Missing You Kitties in a Window

Today, I created a fun slider card with a surprise in the window. I'm also playing along with Simon Says Stamps' Monday Challenge (Using Bright, Cheerful Colors).

After making the slider racetrack birthday card for my nephew, I had another idea for using the double-slider loop mechanism. Creating movement with the mechanism gets easier with practice, but I made it more challenging by using extra-wide panels, which required a wider loop. Here is the front of the card, as well as the front after you pull the tab down:

The kitties are so happy to see you, even through a window! 🐱 If you want to see the slider in action, here's a video:

My card measures 5" x 7". I used the MFT Window Dressing die to create the window, then decided I wanted it to be twice as wide, so I used the die side-by-side. Once I decided on my layout, and the size of the window, I created a rectangular block of kitties by masking and stamping.I used MANY stamp and die sets for this card, so I've listed them at the bottom of this post.

Once I stamped my window-sized block of kitties, plus additional cats and die-cut plants/shelves for the foreground, I colored them with Copics. I fussy cut all of the animals with scissors. I also die cut the curtains and curtain rod from the Window Dressing die set, then encountered another problem: my window was too wide for the rod. I fixed this by slicing the paper rod in half and then cutting a skinny piece of gold cardstock for the rod itself. Once I added the knobs at each end, and placed the curtains over the areas that showed the seams of my layered, single piece of skinny cardstock, it looked perfect.

I cut a piece of clear acetate for the window pane, attached it to the back of the panel, then glued two skinny, white strips to the top and bottom (for the window edges). I cut the "wallpaper" from the MFT Wallpaper Patterns paper pad, the curtains from the Lawn Fawn Really Rainbow Scallops paper pad, and the wooden floor from an old Stampin' Up paper pack. It was a challenge to cut the windoww-sized hole in the wallpaper, since I made it a custom size, but I figured it out (and the white strips covered any flaws). I trimmed the curtains down so they were skinnier and would fit onto the card without blocking the window.

Once I completed the front, without adding the extra characters yet, I tackled the mechanism. I used the MFT Double Slider Loop Slots die set, but since my kitty panel and pull tab were wide, I cut the hole three times with the shortest die. This created a wide hole, which provides more stability. I created the loop out of a plastic sheet protector. (Tip: Sheet protector sleeves are awesome for these, as they don't have the sharp edges down the sides like Ziploc baggies, which tend to get stuck in the loop.) I used my Tim Holz Tiny Attacher Stapler to close the loop, then to attach the pull tab on the back side and kitties on the front side. The interior mechanics look like this:

In the top photo, you can see the wide panel of kitties stapled to the front side of the slider loop. The second photo shows the cavity underneath, where the pull tab panel is attached in the same way. The foam layers provide space for the loop to move easily.

If you'd like to see exactly how a double slider loop is constructed, I recommend watching My Favorite Things' Double Slider Loop Slots Die-Namics video on their product page.

I used Stampin' Up Foam Adhesive Strips between each layer, so the slider would have enough room to move easily. I cut a white card base and black mat for the front, then attached all of my layers: bottom layer (country scene from the Tattered Lace Country Manor Paper Pack), middle layer with double slider loop, then top layer with window/curtains. I added my characters, plants and perches using Ranger Multi-Medium Matte and foam dots.

For the inside of the card, I wanted a simple, large paw print, but I didn't have a stencil. Instead, I used the MFT Paw Prints Die-Namics to MAKE a stencil, by cutting the large shape out of a black piece of paper. I used my blender brush and teal ink to stencil the paw print inside. I will add a sentiment once I figure out to whom and why I'm sending the card.

List of all stamps and dies used on this card:

• Housecats stamp set (My Favorite Things)
• I Knead You stamp set (My Favorite Things) 
• Cool Cat stamp set (My Favorite Things) 
• Housecats Exclusive stamp set (My Favorite Things)
  
• Houseplants Die-Namics (My Favorite Things)
• Cat & Plant Perches Die-Namics (My Favorite Things)
  
• Window Dressing Die-Namics (My Favorite Things) 
• Paw Prints Die-Namics (My Favorite Things)
• Double Slider Loop Slots Die-Namics (My Favorite Things)
  
• Interactive Labels stamp set (My Favorite Things) (to stamp "pull" and the arrow on the tab)
• Word Mix 2 stamp and die set (Simon Says Stamp)
  

Other supplies:

• Copic markers (various)
• White, black and teal cardstock
• Double-sided tape (Scor-tape)
• Foam Adhesive Strips (Stampin' Up)
  
• Multi-Medium Matte (Ranger)
• Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
• Clear sheet protectors
• Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher Stapler
  
• My Favorite Things Wallpaper Patterns Paper Pad
• Lawn Fawn Really Rainbow Scallops Paper Pad
• Tattered Lace Country Manor Paper Pack
• Stampin' Up 6"x6" wood-pattern cardstock
  
• Cutter-Bees scissors
  

I hope you enjoyed this project, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Happy Crafting!

Slimline Racecar Slider Birthday Card

Today, I've created a special birthday card for my four-year-old nephew. I'm also playing along with Simon Says Stamps' Wednesday Challenge (Anything Goes).

This was the second time I've made a card with a double-slider loop mechanism. (The first was on my fishbowl card.) I thought it would be easier the second time, but it was just as challenging, especially adjusting for the slimline size. Here is the front of the card, as well as the front after you pull the tab:

My card measures 4" x 8.5", and all of the characters are from the Fast-Track Friends stamp set (My Favorite Things). Since we read from left to right, I wanted the racers to face right, so I used a mirror stamp (Mirror Block by Paper Smooches) to turn them around. When you mirror stamp, you use an acrylic block to stamp the image directly onto the mirror stamp (either mounted on another acrylic block or on your stamp positioner tool), and then you stamp the mirror stamp onto your paper. I did that three times, so I would have three racers.

Once I stamped the racers, I decided that I wanted them to be different animals, not all bunnies. I colored all of the characters with Copic markers. I used creative color placement, as well as stamped ears from other characters in the stamp set. Once I fussy cut them with scissors and glued the new ears on them, I had three distinct racers (bunny, fox and bear)!

I stamped the other characters, masking the middle character (with the sign) so I'd have them together in a group. I colored and fussy cut them. I also stamped, colored and fussy cut the bear and tires for the inside of the card.

To build the scene, I cut a 3.75" x 8.25" white panel and used the Slimline Cloud Edges stencil (MFT) with Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide. I cut other panels from white cardstock, using the Slimline Grassy Hills dies, as well as a 1.75" x 8.25" strip for the race track. I used Mowed Lawn and Twisted Citron Distress Oxides on the grass layers, then Pumice Stone Distress Oxide on the race track, masking off a 1.6" section for the finish line. I used a ruler, pencil, and Copic marker 100 to create the checkered finish line.

Next, I assembled the slider loop mechanism (using the Slimline Starter Die-Namics) and attached the layers together, using SU Foam Strips for the moving layers and Scor-tape for the other layers. This is how the card moves:

My Favorite Things provides an instruction video for the Slimline Starter Die-Namics (with double-loop slider) on their website, and I followed those instructions to create the slider loop on my card. HOWEVER, I had to make one very, very important deviation: the plastic loop itself!

In the video, the artist uses a strip cut from a large (freezer) Ziploc bag. That did not work at ALL for me, as the slimline size is so long that any strip you cut will have a seam, and the seam gets stuck in the holes!! I fought with it for at least 20 minutes before I started searching in my craft room for alternatives, and I finally settled on the Simon Says Stamp Slimline Clear Bags. These are clear, plastic bags that you use to protect/store your slimline cards... and, most importantly, the bottom of the bag is just folded/pressed, NOT a seam! I cut my strip vertically from the bag and substituted it for the Ziploc bag in the video. It worked perfectly and slides smoothly! This is definitely a trick I'll remember for any future slimline slider cards.

I finished the inside of the card with several layers of cardstock and the other images I stamped, colored with Copics and fussy cut. Here's the inside:

List of all stamps and dies used on this card:

• Fast-Track Friends stamp set (My Favorite Things)
• Mirror Block stamp set (Paper Smooches, retired) 
• Slimline Starter Die-Namics (My Favorite Things) 
• Slimline Grassy Hills Die-Namics (My Favorite Things)
• Slimline Cloud Edges stencil (My Favorite Things)
• Interactive Labels stamp set (My Favorite Things) (to stamp "pull" on the tab)
  

Other supplies:

• Copic markers (various)
• White, black and red cardstock
• Double-sided tape (Scor-tape)
• Foam Adhesive Strips (Stampin' Up)
  
• Multi-Medium Matte (Ranger)
• Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
• Slimline Clear Bags (Simon Says Stamp) 
• Distress Oxides: Mowed Lawn, Twisted Citron, Tumbled Glass, Pumice Stone
  
• Cutter-Bees scissors
  

I hope you enjoyed this project, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Happy Crafting!