Thank you to Eureka Stamps and QKR Stampede!

As our month draws to a close, I made a card with my favorite cat of all time and he's my WOO HOO Cat today.  He's a cutie and I had to play with him one more time this month.  I'm sure he'll be back to say hi again!  Love him that much!

Thank you to Eureka Stamps and QKR Stampede for sponsoring the Die Cut Divas this month!  We appreciate your sponsorship!  Still time to enter our challenge for August here.

I'm on a ROCKET SHIP to Mars

I'm on a ROCKET SHIP to Mars.  Well, if it's not Mars, it's somewhere.  I took this photo and noticed I needed a sentiment to show this as an example of Paula's sketch from the Die Cut Divas blog.  So, I added a sentiment that I think fits the card.  Dogs are man's best friends and if you've got a dog lover as a friend, I think this is perfect.  Hey, it's perfect anyway... 

Next Photo, please.

You can see how easy it was to pop in a sentiment with this design.  

I hope you realize this border is actually the sides of a die-cut that you would normally toss.  I thought it created a unique border and just that something different that you might look for.  SAVE your scraps.  Oh, I forgot I was "talking to the choir" of stampers.

Remember that the Die Cut Divas' challenge for August is still going strong.  You have got to love the sketch because it SO works as a basic model and sometimes what you need is a basic model.  I do LOVE this sketch.  Now go visit the blog and enter the challenge here.

OK, Pink? Dinosaur? A PINK DINO?

Here we have Pink, the pink Dino.  I think he's male because he just has that look in his eyes.... But he's playful and can juggle pretty well too.  I used this stripy paper and die cut the borders with the same paper to see what the effect would be.  I kind of like the wild sense of adventure it gives the card, as if a pink dinosaur doesn't give you a sense of humor.

A fun crazy digital stamp from Eureka for your enjoyment.  Do you notice the circle panel is all shimmery?  I have fallen in love with Tsukineko brand Sparkle Shimmer Spray.  Look at that sparkle.

Close-up of the shimmer

Be sure to visit Die Cut Divas blog for our challenge for August.  I love sketches and this is a great sketch that can be used in so many different ways!

Give the Flower Power!

I have seen this flower used so many times in the Hero Arts Flickr group that I absolutely HAD to get it.  Like I really need another flower....  Obviously I DID!  Hero Arts Painted Flower is the easiest way I've ever seen to watercolor.  When I made a card for a retire, I used the flower to see what inks and paper I might want to use.  Here, I used cold-press water color paper.  Yes, stamping cold-press is not my first choice, but I do like the way it turned out.

I didn't know if I'd use this flower because it didn't hold the paint on the paper, but the more I looked at it, the more I liked it.  The catalog was the inspiration for the flower, but I've been seeing so many great colors smooched across papers that I decided to try it to and I LOVE it.   See Jennifer McGuire's "Wish" card here for a spectacular example of colors.  I couldn't help try colors too.  This was fun.

Recipe:
Hero Arts Painted Flower K5767
Hero Arts Glow Girl CL650 - sentiment
Cuttlebug
Spellbinders circle and Lacy Circle die-cuts

I Think I LOVE This CAT!  I think he's the cutest thing EVER!  I have a lot of these images cut out with my Cuttlebug, so I'm sure there has to be at least ONE more idea rolling around in my head.  But on to today's post!  I love this sketch and I thought I'd see how it looked without the sentiment, which I usually leave off cards so I can stamp a sentiment later.

One Kool cat, even if no one says so.

This time, this KOOL cat from Eureka Stamps is making a statement and I think you better follow it!  This card came together in 20 minutes because of Paula's great sketch.   So I just had to post it.

Be sure to enter the current Die Cut Divas challenge here.

Flower Power!

I think it's time for some Flower Power!  QKR Stampede has a FUN image of happy flowers.  There are THREE flowers, but I was in the mood for two.  I thought a nice little couple of flowers would be just the thing for a friend or significant other.  I loved out they turned out.  The little star on one of the post, looks like it was glazed on a clay pot.  Of course you know it' Glossy Accents.  This is an alteration of the great sketch Paula did for this month.                                      
                                                              Sketch for Die Cut Divas

My Interpretation with a unique image from QKR Stampede

 Close-up of the Flower Power Pair - aren't they fun?

Yes, they are aglitter - thanks to Tsukineko's Sheer Shimmer Spritz

These fun flowers were easy to color and not that hard to cut.  Remember to visit Die Cut Divas for the fun sketch challenge this month of August.

QKR Stampede Smiling Flowers 17002
Die Cuts - Borders
Hero Arts Everyday Sayings CL342
Cuttlebug

Curious Cat

A curious cat on a curious card. I guess that sounds rather Dr. Seuss, doesn't it?  Well, it feels rather Dr. Seuss.  There was a cat caught in the spotlight high above the city.  He peeked in windows as detached as a butterfly.  I know this is a crazy collage, but it works for me.  I love the way this curious cat (curious - Arousing interest because of novelty or strangeness: a curious fact) looks oh, so cool and so "with it" here.  Length on this card is about 4 1/2 inches at the longest points, to give you an idea of size.  I think I will make this Scroll Frame image bigger in the future.  It's easy to cut out and has so much potential.

This little curious cool cat with shades and scroll frame come to you from Eureka Stamps  I've found the cat to be especially cute and curious.  These can be ordered in digital or rubber.  I'm having so much fun with them.

Visit Die Cut Divas for the latest challenge.

A Painted Flower

Sometimes you need a card for an occasion that you'd rather not have to need.  Someone who retired from state service, recently passed away and so a card I was making for a happy occasion turned into a card of condolence.  

I made the card without a sentiments, so added the sentiment.  Those who remembered Maddie signed the card and I went to the reception after the funeral, delivering my card.  I had never used this flower and bought it because of all the beautiful cards I'd seen made with it.  I took one look at the "Stamp your Story" and fell in love with the image all over again.

I think this card is a special card for those who are left behind.  I love the watercolor look and the elegance of it.

Hero Arts Painted Flower K5767

Butterflies are die-cuts

Cuttlebug

Ranger Distress Inks

Entering the Hero Arts challenge

My Adorable Lion

My Adorable Lion was easy to color and makes me smile.  He's visiting me from QKR Stampede.  Please make him welcome.

I was thinking of making this lion the actually card, but he seems a bit too small to cut out the lion as the card, not an element of a card.  It's still about 3 1/2 inches tall, so I wondered if I was going to be able to use Paula's sketch.  But like the train, I think I can... and I could!

I used Ranger Distress inks Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap for brown tones.and brightened up the earls with a Distress Marker "Spun Sugar" in the ears.  The poppies were in a bag I pulled out to see what I could use for the two embellishments.  I couldn't believe how cute they look next to this very cute, very tame lion.  You can tell he's tame because of the flower bud in his mouth.  The eyes and nose are made of black enamel accents.  Sounds like a float.

I think this guy deserves to be an amazing friend.

Be sure to visit Die Cut Divas for your challenge ideas - it's a sketch this month.This lion was published on Die Cut Divas by Dawn Turley with her Lion here.

Recipe

QKR Stampede - Lion 14212

Hero Arts Everyday Sayings CL342 (sentiment)

Distress inks Antique Linen & Frayed Burlap with Rusty Hinge on the crown

Ranger Star Dust Stickles

I don't remember if the heart is down with Fired Brick or Barn Door

WILD THANG!

I just had to name this card "WILD THANG" and tell you that there is no stamping at all, anywhere on this card.  ALSO, you know what a "oooh, I can use that in my card making" nut I am.

There are THREE (3) layers of die-cuts cut from tissue boxes that my friends at work have given to me.  I've had this tiger for about a year and suddenly all the panels just went together for me.  Of course I wasn't really working on this card.  I was just setting the sizes and colors on top of one another, enjoying the way they seemed to work together.  I was really working on the card for my daughter-in-law that I published over the weekend.  (The one with the nylon stockings from her package)

Top three layers are from tissue boxes.  

The top panel with the tiger is on pop-dots, but it's still hard to tell from the photo. 

I hope you liked the "WILD THANG" and get wild too. 

A Little Scroll Here

I printed out the scroll along with some other Eureka images.  It just didn't seem right to leave a scroll without any handwritten message of sympathy or love or some kind of message.

The border dies, I've had for years and never used them but once and when I did, I didn't care for them.  I DO NOW though!  I care a lot.  I had a scrap of card stock which may or may not be Tim Holtz and used it for the central panel..  I have an off-brand that has a similar flavor as Tim's card stock.

I am happy with this.  I like the design thanks to Paula and the neutral colors.  I saw the Get Well Soon stamp and just had to use it.

Close-up of Scroll

I hope you enjoyed this sample and be sure to join our Die Cut Divas challenge this month.  Remember it's a sketch.  To check out the sketch and enter the challenge, just click here!

Recipe: 

Eureka digital Stamp - Framed Scroll - 16701

Hero Arts Manuscript Background - H2141

Hero Arts Everyday Sayings - CL342

Distress Ink Pummice Stone

Cuttlebug

Provo Craft die cut - border

Pearls - cream color

A Birthday Card for my Daughter-in-Law

Here's a Birthday Card for my Daughter-in Law that I gave to her today.  The legs panel is from her nylon stockings package.

I've had the panels for almost two years now.  The other panels just seemed to fit themselves together.  I won some new goodies - the bows with glittery streamers in between.  The black crocheted doily behind the white flower was in a package of black and gray doilies that I recently purchased.  Well, I do like this card.

You don't have to stamp a card, though I usually do.  Hope you enjoyed this unusual card.  Have a great rest of the weekend to you here in America. 

Eureka!

Did I say Eureka?  That's what I'm talking about Eureka Stamps, that is.  I think everyone will be making a STAMPEDE - I FOUND IT!  I FOUND IT!  EUREKA!   We have two sponsors for the Die Cut Divas August challenge, Eureka Stamps and QKR Stampede.

Eureka Stamps is the sister company of QKR Stampede and offers wonderful hand drawn calligraphy, verses, large alphabet letters and backgrounds  There are fine art animals, whimsical Valentine characters and lots of cute Christmas and birthday stamps for cat and dog lovers too.

QKR Stampede offers unmounted rubber stamps, digital stamps, full sheets and supplies. Visit QKR Stampede for those unique, somewhat quirky styles with lots of humor and character.

I followed Paula's fantastic sketch for the month of August.  You have to love it and enter our August challenge.                                                    

Paula's sketch

I love the digital parchment stamp as there is so much you can do with it.  The image is blank the parchment devoid of writing or any inscription.  It feels like a fresh slate on which to hand-write your thoughts with an old-fashioned fountain pen.  Eureka Stamps offers both rubber and digital stamps. The Scroll Frame below comes in both.  I think this would work well in a vintage style card too.  Don't you?

Recipe:

Eureka Stamps - Scroll Frame 16701

Hero Arts Manuscript Background H2141

Hero Arts Travel AC031 sentiment

Stampin Up (pen) - Made in 2000 (no other information on stamp)

Cuttlebug 

Provo Craft Border die cuts

A little out there on the Sketch.

Fun little flowers to say hello.

As you know Qkr Stampede and Eureka stamps are sponsoring our blog this month and I've had such fun with the images.  Looking for rubber stamps or digital?  They've got both.  Here's a little more about QKR Stampede.

QKR Stampede offers unmounted rubber stamps, digital stamps, full sheets and supplies. Visit QKR Stampede for those unique, somewhat quirky styles with lots of humor and character.

Be sure to visit Die Cut Divas to enter the Challenge for the month of August!

It's time for QKR Stampede

Visit Die Cut Divas for August's challenge.   We have two sponsors this month and I'm introducing:

QKR Stampede offers unmounted rubber stamps, digital stamps, full sheets and supplies

Eureka Stamps is the sister company of QKR Stampede and offers wonderful hand drawn calligraphy, verses, large alphabet letters and backgrounds  There are fine art animals, whimsical Valentine characters and lots of cute Christmas and birthday stamps for cat and dog lovers too.

I absolutely love this digital, Art Palette.  I was thinking of so many ways to use it and imagined all the paint I could splatter!  Visit QKR Stampede for those unique, somewhat quirky styles with lots of humor and character..

Paula has a sketch which will have your creative juices flowing.  I also used a die cut for film as the edgings on my card.  I'm trying to stretch my dies, so I thought I would experiment.

                                                          Paula's sketch                                                    

My card using Paula's sketch

I enjoyed using this palette as it looks like mine, but I'm not showing a picture of me with splattered paint.  

Digi 19601 - Art Palette

Card Recipe:

QKR Stampede Digital Stamp - Art Palette - Digi19601

Hero Arts Travel AC031 - sentiment

Claudine Hellmuth's Studio acrylic paint by Ranger (these come in containers like Stickles or the glossy enamels, so they are easy to place color where you want)

            Yellow Pastel, Sky Blue,  Dash of Red, Charcoal Black and Painterly Pink

Photostrip die-cut for the trim on top and bottom.