Friday, January 31, 2014

More Valentine's for the Kiddies

Hi Dreamers!
More Valentine's Day Cards.  Today's cards were made with Monster die cuts and papers from Crate Paper.    I added some die cuts I made and stamped some fun sentiments to create these cards for the Cards from The Heart Card Drive.    I used bright colors with lots of contrast to make the cards very lively.  LOL

Here is the group photo:







This card has a folded die cut on the front and a message inside.




**********Challenges For the Monsters: *****************
Crafting from the Heart: anything goes/fancy folds
Created with Love: anything goes
Lexis Creations: fancy folds
Alphabet Challenge: Z is for zesty colors
Left of Center: cute vs creepy

Warm cards----cold outside.......
How is winter treating you in your little corner of the world?  Here is the situation in Michigan, USA.













Brrr!  Stay warm!  Back tomorrow with more Valentine's Day Cards.  Love ya.
Karen

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Valentine's Day Cards for Kids

Hello Everyone!
Today, I have a few more  pics of the Valentine's Day Cards for the Cards From the Heart Card Drive organized by Winter Sims.    I made 50 cards for the drive.  Here is the whole bunch.  





I thought I would show you all the animal cards today.  Some are stamps and some are digis.  Sock Monkey, Teddy Bear from Meljens; Owl from Hero Arts; Mouse from My Favorite things.













Duck from Doodle Pantry; Love Birds from Stampendous; Giraffe from Meljens.



***************A Few Fun challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks: anything goes
4 Krafty Girlz: anything goes
CRAFT Challenge: Love/ valentines
In the Pink: die cuts and punches + lots of pink
7 Kids Challenge: Valentine's plus a stamp sold in the store--I used My Favorite Things Pure Innocence Blessed Mouse
Meljens Designs: make a card in 30 min or less---The giraffe card was a 15 minute card--that includes coloring time.  I colored with Copics but, did not do a lot of shading.
Pile it On: animals



The deadline for the Valentines card drive is tomorrow!  I sent mine in last week.  But, I still have more pics to show you.  Tomorrow I will have monsters!  Check back for those!  Hope your week is going great.  Love ya.
Karen

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

One Layer Valentine's Day Cards

Hello Dreamers!

As you know, I have been working on cards for the "Cards From the Heart" Card drive.   The card drive calls for Valentine's Day Cards that will be sent to hospitalized children.  Today, I thought I would share a few of the cards.  The samples today are one layer cards.





The cards are made with White CS stamped with Real Red ink (Stampin' Up).   The stamps are used are all older Stampin' Up stamps.  As you can image, the cards were quick to make, so I made multiples.  You could really use any stamps you have to make something similar.











Challenges for my one layer Valentine's Day Cards:
One-Layer Simplicity Challenge: restock your card supply-make multiples***New Challenge Blog***
Addicted to Stamps and More: CAS
Crafting with Dragonflies: anything goes
Victorine Stamps: Love/Valentine's
Creative Creations: less is more
Little Red Wagon: CAS
Send a Smile 4 Kids: anything goes for a child
CASology: contrast



The cards went out today to Winter ( card drive organizer).  I will be sharing all of the cards over the next few weeks.  So, check back for that...And have a super day!!  Love ya.
Karen

Monday, January 20, 2014

Guest Designing for Love to Scrap Challenge!

Hello Everyone!!
Whoa--Have I been busy!  Making the Valentine's for the Cards From the Heart card drive, making gifts for new babies, a card making event, and lots more!!   I will be sharing the Valentine's later in the week.  I made 50 cards in total.
********
This month I am Guest Designing for the Love to Scrap Challenge Blog!!  And, today is my second post.  And a new challenge has begun!  Head over and check out all the DT projects and link up a little something of your own.  Here is the info:

LTSCB #22: "Tags"
January 20-February 2
The lovely sponsor: Your Next Stamp (prize is a stamp set)






For my projects,  I was feeling the need for a bit of unreality.........   I made some fun steampunky/fantasy tags.


Materials List:
Stamps: Cityscape, Silhouette Lady with Umbrella, Flying Car all from Lost Coast Designs
Tags: Kraft size #8 from Tim Holtz
Inks: Onyx Black -Versa Fine; Mushroom Adirondack; Espresso Truffle - Memento
Distress Inks: Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, and Frayed Burlap
3D Zots glue dots
Die Cut: Vintage Flourish-My Favorite Things
Pearls
Tulle and ribbons
Metal Charm: Bead Landing


Silhouette Lady with Umbrella Tag;



Instructions:

  • Stamp the Cityscape on the Kraft Tag with Black Onyx ink
  • Distress edges with Distress inks
  • Stamp the Umbrella Lady on white CS with Mushroom ink and cut out







  • Add stamped lady with 3D Zots
  • Die cut the flourishes and glue to tag
  • Add the pearls and ribbons




Flying Car Tag:




  • Make in the same manner as Umbrella Lady tag
  • Stamp the Flying Car on white CS with Espresso Truffle ink and cut out
  • Distress the car with Antique Linen Distress ink





  • Wrap a strip of Black Tulle around the tag and secure with glue on back
  • Add the stamped car with two 3D Zots stacked on top of each other---I really wanted the car to stand up off the tag.
  • Add the ribbons and the metal charm







^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Well, why don't I enter a few challenges??!!  How about:
Fantasy Stampers: anything with wings
Crafty Hands: put a tag on it.
Creative Knockouts: Tag, you're it
Seema Crafts: anything goes
Make My Monday: Kraft CS
Craft My Life: anything but a card
Artistic Inspiration: use ribbon
Punk You Girl: Steampunk

Hope you enjoyed my little trip into fantasy land away from the harsh realities of the real world.  LOL  I mean that in  humorous way....LOL Stay tuned this week!!  I will begin posting the Childrens' Valentine's Day cards!!

A big Thank you to Leslie for  inviting me to Guest Design this month on the Love to Scrap Challenge blog!!! 


Love ya
Karen

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Template Tutorial with Spray Inks And Lost Coast Design Stamps

Note: this post replaces the original post that was deleted----.

Hi Everyone,
I have a tutorial today showing one way to use a Template made by Crafters Workshop.  This template is called Mini Harlequin.  I used stamps from Lost Coast Designs.  



Here is the project we will make today.


Materials List:
Praying Angel Stamp
Mini Harlequin Crafters Workshop Template
Ink: Coffee Archival Ink from Ranger
       Vintage Photo Distress Ink from Ranger
 Ink Sprays: Plum and Gold
CS: Black, Wine, and Kraft
Gold Brads
Gold Ribbon  

Start by cutting a piece of Kraft CS.  Layer the template over the CS and spray with the glimmer spray or spray type ink.



Pull up the template.  DON'T clean the template off yet!!  I found that if you flip the template over, you can get a reverse image and don't waste all that ink you have sprayed on the template.  




Press the template into the card stock inked side down.  And, you get this really cool reverse image!!  How cool is that!!??



Now let's finish up the card.  Trim the Kraft CS and stamp the Praying Angel with Coffee Archival Ink.  Stamp a second image on Kraft CS.


Cut out the angel on the second stamped image.  Layer the angel onto the original image.  Distress the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  Layer onto some black and wine CS.  Make a card base from Kraft CS.  Add some ribbon and gold brads.  

Here is another example that was made using Terra Cotta Walnut Ink Spray.


And it looks like this:


I used the above reverse image on this card:



Stamps: Steampunk Pony and Buttons Border


I also used a left over piece.  Don't want to waste any.  LOL




And here is the card I made with the left over.


Stamps: Dress Form and Buttons Border

These Templates are a lot of fun.  I now have a  whole stack of backgrounds are ready to be made into cards.  I am addicted to  making backgrounds with this technique!  It is so fun!!  A bit messy, but that is what soap is for.   LOL  Give it a try.  Have a super day!!  Love ya.
Karen

Monday, January 6, 2014

Guest Designing for Love to Scrap! Challenge

Hello Dreamers!
How are you??  We are getting tons of snow here in Michigan.  So, another nice day to stay in and make cards.  I will be making cards again this year for the "From the Heart Card Drive" organized by Winter Sims.  The drive is for Valentine's Day card for hospitalized children.  Very good cause!!  Today's card is one of the cards I have made for the drive.  That's one!!  LOL.  I will just make as many as I can before the Jan. 30th deadline.


*****AND, I was selected as one of the Guest Designers for the


I will be designing for the two challenges in January!
Here is the info on the challenge that starts today:

LTSCB #21: "Anything Goes!"
The Challenge dates are January 6-19

The Fabulous Sponsors are:

 Technique Junkies    (prize is a Mini Album Mania specialty CD) 





 The Paper Nest Dolls    (prize is a $25 gift certificate to online store - good for digital and rubber stamps)


For my project, I used a Technique from Technique Junkies and an image from the Paper Nest Dolls.




Materials List:
Technique Junkies CS-Stampin' Up Companion tutorial called " Framelit Latch Card.  
The Paper Nest Dolls image: Hammock Owen
CS: Bashful Blue Stampin Up; Burgundy; White
Decorative Paper: My Eye's Eye
Spellbinder's die
Ribbon



 Instructions:

  • I used the Tutorial to make this gate fold card with the interlocking components 





  • I added a narrow ribbon to the front.






  • And then surprise!  One the inside I added the image colored with Copic markers

This is what the inside looks like when the card is unfolded.



  • I stamped a Valentine's Day sentiment too.




*************And how about a few challenges for my Valentine's Day card!!
Paper Nest dolls: anything goes with a Paper Nest Dolls stamp
Allsorts: free and easy
Open Minded Crafting Fun: use a new tool or technique---I used a new technique: Framelit                       Latch Card
Send A Smile  4 Kids: Valentine's for kids
Brown Sugar: use ribbon or twine
Avenue 613: anything goes


Well, I am going to head back to the studio and make a few more Valentine's Day cards!!  Hope you are having a great day, too!  Love ya.
Karen

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Blog Candy Winner!!!!

Hello everyone!!
Happy New Year!!
I hope you have had a lovely Holiday Season!!  I had a very nice holiday!  Spent some time down in Florida hanging out in the sunshine.  We were back in time to have Christmas dinner with our family.  Very nice!! We are getting lots of snow here in Michigan, USA.  I plan on staying home today and making a project for

my Guest Designer spot with with Love to Scrap! Challenge Blog.

Thank you, Lovely Leslie (owner of Love to Scrap)!!  Check back for my first post on January, 6, 2013.

*************************************
Thanks to everyone who left comments on the Twelve Days of Christmas Posts!!  I thought this was a fun event and I hoped you enjoyed it too!!  So glad you stopped by to check out the Christmas cards.  And, that you were inspired to make a few cards yourself!!

It is time to announce the winner of the Blog Candy.  Each comment was numbered and entered individually. Random generator picked # 31.



The Goodies





And now, THE WINNER OF THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS BLOG CANDY IS:

Meredith!!!

Congratulations, Meredith!!  Click on "View my complete profile" to find my email address.  Email me your mailing address and I will get your goodies out to you!!  Again, thank you to everyone who visited and left comments.

I am excited to start the new year.  I will be sharing projects made with Lost Coast Design stamps, Stampsmith Stamps, and I will be using more of my other stamps this year.  I have lots of stamps that don't get enough use.  So, I will try to use lots of different stamps this year.  Should be lots of fun!!  Hope you are having a great day!!  Love ya.
Karen