Kool Kitty Musings

2022 Card Challenge - April Prompt

Hi everyone!

I'm posting the prompt for April a little early. :)

Here's the image:

{Pinterest pin}

It may not be obvious from the image, but the focus colour for April is: Green

It doesn't have to be the main colour scheme of your card, it can simply be a pop of contrasting colour (like a button or enamel dot) or an accent colour that brings a colour scheme (like lines of dots above) together. It pairs really well with blues from aqua tones to navy, and can be interpreted with lighter or more sage like shades for spring.

Here are a few ideas to get you started with the images in the prompt:

• Bold (geometric/floral) prints - let patterned paper do the work for you, especially the more eye-catching large prints you might have shied away from in the past. They can be the perfect backdrop to a very simple sentiment strip.
• Heat embossing - heat emboss in clear/white/metallic shades on white for a resist technique where you then go over the embossed image with blended ink, a colour wash, or even detailed water colouring. The ombré effect of the cushion in the prompt could also be incorporated with this technique.
• April showers - feature anything weather-related (even snow at this rate!) that is seasonal - umbrellas, clouds, sun, rainbow, raindrops, wellies.
• Just a note - the row of pens speaks to my love of stationery, you could make a set of notelets to gift to someone for them to use, create a card with the sentiment "Just a note to say...", or even feature anything to do with writing on your card including images of stationery (like an envelope containing happy mail), a desk, a typewriter, even a book.
• All lined up - the pens also make me think of candles on a cake or a collection of items in rainbow colours lined up on your card, such as Easter eggs stamped in different shades.
• Stripes - use strips of cardstock, a stencil, a line stamp, or anything else that comes to mind to create a striped background. Failing that, dig into your patterned paper stash and see what fits the bill. You can't go wrong with diagonal or horizontal stripes!
• Jar - feature a jar as the vessel for design elements such as flowers, branches, sweets, even lemonade.
• Polka dot party - if dots are more your thing, you can keep it small with a petite dot style in white on a contrasting colour, or go large with big spots of different colours. You probably have some pretty dotted ribbon in your stash that would be a perfect finishing touch.

Happy crafting!

DCM - The Early Bird

Good morning!

This week over on the Daring Cardmakers blog, Miri has set the challenge. :)

It's all about the early bird who catches the worm (especially with the clocks changing this weekend in the UK). So you can feature anything to do with this saying, including some early spring sunshine... which is what I went with. (Apologies for the poor photos, I forgot just how hard it is to photograph slimline cards - especially in said early spring sunshine):

Stamps: The Greetery - Christmas Time Sentiments, The Greetery - Springtime
Dies: The Greetery - Christmas Time Sentiments, The Greetery - Springtime, Lawn Fawn - Spring Showers, The Greetery - Crimped Slimline
Stencil: Simon Says Stamp - Clouds For Days
Other: Distress Oxide inks

I started out by cutting the large Crimped Slimline panel and using a mix of blue Distress Oxides to create the subtle sky and cloudy background with the Clouds for Days stencil from Simon Says Stamp.

I used the existing grey ink on my blending brush to colour in one of the rain clouds.

I then stamped out the various elements from the new Springtime set from The Greetery using my Concord & 9th ink cubes and Altenew grey shades. I added some pencil details to the flowers and umbrella for extra interest.

Once all the elements were cut out, I assembled everything on the crimped panel, then I added some raindrop details and stamped the sentiment on the Christmas Time banner that coordinates with the Springtime sentiments.

Finally, for a change I created a card base from coloured cardstock - a nice spring sage green and my card was finished.

Make sure you check out the wonderful projects from the rest of the design team here, and play along if you can!

Happy crafting!

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The Greetery - Christmas Time Sentiments stamps Shop at: MISC | SHC	The Greetery - Springtime stamps Shop at: MISC | SHC	The Greetery - Christmas Time Sentiments dies Shop at: MISC | SHC	The Greetery - Springtime dies Shop at: MISC | SHC
Lawn Fawn - Spring Showers dies Shop at: SBC | SHC	The Greetery - Crimped Slimline dies Shop at: MISC | SHC	Simon Says Stamp - Clouds For Days stencil Shop at: SSS	Altenew - Evening Gray dye ink Shop at: MISC
Altenew - Limestone dye ink Shop at: MISC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Speckled Egg Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Tumbled Glass Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Lawn Fawn - Butter ink pad Shop at: SBC | SHC
Pinkfresh Studio - Sweet Mustard ink pad Shop at: MISC | SBC	Versafine - Onyx Black ink pad Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Altenew - Warm Gray ink cube set Shop at: MISC | SHC	Concord & 9th - Ink cube set Shop at: EH | MISC | SHC
Bazzill Cardshoppe - Marshmallow Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: EH | SSS	Brutfuner 120 Colouring Pencils Set Shop at: AZ	Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC
MISTI stamping tool Shop at: EH | SBC	Craft blending brushes Shop at: AZ	Sponge daubers Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Taylored Expressions - Blender Brushes Shop at: MISC
Waffle Flower - Mini Media Mat Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | SBC	Sizzix - Sidekick machine Shop at: AZ | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (maxi) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC
Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC

DCM - Hello Spring

Morning!

The signs of spring are popping up all over the place in this part of the world, so it's only fitting that this week's Daring Cardmakers challenge (set by Shabneez) welcomes the new season in!

I actually have two cards to share today:

Paper: Simple Stories - Spring Farmhouse (r)
Stamps: The Greetery - Bunny Hop, The Greetery - PreText Sentiments
Dies: The Greetery - Bunny Hop, The Greetery - Sentiment Suite Basics, Hero Arts - Infinity Nesting Circle, The Greetery - Crimped Frame, The Greetery - Let's Have A Word: Easter

I have finally made a start on my Easter cards...

Also, the perfect opportunity for the Bunny Hop stamp, stencil, and die combo from The Greetery to have its first outing. :)

I'm really becoming a fan of these stamp and die combos that allow you to create a subtle base layer of colour and go in with stamps, pencils, and pens for extra definition.

I used some lovely spring shades of ink from Lawn Fawn and Altenew for the bunny circle and went in with my coloured pencils to add additional detail, especially on the carrots and tulips.

I had just about enough of that Simple Stories gingham paper left to cut a couple of backgrounds with the Crimped Frame die.

I used a circle die to create an aperture to make the bunny circle pop even more, then stamped and die cut a sentiment to go with the Easter die-cut word.

And here's take two:

Paper: Simple Stories - Spring Farmhouse (r)
Stamps: The Greetery - Bunny Hop, The Greetery - PreText Sentiments
Dies: The Greetery - Bunny Hop, The Greetery - Sentiment Suite Basics, Hero Arts - Infinity Nesting Circle, The Greetery - Crimped Frame, The Greetery - Let's Have A Word: Spring

On this card I used a lighter shade of grey for the insides of the ears, otherwise everything else is the same for the stamping and stencilling.

I had also bought the Spring "Let's have a word" die at the same time as the Easter one. And I'm really glad I did, so well-designed as the dot on the i of spring is actually attached - so no fiddly gluing needed if you're popping the word up for some dimension.

Make sure you check out the fab spring cards from the rest of the design team here, and play along if you can!

Happy crafting!

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The Greetery - Bunny Hop stamps and stencils Shop at: MISC | SHC	The Greetery - PreText Sentiments stamps Shop at: MISC | SHC	The Greetery - Bunny Hop dies Shop at: MISC | SHC	The Greetery - Sentiment Suite Basics dies Shop at: MISC | SHC
Hero Arts - Infinity Nesting Circle dies Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC	The Greetery - Crimped Frame dies Shop at: MISC | SHC	The Greetery - Let's Have A Word: Easter die Shop at: MISC | SHC	The Greetery - Let's Have a Word: Spring die Shop at: MISC | SHC
Altenew - Industrial Diamond dye ink Shop at: MISC	Altenew - Limestone dye ink Shop at: MISC	Altenew - Silver Stone dye ink Shop at: MISC	Lawn Fawn - Ballet Slippers ink pad Shop at: SBC | SHC
Lawn Fawn - Carrot ink pad Shop at: SBC | SHC	Lawn Fawn - Celery stick ink pad Shop at: SHC	Lawn Fawn - Sunflower ink pad Shop at: SBC | SHC	The Stamp Market - Slate ink pad Shop at: MISC
Altenew - Rock Collection ink cube set Shop at: MISC | SHC	Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: EH | SSS	The Stamp Market - Slate cardstock Shop at: MISC	Simple Stories - Spring Farmhouse - 6x8 pad (r) Shop at: SBC
Tonic Studios Nuvo Crystal Drops - Oyster Grey Shop at: SBC | SHC	Brutfuner 120 Colouring Pencils Set Shop at: AZ	Tonic Studios Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC
MISTI stamping tool Shop at: EH | SBC	Craft blending brushes Shop at: AZ	Taylored Expressions - Blender Brushes Shop at: MISC	Waffle Flower - Mini Media Mat Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC
Yoseng 8 Finger Ink Blending Brushes Shop at: AZ	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | SBC	Sizzix - Sidekick machine Shop at: AZ | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (maxi) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC
Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC

DCM - For Ukraine

Good morning,

Over on the Daring Cardmakers blog this week, we are flooding our feed with cards in support of Ukraine.

As Kathy says:

It is almost a decade ago in the summer of 2012 that I was in Lviv/Lwów on a special trip with my family as we retraced our family history visiting the pre-WW2 home city of my Polish paternal grandfather and ancestors. That blisteringly hot summer, we could never have imagined the current state of the world in 2022. It's far too reminiscent of past family history. :(

The current situation is heart-breaking and far too reminiscent of past history in that region of Europe and the aggressor. Any monetary donations to organizations and individuals I've been able to make so far feel like a drop in the ocean in the face of the enormity of the situation.

But I send all my hope and strength to the people of Ukraine, and pray that this madness stops very soon before even more innocent people are killed, displaced, and irrevocably traumatised for the rest of their lives.

Stamps: Pinkfresh Studio - Modern Layered Floral, The Greetery - Print Shop: Floral Frame, WPlus9 - Heartfelt Holiday (r)
Dies: The Greetery - Print Shop: Floral Frame, Lawn Fawn - Hearts, The Greetery - Crimped Frame, The Greetery - Deco Frames

The beautiful floral frame from The Greetery has been out on my desk a while. It's perfect for so many card projects, don't think I'll ever tire of it.

I found the perfect sentiment in the Modern Layered Floral set by Pinkfresh Studio. This set has many sentiments in it that I never thought I'd need to use, as most of my cards are created and sent for happy and celebratory occasions, but this set provides some uplifting sentiments for these times.

I stamped the hope sentiment on the smallest Deco Frame die and added folk-style vines from the WPlus9 Heartfelt Holiday set and a yellow die-cut heart to finish it off.

Make sure you check out the wonderful cards from the rest of the design team here, and join in if you can.

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Pinkfresh Studio - Modern Layered Floral stamps Shop at: MISC | SBC	The Greetery - Print Shop: Floral Frame stamps and stencils Shop at: MISC | SHC	WPlus9 - Heartfelt Holiday stamps (r) Shop at: MISC | SHC	The Greetery - Print Shop: Floral Frame die Shop at: MISC | SHC
Lawn Fawn - Hearts dies Shop at: MISC	The Greetery - Crimped Frame dies Shop at: MISC | SHC	The Greetery - Deco Frames dies Shop at: MISC | SHC	Altenew - Limestone dye ink Shop at: MISC
Lawn Fawn - Fish Tank ink pad Shop at: SHC	Pinkfresh Studio - Sweet Mustard ink pad Shop at: MISC | SBC	The Stamp Market - Curry ink pad Shop at: MISC	The Stamp Market - Navy ink pad Shop at: MISC
The Stamp Market - Umber ink pad Shop at: MISC	Versafine - Onyx Black ink pad Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: EH | SSS	Tombow - Mono-Multi liquid glue Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC
Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC	MISTI stamping tool Shop at: EH | SBC	Craft blending brushes Shop at: AZ	Taylored Expressions - Blender Brushes Shop at: MISC
Waffle Flower - Mini Media Mat Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | SBC	Sizzix - Sidekick machine Shop at: AZ | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (maxi) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC
Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC

DCM - March elemental inspiration

Morning!

Over on the Daring Cardmakers blog this week, it was Kathy's turn to pick the elemental inspiration prompt:

 

As soon as I saw this image when Kathy shared it with the design team on the 24th, I already had an idea in mind...

Paper: My Mind's Eye - Stella & Rose (r), My Mind's Eye - Fine & Dandy (r)
Stamp: Concord & 9th - Brighter Days
Dies: Concord & 9th - Brighter Days, Pinkfresh Studio - Pop Out Sunburst, Poppy Stamps - Raining Frame, Mama Elephant - Oval Deco Frame

And, of course, my idea was largely fuelled by current events in Ukraine...

I immediately saw the bright blue and yellow tones in the painting in the image, and that would be my colour palette.

I saw the clockface and thought of the Pop-out sunburst die from Pinkfresh Studio.

I saw the ornate oval frame, and how that would be a way to bring my card design together.

And with everything going on in the world right now, I knew the sentiment I needed to use, for I hope to God that brighter days are ahead for the people of Ukraine, for Europe, and for peaceful coexistence on this planet. x

Make sure you check out the wonderful projects from the rest of the design team here, and play along if you can.

Happy crafting!

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Concord & 9th - Brighter Days stamps Shop at: EH | MISC | SBC | SHC	Pinkfresh Studio - Pop Out Sunburst die Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Poppy Stamps - Raining Frame die Shop at: EH | MISC	Concord & 9th - Brighter Days dies Shop at: MISC | SBC | SHC
Mama Elephant - Oval Deco Frame dies Shop at: EH | SHC	Altenew - Turquoise dye ink Shop at: EH | MISC	Distress ink pad - Speckled Egg Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC	Versafine - Onyx Black ink pad Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC
Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: EH | SSS	Tonic Studios Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	3M Scotch double-sided foam tape Shop at: AZ | EH	Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC
Craft blending brushes Shop at: AZ	Taylored Expressions - Blender Brushes Shop at: MISC	Waffle Flower - Mini Media Mat Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ | SBC
Sizzix - Sidekick machine Shop at: AZ | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (maxi) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC

2022 Card Challenge - March Prompt

Well, here we are, saying goodbye to February and welcoming in March!

This month's prompt definitely has some spring vibes to it...

{Pinterest pin}

And so rather than have one focus colour this month, we're going to be working with: Pastel Tones

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• The great outdoors - gardens, woodland scenes, the beach and coast, fresh air and sunshine, there's even an Eiffel Tower image on a postcard so perhaps a Parisian theme?
• Bunting, fringes, and tassels - create bunting with scrap pieces of patterned paper, with letter stickers and tags to form a sentiment, or use fringe dies to create a fun background with different shades of cardstock - great for Easter and spring themes.
• Tiled backgrounds - whether a tiled pattern, herringbone print, even a brick wall effect, you can use embossing folders and background stamps to add subtle texture or use smaller dies to cut hexagons, squares, and other shapes. Or why not create a background using strips of cardstock in alternating shades. You could even use a cover plate die that allows you to piece contrasting patterns/colours back into the negative space.
• All things vintage and retro - ephemera, paper prints, flourishy fonts for sentiments, vintage-style findings like button cards and lace. There are some great colour combos in the prompt that provide scope for combining that vintage look with zingy pops of colour. For a 20th Century retro theme, feature a typewriter, telephone, 50s cookware, a record player, roller skates... the list goes on.
• Triangles - the set square reminds me of the humble triangle that is perfect for creating a tree line or repeat pattern for a clean and simple look.
• In the frame - use frames in different colours to frame different elements, a bit like a gallery wall. Small elements like leaves, hearts, stars and mini sentiments are great for this.
• Slimline and tall cards - the tall shelving unit shows how you can divide that space into three and create focal points on your card design.
• When life gives you lemons - use an uplifting sentiment that will brighten someone's day.
• Birds - the ceramic bird can be easily interpreted on a card, you even embrace a spring theme with chicks and ducklings.