Christmas Minis

Hi Girlfriends,
Today, I have some Christmas Minis for you. They are very, very small. The largest is just 3". I used Real Red CS from Stampin' Up for the card base. I stamped on watercolor paper and distressed with Ranger inks. I die cut the bird and snowman card by placing a folded card in a Spellbinders die with the folded edge about an inch for the cutting edge...so the fold does not get cut. The Pine cone was done using a punch. Just don't put the CS all the way into the punch.
Stamps: Snowman and Bird Ornament from Inkadinkado, Pine Cone and sentiments from SU, Cheer sentiment from Sweet and Sassy.

I colored the Snowman with Copics.

The Bird was water colored with inks.

The Pine cone leaves were water colored with ink and the rest of the color is from the distressing inks.

The Christmas Minis are entered in the following challenges:

Caardvarks: Christmas tags of Minis

Opus Gluei: Not so ordinary size

Just a short post today. Hope you are having a great day!!

Karen

Hedgehog With Flowers

Hi Gals,

Another great Saturday here in good ole Michigan. Not too hot here today. I have a Hedgehog card for you today. I used the sketch from Friday Sketchers blog.

I stamped the hedgehog (Penny Black Wonderful Clear Set) with Tuxedo Black ink (Memento) and colored with Copics. I added some ink on the background to simulate sky and grass. I kept the layering down to 2 layers of DP (Cosmo Cricket). Now, that was a challenge for me! The CS is Not Quite Navy and Mellow Moss Textured from Stampin' Up. I added a bit of bling and sparkle. And, tied a sheer ribbon in a bow.

Detail Photos: The sheer ribbon is an omber with shades of blue, pink, yellow, and green.

Other Challenges that makes Hedgy Happy:

7 Kids College Fund: Strip it down
Penny Black at Allsorts: Glitter and Glitz

Totally Paper Crafts: Plain and simple

Stamping Vacation: Name that Card - being sweet

Penny B Friends Saturday Challenge: Summer Lovin'

So, that's it for me today. Hope you are having a nice weekend. I think it will be a pizza kind of night tonight.

Karen

Channeling Tim Holtz

Hi Everyone,
Today I am channeling Tim Holtz.....Well, not really. But, I did make a Tim Holtz inspired project for the Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge. And that means vintagey, distressy, and lots of die cuts. This is a little art piece that I will display on an easel. Here it is:


I stamped the writing on cs and added die cuts, and DP. I distressed it all with ink and sprays. I mounted it on a piece of plain old cardboard and attached with some wire.
Materials List:
Stamp: Artistic Outpost
CS: Sahara Sand (base) from Stampin' Up, Tan Texture from DCWV, Kraft
DP: Cosmo Cricket-Tag and border, DCWV - Flowers
Dies: Tim Holtz and Sizzix
Distress Inks: Ranger
Smooch Spray
Glimmer Mist Spray.


I added some detail shots, of course, so you can see the Tim Holtzyness of it all.

This piece is also entered in the Stamping Vacation Rustic Challenge.

Hope you enjoy your dose of Tim Holtz for today...but, who can ever get enough???

Have a great day!!

Love ya,

Karen

Time Machine Challenge at Stamping Vacation

Hi Everyone,

Strap on your goggles and take a ride in the Time Machine at Stamping Vacation challenge blog. This challenge requires you to go back in time to the year 1981.

Now, I have been told by some of my fellow Design Team Members, that this is the year they were born. Aren't they SWEET. I, on the other hand, remember 1981 very well. Denise, our Design Team Leader, says that is the year that the word "INTERNET" was first mentioned. And, it is also the year the first PC came out!! Wow, computers really haven't been around that long. And now they are such a big part of our lives.

So, the challenge is to create something based on that fact or anything you can up with from 1981!

This challenge is due by September 26Th.

All entries qualify toward the monthly gift certificate drawing!

A $25 certificate to

7 Kids College Fund.

7 Kids College fund is an online store with tons of your favorite brands and all your stamping and crafting needs.

I have to tell you that in 1981 I was not thinking about computers. I was busy having fun. That was the year I turned 21. And, one of the things I remember about about that time was the fun clothes we wore. Does anyone remember leggings and ankle boots? I do. Here is my Design Team card (my first for the Team, by the way!). I call this card 1981 Fashion Icon. LOL

The good old days....when you could get your entire wardrobe from the Salvation Army and the Army Surplus store. Oh, then pick up some Danskin tights and leotards and you were all set. And, how we loved the vintage bags we would find in thrift stores and flea markets. Life was good. I used the bright colors that I remember from that time period.

I paper pieced the dress and colored in the rest with markers. I used a cotton ball to add the plum ink to the main image background. Added DP and sheer ribbons.

Materials List:

Stamps: Stamps Happen

Ink: Black Stazon; Lulu Lavender and Sweet Plum from Memento

Markers: Lulu Lavender and Sweet Plum from Memento, Cocoa Brown from Crayola.

Eyelet Edge Punch from Stampin' Up

DP: K & Company

CS: Plum and Bright Blue

Sheer Ribbons, Pearl Stickers,

Other challenges for 1981 Fashion Icon:

Simon Says Stamp Challenge: paper piecing

Colour Create Challenge: Lilac, Yellow, and Green

Hope you liked your trip in the Time Machine. What can you come up with!!

Have a great day!

Love Ya,

Karen

Blue and Green Coffee Gal

Hi Everyone,

I just had to pull out some more of my new stamps. This time I used a Stampsmith image called "Coffee Gal". Oh, I just love this image. I have made about 5 cards already with this stamp. I will share two of them with you today. The first one, which I made for several challenges and will go in my card box to send or give to someone, has a blue and green color scheme. The second one I just made for fun and will be sent to someone.

Here is the first card.

I added lots of texture to this card. I dry embossed the papers. I dry embossed the main image on one half...which I think looks kind of cool and I will do again. I stamped the sentiment(Stampin' Up) on a piece of cotton fabric with Memento Tuxedo Black dye ink. I immediately heat set it so that the ink would not bleed. I cut or tore the fabric to size and added some mulberry paper to it. I also dry embossed on a long strip of the same fabric and wrapped around the card and tied in a bow. The papers are all from Basic Grey's Boxer pad. The CS is Not quite Navy (SU). The embossing folders are from Cuttlebug.

Now, of course, I added some detail shots so you can see all the little important thing. In this shot, you can see the dry embossing on the image.

In this detail photo you can see the embossing on the fabric.

And on the final detail shot...the stamping on the fabric and the mulberry paper.

Coffee Gal is entered into the following Super Fun Challenges:

Cup Cake Craft: Blue and Green

Fresh Brewed Designs: Thank You

Totally Stampalicious: Use 2 textures

Corrosive Challenges by Janet: Drinks

My Partner in Crafting Crime: Food or Drink

Basic Grey Challenges: BG paper and Fabric

Stamping Vacation:Use mulberry paper

Design Dollies: Blue, Green and Cream

And now, the Just Because card that will get sent out to a loved one. I love the color combo or pink and brown. I where this color combo too. It is so pretty. The frame is die cut from Crate Paper DP and the CS is Choco Chip from Stampin' Up. I colored in Coffee Gal's jewelry with a pink marker. And, I can't hardly make a card without some ribbon....a pink ribbon. Sweet!

News Updates:

1) Thursday is my Design Team debut at Stamping Vacation. I will have a "Time Machine" card for you and a challenge. The year is 1981. Put your thinking caps on and come up with something fun. And, head over there and become a follower and leave a comment mentioning me.... So I can win some candy!

2) Chris and I will hosting our first "Just For You" Workshop on Thursday. The first one's free. Hopefully everyone will get hooked and want to keep coming. There will be two make and takes. Should be lots of fun.

Okay, now I'm done. Hope you enjoyed a cup of coffee with me and Coffee Gal. Have a super day!

Love ya,

Karen

Startin' My Day with Whee

Happy Monday,

Today's card is a sweet little card made using a My Favorite Things image and sentiment. I used the sketch from I heart 2 Stamp.

I stamped the Whee girl in Tuxedo Black ink from Memento on a pale blue CS and colored it with Copics. I cut the image out in a circle, and following the sketch, added lots of DP. I sponged Blushing Bride ink (Stampin' Up) on the large flower DP to unify it with the rest of the card. It looked too bare without the ink. I added lots of buttons, stars, a heart shaped metal charm, and ribbon. I stamped the sentiment on acetate with Stazon and stapled to the card.

Materials List:
DP: Doodlebug Designs
CS: White, Pale blue, Blushing Bride (SU)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Blushing Bride (SU), Stazon
Stamps: My Favorite Things, Star (SU)


Challenges the Whee Girl meets:
i Heart 2 Stamp: Sketch
Theme Thursday: Children
Sentimental Sundays: Uplifting words
Pile It On Challenge: 3DP, 2 stamps, 7 buttons, ribbon, something clear (acetate)
Stamptacular Sunday challenge: 2's better than one
Totaly Gorjuss: Star
Paper Play Challenges: Uber pink
Stamping Vacation: Daring Duos-Child stamp and Playground equipment
Polly Craft Challenges: 3 papers, 2 buttons, 1 charm (metal heart)

Here are some detail shots.

This is where I used the acetate (something clear).

Hope everyone is having a great day.

Karen

Fashion Photo Inspiration Card

Happy Saturday!

It is raining here...which is good as it has been soooo dry. Today's card is inspired by a sketch and a photo that I selected from Styleline magazine in the June 2010 issue. The Photographer is Christian O'Grady; Styled by Laura Maniaci. Fab Outfit!! I love this color combo and the different prints. I used this combination of color and prints to make my card.

Fashion credits from the magazine.

The Sketch is from Everything But the Kitchen Sink #21. The sketch was inspired by a washing machine. Clever.

Here is the card. There isn't very much stamping on this card, just a sentiment from Stampin' Up.

Cardstock: Poppy Parade - SU.

DP: My Minds Eye No2 Tiny Dots, Cosmo Cricket Everafter, Anna Griffin Sold gold.

Gold pigment ink for the distressing.
Ribbons

Here is a detail shot.

Challenge List:

Stampin For the Weekend: Anything goes

Anything Challenge: Three Layers

Daring Card Makers: Material Girls- a card inspired by clothing

For Fun Challenges: one ribbon, 2 papers, 3 embellishments

Hope you enjoyed my fashion photo inspired card. Have a great day.

Karen

Another Audrey Card

Hello Again!

Okay, I know I said I was done for the day.....But, then I saw the Play Date Cafe Color Challenge. So, here goes again. I am going to post one of the other Audrey cards I made this morning. Check out this color combo.

Here is the card I made using the colors Turquoise, Dark Green, and Light Green. The Audrey stamp is from The Stampsmith. Dp from K & Company. I stamped Audrey on glossy white CS with black dye ink. Layered lots of CS and papers. I also used a Spellbinders die. I even layered the ribbons. LOL. I added a little bead too.

This card will be sent to a friend. I put a nice sentiment on the inside of the card. The sentiment is from Uptown Design Company.

Have a great day. Have some fun today. Good clean fun that is. LOL

Karen

Lovely Audrey Cards

Hi Gals,

I finally got a chance to try out my new stamps from The Stampsmith that I bought at the stamping show. I picked up this amazing set of Audrey Hepburn stamps. Well, I went crazy and made a whole bunch of them. I have two cards today for you.

Start out by stamping Audrey on glossy white CS with black dye ink. Then just layer away. CS: Almost Amethyst, Sahara Sand and Black from Stampin' Up. I used a dp that I have had for a long time- the black/white rose from DCWV. I added ribbon, flowers, pearls, and a sentiment from My Sentiments Exactly. Here is a detail shot. Isn't this an amazing stamp?!!

I have entered "Loving You Audrey" in the following fun challenges:

City Crafter - Isn't She Lovely

Sentimental Sundays - Lace or Ribbon

Opus Gluei - Use your stash

Fab n Funky- Flower Power

Bunny Zoe - Vintage

Aud Sentiments- Anything goes

Wild Orchid- Girly

Stamping Vacation- Lots of paper: use a paper with medium to large flowers.

And here is another Audrey card that I made to send to a friend.

Start the same way: with glossy white CS and black dye ink. I used a Spellbinders die and also added a torn Black layer of CS. The DP is from K & Company. And, I added a pretty moss green ribbon.

Well, that's all for me today...I'm worn out. Pheww. Need some r and r. Maybe I can find a nice movie to watch. Have a great day everyone.

Karen

Surfer Boy Birthday

Hi Everyone,

I'm changing gears here a little. I have a cutesy kind of card today. It is a boy's birthday card. I used Surfer Ian from the Greetings Farm for the main image. I stamped him and colored with Copics. I really bumped him up off the card with a little stand. Like a Z shape. Check out the detail photo to see the stand.

You can see he left his little flip flops on the sand.

See how the waves "glitter". (It's Stickles.)

Here is the detail of the little stand to bump him up. This makes it look like he is really hanging ten!

Materials List:

Stamps: Surfer Ian from The Greeting Farm, Sentiment from Stampin' Up, Flip Flop from Art Impressions

Assorted DP

Stickles

Yellow CS

This card qualifies for the following Fun challenges:

Design Dollies

Tuesday Taggers

Critter Challenge

ABC Challenge

Stamping Vacation: Pick Three- My picks-Anything with a Hand, glitter, Anything with blue on it.

Hope you have enjoyed hanging ten with me today! Have a great day.

Karen

Denami Candy at Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog

Hi Kids,

Ready for some awesome candy??!! At the Aud Sentiments Challenge blog, Demani is sponsorering some blog candy. The candy is a $30 gift certificate!! Wow. They are also having a great challenge this week. Use the sentiment "relax" on your project. Check it out!!

Another Faux Linen Card

Hi again,

Another post today. I just could not resist showing you another Faux linen card. For this card, I used one of my fav stamps from Artistic Outpost. Yes, it is a bird stamp from the Bluebird set. And, since I used a bird, I am also entering this card in the Animals with a beak challenge at Stamping Vacation. So, I used the faux tech for this card (link to SCS in the post below) but, I used all different stamps.

Materials List

Stamps: Bluebird Set from Artistic Outpost, Music Background from Morning Star Stamps, Sentiment from Sweet and Sassy.

CS: Taupe from Bazzill, Blush blossom Textured from Stampin' Up, Dark Red from Paper Company.

Pigment Inks: Cherry Cobbler and Always Artichoke from SU.

Glossy White CS

Lace, Ribbon, and Twine

Sand Paper

I think this could make a nice Christmas card ...with a different sentiment. Here is detail:

Well, I think that is about all for now. Have a great day!!

Karen

Asian Poppy with Faux Linen

Hello and good morning,

I have been in my studio working away. I did do all my housey things yesterday and got a lot done. I will continue to do a few things today so the housework does not get out of hand. So, back to the good stuff. Oh wait, need coffee. Yes, much better. Okay, so I got started on this Faux Linen technique yesterday. Instructions for the tech are on the Split Coast Stampers web site ( this is a direct link to the instructions). It is a pretty cool tech and I had all the necessary materials. I also wanted to pair the tech with an Asian theme (Because my new bud, Lorraine, and fellow Design team member at Stamping Vacation also designs for the One Stop Craft challenge - links below). Here is the finished card.

If you follow the instructions on SCS, you won't have any trouble. Just make sure that the pigment ink is completely dry before sanding. (I used my heat gun on it.) And, use really really course sand paper.

Materials List:

Glossy White CS - you need this to make the linen look.

Stamps: Asian Poppy - Hampton Arts

Pigment Ink: Cherry Cobbler and More Mustard - Stampin' Up.

Dye Ink: Vintage Photo- Ranger.

CS: Taupe - Bazzill, Burgundy Textured - DCWV, Black - Stampin' Up.

DP: Basic Grey - Recess Collection and Boxer Collection.

Kangi Paper: from a decoupage book

Dragon Fly: Sizzix die

Accents: Chinese Coin, Two broken earrings- I knew they would come in handy!, and Pearls.

Sand Paper

I added some detail photos and you can really see the linen look in them.

This card qualifies for some really neat Challenges. They are:

One Stop Craft Challenge - Oriental theme

Corrosive Challenges by Janet- Use a faux Technique

Creatalicioush Challenges - Vintage

Stamping Vacation - Very Vintage: Faded

Basic Grey Challenges - Use BG paper and pearls

I really like how this faux linen tech looks. And, if you know me, you know that I made more than one. I will share another one with in the next post. Oh, I feel so hap hap happy today. I hope you do too. Talk to you soon!!

Karen

Impression Obsession goes Get Sketchy

Hi Kids,
Another post today. Boy, I'm on a roll. I have been making cards like crazy. Unfortunately, I have been neglecting other things. Like housework - Yuk. Well, I have set aside tomorrow to do lots of housey stuff. This week is the Thursday Challenge at Impression Obsession. The theme is "Simple Stamping - Less Embellishments". I used an IO stamp called Silhouette 18. I used sketch #51 from the Get Sketchy blog for the layout.

I was inspired by the photo and color scheme from the Embellish Magazine challenge. The theme is also clean and simple.

This is a very nice color combo - Sea Foam, Kraft, Peach, and Cream. Very relaxing and soothing. Here is my interpretation of the challenges.

I stamped the image with Versa Mark and embossed with clear embossing powder from Stampendous on Awesome Aqua CS from WorldWin and layered with Kraft CS. The cream CS is dry embossed with a Cuttlebug folder. The card is made of Aqua Stadium from Making Memories and then layered with Awesome Aqua. I added a few pearl accents from Kaisercraft. The Sentiment is Three Little Words from Stampin' Up and stamped in Cameo Coral.

Here is the detail photo. The cream CS looks truer to it real color in the detail photo. It is a little yellow in the full shot.
Well, I guess I had better quit for today. This day really flew by. Have a great day!

Karen

New Simon Says Vintage Challenge blog

Hello Crafting Friends,
Hey, Simon Says Stamps started a second Challenge blog called Simon Says Stamp & Show. It has a more vintage feel which is right up my alley. This week is their first challenge. I used one of my new stamps from Lost Coast Designs for this challenge card. The Simon Says theme is "Winged Things". Perfect theme for my new Flying Ballerina stamp. I used the sketch #26 from the Critter Challenge blog

And I was also inspired by a photo from the Etsy Inspired Challenge. The Etsy shop hosting this week is Lover Dover's. The shop sells all kinds of beautiful handmade aprons and little girl's dresses. Here is the item that inspired my card. It is the Princess Pink tutu. Isn't it sweet!!!

Of course my card uses lots of pinks, and rose colored paper and ink. I stamped the image in basic Gray ink (SU) and distressed with Tattered Rose and Fired Brick (Ranger). I stamped a second image and punched a circle and attached it over the original image. Spray with Smooch ink - brown and Shimmer Mist - pink. Layer with black CS (SU). A piece of DP (SU) was dry embossed and distressed with Vintage Photo (Ranger). Just put it all together on the card and add a Tulle bow and some paper roses.

I added a detail shot too. You can see the punched circle and the dry embossing really well in the detail shot.

This card also qualifies for the Wings theme at the Stampotique Desingers Challenge blog.

I think this is such a sweet image. Although the little Ballerina's expression is rather on the grumpy side. What do you think?? LOL. I heading over to the Stamping Vacation challenge blog to see what's cooking. Today is the premier of the New Design Team. Which includes your truly. Have a great day!