Get Sketchy #23 and Raisin Boat

 

Love the simple but effective sketch on this week's Get Sketchy challenge. I used rented stamps again from Raisin Boat (see earlier post and www.raisinboat.com).

Love this set for guys: "It's a Guy Thing". A recliner, a remote and sports on TV- that's a perfect day for most guys I know, so these images are great for them. I stamped the recliner on a white piece with a piece "out of the box'. Stamped again on patterned paper and paper-pieced it. Rounded the corners of the white piece and doodled lines and dots around the edge. Stamped the remote on kraft paper, cut out and attached with mounting tape. Stamped the sayings and put together - easy and fun for most any guy.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Stamp Simply and Raisin Boat

 

Stamp Simply's challenge this week was to use hearts and the color red. That gave me a chance to use my first rented set from Raisin Boat. What is Raisin Boat? Check out this article:

http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/article_4ea04110-b897-5b4c-916b-826383092413.html

and then go to their website www.raisinboat.com.

I have signed up for their trial membership (two sets a month) after I saw all the cool stamps on their website that I could rent and use and return if I want or keep at a reduced price. Talk about great service- I signed up and two days later I had my first two sets in my queue along with the postage free envelopes to return them when I was done. I also got a free stamp with my order- a very cute heart with flowers that I will show you on another post.

This first card is using their "Playing Cupid" set. I wanted to make some more Valentine cards for my blog as this holiday approaches, but didn't want to necessarily buy any more sets for this once a year love day. But now that I have the set and love some of the images, I may have to keep this one:)

The round border images on the bottom are circle stamps I stamped and punched out and covered half with a pink strip with two more Raisin Boat images and Cuttlebug "with love" border embossed image. Two cute hearts on a string are added to the sides. The floral heart was stamped on white in red and then cut out and embossed with a Nestie heart. Cut the circle and scalloped circle with Nesties too and attached sticking up over the top of the card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Cute Card Thursday #97

 

Cute Card Thursday's Challenge this week is to use flowers on our cards. The card I am posting has a beautiful flower stamp by Paper Inspirations. I have stamped the flower in Stazon on glossy paper, then pounced on color with a large bristle paintbrush. All layers were cut with nestabilities.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Believe Card and Request

 

Today's card is one I made with some favorite stamps from The Angel Company (who I used to represent) and some patterned paper. Love that silhouette stamp and the swirly "believe".

I added a Followers feature on the side of my blog. If you have been enjoying my blog and/or subscribe, please take a minute and add yourself as a follower. I dream of being on some design teams and I hear they check to see how many followers are listed on your blog before deciding to ask you to join their team. So I would greatly appreciate it if you would become a "follower".

February 1st is coming soon! I am drawing my Blog Candy winner from the subscribers at that time. Be sure to subscribe if you haven't already done so! Thanks for sharing my

Stamping smiles, Karen

Love Valentine or Wedding Card

 

This is a little fancier version of a card I had done for a challenge this weekend. I layered it on a red card, added some pearls, added corner stickers and used the "love" stamp from Stampin'Up. I think it would make a nice wedding card anytime or a Valentine for the one you love for the holiday coming up.

Stamping smiles, Karen

MMSC38 It's a Boy Card

 

I used the sketch from this week's Midnight Madness challenge (the more casual one:) to make this card. I also used all the materials given to us for our stamp club's challenge. The darling duck stamp is from a new line of stamps designed and sold at The Stamp Shoppe here in Weston WI. I paper pieced him. The circle is co-ordinations paper so after cutting and cuttlebugging, I sanded and the blue dots came through. The saying stamp is Stampin' Up.
Added a few buttons and the cute diaper pin and it is all done.

Stamping smiles, Karen

3rd Generation Card Maker

 

 

 

Yesterday I was scrapbooking all day so today I decided to share a recent layout featuring my darling 3 year old grandson and some of the cards he has made for loved ones. He just loves to make cards (just like his Mom and Grandma) and is so proud to give them. The two cards shown are his first stamping ever and a more recent one where he shows his love for stickers.

Stamping (and scrapping) smiles, Karen

Stampin' Royalty & Stamptacular Sunday Challenge Card

 

Had a heck of a time taking a decent pix of this card. No sun here in central Wisconsin and it either showed a shadow or reflected the artificial lighting no matter what I tried. This is the best I could do... I used my new Cuttlebug folder from HSN and pipe repair tape (from the hardware store) to create a single layer card for Stampin' Royalty's challenge. It was really hard as I do layer most of my cards and I have an alternative with layering, more color and bling to show another day:) I also used the color scheme of white, black and silver from Stamptacular Sunday's challenge- make a friendship card using only those colors. The friendship stamp is CTMH and the corner stamp is a Fiskars acrylic stamp.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Tuesday Morning Sketch Challenge

 

This is a fun card made using the sketch from Tuesday Morning for inspiration. I have been wanting to use my new funny stamps from Cornish Heritage Farms on a card. I have a darling grandson so anything cute for boys is great by me. I colored three of the funny dudes with bright copics and paper pieced one and double raised him with mounting tape to feature that one. (second from the left if the pix is not clear.)

Stamping smiles, Karen

Mojo Monday and Crazy 4 Challlenges

 

I used the Mojo Monday sketch for this card and Crazy 4 Challenges pink inspiration as well. I have been wanting to design something using my new Justrite stamps and this one seemed perfect for the pink theme! The background is a sizzix embossing folder and I finished it with some ribbon and pink patterned paper.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Spotlight Diva's Sunshine & CCEE Stamper's Challenge

 

It's a dreary day here in central Wisconsin which is good for staying home and making cards for challenges but not for photographing them when I am done... The Spotlight Diva's challenge this week is to use sunshine and yellows in our cards, so making this one did brighten this dreary day! I used the sketch from this week's CCEE Stamper's Challenge. The focal point is a Clear View transparency from The Mark-it Place in Sayner Wi. The stamp is Little Fish Rubber Stamps and the punch is by Marvy.

Hambo Inside Matters Card

 

 

I have been trying to post this card since Wednesday but was unable to get past an error message I was getting until now. I must already be addicted to blogging after less than a month because I only missed a couple days and was feeling withdrawal symptoms. I wanted to design some cards for challenges this weekend but was upset that I couldn't publish pictures...

So anyway, I am back:) This is one of my favorite recent cards and I shared it at my stamp club meeting this week. The front is all beautiful and serious using a wish from Hambo Stamps and the embossing folder from Stampin' Up. Then you see the inside and get a good laugh. I also punched a border (Fiskars punch) for the inside out of the same patterned paper as the front is layered on.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Tag I'm It Card

 

I am playing a game of card tag with a friend and this is the card I received this week from her. I just love the patterned papers, flowers and the heart. Perfect for Valentines or Thinking of you note or anything. Thanks Margie! So I am IT but won't be for long:)

Stamping smiles, Karen

SSHP14 & Card Patterns #47

 

Two more challenges today: SSHP14- Snowflakes Gone Wild and used the sketch from Card Patterns #47. After I made the card this morning the sun was bright and perfect for picture taking but my camera was dead... After charging, of course the sun was hiding so the snowflake Cuttlebug border on the right doesn't show up as much as I would like. The pearls are all in the middle of embossed snowflakes. The focal point is a large punched out snowflake raised up with extra high mounting tape. The stamps are by Ann-ticipations and Morningstar.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Stamp Simply Flower Card

 

 

Stamp Simply's challenge this week was to use flowers and spring colors in our card. I love the pink flowers in this patterned paper and picked one to highlight with the same method I used on the wildlife cards posted earlier. Attach the patterned paper to the front of the card, cut out the highlighted flower with a nestabilitie, sponge all sides and attach in the hole space in the inside.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Love MMSC36

 

It's Friday and I am off work- yeah! Had a little time to play in my stamp room before heading over to visit for the weekend with my grandson and daughter. Nate is 3 years old and so much fun to spend time with! Can't wait!

Before going I created a card this morning using the Midnight Madness sketch for this week. I was thinking Valentines so went with reds and pinks. Used the new HSN romance cuttlebug folder on the background and for the strip down the side of the patterned paper. The Love stamp is from TAC and I added bride's flowers and a pearl to finish.

So have a great weekend - I am off to hug my grandson.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Thinking of You Bird Card

 

Sharing a simple card today but one I still love. Simply use the bird Cuttlebug folder on white, layer with red and blacks (a color combination I really like), add label nestie with saying and ribbon and you are all done.

I got some new Cuttlebug folders yesterday and thought you might want to check them out. HSN has an exclusive bundle of Romance ones that are very cool. They may feature them on a show this week or it might be easier to just go to HSN.com and buy them there. I am not sure how long they will be available so you may want to check out right away.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Win this Set!

 

This monkey is part of a complete set of TAC stamps that is just a small part of my Blog Candy to be awarded February 1st to one of my subscribers. If you are not a subscriber, still time to sign up:) I am trying to share fun cards almost every day so I hope they are being enjoyed!

I paper pieced the monkey's clothes. The front has an inch cut off on the side and bottom, the corners rounded, patterned paper placed in the inside (so it shows), and a birthday candle punched border.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Best Wishes Card

 

 

I used Nestabilities border and shapes to make this card along with patterned paper on the front and inside. The border is the kind you can punch the holes to form the pattern and I sponged on the swirl in blue ink.

Stamoing smiles, Karen

Stamp Simply Valentine

 

I made this Valentine for my kids I send cards to each month. I am linking it to Stamp Simply's #131 Love is in the Air Challenge. I have been wanting to use the Owl cuttlebug folder and the paper from Core'dinations that is brown and when you sand it another color comes through. I printed the saying on my computer on patterned paper and cut out with heart nestability.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Sympathy Card

 

Today I am sharing a sympathy card that I made recently. The green paper on the front looks like handmade paper. Half is embossed with vine and bird cuttlebug folder and accented with small pearls. The other half is stamped with sympathy saying (DRS Designs) and fern (not sure) and layered on dark green card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Midnight Madness & Cuttlebug Spot

 

Hope this isn't too many cards for one day:) But today was my day for designing new cards and entering challenges. Promise you won't hear from me tomorrow- I am scrapping my darling grandson's pages and then cheering on the Packers in the playoffs!

This card is for two challenges at once- Midnight Madness MMSC35 sketch and for The Cuttlebug Spot New Year's card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Saturday Spotlight Valentine

 

No Hearts Please! That's the idea on saturdayspotlight.blogspot.com today for their challenge- a Valentine with no hearts. I used CTMH's outline stamp on red patterned paper and make a sweet Valentine without hearts.

Stamping smiles, Karen