Purrr-fect Cozy Cat

Since my 'Time Marches On' card was chosen as the Diamond winner for Color Dare #75 on the Color My Heart blog, I was asked to be a Guest Designer for Color Dare #78 with the colors Indian Corn Blue and Hollyhock.  

This sweet Cozy Cat has a 'purrr-fect' sentiment.  After stamping the image on the Colonial White cardstock, it was  also stamped on a piece of Hollyhock patterned paper from the soon-to-be-released Ivy Lane kit and then cut out and paper-pieced for a pretty cushion.  Inspiration for the card design is from Pattern 23 in the Make It From Your Heart, Volume 2 guide.  For the dovetails at the top, some Slate Washi Tape was placed on Indian Corn Blue cardstock for some subtle color. 

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355

Cozy Cat (Spring/Summer New Product Blog Hop)

It is a very special time of year - time for the release of the Spring/Summer edition of the Close To My Heart Idea Book & Catalog.  Items shown in this new Idea Book can be ordered February 1 through July 31, 2013.

If you have come here from 'Gina's Little Corner of Stampin Heaven' blog, you are on the right path! Hope you enjoy your adventure through the Spring/Summer New Product Blog Hop where you will see many fun new stamps, papers, and some fabulous new embellishments.  Blog Hopping is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one!

Since we share our home with three cats, this was one of the very first of the new stamp sets that I had to buy.  Cozy Cat has an adorable cat resting on a cushion along with three different "catty" sentiments to use.  And the stamp set is only $6.95!

For this card, the cat image was stamped using Cocoa pigment ink with some Clear Detail Embossing Powder.  When heated, this image is slightly raised and has a nice shine.  To color the cushion, I used the set of Creme Brulee alcohol-based markers.  For the color of the cat, some cotton swabs were used to pick up ink from the Slate and Whisper ink pads.  To add just a touch of bling, a Bitty Sparkle is hanging from the collar.

A colorful stripe from the vintage-inspired Buzz and Bumble paper packet is used for the background.  Another of my favorite new products is the Slate Polka-Dot Washi Tape.  On this card, a piece of the Washi Tape was placed on a thin piece of Whisper card stock which was cut just slightly wider than the tape.

The pigment inks are available in all 40 CTMH exclusive colors.  Pigment inks are ideal to be used for non-paper, home decor projects as the ink stays "on top" of the item rather than soaking in like dye inks do.  The ink is slower to dry, and that is why they are also wonderful to use with clear embossing powder on card stock.  It gives a very nice, finished look, is available in all 40 colors, and is not nearly as thick or as messy as colored embossing powders.

Now "Hop" on over to Misty's 'Creative Minds Are Rarely Tidy' blog to see her work!  Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their blogs to get some great crafting inspiration and other fun ideas from this new Idea Book!  

If you get lost on the Blog Hop or find links that aren't working, there is a complete list of all participating blogs on Helen's 'Hooked on Stamping' blog.

All papers and stamps are from Close To My Heart (CTMH).

	Sheila Bennett Close To My Heart Independent Consultant (913) 485-4355