Kool Kitty Musings

Festive Fridays: Christmas Greetings

Morning all!

Another Friday, another festive card!

This time, I wanted to use a background stamp that has been lingering in the new supplies bin on my desk for far too long.

The Star Light Star Bright red rubber cling stamp from Hero Arts.

I originally bought this stamp for wintry backgrounds to little house cards, so why not make a wintry scene?

Paper: Honey Bee Stamps - Grain and Grunge
Stamps: Hero Arts - Star Light Star Bright, Pinkfresh Studio - Skiing By (r)
Dies: Pinkfresh Studio - Skiing By (r), Hello Bluebird - Glacier Peaks (r), Hello Bluebird - Hill and Dale, The Stamp Market - Stitched Shaker Windows

I used Lakehouse ink for the starry sky, then grabbed the Glacier Peaks and Hill and Dale dies from Hello Bluebird to set the scene (complete with glittery snow caps on that mountain range).

Then I contemplated my options.

Did I want some tiny houses and trees, or was it time to pull out a ski-themed set in my stash? The Pinkfresh Skiing By set was just too cute to pass up.

I always have plans to make slimline cards with this set, but maybe next time!

Once all the elements were cut and coloured with Copics, I positioned the card in my Misti to add the stamped sentiment right where I needed it.

Finally, to bring the scene together, I cut out the stitched window frame from woodgrain paper, for that cabin view!

Until next time, happy crafting!

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Pinkfresh Studio - Skiing By stamps (r) Shop at: MISC	Hero Arts - Star Light Star Bright background stamp Shop at: SBC	Pinkfresh Studio - Skiing By dies (r) Shop at: MISC	Hello Bluebird - Glacier Peaks dies (r) Shop at: MISC
Hello Bluebird - Hill and Dale dies Shop at: MISC	The Stamp Market - Stitched Shaker Windows dies Shop at: MISC	Gina K Designs - Obsidian Amalgam ink pad Shop at: MISC	The Stamp Market - Aspen ink pad Shop at: MISC
The Stamp Market - Lakehouse ink pad Shop at: MISC	Bazzill Cardshoppe - Rock Candy Shop at: AZ (UK)	Jackdaw Express - AM440 - White Ivory Bristol Board 335gsm Shop at: AZ (UK)	Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: AZ (UK) | MISC | SBC
Honey Bee Stamps - Grain and Grunge - 6x8.5 paper pad Shop at: SBC	Memory Box - Festive glitter pad Shop at: MISC	Bearly Art - Precision Craft Glue Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: SBC | SHC (UK)
Mini MISTI stamping tool Shop at: MISC | SBC	MISTI stamping tool Shop at: SBC	Waffle Flower - 6.5 x 8.5 Grip Mat Shop at: SBC | SHC (UK)	Crafter's Companion - Gemini machine Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC
Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Thermoweb iCraft - Purple tape for die-cutting - 1 1/2" Shop at: AZ (UK)	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (maxi) Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC

Christmas countdown - May Your Days Be Merry

Good morning!

Today's card features a favourite wintry stencil set and colour combo I use with these stencils:

Stamp: The Greetery - Sentiment Suite: Christmas
Dies: The Greetery - Sentiment Suite Basics, Hero Arts - Wood Frame Infinity
Stencils: The Greetery - Stencil Scapes: Winter

I still prefer to use dye inks to colour in the Winter layering stencil scapes set with full sized blending brushes and mini ones for the smaller details.

Once the panel was finished, I cut a wood frame from brown cardstock and stamped a simple sentiment on a coordinating sentiment strip to place within the scene.

Until next time, happy crafting!

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The Greetery - Sentiment Suite: Christmas stamps Shop at: SHC (UK) | TG	The Greetery - Sentiment Suite Basics dies Shop at: SHC (UK) | TG	Hero Arts - Wood Frame Infinity dies Shop at: SBC | SHC (UK)	The Greetery - Stencil Scapes: Winter stencils Shop at: SHC (UK) | TG
Lawn Fawn - Black Licorice ink pad Shop at: SHC (UK)	Lawn Fawn - Chili Pepper ink pad Shop at: SHC (UK)	Lawn Fawn - Freshly Cut Grass ink pad Shop at: SHC (UK)	Lawn Fawn - Guava ink pad Shop at: SHC (UK)
Lawn Fawn - Manatee ink pad Shop at: SHC (UK)	Lawn Fawn - Noble Fir ink pad Shop at: SHC (UK)	Lawn Fawn - Peacock ink pad Shop at: SHC (UK)	Lawn Fawn - Storm Cloud ink pad Shop at: SHC (UK)
Lawn Fawn - Walnut ink pad Shop at: SHC (UK)	The Stamp Market - Blush Pink ink pad Shop at: MISC	The Stamp Market - Fern ink pad Shop at: MISC	The Stamp Market - Gravel ink pad Shop at: MISC
The Stamp Market - Greenery ink pad Shop at: MISC	Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: AZ (UK)	Ranger - Multi-Medium Matte adhesive Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC | TG	Tombow - Mono Aqua liquid glue Shop at: AZ (UK)
Tombow - Mono-Multi liquid glue Shop at: AZ (UK)	Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: SBC | SHC (UK)	MISTI stamping tool Shop at: SBC	Craft blending brushes Shop at: AZ (UK)
Detail blending brushes Shop at: AZ (UK)	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Sizzix - Sidekick machine Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Thermoweb iCraft - Purple tape for die-cutting - 1 1/2" Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC
Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (maxi) Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC

DCM - Seashells on the Seashore

Happy Friday!

We're hitting the beach this week over on the Daring Cardmakers Blog, as Rizwana is challenging us to feature shells on our cards.

Well, I had high hopes of featuring more than one shell on my card, but it didn't quite work out that way! lol

Stamps: Hero Arts - Color Layering Sea & Sky (r), Hero Arts - Color Layering Waves (r)
Die: The Greetery - Curio: Summer Findings

I started out by stamping the Color Layering Waves on white cardstock in Sea Glass, Coastal, and Pacific inks.

I then blended Pizza Crust ink lightly at the bottom of the card leaving some white space and also going in with a light hand with some Kiddie Pool blue ink to make that transition from the waves to white less obvious.

I masked off the sea to start blending Oxide Inks for the sun and sky, and added some platters of water while the sea was still masked.

After a few blitzes of the heat gun and more ink layers, I removed the Post-It tape to add some yellow ink below the horizon.

Popped the panel in my Misti to add the "island" (which is actually the small cloud stamped a few times) and palm tree, and of course a few seagulls for good measure.

I just needed to add my greeting, but between closing the lid of my Misti and inking up the stamp I hadn't realised that the stamp had moved, so it's at a rather jaunty angle, But thankfully the font doesn't make it totally obvious that it was a mistake!

The shell from the Curio Summer Findings is cut from white cardstock and coloured with peach ink tones using a small blending brush.

And there we go, card complete.

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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Hero Arts - Color Layering Sea & Sky stamps (r) Shop at: MISC | SBC	Hero Arts - Color Layering Waves stamps (r) Shop at: MISC | SBC	The Greetery - Curio: Summer Findings dies Shop at: SHC (UK) | TG	Distress Oxide ink pad - Fossilized Amber Shop at: AZ (UK) | EH | SBC
Distress Oxide ink pad - Kitsch Flamingo Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC (UK)	Distress Oxide ink pad - Mermaid Lagoon Shop at: AZ (UK) | EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Picked Raspberry Shop at: AZ (UK) | EH | SBC	Lawn Fawn - Kiddie Pool ink pad Shop at: SHC (UK)
Lawn Fawn - Pizza Crust ink pad Shop at: SHC (UK)	The Stamp Market - Blush Pink ink pad Shop at: MISC	The Stamp Market - Coastal ink pad Shop at: MISC	The Stamp Market - Pacific ink pad Shop at: MISC
The Stamp Market - Peach ink pad Shop at: MISC	The Stamp Market - Sea Glass ink pad Shop at: MISC	Versafine - Onyx Black ink pad Shop at: AZ (UK) | EH | SBC | SHC (UK)	Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: AZ (UK) | EH
3M Post-It tape White Shop at: AZ (UK) | EH	Tombow - Mono-Multi liquid glue Shop at: AZ (UK) | EH	Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC (UK)	MISTI stamping tool Shop at: EH | SBC
Craft blending brushes Shop at: AZ (UK)	Detail blending brushes Shop at: AZ (UK)	Taylored Expressions - Blender Brushes Shop at: MISC	Tim Holtz - Distress Sprayer Shop at: AZ (UK) | EH | SBC
Tim Holtz - Stampers Anonymous Splat Box Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Waffle Flower - Mini Media Mat Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC (UK)	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Sizzix - Sidekick machine Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC
Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (maxi) Shop at: AZ (UK) | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ (UK) | EH | SBC

DCM - August Elemental Inspiration

Morning and welcome to a brand new Elemental Inspiration challenge over on the Daring Cardmakers blog.

It was my turn to choose the image for this month, and here it is:

 

For my 3+ elements, I went with the blue/green/white/yellow colour palette, woodgrain texture, stripes, and a frame inspired by the rings.

Paper and sticker: Maggie Holmes - Garden Party
Stamp: The Greetery - Sentiment Suite: Birthday
Dies: The Greetery - Sentiment Suite Basics, Hero Arts - Wood Frame Infinity

In typical fashion, I had so many ideas buzzing around in my head when I picked the image, but when it came down to sit at my desk and make something, I just couldn't get everything I'd been contemplating to work.

So it was back to the drawing board and I knew I wanted to feature the Garden Party collection somehow as I had these great layered flower stickers waiting to be used.

That then led me down the road of thinking of using the flowers as the subject of a picture frame on a wall with striped "wallpaper". I simply added some floral paper below the dado rail and the background was done.

I used a Hero Arts Wood Frame die to cut the frame from brown cardstock (twice) and layered it up before adding a subtle blueprint of paper as the backdrop of the flower stem.

Then I attached the frame to my card with some string to hang it from an enamel dot.

I found the perfect teeny sentiment to fit inside the frame, and that'll work for namedays as well as birthdays and other occasions. I will just add the appropriate text inside when I need to send it. :)

So, all in all, very simple, but it fit the bill!

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 - Sentiment Suite: Birthday stamps Shop at: SHC (UK) | TG	The Greetery - Sentiment Suite Basics dies Shop at: SHC (UK) | TG	Hero Arts - Wood Frame Infinity dies Shop at: AZ (UK) | EH | SBC | SHC (UK)	Versafine - Onyx Black ink pad Shop at: AZ (UK) | EH | SBC
Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: EH | MISC	Maggie Holmes - Garden Party - Taking Notes paper Shop at: SBC	Maggie Holmes - Garden Party - Wildflower paper Shop at: SBC	Maggie Holmes Garden Party - Layered paper stickers Shop at: SBC
Tonic Studios Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive Shop at: AZ (UK) | EH | SBC	Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC (UK)	Sizzix - Big Shot machine Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Sizzix - Sidekick machine Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC
Thermoweb iCraft - Purple tape for die-cutting - 1 1/2" Shop at: AZ (UK) | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (maxi) Shop at: AZ (UK) | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Tonic guillotine trimmer (small) Shop at: AZ (UK) | EH | SBC

DCM - Flag Pole

Good morning!

Much in the tradition of Dr Sheldon Cooper's online series, we're having "Fun with Flags" over on the Daring Cardmakers blog today.

As Kathy explains: Take your inspiration from the flag of a country other than your own - there are plenty to choose from! You can use an element from the flag, the design, the colours...

Well, the flag of Kiribati provided the perfect inspiration for a card I had in mind:

Here are some facts about the flag (can't have fun with flags without the facts!):

• "The bird is a frigate bird which represents power, freedom and Kiribati cultural dance patterns".
• "The rising sun is the tropical sun as Kiribati lies astride the Equator".
• "The sea is the Pacific Ocean which surrounds Kiribati".

And here's how I took that inspiration and transformed it into a card:

Stamps: Hello Bluebird - Rainbow Script, Hero Arts - Color Layering Sea & Sky
Dies: Pinkfresh Studio - Pop Out Sunburst, Hero Arts - Infinity Nesting Rectangles
Other: Distress Oxides

The main focal point is the blazing yellow sun in the form of blended yellow Distress Oxides radiating behind the Pop Out Sunburst die from Pinkfresh Studio. I cut the Sunburst from yellow glitter cardstock, popped up on more yellow cutouts of the die for dimension.

The ink blending goes from Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry, Kitsch Flamingo, into Dried Marigold at the top for the sky, Fossilized Amber, Mustard Seed, and Squeezed Lemonade for the sun, down to Salvaged Patina, Mermaid Lagoon, and Salty Ocean to depict the Pacific waves.

Before assembling the card, I gave the blended background a good spritz with water and left it to dry.

Then I stamped the black silhouette "frigate birds" from the Hero Arts Sea & Sky stamp set so they'd peek out behind the sun rays.

I then assembled the Sunburst die over the background and was playing around with a few ways to finish the card when I realised (of course after sticking everything down!) that I just wanted a simple stamped sentiment in the middle circle (thank you Rainbow Script stamps from Hello Bluebird!) and was able to add this neatly with the MISTI. Phew!

To bring everything together, the card needed a good frame.

So I created a frame with the Infinity Rectangle dies from Hero Arts and black cardstock from Concord & 9th (this black cardstock is lovely and smooth!) and then layered  the panel up on another piece of black cardstock for extra pop.

Finally, I added a few golden rainbow sequins that pick out those sunny tones.

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

Happy crafting!

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Hello Bluebird - Rainbow Script stamps Shop at: MISC	Hero Arts - Color Layering Sea & Sky stamps Shop at: SBC | SHC	Pinkfresh Studio - Pop Out Sunburst die Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Hero Arts - Infinity Nesting Rectangles dies Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC
Distress Oxide ink pad - Abandoned Coral Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Dried Marigold Shop at: EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Fossilized Amber Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Kitsch Flamingo Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC
Distress Oxide ink pad - Mermaid Lagoon Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Mustard Seed Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Picked Raspberry Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Salty Ocean Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC
Distress Oxide ink pad - Salvaged Patina Shop at: EH | SBC	Distress Oxide ink pad - Squeezed Lemonade Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Versafine - Onyx Black ink pad Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Concord & 9th - Assorted cardstock pack Shop at: EH | MISC | SHC
Neenah Classic Crest 110 lb smooth Solar White cardstock Shop at: AZ | EH | SSS	Ranger - Multi-Medium Matte adhesive Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Sakura - Quickie Glue pen Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tombow - Mono-Multi liquid glue Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC
Lawn Fawn - Stamp shammy cleaner Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC	MISTI creative corners Shop at: EH | SBC	MISTI stamping tool Shop at: EH | SBC	Craft blending brushes Shop at: AZ
Ranger - Mini round ink blending tools Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Taylored Expressions - Blender Brushes Shop at: MISC	Tim Holtz - Distress Sprayer Shop at: AZ | EH | SBC	Tim Holtz - Stampers Anonymous Splat Box Shop at: AZ | SBC | SHC
Waffle Flower - Mini Media Mat Shop at: EH | SBC | SHC	Sizzix - Big Shot 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