Bella's Blog Hop Week 2

Calling All Fabulous Crafting Ladies,
Today I am posting a card that will be sent to Bella Tucker. This is week 2 of Bella's blog hop. The hop begins with Denise. Click along the hop...there are lots of beautiful cards and candy too. You can read more about her story on her web site. Her story is so touching. The blog hop is requesting cards be sent to:
The Bella Tucker Fund
P.O. Box 199
Londonderry, NH 03053

Here is Bella.

Here is the card I made for Bella. I used some more great papers from Crate Paper. The kit is called Lillian. The lady bugs are from K & Company. The alpha stickers were in the Crate Paper kit. I did not do any stamping on the outside.

I did, however, do a little stamping on the inside. The stamp is from Verses Rubber Stamps.

Please get busy and make a few cards fro Bella. A handmade card means so much to the recipient.

Good news today!!! I got my cast off!!! I am so happy. I can drive again and take a BATH!! Yeah!! I'm so glad to have it off. I have to wear a splint for 6 weeks, but it soft and comfy. I will start therapy next week. So I celebrated by going to the local craft store and picking up some paper, a die cut, ink, accents, and some ribbon. It was nice to get out.

Okay that's all for me today. Now don't forget about a card for Bella.

Karen

Artistic Outpost and Basic Grey Anything Goes Challenge

Good Morning,

Another hot day here in Michigan. Thank goodness for air conditioning!! Tomorrow I go in to see if my cast can come off. If not, four more weeks of the cast.
So, today I have a card I made with stamps from Artistic Outpost. The stamps are from the Blue Bird set and the sentiment is from the Birds of a Feather set. The set is called blue bird, but I named my card Blue Boy. I used Basic Grey papers. And, I have also entered this card in the Basic Grey Anything Goes Challenge at Scrap Creations.

I started with a piece of white CS and added Distress ink (Tattered Rose and Iced Tea). And, I added a little Brocade Blue on the corners. then I stamped the Boy stamp in Brocade Blue (Stampin' Up). I layered with Basic Grey papers from the Recess Collection. This is a really great collection for manly cards. I also used this collection for some Grad cards too. After I added all the layers, I stamped the flower image in the corners. I added a sentiment and some sheer ribbon.

I also made a super simple card with the same center motif. I cut it down more and only used solid CS for the layers. I added one brad and some pearl cotton for accents. I held my own personal challenge to make one busy and one simple card from the same stamp.

Well, that's it for today. Maybe I will be cast free tomorrow. That would be great!!

Have a great day!

Karen

Blooming Beautiful Hydrangea

Hi Everyone,

More garden updates. The hydrangeas are looking fabulous right now. All this rain and warm weather has made them bloom like crazy. I just couldn't''t resist taking some photos of them today for everyone to see. Take a look.

Aren't they beautiful??!!

Have a great day. I will be back later with some cards instead of garden pictures.

Karen

Another Card for Bella

Hello All You Fabulous Crafting Ladies,

Today I am posting a card that will be sent to Bella Tucker. A fab bunch of ladies decided to hold a blog hop for Bella. The hop begins with Denise. Click along the hop...there are lots of beautiful cards and candy too. If you follow my blog, you will remember the previous post for Bella. You can read more about her story on her web site. An amazing story that I know will touch your card making hearts. The blog hop is requesting cards be sent to:

The Bella Tucker Fund

P.O. Box 199

Londonderry, NH 03053

Bella's picture:

Here is the latest card I made for Bella. It is very simple. My right arm is still in a cast and I am still having lots of pain. But, I can do a little bit.

As I said, I kept it simple. Since I can't do much I have been doing some Internet shopping. I picked up this great paper pack from Crate Paper. It is the Pink Plum Collection Kit. The papers are just lovely. The butterfly is chipboard and is also in the Kit. I cut the paper to include the margin (see bottom of card) to add a little border. I added some pearls and Stickles to the butterfly.

Well that's it for me today. Get going to your studios or craft rooms and run up a couple cards for Bella today. Think how much it will cheer her up to know other people care. Thanks for stopping by.

Karen

Impression Obsession Thursday Challenge

Hi Friends,

It's Thursday again and time for Impression Obsession Challenge. The Theme is RED. Head over to their blog and check out all the Design Team and customer cards. My arm is still in a cast and my card making activity is very limited. But, I did not want to miss the IO challenge. I went very simple this time. I used the stamp Zinnias (E2313).

I stamped the image in black ink on Real Red CS (from Stampin' Up) and colored in the water and flowers with a white gel pen. As I said, very simple. I am lost without my bow tying hand.

Hope everyone is having a great day.

Karen

Another Grad Card

Greetings Card Makers,

I decided to post this card too as it is made using the same stamp (Antique Keys from Hero Arts) and technique as my left-handed card below. I made this one before I broke my arm. I heat embossed the image using brown embossing powder from Stampendous. I did the same thing for the sentiment which is from the Congrats set by Stampin' Up. I used Cameo Coral and Chocolate Chip CS from Stampin' Up. I added a real key and some brads as accents. On the inside I wrote: "Graduation, Your Key To the Future".

Okay, have to get going. My arm is really killing me now after typing so much.

Have a super special day!

Karen

Left-Handed Card

Hi Everyone,
Well, as promised, I have a left-handed card for you today. So what?? you may be saying. I am in fact right- handed but, if you have been following my blog, you know that my right arm is in a cast. I can sort of use my fingers on the right hand. I needed a graduation card for tomorrow and I did not want to go BUY one. I already had the key image stamped and embossed, thank goodness. I did have to add the distress ink and cut the paper. So here is the card.

This is a larger card: 5 1/2 x 8 1/2.

All the decorative paper is from Basic Grey's Recess collection. I stamped and heat embossed the keys. The stamp is Antique Keys from Hero Arts. I distressed with Tea Dye and Broken China (Ranger),and Ballet Blue (Stampin' Up). The card is made from Not Quite Navy (Stampin' Up). I used some of the left-overs from the main image to stamp Congratulations. The sentiment is from Stampin' Up. I layered it and attached it with foam tape. So, I think I did pretty good working with my left hand. But, my right arm started to ache. Well, I guess that is all for now.

Just a reminder. Please check out Kristen's blog for the info on Ethan and Bella. (See my post below this post) I sent out a bunch of cards this week.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Karen

Call For Cards

Please click over to Kristen's blog and read about Ethan and Bella. Kristen is asking for cards for these two special children. She lists addresses for each child. I know I have some sweet children's cards in "to send " box that would be appropriate. Check your stashes. Or, what a great reason to make some new cards. Here are photos of the children:

Ethan:

Bella:

Kristen is also offering blog candy for listing Ethan's and Bella's story on your blogs. I know these stories will touch your hearts. Please add Ethan and Bella to your prayer list.

I hope each of you can take the time to send a few cards to help add a little cheer to the day for Ethan and Bella.

Thanks,

Karen

Find My work Here

Here are a couple magazines that have published my cards: The July issue should be in stores now. You may still be able to pick up the June issue.

Lots of great projects .....check them out.
Karen

Injury Update

Well, things are not going well. Doctors found another break or chip in the bone. Now in addition to the cast, I am in a sling and can't use my right arm or hand. So, have not made any new cards. So thought I would show you some I made before I fell. I used some of the images I stamped while in Florida (More of Elaine's stamps). Typing is really too hard so I will not write a lot. Two of the cards are going to Operation Write Home. The last one is for my "to send" box.
Treasure Cay Stamp; Sentiment from Stampin' Up.

Hero Arts Stamp; Sentiment from My Sentiments Exactly! DP from Stampin' UpThat's all for now.

Karen

Impression Obsession Thursday Challenge

Hi Everyone,

It is Impression Obsession Thursday Challenge time again. Boy, those two weeks go by fast. The theme for this challenge is Beachy. That should get you thinking about summer. As you may know from the previous post, I broke my arm on Friday. And fortunately, I made my challenge cards before I fell off the ladder. I used the stamp Beach Collage. I made two different cards. One was stamped on white CS and the other on Bordering Blue (SU) CS

The image was heat embossed using black pigment ink and clear embossing powder. I added color to the white CS with chalks. I cut out the image and and layered with Chocolate Chip CS and made the card from Blush Blossom (both from SU). I added pearl accents.

The second card was also heat embossed on the Bordering Blue CS. I layered with Old Olive (SU) and Dream Street Papers. I added some twine and real shell pieces.

Today is also my 25th Wedding Anniversary! Wow, 25 years. My how times flies.

Well, I will try keep you updated on how I am coming along trying to make cards with one left hand. My bbf, Mikal, picked up a cutter thing for me that I can operate with one hand. I tried using a tape runner left-handed today and did pretty good. Wish me luck on my left-handed journey. LOL. Hope you are having a great day.

Karen