Sunday, February 26, 2012

Mermaid Girly Birthday Card

Hi Dreamers.
I am back today for a quick post.  I made this cute Mermaid Birthday card last night and wanted to share it with you.  I used a digi from A Day For Daisies and colored it with Copic Markers.




I die cut with a Spellbinders and added lots of Spring colored layers.    Used some Stickles and Rhinestones for accents.  Finished off this girly card with a sheer lavender ribbon.  Ain't she sweet??




I left the inside fairly simple and just added a birthday sentiment from Impression Obsession.  There is plenty of room to write a little note.




Some fun Challenges for my Mermaid Girly Birthday Card:
Crafters Cafe Blog: Pink, red, and purple
Paper Sundaes: circles
that Craft Place blog:Anything goes
Scrap bitz Copics: Laughs,bright colors
Hiding in my craft room: Spring
Just some Lines: Girly Girl
Moving along with the times: more than 2 layers
Willow Sketchie: anything goes

Okay, that's it for me today--for sure this time.  I think I will go make a big pot of spaghetti sauce.   Have a great day and I hope a little sunshine peeks through the clouds for you today!!  Love ya.
Karen

More Template Craziness with Blockheads Stamps

Hi Dreamers!
Can you believe it?!!  I just can't stop making backgrounds with the Crafters Workshop Templates!!  Working with the templates is addicting.  There are lots of photos today and this is a long post, so I will keep the talking to a minimum.  Check out my original post for the tutorial on how I use the templates.  I used Blockhead Stamps on all the cards (there are three of them).   




Materials list for First Card:
Stamps: 
   Japanese Musicians
   Happiness Sentiment
Template:  Mini Cosmic Swirl - Crafters Workshop
Inks: 
   Ginger Adirondack-Ranger
   Black Soot Distress Ink-Ranger
Coffee Archival- Ranger
Sprays:
   Walnut Inks-Lilac and Willow
   glimmer sprays in Pink and Orange
CS: Cream, white, celery green and light cocoa

   Make three backgrounds using the Swirl template in different color spray inks.  Cut slices of the backgrounds and adhere together.  Stamp the Bamboo Tree with Coffee ink onto the backgrounds.  Add a piece of trim.  I liked the organic feel of the edges and did not want to glue them down flat.  So, I attached the stamped piece to the card base with brads.    Here is a close up




And this is what the inside look like.  The sentiment is from Blockheads.




Materials List for Second Card:

Stamps: 
 Inspired By Nature
Template:  Mini Cubist - Crafters Workshop
Inks: 
  Frayed Burlap Distress Ink-Ranger
   Jet Black Stazon Ink
Markers: Angel Pink-Memento
Butter Yellow- Marvy
Yellow and Green 
Sprays:
   Walnut Inks-Terra Cotta and Willow
   glimmer sprays in Red and gold 
Fibers: Golden Harvest Weavewerks 
CS: Cream, olive  green 




Make two backgrounds with the Cubist template on cream CS.   On the background that is the least densely colored stamp the Inspire image with Stazon ink.   Color the flower with markers.  Stamp "Inspire" and the leaf on a scrap; cut out.  Color leaf with markers and add to main image.  Trim main image and add to second background piece that has been cut to size.  Tie two strips of the Rag Weaves around the piece.  Add to a card base made from olive green CS.   




 The inside:



Materials list for Third Card:
Stamps: 
   Harried Housewives
Harried Housewives-Wash Day
Template:  Mini Love Beads - Crafters Workshop
Inks: 
   Tuxedo Black - Memento
   Spun Sugar Distress Ink-Ranger
Coffee Archival- Ranger
Copic Markers
Sprays:
glimmer spray in Red
CS: white and brown




Make the background with white CS and red spray ink.  Stamp Splat stamp in black ink.  Distress the edges with black and Spun Sugar inks.  Stamp the Housewife in black ink and color with Copic Markers: cut out.
Stamp sentiments with black ink.



Whew, that was a  long post!  I wanted to show you how versatile the templates are.  You can really have fun with them and get very "artsy" effects in minutes.  Hope you are having a great weekend.  Love ya.
Karen

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Love Bird All Occasion Card Set Part One

Hello my Dreamers!
I am back again to today with a sweet set of all occasion cards that I made for my "to send" box.  I made a total of six cards and will share them with you in two posts.  I made the cards with a cute Ippity (Unity) stamp set that I received from JenMarie who graciously sponsored Winter Sim's St Jude's Valentine's Day Card drive.   


 I stamped the birds with an orange Memento ink.   I used lots of DP from Cosmo Cricket.    The heart is part of the Ippity stamp set.  Here is a close up.  




And, a little peek at the inside.  The sentiment is also in the Ippity stamp set.  




And, I also made two more versions using  more of the Cosmo Cricket DP.  My Stamping buddy, Sharon bought this ribbon for me.  Isn't it pretty.

 





 Here is a close up of the ribbon accent and brad.  I used an idea from LeeAnne's blog about heating the ribbon with a heat gun to make it curl.  I love the crazy look.






Challenges for my set of Love Birds All Occasion cards:
Simon Says Stamp: three DP's
Scrap-creations: critters
Charisma Cardz: Love
Cute Card Thursday: winged things
Play Date Cafe: Color Challenge- baby blue, orange, and green (card #one)
Unity: hearts
AllSorts: anything goes
One Stop Craft: color on Kraft (cards #2 and 3)
Our Creative Corner:over the edge ( card #3)

Okay, I need to go and relax a bit.  Maybe watch a movie.  Hope you are having a great day.   Love ya.
Karen

Pretty Fairy Card

Hi Dreamers
I have a girly card to share with you today.  My girlfriend, who is totally spoiled and refuses to send out any store bought cards, requested another box of cards.  She wanted lots of fairies, get well, TOY, etc...  This is one of the cards I made for her  order.




I made this card using an image from A Day For Daisies -it is a digi.  I printed it out on the computer and colored it with watercolor crayons.  I made sure the printer ink was very dry before coloring.  And, I kept the water to a minimum.   I added several layers of CS and some DP from Provo Craft.



And here is a peek at the inside.  I stamped a fun sentiment from Victorine Originals.



Challenges!
A Day For Daisies: Color Challenge
2 Sisters Challenge blog: anything goes
The Sisterhood of Crafters: use a digi
Crafty Catz: something beginning with B- Bashful Fairy and Blue Background

Hope you are having a great weekend.  I will continue to post the cards I made for my girlfriend's order.  So, stayed tuned for those and lots of  other fun projects.  Love ya.
Karen

Friday, February 24, 2012

Evening Tea Party with The Stampsmith

Hello Dreamers,
Well, we have had snow this morning.  Seemed like Spring would come early.  At least the snow is melting on the pavement...no shoveling needed.  LOL.    So, it in not Spring yet, but I am so in  a Spring color mood.  I have two pretty Spring colored cards to share today.   I used stamps from The Stampsmith's full sheet called Sunday Evening Tea.



This sheet is so cute.  I, of course, could not stamp just one and made a whole set of cards with this sheet.
The main image is stamped with Vintage Sepia from Versafine on pale pink CS (Blush Blossom from Stampin' Up).  I used an embossing folder to add a bit of texture.   The darker pink ink is Spun Sugar Distress Ink (Ranger) added with a distressing tool.



Here is a close up.  I added some more ink with a Q-tip to color in the window,window frame, apron, and bowls.




I continued the theme with this small card ( 3" x 4 1/2").  This is a nice size for a gift tag or to tuck in a gift bag.  I stamped the image on Apricot Appeal (SU) with Vintage Sepia ink.  Card base is Pretty in Pink CS (SU).  Distress ink color on this card is Victorian Velvet (Ranger).




Are you into Spring colors too??   I have been making everything is Spring colors.  Wishful thinking, I guess. LOL

How about a few fun Challenges for my Evening Tea Card Set!
Do You Stack Up: Distressing
Paper-crafting journey : make it cute
Southern Girls: distressed
Crafts And Me: shades of Spring
Cooking it up with Katie: 3 favorite things- Spring colors, embossing folders, and distress inks.
Hope you have a lovely day!!  Love ya.
Karen

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Dragonflies in Flight with Blockhead Stamps

Hello Dreamers!
I was experimenting with my Studio Paints again.  I added the  paint (did not add any water to the paint)  in broad strokes on a medium blue CS.  I love the results.



I used a stamp from Blockheads Paper arts from the Inspired by Nature Full Sheet.  This stamp is also available as a single on cling cushion.

Materials List:
Inspired by Nature Full Sheet
Studio Paints
   Blank Canvas (white)
   Smidge of Blue
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Clear Embossing Powder
Cardstock: Medium light blue, bright blue, and black
Rhinestones
Ribbon

I painted on the medium light blue CS and let the paint dry.  The dragonflies were stamped with Onyx Black ink and heat embossed with clear powder.



Cut three pieces of ribbon and tie a knot in each one.  Wrap the ribbon ends around the stamped piece and secure with glue.  Layer the stamped piece with black CS and mount it on a bright blue card base.  Add bright blue and clear rhinestones.



Well, that's about it for me today.  I wish you a great day filled with dreams and creativity!  Love ya.
Karen

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Unlimited Fun with a Template and Blockhead Stamps

Hi Dreamers,
Happy Valentine's Day!!  Hope your day is sweet!   I am having a great day here.   We are getting a little snow here in Michigan, so the view out the window is pretty.  I have been playing with my Crafters Workshop template again.  Boy, oh boy, I went crazy.   Here is just a small sample of all the backgrounds I made.




You can check out more ideas and the tutorial I posted on this page.   When I was working with my template this time I discovered that really, really cool result were had by NOT cleaning the template off between uses.  I just kept flipping it over and spraying it again, and flipping it and spraying again onto a new piece of CS each time.  You get some really subtle colors with this technique.   The two cards I want to share with you today are the result of this continual flipping and spraying technique.    I used two of my favorite stamps from Blockheads stamps to make the cards.  The  Bizarre Carnival Girl and Jester.


Materials List:
STAMPS:  Carnival Girl and Jester
Grunge It up
Verses-Special Delivery
TEMPLATE: Mini Harlequin-Crafters Workshop
INKS: Vintage Sepia-Versafine
Raisin Adirondack-Ranger
Malted Mauve and Pink Petunia-Versamagic
Stormy Sky Distress Ink-Ranger
DISTRESS STAIN-Faded Jeans- Ranger
SPRAYS: Glimmer Pink and Gold
CARDSTOCK:White, Cocoa Brown, Teal Blue
EMBELLISHMENTS: Pearls from Kaiser Craft, Silver Pearls, Lace, Ribbon, Ribbon yarn.




I started with White CS; sprayed Pink and Gold Glimmer Mist over the template.  The Carnival Girl is stamped with Vintage Sepia.  I stamped three images from the Grunge It Up set with Pink Petunia.  I distressed the edges using the direct to paper method with the Malted Mauve Dew Drop pad.    The Sentiment is stamped with Raisin.





I cut a piece of ribbon and rolled one edge and glued it down.  I added some lace and ribbon yarn .   Here is a look at the inside.  This sentiment if from the Verses- Special Delivery.  



The second card is made with the Carnival Jester.  This background is the result of starting with White CS and Faded Jeans Distress stain.   I made one or two backgrounds with it.  And then without cleaning off the template, I flipped it over and sprayed it with gold glimmer spray.  This is probably a 2nd or 3rd generation image made without cleaning off the template.  



Again, I used the images from the Grunge It Up set and the Malted Mauve Versamagic ink.  I also distressed with Stormy Sky DI ( using a distressing tool) and Malted Mauve (direct to paper)



I added a few silver pearls for embellishments.  Here is a look at the inside.  I can write a little note on the inside.  


Challenges for my Distressed Template cards:
Simon Stamp and Show: Anything goes
Truly Madly Crafty: ribbon and bling
Fashionable Stamping: monochromatic and one color
Lets ink It up: ribbons and lace
Paper Sundaes: Cream , blue, distressing,and pearls
Stamptacular Sundays: Pearls and lace
Allsorts: free and easy
Poisoned  Peas: free style

All my Valentine's Day cards went out and I hand delivered a few this morning.  Hope you have a great day!!  Love ya.
Karen

Sunday, February 12, 2012

DeNami Blog Hop !!

Hello Everyone,
Welcome to the Denami Cute Chickie Blog Hop!   What is the Hop all about?  Here are the details:

When: the blog hop starts on February 12 at 6 AM, PST.  However, you have until Feb 13 to lave comments on all the blogs(to be eligible for a prize).
Why: to be inspired by fun DeNami Design creations and also the chance to win a mini shopping spree on the DeNami website!
Prizes: We are giving away THREE $20 gift certificates to our website!  We will be giving away one gift certificate to a random participant (DT members not eligible) and them we will also be giving away TWO gift certificates to Two people who comment along the hop!

Our Blog Hop Theme is....................Cute Chickies.    You should have arrived here from Kristy Smith's inspiring blog.   If you got lost somewhere along the way, or are just stopping by to visit me, you may like to start at  the beginning of the Blog Hop by clicking over to the  DeNami Blog

Okay, now that all the housekeeping issues are taken care of, here is my Cute Chickie Card.  I used the stamp called  Open Umbrella Chickie.





I stamped the Chickie with black ink and colored with markers.  I fussy cut  the Chickie and glued him to two punched circles.   



I started with the DeNami Sketch #11.    I changed the orientation of the sketch and omitted  the horizontal piece.   My card is a small note card 3 1/2"  x 4 1/4"

The card base is made from a light lavender CS.    I edged punched  aqua CS and added a strip of Purple CS.  For an extra bit of cuteness, I added  some pink polka dot ric rac.   

Here is a close up of this cute little Chickie card




On the inside, I stamped a sweet saying that is also from DeNami.  See the stamp here.   I repeated the layout for the inside.   This will be a great little note card to send to a friend.  




Now for the next stop on the blog, head on over and see  Carol Hartery's Chick-a-licious Calendar!

Don't forget to leave a comment to be eligible for the prizes.  Have fun on the Hop!!  Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Valentine's Day Fun with Blockhead Stamps

Hello Friends,
How is your week going?  Going pretty good here.  I have two more Valentine's Day cards to share with you today.  The cards are made with stamps from the Ghastlie Gang.  This is another fabulously whimsical set from Di sold at Blockheads Paper Arts.



Material List:
Stamps: Ghastlie Gang from Blockheads Paper Arts
            Love Sentiment-Flowers Daisy Set
Inks: Tuxedo Black and Rhubarb Stalk from Memento
CS: Solar White from Neenah; reds, pinks, white, and lavender
Distress Inks: (on second card) Fired Brick, Spun Sugar, Tattered Rose, Dusty Concord from Ranger
Distressing Tool from Ranger
Copic Markers
Spellbinders-Classic Scalloped Hearts, Classic Ovals Large
Sizzix Die -Oval
Score Pad
Ribbons


This lovely lady(?) is stamped on Solar White CS with Tuxedo black ink and colored with Copic Markers.   I cut the image and pink CS with the heart die.    The card base is made from bright pink CS and layered with red CS.   I stamped the word love in the lower corner and added a bow.  Ain't she sweet??




To make the background for card number two, I started with a piece of white CS.  Add distress inks with the distressing tool and cover all of the white CS.  When you like what you have, score lines down the CS using a score pad.  Using the distressing tool and Dusty Concord Distress ink, lightly go over the score lines.  Don't press on the lines because they will flatten.  Just lightly touch them to highlight the lines with the ink.   Make card base from lavender CS.  Add background piece to card base.




Stamped the image on Solar White CS and color with Copic Markers.  Cut out the colored image with Spellbinders die.  Cut the scallop oval with a Sizzix die.  Add both to card front.  Stamp "hug" with Rhubarb Stalk ink.    Add ribbon and a small die cut heart.




How about a few fun challenges??!!!

Craft Your Passion: anything goes-no DP
I Copic : hearts
Lollipop Crafts: Valentines
Scrap Creations: Valentines
Sweet Stamping: The one I love
Victorine Originals: Valentines
Shopping Our Stash: Valentines

I love working with these images.  They are so fun.  Don't they make you laugh??!!    The Blockheads Technique Challenge is still open.  The Technique is "Chalk Attraction".  It is a really neat technique and much easier that it looks.  Give it a try.  Are you getting any Valentine's made?  I have one more to make and than I will be done.  Have a super day!  Love ya.
Karen

Monday, February 6, 2012

Some Bunny Loves My Favorite Things

Hi Everyone,
Hope you had a great weekend.  How about that Superbowl?  Pretty good game I thought.  I am still making Valentine's.   I made this sweet card with  images from My Favorite Things.   The set I used is called Warm Fuzzies.  With a name like that you know this is a super cute set.  Here is my card.




Materials List:
Stamps: Warm Fuzzies from My Favorite Things
Ink: Tuxedo Black from Memento
CS: Solar White from Neenah; Blush Blossom and Cameo Coral from Stampin' Up
DP: K & Company
Copic Markers
Classic Oval Large Spellbinders Die
Die-namics File Folder  from My Favorite Things
Swiss Dots Embossing Folder from Cuttlebug
Pearls from Kaiser Craft
Tulle

I stamped the image with Tuxedo Black dye ink and colored with Copic Markers.  Die cut and emboss the colored image and DP with the Spellbinders.  Glue image to Die cut DP.  Make card base from Blush Blossom and layer with DP.  Cut a smaller piece of the Blush Blossom and Cameo Coral.  Run the piece of Cameo Coral through the Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots folder.  Die cut a File Folder Tab from Cameo Coral.  Stamp the sentiment on the tab with black ink.  Glue Tab to back of Blush Blossom CS; layer with dry embossed Cameo Coral.  Add both to card front.  Look how sweet this image is.  (That's why they are called My Favorite Things.)





To finish up the card, I added some accents made from Beige Tulle.  I tied a bow with a narrow strip cut from tulle.  Glue the bow to the top of the stamped piece.  Add a pearl to the knot.  To make the tulle rosettes:  Cut a narrow piece of tulle about 18 inches long.  Cut a small scrap of CS.   Add a good quality glue to the scrap.  I used Fabri-Tac.  Wrap the tulle strip around two fingers.  This makes a rosette like shape/bunch.  Glue the tulle to the CS scrap.  Press it down into the glue.  Add a pearl to the center.  Glue to card front.   Add some small pearls along the edge of the stamped piece.




I would also like to enter My "Some Bunny" in:
 I Copic Hearts challenge.
Incy Wincy: love, pink, white and black
Lexis Creations: Love
Stamps R Us: Valentines
The Pink Elephant: pink
Simon Says: Animal Antics
Card Making Mamas: valentine

That's about it for me today.  Check back tomorrow for more Valentine's fun.  I will have two cards for you made with Blockheads Ghastlie Gang images.  LOL  Love these crazy images!  Have a great day!  Love ya.
Karen

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Valentine's Day Love Notes with The Stampsmith

Hi Everyone,
I have  more Valentine's Day inspiration to share with you today.  I made four cards using the Love/heart image from the Love Notes Valentines full sheet from The Stampsmith.  This is such a versatile stamp set.  I use it all year round, not just at Valentine's.    I stamped the images on glossy white CS with Archival Ink (Ranger) for all the cards. I added some Tulle held in place by brads and a Sizzix die on the first card.  Color scheme: pink and brown.



The second cards has Stampin' Up DP for its background and more tulle.



Card number three has a deep blue background.  The light blue layer is die cut and dry embossed.  




I used a tan/gray card base on the last card.  And added a big bow made with wine colored ribbon.  





This is the inside of the last card.  The sentiment is from My Sentiments Exactly.







Check out updates to my Published work  on my Published Work tab.  Click on the tab at the top of my blog.




And, how about a few fun challenges!?
Paper Sundaes: CAS
Sentimental Sundays: Feel the love
Crafty Calender: Love and marriage
Card Making Mamas: Valentines
Through the Craftroom Door: Valentines with no pink.  Card #3 and #4.
Artistic Stamper: hearts

I hope you have a great day.  Are you watching the Superbowl today?  Or, would you rather be blogging?
Love ya.
Karen