Crafter's Cafe Challenge #220

The new challenge at the Crafter's Cafe is to use embossing, or have girls/women as a theme.  I selected girls/women.  The practical reason is that I needed a special graduation card for our granddaughter.  The paper from  DeCosse's Dynamite Doodles, In Flight,  complemented the image from Julia Spiri ~Aviator Cat  I also used the sentiment from the set Nothing is Impossible.  I followed the suggestion of the artist and divided the sentiment - line 2 (Nothing is Impossible) is inside.  Our GD likes her cat, but she will have to leave him behind as she heads for fighter pilot training in a couple of months.  I used Spellbinder dies for the circles.
Sketch:  Mojo-Monday
Any:    Pink Gem Challenge
             Digi Choosday 
             Show us your pussies
             Through the Craft Room Door
             Scrapy land- 
             Simon says stamp Wednesday Challenge
             Word Art Wednesday

             

For USAFA grads

Next week our granddaughter graduates from the Air Force Academy.  We have met several of her friends, and I want to share this card with them.  I saw this Julia Spiri Aviator Cai image on Facebook, and had to have it - Granddaughter and some of her friends are headed to the AF Pilot training after graduation.  The logo is from the AF site.  The die cut is by Spellbinders.
Sketch:  Stella Says Sketch
Any, with a vendor die:  Scrapyland
Any, with a cat: Show us your Pussies

Crafter's Cafe - 2nd DT card for challenge #201- Travel and/or relaxing

This week I created a second card as a member of the Crafter's Cafe Design Team.  This image is from Mari Digis Store.  She is definitely relaxing - and probably dreaming of a vacation!  Please join us during the next two weeks - there are great prizes available.
I used the spotlight technique and highlighted her cute little kitty - using a water color wash for the rest of the image.  The background papers come from an old collection whose name is unavailable.
(footnote -  I am struggling with the onset of macular degeneration - coloring images is a huge challenge so I am going to be using other techniques as I am most reluctant to give up card making!)
Sketch:   Sketch Saturday
Any, with a cat:   Show us our Pussies 
Holidays:   Pink Gem challenge 
Any:   Jo's Scrapshack. 
           
 
 
 
 

HBirthday to a sailor

This is another card I will donate to a local group called Hearts for the Troops.  The organizer, a Navy mom, sends birthday cards to her son's shipmates.  I wish I had time to make more!  This is a Dearie Doll colored digi.  The vertical stripes are Washi tape, the horizontal ones are ribbon, and I used Spellbinder circle dies.
Sketch:   Tuesday Morning Sketches
Die Cuts:    Scrapyland
                   Simonsaysstamp Wednesday
Critter:     2craftycrittercrazies
Ribbon:     Thepapershelter
Cat:    Showusyourpussies
Any:    Craftingbydesigns



 

Surprise Kitty DT card for Crafter's Cafe World Art Day

This  is my DT card for the new challenge at the Crafter's Cafe.  We are recognizing World Art Day by creating works of art or using artistic techniques. That sounds like just about anything card makers would do - so be sure to get your entries in!    Take a look at the blog to see the artistic creations done by my fellow DT members as well as to check out the details of he challenge.
 Here is my framed portrait of Surprise Kitty by Knitty Kitty Digis.  You can buy this cute image at their store here.  I colored her with Prismas and Twinkling H20's- to add a bit of shimmer to the cake.  The words on the bg paper include "I love my kitty" and Purrrrrrrr....
Challenges entered
Sketch:   Cheerful Sketches
Critter:    2 Crafty Critter Crazies
Any cat:    Show us your Pussies
Any:   Creative Moments
            Crafters Castle. 
            Angies Digital Stamps
 

For MMTPT502 - 5 year old Payson

This week, the destination for SplitCoastStampers Teapot Party is 5 year old Payson.  She has alrady had 2 heart surgeries and faces more.  The challenge is to use a border (an embossed Darice sentiment).  She likes purple and cats - and of course the hearts (various dies) represent her surgery.  The image is by Dearie Dolls, colored with water color pencils.  I added some sequins - usually a favorite of little girls!  I have trouble arranging items at random - they just don't look right!  Ideas?
Sketch:   Tuesday Morning Sketches
Cats:    Show us Your Pussies
Layers:    Crafty Catz
Die cuts:   Creative Knockouts
Have  a Heart:   Addicted-to-Stamps
Feminine:   Creative Craft Cottage  
Circles:    Ple it On
Fairy tale - 3 kittens/lost their mittens:  Allsorts 
  (Can you see the kitten showing its bare paws?  And I think the mother is there, too!)

Any, with critter:   2crafty Critter Crazies

Mistletoe Kitty in non-traditional colors

This adorable Mistletoe Kitty pre-colored image is from Imagine That Digi Stamps - as well as the sentiment. I used Spellbinder circle dies, a Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder, Washi tape, and miscellaneous papers.
Sketch: Die cuttin Divas
Christmas/winter:  Imagine that Digistamp
Non-traditional Christmas colors:  Pile it On
Fun in the snow:  Patties Creations  
Cats only:  Show us Your Pussies
Any:   Polkadoodle

DT Card for QKR Stampede challenge #277 - Anything Goes

Beginning with this challenge, the QKR Stampede weekly challenge will be a favorite - Anything Goes.  You have a chance to win some QKR images - more if your entry uses a QKR/Eureka digi or stamp.  The deadline (up to 3 entries) is Thursday at 3 p.m. EST.  We hope to see your entry!
The digital image I selected is called Bandaged Cat.  I am not sure if this is technically paper piecing - since I printed and fussy cut the entire image from a piece of DP!   The sentiment is also from QKR Stampede.  I used various pieces of patterned paper, adding sequins and bits of ribbon. The images are new for this challenge, and the sequins are from a never used pack.
Sketch (10 challenge max):   Feeling-Sketchy
New:    Simon Says Stamp Monday
             Simon Says Stamp Wednesday 
Cats only:   Show us Your Pussies
Any:     Scrapbook Stamp Society
             2 Crafty Critter Crazies
             Corrosive Challenges
 

Snippets Window

I recently won a nice prize from the Snippets Playground challenge - this window die by Die-namics, and this cat stamp by Paper Xtra.  I wanted to use both, and thought this sketch would work, but I think in retrospect the kitty is a bit too large.  Oh, well - I usually post just about everything I make, so it will have to do!  I used the wood grain embossing and a bit of a branch also by Die-namics.   I added some punched rose butterflies.
I think I outdid myself with snippets!  The cat is stamped on the piece from the window.  I found a bit of the tree DP that just fit, and used scraps for both the rose and blue embellishments. I think I actually used up a scrap or two.
Sketch:   Tuesday Morning Sketches
Window & rose color:   Butterfly Spot Challenge
Animal/birds:   Crafty Friends
                            Crafty Catz
Inspiration:   Simon Says Stamp Wednesday 
Spring:    Die Cuttin Divas
                 Penny Black at Allsorts
Any:      Show us your Pussies
              Imagine That Digistamp 
              Creatalicious 
              Jo's Scrapshack 

Leah's Birthday

These birthdays come so fast!  I hope I am not late with this card for our granddaughter.  She will soon graduate from college, but since she is so fond of her cats I could not resist this Dearie Dolls image.  I used the overall look of the photo at Cupcake Inspirations to inspire.  The coloring is with Prisma crayons and metallic gel pens.  DP is by Lily of the Valley, and the card is completed with cord and Washi tape as well as a QKR Stampede sentiment.
Sketch:   Sketch Saturday
Inspiration:   Cupcake Inspirations
Any:    Show us your Pussies
 

Mistletoe Kitty

Image - a Christmas freebie, including the pre-colored image, from Imagine That Digistamp; Paper Studio DP; Washi tape - mounted on white cs; button dies cut in gold glitter cs.  I use the dies to keep the card flat enough to mail.
Sketch:    Life-in-Snapshot
Bingo - diagonal - sentiment, digi image, button:   The Paper Shelter
Any using Imagine That Digistamp:  Facebook Imagine That Digistamp
Traditional Christmas colors:   Double D
Christmas:  Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge 2
                     Allsorts
                     Hiding in my Craftroom 
Pattern Paper:   Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper
Any:   Crafty Catz  
            Show us Your Pussies

SCS Dare to Get Dirty - stampersandee challenge

This is another of the week-long challenges  at SplitCoaststampers for Fan Club members (fee required).  I am hoping to complete the 40+ challenges, but it is looking less and less likely!
Stamp by Belse; colored with Twinkling H20 - Playful Peony; LifeStyle Crafts embossing folder; Spellbinder banner dies; brads.  IRL the embossed layer is more pink than red!
Sketch:   Catch the Bug - Stella
Animal:   Pink Gem
Pink:  In the Pink
Cat:   Show us your Pussies

Eureka Challenge #182 - CAS

Here is my design team card for Eureka Stamps challenge #182, which is open through Sunday, March 6.
I will be the first to admit that CAS cards are not my first choice - I really like CAS cards done by others, but struggle with my own - I tend to want to fill up all that space, or add embellishments.  However, this cute Digi by Eureka Stamps - Cool Cat with Shades - worked well for me.  I edged the image layer with a bit of ColorBox Marigold ink.  (Tip - I did not tear the edges of that layer.  I did use my trimmer with a very dull blade I keep for that purpose - it is dull enough to give what I call a controlled ragged edge!)  The ink was applied directly from the mini ink pad, to add a hint of color and some dimension.  Another tip - the sentiment is also a digi by Eureka.  I printed it separately, hand cut it in a bubble shape, and photo copied it unto the cool cat image.  This process left a look of an edge around the sentiment - which I enhanced a bit using a grey chalk pencil.  It looks like a layer but is not.  I used a metallic pen to draw the line to "attach" the bubble, and also to add some specks to the background.  The cat was colored by mixing orange and beige chalk pencils. Thanks for looking.
CAS #182:  Eureka Stamps
CHALLENGES ENTERED:         
Animal:      Mod Squad Challenge
                    The Paper Shelter
                    Wags n Whiskers
                    Fan-tastic Tuesday
Cats:           Show us your Pussies 
CAS:           Clean and Simple on Sunday
Cute:           Aud Sentiments Challengeblog
Any:            Crafting-with-Friends
                     Crafty Gals Corner
                     Creative Fingers Challenge
                     Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
                      Our Crafty Corner
                     Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday     

A kitty for a Valentine

Sizzix Embossing folder (bottom half, so the hearts would be on top) 0 highlighted with yellow chalk;  NEW dp by Lily of the Valley; "hi" by Cuttlebug (Olivia alpha set); Spellbinder ovals; chalk pencils; Spellbinder Labels 5 die; unknown image.
Sketch:             Sketch Saturday
Lovey-dovey:   Great Impressions
Kitty:                 Dragonfly Journeys
                           Show us your pussies
Color challenge #63:  Inkspirational Challenges
Love:                  Simon says stamp Monday
New:                   Die-cut-divas
Any:                    Love to Scrap 

Larry and Smoky - for Leah

I took this photo while at their home for Christmas - had I thought about using it on a card I would have taken more care with the photography.  Oh, well.  Our granddaughter's birthday is soon- she misses her cats (a lot) while away at college - so it occurred to me to send a reminder!  She is just starting a NEW semester as well as a NEW year of her life.  The photo is new, as is the DP (Lily of the Valley).  I used a button die, tied with cord; washi tape; Martha Stewart punch; misc. cs.
Sketch:                Share Joy
Warm and cozy:  Fattastic Tuesday 
You Crack me up: Dragonfly Journeys
 Kitty:                   Show us your pussiecat          
New:                    Crafty Calendar
                             Eureka Stamps
                             Cuttlebug Mania 
Any:                     Not just Cards