Do you have pets?  I’m decidedly a ‘cat person’.  I just love that they won’t put up with stuff the way dogs seem to do.  A while ago a friend who was definitely a ‘dog person’ was convinced by her daughter to get a cat.  Since its arrival this cute little kitten has won hearts and minds.  So much so that the youngest daughter asked if I could make her a bookmark with a cat.  So yesterday I pulled out the Pampered Pets Stamp Set and happily got to work.

PET CAT

I began my bookmark as I so often do with a 2″ x 5-1/2″ piece of card, today I chose Thick Very Vanilla.

Next, from the Pampered Pets Stamp Set I chose the image of the smiling cat. Using Early Espresso ink I stamped the image about 1/4″ from the bottom of the card strip. Then I stamped the cat onto a Full-Adhesive Post-It® Note and cut it out with Paper Snips to create a mask. I placed the cat mask over the one on the bookmark and set the rest of the Post-It Note aside.

Now I was ready to start on the background and for that I wanted a Balmy Blue ink pad and a Blending Brush. Once the background was covered in a layer of blue ink I removed the mask to reveal the cat stamped underneath.

My plan was to mask around the cat but I realised I’d not left myself much of a border around the cat-shaped hole. Not to worry I simply cut the excess off the Post-It Note. Then after placing the mask around the cat, I put the other piece above it. Now there was no danger of messing up the background.

This time I needed an Early Espresso ink pad and a fresh Blending Brush. After picking up ink from the pad I brushed a lot of it off onto scrap paper so I could add just the lightest touch of colour. With that done I removed the masks and I was ready for the finishing touches.

I’d seen a few photos of my friend’s cat and that inspired me to add some extra detail to the one on the bookmark. So from the Watercolor Pencils I chose an Early Espresso pencil. Then I used it to darken the paws, tail and part of the face, and add some stripes on its forehead. These simple touches really seemed to bring the cat to life.

PAMPERED PETS SENTIMENT

I was almost done but I wanted to add a sentiment. In the end I went back to the Pampered Pets Stamp Set. I chose “Always in your heart. So sorry for your loss” which was spread over two lines. I didn’t want it all but I had a plan…

First I inked up the stamp with Early Espresso ink. Then I covered the bottom line of text on the stamp with some sellotape. Now when I stamped the sentiment onto a scrap of Thick Very Vanilla Card only the first line appeared. Still, that line was too wide for the bookmark so it needed a little more alteration….

Using my Paper Snips I cut around each word and separated them. Then using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I attached the individual words to the the background.

At this point I noticed that my cat appeared to be levitating! I’d forgotten to add some ‘ground’ but that was easily solved. Using the side of the Early Espresso Watercolor Pencil I simply scribbled across the area below the cat.

With the design complete I was ready to turn this card strip into a finished bookmark. I started by using the Detailed Trio Punch to add an oval hole at the top. Then from the Baker’s Twine Essentials Pack I cut 6″ each of Very Vanilla and Crumb Cake twine. After folding the twine in half I poked the loops through the hole in the bookmark. Finally I passed the ends of the twine through the loops and pulled tight to secure it in place. My bookmark commission was complete.

I had so much fun creating this cat project and hope Emma enjoys it just as much.

PRODUCT LIST

COORDINATING DIES – If you’re considering getting the Pampered Pets Stamp Set you might also be interested the coordinating Pets Dies (not used today). Sadly while the stamp set and dies are current, they are no longer available as a discounted bundle.