I’m making my nephew a fun pop up birthday card showcasing his newfound love of dogs. I used the quirky Waffle Flower Birthday Puppies Stamp Set and Die Set that features dogs with party hats and gifts as well as a pup from The My Favorite Things Friends at First Sip Stamp Set that I altered to make look like his new Bichon puppy, Bobo, with a party hat.

I used the following Copic colors (I’m very rusty, so please excuse the messy coloring):
Red: R14, R17 and R29
Pink: R20 and R22
Blue: B00, B01 and B02
Yellow/Orange: Y38 and YR07
Green: YG07, YG09 and G17
Cupcake candle and cake: Y38, R14, E22
Pomeranian: E00, E11 and E13
Bichon (Bobo): 0, W0 and W1
Dachshund: E11, E13, E15 and E25
Black and White Spotted Dog: W1, W4, and W7

For the card base, I used basic green card stock that I picked up at Lidl for $2. For the decorative patterned papers, I used the  Doodlebug Designs “Puppy Love” and the DCWV “The Pets Stack” (retired but still carried by resellers, which you can find by Googling them). I had fun also cutting apart some of the sentiments from the Puppy Love papers to further embellish the card flaps. To help the sentiments and the grassy layers pop a bit more, I also blended on some Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Mowed Lawn and Salty Ocean on the edges.

I left the back panel straight (unfolded) and added a blue construction paper liner so I could write my note. But it seemed too plain, so I added a couple of extra sentiments from the cut apart sheet and then added puffy bone and puffy ball stickers from the Doodlebug Design Shape Sprinkles “Puppy Play” Sticker Set to match the papers and add dimension and interest.

CLICK on the following picture to watch the card making video. I show a sampling of stamp altering, Copic coloring and how to assemble and decorate the box pop up card.

Disclosure: Many of the supplies I’ve used for today’s project are linked. Some may be affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support toward the costs of running this blog!

This card is being entered into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Fun and Quirky Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes with Optional Interactive/Fun Fold Cards Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Fab ‘n’ Funky Anything Goes Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
Crafty Gals Corner One for the Boys Challenge
Crafts Galore Encore Anything Goes Challenge

I wanted to create a special, interactive and full card for her, so I got out my Hampton Art-Mama Elephant Lovey Puppy Stamp and Die Set and decided to use the pair of puppies huddled together to represent the two of us — the way we used to daydream about the future together.
The left puppy is colored with Copic E21, E13 and E15
The right puppy is colored with E50, E53, E55 and E57
I fussy cut them out with my Fiskars Spring Loaded Scissors, inked their edges with a Momento Tuxedo Black Marker, and set them aside to prep the card base.

I created the pop up box card structure with an 8.5″ x 11″ piece of blue card stock using the Lawn Fawn Scalloped Box Card Pop Up Die Set. I also used scraps of plaid, pale blue polka dot, and small green and white polka dot patterned papers to decorate each panel and add a grassy ground. I inked the edges of the green polka dot paper cut with the MFT Grassy Hills Die-Namics Dies with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Mowed Lawn to give a finished look.

Then on to the fun decorating! I found a scrap of doggy bone paper that I fussy cut out to make a kind-of sun, centering it with a fussy cut actual sun image from another scrap left no room for doubt that this was supposed to represent a sun. To create a scenic background, I used an old Simon Says Stamp Cloud Banks Die (retired) and inset some textured white paper only into the main center cloud to create interest and see-through dimension. Then I used an old Martha Stewart Hydrangea Trio Punch (also retired; but THIS ONE from EK Success is very similar), various pink patterned paper scraps, and a Copic RV09 to create the feeling of a bountiful summer flower garden. The clouds and many of the flowers were attached with Ranger Multi Medium Matte to clear plastic strips I reclaimed/upcycled from craft packaging to suspend them into the air/space above the box card.

For the underside of the main flap (which will be seen first when the recipient takes the card out of the envelope), I prepped a die cut stitched rectangle from more of the pale blue polka dot patterned paper with my EK Success Powder Tool and heat embossed the sentiment, “Forever FRIENDS” with VersaMark Ink and Ranger Black Embossing Powder. For the back side of the card (where the message will be written), I used a Pretty Pink Posh Scalloped Frame Die and some scrap yellow card stock. I also used up another rub on from my stash that reads, “Happy Birthday to You!”

CLICK on the following picture to watch the process video of crafting this pop up box card:

Disclosure: Many of the supplies I’ve used for today’s project are linked. Some may be affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support toward the costs of running this blog!

This card is being entered into the following challenges:
Crafting By Design Happy Birthday Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes with Optional Spots and/or Stripes Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday Summer Vibes Challenge
Stamping Sensations Show Your True Colors Challenge
Crafty Gals Corner Polka Dots and/or Stripes Challenge
MFT Stamps Birthday Project Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Penny Black and More Blossoms, Butterflies and Bugs Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge

The drawing of the stamp is very artistic, and I thought coloring it up with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers and Pentel water brush would be a great way to dip my toe back into watercoloring. I stamped out the image onto Strathmore Watercolor Paper using VersaFine Onyx Black Ink and used the following Zig colors:
Puppy: Light gray (091); Light Brown (061); Brown (060); Mid Brown (065)
Girl’s hair: Light Blue (036); Black (010)
Girl’s skin: Flesh (071); Pale Pink (028)
Girl’s shirt: Yellow (050); Persian Blue (032)
Floor: Brown (060); Dark Brown (062)

I then stamped the sentiment, “I Just Love You So Very, Very Much.” centered above the image. Then to keep it simple, I used a Lawn Fawn Fancy Scalloped Rectangle Stackables Die to cut out the image and mounted it on a shimmery dark blue card base. I like how the die cut has the tiny cut out circles to let through the blue color and shimmer of the card base.

For the inside liner, I used the other sentiment from the stamp set, “Together is a beautiful place to be” in the lower right corner. I really love the font of this sentiment and I liked it off centered like this. To add a delicate finishing touch, I colored in the tiny heart at the end of the sentiment with a Carmine Zig Clean Color Real Brush Marker.

Please CLICK on the following picture to watch the process video of crafting this card:

Disclosure: Many of the supplies I’ve used for today’s project are linked. Some may be affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support toward the costs of running this blog!

This card is being entered into the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes Challenge with Optional no rectangle or square cards
Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday Pet Project Challenge
Crafting by Design Anything Goes Challenge
Penny Black and More All Things Feminine Challenge
Crafts Galore Encore Anything Goes Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge

First off, Aric (the A of A&P) told me that their company was a small US based mom and pop company, so I knew I wanted to give their product a try and support them if I thought that they had a good product. Secondly, my hubby has a similar tumbler from a different company that he swears by but it is about $20 more (which I am unwilling to spend when the same funds could be used for crafting supplies – LOL). Third, I confirmed that I was free to provide whatever feedback and review; there were no strings attached to the free mug. Fourth (and lastly), I was able to personalize my tumbler with a vinyl decal of my sweet pups (this is also my CraftyPaws logo) using my Silhouette, and every time I see this I smile.

So long story short I agreed to do the trial and review, and I am so pleased to say that I love it! I use it for my daily morning vitamin drink and it has been wonderful to be able to keep this extra chilly all morning as I concentrate on my work or crafting. I have a couple of minor suggestions for improvement, and if you’re interested in the details of my experience and review please watch the video by CLICKING on the picture below:

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you’re having a wonderful crafty day!

The following is a video with the live selection of the randomly selected winner:

I used Memento Desert Sand Ink to ink them up to try a bit of no line Copic coloring, and I really love the results. To color up the pups like my sweet Havanese, I used a Copic Multiliner in 0.3 pt to define the eyes and noses, a White Sakura Gelly Roll gel pen to add white fur texture, and the following Copic colors:
White fur: W0 and W2
Brown fur: E11, E13, E15, and E57

I fussy cut them out with my favorite Fiskars spring loaded reverse scissors. Then to highlight them, I mounted them with foam tape onto scraps of pale pink tone on tone damask patterned paper that I cut into pennant and mounted on dark pink shimmer card stock. The standing and sitting pups were positioned on the upper pennant and the pup ready to play was positioned on the lower.

I used 3 small wooden hearts from my stash and coated them with Hibiscus Pink Stickles for sparkle (I had to let these dry overnight) and glued a heart by each puppy. I cut off the shank of a metal bone button and it fit perfectly glued in with E6000 as an embellishment  in the gap created by the two facing pennants, between the 2nd and 3rd puppies.

I used the left over scraps of the damask paper and the dark pink shimmer card stock to create a simple liner for the card. I hand printed the sentiment, “Happy Mothers Day to the BEST Dog Grandma!” using a hot pink Permanent Fine Point Sharpie.

CLICK on the following picture to watch the crafting process video:

Disclosure: Many of the supplies I’ve used for today’s project are linked. Some may be affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support toward the costs of running this blog!

This puppy themed Mothers’ Day card is being entered into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday For a Special Lady Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes with Optional Flowers Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday Pet Project Challenge
Penny Black and More All Things Feminine with Anything Goes Challenge
Crafts Galore Encore Anything Goes Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
MFT Stamps Sketch Challenge #436

As my garden is in full spring bloom and I’ve been working outdoors a LOT painting my patio furniture, I thought I would pick some bright spring colors for this image. I first colored up Anna and Spike with the following Copics:
Skin: E51, E21 and R20 for blush
Hair: W1 and W3
Dress and hat: RV02, V04 with trim of dress using: BG11, BG13
Coffee cup: W1, YR21, YG25
Spike: W1, W3, YR21 and R20 for ears; Dog Collar: BG11, BG13; Dog Tag: YG25 and YR21
Lips and tongue: R08
Boots: W5 and W7
Grass: YG25, YG17 and G17

Then to add detail and texture I used the following Prismacolor Premier Color Pencils:
Hair: Metallic Gold (PC 950), Dark Umber (PC 947), Black (PC 935) and White (PC 938)
Dress: White (PC 938), Dahlia Purple (PC 1000),and Violet (PC 932)
Boots: Black (PC 935) and White (PC 938)
Spike: Chestnut (PC 1081), Dark Umber (PC 947), and White (PC 938) (I also added extra white fur with a Sakura White Gelly Roll Pen)
Coffee cup and Dog collar: Dark Green (PC 908)

To keep the card focused on the colored image, I used complimentary colored card stock in bright pink for the card base, a fun striped rainbow colored card stock for the background, and a dark purple card stock for the frame around the picture. The frame was die cut using the smaller of the Pretty Pink Posh Scallop Frames Die Set. For a simple sentiment, I used a Faber Castell Pitt Pen in XS to hand write: “It’s a dogs and coffee kind of day.” on the front, and on the inside, it says: “Oh who am I kidding — Every day is a dogs and coffee kind of day!” And to keep the continuity of the card going, I used a plaid paper (the reverse of the striped paper on the card front) and a bit of extra dark purple card stock to add a patterned detail on the inside liner sheet.

CLICK on the following picture to watch a process video of creating this card (start to finish):

Next on the YouTube Craft Room Helpers Collaboration + Giveaway lineup is Jeanie – Scrapbookingmamaw:  https://youtu.be/MJRJ2P5cvI0

I had purchased a white wooden K in the clearance section of TJ Maxx about 4 years ago for $2. It was pretty beaten up, but I felt confident that I could revitalize it and make it my own. Then as other projects rose up on my crafting to-do/try list, the K got buried in my craft closet. So with small bursts of energy that seemed to work perfectly with needed drying times, I tackled this project — finally!

1. I cut strips of fun foam and hot glued them using my new Bojecher Glue Gun onto the K to form what I hoped would look like metal welded sheets.
2. I next used the hot glue gun to form little dots on the ends of the strips to form what I hoped would end up looking like rivets — to do both sides of the K I had to wait for the first side to dry to a full hardened cure.
3. I used a stiff stencil brush and DecoArt Media Modeling Paste in Black to not only seal the foam and wood, but also add some rough texture — again there was dry time of a couple of hours, especially where I had added thicker texture.
4. Because modeling paste did not fully cover the white of the wood, I next painted the whole thing with Artist’s Loft Metallic Black Acrylic Paint — more drying time, but pretty quick.
5. Lastly I had fun getting my fingers dirty with DecoArt Metallic Lustre in the colors Gold Rush and Champagne Ice. I first applied the Gold Rush to all the edges of the K, the rivets, and the strips, and it was like magic the way that shimmer made these odd materials look like metal. Then I did a light coating of the silvery Champagne Ice, over top of the gold and over more of the flat surfaces of the K, and this aged the K beautifully.

I could have stopped here, but I like Cutsie mixed with my Steampunk, so I pulled out those adorable TINY Dylusions Puppy Dog Tails images that I had Copic colored last month. I first coated them with a coat of Liquitex Matte Medium to protect the images and strengthen the paper. Then I futzed with them on the K until I found what I thought were the perfect placement of each pup. I really like this new addition to my craft room decor and I am sooooo happy to have that K finally transformed from trash to treasure!

The following is a video of the various steps to create this Cutsie Steampunk project:

Disclosure: Many of the supplies I’ve used for today’s project are linked. Some may be affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support toward the costs of running this blog!

This altered letter is being entered into the following challenges:
SanDee and Amelia’s Anything Goes Steampunk/Industrial Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
Crafts Galore Encore Anything Goes Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Monday Tiny Things Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Cute Challenge
Crafter’s Castle Anything Goes with Optional Add Glitter Challenge

I used the following Copics to color this little scene of me and my sister and our fur babies:
Bandito (my spotted Havanese): W0, E50, E53, E13 with Sakura White Gelly Roll Pen fluffy fur details
Boomer (my sister’s fluffy mini apricot poodle): E21, E33, E23 with R27 tongue
Coffee cups: C0, C1, E13 and G29
Ground shadows: C2 and C4

Short haired girl (my sister): Skin: E000, E00, R20; Hair: B01, W3, W5, W7; Jeans: B91, B93, B95, B99; Shirt: B32, 0; Sweater: C2, C4, C6, C8, R05; Purse (with quilting and CC doodled in with a Copic Multiliner 0.03 pt Pen): C2, C4, C6, C8 and the CC logo with a Sakura Metallic Glittery Gold Gelly Roll Pen
Long haired girl (me): Skin: E50, E53, R20, Hair: B02, C4, C6, C8; Cardigan sweater and boots: C1, C2, C4, C6, C8; Purse (with chevron and CC doodled in with a Copic Multiliner 0.03 pt Pen) and striped dress: B91, B93, B95, B97, B99 and the CC logo with a Sakura Metallic Glittery Gold Gelly Roll Pen

Then I used the Concord & 9th “Sophisticated Script Stamp Set” to stamp out the word “sisters” (using a stamping tool is critical for this step so that repeated stamping and exact positioning is possible). For the inside liner, I printed from my computer, the following: “…are a Big Cup of WONDERFUL covered in AWESOME SAUCE with a Splash of SASSY and a Dash of CRAZY!”

CLICK on the following picture to watch the stamping, doodling (stamp altering), and Copic coloring of the hair and fur:

Disclosure: Many of the supplies I’ve used for today’s project are linked. Some may be affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support toward the costs of running this blog!

This card is being entered into the following challenges:
Crafting By Design Anything Goes Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
Crafts Galore Encore Anything Goes Challenge
Crafter’s Castle Anything Goes with Optional Use Glitter Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Scene Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes with Optional CAS Challenge
Addicted to CAS Fluffy Challenge

I first used a Copic Multiliner 0.03 pt black pen to doodle on an extra spot around an eye of the puppy from the Penny Black’s “So Much Love” stamp set (this extra spot makes him look very much like our sweet little Bandito) and then I Copic colored up the image:
Spots: E21, E23, E25, E29
White fur: W0, W1 and Sakura White Gelly Roll Pen for added fur texture
Balloons: R20, R21, R22, R24, R27, R29, R39 with Clear Wink of Stella Pen for added shimmer and Cream and White Prismacolor Colored Pencils to emphasize the highlights.
I next fussy cut this image out with my favorite Fiskars spring loaded scissors and an X-Acto blade (for the inside between balloon and strings areas).

For the background, I die cut some white cardstock with the largest die from the Lawn Fawn Fancy Scalloped Circle Stackables Die, and I cut out two frames (that I stacked for added stability and to create a frame) with the same die and the 11th largest circle die from the Diemond Dies Die-Normous Stack-Ems Circle Nesting Die Set. But before I added the frames, I used a handmade arches stencil to blend on some clouds onto the background with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Tumbled Glass. Then I glued down and popped up the balloons and the puppy’s left year on double sided foam dots to add dimension.

For the sentiment on the card front, I heat embossed “sending” from the Neat & Tangled “Better Together” stamp set with Ranger White Embossing Powder, and then I die cut the “Love” word die from an old retired Little Yellow Bicycle word die set (it had “love”, “laugh” and “smile”). I actually die cut the word 3 times and stacked them to match the depth of the framed image. The inside liner for the card was simply stamped with a “Be My Valentine” sentiment from the Penny Black “Key to My Heart” stamp set and the sweet dog image with outstretched paws.

CLICK on the image below to watch the process video of crafting this card:

Disclosure: Many of the supplies I’ve used for today’s project are linked. Some may be affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support toward the costs of running this blog!

This card is being entered into the following challenges:
The Male Room Love Your Men Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Monday Typography Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes with Optional Love/Hearts Challenge
Penny Black and More Anything Goes with Optional Tags Challenge
Crafter’s Castle Anything Goes with Optional Valentine’s Day Challenge
Stamping Sensations All Things Bright and Beautiful Challenge — little puppy critters
Crafty Gals Corner Love is In the Air/Add A Heart Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
MFT Sketch Challenge 424