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Thursday, February 23, 2017

It's irritating when. . .

A good blogland friend of mine has been struggling with some health issues so I decided to make her a get well card.  I recently bought this Newton's Nook Designs set from another blogger who was getting rid of it and ever since I got it, I've had this type of card in the back of my head.  It feels good to get it out and my head appreciates the room I've made :) 



What I Used to Make my Card:
Kraft Card Base
Tim Holtz Ideaology Motif Paper - wood grain (discontinued but available)
DCWV Chalk Stack
Ellison LetterEase Helvetica Medium White Letter Stickers (discontinued)
Distress Paint in Gathered Twigs
Computer Generated Text
Newton's Nook Naughty Newton Stamp Set
Newton's Nook Naughty Newton Die Set
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
DCWV Le Tres Chic Stack 12 x 12 (Amazon link but available elsewhere)
Clean Color Markers in Mid Brown, Beige and Oatmeal
White Gel Pen

The best thing about this card, aside from the fact that it is a get well card is that I got to use something old (very. very old) and something brand new to me in making it.  The white letter stickers have got to be at least 11 years old and as I said prior, the Naughty Newton set is new to me.  I love when I can use up some old stash to make room for some new stuff.  I started this card by
Another look 
stamping the kitties on cardstock in Jet Black ink.  I set them aside and started to brainstorm how I was going to make the chalkboard; I knew there was no way I was going to write on it as I definitely would have messed up somehow, so I computer generated the front and the saying on the inside.  I don't typically write on the inside of my cards but this one kinda needed a bit more explanation.  I used the DCWV Chalk stack for the actual board and wrote the lead part of the sentiment with the Ellison stickers.  I attached the second half at the bottom ensuring I had plenty of room for the scratches.  I wanted the chalk board to look like a chalk board so I dug out the wood grain pattern from the Motif paper and colored it with the Gathered Twigs paint.  I stuck it under my trusty tile to dry and stay flat.  


While that was drying I went back to the kitties.  The kitties that I chose to use already have scratches attached to their claws but I wanted to make sure the
The inside of the card
marks were visible against the black board so after I die cut them, I carefully trimmed the scratches off.  I colored the kitties using Clear Color Markers, but, since I cut them out of regular cardstock and not watercolor paper I just colored them lightly. 


Once the Distress Paint was dry, I used my CAMEO to cut a square in a piece of the wood grain paper so it would frame the chalkboard. I attached the chalk paper behind the frame and set it aside to cut the background paper out of the Le Tres Chic paper stack.  I wanted something that would give the card some interest but not overwhelm the elements.  I think the Kraft colored flowers on the light blue is a perfect fit.  I trimmed two pieces of the background paper and adhered one to the front of the card and one to the inside of the card.  I put the chalkboard and kitties on the front of the card and used a white gel pen to ink in the scratches.  

I hope you enjoyed my little "feel better" card and I hope my friend enjoys it when she gets it :) Fondly, Christi 

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Rubber Dance - Layers
Die Cuttin' Divas - #305, Animals
Cuttlebug Mania - It's a Zoo Out There
OLLCB - #222, Die Cuts

Monday, February 13, 2017

Love is in the Air (literally)

OK, so I said my last post was going to be my last Valentine's Day post so let's just say this is an anytime card.  Fabulous.  While searching through challenges to find appropriate ones to enter my other cards in, I noticed a few where the theme was "Love is in the Air".  Ever since I noticed the theme, I just could not get it out of my head! I composed the card over and over in my thoughts until tonight I just HAD to make it.  

What I Used to Make my Card:
Pink Square Card Base (5 1/4" x 5 1/4")
All Night Media Stamp, Catnip, #838D (retired)
Hot Air Balloon, Silhouette File #26040
Scrabble Alphabet - Ma Vinci's Reliquary (closed)

Wendy Vecchi Red Geranium Ink

1/2" Scallop Square Punch, Marvy Uchida (retired)

Ranger Ink in Jet Black 
All of the cardstock is from my stash


This was a very quick card to make; it took me the longest to choose an alphabet to spell out "love" with.  What I did first was cut the hot air balloon out using the file from the Silhouette Store. I used dark gray cardstock for the outline of the balloon, light brown for the basket and pinkish purple for the actual balloon.  I went through my cat stamp stash and found one that I thought would fit best with the size of the balloon. I eyed where the basket
Just another peek
would be in relation to the card and stamped the kitty directly on the cardstock. I chose the grayish blue with white specks to seem like it is night time. The balloon was assembled and glued over the cat so all you see is the top half of his body, and how he is joyfully gazing up at the balloon (I don't know why it's a he.) The scrabble letters were stamped with Jet Black onto white card, punched out and glued to the balloon.  I took the panel with everything on it and attached that to a pink square card.  


I have had the alphabet stamps and the kitty stamp for years.  It amazes me when I think how long I've been stamping because I typically get bored with things quickly.  I've never been bored with stamping and having all the new goodies that come out continually helps keep things interesting.  Just don't look at my credit card bills <grin>.  Thank you so much for your visit ~ fondly, Christi

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:
Glitter 'n Sparkle - #226, Love is in the Air
Paper Creators - (M) Love is in the Air
Dragonfly Journeys - #85, Love is in the Air
Cardz for Gals - #40, Love is in the Air
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Cute
Come and Get It Challenges - Love is in the Air
Naughty or Nice Challenge - (M) #36, Love is in the Air Optional Colors