For this card, I used the cow grinning from ear to ear under the sentiment, “My grandfather was a knight,” which I printed from my computer. Inside the card liner continues, “His name was Sir Loin.” (yuk yuk) And under that sentiment, I stamped out the steak stamp from the Lawn Fawn “Let’s BBQ” stamp set (yes, I know that’s a T-bone, not a sirloin, but how would one draw a sirloin without it just looking like a blob?).

I used the following Copic colors to bring these stamp images to life:
Cow: W0, W1, W3, W7 and W9 with R30 for udders and C1 for teeth and horns
Grass: G43, YG25 and YG17
Steak on inside liner: R14 and R17 and W1
For a little shiny detail, I also added Ranger Glossy Accents to the cow’s teeth and horns.

This card is being entered into the following challenges:
CASology Farm Challenge – WINNER
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes with Optional Photo Inspiration
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
Crafts Galore Encore Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes with Optional Use Buttons or Bows Challenge
Penny Black and More In the Garden Challenge
Crafters Castle Anything Goes with Optional More than One Fold Challenge
Stamping Sensations Anything Goes Challenge

These farm animal stamp images are very realistic so they could certainly stand on their own without any coloring, but I wanted to add a hint of coloring so that they would coordinate with the patterned papers I wanted to use on these cards. So I used the following Copic colors to color up the sheep and pigs:
Sheep: N0, N1 and E000
Pigs: Y000, Y11, Y13, E01, N2
All the patterned papers are from a 6 x 6 My Mind’s Eye “Moments” paper pad (retired). And to give a nice finished look, I lightly inked the edges of all the paper pieces with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Hickory Smoke.

Next I fussy cut all the critters and inked the edges with a Tuxedo Black Momento Marker. This freed me up to position them exactly where I wanted to, which was in round windows die cut from hand cut pennant banners using Lawn Fawn Stitched Circle Stackable Dies. For a little interest and dimension, I layered and popped up the pennants on double sided foam adhesive over a blue damask patterned paper that I customized with small orange dots using a Tim Holtz Distress Marker in Riper Persimmon. Lastly, I added another layer of foam adhesive before I placed the whole assembly on a simple floral card front.

For the silly sentiment banners, I simply used a Uniball Signo White Gel Pen on black card stock. For the pig card, I wrote, “It’s Your Birthday! Go Hog Wild!” and inside the card, I printed out on my computer, ” “It’s Party Time! Let’s Pig Out!” for the card liner. For the sheep card, I wrote, “Happy Birthday to Ewe!”

I’m so glad I got to replenish my birthday card stash with these Joy! Crafts farm animals. I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed crafting these punny cards. The following is a process video of crafting these cards:

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!

These cards are being entered into the following challenges:
Crafty Gals Corner Anything Goes Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
Crafts Galore Encore Anything Goes Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Monday Time Out Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Animal Magic Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes with Optional Add a Sentiment Challenge
MFT Sketch Challenge #383

MFT Color Challenge #92

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I’m so excited to be part of the Topflight Stamps 1st Birthday Blog Hop! The designers had free reign to use any of the products from the shop, and I am in LOVE with these whimsical Katzelkraft Jungle Animals Stamps so I knew I wanted to create a set of fun, anytime cards with them.

These are the Copic colors I used for each animal:
Polka Dot Horse: Body and Main: 0, W0, W1, W3 and W7; Rainbow Sweater: R35, R37, YR02, YR07, Y11, Y15, YG07, G09, B12, B16, B69, BV13, V04 and RV09; Eye: E25 with Uniball Signo white gel pen highlights
Exhausted Elephant: Body: N0, N2, N4, C0, R30; Eyes: B34 with Uniball Signo white gel pen highlights
Lion with Bird: Bird: YR07, E97 and E07; Lion Body: E50, Y212, E53, YR24 and W3; Lion Main: W3, W5, W7, YR24 and E15; Teeth: C0; Eyes: YR24

After coloring them, I fussy cut out each of the animals and inked all the edges with a Momento Tuxedo Black Marker for a finished look. I also coated all the teeth, tusks, and eyes with Ranger Glossy Accents for shine. I’ll admit that after struggling to fussy cut out those super fine detailed curly whiskers of the lion and the legs of the bird, I ended up cutting them off; they just looked too scraggly. Instead, I re-stamped the image onto the card front and glued the colored and fussy cut lion and the bird over top to regain those delicate details in a much cleaner looking form for the finished card.

Because I also wanted to play with the AWESOME Clarity Stencil Brushes (also available at Topflight Stamps), I decided to stencil backgrounds for each animal. For the polka dot horse, I used a Dylusions Bubbles Stencil and blended on Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Squeezed Lemonade and Tumbled Glass. Where the two colors blended together, it created a beautiful citrus green. For the elephant, I used the Tim Holtz Splatters Stencil to create a coffee or tea stained look with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Scattered Straw and Tea Dye. Lastly, for the grumpy lion, I wanted the focus to be on his wonderful facial expression so I used a DecoArt Andy Skinner Tornado Stencil with the center of the spiral being where I positioned the lion’s head. To add some energetic color, I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Squeezed Lemonade and Festive Berries, and where the two colors blended together a glorious tangerine orange color appeared.

Next, I wanted all of the animals to look like they were sitting or laying on a floor of some sort, so I dug through my collection of washi tapes and picked out some fun patterns and colors that I thought would coordinate with the animals and their backgrounds. The polka dot horse got a plain yellow, a white and cornflower blue stars, and a thin teal and black chevron. The elephant was grounded with wide wood grain and super thin rope patterned washi tapes. The lion got his footing on an ombre black, thin yellow and a bold red, white and black plaid.

I was struggling a bit, thinking about what sentiments would work with and highlight these animals that were so full-of-personality, when I remembered some funny Dylusions sentiment stamp sets that I had fallen in love with and had to have in my stash but had never used. The sentiments for the horse and the lion are from the “Quote Bubbles” Stamp Set (this link is a different set, but has these quotes). The horse with the rainbow colored sweater says, “I’m a rainbow sprinkle in a vanilla world,” and the exasperated lion with a bird on his head says, “Pretending I’m a pleasant person is exhausting.”  The quote for the elephant comes from the Dylusions “Quote Medley” Stamp Set (this link is for a different set, but has this quote) and says, “I don’t like morning people…Or mornings.. or people.!” I mean really, these quotes seemed made for these animal stamps! To give these sentiments a bit of visual weight, I heat embossed them with charcoal colored American Crafts Zing! embossing powder, fussy cut each segment out, inked all the edges with a Momento Tuxedo Black Marker, and popped them up on thin double sided foam dots.

To create coordinating card liners, I matched the washi tapes used on the card fronts with the card liners and/or I used the same stencils and Distress Inks to stencil matching backgrounds for the insides of the cards. I like how the cards are finished both inside and out.

GIVEAWAY ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL: To celebrate my birthday, I’m giving away a $25 gift card to the craft store of the winner’s choice. You must subscribe to my YouTube channel and leave a comment on the video (not on this blog post) by April 7, 2018 (12 pm ET).

GIVEAWAYS FOR TOPFLIGHT STAMPS 1ST BIRTHDAY BLOG HOP: Be sure to comment on this blog (please include your email so I can contact you if you win). Each of the designers on this blog hop are giving away a $10 gift certificate to Topflight Stamps. PLUS all the blogs on the hop to be eligible for the GRAND PRIZE $50 Topflight Stamps store credit!!! You have until March 31, 2018 (12 pm ET) to comment. I will announce my $10 GC winner here on my blog on Monday, April 2. The $50 Grand Prize winner will be announced on the Topflight Stamps Blog the same day. Be sure to check out all these blogs and comment for your chance to win the grand prize!

• Topflight Stamps
• Donna Bowman
• Lindsay Weirich
• Clare Messenger
• Julia Stainton
• Jenny Colacicco
• Veronica Zalis
• Tenia Nelson
• Lisa Hoel
• Teri Anderson
• Jenny Marples
• Nathalie Fournier
• Karen Bearse
• Kristina Song – YOU ARE HERE

SALE: Topflight Stamps is having a Special Birthday Discount from March 27 – March 31, 2018. Get 20% off your entire purchase by using the code: BDAY20

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!

I first made a card using the pup from Paper Smooches’ “Chubby Chums” stamp set. I thought I could stamp a background with the pup and leave all but one of them in their simple stamped state. The one chosen pup, I melonized with the following Copic colors, and added a hand written sentiment with a white Stabilo Uniball pen that reads, “You’re One In A Melon!” This is for a friend who has a winter birthday and is turning 60 soon, but really likes the summer (especially summer fruits).

Green rind: G29, 17, 12, and 40
Red watermelon: R20, 22, 24 and 37 (for the tongue)

To help blend the light green and pale pink, I used the 0 blender, and I drew in the seeds with a 0.1 Copic multi-liner pen.  I also used a black Sakura Glaze pen on the nose and paw pads of all the dogs on the second card. I thought that without the eyes open on these pups, they needed a little more of a shine element to help them pop a bit.

I made the second card using one of the pups (the one that most looked like a collie to me) from The Greeting Farm’s “Lucky Dogs” stamp set (this is a new-to-me set I picked up during The Greeting Farm’s last Farmer’s Market Sale). I used the same Copic colors, and hand wrote, “Don’t Be Melon-Collie” for the sentiment. This card will be sent to a friend who is having a really rough time lately, and I hope it will cheer him up (or at least bring a smile to his face).

I know these are simple silly cards, and I think that is one of the beauties of paper crafting. We paper crafters can brighten someone’s day by creating a simple silly thing and sending a little happy snail mail. I love this avocation. Thanks for spending a little time with me today! Big hugs, Kristina

The following is an easy-to-follow repeat stamping technique tutorial with lots of stamping tips and tricks to create these types of backgrounds on cards:

These cards are being entered into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday Make Something New with New Product Challenge
Penny Black and More Anything Goes Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes with an Optional Totally Technical Challenge
Not Just Cards New Beginnings Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes with Optional Winter Challenge
Paper Crafter’s Corner #168 Inspiration Challenge – red and green colors – WINNER

The Melon-Collie card is being entered into
The Greeting Farm Farm Fresh Anything Goes Challenge

The You’re One In A Melon birthday card is being entered into the
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Winter Birthday Challenge

You can’t pass up the opportunity to switch “wish” for “wisk” when you are making up puns.  I made the silly birthday card by coloring up a cake stamp from the Fiskars Birthday Party stamp set with Distress Markers in Spun Sugar and Worn Lipstick.  I also used those inks to do a little water coloring to create a base for the cake to sit on.  To add a kind of festive confetti thrown into the air feeling (as well as connect the pink and black from the cake and whisks), I also splattered Worn Lipstick, Pumice Stone, and Black Soot onto the card with a wet paint brush.  Just adding the whisk dies illustrates the pun sentiment, “Whisking You a Happy Birthday.”

I’m a 70s baby and grew up rockin’ to 80s tunes, like Devo’s “Whip It” and Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” So when I first saw the whisk die I knew that I had to use it with lyrics from one of these songs. This “Whip it. Whip it good” card could just as easily been captioned with “Beat it. Just beat it.”

I just love that whisk die so I decided to highlight the delicate lines of it in this next card.  I saw the idea in google images and just made it my own by embellishing the spoon with a plastic mustache, top hat and bow tie and the spatula with a red rose. It’s a little goofy, but I thought it would be a good card to send when someone wants to send a note of encouragement about everyone having a special something about them. 🙂  The sentiment reads: “He might not be the handsomest or prettiest, but Whisk has great hair!”

The small card with the damask pattern base was super simple but may be considered a little crude by some. If you are one of those folks, I apologize. However I thought on certain occasions this “WT [fork]” card would be just the right thing to send.

My favorite of all these CAS cards is the super simple one that includes a reference to a famous Star Wars quote (yes, I’m a geek at heart). The line of 5 forks with the sentiment, “May the forks be with you” is such a horrible pun, but I love it! To add some visual allusions to the movie I also added some pale pink pearlescent sequins and silver sequin stars. I thought this would be a good card for someone fighting multiple sclerosis to give or receive.  It’s also a great all-occasion kind of card that I know I’ll be making again. 🙂

The following is a video share of these cards:

The Whisking You a Happy Birthday Card is being entered into the CAS-ual Fridays Watercolor Challenge and
Less Is More Pink and Grey Colour Challenge

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day! WOOF

For this first set (there are another 5 coming tomorrow), I used the following new dies from Diemond Dies: Kitchen Utensil Die Set, Nesting Ovals Die Set, and Nesting Heart Die Set.

Remember to use the Diemond Dies coupon code “thankskristina” for 10% off your entire order and free worldwide shipping on orders of $35 or more.

For the “Wanna Spoon” card, I just doodled a bowl of ice cream (which I colored with Distress Markers) and used a spoon die cut  and a speech bubble so it would look like the spoon was propositioning the bowl of ice cream.

For the “Have a knife day!” card, I die cut out 3 knives and doodled in some limbs and dressed them with some clothes which I had stamped out on scrap patterned paper and fussy cut out from the Some Odd Girl “Hipster Pets” stamp set.

For the “Spread the love!” card, I die cut out a spatula and two hearts out of gold foil paper and just drew in a little plus sign. Easy peasy!

For the “Rollin’ With My Homies” card, all I had to do was die cut out 5 rolling pins and just position them in a way that I thought created a nice visual rhythm.

For the “Run Away With Me!” card, I die cut an oval out to make a man/dish.  I created arms for him using the knife die, and I used more clothes from the Hipster Pets stamp set. I also added some googly eyes and a plastic mustache to give him a gentlemanly look. LOL For the woman/spoon, I stamped in her face using the Lawn Fawn “Love You S’more” stamp set and added a little plastic bow to give her a feminine look. I created her arms just using the handle of the wooden spoon die. To give them a sense of movement I doodled in legs that were taking strides.

The following is a video share of these cards:

The Wanna Spoon? card is being entered into the
Naughty or Nice Love/Anti-Love Challenge
The Pink Elephant Be My Valentine Challenge
The Spread the Love card is being entered into the CASology LOVE Challenge

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day! WOOF