SILLY CATS POSTAGE

 

Hi friends!

Playing along with this fun sketch by Michelle over at the 

ATLANTIC HEARTS SKETCH CHALLENGE

(ends 7/26)

I’ve had this crazy set of mini cat stamps from Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers a lonnnnng time. I don’t know if anyone remembers, but they had the most amazing catalogs and artwork, and super-creative images even for those times, which were a period of real individuality in the stamping world. 

 

THE PROCESS

First steps: I die cut the postage panels first, then used some black Versafine ink to stamp a different cat on each one. 

Next, I lined up the edges of the “stamps” and used assorted inks and shapes to stamp a colorful background.

I heat embossed the sentiment on a textured orange panel using Versamark and white detail embossing powder. 

To finish: I layered a piece of kraft card stock on a white card base, backed the postage panels with black card stock and layered those on as shown. The sentiment strip was mounted on a couple scraps of heavyweight white card stock and adhered in the center. 

SUPPLIES

cat stamps - Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers Art Parts Cats #1 & 2 sets

sentiment stamp - SonLight Impressions #WS 872-C

splotch stamp - JudiKins #3106 D

small dots circle - unmarked thick peg stamp

all other circles, etc - Hero Arts assorted

postage dies - Waffleflower Nesting Postages

black, white  & kraft card stock

Versafine Onyx Black ink pad

Versamark ink pad

Catherine Pooler Party Collection minis set

white detail embossing powder

Thanks for stopping in today!

SWEET BEE TRIO

Hi friends!

Playing along with this very cool sketch by Jen M for FRESHLY MADE SKETCHES challenge  

(ends 7/27)

I kept seeing one of these sweet little bees used on a sample card in my nearest papercraft supply store, and finally inquired.  A customer overheard my question and generously searched the web, figuring the source out in no time.  But my heart fell a bit at hearing it was a monthly kit item, and from years back 😭 

After buying a few of my newest treasures in-store, I got in the car, held my breath, and searched for the set online.  I was determined to buy the stamps with the dies, and the only set preowned and available, was listed for more than a few pretty pennies!  But I was grateful to find it at all, and I don’t have any buyer’s remorse. The seller sent it fast and it was just as I had imagined.  I can’t wait to make many more cards with it…

 

THE PROCESS

First steps: I cut the honeycomb from yellow glitter card stock, then used the same circle die to cut a solid yellow card stock circle to back it. After gluing these pieces together, I backed them with a white card stock circle for stability, and to give the back view of the card uniformity. The excess honeycomb scrap from the glitter card stock was glued along the bottom edge as shown. 

*TIP of the Day*

The easiest way to get even spacing when using up die cut scraps is to lay down a die cut piece and while gluing, just rest the desired scraps in the spaces they came from. Use the glue sparingly and remove the die cut pattern as soon as possible to avoid gluing it to your project accidentally - ask me how I know 😂

All the bees were stamped, colored with alcohol markers and die cut.  The wings were dabbed with glitter glue. 

To finish: I used some Distress Peacock Feathers ink to lightly shade the top of the card front. I used the black ink to stamp the sentiment. 

The stacked circles and bees were adhered as shown.  Some of the wings have small foam dots underneath. 

A few black enamel dots were applied to help ‘round out’ the scene 😁

THE SUPPLIES

bee stamps and dies - Hero Arts January 2021 monthly kit

sentiment stamp -  “    “

honeycomb die -  “     “

circle die - Spellbinders Nestibilities

black ink - Memento Tuxedo Black

blue ink - Distress Peacock Feathers

alcohol ink markers

black enamel dots - Altenew

glitter glue - Stickles Frosted Lace

yellow glitter cardstock - Hero Arts January 2021 monthly kit

Thanks for stopping in today!

ALPHABET CHALLENGE - G is for GAMES

 

Hi friends, and welcome back to my current Alphabet Challenge card!

The letter and theme this go-around is 

G is for GAMES

I’ve chosen this fun Bingo embossing folder as my “game” jumping off point, and combined it with the classic rhyme for double interest. I had to go look up the origins of the song just for fun, and did you know - in various versions it dates all the way back to 1780?! Because of this I really wanted to give the card a vintage feel, and give my white pup some contrast. 

THE PROCESS

 I started out by ink blending a cream color card stock panel with brown ink. This was run through with the Bingo embossing folder and trimmed to fit on a green card front. I used a circle stamp to loosely highlight some number squares in blue ink.

I made some kerchief patterned paper by blending a few shades of red ink as shown onto white card stock, stamping some Western-style stamps in black, and then highlighting the designs with a white gel pen. Here’s a sample partially highlighted:

 I ran a strip of the kerchief paper through with the top of the embossing folder, and fussy cut the Bingo letters out so I could glue them onto the brown panel. The word quote was computer generated, mounted on heavy weight card stock, and die cut. Music notes were stamped in black and fussy cut. The dog was colored in with alcohol markers and fussy cut.  A tongue was added in pink card stock, and I free-hand cut a kerchief for him to wear. The silver rhinestone star was mounted over the boring embossed one 😁

SUPPLIES

dog stamp - Rare Image Rubber Stamps

Western style stamps - assorted Stampin’ Up! sets: Baroque Motifs & Priceless

circle stamp - Hero Arts Quattros Box of Dots #LL890

music notes stamps - unknown

word bubble die - Cuttlebug Planner Embellishments

embossing folder - Sizzix

white gel pen

Distress inks

alcohol markers

flat back rhinestone star gem

Thanks for stopping in today!

Really can’t wait to see what you create to share with us at the Alphabet Challenge!!

HAPPY DANCE

Hi friends!

Playing along with this AAA CARDS challenge

 Well.  This one was supposed to be a sophisticated, classy sort of card, but as you can see - things veered off-track. I think it may have been the bright colors, which led to the googly eyes, which required a nose…

THE PROCESS

To start: I swiped a bright white card with three colors of acrylic paints, using a common rounded flat paintbrush. 

After the paint was dry, I heat embossed a starfish using gold powder. 

To finish: A couple googly eyes were glued down, and an enamel nose was applied.

I added a strip of sturdy card stock to the back of the pre-printed strip and glued the sentiment to the card front as shown. 

SUPPLIES

starfish stamp - Rubbernecker

acrylic paints

gold embossing powder

pre-printed sentiment strip

googly eyes

enamel dot

Thanks for stopping in today!

CLOSE-UP ROSE

Hi friends!

Playing along with this COLOR HUES challenge (ends 7/29)

and this FRESHLY MADE SKETCHES challenge (ends 7/20)

I really love the look of a square card but almost never make them. Something about putting a square card in a rectangular envelope hurts my brain (see Monk ‘Secret Santa’ episode. You’ll thank me later 😂)

 

THE PROCESS

To start: I spritzed a piece of 6 x 6 white Neenah card stock with a water mister and ran it through the embossing machine with the rose folder. I pressed it lightly between two acrylic panels to dry as flat as possible while still retaining the deep flower embossing.

I die cut two different size nesting squares at the same time on shiny black card stock to get a narrow frame. 

I also die cut the smaller square from a large heavy weight cardstock (in a color I hate and will never use up otherwise!) to use as the template to color in the center. This was done by using a blender brush and a red ink pad. 

I mounted the frame on heavy weight card stock strips and glued it centered on the red as shown.

*TIP of the Day*

When attaching anything paper-related directly to embossed panels, I’ve found it works best to use strips of heavy weight card stock vs. foam as the dimensional - it will be less likely to conform to the ridges of embossing. It’s a pesky nuisance when the layered elements all follow the contours accidentally.

I used a black Versafine ink and clear detail embossing powder for the sentiment to refer back to the shine of the frame. Very pleasantly visually textured in person. 

To finish: I used the rub-on sheet to transfer a butterfly to white card stock, which I fussy cut and mounted as shown. Solid shiny white sequins highlight the sentiment in a demure fashion 😁

SUPPLIES

sentiment stamp - Anna Griffin

butterfly rub-on - Brea Reese Press %& Design Butterflies

square dies - Spellbinders Nestibilities Classic Squares

embossing folder - Altenew Rose Bellevue3D

red ink pad - Stampin’ Up! Ruby Red

black ink pad - Versafine Onyx Black

solid sequins - Gina K Clear Quartz

clear detail embossing powder

gold metallic, red & glossy black card stock

Thanks for stopping in today!

SEASHELL AT THE SEASHORE

 Hi friends!

Playing along with this JUST US GIRLS challenge 

(ends 7/22)

and this ALLSORTS “At the Seaside” or Anything Goes challenge

(ends 7/30)

Well I just fell in love with the camera angel of that solitary shell in the lower righthand corner of the board!  There could be beach blankets all around it, and dogs barking, and kids laughing and running. Or it could be the only thing in a huge stretch of off-season sand. I hope my card has that same feel about it. 

THE PROCESS

First steps: I started by stamping the shell in gold holographic embossing powder on bright white card stock. The sparkles are subtle and tiny in person, and so they barely show here.  I fussy cut the shell out, and then used Antique Linen and Pumice Stone inks with a mini blending brush to shade it. 

The background was made simply, by tearing strips of blue scrap card stock and gluing them down with the ragged edges showing. One of the lighter colors had a white core which really added to the waves effect. I used a bit of vellum at the shoreline as well. 

*TIP of the Day*

If you start the layering effect with a sheet of copy paper the size you want to end up with, you don’t need to worry about matching up the length at the ends. Just focus on getting the torn edges lined up horizontally as desired, then flip your panel over and trim right along the copy paper sides for a nice clean finish :o)

To finish: I used some of the Pumice Stone ink to blend a shadow into the sand where the shell would rest. The shell was glued flat, and the sentiment was stamped in Pumice Stone and then fussy cut and foam mounted. Three holeless satiny gold sequins applied as shown. 

SUPPLIES

shell stamp - Rubbernecker

sentiment stamp - Stampa Rosa Inc./ Tin Can Mail #C 59-527

gold holeless sequins - Spellbinders Satin Gold

embossing powder - Creations Unlimited Golden Ivory

Distress ink pads

Thanks for stopping in today!