Kitty in the Window Card by Mary Lind

Working on 4 x 6 pieces of glossy white cardstock, stamp sitting cat stamp (Hearts in Touch #87 GG’s Cats) on one piece. Trim around cat body.

Take a second piece of glossy cardstock and work polished stone technique. Dot card with a silver Krylon leafing pen. Pounce on card using felt dabber after dotting with Adirondack alcohol inks in Stream and Eggplant.  Let dry.

Swirl paint white acrylic paint on top of blue polished stone background to make clouds. Glue on cat on blue polished stone background under clouds.

Fold a lavender sheet of 8.5 x 11 cardstock (Stardream morphing mauve) in half to make a 5.5” wide card.  Trim about 1.5 inches from the top of the card.

Print out the template from Victorine Originals (http://www.victorineoriginals.com/images/patterns/0011.pdf).  I followed the basic directions in this design for my Venetian blinds but resized the window and blinds to fit my cat image. I also changed the cords to run from outside to inside the card.

Using a craft knife and a self healing mat, cut a square window 4 inches tall by 3 5/8 inches wide. Cut scraps of white cardstock (Stardream virtual pearl) into 0.25 inch strips. Frame top and sides of window with single strips and add three strips at the bottom for a window sill.

Cut a rectangle of white cardstock (Stardream virtual pearl) 4 inches wide by 8.5 inches long. Accordion fold paper in approximate 0.5 inch increments down the long side. Holding the accordion folded, use a Japanese punch to punch through all thicknesses about 0.25 inch from the end.

Glue top of Venetian blinds to top of window. Use Japanese punch to punch top holes in blinds all the way through front of card. Weave a piece of cord through all the left side holes in the Venetian blind starting with the bottom all the way to the top and through to inside the card. Repeat with a second piece of cord on the right side. Tie several overhand knots in all four ends of cord. Clip ends of cord.

Add decorative flourishes to front corners using a metallic marker and a Journaling Genie (Chatterbox).

To secure blinds in open position, tie left and right cords in a bow inside of card.

Kitten in the Flowers by Wendy Kerr

Stamp image (Stamps Happen) onto green and white cardstock with black permanent ink. Cut the grass out of your green cardstock piece.  Using an Exacto knife, cut around the blades of grass in the foreground then pull back to give a little dimension.  Color flowers with gel pens and flower stems with a marker. Layer the grass piece onto blue cardstock by attaching the bottom with double stick tape and thin pop dots under the top and flowers. Cut the cat out of your white piece of cardstock and color with markers. Place the cat behind the grass piece. Add Dimensional Magic to the bumble bee and clear glaze to the cat's eyes. Click here for a larger view of this card.

Triptych Encaustic Wax Card by Betty McCommon

For ages I was enthralled by Encaustic wax artistry. I finally broke down and purchased an iron and wax in December. I have heard people say you could use crayons but trust me, this is totally different and gives a different look and texture than crayons.

For more information on encaustic wax see: http://www.encaustic.com/techniq/techniq.html

For this particular card I made a chaotic abstract background: http://www.encaustic.com/techniq/02_chaotic/02_chaotic.html

Using blue, rust and green wax on glossy paper with the iron.  I buffed and sealed the piece and set aside to dry.

Next I cut the card base from a pale blue cardstock using template #2 from Mirkwood: http://ruthannzaroff.com/mirkwooddesigns/triptych.htm

After it’s cut, score and fold.

HINT:  I printed the template on regular copy paper and ran it through my Xyron laminator.  Then I cut it out and file it to use when I want. 

Back to the Encaustic Wax background; Run it through the Xyron with permanent adhesive and burnish the back to make sure the adhesive sticks well.  I like to use a Pampered Chef pan scrapper to burnish.  Leaving backing on, I cut in ¼ inch strips and randomly stuck to the front pieces of the card base.  Then I trimmed the curved edges and any other overhang with a scissors.

Stamp the Pegasus and Unicorn (Third Coast stamps http://www.thirdcoastrs.com/ ) - on pearlescent vellum with archival ink and circle cut.  Mount on Rust metallic cardstock cut with a scallop scissor (mimics the top of the card) using vellum adhesive.