A Meowy Christmas To All

I love cats. I have five fabulous felines and they are the loves of my life.  Since I can't possibly get any more cats {well, I could, but I'd need a better paying job!}, I collect cat stamps and I have since I began stamping a long, long, time ago.  The set I used to make this card is one of my new favorites; I mean, who wouldn't want a Christmas tree full of cats? A Catmas tree!!  Here is my design team entry for Not Just Cards - why not link up one of your holiday creations and join us?

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Scrap White Card
Watercolor Paper {I use this}
Mama Elephant Oh Kitty Tree stamps
Mama Elephant Oh Kitty Tree dies
Zig Clean Color Markers
Sakura Gelly Roll Pens, Stardust Set
Distress Ink in Hickory Smoke
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black

I have to tell you, I couldn't remember if I posted this card or not. I made it a few months ago and I looked through my blog posts to see if I had posted the card, couldn't find it, but I still wasn't sure.  To keep track of the products I use when I am making something, I have a notebook where I write the card name and then the items I used to create the card or project. I couldn't find the list in my book.  Now I KNOW I made the card because it's sitting right here in front of me.  For me not to write down something, even if I only get as far as the stamps and dies I've used, is not like me.  This card was a mystery.  I asked my friend who helps me with my blog if she'd seen the card before, and I checked my pictures.  Turns out I'd taken a few pictures, but the card wasn't ever posted.  Lucky you, I figured it out!  I can tell what I used by looking at the card and I know I started this one by stamping the Catmas tree on a panel of watercolor paper, then I colored in the cats, and cut out the tree.  The tree looked lost when I placed it onto the white card base, so I used a scrap piece of white card and inked it up with a light coat of Hickory Smoke just to give the tree something to be "on."

I stamped the sentiment onto the inked panel, then attached the Catmas tree to the panel, the panel to the card, and I have this adorable card.  I am in love with the cats that Mama Elephant puts out and I am so happy I got this set {I got it as soon as I saw it - I just could not help myself.}  I have a few other cards in the works using this same set and you will be seeing them soon.  Do you have a system for keeping track of what you've posted on your blog, or Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, or any of the other social medias?  How do you know when a card, or project has been "done"?  In addition to my book, I used to keep my cards in separate piles by my computer, but my little, fat, black, cat, Mew, has decided I actually put them there for her to chew, so that system was abandoned.  Now I keep them out of her immediate reach; she's too lazy to figure out how she can get to them, thank goodness!  I hope you enjoyed my post for Not Just Cards! Thanks for stopping by and reading my post; I truly appreciate it!  I'd love it if you'd drop me a comment so I can come and see your blog and share some blog love with you!  Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Meowy Christmas card into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Warm Winter Wishes
Papercraft Challenges - #26, Winter, Wintertime
Show Us Your Pussies - #37, Anything Goes with Cats
Coloring in Scrapland - Anything Goes - Option - Christmas
Winter Wonderland - End of Year Anything Christmas Goes
Crimbo Crackers - #173, Anything Goes
Christmas Sweet Stampin' - Anything Christmas Goes
The Little Red Wagon - #475 House Pets
Card Mania Challenge - #111, Christmas
Stampin Sensations - Winter Sparkle {the little ornaments really do sparkle!}
Archi-scraps - Anything Christmas
Do-Al(l) Creative - #24, Christmas/New Years Eve/New Years Day
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - #21, Anything Goes with a Critter
Merry Little Christmas Blog - #5, Anything Christmas Goes
Inkspirational - #175, Designers Choice, Anything Christmas

A Thank You Card

Remember when I made a card for Layton's Legacy?  Well, I made a few other cards as well, packaged them up, and mailed them off to Lea.  I also included this "Thank You" card to thank her for having this card/donation drive for the NICU parents at U of M Masonic Children's Hospital.  This is the card I made and sent to her.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Birch Press Fiori Plate Layer Set
Hero Arts Thank You Pair Fancy Die, #DI192
3 Co-ordinating Colors of Card Stock {I used yellow, dark blue and light blue}
Scrap White Card for Sentiment

As you can see, this was a VERY easy card! It was the first time I had cut the Fiori plates and I really just wanted to see what they looked like in person.  But I felt the die cuts were so pretty it would have been a waste not to use it, so I turned it into a Thank You card!  I think I would have put more thought into my color choices had I known I was going to use the background but I was (and am!) so happy with the way it came out, I used it anyway.  Plus, I think the colors are sort of summery and fresh. 

All I did was attach the layered plates onto a white card base, cut the Thank You out of white card, and attach it.  I like this card so much I am going to use it for my Design Team project at Not Just Cards September Challenge! It's such a fun place to play, as the theme is always Anything Goes!  And, as the name states, you can submit ANY type of art - not just cards!  

So easy and so elegant.  These dies are pricey but I feel the versatility makes them worth it.  I've recently purchased a few other sets and I'll be sharing them soon!  Thanks SO much for stopping by and I hope to see you soon ~ Christi

PS: Hope to see you at the challenge! Remember, Not Just Cards!

I am entering my Thank You card in the following challenges:
The Crafter's Cafe - M, #203, Three of Something (I used 4 different dies)
Mix It Up Challenge - M, #17, Anything Goes w/ Option of Layering
DL Art Thankful Thursday - #235, Always a Thank You
Papercraft Business Challenge - M, Anything Goes w/ Optional Thank You
Happy Little Stampers - M, Anything Goes with Dies
Crafty Gal's Challenge - #174, Anything Goes plus 3+ Layers
Stamp, Ink, Paper - #167, Large Sentiment

Mom's Birthday Card

This month for Not Just Cards Anything Goes theme, I decided to use my Happy Birthday card for my mother. I can't sleep so I figure maybe I will write up some long overdue posts.  If you are a regular reader, you know my mother is essentially blind; she can see shadows and a bit more on a good day.  In case you aren't familiar with my mom's sight issues, here is a quick rundown: she has advanced glaucoma and macular degeneration.  She stopped using her glaucoma medicine after she retired thinking Medicare wouldn't pay for the drops. By the time she let me know there was a problem, she had already lost a good bit of sight in her left eye.  For her birthday this year I made her a card she can touch and actually feel the layers of the flowers and leaves and, if it's a good day, hopefully see.  By the time you read this she will already have the card since her birthday is June 27th. I'm sure she loves it!   

What I Used to Make My Card:
Vanilla Card Base
Altenew Layered Rose Die, #ALT1787
Coordinating Shades of Red Card
Coordinating Shades of Green Card
Memory Box Happy Birthday, Upright Script, #99684
Dimensional Dots

I also wanted to share the versatility of this rose set - so I am going to show you some different combinations you can make with the dies.  Here is a little "cheat sheet" I made.  The dies are in this order; the outline, the detail, and the base die.  Don't forget, if you want to make the picture bigger, just click on it!

For example, this sample uses the base die and the detail die.

This rose uses the base and the outline die.

This leaf uses the outline die layered over the detail die.

The base die and the outline die were used to make this leaf.

And, finally, this leaf uses the base and the detail dies.

I'd say you get a good value with this set!  When I made the card, I used different shades of red for the roses and green for the leaves.  I began by cutting my lightest shade with of the base die, the middle color is a bit darker and I used the detail dies, and finally the darkest shade was used for the outline.  I glued all the pieces together and let them sit overnight under my

Another Peek

drying tile just to ensure they'd be nice and sturdy.  I layered the roses on a vanilla card blank, moving them to the left hand corner so I'd have room for my sentiment.  Also, I used dimensional dots to mount the last rose {it's the one closest to you} just to give the card a little pop.  Then I attached the leaves around the flowers.  Lastly, I cut out the sentiment from the same card I used for the outline of the roses.  The computer seems to have dulled the two darkest reds a bit and it's difficult to see the difference in them.  You'll just have to trust me on that!  I hope to see you at Not Just Cards; it's an easy Anything Goes theme and you have all month to play :) 

Hope you are having a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by. ~ Christi

I am entering Mom's Birthday Card in the following challenges:
Always Happy Birthday - M, Anything Goes
Happy Little Stampers - M, Anything Goes with Dies
Let's Craft & Create - #140, M, Anything Goes, option: Lots of Layers
Cardz TV - #60, Anything Goes
The Cat's Pajamas - #349, M, Birthday

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)