Year in Review- A Few Favorites from 2014

Hello Everyone,

And, Happy New Year!  

I thought it would be fun to take a look at  projects I made this year.  

January:

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February:

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March:

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April:

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May:

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June:

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July:

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August:

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September:

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October:

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November:

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December:

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What a fun year!  Thanks to all my followers and blogger friends!  

Coming up in 2015:  Lost Coast Designs, Vintage Stamping Challenge with Flonzcraft Stamps, Carmen's Veranda, and other fun stuff!  

Wishing you a joyful new year and all the best!!  Love ya

Karen

Merry Christmas!!

Hello Everyone!!

Just stopping by to wish everyone a

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Here are two cards I cased from the Stampin' Up Holiday catalog using the stamp set Visions of Santa.

Hope you are having a lovely day filled with Christmas Joy!!!!

Best Wishes,
Karen

Christmas Card with Bright Green Trees

Hello Dreamers!
How is your weekend going??  Doing good here.  A bit busy as I decided to make cards as gifts.  I made about 25 cards to give.  I have them all done now, but have to wrap all my gifts yet.  I picked out the cookies I will make and a dessert for Christmas day.  Will do the shopping for all the recipe items on Monday and spend all day Tuesday baking.  I will be going to my nephew's house for dinner on Christmas day.    He and his wife just bought a new house last month and they want to host dinner this year.  Should be so fun!!

On to cards:  I have one more Christmas card to post.  I made another card with the punched trees, but in more traditional Christmas colors.

Materials List:

Stamps: Festival of Trees Stampin' Up

Ink: Garden Green, Daffodil Delight, and Real Red - Stampin' Up

CS: Real Red, two shades of green

Green Velum

DP: My Minds Eye

Tree Punch - Stampin'  Up

Large Scallop Circle die - Sizzix

Dots Embossing Folder

Ribbon

Instructions:

• Make cards from Red C and layer with DP
• Die cut circles from green CS 
• Dry Emboss circle with dots folder
• Stamp the tree with Garden Green ink and punch out
• Stamp bird and star; fussy cut
• Add all the elements to the card front
• Stamp the sentiment on velum and cut ends
• Add a bow

Challenges for My Christmas Green Tree card:

My Time to Craft: Christmas Trees

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra: anything goes that is Christmas

Crafty Hazelnut's Pattern Paper: anything goes with pattern paper

I may be off the grid until after the Holidays.  I wish you all a joyful Holiday season!!  Thanks for sharing with me here in Dreamland.  Love ya

Karen

Stamp and Color on Velum with Lost Coast Designs

Hello Everyone!
Been super busy getting all my gift shopping finished.  Everything has to be wrapped......  Haven't started baking yet either.  I think I will get a start on the baking tomorrow.   Lots of cookies!  YUM.  I still have a few Christmas cards to post.  Today's card was made by stamping on velum and coloring on the reverse side.  I used Lost Coast Design Stamps.

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Announcing Carmen Veranda Stamps!!  Carmen Veranda images are back and available from Lost Coast Designs!!!  Carmen Veranda stamps are loaded with whimsy and flights of fancy.    See the Catalog here.  

Stayed tuned for projects made with Carmen Veranda stamps!!!
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Reminder:
The 7th Challenge on the Lost Coast Designs blog is still open.  The theme is Christmas + a Lost Coast Design Stamp!

Materials List:

Stamps: Mary and Angels, and Party Words both from Lost Coast Designs

Ink: black, red

CS:Real Red, Handsome Hunter from Stampin' Up; White

Velum

Vellum Writer Marker from Zig

Ribbon

Instructions:

• Make card from Real Red CS and layer with Handsome Hunter
• Stamp Mary and Angels with black ink on velum
• Make sure ink is dry and turn over
• Color on the back with a red Vellum Writer maker
• Layer velum on white CS and add to card

• Stamp another  Mary and cut out
• Add the Mary to the card with dimensional adhesive
• Stamp sentiment with red ink and add to card
• Tie ribbon in bow and add to card

This is a fun technique to add some pizzazz to the velum!  Purple marker would have been cool too.  

Challenges for Mary and Angels on Velum:

A Crafty Mess: Anything goes with Traditional Christmas colors

Southern Girls: Get Your Christmas Cheer flowing

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra: anything Christmas

I will be back next time with a fun Christmas card with....Trees!  See you then.  Hope you are having a great day.  Love ya

Karen

Glittery Christmas Cards with Lost Coast Designs

Hello Dreamers!
Hope you had a great weekend!  We had a surprise visitor in our yard yesterday.

I looked him/her up in the "Birds of North America" and I think it is an immature Cooper's Hawk.   The tail has a wide stripe.  Very interesting site in the backyard.  Now on to some more Christmas Cards.

Materials:

Stamps: Mary and Angels and Party Words from Lost Coast Designs

CS: white, cream; purple and  brown from Bazzill; Electric Red from My Favorite Things; Black and Night of Navy from Stampin' Up 

Ink: Sahara Sand Versa Color chalk ink; Rich Cocoa Memento; black

Antique Linen Distress Ink

Lumiere Paint- Stampin' Up

Diamond Glitter - Amuse Studios

Tarnished Brass Distress Stains

Ribbons

Glue Pad - optional

Instructions:

• Make cards from purple, Night of Navy, and Electric Red CS
• Distress the edges with: Purple with Sahara Sand Chalk; Night of Navy with Tarnished Brass Distress Stain
• Stamp Mary and the Angels with Sahara Sand Chalk and Black ink on cream and white CS respectively
• Stamp an extra Mary to cut out: distress with Antique Linen

•  Paint the images with Lumiere Paint and before the paint dries, sprinkle glitter all over

Note: if the paint dries too quickly, use a glue pad to apply the glitter

• Layer each piece with brown or black CS and add to the card bases

• Add the extra cut out Mary's with dimensional adhesive
• Stamp the sentiments and add to the cards
• Tie ribbons in bows and add to cards

The cards really sparkle --you just can't see it as much in the photos.

Challenges for Mary and the Angels Glitter Cards
Simon's Wednesday: Bling it on
Sparkle and Sprinkle Creative Challenge: loose glitter, embossing powder and/or flocking
Dragonfly Dreams: vintage
Cheerful Stamp pad: mixed media with Christmas
Dream Valley: Christmas
Simon's Monday: mixed media + Anything goes

See you next time for more Christmas Cards.  I have another of the Mary and Angels stamped on vellum.  I will share that soon.  I hope you have a lovely day!
Karen

Quick and Easy Christmas Cards

Hello Everyone!

More Christmas fun today!  I made a few cards with washi tape and a pretty die cut flower from Memory Box.  I used traditional Christmas colors.

Materials:
Stamps: various holiday sentiments
Inks: Real Red and Old Olive- Stampin' Up
CS: Red, green, gold, white
Washi tape
Flower die cut -Memory Box
Red and green gems

Instructions:

• Make cards from red and green CS
• Layer with gold CS
• Die cut the flowers from the gold CS

•  Add three strips of washi tape to White CS
• Stamp the sentiment
• Add to the card base
• Add the die cut and glue a gem to the center
• Add three more gems under the sentiment

The cards were pretty quick and easy.  I made four in no time at all.  They have already been sent out in the mail.

Challenges for my Washi tape Christmas Cards:
Inkspirational: anything with gold
Come and Get It: Merry Christmas
Pile IT ON: Christmas/holiday
Chocolate, Coffee, Cards: Christmas
Crafts 4 Eternity: Christmas


See you tomorrow for some glittery Christmas inspiration!!  Hope you are having a great weekend!!  Love ya
Karen

Christmas Trees in non Traditional Colors

Hello Dreamers!
Back today with more Christmas cards!   I did lots of die cutting and punching to make the cards.  I used a non traditional color scheme as well.  Take a look.

Materials:
Stamps: Festival of Trees from Stampin' Up
Punches and dies: Tree - Stampin Up; Scallop Circle - Sizzix; Circles
CS: Red, teal, white, glitter paper
DP: My Mind's Eye and Stampin' Up
Ink: Real Red and Bermuda Bay - SU

Instructions:

• Make cards from Red C and layer with DP
• Die cut circles from teal CS and glitter paper
• Score and pleat fold a strip of DP
• Stamp the tree with Bermuda Bay ink and punch out

• Add all the elements to the card front
• Stamp and cut out the sentiment
• Add a bow
• Stamp a sentiment on the inside

I made a second version with three trees and a little cardinal.

Challenges for my Teal Christmas Trees:
Mod Squad: use more than two die cuts
Creative moments: anything goes + optional winter
Inspiration destination: anything goes
The sisterhood of crafters: name that tune---Oh Christmas Tree
Holly Jolly Christmas: Christmas only + anything goes


I will be back next time with some super glittery Christmas cards!!  See you then!!  Love ya
Karen

Santa is Dancing-What a Vision

Hello Dreamers,
I sent out all my Christmas cards today...so they are all on their way!!  Good to get that done.  Now on to some Christmas shopping.  I am doing some on line and some in stores.  Getting a lot done, I am glad to say.   And, I did get all my photos edited so now I can post another Christmas card.  Oh boy!!  Here is a funny card.....

Materials:

Stamps: Visions of Santa- from Stampin' Up

CS: red and green

DP: polka dot

Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento; Old Olive Stampin' Up

Copic Markers

Spellbinders die cuts

Ribbon

Bakers Twine

Instructions:

• Make a card from Green CS
• Wrap ribbon around DP and add to the card base
• Stamp the Santa and color with Copic markers
• Die Cut Santa and a layer of red CS

• Stamp the sentiment and cut out in shape of tag
• Punch a hole in tag and tie on twine
• Add to ribbon
• Stamp sentiment on the inside

A Few Merry Challenges for my Santa:
Simon's Wednesday: Christmas/ Holidays
Come and Get it: Merry Christmas
Crafty cardmakers: Christmas
Use your Stuff: red and green
Cuttlebug Mania: anything Christmas


Fun, fun, fun!  Isn't this stamp set a hoot!!  Love it.   I will be back in a couple days with more Christmas cards!!  See you then.  Love ya
Karen