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

Sisterhood of Crafters Guest Design Post #2---A Cute Owl

Hello Everyone!
I hope you had a great Holiday weekend (Memorial Day here in the USA).  I worked in the yard and got quite a bit done and the garden looks much tidier now  (reference how untidy on this earlier post here).  I filled some pots with annuals and herbs, put in some vegetables, did more weeding, pulled out three boxwood bushes that did not make it through the bad winter we had here in Michigan, and just more general clean up.
So, on to the card making bit.  It is time for a new challenge on the Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge blog.  I am Guest Designing this month---very fun!  And, the new theme for this fortnight is:

Tag You're It!

Make a tag or add a tag to your project.  FUN!   Tags are so fun to make and so versatile.    I added a tag to my card for this fun birthday card.

Materials List:

Stamps: Total Cuteness -Unity; On the inside of the card: Birthday Sentiment - My Sentiments Exactly!

CS: Calypso Coral and Very Vanilla - Stampin' Up

DP: Indie Chic - My Mind's Eye

Ink: Jet Black Stazon

Distress Ink: Mustard Seed

Markers

Tag die cut: Sizzix

Eyelet Edge Punch: Stampin' Up

Hole Punch and 2 sizes of Circle Punches

Ribbon: Peach Satin - Michaels

Yellow brads

Instructions:

• Make a card from Calypso Coral CS
• Cut a rectangle for DP, punch one edge and add to card front
• Die cut tag from DP
• Distress edges of tag with Distress ink
• Punch two circles and glue over the hole area-punch a small hole and add the brad

• Stamp the Owl twice: once on Very Vanilla CS and once on Orange solid DP
• Color the Owl stamped on Very Vanilla with markers and cut out
• Cut out the Owl wings from the DP
• Add the owl to the tag with dimensional adhesive
• Add tag to card with dimensional adhesive

• Die cut a smaller tag and distress the edges with ink
• Stamp the sentiment on the tag
• Punch one small circle and glue over the hole area-punch a small hole and add the brad - as on the large tag

• Tie the ribbon around the card 
• Add the small tag over the ribbon
• Decorate the inside and add the Birthday Sentiment.  

*******************A few fun challenges for my Guess Who Owl Card:

Artistic Inspirations: things with wings
Cards In Envy: A2 + winged things
Crafting from the Heart: anything goes
Come and Get it: lots of layers
Sentimental Sundays: Things with wings
Simon Wednesday: anything goes


I hope you will join us for this fun challenge...I would love to see your tag project!!  See you next time!!  Have a great day.  Love ya
Karen

Memorial Day Blog Hop with Operation Write Home!!!

Operation Write Home Memorial Day Blog Hop

Hello Everyone,
Welcome to Dreamland!  I hope you are enjoying the Operation Write Home Memorial Day Blog Hop.  I made a "Love" card in red/white/blue.

To the inside, add a full sheet of paper for maximum letter writing space

Fold and crease the paper to fit neatly within the card

Stamp the back with the OWH stamp.

To check out all the blogs participating in the Memorial Day Blog Hop click here.


Thanks for stopping by and happy hopping!!!
Karen McAlpine

Early Spring in the Garden and Some Cards Too

Hi Dreamers!
Not a lot going on in the garden.  We had a  really long winter and everything is about a month behind.  But, here are a few photos of the garden.  I added some cards at the end of the post too.


I planted these two Japanese Maples last summer and I was so glad to see that they made it through the tough winter.

Forget Me Nots

Grape Hyacinths: usually gone by this time of year, but since Spring was so late, they can be found next to the Hardy Geraniums.

The daffodils are always done by the time the Corydalis is out.  But because of the late Spring, we see them here together.

My rain barrel

Lily of the Valley

I don't remember planting this.  LOL   But, it is very pretty.  I think it may be some kind of Phlox.

***************************************************
Well, I suppose you need a card too.  Okay, I'll add a card too.

I stamped on tissue paper with Stazon ink and colored with a marker.  The CS is from A Muse Studios.  I sent some of these to Operation Write Home and some to Card Care Connection.
Instructions:

•  I laid out a piece of white tissue paper and stamped the bamboo leaf ( Stampin' Up) repeatedly.  
• Once I colored with the marker, I cut the tissue into squares.  
• Glue the tissue to white CS

*********A few Fun Challenges for my tissue cards!
ABC Challenge: L is for lots of layers
Stamped Blessings: flowers


Don't forget the Memorial Day blog Hop this Saturday with Operation Write Home!!! I hope to see you then.  Have a great day!!  Love ya.
Karen

Miss You Card for Operation Write Home

Hi Dreamers!
Today, I wanted to share one of the cards I made for Operation Write Home.  This is a "Miss You" card extreme!  LOL.  I used this funny little guy and a cute sentiment.

Materials List:

Stamps: Funny Guy -Stampin' Up; Sentiment - My Favorite Things

CS: Green and Polka Dot - A Muse Studios; Taken With Teal - Stampin' Up

Ink: Bermuda Bay -Stampin up; Black Stazon

Washi Tape

Markers

Ribbon

Die Cut - My Favorite Things

Instructions:

• Make card from Light green CS
• Add a strip of Polka Dot CS to upper half of card
• Add two strips of Washi Tape
• Wrap ribbon around card and tie in bow

• Stamp the image on White CS and color with Markers
• Die cut trimming off the ends just a bit
• Mount to a piece of Taken With Teal CS and add to card
• Leave the inside blank and add a liner for writing home

*********************************************************

Coming up this weekend!!!!  I will be participating in the Operation Write Home Memorial Day Blog Hop!!!  Should be lots of fun --- with  tons of cards to look at!!!  I have my card all ready!!  It is red/white/blue---Of course!!   Stop back for that!!  I will be showing how I line the inside of my cards for maximum letter writing space.  

*********A Few Fun Challenges for My Miss You Like Crazy Card!!!

Operation Write Home: Mid Week Throw Down---Miss you card

Creating from the Heart: anything goes

Penny's Challenge: spots and or stripes

See on Saturday for the Memorial Day Blog Hop!!!!  Love ya

Karen

Love to Scrap Challenge Blog Anything Goes Challenge

Hello Dreamers!!

Time for a new challenge at The Love to Scrap Challenge Blog!!!  The new challenge theme is:

ANYTHING GOES

Now, that is nice and easy.  You can make anything you like with some stamping on it.  And, check out the sponsors for this challenge:

Lawn Fawn

Prize: Stamp set and 6x6 pad of winner's choice

and

Stitchy Bear's Digi Outlet

Prize: $10 gift certificate

For my Design Team project, I used stamps from Lawn Fawn to create a pretty all occasion card.  A perfect little card to send out to someone special.   Check out my project:

Materials List:

Stamps: Sew Lovely and Just My Type from Lawn Fawn

CS: Solar White Neenah; Almost Amethyst -Stampin' Up; Purple - Bazzill

Ink: Rich Cocoa - Memento

Copic Markers: BV02, BV11,BV31, E33, E55

Instructions:

• Make a card from the Almost Amethyst CS
• Layer with purple CS
• On Solar with CS, stamp the images with Rich Cocoa ink  ---a nice change from using black ink with Copic Markers
• Color with Copic Markers

A Few fun Challenges for my Hello card:

Come and Get It: bingo---I used three or more layers/free/flowers

Sentimental Sundays: funky flowers= sentiment

Paper Players: Clean and Simple flowers

All Sorts: purple passion

CMC Copic Challenge: pretty pastels

Mark's Finest: no DP
Created with Love: lots of layers/at least 3

Head over to the Love to Scrap Challenge Blog and link up your project---and have fun!!!  See you later for a few pics of what's happening in the garden.  Love ya

Karen

15 Days of Terror Part Two- -- -Scary Domino Pops

Hello Everyone!
Welcome to my second post for Leigh's Domino Art event: 15 Days of Terror.  As a "Petrifying Player", I have made a Halloween project that features dominoes. The dominoes are colored with  alcohol ink and some fun stamping.

More info on the 15 Days of Terror
**********Check out Leigh's Details:
Halloween is one of DominoART's favorite holidays and we love to celebrate Half-O-Ween in May just like Christmas in July!  

 I will be featuring one FANGTASTIC project every 2nd day throughout May created by my 
Petrifying Players!  

At the end of May they will be in the running for some spooktacular prizes and vying for your votes!  So stop by, gobble up all their clawesome eye candy and then show them how much their scary projects delightfully terrified you by voting for your favorites starting May 27! *************

I made more Domino pops and added them to a frame.  I inserted some Halloween DP into the frame for the background.

Materials List:

1. Black Picture Frame 5 x 7 (picked this one up in the Hobby Lobby clearance section for $1)
2. Dominoes
3. Stamps: Owl and Candelabra - Dark and Dreary - Stampin’ Up; Cat-Spooky Boo Day -A Muse Studios
4. Jet Black Stazon Ink
5. Alcohol Inks
6. Alcohol Ink applicator
7. Halloween DP: Thrilling Collection -Authentique
8. Lollipop Sticks - Wilton (in the cake and candy making section of craft store)
9. Letter Stickers
10. Green/Brown Harlequin  Ribbon - Hobby Lobby
11. Gold Sharpie  Marker
12. Orange and Yellow Rhinestones - Spellbinders
13. Glossy Accents
14. Hot Glue Gun
15. Glue Sticks

Instructions:

• Sand the dominoes with sandpaper and wipe clean
• Apply the alcohol ink to the dominoes
• Color the sides of the dominoes with a Gold Sharpie marker
• Stamp the images with Jet Black Stazon ink
• Cover the surface of the dominoes with Glossy Accents to seal
• Let Dry

• Glue a lollipop stick to back of each domino
• Tie a bow in the ribbon and glue to each domino
• Add the letter sticker

•  Place the Halloween DP into the frame and back with heavy CS or light cardboard
• Add the rhinestones to the DP and the frame
• Tie another bow in the ribbon and glue to the frame with hot glue

• Decide on the placement of the Domino pops and then glue to the frame with hot glue

This framed piece can be hung on the wall for Halloween.  Or, it would be nice on an easel too.  Check out all the Halloween projects on the Domino Art Blog for more scary fun!!

Hope you have enjoyed this Halloween interlude.  We will return you to regularly scheduled post themes now.  I will post something bright and  summery next.  

Coming up in Dreamland:
Next week is a busy week full of all kinds of crafty goodness: a new challenge on the Love to Scrap Challenge blog and Operation Write Home Memorial Day Blog Hop!!!   Should be fun!!

Hope you have a great weekend!!  Love ya
Karen