Simon Says Stamp and Crafty Creations Challenges

The challenge this week at Simon Says Stamp is Anything Goes and at Crafty Creations it is CAS- my two favorite kinds of challenges! I created this card using a new embossing folder from Darice and a laser cut sticker from Mrs. Grossmans. I put the sticker on acetate and raised it and the border with mounting tape above the white piece. Of course I sponged the spider web and edges to distress the grey piece. CAS but I like how it turned out.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Paper Crafting Journey Guest DT!

I have the honor today to be the guest design team member at Paper Crafting Journey. Their challenge this week is to use Punches and Diecuts in our cards. I love my punches and dies and used several in this easel card I designed. The tree on the front is a new die from Memory Box. I decorated the tree with sparkly circle ornaments punched with a small hole punch and a star punched with an ek success punch. The border punch on the bottom is from Martha Stewart.

So come join us at Paper Crafting Journey and have some fun with your punches and dies! Hilde, my team member at SAS4Kids, is also on their team, so I have to give a shout out to her:)

I am entering this card in the challenge at Incy Wincy Designs for fancy folds.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Designers Choice Challenge at Repeat Impressions

It is another What If? Wednesday DCC challenge at Repeat Impressions blog and this week Robyn is challenging us (and you!) to make a card with an animal. I chose my favorite animal stamp from Repeat Impressions, Cheetah Extreme. I just love the look of stamping this awesome stamp on either dp or any color of cardstock with black ink and seeing the positives and negatives of the image. I started with a rust card and embossed the creme colored background with a Tim Holtz embossing folder. The dp and green strips are layered with the cheetah piece going on last and raised with mounting tape. The small black pearls were added for a final touch.

So get out your animal stamps and have some fun and join in the Animal challenge at The House that Stamps Built for a chance at a great prize. You have two weeks to enter- for all the details and to see the great cards by the rest of the Rock Stars, please visit the blog.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenge at Paper Sundaes.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Just Some Lines and Card Makin' Mamas Challenges

The challenge at Just Some Lines this week is Fall Colors and at Card Makin' Mamas it is to use punches. I got this new jack-o-lantern face punch (Fiskars) last weekend at a stamp show and just had to try it out on a fun Halloween card. Orange is my favorite fall color and my husband's favorite color all the time. The "Spooky" is a darling digi from Meljens and I added a spider stamp. I also used a punch on the corners and added orange brads to complete the CAS card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Repeat Impressions Stamp of the Week

The stamp of the week this week at Repeat Impressions is this Red Fox, 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 Red Fox on a white piece and cut and embossed that piece with my nesties label die and then sponged with green ink while still in the die. I paper pieced the fox. I created the card base using the largest die in the label set and used a size in between with dp to layer.

I am entering this card in the challenge at Allsorts Challenge to Keep it Simple.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Critter Sketch Anything Goes Challenge

I suggested the challenge this week at Critter Sketch and it my favorite kind of challenge: Anything Goes! You can enter any kind of card you want to earn a chance to win a great prize from our sponsor, Stamp and Create! Stamp and Create provided the design team with some fun digital images to use in our designing and I chose this cute little girl with her Christmas kitty. She and her kitty are so sweet. I paper pieced her dress and bow and the stocking and added flocking to the kitty's hat and stocking. The borders and sides are punched with my new plaid border punch from ek success. I taped some red cardstock behind the middle punched openings and added some green gems to complete the card.

This is my last challenge as a part of the design team at Critter Sketch and I want to extend my best wishes to the new design team members as their term starts.

I am entering this card in the Gingham or Plaid challenge at 2 Sisters Challenge.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Crafty Purple Frog, Digi Doodles Shop's Best and Delightful Challenges

The challenges this week at Crafty Purple Frog, Digi Doodles Shops Best and Delightful Challenges all wanted us to use fall colors in our cards. I was playing with my new dies from Memory Box and came up with this card. The fall scene is on the inside of the card. I cut a window with my nesties and attached the deer trio with mounting tape at the bottom of the opening. I added the leaf ribbon as the final touch.

Stamping smiles, Karen

My Mum's Craft Shop and Simon Says Stamp Challenges

The challenge this week at My Mum's Craft Shop is "boys and girls" and at Simon Says Stamp it is to use punches or diecuts. I saw a card similar to this in blogland and decided to give it a try. The mummy is created by taking medical tape and distressing with a little black ink and attaching to a piece of cardstock in layers. I punched his hair with the goo punch by Martha Stewart. His mouth is cut from a circle diecut and I added large googly eyes and a sentiment typed on my computer to finish the card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Nettie G's Digital Gems and Ooh-La-La Creations Challenges

The challenge at Netti G's Digital Gems is Anything Goes and at Ooh-La-La Creations it is Punches and Dies. I created this card using several dies and a darling Wee Henrietta Witch digital stamp from Hambo Stamps. Isn't she cute? Of course I paper pieced parts of her costume and colored the rest with my copics. I cut her out and mounted her on a circle cut out with my nesties and embossed with the Cuttlebug spider web folder. The rosette was cut out with a Tim Holtz die and I added some fun ribbon and a button to complete this card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Top Tip Tuesday and Lexi's Creations Challenges

The challenge this week at Top Tip Tuesday is "1 For the Kids" and at Lexi's Creations it is "Card for a Child", and if you follow my blog at all, you know these themes are perfect for me and my kids:) I fell in love with the little scuba monkey and the fun sentiment from Stampendous and just had to have them! The little fish with the birthday hat was perfect for the card too, and he is from Paper Smooches. I created the water simply by masking the top and bottom of a white piece and also the scuba monkey, and sponging with blue ink. I did a little coloring with my copics and paperpieced the fish and his birthday hat. CAS but fun for a child's birthday.

Stampings smiles, Karen

What if? Wed. Sketch Challenge

The challenge this week at Repeat Impression's blog, The House that Stamps Built, is to make a card using the sketch below and enter it for a change at a great prize. For all the details and to see the rest of the Rock Stars cards, please visit the blog (or click on their names on the side of my blog.)

I am getting in the mood for fall and holiday cards and Repeat Impressions stamps are great for both. The background is made with Peace Love Harmony stamped repeatedly on the green card and also on the white semi circle. Then I embossed the snowflakes (Tim Holtz folder) and sponged a little with red to bring out the embossing. I stamped the beautiful Glitter Star ornament on dp, cut out and "hung" with a ribbon on the diamond shaped piece.

I am entering this card in the challenge at Cute Card Thursday for Anything Goes.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Paper Creations Ink Buttons and Bows Challege

The challenge this week at Paper Creations Ink is to use buttons or bows on our cards. Our sponsor is DTs Art and they are offering the winner their choice of two digital stamps. This little strawberrry cutie is a digi provided to the design team by DTs Art. I stamped her on white and paper pieced her strawberry throne and wings and colored the rest with my copics. I cut and embossed the sentiment tag out with my nesties and sponged it while still in the die. I tied it on with a ribbon and added a bow and some tiny buttons to complete the card.

Please visit the PCI blog to see all the great cards by our design team and to get all the details on this fun challenge.

I am entering this card in the challenges at Crop Stop to use buttons and at Crafty Ribbons for Anything Goes.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Repeat Impressions Stamp of the Week and Wisconsin Used Stamp Sale!

The stamp of the week this week at Repeat Impressions is this lovely swan 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 swan on white, cut her out and added glitter to highlight her wings and body. I attached her to a blue circle cut out with my nesties and added pearls using a pearl pen. The background is a digital paper by DezinaWorld at Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps.

I am entering this card in the challenge at Freshly Brewed Monthly Challenge to use something new: the stamp and the dp is new.

For anyone in north central Wisconsin this weekend- here is a rummage sale you cannot miss!! My good friend and fellow stamping fanatic and I are holding a USED RUBBER STAMP AND SUPPLY SALE this Thursday Sept. 22 4-7 pm, Friday Sept. 23 10 am – 6 pm, and Saturday Sept. 24 9 am to 4 pm.

Hundreds and hundreds of great stamps and accessories priced to Sell! The location is a beautiful log home on the water in Kronenwetter: 2159 River Forest Lane, Kronenwetter. The sale will be inside the home.  Come see us and pick up some great bargains!

Stamping smiles, Karen

Flutter By Wednesday and Emerald Faerie Garden Challenges

The challenge at Flutter By Wednesday this month is open, but use a butterfly, angel or fairy on your card; and at Emerald Faerie Garden they want us to use pearls on our cards. I created this purse card for a challenge at our stamp club and used butterflies (SU die) and pearls on it and love how it turned out. I also embossed with a SU embossing folder and used a nestie label folded in half to hold the front and back purse pieces together. The large brads are also from Stampin' up and I twisted the gold cord around them several times to create the handle.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Halloween or Fall Cute for Kids Challenge at SAS4Kids

It's time for a new challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids and this time we are challenging you to make a cute Halloween or fall card for a child. No scary images please- just fun fall images for any child. We have three sponsors this time and three great prizes you could win! Crop Stop is giving the random winner a $15 gift certificate; Glitterbabe is giving a $10 gift certificate; and Doodle Pantry is giving a $15 gift certificate! Please visit our blog for all the details and to see the other special TEAM S.A.S. fall and Halloween cards and three super cards by a special guest design team member!

My first card features a fun new fold I learned here. It is called the Origami Diamond Fold. The front flap tucks in behind the diamond with the pumpin diecut (Sizzix.) I used my Martha Stewart goo punched border and some silly eye stickers to complete the front.

These two pictures show how the inside folds and then opens. The cute witch cat on the inside is from Glitterbabe and was paper pieced and colored with my copics.

My second card features some really fun digital stamps from Doodle Pantry. I started with a kraft card, added the black triangle and embossed the whole card with my Tim Holtz embossing folder. I printed the digital ant with candy corn and ghost on kraft paper and cut out the circle with my nesties. I paper pieced the images and layered on a scalloped circle after dotting the scallops with a thin black marker. I added the fun sentiment (also from Doodle Pantry) to complete the card.

I am entering these cards in the challenges at Kelley's Kids "For Someone Special" and Digital Tuesday "Celebrate the Season".

Stamping smiles, Karen

Crafty Boots and Stamps R Us Challenges

The challenge this week at Crafty Boots is Anything Goes and at Stamps R Us, the theme is Friendship. I have to say I love how this card turned out. The chair and sentiment stamps are from my favorite set from The Angel Company's new catalog. I am lucky to have gotten it, because just days after the order was delivered, TAC went out of business. So sad. Anyway, I paper pieced the cushions of the chair which have the script writing in the stamp-so pretty I think. I used the same dp on the card top diagonal part and added the Martha Stewart large border punch diagnonally as well.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Jelly Park and I Did It Challenges

The challenge this week at Jelly Park Challenge is to "Pass It On" and this card will be passed on to my kids at Send a Smile 4 Kids; and at I Did It Creations, it is Anything Goes. I made this fun card for a child using some great stamps I won from Hambo Stamps. I love the sentiment with this beast- too cute! I used a large scallop diecut and a sizzix embossing folder to create the background. Mr. Beast was paper pieced (of course) and the sentiment added to complete this CAS card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

What If? Wed. Designer's Choice Challenge

Harriet is hosting the Designer's Choice Challenge at Repeat Impression's blog this week and she is challenging us (and you!) to make a one layer card. I almost always layer or use Nestabilities dies so this was a challenge for me, but that's why these are called challenges, right? I actually love how my card turned out...I masked the edges on a white card and sponged the green and yellow inks in the middle. Then I stamped one of my favorite Repeat Impressions stamps, Sunlight Cat in the middle of that. I stamped the sentiment (also Repeat Impressions) and then drew the lines around with a ruler and thin black marker. I added the gems for the final touch.

Come and join us for this fun challenge and your could win some great RI rubber! Please visit our blog for all the details and to see the rest of the Rock Star's one layer cards (or click on their names on the side of my blog.)

I am entering this card in the challenge at Crafty Ann's Challenge to do something outside our comfort zone (making a one layer card.)

Stamping smiles, Karen

Hambo Hoedown and CAS-ual Fridays Challenges

The challenge this week at Hambo Hoedown is to use this cute Flowers digital stamp and Fall Colors, and at CAS-ual Fridays we are to use paper piecing and make a fall themed CAS card. If you know me or follow my blog, you know CAS and paper piecing is what I do alot, so this card was fun for me to make. Fall is my favorite time of year and I love the fall colors. I paper pieced the flowers and layered them on a rust piece. The velum had subtle fall leaves already on it and I just used some leaf brads to hold it in place. CAS but cheery and fun.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Repeat Impressions Stamp of the Week

The stamp of the week this week at Repeat Impressions is this Humpback Whale 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 Humpback Whale three times without re-inking to give the illusion of movement. I cut a wave diecut (Sizzix) and used a couple of the pieces from that to highlight the sentiment (also from Repeat Impressions.)

I am entering this card in the challenges at The Rubber Cafe' for no designer paper and at Speedy the Cat's Friends to use a punch.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Inspiration Challenge at Critter Sketch

The challenge this week at Critter Sketch is to create a card after being inspired by this beautiful fall scene. Our sponsor is Stamp and Create and you can get all the details on the challenge and see the other dt cards at the Critter Sketch blog.

I used the colors and leaves from the inspiration picture to start designing this card. I punched the borders with an ek success leaf punch and placed orange and gold paper behind the punched leaves. The tree stamp (Inkadinkado) was stamped in black and cut out with a nestie circle and layered with a scalloped nestie circle. I masked a moon circle and sponged with oranges and tans. Then I sponged the moon in gold. I stamped the leaves and acorns (TPC Studio), colored and raised with mounting tape to hold up the easel front. The sentiment is also from TPC Studio and I added some extra punched leaves to complete the card.

I am entering this card in the challenge at Digistamps 4 Joy to use fall colors.

Stamping smiles, Karen

"Let there be peace on earth...

and let it begin with me"... On this solemn anniversary, I wanted to share that prayer as we remember what happened 10 years ago. I can remember hearing the news just as clearly as if it was yesterday, as I am sure most of you can to. This card seemed appropriate to post today. I am playing along with the challenges at Crop Stop to use Spellbinders dies (lacey circle and circle); Digi Doodles Shop's Best to use circles; and Freshly Brewed Challenges to use something new (the stamp from Darcies is new).

I love this tan subtle dp with snowflakes. I stamped the dove peace stamp (in different languages from Darcies) and cut it out with my circle die from Spellbinder and framed with the black lacey circle also cut out with a Spellbinder die. The same dp was used in the background and I punched the edges and added some pearls to complete this CAS card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Fab n Funky and Truly Scrumptious Challenges

The challenge this week at Fab n Funky is to make a funny card and at Truly Scrumptious it is to Decorate the Inside. I had to use the inside for the punch line in this hilarious stamp sentiment set I recently won at Hambo Stamps. I love using humor in my cards and Hambo has some of the funniest stamps around! This card cracks me up! So simple but just lol funny, I think. I chose to keep it very simple so the sentiments on the front and inside are featured. I simply added some outline stickers to the front (I always forget to use them, yet keep buying more when I go to a stamp show...)

I added a punched border (ek success) on the inside piece to complete this CAS card. Hope it cracks you up too:)

Stamping smiles, Karen