Family Challenge at Paper Funday!

Hello everyone! Today is the start of the May challenge at Paper Funday and our optional theme is FAMILY.  I had a few options in my mind for this challenge, but decided to go with a family of cats; if you follow me on any social media I am always posting pictures of my cats (I have eight which is why I found this sentiment to be particularly fitting)  and talking about their crazy antics! I hope you enjoy my card:

I started with a handmade slimline base in white and covered that with the brick paper (this paper is from a pack I got in a bundle from My Favorite Things & I couldn't find it on their website) for the wall and used dark blue cardstock for the floor; pretending it's carpet, to give the illusion of a room.  Then I used my favorite black ink on watercolor paper and stamped all of the cats as well as all of the other items I used in my scene.  The sentiment was stamped on white card scrap and cut out with a fishtail banner die.  I colored everything with my Zig markers, cut out all the items and glued them to the card.  I had found a wooden heart embellishment with a paw cut out (discontinued product)  which I covered with Foundry gilded wax and being it a flat piece, I added some Diamond Glaze to seal the heart otherwise the wax just flakes off - it needs dimension to stay on something.  I watched the Tim Holtz video on Foundry wax and I had to get ALL the colors after I tried out the gold.  The pictures don't do this product justice - it really is amazing!  The heart was the last thing I attached to the card and it was finished.

I hope you enjoyed my card and maybe it will help you think of different ways family can be interpreted.  And most of all, I hope to see you join in at the Paper Funday challenge for May! Thanks so much, Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Krafty Chicks, #610 - Stamp Act
DreamValley Challenges, #269 - 4 Legged Friends
Critter Crazy Challenges, #62 - Anything Goes w/ Critters
Crafty Friends, #155 - Animals
The Diva's That Cut - Anything Goes
Country View Challenges - Cats and/or Dogs

Be Mine, Galentine

 Even thought I am not a fan of Valentine's Day, I thought I'd make a card to send to my sister, who is also single, and ask her to be my Galentine.  Hopefully this will put a smile on her face!

I started the card by making the floral heat using Concord & 9th's Triple Step Blooming Heart.  I used the following Distress Inks: Spun Sugar, Kitsch Flamingo and Festive Berries.  Once the heart was done, I found a piece of paper that matched in my stash and dry embossed it with Darice's Mini Hearts Embossing Folder {it is still available, but you need to look}, I then glued that onto the white card base.  I used a strip of red card, embossed the sentiment {which is from MFT, but seems to be discontinued} onto it using white embossing powder then die cut it.  Dimensional tape was used to adhere the heart to the background, I glued the sentiment in place and added two diamond hearts I got ages ago from Maker Forte {the picture makes the hearts look gold when they are actually iridescent}.  I think I did a fairly good job here. I like how all of the colors match :)

Thanks for stopping by and have a fantastic week :) Fondly, Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Can You Handle the Pressure (NEW CHALLENGE!!) #2, Anything Goes w/ a Twist of Pink
Sweet Stampin'- Love, Love, Love
CCEE Stampers, #205 - Valentine's Day
The Little Red Wagon, #640 - Be My Love/Valentine
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Emboss it
Try it on Tuesday - All Loved Up
Colorful Options, M - Rosy Red

Daring Cardmakers - My Sweet Valentine

CLBH Life will be Purr-fect!! {DAY 5}

And yet another card for the Cat Lovers Blog Hop! As most of you know I adore cats and I seem to collect cat stamps almost as easily as I collect actual cats (truthfully, if I had as many real cats as I do cat themed stamp sets I'd go out of my mind - I honestly don't know how people with children get anything done! Between feeding, scooping, loving, breaking up spats, brushing and attempting to cut nails I can barely get anything done. Parents you have my utmost respect!) Anyway, I think these little cats from My Favorite Things are so cute and this card allows me to show them all off properly!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Blue Star Paper, Lucky Prints from MFT {retired}
MFT Mini Meows Stamps, #CS-533
MFT/Die-Namics Mini Meows Dies Set, #MFT-1905
Watercolor Paper {I use this}
Zig Clean Color Brush Markers
Gina K Amalgam Ink Pad in Obsidian Ink
Uniquely Creative 10 Window Frame Die, #UCD1764

I began this card by stamping, coloring and cutting out the cats.  I wanted the colors to be a bit muted, nothing that caused your eye to go to one particular cat so coloring them was quite easy and fast.  I set them aside to dry and cut out the 10 window frame using a retired patterned paper.  Positioning the sentiment in the very bottom of the card, in the largest window of the die, I stamped it directly onto the card base.  I attached the frame onto the card and filled in the other nine windows with the cats.

With all the nastiness floating around this card is perfect to send to someone you literally haven't seen and it shows you miss them.  At the same time, it's cute and hopefully will bring a smile to the face of the recipient.  I hope it brought a smile to your face, too!  Thanks for spending some of your time with me, stay safe and see you soon! Christi

I am entering my card into the following challenges:
Cat Lovers Blog Hop - Day 5
Art Impressions, #315 - Feline Crazy
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes (entry 2)
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Thinking of You
Happy Little Stampers Dies Challenge - Anything Goes w/ Dies (entry 2)
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge, #508 - Anything Goes

CLBH Birthday Whiskers {DAY 4}

 I have been fortunate enough to be able to subscribe to the Hero Arts Kit of the Month club once again and this card was born from the June 2021 kit.  I made it so I could use it for the Cat Lovers Blog Hop, something a little brighter than all the Halloween makes! 

I started the card, as always, by stamping, coloring and cutting out the cat and the balloons.  I used the Gina K ink pad and Zig Clean Color Markers to stamp & color.  I got the background paper free from a Lawn Fawn order and I felt it matched with the happy vibe of the card so I trimmed it down to size used it to cover the white card. The sentiment was stamped on white card and die cut using the fishtailed banner.  A small bit of gel pen was used to color the dots on the birthday hat, and everything was glued onto the card.

Thanks for stopping by & stay turned for more Cat Lovers Blog Hop cards! Til next time, Christi 

I am entering my card in the following Challenges:
The Cat Lovers Blog Hop - Day 4
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes (entry 2)
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - Anything Goes w/ Patterned Paper
NBUS, #31 - First Time Using the Stamp Set (entry 2)
Seize the Birthday, #226 - Always Anything Birthday Goes
Day of the Month Card Club, #32 - It's My Party Day
SUYP Challenge, #71 - Anything Goes w/ a cat :)

I miss Mew

Hey everyone!

I love the look of white & brown together, especially kraft brown! This was an easy card to make and I think, while it is simple, it is also impactful. Hope you like it!

What I Used to Make my Card:
Pre-made Kraft Card Base
My Favorite Things Mini Mews Stamp Set, #CS-533
Simon Says Stamp Ultra Fine White Embossing Powder
Embossing Powder
Red Shimmer Paper
Small Heart Die

To make this simple card all I did was stamp the cats and sentiment onto the kraft base, using embossing ink, and then heat embossed them with embossing powder. After finding a heart die that matched the cats, I cut out 6 hearts from shimmery red paper.  Once the hearts were cut out, I attached them to the card and I was done!

In case you can't tell, I am a cat lover.  Actually, I love all animals, but cats hold a special place in my heart. I promise if you follow me on this blog or any other social media you will see at least two cat cards a month.  Thanks SO much for stopping by!

Hugs, 

Christi

I am happily entering my card in the following challenges:
SUYP, #67 - Anything with Cats Goes
Ally's Angels, #47 - Anything Goes
Bastel-Traum, #102 - Animals
Incy- Wincy - For the Men and/or Use Kraft {I used a Kraft card}
Alphabet Challenge - F is for Furry Friends
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Animal Antics
Paperminutes, #696 - Keep it Simple
Shopping our Stash, #447 - Fur Babies
Lift Challenge, #162 - One Layer Cards
Creative Knockouts, #406 - Furry Friends

Hugs and Houseplants

 Hi everyone!

If you read my other post about the card kit I purchased from My Favorite Things then feel free to jump right on to the main card making part of this post; if you haven't, go ahead, I'll wait here. Stamping was the first craft I felt I could actually do, meaning I could make things that I felt were good enough to share with other people. Since I started stamping I have branched out into so many other crafts, stamping is my gateway craft! So, to make a card with NO stamping at all is something I am trying. Of course, it is much easier with the amazing selection of dies that are available; including these cute stand alone houseplant dies!

What I Used to Make my Card:
Cream Card Base
Die-Namics Houseplants Die Set
Die-Namics Cats & Plant Perches Die Set
Die-Namics Sending You Hugs Die
My Favorite Things Wallpaper Patterns Paper Pad
Gold Shimmer Card
Various Colors of Brown Card
Various Colors of Green Card
Scraps of Card 

After I made my first card I was a houseplant making fool. I made so many of them I even had leftovers after using them to make two cards!  But it was SO fun to just cut everything out of greens and browns and then add a pop of color using nothing but scraps!  The only thing I

used a new piece of paper for was the "hugs" sentiment and that was due to the fact that the color I liked just hadn't been used yet!.

So this card is fairly easy to figure out but I can't do a blog post without telling you how I made it, so here goes!  I started with a cream card base, trimmed down a piece of patterned paper from the pad and adhered that to the card.  Then, once I found the color I liked for the sentiment, I cut that and a small perch from it. I saved the scrap from the sentiment and used it in my next card. I placed the sentiment onto the card, (yes, the G is a tad off but, like I always say because it is handmade it isn't supposed to be perfect) and glued it down.  I then proceeded to pick and choose from the plants I already had made which ones to include on this card.  Easy peasy! I wanted to make this card feel a little more masculine while still using a heart felt sentiment and I think I made that happen!

I hope you like the card as much as I do! It reminds me that I truly don't have a style that I stick to when I am creating; I just go where the muse takes me!  

Thanks!
Christi

I am entering my Hugs and Houseplants card in the following challenges:
Creative Fingers Challenge Blog, #207 - Anything Goes
Cardz TV, #140 - Anything Goes
Just Us Girls, #583 - Layers
LTSCB, #145 - Anything Goes
LTCCB, #58 - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Happy Little Stampers - Anything Goes with Dies
Classic Design Challenge Blog - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Cats & Houseplants!!

Hey everyone!

Finally had some time to sit down and make something! I'll tell you, I always knew that crafting had a calming effect on me but until I couldn't do any of it did I realize how much more it does for my mental health! Boy am I crabby when I can't play with some paper, stamps, dies and markers! I tried to keep it inside since I had a house guest and I didn't want him to feel uncomfortable, but it was not pretty.  But, take a breath, because all is calm and I have my room to myself again.  I am still no where near settled in, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I was lucky enough to get my taxes and stimulus money in the same week and I went shopping! One of the items I bought was the My Favorite Things Cats and Houseplants kit {sold out now, but available separately} and I have had SO much fun playing with this kit! The card I am posting today is the first card I made with the kit:

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
MFT Wallpaper Patterns Paper Pad
MFT Housecats Stamp Set
Die-Namics Housecats Die Set
Die-Namics Window Dressing Die Set
Die-Namics Cats & Plant Perches Die Set
VersaMark Ink
Super Fine Black Embossing Powder
White Card {curtains}
Various Colors of Brown Card {plant stems, curtain holder and border on top & bottom of card}
Various Colors of Green Card {leaves}
Scraps of Card {plant holders}
Watercolor Paper {I use this}
Zig Clean Color Brush Markers
Gina K Amalgam Ink Pad in Obsidian Ink 

If you follow me on any social media then you will know that I am a serious cat lover; I do love every animal {except spiders, but they aren't really an animal are they?} but cats have a huge place in my heart.  I grew up in a house with 5 cats and 3 dogs and my mom was an avid gardener both inside and outside, so when I saw this set, and especially the cat in the plant hanging from the ceiling, I knew I had to have it.  As usual, I began by stamping, coloring and cutting all the needed items and I also covered the front of my card with the brick patterned paper found in the paper pad.  I added a strip of dark brown card to the top & the bottom of the card to ground it a bit. I also cut out the window dressing items {I used a scrap of pre-made sky that I had made using oxide inks and a splatter of metallic watercolor paint - I figured it could be snowing outside, or raining or it could even be the stars you see through the window, your choice!} and I trimmed the curtains some. I then cut out the two perches and started placing the items I had to ensure they'd all fit on the card where I wanted them to.  Next I stamped and embossed the sentiment and glued everything down.  

I enjoyed making this card so much that I made a whole bunch of houseplants using nothing but the dies; stay tuned as those cards will be on the blog soon.  I hope this post finds you all happy and healthy! Thanks so much for reading my little tutorial.

Fondly,
Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
The Cutie Pie Challenge Blog, #158 - It's Raining Cats & Dogs!
Happy Little Stampers - April Anything Goes with  Watercolor Challenge
Happy Little Stampers - April Anything Goes with Dies Challenge
Shopping Our Stash, #433 - Plant Life
SUYP, #65 - Furrything Goes
Unicorn Challenge, #64 - Include an Animal
Crafty Animals, #49 - Anything Goes w/ an Animal
Moving Along with the Times, #129 - Animals/Birds
NBUS Challenge, #25 - Anything Goes as Long as it is Never Used Before

 

 

Pinkfresh Hello with a Bouquet Die 2 Ways

I am trending toward using all parts of a die cut or background more than ever before.  I am not sure why this has suddenly appealed to me, but, I am having fun challenging myself, so who cares??  The die featured in this post is perfect for utilizing all the "leftover" pieces and parts and I hope this inspires you to see what you can use your leftovers for. 

 

(you can see the colors much better in the individual photos below)

What I Used to Make my Cards:
White Card Base
Pre-made Oxide Ink Backgrounds
Pinkfresh Hello with a Bouquet Die
Papertry Ink Thinking of You Die, PTD-1273
MFT/Die-Namics Stitched Fishtail Sentiment Strips, MFT-1125

So not only did I use all the pieces of the die cuts but I used a bunch of backgrounds I had that were too pretty to throw away but didn't quite work for the project I was making them for.  I always have a bunch of  pre-made backgrounds made and ready to go!  To begin both of

these cards,  I die cut the Hello out of three different pre-made backgrounds to have the pieces I'd need.  Be careful, there are many more tiny pieces than I realized and I lost some.  To fix this,  all I did was use the leftover background paper and cut the small spots I needed to fill in.  I attached the white outer cut to the card and then just pieced it together.


The second card is made from all the extra floral and leaves cuts that I didn't use for the first card.  I just trimmed them as I needed and attached them to the white card base, making sure that the fishtail strip was going to cover

all the ends.  I then cut out the sentiment and attached that to the fishtail strip and attached that to the card.  The second card is an absolute departure in colors for me and I actually like that one the best.  Funny how stretching your creativity can end up in the best stuff! 

 

Hope you are all healthy and safe! Trying to keep sane in this insane world that I fear may be our new normal.  Thank you SO much for stopping by :) Fondly, Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

CARDZ TV - #122, Anything Goes
Aud Senitments - #259, Anything Goes & A Sentiment

Sisterhood of Crafters - It's the Thought that Counts (Sentiment as the Focus) 

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes 

TTCRD - Anything Goes 

ABMTTC - Anything Goes

April Showers

Hi everyone! I've been getting used to my new job and then I got hit with some sort of sinus thing, so I haven't been as creative as usual!  THEN my Blogger account got hacked - nothing vicious, no one stealing my identity {the joke would be on them anyway, I'm poor!}, but they added an email address to my account and deleted my real email.  It has been a HUGE struggle to try to get my email back as the email for this blog; in fact, it still isn't correct, but I'm working on it - I suspect an April Fool's "joke" as it was compromised on 4/1/19 - ha ha ha - NOT!  However, this card is perfect for the Die Cut Diva's April challenge!  The theme this month is WATER and you can interpret that however you see fit.  We have the fabulous Altenew sponsoring us and I'll be sharing a card made with their products later in the month.  In the meantime, here is my card:

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base

Watercolor Paper {I use this}

Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black

Zig Clean Color Brush Markers
MFT BB Rain or Shine Stamps
Die-Namics BB Rain or Shine Dies
Hero Arts Ink in Soft Granite
Dimensional Dots

I began this card by adding the rain all over the card, leaving a space for the sentiment.  I literally laid the sentiment on the card and stamped the rain and the raindrops all around it so I'd be sure to leave enough room.  I also added the puddle in which my sweet girl seems to be dancing. 

Another Peek

Then I stamped the girl onto watercolor paper and colored her in.  I also stamped some clouds on a piece of white scrap, then cut out everything.  I used my Tim Holtz Platform to add the sentiment, using black ink so it would stand out.  Lastly, I added the clouds and the girl, attaching them with dimensional dots.  I am thrilled with how this card came out - I am happy with everything about this card!  I love that it's just a "thinking of you" type of card; I never have enough of them!  I hope you get your water elements out and join us for the Die Cut Diva's April Challenge - see you there! Fondly, Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Emerald Creek - M, Inspired by water, rain, etc. 
Country View Challenges - M, Easter and/or Spring
Cute Card Thursday - #576, Anything Goes
Crafty Catz Challenge - Use Your Dies

Birthday Wishes for You

My very best friend is a little over a year older than I am and she is fighting aging like a spitfire!  She's trying all manner of treatments {not going to go into that, you can imagine!} to hold back the hands of time.  We are incredibly different in that aspect; I don't do anything special since I've begun to age.  I refuse to color my hair, although I'm sure it would make me look younger, no shots of chemicals in my face, no special wrinkle creams - none of that for me! This year I made a birthday card that would remind her of her {our} younger years when we both were figure skaters.  I actually had a blue skating outfit like the the girl on the card is wearing.  I also included some little trinkets that will hopefully brighten her day and remind her that getting older really isn't THAT bad.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base

Watercolor Paper {I use this}

Zig Clean Brush Markers
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
MFT/Die-Namics Pure Innocence stamp, Have an Ice Day
MFT/Die-Namics Pure Innocence die, Have an Ice Day
MFT/Die-Namics Stitched Oval STAX
Lawn Fawn Bayou Backdrop, #LF1624
Metallic Blue Card
Find it Trading, Jeanine's Art, Frosty Ornaments Paper Pack, #JPP10006
Your Next Stamp, What Not Sentiments Four, #CYNS-172
Hero Arts Ink in Amethyst 

My skater was stamped on watercolor paper and colored using my Zigs.  The blades of her skates are silver gel pen just to add some sparkle.  While she was drying, I cut a panel of the background paper and attached it to the white card base.  Then I used the Bayou Backdrop's water die to make my iced-over pond which I cut from a metallic, light blue, paper.  I stamped the sentiment onto some white card, cut it out with the oval die, and then proceeded to attach all my components to the card.  I think it's really cute!  Coloring the skater was an experience; I'm trying to get used to coloring people and, while I didn't use alcohol markers, I don't think any practice can hurt!

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial.  The Pure Innocence line of stamps and dies are just so cute and the uses for the characters are endless!  Plus, they are fairly inexpensive.  Now that you have heard all about my best friend's war against time, what do you do to try to stop the clock?  Are you an anything and everything person or like me, a nothing at all person?  I'd love to hear your comments!  Be sure to leave your info so I can stop by your blog and leave you some love!  In fact,  I'd love for you to follow me on any social media platform you choose, be it Blogger, Pinterest, or Instagram.  All the subscribing buttons can be found on the right side of my blog.  Have a wonderful day!  Christi

I am entering my Birthday Wishes for You card in the following challenges:
The Artistic Stamper - M, Anything Goes
Just for Fun - M, Use Blue & Silver
Sweet Stampers - #28, Winter/Snow
Creatalicious - #155, Anything Goes w/ Option of Winter Fun
Die Cuttin' Diva's - #403, Birthday
Stamping Sensations - Fabulously Feminine 
My Time to Craft - #388, Winter Birthday
Crafty Catz - #444, Anything Goes w/ Optional Twist of Birthdays
Cut it Up - #165, How's the Weather? {my skater is outside in the cold!}
Double D Challenges - Looking Back in Time
Bastel-Traum - #73, Stencil and/or Die