Do I smell CAKE?

I started out with the background paper Basic Grey "Offbeat" and it had blue circles on the design. So I went with blue and yellow -- when I was done with my card I realized I covered up all the blue in the background. So if the blue looks out of place that's my story! On the cake frosting I mixed up a little crystal lacquer with some Fairy Dust - which is just ultra fine glitter. I apply it with a toothpick so I can just put a little drop and move it where I need it. The "mix" of glitter and Crystal Lacquer is a tip I borrowed from my friend Miriam. Why do this? I hate when glitter glue dries and looks chunky. The smaller the glitter the better. It really has a much better finished look. I stamped in Memento's Cocoa Brown, but wanted my Doggie a bit darker do ended up going over it with a Copic.

• Stamps: All Stamps by The Cat's Pajama's
• Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Versafine Vintage Sepia
• Paper: DP by Basic Grey 6x6 "Offbeat", Misc. Green, Brown and Blue Card Stock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
• Other: Homemade Glitter Glue, Nesties, Copics, Misc. Ribbon, Cuttlebug Folder, Silver Pearls, Silver Brads

Mouse Drops

Even if you are not a House Mouse fan - you have to admit this little image is pretty cute. The label on the bottle says "Mouse Drops". I used my new Nestie Labels Dies for the image and the sentiment. Colored with Copics and put clear glaze pen over the bottle for a little shine. Poor little mouser looks so pitiful, I thought Lockhart's "Ickie Sickie" would go well! I used my craft knife to make a little slit to run the ribbon through the label. Simple and Quick. Done.

• Stamps: "Mouse Drops" House Mouse #HMGR1006 by Stampabilities, Ickie Sickie by Lockhart
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: DP by My Mind's Eye "Backyard Memories", Blue DP by My Mind's Eye "Dragonfly Blue", Neenah Classic Solar White, Mustard Card Stock, Chocolate Card Stock by SU
• Other: Nesties, Copics, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Folder, Misc. Ribbon, Half Pearls

One Turkey's Plea

Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoy your day and hopefully your long weekend! May you get some "stamp time" in between turkey and family! This turkey was half price -- so how could I resist?

• Stamps: Eat Beef # GR1125 by Stampabilities
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: DP by Basic Grey 6x6 "Boxer", Gold Metallic, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Misc. Card Stock Red, Black, Brown
• Other: Nesties, Gold Gel Pen, Spellbinder's NEW Edge Embossing Die, Misc Ribbon, Copics, Dew Drops, Black Rainbow Tape

Turkey Chicks

These little chicks made for a quickie Thanksgiving card. I used my Copics and a gold gel pen to highlight on the chick's hats. Cuttlebugged the background paper with the Textile folder, added a few paper strips, ribbons and dew drops. Doodled some borders around the edges and that's it folks!

• Stamps: Calendar Chicks Thanksgiving by Stampendous, Sentiment by TCP
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Misc. Yellow & White Card stock, Dark Brown is Bazzill card stock, Light Brown DP is by The Paper Co "Ecorce" Autumn # 11003-099, Neenah Classic Solar White
• Other: Copics, Cuttlebug Textile Folder, Dew Drops, Slot Punch by SU, Misc. Ribbon, Deckle Edge Scissors

Blog Candy Winner

Did you have a Hamster named "Hammy"?

If so you just won some Blog Candy!

Comment #22 from Jessica was the winner and she left this post in reply to your favorite pet....

Jessica said...
We traveled a lot when I was little and my brother was allergic, so pet choices were limited. I chose a cute little Chinese hamster that I called "Hammy" (original, I know, but I was 8). I loved letting Hammy run around on my bedspread, stuffing (non-kernal) popcorn into his cheeks. He always knew where the edge of the bed was too. He'd run right up and stop cold.

Jessica - please email me at jennygropp@comcast.net with your info and I'll get your TCP set out to you ASAP! Thanks to everyone for the fun pet comments! I loved reading about all the fur babies!

Snow Cat

I'm not even gonna tell you how long I struggled with this card. Lets just say I past the point of time invested and could not let myself throw it away. I know it does not look like I spent that long, but some cards just go that way, and this one did! I masked Mr.Snowcat and airbrushed the background with a baby blue Copic Marker. To create the snow I just used my blender pen to remove some color. I did the same for the tag. I added a little crystal lacquer on the hat and birds. I edged the snow-cat and snow hills with some glitter glue for sparkle. The image and sentiment are popped up. Finished card size is A2.

• Stamps: All stamps by Repeat Impressions - Snowcat and Friends # 3813-M, Snow Place... # 4602-G
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: DP by Daisy D, Pacific Point Blue, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110#, Kraft card stock
• Other: Red Spica, Nesties, Copics/Airbrushing, Glitter Glue, Crystal Lacquer, Hemp Twine, Eyelets, Cuttlebug Snowflake Folder

Eat more Cake!

The TCP Tuesday Challenge this week was to make a card using a cake image. You can find the challenge on Toni's blog. So here's my little entry. The cake is colored with Copics and glittered and lacquered! I added doodles galore around the nestie edges. The ribbon is a black flower edged ribbon and then over it is the aqua fuzzy bump ribbon. I added the silver beads in between the bumps. I may have over done it with this card-- too much? I could not stop with the silver pearls. I have a cold so maybe my judgement is impaired!

• Stamps: All Stamps by the The Cat's Pajamas
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110#, DP by My Mind's Eye "Dragonfly Blue", Silver card stock, Black card stock
• Other: Cuttlebug Folder, Silver Pearls, Silver Sharpie Marker, Brads, Spicas, Fine Glitter Glue, Nesties, Black Micro Pen, Misc Ribbons, Slot Punch by SU, Crystal Lacquer, Copics

Mr. Christmoose

Mr. Christmoose started with the glitzy Debbie Mumm holiday paper. I just love this stuff! The moose was stamped on Curious Cryogen, I airbrushed the background with a bright green Copic. I used a red Copic to make the border. I colored the moose with two different browns then used my blender pen to remove the color on his feet and lighten him up in places. I strung some beads on fishing line and tied those in with my bow. I fussed with this bow... usually easy peasy, but not this one. I glued the bow tails down in a way that the beads would not fall in front of the moose, which was easier said than done. I added Spica pens to the light bulbs and holly, then coated them with Crystal Lacquer, I also used crystal lacquer over the red scallop border. It helped tie it back in with the glittery and embossed DP background. I used a gold gel pen for the light cord and I used a clear glaze pen to outline the stamped image... to help him pop from the background. In the end I think he turned out pretty cute, for a moose! Here's a close up so you can see the detail a bit better, click on pic to enlarge. The finished card is 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" Square.

Blog Candy is still up for grabs, tell your friends!

Visit the post Christmas Blog Candy for your chance to win a newly released Cat's Pajama's Stamp set. I'll draw a name Sunday night.

• Stamps: All Stamps by Repeat Impressions- May all your dreams... #423-G, Merry Christmoose # 1016-I
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: DP by Debbie Mumm, Neenah Classic Crest Ivory, Misc. Green card stock, Brown DP is by The Paper Co "Ecorce" Autumn # 11003-099
• Other: Misc. Red Satin Ribbon, Beads, Fishing Line, Nesties, Copics/Airbrushing, Crystal Lacquer, Spica Pens, Clear Glaze Pen, Green Crystal Gems, Foam Tape, Perfect Layers Rulers

Nurse Sprinkle #2

It's the season for the sniffles... so Nurse Sprinkle to the rescue. I stamped Sprinkle and airbrushed the background after I masked the hat and shot. Simple little doodles around the edges. The scalloped edge on my background panel was created with those long forgotten decorative scissors we all have. This is an ultra simple card. It took me way longer to make than it should have, but I was messing around with all the elements moving them here and there, this way and that way.... way too long. The ribbon is from the dollar bin at Mikes-- boy it was the perfect match to my card base color -- every once in awhile you get something that just works! Finished card size is an A2.

• Stamps: All stamps by the Cat's Pajamas
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: DP from a Basic Grey 6x6 pad "Archaic", Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Misc. Card Stock - Green, Blue, Black
• Other: Martha Stewart Indigo Micro Pen, CB Folder Swiss Dots, Decorative Edged Scissors, Misc. Ribbon, Buttons, Hemp Twine by SU, Black Sticky Dots, Slot Punch by SU, Copic Airbrushing

Candy is Dandy!

I felt totally compelled to start making some doggie cards since so many comments were left by dog people on the blog candy post. I loved reading about every one's pets! This pooch is from one of the new Cat's Pajamas Holiday clear sets that was just released. It's a quickie and fun one to color and embellish with glitter and crystal lacquer. I masked the house and airbrushed the background, colored with Copics and went to town applying Spica, Glitter Glue and Crystal Lacquer! I put lacquer over the sentiment as well so it would look "sugar glazed". The little hanging ribbon beads don't look as good in the pic as IRL as they kind of blend in with the background paper... but they are cute swinging back and forth. I think this is the second dog card I have posted, so sorry dog lovers.... I vow to do better. woof. And to Sonia - sorry but I will not be making any ferret cards! Blog Candy is still active -- leave a comment on this post Christmas Blog Candy , if you have not already!

• Stamps: All Stamps by The Cat's Pajamas
• Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Riding Hood Red
• Paper: Both DP's are from Basic Grey's 6x6 "Offbeat", Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Misc. Brown, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110#
• Other: Nesties, Copics/Airbrushing, Crystal Lacquer, Glitter Buttons, Dew Drops, Spicas, Brads, Misc. Dangling Beaded Ribbon, 1/8" Red Ribbon, Corner Rounder, Cuttlebug Folder, Green and Brown Micro Pens

Naughty or Nice?

Oh.... how I have neglected my Fluffles lately. I like how this turned out and it came together super quick. I am LOVING my new Nesties. So fun to have some new shapes to create with. Here are the details on Fluffles... I paper pieced the gift bag and colored the rest of the image with Copics. I used a metallic silver Sharpie marker for the border on the image, the belt buckle and also the silver dots on the outer layer. I put Spica Red on the hat and belt then a coat of crystal lacquer for both, I tried to capture the "Spica Sparkle" in the close up photo. Click on it to see better detail. I used Fine glitter glue for the white parts of the hat. For the ribbon I used a slot punch and threaded it through the top layer, then put two more ribbon pieces coming out from under the next layer for a different look. A Cuttlebug Ornament background some paper layers, dewdrops and the bow to finish. Card size is an A2.

• Stamps: Naughty or Nice Fluffles by Stampendous
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: DP by Basic Grey 6x6 "Boxer", Misc. Red and Silver Card Stock, Coral Card Stock by Bazzill, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110#
• Other: Nesties, Copics, Misc. Coral Ribbon, Cuttlebug Ornament Folder, Micro Black Pen, Dew Drops, Slot Punch by SU, Crystal Lacquer, Glitter Glue, Red Spica Pen, Silver Metallic Sharpie Marker

Noel

I hardly ever emboss anymore it seems... it is so pretty and perfect for Holiday cards. When I emboss I almost always use Versamark and an Embossing Powder of what color I need. I don't think it's better this way or or any other way, I think it's just what you start out doing and it becomes comfortable and sticks. The large poinsettia is one image, stamped multiple times to create my matching Poinsettia DP. I embossed with gold and colored the flowers with Copics. I trimmed against the edge of the flowers to create the edge. On the "Noel" I also did a second stamping to get a duplicate of the small flower to cut out that I could rotate and pop over the one in the "O". Obviously I am loving my new Nesties! The gold card stock I ran thru a Cuttlebug Folder for some dimension and that layer as well as the red are popped up with foam tape. Finishing bow and jewels. Done.

• Stamps: All stamps by Repeat Impressions- Noel #2107-H, Poinsettia # 2012-H
• Ink: Versamark and Detail Gold Embossing Powder
• Paper: Green DP by Basic Grey 6x6 "Boxer", Riding Hood Red (SU), Neenah Classic Crest Ivory, Gold by DCWV
• Other: Nesties, Copics, Corner Rounder, Misc. Ribbon, Jewels, Cuttlebug Folder
  

Christmas Blog Candy!

Oh.... what a good day I have had! I stalked my mailbox like a demon all day waiting for the postman who was totally three hours later than he usually is, patience: not really a strong point of mine.... but it was worth the wait. I got new Nesties and new Cat's Pajama's stamps and after opening my goodies quicker than lightning I was off to my stamp room... And since I had a good day... Alma at The Cat's Pajama's thought someone else should too..... so TCP BLOG CANDY is up for grabs! I made this card using one of the new sets "Deck the Hall", which shows off all the usual TCP characters in the Holiday Spirit. Of course I had to go for Sprinkle first! The black around the edges -- well I doodled around the edges and decided it was some bad doodling so I used the chisel end of a black marker and wiped my doodles away. I thought the black tied in better with Sprinkle in the end anyway. Trust me the doodles were bad. I used a teeny tad of glitter glue to liven up the little light bulbs and the garland is outlined with a gold pen.

• Stamps: All Stamps by The Cat's Pajama's "Deck the Hall"
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: DP by Basic Grey 6x6 "Boxer", Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110#, Red Cardstock
• Other: Nesties, Copics, Micro Black pen, Cuttlebug Folder, White Sticky Dots, Misc. Ribbon, Spica Pens, Fine Glitter Glue, Gold Gel Pen

OK --- NOW --- BLOG CANDY..... This TCP clear set "Deck the Hall" could be in your stampin' hand soon. I think I have a lot of readers that are animal lovers, well, maybe cat people more than dog owners.... so I thought to win this set all you need to do is leave a comment on this posting and if you have a pet tell me what kind of fur baby and it's name.... or your favorite pet from childhood/whenever and the name.
I know I always refer to my Humane Society Black and White Tuxedo Cat as "my bad cat" but he does have a name... "Peppercorn" named by my husband. We have shortened it and call him all sorts of things ....Pepper, Peeps, Dr. Pepper and little Rat (when he is bad).
So leave a comment and I'll have the husband draw a winner on November 23rd, next Sunday evening....

A Birthday Kitty

It's bold, I know. The little kitty stamp is from Outlines and has little circles where the "bling" should go. On the ears - I had some black metal teardrop accents and I just flipped them and used the silver underside. I used crystal teardrops for the eyes and half back silver dots all over the kitty. I stamped the kitty on white and then masked it, airbrushing green and blue to match my background paper. Some doodles around the edges with a brown micro pen. A few little Prima flowers.... Done!

• Stamps: Kitty by Outlines, Sentiment by Savvy Stamps
• Paper: Dp by My Mind's Eye "Backyard Memories" #BH1027, Neenah Classic Solar White, Misc. brown and Blue Card Stock
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark and Silver Detail EP
• Other: Felt Ribbon by SU, Prima Flowers, Silver Pearls, Nesties, Brown Micro Pen, Copics/Airbrushing

Peace, Love & Joy

This card started with the adorable penguin DP... it came in a Debbie Mumm 4x6 stack and it's all glitzy and embossed. I found I really like using DP from a 6x6 pad or 4x6 stack for two reasons... The prints are usually smaller and better suited to go on a card (vs. a Scrapbook page) and the other reason is the tiny scraps that are left I can toss and not feel bad about saving scraps of paper.

The little penguin is one stamp - I stamped him three times. Then twice more and cut those two out to pop up. I Spica'd the hats and used some fine glitter glue for the white portions of the hats. I doodled a bit around the edges. I also took my .005 Micro pen and added some little penguin hairs/wrinkles (? whatever!) in different spots on their bellies.

Peace, Love and Joy are one one stamp together but I inked the words and stamped them separately. I doodled around the edges of the tags too, then coated the edges with some fine glitter glue - when I say "fine glitter glue" I mean it's small glitter and does not dry all chunky! The ribbon I tacked down to the paper with some Ultimate Glue to keep it puffed up and in place.

Here are some close up pictures so you can see the detail a bit better. You can click on the pics to enlarge...

• Stamps: All stamps by Repeat Impressions: Peace, Love, Joy #406-H, Holiday Penguin # 2005-D
• Paper: All DP by Debbie Mumm, Neenah Classic Crest White, Riding Hood Red by SU
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU's Riding Hood Red
• Other: Old Olive Poly Twill Ribbon by SU, Real Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon by SU, Nesties, Spicas, Corner Rounder, Glitter Glue, Copics, Micro Pens, Red Crystals, Slot Punch, Brads

School Chick #2

Here is another Teacher/Thank You that I made for my friend. I used Copics to color the image and Spica Red on the apple. The oval border is red Copic marker and the little sketch marks around the edge I made with a white gel pen. I pulled colors from the DP with the school words and just built my card around that. I cuttlebugged the middle panel and just wrapped some of the ribbon around the edges. I popped some little crystal stars in between the words - which kind of pick up and match the sparkle on the apple. Done.

• Stamps: Thank you by A Muse #9-8145B, School Chick by Stampendous
• Ink: Black Craft and Clear EP for image, Versafine Onyx Black for Text
• Paper: DP by KI Memories #3028 "Daydream" double sided: yellow/school words, Misc. Blue and Red Card Stock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
• Other: Copics, Nesties, Riding Hood Red Ribbon by SU, White Gel Pen, Cuttlebug Folder, Red Spica, Crystal Red Stars

Candy Canes

A little sugar for today's posting. The image was stamped in red, then I used a .005 Micro Pen to outline the candy canes in black and outlined the bow in black (over the red). The picture does not do the candy canes justice, I used a clear and red spica pen to add sparkle, then coated them with crystal lacquer and they look much better IRL. The bow I colored with Copics. I colored the border around the candy canes and used deckle edge scissors to trim the edge. This layout was born as a result of a cutting mistake... so my lazy self just went with it... and kept going. The large scallop border edge I made with just using one cutting side of a scallop nestie. Simple little card that came together quickly. Finished card size is an A2.

• Stamps: All Stamps by Repeat Impressions - Candy Canes # 903K, May Love and... #425-G
• Ink: Riding Hood Red by SU
• Paper: DP by SU, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
• Other: Nesties, Cuttlebug Folder, Micro Pen, Spicas, Corner Rounder, Star Eyelets, Old Olive Poly Twill Ribbon by SU, Copics, Crystal Lacquer, Deckle Edge Scissors

Hey Pardner!

Here I am! I know I have been a bad blogger this week with no postings. My apologies. Sometimes life just doesn't leave time for stamping. (Horrible, I know!) But I'm holed up in my stamp room this afternoon and plan on being in the same place on Sunday. The windows are open, with the leaves falling every second and a fall breeze coming in. My bad cat is napping in the other chair, my ipod playing my tunes.... perfect day. So with no stamping for a few days I headed to SCS to find some challenges to get it going... I incorporated two of this week's challenges on this card

1. To use corner punches. (WT191)
2. To use a circle and rectangle in combination somewhere on your layout. (LSC193)

The little cowboy and sentiment are by The Cat's Pajamas.... which on a side note, has new stamp sets out this weekend.... and YES, I had to get them all! They were too cute-- even the little doggies. Back to the card---I used a black copic marker to make black dots around the borders and then colored with a brown marker to fill in. The black strip I ran through a CB folder but it's a little hard to see in the picture.

• Stamps: All stamps by The Cat's Pajamas
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
• Paper: Bazzill Brown, Black, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, DP by Frances Meyer
• Other: Crystal Stars, 1/16" Eyelets, Black String, Cuttlebug Folder, Nesties, Copics, Corner Punch is by EK Success

Nurse Sprinkle

Yes, Sprinkle the cat wears many hats. Here is Nurse Sprinkle. This card was for my Father-In-Law, so I tried to keep the "girly" factor toned down. I stamped Sprinkle and then masked the hat and the shot, and airbrushed the background blue while it was still in the Nestie, so it left the white border edge. I doodled around the edges and added layers here and there. I ran the blue and the brown pieces through a Cuttlebug Folder to add some texture. The sentiment is glued on top of black twill ribbon. A few little brads and the never-ending white sticky dots. On the shot I added a little crystal lacquer so it looks shiny IRL.

• Stamps: All stamps by The Cat's Pajamas
• Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: DP by Daisy D, Misc. Red, Brown, Blue and Black card stock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
• Other: Nesties, Red brads, White Sticky Dots, Micro Pens- Brown and Red, Cuttlebug Folder, Black Twill Ribbon

School Chick

A friend needed a Thank You for a teacher... for those of you are wondering why I am making this card. I have not enrolled my kitty in any New Age Cat School! The little chick is stamped in Black Craft and I embossed using Detail Clear EP. Copics to color in the border and image and of course the apple is Spica Sparkly. The chick looks a little blob-ish in the pic but is better IRL. The sentiment I embossed with White Detail EP and then used a red fine tip pen to outline it. The Chick and the Sentiment are popped up with foam tape. A few little ribbon and button details to finish it off. If my cat did go to school, I know he would be the smartest and coolest cat in the class.

• Stamps: School Chick by Stampendous, Sentiment by SU "Phrases for a Friend"
• Ink: Versamark and White Detail EP, Black Pigment and Clear Detail EP
• Paper: DP by KI Memories #3033 Scribbles/School Days, Misc. Card Stock Yellow, Red, Blue, Neenah Classic Solar White
• Other: Misc Ribbon, Nesties, Spicas, Copics, Misc. Buttons, Red and Black Micro Pens