Feeling Springy- Bright Colored Floral Cards

Hello Everyone,
I Thought some cheerful bright colors would be  nice for today's post.  Spring is trying to make an appearance here in Michigan, USA.  We can still get more really cold weather yet.....  No flowers up here yet.  So, lets have some paper flowers!

All stamps are from A Muse Studios.  I made the cards for an order and some for Operation Write Home.

See you soon for a cute welcome baby card.  Love ya.
Karen

Butterflies:Guest Designing at Blessings, Inc and A Muse Studios

Hello Everyone,
Welcome!  Today's post is the fourth post for my Guest Designing spot on Chris' blog: Blessings Ink.

Chris is an A Muse Studios Demonstrator and hosts weekly challenges with weekly winners and top picks.  The weekly winners are eligible for the monthly prize.   I have been  posting projects for each of the weekly challenges all during the month of September.  This is my last post.  It has been fun...a big thank you to Chris!!

The Theme of the current challenge is:

Anything Goes

****Just a few Guidelines for entering  the Challenges:

 2 entry limit and no digis please!

■Link your creation to your paper crafts blog, gallery (SCS or Flickr) before midnight of the following Sunday.

■Use any product but please follow the challenge criteria.

■Double your chances to win by using A Muse Studio products (just leave Chris a reminder in the comments please)


I wanted to use the butterfly set called Papillon and thought it might be fun to create a background with the butterfly stamp.  Take a look at what I came up with.

Materials List:
Stamps: Papillon and Sunny Side of Life (sentiment on inside of card) both from A Muse Studios
CS: White; Cream; Dark and Medium Lavender
Ink: Gray Flannel and Tuxedo Black Memento
Distress Ink: Antique Linen
Copic Markers
Page from a dictionary
White pearls- A Muse Studios  (colored with Copics)
Crystal Stickles

Instructions:

• Make a card from the dark lavender CS and add a layer of the medium lavender CS
• Tear a page from an old dictionary.  I found the page with the word butterfly and used that one.

• Stamp the butterfly with Gray Flannel ink on the dictionary page
• Distress page with Antique Linen DI
• Add page to card front

• Stamp another butterfly on white CS and color with Copic Markers
• Cut out butterfly and add to card front with dimensional adhesive
• Add some glitter glue to the butterfly wings
• Color five white pearls with a purple Copic Marker and add the the left side of the card
• Cover each of the pearls with the glitter glue

• On the inside tear a piece of cream CS to fit
• Distress with the distress ink
• Stamp the butterfly and the sentiment with black ink
• Add to the inside

Love the way this turned out.  Now, I am going through my old dictionary and pulling out pages with other words...like bird, building, etc.....   Words that go with stamps that I have.  Very Fun!!   

***Head over to Blessings, Inc and link up your Anything Goes Project--you don't have to use A Muse Studios products and Chris has a nice prize at the end of the month.  

Thanks again to Chris for inviting to hang out all month with her at Blessings Inc!!!  

************Challenges for my Butterflies********
Sparkles Forum: things with wings
The Sisters of Craft: anything goes
613 Avenue:anything goes
That Craft Place: shabby chic
Simon's Wednesday: anything goes
Crafty Creations: vintage
*****************************

I am in Niagara Falls, Canada right now.  I will be back on Monday and have something fun for you.  I think it will be something for Operation Write Home. Okay, so see you then.  Hope you are having a great weekend.  Love ya.

Karen

Guest Designing with Blessing Ink and A Muse Studios

Hello Everyone,
Welcome!  Today's post is the third post for my Guest Designing spot on Chris' blog: Blessings Ink.

Chris is an A Muse Studios Demonstrator and hosts weekly challenges with  weekly winners and top picks.  The weekly winners are eligible for the monthly prize.   I will be posting projects for each of the weekly challenges all during the month of September.

The Theme of the current challenge is:

Fall Foliage

****Just a few Guidelines for entering  the Challenges:

 2 entry limit and no digis please!

■Link your creation to your paper crafts blog, gallery (SCS or Flickr) before midnight of the following Sunday.

■Use any product but please follow the challenge criteria.

■Double your chances to win by using A Muse Studio products (just leave Chris a reminder in the comments please)

I used a non-fall stamp to make my Fall Foliage.  I just used fall colors instead!! I made three cards using the same stamp set.  Take a look.

Materials List:

Stamps: Floral Duet set from A Muse Studios

Pigment Inks: Nutmeg, Poppy, Papaya, Orange Pigment from A Muse Studios

Cardinal Versa Color

Distress Ink: Dried Marigold

Clear Embossing Powder

CS: cream, kraft, brown, rust, dark red

Buttons: A Muse Studios

Ribbon: Orange and Papaya from A Muse Studio; sheer brown; sheer white

 Instructions:

• Make a card from brown CS
• On Kraft CS, stamp the large flower several time with Nutmeg pigment ink and heat emboss
• Add this background piece to the card base

• On cream CS, stamp the large and the small flower with Nutmeg and Cardinal inks; heat emboss
• Cut out the two flowers and add to card with dimensional adhesive
• Add a button to center of the flower

• Tie sheer brown ribbon in bow and add to card

The second card is made in the same manner:

• On Cream CS, stamp the large flower with Poppy, Nutmeg, Papaya, and Orange inks
• Heat emboss
• Stamp a large  and small flower on another piece of cream CS using Orange and Cardinal pigment inks
• Heat emboss the two flowers and cut out
• Add to the card
• Wrap Papaya ribbon around card and tie bow in Orange ribbon
• Place  buttons in the center of the flower and under the bow

The third card has a distressed background and uses the same ink colors.

Three cards from one stamp set..now that is really using your stamps potential.  LOL  Now, I have three nice cards to send out to someone this fall.

************A few fun Challenges for my Fall Floral cards:
Sisterhood of Snarky stampers: distress

Bloggers: fall colors 

Card making mamas: vintage or shabby chic

Simply create too: fall or autumn

4 Krafty Girlz: anything goes
Alphabet: P is for pretty petals

Is it feeling like Fall in your little corner of the world?  Cooling off a bit here but I like the cool!!  So, I am happy!  Thanks for stopping by!!  See you next time.

Karen

Guest Designing -- Blessings Ink new Challenge--Tags

Hello Everyone,
Welcome!  Today's post is the second post for my Guest Designing spot on Chris' blog: Blessings Ink.

Chris is an A Muse Studios Demonstrator and hosts weekly challenges with  weekly winners and top picks.  The weekly winners are eligible for the monthly prize.   I will be posting projects for each of the weekly challenges all during the month of September.

The Theme of the current challenge is:

TAGS

****Just a few Guidelines for entering  the Challenges:

 2 entry limit and no digis please!

■Link your creation to your paper crafts blog, gallery (SCS or Flickr) before midnight of the following Sunday.

■Use any product but please follow the challenge criteria.

■Double your chances to win by using A Muse Studio products (just leave Chris a reminder in the comments please)



I stamped up a bunch of tags in a blue color scheme then added lots of trims and ribbons.  The tags are perfect to attach to a gift bag or a wrapped present.  Would be really pretty with pale blue wrapping paper!

Materials List:

Stamps: Come Fly with Me and All For Love from A Muse Studios

Pigment Ink: Slate, Eucalyptus, Ocean, Bermuda, Sky Pigment from A Muse Studios

Dye ink: black Memento

CS: white - cut into tags

Ribbons and Laces

Hole punch

Instructions:

• Cut four tags from the white CS
• Stamp all the images onto the tags with the different ink colors
• Use the darker inks to distress the edges of each tag
• Use Black dye ink to stamp the sentiment

• Stamp a couple hearts; fussy cut one and add to tag
• Punch holes in to tops of the tags
• Add the ribbons
• Add the laces

• Stamp "All For Love" repeatedly to cover the background in the lightest ink

• Stamp the rose on the background in the lightest ink

***************
********Challenges For my Tag set:
Vintage Stamping: anything goes
613 Avenue: anything goes
Polkadoodles: tags
Stamping Sensations: things with wings
That Craft Place: sentimental
A Little Bit Crafty: distress it



Head over to Blessings Ink and check out the other DT projects and link up your TAG project!!  Glad you stopped by!!  See you tomorrow for more  card making fun here in Dreamland!!  Love ya.
Karen

CAS Floral Cards

Hi Dreamers!
Hope you had a great weekend!  Not too much going on here.  Just did some grocery shopping and work in the yard.   Today, I would like to share a group of cards I made for Operation Write Home.  I went all Clean and Simple adding no embellishments or decorative papers.  I used dark ink colors on white and cream CS.

Materials List:
Stamps: all from A Muse Studios
CS: white; cream; maroon; Poppy Parade and Rich Razzleberry -- Stampin' Up
Inks: maroon; Poppy Parade and Rich Razzleberry -- Stampin' Up

Instructions:

• Make A2 size cards from the dark CS
• On white and cream CS, stamp the flowers and sentiments with ink that matches the CS card base
• Add to the card bases
• Add a white liner on the inside for the Operation Write Home cards

A few fun challenges for my CAS floral cards:
Stamped Blessings: anything goes
Simon's Wednesday: anything goes
Sentimental Sundays: summer with a sentiment
Sister Act:anything goes
Sisterhood of Crafters: monochormatic

Well, I better get going.  I have a bunch of errands to run today.  Hope you have enjoyed my CAS cards!!!  See you next time.  Love ya.
Karen

Summer Florals

Hello Dreamers!
I have been sooo busy lately!!  I am hosting a Bridal shower for my future niece.  My brother's girlfriend, Anita, is co-hosting.  The shower is next weekend!  Should be lots of fun!  I have had a bit of time to make some fun cards.....  Must have time for card making (aka therapy).  LOL   I made a set of floral cards in several color ways with  stamp sets from A Muse Studios.  Take a look.

Materials List:

Stamps: Just Because, Beautiful Botanicals 1 and 2, Friend to Friend - A Muse Studios;

Blue Skies Sentiment -Inkadinkadoo

Inks: Neutrals- Sahara Sand, Basic Gray, Bordering Blue, and red -Stampin' Up

Pinks and reds/Oranges -  Distress Inks - Ranger

Various CS

Ribbons

Instructions:

• Make A2 size cards from various CS
• On white CS, start stamping the background with the leaf stamp and the lightest ink
• Continue building the stamped scene by filling in around the leaves with the other floral stamps in the medium and dark intensity inks.

• Add the stamped piece to the card base adding layers if desired
• Add ribbons
• Stamp sentiments

******************Challenges for my Summer Floral card set:
Stamped Blessings: anything goes
4 Crafty Chicks: anything goes
Crafters Cafe: use 3 flowers
Crafty Creations: It is all about S---spring, floral spray, stamped background, special sentiment
Simon's Wednesday: anything goes

I hope you have a great weekend.  I still have a few things to pick up for the Bridal shower.....
Weather is great here in Michigan. So, I am hoping to get some more work done in the garden.  I have two trays of annuals to get in!!  And, a gorgeous rose bush---I have to select the perfect spot for it!  Well, I will see you next time.  Love ya.
Karen

Masculine Stamps on Feminine Card

Hi Dreamers,
How is your week going?  Things are going well here.  I do need to get outside and work in the garden.  Oh, I guess I would rather make cards.  LOL.   I was surfing around the internet the other day and found this fun challenge theme--use masculine stamps on a feminine card.  I thought that sounded like a good challenge idea.  Soooo, I pulled out some stamps and gave it a try.  I came up with these  two cards:

Card One

Planes are certainly masculine.  And, what is more feminine than pink and tulle??

Materials:

Stamps: Come Fly With Me set from A Muse Studios

Inks: Adirondack --Shell Pink, Mushroom, Lade Mist, and Mountain Rose

Versa Magic-- Pixie Dust

CS: White; Close to Cocoa and Blush Blossom - Stampin' Up

DP: Authentique

White Tulle

Pink Ribbons

White Pearls

Instructions:

• Make a card from Blush Blossom CS
• Add the DP
• Stamp the different elements on white CS

• Distress the edges with the Versa Magic ink
• Layer the stamp piece and add to card with dimensional adhesive
• Add the white pearls

• Wrap the tulle around the card and tie in a knot
• Knot a piece of ribbon around the tulle
• Stamp the Eiffel tower on the inside

Inside

Card Two

• The second card is made in the same way
• Distress the edges of the stamped piece with the Versa Magic ink, Mushroom, and Lake Mist

• The tulle is wrapped around the stamped piece before adding to the card base

***********Fun challenges for my Masculine/Feminine Cards:
Mod Squad: use a masculine stamp on a feminine card
4 Krafty Girlz: anything goes
Creative Knockouts: ribbons and bows

Well, I really should get going and work in the garden.  I want to get my lettuce seeds in.  I hope you have a great weekend!  Love ya.
Karen

Cute Halloween Cards - Not too scary

Hi Dreamers,
The Halloween fun continues!!!  Today, I have  un-scary Halloween cards to share.  The cards are more on the cute side than the creepy side.  I sent one to my Mom and Dad, and to my friend, Arloa.  I stamped the same images to create the Halloween scene and varied the sentiment a bit.  Take a look.

Card #1

Materials:
Stamps: Spooky Boo Day - A Muse Studios
Inks: Chocolate Chip and Pumpkin Pie - Stampin' Up
CS: Brown, orange, white, yellow, and kraft
DP: K & Company
Orange Copic Marker
Dots - Stampin' Up

Instructions:

• Make two cards from kraft CS
• Layer with yellow and orange CS; and with the DP
• On white CS, Stamp the Owl, tree and sentiment with Chocolate Chip ink

Card #2

• Stamp the moon with Pumpkin Pie ink on the second card
• Color in the O's with the orange Copic Marker

A Few fun Challenges for my un-scary Halloween Cards
Amusing challenges: anything goes
A Muse Studio Challenge: use kraft CS
Clear it Out: Halloween and an orange item from your stash---I used this orange DP that has been in my stash for over a year.
Try It on Tuesdays: Halloween
Craft Your passion: Halloween, but nice
Love to Create: Halloween


I have one more Halloween card to share this week. And, on Thursday another project as Guest Designer on the 4 Krafty Girlz Challenge blog.  So, lots going on here in Dreamland this week. Stayed tuned!!  See you soon.  Love ya
Karen

Stamping Backgrounds!

Hi Dreamers!
Well, my husband went back to work today after being off for 10 weeks!  I haven't heard from him yet to see how it is going...well, I hope!
So, since I have the computer all to myself today, I spent the morning editing photos and adding some things to my Pinterest page.  I don't have a finished card to show you today, but I do have a whole bunch of backgrounds I made!!  You know how much I love making my own backgrounds!!
The backgrounds are made by stamping extra large stamps on white and cream CS with pigment inks.  Here we go!

Group One

Materials:

The Typed Script stamp is from AMuse Studios.  All the others on all the samples are Impression Obsession Cover-A-Cards stamps.

Inks: I used pigment inks on all samples except the Typed Script--where I used black dye ink.

White and Cream CS

Close Up

Second Group

Close Up

Close Up

 

Now I have a whole bunch of fun backgrounds to use for cards and other projects!  I made stamp directly onto some and cut up some for layering pieces.  The sky is the limit!  Hope you enjoyed "Background" Day here in Dreamland.  I will be back tomorrow with a finished project using one of the background pieces!  See you then.  Love ya.
Karen

Nineteenth Century Ladies Note Card Set

Hi Dreamers,
I wanted to get a post in today and share a note card set I made with three nineteenth century ladies--All from Another Stamp Company.  I went with a monochromatic color scheme in browns and blues  and used a sketch from Crafting Musketeers (see sketch below).

All the cards were stamped with black dye ink.  I stamped on  Sahara Sand ( Stampin' Up) for  the brown cards.  The decorative paper is all from 7 Gypsies.  All the die cuts are from A Muse Studios.

Card #1

• Tulle and silk satin fabric were tied in a bow on this card

Card #2

• I used Brown Lace and Brown Organza for the fibers

Card #3

• Blue Tulle and and Black Satin Ribbon were used on the blue card

A few fun Challenges for my 19th Century Ladies:

That Craft Place: monochromatic
Card a day: die cuts
Live and Love Crafts: warm or color colors
Sparkles forum: fall colors
Crafters' Cafe: Anything goes
Challenges 4 everybody: anything goes
Crafting Musketeers: sketch

I am off to a concert in my local park this afternoon.  My husband is playing with his Big Band.  They will be playing big band music from the swing era.  Should be fun!!  Hope your day is filled with music and laughter.  Love ya
Karen