Christmas Kickstart Challenge

Waaaaay back in the beginning of November I was invited by Jo (AKA Dotty Jo) to be a Guest Elf at the Christmas Kickstart challenge.  I was chuffed to be invited and luckily she caught me before life took some unexpected turns and my card supplies got packed up and shoved into a corner.

The theme for this month's challenge is The Sentiment Takes Centre Stage.  This was a perfect choice for me as I'd been having so much fun with my Essentials by Ellen alphabet dies at the time.  I always thought this Katzelkraft kitty must be yowling out a celebratory tune and decided that this time the tune would be Deck the Halls.  :)

I hope you'll play along and can't wait to see your creations!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Ralfs Red, Smokey Slate) Stampin' Up

Patterned Paper: (Green Swirls 12x12) Stemma

Stamps:  (Cat) Katzelkraft, (Santa hat from Holiday Cats) Skipping Stones Designs

Ink:  (Memento Tuxedo Black) Tsukineko

Die:  (Classic Block Alpha) Essentials by Ellen

Markers:  (R27) Copic

Other:  (Glossy Accents) Ranger

Deck The Halls

 I'm popping in with a card for the Simon Says Wednesday Anything Goes challenge.  I love this sentiment from My Favourite Things and thought it suited this grumpy Katzlekraft kitty perfectly.  I dressed him up with a hat and bowtie from Tim Holtz hoping that would cheer him up but as you can see he's still grumpy!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Dark green) Bazzill, (Real Red, Cucumber Crush), Going Grey Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Cat) Katzlekraft, (Hat, bowtie) Tim Holtz, (Sentiment from Sassy Pants Holiday) My Favourite Things, (Envelope Pattern) Hero Arts

Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black) Tsukineko,

Dies:  (Oval Shadows) My Favourite Things

Marker:  (R27) Copic

Other:  (Nuvo Simply White Crystal Drops) Tonic

Gems:  Recollections

You Never Age

It's been a long time since I played along with The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers but I couldn't resist their birthday challenge.  I adore this grumpy cat and this MFT snarky sentiment suits him perfectly.  I paper-pieced a Tim Holtz birthday hat for him which seems to have made him even more grumpy!  :)

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Rose Red, So Saffron, Bermuda Bay, Smokey Slate) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Cat) Katzelkraft, (Hat) Tim Holtz, (Sentiment from Sassy Pants Birthday Greetings 2) My Favourite Things

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black) Tsukineko

Dies:  (Oval) My Favourite Things

Other:  Nuvo Rhubarb Crumble & Caribbean Ocean Crystal Drops) Tonic

CASology #358

Welcome to Week 358 of CASology!  Take a look at the cue word for this week:

My Favourite Things has some really fun sassy sentiment sets and this Katzelkraft kitty seemed made for this particular sentiment.  Clearly he's that friend who promises plenty of hijinks and no chance of a dull moment whenever you get together! 

Looking forward to seeing what direction the cue word takes you.  Check out the gorgeousness from the rest of the design team then play along!

Deidre Payne

Jacquie Southas 

Janet Ribet

Jen Wills

Joyce Mehrberg

Karen Haman

Milka Gubo

Melissa Chipperfield 

Nancy Elrick

Sue Symens

This week's guest designer:

Deepti S.

This week's sponsor:

Stamplorations

Link your creations to the CASology blog by Monday, 30 December (CDT).

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Old Olive) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Cat) Katzelkraft, (Sentiment from Sassy Pants Best Friends) My Favourite Things

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black, Memento Rich Cocoa) Tsukineko

Markers:  (YR04, Y38) Copic

Other:  (Nuvo Ripened Pumpkin Crystal Drops) Tonic

CASology #351

Welcome to Week 351 of CASology!  Take a look at the cue word for this week:

This Katzelkraft ostrich always makes me giggle so I knew I had to use him for this week's cue word.  I decided he'd make the perfect dapper dude with a bit of a saucy side to him.  :D The Tim Holtz hat fit him beautifully and I always feel a sense of accomplishment whenever I use a bit of ribbon - no matter how tiny!

Looking forward to seeing what direction the cue word takes you.  Check out the gorgeousness from the rest of the design team then play along!

Deidre Payne

Jacquie Southas 

Janet Ribet

Jen Wills

Joyce Mehrberg

Karen Haman

Milka Gubo

Melissa Chipperfield 

Nancy Elrick

Sue Symens

This week's guest designer:

Cathy R

Link your creations to the CASology blog by Monday, 16 September (CDT).

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Cajun Craze, Old Olive) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Ostrich) Katzelkraft, (Hat from Crazy Things) Tim Holtz, (Sentiment from Hello You) Simon Says Stamp

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black, Mento Tuxedo Black) Tsukineko

Markers:  (Y17, YG63, E08, W3, W5) Copic

Ribbon: EK Success

Other:  (Nuvo White Crystal Drops) Tonic

Oh Nuts...

Why is it that when I need to make a special card for someone I freeze up and instead have all sorts of ideas for designs that have nothing to do with the business at hand?  And why do so many of them seem to be slightly inappropriate?  Today I finally gave up on the card I sat down to make and instead followed through with the silliness that popped into my head.  And you know what?  As soon as this was done the other card cooperated and practically made itself.  Clearly sometimes I need to just relax, go where my crazy brain takes me and trust that I'll end up in the right place at the end.

I'm going to play along with three challenges:  

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Just Add Ink - Just Add "C"

(Cat or perhaps cojones!)

AAA Birthday - For the Boys

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Cucumber Crush, Basic Black) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Cat) Katzelkraft, (Sentiment from Whoops) Lil' Inker Designs

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black) Tsukineko

Dies:  (Stitched circle) Heffy Doodle, (Inline Alpha) Altenew

Markers:  (YR04, Y38, C1) Copic

Glitter:  (Nuvo Ripened Pumpkin Crystal Drops) Tonic

Milk, Fish and Apples

Hey there!

I've got two cards to share this evening.  First up is for the CAS Colours & Sketches and Simon Says Wednesday challenges.  Katzelkraft has so many awesome images - cats, dogs, birds, and more!  I love the fact that the drawing style works so well with the Tim Holtz Crazy Cats, Dogs and Birds images.  The hat, milk bottle and fish are TH and I thought they were perfect for this kitty dreaming of birthday treats.

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Flirty Flamingo, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Smokey Slate, Basic Black) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Cat from Les Chats Russes) Katzelkraft, (Hat from Mini Bird Crazy & Things, Fish & milk from Mini Cats & Dogs) Tim Holtz, (Sentiment from Smitten Kitten) My Favourite Things

Ink:  (VersaMark, Memento Tuxedo Black) Tsukineko

Embossing Powder:  (Opaque Bright White Super Fine) Wow

Dies:  (Speech bubble) XCut

Markers:  (RV13, C1) Copic

Gems:  Recollections

This next card is for Freshly Made Sketches, Addicted to CAS (code word Apples) and Just Add Ink (Just Add Texture).  I don't make shaker cards too often but I love this shaker apple set from Lil' Inker Designs.  It was easy to put together although I think I may have overfilled it somewhat...  Whoops.  Still getting the hang of this shaker game!  The sentiment is from Paper Smooches and I used a corrugated strip after seeing the awesome corrugated waves on my friend Claire's adorable shark card.  I actually managed to dig out my old Fiskars crimper and ran some cardstock through it for some fun texture.  Thanks for the reminder, Claire! 

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Soft Suede, Basic Black) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Sentiment from Falling For You) Paper Smooches

Ink:  (VersaMark) Tsukineko

Embossing Powder:  (Opaque Bright White Super Fine) Wow

Dies:  (Apple) Lil' Inker Designs

Other:  (Microbeads) Recollections

Gems:  Recollections

Ostrich Greetings

Hi there!

I'm here with a card for three challenges:  Just Add Ink (Just Add "O"), Simon Says Wednesday Challenge (Animal Magic) and Time Out Challenges (Wild).  Katzelkraft has so many amazing and hilarious critter images.  I am slowly building up my collection but, of course, there are always more to covet!  The look on this ostrich's face cracks me up and he could be paired with a variety of sentiments.  For this card I kept it simple with a Paper Smooches "'Sup?"  And look!  More patterned paper!  Maybe I'll get through it before 2026 after all....

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Real Red) Stampin' Up

Patterned Paper:  (Cool Kid 6x6) Crate Paper

Stamps:  (Ostrich) Katzenkraft, (Sentiment) Paper Smooches

Ink:  (VersaFine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black) Tsukineko

Dies:  (Wonky Stitched Rectangles) My Favourite Things, (Speech bubble) XCut

Markers:  Copic

Other:  (Nuvo Ebony Black Crystal Drops) Tonic

CASology #275

Welcome to Week 275 of CASology!  Take a look at the cue word for this week:

I finally got my hands on the Katzelkraft cat and dog stamps that I've been lusting after for ages and I thought this guy would be perfect for this week's cue.  Not only does he have sharp teeth and claws but he also has a sharp, sarcastic wit!

Looking forward to seeing what direction the cue word takes you.  Check out the gorgeousness from the rest of the design team then play along!

Anna Uhras

Deidre Payne

Jacquie Southas 

Janet Ribet

Jen Wills

Joyce Mehrberg

Judy Marino 

Kymona Tracey

Melissa Chipperfield 

Rachel Bergfeld

Sherrie Mannion 

Link your creations to the CASology blog and remember that the deadline for entries is Monday at noon (CDT).

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Lucky Limeade, Bermuda Bay) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Cat) Katzelkraft, (Sentiment from Snarky Sentiments) Lil' Inker Designs

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukeniko

Dies:  (Speech bubble) Lil' Inker Designs, (Oval shadow) My Favourite Things