New Getting Geographical Challenge

Hi. Happy Monday!

It is time for a new challenge at the Stamping Vacation Challenge Blog. We have changed the State Your State challenge to Getting Geographical. Now we will include places from all over the world. And , this month the geographical location is Paris.

You have until March 28th to complete this challenge. All challenge entries qualify for the monthly $ 25 gift certificate drawing. Lets see what you can come up with. Make a project and link it up over at the Stamping Vacation blog. I have a stamp set that features fabulous images of Paris: The Paris Full Sheet from The Stampsmith Shop and I used one of the images from this set. I have continued with my stamping on tissue paper theme. Take a look at my card.

The Eiffel Tower is stamped with black ink on bright blue tissue paper. This is a piece of tissue I had just laying around. It probably was in a gift bag. So, I guess you could say I am recycling. I cut the tissue with a Sizzix die. To get the tissue to cut well layer a piece of cardstock under the tissue. The tissue will cut perfectly and you will have a tag to layer under the tissue on the card. The card base is Textured So Saffron from Stampin' Up. The DP is from ATD. I added a strip of Black ric rac and a sheer black ribbon. The sentiment is also from the Stampsmith Paris set. Here are a couple of close up shots for you too.

I am also posting this card on the Stampsmith Design blog. Head over there for lots of inspriation.

Of course, I found a few Challenges for "Paris Tag".

Desert Island Crafts Challenge: My 3 Picks - No flowers, only one pattern paper, sparkle.

Party Time Tuesday(they are back): anything goes

Woodware USA: anything goes

Shelly Images: use some ribbon

I did it Creations: punches or dies

Sentimental Sundays: anything goes

Have a great day! Lots of sunshine here today. Love ya.

Karen

Another Clean and Simple Flower

Hi!

I'm back with another CAS card. I seemed to have a thing about CAS flowers lately. This type of card is nice to go in my Operation Write Home box too. I am going to make a couple more of these and change out the sentiment on each one. Since it is for OWH, the inside has to stay blank. I usually add an additional white sheet, so there is plenty of room to write a long letter. Okay, so on with the card. I call this one "Friendship Garden".

I used a Rubber Stampede tulip stamp and a sentiment from See D's. I especially made this a friendship card because the sentiment was given to me by my friend Jude Haggerty. She cleaned out her stamping stuff and blessed me with some super fabby stamps. Thanks Sweetie! I am loving all of them. There was plenty of goodies to share with my stamping buddies too.

The tulip and sentiment were stamped with Coffee Bean Brilliance pigment ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I added texture with a Cuttlebug embossing folder. I added a layer of dark brown CS and the card base is cream. Here is a close up.

I used two brads and little loops and threaded a plaid ribbon through the loops.

And, here a few super fun challenges for Friendship Garden:
Simon Says Stamp: Colors Cream and Cocoa

Crazy 4 Challenges: flowers

Pink Gem challenge: Use one or more of buttons, bows, brads,beads. I used brads and a bow.

One stop craft: Spring flowers

Sweet Stampin: Oh so girlie

Crafty Catz Weekly: For a Friend

Crafty Sentiments: Spring

Well, I guess that's all for me today. Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Karen

Clean and Simple Challenge

Hello Everyone,

It is time for the monthly Clean and Simple Challenge at the Stamping Vacation Challenge Blog. This month the theme is:

Use FLOWERS

This challenge is due by March 26th and qualifies for the monthly prize drawing as do all challenges! The prize this month is a $25 gift certificate to the store of YOUR choice! How cool is that?!!

I used a Penny Black stamp for my Design Team card. Take a look.

The color scheme is black and white. I added a bit of texture with a Cuttlebug embossing folder. I stamped the image on white CS and ran it through the Cuttlebug. I added on layer of black CS and made the card base from whits CS. Nice and easy. This is another card for my Operation Write Home box. Here is another look.

A Few fun challenges for Keep it Simple with Flowers:

Victorine Originals: Embossing

Sweet stamps Blog: Flowers

TSG Clear Stamps: Only Lined Art

Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps: Any Occasion

Do you stack up: Anything goes

Stamp Something: Flowers

Totally gorjuss: Black and one other color

That's all for now. I will be back with another CAS flower card. Have a great day! Love ya,

Karen

Blockheads Design Blog Sneaky Peek

Hi Everyone,

I am Guest Designing over at the Blockheads Design blog today. I will tantalize you with a little sneaky peek. I have posted an article on using dry embossing with Spellbinders die cuts. I used the Japanese Musicians stamp set from Blockhead Paper Arts. All the details are over on the Blockheads blog.

And here is the mess I made! There is more mess over to the right too. Oh my. Don't worry. I cleaned up when I was all done.

Hope you enjoy the tutorial. See you later!!

Karen

DeNami Color Challenge

Happy Monday Everyone,

We got socked with a ton of snow last night. It is definitely still very much winter here. So, I was very intrigued by the DeNami Color Challenge. It is a very bright and cheery combination. Kind of Springy too. Navy, Lime, and White. You have to use a DeNami stamp too. I used my new Mimi scooter stamp (DeNami). I also decided that I needed to get started on some cards for Operation Write Home. They posted this nice sketch yesterday which I used to make my card.

Lawn Fawn is having a neat challenge over at the Lawnscaping Blog too. Their challenge is to use paper piecing. Here is the card I came up with.

Mimi and the scooter are paper pieced. I punched the circle and had to hand cut the Night of Navy (Stampin' Up) circle. I added a birthday sentiment from Stampin' Up. Accents are a wide, sheer white ribbon and some pearl stickers. Here is a close up so you can see the paper piecing.

The Lime green CS I pieced for the scooter and the green DP for her outfit are from DCWV. Markers were used on the face, hair, and tires.

Since this will be going to Operation Write Home, I will leave it blank on the inside. The cards are sent to Military personal and they use them to write home. Well, I have one card done. About 30 more to go. I will make up a bunch and ship them off to OWH. They take care of the rest. Hope my springy colors brightened your day. Love ya,

Karen

DeNami Buttons Blog Hop Challenge

Hi Everyone,

Happy Friday! Now, I know that the Beautiful Buttons Blog Hop is officially over. But, the Challenge associated with the hop is still open. So, I finished up my card that incorporates buttons in time for the drawing. Click on the badge for all the details.

I was playing around with this background stamp and thought it would like nice with the Bride and Groom stamp. I think it makes a really nice CAS card. Here is how it turned out.

This is a DeNami image - Contempo Couple. I stamped the background stamp (Stampabilities) on a White card using Brilliance Cosmic Copper pigment ink. The Bride and Groom are stamped in black ink. I embossed both with clear embossing powder. This is a single layer card. I added buttons and beads for accents, and a little bow at the top.

Here is another shot so you can see all the buttons on the bottom of the card.

I made this card for my own Anniversary. It is not until June, but I think I can manage to hide from my Husband until then. LOL I added a mushy, lovey sentiment on the inside.

The pretty sentiments are all from My Sentiments Exactly.

A Few other fun challenges for the Bride and Groom:

DeNami: Buttons

Paper Crafting Journey: Anything goes

Dutch Dare: bling and sparkle

Cute Card Thursday: Shiny, happy cards

Have a happy, sunny Friday! Lots of sunshine here today. Love ya.

Karen

Artsy "Beauty" Tag

Hi Crafty Buddies,

I have an artsy tag for you today. But, first here is a

Publication Update

I have two cards in "Just Cards! Birthdays!". One uses a Sweet N Sassy Cocoa stamp. I also have two cards in "Take Ten". They both use Artistic Outpost stamps.

Okay, now let's get to today's project. I used lots of different stamps to make this tag. The script, face, beauty, and bug are from "ATC Stamps - Years Ago" by Blockheads Stamps. [Next week I will post another installment of "Adding Texture with Embossing Folders" over at the Blockheads Design Blog. I will post a sneaky peek here on this blog to remind you.] The background stamps, at the top of the tag and on the base layer, are from Sweet N Sassy. The leaf is from Stampin' Up.

Cs: Cream from Staples, Really Rust from SU. Inks: Really Rust, Crushed Curry, and Chocolate Chip from SU; Vintage Photo and Tattered Rose from Ranger.

I used a cool technique  discovered sort of by accident. When you distress with the Ranger Distress Inks and than sprinkle on embossing powder - the ink is wet enough to hold the embossing powder. Heat it with a heat gun and you end up with this great shinny surface. Love it!!   I am hoping you can see the finish in the detail photos.




I used a Martha Stewart punch set. I wove the Organdy ribbon thru the punched edge. I added a lot of gold seed beads by smoothing on some Fabri Tac glue and sprinkling on the beads.


I also added a ribbon loop at the top. I think I will hang this piece somewhere in my house. It looks nice on an easel too, but I think I will use the ribbon hanger and hang it.

A few fun Challenges for Beauty Tag:
Simon Says Stamp and Show: Tags
ABC- Challenge: Old Fashioned- max 4 other challenges
A Spoon Full Of Sugar: Anything but a card
Desert Island: Itinerary- use three. My three are: Border Punch, No Flowers, and Sparkle
Sir Stamp a lot: All creatures great and small- I went with the small- the small bugs on my tag. max 6 challenges
Well, that's it for me tonight. We had a lovely warm and sunny day today. 50 degrees!! I know it won't last, but it sure is nice. Sleep well my lovelies.
Karen

Travel Theme at Stampsmith Challenge Blog

Hi Everyone,

It is time for a new Challenge at the Stampsmith Challenge blog. Since it is the 15th the following rule apply:

Projects including at least one Stampsmith image will be eligible to win the random draw. Other stamps welcome. Winner of the gift certificate will be announced on the 1st! Now, for the theme:

Travel

Can't wait to see what you come up with. For my card, I used a Stampsmith stamp from the Paris Full Sheet (available in the Stampsmith Shop). You may remember, if you visited the other day, that I have be playing around with stamping on Tissue Paper. Today I have another example. This time I stamped on beige/peach colored tissue with Basic Gray Ink (Stampin' Up).

After stamping, I crinkled up the tissue and then smoothed it out. I cut a frame with a Sizzix die and a border with a Martha Stewart punch using Sahara Sand CS (SU). To add texture to both of these pieces I stamped them with Sanded Background stamp (SU) twice. Once with Sahara Sand and once with Basic Gray inks. The DP is from Basic Grey. The card base is a dark beige CS from Bazzill. I added two ribbons for accents. Here is a close up photo.

The idea is that the tissue looks like silk fabric and this technique is sometimes called Faux Silk. I will be making a few more cards using this tech and will share them with you.

Challenges for Paris on Tissue:

Stamping Vacation: No No Challenge -No flowers

Stamping Vacation: Lots of Paper Challenge - Paper that looks like fabric (the tissue is supposed to look like silk)

Hope you are having a great day. Thanks for stopping by.

Karen

Sweet N Sassy "Love is in the Air" Customer Blog Hop

Hi Dear Friends,
Sweet N Sassy is having their first ever Customer blog hop this weekend. We are sure to find lots of Valentine's Day inspiration hopping along. Any one can participate. Just make a project using Sweet N Sassy stamps and add your link here by Sunday Febuary 13. The theme for their FIRST customer blog hop is "Love is in the Air".
A grand prize of a $25 shopping spree to Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps will be randomly drawn from blog hop participants and announced on the SNSS blog on Monday, February 14th.
All blog hop participants (those who are in the blog hop line up) will receive an adorable Bethany Bunny digi FREE. Grab the badge and spread the word!
On to my project. I have finished all my Valentine's Day cards. So, I decided to make a gift/treat box. I started with this plain box I purchased at the dollar store.


I always associate valentine's with lace and doilies. I had some heart shaped doilies in my stash and used one as the base of my decoration. I stamped Cocoa from the "Sew Happy Cocoa Clear Stamp Set" - Sweet N Sassy. The image is watercolored. I cut out the image in a heart shape and glued it to the doily. I stamped the heart border ("Beautiful Borders" from Sweet N Sassy) and cut it out. I glued the border and a Valentine's ribbon to the doily. I added some solid red ribbon, pearls, red glitter glue, and a few more hearts. Here is the decoration before it went on the box. This could also be added to a card base or a refrigerator magnet. I was also thinking about adding a longer ribbon and hanging it on the wall.

Here is a detail photo. Isn't Cocoa Cute?!!


To finish the project, I just used a couple rows of runner tape to attach the heart doily to the gift box. I added some white tissue. Pink tissue would be cute too. I just have to fill it with goodies and I'm good to go. Here is the finished project.


Now, isn't that sweet. Just imagine all the luscious chocolates that can fit in the box. Or, maybe some home baked chocolate chip cookies. Yummm.
Hope you enjoy the blog hop. Please go and check out all the other hoppers blogs. You will not be disappointed!!
Have a great day. Love ya,
Karen

Non-Traditional Color Valentine's Day Card

Hi Everyone,

I am still making Valentine's Day cards. I just realized that Valentine's day is only five days away and I do not have one card in the mail yet. Got to get busy!! I have been experimenting with tissue paper. I love the look of the stamped image on tissue. I stamped a bunch of images and will be sharing those projects with you over the next several days. Today's card uses the Stampsmith stamp "Love Under the Stars" and is available in the Stampsmith Shop. This is a Design Team card for the Stampsmith Design blog. Check it out for lots of great ideas.

I used a yummy blue and brown color scheme. CS: brown; Blue from Bazzill. DP: Basic Grey. Butterfly border and Love sticker from Basic Grey. I stamped the image on white tissue paper with black dye ink. A Spellbinders die was used to cut the layers. I added a wide sheer white ribbon and silver pearls for accents.

And here is a little peak at the inside...the sentiment is from My Sentiments Exactly.

A few Lovely Challenges:

A Spoon full of sugar: Show some love

Cards for Men: Valentine's

Incy Wincy: Love

Stamping Vacation: Get the Music In You Challenge - Love of My Life

The Sisterhood of Crafters: Valentine's

Don't forget to click over the Blockhead Stamps design blog to check out my first post as guest Designer. There is a pretty cool Asian inspired card with dry embossing. OHHH....

Have a great day!! Love ya,

Karen

Very Vintage Challenge

Hi Everyone,

I also have a pretty cool announcement today. I have added it to the bottom of this post. So, please scroll down to read it. Thank You!!

It is time for the Very Vintage Challenge at the Stamping Vacation Challenge blog! Oh, I do love vintage. The theme this month is:

Keys and Locks

What a great theme for February too...with Valentine's Day and all. You could get a card made for a loved one and be entered into the monthly drawing. And, the prize?! A $25 gift certificate to the store of YOUR choice!!??? How cool is that??!! So get out your distress inks and get busy. Here is my Design Team card.

The key stamp is from Hero Arts. I heat embossed it and added all the background color with Distress inks (Vintage Photo, Scattered Straw, Olive from Ranger). I used the direct to paper method because I wanted it to look more streaky. I also added a dry embossed piece of red CS under the Locks and main image. I distressed this as well. The DP is from K & Company. CS: Red for lock is from Bazzill; Embossed Red and Mustard from DCWV; Black from Stampin' Up. The Locks are die cut and embossed with a Spellbinders die. The Key is a sizzix die. I added a sheer Brown and white polka dot ribbon and a piece of black lace for accents. Here are some detail photos too.

Shhhh......this is my Husband's Valentine's Day card. Don't tell him. He has not seen it yet. Since it is for him, I added a lovey dovey kind of sentiment on the inside.

Fun Challenges for "Key To My Heart":

Flourishes: Bring Back beautiful - Love
Flourishes: Valentine's
Penny Challenges: Hearts in a flutter
Lets Ink It Up: Romance/Valentine's Day
Stamptacular Sunday: Hearts gone wild
Simon Says Stamp: Love is in the air
All sorts Challenge: Love
CES Challenge: red and romance
ECP challenge: love
The Secret Crafter Saturday: Valentine's
Card Makin Mamas: Valentine's
Phindy's Place: Embossing
A Lot of rubber: Valentine - use red, pink and white
Bildmalarna: Love
Simon Says Stamps and Show: embossing
Creative Inspirations Paint: Inspired by hearts

ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!

Starting tomorrow I will be Guest Designing with Stacey Dunning over at the Blockheads Art Stamps Design Blog. Stacey owns and operates the Blockheads Online Store. She carries her own line of stamps and other manufacturers. There are tons of inks too. And what got me started shopping there - Stamp mounting supplies. There is also a gallery with lots of amazing project ideas. We have put our heads together and came up with some articles with interesting techniques. The first article is "Adding Texture with Dry Embossing". Here is a little sneaky peek.

I hope you will join us at Blockhead stamps tomorrow. Thanks!! I hope you have a lovely day!
Karen

Color Combo Challenge

Happy Sunday Everyone,

Today I have a Design Team Card for you. It is for the Color Combo challenge at the Stamping Vacation Challenge blog. The prize is a monthly drawing for a $25 certificate for the store of your choice.!!! Sounds super doesn't it??!! The colors for this month are:

Dark Blue and Light Yellow

This is a great combination. I love blue and yellow together and used them to color a fabulous stamp from DeNami. Here is my Color Combo card.

The CS is Barely Banana and Pacific Point from Stampin' Up. The DP is also from Stampin' Up. I colored the image with Pacific Point and Crushed Curry Inks using a wet brush. I also used a Crushed Curry and a green marker to color in the flowers on the shoes. Here is a detail photo.

The ruffle: You know how sometimes see pretty ribbon and you buy it? And then you get it home and realize it is ribbon with adhesive on it? Well, that is what I did. I found a new use for this adhesive ribbon. Pleat it!! Just add pleats as you go sticking it down. It works great. Here is a close up of the pleated ribbon. How fun is that??!!

And a few fun challenges for Fashion Thinking of You:

SSDS Challenge: Dots and Stripes

Catch the Bug: Anything goes

Little Claires Designs: (a new challenge site): Anything goes

Sew Many Challenges: Anything goes

Paper Play: Stamp it out

Well, I hope you are enjoying the snow. We have tons of it here. Remember when you were a kid and snow was an event? We made snowmen and snow forts, had snowball fights. I even remember lobbing a few snowballs at cars. Boy, that made people mad! We would run and hide. LOL Oh, the good old days. I wish you a happy day filled with all the things you love.

Karen