Fluffy Cat Photographer and Some Stenciling for Stamping Sensations Mid Month

Hello and welcome! It's the 18th of the month and that means it's time for some midmonth inspiration at the Stamping Sensations challenge blog where this month our theme is "I Love....". Still plenty of time to join us for a chance to win a wonderful Penny Black prize. 

And here is what I made:

If you've been following my blog for some time then you know that I love cats, not only my real life critters but also Penny Black's cat stamps :-) This one is called "Snap Shot". I also love stenciling, my DSLR camera and hobby photography (I'm a novice, I just enjoy doing it), as well as my new butterflies die set. 

I started out by stenciling the design on Bristol Vellum paper using my Penny Black Hypnotic stencil. The cat was stamped on Canson Montval paper then watercolored using my Zig Clean Color brush pens and Zig Detailer watercolor brush (which btw. I both also love) I fussy cut this and then glued onto the stenciled card front. I didn't bother fussy cutting around the bird and whiskers, instead I simply stamped the image directly onto the card front first. 

You may like these cat- themed products:

I cut a line of grass using an inked piece of card stock and my scissors. The quote was typed on the computer and printed out. Butterflies were done with my new favorite butterfly die set Soaring by Penny Black. 

Thanks so much for visiting! Remember you can still join us until the end of April and up to 3 times with a different creation. 

>>>>>>>>>>>Scrapbook.com Clearance Sale/Ad

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

Linking up here:

Penny Black Saturday - PB Stamps // Alphabet Challenge - A for Animal Antics // Just Add Ink - Favorite Animal // As You Like It Challenge - Floral or Cute (Ok so have to admit I do love both equally and my blog contains a mix of both. But today Cute wins!) // Fab n Funky - Feature a Creature // Mod Squad  - AG // Unicorn Challenge - Animals // Ike's World - Animals //

Bunches of Daffodils Especially for You

Hello and welcome!

Time surely flies, hard to believe it's the 18th of March already, and that means it's time for some more inspiration at Stamping Sensations! The challenge runs until the end of the month so plenty of time still to join us for our "Stamp Something for Spring" theme to be entered into the prize drawing. Remember you may enter up to 3 times with a different creation for more chances to win. 

And here is what I made using a Penny Black cutie.

Unfortunately this stamp is hard to find now, maybe occasionally on eBay or Etsy. It's called "You are the Bestest". I love it but feel like most of my cards made with this stamp turn out similar. In fact, I just did a search on my blog for this stamp, and each time I ended up coloring the cat gray!! (It does remind me a lot of my fluffy gray Fussy.) At least I don't think I've used a stencil with it before... Next time I will have to remember to make the cat a "ginger" like my Thomas :-)

It's been stamped onto Bristol Vellum paper using Versafine Onyx ink and then colored with Zig Clean Color brush pens and a Zig Detailer watercolor brush. A TCW stencil was used on the background with distress inks and matching the hexagons on the stencil I cut out the bee using a hexagon die I had for a long time  from Whimsy Stamps and no longer available but there may be some options here. A stripes stencil was used to make some striped paperand I adhered this before adding the bee and sentiment. A Wink of Stella glitter brush was used on the bee's wings for a touch of sparkle.

Related Products:

If you'd like to join us for our spring theme, feel free to use the spring mood board below or simply create something stamped for spring.

Thanks so much for visiting!

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

I will be linking up here:

We Love Stamping - Spring //The Four Seasons Challenge - Spring // Craft Rocket Challenges - Animals // TIME OUT Challenges -Cute // Critter Crazy Challenges - Critters // Crafty Gals Corner - Flowers // Fab n Funky - Hand colored // Crafty Gals Corner - Flowers // Simon Says Stamp - Favorite Things (Cat Stamps, Stencils)

Poppy Field and a Happy Hedgehog

Hello and welcome! 

It's time already for a new theme at Allsorts challenge and I hope you will join us this week! It's Wendy's turn to host and she would like to see "Red Flowers" but with an "Anything Goes" option too so please do stop by the challenge blog and link up your new crafty makes for a chance to win. We have a fabulous prize again this week, kindly donated by Craft Stash - a wonderful sentiment set and a paper pack full of pretty poppy themed prints!

When I think of red flowers I first always think of poppies and so I decided to use one my favorite (and one of my very first) Penny Black stamps. 

This cute image is called Poppy Field. It's a wood mounted oldie and could possibly be found on eBay or Etsy. 

Before stamping my image I taped up the sides with thin washi tape (left) and wider painter's tape (right side) so I could ink the panel. I left a little space in between the green and blue ink where the hedgehog's face would be. I used Twisted Citron, Tumbled Glass and Blueprint Sketch Distress Oxide inks for inking the background.

After removing the masking tape, I stamped the image using Versafine Onyx ink and colored with Faber Castell Polychromos pencils. 

The sentiment is from the Penny Black set Snippets and I added a die cut butterfly which is part of Penny Black's Flowing Butterflies die (retired - alternative options below). I simply trimmed this butterfly off from the rest of the die cut. I did use white card for the butterfly and then ink it up using Blueprint Sketch Distress Oxide ink. Some sticky back rhinestones and sequins finish off the card.

Butterfly Die Options:

Thanks so much for visiting! 

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!
 

I will link up my card  here:

Penny Black Saturday - PB Stamps // Craft Rocket Challenges - Bling (I used Rhinestones) // Krafty Chicks - Stamp Act // 

Always Anything Goes:

Taylor Made Cards 4 U // 613 Avenue Create opt. twist watercolor // Creative Moments // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // A Bit More Time to Craft // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge * // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Love to Craft // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // Lil Patch of Crafty Friends 

Link Parties:

Dare to Share // Sunday Showcase - First Sunday with Ada and Mireille  //  Inspire Me Monday //  Link Up Potpourri //  Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now // Spread the Kindness Linkup @ Shelbee on the Edge //  Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life // 

Valentines Card with Stencils and a Cute Stamp

Hello and welcome! 

It's Saturday again and it's time for my weekly Allsorts challenge card share. This week Brenda is hosting and our theme is Anything goes with an option to use a stencil. Stencils have become one of my favorite tools over the last couple of years, they are so quick and easy to use to make your own backgrounds and I really enjoyed this challenge. We have two wonderful prizes this week, a cute Woodware stamp set and a stencil by Aall and Create. Hope you will join us for your chance to win!

And here is what I made using 2 stencils and a cute mouse from Penny Black's set Loads of Love.

Using Penny Black's Hypnotic stencil I started inking with Speckled Egg Distress Oxide ink, then added a bit of Picked Raspberry ink. I used my new craft blending brushes for blending the ink. 

Related Products You May Like:

On the bottom portion I used Altenew's stencil Classy Stripes and once again Speckled Egg ink. As mentioned, the cute image from the Penny Black set Loads of Love, stamped on a separate piece of Bristol Vellum paper and colored using Zig Clean Color markers, then fussy cut using my Cutterbee scissors. I didn't bother cutting around the tail and simply cut it off instead, then re-stamped the image on the card front. The fussy cut image was adhered over the other stamped image using foam tape. 

Before adhering the image, I used a circle mask and inked around the edges with Picked Raspberry ink. Then I added some ink splatter with a white Posca pen and diluted Wilted Violet ink. The sentiment is an oldie from a Stampin Up set, but I'm not sure which one as it's been separated from the rest of the set. 

Stickles glitter glue (Stardust) was applied to the heart and cupcake frosting. 

Thanks so much for visiting!

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

I will link up here:

Penny Black Saturday - AG with PB Stamps // Colour Crazy Challenge - Coloring // Pattie's Creations - AG // C.R.A.F.T. - AG // DL ART Thankful Thursday Challenge - Valentine // Krafty Chicks - All Occasions // Moving along with the Times - For Girl or Lady // Mod Squad  - Valentines Day // Simon Says Stamp - AG // Ike's World - AG // Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Furry Friends // Crafty Catz - AG

Always Anything Goes:

Taylor Made Cards 4 U // 613 Avenue Create opt. twist watercolor // Creative Moments // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // A Bit More Time to Craft // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge * // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Love to Craft // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // Lil Patch of Crafty Friends 

Link Parties:

Dare to Share // Sunday Showcase - First Sunday with Ada and Mireille  //  Inspire Me Monday //  Link Up Potpourri //  Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now // Spread the Kindness Linkup @ Shelbee on the Edge //  Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life // 

Squirrel Hugs, Pinecones and Winter

Hello and welcome!

It's time for some midmonth inspiration at Stamping Sensations challenge, still plenty of time left to join us if you haven't already and we always welcome up to 3 entries so hope you'll share your creativity with us! Our theme for January is "Stamping with option of Use a Die". As a reminder our winner will receive a prize package from  Oakwood Archer. 

And here is what I made:

For my card I've taken inspiration from a challenge blog I recently discovered, the Four Season's challenge where there is always a pretty mood board given as an optional inspiration and my card was inspired by one of the pictures. I'm sure you can guess which one :-)

Aren't these all wonderful! I actually thought about using the bottom right and then bottom left first, but then decided that my cute squirrel stamp needed an outing :-)

 

I started out by stamping Penny Black's Brush Pines using Distress Oxide inks Gathered Twigs and Iced Spruce. My stamp platform (options) always comes in handy with these brushstroke stamps.

Next I stamped the squirrels from Penny Black set Share a Hug. Using Walnut Stain ink for stamping and colored using Vintage Photo ink, then fussy cut. 

I wasn't really "thinking" when I added some vintage photo ink spatters, but then decided the card could use some snowflakes so I added more ink spatters using my new Posca pen.  But I do like how the mix of white and brown spatter turned out. 

Related Love Themed Products:

For the sentiment I used a "love" die, an oldie which I think is from Whimsy Stamps  and the snowflake die cuts were done with Penny Black's Dancing Snowflakes die set, which I just purchased at the end of last year. 

Before adhering the card front to the base, I inked the edges with Iced Spruce Oxide ink using my new blending brushes for a soft look.

 

Thanks so much for visiting!

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

My card also fits these challenges so linking up:

613 Avenue Create - AG // Crafty Calendar - AG // Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Use PB Stamps // Craft Rocket Challenges - Dies // A Place To Start - AG // Crafting Happiness Challenges - AG // Get Creative Challenges - AG // Make My Monday - Snowflakes // Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges - AG // Path of Positivity - AG // Stamps & Fun = Creativity - AG // 

And these are Always Anything Goes and Link Parties:

Taylor Made Cards 4 U // 613 Avenue Create opt. twist watercolor // Creative Moments // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // A Bit More Time to Craft // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge * // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Love to Craft // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // Lil Patch of Crafty Friends 

Dare to Share // Sunday Showcase - First Sunday with Ada and Mireille  //  Inspire Me Monday //  Link Up Potpourri //  Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now // Spread the Kindness Linkup @ Shelbee on the Edge //  Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life // 

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - January Challenge

Hello and welcome to the January Crafty Wednesday challenge taking place right here on my blog! I'm so glad you stopped by today and hoping you will join in this month too! There were some fabulous entries in December, so be sure to scroll down to see if you were one of my top picks! 

This Month's Theme

Something New

As always, the theme is optional for your inspiration, but do feel free to share any of your crafty makes (any type of craft is welcome) and all entries will be considered as a Top Pick. You will find the linky tool at the end of the post. 

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

And here is what I made:

For my "Something New" I went with a new (to me) product, this cute Conga Line stamp set from Colorado Craft Company. I got mine from Amazon but it's also available at Scrapbook.com and of course directly from Colorado Craft Company as well as other retailers. 

I've only just discovered this stamp set from a recent Allsorts challenge entrant and fell in love with these cute hamsters (or maybe they are guinea pigs?) Stamped using Versafine Onyx ink and simple watercoloring was done using my Zig Clean Color markers and a Zig Detailer watercolor brush. 

Related Products You May Like:

Party hats and crown were paper pieced using patterned paper scraps and I used the same papers for the banners. 

The sentiment is part of the same set and I decided to use a star stencil on the background. I've had this stencil for several years and don't remember what brand it is, but this stencil is a good alternative, otherwise stamped or die cut stars would also work well. Some green jute twine from May Arts finishes off the card. 

Stamp Set Used: 

Colorado Craft Conga Line

I'm linking up here:

A Place To Start - AG // Colouring in Scrapland - Coloring // Crafting Happiness Challenges - AG // Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Something New // 613 Avenue Create - AG // Critter Crazy Challenges - Critters // Clever Dexter Challenge - Something New // Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Patterned Papers // Creatalicious Challenges - Something New // The Crafting Challenge - AG // Sweet Stampin - Something New // 
 Always AG and Link Parties:

Taylor Made Cards 4 U // Crafter's Castle // 613 Avenue Create opt. twist watercolor // Crafty Creations // Creative Moments // Lemon Shortbread // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // A Bit More Time to Craft // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge * // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Love to Craft // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // Lil Patch of Crafty Friends 

Dare to Share // Sunday Showcase (First Sunday) with Ada and Mireille // Inspire Me Monday //  Link Up Potpourri //  Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now  Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life

Last Month's Top Picks

I will continue to add my favorites to the dedicated Pinterest board, but going forward I will once again showcase the top pick's creations with links to their individual blogs, which will be removed at the start of each new month's challenge to remain in compliance with GDPR.

Selecting just three is never easy but something that needs to be done and here they are from last month's theme of Baby, It's Cold Outside or Anything Goes. They are listed in order of entry.

No. 27 Auntie Sue

No. 34 Pauline

No. 47 Jill

Congratulations!! Well deserved recognition. Your Top Pick logo is below, feel free to post it to your own blogs if you like to :)

Can't wait to see what you will share this month!

A few things to remember:

• You may follow the theme or anything crafty goes.

• You may combine with any other challenges.

• You may use any brand of stamps/digis/products (no company restriction).
• No more than 3 entries per person please - no worries if you end up with more.
• Please do include a link back here to my blog in your blog post.
• Backlinking IS allowed.

Cat Lovers Hop 2021

Hello and welcome! 

I'm so excited to be participating in this year's Cat Lover's Blog hop!! I first discovered it last year when it was at the end and too late to participate, but made note to keep an eye out for it for the following year, and that time has arrived! 

I feel right at home on this hop with all the cat loving card makers and if you too are a cat lover and would like to participate, you can check out all the details here on Janis's blog Her Peaceful Garden. This is the 7th year of cat lovers hop, I must have been living under a rock for not knowing about it sooner! She has lots of sponsors lined up and anyone can join in with a card during the time frame of the hop, which ends on October 30th.

Do you ever completely finish a card, take picture and then you're just not loving it?? Well, that's what happened to me with the first take of this card (shown at the end of this post),  not sure what exactly it is, maybe the designer paper, but in any event, this post is later than I had planned because I completely re-designed the card. You can see the original make at the bottom of the post. 

So here is my second take on the card:

This stamp set - Penny Black Gather Around - was from last year's Penny Black release but when I finally decided to order it last year, it was out of stock. This year I started looking for it ahead of time and I was lucky to have found it. Unfortunately it's once again out of stock at many retailers, there is one available through an Amazon seller. 

Related Products:

I stamped the image on Bristol Vellum paper using Versafine Onyx ink,  then colored with distress inks. After re-thinking my card design, I decided to fussy cut the image using my Cutterbee scissors.  

To make the background I used a brick wall stencil (Options HERE and HERE)   and Pumice Stone Distress Oxide ink. I also used the floorboard from Penny Black's Floor Die set to add to the scene, also inked with  Pumice Stone ink. 

The fun sentiment is from Penny Black from the set "Dear Santa". It works so well for all kinds of cute images not only for cats :-) You can take a peek at it below. The image does lead to Amazon when you click on it, where it will be easier to read all the fun sayings. 

Oh, and I used the Classy Stripes stencil on the very top of the card before stamping "Dear Santa". "Please Define Good" has been stamped with Versarmark ink on black cardstock and then heat embossed using detail white embossing powder.

Leave it to me to add the sentiment crooked and when I tried to straighten it, a little bit of paper got torn and so I ended up removing the sentiment and adding a snowflake border die (old - options) behind the sentiment to cover it up. LOL, but I do like how it turned out now. 

               >>>>>>>>Ad: Scrapbook.com Holiday Cardmaking Sale Going On Now!

If you are a regular blog reader, then I'm sure you've seen photos of my cats before, and they are on the side bar, but here are a couple more.

This is one I shared when we first adopted them in 2010. They've surely grown into their ears :-)

And here they are all grown up. This is Thomas. He loves to chase away the squirrels in the backyard and loves to wake us up at any time during the night. 

Surprisingly, Fussy's fur turned a bit more brown-ish as she's gotten older. She is our shy kitty and for some time she would only come out of her hiding place when it was time to eat. She's turned into a very snuggly kitty and now only hides when we have visitors. 

And here is the rejected card. I think it's a combination of the floor die I used and the patterned paper I used to frame the image that makes me not like it. It just doesn't look right to me, but thought I'd share it anyway since I went through the work of photographing it before changing my mind :-)

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

I'm also linking up here:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - PB Stamps // Simon Says Stamp - AG // House That Stamps Built - Funny or Snarky // The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - AG Christmas // Everybody-Art-Challenge - Fun with friends // Cute Card Thursday - AG // Critter Crazy Challenges - Critters // Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Patterned Papers // Happy Little Stampers Dies // Jingle Belles - Creatures // 

Always AG and Link Parties: 

Taylor Made Cards 4 U // Crafter's Castle // 613 Avenue Create opt. twist watercolor // Crafty Creations // Creative Moments // Lemon Shortbread // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // A Bit More Time to Craft // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge * // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Love to Craft // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // 

Dare to Share //  Sunday Showcase (first Sunday) // Inspire Me Monday //  Link Up Potpourri  // Hello Monday // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now // Shelbee on the Edge Spread the Kindness //  Effortlessly Sophisticated // Wonderful Wednesday // Classy Flamingos // Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life