Cardvaarks Gift Card Holder

The challenge this week at Cardvaarks was to create a gift card holder. I saw one similar to this on-line and had to give it a try. The stamps are from Papertrey and I also used a Sizzix die, a CB embossing folder, nesties and a border punch from Martha Stewart. The top half circle opens and a gift card slides in a pocket under the "happy holidays" piece.


Stamping smiles, Karen

Some Odd Girl Window Card Challenge

The challenge this week at Some Odd Girl was to use a window in our cards. I recently got this window diecut from Sizzix and wanted to play with it and this is what I came up with. Butterflies were my theme and I am happy with how it turned out. The celebrate stamp is from Hero Arts and the inside butterfly is from Inkadinkado.

Remember this is the last week to vote at JoAnn's for Operation Write Home! Thanks!

Stamping smiles, Karen

Hodgepodge Shop Anything Goes Hot Card

The challenge this week at the Hodgepodge Shop was "anything goes" so I am posting a summery card made with stamps I rented from Raisin Boat. I am in the stage of life where I am hot all the time and love to tease friends and relatives about getting old, so this set was really fun. The cork paper on the front was punched with a MS border punch and cut to resemble sand. Love the saying on the inside- LOL!

Stamping smiles, Karen

A Spoonful of Sugar & Paper Pretties Challenges

The challenge this week at A Spoonful of Sugar was "anything goes" and at Paper Pretties was "clean and simple", so both were right up my alley:) I love this snowman embossing folder from Tim Holtz and after embossing him, I sanded the core'dinations paper. The hope diecut is also from Tim's new collection from Sizzix. I rounded the corners and added a couple corner stickers to complete this CAS card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Lexi's Creations Challenge

The challenge at Lexi's Creations this week was to create a card using traditional Christmas colors. I just got the birdcage diecut from Tim Holtz and decided to use that in my card. The wing is embossed and the cage popped up with mounting tape. The background embossing folder is also from Tim and the branch punch from Martha Stewart. The peace sentiment is by Papertrey and I added some gems to finish the card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Repeat Impressions N1710, Charisma Cardz & CCEE1046 Challenges

I used the sketch from Repeat Impressions, the baby theme from Charisma Cardz and the button theme from CCEE to inspire me for this fun card. The stamp is from a set I rented from Raisin Boat. I have been wanting to try the circle medallion like I have seen on so many cute cards lately and this sketch seemed perfect for it. I also used a lacy circle nestie and the duck punch is by Tonic. I love to use both the positives and negatives of a punch and this one was perfect for that.

Stamping smiles, Karen

7 Kids College Fund Challenge & WINNER

The challenge at 7 Kids College Fund was to make and post a thank you card as we are thinking of what we are thankful for this week. I made this card as part of a gift for my daughter-in-law to be for thank yous for her showers. The stamp is from Stampin Up and the embossing folder is from Cuttlebug. I used nesties to make the three layers for the flower using cardstock, newspaper and velum and a gem in the center.

I am thankful for my wonderful family and for the lovely wedding coming in just a few weeks. I am thankful for my friends and all the joy they bring to my life. And I am grateful for this awesome hobby as it too added friends and great joy to my life. And I am grateful to my Followers and Subscribers on my blog.

I am loving the makeover my blog recently had and am grateful to Sara and Michael for all their help. I drew from the current followers on my blog and the winner of the package of blog candy is: Barbara Colbert.  Please contact me with your address so I can mail it and Congratulations!!

Stamping smiles, Karen

Ellephantastic #19 & Flutter by Wednesday Challenges

The challenges this week at Ellephantastic and Flutter by Wednesday were to use butterflies in our cards. I have been playing with a Tim Holtz die that I borrowed, so have just the card. I sponged two different colors through the holes created by the die onto lightly colored dp. Easy but very effective technique. Add the rub-on sentiment and it was all done.

This is my 4 year old grandson preparing for his first recital with two solos this weekend. So of course Grandma will be there proud as can be and not back blogging until Tuesday. Have a great weekend (as I am sure mine will be:)

Stamping smiles, Grandma Karen

Creative Cottage & C4C63 Challenges

The challenge this week at Creative Cottage was to create and post a card for someone special at Christmas and at Crazy 4 Challenges was a Christmas card. This CAS card was one I made for a special soldier overseas and sent to OWH for an Any Hero card. The stamp is from DRS Designs and the folder is from Cuttlebug.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Truly Scrumptious Sketch Challenge

I saw this idea for a dp Christmas tree on line here and made one as the focal point using the great sketch from Truly Scrumptious (turned on its side.) The tree is actually very easy to make- cut a circle out of two sided holiday dp and cut in half, follow Connie's pattern for a few score lines and fold. (Go to the site for a pattern and better instructions.) The background is embossed with a Sizzix folder and the punched border is also from Sizzix. I added some baker's twine and a holiday wish from CTMH.

Remember to vote for OWH at JoAnnes!

Stamping smiles, Karen

Saturday Sketch & Critter Sketch Challenges

I loved the sketch at Saturday Sketch Challenge this week and combined that challenge with Critter Sketch's challenge to use texture in our cards to make this fun holiday card. I cut out two of the trees (Tim Holtz Sizzix die) and attached the white one just off alittle and embossed them both with a Tim Holtz embossing folder. The large snowflake border is also from Tim Holtz (can you tell I really like Tim?:) and the sentiment is from Inkadinkdo.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Blog Candy Celebration!

I am celebrating my blog's new look by giving away this package of Blog Candy that includes 10 original cards (including envelopes), and a bunch of rub-ons and ribbon. If you are a subscriber, take a minute to go to my actual blog and see my new banner, colors, buttons to click to some of my favorite sites and new labels (still working on that...) My friend Sara helped me and I am thrilled with the result.

All you need to qualify for a chance at this package is to a Follower before 11/23/10 (next Tuesday). So if you are not already signed up as a follower, do it now:) and tell your friends too!

Stamping smiles, Karen

ABC Challenge & Stamp Simply #165

The challenge this week at ABC Challenge was H is for Holiday and at Stamp Simply was to use non-traditional Christmas colors. I almost always use the red and greens and blues for snowflakes, but this time I used purple in my card, for the gems and for the ornament. The swirl stamp is from Inkadinkado and the ornament from Skipping Stone Design.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Cute Card Thursday

 

Anything Goes this week at Cute Card Thursday so I chose this card I made with stamps and punches from Heartfelt Creations. Something different than all the holiday cards we are seeing everywhere, so makes me think of spring:) The center piece was cut out and layered on purple and cut again, then raised. Some more layering and a few pearls for accent and the card is done.

Stamping smiles, Karen

DDCC#90 & Work in Progress

 

The challenge this week at Dutch Dare Challenges was to create a CAS card. Clean and simple is my style (most of the time) so this is right up my alley. On this card I simply made a hole in the front smaller card with a circle nestie, then stamped the silhouette flowers in three different colors on the inside. Add the butterfly, sentiment and bow and layer on an A2 size plum piece and it is done.

You may have noticed my blog is starting to look different in a great way. Did you see the beautiful banner? A friend and her fiance' worked with me yesterday and I love the new look. There are some more changes to be completed, but so far, what do you think? THANKS Sara & Michael!! I am going to celebrate the new look with a Blog Candy drawing in about a week when it is done, so be sure to sign up to be a FOLLOWER if you haven't already done so.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Repeat Impressions Case N10 Challenge

 

The challenge this week at Repeat Impressions was to CASE a particular card on their site (or somewhat copy it.) I wanted to play with my new Tim Holtz snowflake border and embossing folder and this was a good sketch for that. I cut out the snowman, layered on an oval nestie and put that on top of a DP piece with the snowflakes sticking out on the top and bottom. The finishing touches were sparkles on the snowman and Pearl Pen pearls in the corners and down the DP.

Big surprise on my blog this weekend- can't wait! Come back to see and also to see if you win a big pile of delicious Blog Candy. All you need to do to qualify is to be a Follower on my blog.

And remember to vote for OWH at JoAnn's.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Anything Goes & Charisma Cardz Challenges

 

The challenge at Anything Goes this week was to emboss on our cards and at Charisma Cards to make sympathy cards, so this card qualifies for both. I used the CB folder that embosses and cuts, rounded the corners, layered on a piece edged with the SU punch and added my sentiment. CAS but elegant.

I have a surprise coming this weekend on my blog and to celebrate, will be drawing for a huge package of Blog Candy next week. Any one signed up as a FOLLOWER will qualify for a chance at a bunch of my handmade cards, and a bunch of cool ribbon and rub-ons. So sign up if you haven't already and tell your family and friends too!

Stamping smiles, Karen

Cardvaarks Holiday Card

 

The challenge this week at Cardvaarks was to make a holiday card using diecuts. I used several nesties and also the flower diecut (Tim Holtz) to make this card. The flower was also embossed and I added a button with bakers twine. The beautiful stamp is from I Brake 4 Stamps.

Remember to vote for OWH at JoAnnes!

Stamping smiles, Karen

Repeat Impressions Sketch N310

 

I loved the sketch at Repeat Impressions and so that was the inspiration for this fall card. I was stuck on colors so used the colors from the last week's color throwdown of kraft, orange, red and light blue, but missed their deadline for the challenge. Sometimes deciding on colors to use is the hardest part of designing a card for me... The entire background of this card was embossed with Thanksgiving folder after the pieces of blue, orange and red were attached. Then I simply added the framed acetate pix of the apples to make a nice CAS fall card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Bonus OWH Card- We Can Vote Now!

 

The midweek challenge at OWH Stars and Stripes was to make cards using paper piecing. If you know me, you know I don't like to color so I use paper piecing quite often. This card used pp on the snowman angel and his wings. The stamps used are older ones from TAC. The snowflakes were embossed on velvet cardstock.

I just wanted to send out another card today to my subscribers and followers and to ask you all to please go to OWH daily or whenever you can to vote for Operation Write Home as your charity of choice to win the grand prize from JoAnn's which they would then use for mailing and other expenses in getting our homemade cards to our soldiers overseas. It does say to vote about the same time each day and I can tell you that I tried to vote this morning after voting yesterday afternoon and it would not take my vote then, but did later today. So must be set up on a 24 hour basis maybe? Anyway, any votes you can do for this great cause would be greatly appreciated!!

Stamping smiles, Karen

Lexi's Creations Challenge

 

The challenge at Lexi's Creations this week was Anything Goes so I chose this card that doesn't fit in most typical catagories of challenges: a pet sympathy card. The stamps are from a rented set from Raisin Boat. The card is made by with two pieces of A2 size blue cardstock and the hearts cut out of the front one with nesties, then the two pieces are attached together with skinny tape all around three edges (creating a pocket with the left side open. Punch a half circle on that side. A slightly smaller piece of white cardstock is the center piece and the heart is stamped on that where it shows throught the cut out heart. When you pull that white piece out (with ribbon attached on the side), the inside saying is revealed in the heart on the back blue piece. I sponged the edges and added the rest of the cute pet memory stamps.

 

Stamping smiles, Karen

Creative Card Crew Challenge

 

The challenge this week at Creative Card Crew was to use punches in our cards and since I am totally addicted to punches, that is an easy one for me! I had these cool silver sheets of cardstock that had all different special birthdays squares, so one day I decided to cut them apart and make some cards. This is one of my kids cards and I made from 1 year old to 6 this way. I used the SU border punch and a balloon punch and the elephant is a die cut (like a punch). The blue checked paper is embossed with CB birthday folder and the top piece slips under the silver "1 TODAY!" to hold it down.

When open it looks like this:

 

Stamping smiles, Karen

Cards for Men #22, Paper Take Weekly & OWH Stars & Stripes Challenges

 

The challenges at Cards for Men and Paper Take Weekly were to make a card for a man (or boy)and OWH Midweek Throwdown was to use paper piecing in our cards, so this card qualifies for all three. I love this set from My Favorite Things- so cute for a little boy. I paper pieced the dino costume and used my nesties to make a circular easel card on an A2 size background. Inside it says Rawr, Rawr, Rawr....

We have a busy weekend here hosting a wedding shower for my son and his fiance'. Can't wait to see all the family- will be so much fun. Won't be back blogging until Monday, so thought I would share a picture of the bride and groom to be.

 

Stamping smiles, Karen