Embellish Magazine Challenge

 

The challenge this week at Embellish Magazine was to use the colors yellow, black, white and grey in our cards and make a background with stamps. I used a cut out card from SU as a start for my card, layering it on black and added a yellow flower and grey pearl. The background stamp was stamped in grey also, and then the sentiment sticker added. The punch is from ek success.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Dutch Dare & Stamping Bazaar Challenges for OWH

 

Several more challenges this week are featuring my favorite stamping cause: Operation Write Home. Both Dutch Dare and Stamping Bazaar asked for us to make and post a card we would then send to OWH. I made this CAS holiday card to send to OWH for a soldier overseas to use to send home to family or friends. I used a newer folder from CB that cuts and embosses at the same time for the background and simply added a circular stamped image in the middle.

Stamping smiles, Karen

CCEE1038 Get Well Card

 

I got my days mixed up and missed a deadline yesterday and so I posted Monday's card today. This was supposed to be my Tuesday card, so to get back on track, you get two for the price of one today:)

The challenge this week at CCEE was to make a Get Well card. I always use Thinking of You instead of Get Well, as sometimes the latter just isn't appropriate. So this is a TOY/Get Well card I made recently using a embossing folder I hadn't used yet and a lovely stamp from Inkadinkado. The flower and butterfly were paperpieced. CAS but lovely, I think. Hope you do too.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Skipping Stones Design

 

I designed this funny card using a new set of stamps I got from Stepping Stones Design and their sketch. But I mixed up and didn't post it before their deadline. Oh well, hope the card makes you laugh and reminds you that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. SSD is having several fundraisers for the Susan G Komen Foundation - check out their site for details.

If you are new to their site, I recommend their stamps very highly. You can use me as your referring friend in a new contest where you could win a whole bunch of great stamps from them.

 

The "Salvation Army" and "Catholic Bra" sayings just crack me up!

Stamping smiles, Karen

Caardvarks Clean & Simple Card

 

The challenge this week at Caardvarks was to create a clean and simple card and I did a holiday card featuring some new stamps I won at Just for Fun stamps. Not much to say except that I loved the stamps and really like how the card turned out.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Heart to Heart Card Drive

 

I found a great cause and awesome chances at tons of blog candy that I thought I would share with you. Please go to
this blog and read about Cammie's drive to show caregivers of Alzheimers patients how much they are appreciated. We can post a card, then mail it to a caregiver (if you don't know one personally, there is an address provided.) Then leave a comment and qualify for lots of great prizes.

My card is a "Thinking of You" card featuring a stamp from Inkadinkado. The side piece was crimped and I used a sketch I had seen on line for the layout.

Hope you join us in this great cause and maybe win a prize.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Celebration Card

 

The challenge this week at Flourishes Timeless Tuesday was to create a card celebrating something. I chose a new baby and used a set of Nestabilities that I had not had a chance to play with before. All the dies go together to make a cute and easy
card for the new baby and family.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Hogs & Sketches #10 & TPE 84 Card

 

I had fun making this card using the sketch from Hogs & Sketches and the inspiration from Pink Elephant which was to use aqua, designer paper and some embellishment. Lately I have been loving the color combo of orange and aqua, which is not a usual one for me but a challenge showed me how great they work together. The stamps are from TAC and the inside says: "keep this up and pretty soon you will be older than dirt!" (My sister is turning 50 in a couple days, so this is for you, Kathy:)

The swirly lines are highlighted with a sparkly gel pen and I deliberately stamped the sentiment twice- once in orange and once in black just to be a little different.

Stamping smiles, Karen

KSS#27 Fall Card

 

The challenge right now at Kitchen Sink Stamps is to use their beautiful stamps and make a fall card. I picked the tree stamp and used the yellows, oranges and burgandies we are starting to see on our trees now in Central Wisconsin. The sketch is one we were challenged to use in our local stamp club. The sentiment is using little alphabet stickers and of course the background is embossed with a folder.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Card Patterns Sketch 82 & Wee Memories #25

 

I used the sketch from Card Patterns this week and the inspiration from Wee Memories (SOS= scallops, orange and string) to make this card. The left side is craft foil from Spellbinders which I punched with a Fiskars edge punch and scored lines with my ScorBuddy. The stamp is a Penny Black and I used stampers floss for my string. The orange circle is scalloped with the circle scallop nestie die.

Stamping smiles, Karen

C4C55 & Jugs Challenges Card

 

I loved the sketch this week from Crazy for Challenges and also used the colors from JUGS of red, green and black to make this cute holiday card. I used a new Sizzix embossing folder and some pop-up stickers of Santa I got at the stamp show this weekend. So the card was easy and fun to make.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Stamp Scrap & Doodle OWH Challenge

 

Today I am joining in another challenge that is featuring birthday cards for Operation Write Home. This one is at Stamp, Scrap & Doodle. Mine is a trifold card with fall colors and a beautiful fall stamp from Inkadinkado. I layered the circle image on a nestie and attached to the front of the folded back piece. The inside has a wish from TAC that could definitely be for birthdays. I thought the brads in the corners added a nice finishing touch.

 

Stamping smiles, Karen

Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge #21

 

The challenge at Mark's Finest Papers is perfect for me: create a birthday card and donate to my favorite great cause: Operation Write Home. This is another birthday card I created using a fun set from Raisin Boat. I raised the
squares that say "Best Wishes 2 U" so they stand out a little more. The squares I stamped with versamark didn't photo as well, but in real life they look fine (guess you will have to take my word for it:)

Stamping smiles, Karen

OWH Birthday Challenge

 

The challenge this week at OWH was to make birthday cards and I am sharing one made with my most recent rented stamp set from
Raisin Boat. I love the colors of orange and aqua blue together and
these square stamps are fun to work with.

On my way to a stamp show up north so will be having a great day. Hope you do too!

Stamping smiles, Karen

Scrapbook Friday

 

"Are you Teething" is the title of this page of cute pix of my grandson chewing on everything. I printed the teeth from my graphics program, cut them out and added the letters for a cute title.

 

Stamping and scrapping smiles, Karen

Z Fold Christmas Card

 

I made this Z fold card for my stamp club shoebox project and thought I would share with you all today. I loved the idea of using border punches to stick up from the folds and found this MS snowman punch on Ebay (it was apparently a limited edition last year.) The card is 12" x 5.5" and scored at 4" and 8". Mark 1.75" mark on the left edge and cut from that to the 8" score mark. I used embossing folders, patterned paper and a sentiment from Quiet Fire Designs to complete my card.

 

Also wanted to share that at our Birthday Bash for Operation Write Home this week, our stamping club gathered and completed 740 cards for our soldiers overseas! OWH will be sending them to Iraq and Afghanistan to be used to send loved ones back home messages of love. Way to go Stamp Shoppers!

Stamping smiles, Karen

Shabby Tea Room Challenge

 

The challenge this week at the Shabby Tea Room was to use green in our cards- not hard to do as green is my favorite color.
I made this card using some new stamps from Just for Fun Stamps, a MS border punch, some ribbon and a leaf shaped
button. The card was made with dark brown Core'dinations paper and so I sanded the edges and alittle of the orange
appeared. Love that paper!

Stamping smiles, Karen

Stamp Simply Guys Card

 

The challenge this week at Stamp Simply was to create a guy's card and I made this one for my brother so I thought this would work. The stamps are from Hambo and I love the saying: "To my favorite nut."

 

The inside saying is so sweet I just couldn't resist it! I used a sketch I had seen on line awhile back.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Cuttlebug Challenge BD Card

 

This card qualifies for this week's challenge at Cuttlebug Challenges: make a birthday card and use atleast two layers and of course, use CB embossing. I made this BD card for my husband- he loves kitties and orange is his favorite color. There are two sections to the card and I like how it folds together. I embossed the entire orange piece which is the normal A2 size. The brown piece is attached on the inside of the orange card and folds over to the top of the card where I placed the kitty looking out a window stamp. I won this awesome stamp (and others) from Just for Fun stamps recently. The sentiment is from DRS Stamps. I added a couple leaves to the inside cut and embossed with Nesties.

 

Stamping smiles, Karen

I'm back! Welcome Baby Card

 

Or should I say my computer is back!! YEAH! I have missed blogging and posting my cards and reading your comments. I created a bunch of cards while I was computerless so will be sharing them daily again. This was a fun baby card using SU stamps and Cuttlebug embossing folders and my new MS circle cutter. The bottom half of the baby "buggy" folds up to reveal the inside saying welcoming baby.

Stamping smiles! Karen