Stamp of the Week at Repeat Impressions

The stamp of the week this week at Repeat Impressions is this fun Floral Peace sign, 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 Floral Peace sign twice using Kaleidacolor inks. I stamped the Peace and flowers (also from Repeat Impressions) and cut out the three squares and green to border. I embossed the two floral strips and added some liquid pearls to complete the card.

I am entering this card in the challenge at Craft us Crazy to use stamps from our favorite stamp company (Repeat Impressions of course) and flowers.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Paper Pretties and Aud Sentiments Challenges

The challenge at Paper Pretties is CAS this week and at Aud Sentiments, Anything Goes! To start this CAS card, I chose a beautiful background designer paper that has notes and flowers and a encouraging sentiment. I embossed a new stamp from Hero Arts with red glitter embossing powder. The notes dp shows through the silhouetted images. I added some brown pearls and layered on a dark brown card. CAS but I love it!

Stamping smiles, Karen

Simon Says Stamp and Fab n Funky Challenges

The challenge this week at Fab n Funky is no DP and at Simon Says Stamp, anything goes! I made this card with a friend and added the sentiment which seems perfect for the image portrayed. The legs and the purse are made from SU punches. The skirt is crimped and the shoes and hand cut from sparkly red paper.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Shopping our Stash and Kaboodle Doodles Challenges

The challenge at Kaboodle Doodles is emBossing and at Shopping our Stash we are to use something with  the letter B. I am using the new emBossing folder with matching Butterfly Background stamp from Hero Arts. I pulled out these products I had bought but not used yet and made a CAS card for a friend. I stamped in my new favorite color aqua blue and then embossed with the matching embossing folder. I stamped again and cut out the butterfly and friend and attached them, raising up the wings and the friend. The flowers were sponged with a light orange ink to enhance the embossing, and I added a couple gem stickers to complete the card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Robyn's Fetish and Lexi's Creations Challenges

The challenge at Robyn's Fetish this week is to use pastel colors, and at Lexi's Creations they want us to use our punches and/or diecuts. I used lots of both to make this fun birthday card for a close friend recently. If you know me or my style, you know I LOVE to use humor in my cards. This set I won from Skipping Stones cracks me up. It is perfect for so many women I know, including myself. I stamped, paperpieced and cut out the front cake and layered it on a beautiful diecut from Memory Box. I added a couple punched out candles to the sentiment on the front.

The inside has a fun surprise when you open it up- the birthday cake pops up on a diecut from Papertrey. I again stamped, paperpieced and cut out this cake from the same set and added the funny punch line below it. The top punched wish is a border punch from Martha Stewart.

Stamping smiles, Karen

What If? Wed DCC Challenge

It’s another Designer’s Choice Challenge at The House that Stamps Built, Repeat Impression’s blog. Maki is challenging us all to make and link a card for a woman we love.   Please visit the blog for all the details and to see the other Rock Star's cards for this DCC challenge. 

For my card, I decided to make a Mother’s Day card. I folded the front of a peach card back to the left and stamped some RI butterflies in versamark along both edges. The white inside piece was folded the same way and is about an inch less in width on both sides. I added a black border punched with an ek success punch and stamped the sentiment in the inside of the card. The focal point is a beautiful large butterfly from the Repeat Impressions summer series. I stamped on velum, colored from behind with markers and cut out.

I am entering this card in the challenge at Love to Create for Anything Goes. 

Stamping smiles, Karen 

Fashionable Stamping and OSAAT Challenges

The challenge this week at Fashionable Stamping is to use embossing (and to include stamping), and at One Stitch at a Time, Anything Goes. I made this CAS Mother's Day card for a challenge at my stamp club to make our own flowers. I cut a bunch of layers with a nesties die, stamped them with an old TAC set, sponged the edges and held them together with a pretty brad. The sentiment is from Repeat Impressions. I embossed the background with a pretty SU embossing folder, and cut the middle out with an edger die from Nestabilities.

Stamping smiles, Karen  

Prairie Fairy and Card Makin' Mamas Challenges

The challenge this week at Prairie Fairy is "Anything with Flowers", and at Card Makin' Mamas it is "Make it Girlie". I think this card is very feminine. I started with a card from Stampin' up that has the laser cut outs, and put a piece of red cardstock in the middle to show through the cut out parts. I embossed a delicate rose brass stencil with my thick embossing pad (No More Shims) and while the stencil was still on the paper, colored the roses and stems with sponges and die ink. I added a few red gems to complete the card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

C4C and Wags n Whiskers Challenges

The challenge this week at Crazy 4 Challenges is to use black and at Wags n Whiskers Anything Goes. I attended my nephew's confirmation on Easter Sunday last year and thought this picture of a black and white lily was so beautiful that I brought some home and made this card. The black on the front is cut and embossed with a Cuttlebug folder. The sentiment is stamped on a larger nesties label and then cut down to fit along the bottom. I added some black and white pearls to complete the card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

For the Boys at Send a Smile 4 Kids

It's another fun Saturday at Send a Smile 4 Kids and we are challenging you to make a card For the Boys! This would include both young boys and teenage boys. We are focusing on the boys because this is the type of cards we receive the least of here at SAS4Kids. You do not have to send in your card to enter our challenge, but of course we hope you do:) The boys in our seven children's hospitals would love to receive one of your great cards to cheer them and their families!

We have three generous sponsors for this challenge so you have three chances to win a great prize in one of the random sponsor drawings. Stamp Shoppe Creations is offering a $15 gift certificate to their winner. Karen's Doodles is giving 3 digital stamps to their winner and Bugaboo's prize is 7 free digis of the winner's choice! member.

My first card uses some fun stamps from Stamp Shoppe Creations (which is my local stamp shop run by my friends Heidi and JoAnn.) I stamped and paper pieced her cute elephant and sentiment on a piece of white cardstock which is in the inside of the card. I cut a hole in the front of the gatefold card and added a scalloped edge around the hole. Then I stamped and cut out the peanuts to complete the card.

My second card features a very cool paisley elephant from Bugaboo stamps. I wanted to make a card that would be good for a teenage boy and this is what I came up with. CAS but not cutesie. The embossing was done with aluminum foil on cardstock and an embossing folder from Cuttlebug. I added some baker's twine to complete the card.

We had so many wonderful sponsors with great stamps, I just had to make one for each! This one features Super Boy from Karen's Doodles. My grandson  and many boys his age are so into super heroes, so I thought this would be great for a young boy. Of course I paper pieced his super outfit, added some blobs from CTMH and cut the front piece at an angle for something different.

I am entering these cards in the following challenges: Paper Crafting Journey (3 or more dps); Paper Play Challenge (Animal Antics); and Shelley's Images (Anything Goes).

Stamping smiles 4 our kids, Karen

Whimsy Inspiration and Paper Pretties Challenges

The challenge this week at Whimsy Inspirations is to use punches and/or diecuts, and at Paper Pretties the theme is "For the Girls." I made this card with an embossing folder that also cuts and a beautiful diecut set all from Marianne Designs. I started with the embossing and cutting folder in white, rounded the edges, layered on red paper and added pearls in the corners. I cut out the rose basket in gold, the roses in red and the leaves in green. I added some pine needles punched in white and green (Martha Stewart) and a pearl flourish to complete this card. Love how it turned out:)

Stamping smiles, Karen

Bearly Mine and Sassy Cheryl's Challenges

The challenge at Bearly Mine is to use embossing and at Sassy Cheryl's we are to use a butterfly. I started this card with embossed pieces and a window diecut from a card I did not finish at this year's Madison Mingle gathering. I added a digital picture of a spring robin's nest and a butterfly charm and I had a quick but lovely card for someone special.

Stamping smiles, Karen

What If? Wed. Sketch Challenge

It's time for another fun sketch challenge at The House that Stamps Built and we are challenging you to make a card using the sketch below and link it up for a chance at some great Repeat Impressions rubber! For all the details on what you can win and to see the other Rock Stars cards using this sketch, please visit our blog.

For my card, I stamped the fun bird-day flip stamp set and punched them out with a circle punch. I paper pieced the last party check and stamped the matching sentiment on the light green card. The border punch in dark green is by ek success.

Here is the sketch you can use to make your card for this challenge:

I am entering this card in the punches and/or diecuts challenge at Craft Your Passion.

 Stamping smiles, Karen 

PCI April Showers bring May Flowers

It's time for another fun challenge at Paper Creations Ink and the theme this time is "April Showers bring May Flowers".  In other words, create and link a card featuring flowers. Our sponsor is Tiffany Doodles. Please visit the blog for all the details on the challenge and to see the other beautiful cards designed by the PCI design team.

For my card I started with the gorgus twin waterlilies by Tiffany Doodles which I printed and cut out. I attached them to green cardstock and cut out again leaving a thin green border. I punched a border of flowers (Martha Stewart) out of each side of my yellow patterned paper card and put some green patterned paper on the inside so the flowers stand out. I added a sentiment from Repeat Impressions on that same green to complete the card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Stamp of the Week at Repeat Impressions

The stamp of the week this week at Repeat Impressions is this fun Pinwheel Positive, 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 Pinwheel Positive stamp with a Kaleidacolor ink pad on white cardstock and then cut it apart and layered on rust cardstock. I added some pleated ribbon and pearls to complete the CAS card. 

Stamping smiles, Karen 

Happy Birthday Dear Friend

I am out of town but didn't want today to pass on my blog without posting a card and wishing a dear friend Happy Birthday. She should have received her card by now in the mail, but I also wanted to send birthday wishes here on my blog. The beautiful sunset is a picture taken by her husband and I printed it and cut out with a nestie. The yellow ribbon was woven in and out of the nestie frame and I added the sentiment with bakers twine.

So Happy Birthday Jane and many many more!

Stamping smiles, Karen

Designers Choice Challenge Birds of a Feather

It’s another Designer’s Choice Challenge at The House that Stamps Built, Repeat Impression’s blog. Cheri is challenging us all to make and link a card featuring a bird of some kind.   Please visit the blog for all the details and to see the other Rock Star's cards for this DCC challenge. 

For my card, I stamped and embossed Repeat Impression’s Goose and then sponged around him in blue inside a mask created with my oval nesties. I added some gems and a favorite sentiment from Repeat Impressions, and layered on several colors of aqua blue cardstock. Have you noticed that is my favorite color lately?

Stamping smiles, Karen 

SAS4Kids Happy Mother's or Father's Day FROM the Kids!

It's time for a new challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids and we are doing something different this time. We are asking for cards the kids could give to their mothers or fathers (or grandparents) on Mother's Day or Father's Day. There is no greater gift to give a child than the gift of giving. It makes them so proud and happy to give something lovely to someone they love. Of course, you can enter our challenges without sending in your cards to SAS4Kids, but please consider sharing your fun Mother's Day or Father's Day card with a child in one of our seven children's hospitals after you enter it in our challenge.

We have FOUR generous sponsors for this challenge: Whimsy Stamps is offering their random winner 5 digis of their choice; Digi Doodle Shop's prize is a $10 gift voucher; Crop Stop's prize is a $15 gift certificate; and Cuddly Buddly's prize is a 5 pound gift certificate!

For my first card above, I made a fun Father's Day card with a sweet digital stamp from Cuddly Buddly. I paper pieced the cute bear and his buddy- I thought it would be perfect for a little one to send to his Grandpa or give to Dad on Father's Day.

My second card features a sweet digital image from Digi Doodles which (of course) I paper pieced and colored. I embossed and punched rows of dp and cardstock for the background and added a tag with the sentiment (by Repeat Impressions) and a flower and sticker. A special Mom or Grandma will be happy to get this card on Mother's Day and even more importantly, a child will be happy and proud to give it.

Stamping smiles 4 our kids, Karen

My First Card and Happy Easter!

My daughter found this card recently from 1999 and it is an Easter card that was my first attempt at stamping.   I wanted to make graduation announcements for my son that spring so I was learning how to stamp,  and I remember making this at the home of a Stampin' Up demo who showed us how to color with watercolor pencils and blend with a water pen. I've come a long way since then! Who knew then how addicting and fun and gratifying this hobby would become? New friends and blogging and design teams and sharing ideas and articles and cards published and Pinterest... I could go on and on. So much fun!!

Happy Easter or Keester! I had to share these sweet buns-thanks Barb!!

 I am off on a cruise for 10 days (our first and a big adventure for myself and my husband!), but have some blogposts scheduled while I am gone.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Paper Take Weekly and The Cutie Pie Challenges

Anything Goes at Paper Take Weekly and at The Cutie Pie Challenge, we are to use our favorite cute stamp. This little guy in a dinosaur costume with his "Rawr Means I Love You" is my favorite cute set of all time and it comes from My Favorite Things. Of course he touches my heart because I have a five year old grandson, but even without that, he is so darn cute!

This was my first attempt at a T-slide card and I am happy with how it turned out. Here is a tutorial if you want to try one. I stamped the little guy on white and cut out with a beaded nestie oval and sponged the ovals while still in the die. I paper pieced the dino costume and colored the rest. If you follow the t-slide instructions, when you pull on the tab, it slides open to reveal the message on the inside. Fun card for a child.

Stamping smiles, Karen

What If? Wed. Sketch Challenge

It's time for another fun sketch challenge at The House that Stamps Built and we are challenging you to make a card using the sketch below and link it up for a chance at some great Repeat Impressions rubber! For all the details on what you can win and to see the other Rock Stars cards using this sketch, please visit our blog.

For my card, I used the Crowned Crane Deco stamp from Repeat Impressions. I stamped it on dp, cut apart and rounded the edges. The sentiment (also from RI) was stamped on the same d and I added a fun button flower and ribbon to complete the card.

I am entering this card in the “Things with Wings” challenge at Crafting When WeCan.

Stamping smiles, Karen 

Paper Creations Ink Natural Materials Challenge

It's time for a new challenge at Paper Creations Ink and the theme is Natural Materials. In other words, use some burlap or twine or gauze or something natural on your card. Our sponsor is Shelly's Images and they are  offering a great prize to the random winner. For all the details and to see the other dt cards for this challenge, please head over to the PCI blog. 

For my card, I started with a lovely digital stamp from Shelly's Images called "Close to my Heart." I printed it and paper pieced the horse and dress, and  colored the rest. My natural materials are burlap,gauze and the paper in the background is a handmade paper. This challenge is a good reminder to pull out our handmade papers and other natural materials we have in our stashes and use them to make a neat card.

I am entering this card in the CAS challenge at The Pink Elephant.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Repeat Impression's Stamp of the Week Ode to Spring

The stamp of the week this week at Repeat Impressions is this fun Ode To Spring joyful bunny, 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 joyful Spring bunny, colored the flowers and cut him out with a nestie. I stamped a white cloud and put a pretty spring sentiment from Repeat Impressions in the cloud. The “grass” at the bottom is a Memory Box die. This bunny is so joyful he just makes me smile. Since I am leaving later this week on my first ever cruise, this is how I feel- jumping for joy!

I am entering this card in the Easter challenge at Delightful Challenges.

Stamping smiles, Karen