A Floral Best Wishes Card

Here's a card created for Lost Coast Portal to Creativity's Fruit, Flowers, and Foliage Challenge 210 with the Lily Rubber Stamp by Lost Coast Designs.

Products Used:

Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Black Textured Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

Copic Markers:

Skin: BV0000, E50, E21, E11, E11, E00, E000, R20, R11, R02, R00

Hair: E77, E74

Headpiece/Clothing: B69, B66, B63, RV93, RV91, RV63, RV55, RV52

Flowers: RV93, RV91, RV63, RV55, RV52, RV10

Foliage: YG67, YG45

Background: B21, <B21, N6, N5

Floral-Graph-Rainbow Petite Prints by Doodlebug Designs

Best Wishes Sentiment Die by Elizabeth Craft Designs

Glittery Epoxy Stickers by Gina Marie Designs

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1. Create an A2 card from Black Textured cardstock. Set aside.
2. Use Tuxedo Black Memento Ink to stamp Lily  by Lost Coast Designs onto a panel of white cardstock.
3. Color the image panel with Copic Markers, trim it, then it edge with a black marker.
4. Adhere the image panel to a patterned paper panel that measures 4" x 5.25".
5. Edge the patterned paper panel with a black marker.
6.  Adhere the card front to the reserved black A2 card.
7. Use a sentiment die to cut black cardstock.
8. Adhere the sentiment under the image panel as shown.
9. Add matching glittery epoxy stickers to finish the card.

~ ~ ~

There's still a lot of June to go so why not participate in the Lost Coast Portal to Creativity's Fruit, Flowers, and Foliage Challenge 210  for a chance to win Lo$t Coa$t Ca$h?

Thanks for visiting today!

Fiesta!

It's Topflight Stamps Tuesday, an "Anything Goes" week, and it's Cinco de Mayo! Here's a festive card created with the llama and sombrero from theZinski Art 59 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp Set by Elena Zinski for PaperArtsy. The llama was feeling parched in the desert and he wanted to celebrate, so I supplied him with a margarita made with the cocktail from the ENB06 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp Set by Nicci Battilana for PaperArtsy.

Here's the card.

Topflight Stamps Products Used:
Zinski Art 59 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp Set by Elena Zinski for PaperArtsy

ENB06 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp Set by Nicci Battilana for PaperArtsy

Crea-Nest-Lies XXL Double Stitched Rectangle Die Set by CREAlies

Sun and Clouds 6x6 Stencil by Carla Creates/Vaessen Creative

Regency Bunting Die Set 44 by AALL and Create

Bold Stardust Clear Glittering Gelly Roll Gel Pen by Sakura

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Other Products Used:

Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Caribbean Sea Textured Cardstock by My Colors

Copic Markers:

Llama: BV000, E71, E70, E57, E43, E42, E41, E40, E31, E30

Sombrero: E57, E43, E42, E41, BG49, BG43, B29, B18, R46, R35

Socks: B29, B18, BG23, BG13

Saddle: B29, B18, B23, BG13, R46, R35, YG23, YG21

Sunglasses: YG25, YG23, YG21, N6, N5

Necklace: B2i, B18, R47, R35, R32

Margarita: B60, B29, B18, R47, R35, R32, BG23, BG13, BG11

Stirrer and Skulls: E41, E40, W1

Bunting: B18, BG23, R35, B29, BG49, YG23

Desert Sand, Summer Sky, Angel Pink Memento Inks by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Beetle Black Party Mix Rub-ons by Doodlebug Designs

Bakery Twine from Ye Olde Stash

Repositionable Sticker Paper by Avery

Low-tack Tape

White Gelly Roll Gel Pen by Sakura

STAY-tion by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Glassboard by Glassboard Studios

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1. Create a 5" x 7" card from Caribbean Sea cardstock. Set aside.
2. Using a stamping platform, place the llama stamp from the Zinski Art 59 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp Set facedown on a piece of white cardstock.
3. Place the sombrero stamp from the same set facedown atop his head. 
4. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the sombrero stamp and lift. Remove the llama stamp from the platform.
5. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
6. Use Tuxedo Black Memento Ink to ink the sombrero stamp and then stamp it twice — once onto the the white cardstock and once onto repositionable sticker paper. 
7. Fussy-cut the sticker paper version and place it onto its counterpart on the image panel as a mask.
8. Position the llama stamp so his head (ears mostly) are on top of the sombrero mask. 
9. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
10. Ink the llama stamp with  Tuxedo Black Memento Ink and stamp it twice — once onto the image panel and once onto repositionable sticker paper. 
11. Position the cocktail stamp from the ENB06 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp Set facedown on the left of the llama. 
12. Ink the stamp with  Tuxedo Black Memento Ink and stamp twice —once onto the image panel and once onto repositionable sticker paper. 
13. Remove the mask from the sombrero and place it onto a piece of acetate to keep it sticky so you can re-use it later.
14. Color the images with Copic markers. 
15. Fussy-cut the sticker paper version of the llama and the cocktail. 
16. Place the sticker paper versions of all three images atop their counterparts as masks. 
17. Cut the image panel with the largest die from the Crea-Nest-Lies XXL Double Stitched Rectangle Die Sets. 
18. Place the image panel die-cut onto a magnetic craft mat and secure with magnets and/or low-tack tape.
19. If you have the Acetate Hills Mask/Stencil Set  (I misplaced mine), place a one of the masks horizontally across the image panel level with the llama's legs and secure with tape and/or magnets.  Alternately, place a piece of acetate onto a cutting mat. Place a metal wavy ruler atop the acetate and cut along the edge of the ruler to create homemade masks. 
20. Place the Sun and Clouds 6x6 Stencil towards the top of the image panel. 
21. Brush or sponge Summer Sky Memento Ink over the top of the stencil onto the image panel die-cut to start to create a cloudy sky. 
22. Keeping the stencil in place, lightly brush or sponge Angel Pink over the the top of the stencil onto the image panel die-cut to add a slightly purply/pink tinge to the sky.
23. Rotate the Sun and Clouds 6x6 Stencil and move it downward on the image panel. 
24. Brush both colors of dye ink over the top of the stencil. 
25. Continue to rotate, flip, move the stencil, and apply ink until your cloudy sky is complete.
26. Cover the sky part of the image panel to protect it. 
27. Place another mask/stencil from the Acetate Hills Mask/Stencil Set horizontally across the image panel die-cut about 1" from the bottom. 
28. Brush or sponge Desert Sand Memento Ink over the bottom of the stencil onto the die-cut image panel to create the desert sand. 
29. Move the stencil/mask up and continue to apply Desert Sand Dye Ink over the bottom of the stencil/mask onto the image panel. 
30. Unmask all of the stamped elements. 
31. Use a Bold Stardust Clear Glittering Gelly Roll Gel Pen to add a glittery salt rim to the cocktail glass. 
32. Use a White Gelly Roll Gel Pen to add highlights to the cocktail glass and the llama's sunglasses. 
33. Use a E43 Copic marker to ground the cocktail glass and the llama on the desert.
34. Use the small dies from the Regency Bunting Die Set 44 to cut six white cardstock flags.
35. Color the flags with Copic markers. 
36. Use alphabet rub-ons to add the letters to the flags. 
37. String the sentiment bunting together with black and white baker's twine and adhere/attach the bunting to the top of the image panel die-cut.
38. Adhere the image panel die-cut to the reserved Caribbean Sea card.
39. Trim the card so that there's a 1/8" border around the image panel die-cut.

Thanks for visiting today!

Happy Cat with Hearts

Here's a card for Lost Coast Portal to Creativity's February Love and Hearts Challenge 206 created with the Happy Cat Rubber Stamp by Lost Coast Designs.

Products Used:

Happy Cat Rubber Stamp by Lost Coast Designs

Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Thunder Textured Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

Smitten Kitten Patterned Paper by Doodlebug Designs

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Peacock Feathers, Fossilized Amber, and Black Soot Distress Inks by Tim Holtz for Ranger Ink

Copic Markers: N6, N6, N4, N2, C0, C00, RV93, RV91, BG000, Y32

Repositionable Sticker Paper by Avery

A6 Layers and Additional A6 Layers Die Sets by Waffle Flower Stamps and Dies

Scalloped Border Die by Stampendous

Low-tack Tape

Acetate

STAY-tion by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Glassboard by Glassboard Studios

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1. Create an A2 card from a piece of Thunder Textured cardstock. Set aside.
2. Use Tuxedo Black Memento Ink to stamp the Happy Cat twice — once onto a piece of white cardstock and once onto repositionable sticker paper.
3. Use Copic markers to color the cat. 
4. Fussy-cut the Happy Cat stamped onto the sticker paper and place him over his counterpart on the image panel as a mask.
5. Place a piece of acetate horizontally across the image panel at his paw/tail level, covering the top part of the image panel. 
6. Brush Peacock Feathers Distress Ink over the acetate and the masked cat onto the bottom of the image panel to ground the cat.
7. Move the acetate panel so that it's sitting at the top of the inked area. 
8. Brush Fossilized Amer Distress Ink over the top of the over the acetate and the masked cat onto the top of the image panel to add a bright cheerful background behind the cat.
9. Use a rectangle die from the A6 Layers and Additional A6 Layers Die Sets to cut the image panel. 
10. Use a slightly larger rectangle die to cut polka-dot patterned paper and use it to mat the image panel die-cut. Set aside.
11. Cut a piece of striped paper to 4.25" x 5.25". 
12. Cut a piece of heart patterned paper to 4.25" x 4". 
13. Use a scalloped border die to cut striped patterned paper. 
14. Cut a thin strip of black/polka dot patterned paper. 
15. Adhere the heart patterned paper to the top of the striped paper panel. 
16. Adhere the border strip to the top edge of the layered papers. 
17. Adhere the polka dot strip to the top striped patterned paper at the bottom of the card. 
18. Trim the layered patterned paper to 4" wide and edge with black ink. 
19. Adhere the patterned paper panel to the reserved grey A2 card. 
20. Adhere the matted image panel die-cut to finish the card.

~ ~ ~

It's your last chance to enter the Lost Coast Portal to Creativity's February Love and Hearts Challenge 206 for a chance to win Lo$t Coa$t Ca$h!

Cats and Dogs Challenge 200 at Lost Coast Portal to Creativity!

Here's my first card for Lost Coast Portal to Creativity's August Challenge 200 — Cats and Dogs. The Happy Cat Rubber Stamp by Lost Coast Designs is such a wonderfully joyful image that just makes me smile. I hope my card makes you smile too!

Products Used:

Happy Cat Rubber Stamp by Lost Coast Designs

Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Designs

Black Textured Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Shinhan Touch Alcohol Markers: Blue Grey 7, 5, 3, 1

Feeling Groovy 6x6 Patterned Paper Pad by Funky Fossil Designs

Pawsome Heart Stencil by Funky Fossil Designs

Pink Champagne Dye Ink by Catherine Pooler Designs

Black Pigma Pen by Sakura

Meow Washi Tape by Doodlebug Designs

⅛" Black and White Washi Tape: Little B Designs

"Smile" Die from the Words 2 Shadow Script Thinlits Die Set by Sizzix

Low-tack Tape

STAY-tion by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Glassboard by Glassboard Studios

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1. Create a 6" square card from black cardstock. Set aside.
2. Use Tuxedo Black Memento Ink to stamp the Happy Cat Rubber Stamp with Tuxedo Memento ink onto white cardstock.
3. Fussy-cut  the cat and color it with blue grey Shinhan Touch Alcohol markers.
4. Edge the cat with a black marker and set it aside.
5. Select a piece of patterned paper from the Feeling Groovy patterned paper pad that works with the beatific zen-like Happy Cat.
6. Secure the Pawsome Heart Stencil on the patterned paper with magnets and/or low-tack tape.
7. Brush Pink Champagne Dye Ink over the stencil onto the patterned paper. 
8. Remove and clean the stencil.
9. Trim the stenciled patterned paper to 5 ¾" square and edge with a black marker.
10. Add "meow" washi tape to the right side of the patterned paper as shown.
11. Add ⅛" strips of black and white striped washi tape above and below the "meows" washi tape.
12. Cut black cardstock with a "smile" cutting die.
13. Adhere the die-cut smile sentiment to the upper left of the patterned paper card front.
14. Adhere the card front to the reserved black 6" square card.
15. Adhere the fussy-cut Happy Cat atop the washi tape and over the stenciled pawsome heart to finish the card.

If you love cats and/or dogs, you really ought to play along with this challenge for a chance to win Lo$t Coa$t Ca$h! I sure I hope to see your entry there!

Cheeky Chatty Cups Be Alert Card

Greetings! Saturday is my day to share a project for Funky Fossil Designs. When I first saw the Cheeky Chatty Cups Clear Stamp Set, I knew that as a coffee addict, I had to have it. Then when I was watching a video release for the Artitude Collection, I saw the Brush It Off Clear Stamp Set, and the idea for this card sprung into my mind, but not because I ever mistakenly imbibed my paint water. However, now I don't use coffee mugs for paint water. 

Funky Fossil Products Used:

Cheeky Chatty Cups Clear Stamp Set by Zinski

Brush It Off Clear Stamp Set by Olga Heldwein

Comic Book Pop 6x6 Patterned Paper Pad

Feeling Groovy 6x6 Patterned Paper Pad

Halftone Stencil

Specimen Slides Die Set 

Other Products Used:

Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Pimento (Red) Canvas Cardstock by My Colors

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Blue Raspberry and Dress Blues Dye Ink by Catherine Pooler Designs

Black Soot Distress Ink by Tim Holtz for Ranger Ink

Copic Markers: 

 Cups: B29, B24, B23, B21, B18, B16, B14, B12, BV17, BV13, RV93, RV91, RV32, RV29, R39, Y26, Y15, Y02, YR15, N5, N4, N2, B78, C10

 Brushes: C3, C2, C1, C0, T5, T3, E47, E44 E39, E37, E35

Black Copic Multi-liner

Tag Die by Elizabeth Crafts

Circle Die by Sizzix

Blue and Red Simply Sweet Rub-ons by Doodlebug Designs

Halloween idea-ology Rub-ons by Tim Holtz for Advantus

Lilac Rhinestones by Kaisercraft

Sticker Masking Paper that I'm not using again

Low-tack Tape

Repositionable Scotch Tape by 3M

Post-It Notes by 3M

STAY-tion by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Glassboard by Glassboard Studio

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1. Make a 5" x 7" card from Pimento cardstock. Set aside.
2. Place a piece of white cardstock onto the base of a stamping platform secured with low-tack tape and/or magnets.
3. Position two of the coffee cups from the Cheeky Chatty Cups Clear Stamp Set facedown on the image panel.
4. Press the lid onto the back of the stamps and lift.
5. Use low-tack tape to cover the top part of the coffee cup on the left.
6. Ink the stamp with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink.
7. Remove the tape and stamp the Cheeky Chatty Cups twice — once onto the image panel and once onto sticker masking paper.
8. Fussy-cut the sticker paper versions and place them over their counterparts on the image panel as masks.
9. Remove the stamps from the stamping platform.
10. Place a Post-It note over the Cheeky Chatty Cup and the bottom of the image panel.
11. Position the fan brush from the Brush It Off Clear Stamp Set facedown in the center of the cup.
12. Press the lid onto the back of the stamp, lift, ink with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, and stamp twice — once onto the image panel and once onto sticker paper. 
13. Repeat Steps 11 and 12 with the each of the other brushes from the Brush It Off Clear Stamp Set.
14. Fussy-cut all of the paint brushes and place them over their counterparts on the image panel.
15. Place the image panel onto the STAY-tion and secure with magnets.
16. Place a strip of repositionable Scotch Tape horizontally over the base of the Cheeky Chatty Cups so that the bottom part of the image panel is covered.
17. Sponge or brush Blue Raspberry Dye Ink over the masked Cheeky Chatty Cups onto the image panel to create a background behind the cups.*
18. Use magnets to secure the Halftone Stencil over the image panel.
19. Randomly sponge or brush Dress Blues Dye Ink over the stencil onto the image panel. This is when I discovered that the black ink on the masking sticker paper I used transferred onto the image panel. I'm tossing that masking paper!
20. Randomly sponge or brush Black Soot Distress Ink over the stencil onto the image panel to try to camouflage the worst of the nasty ink transfer. 
21. Remove the stencil.
22. Reposition the tape so that it's sitting on the bottom of the blue ink and is partially covering the top part of the image panel.
23. Lightly sponge Black Soot Distress Ink over the tape onto the bottom part of the image panel.
24. Remove the tape and the sub-par masks from the images.
25. Use Copic markers to color the Cheeky Chatty Cups and the Brush It Off Paint Brushes.
26. Use a black Copic Multi-liner to draw the back part of the paint water coffee cup.
27. Trim the image panel, edge with a black marker, and set it aside.
28. Cut a piece of white paper to 6" x 6.75" to create the background layer.
29. Cut a piece of the floral patterned paper from the Feeling Groovy 6x6 Patterned Paper Pad in half.
30. Edge both pieces with a B78 Copic marker.
31. Cut a 2" strip of yellow polka-dot patterned paper from the Comic Book Pop 6x6 Patterned Paper Pad and edge with a Y02 Copic marker.
32. Adhere the yellow polka-dot patterned paper to the center of the white paper from Step 27.
33. Adhere the two 6" x 3" floral patterned paper to the top and bottom of the white paper (from Step 27) so that it's covering the polka dot paper.
34. Trim the combined patterned paper background panel to 4.75" wide" and adhere it to the reserved red 5" x 7" card.
35. Use the nameplate dies from the Specimen Slides Die Set to cut the leftover Pimento cardstock and the yellow polka-dot patterned paper.
36. Use red and blue Simply Sweet Rub-Ons to add the "Be Alert" to the yellow polka-dot nameplate die-cut. 
37. Adhere the red window nameplate over the sentiment, then edge with a black marker.
38. Use the circle tag and circle dies to cut leftover Pimento cardstock and the yellow polka-dot patterned paper.
39. Add the skull/crossbones and the "caution" idea-ology Halloween Rub-Ons to the yellow polka-dot circle, then adhere the circle to the red tag.
40. Adhere the "be alert" sentiment nameplate and the circle tag to the card as shown.
41. Add Lilac rhinestones to complete the card.

Thanks for visiting today!

Beware! A Halloween Card

Greetings! My card was created for Day Four of the Lost Coast Portal of Creativity's 31 Days of Halloween Challenge. I used the Clown with Balloon stamp by Lost Coast Designs and the Medium Keyhole stamp from Carmen's Veranda. 

Here it is!

Products Used:

Clown with Balloon Rubber Stamp by Lost Coast Designs

 Medium Keyhole Rubber Stamp by Carmen's Veranda

Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers

140 Lb. Mixed Media Paper by Strathmore

Light Grey Cardstock 

Tuxedo Black and London Fog Memento Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Stormy Sky and Dusty Concord Distress Ink by Tim Holtz for Ranger Ink

Lightning Black Brilliance Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Clouds Stencil by Virginia England

Time Tunnel Stencil by Visible Image

Copic Markers: 

Clown: T0, T1, T2,T3, W00, W0, E40, BG90, G0000, YR12, YR15, YR16, YR18, R22, R24, R35, R39

Keyhole: Y21, Y23, Y26, Y28

Yellow and Red Triplus Fineliner Pens by Staedtler

White Gelly Roll Gel Pen by Sakura of America

Black Multiliner by Copic

Woodgrain MBossabilities

Red Alphabet Rub-ons by Doodlebug Designs

Halloween Idea-ology Remnant Rubs by Tim Holtz for Advantus

Repositionable Sticker Paper by Avery

STAY-tion by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of pale grey 12x12 cardstock to 10" x 7", score at 5", and fold to form a 5" x 7" card. Set aside.
2. Use Tuxedo Black Memento Ink to stamp the Medium Keyhole twice — once onto white cardstock and once onto repositionable sticker paper. 
3. Fussy-cut the sticker paper version on the inner outline of the keyhole.
4. Place the sticker paper over its cardstock counterpart to mask the outside of the keyhole while keeping the center open.
5. Place the clouds stencil towards the top of the opening of the keyhole.
6. Sponge or brush Stormy Sky then Dusty Concord Distress inks over the stencil onto the cardstock. 
7. Rotate and move the stencil downward.
8. Sponge the same inks over the stencil onto the cardstock.
9. Repeat this process until the opening in the keyhole was filled with a stormy cloudy sky. 
10. Place the Time Tunnel Stencil over the opening of the keyhole.
11. Sponge London Fog Memento Ink over the stencil onto the cloudy sky in the keyhole, sponging heavily in the center of the tunnel and lighter as the tunnel goes outwards.
12. Remove the repositionable sticker mask.
13. Use Copic markers to color the outside of the keyhole to look like brass.
14. Fussy-cut the keyhole and edge with a dark marker. 
15. Use red alphabet rub-ons to add a sentiment to the bottom of the opening of the keyhole.
16. Use Tuxedo Black Memento Ink to stamp the Clown with Balloon onto white cardstock.
17. Fussy-cut the clown, color him with Copic markers, and edge with a black pen. 
18. Use Tuxedo Black Memento Ink to stamp just the balloon area of the Clown with Balloon several times onto white cardstock.
19. Fussy-cut the balloons and color them with Copic markers.
20. Use a white gel pento add highlights to all the balloons. 
21. Set the colored Clown and balloons aside.
22. Use Lightning Black Brilliance Ink, a brassy metallic ink, to ink a piece of mixed media cardstock to look like an escutcheon. 
23. Trim the panel, edge with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink, and heat set.
24. Use Halloween Idea-ology Rub-ons to add sentiments to the upper left of the panel.
25. Mist a 5" x 7" panel of light grey cardstock (left from Step 1) with water. Place it into the wood-grain embossing folder, and run it through the die-cut machine.
26. Adhere the embossed panel to the reserved 5" x 7" light grey card, and edge the card with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink.
27. Adhere the Clown with Balloon and his extra balloons  to the Keyhole as shown. 
28. Adhere the keyhole to the brass escutcheon, then adhere the escutcheon to the wood paneled card.

I sure hope you play along with the Lost Coast Portal to Creativity's 31 Days of Halloween Challenge!

Thanks for visiting today!

Kat's Tales Mini Album

Last Tuesday was International Cat Day and I didn't get to celebrate in the style that I had wanted. Instead we got to spend quality time with our kitties at the Vet. Domino had a runny eye, a cut on his nose that wasn't healing, and an upset tummy. We were worried that the cut (inflicted by his sister, the aptly named Harley Quinn) had gotten infected. so we made an appointment, the kitties voluntarily hopped into their carriers, got loaded into the car, then meowed pitifully the whole ride. Turns out that Domino has allergies, which caused his runny eye, which ran into the cut on his nose. So I didn't get to post my mini album.

Here it is!

Front Cover

Inside Front Cover 

Side View 

Products used:

Worn Cover Tim Holtz® Idea-ology®

Small Alphabet Die Set by All Occasions

Media@ Gesso by DecoArt@

Media® Matte Medium by DecoArt®

Curious Cats Polymer Stamp Set by Visible Image

Les Chats (Cats) Unmounted Rubber Stamp Set by Katzelkraft

The Fat Cats 9 - Ignace Unmounted Rubber Stamp by Katzelkraft

Snowflake, Sherbert,  Zesty Zing, Hey Pesto Squid Ink, Candy Floss, and Rose Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paints by Paper Artsy

Cat Sentiments Clear Stamp Set by Frantic Stamper.

Jet Black StazOn™ Ink by Tsukineko®

Tuxedo Black Memento™ Ink by Tsukineko

Pink Peony, Shadow Grey, and Watering Can Archival™ Ink by Ranger Industries

Tissue Paper

Solar White Classic Crest® Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Copic® Markers:

   Mouse: C2, C4, RV91, R81, YG21, YG25

   Cats' Fur: BV0000, BV000, BV20, B32, B34, B60, C00, C0, C1, C2, C3, C4, C6, C6, C8, 

   Cats' Noses and Mouths: RV42, RV91, RV95, E04, YG21,YG23, YG25

Checkerboard Stencil by Carabelle Studios

Cat  Paw Stencil by KaiserCraft

Discover Word Series Stencil by That's Crafty

Tim Holtz@ Distress@ Crazing Medium by Ranger Industries

Cat Print Patterned paper by Doodlebug Designs Inc.™

Ring Binders by Tim Holtz® Idea-ology®

Pink Glittery Brads: Source Unknown

Instructions:

1. Using alphabet dies, cut black cardstock for the title. Brush the die-cut letters with Matte Medium to seal them.*
2. Using Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, stamp the cats and the mouse, fussy-cut, color with Copic markers, and edge with a dark marker. 
3. Brush the cats and the mouse with Matte Medium to seal them.* Set aside to let them play while the notebook is altered.
4. Stamp the Curious Cat onto tissue paper with StazOn ink.
5. Flip the tissue paper and paint the cat's eyes, nose, and mouth with Fresco Finish paints. Let dry.
6. When dry, use Snowflake paint to cover the painted eyes, nose, and mouth. Set aside to dry.
7. Place the Worn Cover flat and apply gesso. Let dry.
8. Paint the cover with pink(ish) paints. Let dry.
9. Sponge grey Archival inks over the checkerboard and paw print stencils onto the painted cover. Heat set. Repeat as desired.
10. Sponge grey Archival ink over the border of the Word Series stencil onto the base of the painted cover. Heat set.
11. Using the darker grey Archival ink, randomly stamp "Meow" onto the cover. Heat set.
12. Apply Matte Medium to the cover.
13. Tear around the painted cat face on the stamped tissue paper.
14. Liberally apply Matte Medium to the top portion of the cover. 
15. Apply Matte Medium to the reverse of the the cat face tissue paper.
16. Place as desired onto the wet Matte Medium on the cover and smooth. Let dry.
17. Apply Matte Medium over the cat face and let dry.
18. Apply Matte Medium over the entire front cover and place the alphabet, the cats, and the mouse. Let dry.
19. Apply another coat of Matte Medium over the entire cover to seal the entire shebang.
20. Discover bumps and see the seam because you didn't do steps 14 and 15 properly.
21. Get clever and try to camouflage the seams and bumps by apply Crazing Medium onto the cover. Let dry. 
22. Discover Step #21 was an epic fail and try to fix by painting over the cracks Sherbert Fresco Finish paint. Wipe back with a baby wipe. It's better, but is NOT going to win prizes.
23. Seal the entire cover again with Matte Medium.
24. Cut patterned paper to size for inside covers and the spine. 
25. Guess what you're going to apply to seal the paper so you can paint it. Good guess.
26. Paint the sealed patterned papers with Sherbert Fresco Finish paints. Let dry.
27. Apply Matte Medium to the inside covers and adhere the painted patterned papers. 
28. Seal the inside covers with Matte Medium.
29. Sponge grey ink over the Cat Stencil onto the inside front cover. 
30. Apply Matte Medium to seal.
31. Use the pink glittery brads to adhere the Ring Binders.
32. Apply Matte Medium to the spine of the notebook.
33. Adhere the painted, sealed patterned paper. Seal with Matte Medium.

If you've made it through this, go reward yourself with a leisure beverage.

*I seal cardstock die-cuts and Copic colored images with Matte Medium before adhering them to the project and then sealing them with Matte Medium because I discovered that the ink from the cardstock and/or Copic markers can run onto the project, which is highly annoying. 

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this album into the following challenges:

• Country View Challenges: November 2019 Hand Stamped

• Creative Artist Mixed Media Challenge #55: Anything Goes

• Simon Says Wednesday Challenges: Anything Goes

Jack O'Lantern People

It's World Cardmaking Day. Since it's October, I'll likely be celebrating Halloween most of the month!

Don't you love the great costumes on Stampendous' super-cute new Pumpkin People? This clear stamp set also comes with a skeleton dog and a skeleton cat! Such fun!

Supplies Used:
Stampendous Supplies Used:
Pumpkin People Perfectly Clear™ Stamp Set
Tuxedo Black Memento™ Ink by Tsukineko®
Nocturne VersaFine Clair™ Ink by Tsukineko®

Other Supplies Used:
Solar White Classic Crest® Cardstock by Neenah Papers
Grey Cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper®
Pumpkin Party 6x6 Patterned Paper Pad by Doodlebug Designs Inc.™
Dot-Stripe Rainbow Petite Prints 6x6 Patterned Paper Pad by Doodlebug Designs Inc.™
Copic® Markers:
   Pumpkin Heads and hands: YR04, YR07, YR18, YG13, YG25, BG32, BG45
   Outfits: V09, V17, N4, N6, N8 BG45, BG49, BG57, E37
   Cat: C4, C6, C7
   Skellie Dog: T00, T0, T1, T3
   Background: Y32, Y35
   Ground: Oops. Forgot to record markers used. Sorry!
Jumbo Fishtail Banner Flags Stax Dies by Die-namics
Tim Holtz® Black Soot Distress® Ink by Ranger Industries
Stamp Positioner
Eclipse Tape by Judikins

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of grey 12x12 cardstock in half, score, and fold to create a 6x6 carad.
2. Cut the house-patterned paper from the Pumpkin Party pad to 5.75" square and edge with Black Soot Distress ink.
3. Position the Pumpkin Couple image side down onto the base of the stamping platform. Press the lid into the stamps and lift lid.
4. Use magnets to secure a piece of cardstock to the stamping platform.
5. Ink the stamps with Memento ink and stamp the image. Re-ink the stamp and re-stamp if necessary.
6. Stamp the feet and legs of the male pumpkin person onto Eclipse Tape, fussy-cut, and adhere over its counterpart on the image panel
7. Use an acrylic block to stamp the skeleton dog. 
8. Remove the mask and color the image with Copic markers.
9. Trim image panel and edge with Black Soot Distress inks.
10. Cut a piece of striped patterned paper 1/4" larger than the image panel. Edge with a YR04 Copic marker.
11. Using one of the dies from the die set, die-cut purple polka-dotted patterned paper. 
12. Cut the die-cut in half and edge with Black Soot Distress ink.
13. Use VersaFine Clair ink to stamp the sentiments as shown.
14. Adhere the banners and the image panel to the card front, edge with Black Soot Distress ink. and adhere to the card.

Thanks for visiting today!

Happy Fourth from the Gnome of the Brave!

Sorry about the pun. I couldn't help myself. I decided that one of the gnomes from the Gnome Sheet (I Brake for Stamps) would be perfect on a July 4th card, then this sentiment sprung to mind. This fabulous gnome is one of NINE (9) gnomes and a plethora of mushrooms on that sheet. Please gnote that this sheet is a great bargain!

The Gnome was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts) and colored with Copic markers. The image panel was die-cut with one of the dies from the Stitched Rectangles Thinlits die set (Sizzix). The background was added with Copic markers, which were also used to color the Gnome.

Distress Micro Glaze (Ranger) was sponged over the Stars Layering stencils (Stampers Anonymous) onto the top part of a panel cut from 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock. Blue Bister was sprinkled over the stars, then spritzed with water, and tilted to run a bit. The excess was brushed across the page with a paint brush.  This step was repeated several times, then a tiny bit of Blueprint Sketch Distress ink (Ranger) was sponged over the stars and Blue Bister to match the colored Gnome better. The top part of the image panel was heat set.

Red Bister was sprinkled onto the bottom part of the panel, spritzed with water, brushed across the page, then heat set.

***A Digression***
By the way, Bister is very similar to Brusho Crystal Colors. In fact, the only difference (other than the shape of the packaging) that I noted was that the Bister colors have some brownish tones mixed in with the colored crystals which creates a grungier look.

The Bistered panel was put under some books to be flattened a bit. It was then die-cut with a larger die from the Stitched Rectangles Thinlits die sets, removed from the die, and the edges were lightly distressed with a scissor to add a touch of white and texture. The panel was then adhered to patterned paper from an ancient 6x6 pad.

Another sheet from the same pad was die-cut with a long rectangle die from the Card Creators A2 die set (Spellbinders) and one of the dies from the Conversations Bubble die set (Spellbinders). Simply Sweet rub-ons (Doodlebug) were used to add the sentiments.

The image panel was adhered to the card front. The sentiment strip and the conversation bubble were adhered, and the card front was adhered to a white card.

I Brake for Stamps has a huge and varied collection of rubber stamps that you ought to check out right now. Just so you know, I Brake for Stamps ships internationally!

Click HERE to be whisked over to I Brake for Stamps to check out all of the goodies! Best of all, if you buy something, you can get a 10% discount off of your purchase if you use this code: SAVE10KATHI

Thanks for visiting today!

Love Bug Tag!

The theme of this week's Stampotique Designer's Challenges (#266) is "Love Bugs". Here's the blurb about the challenge!

"Your project must be love themed and have a few bugs on it as well!"

If you'd like the chance to win your choice of $30 worth of Stampotique stamps, you should play along with this challenge. Visit Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and be sure to read the rules so that you'll have the chance to win that great prize!!! Remember to check to see the deadline for all of this month's Stampotique Designers Challenges!

Have you heard the news? Stampotique Originals has decided to release six new stamps every month! Here's the link to February's new stamp release! Which is YOUR favorite? I love 'em all!

So, back to my tag for this week's challenge that features Terra Cotta Bunny (Terri Richardson) and Daniel's Hearts (Daniel Torrente). 

Isn't Terra Cotta Bunny the cutest? I think it will be extremely versatile for birthday, Valentine's Day, and Easter cards!

Terra Cotta Bunny was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts), colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, and edged with a black marker. Terra Cotta Bunny's terra cotta pot was coated with a layer of Distress Crazing Collage Medium (Ranger) and allowed to dry.

Daniel's Hearts was stamped onto green patterned paper from the Dot-Grid-Daisy-Linen Rainbow Petite Print 6x6 pad (Doodlebug Designs) using Champagne Dazzle VersaMark ink (Imagine Crafts), then heat embossed with Clear Detail embossing powder (Ranger). 

Here's a close-up photo so you can see the lovely crazed texture on the pot and the clear heat-embossed background!

Simply Sweet rub-ons (Doodlebug Designs) were used to add the terribly punny sentiment to a smaller piece of the same linen patterned cardstock.

I decided to use both sides of the patterned paper because they played together so well! I did rough up all the edges to differentiate the layers.

I had my hearts, my love-themed punny sentiment, but I needed some bugs. Now I ordinarily don't consider butterflies (or dragonflies) to be bugs since they're so pretty and I think most bugs are kind of ugly (sometimes cool in an ugly way). But since the only bugs that I had were metallic charms or too big, I decided to go with some butterfly punches and die-cuts. The dark orange butterflies were punched with a small Butterfly Paper Shaper punch (EK Success). The lighter orange butterflies were die-cut with dies from the Butterfly die set (Impression Obsession). Anyway, I added black glitter to the butterflies' bodies and antennae. Mostly because I could.

The tag was put together and a hole was punched in the center of the top part. Green and white gingham ribbon was colored with a YG03 Copic marker, then threaded through the tag's hole to finish the tag!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this tag into the following challenges:
• Use Your Stuff Challenges: Animal Theme
• Cards Und More Challenges: Pets and Other Furry Things
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: The Color of Love