I miss you

Hello!  Thank you for stopping by

 

This week I am participating in the Cas-ual Fridays Tic Tac Toe Challenge.

I could have went many different ways in this challenge.  The board was amazing to work with.  In the end, I went with Butterflies, Add a tag and texture.

 

I decided to dig out my stencils to see what I had.  I definitely do not use them enough.   I came across a TCW Stencil and knew it was my golden ticket.  I then took Faber Castell whipped spackle and mixed a reinker from Cather Pooler Designs.   If you have reinkers, put them to use!  I hoard them, but also need to get them used even more.

 

To put the final touch on my card, I got out my Tim Holtz tag die set.   From Cas-ual Fridays, I used I Miss You from the Calm and Gentle stamp set (embossed in white).

 

I entered this card into the Cas-ual Fridays challenge:  Tic Tac Toe

 

 



 



Rainbow of Thanks

Hello!  Thanks so much for stopping by

 

Today I am sharing a card I made for the Cas-ual Fridays Stamps challenge, Rainbows. 

 

 

I had a general idea of how I wanted this card to come together.  I first took the 4 petal Fri-die and colored with a dauber, the edges of each in Catherine Pooler inks.  I took my pinky and with the color Tierra, dabbed the center.  I then glued each flower together.  I used prills for the center of each flower to give it some interest.

 

I then took Thank you from So Pretty stamp set and stamped this on the bottom right corner.  I used my MISTI because I wanted a dark impression and the MISTI allows you to stamp as many times as you'd like in the same spot.

 

I'd like to say this is a pretty CAS card.  For me, this is a very simple 'almost' one layer card.  The outcome is just what I had in mind.

 

 

This card is entered into the Rainbow challenge at Cas-ual Fridays Stamps blog here.

 

Cas-ual Fridays products used:

So Pretty - Stamp set

4 Petals - Fri-Die

 

 

 

 

 



Primitive Christmas

 

 

 Hello!  Thank you so much for stopping by

I had time to play around with a few dies from the November release at Craftin Desert Divas and oh my oh my.. my new favs! The Winter Wonderland dies are FUN!

This is the mood board inspiration for November.  When posting on social media, be sure to use #cddmonthly and also join the Facebook group to share your creation.  Here is the group link  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1428163220758119/

1.  I first took a kraft card base 5 x 6.5.  I buy my card bases at Michaels and love that they come with envelopes.
2.  I then laid out all of my card stock I wanted to use.  I made this card with the intention of following the November mood board from Craftin Desert Divas.
3.  I then cut with the picture frame die my bottom layer. 
4.  Next, I cut from the Fancy Frames my next layer.  This is by far my staple of dies.. You must have it LOL!
5.  I then cut the lantern die and candle
6.  Using the Winter Wonderland die set (which is packed full of amazingness) I cut the poinsettia in 4 different shades of brown/beige.  I cut 4 of each so I could layer the poinsettias.  There is a dotted crease on the poinsettia that allows you to nicely shape the flower if you'd like.  I did and it gives it such dimension.
7. Layering the poinsettia to whatever I felt looked nice, I glued them together and placed accordingly on my card.

 

 

 I hope you have enjoyed this card! 

 

CDD products used:
Winter Wonderland Dies: http://craftindesertdivas.com/winter-wonderland-dies/
Lantern Die: http://craftindesertdivas.com/lantern-die/...
Fancy Frames: http://craftindesertdivas.com/fancy-frame-dies/
Picture Frame Die: http://craftindesertdivas.com/picture-frame-die/

Hi!

Hello!  Thanks so much for stopping by

 

Today I bring you a challenge card for Your Next Stamp.  This is challenge #44 submission.

 

Here is the challenge criteria

 

  

 

 

First I took a card base that was 4.25 x 5.5 and cut 1/4 inch from 2 sides.  I like to have a small background to pop some color.  I then took from Paint Swooshes the small and large paint splats with Brutus Monroe ink (Cornflower, Speckled Egg and Jack-o-Lantern).  I randomly placed these knowing some would be covered up to follow the challenge criteria. 

 

I then took watercolor paper (and I do need to say this isn't my favorite for using my Zig markers).  If you have the Zig markers or thinking about them.. watercolor paper is key to having you love them.  I stamped with Archival black from Silly Monsters Incognito ONE the body and face.  I then used my Zig Clean Brush Markers to make him orange.  I then stamped HI from the Silly Monsters Incognito TWO on the watercolor paper.  Using the MISTI for this is crucial for me as watercolor paper I never get a great first impression.

 

I then adhered this all together and added 2 googly eyes to my monster.   A quick and simple card that is off in the mail today! 

 

This card is entered into the Your Next Stamp Challenge #44

 



A Note to Brighten your DAY!

Hello!  Thanks so much for stopping by

 

Today I want to share a card made for the SugarPea Designs Mix it up challenge #3.  This is the color pallet to work with and design sketch.  You could use one or the other or both.. I tried my hand at both!

 

 

I used Whatever the Weather & Die from SugarPea Designs.  Also the pattern paper from Whatever the Weather series. 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  SugarPea Designs has many challenges to choose from.  Challenge your craftiness and link up a project. 

 

 



Sketch and Color Challenge #41 - Your Next Stamp

Hello!  Thanks so much for stopping by

 

Today I would love to show off my shaker card created for the Your Next Stamp Sketch and Color Challenge #41

 

  

 

 

I got some awesome inspiration from the DT posts, but as I thought more.. I turned my idea into a shaker card.  After all I say SHAKER EVERYTHING! LOL  They are fun to create and just love the outcome of shakers.

 

So first I created the main part of the sketch.. the 3 windows.  I used an inside out square die to create my windows.  I then placed transparency film over the windows.. popped up my sketch base with foam ... filled with sequins and nail art tubes (I purchased these at the Dollar Tree and just knew they would come in handy).  

 

I then created a backing for the shaker.  I used the Confetti stamp and masked off each section so that I could use blue, pink and purple.  I wanted to not only challenge myself for the sketch, but also the color portion.  I adhered that to my shaker portion and moved onto the layers to match the sketch.

 

I then wanted a birthday theme of some sort so I took out the Balloon Buddies stamp set and stamped what I needed.  I did not purchase the dies when I bought the stamps. So using the stamped images.. I traced and cut on my Brother Scan N Cut.  I cut three different times for the 3 different colors.  I also cut the balloon strings using the Brother Scan N Cut.  I only had room for 3 balloons, so I cut off 2 strings in the batch.   These turned out super tiny so I used my Xyron X to put adhesive on the back..

 

 

 

Once all of this was laid down, the top portion of the white shaker windows needed something.. So I took the single confetti from the Balloon set and stamped the coordinating colors I used for the background of the shaker.  That added just what I needed.  The sequins came into play because I needed to cover up a boo-boo LOL.

 

The final step was to stamp and use the HB2U from Silly Monster Incognito 2.  I popped that up with some foam for some dimension.

 

This is my card for the #41 Sketch and Color Challenge.  I hope you like it!  It took a few hours to complete.. After all, the thoughts in my mind don't happen in a few minutes.. It's always a little process, but I love the outcome!

 

 



Love you

Hello!  Thanks so much for stopping by

 

Today I am using So Suzy Stamps and ink bites for my project.  The color combo in the ink bites are gorgeous! 

 

Items I will be using for this project

Swirly Hearts:  http://www.sosuzystamps.com/swirly-hearts/

Love you:  http://www.sosuzystamps.com/love-you/

Highland Ink bites:  http://www.sosuzystamps.com/highland-spring-ink-bite-set/

Spray:  http://www.sosuzystamps.com/spray/

Mini Spray:  http://www.sosuzystamps.com/spray-mini/

Caribbean Ocean Nuvo drops:  http://www.sosuzystamps.com/gloss-caribbean-ocean-nuvo-crystal-drops/

Sweet Lilac:  http://www.sosuzystamps.com/gloss-sweet-lilac-nuvo-crystal-drops/

 

I had watched a video from Jennifer McGuire on stamping a background and then adding white to the center of the card to give it a 'faded' look.  So I tried it on this card.  I used both sizes of spray stamps and randomly placed using the ink bites.  I then placed a layer of white on the center.  In the photo you may not be able to fully tell what is going on, but in person the center has a faded look and then brighter on the outsides..

 

I then took the Swirly Hearts stamp and stamped in the center using the same ink bite collection.  I LOVE that the love you stamp is the only left over color from the ink bite collection.. it stands out and looks fab. 

 

I then placed a few nuvo crystal drops on the card to finish it off.  These crystal drops are some of my first made.. I dropped some out on a piece of acetate in the beginning.. I've also dropped some directly to a card.. I love both ways.. if you drop them on a card .. be very careful that you don't smudge them or place something on top of it.. been there done that. LOL

 

If you have ink bites from So Suzy.. be sure to link up a card here

 

Happy Crafting!

 

 

 

 



Happy Birthday!

Hello!  Thanks so much for stopping by.  I am participating in the weekly Color Throwdown  Challenge.  I love this challenge because it always a fun challenge to see what you come up with.  This is CDT397.

 

Challenge information can be found here:  http://colorthrowdown.blogspot.com/

 

 

Here is the color pallet to work with this week.

 

 

I am always in need of Birthday cards, so I decided to take out my Happy Birthday sentiment from So Suzy Stamps.   I first embossed my stamp with Alabaster from Brutus Monroe.  I then took out my Gansai Tambi watercolors and painted green over my sentiment.  I then took brown and yellow and flicked random places. 

 

I topped it off with some green, brown and yellow sequins.

 

 



Wildflowers in the Wind - CDT#389

Hello!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

The colors for this weeks Color Throwdown Challenge were gorgeous..   I just happened to purchase a new Rubbernecker Stamp called Wildflowers in the Wind and so I adapted that stamp to the color challenge.

 

 

Here is the color pallet you have to work with

 

I used Stampin Up ink:  Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green, Tangelo Twist

So Suzy Stamps ink bite Thistle Thicket

 

Rubbernecker Stamps:  Wildflowers in the Wind, Freehand Frame and The Garden

 

The Frugal Crafter has an awesome video on how to stamp this particular stamp, Wildflowers in the Wind.  I found it a HUGE help to hear the tip lay your stamp on the photo of the stamp.  Because it is red rubber you can not see to line it up perfectly.  Honestly, Flowers in the wind would never be perfect, so however you get them lined up works.  For me I laid my stamp on the photo and then knew where to place it using my misti to stamp.

 

To add the finishing touch, I took my clarity brushes from So Suzy Stamps and just brushed some Pumpkin Pie over lightly.  Then I stamped my sentiment using Versafine Black onyx.

 

The weekly challenge can be found here.

 

I'm so glad you stopped by.  I hope this inspires you to be crafty.

~Kara

 

 



Fun in the Garden

 

Hello!  Today I want to share the Linky Party at Craftin Desert Divas.  The theme is one of my FAVORITES... Shake it up!!  Yes, that means crank up those shaker crafty juices and get to crafting!  Shaker cards are so fun to make and not to mention you can just shake, shake, shake!!





Every other Monday will mark the beginning of a new semi-weekly Linky Party over at the CDD blog. We hope you will share your projects with us! And don't forget about the prizes! Every Linky Party will have a winner and a Top 3! The more times you link up...the more chances you have to win!!

 

Our Sponsors for this Linky Party are:

One 4x6 Stamp Set

 

One Digital Stamp of choice

 

I absolutely LOVE this linky challenge!!  For digi images, I use Word to position my images and print. I start off by printing my flower pot bear.   I use a Brother Laser Printer and Brutus Monroe cardstock to print my digi images.    Using my Spectrum Noir pens I color in the image until I love it!  My final touches for the bear is a bit of Glossy Accents to her eyes.

 

I then went to Too Cute By Jessica and purchased the files that match this digi stamp.  There was a 95% off sale and I love a good sale!

 

From those files I took the flowers an SVG file and imported it to my Cricut.  I cut out a few different sizes.. I wanted these as accents for my card.  I wanted a sweet sentiment for my card so I also programed my Cricut to write instead of cut "Fun in the Garden". 

 

I wanted my sequins to appear to be coming out of the flower pot so I chose the Fancy Stitched Label Dies for my shaker portion.  I cut a foam layer, transparency film, and cardstock layer.  I adhered them all together and let that sit over night with a little weight (usually I use a container of my ink cubes).  I am sure you don't need to let it set that long and I don't always. 

 

My background is simply Zest from Brutus Monroe.  I love to make my own color backgrounds and Brutus Monroe inks can do just about anything.

 

I then took my Fancy Frames die and cut two different shapes from that.  I wanted a fun bright color for my card and I believe I achieved that!  I filled my shaker in with Pizazz sequins (which currently I am obsessing over). 

 

I hope you enjoy this shaker card as much as I LOVED making it!

 



Craftin Desert Divas products used:

Flower Pot Bear - http://craftindesertdivas.com/flower-pot-bear-digital-stamp/
Pizazz Sequins - http://craftindesertdivas.com/pizazz-sequins/
Fancy Frames Dies - http://craftindesertdivas.com/fancy-frame-dies/
Fancy Stitched Label Dies - http://craftindesertdivas.com/fancy-stitched-label-dies/



 

Linky parties are from Monday at 12AM Arizona MST thru Sunday 12PM Arizona MST.

Any projects you submit must be linked to your blog or online gallery. 

Projects must be NEW, no back linking, please.

Number of entries for this linky party is unlimited.

You may link up ANY type of craft project (layout, card, altered item, tag (etc) as long as it goes with the theme of the party.

Please link your project back to Craftin Desert Divas Linky Party.

Winners will be randomly chosen by random.org

Snowflakes

Hello!  Thanks so much for stopping by

 

 

Today I wanted to showcase a card I made using my favorite style.. shaker card!!  Shaker cards are so fun and interactive.  They have such a look that I love. 

 

I started out knowing I wanted to use my stamp from So Suzy Stamps - Snowflakes are winter's butterflies.  I just love this sentiment.  I'm not a lover of snow, so to think of it this way puts my mind in a different thought pattern. 

 

I also knew I wanted a shaker element to my card.  I decided to use my Wonky Frame from Avery Elle to make my 'window' .  It's a solid cut so I had to also cut the inside with a die from MFT Stamps blueprints.

 

I added my transparency film to the frame .. I also opted for two layers of foam.  The shaker cards I have been making do not shake as much as I'd like.. So adding another layer made it perfect.  Everything shakes just as I want.  On the base of the shaker I stamped and embossed the sentiment from So Suzy.  I then embossed it in pink.  I learned a little trick from Jennifer McGuire and that is to glue a few of your shaker elements to the background.. that way it looks like it's floating.  I like this look so thank you Jennifer for that tip.

 

I wanted to use the digital stamp from Craftin Desert Divas so I colored this adorable Angel Bear and glued him to my project.   He adds the perfect touch to my shaker.

 

I made my own enamel dots from perler beads, so I placed one in each corner.  And just like that this adorable card took shape.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope this has inspired you to be creative and go craft! 

~Kara

 

This card has been entered to the following:

 Craftin Desert Divas - Let it Snow

Challenge 293 Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes

 Simon Says Stamp - Monday Challenge

Sparkle N Sprinkle - Anything Goes

Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes 

Tic Tac Toe Challenge - tic tac toe challenge