Karen's Kreative Kards

Aud Sentiments and Card Makin' Mamas Challenges

2012-02-26T08:00:00.003-06:00

The challenge this week at Aud Sentiments is to use Happy on our cards and Birthdays is the theme at Card Makin' Mamas. The "happy bd" sentiment from TAC is one of my favorite little sayings to use on birthday cards. I embossed the buck using a brass stencil and the No More Shims thick embossing pad on some striped dp. I sponged him brown while still in the stencil, tore the edges and distressed them. The background is a Cuttlebug embossing folder and a pleated ribbon from SU completes the card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Cuttlebug Spot and Poodles Parlour Challenges

2012-02-25T08:00:00.007-06:00

The challenge this week at The Cuttlebug Spot is "Spring is in the Air" and we are to make a feminine card at Poodles Parlour. Flowers are feminine and remind me of spring so I am entering this card I made with pre-colored flowers and piercing patterns from Fred She Said. I printed the flowers and leaves and layered them raising each layer with mounting tape. The outside and inside pieces of the flower were printed and I used a needle to prick each of the holes and then layered with the flower for a pretty focal piece. I used a Sizzix embossing folder on the green card and added a ribbon from SU to complete the feminine card.

Just have to share this- he is sooo cute and obviously smart too:) Hope it makes you smile like it did me:)

Stamping smiles, Karen

What If? Wed. Sketch Challenge

2012-02-22T07:00:00.002-06:00

It's time for another fun sketch challenge at The House that Stamps Built and we are challenging you to make a card using the sketch below and link it up for a chance at some great Repeat Impressions rubber! For all the details on what you can win and to see the other Rock Stars cards using this sketch, please visit our blog.

For my card, I started with one of my favorite Repeat Impressions stamps, Extreme Cheetah. I stamped him on rust paper, cut out and rounded the edges. I embossed the top part of the card with a Cuttlebug folder and made a line across the center with Candis.

I am entering this card in the animals challenge at There She Goes.

Paper Creations Ink Show Us Your Style Challenge

2012-02-21T08:00:00.001-06:00

It's time for another challenge at Paper Creations Ink and our theme is "Show Us Your Style Using Your Favorite Technique"! Just a quick reminder, you can use any image for this challenge. We would LOVE to see all types of creations, whether it is a Card, Scrapbook Page, Fat Book Page, Tag, ATC (Artist Trading Card), Box, Bag, 3D ~ Altered Art, or Other Crafting Projects that has some form of paper on it.

Our Sponsor for this challenge is Ike's Art. Susan (Ike), Owner/Artist of Ike's Art has so graciously offered 5 Digi's Of Choice from her online store! Isn't that an awesome prize for one lucky person?

For my card I created a CAS card using several embossing folders and a gorgus castle scene from Ike's Art. My favorite technique is embossing with folders and I do it on almost all my cards. My style is CAS with little or no coloring, but some images are beautiful just as is, and this is one of them.

I am entering this card in the challenge at Crafty Catz for Favorite Things.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Repeat Impressions Stamp of the Week

2012-02-20T08:00:00.001-06:00

The stamp of the week this week at Repeat Impressions is this lovely Mina stamp, and it is available this week only for 50% off with the discount code found at Repeat Impressions blog. What a deal! Please visit the blog for all the details and to see the other Rock Star's cards using this stamp.

For my card, I started with some beautiful dp, an ek success edge punch and liquid pearls. I stamped Mina on off white paper and again on some pretty dp and paper pieced her outfit. The dream calligraphy was stamped, cut out with nestie and sponged while still in the diecut.

I am entering this card in the challenges at Penny’s Paper Crafty (anything goes) and Craft your Days Away (paper piecing.)

Stamping smiles, Karen

Just had to share this!

2012-02-19T08:00:00.001-06:00

No card today- busy with stamp camp this weekend, but am sharing something that was sent to me recently that I just loved.

I thought you would enjoy this, I think we all carry to much!

Stress

A young lady confidently walked around the room while reading and

explaining stress management to an audience; with a raised glass of

water, and everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question,

'half empty or half full?'..... She fooled them all..., "How heavy is

this glass of water?", she inquired with a smile.

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how

long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I

hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it

for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case it's the

same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

She continued, "and that's the way it is with stress. If we carry our

burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes

increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."

"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and

rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on

with the burden - holding stress longer and better each time

practiced.

So, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down.

Don't carry them through the evening and into the night...

pick them up tomorrow.

Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment.

Relax, pick them up later, after you've rested. Life is short. Enjoy

it and the now 'supposed' stress that you've conquered!"

REMEMBER, STRESS IS SOMETHING THAT

WE DO TO OURSELVES !!

1 * Accept the fact that some days you're the pigeon,

and some days you're the statue!

2 * Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

3 * Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the

middle of it.

4 * Drive carefully... It's not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker..

5 * If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague

6 * If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was

probably worth it..

7 * It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a

warning to others.

8 * Never buy a car you can't push.

9 * Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then

you won't have a leg to stand on.

10 * Nobody cares if you can't dance well.

Just get up and dance.

11 * Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

12 * The second mouse gets the cheese.

13 * When everything's coming your way,

you're in the wrong lane.

14 * Birthdays are good for you. The more

you have, the longer you live.

15 * You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the

world to one person.

16 * Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.

17 * We could learn a lot from crayons.

Some are sharp, some are pretty and

some are dull. Some have weird

names and all are different colors,

but they all have to live in the same box.

18 * A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

19 * Have an awesome day and know that

someone thought about you today.

20 * It was me, your friend!

Stamping smiles, Karen

Easter/Spring Card Challenge at SAS4Kids

2012-02-18T07:00:00.001-06:00

It's time for another fun new challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids and this time we are challenging you to make and link an Easter or Spring card for a child. I know it may seem early for this type of card, but remember we always need to be working ahead here at SAS4Kids because we need time to send the cards to the hospitals before the actual holiday. We would love to think that every child in all of our seven children's hospitals could receive an Easter or spring card this spring. But even if you don't send in your card, you can enter this challenge and have a chance at winning two awesome sponsor prizes or making our Top Three.

Our sponsors for this challenge are: Delicious Doodles and their prize is 4 digis of the winner's choice; and Robyn's Fetish and their prize is 5 digis of the winner's choice. Wouldn't you just love to shop these sites with these prizes? Just click on their names to check out all the great digital stamps available at both of our sponsor's sites.

My first card above uses a darling digi from Robyn's Fetish. Isn't the little girl dressed up like a bunny just so sweet? I paper pieced her bunny outfit and basket and finished with a little coloring with my copics. I added some Easter dp and a few egg eyelets to complete the card.

This card was made with another darling digi stamp from Delicious Doodles. I just printed and did a little sponging. I rounded the corners, added some ribbon to complete the CAS card.

I am entering these cards in the challenges at Bunny Zoe's Crafts for Celebrations and at Truly Scrumptious for "All Creatures Great and Small."

Stamping smiles 4 our kids, Karen

Sassy Cheryl's and Sweet Stamps Challenges

2012-02-17T08:00:00.004-06:00

The challenge this week at Sassy Cheryl's is to use no designer paper and at Sweet Stamps, we are to use roses. This is one of the cards we are making in a stamp camp I am hosting with a friend this weekend. It features some lol stamps from Repeat Impressions and a fun newer background technique. Did you know you can create a subtle background just by applying ink all over an acrylic block and stamping on your card with it? The green in the center of this card was done that way. I embossed the borders with a Tim Holtz embossing folder, cut with deckle scissors and distressed with black ink. The rose was paperpieced.

Bet we all have a guy in our life we could send this funny card to:) I stamped the punch line stamp twice and punched out the "official seal".

Stamping smiles, Karen

Kaboodle Doodles and Stamps R Us Challenges

2012-02-16T08:00:00.001-06:00

The challenge this week at Kaboodle Doodles is Masculine Cards and Anything Goes at Stamps R Us. I saw this idea of printing a map of the county where the recipient lives and using it as the background on a card on Pinterest. I think it makes for a great personalized card. I found a map of Barron County on line and printed it on patterned paper. I was born and raised in Barron and my brother still lives there, so this is a card for him. The deer stencil was embossed and sponged onto wood paper and cut out with deckle scissors. I think he will like it:)

Stamping smiles, Karen

Designer's Choice Challenge at Repeat Impressions

2012-02-15T08:00:00.002-06:00

It’s another Designer’s Choice Challenge at The House that Stamps Built, Repeat Impression’s blog. Joy is challenging us all to recycle the leftover scraps we all have to make a card. What a great idea! Please visit the blog for all the details and to see the other Rock Star's cards for this DCC challenge.

For my card, I used scraps of pink and green dp, a white scrap and a piece of green baker’s twine that was laying on my desk. I cut the purple card base a little smaller, but the green dp with the twine around it will fit into an A2 envelope. I paper pieced the Clover Bunny and colored his bouquet and the Celebrate Spring flowers with copics. The butterflies were diecut out of another scrap of the dp with a Memory Box die.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenge at One Stitch at a Time.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Happy Valentines Day Challenges

2012-02-14T08:00:00.001-06:00

Valentines Day is the theme of the challenges at Crafting When We Can, Dream Valley Challenges and The Squirrel and the Fox. I am posting my last Valentine which I sent to a dear friend who is on the road with her hubby in their motorhome. I sent it a while ago so hope it catches up with her soon.

I started with a lovely heart diecut from Memory Box which I attached to a heart nestie shape and added some gems. I cut out a mask with my large heart border from Martha Stewart and sponged the white hearts on to kraft paper. The friends stamp is from Stampin' up and the whole card was layered onto red cardstock to complete the card.

Happy Valentines to everyone!

Stamping smiles, Karen

CAS-ual Fridays and Moving Along with the Times Challenges

2012-02-13T08:00:00.001-06:00

CAS paper piecing is the theme at CAS-ual Fridays and Cute Critters are wanted at Moving Along with the Times. So this card I made recently using "toadally awesome" cute toads and turtle stamps from Raisin Boat is perfect for both. I paper pieced the toads in different dotted dp and attached them looking out of a circle cut with a nestie. The little turtle in the corner is my favorite and he was cut out and attached with mounting tape to a background created with a Cuttlebug embossing folder.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Craft Us Crazy and Digi Doodles Shops Best Challenges

2012-02-12T08:00:00.002-06:00

The challenge this week at Digi Doodles Shops Best is "For the Boys" and Anything Goes at Craft us Crazy. I won this fun set from Mark's Finest Papers when I was published with one of their stamp sets. I loved the silhouette stamps and the fun bull and sentiment so much I just had to choose this set and play with it right away when I received it. I started with a page out of an old book that I distressed to look even older. I stamped the wheat and other images in black and layered onto black and then on a kraft card.

The sentiments on the inside are from the same set- CAS but great for a guy's card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Crop Stop, Simon Says Stamp and My Mum's Crafty Shop Challenges

2012-02-11T08:00:00.004-06:00

Love is in the air at Simon Says Stamp and My Mum's Crafty Shop and at Crop Stop they are challenging us to make a wedding or anniversary card. I saw the new ruffled ribbon and laser cut cards from Stampin' up and just had to have them! For this card, I cut the card from SU apart and layered the front on a deep red card. The sentiment is an old one also from SU but still one of my favorites. The back of the SU card was cut down a little and used for the inside of the card so there was no waste. CAS for a wedding or anniversary or Valentines, but I love it.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Paper Pretties and Scrapbook Sisters Challenges

2012-02-10T08:00:00.002-06:00

Texture is the challenge this week at Paper Pretties and at Scrapbook Sisters, anything goes. I use my embossing folders all the time for texture and beauty and I used a Tim Holtz Sizzix one on the black front piece here. The punched pieces are done with a brand new punch from ek success that allows you to either punch a border or a separate large punched line- isn't that brilliant? You can chose which look you want, or use both as I have done. The white piece has the border look, and I punched a black line of the Rose Scroll and attached it in a window that I cut with my nesties. That piece was raised with mounting circles. I added some black and white pearls to complete the card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Crafty Sentiments and Papertake Weekly Challenges

2012-02-09T08:00:00.003-06:00

The challenge at Crafty Sentiments is "Let's Get Girly" and Anything Goes at Papertake Weekly. I used one of the new sets from Stampin' up that I could not resist and some of their new ribbon to create this feminine wedding card. The embossing folder from Sizzix is also new and I love the look of distressing it with ink and adding the pearl pen pearls in the centers of the embossed diamonds. The bridal gown was stamped on patterned paper and cut out and embossed with a nestie.

Stamping smiles, Karen

What if? Wed. Challenge and Happy Anniversary to ME!

2012-02-08T08:00:00.002-06:00

It's time for another fun sketch challenge at The House that Stamps Built and we are challenging you to make a card using the sketch below and link it up for a chance at some great Repeat Impressions rubber! I used one of my favorite Repeat Impressions stamps, Belle the adorable teddy bear as the focal point on my card. I paper pieced her dress, jacket and hat before putting her in the center of circles cut and embossed with my nesties. The strips in the background are from some Valentine paper I got at Target for $1. I attached the strips on white and embossed the whole piece with my favorite Cuttlebug embossing folder, Swiss Dots.

Today is a special day here on my blog. One year ago today I posted my first card as a member of the Rock Stars, the design team at Repeat Impressions. I am soooo grateful to Wendy at Repeat Impressions for giving me this opportunity. It was my first and best design team experience and I have had so much fun this year since starting this journey. Since joining this awesome team, I have been blessed with other design team opportunities and am loving those experiences too. But it started here at The House that Stamps Built and I am very grateful for this opportunity and all the fun this year has been.

And, Repeat Impressions is looking for a new Rock Star, so you could see what I mean when I say it is the best design team around. Here is what Wendy said on the blog:

" don’t forget we have a position available on our design team! So… are you addicted to stamping? Love to make cards as often as possible? Have a blog to show off all your wonderful creations? Do you enjoy a challenge and play well with others? You could be a Rock Star in the making! Please drop me a note at wendy@repeatimpressions.com if you would like more information."

I am entering this card in the CAS challenge at Paper Sundaes,

Stamping smiles, Karen

Paper Creations Ink Recipe Challenge

2012-02-07T08:00:00.004-06:00

It's time for a new challenge at Paper Creations Ink and this time it is a fun recipe challenge: 1 image, 2 designer papers and 3 embellishments. Our sponsor is Simply B Stamps and the image I used for this Valentine is a fun one you could win by playing along. Please check out the blog for all the details and to see the awesome cards designed by the rest of the design team.

The 1 image is from Simply B, the 2 designer papers were used in paper piecing her outfit and heart, and the 3 embellishments were the heart die (Memory Box), the embossed hearts (Cuttlebug) and the heart pearls.

I am entering this card in the Love and Hearts challenge at Truly Scrumptious.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Repeat Impressions Stamp of the Week

2012-02-06T08:00:00.002-06:00

The stamp of the week this week at Repeat Impressions is this fun Flowering Hearts stamp, and it is available this week only for 50% off with the discount code found at Repeat Impressions blog. What a deal! Please visit the blog for all the details and to see the other Rock Star's cards using this stamp.

For my card, I started with two pieces of white cardstock. On the bottom one, I stamped the Flowering Hearts and sponged with pink ink. Then I paper pieced the hearts, leaves and pot. I cut a scalloped heart hole with my nesties in the center of the other piece and cut and embossed the heart border with nestie border dies. The hearts are a Martha Stewart punch cut out of red sticky paper. The red card was embossed with my favorite Cuttlebug folder (Swiss dots) before I attached the white pieces. I added the sentiment (from Repeat Impressions) to complete the card.

I am entering this card in the challenge at 7 Kids College Fund to use the colors red, white and pink.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Paper Shelter and Penny's Paper Crafty Challenges

2012-02-05T08:00:00.004-06:00

"Love is in the Air" at both Paper Shelter and Penny's Paper Crafty and I am sharing this Valentine I made with a stamp I picked up at a used stamp sale and a bunch of heart punches. I stamped the Happy V Day on red and pink and paper pieced the smaller hearts. I was playing with my heart punches (all Martha Stewart), and punched a border and a white one and the gold one in sticky paper and covered it with gold microbeads.

Happy Super Bowl Sunday- although this says it all:

Stamping smiles, Karen

Anything Goes at Send a Smile 4 Kids

2012-02-04T08:00:00.003-06:00

Anything Goes (for kids) again at Send a Smile 4 Kids- cuz it is my favorite kind of challenge and the favorite of bloggers and sponsors alike. Our first sponsor is SCACD (Susana's Custom Art and Card Design) and she is giving an awesome set of stamps called The Adventures of Loli and Friends" to the lucky random winner of her prize. Karen's Doodles is sponsoring us too and their prize is 3 digis of the winner's choice. Saturated Canary's prize is 2 digis of the winner's choice and Crop Stop is giving their lucky random winner a $15 gift certificate! To get more details and to see the awesome cards designed by TEAM S.A.S. and two guest dt members, please visit our blog.

The first card I am sharing today is made with a darling digi from Saturated Canary. I printed Winter Ragamuffin on white paper and sponged the whole piece with light blue ink. I rounded the corners on that piece and the navy blue I layered it on. I punched small snowflakes and attached white ones on the blue and blue ones on the white each with a pearl. The sentiment (Fiskars) was cut and embossed with a nestie and also sponged. My fellow dt members did a fantastic job of coloring their Saturated Canary images, but this card shows you can still make a nice card with a detailed image without coloring.

My second card features the Skater Dude from Karen's Doodles. I printed him on white and paper pieced his clothing and board and helmet. The sentiment is from Verve. I attached two pieces of yellow notebook paper to the card and embossed it all. A little doodling and some sticker gems and the card is done. Teenage boys are the catagory of cards most needed by Send a Smile 4 Kids, so this one will be donated for one inpatient in a hospital.

You have two weeks to join us at Send a Smile 4 Kids in this Anything Goes challenge for a chance at 4 great sponsor prizes. So have some fun and create any card appropriate for children and join us in this challenge.

I am entering these cards in the challenges at Digi Stamps 4 Joy (For the Boys) and Fab n Funky (use a digi.)

Stamping smiles 4 our kids, Karen

Flutterby Wednesday and Divas By Design Challenges

2012-02-03T08:00:00.002-06:00

The challenge this week at Flutterby Wednesday is open as long as you use a butterfly, angel or fairy, and Anything Goes at Divas by Design. I found this colored notebook paper at JoAnn Fabric and Crafts and thought it would be fun on a card. I cut three strips of different colors and lengths and attached them to a white card. I stamped the butterflies twice (Inkadinkado). The edge of the front of the card was cut off to show the blue butterfly border (Memory Box) and then I added some of the butterflies with pearls to complete the card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Crafty Sentiments and Die Cuttin' Divas Challenges

2012-02-02T08:00:00.002-06:00

The challenge at Crafty Sentiments this week is to use our punches and/or diecuts and at Die Cuttin' Divas anything goes using diecuts. I as inspired by this card I found on Pinterest to make this fun bunny behind with my diecuts and punches. I used circle and oval diecuts and the tail is a punch from Stampin' up. If you click the link for the card, it will take you to the blog where the punches used and sizes are listed. I think it is sweet and am loving all the ideas I am finding on Pinterest.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Designers Choice Challenge at Repeat Impressions

2012-02-01T08:00:00.002-06:00

It's time for another Designers Choice challenge at The House that Stamps Built and Miriam is challenging us to use heat embossing in our cards. For awhile last year my heat gun sat unused for the longest time, but lately I have been heat embossing more and more again. This card has two different heat embossed areas. The Sunlight Cat is embossed with black detail embossing powder. The embossed back piece is a new technique I tried for the first time here. You apply versamark directly onto the embossing folder (Sizzix), put your paper in and emboss. Then you put embossing powder all over the embossed paper and heat with your heat gun. I used holographic embossing powder and the piece is all sparkly and shiny. (The sample I saw on line explaining this technique used clear embossing powder.) Hard to see in the pix, but maybe a little more visible in the pix below. Real pretty in real life. I finished with a ribbon and sentiment (Repeat Impressions) cut and embossed with a nestabilities, and raised with mounting tape.

I am entering this card in the challenge at Karen's Doodles for Cute and Cuddly. I think cats are cute and cuddly- atleast mine is:)

Stamping smiles, Karen

Stamp Scrap and Doodle and Quirky Crafts Challenges

2012-01-31T08:00:00.001-06:00

Anything Goes at Stamp Scrap and Doodle this week and at Quirky Crafts, they want us to stamp a scene. I recently pulled out some of my Raisin Boat sets that I have been neglecting and had such fun designing some CAS cards with them. I love the brush strokes and the sentiments of the Strokes of Wisdom set and I added some beach chairs and the sand from the By the Beach set to create this sunset scene.

Two things I love about Raisin Boat (besides their awesome stamps) are: you can RENT sets from them! So if you want just make a few cards with a set and send it back and then get another one, you can! Just like Netflix. And if you get published using any of their sets, they reward you with $50 in product or $35 in cash! I was lucky enough to get four cards in the recent Just Cards and one of them was with Raisin Boat stamps, so I was the lucky recipient of this great reward. Other companies also reward you for publication- the ones I know of are Repeat Impressions, Hambo and Mark's Finest Papers. So I encourage you to send in your cards and then if you are picked, you get a free magazine and you can contact the stamp company to see if you rewarded by them too.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Simon Says Stamp and Digi Doodles Shops Best Challenges - and a New Addiction

2012-01-30T08:00:00.001-06:00

Anything Goes is the theme of the challenges this week at Simon Says Stamp and Digi Doodles Shops Best. I was inspired by this card I found on Pinterest here to make this card. I am thrilled with how it turned out. Of course I started with a set of lovely stamps from Raisin Boat and some great ink colors and an embossing folder from Cuttlebug. The center embossed piece is raised above the white card.

So I have a new stamping addiction - Pinterest! You can check out my boards here or click on the Pinterest button on the side of my blog. It is an awesome way to keep all your stamping ideas (or for that matter any link or picture you want to keep) for future reference in one place. And you can search other boards and repin their ideas to yours. To get on you need a Facebook or Twitter account. Once you are there you can create your boards and start pinning the ideas from the blogs you like, to save them in one place.

I am just thrilled with the great ideas I have found already and am pinning all the time now. Check it out if you haven't already, but be prepared - it is addictive!

Stamping smile, Karen

Celebrate the Occasion and Digi Stamps 4 Joy Challenges

2012-01-27T08:00:00.006-06:00

At Celebrate the Occasion the challenge is Masculine Birthday and at Digi Stamps 4 Joy the theme is "For the Boys". I really had fun designing this card and I love how it turned out. I started with an old page from a book and a brass stencil of a buck from Lynell Harlow. I embossed the buck onto the book page using my No More Shims thick pad, and while the stencil was still on the page, I sponged Rusty Hinge Distress ink on the buck. I also distressed the sides of the paper piece with a lighter distress ink. The kraft card was cut to be 3 1/2" wide when folded, so the card fits into an A2 envelope, and I embossed it with a CB folder. I cut the brown strip and added some baker's twine around it. The sentiment on the tag is an old one from TAC and I hung it from the baker's twine with a small green pin.

I am off for a weekend of smiles and fun visiting my grandson and daughter. Will be back Monday with more ideas to share. It is so fun being a Grandma:)

Stamping smiles, Karen

Here Come the Boys and StampsRUs Challenges

2012-01-26T08:00:00.001-06:00

The challenge this week at Here Come the Boys is Dinosaurs and at StampsRUs they want to see Cards for Kids. I made this card for my grandson. I punched the dinosaurs border (ek success) and embossed with the Swiss Dots embossing folder (Cuttlebug.) I created a circle border out of patterned paper and a corner punch also by ek success. The stamp in the middle is from Inkadinkado.

Stamping smiles, Karen

What if? Wed. Sketch Challenge

2012-01-25T08:00:00.002-06:00

It is time for another sketch challenge at Repeat Impression's blog, The House that Stamps Built. The sketch you should use to design your card for this challenge is below. Please visit the blog for all the details on what you can win and to see the other Rock Star's cards using this sketch.

I created a fun winter card starting with a white card with two different shades of blue attached, and then embossed the whole thing with a snowflake embossing folder. I stamped Snowcat and Friends and did a little coloring and sponging before layering on navy and attaching.

I am entering this card in the Winter Wonderland challenge at Delicious Doodles.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Speedy Fox and Friends and Crazy 4 Challenges

2012-01-24T08:00:00.004-06:00

The challenge this week at Mark's Finest Papers Speedy the Fox and Friends challenge is birthday cards and at Crazy 4 Challenges they want to see children's birthday cards. I designed some CAS kid's cards that a child could make or an adult could make for a child for the next classes I am teaching at our local JoAnn Fabric and Crafts store and this is one of them. (You can sign up for half price on Feb 4th at the store or by calling the Wausau store.)

I started with a piece of brown Core'dinations paper that was pink on the other side. The elephant was embossed using a large Cuttlebug folder but cutting the paper down to fit an A2 card. I distressed the elephant to bring out the pink from the other side. I cut the balloons with a small Sizzix diecut and popped them up with mounting tape.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Repeat Impression's Stamp of the Week

2012-01-23T08:00:00.001-06:00

The stamp of the week this week at Repeat Impressions is this lovely Sitting Pretty kitty, and it is available this week only for 50% off with the discount code found at Repeat Impressions blog. What a deal! Please visit the blog for all the details and to see the other Rock Star's cards using this stamp.

For my card, I stamped the Sitting Pretty kitty on off white paper in brown, added some brown dots and embossed it with a SU embossing folder. I embossed the floral frame (also SU) on brown paper and cut out the inside with a wocky rectangle die from Nestabilities. I stamped the sentiment on the ribbon with Stazon ink and attached it to the front on the card. The frame was raised with mounting tape and then attached. I have to say, I just love how this card turned out. All the embossing and the frame raised off the card isn't as visible in the picture as in real life, but sometimes CAS is perfect.

I am entering this card in the challenge at Stampin with the Dragon for anything goes.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Crafty Purple Frog and Shelly's Images Challenges

2012-01-22T08:00:00.001-06:00

Anything Goes is the theme this week at Crafty Purple Frog and Shelley's Images- my favorite kind of challenge! It is also the theme for this challenge and the next at Send a Smile 4 Kids so enter your cards there too for 3 chances at a great prize! I made this card for my favorite child in the whole world - my grandson. He loves playing Angry Birds on the computer and so when I saw a card on line (sorry didn't keep the link) using punches to create the red Angry Bird I just had to make one. I started with a yellow card embossed with a Tim Holtz embossing folder. The bird is made with nestie circles and a flower die. Easy and fun for a child.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Anything Goes at SAS4Kids!

2012-01-21T08:00:00.004-06:00

It's time for another challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids and Anything Goes this time (as long as it appropriate for a child.) We have three awesome sponsors this time and so you have three chances at winning in our random drawings! Hambo Stamps is offering the lucky winner a $15 gift certificate and is also doing a Card Drive for SAS4Kids and encouraging their entrants to send their card(s) to SAS4Kids to cheer a child inpatient in a children's hospital. We are so appreciative to Hambo Hoedown for doing this for us. Please visit their blog for all the details on their current challenge and to see their darling puppy Bailey.

My first card is using the new digital stamp Bailey - isn't he cute? I made a Valentine for a child with jokes or riddles in the window I punched. Attached to the front with the brad in the middle is a circle you can spin to see the riddles and the funny answers. I printed Bailey twice on patterned paper in different sizes, colored a little and cut out. I added some Valentine conversation hearts cut out from some Cuttlebug embossed pages.

Our second sponsor is EEM Photos to Digis and their prize is three digital stamps made from the winner's favorite photos. I am a huge fan of this new on line business set up by my SAS4Kids team mate Hilde and her daughter. For my card I made a thank you card that my grandson and daughter could use to send thanks to someone special. You could use this for a special teacher or grandparent or wedding or anyone who would love a thank you note even more because it is personalized with a digital picture. I started with a green card with a blue circle that I embossed with the thank you folder from Cuttlebug. The top is a strip of patterned paper scored and folded to look like pleated ribbon.

Our third sponsor for the Anything Goes challenge is Di's Digis and they are offering a $10 gift certificate to a lucky winner. So come join us and make any card for a child and enter it in our challenge for a chance at some great prizes.

I am entering my cards in the challenges at Charisma Cardz for CAS and Craft us Crazy for Valentines and/or Animals.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Sassy Cheryl's and TCP Tuesday Challenges

2012-01-20T08:00:00.003-06:00

The challenge at Sassy Cheryl's this week is Bright and Cheery and Embossing is the theme at TCP Tuesday. I made this waterfall or flip card using stamps from Repeat Impressions designed specifically for flip cards for a make and take at my stamp club. I love how the bird hatches from the egg and I made him bright and cherry by paper piecing him and his party hat. I started the card by embossing the background and the strip across the front with a birthday embossing folder from Cuttlebug. I used Nestabilities labels diecuts to cut the shapes on the spine for each picture. The spines and also kits to make flip or waterfall cards very easily are also sold by Repeat Impressions here.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Digital Tuesday and Crafty Sentiments Challenges

2012-01-19T08:00:00.003-06:00

The challenge this week at Digital Tuesday is to use a digital stamp and make a romantic card, and at Crafty Sentiments Anything Goes. I used two special digital images to make this Valentine for my husband. The front has a digital stamp made from a picture of our cat, Lucky. My friend and SAS4Kids team-mate and her daughter are making digital stamps from actual pictures of our kids or grandchildren or pets or anything! Their website is called EEM Photos to Digis and can be found here. I always make cards for my DH with stamps of cats, but this time it is with our real kitty. He is going to love it!

The second picture shows the inside of the card. This is a vintage kitty Valentine courtesy of The Graphics Fairy. Doesn't it just remind you of the Valentines from when we were kids? Too sweet!

Just cuz I feel like sharing, here is another project I made with digi stamps made from pictures by EEM Photos to Digis. This is a Christmas tree that I decorated with ornaments made from pictures of my friend Jane's grandchildren. She loved it:) The applications are endless for this great new idea and you can see some more wonderful card ideas on the Saturday blogpost at Send a Smile 4 Kids.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Hambo Hoedown and Card Drive for SAS4Kids!!

2012-01-18T09:00:00.011-06:00

I am thrilled to share with you that Hambo Stamps and their blog, Hambo Hoedown is joining forces with Send a Smile 4 Kids to do a card drive for us! Their new challenge starting today is Anything Goes and they are asking everyone who enters the challenge to consider sending in their card to Send a Smile 4 Kids to cheer our kids inpatient in children's hospitals! I love Hambo Stamps and want to thank them so much for sponsoring this card drive.

The new stamp this week featured on Hambo's challenge blog is this adorable Bailey. Isn't he sweet? If you participated in Hambo's challenge last week, you got this digital stamp for free emailed to you! You can use him on your card or any Hambo stamp, and if you do not have any yet, you can go to the site and use a Hambo freebie for your card. I love to use humor in my cards so I have many of their stamps, both digital and "real". If you participate this week in the challenge, you will get next week's free digital stamp emailed to you! What a great deal!

For my card as a guest dt member at Hambo Hoedown today, I printed Bailey on grey patterned paper and cut him out. I printed his heart on red, cut it out and raised it up with mounting tape. I started with a red piece of cardstock A2 size, but the white piece is the part of the card that opens. I embossed the top part of the card with a Sizzix large dot embossing folder and then stamped Wild Thing (My Favorite Things) in red and blue and finished by embossing below the word strip. Bailey was attached to complete this fun card for my kids.

I am entering this card in the challenge this week at Incy Wincy Designs.

Stamping smiles 4 our kids, Karen

DCC Challenge at Repeat Impressions

2012-01-18T07:00:00.002-06:00

It's time for another Designer Choice Challenge at The House that Stamps Built and Darsie is challenging us to make a Scenic Card with Snow. This time of year that is easy to do, so come join us and you could win some great RI rubber! Please visit the blog for all the details and to see the great DCC cards by the rest of the Rock Stars.

I used Repeat Impression's Winter Tree to make this card. I embossed it three times with white embossing powder on navy blue and cut it out with Nestabilities wacky rectangles. Then I added glitter to the bottom snow and raised with mounting tape. I stamped the tree again in grey on the sides of a white card and attached. I really like the effect. The sentiment is also from Repeat Impressions.

I am entering this card in the challenge at One Stitch at a Time for Anything Goes.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Mark's Finest Papers and Catch the Bug Challenges

2012-01-17T08:00:00.005-06:00

Speedy Fox and Friends at Mark's Finest Papers is challenging us to use border punches and it is Birthday Time at Catch the Bug. Happy Birthday Bugaboo!! I am totally addicted to border punches- I just can't resist them! This Martha Stewart present border punch was on clearance at Michaels with the Christmas stuff, but I could see you could use it for birthdays as well as Christmas and it was just too good of a deal to pass up. I punched it in three primary colors and added the yellow and blue presents for a colorful fun border. The sentiment is from Flourishes. The cute birthday penguin is a pre-colored digi from Dustin Pike. Isn't he sweet? I just printed him and and cut out with a nestie and attached with mounting tape to raise him.

Stamping smiles, Karen

It's Love and Romance at PCI!

2012-01-16T08:00:00.006-06:00

Even a cute monster deserves Love and Romance, right? The new challenge at Paper Creations Ink is Love and Romance, and we are sponsored by Smeared Ink who designed this funny love crazy monster. You can win a free digital stamp of your choice from Smeared Ink if you are the lucky winner of this challenge. Please visit the PCI blog for all the details and to see the other Love and Romance cards by the PCI design team.

I love making cards for my SAS4K kids and this little guy would be perfect for a young man on Valentine's Day. I started with a piece of red cardstock with three pink stripes on it. I embossed that piece with my candy hearts embossing folder from Cuttlebug. I embossed a couple small white pieces picking out some conversation hearts that would be good for a young man: UR GR8 and LOL. I printed the funny love monster on spotted dp and also on red and pink so I could paper piece his eyes and heart, and then attached him with mounting tape to raise him up alittle.

I am entering this card in the Valentines challenge at Clearly Inspired.

Stamping smiles, Karen

A blogpost about something I love besides stamping?!

2012-01-15T11:00:00.050-06:00

Yesterday I mistakenly posted my Sunday card for challenges along with my Saturday post so you got two on one day if you subscribe or check out my blog regularly. So today I am posting twice without cards to show you, but sharing important information. One thing I love almost as much as stamping is a home that is welcoming and smells wonderful. I have become a huge fan of the Scentsy wickless alternative to scented candles and wanted to share that love with you today. I have a beautiful full size Scentsy warmer in my living room and I put a small piece of one of their fragrance bricks or bars in it and my whole home smells wonderful. I am not selling Scentsy, but am having a party (both on-line and in my home) this month. You can go here if you would like some more information regarding this great product or to order any scents or warmers for your home. You can also click on the picture on the side of my blog anytime this month.

The warmers are beautiful decorative additions to any room and have a life-time warranty. There are also plug in warmers that are perfect for smaller areas. You just put one piece of the wax brick or bar in the plug in warmer and that area of your home will smell wonderful.

I love scented candles, but I do not like the danger of fire or the soot. And too many times, you buy an expensive candle that seems to smell great and when you burn it, you have a flame and very little scent. That is not the case with Scentsy. You have a light bulb in the warmer that melts the wax and the scent is wonderful. The one problem with Scentsy is that there are soooo many scents to choose from, it is really hard to pick! I have my demonstrator's briefcase with all the scents here so if you are local, I could get it to you to smell away. Or you could come to my party (just send an email for the details.) But I bought my first Scentsy warmer and scents just by going on line and reading the descriptions and I have liked everyone I have tried. Do you like sweet or cool and refreshing or exotic or your favorite food or cookies smell? All are available.

If you have any questions, just send me an email. I rarely endorse products on this blog, but Scentsy is so delightful, I just had to share.

And since I am off topic today, I will close with GO PACK!!

Karen

An Invitation for Stampers in Central Wisconsin

2012-01-15T08:00:00.001-06:00

You are invited to THE ESSENTIAL STAMP CAMP. Come have fun with us and create TEN Everyday Essential Cards everyone should have on hand: Sympathy, Thinking of You, Men's and Women's Birthday, Child's Birthday and MORE. Options will be offered to customize some of the cards for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Thank You and others.

Hosted by and Projects Designed by

Phyllis Baumann and Karen Hasheck

Thursday February 16th 6-9 pm

OR Saturday February 18th 10 am - 1 pm

DC Everest Sr. High Room 121

Cost $20. Envelopes and all supplies are included in that cost.

Snacks and a beverage will also be provided.

Deadline to register is February 13th.

Reservations and Pre-payment are required. Space is limited so reserve your spot by emailing Karen at khasheck@gmail.com or calling 715-359-5788.

Send your check to:

Karen Hasheck

5507 Hickory St.

Schofield WI 54476

(We are using products from many companies and there will be no sales or promotions. Of course,

many of the products we are using are available at The Stamp Shoppe, Weston.)

Annabelle Stamps and Crafty Catz Challenges

2012-01-14T08:00:00.022-06:00

The challenge at Annabelle Stamps this week is Anything Goes and Something New is the challenge at Crafty Catz. Just about everything on this card is new: the Tilda Swirl diecut from Poppystamps, the butterfly embossing folder from Craft Concepts and the stamp set from Inkadinkado. They have been sitting in a pile on my bed in my craft room of "new stuff I haven't played with", so I put them together for this card. The butterfly in the center of the lovely diecut was stamped twice- once on a circle and the second one was cut out and attached with it's wings up. I added some pearls to complete the card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Cuttlebug Spot and Digi Doodles Shops Best Challenges

2012-01-14T08:00:00.004-06:00

The challenge this week at the Cuttlebug Spot is to use texture and make a Winter Scene and at Digi DoodlesShops Best the theme is embossing. The texture in the card is created by embossing the scalloped circle and also the raised dots created by the embossing folder by Cuttlebug.The winter scene is a beautiful digital stamp called Snowy Mailbox by Delicious Doodles. CAS but I love how it turned out.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Karen's Doodles and Top Tip Tuesday Challenges

2012-01-13T08:00:00.002-06:00

The challenge this week at Karen's Doodles is Valentines or Love and at Top Tip Tuesday, anything goes. I made this card with a lovely diecut from Cherry Lynn Designs called Garden of Love. The die itself is very large and I wanted to make an A2 size card, so I cut off the heart part of the die leaving the love and some flowers. So that is my tip today: look at your stamps and dies and punches and think of alternative uses for them by just using part of the stamp or diecut or punch. I started with a pink card and layered a pretty translucent floral sheet on that. I attached the love piece with gluedots and covered them with pink pearls. I added another heart punch in the corner (Martha Stewart), and more pink pearls in each corner to complete the card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Hooked on Crafts and Lexi's Creations Challenges

2012-01-12T08:00:00.003-06:00

The challenge this week at Hooked on Crafts is Try Something New and Anything Goes at Lexi's Creations. I got a new leaf brass stencil by Dreamweaver and I tried a new technique again using the No More Shims Embossing Pad and love how it turned out. I started with a pretty but subtle floral patterned paper and embossed the brass stencil with my Big Shot and the thick No More Shims pad. Then I sponged on a green distress ink to bring out the leaves shapes. This stencil would be pretty in fall too with fall colors, but I wanted to try the spring shades. I added some gems and a sentiment sticker and layered on purple and green cardstock to complete the card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

What If? Wed. Sketch Challenge

2012-01-11T08:00:00.002-06:00

It's time for another sketch challenge on What If? Wednesdays at The House that Stamps Built. Wendy challenged us to make a card using the sketch below and this is what I came up with. You can win some great Repeat Impressions rubber if you create a card using this sketch and link it. Please visit the blog for all the details and to see the awesome cards the other Rock Stars designed using this sketch.

For my card I embossed the Stencil Bouquet with black embossing powder and colored with my copics. Then I cut it out with a lacey square nestie and added some gems all around. The sentiment is perfect for cards with flowers and is also from Repeat Impressions, of course. I cut and embossed the nesties label for the sentiment and the border is also from Spellbinders.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenge at Dream Valley Challenges.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Crafty Emma's and Craft Your Days Away Challenges

2012-01-10T08:00:00.003-06:00

The challenge this week at Craft Your Days Away is New Beginnings, and Anything Goes at Crafty Emma's. I made this wedding card using the twisted easel fold and many of my new toys from Christmas. I got the heart charms as part of a gift from my buddy Sara and decided to feature them in this card. The red paper is sparkly on the front side and very pretty in person. This card was very difficult to photograph, so I took a closeup of the window and hanging charm below. I punched an oval in the center of the folded triangle top and then framed it with a diecut from Marianne Designs. Then I hung my heart charm with thin silver cord and added a bow. The inside corner has a lovely heart floral die from Memory Box, another heart charm and the sentiment is from Stampin' up.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Repeat Impressions Stamp of the Week

2012-01-09T08:00:00.005-06:00

The stamp of the week this week at Repeat Impressions is this lovely Winter Tree, and it is available this week only for 50% off with the discount code found at Repeat Impressions blog. What a deal! Please visit the blog for all the details and to see the other Rock Star's cards using this stamp.

For my card, I stamped the winter tree in brown on white cardstock and cut out with a circle nestie. I added white Flower Soft for snow and then placed gems around the circle. The blue background was embossed with snowflakes and attached to a white card. I added a strip of white burlap to complete the card.

I am entering this card in the challenge at Catch the Bug for anything goes.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Dilly Beans and Simply Create Too Challenges

2012-01-08T08:00:00.002-06:00

The challenge this week at Dilly Beans is Winter Wonderland and at Simply Create Too, they want us to use more than two layers. This is a card I created for a challenge at my local stamp club. We were given the sketch and the colors and this is what I came up with. I started by punching the large snowflake border punch from Martha Stewart in light blue and then attached the light yellow and white pieces and embossed the whole thing with a snowflake embossing folder. I cut the black delicate snowflakes with a Memory Box die, cut it apart and placed them behind the other pieces. I stamped the skating penguin and paper pieced him, cut and embossed with a circle nestie and added the snowflakes and pearls to complete the card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Valentines for Kids at SAS4Kids

2012-01-07T08:00:00.043-06:00

It's time for the first challenge of 2012 at Send a Smile 4 Kids and we are challenging you to make a Valentine card that a child would like. We are always working ahead here at SAS4Kids because if you decide to send in your Valentine for one of our kids in the seven children's hospitals we are currently servicing, we would need to receive it at one of our four addresses by February 1st to ensure time to get them to the hospital before the holiday. But don't worry- if we get cards after a mailing deadline, we will save them for the next year or arrange a rush delivery. And feel free to enter our challenges even if you can't donate the card to SAS4Kids. Make a Valentine for your child or grandchild or friend and enter it in the challenge for a chance to win some great prizes! Please visit the blog for all the details and to see the TEAM S.A.S cards.

Our wonderful sponsors for the Valentines for Kids Challenge are: Stamp Shoppe Creations and their prize is a $15 gift certificate to their on-line shop; Delicious Doodles and they are offering one random winner 4 digital images of their choice; and Bugaboo who is giving 7 free digis of the winner's choice! I had so much fun with the sponsor's images, I had to make one card for each sponsor!

My first card (above) features a sweet Valentine turtle from Stamp Shoppe Creations. Many of you know this on line shop is the place you can go to get the fun stamps that my friend, Heidi Erickson, of my local Stamp Shoppe has created. I belong to a stamp club at Heidi's shop and consider it my home away from home. The Valentine sentiment is also from Stamp Shoppe Creations. I created a square card using a large heart border punch from Martha Stewart punched 4 times and added a small heart punch (ek success) to the corners. I raised the cute turtle and waved the sentiment to complete the Valentine.

For my second card I used this super cute Valentine dino from Bugaboo. I paper pieced him and placed him on a white circle. I used a nestie and my No More Shims pad to create the embossed frame and added the sentiment (Stamp Shoppe Designs) and some hearts to complete the card.

My third card features a fun Valentine Bug from Delicious Doodles. I paper pieced him and then cut and embossed with a wacky rectangle nestie. I raised him with mounting tape and placed him above a dp layer and an auqua strip with a punched heart edge (Martha Stewart). I used two of the words from the sentiment from Stamp Shoppe Creations and a heart gem to make the sentiment tag. Some gems and a button complete the card.

I am entering these cards in the challenges at Simon Says Stamp (New Something), Whimsy Inspirations (New Beginnings) and My Mum's Craftshop (Something New.) All the stamps I used were new to me and I had fun making these Valentines for the kids in children's hospitals.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Paper Take Weekly and Party Time Tuesday Challenges

2012-01-06T08:00:00.003-06:00

It's time for "Something New" at Paper Take Weekly and at Party Time Tuesday so I am sharing this card that I made with lots of new toys. I had not used the large butterfly brass stencil before and I embossed it on pretty new dp using my fairly new No Shims Pad. The pink distress ink was brand new and so was the small butterfly die from Memory Box. And the sentiment is a new one from Verve. Love how it turned out!

Stamping smiles, Karen

Paper Pretties and Heart Song Inspirations Challenges

2012-01-05T07:00:00.002-06:00

CAS is the theme at Paper Pretties this week and Anything Goes at Heart Song Inspirations. Just perfect for this card I made with a silhouette cowboy digital stamp from McMahon Designs. I simply printed him and then brayered on sunset colors. Then I layered the piece on dark brown on a rust card and added the sentiment in a semi-circle. CAS but perfect for a guy card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Designers Choice Challenge

2012-01-04T08:00:00.001-06:00

It's time for another Designers Choice Challenge at The House that Stamps Built, and Dawn is challenging us to use blue and brown in our cards. I decided to make a center stair step card and used Repeat Impression's beautiful Moose Snow Globe stamp as my focal point. I paper pieced the bottom of the globe in brown and colored the moose and night sky, then added some glitter to the snow. The sentiment (from Repeat Impressions) was stamped in brown on light brown cardstock and I added some blue snowflakes and brown pearls to complete my blue and brown card. It is a fun color combination, so why not make a card using blue and brown and enter it in the DCC challenge for a chance at some great RI rubber! Please visit the blog for all the details and to see the other great blue and brown cards by my fellow Rock Stars.

I am entering this card in the Fancy Folds challenge at Wags n Whiskers.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Delicious Doodles and Stampin' For the Weekend Challenges

2012-01-03T08:00:00.002-06:00

Anything Goes at Delicious Doodles and Stampin' for the Weekend and so I am sharing a winter card I made. I started with a beautiful snowflake diecut from Memory Box and used the cardstock after I punched out the snowflake. Is that the positive or negative? I am never sure of the correct term to use, but love the look. I punched the edges with a Martha Stewart snowflake edge punch and added a fun winter sentiment. Then I raised that piece up with mounting tape and attached to a white card. I finished the card with a small snowflake stamp and gem in the middle.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Paper Creations Ink Diecuts and/or Punches Challenge

2012-01-02T08:00:00.002-06:00

It's a New Year and time for a new challenge at Paper Creations Ink! This time we are challenging you to use your diecuts and/or punches and come up with a card to enter in the challenge for a chance at 4 digis of your choice from our fantastic sponsor: Kenny K! I love making cards for boys and Kenny K's stamps are perfect for that! I stamped this Teen Idol on white, paper pieced his clothes and shoes and colored the rest with my copics. I cut him out with a beaded oval nestie diecut and attached Candis to frame the oval. The background was created with plaid strips cut out with an ek success edge punch. I punched out plaid strips in different colors and attached them to a white card before attaching my focal piece.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenge at Kenny K's Krafty Girlz.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Cherry Lynn Designs and Charisma Cardz Challenges

2012-01-01T08:00:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year! It's time to Celebrate at Cherry Lynn Designs and at Charisma Cardz, Anything Goes. I made this card using my brand new Garden of Love die from Cherry Lynn Designs and some gems. That was all that was needed to make a beautiful CAS card for a wedding or Valentine's Day. The die from Cherry Lynn cuts out easily and I love it. It is large, so maybe next time I will use just the Love part for a different look.

Stamping smiles, Karen

The Last of my Christmas Cards

2011-12-31T08:00:00.002-06:00

I am posting the last of my Christmas cards and resolving to move on and play with all my new stuff in the new year! I am not going to go into alot of detail on how I made these as they are pretty CAS and use stamps and stickers and dies I have shared before.

I am entering these cards in the Anything Goes challenges at Aud Sentiments and Digi Doodles Shop's Best and the Celebrations challenge at Crafty Boots.

Stamping smiles for a great New Year, Karen

Couple More CAS Kids Christmas Cards

2011-12-30T08:00:00.003-06:00

Two more today and a few more tomorrow and I think I am done sharing the holiday cards I made this year. These are two CAS ones I made for my kids at SAS4Kids. The one above started with a scalloped card and I embossed some snowflakes on it. Then I added a dimensional sticker I got at a stamp show.

This card also started with a scalloped card base and again I embossed the card. Then I simply added a teddy bear stocking which was a pre-colored digi I got from Cuddly Buddly.

I am entering these cards in the challenges at Paper Sundaes for Celebrate and at Incy Wincy Designs for Winter Wonderland.

Stamping smiles, Karen

What If? Wed Sketch Challenge

2011-12-28T08:00:00.002-06:00

It's time for another What If? Wednesday Sketch Challenge at Repeat Impressions blog, The House that Stamps Built. Simply create and link a card using the sketch below and you could win a great prize from Repeat Impressions. Please visit our blog for all the details and to see the other sketch cards made by the RI Rock Stars.

I embossed the Boy with Sled stamp onto a white oval using a blue glittery embossing powder. The Happy Holidays was also embossed using a small Cuttlebug folder. Then I sponged it with blue ink. I added a snowflake and a pretty vintage brad to complete the card.

I am entering this card in the Christmas challenge at Dream Valley Challenges.

Stamping smiles, Karen

A few more Holiday Cards

2011-12-27T07:00:00.001-06:00

I have a few more holiday cards to post this week and then will be moving on to a new year and no more Christmas cards for a while. These two cards were made with a new die I got from Marianne Designs which makes a lovely poinsettia easily. The card above also uses a Martha Stewart twig and leaf punch and a Marianne Designs embossing and cutting folder for the background.

This card started with a lovely background stamp from Penny Black and a Memory Box large snowflake punch. I attached them to a blue card just because I liked the color combination and wasn't my typical green and red holiday card. Then I added the poinsettia and a gem to compete the CAS card.

I am entering these cards in the Anything Goes challenges at Mark's Finest Papers and Secret Crafter.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Repeat Impressions Stamp of the Week

2011-12-26T08:00:00.001-06:00

The stamp of the week this week at Repeat Impressions is this fun Celebration Burst, and it is available this week only for 50% off with the discount code found at Repeat Impressions blog. What a deal! Please visit the blog for all the details and to see the other Rock Star's cards using this stamp.

For my card, I started with a happy mistake. My original idea of trying to emboss the Celebration Burst with white ink on white cardstock and sponge on several colors on ink didn’t work- couldn’t see the stars and bursts that well. So just to see what the idea would like with black ink, I stamped over it and got this cool look. The black was just a little off the white embossing and I really like how it turned out. I cut out my masterpiece with a circle nestie and layered that on another little larger circle of red. I stamped the sentiment (also from Repeat Impressions) in red and this is my wish for you! The background was layered and then embossed with a Sizzix embossing older that has swirls and stars too and then a border of punched stars was added for the finishing touch.

I am entering this card in the challenge at Aud Sentiments for Anything Goes.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T08:00:00.001-06:00

Hope everyone is having a great Christmas! I have already had a wonderful Christmas so have time today to blog one of my last holiday cards. I got a set of older Stampin' up stamps at a used stamp sale and used one of them as the focal point of this square card. The frame is made with a larger Martha Stewart border punch punched 4 times on a square piece of cardstock. I added some punched snowflakes and pearls to complete this CAS card.

I am entering this card in the current challenges at Digi Doodles Shops Best and Southern Girls.

Stamping and Christmas smiles, Karen

My Mum's Craft Shop and Tuesday Throwdown Challenges

2011-12-24T08:00:00.002-06:00

The challenge this week at My Mum's Craft Shop is Anything Goes and at Tuesday Throwdown it is "For Someone Special." I made these three cards for someone special- my daughter. The darling little boy featured on each one is my grandson. The cards were made using digital stamps made from pictures. This is a brand new concept to me and I think a brilliant idea. My SAS4Kids team-mate Hilde and her daughter are offering this service at this website: http://www.thegrasslady.com/eem-photos-to-digis.html

You simply email them your favorite picture and they make it into a digital stamp that you receive back and can make any size and print for anything you might want to make with them. So far I made cards (including a lovely thank you card which I will share later) and paper ornaments. You could get one or several made with a favorite picture of a beloved pet or family member or even a beautiful flower. Wouldn't it be a great inexpensive way to make wedding thank yous or baby announcements or Mothers Day or Fathers Day cards?

After you get your holiday pictures back, be sure to check out this site for a unique personalized gift for yourself or a great new tool in cardmaking.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Paper and Such and Little Darling's Challenges

2011-12-23T08:00:00.003-06:00

The challenge this week at Paper and Such Design is "Last Minute CAS Christmas Cards" and it is Christmas at Little Darlings Challenge . I fell in love with this digital image offered free at this Paper Crafting World blog during their countdown to Christmas recently. It reminds me of my youth and being so excited to see what Santa brought under the tree. The three girls could be my three youngest sisters on Christmas morning:) Talk about CAS- I just printed the digital image in sepia, layered on a nestie frame and layered that on some pretty dp on a card. Love it!

Stamping and Holiday smiles, Karen

Pollycraft and OSAAT Challenges

2011-12-22T08:00:00.002-06:00

The challenge this week at Pollycraft is to Punch It and Anything Goes at One Stitch at a Time. I made this card using punches and diecuts. The white snowflake frame is made with a large snowflake border punch from Martha Stewart. I love these large border punches and always try them on a square piece punching 4 times to see what happens. In this case, you get a curved edge snowflake frame and I added some gems and a poinsettia that I made with a Marianne Designs diecut. I loved the sentiment from Penny Black and I stamped it on white, cut and embossed with a scalloped rectangle nestie and added a few more gems to complete the card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

RI DCC Shaped Card Challenge

2011-12-21T08:00:00.003-06:00

It's another Designer Choice Challenge at The House that Stamps Built, and Rock Star Maki is challenging us (and you!) to make a shaped card. Something other than a square or A2 size card- use your imagination and create a fun shaped card for a chance at some great Repeat Impressions rubber! Please visit the blog for all the details and to see the shaped cards designed by the other Rock Stars.

For my card, I started with this beautiful Rose Heart Wreath stamped on a white card. Then I cut it out with the largest scalloped heart nestie leaving a small part uncut for the fold of the card. I colored the roses and leaves with my copics and cut out the center of the heart with a smaller scalloped heart nestie. Then I embossed the front of the heart card with my favorite embossing (Cuttlebug) folder. I did a little sponging and stamped a Repeat Impressions sentiment on the inside of the card.

I am entering this card in the "Red, White and one other Color" challenge at Paper Pretties and the challenge at The Cutie Pie Challenge to use a sentiment.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Charisma Cardz and Southern Girls Challenges

2011-12-20T08:00:00.004-06:00

The challenge this wek at Charisma Cardz is Last Minute Christmas Cards and at Southern Girls it is Let's Celebrate. I made this last minute holiday card last week with some supplies I had laying on my bed. The embossing folder is new from Stampin' up and the snowflake swirl die is from Memory Box. I started by cutting two ornaments with my Sizzix die out of blue snowflake dp. I also cut out two of the tops of the ornament out of white and glued them all together. The front of the burgandy card was cut off 1 1/2' in and the corners rounded before embossing it. I put a white piece inside and attached the snowflake swirl and gems. The "believe" is from an acetate set of holiday atcs.

Stamping smiles, Karen

PCI Something Old, Something New Challenge

2011-12-19T08:00:00.004-06:00

It's time for another fun challenge at Paper Creations Ink and this time the theme is "Something Old, Something New." Floppy Latte' Designs is our sponsor and you can win a $10 gift certificate if you enter and are the lucky winner. I just love silhouette stamps and many months ago when I first discovered Floppy Latte' Designs, I bought this stamp and several others of their beautiful silhouette stamps. Then when I saw the stamps we were allowed to use for this challenge from Floppy Latte', this romantic couple silhouette was one of the choices! So right there I had my "something old" and the pearls qualify for that too. The digital designer paper, also from Floppy Latte' is my "something new". I printed two different patterns and put the guy on the striped pink and the girl on the flowered pink dp. The corners were punched and the pearls added for the final touch.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenges at Delightful Challenges and Shelly's Images.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Crafting for all Seasons and Crafts and Me Challenges

2011-12-17T08:00:00.002-06:00

Christmas is the theme of the challenges this week at Crafting for all Seasons and Crafts and Me. I am back with another CAS holiday card using an embossing folder and diecut that were in my pile of "must use before it is too late". I started with a white card and embossed the tree and border (Sizzix). I cut out a green swirly tree from a Memory Box diecut and attached, adding some big and small red gems. The corners seemed bare so I added some holly (Inkdadinkado) and more gems to complete the card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Party Time Tuesday and Paper Crafting Journey Challenges

2011-12-16T08:00:00.002-06:00

It's a Red and Green Christmas challenge at Party Time Tuesday and Christmas is the theme at Paper Crafting Journey too. I have been having fun playing with new holiday punches and dies and pretty soon will have to put them away until next year. The delicate ornament is a die from Memory Box and the pine branch frame is made with a large border punch from Martha Stewart. I love the different looks you get when you punch these border punches 4 times on a square piece. I added some gems and a sentiment to complete the CAS card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Paper and Such and Bearly Mine Challenges

2011-12-15T08:00:00.003-06:00

The challenge this week at Paper and Such is "Last Minute CAS Christmas Cards" and at Bearly Mine it is Un-traditional Christmas. I have to admit I am a traditional red and green holiday card girl, so was proud of myself as I went "outside my box" with this card. I started with a black outline ornament sticker and some garnet fine glitter. So I made a plum card with some black accents- the color is nicer in person. The embossing folder is a Tim Holtz and the stickers and glitter are from Elizabeth Crafts.

Stamping smiles, Karen

What If? Wed. Sketch Challenge

2011-12-14T07:00:00.004-06:00

The challenge this week at The House that Stamps Built is a sketch challenge. Design a card using the sketch below and you could win some great Repeat Impressions Rubber! I went vintage with my card this week, using a great stamp from Repeat Impressions called "Joanie's Pals". It reminds me of a picture of my Mom and her sisters from years ago. The detail in these stamps is unbelievable and the picture really doesn't do it justice. I simply stamped the image in black on an off-white piece and "stitched" the edges with my scor-bug and a thin black marker. Following the sketch, I layered on green and dark brown pieces and attached to a card made from some Tim Holtz dp. CAS but classic I think.

So make a card using this CAS sketch and enter it for a chance to win a fun prize. For all the details and to see other cards using this sketch by the Rock Stars, please visit the RI blog.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenge at Crafty Catz.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Two Holiday Paper Smooches Cards to Share

2011-12-13T08:00:00.001-06:00

I have two new Paper Smooches holiday cards to share today. I loved them both so am posting and linking both today. The first one uses a couple fun stamps from the Santa Paws set I just had to buy earlier this year. The sentiment with the cute dog just cracks me up. I started with a white card base and punched Martha Stewart's large snowflake border punch and layered a red piece below the border so it stands out real pretty. Then I rubbed green ink all over an oblong green acrylic block and stamped it on the card creating the frame to place my dog and sentiment in. The Santa hat was paper pieced and I added a white sticker brad to create the "ball".

My second Paper Smooches card uses the heart candy cane and love digital stamps which are available free on their blog! I saw this idea for a sliding window box here and just had to try it. The green dp forms a little box and the candy cane piece slides out to reveal the message below. I paper pieced the candy cane with sparkly red paper and added white stripes to the circle on top to resemble Christmas candy. You pull on that circle to reveal the message below:

Love, Love, Love- makes me want to sing:) I printed the Paper Smooches love digital stamp three times and attached the strips on the back on the window box card. Then I added a white ball to create the O in the center.

I love, love, love these cards and hope you do too. I am entering them in the challenges at Our Craft Lounge for CAS Christmas and the Christmas challenge at Stampin' for the Weekend.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Repeat Impressions Stamp of the Week

2011-12-12T08:00:00.002-06:00

The stamp of the week this week at Repeat Impressions is this fun Snow Sledding snowman, and it is available this week only for 50% off with the discount code found at Repeat Impressions blog. What a deal! Please visit the blog for all the details and to see the other Rock Star's cards using this stamp.

For my card, I stamped the snow sledding snowman on a white piece of cardstock with a border punched (large snowflake border punch by Martha Stewart.) I did a little paper piecing and coloring on the snowman. Then I tore some strips of white paper, attached them and added glitter along the torn edges. This piece was attached to a navy cardbase and some bling was added to complete the card.

I am entering this card in the challenge at Crafty Purple Frog “It’s Cold Outside” and the “Let it Snow” challenge at Designed2Delight.

Stamping smiles, Karen

PPA & Cute Card Thursday Challenges

2011-12-11T07:00:00.002-06:00

The challenge this week at Pals Paper Arts is "Puttin' on the Ritz" and at Cute Card Thursday it is Anything Goes. I made this wedding/love card using some gorgus digital dp from DezinaWorld called Shabby Chic Backgrounds. Then I placed a laser cut sticker from Mrs. Grossman's on dark brown cardstock (same as the cardbase), rounded the corners and attached with mounting tape. I added some brown pearls for the final touch.

One year ago today we were in Chicago for the wedding of my son and daughter-in-law. So Happy Anniversary Brian and Kristy- this virtual card is for you!

Stamping smiles, Karen

Penny's Paper-Crafty, ABC Christmas and Cooking it up with Katie Challenges

2011-12-10T08:00:00.003-06:00

Merry Christmas is the challenge at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge this week and Anything Goes at ABC Christmas Challenge and at Cooking it up with Katie. I started with a fun laser cut sticker from Mrs. Grossman's placed on some pretty textured white cardstock. I added a row of pine needles cut out with a Martha Stewart border punch and finished with some red gems for bling. CAS but colorful for a lovely holiday card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Paper Take Weekly and Partytime Tuesday Challenges

2011-12-09T08:00:00.001-06:00

The challenge this week at Paper Take Weekly is Anything Goes and at Partytime Tuesday, they are challenging us to use a holiday greeting as the focus of the card. I used a beautiful sentiment from Darcie's, cut with a nestie on top of some pretty snowflake dp and added a dove sticker from Mrs. Grossmans to make this CAS card. The dove was placed on white cardstock and cut out and raised with mounting tape before securing to the card. The sentiment is perfect and is my wish for you!

Stamping smiles, Karen

Crafty Sentiments and Top Top Tuesday

2011-12-08T08:00:00.001-06:00

Snowflakes is the theme of the challenge this week at Crafty Sentiments and Top Tip Tuesday says "Let It Snow". I used a couple of my favorite new dies from Memory Box to make this CAS card. I also stamped a snowflake under the sentiment by stamping off once so it was lighter than the sentiment. A small snowflake and a pearl complete this winter card for my kids.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Designers Choice Challenge

2011-12-07T08:00:00.003-06:00

The DCC at The House that Stamps Built is to make a Bookmark for a gift or for yourself. Rock Star Vicki is hosting this challenge and I made a combo bookmark and candy gift for a friend. I got this idea here and there is a link to a tutorial on Splitcoast. The front of the treat card is embossed (Tim Holtz) and cut with a border punch (Martha Stewart) and has flowers and a pretty stamp from Repeat Impressions on a nestie shape.

Then the friend pulls out the bookmark and cracks up. I love to use humor in my cards and Repeat Impressions has a great line of humorous stamps. I like the idea of a friend smiling everytime she uses this bookmark to mark a page in her book.

I am entering this card in the Friends challenge at Stampin' for the Weekend.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Colour Create and Clearly Inspired Challenges

2011-12-06T08:00:00.002-06:00

The challenge this week at Colour Create is to use Red, Green and White with some snow in our cards, and at Clearly Inspired, Christmas is the theme. I have to admit- I am a traditionalist when it comes to colors for my holiday cards so these challenges are perfect for me. I am sharing the card my card club is receiving tonight at our holiday party and card exchange. I have re-discovered the fun of waterfall or flip cards after seeing how easy they are to make with the kits and stamps sold exclusively for flip cards by Repeat Impressions. I used the Snow Tree flip set and with each tug the tree and snow become more beautiful. I added stickles to the last one to make it sparkle. The front of the card and the strip holding the spine of the flip mechanism was embossed with a Sizzix embossing folder.

Greetings of this glorious season and stamping smiles, Karen

PCI Bling It Up Challenge

2011-12-05T08:00:00.008-06:00

We have a new challenge today at Paper Creations Ink and it is "Bling It Up!" Design and link up a card with lots of Bling on it for a chance to win some great prizes. Our sponsor for this challenge is our very own Miranda who is a very talented artist and drew this lovely Flowerdance Fairy that I used on my card.

If you are the lucky winner chosen by Mr. Random, you will win three of her digital images! If you enter this challenge and the next one, you could win a $30 gift certificate from Crop Stop, who is our December sponsor!! Wow- wouldn't that be a great present to win this month?! Be sure to visit the blog for all the details on what you can win and to see the beautiful cards from the design team using Miranda's images.

I started with some fun floral dp to make this card. I printed Miranda's beautiful Flowerdance Fairy and did a little coloring and paper piecing, then cut her out and added some floral bling. The right side of the card is covered with a floral velum cut in a semi-circle around the image and I added some flowers and more bling along the edge of the velum. It was fun to design a non-holiday or winter card and I am loving how it turned out.

I am entering these cards in the challenges at Divas by Design and Paper Shelter for Anything Goes.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Winter Fun for Kids at SAS4Kids!

2011-12-03T07:00:00.003-06:00

It's time for some Winter Fun for Kids at Send a Smile 4 Kids! We have a new challenge starting today and you have until January 6th to join in for a chance at one of three sponsor prizes: Stamp Fairy is offering a $9 gift certificate, Whimsy Stamps has 5 free digis of the winner's choice and Sassy Cheryl's has a $5 gift certificate!

My first card is featuring a fun chubby snowman angel from Sassy Cheryls. I printed him on white and paper pieced his jacket and wings. I cut him out with my circle nesties and sponged some blue before layering on a navy scalloped circle. The background was created by embossing 3 layers of different colored cardstock, then cutting them out together to create puzzle piece background. I added a snowflake and circle sentiment to complete the card.

My second card features a fun image from Stamp Fairy on a twisted easel card. Sorry the image is so dark- the little bear is much cuter and lighter in person... I printed and paper pieced the bear and snowman and added some bling for buttons and face. I cut it out and attached to a blue circle cut out with my nesties. More bling was added around the circle and on the snowflake border.

I am entering these cards in the challenges at Sassy Cheryl's for Winter and Craft Your Passion for Tis the Season.

Stamping smiles 4 kids, Karen

Partytime Tuesday and Tuesday Throwdown Challenges

2011-12-02T08:00:00.008-06:00

The challenge at Partytime Tuesday is anything goes and at Tuesday Throwdown it is to make a masculine holiday card. I was playing with some Tim Holtz stamps and diecuts and came up with this card. With the new No More Shims thick mat you can emboss with cut out diecuts and also with stencils easily. I started with some brown Core'dinations paper that has green on the other side and embossed a diecut tree and sanded so the lighter green stands out. The trio of trees and the reindeer are also from Tim Holtz. The Believe! is a stencil that I embossed onto gold metal paper, and I added the punched star as the finishing touch.

Stamping smiles, Karen

2012 Madison Mingle Announcement

2011-12-01T13:41:00.000-06:00

If you live in the Midwest (close to or in Wisconsin), this announcement is for you... I am including these pictures of this adorable dresser sidestep card, because it is one of my favorites that I learned how to do at the last Madison Mingle. (All stamps in the sample are from Repeat Impressions.) I am the Chairperson this year of the committee who is putting it together, so am sharing the announcement here.

2012 Madison Mingle Announcement

How does a 3 day weekend away spent stamping, laughing, shopping and sharing ideas with new and old friends sound to you? Perfect, right? Come join us at the 7th Annual Madison Mingle from March 23-25th, 2012, and be a part of a celebration of creativity and stamping friendship!

If you have never been to a Madison Mingle, we are a gathering of stampers who each bring a shoebox project for the others to complete. We also have demonstrations, a huge rummage sale of great bargains, fantastic door prizes, contests, trades if desired, a special Copic class, lots of laughter and sharing of great ideas. You will go home with as many projects as there are participants and many fond memories.

The 2012 Madison Mingle will be held March 23, 24 and 25, 2012 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 1801 Deming Way, Madison, WI 53562. This location is in Greenway Station within walking distance of Archivers and Michaels, as well as many other stores and restaurants and attractions. We will open our doors at 10:00 AM Friday March 23rd and the gathering will end Sunday March 25th at noon. The cost is $50.

We have room for only 50 stampers so it is recommended you register as early as possible. There is a registration form attached (if possible) with the address to send your registration fee and form to. If the registration form is not attached, you can email Karen for one at khasheck@gmail.com OR go to Files in the Madison Mingle Yahoo Group and get one there. Once the registration fee and form is received, you will be emailed more details and assigned a project number. The deadline to register for the 2012 Madison Mingle is March 7, 2012.

Hotel Info: We have reserved a block of rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn. Their phone number to reserve a room is 608-831-2220 or go to our private page on their website at http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/groups/personalized/M/MSNWHGI-MMG-20120323/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG to reserve a room. The Madison Mingle rate for a King room is $94 and for a room with 2 Queen beds is $114 (plus tax per night.) We suggest reserving your room right away once you decide to come as the number of available rooms at this rate is limited and the rooms will be released on 2/22/12. (If you are told our rooms have all been booked before 2/22/12, please let us know and we will try to reserve more at the reduced rate.)

Make & Take Info: Every attendee is required to bring a project with the supplies for everyone else to make the project (usually a card.) Please put all the stamps, inks and accessories necessary to make the project as well as the cardstock pieces cut and placed in an envelope or plastic bag, in a plastic container or box of some kind. You must also include a completed sample of the card or project and one set of complete directions as to how to make the card or project. Be sure to label everything in your box with your name in case it gets separated from your box. You will also be asked to email the instructions and a picture of the completed sample to Pam Plencner as soon as you have it ready. The deadline to get your instructions and picture to Pam is March 9, 2012.

This year to save money and much work, we have decided to give every attendee a CD of all the instructions including a color picture of each project. You can take this CD home and print all the instructions and a picture of each project if you wish to do so. This CD is being provided in your $50 registration fee. IF you cannot print your own at home from the CD, and want to have the printed instructions and picture of the projects provided to you, that service is available for an additional $10. You will be given a folder with all the printed instructions and pictures on pages punched and ready for you to place in a 3 ring binder (that you will provide), if you choose to pay the extra $10 for this service.

Please feel free to post this information to your Facebook page or blog or online stamping group and forward to all the stampers you know. We would love to see you all in Madison next March for a fun weekend of stamping and laughter.

It is highly recommended you join our Madison Mingle Yahoo Group to keep on top of any important news and updates even if you are just thinking of coming. Please email Karen at khasheck@gmail.com for an invitation to the group, if not already a member. VERY IMPORTANT: Messages sent by any member of this Madison Mingle Yahoo Group MUST be about the Mingle only and relevant to everyone in the group. If directed to just one person, please send an email or response to that person only, so as to not crowd everyone’s email boxes with unnecessary emails.

The 2012 Madison Mingle is being organized by a group of volunteers who are greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please contact the Chairperson of this group, Karen Hasheck at khasheck@gmail.com.

Come join us! Stamping smiles, Karen

Crafty Boots and Stamps R Us Challenges

2011-12-01T08:00:00.003-06:00

The challenge this week at Crafty Boots is anything goes and at Stamps R Us it is embossing. I just love this new embossing folder I got from Crafts Too and have used it in several of my new cards this season. The corner punch is from Martha Stewart and the 3D digital stamp is from Cuddly Buddly. All together they make a lovely CAS holiday card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

What If Wed? Sketch Challenge

2011-11-30T07:00:00.002-06:00

It's What If? Wednesday at The House that Stamps Built and we are challenging you to make a card with the sketch below to have a chance at a great prize. Please visit the blog to see the other Rock's Stars cards and get all the details.

I used the Earth Ornament as my circle on the sketch and a fun border punch from EK Success along the bottom with some white peaking through. The postage World of Good Wishes works perfectly with the globe ornament and of course Peace, Love and Harmony is what I wish for the world and for all of you.

You have almost two weeks to make a card using this sketch and enter it for a chance to win big.

I am entering my card in the Anything Christmas challenge at Stampin' with the Dragon.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Card Cupids and Stamptacular Sunday Challenges

2011-11-28T15:09:00.000-06:00

The challenge this week at Card Cupids is Cards for Kids and at Stamptacular Sunday it is Anything Christmas. Not a challenge for me at all as I love making Christmas cards for my kids. This is another of the freebie digital stamps from Cuddly Buddly and it is 3D! It is already colored for you and you print and cut out the layers and the finished image is 3D. Too cute! I put the image on an embossed layer (Sizzix) and added a simple sentiment to complete the card.

I just have to share: Send a Smile 4 Kids is the featured charitable organization chosen by CardMaker Magazine this month in their Readers Reach Out section!! You can read about it here and pick up a copy on newstands now or very very soon!

Stamping big smiles, Karen

Repeat Impressions Stamp of the Week

2011-11-28T07:00:00.001-06:00

The stamp of the week this week at Repeat Impressions is this fun Candy Cane Santa, and it is available this week only for 50% off with the discount code found at Repeat Impressions blog. What a deal! Please visit the blog for all the details and to see the other Rock Star's cards using this stamp.

For my card, I started with a white card base and punched the vine border from Martha Stewart in red. My brilliant daughter was the one that pointed out that this vine border punch also looks like Christmas tree bulbs and I have used it for several holiday cards now.

I cut a green circle and stamped the HO!HO!HO! from Repeat Impressions and then layered it on the card, cutting off one side. I paper pieced Candy Cane Santa, did some coloring with Copics, cut him out and raised him above the green circle. Then I added some gems to complete the card.

I am entering this card in the Santa challenge at Crimbo Crackers .

Stamping smiles, Karen

Aud Sentiments and Delightful Challenges

2011-11-27T08:00:00.004-06:00

The challenge this week at Aud Sentiments is "Any Winter Holiday Sentiment" and at Delightful Challenges it is Red and Green. I had this CAS holiday card I made for my kids and am sharing it today. I just love the outline stickers from Mrs. Grossmans and especially this one of Santa decorating the tree with all the animals watching. I had tried putting glitter behind the sticker, but found I liked it even better just putting it on white cardstock and then cutting it out. The green is shiny metallic paper that I embossed with a Cuttlebug folder and layered onto a white card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Papercraft Star and Scrapbook Sisters Challenges

2011-11-26T08:00:00.004-06:00

Anything Goes is the challenge at Papercraft Star this week and Christmas is the theme at Scrapbook Sisters. This is one of my favorite holiday cards I created this year so far, but the picture does not do it justice. The background is a beautiful stamp from Penny Black and I embossed it with red sparkly embossing powder on red paper. I would never have thought to do that except for a class I took at my local Stamp Shoppe. The ornament is a Sizzix die cut out and embossed with a SU embossing folder, then the Hope was diecut in the center (Tim Holtz die.) I cut the ornament top out in gold paper and hung the ornement with gold cord.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Guest DT Spot At Paper Crafting Journey

2011-11-24T06:00:00.005-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends! I am thankful today, of course, for family and friends and Packer football and also for the opportunity to be a guest dt member at Paper Crafting Journey. Their challenge starting today is my favorite: Anything Goes, and they are sponsored by Digital Delights by Louby Lou who has darling digital images. I had fun making this side stairstep card featuring a smiley Christmas tree and a pre-colored adorable reindeer from Digital Delights. The snow under the tree was created with a Snow Marker from Marvy and glitter. I attached some fun snowflake ribbon to the second step and the sentiment is an embossing folder from Cuttlebug.

I am entering this card in the Festive Cheer with Red, Green and Gold (bells and star) at The Crafty Pad.

I have scheduled this post in advance as on Turkey Day we are driving over to my sister's to spend Thanksgiving with family cheering on the Packers to another victory (we hope:) and eating lots, of course. Have a great holiday and stay safe.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Designer Choice Challenge featuring Snowflakes

2011-11-23T08:00:00.001-06:00

It's another fun Wednesday at The House that Stamps Built and Kendra is challenging us to use Snowflakes in our cards. I just love the Repeat Impression's Snowflake Prism stamp and used that as my focal point in this card. I stamped three times on white sparkly paper, cut out and layered back on the dp raising each layer with mounting tape.

The card is a fun design. I started with a navy blue A2 card and cut down an inch from th top. Then you cut off another inch from the piece that is left and layer dp on both pieces. The center is acetate attached to the back of the front layer and then you attach the bottom piece back on. The wonderful holiday sentiment on the inside shows through the acetate and is from Repeat Impressions too. A couple more snowflake punches and some gems and the card is done.

So grab some snowflakes and join this challenge for a chance at some RI rubber! Please visit the blog for all the details and to see the other Snowflake cards by the Rock Stars.

I am entering this card in the challenge at Crafty Emma's to use snowflakes in our cards.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Crafting When We Can and OSAAT Challenges

2011-11-22T07:00:00.001-06:00

The challenge this week at Crafting When we Can is "Female Birthday" and One Stitch at a Time is Anything Goes. I really like this card I made with a silhouette digi from a company that has gone out of business. I tried a new technique- put ink directly onto an acrylic block and stamp that onto cardstock to form a frame of sorts in soft color. Then I printed the digi onto that block of light color, layered onto navy and the blue card and added the sentiment and gems to complete the card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Paper Creations Ink Christmas Challenge

2011-11-21T08:00:00.003-06:00

The theme of the new challenge at Paper Creations Ink is Christmas! So you can create and post a new holiday card and link it for a chance at a great prize. Our sponsor is Sassy Studio Designs and they provided the design team with some fun digis to play with. I chose Santa's Helper and did a little paper piecing and coloring before cutting into a circle and adding a piece of velum to soften the image. The base white card was embossed with a Sizzix embossing folder and a larger circle cut before adding a red piece to back of the front flap. I used two border punches to make the Joy border and competed the card with some pearls.

I am entering this card in the challenge at Glitter Geeks to show Christmas Shopping.

Paper Crafting Journey and Paper Shelter Challenges

2011-11-20T08:00:00.003-06:00

Embossing is the challenge at Paper Crafting Journey this week and Snowflakes is the theme at Paper Shelter. I made this card using a freebie digi from Cuddly Buddly and a snowflake embossing folder from Cuttlebug. I like the layout of this card. The navy piece that is tied with baker's twine is 4 1/4" wide and sticks out from the white card base. The digi image from Cuddly Buddly was printed, cut out and raised with mounting tape to complete this CAS card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

More Holiday Wishes 4 our Kids

2011-11-19T08:00:00.006-06:00

It's time for another new challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids and we are challenging you to make some holiday cards for kids and enter them in our challenge for THREE chances at a great prize from our sponsors. After you do, there is still time to send the card into any of our four addresses so we can spread some holiday cheer to our kids who are inpatient in any of the seven children's hospitals we are now donating the cards to. Please visit our blog to see the rest of TEAM S.A.S. cards as well as three by a special guest dt member.

Our wonderful sponsors for the Happy Holiday Wishes Challenge are: Prairie Fairy, who is offering a $15 gift certificate to a random winner; The Cutting Cafe', who is donating 3 sets of digital stamps or cutting files to one lucky winner; and Digital Delights, and their prize is 3 images of the winner's choice!

I had so much fun designing with the digital stamps from our sponsors as well as great digital paper and borders from The Cutting Cafe'! The cute snowman above is from Prairie Fairy. The dotted paper is from The Cutting Cafe' and I paper pieced the snowman over the paper. The bird and the hat were also paper pieced and then I added Diamond Dust to the snow.

My second card features a sweet dog from Digital Delights. More paper piecing, a little coloring and some flock and then I cut out with nesties labels die and did a little sponging. The card is a pocket that I embossed with a holly embossing folder and added some red gems for berries and a sparkly red ribbon.

Inside the pocket is a card made with two fun borders from The Cutting Cafe'. The dotted paper on the stocking is also from them. So a couple more holiday cards from the kids are done. How about you join us and enter your fun holiday cards in the challenge and then send them on in to cheer a child who is in the hospital during the holidays?

I am entering my cards in the challenges Digi Doodles Shop's Best for Red and Green cards, and at Moving Along with the Times for Let it Snow.

Stamping smiles 4 our kids, Karen

Paper and Such Design and Sassy Cheryl's Challenges

2011-11-18T08:00:00.001-06:00

Paper piecing is the challenge this week at Paper and Such Design, and at Sassy Cheryl's Anything Goes. My favorite challenge and technique:) There is only a little paper piecing on this holiday card, but I think it is effective. The ornaments were first embossed on white paper, cut out and layered on red paper. One of the ornaments was embossed on gold paper and paper pieced onto the card. I used some ornament dp and a nesties label to complete the card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Hooked on Crafts and My Partner in Crafting Crime Challenges

2011-11-17T08:00:00.001-06:00

The challenge this week at Hooked on Crafts was Punches and Diecuts, and at My Partner in Crafting Crime it is to use a freebie on our card. I made this card with a freebie from Cuddly Buddly and it was pre-colored for me too:) So cute and easy to make into a fun card for my kids for the holidays. The top flap of this card was cut down about an inch on the right and bottom with the corner rounded. I punched a row of snowflakes with my Martha Stewart border punch. CAS but cute with the darling image from Cuddly Buddly.

Stamping smiles, Karen

What If? Wed. Sketch Challenge

2011-11-16T07:00:00.002-06:00

It's time for a sketch challenge at The House that Stamps Built and I flipped the sketch below and came up with the card above. One thing I really like about Repeat Impressions What If? Wednesday Challenges is, even though we come up with a fun new challenge every Wednesday, you always have almost two weeks to enter each one. One week is never enough it seems to design a card, take a picture and blog about it, but two weeks is plenty of time. That was one of the reasons why I started entering their challenges and won twice before I was picked to be a part of the team! You can win too! Check out all the details on the blog and also check out the other Rock Star's cards using this CAS sketch as a starting point.

For my card I started with some thicker striped green dp for the card. The fun scene is "Christmouse Decorations" and I paper pieced and colored that. Of course, the sentiment is from Repeat Impressions too and is perfect for this card. I rounded some corners and added some gems to complete the card.

I am entering this card in the Christmas Traditions challenge at Totally Gorjus and the Red, White and Green challenge at Here Come the Boys.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Speedy the Cat's Friends and Sweet n Sassy Challenges

2011-11-15T08:00:00.001-06:00

The challenge this week at Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenges is to use our favorite technique, and at Sweet n Sassy Digi Challenge it is to use a digi and paper piece. My favorite technique is paper piecing and I do it all the time, especially with digis. I won this darling dino from Stamping with the Dragon a few weeks ago and used several dps to make this fun holiday card for one of my kids. Of course I paper pieced the dragon, hat and gift bag. I made a z fold card and put striped holiday dp in in the inside and front flap.

Stamping smiles, Karen