Critter Cards- without colouring

If you spend a lot of money on critter stamps, you feel like you need to use them.  At least, I do. Sometimes, I don't feel like colouring my critter stamps. The thing is, there are so many other ways to use your critter stamps.  You just need to think outside the box. Let's look at a few ways you can make cards with critters, without having to build a scene or do any colouring. 

#1 Ink blending

You don't even need to ink blend realistic colours or place them where you expect.

The colours just make a bright background for the line art to sit on. 

So cute.

#2 Stamp onto coloured cardstock

You won't get any shadows or light, but it doesn't matter. 
Stamping these cute elephants on different shades of grey
cardstock gives enough contrast. A touch of stencilling
and a sweet sentiment, means this card came together
so easily and it really packs a punch.  

#3 Just stamp it  

This gelpress background didn't need much. 
Simply Stamping the hedgehogs on a basic shape is enough. 
The sentiment is simply stamped too, with a black mat. 
I'm really happy with how this card turned out. 

#Heat Embossing

This white heat embossed cat on black cardstock is so cute. 
You could heat emboss in white on brightly coloured cardstock too. 
I sent this card to a friend whose cat had crossed the rainbow bridge. 
She loved it. 

There you go, 4 ways to use your critter stamps without colouring. 

Do you have any other special tricks for using your critters (or any line art) without colouring them? 

Please share them in the comments below. 

 

More Critter Cards- Simple Scenes

Scene building is not really my thing, I can do it, but it takes a lot of effort for me.  When I have stamped out a critter and taken the time to colour it, I want a background for it, but I want the critter to be the star of the show.  Let's check out these very simple scenes set for some sweet critters. 

A cloud stencil with some light blue ink, makes a cloudy sky. 
Some post-it tape and light green ink, blends to make some grass. 
Use a card panel with a circle aperture to add some white space. 
Pop up the card panel, with a simple stamped sentiment too. 

This scene is just a bunch of critters holding up a 
Happy Birthday sentiment and some balloons. 
The background has some light ink blending around the 
edges and corners so there is a highlight in the centre. 
It doesn't get much simpler than this. 

The sentiment strip becomes 'the ground' on this card.
Some light ink blending behind the critter acts as sky. 
How cute is this dog holding the bunch of balloons in his mouth! 

I had fun building this scene! The cats are just playing
with little balls and string. They are climbing shelves and
looking down on the world. Judging you. 
I didn't worry about grounding or carpet or wallpaper. 
All those card makers who can do that are awesome. 
You can still make a great scene without feeling overwhelmed. 

Just some ink smooshing to make this bubbly, watery background
for this adorable whale was needed. Keeping the scene smaller than the card
by using a wide strip give the card some white space, a sort of frame and makes
the scene building so much easier. 

I used masking to contain this scene. 
Simple shapes and a bit of post-it tape and we're done. 

This is almost a one layer card with some great masking. 
A grey alcohol marker was the only real addition to ground the critter. 
This dog is so cute! 

That's that then, 

Next time, Critter cards for when you don't feel like colouring! 

 

Critter Cards and Stencils

 I love critter cards and critter stamp sets.  They are so cute! 

I am not great at using critter stamp sets and making critter cards.  I am getting better at stamping out the critters and colouring them. I don't feel quite so intimidated as I used to when I saw a critter set. I don't have lots of critter stamp sets, but the collection is growing a bit. The thing I really struggle with, when it comes to critters, is how to use them on my card.  I'm not great at scene building... too much work babe! While I can come up with a scene and think of a great story for the critters, the time and effort to get my scenes to look right are just too much.  

So, let's take a look at some cards I've made using critter stamps from my stash. 

A brick wall stencil makes a cute backdrop for these "hot" chicks.
An action wobbler means that the critter is the star and
 the fading out brick just compliments it making a cute little scene.
I can totally see these chicks exercising in their home gyms!

Just another stencilled backgound here. 
The monkey looks like he is hanging around in the jungle. 
I didn't have to worry about trees, ground, or sky,
but this totally works.

If you want to get really fancy, use some texture/ embossing paste
through your stencil. This partial stencilling looks so cool. 
If your critter is looking a bit lost, just add a plain die cut shape behind it.

I have some critter cards with simple scenes to share with you next time. Until then, let me know how you use your critter stamps. I'm always looking for new ideas.