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

Graduation Card and Announcement for My Nephew

Hi Dreamers!
It is that time of year again when we send the young out into the world--the poor things.  LOL  My youngest nephew graduated from high school this month.  My brother asked if I could make an announcement for him.  I thought I could give it a try.  Here is the announcement that I made in Photoshop Elements.

I also needed  a Graduation card for him.   Still trying to think of a nice gift.......  His party is in July, so I still have time to come up with something.  Here is the card.

Materials List:

Stamps: Sense of Time, Aged to Perfection, Itty Bitty Backgrounds--Retired Stampin' Up sets  

Ink: Jet Black, Rusty Brown, Saddle Brown --Stazon 

CS: White, Black, Orange

Brads: black and orange

Cooper Wire

mono printing Plate

Acrylic Paints: white, brown, red, and yellow

Brayer

Instructions:

• Make a card from orange CS
• Use  a mono printing Plate to mono print the background---to see a tutorial on how I use the mono printing Plate, go here.   Note: I only brayered on the ink and did not press anything into the paint for this background.
• Cut the background to size and add a layer of black CS

• Begin stamping with the clock face in Jet Black ink.  I used Stazon inks as I was stamping on paint
• Stamp the gears and other stamped elements
• Use the Itty Bitty Background stamp to add the dots in black and brown inks

• Add three brads  to the upper corner of the background
• Add the wire wrapping around to the back side and secure with a Zot
• Attached the stamped background piece to the card base with Zots 3-D dots
• Stamp the sentiment on a leftover piece of the background
• Layer with black CS and add to the  card front

• On the inside, do a bit more stamping and add another sentiment---This one is from DRS Designs

Ans now, how about a few challenges for my Grad Card!!!
Simon's Wednesday Challenge: anything goes
Crafty catz: anything goes
Stamping for the Weekend: anything goes
Ruby's Rainbow: stamping
Scribbles Designs: say it with a sentiment
Lori's Mandarin Orange Photo art


I hope you enjoying summer!!  We are having great weather here in Michigan.   I was out in the yard today watering and weeding.  Put in a few more tomato plants that I had left over.  I bought a few too any.  So I just tucked them in here and there in some of the flower beds.  Not sure what I will do this weekend.  My husband will be busy with his band--playing at the country club.  Maybe I can get some cards made!!  Have a super day!  See you next time.  Love ya.
Karen

Pretty Angel Cards

Hi Dreamers!
Crazy busy week --again.  Trying to catch up all the things that were put on hold while planning the bridal shower.  So, I am getting caught up now.  I did the weed whacking and trimmed the shrubs on Saturday.   Cleaned the house during the week.  And, had time to go to a stamp camp with Suzanne Everett to check out the new Stampin' Up catalog.  That was fun!  Stopped at the mall on the way to Suzanne's and did my makeup shopping for the year.  LOL  I don't get to the mall that often.  Wanted to try the new Bare Minerals liquid makeup.
Okay, Okay, enough of my chatter.  On to the cards for the day.  I made these pretty angel cards for Operation Write Home.

Materials List:
Stamp: angel from Stampavie; sentiment from Stampin' Up
CS: White; Blue Gingham and Green Polka Dot - Amuse Studios
DP: green printed
Copic Markers
Love Die Cut: AMuse Sudios

Instructions:

• Make two A2 cards from the patterned CS
• On White CS, stamp the angle with brown dye ink
• Color with Copic Markers
• Add to the card base
• Stamp the sentiment

• On the second card, stamp the angel on the DP with a dark rust dye ink
• Color with Copics
• Die cut LOVE and add to card
• Punch a heart from red CS and add to card

***************How about a few fun Challenges for my Angel Cards?!!!
Crafting from the Heart: anything goes
Dragonfly Dreams: things with wings
Corrosive Challenge: fav color medium---I used Copics
Brown Sugar: dots and/or stripes -----both on card #2

Well, I better get moving.  I want to make a big pot of vegetable soup for dinner tonight.  Yum.  See you next time.  Love ya
Karen

Love To Scrap Challenge Blog--New Challenge--Holey Cardstock

Hello Dreamers!
Time for a new Challenge on the Love to Scrap Challenge Blog!!!   The new theme for the next two weeks is:

Holey Cardstock

Create a punched or die cut opening for an image to show through

How fun is that!!??!!   We have a lovely sponsor for this challenge:

DRS Designs

Prize: $10 gift certificate to winner

For my Design Team Project, I used two  stamps from DRS Designs.  I die cut an opening on the front of the card so that the cute monkeys are peeking out.

Materials List:

Stamps: Allie and Callie, Brother Laugh About It Sentiment-both from DRS Designs

CS: White; Soft Suede, Pacific Point, and Yellow from Stampin' Up

Ink: Frayed Burlap Distress 

Copic Markers: RV11, R30, E50, E55,E02, E35, E53, E33

Ribbon: Island Indigo- Stampin' Up

Stickles: Midnight Blue and Gold

Blue Rhinestones

AMuse Studios Die Cut

Embossing Folder: Woodgrain Tim Holtz Alterations

Instructions:

• Make an A2 size card from Soft Suede CS
• Dry emboss the front of the card with the Woodgrain folder
• Die cut the opening in the lower right corner of the card

• Outline the die cut opening with Blue and Gold Stickles
• Add dots of Blue Stickles around the opening adding one Rhinestone in the corner
• Stamp the Sentiment on white CS
• Distress with Frayed Burlap DI
• Layer with Pacific Point and yellow CS
• Add some dots of blue Stickles 
• Add to card front with dimensional adhesive
• Tie ribbon around card

• Stamp monkeys on white CS, stamp an extra head to color and cut out for the card front
• Color the Monkeys with Copic Markers and distress the background
• Add to the inside making sure the Monkeys are centered in the die cut opening

Inside

  

I am giving this to my Brother for Father's Day.  I will just write a little note on the inside.    I am sure he will like it!   LOL

**************Challenges for my Holey Cardstock Monkeys:

DRS Designs: on the Border--I used a Stickles border around my die cut opening

Aud Sentiments: any sentiment for a guy

Thankful Thursdays: masculine card

Cute Card Thursday: so macho

Crafty Creations Challenges: tic tac toe-----I used Embossing, Ribbon, Masculine
Sentimental Sundays: critters + sentiment

Make your Holey Cardstock card and link up on the Love to Scrap Challenge blog!!  Can't wait to see what you come up!!  

Hope you having a great day!!

Karen

Fun Birthday Cake Easel Card

Hello Dreamers!
Lets celebrate today with a super fun Birthday Cake Easel Card.  I made this card for my friend to send to her granddaughter.  It is her 13th Birthday!  I wanted something special, so I made an easel card!  As an extra special touch, I also decorated the envelope with the DP

Materials List:

Stamps: Cake - Morning Star;  Sentiments - My Favorite Things

CS: Solar White - Neenah; Pacific Point, Rich Razzleberry - Stampin' Up

DP: Stampin' Up

Copic Markers

Banner Punch - SU

Alphabet stickers

Stickles glitter glue

Instructions:

• Stamp the cake on white CS twice
• Color with Copic Markers and cut out the cake
• Make the easel card and add the DP

• Layer the stamped cake with Pacific Point CS 
• Add the second cake with dimensional adhesive
• Punch the banner pieces from DP 
• Add a letter sticker to each banner to spell "Happy"
• Add to card with dimensional adhesive

• Apply Stickles to the cake and flames

• Stamp the sentiments with Rich Razzleberry ink

************How about a few fun challenges for my Birthday Cake Easel Card??!!
Scribble Designs: food item and color pallet
Love to Create: make it for the kids
Marker Pop: anything goes + Copic markers
A Random Fan: polka dots

I hope you are having a great day!  I really need to get outside and do a bit of work in the garden.  Looks like it is going to rain soon.....I had better get going!   See you next time!  Love ya
Karen

Bridal Shower Favor and Thank You Cards--And the Garden

Hello Dreamers!
The bridal shower was Sunday.  Everything turned out great and we all had a nice time.  I thought I would show you the favors I made.  I also made 35 thank you cards for the bride to send out to the guests.

Anita, my brother's girlfriend and I spent all day Friday making the cake pops.  We wrapped them in the cello bags tied with ribbon.  I added a die cut tag stamped with an umbrella and "thank you".  Each guest received one as they were leaving.

I made the Thank you cards to coordinate with the favors.  

*************A few fun Challenges for my Bridal Shower Favor and Thank You cards:
Sentimental Sundays: anything goes
ABC: M is for monochromatic
Card and Scrap: clean and simple
Sparkles forum: for a special lady or mom
All Sorts: one layer card
Crafting from the Heart: anything goes
Crafting Desert Divas: use your favorite color---I used primary red.
Stamp and Create: thank you



I was out in the garden with the camera the other day....... I could not resist capturing a few things!!  The peonies don't last very long, but they are so beautiful.  

 Hardy Geraniums

New planter boxes filled with veggies

Irises

Petunias

Poppy

Just love how the garden changes every day!  The vegetable plants are starting to take off, the lettuces are sprouted and growing, and the lilies will be blooming soon.    I will share more photos throughout summer.
I hope you are having a great Monday!  See you next time.  Love ya.
Karen

Vintage Bird Note Card Set

Hello Dreamers!


Special Announcement!!!
Lost Coast Designs is now hosting Challenges!!!!   The theme of the first Challenge is LOVE.  Check out all the details here



A super busy week this week!  The bridal shower is this Sunday.  I still have lots to do, but I thought I would post a pretty vintage card set.  I used stamps from Lost Coast Designs and some backgrounds made with a stencil.

Materials List:

Stamps: 3 Mini Birds from Lost Coast Designs

Ink: black Archival

CS: Cream; Yellow textured and various browns from Bazzill

Spray inks in browns and yellows

Stencil: Mini Damask from Crafters Workshop

Laces and pearls

Card #1

Card #2

Detail Card #2

Instructions:

• Make four cards from the yellow textured CS
• My backgrounds were made by laying a stencil over CS and spraying with inks...and then flipping the stencil over onto another sheet of CS and adding more spray ink.  

Note: more instructions on this background technique here

• Cute the background sheet into smaller pieces
• Stamp the birds with black Archival ink onto the backgrounds

Card #3

Detail #3

• Layer the background pieces with brown CS and add to the card base
• Add various pieces of lace
• Add the pearls

Card #4

Detail #4

• Add a stamped bird to the inside of each card

 The cards can be used for any occasion.  I can always stamp an additional sentiment on the inside too.  Or, I can put the cards in a pretty wrapper and give as a little gift.


***************Challenges for my Vintage Bird Note Card Set:
Craft-Room: things with wings
Crafting form the Heart: anything goes
Through the Purple Haze: make your background
The Cupboard Trilogy: use yellow


Well, I better run.  I have lots to do for the bridal shower---wrap the gifts, wash all the serving bowls, bake two cakes (making 80 cake pops tomorrow).  Yikes!!  I better get moving!!  Hope you have a great day!!  Love ya.
Karen

Love To Scrap Challenge--Mind Your Banners

Hello Everyone!
Time for a new challenge on the Love To Scrap Challenge Blog!!  The challenge runs for 2 weeks.  The new theme is:

Mind Your Banners!

Isn't that cute??!!  Use a banner and some stamping on your project.   Now, check out the lovely sponsors.

QKR Stampede

Prize: 5 images

Bugaboo Digi Stamps

Prize: 7 images

On my design team project, I used a fun image from QKR Stampede and added two banners.

Materials List:

Stamp: Chicken Little - QKR Stampede

CS: White; Textured Barely Banana and Bermuda Bay - Stampin' Up

DP: follow Your Heart- Be Amazing- My Mind's Eye

Copic Markers: BG10, BG15, BG49, BG72, B12, YR68, YR61, E35, R27, Y13

Cloud Embossing Folder: Darice

Banner Die Cut- A Muse Studios

Standard Circle Small die - Spellbinders

Circle Punches in two sizes (on the inside of card)

Alphabet Stickers

Instructions:

• Print out the digi and let the ink dry before coloring
• Make card from textured CS
• Dry emboss the yellow textured CS
• Add to card front with a strip of the striped DP

• Color the image with Copic Markers
• Die cut the image and Bermuda Bay CS with the Spellbinders circles
• Layer the die cut circles and add to card front with dimensional adhesive

• Die cut two banners from the DP
• Add the Alphabet Stickers to spell "under"
• Add the banners to the card front
• Stamp "the weather" on a small piece of banner and add to card with a narrow ribbon bow
• Decorate the inside with the same papers

Inside

• Color a small version of the image
• Punch out with a circle punch 
• Punch a Bermuda Bay circle  and add both to inside

This should be a fun challenge for you!  If you don't have a banner die cut, hand cut some flags or triangles and add to a fun card!  Lots of scope.....  I can't wait to see what you come up with!!  Have a great day!  Love ya.

Karen