My first instructional video!

Hey look! I figured out how to put a video on youtube and on my blog! I'm so proud! I'm not very techno savvy, so I am pretty impressed with myself. Okay, enough patting myself on the back. Take a look at my little tip!



Thanks for stopping by. I would love to know what you think of my first video!

Mailable too

Here is another easy peasy card for my girl's class.


Stamp image onto white cardstock using Brown ink. I used colored pencils to color the leaves and berries on border of the image and the gingerbread man. Cut/emboss image with circle die template. Cut/emboss red scalloped circle. Adhere image circle to red circle. Emboss front of card with snowflake embossing folder. Tie ribbon around front of card near the bottom. Use foam squares on back of circle and adhere to card front on right side, over ribbon. Carefully apply small bits of Candy Cane stickles to berries and to buttons and cheeks. Be very careful not to smear them. Ask me how I know! lol Set aside to dry!

I hope you like this little cutie. Thanks for stopping by today! Make it a great day!

Do you like to color?

It seems there are many people that like to color images. If you are one of those people, this card is for you!

Stamp image on left side of card front near fold. Color image with colored pencils or markers. Cut off right edge of card with scallop scissors. Sponge edge with Blue ink. Stamp sentiment on inside edge of card as shown. Adhere card to blue cardstock. Another simple, mailable card.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week!

Another Christmas card

Here is a Christmas card I wanted to share with you today, another I will be doing in a class with the eight young girls. It is a fairly simple card, which makes it good for mailing and mass producing, if you have a mind to.

Punch holes in card front near left folded edge and top of card. Ink pine bough stamp with green inkpad. Carefully stamp it with the stems between the holes you punched, then, without re-inking, huff on it and stamp it again away a little bit, with the stems touching. Ink berries stamp and stamp it twice, as shown. Ink sentiment stamp with red and stamp it near bottom of card, under boughs. Emboss right side of card with snowflakes embossing folder. Thread ribbon thru holes from front, cross ends and put ends up through holes to front of card.

See, I told you it was an easy card, but I think the results are lovely. What do you think?

Sticker

Today's card features a sticker. Now I have a lot of stickers here in my craft room, but rarely reach for them when I begin a creation.

I used the Cloud 9 Design flower sticker in the center, mounted it onto vanilla cardstock. I outlined the inside of my Spellbinders Nested Poinsettia die template with my red marker before cutting/embossing in the Wizard. I really like the mottled look it gave, instead of the very opaque look lining it later would give. It's a little softer. I added candy cane stickles to the center of the flower and curled the edges a bit over a marker. The red poinsettia was cut/embossed/impressed with the Spellbinders Snowflakes Impressabilities. It is mounted with a foam square, and the petals curled slightly. The navy oval was also cut/embossed/impressed with Spellbinders Petite Ovals Large and Snowflakes Impressabilities. The dp is by Kaiser scrapbook and mounted onto real red before being adhered to the blue card front. I added a little Christmas plaid bow and DONE.

I hope you like it.

Emboss, emboss

This card shows an interesting technique I've heard called a few different things: selective embossing, double embossing or blank embossing. First of all, I cut an opening in two pieces of chipboard (a cereal box) and glued those two pieces together. I used Spellbinders Labels 3 die template. Now to the embossing: I found this sandwich worked best for me in the Cuttlebug. A plate, B plate, cardstock in Cuttlebug folder, cut out chipboard on top of folder and then another folder (that design will not affect your final product) - another B plate was too thick. After embossing it, I carefully placed the Labels 3 die template and ran it through the Wizard to emboss the Labels 3. So basically what you are going for is a flat (unembossed) area surrounded by embossing. It's hard to really see in the photo, but it is there. You're gonna have to trust me! ;-) The butterfly and sentiment are stamped with Memento black ink and clear embossed. I used Spellbinders Fancy tags to back the sentiment, and mounted the whole card front onto black cs. I added the ribbons and bow to the top and voila.

What do you think?

Welcome to my blog!

Hi there! Thanks for stopping by. I love having visitors and I love reading your comments. So leave a comment - please!


Today I am sharing a Christmas/Holiday project I will be teaching 8 young girls in an upcoming class. I think they will enjoy making them, don't you?

Snowflake Sandwiches: These fun little snowflakes are hiding a little Peppermint Patty. Yum!

Using Bashful Blue ink, stamp image onto white cardstock eight times. Carefully align punch with the stamped image and punch out all four images. Use very small amount of icicle stickles on center and on small dots on outside of center snowflake on only four of your images. These will go on top. Set these aside to dry. Be very careful not to smear, as it takes several minutes to dry. Glue one scalloped circle on top and one on bottom of mint patty.

Have you tried this?

On this card, I wanted to use the Fancy tags to back my image, but the image was too tall. I also wanted to use the deckle rectangle for the image, but it wasn't quite the right size. What to do? Alter the dies, of course. Remember that you can alter the nesties to be different sizes and shapes by making just a few adjustments. This one is easy and I want to show you what I did. First of all, I cut the image with the Deckled Rectangle Die with the image to the far right.


Now I needed the image panel to be thinner, so I put the image into the die again, with the edge cutting off part of the previously cut panel. I taped it in place to be sure it didn't slip.

Here is the result - a longer, thinner image panel with deckled edges all around.
Now I wanted to use the Fancy tag to back my image panel, but as you can see, it is a little too short.
An easy peasy fix, just cut the fancy tags in half and adhere it to the back of the image panel. It won't show and only you will know.

To finish my card, I used a scalloped circle which is embossed with Cuttlebug's Textile Texture folder. I added my image panel, backed with my altered fancy tag, ran a bit of ribbon around the card front and tied a knot. I used EK Success border punch for the bottom of the card front, punched another strip of black cardstock and adhered that to the inside of the card. See the little embellishments on the top corners? That is the leftovers after the black panel was punched.

Here are the Spellbinders supplies I used on this card:
Spellbinders Fancy Tags die template S4-235
Spellbinders Small Deckled Rectangles S4-201
Spellbinders Scalloped Circles Large S4-124

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,
Karen

Color of the day

Today's color is PURPLE! I really like purple and probably use it in my creations a lot, I'm not sure. Today I've paired it with chocolate. Oh yum!

I've used a Christmas stamp set with these colors and you would never guess it is a Christmas set, would you?

The image was inked with chocolate chip ink, then using a wet cotton swab, I cleaned the ink off the berries and colored them with perfect plum marker before stamping. The outside of the main panel is airbrushed with Copic markers. The pearls are also colored with Copic Markers. Did you know you could do that? Oh so cool. The panels behind the main image and the little strip are pale plum stamped with the same stamp using Chocolate Chip ink. The dp is an old one from SU! What was it called? Porcelain Prints or Enchante - I'm not sure.

I love reading your comments, so please let me know what you think. Well, only if you like it. lol

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,
Karen

Snow in Arizona

This is the only kind of snow we are going to get here in Phoenix and it is the only kind I want. This stamp is Blustery by Stampers Anonymous. I stamped him with versamark and embossed with white embossing powder, then cut/embossed the image using Spellbinders Labels 8, sponged versamark around the edges and embossed using Irridescent Ice for a glistening effect. The bottom of the card is cut/embossed with Spellbinders Snowflake Borderabilities Petite and used the resulting snowflakes as embellishments. I used a Stardust clear pen to give them a little sparkle. The paper is from Kaiser. I used glue and a bit of chunky white glitter on the bottom icicles.

It is going to be cold here today with a high of 62. Brrrrr! Aren't you feeling sorry for me? lol Have a great day wherever you are.

Hugs,

Karen

A Great Color Combination

I really like this color combination of Kraft, Basic Black and Melon Mambo. The card base is kraft. The front of the card was created by stamping a piece of Melon Mambo cardstock with the Medallion stamp and clear embossed. The black panel was stamped with Polka Dot and clear embossed. The white border was created with Spellbinders Eyelet borderabilities. I stamped the image with black craft ink and clear embossed before cutting/embossing with Spellbinders Label One die and airbrushing with Copic RV14. It is popped up with foam squares. I added the very big ribbon. It is huge, but the colors were perfect and I like big bows! lol

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day!

A new creation

Today I did the Retiform technique on this card front. It's not one of my favorites, but I thought I would give it a try. I also wanted to use my new stamp. I love snowmen, and I think this one is very cute.

I stamped the image with versamark and embossed it with white then sponged with bashful blue ink. It was cut/embossed with Spellbinders Labels 8 and the edge is inked with Copic BG72. The sentiment is stamped with Buckaroo Blue and cut/embossed with Spellbinders Petite Ovals Large. I added a snowflake from the Spellbinders Snowflake Borderabilities petite. The inks I used on the card front are Bashful Blue, Buckaroo Blue and Cool Caribbean. I added a bit of ribbon and there ya go.

Thanks for stopping by!

Oh my goodness!

I can't believe it has been soooooooooo long since I posted to my blog. Did you think I'd fallen off the face of the earth? No, that's not the case. My DH and I celebrated our 37th wedding anniversary by spending a few days at a resort. I can't even believe it has been 37 years. That's almost twice as long as I was alive before we married. lol

After that I went to stay at my daughter's house for several days. It's always fun to be with her (she is a wonderful and delightful person) and with her darling children. I just can't get enough of them, even when they are loud and crazy! I love being Nana!

Well, I am back home now. Gee, it's quiet here. lol I'm back into my clean and organized craft room, I got some new tools to play with and so I am ready to create some fun things and share them with you. Be sure to come back later this week to see what's new.

I bought some bananas before I left here and boy were they ripe today. Now my house smells so good, as I made Banana Crumb Muffins. Oh they are yummy. Here is the recipe, if you would like to try it. I'll bet you will like them. They are delicious.

Thanks for stopping by! See you soon!

Hugs,
Karen

I enjoyed the clean.

I had this beautifully clean and neat stamp room when I got up this morning, so I had to go in and create. It was so easy when everything was in it's place and right within reach.

This is a very simple card. I cut/embossed two leaves using Spellbinders Nesting Maple Leaves die templates from The Paper Company paper and layered them with foam squares. The sentiment is embossed with gold detail. I tied a little brown ribbon around the card and backed it with the chocolate cardstock. The leaf dp is actually very shimmery. I'm sorry I can't seem to capture that in the photo.

Thanks for stopping by! Come back soon.

Hugs,
Karen

This is the before

I thought I would take a picture of my (s)crap room to show you what a mess it is. I recently got a LOT of new products and needed to find a place to put them all. My husband thinks I need a warehouse. lol I was looking on the internet at organizational products and then - light bulb! - I thought of some cd towers we have in the garage we were thinking of getting rid of. What if I used them for my organization? They aren't the perfect answer, but they will do, and I don't need to buy anything. Well, I do, I need some containers, but those are easy to come by and oh so cheap. Here is the before picture. Does it make you feel better about your space? It can't be as bad as this! lol Hopefully I will get my organization finished by tomorrow and get an after photo for you. It's getting better. ;-)

And after . . .

I stayed up way too late to get it finished, but I just couldn't stop, ya know! lol I think this is going to work for me. Lots of product right where I can see it and get to it easily. I'm excited to work in this neat and organized space now.

Two challenges on one card

I didn't get to stamp yesterday, so I combined two challenges on this card.



This technique is called Easel Card, as it folds flat to mail, but you can open it and stand it up. I love displaying cards, so this is a great solution, don't you think?

I stamped the baroque motif onto white cs, then mounted it onto Bermuda Bay and then seemingly a chocolate layer, but it is actually just strips of the chocolate added to the edges. I didn't want to add that much more bulk to the card. Under that is a layer of SU!'s Apricot Appeal dp. I then added a double bow of white organdy ribbon. The inside has a jeweled brad to hold the card front in place for display. I left the inside plain, other than the little strip of dp to coordinate with the front, so that there is room for adding a sentiment.

What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by and please come back soon!

Spellbinders Die Templates and Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist

I had such a great time making this project to share with you today.

Supplies:
Spellbinders S4-228 Nested Maple Leaves
Spellbinders S4-121 Doodle Parts
Spellbinders S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities®
Spellbinders S7-017 On The Vine Border Grand
Tattered Angels - Glimmer Mists: Gold, Coffee Shop, Forest Green, Sunflower.
Hero Arts Stamps: Happy Thanksgiving
Copic Sketch Markers: YG63, YR04 Copic Airbrush System
SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES by 3L, 3D Foam Squares
(2) 5 1/2" tags
(2) Vanilla cardstock (5 1/2 X 4 1/4)
Organdy Ribbon: Brown and Gold (approx. 12" of each 3/4" wide ribbon) and 1 piece of 1/4" gold ribbon (Approx. 10 inches)
Memento Ink: Rich Cocoa
Clear Embossing Powder
Heat Gun

The base of the card is a 5 1/2" tag. Using scrap paper, cut the largest Spellbinders Nested Maple Leaf die template. Use that as a stencil, laying it across your large tag and spraying with one color of Glimmer Mist, moving the stencil and spraying with another color until the tag is covered as desired. Let dry, or if you are impatient (as I am) use a heat gun to dry it. Isn't it beautiful?

Using the other tag, spray all the colors across the surface. Dry, and then cut/emboss On The Vine Border Grand, twice, using all the prepared tag. Set aside. Cut/emboss the largest Pumpkins Nestabilities ® from one of the pieces of vanilla cardstock. Using the Copic Airbrush System and Sketch Markers, color the pumpkin, masking the stem. Color the stem green.

Color the other piece of the vanilla cardstock using a base of Coffee Shop Glimmer Mist, then airbrush with the Orange Copic Marker. Glue them to the pumpkin as shown, then cut again with the Pumpkins Nestabilities ® die template. Trim ends of the Doodle Parts which are beyond the edge of the pumpkin.

Stamp sentiment on the top right corner of the tag and clear emboss.

Layer two 3D Foam Squares on the back of the pumpkin and adhere it to the large tag. Cut pieces of the vine and adhere to the card with some leaves over the pumpkin and some behind. Use 3D Foam Squares behind some of the leaves. Thread the two wider ribbons through the hole in the tag. Use the narrow gold ribbon to tie them together. Carefully heat with heat gun to curl the ribbons.

Thanks for stopping by, and come back soon!

I wanted to share this ornament I made using Spellbinders dies! Isn't it gorgeous? I used an old SU! designer paper in Bashful Blue and a shimmery white cardstock as well.

First of all, cut/emboss a Spellbinders Fleur de Lis from the blue designer paper. Use this as the base to build your ornament. Next cut snowflakes using the Spellbinders Create a Flake 2, alternating the blue and the white in the different sizes. Layer them using 3D foam squares between the layers. I added some glue and chunky white glitter and a silver cord to hang it. If both sides will be visible, make another one and adhere it to the back. This is a very easy project, but sure gets lots of ooohs and ahhhhhhhs! I think you will like it.

Thanks for stopping by! Come back soon!

This is a vertical Z fold card. I used Stampin' Up! Bella Rose papers to cover it, a Hero Arts stamp and the flowers are Spellbinders Flower Bouquet Miniabilities. The front panel tucks under the flower on the back panel so that the card stands up in the Z shape. I stamped the image and added the flower with a pop up overlaying the stamped flower.

I hope you like it. Thanks for stopping by! Come again soon!

I love this paper by 7 Gypsies and it works so well with Spellbinders Fleur de Lis pendant die template!!!! Notice that I used the negative piece I cut the pendant from behind the layered pendant. I then stamped the sentiment onto the oval and used the Copic Spica pen on the embossed edge to make it pop. I punched holes on each end, tying a knot in the ribbon and pushing both ends down through the hole. I love how that looks, don't you?

Thanks for stopping by and looking.

Be sure to come back soon. I will have something fun and exciting posting later in the week. Don't miss it!

See you soon!

Want to win a Spellbinders die template?

You can! Spellbinders™ is celebrating World Card Making Day and giving away a die to a randomly chosen winner. Just create something beautiful using a Spellbinders™ die template and post it on Spellbinders™ Facebook Page. You could win a free Spellbinders™ die template! Be sure to become a Spellbinders™ fan on Facebook!

Good luck!

Happy World Card Making Day!

Today is world card making day. Now that's my idea of a good day! But then again, most every day is card making day for me! lol

Here is a card I created for the occasion. Another Christmas card to add to my collection. I really need to send some of them out this year! lol

The Santa image is from Stampers Anonymous. I inked it with real red ink and then touched a Memento chocolate brilliance pad on it here and there before stamping it onto Vanilla cardstock. Then to distress: I used tea dye distress ink as well as close to cocoa and chocolate chip sponged and smooshed. I distressed the edges with my fingernail and then really inked it with the sponge as well. The top corner was turned down. To do this, I used my bone folder to soften the cardstock (use your thumb to scrape it, as if you were curling ribbon with scissors) and then rolled the corner down. I did the same to the chocolate chip layer. I then stamped the sentiment onto the ribbon using the Brilliance Chocolate ink and let it dry. dum dee dum dee dum - patience. Then I distressed it a bit with more of the tea dye and chocolate ink and a sponge. I mounted it onto the image panel and used brads on each end. Now I attached it to the real read card front which was also sponged with the inks to distress it a bit, gluing away from the edges a little so that the edges stand up just a tad for more dimension. Hmmmm, that corner looked a little bare, so I used a snowflake which was cut and embossed with Spellbinders Snowflake Borderabilities petite die template. Of course it was sponged as well.

So there you have it. I hope you enjoy my creations. I really appreciate you stopping by and I love hearing from you!

Hugs,
Karen

Fall is in the air!

When I woke up yesterday, the house was actually cooler than I have my thermostat set! Woooooo hoooooo, coolness without air conditioning! I love it.

This card is so Autumn, I thought it would share it with you. I designed this card for a class I am doing at Scrapbooks to Remember on Tuesday, Oct. 6. I hope the ladies will enjoy making this card.




For this card I used this gorgeous paper from The Paper Company. It is actually a shimmery paper, which isn't really captured in the photo. You'll have to take my word for it. I cut the cardstock 4 1/4 X 11 and folded in half to make the card. Next I cut/embossed the largest leaf from Spellbinders Nested Maple Leaf die set in the card front. Psssst - It is only available until the end of November, so if you don't have it yet, you'd better get it! The inside of the card (the other side of the paper) is a shimmery bronze color, which is pretty hard to color on, so I cut a piece of Prism smooth cardstock 4 X 5 1/4 and attached it inside the card. Next I stamped the Hero Arts image and sentiment with Memento Rich Cocoa Ink before coloring with Copic markers. The flourishes were inked with Tsukineko Brilliance inks in Chocolate and the leaves with Rocket Red Gold. Ooooo, these inks are gorgeous. They really do shimmer.

Happy Fall Y'all. I'm enjoying this beautiful time of year. Well, it's beautiful here in Phoenix! We had to put up with more than 100 days in triple digits to get here, so we so deserve it!

Thanks for stopping by. Please visit again soon!

High Heels

Do you love high heels? I do! I created this card for a class I am teaching on Monday, Oct. 5 at Scrapbooks to Remember in Anthem.

I used Core'dinations Black Magic cardstock for this card. Have I ever mentioned how much I love that stuff? It makes such loveliness when you emboss it, or crinkle it and then sand it to reveal the color from behind. It's delicious.


I used Spellbinders Lattice borderabilities on the right edge. I cut/embossed it and then sanded the detail to bring it out. In fact, I sanded the whole card front to show a bit of the rose color from the back. I then stamped the shoe (from Hero Arts) using Memento black ink on the reverse side of another piece of a lighter pink Core'dinations cardstock. I used clear embossing powder and heat embossed before coloring with a Copic Marker. I then cut/embossed it using Spellbinders Labels Five die. I cut the black side of the paper, using the same size die for just a little touch of a black mat. Now take your small detail scissors and trim off the embossed edge of the pink shoe label and adhere it to the black one. I then cut/embossed the rose side of the cardstock using Spellbinders Petite Ovals Large and mounted the shoe panel a little low onto the oval, using 3D foam squares. I mounted it a little lower so that I could put the ribbon detail on the top of the oval. Adhere the oval to the left side of the card front, and voila! a most lovely card.

Thanks for stopping by and letting me share this fun card with you.

Pizzazzy Sentiment!

Hi there! Thanks for stopping by and taking a look at my creations.

Here is a card I would like to share with you today.


I wanted the sentiment to be the main focus of my card, so I stamped it with black ink and used clear embossing powder. I then added the black dome stickers and even pizzazzed them up by gluing on a little black chunky glitter. That panel is matted with a shimmery black card stock and popped up. I added some flourishes cut/embossed with Spellbinders Doodle Parts from the same shimmery black cs. The harlequin panel is cs from Crafty Secrets and cut/embossed with Spellbinders Labels One. The pink card front is embossed with Spellbinders Flourish Impressabilities - it is one of my favorites. The whole card is mounted onto black for a little more pop - oh wait - more pizzazz!!!!!

I hope you like my card today. Come back soon! Please!

Sharing a fall lovely!

Hi there. Welcome to my blog. Thanks for stopping by.

I want to share a lovely fall card with you today. This card uses some of my favorites: fall leaves (I do love fall), several of my favorite and well used Spellbinders dies, and these delicious papers by The Paper Company.



This turned out to be a very Clean and Simple card. The center panel is Autumn Harvest Wheat Flourish mounted onto black cs. The small leaves were centered over the printed leaves on the Autumn Harvest Falling Leaves paper before cutting/embossing with Spellbinders Nested Maple Leaf dies. The leaves were mounted onto the reverse shimmery side of the same papers which were cut/embossed with Spellbinders Labels Four and that was mounted onto black cs cut/embossed with Spellbinders scalloped rectangles. These papers are so beautiful, with a metallic flourish, which I don't think you can really see in the photo. The inside of the card was also decorated with another three leaves cut/embossed from the shimmery copper paper.

What do you think?

Steppin' Out!

I have been creating, it is just things I can't share with you . . . yet!

This card, I can share.

I have a problem. I love high heels, can't wear them, but I can stamp them! I love this stamp set and thought the color combo was perfect to use with it today.

The shoe is stamped onto shimmery white cs with Versamark Dazzle Frost ink and embossed with Lana Pink by Sparkle N Sprinkle. I used the pretty in pink marker to go over elements of the shoe to make it pop. The image was cut out with Spellbinders circle and mounted onto Spellbinders Fleur de Lis pendant. I backed the ribbon with pretty in pink cs and going grey cs. The card front is embossed with a Sizzix folder. The sentiment was stamped onto pretty in pink cs with the Frost ink and embossed. I cut it into the strip and then cut/embossed the end using the Spellbinders Fleur de Lis borderabilities, rounded the other ends and added Crystal Stickers Mosaic tiles to the ribbon and to the sentiment.

What do you think? I love reading your comments.

A different color combination

but do you think it works? It's interesting.

I stamped the image with Melon Mambo ink onto white cs, coloring in the leaves with the crushed curry marker, then I cut/embossed it using an oval Spellbinders die. It is mounted onto a black oval and popped up. The duo color bg is embossed with Spellbinders Floral and Stone impressabilities with a border of Fleur de Lis. I think the black helps tie it together and makes it pop. What do you think?

Make your own buttons

Today I made a faux button to match my card. It really is easy, just takes a little patience, which I am not good at. lol Punch out five layers of cardstock (it doesn't have to be anything grand) and one punch out of your designer paper. Glue the layers together with the dp on top. Allow to dry (this is the patience part). I could have let mine dry a bit longer. Once dry, sand the edges to make them "one" and give a better appearance of a button. I colored the edge of my button with a black sharpie. Then punch holes. I used the crop-a-dile as it easily punches through multiple layers. Then cover top entirely with crystal effects, being careful to leave your holes open. PATIENTLY allow this to dry thoroughly, or if you are like me, let it dry most of the way and then move on. lol I used black embroidery floss to tie onto my button. Here is something I learned just a bit too late - I marked the holes on the back of my button and punched. Then I turned it over and noticed the buttons weren't level and where I would have wanted them with this pattern of paper. Most patterns probably wouldn't even matter.

The piano image is from a friend, Dawn Mercedes. I used Tim Holtz tea dye distress ink on the edges and mounted it onto black. The right side of the Bravo Burgundy card front is embossed with the Cuttlebug Textile Texture folder. The music panel is mounted on black cs as well. It is a fairly simple card, but takes time and patience.

Now I seriously need to take some time to clean up my stamp room! It has gotten really bad and I am losing things. lol It's gonna take a while.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,
Karen