Saturday, July 18, 2009
Two winners!
For the Santa card featuring the new Spellbinders Labels 5 dies and the Stampers Anonymous Just Believe stamp set, the winner is Jill!
HELLO my name is Jill said...
i want to win this card!! and of course im a follower. i love santa, wish i could say the same for christmas. im working on my christmas attitude :)
For the Lacey Edge card created with the Spellbinders Ribbon Tag Trio 2 dies as well as the Spellbinders Lattice borderabilities, the winner is Rufus:
Rufus said...
I love the lattice! For that alone I'm just gonna have to get a die cut machine. Then, of course, I'll need ALL those lovely spellbinders dies. Well, my birthday is coming up~~!
Congratulations! You have 24 hours to comment on this post and let me know your snail mail addresses so I can get them in the mail to you!
Thanks for stopping by! Come back real soon!
Hugs,
Karen
Friday, July 17, 2009
We have a winner!
Melanie!!!!! Melanie said... oh you are a meaney - can't wait to see them! hehehe.
Thanks for visiting my blog Melanie. You have 24 hours to leave a comment here and your snail mail address. If I don't hear from Melanie by 9:00 tomorrow morning, I will choose another name.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Another lacy edge

Monday, July 13, 2009
A reminder
7/9 Debbie Olson
7/10 Michelle Wooderson
7/11 Karen Hunsaker
7//12 Kazan Clark
7/13 Linda Duke
7/14 Heidi Blankenship
7/15 Kimberly Crawford
7/16 Julie Overby
7/17 Sherry Cheever
7/18 Debbie Seyer
7/19 Lesa Rapp
7/20 Becca Feeken
7/21 Jennifer Davis
7/22 Keri Lee Sereika
For all the details and how to WIN free dies, scroll down to the official posting I did on the 10th/11th!
And another . . .

Sunday, July 12, 2009
Labels 5 card giveaway!

New card giveaway
You are such a tease...but it looks like the end result will be well worth all the teasing we endure. lol Lovely card! Can we see more?
Yes Jillian, I will be posting another card made with these dies within the next 12 hours or so. Check back on the details of how to win it.
But remember you still have several hours to enter to win this whole set of dies. See the official rules in the following post.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Spellbinders Release
Sneak Peeks on CHA Summer Trade Show Release Dies!
July 9 – July 22, 2009
Commenting on this post is welcome but does not enter you into the contest. This contest is sponsored directly by Spellbinders Paper Arts. Please read the post to find directions for entering. If you have any questions, please e-mail ContestQuestions@Spellbinders.us.
Welcome to the 3rd day of Spellbinders CHA Sneak Peek Blog Frenzy!
Spellbinders is revealing 17 new die templates to be released at the Craft and Hobby Trade Show on July 28, 2009, with some of their greatest fans…YOU! From July 9 – 22, 2009, you will have the opportunity to be a part of these world wide sneak peeks through visiting the Spellbinders designer blogs listed below and trying your luck at winning spectacular die templates! You will have a chance to win the die I’m introducing AND the dies previously revealed in this CHA Blog Frenzy by entering the contest at the end of this post. This is a progressive prize, each day the daily prize grows! Be sure to read all the rules before entering! You still have until July 11th, 11:59 pm EST to enter Michelle Wooderson’s blog at: http://michellewooderson.blogspot.com/ and until July 12th, 11:59 pm EST to enter mine.
To see previous reveals, or to go to any of the blogs of future reveals, feel free to visit the following:
7/17 Sherry Cheever
7/18 Debbie Seyer
7/19 Lesa Rapp
7/20 Becca Feeken
7/21 Jennifer Davis
7/22 Keri Lee Sereika
After the entry deadline is reached, Spellbinders will randomly pick one entry from each Blog Frenzy reveal as stated in the “Rules”. Winner will be contacted by e-mail within 24 hours of the contest deadline. Winner will have 72 hours to reply to that e-mail to claim the prize. If Winner fails to respond within 72 hours, a new name will be drawn for said prize. Winner will receive the new die templates being revealed on the specific daily blog post they are entering.
My reveal today is the beautiful new S4-229 Labels 5 die template. What a beautiful and versatile new shape! The beauty of the Spellbinders Nestabilities is that you get not one, not two, not three, not four, not even five, but SIX sizes of the shape. I absolutely love that! And they take up virtually no space at all in your storage! Now that is my cup of tea!
The project I am sharing with you today is a home décor item.
S4-229 Labels Five
S4-127 Classic Scalloped Squares Large
S4-128 Petite Ovals Large
I2-1001 Impressabilities Paisley
7gypsies paper and chipboard letter alphabet
Robin’s Nest Dew Drops
2X4” wood piece, approx. 16” long
Mod Podge
Glue Dots
Black cardstock
Apple Barrel Acrylic Paints – Caramel Candy and Brown Oxide
Hot glue gun and glue
Approximately 4” sheer dot ribbon
I want to have distressed looking blocks, spell out “HOME” on them and have a few of my favorite home quotes included. Using a 2X4 (which by the way, is neither 2 nor 4! lol) cut it into 3-3/4” lengths. Sand the blocks, be careful to really soften the edges and corners.
Paint the blocks with the caramel, let dry and then paint another coat with the brown oxide. Let dry thoroughly. Sand to distress again.
.
You will do this next step four times.
From black card stock, cut a Scalloped Square. Leave the card stock in the die template, then build a sandwich to emboss the cardstock with the die template and the Impressabilities Paisley:
White Master Mat
Impressabilities Paisley
Classic Scalloped Square die template, cut side facing up, with black cardstock inside die template
Tan Embossing Mat
White Master Mat
Feed sandwich into Spellbinders Wizard. Use Mod Podge to glue embossed paper to the blocks. Allow to dry thoroughly. Apply another coat of Mod Podge over the entire surface and allow it to dry.
With the S4-229 Labels Five die template, cut/emboss 4 labels from the decorative paper. Use Mod Podge to adhere these over black scalloped squares. Let dry thoroughly. Apply another layer of Mod Podge over the front of each block and allow to dry.
Use hot glue to attach chipboard letters to the blocks. Use glue dots to attach Dew Drops.
Print home sayings onto designer paper.
The sayings I used are:
Home is a starting place of love and dreams.
My home is not a place, it is people.
Home is peaceful moments, precious memories, and time with family and friends.
Bless our home with love and laughter.

Center the S4-128 Petite Ovals Large die template over the saying, with the cut side facing down. Secure die template to paper with low tack tape, as pictured. Cut/emboss as usual, with sandwich listed above and die template facing up in the sandwich. Cut 4 more ovals from black card stock. With Mod Podge, attach printed ovals to black ovals and allow them to dry, repeat with another layer of Mod Podge. Tie a ribbon in a knot and attach it to the top of one oval with a Glue Dot. Glue that oval to top left corner of h block. Attach the other ovals to the the tops of the remaining wood blocks.

This project combines the fantastic S4-229 Labels Five die templates and flower pounding on a card.

The supplies used on this project are:
S4-229 Labels Five
S4-123 Flying Beauties
The Paper Company papers: purple shimmer and buttercup
Core’dinations colored core cardstock
3D Foam Squares – Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L
Creative Impressions – Bits of Bling
Watercolor paper
Sanding Block
Ribbon
Black cardstock
The flowers shown in the photo are the same kind of flowers I “pounded” for this card. Pink cards = purple impressions. Who knew? The flower pigments are transferred onto watercolor paper. Cut/emboss with the Wizard and S4-229 Labels Five die templates and mat onto the purple and yellow cardstock. If you would like to learn how to do the flower pounding technique, come back next week for step by step instructions.
The die template I introduced today is:
S4-229 Labels 5 Die Template
Here are the measurements for these die templates, largest to smallest:3 3/4 x 4 1/8”
3 x 3 3/8”
2 3/8 x 2 5/8”
1 3/4 x 2”
1 1/8 x 1 1/4”
5/8 x 5/8”
Be sure to read all the rules (shown below) to qualify for this contest.
Rules
Any participant wishing to be included in the daily drawing for the Spellbinders CHA Blog Frenzy give-away must adhere to all of the following rules. We are happy to welcome US and international blog guests for this Frenzy.
To enter each drawing on sneak peeks between July 9 and July 22, visit the reveal blog and click on the contest link to reveal an e-mail window. In the subject line of the e-mail, enter the die template name being revealed. Each blog reveal will remain open for 48 hours. Only 1 entry per blog is allowed and participant must use the same email address daily to be considered for grand prize entry, no exceptions. Please consider whether you will have access to the same e-mail address from July 9th through July 22nd and plan accordingly.
Spellbinders Design Team members and employees are not eligible for drawings.
Any participant wishing to be automatically entered into the drawing for the CHA Blog Frenzy Grand Prize must enter all 14 blog reveals and follow all the above rules.
Please note:
*Spellbinders will only use email information to contact the winner.
*Spellbinders will not share this email address with any other parties.
*Spellbinders will not use this email information for advertisements or communications
other than to contact the winner.
*If you wish to be included in further communications from Spellbinders, please go to their homepage SpellbindersPaperArts.com and sign up for their newsletter.
Spellbinders CHA Blog Frenzy drawing
CLICK HERE TO ENTER
(If you use an e-mail client that does not work with this pop-up box, you may copy and paste this address to send your entry to: ContestDay3@spellbinders.us
For more Spellbinders new product release information go to: http://www.spellbinderspaperarts.com/new
If you have any questions regarding the contest, send an e-mail to: ContestQuestions@spellbinders.us
Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the drawing! I hope you win!
Hugs,
Karen
I am such a tease!


So, here is the first card I will be giving away here on my blog. I used S4-220 Nesting Pine Tree that Michelle introduced on her blog - Day 2 of the frenzy.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
And two more!
Day Two of the blog frenzy is posted. Be sure to visit Michelle's blog featuring the newest release.
In about 24 hours, I will post the first giveaway card and give you a chance to win! Check back! The excitement is mounting!
Hugs,
Karen
Two new cards
Hugs,
Karen
Let the blog frenzy begin!
So here are the blogs you will need to visit. The links are on the Spellbinders blog:
7/9 Debbie Olson – http://debbiedesigns.typepad.com/
7/10 Michelle Wooderson – http://michellewooderson.blogspot.com/
7/11 Karen Hunsaker - http://www.karenskreativekreations.blogspot.com/
7//12 Kazan Clark – http://nunutoolies.blogspot.com/
7/13 Linda Duke – http://www.lindaduke.typepad.com/
7/14 Heidi Blankenship – http://embellished-dreams.blogspot.com/
7/15 Kimberly Crawford – http://www.kimberly-crawford.blogspot.com/
7/16 Julie Overby – http://joverby.blogspot.com/
7/17 Sherry Cheever - http://sherrycheever.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
7/18 Debbie Seyer – http://www.debbieseyer.com/
7/19 Lesa Rapp – http://paperpossibilities.blogspot.com/
7/20 Becca Feeken – http://www.amazingpapergrace.com/
7/21 Jennifer Davis – http://www.preservationarts.com/
7/22 Keri Lee Sereika - http://pinklemonade.typepad.com/my_weblog/
Did you see me? Yep, my name is on there too. How exciting is that? And to add to the excitement, I will have some cards using some of these new dies to give away to you, my followers over the same time period. I'm also going to offer some fun tutorials in the future, so be sure to become a follower and check back often. If you are a winner, you will need to respond within a short period of time.
Now go blog hopping and enter to win!
Hugs,
Karen
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Exciting news!
CHA Summer 2009 Blog Frenzy
July 7th, 2009 Yes, that’s right! Spellbinders is doing it again, and it’s bigger and its better than before! You didn’t think we could stop with the new Pendant Collection did you? Oh no! We’ve got 17 more new Spellbinders products to reveal from July 9 – 22, 2009. And we want to share them with you!
Each day we will direct you to one of our talented Designer’s blogs where you will be introduced to our latest and greatest Spellbinders Die Templates. Enter to win by sending an email to the address listed in the blog. Daily winners will be chosen randomly from eligible entries. But wait, there’s more!
This time the prize is progressive! On Day 1, we give away the Day 1 release. On Day 2 we give away the Day 1 and Day 2 releases! The prizes grow each and every day for 14 days!! By entering each day from each blog, you become eligible to win the Grand Prize… COMPLETE set of CHA Summer 2009 Die Templates and Impressabilities releases, a total of 29 products with a retail value of more than $560.00!!
Check out this line up of talented Designers on the dates noted and then enter for your chance to win:
7/9 Debbie Olson
7/10 Michelle Wooderson
7/11 Karen Hunsaker
7//12 Kazan Clark
7/13 Linda Duke
7/14 Heidi Blankenship
7/15 Kimberly Crawford
7/16 Julie Overby
7/17 Sherry Cheever
7/18 Debbie Seyer
7/19 Lesa Rapp
7/20 Becca Feeken
7/21 Jennifer Davis
7/22 Keri Lee Sereika
See the entire line of Spellbinders products on the Spellbinders’ website.
Status report
Monday, July 6, 2009
I'm sorry
Hugs,
Karen
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Let's try that again -
Drumrollllllllllll
The winner is Yvette! Yea Yvette! I need your snail mail address so I can send this card off to you!
If I don't hear from Yvette by July 5th, I will try again! Or maybe I will just keep it. lol
Hugs,
Karen
UPDATE: Yvette has already sent me her snail mail address. Congratulations Yvette.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
And the winner is . . .
Karen, your card is lovely. I like the colors you used and the pearls really make it. Becca's blog is one I read daily. She is sooooo talented and so sweet. The woman is just amazing and I hope someday to meet her. Thanks for the chance to win your beautiful card.
Please contact me with your snail mail address and I will get the card into the mail for you.
If I haven't heard from Cre8tive Granny by Wednesday night, I will draw another name.
Thanks for stopping by. Please keep coming back. I have lots of fun things coming up that I want to share with you!
Hugs,
Karen
Friday, June 26, 2009
A little clarification on the card giveaway
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
New Spellbinders die card giveaway!

This is the card I am giving to one of my lucky followers. Is it you? I hope so. If you are the winner, you can tell me if you would like a sentiment added to the card and I will do that before sending it to you.
This card is a 5-1/2" square and features the new Spellbinders die Fleur de Lis! Isn't it purdy? I love this new die!!!!! For this card, I stamped French Script onto the vanilla card base and then aged it with Tim Holtz tea dye ink, Memento Rich Cocoa and Memento Tuxedo Black inks and a sponge. I cut the Pendant die using Kraft card stock and used my inks again to age it. I then cut the Pendant die again, from black card stock, cutting out the center. The center is a separate piece, so you can cut it or not. I didn't cut it out of the craft card stock. I turned the black pendant on the kraft one to really set them off. I used dimensionals to pop up all the die cut pieces so that the shadows add even more dimension. The center piece was cut from vanilla card stock and distressed with the inks one again. I added the rose button to the center with a glue dot. I added half pearls to the black pendant for just a bit more ooomph! So, what do you think? Do you like it? If so, you'd better read down a few posts to find out how to have a chance to make it yours. It is a card, but it would be beautiful framed and hung on a wall too.
Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs,
Karen
Oooo ooooo ooooo DAY 2!
I'll be back in just a little while to post the card I will be giving to someone! It might be you, if you read my entry yesterday and left a comment!
Hugs,
Karen
Monday, June 22, 2009
You will be awed!!!
Here is a link to Becca's blog.
Let me know what you think and I will enter you into a contest to win a beautiful card made by me with this new die! I will choose a random name from anyone commenting on THIS post. I will draw the winner from commenters on THIS post on Monday, June 29th!
Hugs,
Karen
Friday, June 19, 2009
Cute shoes!

So, here is the card I created.

I stamped the flower using Perfect Plum ink and cut it out. The center was pierced and popped up with dimensionals. The swirls are stamped with white craft ink. I used Spellbinders Labels One to cut/emboss the panels and then I stamped the sentiment on the Pale Plum one. The card front is embossed with the cuttlebug birds and swirls folder.
Don't you want to wear these shoes? I do!!!!!
Ooooo, ooooooo, ooooooo!
And here is a card I want to share with you today. It was created for a challenge on SCS to use a foreign language. I don't seem to have any stamps that have a foreign greeting, but I did have this cuttlebug folder which has French, German and Spanish on it, so I used it! I didn't want to cover up the embossing, so I just made a little flower to decorate it. I stamped the flower from Fifth Avenue Floral onto Blush blossom card stock using versamark and Tangerine Tango ink, then clear embossed it. Using Spellbinders Peony die, I cut and embossed the image before sponging the edges with the Tangerine Tango ink and coloring the center with Summer Sun marker. Get the water bottle ready and then spray! I really got it wet. Then I added color with my aqua pen and let it flow. It is such a great way to color. I added some ribbon to the card front and popped the flower up with dimensionals. I added three loops of ribbon to give the impression of leaves. Did you think they were leaves? lol That's it - a pretty simple card.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you will come back next Tuesday or Wednesday and see my sample of the new die Spellbinders will be sneak peeking on Monday! It's gorgeous!!!! See you then!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Oh yea!!!!
Still waiting . . .

This card is showcasing a hostess stamp from the new SU! catalog. Yes, a sneak peek. I used markers to ink up the stamp for this fun effect. I then cut/embossed it with the Spellbinders classic scalloped rectangle before mounting it onto ruby red card stock. The other panels are embossed with different cuttlebug folders and mounted onto the designer paper.
For this next card, I used colors suggested by the color challenge, and surprisingly I like the combo. What do you think of it? The sentiment is stamped with Baja Breeze ink. I added the three red brads to balance the top of the card. The bottom panel is embossed with the cuttlebug textile texture folder and the top edge punched with the EK success Fleur de lis border punch. I backed that edge with the baja breeze card stock which was embossed with swiss dots. It's a very simple card and one that might actually go through the mail easily. lol No one wants to pay extra postage, right?

Well, that's all I have for you today. Thanks for stopping by and I love reading your comments.
Hugs,
Karen
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Slowly . . .
Hugs,
Karen
Monday, June 15, 2009
A new technique.
First I will let you look at it and then tell you how to do it.

What do you think? It is so hard to capture the texture and sparkle in a photo, but let me assure you, it looks really interesting. In fact, if you click on the photo, it will enlarge a lot and you can get a really good view.
So, how to do it:
I used two different shades of brown, black and one metallic finish acrylic paint. Squeeze about a nickel size glob of each onto a sheet of wax paper. Next get the very technical wad of toilet tissue (fresh is best! ha ha ha ha!) and dip it into the lighest of colors and dab it onto the card stock. I used a creamy caramel color card stock for this one. Dip into the next darker color and dab where you didn't dab the first time. You will see bits of the toilet tissue sticking to the card stock. That's a good thing! Keep going. Now, I dipped into the black and added a bit of that. Lookin' good! Now dip into that metallic paint and add that on top of it all. Yep, that's it. I heated mine with my heat gun because I'm way too impatient. To use mine, I cut it into three strips to add a little more interest and mounted it onto the black card front. Next I stamped my tree image with versamark ink and clear embossed it. I wish I had stamped it in a darker ink. Maybe next time. I then dabbed a bit of my metallic paint (and a little of the black still showed) around the image and especially the edges of the tree panel. I mounted that onto black card stock and distressed it with my fingernails. Oh yeah, I embossed a strip of black card stock with the cuttlebug tiny mosaic folder before attaching it about half way on the card. I stamped the sentiment with versamark and clear embossed before cutting/embossing with the Spellbinders double ended tags die and then mounting on the black card stock. I added some brads and that is about it. I really like the look of this. What do you think?
Friday, June 12, 2009
And the answer is . . .
So, here is another card creation for you. The stamp was colored with markers and blended to get the two tones on the flowers. I mounted it onto the rose red cs that was punched with Fleur de Lis border punch. The sentiment was stamped, then cut/embossed with the Spellbinders Petite Ovals LG. To get just the small border of the rose red, I carefully trimmed the embossed edge off the vanilla layer and then attached it to the rose red oval. They are both cut with the same die. Get it? It is easier to do than to explain. lol I added a few lovely jewels and mounted it onto the CB swiss dots layer and then onto the rose red card. Oh yeah, the little corner embellishments are the scraps made when I punched the border. May as well use them, eh? Waste not, want not!

Thanks for stopping by!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Off to bed - can I sleep in?????
Oh yeah, the card. I'm not usually a fan of blue roses, but the challenge on SCS was to use shades of blue, green, grey and neutrals (sand and water, ya' know!). So, I stamped the rose with versamark ink and clear embossed, then I wet the card stock quite a bit and floated some color onto it with my aqua pen. It's a pretty cool technique, but I'm not sure the blue rose shows it off the best. I cut the rose out and then curled the edges of the petals. It is mounted onto the Pacific Point which is cut/embossed with the Spellbinders Labels One die and also embossed with the Flowers Impressabilities. It's pretty hard to see in the photo. The organdy ribbon was also colored slightly with the Pacific Point ink before being heated and mounted onto a strip of the card stock and onto the Sahara Sand layer. The image panel is attached with rhinestone brads, then I pierced along the edges of the ribbon panel. The sentiment is stamped with the Pacific Point ink and cut/embossed with Spellbinders Petite Ovals LG and then onto a panel cut/embossed with the Spellbinders Labels Four dies. The corners of the Sahara Sand layer are punched with the wrought iron punch and that is mounted onto the Pacific Point card stock.
All righty then, I'm off to bed. My eyelids are getting heavy, I'm getting sleepy, my body is heavy and I'm dozing off! Well, that's the plan anyway.
Goodnight!
Good morning!

So, I guess pink is another of my go to colors. I really do like pink - just look in my closet.
For this card, I used core'dinations color core card stock for my crinkled flower. First I stamped the large rose using Rose Red ink and then tore the circles, crinkled, sanded, and layered with dimensionals. I also used the tear, crinkle, sand technique for the leaves as well. The bottom border is the EK success Fleur de Lis punch, with a white one backing the pink card front. The sentiment is stamped onto white card stock, and then cut/embossed with Spellbinders petite ovals lg, and matted with the next larger size in rose red.
I hope you like my crinkled flower. Thanks for looking. Have a happy day today.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
New stamps!

I love getting new stamps to play with. This is a new set that will be in the new SU! catalog. I think it is lovely, and it has so many nice sentiments.
For this card, I kept it a simple silhouette, using black and white and that's all. The image was stamped with black craft ink and clear embossed (I know, I hardly ever do that! lol LOL) I love the simplicity the b&w combo gives. I added just a touch of ribbon to the sentiment panel.
Thanks for dropping by! Come back soon.
Hugs,
Karen
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The image is stamped with versamark and then white embossed it. I then sponged over the image to make it show up. White on white is beautiful, but hard to see. I used the Spellbinders Labels Four to emboss around the image. The sentiment is stamped with Baja Breeze ink. Simple, but I think very nice. What do you think?
Monday, June 8, 2009
Masculine creations

Friday, June 5, 2009
Little Lu

I'm sharing my April layout with you today. This is my grandniece. She is a dolly pie and so photogenic. Her Mommy took the photos. For this layout I used Spellbinders 12" border, Classic Lace Border Grand. I so love this border, and it matches Little Lucy's dress! I cut another of the cut/embossed borders to make the corner details and the "leaves" behind the flower on the one photo, and on the title. You will be seeing more of this little doll.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Did you miss me?

I've been at my daughter's house playing with the grandkids, so didn't get any projects done lately. I do have something to share with you though.
Here is one of the projects I did for Spellbinders in April.
The black background is embossed with the Spellbinders Butterfly Impressability. Actually, so is the smallest black panel. For the smaller one I used Core'dinations card stock and sanded it to bring out the design. Isn't that awesome? I love that paper. The panels are created with the ever wonderful Labels Four nested dies. Ooooo, I love that shape.
And here is another creation. This is actually a little container, so you could gift someone with something small and wonderful. I ran the designer paper through the cuttelbug for more texture before adhering it to the box shape. Then I added some little vellum butterflies. Oh so soft and pretty!

I hope you like this creation. Thanks for stopping by!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Flower pounding

Did you know you can make a print by pounding flowers with a hammer? You can - but even better than that (and much quieter too) is to use your Wizard. Yes, you heard me right!
My pink card uses these Spellbinders dies: Classic Lace Border Grand, Labels One, double ended tags.
I went into my yard and collected some blooms and gave it a try. Some flowers work, some just don't. The drier type flowers seem to work the best. I live in Phoenix, and the ones that worked best for me were the Bougainvillea and the Vinca. You can see creations using both of them here. The pink card uses the bougainvillea (there are some of the petals around my finished card) and the bottom card uses the vinca.
I am planning on creating a video soon, to show you just how this is done, but for now, here are the steps.
1) go into your yard (not your neighbor's - they may get mad) and pick some blooms.
2) get all the bugs off of them before you bring them into your house. (Ask me how I know! Ewwww)
3) This is how I stacked my sandwich:
White Master Mat
Watercolor paper
Flower- right side down on the watercolor paper
Waxed paper (you could use another piece of watercolor paper, a folded paper towel or just some scrap paper.
Tan Embossing Mat
White Master Mat
4) Run this through your Wizard and your flowers are pounded. Just remove the poor squashed flowers and voila! you have a print of your flowers. It's gorgeous.
Now here are a few things I learned:
Do not attempt to use your waxed paper again. It has pigment from the previous project and may mess up what you are trying to do. Don't ask me how I know. lol
Try different flowers, realizing some will not work at all, they will just leave a slooshy mess. I tried it with leaves too. They left a very very light impression.
Light colored flowers really don't leave much of a pattern at all. Use deep colored flowers for the best results.
The colors will change. The blooms I used on both cards were a dark pink. The vincas made a purple print. Interesting.
Experiment with with you have. If you try it, leave me a link to your creation. I would love to see what you come up with!

On this purple card, I used Spellbinders: Butterfly Impressabilities and Petite Ovals LG.
My purple card is featured on Spellbinders blog today. Why not pop over there and check it out.
Thanks for stopping by!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
It's hip to be square!

I've had these citrus color square buttons for a while, and today I got a chance to use them.
This is a CAS (clean and simple) card, I think. I cut and embossed scalloped squares from the same colors of cs as the buttons are with Spellbinders Scallop Square dies and layered them a few times. The sentiment stamp is colored with the markers to make it match the buttons.
I think this is a fun summer card. What do you think?
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
It just couldn't end.
Now these are not colors I would normally choose, but it was the color challenge on SCS so I had to give it a try. Last night I didn't care much for it, but this morning, I don't think it is so bad! lol
This card is also a hinge card.
For the top panel I reverse embossed using the Spellbinders butterfly impressability. I do like that element. For the bottom panel, I used the cuttlebug textile texture folder and then went over it with the white craft pad. The top is punched with the MS arched lattice punch. One of the small butterflies is hiding the brad. The main butterfly was stamped with pumpkin pie craft ink and clear embossed before being cut out. I popped the wings up with dimensionals onto the Spellbinders label one nestie which was also embossed with the swiss dots folder.
Have a great Tuesday. Thanks for stopping by.
Oh what do you do in the summertime?


Monday, May 25, 2009
Hinge card


This is a hinge card. It is a really fun and easy card to create. I did another one weeks ago that is a bit different - with a main panel that slides when you open it.
For this one I didn't want to hide that great daisy border, so I didn't use a large image panel over it. The Spellbinders die was used to cut the wavy bottom edge, and then that panel was embossed using the same die. Now wait! I also used that die as a stencil, coloring the embossed portions with copic markers and spica gel pens. The sentiment is stamped with Tangerine Tango ink. The bottom portion of the card is embossed with the Sizzix eyelet folder. The inside has a tiny little daisy stamped in the upper right corner and I sponged around the edges.
Thanks for stopping by!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Friday's circle challenge

Today's challenge on SCS is to use circles on your card and the limit is to use only one stamp set for the image and the sentiment. I chose Inspired by Nature.
I kept my card quite simple by stamping the grass with Memento black ink which was stamped off once before stamping onto white cs. I then inked up the flower image with black craft ink, stamped and then - surprise, surprise - embossed with clear ep! I know it's shocking, but it's true. hee hee hee I use it like every day! lol I then cut/embossed it with Spellbinders circle nestabilities and mounted it onto black cs. The sentiment is also stamped with black craft and clear embossed before being cut and embossed and matted with black. The whole card is matted with black. I then added the little touch of ribbon. I usually create very feminine cards, but, hey, this might work for a masculine card. What do you think?
Good morning!

For this card, I embossed a circle using my Nestabilities circles to keep the shape, then stamped the image repeatedly around that shape. The flowers are cut and embossed with the Spellbinders Flower Bouquet pansy and then I used the stencil feature of the dies to add my copic marker color and Spica glitter pens. These flowers were glued to the image, making sure the stamped images peeked from behind. The lightest color flowers are popped up with dimensionals. I then stamped the image in the center of the wreath and added the ribbon. Do you love that wavy scalloped bottom? It was created using the scalloped Paisley die to cut and emboss it.
Thanks for stopping by! Come back soon!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
A giveaway!
Purple makes me happy!
I chose to color my image with purples today. I really like the stamp set from Crafty Secrets called Glamour Girls. It's so vintage and I'm all about vintage.
I stamped the image with black craft ink and clear embossed before coloring with Copic markers and using the Spica pen for a bit of shimmer. I used the EK success border punch on two of the corners of the image panel as well as a double border on the next layer. I used another of the stamps from the set on that layer also. The next layer is embossed with the cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder. The ribbon is doubled with the lavender colored one being looped a few times before adding the button, which was also colored with the copic marker. It's so feminine, don't you think?
Thanks for stopping by!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
A friend dropped in!
Ahhhh, roses!

I love this Roses in Winter stamp set, and it worked beautifully for the color challenge posted on SCS today. I don't usually enjoy using the bold bright colors, I'm more into pastels and softer colors, but I think I got them to work on this card. I inked the stamps with Only Orange ink and then rock'n' rolled them in Rose Red ink to soften the orange color. I also heavily sponged the edges of the card stock with the orange ink and then again with the rose red ink. I think it really softens it and makes it look so nice. I used the same techniques on the sentiment panel also cutting and embossing with Spellbinders Labels Four die. I even sponged the rose red ink onto the orange ribbon to soften that as well. What do you think?
Monday, May 18, 2009
Thanks for stopping by!
Today's card is a labor intensive card, but it is so much fun. It really isn't difficult, it just takes some time, and you have to figure out what you want on each of the 9 panels. The designer paper is enough decoration on many of them, so I left it at that. What do you think of this fun fold?

This weekend I got to see my darling little granddaugther perform in a dance recital. Oh, she was cute and very good too! Her Mom had an injured eye, so had to go all Hollywood, wearing the shades. lol


Wednesday, May 13, 2009
I'm on a roll!
Even though it didn't turn out to be a more masculine card, I like it.

My dear friend Wendy (Wendybell) is staying with me for a few days. We both got up at the break of dawn and came directly into my stamp room to create cards for today's SCS sketch challenge. No wonder we are friends - we're both crazy stampin' addicts! lol I, at least, brushed my teeth. I'm not sayin' what Wendy did or didn't do. lol
Now go and have a happy Wednesday.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Colorful Tuesday

The image is stamped in orange, then I used chalks to get the yellow around the image before cutting and embossing with Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Four. To get the tiny little mat, I cut and embossed the orange layer and then using scissors, cut the outer edge off so the green would be very slight. The sentiment is stamped and clear embossed, and then embossed with the cuttlebug swiss dot folder. I added orange ribbon and bows.
I like the combination of the shape and the image. I think it has a vintage flare, don't you? I hope you like it.
Monday, May 11, 2009
A new technique for me!

I used a brayer to ink my Spellbinders Paisley Impressability before embossing the red card stock. I then went over parts of the design with my white gel pen, adding dots, lines, etc. I used just a strip of the result on my card, matting with black and tying a black gingham ribbon around the strip. The sentiment is Hero Arts Thoughtful set, inked with black craft ink and clear embossed.
I think this is a more masculine kind of card. After searching through all my cards the other day, I realize I need to make a lot more masculine cards. Obviously I am drawn to flowers and feminine images and colors. Today - I went more masculine.
I hope you like today's card. Have a great Monday!
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Happy Mother's Day
I used the Spellbinders Peony die and vellum cardstock for the main flower, sponging on the color to create depth. The main card panel is embossed with Spellbinders Butterfly Impressability, then sponged on color to bring out the gorgeous embossing.

I hope you like your Mother's Day card!
Hugs,
Karen
Saturday is a special day
This will make for a lousy Mother's Day - home alone and sick!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Happy Thursday!
For this card I used black craft ink and clear embossed the butterfly and sentiment onto kraft card stock. I colored the embossed edge on the butterfly panel with a marker to get a more layered look without the bulk of more card stock. I think the rest is pretty easy to figure out, but if you have any questions . . . ever . . . please email me.

I hope you like my butterfly card today. Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs,
Karen
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
A birthday cupcake
The cupcake and the dotted card are Sizzix embossing folders from my sweet freind Terri! Thanks Terri!
I paper pieced the cupcake liner and the candle, used some liquid pearls on the icing and Stickles on the glow from the candle. The scalloped punch is by Martha Stewart.

Have a happy day!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Do you think she will like it?

I don't think my granddaughter ever looks at my blog, so I'm pretty safe posting this. Her birthday is coming up, so I was playing around with my dies and came up with this birthday crown for her. Her favorite color recently changed from pink to blue, so I made it blue just for her. Now you must know, this is a girly girl for sure, so I had to add some bling. I don't think it is blingy enough for her yet, but . . . maybe I will add more later, or let her add some more. She would like that.
I think I've fixed it!
Thanks for sticking with me through this difficult time! lol It will all be better now.
A week later!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
A new card
I love the fact that the JustRite stampers and the nestabilities are the perfect sizes to go together! It makes life so easy. And don't you just love that bottom border? So easy to do with the Spellbinders daisy border. Just cut and emboss and it looks maaaaahhhhhvelous!
Now I need to check my coupons, make a list, and go do a little shopping! Oh joy!
Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Creating!
The technique is using marbles and reinkers to create your own background paper. On my card it is the layer behind the oval. I used Lavender Lace, Certainly Celery and So Saffron reinkers. I opened an empty plastic clamshell case (My SU! stamps come in them) and added a few drops of each of the colors. I did each one separately so the colors wouldn't muddy up. After each color, I wiped out the previous color from the inside of the case and the marbles, then added the next color. The card stock you wish to create is taped to the inside lid of the box. Tilt and shake the box to get the ink onto the marbles and the marbles to roll all over your card stock. When you are happy with the results, remove your card stock and create something. It really is a fun technique. For my card, I glued that piece onto the certainly celery base card. Using Spellbinders Nestabilities Scalloped Oval, I cut and embossed the oval. I then stamped the sentiment and the little flowers onto the oval, drawing doodles to connect them with a marker. I added some stickles to the centers of the flowers for a little bling. It was a little too flat for my liking, so I cut/emboss/stenciled a little purple flower to add to the oval. I popped that up with a dimensional and added a yellow circle of card stock and more stickles. Oh yeah, that's much better.
I hope you like my card. Check back soon! I'm happy to have you visit!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Wonky site????
In the mean time I am working on my Spellbinders assignments. I actually finished one today that I am pretty happy with, but I can't show you until . . . who knows when. Maybe I'll get some time to just play a bit later. Then I can show you some of the coolio new things I received! You will want to see. I got some awesome goodies!
Hugs for now,
Karen
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Vintage in black and white
I love this stamp set by Crafty Secrets Clear Art Stamps called Glamour Girls. I used that as my inspiration on this card, matting it with Spellbinders Labels One and Scalloped Rectangle made into a square. The patterned paper is by Me and My Big Ideas.
Thanks for stopping by and be sure to sign up to follow my blog. Scroll down to see why!
Have a great Wednesday!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Follow my blog!
Using new products
I got a lot of my new goodies organized and wanted to play with a few of them on today's card. What fun! Here are the new things I used on this card:
Spellbinders Impressabilities (these are sooooo cool!)
Hero Arts Thoughtful Stamps (the sentiment)
Smooch (used on the butterfly for the dots)
The card base is rose red cs. I cut and embossed the pink pirouette panel using the new impressabilities and then used a sponge to highlight the high areas with rose red ink. Gosh those Impressabilities are impressive! lol I also sponged the edges before mounting onto the basic gray cs. The flowers are cut and embossed with dies from Spellbinders Flower Creations which I shaped a bit with the handle of a paint brush and colored with markers, then added stickles. It caused the ink to run a bit and I really like that look. It just softens the edges a bit. I added ribbon and a bow. The sentiment is stamped, cut and embossed with Spellbinders Nestabilities and mounted onto the rose red scalloped oval nestie and popped up with dimensionals. I added a Spellbinders butterfly from the Flying Beauties set which was dotted and the body outlined with my new Smooch made by Clearsnap. I think you will love Smooch. You might even smooch it! hee hee hee
Thanks for stopping by!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Gardening

I just went to a fantastic gardening seminar and learned so much! You should check out this information. You can get 10X the yield from your garden, be it veggies, flowers or whatever. lol You know the seminar was fantastic because I sat in the 94 degree heat four hours listening to the guy.
What is the Mittleider Method?
The Mittleider Method combines the best features of soil-based gardening and hydroponic gardening, but without hydroponic expense! It's a complete, easy-to-follow plan that eliminates guesswork and ensures success anywhere: an apartment patio, a city yard, a country lot, or a farm.
The method is based on maximum utilization of space, time, and resources. Crops are large because plants are close together, nourished by supplemental feedings of natural mineral nutrients (as in hydroponics), but with no special equipment.
Also, unlike hydroponics, the Mittleider Method gives plants access to the natural soil for nutrients as yet unknown or that, while not essential to plant growth, are useful in human nutrition. You can use the Mittleider Method by raising crops in either soil-beds or grow-boxes.
Here is a link to the information. I believe it will even give you a bit of a discount on the products if you click this link.
http://plantingk.mittleider.hop.clickbank.net/
This is a link to a blog created with wonderful recipes using the bounty of your garden.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
I am now
a Copic Certified Designer! Check this out! Marianne was a great instructor! I'm ready, willing and able to share what I learned. One thing though, I need lots and lots more practice. Copic markers are awesome tools!
Wow, Wow and WOW!!!!
So here is a picture of the bounty I received at the Spellbinders Design Team Retreat!!!!! I hope I got it all because everytime I look at what I brought home I find something else to add to the photo!!!!! We were spoiled big time (Thank you Stacey!)!!! Yes, I know I keep using exclamation marks, but honestly, there aren't even words to describe it! Anyway, take a look and I'll be back a little later to add more information about all the wonderful companies that so generously gave us product! It's amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm home!!!!
Hugs,
Karen
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I'm off to see the WIZARD!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Can you believe this is a soda can?
Today's technique challenge was to use a soda can in the creation. Oh fun! Here is the card I made. I embossed the main panel and the sentiment with the cuttlebug textile texture folder and then used punches on them. The sentiment was flattened out after embossing, but it still leaves some texture. It looks really cool in person! I hope you like this fun card. Let me know what you think.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Oh my goodness - It's been a long time
I've been busy with this and that and one thing and another. Yep! It's true. Today is Easter Eve and I'm having my two local kids and their families over for Easter Festivities. We were planning to go to a neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt and party, but it is cold and rainy today! What? It hasn't rained in forever and today - RAIN! Oh well, we can have indoor activities and be just fine.
So, I got up this morning, ready to get things done ahead of time. It should have been easy peasy, all I had to do is prepare two easy dishes ahead of time - but NO!Unfortunately, I had troubles with both.
#1 In making the eclair cake, I just could not get the ingredients to blend for the creamy filling. FRUSTRATION!!!! I threw it down the drain and sent Allen to the store to quickly get a couple of ingredients so I could start over. Okay, all is well. But not so fast –
#2 Making potato salad - just ready to add the mayo and sniff, sniff, that does not smell quite right. I take a little taste - ACCCKKKKK - rancid mayo!!!!!! Good thing the kitchen sink can take all the misses! Throw that down the drain quickly! Luckily I hadn't mixed it into the other ingredients, so I just had to open the new jar of mayo and all is well. I hope the ham doesn't have any problems! I mean seriously, who can mess up a ham? Well today, it might just be me!
I am so thankful to know that Jesus Christ came to the earth to show us the way to live, and that He died and was resurrected so that I can repent of my sins and can again live with Him, my Heavenly Father and all those I love!
The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles
Have a wonderful Easter!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Wowie Zowie!

I'm getting a great response to this card I created in the middle of the night - when I couldn't sleep.
This is a hinge card. You get to see the card closed and open in the same photo. Am I tricky, or what? The top of the card just turns up so you can see the inside (the message once I figure out who to send it to). It hinges at the flower on the left with a brad through it. I also like the top edge looking like a fence and the flowers going down behind it when it is closed. The main image was stamped and embossed before adding a little color with a blender pen and the ink from the lid of the pad. I also cut out two small flowers from the dp and glued one on the inside and the other is popped up with a dimensional over the flower on the main image.
So, do you like it? Don't tell me if you don't. I only want to hear the positive! LOL ; )
Monday, March 30, 2009
Keeping it simple
I really do love simple, quick cards as well as all the fancy folds and tons of embellishments and ribbons. Well, today I made two quick and simple cards. Take a look!
Never ending!

This is a never ending card. You open one way, then another, then another and another and then you get back to the first one. It's kinda crazy, but kinda fun. Kids of all ages love it.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
I just had to!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Too much fun!
So I was so happy with my spring blocks that I decided to make my summer ones. I think I like them even more. Don't tell Spring though. lol I love the look of the red check. Doesn't it remind you of a summer picnic? And the white picket fence too!!!! Just the cutest. I had to take close ups so you can see the detail. It's too good to miss.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Has Spring Sprung?
I created this project for some friends of mine to make tomorrow. I am really pleased with the way these blocks turned out. Now I want to make a few more - you know - summer, autumn, winter. Isn't that convenient that all the seasons have six letters in them? That way I can use the backs of the blocks and make them reversible, saving storage space.
Anywho, here is the photo of my spring blocks. I would love to know what you think of them.
Here are a couple of cards I've made the last few days. I've been busy working on a Spring project for my crafty ladies coming on Thursday. As soon as I finish it I will post a picture. Be sure to check back. I'll bet you will like it!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Cotton Scraps
I chose this cotton scrap by Crafty Secrets. I cut it out with a scalloped rectangle Nestabilities die and mounted it onto Riding Hood Red card stock. I embossed the White card front with a Sizzix folder. I used Red Riding Hood taffeta ribbon and then the sticker, framed with the vanilla hodgepodge hardware. I think it looks pretty good - what do you think?
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Good morning!
The blue butterfly card was inspired by an ad I saw recently with this beautiful blue butterfly on it. It was really striking, so I tried to capture that with this card. I inked up the Spellbinders butterfly die with brilliant blue craft ink, cut and embossed and then used clear ep and heat embossed. The panel behind it is embossed with a Sizzix embossing folder. The panels are embossed with D'Vine Swirl cuttlebug embossing folder. The black butterflies are a Martha Stewart punch. I'm likin' the way the blue pops from the black.
I was visiting at my daugther's home and used her new stamps to create the rose card. I stamped the main rose with black craft and clear embossed, then masked it to stamp the other roses. I watercolored them yellow and then added the Riding Hood Red to the main image only to make it pop a bit. I mounted the roses onto black cs and cut around the stamped images, leaving a slight black border before mounting onto the Kraft. The sentiment is stamped with black craft and clear embossed and then I added just a touch of riding hood red before mounting onto the scalloped mat. In honor of my friend Wendy, I dangled the sentiment with black grosgrain, then added an organdy bow which was curled with the heat gun.
I'm thinking of giving away some of my cards on this blog. Blog/Card candy. Is anyone interested?
Monday, March 16, 2009
Happy Monday!
I woke up about 4 AM and kept trying to go back to sleep. It didn't work, so I got up about 5. I'm gonna need a nap today!
As long as I was up, I had to check out SCS for the newest challenge. It was there waiting for me, so I just had to try making a ribbon frame. Isn't it pretty? I inked up the stamp with markers and then stamped. The brown second stage is also embossed with clear ep. I distressed the edges of the white panel with my fingernail before mounting to the brown frame. The main card is embossed with a Sizzix folder my sweet friend Terri sent me! It came with four more small folders too. I'm so blessed! Thanks {{{{Terri}}}}. I am lovin' it.
I hope today starts off a great week for you! Thanks again for stopping by!
Hugs,
Karen
And, I have to show you the card I created on Saturday. I thought it turned out so cute! I took inspiration from a cute little teapot found here.
I cut the shape out using a template found on the internet, then water colored most of it and used chalk for the cheeks and ears. I used my markers to sharpen up the lines on the design, and a sharpie for the mouth and eyes. The sentiment is supposed to resemble an egg.
Friday, March 13, 2009
And where have I been?
Sunday I went to my grand niece's birthday party. Hey, I didn't even take a photo of the birthday girl. Oooo, I guess I'm not much of a great aunt! She's 2!
Tuesday night I got to go to my grandson's band concert. He plays drums. It was amazingly good, especially after having attended a few elementary school band concerts. lol Sorry, no photos of him either. The percussionists are in the way back and you can't even see them on the stage!
Thursday was my youngest grandson's birthday! Oh what fun! I gave him one of his gifts (a hula hoop) a few days early, and he learned to use it within minutes! Not long after that he had his and his sister's hula hoops going at the same time! He is an amazing child! He is super coordinated and smart! I told his Mom she could have sent him to kindergarten as a four year old and no one would have known he wasn't 5. lol He asked his Mom to make him Cookie Monster cupcakes, and she did a great job on them.
And last but not least, I got to see my youngest little granddaughter. She is walking all over the place now and so much fun! This photo was shot as she was enjoying her dinner of avocado and yogurt! Yum!
So, as you can see, I had a great time with the kids!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Sneak a peek!

Here is another sneak peek of a set being released by Treehouse Stamps this Friday! This set is Birthday Cupcake. I added the sprinkles on the cupcake with both the stamp included with the set and stickles. Gotta have a little bling, don't ya? I dangled the sentiment once again. It's kinda cute that way, I think.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Sneak Peek!

Now why aren't these words spelled the same? The English language is so confusing sometimes.
Anyway, this is a glimpse of a new set being released by Treehouse Stamps this Friday, yikes! It's Friday the 13th!!!!!
I used the "MY MOM" set which has this lovely lily and some sweet sentiments. I stamped the flowers with black craft ink and then clear embossed before watercoloring. Don't you love that new border punch by SU!? It's so saaaaweeeet! Don't you just love the dangling sentiment? I picked that up from my friend Wendybell. It isn't exactly the way she does it, but close. It's a fun way to add a sentiment, I think. So, I hope you like this card. If you would like me to send it to you, just leave a reply and I will randomly choose a winner. That is if I get more than one comment. lol
Thanks for stopping by!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Congrats to Judy!

My friend Judy was the featured stamper on SCS today and I made this card, casing one in her gallery that I admired. The brown snowflakes is Judy's and mine is the pink one.
I will have to come back later for details.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Thanks a bunch
I created this card for the SCS Inspiration challenge.
I colored the image with my SU markers. The sentiment uses several different punches and layers them with the leaves and banana which is really popped up. Don't you like the corners being punched? It really adds an amazing amount of interest to the whole design.
I hope you like it.
Thanks for stopping by. Have a great weekend!
Make it quick!
Dawn's challenge on SCS was to make a card in less than 30 minutes. Since I made an ATC (artist trading card) on Thursday and didn't know what else to do with it, I used it to create one of my cards for Dawn's challenge. The ATC is the small 2-1/2"X3-1/2" portion on the card. I stamped the blush blossom cardstock with the same color ink using a flower stamp. It is very subtle, but looks good. The sentiment is stamped with Ruby Red ink and mounted onto a small piece of the ruby red card stock and applied to the blush blossom card. I then punched two holes with my handy dandy crop-o-dile and added the ribbon. The gorgeous butterfly is created by reverse embossing the butterfly using a Spellbinders die called Flying Beauties. If you need info on how to do the reverse embossing, just ask. I then watercolored the butterfly, added some dots and then a bit of glue and dazzling diamonds. Butterflies gotta have glitter, right? I added a small half bead for the head. I layered my ATC onto a rectangle of ruby red cardstock which was cut with deckle edge scissors and then embossed with the swiss dots cuttlebug folder. This was all mounted onto a cameo coral card which was embossed with the cuttlebug folder divine swirls.
Fast cards are great, so I created another one. The Almost Amethyst card was created using a Cuttlebug border folder and some lovely designer paper. I added some purple rhinestones to the centers of the flowers and a sentiment with the ribbon through the center, creating the look of a button. I didn't have the right color ribbon, so once again I colored the white organdy ribbon with my marker. Perfect every time!
What do you think?
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
A new week
And using one of my favorite sets, Roses in Winter. Lynn's SCS challenge to day was to make a crimped envelope card. I've done these before and they really are fun.
I cut a window through the front of my envelope with a Spellbinders Nestability Label One, then lined it with vellum. I stamped the sentiment on the vellum with always artichoke craft ink and used clear embossing powder. I stamped the smaller flower images around the cut out on the outside of the envelope. The card inside is stamped with the large rose and leaves. I added one embossed piece of cs to the top of the envelope, a punched lace border and heated organdy ribbon bow. I colored the white organdy ribbon with markers.
This is also for Janette's Sweet 'n' Sassy challenge found here.
Friday, February 27, 2009
My Spellbinders Submissions



Thursday, February 26, 2009
Ring, ring, ring
So I posted yesterday at 9:05 AM - anticipation! Then look what I saw on the phone at 9:11 AM!!!!!!! My heart started pounding and I could hardly believe my eyes and then my ears as I was told I had been chosen to be on the new design team. But the final test!!!! I couldn't tell anyone until they posted it on their blog the next morning! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh-gony!!!!!!! lol My dear friend Wendy called me so many times and I couldn't say a word! Ask her how well I did at keeping the secret! It was excruciating. But now - EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! I made it. I am so excited and honored! Now I'm nervous - hoping I won't disappoint them! Happy day!!!!! Okay Jill, bring me the chocolate! LOL
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
tick tick tick
Oh the agony! I am watching the clock ticking and wondering what time Spellbinders will make the calls. The time is crawling by! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!
Today is the day!
Spellbinders' next contest


Spellbinders has some challenges up and they are giving away some FREE dies. I have submitted these projects - a layout, a card and an altered item. I would love to know what you think of them.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Another reject

This is another card I created for the Spellbinder's design team try. I didn't end up using it, but thought you might like to see it.
Friday, February 20, 2009
One of the rejects


Here is one of the projects I rejected. Hmmmmm. I hope I made the right decision. I had a great time dreaming (and I mean literally) of the projects.
I cut and embossed the scalloped heart into the front of the card and lined the inside with Vellum card stock which had been punched with the Martha Stewart border punch. Oooo, it's pretty! Then I stamped the sentiment in the lower right corner. The inside is lined with a beautiful designer paper and a butterfly and heart were mounted inside the card. The butterfly shows through to the front of the card.
What do you think of this one?
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Where have I been?
You mean, besides thinking of my final creations for Spellbinder's Design Team? lol Well, I took a few days and went to visit my daughter, grandchildren and sister. That was fun, but still in the back of my mind was - what should I do? Actually, I created my project last week as soon as I got my supplies, but wondered if I would come up with something better. So, I've tried several but keep coming back to my first. I can't show you though, not until it is submitted anyway.
But I did get another project done which I will share with you. It fits the sketch challenge and the ways to use it challenge (stripes). Can you see the stripes on the card base? They were made on my scor pal.
I changed up the sketch challenge by making my card a gate fold. I don't have a good circle to use, so I used my heart Nestability.
The image stamp was inked with versamark and then colored with markers before stamping and clear embossing. I cut the rectangles with scalloped rectangle nesties and layered them. The butterflies are embossed with my cuttlebug textile texture folder and then punched with the MS butterfly punch. The mellow moss band across the bottom was made with the MS punch and embossed with my cuttlebug.
So, back to creating and seeing if I can come up with something better. Wish me luck!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
I'm a card maker
and apparently a card hoarder. I didn't send out any Christmas cards this year, though I had made quite a few. Oh well, I thought to myself, I will get busy and send out Valentines. Now I have made several valentines, but did I get any mailed? Well, one I can think of. lol
Alas, here it is Valentine's day and I said to myself, "Self! You need a valentine for your dh!" You must understand - he is my biggest cheerleader. He has really been encouraging me lately and helping me a LOT! So, I got up this morning and made him a valentine before he woke up. I also gave him a shirt and tie I had bought on sale weeks ago, but I saved them for today. hee hee hee, aren't I sneaky? When I gave them to him, he said, "You bought me a gift?" We don't usually give each other gifts, so I really took him off guard. A while later I went out shopping and had this 50% off coupon in my purse calling to me to use it. So, I went to Michael's and bought the lace doily border punch. When I got home I showed it to dh and thanked him again and again for getting me something I wanted! And he even used a 50% off coupon, saving $. What a guy! He laughed! Well, that was a good way to get another punch, and give him credit for it. What a good wife I am. lol
Anywho, here is the card I created for him. I found this beautiful flocked paper by 7 gypsies and thought it would make a great valentine. I tried to keep it more masculine. I also used a card by Sharon (notimetostamp) as inspiration.
I stamped the love with black craft and clear embossed, then colored in the letters with my Stardust clear gelly roll pen from Treehouse stamps. Boy I love the look that gives. Sorry you can't see that very well in the photo, but in real life - mmmmmmm, so nice!
I cut and embossed the scalloped heart with my nesties. The black layer behind was cut with the deckle edge scissor. Since the red on this paper is flocked and oh so nice, I punched out three small hearts from the red flocked area and used one where the hat pin went through the heart (covering up a small tear - er, I mean, using a creative opportunity, another for the o in Love and the last one on the inside near my signature. What do you think? Is it masculine enough?
Oh, and Happy Valentine's day to all of you!
Changing it up!
For this card I tried something different and it worked. For the sentiment panel, I used the Labels One die, but changed the shape. I really didn't want a square shape, so for this one I used the shape only on the top and bottom of the panel. Hey, it worked! Then after embossing it, I used my marker to highlight the embossed area to give it a layered look without a layer. What do you think? Did I achieve it?
The image and sentiment is from a newly released set by Treehouse called butterfly kisses.
Thanks for stopping by. Come back soon!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Crafty Secrets Panel
Oh fun, I tackled two challenges with this card. First is the Crafty Secrets challenge. Now I love their products and I've had some of the cotton scraps for a long time. I actually found them today and used one on this card. I used a little batting behind it and did some quilting around the image, as well as stitching along the outside edge. I love the dimension it added. The other SCS challenge today was Julia's and that was to use fabric. Since these panels are fabric - ta dah! A two-fer!
The mat for the fabric panel is cut with deckle edge scissors. I layered two ribbons behind the panel. The sentiment is stamped onto white cs, and then cut and embossed with the Spellbinder's die and then I cut it out by hand on the inside. I then mounted it onto a Perfect Plum die cut and added a jewel. The bg is cuttlebugged with the textile texture folder and inked to bring out the design.
Oooo, I love lilacs. Now I need to scent it to match! Oh yeah!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Butterfly Kisses
This is a sneak peek of a new set being released by Treehouse Stamps Friday, Feb. 13. There will be a release party on Thursday night beginning at 9PM on the Treehouse site. Just click the link to the right and you will be transported over! lol
I really like this sentiment and that it is in two different fonts. Cute stuff. There are four butterflies in the set. I chose one of the largest for this card. It is stamped and clear embossed and then colored iwth marker. If you would like more details, check out my SCS gallery.
Thanks for stopping by. Come back soon!
Sneak Peek!
Here is a sneak peek of two of the new sets being released at Treehouse stamps this Friday. There will be a release party on Thursday night from 9-11 PM EST. Be sure to drop by Treehouse and check out the fun. You can click on the link to the right to get there in a hurry!
The new sets being released Friday by Treehouse Stamps are Butterfly Kisses and Count Your Blessings.
I inked the butterfly with Pink Pirouette and then sponged over the edges with the Perfect Plum. The scripture is inked with the Perfect Plum marker. I also colored the ribbon with Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, and Perfect Plum markers before heating it. I think this one qualifies as a CAS = Clean and Simple card too. What do you think?
Eeeeeeee! I can't even sleep!
I am still so excited about being in the finals for Spellbinder's design team that I couldn't sleep when I went to bed last night. Luckily the color challenge was up on SCS so I got up and created this card.
The stamp is a new one I got by Inkadinkado. I colored it with markers before stamping onto watercolor paper. I then went over it with a paintbrush to add a bit more color to the image. Then I cut it out with the Spellbinders' Label One and also embossed it. The embossed edge is colored with a paintbrush and the Pretty in Pink ink. I mounted that with dimensionals onto the card base, which is also cut with the Label One die, leaving just the top connectef for the hinge on the card. I also stamped the little rose inside the card for the finishing touch! I mounted that onto the Perfect Plum card base. I am loving my dies from Spellbinders. They are such a great bargain, as you get six sizes of each shape, they cut, emboss and you can stencil with them, and they store in the space of nothin'! If you haven't gotten any yet, you'd better get to it! They are the bomb baby, the bomb!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Oh my!!!!!




My stomach is in a knot and I can't breathe very well! I made it into the finals for the Spellbinders Design Team! OH oh OHHHHHHHH! I feel like a silly little school girl, I am soooooooooo excited! Okay, I have to take some deep breaths and relax! Ohhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmm! lol
Whew!
All right, here are the projects I submitted. Now I wait for them to send me a die and make one more project and submit it. Ooooo, I wonder if I will be able to sleep at all for the next 11 days. I know I will be dreaming layouts and color combos and such! lol
Anticipation! Anticipation!!!!!!
Almost Amethyst
I really like this color of Almost Amethyst. That's why you get to see two cards made with it. I made the multi butterfly card first, and a scrap was left on my table, so I used it for the friend card.
For the large butterfly card: I used Nestabilities Flying Beauties, I die cut three butterflies from the border piece and layered it onto the white. The swiss dot border was made with the Cuttlebug Just My Type border embossing folders. The main butterfly is also cut and embossed with the Nestabilities and mounted only at the body to give it more dimension. I added the sentiment using versamark and white ep.
For the friend card: I used the Cuttlebug Stylized Flower embossing folder, cutting out a border. It worked quite well for this challenge. The sentiment is stamped with Almost Amethyst and I added a small ribbon and a butterfly which was cut with Spellbinders Flying Beauties. I added a little bit of embossing to the butterfly with my stylus. Clean and Simple, don't you think?
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Oh what a fun challenge on SCS today!
Pile on the embellishments! I am usually a hoarder, but I got over it today! I really layered on some embellishments on these two cards.
On the butterfly card, I used the wrought iron punch on the white strips behind the flower and butterfly, and the cuttlebug frills folders to create the dimension on the card. Then I layered the ribbon, the flower from the pretties kit which I stamped - OH there is stamping! lol I added a ribbon knot to the center of the flower. The butterfly was created in layers by brayering the textile texture embossing folder before running the white cs through it, then cutting out the butterfly with the Nestabilities Flying beauties. I layered on the silver dome thingies, and that is it. It actually is a pretty simple card. I hope you like it!
On the black and pink card, I layered lots and lots of embellishments on this one! Let's see, my embellishment layer is: brad, paper circle cuttlebug embossed, prima, ghost flower, cuttlebug die cut and ribbon. Now if that isn't layers, I don't know what is!
The sentiment (from Treehouse Stamps) is stamped onto ww cs and cut and embossed with my Nestabilities Labels Two. I added layers by punching 1/4" dots of black cs and putting the pink brads through them in each corner.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
The season of love!
Valentine's day is getting close and I am in the mood to make Valentines. This one was made for the sketch challenge on SCS today. It's a great sketch, don't you think?
For my main panel, I stamped love with real red and put the flowers from noteworthy into the V vase, coloring the stamp with markers before stamping it. It is mounted onto a scalloped square made with my Nestabilities rectangle. Did you know you can create a square with them? Coolio, eh?
I used some of the SU paper packs for the red papers. The white layer is embossed with the cuttlebug diamonds in the rough folder. I also embossed the largest panel with swiss dots and sanded it. I love the red gingham ribbon with it. Now, does it look more like a Christmas card since I chose always artichoke? Hey, it's the color of the stem for the flower. What do you think?
Friday, January 30, 2009
I'm too excited to sleep!

I decided to apply for the Spellbinder's design team, so I've been busy creating my projects and taking pictures. It was so hard to decide which projects to submit! I finally hit the send button on my application. Now I have to wait and see. I am not posting any of my projects until after I hear that I have been chosen! How's that for positive thinking?
Well, this is one of the cards that I thought of submitting, but in the end another one ended up going in. I hope I made the right decision! lol
For this one, I stamped French script on the main card which is Pretty In Pink. The heart lock is cut out with the Timeless Heritage die, using the die as a stencil, I sponged on chocolate chip craft ink and clear embossed. I sponged the edges with the chocolate chip ink and clear embossing powder. I tied a knot of the satin ribbon through opening.
The brown panel is embossed with the key. The key was cut out and reverse embossed onto the pink card stock using chocolate chip craft ink and clear embossing powder. It is mounted onto a panel cut out with the deckle edge rectangle. (This is a brand new die which my friend that is on the current design team let me use. The pink panel it is mounted on is embossed with the textile texture cuttlebug folder and then stamped with the French Script and I sponged on more color to highlight the embossing. The corner is punched with the wrought iron corner punch. I added chocolate chip satin ribbon with a metal slider.
What do you think?
Thank you Kelly Jean!

I got a blog award from my friend Kelly Jean. Go check out her wonderful blog. She is inspiring and creates such wonderful projects. And she is cute as a button too!Kelly Jean's blog
And thank you for recognizing my blog! I so appreciate it!
Here are links to seven of the blogs I like to check out!
Wendy's
Sharon's
Paula's
Leslie's
Amber's
Ann's
Kelly's
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Oh the weather outside is frightful!
Ashley Bowen (Treehouse stamps) has no electricity and isn't able to fill orders. So if you are waiting for an order, it will be delayed a bit, but she will get them out as soon as possible!
I hope you are all staying warm!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Bella Rose Dreams
Julia challenged us to add to designer paper and create a card. For this one, I used this piece of the beautiful Bella Rose paper and stamped the French Flair bg stamp with versamark and embossed with silver ep. I layered the ribbons, a silver mesh and a pink velvet. The sentiment is stamped with versamark and silver embossed before being cut and embossed with the Label 2 nestability from Spellbinders. I just got it and had to use it. It is layered onto a glittery silver cs. I added a fun corner using silver cord and a rhinestone brad from the pretties kit. I think it is a simple card but oh so nice. What do you think?
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Dreaming of roses!
I looked at the sketch challenge on SCS just before going to bed and then dreamed up this creation. I really like monochromatic cards and to use it in layers just took it over the top for me.
I stamped the image on the large panel with chocolate chip craft and clear embossed, overstamping with French Script and classic ink. The edges are sponged. I made the long thin panel, using the same method. The rose bud is stamped and embossed on vellum and punched out with the scallop circle. The sentiment is embossed and sponged, and the hardware is distressed with chocolate chip craft ink.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Happy Valentine's day cupcake!
I'm back from my daughter's and so I had time to stamp this morning. I used the colors from the SCS color challenge, bravo burgundy, regal rose and kiwi kiss for this card. The stamp was colored with markers, omitting the holly on the cupcake. I watercolored the image with my watercolor wonder crayons and added stickles. Ya gotta have sparkle! The hearts are punched out and I used the bravo burgundy marker on the edges to give them definition before adding more stickles to them and layering them with dimensionals. The image is embossed and cut out with the nesties rectangle, and I also used it as a stencil, sponging on the regal rose color, which leaves the white border. I love how that looks. The regal rose is cut with the scalloped rectangle. The Bravo Burgundy layer was embossed with the cuttlebug swiss dots folder. So, what do you think?
The image is by Treehouse Stamps - Christmas Cupcake. Click on over to their site to see other fun new stuff! Lots and lots of fun new stuff!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Card 'o' the month!
These show the packaging, January and February.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
BLOG CANDY
Sally has a great prize she is giving away, so go check it out on her blog: http://sallyscreativecorner.blogspot.com/2009/01/blog-candy.html
Check this one out by Rach: http://papercraftsbyrach.blogspot.com/
Michelle has some: http://donkeysmiles.blogspot.com/2009/01/valentine-blog-candy.html
Doris has some too! You have to hurry! http://stampingtower.blogspot.com/
Good luck!
Friday, January 9, 2009
Touch my heart
Today's challenge on SCS is to use hearts and red. I think I've accomplished that with this card and I love how it looks. I used heat embossing on the vellum layer and I love how it has a slightly transparent look to it. I inked up the stamps used on the vellum with versamark, then real red ink before stamping, and then embossed with clear ep. The layer underneath that is white card stock. Again, I inked up the stamp with versamark ink and then inked it with markers using real read for the roses and always artichoke for the greenery and heat embossed with clear ep. To distress it a bit, I stamped the splatters from Itty Bitty backgrounds in red and then went over the edges and further into the center with tea dye distress ink and then again just on the edges with real red ink. I attached the vellum layer with my atg glue gun under the ribbon and also attached it with the red heart brads in the lower corners.
I think I met the challenge to use hearts and red. What do you think?
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Isn't it fun when you think of a new way to use a stamp? I did that today and it actually turned out pretty well!
I first stamped the flowers onto the white card base with versamark and Tangerine Tango and clear embossed. I stamped the stems from Both Way Blossoms onto the flowers, using my stamp-a-ma-jig, of course. I stamped the flowers again onto barely banana and tangerine tango cs and clear embossed. I punched out the stars from the stamped flowers and cut out the centers and layered on before adding a gold brad to the centers. I used itty bitty backgrounds around the main panel and onto the sentiment. The sentiment is from Pocket Silhouettes and punched using nesties and then I colored the edges with sponging and blender pen with ink from the pad.
Star flowers! Yeah, that's it.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Another fun sketch
I made this card for the sketch challenge on SCS today. I was so inspired by Rox's sample. It is a beauty for sure. Well, I couldn't do anything but flowers and butterflies on my card today.
. . . and purple! I used a piece of Anna Griffin dp for the main panel. The butterflies are a Martha Stewart punch done in very vanilla and Elegant Eggplant, embossed with the cuttlebug swiss dot folder and glued together with the wings up a bit. I used some iridescent ice ep for the bodies of the butterflies and the center of the flower on the Love you panel - I colored it with my blender pen and markers. The very vanilla layer is embossed with the cuttlebug textile texture folder and the Lovely Lilac layers are reverse embossed with elegant eggplant ink in the cuttlebug birds and swirls folder, and then I brayered on a bit of elegant eggplant ink on the lower portion for even more dimension. I hope you like it!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Tacky glitter!
I hope my card doesn't fit the title too well. lol
I made this card for today's tacky glitter technique challenge and the Sweet N Sassy sketch challenge. I used two colors and texture of glitter. The brown is Martha Stewart's brownstone glitter and the bigger chunky glitter is Treehouse Stamps new Black Onyx chunky glitter. Boy do I love that stuff. You must try it. I also used it on the black butterfly.
The main panel is Heritage Postcard by Kathy Griffiths and Provo Craft. All the panels are embossed with the textile texture embossing folder.
The sentiment is stamped in Chocolate Chip craft ink and clear embossed before being sponged with Creamy Caramel and Tye Dye distress ink.
I applied glue dots and the brownstone glitter behind the black brads. I hope you can see it.
So, what do you think?
Saturday, January 3, 2009
I've been busy today!
I created another card using the colors for the Sweet N Sassy color challenge, pink, white, gray, black and red.
This is a new Valentine set by Treehouse Stamps called Owlentine. I stamped them with basic gray ink and colored with Watercolor crayons and markers before cutting out and mounting on the shimmery moon and grey background (glitter cardstock) from DCWV. The shapes were cut out and embossed with nesties. I created the little ribbon cluster using a crystal brad from the SU! pretties kit.
I hope you like it!
More roses
So yesterday's card used the paper tole technique, and I used it again on these roses.
I stamped the image with basic grey ink onto the pretty in pink paper, cut and embossed the oval with nesties. I then stamped the roses again with real red ink and versamark and clear embossed before cutting out and adding to the image. I popped up the bigger rose and the smaller bud has one petal cut out and popped higher. I used glue and dazzling diamonds on the image. I stamped the sentiment from Treehouse (I've been wanting to use this since I got it. I love what it says)stamps onto the corner of the main panel and heat embossed before embossing the whole panel with the textile texture folder in my cuttlebug. In case you are having trouble reading it, it says: Life life passionately, Laugh until your belly hurts, Love unconditionally. I then sponged the edges and highlighted the embossed pattern with basic grey ink. I added some ribbons and I heated the pink taffeta to get a bit more dimension.
The bottom photo is to show you how some areas are popped up. I hope you can tell.
Friday, January 2, 2009
A few of my favorite things!
Judy challenged us to use some of our favorite things to create today. Well, that's exactly what I did. I love the Roses in Winter stamp set, my cuttlebug (especially the textile texture folder) and ribbon (especially heated organdy ribbon). For this creation I stamped my image several times onto very vanilla card stock and then overstamped it with the Fine Lace bg stamp. I then ran that layer through the cuttlebug with the textile texture folder and sponged around the edges. For the main flower, I stamped the image several times and cut it out, layering and molding each layer. I also used one of my favorite punches in the Martha Stewart line for some of the greenery. I used the mellow moss card stock and then sponged that with the always artichoke ink for a bit more dimension. The vanilla organdy ribbon was colored with my elegant eggplant marker and after tying into the bow, I heated it to make it curl (a favorite technique). It is very vintage looking, don't you think? That is another of my favorite things.
Thanks for looking! I appreciate you stopping by and leaving comments. I love to read them.
Hugs,
Karen
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year!
So, the challenge today is to use silver on a card. Well, I got these new butterfly dies and wanted to use them, and of course, I thought of this grass being embossed with silver. Oh yeah, that works. I used a bit of silver on all the butterflies too. The small ones are Martha Stewart punches and the large one is a Spellbinders die. I'm just learning how to use them, but having a great time.
I stamped the image with Pacific Point ink and then again, just barely off with the versamark and silver embossed so it has a bit of a shadow. I like how that turned out.
So, this is my theme for the year - Live With Passion! What is your theme going to be for this year?
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Happy New Year!
So, you know I make lots and lots and lots of cards. Yes, I made lots and lots and lots of Christmas cards this year, but didn't get even one mailed out before Christmas! Horrors! Well, now it's too late, right? So, I am going to make some New Years cards. This is the first.
I just got some new Spellbinders die/stencil/emboss sets and I love them. This is my first try with this one called Timeless Heritage. If you want more details of how I did it and what I used, check it out in my SCS gallery at http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1174001?cat=all&what=keywords&si=SC209. I'm too lazy to type it all out again today. hee hee hee
I truly do hope you all have a very very Happy New Year! Me too! I'm due for a really good one!
Hugs,
Karen
Treehouse Stamps - sneak peek!
Hi there! I am back from my wonderful Christmas holiday. We had a great time and I think everyone was happy! Isn't that fabulous?
Here is my first card since getting back. I stamped this new image from Treehouse (being released soon) with versamark and clear embossed. I highlighted two of the words in the sentiment by stamping in the Bravo Burgundy and cutting out and popping up. I also colored the heart she is holding and used stickles to really pop it out. I added the beautiful organdy ribbon bow with a pearl button for the center.
Be sure to run over to Treehouse to check out the new releases this month. If you're Irish, you will be very pleased with the other set being released in January! What a hint! lol
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Prayers and good thoughts
This card is for Francesca's parents - to let them know prayers are being said for their sweet baby girl. Please check Andrea's blog for details: http://craftyengineering.blogspot.com/2008/12/blog-candy-for-cause-ii.html
She is giving away blog candy for cards sent to her friends. Can you send a card and a prayer? Or just a prayer! There is power in prayers.
Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Recycle and reuse!
Dawn's challenge to us today on SCS was to reuse and recyle. Well, I had made this tree some time ago, but it was in my reject pile. It had some other stuff on the top of it. Maybe that is why I didn't care for it. Anyway, I took that off and added the sentiment with the boughs behind it and the designer paper. I also added some chunky glitter called snowy slope. Isn't it pretty? It's a new addition over at Treehouse Stamps - be sure to click on over there and check out the great deals going on right now. You'll find a link several places on my blog.
Have a great weekend!
A Christmas gift for you!
AND - ***PLACE AN ORDER BETWEEN DECEMBER 10TH AND JANUARY 1ST TO BE ENTERED TO WIN A $30.00 TREEHOUSE GIFT CERTIFICATE!***
Monday, December 8, 2008
Monday Magic!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Good morning!
So, here is my card for the day. I actually used some lovely wrapping paper I got at Hobby Lobby last week. It is such a nice heavy weight and has a slight glimmer to it. I attached the panels of that onto the Bravo Burgundy cardstock before running it through the cuttlebug with the snowflakes folder. The bg for the sentiment is also the Bravo Burgundy cs with a Martha Stewart punch snowflake attached before embossing it. The sentiment is stamped with versamark and then embossed with gold. I curled it a bit so it would have that nice shape. The bow is gold organdy ribbon which was heated slightly with my heat gun to get that texture. How do you like it?
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Two for you!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
I got to stamp again today!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
New stamps are coming!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
There are other things!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Stamping day!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tag!
Four places that I go to over & over:
Church
Wal Mart (it is the closest grocery store to me. I wish I had other options.)
Allen's work (when I choose to keep the car, I have to drop him off and pick him up.)
Mesa (to see my kids and grandkids!! Oh happy day!)
Four people who E-mail/call me regularly:
Wendy
My sister Kathy
Julie N.
Allen
Four of my favorite places to eat:
Joe's Farm Grill - YUM! I love their Ahi Tuna sandwich (we are NOT talking canned tuna fish by any means!)and their sweet potato fries.
Carrabba's - The scallops are delish!
PF Chang - The spicy dishes are my favorites
Rancho De Tia Rosas - Oh man, the salmon fish tacos are exquisite! Not to mention the chips and salsa.
I just thought you might like to know what I order there.
Four places I would rather be right now:
With my kids and grandkids
Casa Rubio (with my kids and grandkids)
At a park enjoying this beautiful day (with my kids and grandkids) Do you see a trend here? lol
Eating lunch with friends
Four people I love:
Allen
Wendy (and her children) that counts as 1, right?
Ben (and his baby) same rule applies here
Jed
TV shows I watch: (when I get a chance)
Dancing with the Stars
Pushing Daisies
Good Morning America
Everybody Loves Raymond
Four people I tag:Oh gosh, these people have to have blogs, huh? And read mine! lol Uh oh.
Kelly Jean
Terri Honz (you don't have a blog, do you?)
Ashley Bowen
Vicky Gould
We will see how this goes. lol At least I did it, right Wendy?
Busy, busy, busy!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
More Thanksgiving decorations
I have been wanting a small entry table, but my entry really is too small. Well, I had made this autumn wall hanging several years ago and it hung below this little shelf. Then I said to myself, Self! You can hang that shelf in the entry - so I did. I love it. It's just right for this small entry area. But now I need to get busy and make my other seasonal wall hangings. It's on the to do list.
I went to my sister's this week and she has this incredible embroidery machine, and I made this gorgeous cross-stitched kitchen towel. Isn't it awesome? I love it. It took quite a while, but nothing like it would take to do it by hand. Thanks Kathy!
The Have mercy turkey and the other wood thingy is from years past. I had to re-glue them, but they have found great places in my home.
Anyway, I hope you like my Thanksgiving decorations. I'm pleased with all of them.
Mail Friendly Thanksgiving card
Watercolor paper

Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Candle Boat
Here is my card for today, combining the SCS sketch challenge and Ashley's blog color challenge using Kiwi Kiss and Baja Breeze! They look great together, don't you think? I stamped the snowman using the Baja Breeze ink and then went over some of the details with markers. I highlighted the snow with dazzling diamonds. Of course the card base is cuttlebugged. I love my cuttlebug!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
November project
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
I'm back!!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Pink Chocolate Kiss
What a great day! Well, almost!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
More blue snowflakes
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
I used the Snow Swirled stamp set with Bashful Blue classic and craft ink. I heat embossed with white to give it a frosty look around the edges. The ribbons are blue taffeta and white organdy together. I like how that looks, do you?Have a great Wednesday!
You can't go wrong
Monday, October 13, 2008
Fun technique
Friday, October 10, 2008
The weekend is coming!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Another Christmas card ready to mail
Another look at those colors
Warm fall colors
A card presentation
Monday, October 6, 2008
Frankie, you blockhead!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Pink & Red Rose
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Frankie box and card!
Happy Saturday!
Awwww, a nice, quiet weekend! I love it. And the weather is cooling a bit - FINALLY! I'm so relieved. It's been a long, hot summer.
So today I needed a gift card holder for a niece that is getting married next weekend. Sharon has a gorgeous one posted on her blog - http://notimetostamp.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/category/gift-card-holders/ I just love Sharon's style and this design is easy to duplicate and oh so nice.
I stamped the flourish from Baroque Motifs and then ran it through my cuttlebug with the birds & swirls folder. Oh so nice, don't you think? I used the elegant eggplant, as that is the color used on the wedding invitation. Of course the Paradise Bakery gift card will be replaced, but it's what I had on hand. How do you like this one?
Friday, October 3, 2008
NO, NO, NO, PUT THAT DOWN!
hee hee hee, this was the title of today's challenge on SCS. You know you say that to children all the time. So today's challenge was to simplify - NO embellishments at all. Now that should be easy, but . . . somtimes it's difficult not to add all those beauties we have lurking in the cupboards and drawers! lol
So here is my card for the challenge. The card base is very vanilla and stamped with French Script with Riding Hood Red ink. I then sponged on more riding hood red and a little creamy caramel. I then stamped the snowflakes from the Snow Swirled set with versamark and embossed with copper again. Ooooo, pretty!
For the tree, I used versamark to stamp the tree and embossed it with Copper embossing powder. That really looks nice on that red. I then cut it out and mounted it onto scalloped rectangles made with my nesties. The sentiment is also using the nesties, and I did paper pierce around the edges for even more detail, since we couldn't add ribbon or any other fun embellishments.
I hope you like it and I hope you have a wonderful Friday!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Beautiful Christmas!
I hope today's card redeems me after the last fiasco! Yikes!
I really love beautiful Christmas sentiments, and this new one from Treehouse Stamps is a definite favorite. I wanted that to be the main focus of my card, so I stamped it on the inside and used my nesties to cut and frame it on the outside of the card. I used rose red, whisper white and always artichoke card stock. I stamped and embossed the sentiment and little holly sprig. For the bow, I layered satin ribbon and organdy which was heated. I just love the look that gives to organdy ribbon. Ooooo, maybe I should have used some of my pretties kit on this as well. Hmmm, I may add a bit to it. This is definitely a hand deliver type of card. I would hate to mail it with this bow. So, what do you think?
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Cooking? It's not really my thing anymore.
So last Saturday my daughter and I went and prepared our meals. Now I have a tiny freezer, so I only brought home a few of mine and left the others in my daughter's freezer.
Sunday evening I cooked our first one - Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas. I made some Spanish Rice to go with them and heated them according to the directions. Well, I don't really like red enchilada sauce all that much, so I am not crazy about this one. My dh said he prefers my old sour cream chicken enchiladas, but of course they are way way unhealthier than this recipe. We ate only half of them and saved the other two for another day. Now when we eat them I will warm up some green enchilada sauce and add that. I'm sure I will like it more.
Last night we had a guest for dinner and I made the Balsamic honey glazed pork medallions. It is a very easy recipe and it smelled oh so good. I also made some oven roasted red potatoes and a salad. There was plenty for the three of us and I even had left overs for my lunch today. I think I over cooked the pork just a bit, but it was really good and I will enjoy having this one again!
I really love having a quick dinner ready to make. This is a great idea and is really pretty economical for the two of us. It was fun putting them together with my daughter. It really was easy, as everything you need is right there, all chopped, cubed or whatever and ready to assemble. As MS would say, "It's a good thing." lol
OH NO!
Well, this wasn't what I had pictured in my mind at all, and I'm not sure it's even a good result. I'm still mulling this one over. lol Maybe I should have stopped back a step or two.
So, for the snowman panel, I stamped him with white craft ink. I stamped him again onto the ruby red paper and cut out the hat, scarf and carrot nose and glued that on. Okay, that looks good. So, I punch out the buttons out of the brown and glue them on. Okay, not bad. Well, the white snowman just didn't show up all that well. Hmmm, what to do? I know, I'll go over the lines with my white gel pen. A little better, but still not so hot. So, knowing it still needed something, I punched out the snow flake and backed it with white to show up. Hmmm, too symetrical, it doesn't look good. So, why not run it through the cuttlebug with the snowflakes folder. I rather liked that, it was definitely better. Well, we can't leave well enough alone, so I used my glue pen and added flocking to the snowman. Sorry you can't see that step, but that is exactly why it wasn't so great! So, I came back and added liquid applique. Mmmmmm, I don't know. So I used my trusty glue pen to add sticky and throw on some dazzling diamonds. That has to help, right? Well, actually it did! I'm liking it better. I know it's not my greatest creation, but it is finished. I promise I am not going to do another thing to this one. Oh yeah, I glued the snowflake I punched out to the inside and glittered it up. I like that a lot. Well, if you've read through all this you're a brave soul. Thanks for stopping by. lol Have a great day!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Happy Fall with a little Breeze
This card is for the SCS color challenge: Really Rust, Chocolate Chip and Baja Breeze.
I used markers to put the three colors onto the sentiment and onto the small leaves (by Treehouse) before stamping, mounted it onto the chocolate chip cs and then onto the scalloped square photo corners in Baja Breeze. I popped that up onto the really rust cuttlebugged card front and the organdy ribbon (heated slightly). That is mounted onto a Baja Breeze card which is mounted onto the chocolate chip backer. I thought it needed something more, so I embossed one more pumpkin and cut it out and popped it up on the corner of the sentiment.
What do you think of these colors together?
Don't forget to visit Treehouse stamps and take advantage of the 10% off! Just use the promo code FallFun!!!!!!!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Moo-ey Christmas!
The challenge on SCS for the limited supply challenge was to use an animal and make a holiday card. Well, this cow seemed perfect to me, so I added a little hat and here you go! She makes me laugh anyway. All stamps are from Treehouse and you'd better head on over to their website. They are running a 10% off special on all orders from now until October 5th. Don't miss it!
I made the card for the limited supply challenge, and the only embellishment allowed was ribbon. So, after I posted it on SCS I added some more bling, just for fun - liquid applique to the hat, and red stickles to the tree and the gifts and around the sentiment. I'm posting both photos. Which do you like best?
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Olivia the Snow Owl

So, today's SCS challenge was to use a charm on your card. Well, do I have any charms? I thought and thought and couldn't think of any, but them I went through some drawers and found a few, but nothing terrific. Then I thought of all my old jewelry. Surely there must be something in there, and sure enough, there was! I found this little charm bracelet that came with a DVD my dh bought and the Christmas cardinal was perfect. Oooops, I think I called it something else when I posted it on SCS. lol Oh well, eventually the right words come to my mind.
So, this is Olivia the owl from Treehouse stamps. I wanted to make her all white since she is a snow owl. Aren't those beautiful birds? I stamped and embossed her with white ep twice, cutting out the wings and popping them up. I then stamped the eyes with black craft ink and clear embossed before cutting them out and popping them up too. I love the "LOOK" she has now. I overlayed the stamped scarf she is wearing with the red gingham ribbon. I mounted her onto this scalloped oval of a basic grey paper, being sure it looks like she is perched on a branch of the paper. See, I even curled her little toes so she wouldn't fall off! lol The card base is embossed with the cuttlebug snowflake folder, and the sentiment is embossed and cut out with my nestabilities.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
BWC and SC
Oooo, a combo card here. This is to meet [url=http://www.ashleyscreativecorner.com/] Ashley's blog brain wave challenge [/url] and for Rox's sketch challenge on SCS.
What do you think of this. I used clear embossing powder and stickles for shine and dimension. I am very happy with the look of this card. It has a very vintage feel to it, don't you think? If you want more details, you can check it out in my SCS gallery.
And here is the inside of the card. I love the new sentiments that Treehouse is releasing for the inside of cards. They are really lovely. Be sure to check them out.
Alzheimer Caregiver Thanks
So today's card was made using the cc from SCS, but also to fit with Cammie's challenge found on her blog here: http://myblogbycammie.blogspot.com/ Check it out. She has an amazing BLOG CANDY give away! WOW!
I stamped the flower from Eastern Blooms and used the butterfly trail from Flight of the Butterfly as the stem. I like how that works, and that sentiment is perfect for an Alzheimer caregiver, don't you think? It says: One person can make such a difference and that person is you. I stacked some scalloped squares to pop the main panel up and then used a cuttlbug border folder on the card base. I added a Martha Stewart punched butterfly, which I added depth to by sponging on some color on the edges of the wings and a blender pen to add it to the body.
What do you think?
Friday, September 19, 2008
Happy Friday!
Things are getting better, hour by hour and day by day. I'm so grateful. My dh is doing better and feeling better and I am coping better too! What a relief!
Today's SCS challenge was a white out and this is the card I came up with. It is using a new Treehouse stamp from the set Christmas Favorites. I love this flower and think it will make some lovely, lovely cards.
I stamped the flower with black craft ink and clear embossed three times, cutting two images out and layering them with dimensionals. I added the red stickles to the center, and of course the three red ribbons on the side. The sentiment is stamped with red and clear embossed also.
I hope you like it. I hope you have a great day, filled with love and joy!
Hugs,
Karen
Thursday, September 18, 2008
It's been too long!
No wonder I've been stressed. I haven't stamped for more than a week. Well, today I took the time to stamp. So what if I had to get up earlier to make it happen. lol
So I made this card for two challenges, the SCS ways to use it challenge, incorporating silhouettes, and Sharon/Tammy's challenge to make a warm and cozy/stamped simply card. I think it fits both categories. What do you think?
Now I need to get busy using my new Treehouse stamps. I just got a load of new ones and they are soooooo cute! Check back to see what I create with them.






