2019 #19 Cute Critters: Party Cats with ZA {by Christine Dark}

2019 Topic 19: Cute Critters

These party cats are having fun celebrating Christmas! Love how Chris has got those infusions speckling the background wonderfully too! Adds such a great texture! ~ Leandra

Hi everyone, it's Chris Dark with you today, and I'd like to share my Party Cats card for the cute critters topic.

You couldn't get cuter or more fun than Elena's Zinski Art Christmas stamp set ZA50, the purrrrrrfect party animals! I love Elena's quirky characters, I always find a character for the person I'm sending to; a lovely friend who volunteers for the Cat Protection League will receive this card for Christmas.

My background is a mix of Infusions, they are Olive Tree and Frankly Scarlet.

I did my paint splatter with Iceberg and Snowflake Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics and I also used the Snowflake to stencil in the background through Sara's Christmas stencil 114 with a stencil brush.

Elena's stamp sets always include the best sentiments too!

Initial colouring is with Inktense watercolour pencils, I've used a dabbing action to achieve the mottled appearance of the fur. You can see the stenciled pine leaves here, they make a nice border around the card. 

I added a touch of coloured pencil over the watercolouring here and there but I didn't need much. These two Infusions colours are gorgeous in the background and perfect for Christmas colour schemes; I never tire of watching these react with water and drying into such beautiful patterns! Look at this tabby, got to love his hat too!

Not many presents in the stocking yet but he looks hopeful and this is a good shot of the stenciled 25, I did that as mentioned before and I outlined with black paint pen.

A fantastic Christmas pud, there's a bit of glitter glue on the icing of course and you can see the paint splatter a bit top left.

I can't choose between these gorgeous kitties, love them all!

I hope you'll join us in the topic if you have any cute critters in your collection, there are so many PaperArtsy collections to choose from you'll be spoilt for choice I'm sure. Christmas projects are my favourites and these little fellas were a dream to colour, I enjoy seeing how the character develops with the colouring, they're also quick to colour and easy to cut out which is ideal for this time of year. 

Thanks for joining me today and I hope you'll have some time to create. If I'm not back before the end of the year and you celebrate the winter season with loved ones and friends, I wish you a purrrfect and happy time. Here's to another most enjoyable year for me contributing on the PaperArtsy blog, it's always a joy.

Chris x

Blog: www.sketchingstamper.blogspot.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christine.dark.7

Instgram: @chrisd999

Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/cdark4163/

2019 #19 Cute Critters: Quirky Christmas Decorations with Squiggly Ink {by Keren Baker}

2019 Topic 19: Cute Critters

Keren's enjoyed this so much she has even christened her critters; Roger and Pamela! Her marker colouring-in is vibrant and dimensional, but it's also those little finishing touches, like using a ball-tool to add shape, that really brings everything to life so beautifully! ~ Leandra

Hi everyone, it's Keren Baker with you today, and I'd like to share with you a couple of Christmas ornaments that would be a fun addition to your Christmas decorating. I did have a good rummage around in the Squiggly Ink section of the PaperArtsy store. It's not a category I would automatically run to, but there are some really lovely images. These cute characters might be too cute for you (or even for me), but I adore the extra images I used as foils for them and really loved adding some shape and dimension to otherwise flat images

I'm not sure these guys would co-habit usually, but they did seem perfectly at home together. I first had to pick my images.

Nut & Meg 1 (SINM1)

Ding & Dong Plate 5 (SIDD5)

Egg & Nog 2 (SIEN2)

Egg & Nog 7 (SIEN7)

I wanted something bright and bold so went for some alcohol marker coloured images stamped onto PaperArtsy Smoothy Regular cardstock (of course!)

I'd picked out exactly which images I wanted and made them all fit as I don't like to waste decent cardstock! The markers blend really well on this cardstock- so if you're looking for a new type of cardstock, I really recommend this.

Next up, I wanted to add some detail. My gel pens and markers are never far away so they added a little interest and helped make the images less flat. Now I wanted to really make really dimensional. 

The unusual looking surface is, in fact a felt pressing mat which I used to get great crisp seams when I'm ironing my sewing projects. Being a lazy so and so, I'd left it out and thought I'd try shaping on it too, as the felt has a good 'give' to the surface. Surprisingly it's a fab surface to create shape using a ball tool, so I set about shaping rather a lot of poinsettia petals!!

The sets are so good together. The two different sets with the poinsettia (or it could be any flower or leaves too) work perfectly as small and larger leaves. You can see how I added Roger the reindeer plus the Christmas lights to build up the layers.

I tried (& failed) to capture how dimensional the tree decoration looks, but I've added some of the layers with foam pads too.

Pamela was treated the same way. She was a little leggy, so I trimmed her down to perch well on the Christmas tree. the baubles from the other set seem perfectly at home on the tree too!

So an easy project with lots of therapeutic colouring in. Perfect for relieving pre-Christmas rush stress! Do check out the Squiggly Ink category to discover some real hidden gems! 

See you again soon 

Keren x

Twitter:@craftstampink
Instagram: @craftstampink
Pinterest: @craftstampink

2019 #19 Cute Critters: Snow Critter Shaker Cards with JoFY {by Autumn Clark }

2019 Topic 19: Cute Critters

These snazzy Christmas Cards with their shaking sparkles are fantastic! I urge you to read through the details of this post as Autumn shows how taking these to the next level is achieved by adding elements inside and on the acetate layer. Gorgeous! ~ Leandra

Hi everyone, it's Autumn Clark of SewPaperPaint with you today, and I'd like to share a collection of whimsical snowy shaker cards inspired by a simple, but beautiful palette of PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk Acrylic Paints (Taro Milk Tea), (Blue Oyster), (Aquamarine), (Smurf), (Guacamole) and (Jade).  

For our Cute Critters Topic, I wanted to pair my newfound love for coloring, inspired by Kathy of The Daily Marker, with my passion for painted backgrounds.  I think the result is quite fun and hope you'll grab a cuppa and scroll through for the details...

I started by making a set of printed Smoothy Card with which to work.  I used a brayer and gelli plate, then added some stenciling with PaperArtsy Stencil by Kay Carley (PS070) in Fresco Chalk Acrylic (Chalk).  

I used Distress Oxide pads in Tumbled Glass, Picket Fence and Spun Sugar to do some additional stamping with Eclectica³ Mini 48 by Seth Apter (EM48) and  ...

 ...Eclectica³ Tracy Scott Set 25 (ETS25) onto my papers.  

 
Now, I used a lot of stamps for these cards, but you could certainly pare down.  I sat in my studio for hours just having fun playing with colors and patterns, while listening to music...

Next I pulled together my cast of characters using PaperArtsy {JOFY} Collection Set 01 (JOFY01) ...

...and JoFY Mini 20 (JM20) 

 JoFy Mini 30 (JM30)

With Zinski Art Collection Set 35 (ZA35) ...

...and PaperArtsy Ink & the Dog Collection Noel Set 4 (N4).  

I arranged my beautiful bundle of red rubber onto my painted panels.  I die cut the centers of my panels with a large square die and switched the center pieces around until I was pleased with the contrast and placement.

With my leftover papers I did some layered stamping.  I used my Stamp Platform to stamp the star border in Ranger's Watering Can, then painted over the images with gesso.   Keeping the stamp and paper aligned, I stamped again on top of the dried paint.  

This allowed me to go in and color the images with a blank slate, so to speak.

I have very few Distress Markers, but this palette worked beautifully with my Fresco Chalk Acrylics: Cracked Pistachio, Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers, Picked Raspberry, Ripe Persimmon and Stormy Sky.  I colored one side of my images, then pulled the color through with a water brush.  

Many of my images had details that would be lost when they were fussy cut, so I carefully arranged my panels together on my Stamp Platform and stamped the images so that the details would show through when I layered the fussy cut imagery.  

For shaker cards you always need to pour your shaker filling onto your background panel then carefully adhere your frame.  I used Stampendous Shaved Ice & a sequin mix here.  I secured my inner square to the background panel first, making sure that it was centered with the frame before applying a double layer of foam tape to the frame and attaching.  A good tip is to use an anti-static bag over your acetate before adhering so that your shaker material doesn't stick.  I always save packaging from die cuts to use for my acetate windows.  

Adding stamping inside and out of the windows gives these cards a sense of depth, though they are only 1/2" thick and could easily be mailed.  

I added some doodling around the frames to match Jo's designs.  I used a good wet glue on the acetate to line up the images with the initial stamping, so they could be wiggled into just the right place.   

I plan on attaching these cards to gift packages with a clear envelope and some string this Christmas.  

I truly hope you've been inspired by these cards today!  I hope you will make an attempt at creating your own version of a snow critter shaker and share with us on social media.  You could skip a few steps by using patterned paper or choosing one design and stamping it in multiples with your Stamp Platform.  Either way, I know the result will leave you smiling.  :)

Thank you so much and merry Christmas!  Love, Autumn

Blog: SewPaperPaint.blogspot.com
Facebook: Autumn Clark
YouTube: Autumn Clark - SewPaperPaint
Instagram: @sewpaperpaint
Pinterest: Autumn S Clark

2019 #19 Cute Critters: Fabric Hanger with ZA {by Etsuko Noguchi }

2019 Topic 19: Cute Critters

Etusko has again pushed herself to learn and create something new. This time shes working with fabric to make these cute, dimensional fabric dolls. They. Are. Fab! ~ Leandra

Hi everyone, it's Etsuko My favorite things with you today, and I'd like to share with you Cute Critters Fabric hanging using my favorite Elena's stamps.

I've always been interested in fabric dolls since I've noticed those made from Elena stamps by Lauren hatwell, but I don't know how to make dolls of different sizes from the same stamps. And recently I found out on YouTube how to print on fabric with an inkjet printer. OK I do it, from then on, these dolls are really lovable and I can't stop being addicted.

First of all I prepare A4 full sheet sticker paper for inkjet printer and attached to white cloth as not to be wrinkled. The important thing is to choose a printer that drags paper from the top. I stamped lovely new Christmas Elena stamps ZA49.

The images are stamped on white card , scanned, captured on a PC, resized and printed on a cloth. Printer preset--plain paper, gray scale.   Printing quality--high. After printing on the cloth, beforehand iron a cloth so that the ink on the print dose not bleed.

When I started making, I painted all colors on the paper, scanned, printed and finished, but I was not satisfied with the finished colors it was dull. Then I printed only the black outline and applied Fresco paints directly to the cloth with using Stain Glazing matt, the red patterned fabric was pasted with Mod Podge. 

 

I used Fresco paints mostly these colors for these critters. Fresco colors-- Mustard Pickle, Peach Nectar, Chocolate Pudding, Mocha Mousse, Tikka, Buff, Glass Blue, Bougainvillea, Turquoise, Eggplant, French Roast.

I sewed the red wear outline before filling cotton. Then cotton, pressed cotton, adhesive cotton and white cloth were stacked in order and then zigzag sewing machine was applied, I cut the around the doll and attached a string for hang on the top and finished.

This is the finish of Cute Critter, can't stop making them. --ZA49

 

ZN04

 ZN11

 ZN13

ZA01

Making a doll is magical by cutting the shape and stuffing a little cotton. All of them are small critters of about 13cm, so just putting them in the own craft room makes them look fun. It's easy and fun to make stamps. Would you like to make one?
Thank you so much for visiting.
Etsuko

Blog: My favorite things
Facebook: Etsuko Noguchi
Instagram: Pixienest
Pinterest: Etsuko N