Hi friends and bloggers! Here are 2 cards I did with the new February Zoo Critters set from Clear Dollar Stamps. This set comes with 6 adorable critters and lots of fun phrases. One is 31/4 x 61/4, I thought it would be a fun change from the usual square cards that I do and that the tall slender shape would be good because I added a stick "post" and the shapes would mimic one another. It was really fun to work with because I love color! The other is a more simple card to do but I loved the results. I know Panda's aren't brown but (actually there was one, very rare but he passed away in 2002 I think, I googled it!) I loved the earthy colors and Asian feel of this paper so I used it and did the brown! My Panda is put on a scroll made from paper wrapped around a small piece of bamboo. This was perfect for doing him without the 3-d layers that I often do because, scrolls are not 3-d! Here is what I used/did on the Toucan card:

stamp: Zoo Critters by Clear Dollar Stamps

paper:baja breeze, riding hood red, watercolor paper, old olive, vellum and DP from Basic Gray.

ink:basic black, real red, summer sun, old olive, tempting turquoise, chocolate chip, white craft, versamark, black ep, acrylic paint.

acessories: hodge podge hardware, reding hood red ribbon, stick, paper flowers

tools:corner rounder, cuttlebug, dimensionals, glue dots, sewing machine

I layered and sewed together the papers. They were all distressed with ink only-no tools. I handpainted the background leaves and cut and painted the little leaves on the vine which was cut from thin strips of paper and curled to go around the stand the Toucan is on.

Here is what I did and used on the Panda card.

stamp:Zoo Critters from Clear Dollar staamps

paper: chocolate chip, river rock, cofetti cream, stardream metallics, DP from Basic Gray

ink: choc. chip, river rock, creamy caramel, really rust, white craft, versamark, brown ep acrylic paints

acessories:build a brad, silk and grograin ribbon, hemp twine, eyelet

tools:cuttlebug, crop-a-dile, sewing machine

I distressed on this card again but this time I also used the edge of my craft scissors to roughen them. After I embossed and inked the "twiggy" layer, (I think this CB folder is called forest branches, I've gotten tons of use out of it!) I sewed all layers together. Now I have to admit to everyone, I believe I make more mistakes than the average person! Which is why I have to explain how I got the look I did with the painting on the panda.Many of the mistakes I have made and other people too turn out to be a good thing. The mother of invention!LOL! I put to much really rust around the edges of the "scroll" and it stood out to much so I had to pretty much paint over the whole thing. I did it kinda sloppily so it wouldn't be solid and would still look distressed. After I stamped and embossed the panda and proceeded to watercolor him the area's that didn't have paint on the took in less paint and the Little spots that didn't have paint became more saturated. Kinda like resist. I thought I would have to start over but when I sat back and looked the uneven painted really looked right with the distressed aged look of the card. The chocolate chip took on a little bit of an odd color though so I watered down some brown acrylic paint and lightly went over the whole thing to warm up the color and blend the tones better. I just brushed in some grass and then spattered brown on with the paint brush to finish it off. Sometimes rather than starting over it's better to work with your mistakes and you come out with something unique!

I love these stamps and hope I get time soon to use some of the others in this set! You can still find these on the home page at CDS.