Meow-y Christmas

It's Tuesday which is my day to share a project created for Topflight Stamps! This week my teammates and I are celebrating Christmas in July. I've made a Christmas card featuring the Cats on a Wall Unmounted Red Rubber Stamp Set by Katzelkraft on a background created with the Winter's Snowflakes Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Hobby Art Ltd. and Arctic Mist and Periwinkle Prism Inks by Hunkydory Crafts. The speech bubble sentiment combines Heffy Doodle's Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set and the Purrfect Day Clear Stamp Set with the Music Notes Small Clear Polymer Stamps by Lavinia Stamps.

Here's the card!

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Cats on a Wall Unmounted Red Rubber Stamp Set by Katzelkraft

Winter's Snowflakes Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Hobby Art Ltd.

Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set by Heffy Doodle

Purrfect Day Clear Stamp Set by Heffy Doodle

Music Notes Small Clear Polymer Stamps by Lavinia Stamps

Arctic Mist and Periwinkle Prism Inks by Hunkydory Crafts
Black Blending Brushes by Time for Team Design

Onyx Black VersaFine™ Ink by Tsukineko®

Other Products Used:

Solar White Classic Crest® Cardstock by Neenah Papers
Avalanche White Cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper®
Obsidian Amalgam Ink by Gina K™ Designs

Copic® Markers: 

Bricks: E04, RV43, RV95, W3

Roof: N6

Cats: T0, T1, T2, T3, T5; C00, C0, C1, C2; C1, C3, C4, C5, C7

VersaMark™ Ink by Tsukineko®

Perfect Pearl Perfect Pearls™ Pigment Powder by Ranger Ink
White Posca Acrylic Paint Pen by Mitsubishi Pencil Company

Speech Bubble Die: Source unknown (oops!)

Black .1 Multi-Liner Pen by Copic®

Clear Stardust® Glitter Gel Marker by Sakura® of America

Post-It® Notes by 3M
Repositionable Label Paper by Avery®
STAY-tion™ by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink
Stamping Platform

Preface:

I decided that the Cats on a Wall would be singing cats on a chimney during a snowstorm for my card. 

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of Avalanche cardstock to 10" x 7". Score at 5" and fold to form a 5" x 7" card. Set aside
2. Use Obsidian Amalgam ink to stamp the cats on the wallonto white cardstock and onto repositionable label paper. 
3. Fussy-cut the label paper version and place it atop its counterpart as a mask. 
4. Use magnets to secure the image panel to the STAY-tion. 
5. Place the STAY-tion ruler horizontally below the stamped image.
6. Brush the background with Arctic Mist and Periwinkle Prism Inks.
7. Remove the mask and retain.
8. Color the cats, chimney, and roof with Copic markers.* 
9. Use a White Posca paint pen to add snow to the cats, the chimney, and the roof,
10. Use VersaMark ink to randomly stamp the smaller snowflakes from the Winter's Snowflakes Clear Polymer Stamp Set, 
11. Brush Pearl Perfect Pearls onto the stamped snowflakes to add white shimmer to them.
12. Vigorously brush the excess Perfect Pearl powder off of the image panel.
13. Discover that the Perfect Pearls actually added shimmer to the entire panel, which was a happy accident, especially if you're a magpie like me and like shimmery things.*
14. Dab the white Posca Paint Pen onto a non-porous surface.
15. Use a fan brush to splatter the white paint over the image panel. 
16. Realize that you suck at using the fan brush to splatter.
17. Go to "Plan B" and dip an unused toothbrush into the white Posca Paint Puddles. 
18. Run your thumb across the toothbrush to finely spray white paint onto the image panel. 
19. Realize that the toothbrush method worked much better.
20. Judiciously add Clear Stardust Gel pen to the snow to make it sparklier.
21. Use the speech bubble die to cut a scrap of white cardstock. 
22. Use repositionable Scotch Tape on the reverse to tape the die-cut in place.
23. Use magnets to secure the die-cut panel to the base of the stamping platform.
24. Position the "Have a" from the  Purrfect Day Clear Stamp Set face-down on the die-cut. 
25. Press the lid of the platform onto the back of the stamp and lift the lid.
26. Use a Post-It Note to cover "Purrfect Day" on the sentiment.
27. Use Onyx Black VersaFine ink to ink the stamp.
28. Remove the Post-It Note and stamp.
29. Remove the stamp from the platform's lid and clean.
30. Position the "Meow-y" from the Purrfect Day Clear Stamp Set face-down on the die-cut. 
31. Press the lid of the platform onto the back of the stamp and lift the lid.
32. Use a Post-It Note to cover the other words on the sentiment.
33. Use Onyx Black VersaFine ink to ink the stamp.
34. Remove the Post-It Note and stamp.
35. Remove the stamp from the platform and clean.
36. Position the "Merry Christmas" sentiment from the Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set face-down on the die-cut.
37. Press the lid of the platform onto the back of the stamp and lift the lid.
38. Use a Post-It Note to cover "Merry".
39. Use Onyx Black VersaFine ink to ink the stamp.
40. Remove the Post-It Note and stamp.
41. Remove the stamp from the platform and clean.
42. Heat set the stamped die-cut.
43. Position the notes from the Music Notes Small Clear Polymer Stamps face-down on the sentiment.
44. Press the platform's lid onto the stamp and lift.
45. Use Arctic Mist and Periwinkle Prism Inks to ink and stamp the notes onto the sentiment die-cut.
46. Repeat inking and stamping as necessary to ensure good impressions.
47. Remove the stamps from the platform and clean.
48. Remove the scrap from the platform.
49. Remove the tape from the back of the sentiment die-cut.
50. Use Use Arctic Mist and Periwinkle Prism Inks to edge the die-cut.
51. Use a black Multi-liner to add the hyphen between "Meow" and "y".
52. Adhere the sentiment speech bubble to cover the worst of Splatter-mageddon.
53. Adhere the image panel to the reserved white card.

Notes:

• Be sure that the coloring is complete before you add the Perfect Pearls Powder. The powder will fubar your markers.
• Retrospectively, I probably should have used VersaMark and White Sparkly Detail Embossing Powder for the snowflakes, which would have allowed for touch-up of the Copic coloring and would have stood out better. Alas.
• IRL the sparkle from the Perfect Pearl Snowflakes is visible on the entire piece, not just at the top of the card. 

Thanks for visiting today!

In My Head I'm Busy!

It's Tuesday which means it's time to share a project created for Topflight Stamps! This week my teammates and I are showcasing Hobby Arts Ltd.'s fabulous products! 

Since Topflight Stamps is a sponsor of the 2022 Spring/Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop, I decided to use the super-cute coffee-sipping cozy sloth from the Sloths Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Hobby Art Ltd. with the polaroid frame from the Sloths Clear Polymer Stamp Set, also by Hobby Art Ltd.

Here's the card!

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Sloths Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Hobby Art Ltd. 

Funky Pigeons Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Hobby Art Ltd.

Profusion Stencil #84 by AALL and Create

Pine, Lime Punch, Della Blue, and Bermuda,  Elements Inks by Lavinia Stamps

Onyx Black VersaFine™ Ink by Tsukineko®

Other Products Used:

Solar White Classic Crest® Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Avalanche White Cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper®

Tuxedo Black Memento™ Ink by Tsukineko®

Copic® Markers: W00, W0, W1, W2, W3, W4, W6, E30, E40, E41, E42, E43, E74, E81, E84, R32, R21, Y23, Y26, Y28, B24, B32, BV31, BV34, YR16, YG25, YG45

Cool Grey 230, Light Indigo 220 Pitt Artist Pens by Faber Castell

Repositionable Label Paper by Avery®

Post-It Notes® by 3M

STAY-tion™ by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of Avalanche cardstock to 8.5" x 5.5". Score at 4.25" and fold to form an A2 card. Set aside.
2. Use a stamping platform and Tuxedo Black Memento ink to stamp the polaroid frame, from the Funky Pigeons Clear Polymer Stamp Set, onto a 4.25" x 5.5" piece of white Neehah cardstock and onto repositionable label paper. 
3. Place Post-It notes around the aperture of the polaroid frame.
4. Use the stamping platform to stamp the coffee-sipping sloth, one of five adorable sloths from the Sloths Clear Polymer Stamp Set, into the frame on the image panel and onto repositionable label paper.
5. Fussy-cut the label paper versions of the sloth and the polaroid frame.
6. Keep the Post-It Notes in place on the image panel and adhere the Sloth's mask atop its counterpart.
7. Sponge or brush Della Blue Elements Ink over the the masked sloth and the Post-It Notes to add a blue background to the photo portion of the Polaroid.
8. Adhere the fussy-cut label paper version of the polaroid frame over its counterpart on the image panel.
9. Use magnets to secure the image panel to the STAY-tion.
10. Position the Profusion Stencil #84 over the image panel and secure with magnets.
11. Sponge or brush Lime Punch, Pine, Della Blue, and Bermuda Elements Inks  over the stencil onto the image panel to add a tropical-ish background to the image panel.
12. Remove and clean the stencil.
13. Remove and retain the masks and retain for a later use. 
14. Use Copic markers to color the sloth and his accoutrements.
15. Use a stamping platform and Onyx Black VersaFine Ink by Tsukineko to stamp the sentiment from the Sloths Clear Polymer Stamp Set onto the polaroid frame on the image panel.
16. Use Pitt Artist pens to outline the outside of the polaroid frame and the inside of the photo aperture.
17. Trim the image panel to 4" x 5.25".
18. Adhere the image panel to the reserved white A2 card.

Thank you for visiting today!

Gear Up for a Great Birthday!

It's Tuesday so it's time to share a project created for Topflight Stamps. I love birds and I love Steampunk, so I'm created a card with the Steampunk Bird Cling Mounted Stamp Set by Indigo Blu, Bell Flower Vine Clear Polymer Stamp by Lavinia Stamps, the Industrial Elements 6x6 Stencil by Paper Rose, and a sentiment from the Gear Up and Some Assembly Required Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Hobby Art Ltd.

Here it is!

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Steampunk Bird Cling Mounted Stamp Set by Indigo Blu

Bell Flower Vine Clear Polymer Stamp by Lavinia Stamps

Industrial Elements 6x6 Stencil by Paper Rose

Gear Up and Some Assembly Required Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Hobby Art Ltd.

Morning Mist VersaFine Clair™ Ink by Tsukineko®

Other Products Used:

Solar White Classic Crest® Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Ash Cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper®

Tuxedo Black, London Fog, and Summer Sky Memento™ Inks by Tsukineko

Copic® Markers:

C00, C0, C1, C2, C3, C4 C5, E95,E97, E99,YR23, Y21, Y23, Y26, Y28, BG72, BG75, BG78, BV13, BV17, RV52, RV63, RV91, RV93, RV95, B34, YG45, N0, N1

Cloud Stencil by My Favorite Things

Clear Glaze® 3D Glossy Gel Pen by Sakura® of America

Repositionable Label Paper by Avery®

STAY-tion™ by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of Ash cardstock to 10" x 6.5". Score at 5" and fold to form a card. Set aside.
2. Use Tuxedo Black to stamp the bird with black ink onto white cardstock and onto repositionable label paper. 
3. Fussy-cut the label paper version and place atop its counterpart as a mask. 
4. Place a ruler horizontally over the base of the image panel to ground the bird's wheels.
5. Sponge or brush Summer Sky Memento ink over the cloud stencil to give the bird a cloudy sky background. 
6. Sponge or brush London Fog Memento ink over the the Industrial Elements 6x6 Stencil by Paper Rose onto the image panel. 
7. Move the ruler so that the top part of the image panel is covered.
8. Sponge or brush London Fog Memento ink over the ruler onto the base of the image panel
9. Position the vertical ruler lines on the Industrial Elements 6x6 Stencil along the base of the image, then sponge or brush London Fog Memento ink over the stencil onto the image panel to add some visual interest.
10. Use a stamping platform and Tuxedo Black Memento ink to stamp the Bell Flower Vine Clear Polymer Stamp by Lavinia Stamps along the right edge or the image panel, so the bird has something to see and smell. After all, it's important to stop and smell the flowers, right?
11. Lift the mask and retain for another use
12. Use Copic markers to color the Steampunk Bird, the flowers, and the leaves. I decided that the bird had stayed outside in the rain too often, so I added some rust to his gears and wheels.
13. Apply several layers of Clear Glaze pen to the rivets on the image, letting the gel ink dry between layers. 
14. Use a stamping platform and Morning Mist VersaFine Clair Inkto stamp the sentiment from the Gear Up and Some Assembly Required Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Hobby Art Ltd.
15. Heat Set.
16. Adhere the image panel to the reserved card.

Thanks for visiting today!

Celebrate National Farm Animals Day!

It's National Farm Animals Day and I'm celebrating with a card created for Topflight Stamps. I decided to create a card with Katzelkraft's whimsically wonderful Farm Animals Unmounted Red Rubber Stamp Set. Now I could have used the pig, cow, sheep, chicken, rooster, or bunny, but I decided to use the donkey for snarky reasons.

I paired the donkey with one of the humorous sayings from the Whatchamacallit Unmounted Red Rubber Stamp Set also by Katzelkraft, used a grass stamp from Hobby Art Ltd.'s Bah Humbug Clear Polymer Stamp Set and the bell from their Get Your Goat Clear Polymer Stamp Set. The patterned kraft paper was created with the Abstract 12 Red Rubber Cling Stamp by Darkroom Door.

Here's the card.

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Farm Animals Unmounted Red Rubber Stamp Set by Katzelkraft

Whatchamacallit Unmounted Red Rubber Stamp Set  by Katzelkraft

Abstract 12 Red Rubber Cling Stamp by Darkroom Door

Bah Humbug Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Hobby Art Ltd.

Get Your Goat Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Hobby Art Ltd.

Lime Punch, Pine, Della Blue, and Paprika Elements Inks by Lavinia Stamps

Blenders by Lavinia Stamps

PSA: There are oodles are great new products at Topflight Stamps, so you should pay them a visit and treat yourself to something marvelous. 

Other Products Used:

Solar White Classic Crest® Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Desert Storm Smooth Cardstock from the Environment® Papers Collection by Neenah Papers

Tuxedo Black Memento™ Ink by Tsukineko®

Great Outdoors Stencil by Polkadoodles

Copic® Markers: E04, E70, E71, E74, E77, YR12, YR14, YR30, YR31, RV43, Y21, Y23,Y26, Y28

Flag Dies: Source Unknown

White Gelly Roll® Gel Pen by Sakura® of America

Red Thread

Needle

Stabby Tool

Repositionable Labels by Avery®

STAY-tion™ by Wendy Vecchi For Ranger Ink

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1. Trim a piece of Desert Storm cardstock to 10" x 7". Score at 5" and fold to form a 5" x 7" card. Set aside.
2. Use Tuxedo Black Memento in to stamp the donkey from the Farm Animals Unmounted Red Rubber Stamp Set onto white cardstock and onto repositionable label paper.
3. Fussy-cut the label paper version and place it over its counterpart on the image panel as a mask.
4. Use magnets to secure the image panel to the STAY-tion.
5. Tear a wide scrap of cardstock in two and use magnets to secure one piece horizontally over the image panel covering the bottom portion.
6. Brush or sponge Della Blue Elements Ink over the cloud portion of a stencil onto the image panel to create a cloudy sky behind the donkey.*
7. Re-position the scrap of cardstock to cover the sky portion of the image panel and secure with magnets.
8. Move the other piece of torn cardstock below the horizon line with the torn portion facing towards the top of the image panel. 
9. Lightly brush Pine Elements Ink horizontally over the torn edge onto the image panel to create a grassy pasture.*
10. Move the scrap down towards the base of the image panel and brush Pine Elements Ink again brushed over the torn edge onto the image panel. 
11. Repeat Steps 7 - 9 until there are several horizontal green grassy lines across the base of the image panel. 
12. Brush Lime Punch Elements Ink onto the grass to fill in any white space and to blend with the darker green.
13. Use Pine Elements Ink with the grass stamp from the Bah Humbug Clear Polymer Stamp Set. to randomly stamp wisps of grass onto the green background. 
14. Brush Pine Elements Ink under the stamped grass to ground it and create some shadow.
15. Lift the mask from the donkey and retain for another use.
16. Color the donkey with Copic markers. 
17. Use the white gel pen to add catchlights to the pupils of his eyes.
18. Use Tuxedo Black Memento ink to stamp the bell from the Get Your Goat Clear Polymer Stamp Set onto a scrap of white cardstock.
19. Color the bell with Copic markers, fussy-cut it, and edge it with a black pen. 
20. Use a stabby tool to pierce the bell hanger and to add a hole to the right side of the donkey's neck on the image panel. 
21. Thread red thread through the hole on the image panel, across the donkey's neck, and through the hole in the bell hanger. Secure the thread on the reverse of the image panel.
22. Edge the image panel with Pine and Della Blue Elements Inks using Blenders by Lavinia Stamps.** Set aside.
23. Cut a piece of Desert Storm cardstock to 4.75" x 6.75". 
24. Use magnets to secure the cardstock to the base of a stamping platform.
25. Place the Abstract 12 Red Rubber Cling Stamp face-down on the left side of the Desert Storm cardstock.
26. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
27. Ink the stamp with Paprika Elements Ink and stamp.*
28. Lift the platform's lid keeping the stamp in place.
29. Flip the Desert Storm cardstock 180° and secure with magnets.
30. Ink the stamp again with Paprika Elements Ink and stamp.
31. Remove the panel from the platform and edge it  with Paprika Elements Ink using another Blender.
32. Adhere the edged and stamped kraft panel to the reserved card.
33. Use magnets to secure a leftover scrap of the Desert Storm cardstock to the base of a stamping platform.
34. Position the sentiment (I had inadvertently cut it) in one line facedown on the cardstock scrap.
35. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
36. Ink the stamp with Paprika Elements Ink and stamp.
37. Use a flag die to cut the sentiment, then edge the die-cut with Paprika Elements Ink using another Blender.
38. Adhere the image panel to the card.
39. Adhere the sentiment die-cut as shown to finish the card.

Notes:

• I've grown to really love Elements Inks! They are very juicy, highly pigmented dye ink pads, so it's important to remove some excess ink from the applicator onto the STAY-tion or onto scrap paper. Their juiciness makes them great for stamping detailed images and for stamping onto textured cardstock. Additionally, they're great for using to watercolor images. 
• Lavinia's Blenders are great for edging and sponging. Their egg shape is very ergonomic and affords great control. Plus you can use them for more than one color at a time. They can be washed with liquid soap, just be sure to squeeze them until excess water runs clear. Let them dry completely before using again.
• The pandemic has made it difficult to see family and friends. Usually this is a sad thing. Sometimes it's a good thing. Hence the snark behind this card which I have released from my brain to prevent mayhem. 

Thanks for visiting today!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Here's my last Christmas card created for Topflight Stamps this year! This one was created with the llama and the tall cactus from the Zinski Art 59 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp Set by PaperArtsy. The llama is wearing a Santa hat from the Baa Humbug Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Hobby Art Ltd and carrying presents from the Funny Accessories Unmounted Stamp Set by Katzelkraft. The desert scene was created with the mountains stamp from Marlene's World Happy Holiday Clear Stamp Set by Studio Light and a sentiment from the ever useful Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set by Heffy Doodle.

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Zinski Art 59 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp Set by PaperArtsy

Baa Humbug Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Hobby Art Ltd.

Funny Accessories Unmounted Stamp Set by Katzelkraft

Marlene's World Happy Holiday Clear Stamp Set by Studio Light

Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set by Heffy Doodle

Periwinkle Prism Ink by Hunkydory Crafts

Other Products Used:

Solar White Classic Crest® Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Classic Green Cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper®

Tuxedo Black, Desert Sand, Toffee Crunch, Peanut Brittle, and Lulu Lavender Memento™ Ink by Tsunkineko®

Jet Black StazOn® Ink by Tsukineko®

VersaMark® Ink by Tsukineko®

Copic® Markers:

   Hat: R27, R39, B60, <B91, BV0000, RV0000, Y0000, C00, C0, C1, C2

   Llama: BV000, E40, E41, E42, E70

   Glasses: G05, BG17

   Blanket and Gifts: G05, G17, R27, R39, B18, Y23, Y26

   Cactus: G05, G17, G29

   Mountains: E41, E42, E43

   Desert Plants: YG61, YG63

Red and Green Stardust® Glitter Pens by Sakura® of America

Clear 3D Glaze® Glossy Gel Pen by Sakura® of America

Gold Tinsel and Jeweled Gold Embossing Powder by Stampendous!®

Assorted Gemstones from Ye Olde Stash :D

Gold Star Brad from Ye Old Stash

Vellum by Strathmore®

Speech Bubble Die by Spellbinders®

Sookwang Tape

Removable Label Paper by Avery®

STAY-tion™ by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1.  Trim Green cardstock to 10" x 7" wide.
2. Score at 5" and fold to form a 5" x 7" card. Set aside.
3. Use Tuxedo Black Memento ink to stamp the llama cactus, the pile of presents, and the Santa hat onto white cardstock.
4. Fussy-cut all images, color with Copic markers, and edge with a dark marker to get rid of those annoying white edges.
5. Add several layers of Clear Glaze pen to the frame and lenses of the sunglasses allowing the gel ink to dry between the layers. This process adds dimension and shine. 
6. Use Red and green glitter pens to add sparkle to the llama and the blanket tassels. Then smear the ink and swear loudly. Upside to this is that you'll scare the cat away before he eats more ribbon.
7. Stamp the mountains onto label paper, fold the label paper, and fussy-cut through both layers to create masks which will be used to create both the mountain range and the desert sky.
8. Use magnets to secure a piece of 5" x 7" cardstock to the STAY-tion.
9. Tear a piece of scrap paper and place horizontally towards the top of the image panel, secured with more magnets.
10. Adhere the label paper mountains on top of the horizontal torn paper.
11. Brush or sponge Periwinkle Prism ink to create a lovely blue desert sky.
12. Remove the label paper mountains mask and reserve for another day.
13. Heat set the image panel.
14. Adhere the negative part of the fussy-cut label paper over the sky, which should reveal the mountains.
15. Brush Lulu Lavender Memento ink on the base of the mountains and along the edges. 
16. Brush Desert Sand, Toffee Crunch, and Peanut Brittle Memento ink onto the mountains.
17. Remove the mask covering the sky and reserve. 
18. Touch up the mountains using Copic markers.*
19. Create the desert with the torn strip of paper by brushing or sponging upwards from the torn edge from left to right with Desert Sand ink.
20. Move the torn paper strip downwards and continue to brush the ink over the top of the torn edge. 
21. Repeat Step #18 until the the background panel is covered.
22. Use Copic markers to touch up the desert background and to add desert plants.
23. Trim the background panel to 4.75" x 6.75".
24. Adhere the background panel to the reserved green card.
25. Use Peanut Brittle Memento ink to edge the panel.
26. Adhere the Santa hat to the llama, then adhere the llama to the image panel as shown.
27. Add a large red gemstone to cover the heart.*
28. Adhere the cactus to the image panel as shown.
29. Add self adhesive gemstones to decorate the cactus.
30. Squish the star brad onto the VersaMark pad.
31. Use either a hemostat clip thingy or reverse tweezers to hold the brad.
32. Dip the brad into Jeweled Gold Embossing Powder. Shake excess into the jar.
33. Heat set. Let cool.*
34. Press the star onto the VersaMark pad.
35. Dip the brad into the Gold Tinsel Embossing Powder. Shake excess into the jar.
36. Heat set. Let cool.
37. Cut the brads' wings off and flatten any spurs.
38. Adhere to the top of the Christmas cactus.
39. Cut a strip of vellum and back with a strip of Sookwang tape.
40. Use Jet Black StazOn ink to stamp the sentiment onto vellum.
41. Clean the stamp immediately.*
42. Use the speech bubble die to cut the sentiment.
43. Adhere the speech bubble sentiment to finish the card as shown.

Notes:

• Memento ink was used for the mountains and the desert because it's Copic friendly and I knew I'd want to use Copic markers to add detail.
• I had found super-cute little epoxy stickers and had one that said Santa on it. It was perfectly sized to fit inside a sequin and to cover the heart. I put it together, put it aside, and promptly lost it. 
• If you don't let the brad cool, you will melt your VersaMark pad. Again. 
• StazOn ink is a solvent ink. Solvent inks may/may not hurt your clear stamps. So if you must use it (for instance to stamp on vellum), clean the stamp immediately.

Thanks for visiting today!

Bwa Bwa Bwa! Happy Halloween!

Greetings! Not only is it World Card Making Day which you can celebrate by visiting Topflight Stamps' World Card Making Day Sale, it's also World Farm Animals Day. So what better way to celebrate than with a Halloween card? 

The star of my card is one of the adorable sheep from the super cute Baa Humbug Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Hobby Arts, who is wearing a witch hat from the Funny Accessories by Katzelkraft. A tree and tree branch became lightning from the Twisted Tree Red Rubber Cling Stamp Set by Darkroom Door on a stormy cloudy sky created with the Great Outdoors Stencil by Polkadoodles. The sentiment is from the Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set by Heffy Doodle.

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Baa Humbug Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Hobby Arts

Twisted Tree Red Rubber Cling Stamp Set by Darkroom Door

Funny Accessories by Katzelkraft

Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set by Heffy Doodle

Great Outdoors Stencil by Polkadoodles

Onyx Black VersaFine Ink by Tsukineko®

Black Blending Brush Set by Time For Tea Designs 

Public Service Announcement: Topflight Stamps has a wonderful sale in honor of World Card Making Day. There are loads of fabulous new products, so you should hop on over and check it out. 

Other Products Used:

Solar White Classic Crest® Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Grey Cardstock by Bazzill Basics Paper®

Tuxedo Black, Danube Blue, Lulu Lavender, and London Fog Memento™ Ink by Tsukineko®

Emerald Green Achival™ Ink by Ranger Ink

Mowed Lawn and Black Soot Distress® Ink by Tim Holtz® for Ranger Ink

Shark White Atelier Fusion Ink by Ink On 3

Simply Sweet Rub-ons by Doodlebug Designs Inc.™

Copic® Markers: C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, YG21, YG23, BV13, BV17

Fine Tip White Uni Posca Acrylic Paint Marker by Mitsubishi Pencil Company

Cartoon Speech Bubble Die Set by Frantic Stampers

Stamping Platform
Repositionable Labels by Avery®
STAY-tion™ by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Post-It® Notes by 3M

Instructions:

1. Create an A2 card from grey cardstock. 
2. Cut a 4" x 5.25" piece from the same grey cardstock.
3. Use a distressing tool and/or scissors (or both) to distress the edges of the panel.
4. Sponge the distressed edges with Black Soot Distress ink and adhere to the card. Set aside.
5. Use magnets to secure a piece of white cardstock to the base of the stamping platform.
6. Choose the sheep you want to use from the Baa Humbug Clear Stamp Set*.
7. Use the clear index sheet from the Baa Humbug stamp set to determine where the sheep will be and where the Witch Hat should be stamped on the panel. 
8. Place the Witch Hat facedown on the clear index sheet and press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp. 
9. Lift the lid and remove the clear index sheet.
10. Ink the stamp with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and stamp onto the image panel and onto a piece of repositionable label paper.
11. Place a Post-It Note over the base of the stamped Witch Hat.
12. Position the selected sheep stamp and place facedown onto the image panel so that the top of the sheep's head will be in the Witch Hat. 
13. Press the stamp platform's lid onto the back of the sheep stamp, lift the lid, and ink the sheep stamp with Tuxedo Black Memento ink.
14. Stamp the sheep onto the image panel and onto a piece of repositionable label paper.
15. Fussy cut the stamped label paper versions of the Witch Hat and the Sheep then place over their counterparts on the image panel.
16. Tear a piece of scrap paper and place horizontally over the sheep's hooves.
17. Starting at the top of the image panel, brush Danube Blue, Lulu Lavender, and London Fog Memento™ Inks over the Great Outdoors stencil.
18. Move the stencil downward and continue to brush the same colors of ink over the stencil under you've created a dark and stormy cloudy sky.
19. Remove the scrap paper and place the other side of the torn paper to cover the sky.
20. Flip the used torn paper from step 16 so that you have a clean-ish torn edge.
21. Brush Mowed Lawn Distress ink horizontally over the torn edge, moving the torn paper downwards until the bottom portion of the image panel looks like a green pasture.
22. Use the Emerald Green Archival ink with the grass stamp from the Baa Humbug Stamp Set to add grass for the sheep to eat.*
23. Remove the masks and color the images with Copic markers.
24. Use magnets to secure the image panel to the base of the stamping platform.
25. Position the branch from the Twisted Tree Red Rubber Cling Stamp Set*facedown on the top of the image panel.
26. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
27. Ink the stamp with Shark White Atelier ink and stamp.
28. Remove and clean the stamp.
29. Repeat Steps 25-28 to add more lightning strikes to the image panel.
30. Position the tree top rom the Twisted Tree Red Rubber Cling Stamp Set facedown on the top of the image panel.
31. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
32. Ink the stamp with Shark White Atelier ink and stamp.
33. Remove and clean the stamp.
34. Repeat Steps 30 -33.
35. Remove the image panel from the stamping platform and heat set.
36. Use the Fine Tip White Uni Posca Acrylic Paint Marker to trace the lightning.
37. Set aside the image panel to dry.
38. Brush or sponge a scrap of white cardstock with Danube Blue, Lulu Lavender, and London Fog Memento™ Inks. Heat set.
39. Use magnets to secure the inked cardstock to the stamping platform.
40. Place the speech bubble die on the inked cardstock, then position the Happy Halloween sentiment, from the Classic Sentiment Clear Stamp Set, facedown.
41. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp, lift the platform's lid, and remove the speech bubble die.
42. Ink the stamp with Onyx Black VersaFine ink and stamp. 
43. Remove the stamped cardstock from the platform and heat set.
44. Use the cloudy speech bubble die to cut the sentiment.
45. Use the rub-ons to add "Bwa Bwa Bwa" to the speech bubble die-cut.
46. Use Black Soot Distress ink to edge the speech bubble die-cut.
47. Edge the image panel with Black Soot Distress Ink.
48. Adhere the image panel to the reserved card front.
49. Adhere the speech bubble to finish the card.

Notes:

• The sheep from the Baa Humbug Clear Stamp set can be accessorized with the included hats or used with other accessory stamps and/or die-cuts. This makes this stamp set very versatile and not just for Christmas!
• When stamping the grass, use first and second generation stamping to add depth.
• The branch and the tree canopy from the Twisted Tree Red Rubber Cling Stamp do double duty as lightning strikes. 
• The tree canopy stamp could be stamped then heat embossed with white embossing powder to add additional interest.

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