Sending Smiles Your Way!

Hello Tea Timers!

Michelle from the Design Team here and today’s inspiration is the most purr-fectly delightful card featuring three little cats who have decided that flower pots make the cosiest of homes!

Supplies used:

Love Is In The Air

Light Green Spiky Plant - Beach Buds (palm tree)

Pink Flowers - Be Slothy

Dark Green Leafy Plant - Purrfect Day

Sunflowers - Hey There Critters

Garden Tools - I Really Dig You

I started with a soft and fresh white background with the lightest hint of green blended in to give it that gentle garden feel. The whole panel is then mounted onto the most cheerful pastel diamond check border which frames everything beautifully and adds a lovely pop of colour around the edges without taking anything away from the main scene.

Taking centre stage are three chunky terracotta pots, each one housing the most adorable little cat you ever did see! On the left, a sweet white cat peeks out from a pot bursting with lush green leaves and pretty pink flowers. In the middle, a cheeky little calico cat sits surrounded by big bold heart shaped leaves spilling out everywhere. And on the right, a fluffy grey tabby cat has made itself very comfortable amongst a gorgeous bunch of bright yellow sunflowers. Each pot is so full of personality and the trio together is just completely irresistible!

Tucked in on either side are a little green garden fork and a trowel, because even the most adorable plant pots need a little tending to now and then!

To finish everything off, the "Sending Smiles Your Way" sentiment is stamped in clean bold lettering on a simple white banner along the bottom, which keeps the focus on those wonderful cats and rounds off the card in the sweetest way.

This card is perfect for a cat lover, a gardening enthusiast or anyone who simply deserves a little smile in the post today!

Michelle

Thanks Teacher!

Hello Tea Timers!

Michelle from the Design Team here and today I am sharing the most charming little teacher thank you card featuring three adorable bookshelf buddies. 

Supplies used: 

Hey There Critters

Purrfect Day stamp sets

I started with a deep dark chalkboard panel as the main background which gives the whole card such a fun and playful feel. It is such a striking base to work on and makes all those bright colours pop in the most wonderful way. The chalkboard is then mounted onto a warm brown frame and finished with the most cheerful rainbow polka dot border around the outside, which keeps everything feeling light and fun.

The centrepiece is a wooden bookshelf absolutely packed with a rainbow of books in every colour you can imagine. It looks so satisfying and colourful and really draws the eye straight to the middle of the card.

Peeking out from behind the books are three of the sweetest little characters. A fluffy golden squirrel sits on the left looking very pleased with itself, a clever little mouse in the middle is sporting the most adorable pair of glasses, and a cute brown bunny with a little bow rounds out the trio on the right.

Scattered around the chalkboard are all sorts of fun little doodle details, a string of colourful bunting, red hearts, twinkling stars, a sun, cupcake, strawberry and even a little potted plant. Every corner has something sweet to discover!

To finish it all off, the word "thanks!" is written across the bottom of the chalkboard in a lovely sketchy white font that fits the chalkboard style perfectly and ties the whole design together beautifully.

This card is perfect for a teacher who deserves a big colourful thank you!

Michelle

Thanks For Helping Me Bloom!

Hello Tea Timers!

Michelle from the Design Team here and today I am sharing a shadow box card with a busy little bunny tending to their flower shop.

Supplies used: 

I Really Dig You

Cacti Critters

Awning - Sweet Cart Critters

Snake Plant - Purrfect Day

Leafy Foliage - Seasons Tweetings

I started with a bright green brick-effect background which gives the card that perfect little garden feel. It is fresh, fun and really sets the scene beautifully before any of the other elements are added.

The window is framed with a gorgeous green and white striped awning. Inside the shop, a sweet little bunny is hard at work with a red watering can in hand, surrounded by garden tools, potted plants and lots of plants. Two little buzzing bees pop up on either side of the window to add extra charm and keep things lively!

Spilling out beneath the window are two overflowing flower boxes packed with tulips, daisies, roses and so many colourful blooms. There is so much to look at and every little detail just makes me smile!

To finish everything off, the "Thanks For Helping Me Bloom" sentiment is heat embossed in white onto a warm brown banner across the top, giving it a lovely earthy, natural feel that ties the whole garden scene together perfectly.

This card would be perfect for a teacher, a friend or anyone who has helped you grow. It is one that is sure to make their day blossom!

Michelle

Meowdy!

Hello Tea Timers!

Design Team member Michelle here and I’m kicking off the new year with this purrfectly charming card featuring some book-loving kitties and their cactus companions! 

Supplies used:

Purrfect Day

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Cacti Critters

I started by creating the brick wall background using a stencil and ink blended with Picked Raspberry Distress Oxide as I wanted to try a bright colour that I don’t normally go for. The shelves were rectangles that I drew and coloured to look like warm wood tones, then I filled them up with books, little plants, and of course, the stars of the show - two adorable cats! Everything was stamped, coloured with alcohol markers and some white gel pen details for highlights.

The sentiments “Meowdy!” and “Meow you doing?” were stamped in black ink and popped up with an extra layer of cardstock for a playful finish. A couple of red hearts add just the right touch of love.

I love the punny sentiments and bright colour palette for this cheerful bookshelf scene. This card a fun way to mix books, plants and pets all in one design. Hope your day is purrfect!

Michelle

Smile - Critter Portraits!

Hi Everyone!

Michelle here from the Design Team with a happy little card that’s sure to bring a smile. This bunch of cute critters have all been captured in their post poses for you all to see.

Supplies used:

Hey There Critters

Plant with Heart Leaves - Purrfect Day

Smile Inverted Scallop Frame Dies

Spiky Plant - Home Sweet Home

A5 Woodgrain Stamp

For all the critters, I stamped and coloured them all with alcohol markers and added white gel highlights. For the picture frames, I created them all myself in a design tool before printing them out and colouring them in your traditional frame colours of yellows and browns.

To create the background, I lightly ink blended a piece of white cardstock with Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide with the edges being slightly darker to give it some depth. I then stamped over the ink blending with the spiky plant stamp from Home Sweet Home stamp set in a random pattern to create a cool wallpaper look. 

For the floor, this was created from the woodgrain clear stamp and Vintage Photo Distress Oxide on kraft cardstock.

Once all the main parts were done, I hung up the framed critters on the wall and added plant pot for a cozy finishing touch. 

The sentiment “Smile” sentiment was die cut twice from white cardstock with one of them being ink blended with Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide as the shadow layer. I think it wraps up the card perfectly!

This one would be so lovely to send as a cheerful hello or just to brighten someone’s day.

Hope this card gave you something to smile about!

Michelle

Pumpkin Fun!

Hello everyone!

Michelle here from the Design Team with a fun and festive card featuring my two favourite happy crocs on the hunt for the perfect pumpkin. They’ve made their way to the patch, and it looks like they’ve found the one!

Supplies used:

Snappy Before Coffee

Giant Pumpkin - Pumpkin Spice

Pumpkins - Trick Or Treaters

Fence - Ewe Are Moovellous

Pumpkin vines - Purrfect Day

Bold Sentiments

To create the scene, first, I ink blended soft clouds for the sky using Peacock Feathers Distress Oxide. Next I die cut 4 hillsides - 1 from white card stock that I ink blended with Twisted Citron and Lucky Clover Distress Oxides. For the remaining 3 hillsides, this was going to be the mud/ground that the pumpkins are growing in so I die cut them out of kraft card stock to help make things a bit quicker. I added a little bit of ink blending and splattered with Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso Distress Oxide to give it more depth.

I added rows of pumpkins and a cute pick-your-own sign behind a white picket fence to build the scene - all the images were all either stamped or printed and then coloured with alcohol markers. 

The crocs were coloured in bright greens to pop against all those rich autumn tones, and I just love how joyful they look with their prize pumpkin.

For the sentiment, I picked a simple one from the Bold Sentiments stamp set - ‘You are awesome’ as I think it says it all.

To complete the card, I adhered it to some white card stock, leaving a thin frame around it before mounting it onto a card base that I had ink blended a gingham pattern using Carved Pumpkin Distress Oxide.

Thanks for visiting today. Hope you’re enjoying all the autumn crafty goodness!

Michelle

Purrfect Day!

Hello Tea Timers!

Michelle from the Design Team and today I have a cosy card that’s full of books, plants, and purrfect little pals. 

These two cats are clearly the queens or kings of this calm and colourful corner, and I loved building this sweet indoor scene.

Supplies used:

Purrfect Day 

Home Sweet Home

For the soft blue wallpaper background, I used a striped stencil and ink blended with Salty Ocean Distress Oxide. For the floor, I used Brushed Corduroy Distress Oxide. Next, I added pops of colour with the books and potted plants. Each piece was stamped, coloured with alcohol markers, and arranged to feel like a peaceful little reading nook - complete with framed art on the wall and a stack of books ready for a catnap.

For the sentiment, I heat embossed this with ink and white powder onto bright pink cardstock. I thought this colour would help balance the pink book and the sentiment says it all - Hope your day is purrfect. Whether it’s for a friend, a birthday or just because, this card is sure to bring a smile.

Thanks so much for visiting today. 

I’ll be back soon with more crafty cuteness to share!

Michelle

Let's Hang Out!

Hello!

Michelle here from the Design Team with a card that’s full of charm and a little bit of climbing mischief. This cute fluffy cat has found the perfect tree branch for a nap or maybe just a quick hangout.

Supplies used:

Purrfect Day

Branches - Seasons Tweetings

Leaves - Jumping for Joy

A5 Woodgrain Stamp

Slimline Postage Stamp Frame Dies

To start with, I stamped out the cat from Purrfect Day and two branches from Season Tweetings. I coloured them with alcohol markers and used their coordinating dies or fussy cut them.

I really like the woodgrain stamp and have been meaning to use it so I thought I would it would be a great idea to use with this card as a background. I used white heat embossing powder and light blue/teal cardstock. I really like how it turned out, it gives the extra pop of colour and adds texture without stealing the spotlight.

For the main focal image, I created a leafy tree top scene with ink blending, splatter and soft blue skies peeking through the branches. The cat and the branches were then popped with foam tape for some dimension. 

I did some partial die cutting with the Slimline Postage Stamp Frame Dies from white cardstock to frame the main image. 

The sentiment is a fun one and sets the tone perfectly. ‘Meowdy! Let’s hang out.’ I think this would make a great card to send to a friend, especially if you’re overdue for a catch-up.

Thanks for hanging out with me today!

Michelle