I know, I know.....I've already entered two cards in The Cat's Pajamas Challenge but you know what its like when you get new stamps and you can't stop using them!!
As soon as I saw this stamp set I just had to get it, its totally 100% me and how I feel right now:
Ah...that big round tummy....I can totally relate, especially after Easter!! That sentiment makes me smile everytime, I need it on a t-shirt!
I started off by stamping the bunny image (from The Cat's Pajamas 'In Shape') on some white CS and coloured with my pencils. I definitely wanted to have rounded edges in my design so used a Couture Creations circle die to cut out the image. To keep with the 'Spring' challenge theme, I added lots of tiny flowers (from MFT Stamps 'Hog Heaven') and coloured them with pencils too. I blended some Distress Ink 'Salty Ocean' on the card front and put the image on lots of foam tape.
It didn't seem right to have the sentiment all straight edged, so I die-cut a stitched-oval die (from Studio Katia) from black CS and heat embossed the sentiment (from the 'In Shape' stamp set) in white and put on foam tape as well. And of course I had to glue on a few shiny sequins from Neat and Tangled!!
I can hear my oven timer beeping in the background so better go save the chicken! We will be eating dinner in front of the fire tonight, all snuggled up in our pajama's....what a way to end the day....
Take care
Shona
On Monday afternoon, while I was kneeling in the dirt, up to my chin in weeds, I suddenly had an idea for a card!! I couldn't stop thinking about it and after getting home and doing all my jobs and catching up with the kids, I jumped at it!!
These are the beautiful colours for this months Altenew Inspiration Challenge. It was a chance for me to use purple on a card again, as I don't use it nearly enough!!
The idea for my card was rather tricky. It seemed easier in my mind than when I tried to physically put it together but I'm pleased to say it worked and I look forward to hearing what you think:
Okay, can you see what I did?? Here's a closer look:
And no, this wasn't done with a stencil and embossing paste. Its die-cutting all the way baby! I wish I knew how to film videos as it would be so much easier to explain and show you but maybe one day...
I started off with a card base and a panel of white CS the same size. I put the card base in the MISTI and arranged the first layer of the Altenew Build-a-flower 'Anemone' stamp. I stamped it on the card front, took it out and replaced with the panel and stamped on that. I then did the same with the next two layers of the flower, as well as the black details. When finished I had a card base with a flower and a panel with a flower, both in exactly the same spot.
Next I grabbed my Altenew 'Layered Medallions Cover Die A' and die-cut the panel. I rubbed a piece of Glad 'Press n Seal' to the back of the die-cuts and removed it gently, keeping all the pieces together. I had imagined putting the whole die-cut over the card front and removing the bits I didn't need but it didn't work. So.....
Jigsaw puzzle time!! I carefully matched up the pieces with the stamped flower and glued them into place. It took a little while but wasn't too hard to work out. Once I had finished I decided to add some Wink of Stella to the die-cuts just to make them stand out a little more. To keep it simple I stamped the sentiment from Altenew 'Adore You' and glued on some Neat and Tangled sequins. I'm over the moon it worked and I'm going to try it out with my other background dies too!
I'm also going to link this to the AAA Card Challenge #112 where their theme is 'Favourite Technique'. Creating a CAS card with fiddly die-cuts has always been a favourite of mine!!
And I'm going to join the Simon Says Stamp - Work It Wednesday Challenge where their theme is 'Fun Inking Technique'. I'm not sure about the 'fun' part but it was incredibly satisfying when it was finished!!
My iPad and electric blanket are calling my name!! I just changed the sheets on the kids beds so they have cuddly Winter sheets. Minnie the kitten slept by my face all night last night it was so cold, so will be expecting a visit from her very soon......she's so cute but when she yawns the cat-food breath isn't the nicest......
Take care
Shona
After some very busy and absolutely freezing cold days I'm finally back with my 2nd entry for The Cat's Pajama's Challenge!! We've gone from double digit temperatures to singular in two days, its been a huge shock for everyone. We are all scrambling to sort out firewood, electric blankets, thermals and gloves when we thought we had another month to do so...Mother Nature just loves to keep us on our toes!!
Oh how I wish it was Spring here but at least I know that once we get thru Autumn and Winter, warmer weather will return!!
For my 2nd card I just had to squeeze in some flowers and colour another image of a cute bunny:
I don't use purple on my cards very often, I think I should, its such a pretty colour!!
To start with I stamped the bunny and flower images (from The Cat's Pajama's 'Family Forever' stamp set) on white CS and coloured with my pencils. I then used a oval stitched die from Studio Katia to cut it out. I found a gorgeous ombre patterned paper from Rosies Studio '#happy' and die-cut with the next largest oval die. This was adhered to the card front and the coloured oval was put on foam tape.
The sentiment is from Verve Stamps 'New Beginnings' and I stamped it on some white CS. I glued it to a piece of black CS and cut around it to leave a slight frame. This was put on foam tape, along with some sequins from Neat and Tangled.
I better go and finish off dinner for all the hungry people in my house. Its amazing how much more hungry you get when the temperature goes down. I know its your body's way to stock up the fat reserves to deal with the cold but I have plenty already. Maybe if I sit outside in my underwear I can shiver off all the weight????......Although not so good for the neighbours.........
Take care
Shona
