Summer Time Chillin'

Cool Cat. What more can I say...what more do I need to say?
Not much beats sipping a cool drink while floating on the water on a hot summer's day.

I found this delightful digital stamp image over at Hambo Stamps - 'Cool Cat' . I filled the shaker portion of the card with a variety of sequins. When you shake the card the cool 'water' splashes all around the reclining feline...aaaah that's the life! 

A warm sun, sponged in with pigment inks on the background layer, reminds us that it is indeed a hot day.

I added a lot of details on the card front - Tropical flowers from the SVG Cuts - Summer Holiday collection (affiliate link) and Plumeria (frangipani) blossoms from Miss Kate Cuttables . I also added paper castings of a shell and a pair of flip-flops. The sandals were coloured to match the ones the cat is wearing, down to the daisy on the straps.

Here they are closer-  I used a Polymer clay mold to make the shoes and the daisy is a tiny punch. The daisy center is a single foamy polystyrene ball. Tweezers are so very handy in the craft room I find! 

I coloured everything using Momento Dye Inks. I really like the beautiful water colour results it gives me.

After I had finished the card I decided to change it up to my original idea of an easel card. It simply displays better that way. On this image you can also see the shimmer platters and embossing added to the blue frame. I sincerely hope our friends enjoyed their much needed vacation!

Until next time...have a great crafting week!

Summer Time and Flowers

It is so very nice to have an excuse to make lots and lots of flowers and since it has been a while, I found twice as much enjoyment as usual from making this gift box and card combination for a friend's birthday.

The box was just an empty chocolate box that was exactly the size I needed. I simply opened it up and copied the pattern. The papers are by Graphic 45. The colours from the paper set the colour palette for the rest of my embellishments. I coloured the light sand coloured cardstock doily, flowers and leaves with Memento Dye inks.
The leaves and flowers are a combination of punches and cutting files. There is also the odd 'petaloo' flower (I am not a fan btw) Links at the bottom of this post.

The card started off with an easel card base. I used an embossing folder for the texture on the background panel. It provided the perfect understated elegant detail I was looking for.

My Scrap Chick - Easel Cards
Flower Cut Files  and Leaf Cut Files - Sheri McCulley (affiliate link)
Cut Flower Vines only (affiliate link)
Cut Flower Scallops - flowers only (affiliate link)
Embossing folder - Anna Griffin's 'Pirouette'