Birthday Fishes

As I said in my previous post using this set, I think these little puffer fish are so charming! I hope you feel the same way I do about them.  Instead of a romantic card, today I've used them to celebrate a birthday. 

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Oxide Inks in Faded Jeans, Salty Ocean & Broken China
Distress Sprayer
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Hero Arts I'm a Puffer for You stamp set, #CM170
Hero Arts Puffer Frame Cuts, #DI395
Clean Color Markers
Watercolor Paper
MFT/Die-Namics Stitched Oval Stax, #MFT-521
Versamark Ink Pad
Hero Arts Black Embossing Powder, #PW119
Wink of Stella, Clear
MISTI
Scrap of Matching Blue Card
Assorted Sparkle Gel Pens 

Since I had already decided to use this set to make this card, I wanted a

background that looked like water.  I used my trusty Oxide Inks to make the ocean for my fishes to swim, which I feel is a perfect look.  I stamped, colored, and cut my puffers, using some whimsical colors as I discovered that real puffer fish are a boring beige color.  To add a bit more pizzazz, I colored the eyes and the lips using sparkly gel pens - you can see them in both pictures of the card.  I also stamped and die cut some little fishes to keep the puffers company.  I had let my background dry overnight and it had begun to curl a bit; nothing the tile on my desk couldn't handle! I just placed the paper between some waxed paper and slid it under the tile for the night.

The next day I decided that I need some embellishments, some party wear, for the puffers.  I stamped the hat a few times and the noise maker once, colored them in and cut them out.  Then I fussed with which puffer fish got to wear what hat and which one would blow the ever important noise maker.  I attached all the festive embellishments to the proper puffer.  

I stamped the sentiment directly on the blue card using Versamark ink,  embossed it in black embossing powder; then used the oval die to cut it out.  I attached the sentiment directly to the ocean background, then began placing all the fish.  Once I worked out the placement, I attached them directly to the background as well.  When everything was attached, I glued the background to the white card base and I had my birthday card!

Another Look

This card is so cheerful I can't see how anyone could look at it and not smile! Those party hats just make me giggle.  I hope you enjoyed my journey making this card as much as I did.  Thanks for stopping by! ~Christi

I am entering my Birthday Fishes card in the following challenges:
International Art & Soul - #28, Emboss & Use a Die
Cut it Up - M, #142, Anything Goes
Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - M, Anything Goes 
Pause, Dream, Enjoy - M, #9, Stamped Image
Scrapy Land - M, Anything Goes 

Final ATCs for Janis' Birthday {And Then. . .Chocolate}

All good celebrations must come to an end, and so here we are, the last week for Janis' Birthday Celebration.  For this last challenge, Janis chose the theme "And Then. . .Chocolate" - yummy little party we've had!

What are ATC's? ATC stands for Artist Trading Cards.  There are no requirements to make them {unless you are participating in a swap or, in this case, Janis' fourth and last, theme And Then. . . Chocolate} EXCEPT they must be 2 1/2" x 3 1/2", the same size as a standard playing card or trading card.

Here are all the links for where you can still enter, but be quick! It's a good thing you can make an ATC in no time! {ends March 3, 2018}

Be sure to enter Janis' Blog Badge giveaway HERE!!!

WEEK 1 Theme - "All Those Cats!!"  You can still enter HERE

WEEK 2 Theme - "And The Chickens." You can still enter HERE

WEEK 3 Theme - "Adorable Teapot Collection"  You can still enter HERE

WEEK 4 (FINAL) Theme - "And Then.....Chocolate!"  Enter HERE

I've called my ATCs "Chocolate 1" and "Chocolate 2" and since I am really under the gun here, I'm going to be quick & just tell you what I used to make them.

Chocolate ATC #1

Heavy Weight White Card cut into ATC Size

Background made from Oxide Ink {scrap}

Sentiment from Riley & Co., Funny Bones, #RWD-564 Six Million Dollars

Tiny Money {stash}

Brown Card for Sentiment

Black Detail Embossing Powder, Hero Arts, PW-119

Embossing Ink

Shrink Plastic

Sharpie Markers

Gold Sparkle Gel Pen

The best part of this ATC was making the little candy bars out of Shrink Plastic. You can't really read them, but the candy bars say Hershey, Bite Me, YUM and Candy. I thought for SURE I had something with chocolate on it and I literally searched my entire stash {I did find the paper I used on Chocolate #2, as well as some other cool stuff I pulled out}, but I have nothing regarding chocolate except that sentiment.  Oh, well.  On to #2.

Chocolate ATC #2

Heavy Weight White Card cut into ATC Size

Image cut from Collage Sheet {out of business}

Words punched from a VERY old paper from SU!

Two Scalloped Oval Punches from My Family Treasure {out of business}

Beautiful Background Paper {stash}

I love this background paper and I have a small bit left, so you'll be seeing the end of it very soon.  I got it, along with the collage sheet, from a kit club I used to belong to that has since sold their business {about 9 years ago!}.  So this is a sort of vintage chocolate ATC.

That's it kids.  You only have about 24 hours to join in the fun, but I do hope you find some time - at the very least go and check out everyone's creations.  You can see each week by clicking on the above links.  And you can still join each week; but the whole shebang ends 11:55 pm on March 3, 2018.  Thanks for stopping by and checking out my ATCs - I appreciate your visit! Christi

I am entering my And Then... Chocolate ATCs in the following challenges:
Janis' Birthday Celebration 
Word Art Wednesday - #325, Anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafting with Friends - #62, Anything Goes

Stinkin' Inkers Wishy Washi Challenge

** Yes, this posted early.  Yes, it is my mistake.  Yes, I'm sorry.  Please do join the challenge, due to begin Tuesday, March 7.  Meanwhile, Love is in the Air is still going until March 6!

Hello everyone! Let me just say I am not a washi tape person.  I didn't go crazy {unbelievable, but true!} and buy tons of tape when it first came out.  In fact, for the longest time all I had was the first batch made by Tim Holtz.  But, the more I saw the creative ways people used washi tape, the more that helped me slowly collect more.  I still don't have very many {not compared to some of you!} but I did score these beautiful glitter washi tapes at my Dollar Tree.  And then I saw the sequins that matched and had to buy those, too!  Out of those two supplies was born my "Wishy Washi" card for the March Challenge at Stinkin' Inkers. 

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Scrap Paper
Washi Tape, Glitter Purple & Pink
Spellbinders Nestabilities, Curved Rectangles, #S5-006
Distress Ink in Wilted Violet
Sentiment by Riley & Co., Funny Bones, Supermodel, #RWD-399
Sequins
6mm White Craft Foam {Michael's}
Acetate
MISTI
Copic Markers that Match the Frame

Before I get into the card, I need to share this ENABLER alert! The dies I used to make this card are on sale at Spellbinders for $6.99! Regular price is $19.99, so that is a SUPER deal, even if it is getting discontinued!

First, I used a piece of scrap cardstock to layer the washi tape, alternating
the two colors.  The only issue with Dollar Tree glitter washi tape is that the

glitter isn't that great at staying on the tape.  I got glitter everywhere; and I am still finding glitter in places it has no business being.  However, the loss of glitter didn't effect the tape at all, so I guess that makes up for it. I looked on the Dollar Tree website and couldn't find any glitter washi but it's readily available elsewhere or you may be lucky and find some at your local Dollar Tree store.

I thought I'd show you how I make sure the frame of my shaker card matches up with the acetate.  Now, you don't have to be exact; I could have cut out a plain rectangle for the shaker window but I think it adds to the construction of the card if everything is as close to the same shape as can be.  What I did was use removable tape to hold the dies together so when I cut the frame and then the foam the dies stayed in the same place for both.  You can't really see the removable tape but I use it SO much I have a dispenser on the same table as my Big Shot.  It's cheap and I typically don't have an issue with it sticking when it isn't wanted.  I used the dies three times {the frame, the foam, and the acetate} and the removable tape worked wonderfully.  I know some crafters use washi tape to hold their dies in place; I tried that but promptly lost misplaced the roll I'd designated for that purpose in the mess on my die cutting table. Like I said, I have a dispenser - one of the old, heavy ones that teachers used to use in the classroom, and that's fairly hard to lose.

Once all my pieces were cut, I stamped the sentiment on the white card base, using my MISTI and the dies to ensure I placed it correctly.  I adore the whole Funny Bones line of Riley & Co.; they are just as snarky as I am!  Besides, who doesn't love a good giggle?  Before I assembled the card, I colored the edges of the craft foam cut out so the edges wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb.  I used Copic markers, but any alcohol ink marker will work {note: if you decide to do this step, make sure you are wearing latex gloves.  The alcohol ink takes a bit to dry on the foam and you don't want to end up with pastel finger tips like I did.} 

Another Look

As you can tell if you are a follower of mine, I love making shaker cards, and this one was a blast to make.  I hope you enjoyed my little tutorial and you should be breaking out your washi tape RIGHT NOW so you can join us at Stinkin' Inkers! Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Shaker Card in the following challenges:
Frilly & Funkie - Get in on the Action
Scrapy Land - Anything Goes
Craftaholics R Us - #9, Sequins
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes (#2)
My Favorite Stamps - #374, Sketch Challenge
Die Cut Divas - M,  Monochrome
Stamps & Fun - Glitter
Time Out Challenges - Be Bold!
4 Crafty Chicks - #392, Anything Goes TWIST: Add a Sentiment

A Truckload of Happy Birthday

Hey everyone - this is my FIRST post for the Simply Crafty SVG's design team! I'm honored and want to thank Sandy for accepting my application.  I know I'm going to have a BLAST playing with all these cool SVG's.  My brother's birthday is coming up and it's SO difficult to get anything for him, even a card is hard to make for him.  He watches every sport there is, and is online when he has free time.  The only other hobby he has is taking photographs {and, I might be biased, but they are beautiful !}.  When I saw the Christmas Tree Delivery Truck on the website I immediately decided I'd make a truck delivering his gift!  In order to do that, I also used the Presents Gift Card Holder - perfect!

What I Used to Make my Card:
Simply Crafty SVG's Christmas Tree Delivery Truck file
Simply Crafty SVG's Presents Gift Card file
KaiserCraft 6.5 x 6.5 Paper Pad, Frosted, #PP1005
Light Brown, dark brown, black, silver, sparkly silver & red cardstock
Dimensional Dots

The "card" 

I am really horrible at figuring out what I need to cut with what colors - it's something to do with my lack of depth perception {ok, I don't really know if it is, but that's my story} but I had decided I wanted to make my truck in hues of brown, so I cut the card portion out of a good, sturdy, light brown, card.  One of the absolutely COOL things about Simply Crafty SVG's is that each and every design comes with an PDF Instruction file! No more wondering where the heck this part goes!  I have to admit I did not look at the directions PDF until I was almost done with the card, so my assembly is a tad different than the one you'll get with the file.

Then I cut all of the truck embellishments out of dark brown card.  After I put

Pieces

on some of the truck embellishments, I did refer to the instructions since I couldn't figure out where all the parts went.  Once I did that {looked at the directions}, it was easy peasy.  I used dimensional adhesives to pop out my fenders and the door.  I adhered the silver accents to the door, the tires {which I cut out of black card}, and the front grill.  I didn't use all the truck embellishments; I didn't want to gussy up the truck too much since it is for my brother.

Just the Gift

Almost Flat

Once the truck was finished, I started on the gifts I wanted to put into the back of the truck.  Using the Simply Crafty SVG's Presents Gift Card File, I edited the
smaller of the two gifts to make it an open-at-the-top envelope instead of the slider that goes on the gift card.  Unfortunately, the bigger gift was too big to fit in the back of the truck.  I cut the smaller gift and the bow, out of some wintry KaiserCraft card; the bow is cut from super sparkly silver card.  I then altered the small gift box and made a small card to fit inside the box.  I found the Happy Birthday already printed on some ephemera I had, glued that to the little card, wrote "my favorite brother" {it's a joke, he is my only brother!}, some birthday wishes and I was done!

Another View

Simply Crafty SVG's has an awesome bunch of freebies on their site, as well as some very reasonably priced files.  I think if you take a look, you'll be amazed by the awesome files {plus, it looks really good for me!}  Please don't forget to follow the Simply Crafty SVG's blog - there is tons of delicious inspiration coming up and you don't want to miss it! Since I don't have the A9 envelope to fit this card {it told me in the PDF instructions what size envelope I'd need!}, I'm also using the freebie envelope set file, it's a definite MUST have!. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day! ~Christi

I am entering my Truckload of Happy Birthday in the following challenges:
Try it on Tuesday - Vintage {the truck is vintage & so is my brother - hehe!}
Unstampabelles - M, #76 - Anything Goes, TWIST - Something New {the SVG file for the card is new!}
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes TWIST - Birthday
2 Sisters on a Blog - M, #12,  Make a Man a Card
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Inspiration Destination - #145, Anything Goes
TTCRD - Anything Goes

Hedgehugs & Hearts

I got this set a while back but this is the first chance I've had to play with it.  I think these little animals are SO cute! I wanted to get in at least one more "love" card before the end of February. I hope you like my creation:

How I Made my Card:
White Card Base
Lawn Fawn Hedgehog Hugs Stamp Set, #LF729
Lawn Fawn Hedgehog Hugs Dies Set, #LF730
Cutter Bee/EK Success, Hearts, #54-80012
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
MISTI
Red Card
Tim Holtz/ Sizzix, Labels, #660060
Tim Holtz/ Sizzix Skull Blueprint, #659375 {discontinued but available}
Craft Foam
Acetate
Sequins: Lips, Red & Iridescent {stash}

I actually had already colored these hedgehogs and they were just lying about on my desk.  I finally cut them out to use for this card. I got the idea to make a shaker, because, you know, I LOVE shaker cards {and the lip sequins were

Another Look

staring at me, having been on my desk since before Valentine's day}.

If you'd like directions on how I construct my shaker cards I have a detailed post here, which also includes a supply list; so I constructed my shaker heart and used the hedgehogs to decide on placement.  I stamped the sentiment on white card, cut it using the Labels die, then matted it using the die from Skull Blueprint, where the long rectangle is a wee bit bigger than that one in the Labels set.

I pinched a few sequins onto the center of my card and set the shaker heart over them - I let it dry overnight and there you have it! It only took me about 20 minutes to construct the whole thing, of course it helped that the hedgies were already colored.

You'll be seeing these cuties a lot more! They were super easy to color and I adore the sentiment.  I hope you like this card as much as I do! Please stop by again soon. ~Christi

I'm happily entering my Hedgehugs & Hearts card in the following challenges:
a2z Scrapbooking - M, It's a Love Thing
Crafty Animals - M, Anything Goes
Die Cut Divas - M, All You Need is Love, #3
Papercrafter's Linky Party - #4, Anything Goes
Mix it Up - #10, Anything Goes w/ Option of CAS
Alphabet Challenge Blog - X is for X-tra Special Occasion
Cut it Up - #142, Anything Goes
The Cat's Pajama's - #343, Animals
Double D Challenges - Woodland Creatures
Quick Quotes Challenge - M, Love

I'm a Puffer Over You

Do you know about the Season's Giving Blog Hop that Latisha Yoast has put on for the last 6 years? It is TRULY amazing - there is a huge list of artists and companies who give away crafty goodies {and I mean tons of goodies!} and it can take 2 or 3 days to get to each crafters and manufacturers blog and comment, but it is well worth the effort.  This year {2017} I won THIS amazing haul from Libby Hickson; All #HeroArts goodies, all BRAND new, 3 or 4 stamp sets have the included dies, stencils, sequins, stand alone dies - it's amazing!  The Season's Giving hop doesn't begin until around Christmas time, so be sure to check Latisha's website around the 25th of December; in fact, you should just subscribe so you'll get notice!  

That is how this card was born.  I received the Puffer Fish stamp set and die set; one I have been coveting 'cause it is SO freaking cute {I'm must be getting older!} and as soon as I calmed down from unpacking my box, I got playing.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Ranger Watercolor Paper
Oxide Inks in Picked Raspberry & Worn Lipstick
Distress Sprayer
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Hero Arts I'm a Puffer for You stamp set, #CM170
Hero Arts Puffer Frame Cuts, #DI395
Clean Color Markers
Dimensional Dots

I started with my background - I used Distress Oxides to create the focal point,

lightly using the inks, spraying and re-working until I was satisfied with the look.


I stamped the puffer fish on watercolor paper, cut her out and colored her with the markers.  As she sat drying, I cut out a pink heart, using the same die set and fiddled with the placement.  Once the fish was dry, I chose her spot and decided where the sentiment should go.  After I stamped the sentiment, I used dimensional dots for the heart and the fish.  For some reason my camera refused to capture the true color of the puffer - she matches the background much better than in the photos.  I am very pleased how this card came out; these puffer fish are just so adorable!  I hope you enjoyed my tutorial & please consider following me ~ Thanks! Christi

I'm entering my Puffer Over You card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Make Your Own Background
CASology - #288, Pun
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - M, Anything Goes but MUST Include a Critter
atoz Scrapbooking - M, It's a Love Thing
Die Cut Divas - M, Love is in The Air
Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies - M, Anything Goes
Craft Rocket Challenge - M, #45, Love
Mix it Up - M, Anything Goes w/ CAS

 

Week 3 of Janis' Birthday ATCs {Adorable Teapot Collection}

You can read all about Janis' birthday celebration here and see my week one All Those Cats ATCs here, my And The Chickens ATC here, and for the current week, Adorable Teapot Collection, you are in the perfect spot; just read on! If you missed week 1, or even week 2, no worries as you have ALL month to whip up some ATCs and enter {the challenge and celebration end March 3, 2018}! 

What are ATC's? ATC stands for Artist Trading Cards.  There are no requirements to make them {unless you are participating in a swap or, in this case, Janis' third theme is Adorable Teapot Collection} EXCEPT they must be 2 1/2" x 3 1/2", the same size as a standard playing card or trading card.

For this week, Janis choose Adorable Teapot Collection. Seems that she's been collecting teapots {and some adorable cat mugs - she even beats my collection of cat mugs, which is still in the box from my move} due to her love for herbal teas.  Here I thought chickens was a tough theme; well, teapots just had me about ready to throw in the tea towel {ha ha, see what I did there?}  As luck would have it, I used to belong to this awesome kit club and along with the coolest papers and such, they'd send you charms.  Back in the day we used to put charms on our cards, long before CAS was a thing. I have all my charms in a little 6 drawer storage tower, neatly categorized and labeled, so I had no trouble finding my teapot, coffee, and cups charms.  I picked out a teapot and a teabag; I figured I'd use tea cups as my stamped background.  The charms were gold, as most of my charms are, but that was remedied with a few swipes of my silver leafing pen.  Once the charms were dry from the leafing, off I went.

I'm not going to go into detail about how I made each one; it's fairly self explanatory but if you have any questions, just ask! 

Tea ATC

What I Used to make my Teapot ATC:
White Heavy Card
STAMPlorations Sketchy Coffee Cups
Distress Ink in Tea Dye 
Teapot & Teabag Charms
Krylon Silver Leafing Pen
Round Letter Beads
E6000 adhesive 

I almost ruined the whole thing, but I think I did OK saving it. I'm not even go into why or how I almost ruined it; you'll have to trust me as I'm still a bit
skittish about the incident.  Let's just say it involves glue, a few cats, and a paper cutter.

I hope you join the birthday celebration over at Her Peaceful Garden; get out those scraps and make some ATCs! They really are addicting and I think limiting yourself to the tiny canvas stretches your creativeness.  I appreciate your stopping by and stay tuned for more fabulous ATCs. Thanks! Christi



I am entering my Adorable Teapot Collection ATC in the following challenges:
Her Peaceful Garden - Adorable Teapot Collection
Pile it On - #139, 3D embellishments and/or stickers, washi tape
PDE - #7, Anything Goes
Inspiration Destination - #144, Anything Goes, TWIST: Use a Real Stamp