Crop Stop #4 and Southern Girls Challenges

This is my favorite card that I have created lately and I am playing along with the challenges at Crop Stop and Southern Girls challenges to use dry embossing in our cards. This card is all Tim Holtz products except for the hilarious saying which is from a set I won at Repeat Impressions- just love it! The borders are diecuts from Tim, the embossing folder is Tim and so are the flowers and the brad. Can you tell I love anything Tim? Have you seen his new CHA releases? Be still my beating heart:)

Stamping smiles, Karen

Sisterhood of Crafters and Penny's Challenges

The challenges at Sisterhood of Crafters and at Penny's Challenges were "Anything Goes" this week. I love that kind because I can pick any of my recent cards to post. This is a CAS winter card featuring a beautiful cardinal stamp from Prickley Pear and a snowflake embossing folder from Cuttlebug. It is hard to see but the black behind the cardinal is also embossed and the cardinal is sprayed with Glimmer Mist so it sparkles. Adding the red gems was the last step.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Celebrating Super Bowl and Surprise Blog Candy!

This is the front and inside of an easel card I made to celebrate the amazing fact that my Packers are in the Super Bowl! And then yesterday I found another reason to celebrate: my blog now has 100 followers! I am so excited about these two super things that I decided to draw for SURPRISE BLOG CANDY! I got together a package of 10 original cards w/envelopes and a bunch of cool ribbon and rub-ons and drew a name from my 100 followers.

And the winner is...... jimlynn or Lynn at Creative Crafts by Lynn. Lynn came to my blog from the fantastic "leave a comment and become a follower" promotion at Feline Playful. I am so grateful to the women at Feline Playful not only for that great promotion but also for their daily lists that show so much detail on all the great challenges out there to do everyday. Lynn-please contact me with your snail mail address so I can send you your goodies.

I am playing in the challenges at Creative Cottage (shaped cards) and Cards for Men (Let's Party!). I saw a card using this template from The Cutting Cafe at the Cards for Men site and just had to get it for my Packer celebration. I couldn't resist some of the other templates there either and will be sharing some more cards from the Cutting Cafe in the near future.

I just cut out the football pieces and made it into an easel card using a helmet brad to hold it open. After putting together I embossed the whole thing with a CB folder. The helmet stamp is an old one from Darcie's Stamps and the Celebrate is Stampin Up. I added some stickers to finish the card.

So thanks to my followers and subscribers and Go Pack Go!!

Stamping smiles, Karen

Sketchy Sunday, Critter Sketch & Ali's Sunday Challenges

I loved the sketch this week at Sketchy Sunday and I combined it with the challenges at Critter Sketch (distressing and circles) and Ali's Sunday Challenge (for the guys) to inspire me for this card. I am sending cards to people on the mailing list at Mail for Cheer (see 1/13/11 post) and several were young boys, so I needed some fun cards for them. The little monsters and the "hey dude" are from Cornish Heritage and the "waz uuup?!!" is from Repeat Impressions. I paper pieced the monster and added some sparkly gel pen coloring and some googly eyes. The circles are embossed with Tim Holtz Sizzix folder and then distressed. Fun card to send to a young man hoping to put a smile on his face!

Stamping smiles, Karen

Crafts and Me and Wee Memories Challenges

The challenge this week at Crafts and Me is monochomatic and at Wee Memories it is Anything Goes. The card is made with all shades of brown starting with the wood-like paper that I sponged through a stencil. The border punched sides are in dark brown (punch by Martha Stewart), and the card itself is also brown and was embossed with a Sizzix embossing folder. CAS but I really like how it turned out. The wood paper and the general idea for the card came from our local Stamp Shoppe (button on the side will take you there.)

Stamping smiles, Karen

Repeat Impressions J19 Case Challenge

The challenge this week at Repeat Impressions was to case a card they posted and I had these little roses that fit perfectly with their sketch. I started with DP (that's one resolution I have kept:) and used a Martha Stewart punch and embossing folder on the center piece. I also used my nesties labels for the pink piece and the Love stamp is from The Angel Company.

Stamping smiles, Karen

One Stop Craft and Woodware USA Challenges

The challenge at One Stop Craft this week was to do a card with more than one fold and at Woodware USA it was "Anything Goes". This the front of a tri-fold card I did- the top V section tucks into the hearts border punch (Martha Stewart) love piece. The center heart is also from Martha and the side hearts were layered using some that were punched out from the border. The sentiment is from SU.

This is the inside of the card using again a Martha Stewart punch and the same patterned paper. Sorry if hard to see but I wanted to show the tri-fold from the inside of the card too.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Creative Sketches and Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenges

The challenge this week at Creative Sketches was to use our punches and diecuts and at Really Reasonable Ribbon it was to use hearts and ribbon. I used Baker's Twine in and out of the scalloped holes on the diecut circle and also for the bow- hope that qualifies for ribbon... The heart is sponged using a brass stencil from Dreamweaver on new wood-like paper I got at the local Stamp Shoppe. The heart border punch at the top is from Martha Stewart. I added some decorative paper and a couple heart stickers to complete the card.

I have to add I am estatic today as I am a huge Packer fan and we are going to the Super Bowl!! What a great way to warm up a very cold and snowy Wisconsin January!!

Stamping and Packer smiles, Karen

Creative Belli #109 Challenge

The challenge at Creative Belli this week was the letter P- my card is made of shiny pink paper and each of the butterflies on top has a pearl center. I have never used this Sizzix embossing folder since I bought it and thought is was about time. Added a row of butterflies (Martha Stewart punch) and some pearls and this CAS card is done.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Tuesday Throwdown Valentine

Tuesday Throwdown challenged us to make Valentines and I had fun making this Valentine for kids. I paperpieced the bear and his heart on the inside of the card and punched a hole in the front so you can see him. I embossed the whole card again- it is just fun to have the embossing on the inside and back of the card as well as the front. I made a tag out of a Sizzix diecut and used stickers and a heart punch to say Happy (heart) day. CAS but fun for a child's Valentine.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Random Amusing Challenge #100

The challenge this week at Random Amusing Challenges (Happy 100!!) was to use red in our cards. I have been making Valentines so that is my favorite color lately. I embossed the whole card again with the "conversation hearts" folder from Cuttlebug. I saw a s'more snowman on a card somewhere in blogsville and decided to try one myself. I used cork paper for the graham cracker and dark brown embossed cardstock for the chocolate. The marshmellows were just squares with rounded corners and sponging for the browning (I like mine just browned not burned:) I added a ribbon scarf and used my black and orange pearl pens for the face.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Speedy the Cat's #38 Challenge

The folks at Mark's Finest Papers challenged us to use Hearts on our cards this week. I happen to have this beautiful heart from Mark's Finest Papers stamp line and used it to create this CAS valentine. I stamped it in black on pink paper, cut it out and layered on a diecut frame from the Creatables line. I added pearls to the frame and used mounting tape to raise it above the patterned paper background.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Wags and Whiskers and Phindy's Place #38 Challenges

The challenge this week at Wags and Whiskers  is "With Love" and at Phindy's Place it is Valentines. I decided to show you three views of this card because it is my favorite card I have done this year so far inside and out. I cut down the Funky Fold card I did in an earlier post so that it fits in an A2 envelope. I embossed the whole card so the front, insides and back are all embossed with a romantic embossing folder by Cuttlebug. After the cutting and folding to create the card, the rest is very simple. Stamp the love rose stamp (Inkadinkado) in the center of the diecut oval (Marianne Design Creatables), add some pearls and the inside piece (border punch by Martha Stewart) and it is done.

Stamping smiles, Karen

C4C70 & Crafty Catz Challenges

The challenges at Crazy 4 Challenges and at Crafty Catz were to make thank you cards. I used a beautiful set of stamps from Stampin' up and a neat border punch from Martha Stewart to make this thank you card. Lots of pearls added but they really finished the card perfectly.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Some Odd Girl and Creative Belli Challenges

The challenge at Some Odd Girl was to use embossing in our cards and the theme at Creative Belli is snow. I emboss all the time with my Cuttlebug embossing folders and the snow is outside and here on my card with punches and flower soft in addition to the snowy embossed panels. The funny lady snowperson is from Skipping Stones Design and I paper pieced her scarf and hat. If a card makes me laugh, it makes me happy. Hope it puts a smile on your face too on this snowy Monday morning (and cold as our furnace is out.)

Stamping smiles, Karen

Repeat Impressions J5 Case and Crop Stop #2 Challenges

I cased the shape and embossing of the card at Repeat Impressions J5 Case Challenge and used some glitter glue on the snow angel lines and hat from the challenge at Crop Stop this week. I am all winter smiles today after the fantastic Packer win last night:) I paper pieced the boy making snow angels (an old stamp from JRL Designs) and added the sentiment (TAC). Then I layered it on blue cardstock after rounding the edges. I embossed the top of the card (Cuttlebug) and added some DP and a ribbon.

Stamping (and Packer) smiles, Karen

Crafty Cardmakers #37 and Cupcake Crafts #124 Challenges

The challenge this week at Crafty Cardmakers was to use red and a diecut and at Cupcake Craft it was to try something new. The awesome cardinal stamp from Prickley Pear comes with a diecut to cut it out. And just about everything about this card is new: the stamps (including the sentiment from AMuse and the musical background from Prickley Pear); the border punch from ek success and the Funky Fold layout of the card. I had never tried this type of card before, but saw a card on line that directed me to a video here. I love different and unique folds and this one was fun and easy to do. I even adjusted the sizes for an A2 card and will post that card on another day.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Scrap-Creations & Bunny Zoe's Crafts "Love is in the Air"

"Love is in the Air" is the theme of the challenges at both Scrap-Creations and Bunny Zoe's Crafts this week. I designed this larger card with either a wedding or Valentine's Day in mind. I attached a piece of pipe repair tape across the center of a 5 x 7 white card and embossed it all with a hearts CB embossing folder. The beautiful dancing couple in the center of the lacy circle nestie is from Prickley Pear. I sprayed that piece with glimmer mist so it sparkles in real life and added some fake pearls with a pearl pen and a ribbon down the middle.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Mail for Cheer: Another Great Cause for your Handstamped Cards

If you are a stamper, it is very probable you enjoy sending cards to those who need a folded hug...after all, that is what a card is, right? You know that when you go to your mailbox on a down day, it is fabulous to receive a card and know that someone cared enough to send you some sunny thoughts and took the time to let you know that they are thinking of you.

That is why when I heard about a group that sends MAIL FOR CHEER, I wanted to find out what it was all about. Ida Krause, a fellow crafter, has just taken over the mailing for this group and I heard about her and this great cause on another blog. Once a month, the volunteers receive an email (or snail mail if you prefer) with a listing of the people who have been nominated to receive cards because they are in ill health, have been going through some super rough times, or just need a folded hug to know that someone cares. There are no membership fees, there are no monthly obligations -- you just send cards when you get the opportunity.

If you are interested in the details of Mail for Cheer and think you have cards you would like to send, please contact Ida at idratherbstampin@bmi.net. Please put MAIL FOR CHEER in the title of the email.

I put a pix of a uplifting card with this request as an extra thank you for reading and considering this cause. I used the Tim Holtz butterfly die cut and cut out the navy blue border and also the full wings (those were done with dp and embossed as well.) Then I simply layered each piece and put on a white front layered on a navy blue card and added the uplifting sentiment. It is a wonderful world and we have a lot to be grateful for and can use this awesome hobby to help make others feel better as well.

Thanks and Stamping smiles, Karen

Our Creative Corner & Stamping Vacation Challenges

The challenge this week at Our Creative Corner was to take inspiration from a picture of a bird in winter and at Stamping Vacation they wanted a vintage card with a silhouette stamp. When I looked at this DP I thought it looked "vintage" and I liked the layering of the lacey squares nestabilities for a kinda old fashioned look. The stamps are from a Fiskars set- isn't that bird and branch lovely?

Stamping smiles, Karen

Create with Connie and Mary and Paper Players #29 Challenges

I used the great sketch from Create with Connie and Mary and the Valentine theme from The Paper Players to inspire me to create this card. There is no stamping on this card, but I still love the way it turned out. I used a new heart stencil from Dreamweaver and sponged burgandy ink on some new DP from Memory Box for the focal point and then layered that on the lacey squares nestie. The background DP is also from Memory Box. Add some ribbon and pearls and the card is done.

Stamping smiles, Karen