Just Believe

Hello! Thanks for stopping by today . I'd love to showcase from the Whispers collection .. Dragonfly at Die-Versions

 

 

I started out by die cutting the Dragonfly in gold foil paper.  It is a very thick paper and the die has some intricate cuts so I placed a piece of cardstock folded under my plate for some extra thickness.  It cut perfectly the first time.  I just received my Vagabond 2, so I wasn't sure how thick I would need.

 

My card is 4 x 5.5 in size and I played with my gelatos for this card... Ok, well my purple gelato!  I used watercolor paper and gesso to place a layer over the paper (let this dry).  I then scribbled some gelato and with my spray bottle spritzed and moved the gelato until I was happy with it.  I wanted this card to be simple .. but let me tell you.. it looks stunning in person.

 

I wanted the dragonfly to really be raised, so I placed two layers of adhesive foam .. it was so high that you could see the foam.  I took out  a gold marker and colored it so it would blend in. You can leave the wings as is or I bent them slightly giving them some curve.

 

   

 

I then stamped my sentiment (from My Creative Time)  and embossed in Brutus Monroe gold.  Placed the dragon fly on the card and added a few rhinestone embellishments for the final touch.

 

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  When shopping at Die-Versions be sure to use the code kara15 to save 15% from your order.   This can not be combine with any other sales or promotions.

 

Happy Crafting!

Kara

 

 

 

 

 

Be the Reason someone smiles

Hello!  Thanks for stopping by

 

New week calls for a new challenge at The Color Throwdown blog!  This week the colors were so amazing that I can't stop looking at them.   Here is the swatch to work with.

 

 

I am loving the layered look lately.  It seems all of my cards end up with numerous beautiful layers. I first started off with my card base.  It is 5 x 6.5 and I purchase these at Michaels when on sale. I ended up trimming it slightly which I normally do not do.

 

I started out with a 4 x 5.5 white piece of card stock and took the brand new ink from So Suzy Stamps called Wild Watermelon.. and oh is this gorgeous.  I know this will be my go to pink from here on out..   I took my ink blending tool from Tim Holtz and placed the Wild Watermelon down.  I die cut in yellow the brand new stacked stars from Simon Says Stamp.  I left some of the stars intact ..  I ended up cutting down this piece of cardstock as my stars didn't take up as much space as I thought.

 

I then started my layers.. I used the Scalloped square from SugarPea Designs.  Orignally this was from a Stamp of Approval box, but can now be purchased outside of the box.  The next layer is from Craftin Desert Divas Fancy Frames.   The next layer is the Picture Frame die from Craftin Desert Divas.  The pink layer is a regular old cut and I embossed this layer.  Finally one last white square.. I took my Wild Watermelon and drug it around the edges of this piece to make it kinda pop away from the white card base.

 

I then took the Flag Banners from Craftin Desert Divas and used the brand new set from Simon Says Stamp (inspired by Jennifer McGuire) Uplifting Thoughts.  I embossed this with Alabaster from Brutus Monroe.

 

It needed something else.. so I rummaged through my ribbon and found pink.. and had some twine in the mess, so I added that as well. 

 

This card turned out so incredibly gorgeous.  The colors together are stunning.. Be sure to  join in the Color Throwdown Challenge weekly!

 



Imagine

Hello!  Thanks so much for stopping by

 

Today I want to show off the new So Suzy Stamps April release!!  If you love flowers... you must check out the release here

 

For my card I cut a base 4 x 5.5 inches.  I use the folded cards from Michaels for my actual card, so I try to always have bases cut.  I ended up going to the larger card size for this card in the final stages.

 

I then took two stamps .. Spray and Mini Spray and randomly place using the Ink Bits collection Highland Spring.   After I had enough sprays all over I stamped and embossed the new Imagine stamp (which I absolutely love).   I used Brutus Monroe embossing powder in Alabaster.   I used the stitched rectangle from MFT Stamps and raised this with foam tape (although it may be hard to see in the photo).

 

Then comes the Nuvo Crystal Drops... I need intervention on these.. once you start making dots.. it is tough to stop.  I do need to pre-make these drops because if you mess up on a card/project .. it is too late!!  I did mess up and I also tried to layer purple over white.. Just a word to the wise.. pre-drop these babies on acetate.

 

I then decided to layer some matching cardstock behind my stamped spray. My final card is 5 x 6.5 and gorgeous!!!  I love fun colors and this combo is just that.

 

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

~Kara

 



MFT Stamps - Thank you

Hello!  Thanks so much for stopping by

 

I'm fairly certain I have a MFT Stamps (My Favorite Things Stamps) issue.. LOL  I love their releases as there is always something .. something you just 'need'.

 

This vertical stars die is from the February release!! I'm not sure why I waited to use it, but it's gorgeous..

 

1.  I took the die and a 5 x 6.5 piece of cardstock and die cut the vertical star twice.  There is also a horizontal star die.. that's why I keep saying vertical.. so you know what I used.

 

2.  I then took the Homespun lines and made a decorative edge to my cardstock.  

 

3.  Using my Brutus Monroe ink (Zest) I used the Tim Holtz ink blending tool and edged the cardstock.

 

4.  I cut my yellow cardstock 5 x 6.5 to lay under the white. 

 

5.  Where my stars met were kind of wonky, so it worked perfect to take a scrap piece of yellow cardstock and stamp with the Brutus Monroe Zest.  I used the star from Count the Stars.  I then took Thank you from Kind Thank you and embossed with Brutus Monroe Alabaster. 

 

6.  I then adhered foam tape for some dimension and placed that right where my starts were wonky.

 

Today was a gorgeous unexpected beautiful weather day (the weatherman was wrong.. I love when he is wrong for the right reason. .LOL)  So this card matched the beautiful bright sunny day!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

 

 



Color Throwdown Challenge #384

 

 

Hello!  Thanks so much for stopping by

 

Have you tried a color throwdown challenge?  This is my 2nd challenge and I feel the challenge!  Try one out!  At Color Throwdown they host a weekly challenge! 

 

Here is the color pallet you had to work with

 

 

I took the Morning Glory background stamp from The Ton Stamps and embossed it with Brutus Monroe embossing ink and Alabaster powder .. I just love Brutus Monroe products. 

 

I then took my Zig Clean color brush markers and my water pen and colored away.  I wanted more of the water color look.  To add the finishing touch I used Memory Box butterfly dies and my Spectrum Noir red berry glitter brush.

 

Here is my final project!  I felt like it needed a word or sentiment, but after placing different ones various places I decided not to place one on the front.  It is on the inside of the card.

 

Happy Birthday and SVG Files

Hello!  Thanks so much for stopping by

 

Today I am so incredibly excited to say that Craftin Desert Divas has released SVG cut files for the Shop Cutie collection.  If you have a cutting machine, this should make you extremely happy!   It is so super simple to use SVG's with my Cricut Explore. 

 

So first I saved the SVG file to my computer and extracted that zip file.  Logged into my Cricut Design Space I went to start new project and then upload.  You can upload many different types of files, but I love SVG's because the layers are given for you.  All of the work is done.. You just need to resize the project and simply cut!

 

I decided to raise my stars on the candy bar with foam.  I love dimension so this fit right in.  I also distress inked the squares of the chocolate bar to give it a slightly different chocolate look. 

 

So after I had all of my pieces cut I assembled my little candy bar shop cutie to get the idea how I wanted her.  I then make my card base which included my most favorite die set ever from Craftin Desert Divas... Fancy Frames.  Adding Happy Birthday from Bring on the Cake stamp set and embossed this with Brutus Monroe Alabaster powder.. BTW it is a gorgeous pure white..   Topped it off with some sequins .. perfect CUTE card!

 

Products used:

This is the Shop Cutie Candy Bar file used for my project http://craftindesertdivas.com/shop-cutie-candy-bar-cutting…/

All svg cut files can be found here: http://craftindesertdivas.com/cutting-files/...
Craftin Desert Divas products also used in this project:
Fancy Frames: http://craftindesertdivas.com/fancy-frame-dies/
Bring On The Cake: http://craftindesertdivas.com/fancy-frame-dies/
Pizazz Sequins: http://craftindesertdivas.com/pizazz-sequins/

Brutus Monroe - Alabaster Embossing powder

 

I hope this has sparked some creativity! 

Happy Crafting

 

 



Thank you

Hello!  Thanks for stopping by

 

I was raised to send thank you notes and still do to this day.  I try to send as many as possible and this one hits it out of the park.

 

My favorite thing to look at is the sky so a thank you note with the sky background is ME!

 

I started out using the Brutus Monroe cardstock (I'm obsessed with his cardstock).  I then took Brutus Monroe ink (Zest, Locomotive and Aubergine and the detail ink for the tree line)  These are chalk inks and are phenomenal.  They are permanent and you can water color with them if you wish.. I took my blending tool and created a beautiful sky.  I am all about sunsets, so to see the ending of the sunset on this card made me smile from ear to ear.

 

I then took my MISTI (by the way goes beyond it's name) and lined up the tree line stamp (from Concord & 9th - written in stars.  and stamped 2.5 times to make my tree line.

 

I stamped Thank you (from Honey Bee Stamps) and embossed with Lindy's Stamp Gang embossing powder.  Lindy's embossing powder is out of this world amazing.. it has a shimmer to it and it just adds a beautiful touch.

 

I then took the star stamp from the written in stars set and stamped several and embossed with again Lindy's Stamp Gang embossing powder.  I had to include the shooting star from the same set.  I just recently got the Sparkle pens from Spectrum Noir and so I tried to use the yellow and fairly certain I may not use it again over embossing powder.. It kinds just ran off.. Lesson learned!

 

I hope this sparked a creativeness in our mind to craft. 

Happy Crafting

~Kara

 



Snowflakes from The Ton

Hello!  Thanks for stopping by

 

I hope that you had a GREAT Christmas if you celebrate.  I wanted to share a tag and a card I made using the Snowflake stamp set from The Ton.

 

The first one is a card I made knowing it would go to my Dad and step Mom.  I could make purple everything and not blink an eye. 

 

I am going crazy over the 'bokeh' look.  I knew I could achieve the same general look with the snowflakes.  I took my distress ink and made the background with two different colors (Dusty Concord and Shaded Lilac).  I used the same colors for the larger snowflakes. 

 

The brighter purple I used Brutus Monroe ink Aubergine.  It made those smaller flakes pop!

 

I then took the gorgeous embossing power from Stampendous in the shabby white to emboss.  I feel like this is kind of chucky in style.  It's different than other embossing powers I have used. 

 

I then added Merry Christmas  and embossed to complete the card.

 

 

The tag I used the same exact colors and technique.  Adding to and from to make it a gift tag.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you had a very Merry Christmas

~Kara