'What you do speaks so loudly, I can't hear what you say.'
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Monday 11 May 2020


It's week two of my
for
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge 
and the new challenge is
'It's a Dog's Life'
I couldn't think of any better way to celebrate our four-legged friends than to use the Tim Holtz Crazy Dogs stamps and dies. They are so much fun! 
In fact, I would go as far as to say that the Tim Holtz Crazy Birds and Crazy Dogs changed my stamping style completely, bringing more humour and fun into my playtimes. I now have a nice collection of humorous stamps and really enjoy using them to bring a smile to people's faces.
Because I wanted a backdrop for my doggies, I began by using an embossing folder.( Unfortunately, there's no brand name on it, but any embossing folder would work well), leaving a bit of space at the bottom unembossed.
A little colour was added by lightly swiping Weathered Wood and Antique Linen Distress Inks over a craft mat, spritzing with a little water, then smooshing the embossed card through it. It needed a 'ground', so I added some grass to the plain bottom of the card, using an ink blender with Mowed Lawn Distress Oxide and a grass stencil.

The thing I love most about dogs is their desire to please their owners, so these little cuties are trying to please by giving one of their biggest treasures - a bone 😉
(I can't tell you how many times my dog used to drop a very mucky bone at my feet - and often one he'd just dug up from where he'd buried it in the garden!)

Having stamped, coloured (using Copics) and die cut the dogs, the bowl and the bone, trimming off some of the edges as required, I edged each one with permanent black pen, to add definition.  
After wrapping a scrap of ribbon around the bone, I fixed it in place in the dog bowl. 
I stuck everything down with Tacky Gluefoam squares and tape, doubling up on the bits that were at the front.

I needed a greeting, so I chose 'You Rock' from the Aall and Create Rocking Corns stamp set. I embossed it with White Embossing Powder onto a die cut label, which I attached with Tim Holtz Idea-ology Mini Fasteners

Finally, I mounted the front onto black card, mounted over green and attached to the white base card.
Just to make the dogs more 'cool', I die cut some glasses and attached them with foam tape 😊
It's a great card for a boy or a man and they can be so difficult to make.
Please do join us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge this week. 
You have until 1pm (GMT) UK time on Monday 18th May to add your link. 

Supplies - all available from


Linking to:-
Challenge Up Your Life - Animals
Fab'n'Funky, Cute Critters

If you made it this far, thank you so much for sticking with it and for calling in today...
Back soon
Stay safe!
Cath
xxx

17 very kind comments from lovely people:

crafty-stamper said...

Brilliant card love the embossed background and fabulous crazy dogs
Carol x

María said...

It's a super funny card, that embossed background is awesome and they way you've coloured the dogs is great. Hugs, María.

Meggymay said...

A fantastic and fun card Cath. I am smiling at those cute dog images, a good smile does everyone good and brightens the day.
Stay safe.
Yvonne xx

Caty said...

How Gorgeous is your card Cath !! I loove those tender and cute dogs !! It´s a funny scene, all together, and the background is really wonderful.
Have a nice evening, stay safe, and
Big hugs, Caty

Lorraine A said...

Oh my goodness, how cute is this!! the pups are adorable and I love the embossed background, absolutely fabulous!! This really made me smile BIG :-) Love your coloring too,,, brilliant!

Hope you have a great week!
luv
Lols x x x

My name is Erika. said...

Those TH dogs are a riot and you used them well. I love the sun glasses. Those are cool dogs. Happy new week. Hugs-Erika

Mrs.B said...

A fabulous card Cath, those dogs are so cool with their sunglasses and such fun. This is a card that will brighten any ones day.
Avril xx

marilyn said...

Wonderful card...just make me smile! thanks including the "how to" instructions as well!

cohenna said...

Beautiful! Thank you so much for joining with ust at Fab’n’Funky Challenge this time and good luck :)

froebelsternchen said...

Absolutely brilliant Cath!
Best wishes from

Susi

Let's Art Journal said...

Wow, what a fabulous card! I love those TH stamps, the different dog images are so much fun and I love your sentiment - perfect 😁. Wishing you a happy new week! Take care! Hugs, Jo x

Anjas-Artefaktotum said...

Your beautiful card makes me smile, I love your humor!
Big hugs, Anja

Words and Pictures said...

Great to see your fun side coming out with these dogs. I love the brick background and although "cool" is a quality I associate more with cats, I think this gang have got it going on! A great guest piece for SSS.
Alison x

Maura said...

Cath, your dog scene is awesome! Love the humor in this cool piece. Maura xxx

Neet said...

I don't think I have seen a Crazy Dogs card I have enjoyed as much as this one. It is AB FAB!
I love that stone wall effect embossing folder, what a shame you do not know who made it. Great dogs and the addition of the sunglasses is brilliant.
It is lovely enough to be mounted in a frame and hung on a wall - I am sure your grand-daughter would appreciate it as she get a little older.
A beautiful designer card.
Hugs Neet xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

I love everything about this Cath! The dogs with sun specs really made me laugh! Hot dogs indeed! Hugs, Chrisx

fliki said...

Those dogs are really gorgeous. This card must have been a lot of work. but it`s nice.
Thank you for joining Challenge up Your Life.

fliki