It is the time of the month to take part in Kylie’s International Blog Highlights. Lots of demonstrators displaying their creations. You get to vote for your top 5. Pop over and vote here.

The little meerkats that are the stars of the “Gangs All Meer” are just so cute and I haven’t been able to resist using them at a few of my recent classes.

This little group of party Meerkats featured in January’s touring class around the county of Northamptonshire. The paper featured was from the pack that is currently available to everyone who signs up as a demonstrator during Sale-a-Bration. The same pattern is also available in the Birthday Bonanza Designer Series Paper. All their cute little hats were stamped separately onto whisper white card in a multitude of colours and cut out, before being stuck onto their heads.

The meerkats popped up in my technique class on masking. By masking the gang with post it notes before stamping further meerkats, I was able to create a whole crowd gathered to celebrate. By just colouring the one meerkat it brought him into the spotlight.

My online Facebook class last month was using pigment sprinkles and hence we created a vibrant background wash. The meerkats were stamped in memento ink and coloured in with the dark black stampin’ blend to create the silouhette.

Having used this fabulous sale-a-bration stamp set in these three classes, I still had 2 ideas rolling around in my head, so I combined them to create this 4th card.

I firstly wanted to create a wreath with the cactus using Call Me Clover ink and my trusty stamparatus

The window sheet template I created for my Stamparatus is starting to look a little loved, but is still working fine. I have marked it with 2″, 3″, 4″ and 4 1/2″ squares. For this card I used the 4″ squares. The second set of squares are drawn in at 45 degrees to the first.

I centred the stamp along the top of a square of whisper white and then inked it and stamped in Call Me Clover ink.

The card was then turned 45 degrees so it sat within the grid lines of the second set of squares and stamped again.

You repeat this pattern until you have a full circle. I then used Call Me Clover ink and blender pens to colour in the cacti ring.

The second thing I wanted to do was add a “pop up” meerkat, so I stamped a little Meerkat in the centre of the ring. I stamped and cut out a little lizard and another meerkat which I cut out, along with the long strip of card underneath to create the pop up element. Using a craft knife I cut a thin slot (1.5cm long) in the card next front to the small meerkat. I coloured all the elements in with watercolour pencils.

Having thread the pop up meerkat through the slot, I added the lizard with a dimensional. The card front was then attached to a square of call e clover cardstock with dimensionals. The whole card front was then placed on a 5″ square whisper white card base.

What fun

Which of the Meerkats is your favourite?

Don’t forget to get your hands on the Meerkats, you have to first place an order of £45 or more and then you can have them as a free gift.

Helen x