Helpful Kitties

     This is my last project for the Cat Lovers Hop and I'm going to miss it.  Hopefully, it will be back again next October and maybe you can come play if you didn't get in this year.

     Those of you who have had kittens at or near the holiday season, or even some of our fully grown cats, will be familiar with how "helpful" those little fluff balls can be, especially when it comes to wrapping packages and tying (untying?) the ribbons.

     These little sweethearts (found in a clip art file I downloaded a few years back) decided to  decorate the front of a Christmas card.

I knew I wanted to play in the Color Dare challenge

and was delighted to find it was a monochromatic challenge.

     Once I saw that Color Dare inspiration, I knew I could use my MS Word software to get the monochromatic green image.  When I had that part done, I printed it, added some highlights with ProMarkers and white gel pen, then cut the image and the green CS mat with dies from Spellbinders.  Those went onto a green card base and I added the 2 jute cord strings, tied into a square knot.

     I found some old Christmas embellishments from K & Co., and added the holly leaves plus one tiny pine cone right next to the jute cord knot.  There are tiny red gems for the berries on the holly leaves.

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Crafty Friends
Crafty Hazelnut's
Crafty Sentiments
Cute N Crafty
Outlawz Festive Fri.
SUYP Cats
Tuesday Throwdown

     That's it for today.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Flying In

     Today is another double post day and all because of the Cat Lovers Hop.  It's the last day and I've had so much fun visiting all the other folks who've been doing feline related projects.  Lots of wonderful inspiration!

     I've tried to do cards for varied occasions and this one is for a birthday, though I think it could pass for Halloween as well with a different sentiment.  I used to have a friend in Arizona whose birthday was on Halloween, and I loved making cards for her each year.

 I started with the sketch from Sketch Saturday

reversed with sentiment on top.

My colors came from the 3rd column of the tic tac toe

challenge at Color My Heart's Color Dare

along with Mink and a neutral, beige.

 

     I used ProMarkers and gel pens to do the coloring, then cut the image piece and wrapped it with lemon yellow ribbon.  I used one of my lace bow tie bows to set off the ribbon.

     After I had those steps complete, I added the layer of mulberry paper.  The card front itself sparkles with glitter and embossing, but it's a bit difficult to see in the photo.

     Challenges:
Aloha Friday
Cardz TV
Cute Card Thurs
If You Give a Crafter...
Jo's Scrap Shack
Outlawz Festive Fri
Outlawz PAM

     Stop back later for my second post of the day.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Santa's Cats

     At first glance, you might think these cats are waiting for Santa to come down the chimney but they are actually Santa's cats and they worry about him when he's gone on his Christmas Eve travels. They always wait anxiously, watching from the upstairs window for him to return.  Of course, this year they seem to have to contend with a snowstorm!

     This is my second post today and also my third card for the Cat Lovers Hop.  This precious image is from Ike's Art. 

     Colored with ProMarkers and gel pens, then cut with a stitched die from Die-namics.  Sentiment printed and added to the bottom of the image.  Everything mounted onto an embossed card front.  Left CAS to showcase the image and for ease of mailing.

     Challenges:
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Let's Craft and Create
Scribbles Designs
Sunny Day Crafting
SUYP Cats
TTCRD
Try Stampin' on Tues

     Check in tomorrow for another feline fantasy.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cat Lovers Hop - Day 2

    This is my first of 2 posts today since I'm trying to get caught up on on the Cat Lovers Hop so that I can enter each day between now and Friday.  I did one yesterday for Day 1 but Wednesday is actually Day 3 so this one is for Tuesday.

I was inspired by the sketch from Sketch Saturday.

I turned it a quarter turn to better fit my image.

    It's a really quick post with only the most basic information:  Framing dies from Tonic Studios and CUTplorations.  Butterfly die cuts are out of a large circle die from Spellbinders - the 'negative' bits, if you will, and I added metal brads for the bodies.  (I save, and then use, everything!)  The mouse at the bottom was cut with a Cottage Cutz die.

     Challenges:
Cardz TV
Creative Inspirations
Di's Digi Designs
DL.ART
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Scrappy Land
Southern Girls
Take It, Make It

     That's it for now.  Check back in a few hours for the next post in the Cat Lovers series.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Sandy Claws

     Today couldn't have jelled any better.  I needed a cat card for the Cat Lovers Hop which started yesterday and I wanted to share this adorable cat image from Whimsy Stamps!  Isn't that the best form of  "2 Birds with 1 Stone?"

     My oldest granddaughter is in college and has her own home (with roommates), and has adopted her first felines.  When she has to be out of town, I get to fur-babysit her two felines (brothers, now aged 5 months) and I love it.  Here's a photo of them which I took last month when they were here with me for a week and which I used to make a card for my granddaughter.

     But my card today (which will be her Christmas card) looks like this.

     I colored with ProMarkers and fussy cut the image with scissors.  I used a Sue Wilson die to cut red CS twice and white CS once.  I layered those die cuts onto the front of a confetti CS base.  I added the image on top of those die cuts and printed the sentiment.  Once printed, I cut it by hand and added it below the image.

     For embellishment (kept to a minimum), I sewed one of my signature bows and added a sparkly, red sequin.  The entire card took me less than 20 minutes to put together, including the die cuts, so a very quick card.

     Challenges:
ABC Christmas
Ike's Art
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Festive Fridays
Scrappy Land
Southern Girls
SUYP Cats
TTCRD

     I'll see you tomorrow with another Fabulous Feline for the Cat Lovers Hop.  I'll probably have one each day the rest of this week.  I may even have 2 posts on Friday!  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie