Floral Silhouette with Perfect Pearls

"Cat-lovers will no doubt point out that the elegance and dignity of cats are the consequence of their sojourn in the temples of the gods, where their attitudes and movements were regarded as divine prognostications.  Be that as it may, it is obvious that the cat's wealth of expressions make it an ideal candidate for such a role."
                                                               ---------------Phillipe Diole

Hi, Friends....

I am back with a card I made for another MFP Challenge.  Are you getting the idea that I LOVE MFP challenges?????  Not only do they offer one of their fab stamp sets as a prize for each and every challenge they hold, but they have a week-long challenge EVERY DAY!!!  Wowza.  I play often with them and sometimes the parameters really take me out of my comfort zone.  I am thrilled to be inspired to dust off (and, in my case, sometimes pet hair remove) some neglected products and try them out.  These challenges break me out of my mold and I LOVE that.  That's what happened with today's card.  

Here are the inspiration photos for this amazing challenge:

Aren't those just the most gorgeous photos????  I tried to get them in one neat row, but I couldn't.  (sigh..)

Mark's Finest Papers Inspiration Challenges make it easy to enter, because you can take inspiration from anything about the photos.  I was inspired by the shimmery colors and the luminous full moon in each sensational photo.

Here's what I came up with:

I pulled out my Perfect Pearls to emulate the shimmery look and some solid stamps.  I hadn't used this carnation silhouette stamp in years!!!  The vase I found in a thrift store grab bag.  :)  I stamped my vase and masked the lower stems of the flowers to put them inside.  Then sprinkled with the powder.  Wow....LOVE the effect on black paper.  I didn't use the Perfect Medium that came with my Perfect Pearls.  It didn't seem to make the powder stick as well as a cheapo white stamp pad that I refresh with glycerine for embossing.  That was juicy enough to give a good base.  Maybe my Perfect Medium pad is just dried out?  (shrug...)

For this card, I used the Mandarin color of the Perfect Pearls.  It didn't end up looking very orange, but I love the shimmer!!!  Here's a shot at an angle where you can see it glow.  LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

I also followed this Sketchy Colors sketch for this card.  It was more complicated than I anticipated, since I had to construct my own oval stencils!  All my ovals were too small.  So this really took me out of my comfort zone, too.  But I finally got it put together.  Next time, easier sketch.  Ha!  

Other products I used on here are DCWV paper, which I inked around the edges, and a couple of little clearance rack stick-on embellishments.  

Do you think my card looks like a dollar bill????  After I got the photo on here, I thought it kind of did.  hehehee.

Have a lovely day and thanks so much for your sweet comments.  They make my day even brighter!!!

<3 
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:

1.  MFP Speedy TV Inspiration Challenge #66 - Colors of the Moon
2.  Sketchy Colors #214 - Sketch 
3.  Creative Craft Cottage Challenge #23 - Autumn Colors
4.  Creative Corner Challenges - That Old Stamp 
5.  Crafting Musketeers Challenge #14 - Stamped Image 

Beachy Flip Flop Card

"It's better the feed one cat than many mice."

                          ------Norwegian proverb 

  

Hi, Friends......

I am back with another beachy card. It doesn't look too hard, but it took me forever to make.....to get all the elements just right...but I love how it turned out! I used my Beach Keen set again from Fresh Squeezed Stamps. Such a fun set!! 

I went for a super-bright and splashy look for this card.  The striped paper is from Doodlebug Springtime
that I received as a prize.  (THANKS, Doodlebug!)  The colors were perfect for my card.





Here's the Sketch Saturday plan I used for my card:







To make my flip flops, I turned over the clear acrylic stamps and inked the backs with my  Color Box Tropical stamp pad.  The bands of color on this pad were just the right size for making the multi-colored flip flops.  I heat embossed the stamped shapes with clear embossing powder to give it a sheen and a slightly dimpled appearance.  Next I inked the correct side of the stamps (the side with the straps) with Staz-On black ink that would stamp nicely over the top of the embossed surface.  (Isn't it amazing how I can describe in a few sentences what took me well over an hour to do!?!  Ha.  I had a long line of flip flops before I could match up a pair that was satisfactory!  Ugh.  lol...)
I stamped my little shells several times using different colors of ink and embossing powder:  clear, khaki, and yellow powder.  Since I can never stamp right exactly over a previous stamping, I used this "problem" to my advantage to give the shells a little bit of depth. :)   I stamped and embossed my sandy background with the same colors, but also some orange.

Please notice the rough textured orange and pink papers under the stamped panel.  These are from DCWV The Fiber Stack.  I LOVE the organic feel to this paper.  DCWV makes several different color packs of this paper, I have the one with the bright colors.  The natural texture and vivid hues were just what I needed here.

That's all for now.  Hope your week is off to a good start!  Thanks for all your amazing comments.  I so appreciate each one of them!!

Have a lovely day!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:  
1.  Sketch Saturday Week #313  
2.  MFP Simple Salutations Challenge #100 - Beach 
3.  Fantastic Tuesday Challenge #38 - Summer
4.  Pile it On Challenge #23 - Patterned paper
5.  Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards Challenge #66 - Embossing 

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CAT STATUS UPDATE:
All the cats are fine.  The dog is not.  Growler continues to go to the neighbor's house (abt a mile away) where there are kids and other dogs to play with.  Growler is despondent because my husband is out of town right now and I think she is bored.  Do you think we should get a puppy to keep her company?  Arrrrrghh...what am I even thinking????
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Happy Anniversary Card

"Is it yet another survival of jungle instinct, this hiding away from prying eyes at important times?  Or merely a gesture of independence, a challenge to man and his stupid ways?"
                                                                           ------------Micheal Joseph

Hi, Friends......

I'm back with another Sketch with a Twist from MFP.  This time the twist was to make an Anniversary card.  I knew exactly which stamp I wanted to use.  I absolutely adore this pair of kitties cuddling under the stars.  I have used it for anniversary cards before, but it has been a long while and this sketch was perfect for it. 

The Happy Anniversary stamp has a flower below the script, but I masked it out for this card.  I heat embossed both stamped portions.  

The cardstock is DCWV and Coredinations.  The polka dot cardstock is glittery, although you can't tell from the photograph.  It's from DCWV Twinkle Glints.  

Here's the sketch I used.  Thanks Mark's Finest Papers for all the great challenges you give us!!  They are so much fun.

Wow!  This was sure a short post.  But I think I covered pretty much everything.  Thanks for visiting and leaving your wonderful comments!!!

<3 
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  MFP Speedy TV Sketch with a Twist #101 - Anniversary  
2.  Mod Squad Challenge - It's Happy Anniversary 
3.  Creative Corner Challenge - That Old Stamp  
4.  DRS Designs Challenge #125 - Pets R Us 
5.  Sailing Pineapple Challenge #5 - All Creatures Great and Small 

Oh, Snap! A Beachy Belated Birthday Card

"There wanst was two cats at Kilkenny,
Each thought there was one cat too many,
So they quarrell'd and fit,
They scratch'd and they bit, 
Till, excepting their nails,
And the the tips of their tails, 
Instead of two cats, there warn't any."
                 ------Anonymous


Hi, Friends.....

I am back with a beach-theme card that was loads of fun to make.  Love this crazy crab and the humorous sentiment.  The stamps are from the Fresh-Squeezed Stamps Beachy Keen set that I won from them last year.  (Thanks, FSS!...We miss you now that you have closed your store to pursue other goals.)


















I tore some strips of DCWV patterned paper for my waves letting the torn part be the frothy breakers.  I spread glitter glue over the pieces to give them some sparkle and lifted the torn places for dimension.  The sand also has sparkle from a bit of glitter glue.

I had so much fun painting my crab with my waterbrush and watercolors!!  Ooops...I see this photo cut off one of his claws, but it will grow back.  Ha!

I cut my sentiment panel in an inverse curve to complement the contours of the beach umbrella and of my happy little crab.  I mounted my scene and sentiment on spring green cardstock and put it over some sparkly green mesh on a square blue card base.

Hope you like this whimsical card.  Love all your comments and would love for you to become a follower, if you are so inclined.  Thanks!!! Have a lovely rest of the weekend!

<3
Janis 

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  MFP Friends of Speedy TV Challenge #127 - Beach
2.  Craft Your Passion Challenge #216 - Rip it, Tear it!  
3.  Fan-Tastic Tuesday Challenge #38 - Summer
4.  Shopping our Stash #154 - Critters 
5.  Pattie's Creations Challenge #93 - Birthdays

Gentle Oriental-Themed Card

One of my favorite quotes abt cats:
"Authors like cats because they are such quiet, lovable, wise creatures, and cats like authors for the same reasons."
                                                                    -------------Robertson Davies

Hi, Friends.....

I'm back with another Oriental-themed card.  I was extremely inspired by the simple and elegant sketch design and the lovely pastels that several of the designers used for their samples in the current MFP Oriental Sketch Challenge #39.

I still had some of my peach colored papers out from last night's/wee early hours this morning's post, so I decided to team them up with some mulberry paper and DCWV and K&Co. patterned paper that had an Oriental feel from my stash.   

Unfortunately, although I tried at least 18 different settings on my camera, I still could not capture the subtleties of the pastel peach tones this card has overall.  There is no aqua on this card, it is all tan, peach, and rust....(sigh).  Nevertheless, we soldier on, right?  

This card CASEs Kren's and Vickie's exquisite sample cards on the Oriental Sketch Blog.  Since I managed to click on the wrong blogs when posting my comments to them, I will totally understand if someone gives me a puzzling comment that doesn't at all pertain to my card.  Ha!!!  Thank you, ladies, for indulging me!

I really love this card's gentle mood.  The colors and the sentiment are so very soothing and calming.  Hope you like it!

Have a peaceful day!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering my card in the following challenges:
1.   MFP Oriental Sketch Challenge #39  
2.   Ladybug Crafts Challenge - Make it Monochrome  
3.   Creative Moments Challenge #44 - Anything Goes/Monochromatic
4.   Creative Craft Cottage Challenge #23 -  Colour/Autumn 
5.   We Do Doobadoo Challenge #7 - Different Shapes  

Vintage Young Lady in Garden

"The fact is that, to cats, we humans are, for all our grotesque size, unbelievably slow and clumsy.  We are totally incapable of managing a good leap or jump or pounce or swipe."
                                                                                      --------Cleveland Amory

Hi, Friends......

I am back with a layered vintage card.  I was inspired by a piece of patterned paper in my stash with earthy oranges and browns.....and then I didn't even use that piece!!!  :D

I used this exquisite Young Lady in Garden stamp that I snagged in a grab bag in a thrift store.  You might recall I asked for help in identifying the stamps in this post.  I still would love help, if you happen to know any info about these stamps.

This is such a lovely stamp that I merely stamped it in brown and heat embossed it.  I think it looks more vintage this way, too.  Gives it sort of a sepia look.

I inked the edges and layered several pieces of patterned paper (DCWV and K&Co.) from my stash for this.  I also included a scrap piece of lace-printed kraft that was the tail end of a roll of gift wrap.  I couldn't bear to throw it away!!!  Way too pretty for that.  

The ribbon layered over the lace is from my local thrift store....surprise, surprise!  Have I ever posted a card that did not have some thrift store treasure????  :) 

Here's the sketch I used for my card from the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.










I used Prima flowers and various little beads and sequins for the centers.  I had a leftover gold-embossed butterfly I made when I was in a butterfly card craze.  It seemed like it needed to be next to those flowers.  I like the added touch of gold.  I finished the card with a few self-adhesive pearls.  

Do you like my card?  I appreciate so much when you leave a comment.  And I also get a ginormous smile when I get a new follower.  Want to see what that looks like?????????  Try it and see!

Have a lovely day!!!

<3 
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  MFP Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge #214 - Vintage
2.  Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #221 
3.  ABC Challenge - M is for Monochromatic 
4.  Lawnscaping Challenge #83 - Embossing
5.  Use Your Stuff Challenge #138 - Patterned Paper
6.  Suzy Bee's Challenge #31 - Layer it Up 

Never Too Late for a Spring Crocus......

"A human may go for a stroll with a cat;  he has to walk a dog.  The cat leads the way, running ahead, tail high, making sure you understand the arrangement.  If you should happen to get ahead, the cat will never allow you to think it is following you.  It will stop and clean some hard-to-reach spot, or investigate a suspicious movement in the grass; you will find yourself waiting and figeting like the lackey you are.  But this is not annoying to cat lovers, who understand and appreciate a good joke, even when it is on them."

                                                                              ----------Robert Stearns


Hi, Friends......

I am back with a card that turned out quite minimalist....at least compared with how I envisioned it.  Somehow, as I got putting my things together, I realized that every flourish and layer I intended seemed to draw away from the simple beauty of this lovely IBS Garden Seed Packets spring Crocus image, which I stamped on snowy white watercolor paper.  I even decided not to frame it with the seed packet stamp that came in this set...... since crocus come as corms, not as seeds.  :)  

I painted the crocus image very simply with Crayola watercolor pencils and a waterbrush to blend the hues.

Here's the current Atlanta Hearts Sketch Challenge sketch I followed virtually to the letter.  I also used this week's MFP Color Challenge of purple, green, and yellow for my color scheme.

 

I especially want to draw your attention to the lace ribbon I used.  My amazing son found the pretty white/green/yellow lacy seam binding ribbon at a thrift store and put it in with the other Mother's Day goodies he gave me.  What a terrific son!  He sure knows me and what I love!  (THANKS, James!!)  I layered it over some other yellow lace trim I had (also from a thrift store, heh!) and finished the card with stick-on pearls. Other materials I used include:  DCWV  and K&Co. papers.

Hope you like this rather minimalist card.  I found the simplicity quite refreshing.  Have a lovely mid-week!

<3 

Janis

THANK YOU for the honor entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  MFP Speedy TV Color Challenge #25 - Purple, Green, and Yellow 
2.  Atlantic Hearts Challenge Sketch #58  
3.  QKR Stampede Challenge #90 - Baby, Spring, or Celebration 
4.  Inkspirational Challenges #57 - Bloom 
5.  Eclectic Ellapu - Pinkies Challenge - Spring