Cat Lovers Hop Project #5 Watercolour Snarky Cat Card set

Hello Lovelies! 

 

Due to the limit of 5 projects per person on the main hop link up, many of mine will only be shared here and on my socials, so please keep checking back to get as many chances for the giveaway as possible!  I will also keep making AFTER the official Hop finishes, so please keep on checking back!

See, I promised you a card project before the end of the official hop (I'm cutting it really fine, though!) It's not the end for me!  I still have things I want to make which will could towards entries for the giveaway!

I've had the idea for a set of snarky cat cards like these for a while.  I used the Tim Holtz Snarky Cat stamp set, but I wanted to give some exercise to all my Dyan Reaveley snarky phrase sets too. 

 

These aren't for everyone,  but two of my closest friends are my crafty, snarky, coffee drinking besties and I know they'd have a laugh and not take it personally!

The Distress Ink watercolour is where is all fell down a bit.  The first one (red and orange) was more or less what I had in mind, except then they started to turn all monochromatic!  I'll be honest that I was still feeling pretty terrible so it wasn't going to be my best work no matter how you look at it. 

 

Once the watercolour was dry, I stamped the cats and sentiments, added a piece of fun foam a bit smaller than the card front then added the sequins.  Glue Dots are ideal for helping even out warped paper and giving extra hold where it might pull away from the card base.  

 
 

And sequins with wet glue and violently shaking hands as mine were today is a recipe for disaster!  Thanks, Columbus Trading!

 

 

I'm also not digging the sequins on some of them.  The placement of the stamp and sentiment on some doesn't help either, but overall I'm pleased given the circumstances! 

 

  

The hand shakes also explain the terrible photography! Soz!  

 

 

🎨 As I mentioned before, I'm going to keep making past the official end of the Hop on 31st (US Time) so keep coming back for more posts to comment on and get more entries!  There may be more Kitty fashions in the coming days 😜 and hopefully some card projects starting later today/tonight!

Snarky Cat Card Set

 Giveaway Prizes

🐱 Update! Since my first project (the cat masks) caused so much excitement, the three winners of the physical prizes can pick a cat fabric and I will make a mask to go with their prize (if they would like one).

Please understand that I can't do it for the electronic gift card prize, since it would mean shipping costs and the value of the gift card takes into account that I don't have to spend money on shipping.  Thanks so much!

MFT "Purr-Fect Friends" Stamp Set

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jane Davenport "Purr-fect Cat" Stamp Set

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cat Embellie pack 

with stickers, clips and half of the Echo Park "I Love My Cat" paper pad 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Max's Choice" Bonus Prize

A gift card to the crafty store of your choice to the value of $20USD (or equivalent in your currency) to the closest denomination of card available.

Giveaway Rules

📌 I have three items (and a bonus fourth prize) to give away (pictured below) and I'll pull three names for the first three prizes.

📌For the  fourth "bonus" prize: it will go to someone who has entered the main blog hop (please let me know your project numbers if you would like to be considered.  You can wait til the blog hop is over (but before the close of the giveaway) to do this since the order changes sometimes.)

📌 The first name drawn gets first choice, second name gets second choice and so on.  Bonus prize will be TallCraftyDude's favourite project!

📌 This Giveaway is NOT SPONSORED.  I purchased the prizes especially for this giveaway.  This year I picked stuff other than just stamp sets to mix it up a bit

 

What Do You Have to Do?

You will receive an entry (or entries) for each of the following.  You absolutely don't have to do everything - just how ever many you like.

If you have previously followed my socials then these are already counted for you!  (unfollowers will not be counted)
📌 The giveaway will remain open until 11:59PM AEDT on Friday 6 November.   Please visit THIS SITE to calculate in your own timezone
📌 The winner will be drawn on Monday 9 November so PLEASE CHECK BACK HERE
❗If the winner and I can't make contact by Monday 16 November, I will have to draw a new winner since I need to get these prizes out all together.
❗Please try to email me at alex@pinkcraftymama.com This really is the easiest way for me to get in touch with you since not all blogger profiles have an email attached and if you JUST leave comments, I have no other place to search for you.

So...what do you have to do to get entries?

🐈 Follow this blog - 3 entries (in the left sidebar)

🐈 Subscribe to my YouTube Channel - 3 entries

🐈 Follow me on Facebook - 2 entries

🐈 Follow me on Instagram - 1 entry

🐈 Comment (once per day per person) on a project post between now and the close of the giveaway - 1 entry per post.  Index page with links to all my projects. 

Please don't hesitate to  email me with any questions at alex@pinkcraftymama.com

If you're entering the giveaway, comment below and tell me...is your car a fussy eater?  (or a cat you know if you don't have one) Or anything else if this doesn't grab you.

 

* ⬅⬅⬅ Acronyms and strange terms in left sidebar!  

 

Love and stay safe,

 

TTCRD DT 5 Nov and Coffee Lovers Hop Project 2

Hi Lovelies!


Today is challenge day for Design Team B for the Through The Craft Room Door Challenge.  This is a WEEKLY "anything goes" (any type of project and any theme) challenge with 2 design teams who alternate weeks to make projects showcasing the sponsor who often offers PRIZES!

This week we have a free choice of image, so I continued with my Distress Ink and Ink Road stamps.  Unlike the previous project when I used the "packaging technique" I used a brush and was much happier.

The ink looks neon in the pictures, but it really isn't!

In addition to "Mug Life", I also used two other Ink Road stamp sets - "Boymom" and "The Struggle is Real" for the sentiments.  In both cases each sentiment was a single stamp, but using a craft knife I cut each one so I could use part of the sentiment above the image and part below.  If I were to see myself only doing this occasionally, I'd just mask it, but I thought the stamps would be more versatile cut since I could mix them up with other stamps.

I didn't use any ink splatter on these - just clear sequins and adhered the watercoloured panels onto the card bases with plenty of foam tape to keep it from puling away and smooth out any warping.

These cards will also make up Project 2 for the Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

I Run on Coffee and Chaos

I Can't Emphasize this enough: COFFEE!!!

OK now to the giveaway part:

 

Giveaway CLOSED
📌 I have three items (and a bonus fourth prize) to give away (pictured below) and I'll pull three names for the first three prizes.

📌For the  fourth "bonus" prize: it will go to someone who has entered the main blog hop (please let me know your project numbers if you would like to be considered.  You can wait til the blog hop is over to do this since they change sometimes.)
📌 The first name drawn gets first choice, second name gets second choice and so on.  Bonus prize will be TallCraftyDude's favourite project!
📌 This Giveaway is NOT SPONSORED.  I purchased the prizes especially for this giveaway.  This year I picked stuff other than just stamp sets to mix it up a bit!  In the even the items I purchased are on back order, I'll purchase something similar in their place and update the list below. Thanks for understanding!

The prizes you get to pick from are:

This pair of embossing folders - "On the Go" by Tim Holtz and "Coffee Stains" by Creative Expressions

 

 

 

 

 

Framelits Die & Stamp Set By Crafty Chica for Sizzix called "Mi Cafecito Mi Amor"

 

Coffeesaurus Stamp Set By Gerda Steiner

Lastly, the bonus prize will be a pack containing a 6x6 "Coffee" paper pad by Echo Park and some coffee themed embellishments.  This prize will be awarded to TallCraftyDude's favourite project so PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT NUMBERS IN THE MAIN HOP YOUR PROJECTS ARE IF YOU WISH TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS PRIZE!  THANK YOU SO MUCH!

You will receive an entry (or entries) for each of the following.  You absolutely don't have to do everything - just how ever many you like.

If you have previously followed my socials then these are already counted for you!  (unfollowers will not be counted)
📌 The giveaway will remain open until 11:59PM AEDT on Sunday 10 November.  Please visit THIS SITE to calculate in your own timezone
📌 The winners will be drawn randomly on Tues 12 Nov so PLEASE CHECK BACK HERE
❗If the winner and I can't make contact by Tues 19 Nov, I will have to draw a new winner since I need to get these prizes out all together.
❗Please try to email me at alex@pinkcraftymama.com This really is the easiest way for me to get in touch with you since not all blogger profiles have an email attached and if you JUST leave comments, I have no other place to search for you.

So...what do you have to do to get entries?
🍵Subscribe to my YouTube channel - 3 entries
https://www.youtube.com/user/PinkCraftyMamaAlex
🍵 Follow this blog - 3 entries (in the left sidebar)
🍵 Follow me on Facebook - 2 entries
🍵 Follow me on Instagram - 1 entry
🍵 Comment (once per day per person) on a post between now and the close of the giveaway - 1 entry per post

I don't yet know how many makes I'll have done between now and then, but it will be at least three.  The more love from you guys the better the chances of me getting crafty which gives you more chances to enter.  I may continue with extra "unofficial" projects after the Hop actually ends, so be sure to keep checking back here since you get an entry for commenting!

Click here for Project 1

So today...if you want to leave a comment, tell me whether drink any other caffeinated drinks besides tea or coffee?  (or anything else if this doesn't grab you) and please don't hesitate to  email me with any questions at alex@pinkcraftymama.com


* ⬅⬅⬅ Acronyms and strange terms in left sidebar! 

Love and copious cups of coffee!

Coffee Lovers Blog Hop Project 1

I can't believe it's hopping time again!  If I wasn't prepared for the Cat Lovers Hop, I'm really REALLY unprepared for this one!  And yes I'm doing another giveaway.  I'm trying to grow my YouTube channel and forgot to include it to get entries in the last hop so I have this time.  If you enjoy watching crafty videos, please subscribe to my channel!

Aaaaanyway...I felt I needed to start simple.  I had one of my regular infusions yesterday (and not the caffeinated kind) so I wanted to get something done before (and complete my DT assignments).  This didn't leave an awful lot of time.  

I pulled out my Distress Inks and used the "packaging technique" with the intention of stamping over the hop.  I was inspired by this set of cards by Kimberly from Freshwater Studio.  I wondered what this would look like in rainbow colours.   I'm seriously unconvinced.  I definitely think Kimberly did a much better job using the browns.

I do have the same Altenew stamps, but I was in a snarky mood, so Mug Life by Ink Road Stamps was a better choice.  Despite using a MISTI, I managed to get some smudgy stamping.  😖😖😖

I put some October Afternoon stickers in a lighter cream (to blend in with the watercolour paper) over the top and restamped.  Not ideal, but not totally awful. 

This one is roughly 4.5 inches and I definitely went too far with the rainbow.  It's pretty though.  

If you are familiar with Ink Road stamps you may notice the text has been surgically excised from the frappe cup.  I don't use profanity, so it had to go.  I borrowed the stars from another IR set since the space felt too empty and lastly some gold splatter and black sequins secured by Mini Glue Dots.

I thought I'd try some splatter with shimmery red and pink mist.  Big mistake!  Combined with the sentiment it looked way too Dexter-esque! 🤣🤣🤣 I liberally added plain gold and covered the worst of it with pink iridescent sequins.  I was slightly amused though. 🤷

The next two are quite a bit smaller at around 3 inches so I decided to keep them simpler.  I didn't add sequins to either - just the splatter and I'm happier with the background too.

This last background might have been my favourite in how the colours mixed.  I'm not sure.  There will be another post in about 12 hours time using the same stamps except I watercoloured the background with a brush instead.  I like those much better, so be sure to check back and get another entry! 

OK now to the giveaway part:

 

Giveaway NOW CLOSED

📌 I have three items (and a bonus fourth prize) to give away (pictured below) and I'll pull three names for the first three prizes.
📌For the  fourth "bonus" prize: it will go to someone who has entered the main blog hop (please let me know your project numbers if you would like to be considered.  You can wait til the blog hop is over to do this since they change sometimes.)
📌 The first name drawn gets first choice, second name gets second choice and so on.  Bonus prize will be TallCraftyDude's favourite project!
📌 This Giveaway is NOT SPONSORED.  I purchased the prizes especially for this giveaway.  This year I picked stuff other than just stamp sets to mix it up a bit!  In the even the items I purchased are on back order, I'll purchase something similar in their place and update the list below. Thanks for understanding!

The prizes you get to pick from are:

This pair of embossing folders - "On the Go" by Tim Holtz and "Coffee Stains" by Creative Expressions

 Framelits Die & Stamp Set By Crafty Chica for Sizzix called "Mi Cafecito Mi Amor"

 

Coffeesaurus Stamp Set By Gerda Steiner

Lastly, the bonus prize will be a pack containing a 6x6 "Coffee" paper pad by Echo Park and some coffee themed embellishments.  This prize will be awarded to TallCraftyDude's favourite project so PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT NUMBERS IN THE MAIN HOP YOUR PROJECTS ARE IF YOU WISH TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS PRIZE!  THANK YOU SO MUCH!

You will receive an entry (or entries) for each of the following.  You absolutely don't have to do everything - just how ever many you like.

If you have previously followed my socials then these are already counted for you!  (unfollowers will not be counted)
📌 The giveaway will remain open until 11:59PM AEDT on Sunday 10 November.  Please visit THIS SITE to calculate in your own timezone
📌 The winners will be drawn randomly on Tues 12 Nov so PLEASE CHECK BACK HERE
❗If the winner and I can't make contact by Tues 19 Nov, I will have to draw a new winner since I need to get these prizes out all together.
❗Please try to email me at alex@pinkcraftymama.com This really is the easiest way for me to get in touch with you since not all blogger profiles have an email attached and if you JUST leave comments, I have no other place to search for you.

So...what do you have to do to get entries?
🍵Subscribe to my YouTube channel - 3 entries
https://www.youtube.com/user/PinkCraftyMamaAlex
🍵 Follow this blog - 3 entries (in the left sidebar)
🍵 Follow me on Facebook - 2 entries
🍵 Follow me on Instagram - 1 entry
🍵 Comment (once per day per person) on a post between now and the close of the giveaway - 1 entry per post

I don't yet know how many makes I'll have done between now and then, but it will be at least three.  The more love from you guys the better the chances of me getting crafty which gives you more chances to enter.  I may continue with extra "unofficial" projects after the Hop actually ends, so be sure to keep checking back here since you get an entry for commenting!

Click here for Project 2

So today...if you want to leave a comment, tell me whether you still drink hot coffee/tea in  Summer since that's where we are heading here in Australia (or anything else if this doesn't grab you) and please don't hesitate to  email me with any questions at alex@pinkcraftymama.com


* ⬅⬅⬅ Acronyms and strange terms in left sidebar! 

Love and copious cups of coffee!

TTCRD Design Team Project 24 Sept

Hi Lovelies!

Today is challenge day for Design Team B for the Through The Craft Room Door Challenge.  This is a WEEKLY "anything goes" (any type of project and any theme) challenge with 2 design teams who alternate weeks to make projects showcasing the sponsor who often offers PRIZES!

This week's sponsor is Wink Wink Ink.  You can read a bit more about them below.

Prize:  Three images as used by Design Team

https://www.etsy.com/shop/WinkWinkInk
Blog: http://www.winkwinkink.com/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/winkwinkink/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digital.stamps/

As there is still a week of September remaining, I'm still using sketches which are the "product focus" of the month at Rediscover Your Stash as I have mentioned before.


I found this sketch online while looking for inspiration so I could translate this challenge to card projects as well.  It's the most recent one from Freshly Made Sketches.  Timing was such that it didn't work to enter this card as their challenge finished before this one started,  It was fine since I'm not sure whether my splodgy background (made using the "packaging technique" and Distress Ink) really fit into their guidelines.


I really like it and will definitely be trying it again!

The best bit is that I pulled ALL the bits of patterned paper from my scrap box as I was hoping to do with this month's Counterfeit Kit Challenge.  👍

The execution was a little tricky since it was a digi I was limited as to which paper will go through the printer.

At first I thought I'd have to mask the worm and I learned the hard way what disaster can strike from colouring first then masking on the wrong paper!

I also wasn't sure whether I wanted to watercolour, use Inktense or Copic markers.  I decided to try Neenah in the 80lb weight.  Copics will work well enough on Neenah, but my personal preference for Copics (X-Press Blending Card)  is a huge no-no when it comes to masking,

It turns out that even masking Neenah wont stop the splodgy ink soaking through and bleeding under the image, so I tried a second time and didn't bother masking.  I just used much less of the ink doing my best to avoid the worm.

Inktense doesn't work at all well on Neenah so I thought using Copics dark enough to mask the few bits of worm that  still managed to be hit with ink.  It turns out that what does and does not qualify as "worm coloured" is actually a rather controversial topic in our fam bam.  Who knew? 🤣🤷

I just KNEW I wanted "hang in there" as a sentiment and was pretty sure I had at least one stamp with this sentiment.  I also hoped for a squiggly "wormy" looking scripty font.  It was Honey Bee stamps (in a cat themed set no less) for the win! 🙌

Since the worm image was tall, I felt it was a good opportunity to try making a narrow "DL" card.  

I adhered the Neenah card front to the blue mat with a copious quantity of Permanent Glue Dots since past experience has taught me that even flattened water coloured paper will naturally want to pull away and regular adhesive is not strong enough.  I then used foam tape to adhere to the card base for a bit of dimension.  More glue dots for the sequins of course.

In retrospect, I could have stitched down the sequins and the paper layers on the front.  It wasn't possible after adding the glue dots since it would gum up the needle.  I'd have to have stitched the card layers together which would have been nice too.

That's all from me and I hope you stop by the TTCRD blog to enter this week's challenge!

Love and creative cardmaking,

TTCRD DT Project 13 July

Hi Lovelies!

Today is challenge day for Design Team B for the Through The Craft Room Door Challenge.  This is a WEEKLY "anything goes" (any type of project and any theme) challenge with 2 design teams who alternate weeks to make projects showcasing the sponsor who often offers PRIZES!

This week's sponsor is TTCRD with a Beach Theme.
Prize: $5 Amazon gift card

So...what's the fist thing that springs ti mind when you think beach?  Naturally my rather warped imagination jumps straight to two stamps sets ("Shark Bites" from Newton's Nook and "Killer Messages" by Hero Arts) and a set of dies ("Paper Layering Shark" from Hero Arts)...of sharks.

I did promise nothing gruesome so it wasn't as fun as it could be, but I made the best of it.  This was one of those times when what's in my head didn't translate to paper.  Again.

I wanted a beach scene with a fin, but when you open a partial flap, it shows what's REALLY under the water.  I didn't really have much in the way of beachy stuff, so I kept it simple with watercolouring using Distress Inks.  I figured I had to have some stickers with beachy stuff SOMEwhere and Amy Tangerine came through with some palm trees from the "American Crafts Designer Sticker Books',

After stamping, painting and cutting out the sharks, I looked at the silhouettes of the swimmers from the set of dies.  I thought about placing them in the same spot on the front and the inside of the card then use that great sentiment which makes me laugh every time.

Not being one who knows when to stop, I stamped waves on the front of the card and then some schools of fish (one of which is slightly messed up! 😳)

While I like the idea, I definitely don't quite love how it actually turned out.  I would have liked stiffer watercolour paper, but it needs to be hot pressed so I can stamp on it.

Friends til the Inevitable End

Front of card

 

Friends til the Inevitable End

Inside of Card

That's all for now and please head on over to TTCRD and enter a project in the challenge,  It doesn't have to be beach themed.

Love and snarky sharky sentiments

Coffee Lovers Spring/Summer Blog Hop Project 2 (unofficial)

(Goveaway now closed)

Click here for Project 1
Click here for Project 3

Well I honestly hoped to get this finished and posted 24 hours ago, but these things happen (usually to me)!😂

I'm mixing things up and posting a layout (yeah I know it's predominantly a cardmakers hop) since I'm going to continue posting projects over the next few days until I close my giveaway on the 16 May 17 May.

This layout is based on Prompt 8 from Shimelle's Layer on Layer on Layer class.  It was always going to be a challenge for me with it's uncharacteristic lack of paper and dimensional "stuff".  Shimelle's version also used more subtle ink blending and slightly less crazy stamping! 😳😳😳

I had an idea in my head how this was going to go.  Naturally the result looked nothing like this.  I might have known by now! 🤦

Firstly I saw right away why Shimelle didn't take her stenciled ink blending all the way to the edge of the page.  After I did mine I could see why.  And it was WAY.TOO.BRIGHT! 🕶🕶🕶 UGH!

I toned it down by spraying the whole thing with a shimmery white mist which I knew wasn't too opaque. It wasn't quite enough in some places so I came back with a slightly more opaque mist.  It squirted rather than sprayed which in the end gave some interest to the layout with the whiter droplets.

Now that it was as good as it was going to get I marked out the space the matted photo should take and started stamping.  I used most stamps by The Ink Road, but came in with a few others too.




I found a little spot for journaling which I added in before I accidentally covered it up and added some dimensional embellishments and the title.

I went in with Glue Dots right away for the red Thickers, but the Navy were too narrow.

Chipboard Thickers are notorious for not sticking at the best of times, but the shine from the mist creates a film which makes it even harder for things to adhere.  Glue Dots were fine with anything wide enough to accommodate them



I took a sewing machine to messily stitch over the alphas which needed it and to make it more purposeful I added some stitching to the top and bottom of the page too.  Glad I did since it added some texture and interest to the whole layout.

I really don't know how I feel about this one.  It could be because it's so different for me or because I was actually quite pleased with my last 2 layouts (will share those after this impromptu coffee thing is done) so it's probably time I felt 🤷!

Things Never Go Unnoticed

OK now to the giveaway part:

Giveaway Now Closed! Thanks for Entering!
📌All prizes are from The Rabbit Hole Designs.  A new company which I can't speak highly enough of.  Most of their current stamps feature hilarious critters and plenty of coffee snark.  Their super speedy shipping and excellent customer service are hard to beat so made sense when I placed my last order to choose to purchase prizes from them as well.
📌 I have three items (and a bonus fourth prize) to give away (pictured below) and I'll pull three names for the first three prizes.  For the  fourth "bonus" prize: it will go to someone who has entered the main blog hop (let me know your project numbers.  You can wait til the blog hop is over to do this since they change sometimes.)
📌 The first name gets first choice, second name gets second choice and so on.  Bonus prize will be SmallCraftyDude's favourite project!
📌 This Giveaway is NOT SPONSORED.  The bonus prize is a stamp set I received free and The Rabbit Hole Designs have given me their blessing to include it in the giveaway.

The first stamp is called "Caffeinated Dino".  I chose him because my SmallCraftyDude says I'm like a T-Rex with my short arms and hair trigger temper! 😳😳😳  The sentiments are so apt also!

This next guy ("Caffeinated Rabbit") is a nod to the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland and you know how I love that!

We have a pair of smaller stamps next: ("Caffeinated Crab" and "Caffeinated Bee") just to mix things up a bit

Lastly, the bonus prize is called "Handmade Brew".  As I mentioned above, to be eligible to win this, just let me know which numbers in the main blog hop your projects were.  It's probably better to wait once it's finished.  Just email (alex@pinkcraftymama.com) me or leave me a comment or PM in any of my socials.

You will receive an entry (or entries) for each of the following.  You absolutely don't have to do everything - just how ever many you like.

If you have previously followed my socials then these are already done for you!

📌 The giveaway will remain open until 11:59PM AEST on Friday 17 May (a whole week)
📌 The winner will be drawn on Saturday 18 May so PLEASE CHECK BACK HERE!
❗If the winner and I can't make contact by Saturday 25 May, I will have to draw a new winner since I need to get these prizes out altogether.
❗Please try to email me at alex@pinkcraftymama.com This really is the easiest way for me to get in touch with you since not all blogger profiles have an email attached and if you JUST leave comments, I have no other place to search for you.

So...what do you have to do to get entries?
🍵 Follow this blog - 3 entries (in the left sidebar)
🍵 Follow me on Facebook - 2 entries
🍵 Follow me on Instagram - 1 entry
🍵 Comment (once per day per person) on a post between now and the close of the giveaway - 1 entry per post

Click here for Project 1
Click here for Project 3 

I don't yet know how many makes I'll have done between now and then, but it will be at least three.  The more love from you guys the better the chances of me getting crafty which gives you more chances to enter.  I may even keep making after the end of the hop, but you'll have to keep checking back since the link up will be closed.

So today...if you want to leave a comment, tell me does your coffee/tea/chocolate drink change in hot weather? What do you drink instead or in addition? (or anything else if this doesn't grab you) and please don't hesitate to  email me with any questions at alex@pinkcraftymama.com

Love and copious cups of coffee!