Gingerbread shaker card using a digital image

Hello!  Thank you so much for stopping by!  Today I wanted to share a fear I conquered, LOL.  That is using a digital image!!!  Sounds craziness, but I just wasn't sure how to.. if I'm being quite honest.  I can't be alone in that.

 

To top it off, I was almost boycotting digital images because I like the physical aspect of stamping to paper.  I have been scrapbooking for years and refuse to go digital.. To me scrapbooking is the art of placing paper to paper.  Maybe I am alone in this, but I guess it's how I feel.

 

The first thing I noticed about the digital image.. you can make it how large or small you'd like.. so the possibilities are endless in that aspect. 

 

I used the digi image from Craftin Desert Divas.  Not only are her digi's super cute, but her stamps are full of adorableness.

 

I also used the Brutus Monroe cardstock for my base.  It's super important to have a good cardstock and his cardstock is        AHHHH-MAZING!

 

I then used the Lawn Fawn Lets Bokeh set.  I am obsessing with the bokeh look right now.

I wanted a simple stamp and I really didn't want it to be Christmas.. So I used the word Joy from the Stamps of Life set.  I stamped it with black versa fine and used clear embossing.  I love clear embossing.  It adds that shine and crispness.. A picture may not show, but I love it.

 

Adding in my shaker elements added the final touches to this shaker card.   I'm on a mission to find a way to not have my elements stick to my transparency film.. It always seems to stick in the wrong places.. aka her nose in this one..

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope this has sparked some creativity!  Happy Crafting

~Kara

I entered this card into the Monthly creative challenge at Sparkle N Sprinkle anything goes.



Snowflakes are winter's butterflies

Hello! Thanks so much for stopping by today!

 

I always say I live in the wrong part of the US.. I like warm and sunny weather.  Here where I reside, we are fortunate that NO accumulation has happened yet.. At least I'm thankful, LOL.

 

When I saw the sentiment stamp from So Suzy Stamps.. Snowflakes are winter's butterflies... I just knew I needed it.   I love butterflies and this is one way to get me through our rough winters..

 

Purple everything!!  That's what I feel.   So of course I went purple.  I used the Snowflake fusion cover plate from My Favorite Things.  I chose a lilac color and to have a contrasting dark purple behind.    I went back and forth as to whether or not glitter was needed to pop out a snowflake.  I tried a few and did not like the outcome, so I used the plain lilac.

 

The tag that I stamped and embossed my sentiment on is from Craftin Desert Diva's Pocket Pieces.  This set is so versatile and be used in so many different ways.  The stitched look is a look I LOVE!

 

I took some twine and wrapped it around that tag to give it a different look.  The snowflakes I used are shiny and give a little flare to the card. 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope that if you dislike snow where you live, that you too can see it through different eyes.. Butterflies

 

 

 This card is entered into these challenges.
Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenge
Craftin Desert Diva's linky party



Christmas Tree Pallet

  I wasn't sure if this would be an epic fail or win.  The Christmas tree made from pallets is going viral. I am sure you have seen the post I speak of. 

 

Here is my take on a Christmas Tree pallet.

 

I started off with a pallet and kinda gauged where I wanted to cut.  I knew I wanted some of the nails and or nail holes to be present on my tree.  Added rustic look!  So I cut and placed the 'branches' in the order I wanted.  I used a stake I had laying around, however, I wouldn't use a brand new one again.. It needs to be 'roughed up' to go with the pallets.. Unless you are using a brand new pallet.

 

I then took some scrapbook paper and mod podged it onto the pallet.  I did let this set over night.  If I were to do this again, I would for sure make the paper fit the 'branch' .. not just the 12 inches in length the paper is.  The morning after, I took my sander and  roughed up the scrapbook paper a bit.  I didn't want it to be perfect. 

 



For my other branches I took some acrylic paint and just randomly painted with a bunched up paper towel. Again, I wasn't going for a 'perfect' look.  I wanted to be a bit messy and primitive if you will. You can make the tree any color you wish.. I'm a purple fan to the extreme, so I did purple.

 

After I the paint dried, I put a thick layer of mod podge over every part of the tree.  The paint dries quick as you only put a thin layer .. Unless you do thick painting.

 

I added some buttons and a star that I scuffed some paint up.  Screwed it all onto my stake and there you have it!  I did paint over the stake.  As I said earlier, it was too new looking.  I'd stain it or just get some wood that looks used next time.

 





Thanks for stopping by!

~Kara



Hello Fall!

Hello!  It's Kara here on the blog.  I reside in Western PA and Fall is usually FREEZING cold, but as I write this.. it is a whopping 70 degrees!  So Hello Fall!

 

I took some watercolor paper and sprayed Starbursts from Lindy's Stamp Gang to create the green background.  For the Hello Fall, I used a mixture of sprays ranging from Lindy's Stamp Gang to the Color Bursts from Ken Oliver to pearlescent sprays.

 

I wanted to make a simple, but beautiful card.  I used the Hello Fall Die from Die-Versions to be my heading.  I love this die as there is so many ways you could display this on a card.    I went simple and do I ever love how it turned out!

 

I then took some twine from Annie's Paper Boutique and wrapped around a few times.  I then used the Blessed stamp (Thankful Squeaks set) from Craftin Desert Divas and the tag die from her Pocket Pieces Die set. I attached the Blessed tag to the twine and gave it a little glue to hold in place.

 

The two small leaves came from Simon Says Stamp die set Maple Leaf Corner.  I used the Dylusions orange paint to add some fall color.

 

I adhered the main green background to my Kraft Brown (oohhh I love Kraft Brown, LOL) and just like that the card was complete!  I love love how it turned out.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

 

As always, when purchasing goodies from the Die-Versions shop use kara15 to save 15% (can not use with other sales or discounts)

 

~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