Bunny in a Tangle Tag

Isn't this image fun?  It's from the All is Bright stamp set by the Cat's Pajamas.  It probably wasn't the smartest idea to pick this one when I was pressed for time, but I couldn't resist it paired with this funny sentiment from Dear Santa by Avery Elle.

I stamped the bunny on white cardstock and colored it with Copic markers.  Remember that I make four tags of each design!  It's an annual mystery tags tradition that I have done with my kids for years.  Since three of my kids are now adults and only one is left at home, it's one tradition that will end eventually.  (sniff)  It was so awesome to have everyone together for Christmas last year!

I stamped the sentiment in black ink and then mounted my white square onto a Pure Poppy cardstock tag cut with the Tag Sale: Quilted die by Papertrey Ink.  I don't think you can see it well in the photos, but I added Glossy Accents on each lightbulb.  I love the extra dimension it gives them!

This time, I used silver ribbon to finish the tag.  Stay tuned for the final tag tomorrow!

Stamps:  All is Bright (The Cat's Pajamas); Dear Santa (Avery Elle)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Onyx Black (VersaFine)
Paper:  White, Pure Poppy (Papertrey Ink)
Copic:  0, C1, E30, E42, E44, R20, R29, BV29, YR18, B05, YG17
Misc:  Tag Sale: Quilted die (Papertrey Ink); Glossy Accents; silver ribbon

Get Well Soon

I made most of this card last week, but my scissors have been missing.  My good Fiskars Micro-Tip scissors that I've been using for years.  So bummed!  They are great for fussy cutting.  I finally had to get a new pair.  Maybe now my old ones will turn up?  :)  I finished putting the card together today.

I copied the design of a card that I made previously (found here) that was CASE'd from Maile Belles.  For the background, I repeatedly stamped two sentiments in different colors, Marina Mist and Baked Brown Sugar, on a diagonal pattern.  I used A Beary Good Year by Cat's Pajamas and Fillable Frames #2 by Papertrey Ink.  I cut the background about an inch from the bottom and glued the two pieces to a Kraft card base.

I stamped the "get well soon" circle image from Around & About Sentiments by Papertrey Ink in Baked Brown Sugar ink and then punched it out.  I stamped the little tissue box image from Get Well Hanna, colored it with markers, fussy-cut it out, and glued it in the middle of the circle.  Done!  I deliberately kept the colors neutral so this card would be appropriate for anyone.

Stamps:  A Beary Good Year (Cat's Pajamas); Around & Around Sentiments, Fillable Frames #2 (Papertrey Ink); Get Well Hanna (Hanna Stamps)
 Ink:  Rich Cocoa (Memento); Marina Mist, Baked Brown Sugar (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  White, Kraft (Papertrey Ink)
Misc:  Marina Mist marker, Going Gray marker (Stampin' Up); 1-1/4" circle punch (EK Success)

Two Birds on a Fence

This week's TCP Tuesday challenge is to use paper piecing.  I almost feel like I'm cheating because there isn't a lot of it on this card.  Just those two adorable birdies.  But seriously, that paper print is perfect!

When flipping through my Cat's Pajamas stamps, these little birds from Warm Fuzzies caught my eye.  I immediately thought they would look so cute sitting on a fence and that's where this whole card started.  One little idea at a time.

I cut the fence using Close to Cocoa cardstock and a picket fence die.  It looked a little too pristine, so I crumpled it up to make it look weathered and sponged it a bit using the matching ink.  (I think next time I should use a darker brown.)  I cut three strips of grass using another die, two in front and one behind the fence.  If you look closely, you'll see a few grass blades poking through the fence slats.

I stamped the two birds on a print from the Nook & Pantry Basic Grey paper pad.  Love the color and subtle plaid.  It just makes me smile!  Once they were glued in place, I realized that there was too much empty sky and I needed something to fill the space.  I don't have a tree die, so I found a fun file in the Silhouette store and cut it out on my machine.  I was able to resize the file to exactly fit on my card!  Happy sigh.   :)

Hmmm...would the tree be considered paper piecing since I had to hand place each of those leaves?  lol  No matter.  The tree is exactly what I needed!  I decided I wanted some clouds too, so I cut them with a die and crumpled them up for texture.  Underneath, I selectively stamped the word "Hello" from a sentiment in the Reel Experts set.

This card was the perfect antidote to the cold, rainy weather we've been having around here.  I'm glad the sun finally came out so I could take a picture of it!  :)

Stamps:  Warm Fuzzies, Reel Experts (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper:  Spring Rain (Papertrey Ink); Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Garden Green, Gumball Green (Stampin' Up); Nook & Pantry 6x6 pad (Basic Grey)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Close to Cocoa (Stampin' Up)
Misc:  Picket Fence die, Grassy Edges die, Fresh Cut Grass die (My Favorite Things); Echo Park Tree cut file (Silhouette); Clouds 1 & 2 die (Papertrey Ink)

Reach for the stars

Splitcoaststampers is having a Love Fest series of challenges featuring their member companies, so I decided to join in to get myself stamping.  I need to build up my stash of cards.  This particular card is for the challenge sponsored by The Cat's Pajamas.  They provided an inspiration photo which can be seen here.

I started by stamping the small star grouping using silver ink on Smokey Shadow cardstock, adhering it to a Soft Stone card base.  It has a slight shimmer in person.  I punched a circle from Lemon Tart cardstock and then embossed it with the Polka Dots folder.  (reversed to look like craters)  The sentiment is stamped on a Soft Stone fishtail flag.

For the rocket, I stamped it in Tuxedo Black ink and added shading with my Copic markers.  I paper-pieced the fins and jets with silver paper and the circles with Smokey Shadow.  I used Glossy Accents to make the top of the rocket look like a window.  It adds some shine and dimension.  This card was very fun to make!

Stamps:  It's a Mod Mod World (Cat's Pajamas); Stardust & Moonbeams (Elzybells)
Paper:  Smokey Shadow, Lemon Tart, Soft Stone (Papertrey Ink); silver (unknown)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Silver (Encore! Ultimate Metallic)
Copic:  0, T1, T4, T6
Misc:  Fishtail Flags STAX die (My Favorite Things); Polka Dots embossing folder (Cuttlebug); 1-1/2" circle punch (EK Success); Glossy Accents (Ranger) 

Cruising By with a Birthday Hi

Well, it only took me a month to make this card.  Seriously.  I was playing with patterned paper and realized that this particular pattern looked like waves.  Since I had recently purchased a used By the Sea stamp set, I immediately thought of this adorable whale.  I cut a slit in the paper so it looked like it was in the water.  Then I added the cruise ship in the background and there I stopped.  I didn't know what else to do with it!

Yesterday, determined to finish it, I finally just picked the "cruising by" sentiment and stamped it on a banner diecut.  Like a previous card, I bent the banner to give the illusion of wind and then added it to the card in the empty space.  Not perfect, but I'm calling it done!

Stamps:  By the Sea (The Cat's Pajamas); Cruising Cosmo Girl (My Favorite Things)
Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink); Pocket Full of Posies Stack (DCWV)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Copic:  0, T1, T4, T6, B45
Misc:  Double-Ended Banner die (Papertrey Ink)

Beary Valentine's Day sketch card

I absolutely love how this card turned out! It's a new year of sketches for the SFYTT sketch challenge and I want to participate every month like I did last year. January's sponsor is The Cat's Pajamas, so I chose one of their cute sets called A Beary Good Year. Since I'm still on a Valentine kick, this is the result of my stamping session.


I started with an old Stampin' Up background stamp and added color to the hearts with Copic markers. Then I embossed both the kraft and red layers to add some texture. I layered a stitched black ribbon over the black strip, and then added my main focal point. It's comprised of a beaded circle die layer that is sponged with red ink and a white circle with traced black outline. The bear image is colored with Copic markers and cut out. Inside the card, I stamped the sentiment, "Have a beary happy Valentine's day."

Stamps: A Beary Good Year (Cat's Pajamas), Soft Swirls (Stampin' Up)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Real Red (Stampin' Up)
Paper: White, Kraft (Papertrey Ink); Real Red (Stampin' Up)
Copic: R24, R29, E42, E55, E57, E59
Misc: Basic Black marker (Stampin' Up); Standard Circles Large die, Beaded Circles die (Spellbinders); Heart Blocks embossing folder, Swiss Dots embossing folder (Cuttlebug)

Some Christmas gifts

I'm popping in really quick to post pics of some Christmas gifts I made this year for friends. The bingo artwork is a repeat from last year with different patterned paper.

Stamps: Bingo Card, Jolly Bingo Bits (Stampin' Up)
Paper: Early Espresso, ? (all Stampin' Up)
Ink: (Stampin' Up)
Misc: ribbon, lace (Stampin' Up); buttons (Papertrey Ink); glitter

I've made several of these glass ball ornaments over the years. It's certainly not my original idea, but this technique makes beautiful ornaments.


Stamps: nativity (PSX)
Misc: glitter, ribbon, Liquid Laminate, glass ball ornament

I made two different candy-filled bottles. I got the Santa idea online ages ago. I don't know where, unfortunately. The small Coke bottle is my favorite with the cute polar bear tag. I filled it with white mint M&Ms. Yum! Then I just stamped and colored the polar bear, added the patterned paper to give the feel of water, and put Stickles along the edge to look like ice. The tag is tied on with raffia for a rustic touch.


Stamps: Polar Holiday (Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: White (Papertrey Ink); patterned (Close to My Heart)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Copic: 0 Colorless Blender, T1, T4, BG11, R29
Misc: raffia, mint M&Ms, Frosted Lace (Stickles); Labels Eight dies (Spellbinders)



Stamps: Tags So Much, Deer Friends (Stampin' Up)
Paper: Real Red (Stampin' Up); white, black, silver (unknown)
Ink: Real Red (Stampin' Up)
Misc: silver ribbon, mini M&Ms

Love is in the air

I wanted to stamp a card today, so I decided to participate in the SFYTT sketch challenge to get myself going. The sponsor is The Cat's Pajamas, yet another of my favorite stamp companies, and I own several of their sets. Since Valentine's Day is right around the corner, I used the cute rocket image and a sentiment from Puppy Love for my card.

 (edited to add another picture with much better lighting so you can see the true colors)

 Boy, did I struggle with this sketch! It seems like a straightforward and simple design, but I played with different papers/colors for a good hour before I settled on this combination. The rocket looked lost on plain white cardstock and the cloud paper I had didn't work with my colors, so I used Pretty in Pink ink to sponge cloud shapes behind the rocket. I then used the matching paper to paper-piece the rocket body. I love how the clouds help ground the rocket and also add a small fantasy element to the card. It turned out pretty cute after all!

Stamps: Puppy Love (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink (Stampin' Up), Bittersweet (Basic Grey)
Ink: Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up)
Punch: Heart (EK Success)