This and That with Karen : March 2015

Mar 31, 2015

Soft Colour Combo

Good morning my crafty peeps!

For today's card, I was in the mood for using soft colours on my card and this colour combo grabbed my eye - Soft Sky with Crisp Cantaloupe, Soft Suede & Very Vanilla. Can you tell I am dreaming of Spring, all my cards lately have that Spring like feel.

The stamped images on my Card are from the retired Summer Afternoon stamp set.

Prior to water colouring and adding sentiment and bow.

Unfortunately I had brush too wet and there was some bleeding.

Hope you like it! Have a Tea-rrific day...

Hugs, Karen

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Mar 28, 2015

Sunflowers and butterfly

Hello my crafty peeps,

I am still working my way through all the retired and new stamps I bought these last three months. Today's card I chose the sunflower.

I started with a very vanilla card base, then a scrap of paper I had, then layered Sahara Sand and So Saffron together. I stamped the image on watercolour paper, painted and added some sparkles with Stickles and a stardust pen. I adhered this to card base with dimensionals.

Hope you like it!

Hugs, Karen

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Mar 25, 2015

Mojo Monday #390

Hello all my crafty peeps!

It has been a busy week already, time just seems to be flying by. I just received the retired Stampin' Up! Hostess set "Summer Afternoon", I love it. All the things I would love to have in my backyard. I wish it was like this outside instead of a barren winter yard. The very lovely sketch by MOJO MONDAY gave me a perfect opportunity to try it out.

Thanks for taking a peek today. If you would like to purchase any of the supplies to make this type of a card, please click here.

Hugs, Karen

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Mar 23, 2015

Let Sleeping cats lay!

Good Morning my crafty peeps!

Took some inspiration from another one of my favorite card challenges.......

This time from the Retro Sketches Challenge #157

I am itchin to make a card with my new retired Stampin Up! sets and just got the

"Peace Within"

I love the adirondack chair with the sleeping kitty!!

Card for our neighbours

I also killed two birds with one stone and added in the "Colour Me" Challenge.

The challenge runs until Friday - give it a try!

Hugs, Karen

Mar 22, 2015

OWL PUNCH INTO EASTER CHICKS

Happy Sunday! My crafty peeps...
Yesterday I actually got to making a few cards, one of the ones I made for my godchildren was an Easter card made with the Owl builder punch and the Bird builder.

To make the chicks, just cut off the ears from the “owl” and the feet. Punch out in Pumpkin Pie the feet and the beak. I used the wings, and the leaves from the Bird builder punch in Daffodil Delight for the wings and adhered the pieces of leaves to the back of the chick's body to act like the little feathers on its head. I sponged everything with Daffodil Delight.

I used the Karen Bursten - all seasons die for the tree ( Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, and Garden Green) and the My Creative Time - cartoon stitched cloud die for the background, before placing on the card I sponged the background in Soft Sky. I free hand cut the hills in Pear Pizzazz and for the front used fringe scissors for grass.

Here is the final version...

Well, thats my cute Easter card for today. They are quicker than I thought to make and you can easily alter for any occasion. Thanks a lot for stopping by!!

Hugs, Karen

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Mar 15, 2015

Last Chance....

With Sale-a-bration coming to an end in 16 days, don't miss out if there was something that you really liked, as they will be gone in 2 weeks......

I am having a Last Chance Online Sale-a-bration Party, order using Hostess Code: DEUZ7HFA and you can be entered in all the giveaways and other fun things.

I will also be doing a draw for the "Brighten my Day" Stamp Set for all of those who ordered using a hostess code since January.

Also don't forget that Stampin" Up! added some new products to the Sale-a-bration freebies!

Hugs, Karen

Canada Goose

Good Afternoon my Crafty Peeps! Question of the day - Heat embossing, yes or no?
I love the look, and I've been trying to use my heat tool a lot more lately. (stopped using when I burnt a circle in my craft room carpet last year)

For today's creation I got inspiration from a card, I found on Pinterest a month ago. Now I have my oval framelits I can finally go ahead and make. I used Early Espresso Stampin' Emboss Powder to emboss the Canada Goose from the Wetlands stamp set and the sentiment. It just gives a little bit more texture, even without anything else done to it!

Inside I used the goose and a phrase from the Moon Lake stamp set in the new Occasions catalog.

That's all for now. Thanks so much for checking in with me today. Until tomorrow, have a Tea-rrific day! (My new word)

Here are the supplies I used for today's card. When you go to my Online Store, create your account, then you can click on a category and start shopping.

Details:
Stamps: Wetlands Clear-mount, Moon Lake Clear-mount
Cardstock: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla
Ink: Versamark, Cajun Craze , Crushed Curry, Mossy Meadows
Accessories: Early Espresso Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy, Ovals Collection Framelits, Circle Card Thinlet Dies, Burlap and reeds emboss folder

All Online Orders of at least $60 are eligible for free stamps, etc. from the Sale-a-Bration Brochure!

Hugs, Karen

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Mar 11, 2015

Sympathy

Hi my crafty peeps!

This is a very sad week for me as one of my close friends passed away and her services are tonight and tomorrow. It is fair to say that expressing condolence and sympathy is challenging at best. Have you ever wanted to say something to a grieving friend or acquaintance but ultimately just couldn't find the words? (I have found myself in this situation only a few times but both were very difficult and I felt like I did it wrong)

Even for the most eloquent of writers or speakers finding the words to say during these times very difficult. The issue seems to be:

words feel like a small and almost trivial gesture for such a huge and life-altering event in someone's life;
how can you be sure to be completely sensitive and not risk offending the bereaved individual/family.

It always helps to remember a few things to neutralize the thoughts that might prevent you from writing a sympathy card or letter. A sympathy letter is meant to show support and love to the family/friends suffering from a loss. It's true that your words can't bring anyone back from the dead, but words can offer support. The world feels like it stops completely for grieving individuals, and it validates their experience when they receive a card or letter that acknowledges this for them. They just need to know it's okay and that their world has in fact been taken off its axis. Chances are that your words will not offend the bereaved if they are well thought out. Sending a sympathy letter and expressing support is always better than not doing so. Moving beyond your own discomfort is the key to finding the words to say to someone. Ultimately -- expressions of sympathy can mean a lot to people experiencing loss.

Hugs, Karen

Mar 10, 2015

Just Kidding - New Stampin' Up! set, Weekly Deals and Blendabilities Update

Yeah!! It's the 2nd Tuesday of the Month.. you know what that means!

A new stamp set release! Just Kidding Stamp set - NEW! #140667

Blendabilities Update:

We are very sad to share this news with you, due to the nature of the defect, Stampin' Up!, have concluded that difficulties, dissatisfaction, and product returns will only become more widespread. The manufacturer is unable to correct the problem in a manner that we are certain would meet our high quality standards and provide us with a stable, long-term solution. Therefore, after a great deal of deliberation and in order to prevent further disappointment, the Blendabilities product line has been discontinued. The good news is that Stampin' Up! is committed to ONLY selling the BEST products available, so rather than ship a defective product and continue to send replacements, they have made this decision.

Please contact Stampin' Up! support if you have any questions or concerns about your Blendabilities. Offers to resolve will only last through June 15, 2015! 1 (800) 782-6787

Moving on the the weekly deals OMG! I want them all - order submitted

Order yours today...

Hugs, Karen

Mar 9, 2015

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge 388

Hello all my crafty peeps!

I Wanted to share my Mojo Monday challenge card with you as well as use the new stamp that came with a craft magazine called Bentley Bear.

I love the feel of the kraft paper/daffodil delight color combo and the spring like flowers on the patterned paper of this card:

Mojo388

And here's the sketch from which I based my design:

In other news, my next Online FB Party is schedule for March 24 to 29th, hope you can join in - e-mail me to attend (kstallman@telus.net) or simply click join on the FB Event.

Once this event is finished and I am back from a well needed rest, I will do the Giveaway for the Stampin' Up! "Brighten my Day" stamp set. To be in the drawing you have had to of placed an order with me since January. Last day to be in the draw coincides with the end of Sale-a-bration.... March 31st!

Hope you enjoyed the above card as much as I did making it...

Hugs, Karen

Mar 5, 2015

New Baby Cards

I have 2 friends giving birth shortly so will be needing a few of these cards. When I started to work on ideas for the New Baby cards, I was only thinking about cards to be sent to new parents but there are other uses for new baby cards. What about birth announcements, new grandmas or grandpas, or maybe a furbaby?
(some photos courtesy of Pinterest)

I love banners but hardly ever use ... this one is adorable!
(Now if I can only remember how to crochet, my nan was AMAZING...)

Courtesy of VioletheartbyClare

Also love this one, made with the Stampin' Up! owl punch.... I must admit I have tried this one before but it did not look as beautiful as this one.

Courtesy of Stamping with Karen

I would love to make a mini album for my girlfriend and when I was getting the link for the above card I saw that Karen had done just that as well as a few other cute baby ideas. Please check out her blog via the above link. I have decided to do the mini album a little down the road, as I have left things so late and shower is Friday!! Stay tuned for that post...

I knew I would be working with the Sweet Dream Designer Series Paper so I used cardstock that coordinated with the colors in the Sweet Dreams paper. I chose Lost Lagoon for the base of the card in a box and Hello Honey for one of the layers.
I also used a piece of the Hello Honey 5/8" Quilted Cotton Ribbon.

I am loving the "Baby Bumblebee " wood stamp in the Occasions Catalog. I had a few retired stamp sets in the stack to choose from but I chose the Baby Bumblebee!

Card in a Box Recipe

Finished Size when flat: 4-1/2 x 6 ". Individual panels are 2-1/4 " wide.

Cut Base: 9.5 x 6 "

Score base: 2-1/4, 4-1/2, 6-3/4 & 9 " on long side. Score at 3-1/4 " on short side.

Inserts: Cut at 3-1/4 " x 3/4 ". Score at 1/2 " from either end

Or per the awesome video by Deb Valder fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrator (check out her video):

Box:

Cut piece of cardstock at 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" (it's a half sheet of cardstock)

Score this piece with the 5 1/2" side on top at 2 3/4"

Turn and with the 8 1/2" piece on top you are going to score to the MIDDLE LINE (at the 2 3/4" mark) and cut the rest of the way down

Score at 2" then Cut

Score at 4" then Cut

Score at 6" then Cut

Score at 8" then Cut

Insert:

Cut a piece at 2 3/4" x 8"

Score at 1/2", 2 1/2", 3", 5" 5 1/2" 7 1/2"

Fold into a Z with a flare (the ends of the Z are going to be going the opposite way) and POP it into your box.

Layered Pieces:

Back pieces – Cardstock 1 7/8" x 5 3/8" and the DSP is 1 3/4" x 5 1/4"

Small Panels – Cardstock 1 7/8" x 2 5/8" and the DSP is 1 3/4" x 2 1/2"

cut 6 for outside panels and 4 for inside

That's it , now just glue together!

Hope you like it!!
Hugs, Karen

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Mar 2, 2015

Mojo #387 Card Sketch Challenge

Good afternoon my crafty peeps, it is Mojo Monday time and it is also a contest week, the first Monday of the month.

Todays card started with my colour choices of Baked Brown Sugar, Natural White, I found a scrap piece of patterned paper and though it went well with the colours and I was set in motion. I round the edges on my card base and the layer of Baked Brown Sugar. I then embossed the cardstock using the lace brocade folder. I thought it kind of matched the pattern on my paper. From there I cut the patterned paper to a small square and then cut a piece of copper glitter paper for the bottom and rounded the edges. Once this was done I used the 2.38 scallop punch to cut a piece of natural white and used the 2" circle punch to cut a piece of baked brown sugar which I then embossed. I used a smaller circle die for center. I used the cup of tea from the comfy cozy stamp set and popped it. I attached a button and used pearl accents for the scallop edges. On the inside I used the sentiment from the Tea Shoppe stamp set.