Operation Write Home Blog Hop

Hello Again!
I just saw that Operation Write Home is having a Blog Hop today!  The idea is to show your favorite cards made for Operation Write Home during 2011.  I thought that sounded like  a fun idea and I just ran with it.  Here are a few cards I made and sent in to Operation Write home this year.

Head over to the Operation Write Home blog and check out all the other favored cards and join in the fun.  Have a great day and Happy New Year!!!  Love ya.
Karen

Top Twenty Five Projects of 2011

Hello Everyone,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I dd this top ten of the year post last year and I thought is was so fun, I decided to do it again this year, but I found it way too hard to  pick only ten.  So, this year, I am picking twenty five.  It has been a great year of crafting for me with lots of new adventures, fun design teams, great blogging friends,and so much more!  Now, I choose the cards because they are my favorites, and I hope you will enjoy taking a look at them too.
I would also like to add a great big "Thank You" to all my followers and friends that visit this blog!!!  You are so appreciated!!  And, another super big "THANK YOU" to Stacey at Blockhead Paper Arts, Estelle at The Stampsmith, and Val at Third Coast Rubber Stamps!!  It has been a great year!!

Check out Debby's Top five of the year post and challenge here!!




Well, that was fun!!  I wish everyone a most happy and prosperous New Year!!
Love ya.
Karen

Two Masculine Birthday Cards

Hello Everyone,
I hope you all had a great Christmas/Holiday.  After all the Christmas projects, I thought it would be nice to change things up a bit.  So, today, I have two masculine birthday cards to share with you.  Here is the first.

The moose image is from Mark's Finest.  I did a little color variation by inking the samp with brown and green ink.  I added some gray marker for shading.  The Sentiment is from Victorine Originals.

For the second card, I also decorated the envelope. 

Stamps: Wild Horses Trio - Onyx Xpressions; Background stamp -Blockheads Background and Borders Full Sheet.  I stamped the background stamp in two different inks and masked the horse image.    CS: Black and Sahara Sand from Stampin' Up.

The background stamp is used again on the inside.  I also stamped  sentiments from Victorine Originals.

And, how about a few fun challenges for my masculine birthday cards?!!

Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments: Anything Goes + Sentiment
Paper Play Time:Anything Goes + Sentiment
Mark's Finest: Anything Goes
Party time Tuesday: Anything Goes

That's it for now!  I be back in a few days with a new Technique Challenge with Blockhead Stamps!!
Karen

Winter Snowman Cupcake Cards with Third Coast Rubber Stamps

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Hello Everyone,

Hope you are having a great Holiday!!  Now, today, I have some cards that would be perfect for all those winter birthdays.  I used two stamps from Third Coast Rubber Stamps.  The first stamp is Snowman Sprinkles Cupcake ( CM-241-J).  

Materials:

1. Stamps: Sprinkles Snowman Cupcake (CM-241-J) – Third Coast Rubber Stamps.  
2. Card Stock: Marina Mist (119682) and Pacific Point (111350) Stampin’ Up; Solar White - Neenah Classic Crest.
3. Ink: Tuxedo Black (ME-900) Memento.
4. Embellishments: Diamond Stickles (SGG17028) Ranger; Holiday Inspirations Ribbon (165-1793) JoAnns.
5. Other: Copics Markers; White Gel Pen (XPGB#50) Gelly Roll; Small Labels (S4-169) and Large Labels (S4-168) Spellbinders; Zots 3-D Clear Adhesive Dots- Therm-o-web.

Make card from Marina Mist CS.  Using the White gel pen, hand draw numerous snowflakes and dots.  Stamp image on Solar White CS with Tuxedo Black dye ink.  Color the image with Copic Markers.  Cut image and Pacific Point CS with Spellbinders dies.   Glue the stamped piece to the Pacific Point die cut.  Add this piece to card front.  Using the Stickles, add dots to Marina Mist card base.  Tie ribbon in a bow and glue to the card front.    

____________________________________________________________________________

The second image is Melting Snowman Cupcake (CM-240-J).  I thought this image would so super cute for a winter belated birthday card.

Materials:

1. Stamps: Melted Snowman Cupcake (CM-240-J) – Third Coast Rubber Stamps.  
2. Card Stock: Medium and Light Teal- Bazzill; Solar White - Neenah Classic Crest; White -Staples.
3. Ink: Tuxedo Black (ME-900) Memento.
4. Embellishments: Aqua Stickles (SGG20578) Ranger.
5. Other: Copics Markers; Wonky Rectangles (S4-306) Spellbinders; Zots 3-D Clear Adhesive Dots- Therm-o-web.

Instructions:

Make card from Med Teal CS and layer with White CS.  Stamp image on Solar White CS with Tuxedo Black dye ink.  Color the image with Copic Markers.  Cut image and Dark Teal CS with Spellbinders die.   Glue the Stamped piece to the Dark Teal die cut.  Add this piece to card front.  Using the Stickles, add dots to White CS background.  

Well, now you have some ideas for those winter birthdays.  I wish you all a Merry Christmas!!   Love ya.
Karen

Country Christmas Card with the Stampsmith

Hello Everyone,
Just a quick post today with one more Christmas card.  This card is made using a stamp from The Stampsmith from the Country Landscape full sheet.   The image is stamped on glossy white CS with black dye ink.

 The CS is from Stampin' Up and the Dp from Anna Griffin.   I added several rows of Stickles around the image and the card.

And check out that lovely black and red checked ribbon!  This is from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.  The sentiment is from Mark's Finest.

Merry Christmas to all my blogging buddies!!

Karen

Last Minute Christmas Preparations with Blockheads Stamps

Hi Everyone,
Wow, seems like I have been super busy getting everything ready for the Holidays!  I have been running around getting gifts, making cake pops, wrapping gifts, delivering gifts, and more...... I have a fun card for you today that illustrates my mood.  I did do lots of house cleaning too.  I know, yes, I did take some time to clean.

This fun image is another winner  from Di at Blockheads Stamps.  The image is from the Harried Housewives Set.  I also used a Background stamp from the Background and Borders Full Sheet.

Materials List:

Harried Housewives stamp set

Background and Borders Full Sheet Stamp Set

Ink: black - Memento

       Cinnamon - VersaColor Pigment 

Copic Markers

CS: Solar White - Neenah

       Pink, Red, Purple

Embossing Powder with glitter

Glitter Dome Embellishments

Purple Ribbon

Flower Punch- Martha Stewart

Stamp the Harried Housewife with Tuxedo Black dye ink and color with Copic Markers.   Layer the stamped image with purple and then pink CS.

Make a card base with Red CS and add a rectangle of purple CS.  To create the sparkly background piece stamp the background stamp twice on a piece of white CS with the pigment ink.  Heat emboss with a powder that has glitter in it.  Trim the embossed piece to the desired size and add to the card front.    Use the trimmed off piece to punch two flowers.    Wrap a piece of purple ribbon around the card and tie in a bow.  Add the Harried Housewife to the card front using Dimensional squares..

Punch a few more flowers from the red and purple CS and add to the card front.  Add the glitter dome embellishments.   I used one of the sentiments from the Harried Housewives set on the inside.

Some fun challenges for my Harried Housewife:
Simon Says Stamp: Bingo- I used ribbon, gems, and glitter
I Copic blog: last minute Holiday projects-My card depicts a last minute holiday project. LOL
Wee Memories: Anything goes
Pile It On: Bling

Hope you are having fun getting ready for Christmas!  I am just about ready.  I have to do some more wrapping and I might make some cookies.  Have a lovely day!!  Love ya.
Karen