Stampin' Up Party Fun

Hello Everyone,

I hosted a Stampin' Up party last night. It was pretty fun: girlfriends and cards. What come be better? Chocolate?? Yes, there was chocolate too. This was Sharon Disney's first party as a demonstrator. She did a great job. Here are the cards she designed for our make and takes. Very nice cards that all skill levels could make and enjoy making. Good job Sharon! The first card uses the Of the Earth set, Old Olive CS and ink. The second card uses the For All You Do set, Brocade Blue Ink and CS, and Close To Cocoa ink and CS. Aren't they cute??!!
And as a special "Thank You" to my guests, I made cards for them to take home. I think I got carried away with the Two Step Bird Punch. But, it is so cute I just can't resist it.

Bird Punch again and some pretty DP.

The next two cards use the Inspired By Nature and Upsy Daisy sets. The images were stamped with Very Vanilla Craft Ink. A bird of coarse and some dark green CS.

The last card uses the Inspired By Nature set, but no bird. Bye bye birdie. The ink is More Mustard and I added a pretty ribbon.

So, I did end up making the fruit pizza. I think it turned out good and I would probably make it again. Well, I guess that is all for me today. Have a great day!

Karen

New Design Team at Stamping Vacation

Hi Everyone,

Congrats to me!! I have been picked for the new Design Team at the Stamping Vacation Challenge Blog. You have to check out this blog. There is a challenge for just about every day! I have been making cards for the challenges, before I was picked for the Design Team, because the themes are so neat. Here are some:

Occasion Oasis
Daring Duos
What a Guy

For Your Amusement
To Who?
Animal Applause

Extra! Extra!

Home Sweet Home
No! No! Challenge
Technique Techies

Embellish It

And that is just a small sample of all the challenges on the site. I have been assigned to work on:

Time Machine

Very Vintage

Color Combo

Don't they sound interesting??!! Are you Tempted? Can you tell I am excited about this??! Oh, and did I mention prizes? Every entry goes into the drawing for a $25 monthly prize in the form of a gift certificate to All That Scraps.

Please click over to Stamping Vacation. And if you become a follower and mention my name I get brownie points. LOL And a chance to win a $25 gift certificate. A big Thank you to Denise Clark for hosting the blog and setting up all the challenges. And, for picking me for the Team. Yeah! Have a great day!!

Karen

Dasher in Pastels: Another Christmas Card

Hi Everyone,

Happy Monday. For my Happy Monday post, I have another Christmas card. I used the sketch from Winter Wonderland. It is a pretty challenging sketch. But for some reason, once I changed to a pastel color scheme, the layout came together. Go figure. Here is the sketch.

I die cut a scallop circle (Sizzix) from Sage Shadow CS (Stampin' Up) and painted it with Shimmer Paint (SU). I stamped Dasher in Handsome Hunter ink (both SU). I punched circles from K & Company Christmas paper and stamped snowflakes (Inkadinkado) on them. I also stamped a sentiment on a piece of Sage Shadow CS (both from SU) and punched. I arranged the circles following the sketch on a square of DP (K & Co). I added a strip of DP cut with scallop scissors. The card base is aqua CS from Bazzill. I finished off the card with a silver snowflake ribbon and some gem stickers (K & Co). Here are some detail photos.

Other Fun and Challenging Challenges this card qualifies for:

Stamping Vacation: Use a paper with Dots

Cup Cake Challenges: Pastel Christmas card

My time To Craft: Use Checks

2 Sisters Challenge Blog: Christmas in July

OWH Stars and Stamps: Christmas card

Well, I am getting some Christmas cards done but, I have not decided on the design I will use for all of my cards. I usually pick one design and make multiples. I make about 60 cards. And it is easier to make multiples of one design. I have been picking one stamp and using that so I don't have to try to remember which stamp I used on a card I sent out. Don't want to send the same image to the same person now do I??! I keep telling myself I have enough Christmas theme stamps to make a different card for years to come and therefore do not need to purchase any more stamps. HAHA. Sometimes it works.

I am having a Stampin' Up party on Thursday. I have to come up with some yummy dessert to serve. I was thinking of a fruit pizza. Has anyone made that before? It sounds really good.

Okay, that's all for me today.

Karen

Fabulous Fifties Fashion Ladies

Hi Gals,

I have another vintage feel card today. I used stamps of lovely Fifties era ladies from Art Impressions and Auntie Amy's Embossing Arts. I used the Sketch from Friday Sketcher's Blog. I changed it slightly. I put my flowers on the opposite side and shifted the rectangle up higher on the card.

I followed the color scheme of Chocolate, Teal, and White. I stamped the images in Chocolate Chip (SU) ink on white CS. I distressed the pieces with Broken Dishes (Ranger) and layered with Taken With Teal CS (SU). I watercolored the images with Taken With Teal ink. The card base is a textured brown CS from AC Card stock. The DP is from ATD. For accents I used polka dot ribbon, Mulberry paper flowers from Prima, a scallop circle punched from DCWV DP,a flower from a Sizzix die, and some gems.

Check out the detail shots.

Other fabulous Challenges this card qualifies for:

Stamping Vacation: Back to 1953

Paper Romance Challenge: Colors - Chocolate, Teal, and White

Stamp Something: Flowery

The Crafty Pad: Vintage Theme

Creative Inspirations: Anything Goes

Very fun card to make. I just love those Fifty style ladies! Think I will make a few more cards. Have a great day everyone!

Karen

Shabby Chic Vintage Birthday Card

Hello Everyone,

Nice rainy Saturday here in Michigan. For today's post I went shabby chic. My colors were inspired by the picture on the Play Date Cafe blog. The colors are: Mocha, Tan, Black, and White. In keeping with the inspiration photo, I used a vintagey, travel theme. Inspiration photo:

I used sketch #63 from Priscilla's Style Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge blog. Here is the sketch.

I used one of my favorite large stamps, Travel Abroad, from Hampton Arts. Really has a vintage feel. And the shape of the stamp worked well with the sketch #63. Here is the finished card. I photographed it on white and black background and could not decided which was best. So, I have included one of each. Just for fun.

I stamped the image on Tan CS using More Mustard (Stampin' Up) and distressed it with Vintage Photo (Ranger). Using the Crosshatch Background stamp stamp black CS with Versa mark and white CS with Vintage Photo ink. Cut to layer. Stamp a second Travel Aboard on tan CS and distress. Stamp frame (All Night Media) in black ink on both images. Cut out second image and layer over first. Make background from a paper doily. I stamped the doily with Crosshatch bk stamp and distressed it. I trimmed it to fit under the main image. Pierce the lower right corner of main motif and lace with metallic embroidery floss (DMC). Tie a ribbon around piece. Layer all on a piece of Chocolate Mousse CS (Coredinations) allowing the doily to hang over edge of CS. Using a scrap from the second stamped image, stamp the birthday Sentiment (My Favorite Things) and add to card. Here is the photo using the black background.

I have added a detail photo too. You can really see the background treatment on the doily in the detail photo.

Other Super Fun Challenges this card qualifies for:

Craftalicious Challenge: Birthdays

Stmpin B's Design Team: Use a background stamp

Artful Inkables:Make your own background paper

Stamping Vacation: Use a paper doily

Tuesday throwdown: Paper Piercing

Cafty Angels on Line: Shabby Chic

Well, I hope everyone is having a good day. Don't forget to take some time to relax! See ya.

Karen

Birdcage Color Challenge

Hi Friends,
I am still in the bird "zone". Yes, another bird card. This time it is a stamp from Stampin' Up. I used the colors from a color challenge at the Embellish Magazine blog.

The Colors are: Turquoise, Brown, Orange, and Kraft. This is a really great combo. Especially for masculine cards. The challenge also requires the use of Ric Rac.

So, this is what I came up with. I just picked up this brown and turquoise paper from Penny Lane (My Mind's Eye) the other day. It is perfect for this color combo! The Orange paper is from K & Company. I used Chocolate Chip from Stampin' Up for a layer. And the card's base is Kraft. I stamped the image with Chocolate Chip ink (SU).

I used a wide Taupe colored Ric Rac from American Crafts. It is under the sheer brown ribbon. I often do this with Ric Rac. It is a nice look that adds dimension. Here is a detail photo so you can see the Ric Rac.

I have lots to do today. I have to get a bunch of invitations out today. I am having a Stampin' Up party next week. My good friend, Sharon Disney, decided to become a demonstrator this month. So, I thought it would be fun if I booked a party with her. I am her first! So, I better get to work. Hope you are having a lovely day!

Karen

Shiny Angel Christmas Card

Happy Wednesday Everyone,
I know it is tooo hot to think about Christmas, but I do have a Christmas card today. I used the Critter Sketch #23. See below.

Looks like and easy sketch but, I deposited several cards in the trash before I was happy with what I had. Here is the finished product.

I also wanted to incorporate Angels and glitter for the Winter Wonderland Christmas Blog Challenge Blog. And I used a DP with ornaments to qualify the card for the ABC Christmas Challenge. Oh, and you had to add glossy, shiny accents too. All the stamps are from Stampin'Up. All the papers are from Anna Griffin. There is a small piece of black CS in there too. The card base is white CS. I stamped in black ink, added layers of paper, glitter paper, and black CS for the angel. I added lots of "Shiny" brads and bumped up one of the stars and covered it with Glossy Accents, and added some silver glitter glue. To finish off, I added a shiny, silvery ribbon. Here are some detail photos so you can see all the elements. I wonder how many times I used the word shiny in this post???

Once you have the design, I think this card would go together pretty quickly. Just have to wait for the Glossy Accents and glitter glue to dry. That's it for today. Have a great day everyone!

Karen

Sweet and Sassy Sketch and more.

Hello Again Friends,

Another post today. Boy, I sure am working hard. LOL. This card was initially inspired by the Sketch over at the Sweet Shop Blog. And you also had to use a tag.

Then I kept finding all these great challenges that I wanted to try. They are:

Basic Grey Challenges: Basic Grey papers and Gingham

The Crafty Pad Blog: Photo inspired colors

Your Next Stamp Challenge: Flower Power

Scrap, Stamp, And Doodle: Animals

Totally Gorjuss: Thinking Of You

Here is the card. I used a cute Bird...again. I just love birds right now.

I used lots of different items to make this card. So, to make it easier, I will list them.

Stamps: My Little Chickadee and a background stamp from Sweet & Sassy, Sentiment from My Sentiments Exactly

Ink: Chocolate Chip from SU, New Sprout and Lulu Lavender from Memento

CS: Pretty in Pink, Lavender Lace,Orchid Opulence, and Blush Blossom all from Stampin' Up

DP: Kioshi from Basic Grey

Flower Accent: Basic Grey

Edge Punch: SU

Tag: Sizzix

Gingham Ribbon

Here is a detail shot. You can see the Background stamp and the distressing on the tag more clearly.

And another detail to see the flower accent up close.

Okay, I should probably get some laundry done. Ohhh..doesn't that sound exciting??!! Well, it's a dirty job, but someone has to do it. I may go and make a few Christmas cards too.

Karen

Etsy Inspired Card

Happy Monday,

Good morning crafty girls. I saw a really neat challenge over at the Etsy Inspiration Challenge blog. Savannah gave me the link. Savannah is also a DT for the EIC blog. The challenge is to find a piece of Mermaid's Tears Jewelry and make a card inspired by the jewelry. Pretty cool. I choose Sea Foam Green Sea Glass Seahorse Charm for my inspiration piece.

Gorgeous!! When I saw this piece I thought of a stamp I have from My Sentiments Exactly. It is a seahorse stamp. This is what I came up with.

Materials:

Stamp: My Sentiments Exactly

CS : Sahara Sand from Stampin' Up, Marbled blue

DP: Sahara Sand from SU, Pale blue from Crate Paper

Shimmer Paint from SU

Sizzix Oval Die Cut

ribbon, beads, rhinestones

Ink: Night of Navy from SU

I die cut the ovals and scallop oval borders. I stamped the seahorse in Night of Navy on Sahara Sand CS oval. Then I painted this piece with Shimmer Paint. I then layered DP and another die cut oval and a scallop border on the card. The ribbon was about 2 inches wide. I dissected it. I cut the edges off and joined them back together by gluing them down to the CS. I strung the sliver beads on a left over strip of the ribbon. They were attached with Zots. I added more bling with some rhinestones. I like how the card turned out all silvery like the inspiration charm. This will have to be a hand delivered card...it would never make it though the Post Office sorting machine LOL.

Well, hope you are having a great day.

Karen

My Favorite Things B-Day Summery Card

Happy Saturday!

My Favorite Things is 5 years old. And they are celebrating over at the Caardvarks blog. The challenge is to make a Birthday Card for My Favorite Things. I used one of the Jolinne stamps. I watercolored it and popped it up with foam tape on a dry embossed (Cuttlebug folder) piece of Crate Paper paper. I had to mixed several greens to get that shade for Jolinne's dress. I added another strip of the Crate Paper paper and then spritz with Glimmer Spray from Tattered Angels. The base of the card is made from bright green CS from Bazzill. I added some ribbon from Michaels and a B-day sentiment from My Sentiments Exactly.

Since I used a very summery color palette, this card also qualifies for the Summery challenge over at the Cute and Girly Blog. Still very hot here. That is why I am making so many cards. It is too hot to do anything outside...without passing out!!

Well, have a great day. See ya.

Karen

More Fruit!

Hi Everyone,
Another hot day here in Michigan. So, it is a good day to enjoy the air conditioning and make cards. The Simon Says Stamp Challenge blog Theme this week is "Fruit" and using Basic Grey papers if you have some. Fortunately, I do have some Basic Grey papers. I used papers from the Kioshi Collection. I also used a favorite stamp from Inkadinkado.

I stamped the image with Spiced Marmalade (Ranger) on Barely Banana CS (Stampin' Up). I added green to pear with Wild Lime ink (Vivid) using a Tim Holtz distressing ink applicator. I also used the applicator to add more Spiced Marmalade and Iced Tea inks (both from Ranger). I layered the image with the Basic Grey papers. I cut strips of the print paper and layered them over the paper. The card's base is made from Certainly Celery (SU). For accents I used tulle in a pale green and beads. I strung beads on thread and wrapped the string of beads around the tulle's knot. I took a few stitches and used some Zots to hold the string of beads on. I added a piece of orange ribbon under the beads. I also added a row of gem stickers.

Here is a detail of the beading and the paper strips.

Here is a detail of the center motif.

Hope you have enjoyed my fruity creation. This card also qualifies for the Summer time Challenge at the All Sorts Blog and at the Totally Papercrafts blog.

Have a great day!

Karen

Robin in the Garden

Hello,

I needed some pretty cards to send and give to all my dear friends. I made several cards using Artistic Outpost stamps. I used the Play Date Cafe Challenge Color Combo - Purple, Lilac, and Lime Green. Sounds a little wild but it really makes a pretty, girlie card. This card also qualifies for the Paper Take Weekly Challenge theme "in the Garden".

Stamps Used: Birds of a Feather (robin) and Bluebird (sentiment) both from Artistic Outpost. DP: Fancy Pants Designs - used on every card.

CS: Purple - Bazzill, Pale Plum - Stampin' Up, Lime Green.

Ink: Grape Jelly - Momento. Ribbons all from Micheal's.

I also made a series of the same card in Pink. The first pink card uses Chocolate Chip ink and CS from Stampin' Up.

For the second pink card, I stamped the robin in Handsome Hunter ink and used the matching CS from Stampin' Up.

The third pink card uses Old Olive ink and CS from Stampin' Up.

So, now my "to send box" has all these pretty cards in it ready to go out. I already delivered one. This is an easy way to make multiples. Find a good layout and just change the colors. Each card is different but, you don't have to spend two hours designing a layout for each card you make. That's my tip for the day! Okay, better get going.

Karen

Animal Theme at Impression Obsession

Hello Everyone,

It is challenge Thursday again at the Impression Obsession blog. This challenge's theme is "Animals". I made a series of cards using two bird stamps, some fab DP and a neutral color pallet. For the first card, I stamped a single bird (Sandpiper C1223 from Impression Obsession) on Debbie Mumm decorative paper. I used Chocolate chip ink and CS, and made the card from Really rust CS - All from Stampin' Up.

The second card has a series of birds stamped on the same DP. I used two inks: Chocolate Chip and Sahara Sand (SU). The Stamp is Solitary Ruff (C1224) from Impression Obsession.

I went clean and simple with the next two cards. I used the same stamps , ink, and CS colors. The first card was made with a marble effect CS in Tan.

This card is very similar but I used Really Rust (SU) to make the card and a creamy colored CS for the layers. Oh, and Chocolate Chip too.

I included a detail shot so you could see how cute the Sandpiper stamp is.

Well, that's it for me today. Hope you are having a great day!

Karen

Red, White, and Black Challenge Card

Hi Everyone,
Hope you enjoyed the Bella Blog Hop. If you haven't checked it out go to Denise's blog and hop along. Lots of lovely cards have been made for Bella.

Now, for my new post. Boy, two in one day. I am really going to town! This is another challenge card. And, again, I challenged myself to incorporate as many elements as possible. I started off with the sketch #56 from 2 Sketches For You . I choose the color scheme from the Crazy 4 Challenge blog which is Red, White, and Black. I took the theme from Critter Challenge blog which is Thank You. And Flutterby Wednesday Challenge and My time to Craft challenge , Stamping Vacation which are all to use a butterfly.

There are lots of details to this card. I added a stamped flower with two layers; one CS and one acetate qualifying the card for the Cupcake Craft Challenge. I added lots of layers of DP - Paper Sundaes Challenge blog. And I used two different punches -Marks Finest Papers.blog. Here is a detail photo.

List of Materials:

Stamps: Simple Friendship Set from Stampin' Up, Sentiment from Framed Flowers set by Gina K Designs

Ink: Fired Brick from Ranger, Tuxedo Black from Memento

CS: DCWV textured Rust

DP: DCWV and SEI

Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug

Acetate

Punches: Eyelet Edge Punch from SU, Circle from Marvy

Whew. Okay. I guess I should go do something else now. I have been on the computer long enough. LOL . Too hot to do anything outside. I guess I could clean. Hope you are having a great day.

Karen