Holiday Bows

Hello!  Thanks for stopping by today!  Can I just say, there is never too much PURPLE in the world!!  I am obsessed with anything purple and had the bright idea to try a purple Christmas card.

 

I used The Holiday Bow stamp set from The Ton.  This is a layering stamp set and the outcome is just so gorgeousness.  The look of a real bow is just amazing.

 

The cardstock base is Kraft, then a layer of white, purple and back to Kraft for the main part of the card.

 

I took some twine and made it look as if they were hanging.  One can never have enough sequins, so I dressed it up a bit with shiny beautiful sequins.  I used Momento purple Ink and Hero Arts Unicorn white.  Merry Christmas I embossed with Hero Arts white fine powder.

 

The sentiment came from My Style stamps.  It may be a little too large on the page.  I am undecided about that.  I am happy to say that I will be making these as my cards this year.  So I will play around with maybe a smaller sentiment or even rearranging how the page looks.

 

I am extremely happy with how it came out.  It looks stunning in person.

 

 

 



Mixed Media tag

 

 

 

Hello!  Have you tried any projects using mixed media?  If you have not, I urge you to try.  It is so freeing to create.  There are no 'rules' to mixed media.  However you place things on your project is how it goes.  I am not an experienced mixed media artist, but I am a beginner who loves to have fun!  The first step to being great at anything, is practicing and just plain starting.

 

I used my Tim Holtz tag die set and cut from a manila folder I had laying around.  It's a great size tag that allows you to have lots of options size wise.  I then took my Dylusions Paint that I purchased from Simon Says Stamp at their Ranger sale and used my finger to paint the blue and purple.  I had no rhyme or reason to where I put the paint, just where I thought it looked good.

 

I then took a Tim Holtz stencil and with the black Dylusions paint, dabbed some over the stencil.  The 'exploding' heart is from Limor Webber.  I had been eyeing up her stamps and low and behold on Blitsy came a Limor Webber sale.  Have you checked out Blitsy???  Check it out here and be ready to purchase!  Use the link I shared and receive $10 off of your first order when you order within 24 hours of signing up using my link!  I love Blitsy and find amazing deals!

 

I then took the Beautiful Life stamp set from Honey Bee Stamps and used the You are loved and hearts.  The You are loved should not have been purple, but in the spur of the moment I was not prepared for embossing that popped into my mind.  I grabbed the purple and embossed .. Not the smartest idea to emboss purple over purple paint.. It still looks awesome, but lessoned learned.  The hearts I used my Hero Arts white embossing powder.

 

After the hearts were ready, I took a brush and painted in some pink Dylusions paint for a little pop of color.

 

The small dots came from a stencil.  I used a lime green gelato and my whipped spackle to create the color you see.  I added some twine and ribbon to the top.  I plan on placing this on either a card or in my scrapbook. 

 

I am in love with Mixed Media creations.. I truly hope you try it out as well.  I'd love to see what you create if this has inspired you!

 

Happy crafting

~Kara

 



Tim Holtz Crazy Bird gone Halloween

 

 

 

Calling all Crazy Bird lovers!!  I just can not get enough of these little guys from Tim Holtz.  They all have their own personalities.  The accessories make them! Versatile and can be used for any holiday or occasion!

 

I took the Crazy Bird stamps out and decided which lovely was going to make it to the Halloween card.  Stamped with my Misti and colored with the Spectrum Noir markers.  I just received these alcohol based markers from craft day on HSN, so I wanted to give them a spin.  I need practice for sure, but I love them.  I used the accessory stamps and die sets for the hat and pumpkin.  Trick or Treat is from the sentiment crazy bird set.  Brilliant release Sizzix and Tim Holtz, they are all amazing!

 

I used the tag from Craftin Desert Divas for the Trick or Treat.  Twine came from Annie's Paper Boutique.  I also used Avery Elle Wonky die set for the fun stitched backgrounds.

 

I used Dylusion's paint for the background directly behind the bird.  I just received these paints and are they ever amazing.  I want to paint everything.  I just used my finger tool (lol) to paint the orange and purple.  Under the bird I put some black and let me tell you, black is not easy to cover up or blend with.. Lesson learned!  No fear, cover ups are possible.  Behind my pumpkin is also a disaster.  When I opened the orange paint, it splattered.. thank goodness the pumkin looks awesome right there!

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Happy crafting <3

~Kara

 

 

 



Harbor Freight Revolving Storage ** made girly

Hello!  I am so excited to share the make over I did to the Harbor Freight Revolving Storage!  I am certain I spend more at Harbor Freight than my husband does!   Who says Harbor Freight is for men?!?!?  They carry items perfect for craft rooms!

 

I went to Harbor Freight with my 20% off coupon in hand and knew this was going to be mine!

 

I knew in my head that I didn't want that drab color in my craft room... Purple is my color for life and just makes me happy happy!  So off to Walmart I went to purchase some purple.  Once I got home, I remembered that I had some pink left over from painting my Raskog from Ikea.

 

I laid all of the parts out. My driveway is the painting booth for all things. that need spray painted.

 

I used Rustoleum Grape for my purple (it was on clearance at Walmart) and the Pink is Valspar Gloss Frosty Berry.

 

I knew it needed to dry for more longer than I wanted to let it.. I was EXCITED to assemble this baby and see it in the beauty!  Unfortunately, the night was nearing and I hurried along.. and it did NOT dry completely.  I had quite a few dings in the paint. I am not bothered by this as I plan on using this for crafty storage.. I don't plan on it staying perfect.  So I was ok with the chips here and there.  For a perfectionist, I might recommend to let it fully dry.. the chips will bother you, LOL.

 

Have you ever assembled anything from Ikea??? If so, you will understand when I say 72 nuts, bolts and washers reminded me of Ikea furniture.  I said to my husband as I assembled it, what in the world would need 72 nuts, bolts and washers.. His reply was.. I'm fairly certain this purchase was not intended to be purple, pink and hold glitter and glue.. OHHHHH I said.. LOL!  Made me chuckle.

 

 

Assembled, painted and BEAUTIFUL!  I absolutely love it!  It matches perfectly in my craft room and will hold TONS of items.

 

 

I placed a few items in the bins to see what kind of storage I was looking at.

 

This is the Revolving Storage from Harbor Freight and the Raskog from Ikea!  Near perfection in my MESSY craft room and messy Raskog.  I always say, if I clean it all up, then I won't find anything.

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Happy crafting

 

 

Merry Christmas

Hello! Kara here today with a traditional color Merry Christmas card. It certainly is turning Fall like here in Western PA.  With that brings chilly weather and with chilly weather brings Christmas!

 

I decided to make a tradition color Christmas card using a few different dies.  I used the Delicate Tree from the Whispers collection.  Using green cardstock, I cut the tree and just knew it needed something else. I then took the actual die and traced it on the red cardstock and fussy cut.   The star is a perfect size for the topper and it comes from the Make a Wish set.  The final touches came with using stickles to 'glitterize' and make it sparkle.

 

I love inking up the embossing folder before I run it through my Big Shot, so that is what I did!  It gives such a different look to each embossing.  Using green and red and then running it through my Big Shot.

 

The sentiment Merry Christmas is from the Sweet Wordlet collection Merry Christmas.

 

 

 

Thanks again for stopping by!  Be sure to check out the other amazing Design Team creations here.

As always, when shopping at Die_Versions, save yourself some money and use the code kara15 for 15% off your purchase.  Not valid with other discounts or sales.

 

~Kara

 

 

 

Fall Craft day

What a fun day had by all!   A few girlfriends and I planned out a craft day.   We were pinteresting for quite a few days planning and came up with a few great ideas.   We had lots of laughs and ended up with some great crafts!! 

This was part of the final paintings

I'll claim these..  Even though they look bad.   It was fun and that's what matters! 

Jamie starting her candy corn wine bottle 

I had these stems left over from sunflowers I had cut off..  They made a perfect stand to spray paint from! 

I had these scrap triangles laying around and sure enough they made a perfect candy corn! 

Jamie and Nicole did this project.   Super cute

Next up,  painting wine glasses to resemble a pumpkin 

Final group photo of all the different projects.   What a fun day! 

Fun Fall shaker card

Hello!  Thanks for stopping by today.  I absolutely love shaker cards!  I love how they look.  I love that they are interactive and not to mention just full of cuteness!

 

Fall is here in Western PA, so I got the itch to make a fall card.

 

Here are a few items I used to make my card.

 

 

I used the Holiday word art from Craftin' Desert Divas and her new Pocket Pieces die to cut the center for my shaker.  I also used her Autumn sequins (what a bag full of gorgeousness this is)

 

Versa fine ink (one of my all time favs)

 

This shaker card I used a sheet of Foamie instead of my normal foam tape.  I wanted to try this technique.  I saw the video from Jennifer Mcquire and thought how much easier that must be.



 

The clear part of my shaker card is transparency film. I have one small square sequins stuck there at the top.. I guess that adds character!

 

The small pumpkin on the bottom left if from the Lawn Fawn Happy Harvest set.

 

I wanted to give my card a little different look, so I angled my shaker box.  I love how it turned out!  I hope you try a shaker card.  It is tons of fun.

 

Have a beautiful day! 

 

 



Mixed media card

Hello!  I hope this finds you having a wonderful day!  I have been watching many YouTube videos about mixed media.  At first, I'll be honest.. I wasn't a fan of it.  The more I looked around, the more I thought WOW is that ever gorgeous.

 

I truly do not think there is a right or wrong way to do a mixed media piece.  I used distress inks for my background.  I wouldn't use them for a project larger than this 6x6 card (just my opinion).  I will be trying the Dylusions Paint for my next mixed media project.  I think it will be easier to cover a larger surface.

 

I then randomly stenciled and stamped around various places.  For the gray hearts, I used my gelatos and texture paste.  I mixed up my concoction and spread over my heart stencil.

 

I wanted this to be a card and it didn't take me long to go to my Heartfelt Creations collection.  Think of you seems to fit just about anywhere.  Who wouldn't want you to think about them?

 

I feel this is just the start for me.  There are so many techniques and I will continue to work on my mixed media. It was fun to make.  It almost brought out your inner child!  I hope you try a mixed media project.

 

Have a beautiful day!