Celebrate with River of Creativity!

 December is here and this months challenge at River of Creativity is Celebrate! You can enter anything that you've created that means celebration to you! I made this card especially for this challenge to celebrate my growth as a card maker and to celebrate this wonderful season.  I hope you like it!

I used Trinity Stamps Slimline All Spruced Up stamp set to make the fur tree outline, the pine cones, poinsettia flowers & leaves; I stamped the fur trees with Wendy Vecchi's Archival Ink in Fern Green,   for the pine cones I used Potting Soil, all on regular card.  Then I used the Fern Green for the poinsettia leaves and Red Geranium for the flowers on watercolor card (the Fern Green and Red Geranium are the best inks to use for green & red designs in my opinion.  I haven't found better colors yet!).  I used my Zigs to color in the poinsettias and the leaves. I used the coordinating dies to cut everything out and used a slimline card base. Then I cut out the sentiment from glitter card and glued it onto vellum. That was placed on the card, the poinsettias are pop dotted and the little glitter dots are Christmas Red Stickles.  I realize my sentiment isn't perfectly placed, but I loved this card so much I wanted to share it anyway. I hope you have a celebration project you can share with is at River of Creativity - remember, you can enter anything that is handmade!

This is the last challenge for now - after the holiday season is over stay tuned for a NEW River of Creativity Challenge - we are doing a revamp!! COMING SOON!!!

I wish that each & every one of you has a peaceful holiday season :) Be safe :) Thanks!! Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Sparkle Mode
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Holidays/Christmas
International Art & Soul, #123 - Use Dies and/or Punches
Allsorts, #653 - Use a Die
Cut it Up, #240 - Holiday Cards
Crazy 4 Challenges, #613 - Christmas Flowers/Foliage
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge, #571 - Anything Christmas
Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge, #5 - Anything Christmas

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

 

 

Joyful Wishes

This card was so easy but looks so elegant!  Honestly just took a few die cuts and it was finished.  I love the color combination of blue and white and use it more often than traditional winter holiday colors.  Hope you like it!

 

Detail

The dies I used are from Creative Expression, Sue Wilson's' Festive Collection, Layered Snowflake Background.  It fits perfectly onto a square card. I cut the background out of a dark shimmery blue card, then the snowflake out of white shimmer then off-white shimmer.  I used just a portion of the off white flake, filling in some of the outer points of the white snowflake just to give a bit of interest.  The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp and was also cut out of the white shimmer card.  I added some gems from Trinity Stamp, put the snowflake onto the background with some dimensional dots and the card was finished! It's a stunning card in person, with the shimmer card and the gems; difficult to capture as those of you who take pictures of cards know.  I do hope enough of the beauty comes through.  Thanks for visiting! Christi

I am entering my Joyful Wishes card in the following challenges:
Try it on Tuesday - Make it Magical
Sweet Stampers, #62 - Christmas
Dies R Us, #181 - Anything Goes
Dragonfly Dreams - Nov. Challenge - Christmas
All Sorts, #650 - Christmas
Crazy for Challenges, #610 - Die Cuts Only
Wednesdays Creative Inspirations - Nov Challenge Wonderful Winter/Feeling Festive

Slimline Trick or Treat Card

Another Halloween Card - I cannot believe only a few more days until Halloween, so I am posting like crazy! I'll probably be posting 2 cards a day until the Holiday is over.  

If you are looking for the Cat Lovers Blog Hop post, click HERE 

I went a bit nuts with this card but in my defense I had just gotten the Pink & Main Plaid Slimline die and I wanted to play with it; so play I did!

I started by cutting the Plaid die out of white card, then I used the die cut as a stencil, coloring the paper with Distress Ink Twisted Citron, Carved Pumpkin and Wilted Violet.  Once that was done, I set the colored die cut aside and used Trinity Stamps Slimline Embossed Circles die to cut out the circles.   I had some leftover Halloween characters from a cut and color I had done using Lawn Fawn's Booyah! stamps & dies so I popped those critters in the circles.  I finished off the card with the Trick or Treat Lawn Fawn border in black card.

It's honestly a bit more colorful than I am used to, but I think it's pretty cool looking.  I hope you are crafting away for the season and hope to see you soon! Christi 

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Crafty Gals Corner, #224 - Halloween Colors
Krafty Chicks Challenge, #583 - All Occasions
Happy Little Stampers (dies) - Anything Goes with Die Cuts
Creative Craft Cottage Challenge, #145 - Autumn/Halloween
Dies R Us, #179 - Anything Goes w/ a Die Brand they Sell
Sweet Stampers, #61 - Autumn/Halloween
Crafting Happiness Challenge, #116 - Use any or all colors:  Purple, Orange, Green & Black
Happy Little Stampers (stencil) - Anything Goes w/ a Stencil

Oh Sheet!! Super Easy Slimline Halloween Card

When I saw this stamp at Trinity Stamps I KNEW I had to have it - I like that it's easy {you don't have to really do anything except stamp it if you don't want to} and it fills up an entire slimline card!  Plus, that little snark factor just makes me giggle!

All I did was stamp the image onto a slimline card and add the sentiment - I don't think you can get much easier than that!  I hope you get a giggle out of this like I did and I plan on posting many more cards as soon as I can get my butt in gear and get them in posts.  So don't be surprised if my posts are shorter {really, does anyone read them anyway??} and I am always available to answer any questions you might have about one of my creations.  Hugs! Christi  

I am entering my card into the following challenges (where did I find these challenges to enter? At Challenges for Days! Check it out!)
Two Old Bats - Anything Halloween (entry #2)
Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge - One Layer Cards
Alphabet Challenge - N is for No Layers
Simply Create Too, #174 - All Things Spooky, Scary, Etc.
NBUS, #31 - October Challenge
Try it on Tuesday - Halloween

Your Own Magic

 While I have long admired all of the fairy cards other artists have made I didn't jump on that bandwagon until recently.  I love colorful backgrounds, pre-made and hand made, and these fairies just pop! Dies R Us now carries most of the Fairy Hugs brand of stamps, glitter and background paper and I just think everyone needs some fairies to play with!  I used nothing but Fairy Hugs stamps on this card, I hope you enjoy it!

What I Used to Make my Card:
5" x 7" white card base
Watercolor Paper {I use this}
Gina K Amalgam Ink Pad in Obsidian Ink
Fairy Hugs Tree Condo, #FHS-107
Fairy Hugs Condo Dwellers, #FHS-060
Fairy Hugs Condo Dwellers 2, #FHS-108
Fairy Hugs About You, #FHS-129
Tutti Dies Nesting Stitched Rectangles, #TUTTI-217
Oxide Inks Background - Mermaid Lagoon, Kitsch Flamingo, Squeezed Lemon & Salvaged Patina
Gansi Tambi Starry Colors, Light Gold {available all over}
Nuvo Embossing Powder - Fine Detail Black
Simon Says Stamp Embossing Ink
Trinity Stamps Fairy Rocks

I had made the Oxide ink background especially to use these stamps on so I used light ink colors and lots of spritzing.  I colored and spritzed this background probably 4 times so I could get just the right look; I wanted the background to look whimsical and colorful but not over power the stamps.  Once I was done, I splattered light gold watercolor paint onto the background.  You can see the background before I stamped on it in this picture.

Once the background was dry I proceeded to stamp my images directly onto it.  That is when I learned I should have waited to splatter the gold ink as my stamping ink refused to cover the metallic paint.  The worst part was where I was placing the tree trunk but since I know I was going to be covering it with a sentiment, I wasn't too concerned.  I'm not sure if an ink such as Staz On would have covered the gold; I didn't want to take the chance of not being able to line up the card in the exact place to try another ink. I stamped my tree with black ink and then embossing ink and

The Products I used

embossed the tree, leaving the fairies stamped only.  I stamped the sentiment on a piece of white scrap card and cut it down with a stitched rectangle die adhering to the panel in the middle of the tree.  I then trimmed down the watercolor panel and adhered it to the 5" x 7" card base. For a finishing touch I embellished the card with some fanciful clear gems.

I hope you enjoyed my card! Remember, these products as well as MUCH more are available at the Dies R Us store! Please make sure to check out all our pages; links below.  Thanks SO much!! 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:
Cute Card Thursday, #691 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Unicorn Challenge, #68 - Anything Goes
Cupcake Inspirations Challenge, #526 - Take Flight
Love to Craft, #60 - Anything Goes
NBUS, #29 - Anything Goes w/ New Stuff (all the stamps are new!)
DL Art August Challenge - Anything Goes

The Best Cat Dad

 Hi everyone! 

I had so much fun making my first card with this stamp set and, as usual, I had a bunch of kitties left over, so decided to make another Cat Dad card for the River of Creativity current challenge, Parent and Child.  As you can see by my cards we are looking for your interpretation of the theme; it can be anything you choose that speaks to YOU!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Slimline Card Base
Simon Says Stamp Happy Meowthers Day Stamps, #SSS202293C
Simon Says Stamp Happy Meowthers Day Dies, #SSSD112342C
Trinity Stamp Slimline Series, Stitched Card Panels & Windows Dies, #TMD-010
Designs by Reminisce Paper,  Love my Cat Paper Kit
Watercolor Paper {I use this}
Zig Clean Color Brush Markers
Gina K Amalgam Ink Pad in Obsidian Ink

The cats I used on this card were left over from my project here, and I thought they were just too cute not to use. I always stamp, color and cut extra images; I think that is a practice left over from the days when I'd ruin more than I'd use! Die cutting was something I struggled with for a very long time until I started using low tack tape to hold the dies in place; I can't tell you how many images I ruined because the die moved when I went to cut it! Anyway, now I make sure I have plenty of images to choose from and I always have extras which is a good thing in case I need to throw a quick card together.  I have been getting a bunch of slimline dies to play with and I am loving the extra room they allow!  For this card all I did was cut out the window panel, using the patterned paper, then the matching background paper from one of the panels, stamped the word balloon with the heart inside and sentiment, attached the panels together and lastly, placed the cats on the card and I was done.  I really like this card; the kitty peeking around the corner is so cute!!

I hope you can take some time to join us at River of Creativity; we welcome any type of craft and you have until the end of the month to join in and being the new challenge on the block we'd love the support!  In addition to being on Blogger, we are also on Instagram {tag your projects with #riverofcreativity and/or #rocparentandchild02} and you can also join us on  Twitter at River of Creativity (RiverCreativity), why not subscribe to all three? I hope to see you there {or somewhere on social media}! 

Fondly, 

Christi

I am entering my card the following challenges:
Alphabet Challenge - F is for Furry Friends {entry #2}
TGIF Challenge, #321 - Peek-a-boo Window
Scrapping 4 Fun, #194 - Anything Goes with an Animal
Stinkin' Inkers - You're the Man
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Animal Antics {entry #2}
The Male Room, #151 - For Dads & Grads
Try it on Tuesday - For the Man in your Life
Crafty Animals, #51 - Anything Goes with an Animal
Shopping Our Stash, #447 - Fur Babies {entry #2}

Red, White and Blue CAS Kitties!

I didn't have a chance to make a 4th of July card - it's been a crazy summer thus far! But, I got this cute die from Simon Says Stamps and I just had to use it; what better way to show some {a wee bit late} patriotism? Plus, seeing SO many Red, White & Blue challenges, I just HAD to whip something up and enter in all the fun!

What I Used to Make my Card:
Kraft Card Base
Red, White & Blue paper
Simon Says Stamp Kitty Cat Die, #S470
Trinity Stamps, Lady Liberty
Versamark Pad
Simon Says Stamp Fine White Detail Embossing Powder
Dimensional Dots

Once I had cut all the cats, I glued them together.  I then inked up my

sentiment with VersaMark ink and embossed it with white embossing powder directly onto my Kraft card base.  I attached the kitties to the card with dimensional dots and that's it! A super easy CAS card in red, white and blue!

Thanks for stopping by for this easy tutorial! I hope you are staying cool and hydrated, this heat is crazy! We are breaking all kinds of records here in Colorado; unfortunately, one of them is for the biggest forest fire the state has ever seen.  Stay alert and be careful out there! Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Red, White & Blue Kitties in the following challenges:
Cute 'n Crafty - #4, 4th of July
Crafting with Dragonflies - #108, Animal
DL ART Thankful Thursday - #231, Red, White & Blue
Addicted to Stamps - #299,  CAS
Craftaholics R Us - #27, Any Holiday Cards
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Red, White & Blue

Crafty Gals Corner - #169, Red, White & Blue
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - #16, Anything Goes w/ a Critter
Eclectic Ellapu - M, Red, White & Blue
Just For Fun Rubber Stamps - M, July Color Challenge - Red, White and Blue
Happy Little Stampers - M, Anything Goes with Dies
Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge - M, Animals
Sunny Day Crafting - #26, Animals
SUYP - M, #32, Anything Goes with Cats