Precious Butterflies!!

Hello my crafty peeps!

Yesterday my lovely friend Deanne gave me the stamp set "Precious Butterflies" a retired Hostess set from Stampin Up!  It was like she read my mind as I had been looking at friendship quotes for my FB page.  This set comes with a beautiful quote from Thomas Jefferson.

Friendship is precious

not only in the shade

but in the sunshine of life.

~Thomas Jefferson~

The nine-piece two-step stamp set Precious Butterflies is ideal for adding some elegant whimsy to your stamping projects.  There are a few current stamps that are the two-step process and very similar in the Occasions catalog until June 2nd. 

I could not wait to get my hands on it, so made this quick and easy card, will use for some of the make and takes I will be doing with my mum and Brenda.

I stamped in Crumb cake and Crisp Cantaloupe, stamped off once.  The edges of the whisper white and the 2013-2015 in color DSP were distressed with the cutter kit and sponged with crumb cake ink.

Hope you like it!!

Hugs, Karen

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Petal Potpourri - Vellum Embossing Technique

Hello my crafty peeps!  

I have not made too much this week as I am getting ready for a visit from my mum, so excited!

I thought I would share the instructions for the card we made yesterday at my “Tea and Crafting - Make and Take”.

How to Create this Card using a Vellum Embossing Technique…

• First make a card base out of whisper white cardstock, once this is done stamp with versamark ink using the "Everything Eleanor" stamp swirl on the outer left edge.  Using the clear embossing powder, tap off the extra and heat until all the powder is melted.
• Grab a sponge or sponge dauber, ink it up and add color to the card base starting from the outside and working in. For a softer look pick a very light color and use a light hand when sponging. Remember it’s easy to add more ink, but not so easy to take color away.  I chose to use two colours Marina Mist and Crumb Cake.
• Now for the vellum!  Use your embossing buddy and use it good. Embossing powder is partial to vellum, so rub your embossing buddy generously over the entire piece of vellum before stamping so that you don’t get extra little flecks everywhere, but don't worry if you do as you will be punching out the flowers.
• Stamp with Versamark ink, your choice of blossom from the "Petal Potpourri" stamp set and add white emboss powder, tap off the extra and heat until all the powder is melted. 
• For this card I put a small dimensional in the center of each flower, secured it on the card, placed a rhinestone jewel in the center.  Now looking back I think I should have used 3 flowers per card, but this can be a personal choice, half the fun is the experimenting.  
• Stamp a greeting on the front or the inside of your card using Jet Black StazOn ink or Memento.

Supplies Used: (click an image for more info)

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Petal potpourri - May Flowers

Good morning my crafty peeps!

The sun is shining and the flowers are blooming!  Use them to bring life to your cards or scrapbook pages. Flower stamps are so versatile and you can use them to convey almost every emotion, from Sympathy to Joy and all the in between.  Even Canada Post loves flowers ...

Tomorrow I am making a few cards with Brenda using the Petal Potpourri clear stamp set and the matching punch, both can be found in the Occasions catalog until June 2, 2015.

I took my inspiration from a card found on Pinterest, made by Angela McKay of North Shore Stamper

Here is my version:

I'm still trying to craft away my days and I have lots of things to blog about and talk about over the next few weeks with mum visiting and me going away, to Vernon.  It won't be strictly Stampin' Up! Stamps and not always about stamping, but a few other things as well. I'd love to have you stop by and visit! 

Hugs, Karen

Coffee Break!

Good morning my crafty peeps!  Hope you are having a Tea-rrific day!

Sorry no Stampin' Up! Today as I am making gift card holders but I just bought a few retired coffee stamps so they will come!

I finally used my "Gift Card Holder Die" & a coordinating stamp set "Coffee Break"  made by "My Creative Time"  It's a larger die which is sized 6.25 x 3.75

This will be my new favorite and my most GO-TO die ever!!!  I don't know about you, but I don't even buy presents very often anymore! I'd rather give a gift card to someone's favorite store ... So why not make the PERFECT gift card holder to go with it; and put a smile on their face! 

Here is the 1st Gift Card Holder I made which has a Gift card inside, not super happy with this gift card holder but practice makes perfect.

I also made this holder last year without the die!   

Hugs, Karen

Petals Potpourri Grunge!

Good Morning my crafty peeps!

I finally broke out my Petals Potpourri stamp set and punch, needed a birthday card for my sister.  I took my inspiration from a card I found on Pinterest.

As you can see my flowers have three layers, one leaf layer and two petal layers that I curved with my bone folder to form a slight curve and for the center I filled in with microbeads. The top layer has been popped with dimensionals.

Supplies used:

• Cardstock: Naturals white and Whisper white Stampin' Up!
• Stamps: Stampin' Up! Petal Potpourri, Gorgeous Grunge clear stamp sets
• Ink: Stampin' Up! Daffodil Delight, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive stamp pad
• Punch: Stampin' Up! Flower Medallion 
• Microbeads
• Stardust glitter pen

Hope you like it!  

Hugs, Karen

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Weekly Deals - April 21st - Retiring Stamps

Good morning my crafty peeps,

Here are the Stampin' Up! Weekly Deals  ... you have until next Monday night, April 27th to order these items with the sale price. 

With a new catalog coming soon, it’s time to say goodbye to some stamps and accessories from the 2014–2015 annual catalog. Don’t worry, though!

We will have the opportunity to order retiring products at discounted prices (up to 50 percent off retail).

Retiring stamps and accessories will be available while supplies last until June 2; however, due to high demand for retiring stamps, we’ll keep producing retiring
stamps through May 26 (not accessories—accessories are only while supplies last). I encourage you to order their favorite products before they’re gone.

Please click on the images below for a larger view, further details and to easily add to your shopping cart.  Click here for a list of retiring products.

Hugs, Karen

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Mojo394 - Mojo Monday time

Good afternoon my crafty peeps! 
It's Monday and time for a brand new Mojo Monday sketch.  

Time crept away from me but I did manage to finish this card, and a gift card (more on that tomorrow ) 

Mojo394

I hope you find some time to play along with this sketch!   

I also wanted to remind everyone that the THE ANNUAL RETIRING LIST IS PUBLISHED TOMORROW….. 

Hugs, Karen

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #265

Good morning my crafty peeps!

I Just Love my new "Inkadinkado Good Friends Clear Stamp"!  It makes it so easy to create really cute friendship cards.

I stamped my Good Friends stamp with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Whisper White CS , did a little distressing & colored up the rest with my trusty Copics. I added a touch of shading with Chocolate Chip ink, cut them out with the help of my square thinlits and popped them up with some Stampin' Dimensionals.

My mats and layers, were created with a combination of Chocolate Chip CS and some designer paper from Stampin' Up!. To finish it all up I added some burlap strips, and some coffee beans.

Here are the items I used on my project today... 

Hugs, Karen

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Joy of Giving!

Why I make cards besides the therapy is the simple joy of giving hand-made cards to people.  I hope that when they receive one it puts a smile on there face and brightened their day!

Don’t you just love the feeling of receiving an unexpected gift, finding a thoughtfully written note in your mailbox, or when someone appreciates something about you that you didn’t realize they even noticed?

Every day, we have a chance to bring life and joy to others. This doesn’t mean we have to do anything complicated—it’s about being thoughtful.  Just the other day when at Mac's to buy lotto tickets the guy in front of me had been buying everyone slurpees!  Very nice as it was a warm day.  Here are a few simple ways you can brighten up the day of those around you.

Make a genuine compliment on something your friend does well either in person or on Facebook.

When you stop at the convenience store or in line at Walmart, smile at the cashier and ask how he or she is doing (by name, if they have a nametag). When someone’s tired and has had a long shift, a lit bit of friendliness could really cheer them up!

Bust out your favorite cardstock and DSP along with some stationary and make a card for a friend letting her know what you love about her. Then send it via snail mail instead of just handing it to her (because you know it’s way more fun to get something in the mail!).

Buy your friend a latte, or a cookie - these always make me happy! 

If you are the same, leave a comment with your blog or fb page and I will be sure to pop by.  I would love to hear about the creative ways that you encourage people around you! Who knows your ideas just might inspire somebody else to take action!

Hugs, Karen 

Mum you're the BEST!

Good morning my crafty peeps! 

Hope you've been having a Super week so far and are all ready for the Weekend! 
My card today is a simple Mother's Day card that I made using the Hello There stamp set from Stampin Up! and the retired "Mom" stamp from Taylored Expressions along with the Sweet Day Paper pack and Stampin Up cardstock. 

Hope you like it!  I will be making variations of it on the weekend.

Hugs, Karen

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

<

The Customer Appreciation Winners are....

Good morning everyone! I hope you are having a great day! 

The weather in Calgary is Sunny, trees are starting to bud and the grass is turning green - I hope its lovely where you are!  I just wanted to post a quick note announcing the winners of the Customer Appreciation Giveaway from the first quarter and Sale-a-bration!

1. Cindy Blizzard  - "You Brighten my Day Stamp Set"
2. Linda Schmirler -  "Candy Dots Embellishments"
3. Brenda Cooley - "Rhinestone Basic Jewels Embellishments"
4. Lorna Morgan -  "Silver Dazzling Details"
5. Deanne Armstrong  -  "Calypso Coral Bakers Twine" 

Thanks for stopping by.  Hugs, Karen

Mojo Monday 393

Good morning my crafty friends and happy Wednesday!

I have missed the last few Mojo Monday's so wanted to make sure I did this weeks challenge, especially as I did not make as many cards this weekend like I planned.  I had been working on a cat mini album for a friend. (will post photo later).

Here is the sketch we had to work with.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Karen

Weekly Deals - April 14th

Good morning my crafty peeps,

Here are the Stampin' Up! Weekly Deals  ... you have until next Monday night, April 20th to order these items with the sale price. 

Please click on the images below for a larger view, further details and to easily add to your shopping cart.

Hugs, Karen

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

GIRLS GETAWAY WEEKEND

This weekend my best friend and I headed to Canmore for a "scrapper's" weekend away. We stayed in the Holiday Inn in Canmore AB. This was my 2nd time away with the girls from Scrapendipity. The whole weekend was fantastic. The Inn was fabulous. The food was to die for, the rooms were comfy, and the company was wonderful. I couldn't have had a better time. I can't wait to go back.

As you can see my car was packed with all my crap. Out of all the bags that you see, only 1 small bag were clothes, and the rest was stamps, paper, ink and so on. What could better than a weekend away with friends papercrafting? A good time had by all.........

There were a few times that I had a hissy fit, lol just like a child, so went for a nap!  We played fun games, I won a nice prize... And they had a grab bag for each one of us.

I did not win anything in the raffle but am happy to say my friend Destine did. Met a few Stampin' Up! demonstrators which is always nice especially when they are so talented and knowledgeable.

It was just too bad, I was exhausted from looking after hubby who blew out his knee and Destine had a bad chest cold, otherwise we really would have rocked it, but anytime I get with her is precious. 

Will post again with one card I made and some of the beautiful ones Destine made with the Petal Pouperie stamp set and punch.

Hugs, Karen

Weekly Deals!

Good morning,

Here's this week's weekly deals from Stampin' Up! If you want to expand your collection of Thinlits, this week's for you. Contact me if there's anything you'd like to order. 

And dont forget FREE shipping!

Still in vacation mode and not made any cards, but heading to the mountains for a retreat on friday so will have lots to post soon.  In the meantime I will share another Mexico photo....

Hugs, Karen

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Weekly Deals!

Good morning my crafty peeps!

I'd like to thank you all for a fantastic Sale-A-Bration, it's been a crazy/hectic and sad few months! I've had the pleasure of meeting a few new faces, as well as getting to know a few wonderful ladies online who live further afield.  I could not have made it through these last 3 months without you all and I thank you for your support, sales and most importantly, your friendship. 

Enough of the mushy stuff! I know you're all waiting to hear about the Weekly Deals and my vacation. There's some great products this week and FREE SHIPPING to boot!

Get FREE shipping on any orders placed April 6-April 10, no minimum purchase required

 (excludes expedited orders).

All order types qualify (customer, demonstrator, workshop, online)

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Well I am back from Mexico and feeling very relaxed, and I am back to shopping for retired Stampin' Up! stamps.  Stay tuned for photos....

Hugs, Karen

Canine Capers!

Good Morning my crafty Peeps!

Hope you are having a Tea-rrific day, I know I am.  Today I thought I would make a card for all my dog loving friends.  I just bought the retired stamp "Canine Capers" from Stampin' Up!, so thought I would give it a whirl...

I think this one will fill the dog request and I it was so much fun coloring in the dogs with my markers and also using my Aqua brush. This card just made me so happy and is so cute in real life, I hope my BFF enjoys it and can feel the love that I send with it!

Hugs, Karen

Masculine cards

Hola my crafty peeps!

Hoping you are having a Tea-rrific Thursday,  I held a tea and crafting class last Thursday and this is one of the cards that was made by a friend.  Unfortunately I did not get to my one before I had to leave to recharge the old battery down in Mexico!

We used the retired stamp "Country Life" to make this cute Masculine card.  The inside is done, but do not have a picture, I was lucky enough to have my friend send me one from her phone as I forgot.

Hope you Like it!

Hugs, Karen