Border, #LF1560
Lawn Fawn Polka Heart Backdrop Die, Landscape, #LF1830
Lawn Fawn Hedgehugs Die, #LF730

I stretched myself making this card; there is NO stamping on it at all!  I almost had to stamp a sentiment, but as you can see I worked that out. Let me explain how I made the card. I started with the slimline card and cut out the back layer and the front layer, using pink and white card. Then I cut out the hearts so they were visible through the hearts on the front of the card.  I wanted the small hearts to be white, so I used some scrap white card to layer behind it.  I attached that portion close to the top because my plan was to use the sentiment at the bottom of the card.  Well, that didn't work out very well. First it didn't fit and then there was the dilemma of what color should the sentiment be?  I really did not want to introduce another color to the pallet so I just moved the sentiment up a bit and placed it onto the focal part of the card. Then I had to figure out what to add to the bottom since there was too much space to just leave it {at least I thought so.}  I debated if I should trim it {there doesn't seem to be any real standard yet for slimline cards.}  No trimming; instead I focused on something I could add.  I tried pearls and gems until my eye settled on the Hedgehugs set that was on my desk.  Perfect!  I cut out those little hearts five times and adhered them to the bottom of the card.  I doubt you'd think that space was unplanned if I didn't tell you!  I love the way the card came out, especially the little hearts along the bottom!  I hope to see your "Hugs & Kisses" projects on the Paper Funday Challenge! Thanks for stopping by!  Fondly, Christi

Boo to YOU ~ Happy Halloween at Paper Funday!

 I was lucky enough to buy these stamps and dies from Mama Elephant when they were having their moving sale and SO happy that I got them! The little witches are SO cute {and don't even get me started on the little cats - peeking out of the pumpkin!! Adorable!!} and are "agenda" sized, yet I was able to use my watercolor markers to color them.  Perfect for this cute Halloween card and the challenge twist at Paper Funday Challenges!  Halloween is my favorite holiday and I can't ever have enough Halloween stamps, dies, paper or decorations! Anyway,  here is my card, I hope you think it is as cute as I do!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Mama Elephant Little Witch Agenda Stamps
Mama Elephant Little Witch Dies
Mama Elephant Big Boo & Trick Dies
Studio Katia Glow in the Dark Mini Stars, #SK2520
Kat Scrappiness Starlights Jewel Slimline Paper, #KA-PP005
Echo Park I Love Halloween 6" x 6" Paper Pad, #ILH218023
Watercolor Paper {I use this}
Zig Clean Color Brush Markers
Gina K Amalgam Ink Pad in Obsidian Ink

The GITD stars glowing!

Once my little witches were colored, cut and dry I started to assemble my card.  I cut "boo to you" about eight times out of thick white cardstock, then used a patterned Halloween paper for the top layer, glued them all together to give the words a nice pop and set it aside.  I chose a paper that is a bit too busy for me to use as a patterned paper background; just not my style, but it worked so well used in this manner.  I took a sheet of the background paper and trimmed it down; since it is designed for slimline cards it isn't as wide as typical background paper which left a small white border around the paper.  I then glued the sentiment onto the card, placed all my witches and cats where I wanted and lastly, used a few glow in the dark stars - they shine a bit in the light and really do glow in the dark!

So, as usual, you can enter the challenge at The Paper Funday Challenge with Anything Goes, or use our monthly twist - which is Halloween! I would celebrate Halloween every month if I could - I think we should!! Get to dress up and eat candy?? Works for me! The heat is finally beginning to break and it's getting chilly in the evening. Granted, not chilly enough to shut off the ceiling fan or shut the windows, but I can feel the change in the air!  Until next time, happy crafting! Christi 

I am entering my Boo to You card in the following challenges:
Addicted to Stamps & More, #415 - Die Cuts and/or Stencils
Crafting Happiness Challenge, #116 - October Color Challenge {Use any or all: Purple, Orange, Green and Black}
The Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge - Anything Halloween {theme board graphic below}
World Wide Open Design Team Challenge, #9 - Anything Goes
Paperminutes, #712 - The Sentiment Should be Large
Just Us Girls, #604 - Word Week - Halloween
The Paper Players, #561 - Spooky

Love has Four Paws

Good morning! I'm so glad you stopped by and I hope you like my most recent card for Die Cut Diva's.  This month's theme is Anything New and this image, provided by our sponsor, Bugaboo Digi Stamps is brand new; at least to me!  You still have a little time to enter this month and I hope to see you there!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Pink Card
Alcohol Ink Markers
Bugaboo Valentine Pup Set, #BUGVALPUPSET
Kat Scrappiness, Pet Sentiments dies
Darice Mini Hearts embossing folder, #1219223 {retired? Still available}
Tutti Scalloped Stitched Nesting Circles, #TUTTI-419
Altenew Enamel Dots, Red Cosmos, #ALT2591
Wink of Stella, Clear
Gelly Roll Gel Pen, Clear
Gelly Roll Gel Pen, White, #10 {I highly recommend the 3 pack}

I had printed this pup out on two different type of paper just to see if different

If you look close you can
see the sparkle on the
heart and a few around
the puppy.

paper printed better - I could see no difference.  I just grabbed the image closest to me and started to color away with my hodgepodge of alcohol ink markers; the reason I don't note the colors I've used is because I have such a mix of the markers half the time I'm not even sure which manufacturer I'm using!  The picture was colored and I added the white dots around the smaller heart {which is a different color than the large heart - I'm not sure if that is clear on your monitor}, some clear Wink of Stella around the large heart and I added some little sparkles around the dog with my clear gel pen.  

Once the image was colored I concentrated on the rest of the card.  I like the light pink background but it lacked something; the card needed more interest so I embossed the background paper with the mini hearts folder.  I trimmed that paper down and adhered it to my card base.  I then cut the dog out using the stitched scalloped circle die and cut the love out twice, using white and red card.  I inlaid the paw with the red pieces and glued that to the card.  Finally, just to add a bit more embellishing I finished off the card with three enamel dots on the lower right side; one of them blends in very well with

Another Look

the pink card so you might have to look for it.  

I am becoming more comfortable with using digital stamps and I still plan on learning how to use my alcohol markers properly.  I realized while coloring this image that alcohol ink markers use color to highlight and blend not a blender.  Might not sound like a breakthrough to you but I was happy; I felt as if I cracked one of the many secrets of using these markers.  I'd love to hear your secrets to using alcohol markers, please leave me a comment {complete with your info so I can return the blog love and visit you!} with your breakthroughs or tips and tricks, I could use all the help I can get!  As I said, there is still a bit of time to enter this Die Cut Diva's challenge, using the theme of Anything New,  but if you can't make this one there will be a brand new one tomorrow.  I hope to see you there! Fondly, Christi

I am a day late in adding my card to some challenges! I forgot I had this card scheduled :)
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - #23, M, Anything Goes w/ a Critter
Pearly Sparkles Challenge - #37, M, It's a LOVE thing
Dies R Us - #114, Use the Color Red
Color Crazy Challenge - Anything Colored Goes (week 4)
Creative Friday - #223, Love is in the Air
Cut it Up - #166, Hearts
Kat Scrappiness Challenge - Hearts