Just Go With It

Walking my goldendoodle, Chloe the cutie puppy, is always an adventure. When she was a little puppy, she’d randomly hop off the sidewalk into the street or jump at a passing bicycler or jogger. Fortunately, as she’s gotten older, she’s also gotten much better on a leash and doesn’t pull much anymore—unless she sees someone she knows, then all bets are off!

Anyway, that’s what drew me to this Moonlight Whispers image from Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps. I can relate to being pulled along for the ride on a walk with Chloe—but I promise, I don’t dress like this for our walks! I used this week’s Cute Card Thursday sketch for this card and incorporated this week’s Kraftin’ Kimmie challenge to use hand stitching on your card, too.

I colored Tori and her furry pal with Copic markers and cut them out. She’s set on a background panel made from a Labels 4 die. The dog replaces the banner part on the sketch (a stretch, but it fits!). For my hand stitching, I used embroidery floss to stitch the dog’s leash. I went with green since I just changed Chloe the cutie puppy’s collar and leash to this new adorable one with green piping. I’m a little worried that now that her collar’s no longer pink, people will think she’s a boy, but that’s a story for another post . . . The stitching was not easy on the narrow cardstock strip, so I ended up ripping it away as I stitched. This was another one of those ideas that looked better in my mind than it did once I finally executed it--LOL!

I used two different coordinating patterned papers from Echo Park’s Summer Days line for the panels on my cardfront. These are the digi versions of the paper, printed on matte presentation paper, which worked fine once I convinced my fussy printer that the printer door was closed and it was okay to print . . . The matching "just go with it" sentiment is split over two green strips at the top of the cardfront, replacing the sketch's arrow shaped elements and completing the design.

Materials Used:
Moonlight Whispers Tori image (Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); matte presentation paper (HP); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Barely Banana and Basic Gray cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Summer Days digi papers (Echo Park); Labels 4 dies (Spellbinders); Polka Dots embossing folder (Sizzix); embroidery floss; foam tape

TCP Tuesday-Apron Inspired

It's Tuesday--the first day back at work after a long holiday weekend here and time for a new TCP Tuesday challenge. This week, Jen's our hostess and she's provided a fabulous inspiration photo to use as a starting point for our creations. I was inspired by the apron in the photo and incorporated its colors (blues and greens) and ruffles in my project.

I used the A Cuppa set for my card--which worked great as a starting point since PJ's got an apron on in this one! PJ is colored with Copic markers and cut out. I paper pieced PJ's apron with a piece of floral patterned paper and used the same paper for the large panel at the top of the cardfront.

To imitate the apron's ruffled tiers, I used some gathered satin ribbon and a piece of paper doily on the bottom part of the card. The satin ribbon was gathered by pulling on one tiny thread from the ribbon's end and scrunching it up. I set the ribbon and doily on a dot embossed panel (another nod to the inspiration photo) with the set's "get well soon" sentiment stamped along the bottom.

As always, don't miss your chance to win the weekly Cat Cash prize awarded to one lucky participant who adds their creation for the challenge to the guestbook on Alma's blog--or the chance to be honored as the next Swanky Stamper. And, Alma will be sharing links to the Cat Pack's creations on her blog all week, so be sure to check in regularly for some eye candy and inspiration.

Materials Used:
A Cuppa stamp set, Neenah white cardstock (The Cat's Pajamas); Spring Moss and Hawaiian Shores cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Stella & Rose-Gertie 6 x 6 paper pad (My Mind's Eye); Polka Dot embossing folder (Sizzix); blue satin ribbon (Michaels); paper doily (Wilton); foam tape

Creamy Sympathy

It is hot, hot, hot here today. In an effort to beat the heat, Chloe the cutie puppy and I took an early morning walk and have been hanging out inside since then. We may venture out to the dog park for a while later on this afternoon since tomorrow it's back to work again and it's harder to get her there during the work week.

While we've been home, I worked on my card for today's SCS clean and simple challenge to use ruffled or folded ribbon on our creations. I went super clean and even tone on tone for my card using the Kind Deeds set from Clear and Simple Stamps.

I stamped the floral silhouette image twice in brown ink, slightly offsetting the second image without reinking for a softer, shadowy look. Both the stamped panel and the cardfront are made from CSS's Kraft Like a Rockstar Cream cardstock--love CSS's kraft cardstocks! To set the image panel off a bit from the same color cardfront, I added a narrow strip of Dish All the Dirt Brown cardstock along the left edge of the panel before attaching it to the cardfront with foam tape. I folded a piece of matching brown satin ribbon and slipped it under the lower right edge of the image panel, anchoring it with a brown button tied with some twine. The set's "with sympathy" sentiment is stamped along the side of the image panel in the same brown ink to tie all the elements together.

Materials Used:
Kind Deeds stamp set, Dish All the Dirt Brown ink, Dish All the Dirt and Kraft Like a Rockstar Cream cardstock, Dish All the Dirt Brown button, Dish All the Dirt Brown satin ribbon (Clear and Simple Stamps); twine (Papertrey Ink); foam tape

Hats Off

Here's my card for this week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge to create a clean and simple graduation card. I used the School's Out set from Our Craft Lounge for this card that will work for just about any graduate--high school or college, male or female. It's a great one to have in my stash!

I started by using cardstock pieces to fashion my own mortarboard cap. For a realistic touch, I used embroidery floss to create a fun tassel to hang from the cap. To set the cap off from the rest of the card, I set it on a gold circle using foam tape.

I used two solid panels on my card base, a gold one on the bottom, layered over with a black panel. The cap is set at the top of the black panel. I heat embossed the set's "hats off to you" sentiment in gold along the bottom of the panel. A trio of black brads along the bottom of the gold panel completes the simple design. It would be easy to personalize this card for a graduate by switching up the black/gold color combination to the school colors. I'll have to keep that in mind . . .

Materials Used:

School's Out stamp set (Our Craft Lounge); Versamark ink (Tsukineko); white cardstock (Xerox); Basic Black cardstock (Stampin' Up!); gold shimmer paper (Target); gold embossing powder (Ranger); circle punches (EK Success); black brads (Joann); embroidery floss; foam tape

Thanks a Melon

I'm heading out to a barbeque soon and need to get Chloe the cutie puppy to the dog park for a run, so I have time for just a quick post. The card I made for today's SCS featured stamper challenge was just what I needed for this afternoon--a quick card with a clean and simple layout. I based my card on this thank you one with a few adjustments to make it my own.

I kept the layout mostly the same, but placed the pieces at the bottom of the cardfront instead of at the top. I made my own felt embellishment using Papertrey Ink's new melon die cut. To dress it up, I tied a bunch of French knots using black embroidery thread. This is the first time I've tried this and definitely won't be the last now that I've got French knots somewhat figured out.

I set the melon on a piece of dotted paper with a strip of pleated green grosgrain ribbon machine stitched along the bottom. The patterned paper panel is set on a light green card base. I stamped the coordinating "thanks a melon" sentiment in black on the patterned paper. It got a bit lost with all the dots, but it's still visible.

Off to the dog park to play for a while . . .

Materials Used:

Fruit Fusion-Melon stamp set, Fruit Frusion-Melon die, Spring Moss cardstock, Dotty Biscotti patterned paper, Hibiscus Burst and Simply Chartreuse felt (Papertrey Ink); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); olive grosgrain ribbon (Morex); black embroidery thread; sewing machine

Cute, then Classy

Last night, I finished my cards for May's final two Viva la Verve sketch challenges. They're very different--one's got a cute slant, while the other one's a much more classy style.

Let's start with cute. This one uses Verve's Chicks Rule set for the sentiment and focal image. The colors for all of the layers and panels came from the Sweet Nectar patterned paper I used for the three strips that run across the cardfront. I cut them a little too narrow to fill the front, so I ended up adding a yellow layer between the trio of strips and the celery card base.

The "coolest chick" sentiment is stamped on a pink oval and layered on a dot embossed celery panel. I stamped and colored one of the set's chick images, then cut it out and slipped it under the top of the oval. After wrapping a piece of lemon twill around the panel, I set it on the cardfront and added the photo corners. I have to admit that this was much cuter in my head than how it actually turned out, but I'm pretty happy about the next card, so that makes up for my being less than thrilled with this one.

Materials Used:
Chicks Rule stamp set (Verve Stamps); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); markers (Copic); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); Barely Banana, Certainly Celery, and Pretty in Pink cardstock, photo corner punch (Stampin' Up!); Sweet Nectar designer paper (K & Company); oval die (Spellbinders); Polka Dot embossing folder (Sizzix); Lemon Tart twill (Papertrey Ink); clear crystal (Studio 18)

Here's the classy one. I used one of my favorite Verve sets, Blue Skies, on this one along with the trendy yellow and gray color combination.

I started with a panel of sparkly plaid paper from a DCWV mat stack. I used scraps of yellow and gray to create blocks of solid color at the bottom of the card, then divided them from the rest of the card with a strip of bold, black grosgrain ribbon.

I stamped one of the set's sentiments on a yellow panel, then layered it on the card along with a solid gray panel. Instead of a circle element, I used a star punched out from shimmery silver paper. After setting the star in place with foam tape, I added a clear crystal flourish to the gray panel. I have a hard time using pieces like these, so I'm making an effort to figure out how to incorporate them into my projects. Like I said, I'm really happy with this one!

Materials Used:
Blue Skies stamp set (Verve Stamps); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); So Saffron and Basic Gray cardstock. large star punch (Stampin' Up!); silver paper, crystal flourish (Recollections); Lemon Flower matstack (DCWV); black grosgrain ribbon (Papertrey Ink); foam tape

Roll With It

I'll start off with a warning--this is a bright one! I made this card for this week's My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club sketch challenge. The sketch was definitely a challenge and I thought on it for a long time (much longer than usual!) before coming up with this card using the Pure Innocence Roll with It set.

The roller skating girlie is colored with Copic markers and cut out. I used colors that coordinated with the ones in the KaiserCraft Candy Lane papers I picked to use for the cardfront. I went with a fun floral for the panel that covers most of the cardfront and a subtly dotted dark pink for the pair of circles along the bottom of the card. A strip of orange runs across the circles, breaking the color up a bit. I layered a piece of pink grosgrain ribbon across the solid panel and edged it with a green double scallop border die cut, keeping with the circle-y theme.

After I had all the pieces in place, I embossed a pale pink panel with a polka dot pattern to make a backdrop for my skater. She's attached with foam tape and the coordinating "roll with it" sentiment is next to her on an orange panel. I probably won't use this sketch again (unlike last week's, which I'm pretty sure I will), but I'm glad I was able to figure out a way to work with it--and use a cute, new image, too.

Materials Used:
Pure Innocence Roll with It stamp set, Die-Namics double scallop border die (My Favorite Things); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); markers (Copic); Pear Pizzazz, Pumpkin Pie, and Pink Pirouette cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Candy Lane designer papers (KaiserCraft); circle dies (Spellbinders); circle punch (EK Success); pink grosgrain ribbon (Michaels); Polka Dots embossing folder (QuicKutz); foam tape

Father's Day Fishing

Here's my card for this week's Our Craft Lounge challenge. This week's a sketch and I made mine a masculine card, perfect for Father's Day, using the Bear-ly Fishing set.

I stamped one of the set's fishing bears on a white panel and colored the image with Copic markers. To get the textured look of the bear's fur, I dotted the colored image with my colorless blender. After adding some grass underneath the image, I used my airbrush to add a soft blue sky background. The "happy Father's Day" sentiment is stamped, just slightly curved to match the shape of the bear--and fit in the little bit of open space at the top of the panel.

The colors for the panels on the cardfront were taken from the ones in the patterned paper strip I used across the cardfront. I embossed the gold panel to tie it in with the patterned paper and added a solid orange panel at the bottom for a nice contrast. A strip of twill--one of my favorite embellishments on masculine cards--runs across the patterned paper panel, underneath the image panel.

For the round accent called for in the sketch, I used one of the set's fish images. I colored the fish with Copic markers and cut it out, then set it in place on the cardfront with foam tape. I had to use a Copic Multiliner to extend the fishing line a bit, but I'm pleased with how these images fit the sketch so well.

Materials Used:
Bear-ly Fishing stamp set (Our Craft Lounge); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); markers (Copic-E23, E25, E33, E99, YR12, YR16, YR21, Y18, Y32,YG03, YG05, YG21, YG25); Crumb Cake and Pumpkin Pie cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Harvest Gold, Aqua Mist, and Hawaiian Shores cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Fine and Dandy-True Blue 6 x 6 paper pad (My Mind's Eye); Polka Dots embossing folder (QuicKutz); brown twill (Wrights); foam tape

Friends with Flair: This Moment

Happy Friday! I’m looking forward to the long weekend! Since Chloe the cutie puppy’s been battling canine pink eye this week, we’re going to take it easy and hang out at home. Fortunately, as the week's gone on, she’s looking a little less pink and we’ve seemed to come to an uneasy understanding about the eye drops she needs 3 times a day (I won!). I may even do some stamp room clean up—we’ll see about that!

Here’s my card for this week’s Friends with Flair. It’s based on this month’s Kit of the Month sketch challenge. I went way back in the archives and pulled out an older kit, {delightful moments}, from December 2009. I inked up the kit’s clock (now available as an Itty Bitty) to represent the sketch’s circle element. The last time I used this stamp was on New Year’s Eve in 2009 and I was really in a down mood. So, I’m glad that my outlook’s a little sunnier this time around. Anyway, I used teardrop shaped red and black Memento inks to get the clock image inked in the two different colors. I added a little shading and coloring with Copic markers before cutting out the image.

The image is set on a patterned paper panel with machine stitched edges. The matching sentiment is stamped underneath the image. I stamped it a second time on a scrap of red cardstock, cut out the letters in "be happy" and attached them to the panel for a nice contrast. I attached a pair of layered scallop edge strips, also cut from patterned paper, along the bottom of the panel and topped them with a piece of red faux suede ribbon. A piece of black baker’s twine is wrapped around the ribbon and tied in a bow.

Be sure to check out the full list of FWF players on the Unity blog for lots of Unity inspiration!

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers: Unity Stamp Co. Happy for This Moment Itty Bitty, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black and Lady Bug inks, X-Press Copic blending cardstock, Copic markers (B000, B0000, C00, C-1, C-3, C-5), Lily Bee Picket Fence and This & That Tiny Tablets, May Arts red faux suede ribbon, Divine Twine Black Licorice baker’s twine, Zva Creative dimensional dots

other: Riding Hood Red cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); medium scallop edge die (Papertrey Ink); sewing machine

Blogger Challenge: Week 205

This week’s blogger challenge theme is “make it shimmer.” The card I’m sharing with you today is a “reject” from a recent Paper Crafts magazine call for sparkly, glittery holiday themed projects. I’m not too sad about this one not making the cut because I had another project that did, but I still liked this one enough to want to share it on my blog.

The card actually started out as a hang tag for a bottle of wine. I cut off the section at the top with the opening for hanging on the wine bottle so that I could convert the tag into a long, skinny-ish card by attaching a piece of white cardstock to the back.

The shimmery part of my card is the fun glittered martini glass. It’s actually a gift tag with the ribbon tie removed. I filled in the hole left by the ribbon with a wooden skewer “toothpick.” I used die cut pieces to make an olive for the toothpick, then set the piece on the cardfront with foam tape. Foam letter stickers spell out the word “cheers” along the side of the panel. I added a shimmery silver decorative strip along the bottom edge of the card with a red satin ribbon tied in a bow above it.

For more ideas with shimmer, check out the links below (list to be added in the morning). And, if you join in the challenge, feel free to add your link to the list.

Materials Used:
Basic Black, Real Red cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Ripe Avocado cardstock (Papertrey Ink); silver paper (Recollections); oval die (Spellbinders); double scallop die (My Favorite Things); red satin ribbon (Wrights); Daiquiri Thickers (American Crafts); martini glass tag (Paper Magic Group); wooden skewer; foam tape

Remember the Moments

Here’s my card for the latest Market Street Stamps challenge—a sketch and make your own embellishments combo--along with the current "stamp it" challenge at Wee Memories. I took a few liberties with the sketch to come up with my design.

For my embellishments, I made my own wooden butterflies. I used a die to cut the butterflies from a thin piece of balsa wood, then stamped on them in rust ink with Market Street’s music background. I also inked the edges with a little distress ink for a softer look.

The butterflies are layered on the cardfront using foam tape. I wrapped a piece of twine around the card a few times to represent the trio of stripes across the cardfront, knotting the twine to secure it. I combined a few of the words from the Simple Joys set for my sentiment, stamped along the bottom of the card in brown ink. After I inked the edges of the melon panel with the same distress ink used on the butterflies, I machine stitched around its edges before attaching it to a kraft base. The trio of pearls underneath the sentiment were a last second addition. I think they finish off the card nicely.

Materials Used:
Vintage Music and Simple Joys stamp sets (Market Street Stamps); Terracotta Tile and Dark Chocolate inks, Melon Berry and Kraft cardstock, twine (Papertrey Ink); Tea Dye distress ink (Ranger); butterfly die (My Favorite Things); self-adhesive pearls (KaiserCraft); wood sheet; sewing machine; foam tape

All Shook Up

Here’s my card for this week’s Kraftin’ Kimmie challenge to use text on your creation. I stretched things a bit by using a bit of sheet music I downloaded from the internet and printed off—it doesn’t have words per se, but it does have a form of text! I had to have music to go with the great Moonlight Whispers Patsy image I used along with this week’s CPS sketch.

I colored Patsy with Copic markers and cut her out. It’s hard to see in the photo, but I covered the lenses in her glasses with a clear Stardust pen for a fun sparkle. She’s set on a paper doily that I added the aforementioned sheet music circle to after inking its edges with some pink ink.

Since the image is so large, I left the rest of the card pretty simple. I covered most of the cardfront with an aqua paper with cream dots, machine stitching around the edges to add interest. A darker aqua strip runs across the center of the cardfront with a piece of pink ribbon layered over that. After putting the doily in place, I used my stamp positioner to add the “I’m all shook up” sentiment in the card’s lower right corner. Too fun!

Materials Used:
Moonlight Whispers Patsy image (Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Aqua Mist and Hawaiian Shores cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Pretty in Pink Classic ink (Stampin’ Up!); Lime Twist-Life of the Party 6 x 6 paper pad (My Mind’s Eye); paper doily (Wilton); circle die (Spellbinders); pink grosgrain ribbon (Michaels); clear Stardust pen (Sakura); sewing machine; foam tape; downloaded sheet music

Hang in There

Here’s my card for today’s SCS sketch challenge. I used the fun Hang Ups set from Paper Smooches--love all the possibilities for mixing and matching with this set!

I stamped one of the set’s branch images and added a few leaves to the ends, then colored it up with Copic markers. The squirrel was stamped on a scrap of white cardstock, colored and cut out, then attached to the panel with foam tape. There was just enough room at the bottom of the panel for the “hang in there” sentiment.

Instead of using a trio of circles (or partial ones) underneath the image panel, I used a pair of die cut felt clouds. It added interest and texture and was perfect for the feeling that the squirrel's stuck somewhere high above the ground. For the third circle, I slid a kraft circle underneath the left edge of the image panel and embellished it with a pair of brads. I used some coordinating patterned paper for the strip runs along the bottom of the card. Everything is set on an aqua panel, then on a deeper blue card base that picks up one of the colors in the patterned paper. I'm going to keep this sentiment in mind as I "hang in there" until the start of the long weekend on Friday afternoon . . .

Materials Used:
Hang Ups stamp set (Paper Smooches); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, and Crumb Cake cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Aqua Mist and Ocean Tides cardstock, cloud die (Papertrey Ink); Quite Contrary designer paper (My Mind's Eye); silver brads (Making Memories); circle punch (EK Success); white felt; foam tape

Papertrey Ink May Blog Hop: Fun with Flowers

The theme for this month’s Papertrey Ink blog hop is flowers. Blog hop participants were invited to share a project featuring their favorite take on flowers. I decided to create something other than a card and ended up using lots of PTI supplies--but no paper and no stamps! I created a fun embellished keychain that I can't wait to use for my own keys.

I used one of PTI’s Beautiful Blooms II die sets to make a bunch of flowers from Hawaiian Shores and Hibiscus Burst felt. I layered a large flower and a small one, then machine stitched them together, following the outline of the smaller flower. Once the stitching was complete, I used fabric glue to attach a matching large flower to the stack, covering the stitching and keeping it secure. For the flower centers, I cut small felt circles and hand stitched a contrasting button in the center of each one with embroidery floss. Again, I used fabric glue to attach the piece to the flower.

I let the flowers dry overnight, then used my Crop-A-Dile to make a hole in each flower. I set large eyelets through the holes and used small jump rings to attach the flowers to the keychain. Both the jump rings and the key chain piece were purchased from the jewelry findings section of my local craft store. I have a bunch of these findings left over, so I have a feeling I'll be making a few more of these--maybe in different color schemes or using different shapes, like stars or hearts . . .

Materials Used:
Beautiful Blooms II #1 dies, Hawaiian Shores and Hibiscus Burst felt, Hawaiian Shores and Hibiscus Burst buttons (Papertrey Ink); eyelets (Recollections); embroidery floss; 12 mm jump rings; key chain; fabric glue

What a Blast

How about a little more goodness from The Cat's Pajamas for you today? This morning, I shared my card for this week’s TCP Tuesday challenge, and now I have another TCP card, this time for this week’s Paper Craft Planet sketch challenge, courtesy of Lynn.

I used the What a Blast set on this one. PJ is colored with Copic markers and cut out. When I stamped him, I omitted the pinwheel from the image and instead, made my own using TCP’s pinwheel CutUps die and some patterned paper. I used foam tape to set both PJ and the pinwheel on a piece of cloud patterned paper with a strip of die cut grass along the bottom. The “what a blast” sentiment is stamped next to PJ, just above the grass.

After rounding the panel’s corners, I set it on an Ocean Tides mat. It’s layered on a yellow panel, embossed with a dotted pattern instead of using patterned paper. I wrapped a piece of blue seam binding around the card (it’s been lying on my table forever—it was nice to finally find a use for it!), then layered the panel on an Ocean Tides card base.

You can find all the details on this week’s sketch challenge here—you don’t want to miss out on this one since one lucky participant will win a fun prize . . .

Materials Used:
What a Blast stamp set, Neenah white cardstock, grass and pinwheel CutUps dies (The Cat’s Pajamas); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Barely Banana cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Ocean Tides cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Quite Contrary-Little Boy Blue designer paper, Lime Twist-Life of the Party 6 x 6 paper pad (My Mind’s Eye); silver brad (Making Memories); feldspar seam binding (Martha Stewart); Polka Dots embossing folder (Sizzix); corner rounder (WeR Memory Keepers); foam tape

TCPTues160-Rockin' with the Idols

It’s only appropriate that with the American Idol season finale happening this week, I share a card using The Cat’s Pajamas version of the Idols! Here’s my card for this week’s TCP Tuesday challenge, a fabulous sketch from Leigh.

I set the Idols trio on a white oval. The drummer’s the only one stamped on the oval—the other two are added on with foam tape. I curved the “you rock my world” sentiment along my block to match the image panel’s oval shape and stamped it at the top of the panel in green ink.

I have to admit that my clean and simple leaning self had a hard time adding all of the layers here! I used two coordinating October Afternoon papers to get the three different patterns you see here. Each of the panels behind the image is matted on a coordinating solid cardstock piece to set them off from each other and the gingham background behind them. After arranging and securing all of these pieces, I added the image panel, then the ribbon strip across the cardfront. A silver star, made with a pair of star punches, accents the ribbon. I added a button in the center, tied with a little coordinating aqua baker’s twine.

As always, don't miss your chance to win the weekly Cat Cash prize awarded to one lucky participant who adds their creation for the challenge to the guestbook on Alma's blog--or the chance to be honored as the next Swanky Stamper. And, Alma will be sharing links to the Cat Pack's creations on her blog all week, so be sure to check in regularly for some eye candy and inspiration.

Materials Used:
Idols stamp set, Neenah white cardstock, Aqua Divine Twine (The Cat’s Pajamas); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Simply Chartreuse ink, Hawaiian Shores and Simply Chartreuse cardstock, Simply Chartreuse grosgrain ribbon, Hawaiian Shores button (Papertrey Ink); silver paper (Recollections); Ducks in a Row-Peek-a-Boo and Weathervane-Cozy Home designer papers (October Afternoon); petite oval dies (Spellbinders); star punches (Stampin’ Up!); foam tape

Dino-Mite!

After surviving a trip to the vet with the world’s cutest 60 pound puppy (she doesn’t realize that the vet is not like the dog park and therefore is not a free for all play place . . .) for a checkup and some shots and getting an unexpected diagnosis of pink eye, I earned a little stamping time while she recovers from her shots. Here’s my card for this week’s SCS clean and simple challenge. It’s based on a sketch that’s similar to ones I’ve used in the past. On this one, I incorporated lots of texture to add interest to the simple design.

I used the dinosaur image from the A Guy Thing stamp set from Clear and Simple Stamps as my focal image. The dino is stamped in brown ink on a white panel and matted on a Kraft Like a Rockstar Green circle with pinked edges.

For the panel behind the dino, I used a piece of kraft cardstock on the top section. It’s embossed with a polka dot pattern, just like the pattern on the dino. Then, I used 4 different colored cardstock scraps along the bottom of the panel. After stretching a piece of white twill across the panel, I added the dino image. The “you are dino-mite” sentiment is stamped just underneath the panel in white ink.

Materials Used:
A Guy Thing stamp set, Dish All the Dirt Brown and A Blanc Check inks, True Blue Fan, Kraft Like a Rockstar, Kraft Like a Rockstar Green, Creamsicle Cardigan, Trendsetter Blue, and A Blanc Check cardstock, A Blanc Check twill (Clear and Simple Stamps); circle and pinking circle dies (Spellbinders); Swiss Dot embossing folder (Cuttlebug); foam tape

And, while we’re on the topic of dinosaurs, here’s one more clean and simple design using the same dino image and almost the same color scheme--it's a great one for little boys! Here, the dinosaur is stamped in green ink and layered on a pinking edged circle panel. I used a piece of patterned paper with a shiny, varnished finish on parts of the design for the largest panel on the cardfront. A strip of Creamsicle Cardigan cardstock, partially embossed, runs across the card. I stamped the sentiment on the un-embossed portion of the panel, then tied a strip of True Blue Fan satin ribbon above the sentiment. The pieces are arranged on a True Blue Fan card base for a nice contrast.

I'm off to attempt to put eyedrops in Chloe the cutie puppy's eyes--wish me luck . . .

Materials Used:
A Guy Thing stamp set, Kraft Like a Rockstar Green and True Blue Fan inks, True Blue Fan, Trendsetter Blue, Creamsicle Cardigan, and A Blanc Check cardstock, True Blue Fan satin ribbon (Clear and Simple Stamps); Rhythm Remix designer paper (Live Loud line-Imaginisce); circle and pinking circle dies (Spellbinders); Polka Dots embossing folder (Sizzix)