Kitten Me!

Greetings! It's Tuesday, my day to share a project for Topflight Stamps. This week's theme is "Anything Goes" for the Topflight Stamps team! Since I missed International Pet Day last week and since I'm a crazy cat lady, I decided to make a card with the super-cute Cats 1 Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Craft Emotions, which features four adorable cats, some feline accessories, and several sentiments. I really like this set because the cat stamps don't have tabby stripes or spots, so I can make the cats look mine.* 

Here's the card!

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Cats 1 Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Craft Emotions

Frayed Frames Die Set 26 by AALL and Create

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko
Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko
Premier Blending Tool by Hunkydory Crafts
Premier Blending Sponges by Hunkydory Crafts

Other Products Used:

Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Papers

Raven Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

Copic Markers: BV0000, C00, C0, C1, C2, C3, C4, C6, C7, RV91, R00, R30, Y23, Y32

Pebble Mini Dye Ink by Catherine Pooler

Repositionable Sticker Paper by Avery

STAY-tion by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1. Using a stamping platform and Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, stamp two cats from the  Cats 1 Clear Polymer Stamp Set  twice — once onto the image panel and once onto repositionable sticker paper. 
2. Use Copic markers to color both cats as desired. I colored them to resemble my kitties.
3. Fussy-cut the sticker paper versions and place the fussy-cut images over their counterparts as masks.
4. Use Pebble ink with Premier Blending Tool and Premier Blending Sponges to add a grey background over the masked images. 
5. Use Pebble ink to stamp the pawprints from the Cats 1 Clear Polymer Stamp Set behind the cat. 
6. Return the image panel to the stamping platform.
7. Position the "You have got to be" sentiment stamp from the Cats 1 Clear Polymer Stamp Set  facedown on the image panel.
8. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
9. Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp. 
10. Re-ink and stamp if necessary to attain a good impression.
11. Remove the stamp from the platform.
12. Position the "Kitten Me" stamp from the Cats 1 Clear Polymer Stamp Set facedown below the other sentiment.
13. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamp and lift.
14. Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp.
15. Use the the smaller die from the Frayed Frames Die Set 26 to cut the image panel. 
16. Use the larger die from that set to cut black cardstock.
17. Mat the image panel die-cut with the black die-cut. 
18. Adhere the matted image panel was adhered to a pale grey card to finish the project.

Notes: 

• Harley Quinn has a black spot on her nose, black eyebrows, and grey spots on her forehead, head, nape, and tail. Domino Nimbus is mostly white. He used to have black spots on his forehead and top of his head, but they've faded to a very pale grey. That's probably more than you ever wanted to know about my cats!
• I selected the sneaky cat stamp (to represent Domino Nimbus) and the sleeping cat stamp (to represent Harley Quinn) from the Cats 1 Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Craft Emotions because he loves to ambush her when she's asleep. 

Thanks for visiting today!

Bon Voyage!

I'm back with my second post my April guest designer gig for A Colorful Life for the April! If you're not familiar with with this company and love stencils, I urge you to check them out. They also carry clear stamps and Bling!!! 

Here it is!

This time I've created a 5" x 7" Bon Voyage card with the wonderful Layered Arches Stencil Set, which is a five piece stencil set comprised of the blank arch, the stone/bricks, and three masks that cover the interior arches. 

I also the used the Cloud Edger Stencils, a two part set, to create the clouds at the upper part of my card. 

I won AALL and Create's Milk Train Heist Clear Stamp Set in an Instagram Contest. I was supposed to win just one set, but they sent all three of the special prize sets! This is the first time using one of my prizes, but it certainly won't be the last!

Products Used:
Layered Arches Stencil Set by A Colorful Life

Cloud Edger Stencil by A Colorful Life

Raven Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

140 lb. Mixed Media Paper by Strathmore

Rustic Wilderness, Mowed Lawn, Twisted Citron, Tumbled Glass, and Pumice Stone Distress Inks by Tim Holtz for Ranger Ink

Desert Sand Memento Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Pouncy Tool (looks like steel wool on a wood stamp mount)

Milk Shake Train Heist Clear Stamp Set by AALL and Create *

Deep Scarlet Red, Cobalt, Ultramarine, Sky Blue, Light Pthalo Green, Dark Pthalo Green Pitt Artist Pens by Faber Castell

Amethyst, Butterscotch, Pumpkin red, Pink, Tan, Yellow Marvy Le Plume II Pens by Marvy/Uchida

Lt. Grey, Dark Grey, Burnt Sienna Chalk Pencils by General's

White Gelly Roll Gel Pen by Sakura of America

Silver Startdust Glitter Gel Pen by Sakura of America

Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set by Hefty Doodle *
Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko *

Fancy Nameplate by Spellbinders

91% Isopropyl Alcohol in a Mister

Low-tack Tape

Post-It Notes by 3M

STAY-tion by Wendy Vecchi for Ranger Ink

Stamping Platform

Please note:

The products with asterisks, except the Milk Train Heist stamp set, can be purchased at Topflight Stamps. The train car that is part of AALL and Create's Sugar Delights Clear Stamp Set 1045 would have worked for this layout.

Instructions:

1. Create a 5" x 7" card from Raven cardstock. Set aside.
2. Use magnets to secure the plain arch stencil from the Layered Arches Stencil Set over a piece of 6" x 8" of Mixed Media Cardstock on the STAY-tion so that the bottom of the stencil is flush with the bottom of the paper.
3. Tear a piece of scrap paper in half and place the top half horizontally below the arches.
4. Brush Rustic Wilderness Distress Ink across the top of the torn paper and the arch stencil.
5. Move the torn paper downwards and brush Rustic Wilderness Distress Ink across the top of the torn paper and the arch stencil. 
6. Repeat Step #5, then remove the torn paper mask.
7. Brush Mown Grass Distress Ink to fill in the bottom of the background.
8. Brush Twisted Citron Ink to lighten the grass. 
9. Keeping the arch stencil in place, place the bottom side of the torn scrap paper over the grassy area as a mask..
10. Brush Tumbled Grass Distress Ink over the top of the torn paper and the stencil to create a blue sky in the top of the arches.
11. Remove the torn paper mask and set aside.
12. Use magnets to secure the two half arches and the arch masks from the Layered Arches Stencil Set to the image panel.
13. Place a ruler, secured with magnets, horizontally across the top the image panel flush with the top the plain arch stencil. 
14. Brush Desert Sand Memento Ink over the bottom of the ruler and across all of the arch maskss to create the base of of the arches.
15. Keeping the arch masks in place, remove the plain arch stencil and set aside.
16. Use magnets and/or low tack tape to secure the brick/stone stencil over the arch stenciled in Step 14.
17. Brush Desert Sand Memento Ink over the brick/stone arch stencil.
18. Use a smaller brush to darken the Desert Sand Memento ink along the outside edges of the arches.
19. Remove the brick/ stone arch stencil, keeping both the ruler and the arch masks in place on the image panel.
20. Use a pouncy tool to add Pumice Stone Distress Inks flecks to the arched bridge.
21. Remove the ruler from the image panel and replace with low-tack tape so that the top of the arched bridge area is covered and protected.
22. Place the Cloud Edger Stencil at the top of the image panel.
23. Brush Tumbled Glass Distress Ink over the top of the Cloud Edger Stencil.
24. Move the Cloud Edger Stencil downwards and rotate it.
25. Brush Tumbled Glass Distress Ink over the top of the Cloud Edger Stencil.
26. Repeat Steps #24 and #25 until the area between the top of the arches and the top of the image panel looks like a cloudy sky.
27. Remove the stencil.
28. Use magnets to secure the image panel to the base of a stamping platform.
29. Position the engine and train car from the Milk Shake Train Heist Clear Stamp Set facedown on the image panel so that the wheels of the train are flush with the top the tape.
30. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamps and lift.
31. Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp.
32. Re-ink and stamp again if necessary to attain a good impression.
33. Remove the stamp from the stamping platform. 
34. If necessary, remove the image panel from the stamping platform*.
35. Heat set the image panel.
36. Place the image panel back onto the base of the stamping platform and secure with magnets.
37. Place the other train car from the Milk Shake Train Heist Clear Stamp Set facedown onto the image panel so that its wheels are flush with the top of the tape and the bumper is against the bumper of the train car to the right.
38. Press the platform's lid onto the back of the stamps and lift.
39. Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp.
40. Re-ink and stamp again if necessary to attain a good impression.
41. Remove the stamp from the stamping platform. 
42. If necessary, remove the image panel from the stamping platform, prior to heat setting.
43. Use Pitt Artist and Le Plume pens to color the train cars.
44. Use the white gel pen to add white highlights to the train.
45. Use silver glitter pen to add glitter to the train wheels and hubs.
46. Use a grey chalk pencil to add steam above the locomotive.
47. Remove the tape from the image panel.
48. Use chalk pencils to add details and shading to the bricks on the arches.
49. Using a stamping platform, use Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink to ink the "Bon Voyage" sentiment from the Classic Sentiments Clear Stamp Set onto white cardstock. 
50. Ink and stamp again if necessary to attain a good impression.
51. Heat set the cardstock.
52. Use a narrow rectangle die to cut the sentiment.
53. Use a fancy nameplate die to cut raven cardstock and use the die-cut to mat the white sentiment.
54. Trim the image panel to 4.75" x 6.75".*
55. Adhere the image panel to the reserved black card.
56. Adhere the sentiment to finish the card.

Notes: 

• The Layered Arches Stencil Set is so versatile because the masks were included. Gotta love that.
• The Layered Arches can be trimmed to various heights which makes it even more versatile.
• If you have any questions about my instructions, please contact me and I'll try to explain further.

Thank you for visiting today!

Birthday Wishes Flower Card

Let's make a vintage-inspired flower card with Imagine Crafts' Walnut Ink Sprays!

Imagine Crafts Supplies:

Java, Cherry Blossom, Lilac, Terra Cotta, and Walnut Ink Spray

Pinecone, Verdant, Green Oasis, Cheerful, and Nocturne VersaFine Clair Inks  *

Sponge Daubers

Fantastix

Tear It! Tape

On Point Glue

Craft Mat

Other Supplies:

Watercolor Paper by Canson

Avalanche Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

In the Blooms: Clover Die Set by Papertrey Ink

Thinlits Tag Collection Die Set by Tim Holtz for Sizzix

TerraCotta Pot Eclectic Red Rubber Cling Stamp by Darkroom Door *

Sentiment from the Mixed Messages Clear Sentiments by PaperTrey Ink

Lace from my stash

Tiny Attacher Idea-ology Stapler by Tim Holtz for Advantus

Curved Craft Scissors by Fiskar’s

Stamping Platform by Tonic Studios

Misti Stamping Platform by My Sweet Petunia

Please note that products marked with asterisks ( * ) are available at Topflight Stamps.  

Instructions:

Step 1:

Spray Java Walnut Ink Spray onto a craft mat. Mist with water.

Step 2:

Press a 4.25” x 5” panel of watercolor paper into the Java Walnut Ink puddle. Lift and press the paper again until the panel is colored. Heat set.

Step 3:

Press lace into the remaining Java Walnut Ink puddle and let it soak it up to color the lace. Heat set.

Step 4:

Lightly mist the watercolor panel, then use a paper towel to dab spots to create a variegated background.

Step 5:

Place the panel between pieces of cardstock onto the base of a die-cut machine. Place cutting plates overtop, then crank the sandwich into the machine to help flatten the cardstock. (Sorry that there's no photo!)

Step 6: 

Remove the cardstock, trim to 4” x 5.25” and edge it with Pinecone VersaClair Ink. Set aside.

Steps 7A through 7D:

Spray watercolor paper with Eucalyptus Walnut Ink Spray. Mist with water. Heat Set (7A). Repeat with Cherry Blossom Spray  (7B), Lilac Walnut Ink Spray (7C), and TerraCotta Walnut Ink Spray (7D). Please note that I created lighter panels by misting with more water.

Step 8 A and B:

Use the flower cutting dies from the Into the Blooms: Clover Die set to cut the Cherry Blossom and Lilac Walnut inked panels.

Step 9:

Use the Paper Blossoms Tool Kit to shape the flower die-cuts.

Step 10: 

Use On Point Glue to layer and adhere the shaped flowers. BTW, my nails are dirty because the Walnut Ink Spray stains!

Steps 11A and 11B: 

Use a sponge dauber to apply Verdant VersaFine Clair Ink to a piece of watercolor card. (11A). Use a second sponge dauber to apply Green Oasis VersaFine Clair Ink overtop. Go back over the panel with Verdant VersaFine Clair Ink to blend. Heat set.

Steps 12A and 12B: 

Use the stem and leaves cutting dies from the Into the Blooms: Clover Die set to cut the Eucalyptus Walnut Inked panel and the VersaFine inked panels.

Step 13:

Use a sponge dauber to apply Cheerful VersaFine Clair Ink to a watercolor panel. Heat set. 

Use the flower center die from the Into the Blooms: Clover Die set to cut enough centers for all the flowers created in step 10. Use On Point Glue to adhere the yellow flower centers to the flowers. Sorry that I forgot to take photos.

Steps 14A and 14B:

Use Pinecone VersaFine Clair Ink to ink the TerraCotta Pot Eclectic Red Rubber Cling Stamp. Stamp onto the TerraCotta Walnut Inked panel. Heat set. (14A) Fussy-cut the panel (14B) and edge with Pinecone VersaFine Clair Ink.

Steps 15A and 15B:

Use Pinecone VersaFine Ink to ink the “Birthday Wishes” stamp from the Mixed Messages Clear Stamp Set. Stamp onto the Lilac Walnut Inked panel. (15A). Use a tiny tag cutting die from the Thinlilts Tag Collection to cut the sentiment.

Step 16:

Use a sponge dauber to apply Pinecone VersaFine Clair Ink to the outside perimeter of a white A2 card. Heat set.

Step 17: 

Staple the lace to the base of the Java Walnut Ink panel. Use On Point Glue and Tear-It! Tape to adhere the flowers, leaves, sentiment, and flower pot to the front of the card as shown. No photos. Sorry!

Use Tear-It! Tape to adhere the card front to the Pinecone VersaFine Clair-inked white card.

Thanks for visiting today!