Die Cuts and Stencils- My Addictions

OK- I admit it- I am totally addicted to die cuts and stencils- just can't get enough and I am not even going to try to get over the addiction. Too much fun to play with them! The flower and the border are new die cuts from Memory Box. The background was created with a Tim Holtz stencil attached to cream colored cardstock. Then I applied Versamark through the openings in the stencil,  and heat embossed clear embossing powder after removing the stencil. I applied Adirondack re-inker colors with a water brush and let dry. Then I removed the embossing powder with an iron for this very cool background look. The sentiment is from my new favorite set of words from Avery Elle. I rounded the corners to complete the card.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes (with a die cut) challenge at Die Cut Divas and the challenge at Our Daily Bread to use stencils or sponging.

My Designer's Choice Challenge - Sparkle, Glitter and/or Bling!

It’s another Designer’s Choice Challenge at The House that Stamps Built, Repeat Impression’s blog. It’s my turn this time and I am challenging my team and you to make a card with Sparkle, Glitter and/or Bling.  After you make your sparkly card, you can enter it for a chance to win some awesome Repeat Impressions rubber! Please visit the blog for all the details and to see the other Rock Star's cards for this DCC challenge. I have seen them and you do not want to miss them!

My card is full of sparkle, glitter and bling, and IRL it really shines. I started with a background of sparkly Viva 3D blue paint sponged on with a sea sponge. I stamped Wings Negative on a sparkly pink paper, cut out and applied to the side of the card. I embossed the large butterfly with a blue glitter embossing powder and cut out. Then I added some pink bling to the butterfly and a blue path of some more bling.  

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenges at Crafting from the Heart and Through the Craft Room Door.

And don’t forget: For a 10% discount on any size order at Repeat Impressions, just make a note of my discount code (rr10kh), click on the blog badge on the side of my blog and go to the website here to shop and save!

Vellum Layered Thinking of You Card

I recently took a couple of stamping classes at Online Card Classes and one of the ideas they shared was to layer several layers of vellum on a card with stamping on each layer. I tried it on this card and am loving how it turned out. The flowers (from Inkadinkado) were stamped in various inks on three layers of vellum, and then I stamped the sentiment (from Woodware) on the top layer. I attached them at the top of a top folding white card base and rounded all the bottom corners. I placed a piece of black script washi tape along the top of the card, which hid the adhesive beautifully.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes (with a sentiment) challenge at 613 Avenue Create and the challenge to create our own background at Crafting When We Can.

Penny Black Rose Sympathy Card

Continuing on my Penny Black rose designing, I created this sympathy card to share with classes I teach in my home. I was inspired by this card by fellow TEAM S.A.S. member Kathy to try the faux chalk look described in a tutorial here. I created my own stencil by die cutting the rose in a piece of acetate. Then I applied red and pink Copics around the rose part of the stencil hole, and green Copics around the rest. To get the chalk look, you add a little Copic colorless blender fluid to a paper towel and pull the color into the negative space of the die with it. Even if you make a little mistake (like in the space between the stems), it still looks good. I punched the large border with a Martha Stewart border punch. "Heartfelt sympathy" (by Joy Crafts) was die cut in green and black and layered together before attaching to the card. I love how the card turned out.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenges at Treasured Times and Suzy Bee's Bloomin' challenges.

Thinking of You Rose Card

I have been having fun with my rose die from Penny Black, and the other night while laying in bed (where I get my best ideas), it occurred to me to put a Clear Views transparency picture from The Mark-It Place under the cut out image of the rose and this is how that late night idea turned out. The Thinking of You die is from Penny Black too and I sponged it with a little green ink. I stamped the sentiment from Words to the Rescue on a green piece and cut it out in a wave.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenge at Crafty Catz and Sister Act.

Embossed Ribbon Card for Challenge

The challenge for next month's stamp club was to make a card using this blue ribbon - recycled from a lanyard. I decided to feature it as the focal piece, folded for four loops and topped with a couple wooden flower embellishments. I started with a black card base and a white piece where I stamped the encouraging sentiment from Avery Elle. Then I die cut a fancy circle by Spellbinders and ran them through the Big Shot embossing them twice. I did the x's first, then the dots for a unique embossed look. I added a couple black candies to complete the card.

I am entering this card in the embossing challenge at Simon Says Stamp and the Anything Goes challenge at Crafty Ribbons.

Summer Fun Sketch Card from Repeat Impressions

Happy Wednesday everyone! 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.

I am loving summer now that it is finally here in Wisconsin and Repeat Impression’s Summer Frame is perfect for a sunny summer card. I attached two yellow strips following the sketch to a white front piece and sponged the whole piece with an orange ink through a stencil. Then I stamped the Happy Summer and attached to a yellow card base. I stamped the Summer Frame on light blue and again on white. I paper pieced the sweet girl’s swimsuit, colored the rest with markers and attached her in the center of the frame.

Here is the sketch for you to follow when you create a card for our challenge. You do not need to use Repeat Impressions stamps to enter our challenges, but you get an extra chance to win if you do!

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenges at Crafting from the Heart and Through the Craft Room Door.

**Don’t Forget: for a 10% discount on any size order at Repeat Impressions, make a note of my discount code (rr10kh), click on the blog badge on the side of my blog and go to the website here to shop and save!**

Easier Northern Lights Technique Project of the Week

Good Monday morning everyone! Today I am sharing an easier way to get the Northern Lights look as a background on your card for my Project of the Week at Repeat Impression's blog, The House that Stamps Built. I have tried all different ways of getting the Northern Lights look on my cards, but wasn't happy with the random look when sponging. Then I found an example showing simple up and down sponging and was able to do it with this lovely result.

I created the card base with the largest Spellbinders Labels 4 die after I folded a piece of white card stock in half, not cutting the folded part. Then I cut a smaller white piece of the same shape die for my focal point. I chose 4 die inks - a yellow, light blue, light raspberry and navy blue for my sponging. I had a different sponge piece for each color. I started with the yellow ink, scrunched up the sponge, applied some ink and sponged up and down in a straight column, moved over and did that twice more. Then I added the blue and raspberry columns, sponging up and down over and over until I liked the look. It is fine if the colors overlap as that adds different colors to the Northern Lights sky look. Then I stamped Repeat Impression's deer trio, large pine tree and Thinking of You sentiment in an archival black ink. I created "ground" below the deer's feet with the navy ink and sponged over the whole piece with a little navy to tone it down a bit. Using a white gel pen, I added some stars in the sky. If you want an easy way to sponge "Northern Lights" on your card, give this method a try sometime.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenges at Time 4 Scrap and Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge.

Happy Camper Summer Card

This sentiment is one I use all the time IRL so when I saw this set from Close to my Heart I just had to have it. I made this CAS card using a Wisconsin map as the background and stamps from the CTMH set for my grandson.

I am entering this card in the Vacation challenges at Open-Minded Crafting and QKR Stampede Challenges.

Christmas in July Challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids

It’s Saturday and time for another fun challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids! This time our challenge is Christmas in July 4 Kids! Create and link any Christmas or Happy Holidays card for a child and you could win one of our great prizes. Check out what the 3 awesome prizes are this time at the SAS4Kids blog here.

We start early here at SAS4Kids for holiday cards because we would love for every one of the kids in the 8 children’s hospitals we currently serve to receive a card on all the major holidays and to be able to pick some out to send to relatives or friends they are missing while in the hospital. So after making your holiday cards of any kind during any time of the year, please consider sending them to one of the addresses under the tabs on the top. If we get them early (or late) we will save them for the next box going to the hospitals close to the holiday.

My first card above features a sweet pre-colored little girl from Whoopsi Daisy. I don't usually do pastels in my Christmas cards, but why not? I created a background with a Martha Stewart border punch and an embossing folder from Darice. Then I printed and cut out the precious girl holding a present.

The image from Doodle Pantry I chose for my second card is called Birdie Christmas and is a pre-colored image as well. I cut him out with a Nestabilities die and attached him to the front of a folded card that has been embossed with a musical note embossing folder from Cuttlebug. Here is the inside of the folded card with a fun sentiment also from Doodle Pantry and some musical punched notes.

I am entering these cards in the Christmas in July challenges at Aud Sentiments and C.R.A.F.T.

Summer Fun Designers Choice Challenge at Repeat Impressions

It’s another Designer’s Choice Challenge at The House that Stamps Built, Repeat Impression’s blog. It’s Brenda’s turn and her challenge is Summer Fun.  After you make your summery card, you can enter it for a chance to win some awesome Repeat Impressions rubber! Please visit the blog for all the details and to see the other Rock Star's cards for this DCC challenge. I have seen them and you do not want to miss them!

I used Repeat Impression’s Sunny Quartet for this summer card. I folded the front of the black card base in half and attached the yellow Sunny Quartet to the fold. Then I stamped and cut out 4 more sets of flip flops and colored the flowers with gel pens. Flip flops just say summer to me and I am probably wearing mine at the pool in Door County right now.  This is what the card looks like open:

And don’t forget: For a 10% discount on any size order at Repeat Impressions, just make a note of my discount code (rr10kh), click on the blog badge on the side of my blog and go to the website here to shop and save! 

I am entering this card in the Summertime challenge at Raisin Boat. 

A New Technique with your Stencils

I have been having fun designing with my new Cutting Edge Stencils and recently I found a new technique here and a beautiful card using the technique here. Basically, you color around the opening in the stencil with your Copics (or other alcohol based markers), then pull in the color to the paper with a paper towel slightly damp with Copic colorless blender fluid. It results in a chalky look which is quite lovely. I tried it with the hummingbird stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils and then cut it out with a white border. I attached it with mounting tape over a background stamp by Hero Arts and a leafy flourish from Cheery Lynn Designs cut in aqua vellum. I also tried the technique with a stencil I created with a die and acetate, and will share the results of that later this week.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenges at 613 Avenue Create and Scribble and Scrap.

More Cutting Edge Stencil Cards and Winners Announced

I have had so much fun the last week or so playing with stencils from Cutting Edge Stencils and this is my favorite card so far. I love the Entwined stencil and the screen or panel card I learned how to make in the most recent Die Cut Crazy digital magazine.  I will share some details and a few more pix of this and other cards, but I know you are here to find out who won, right?

The winner of the $20 gift certificate for stencils at Cutting Edge Stencils is:   Berni Cuttino!!!  Here is her winning comment: "I am back with my favorite stencil. There were a few calling my name, but I especially am fond of Houndstooth Card Stencil Template. I am following Cutting Edge on Facebook and subscribe to their blog."

I added a prize from me (and Cutting Edge Stencils) after I saw all the wonderful comments about my cards and the contest. The winner of the prize of a set of 4 rubber grip stencil brushes from Crafter's Choice and a butterfly stencil is:   Robin who commented: "These are lovely cards! Thanks so much for a chance to win some stencils too. The one I liked the best is Lily Scroll Card Stencil Template. I really like the wall stuff too."

Berni- Cutting Edge Stencils will be in touch with you about your prize. Robin- I will email you about yours.

Here are a couple more pictures of the screen or panel card I made with the Entwined stencil. I sponged each panel with two colors of distress ink, and then decorated with various dies and stamps from Repeat Impressions and others. The panel is an 8 1/2" by 12" piece of card stock scored at 3, 6, and 9 inches, then punched at  the top with a border punch and a label punch at the bottom. The last pix shows the card closed ready to fit into a business sized envelope to mail.

My second card features the same Entwined stencil but with a totally different technique. I attached the stencil to a piece of water color paper with temporary tape. Then I applied Versamark ink through the stencil openings, sprinkled on clear embossing powder and melted the powder with my heat gun. Then I applied three colors of Adirondack ink refills to the water color paper with watercolor brushes. I let that dry, while I heated up my iron as hot as it would go with no water for steam. I covered the colored piece with a paper grocer's bag and ironed it, which melts and removes the embossing powder leaving the clear smooth off white swirls. Then I used pieces of the sheet I created for the background behind the scalloped circle, the smile die (which is inlaid in the white cover piece), the butterfly and the side strips. I added a couple sequins to complete this card.

Here is the front and inside of my last stencil card (for today anyway:) I applied black 3D Stamp Paint from Viva in the openings of the Birch Forest stencil on a birch tree designer paper. The 3D Stamp Paint gives the front of the card wonderful texture which is hard to see on a photo. I tore some snow drifts, added some deer and a Santa and a beautiful - so true!- sentiment on the front and the inside.

I had so much fun designing with the stencils from Cutting Edge Stencils and hope you will visit them real soon to check out all their stencils for crafting and decorating your home. I want to thank them for the stencils and brushes I received and for the prize for our winner!

I am entering these cards in the Anything Goes challenges at Treasured Times and Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge.

Christmas in July - and anytime...

I make Christmas cards all year so I am never pressured late in the year to get them done. I share a new one each month with the class that meets in my home and this is one we will be making soon. I made a similar tri-shutter card with a Clear Views transparency recently and loved it, but was troubled that the front is clearly the outside of the home with brick and a window, but when we looked through the window, we saw a scene from the outside too. I checked all the transparencies at The Mark-It Place website and none were a scene from the inside of a home. So I contacted Jill at The Mark-It Place and she was kind enough to create some new images I could use for this card and others. The Mark-It Place is closed, but she still sells her beautiful transparency pictures on line here. This is what this  tri-shutter card looks like open:

The dies are from Memory Box and IO, the punches from Martha Stewart, embossing folder by Sizzix, and the sentiment from Papertrey Ink.

I am entering this card in the Christmas challenges at Simply Create Too and Completely Christmas.

CAS Baby Card with New Dies

I have not been able to resist buying new dies lately - it is an addiction I admit! I had to have the new Star Garlands from Memory Box and Baby's First Sneakers from Marianne Designs. I used both and a baby embossing folder from Cuttlebug to create this CAS baby card. Couldn't have been easier, but I like how it turned out and the next time there is a baby to welcome of either sex, I am ready with a cute card.

I am entering this card in the CAS challenge at Crafting with Dragonflies and the Anything Goes challenge at Crafty Girls.

Cool Beans Coffee Gift Card Holder from Crackerbox Palace

**For a chance to win one of two great prizes, leave a comment on my July 8th blogpost here before Sunday at noon.**

It's Crackerbox Palace Friday and I am sharing a gift card holder for the coffee lover we all know. I did not know how to score and fold a gift card holder, so I searched Pinterest and found this blog post with the sizes and instructions. I scored and folded two sided Kraft Core Shattered cardstock from Core’dinations and punched the borders with a pretty floral border punch from Martha Stewart. I stamped and paper pieced CBP’s table and coffee cup and also stamped the sentiment and Cool Beans (which crack me up.) The gift card holder stays closed with velcro pieces. I am going to swing by my favorite coffee shop for a real gift card before giving this to a friend.

Here are some more views of the coffee gift card holder: 

 

Thanks for stopping by my blog. The stamps I have used today and many other awesome stamps are available on our website here. 

Don’t forget you can save 15% off your order at Crackerbox Palace.com with my name (Karen) in the coupon code box. All I ask is that you sign up as a follower here and then go shop for all these great stamps and more. You know you want toJ 

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenge at Through the Craft Room Door and the “Add a Sentiment" at Deep Ocean. 

Prima Doll Christmas Tag Card

I am really happy with how this tag Christmas card turned out. I do not do tags very often, but my new Prima doll stamp seems perfect for a long tag, so I incorporated that idea into this card. The tag can be pulled out by the recipient and used for a gift tag or a book mark. The card will fit into a business size envelope. I stamped "Kate" onto cream colored cardstock and paper pieced her holiday dress, hair, shoes, hair ribbon and bow. I created a pocket for the tag with vellum and washi tape, and stamped the sentiment from Heartfelt Creations with black archival ink.I added some green thread to complete the tag.

Here's another pix showing the tag:

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenges at Love to Scrap! and Crafting From the Heart.

What If? Wed. Sketch Challenge at Repeat Impressions

Happy Wednesday everyone! 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.

I looked at this sketch and knew right away I wanted to use the quilt and stained glass stamps found here on the website. I stamped the Stained Glass Round several times in different colors and paper pieced the different layers. I chose a bright yellow textured paper for the square card base. I stamped the quilt frame to look like a stained glass window on acetate and added the perfect sentiment to the center of the “window”. 

Here is the sketch for you to follow when you create a card for our challenge. You do not need to use Repeat Impressions stamps to enter our challenges, but you get an extra chance to win if you do!

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenges at Crafting from the Heart and Through the Craft Room Door.

**Don’t Forget: for a 10% discount on any size order at Repeat Impressions, make a note of my discount code (rr10kh), click on the blog badge on the side of my blog and go to the website here to shop and save!**

Cutting Edge Stencil Review and Giveaway!

I was recently contacted by Cutting Edge Stencils and asked to do a review of their card stencils and a giveaway for my readers, and after taking a look at their website, I was thrilled to say yes! I love to make cards with plastic stencils and happy to find another stencil company with more stencil choices for us card makers and scrappers.

**Would you like to win a $20 Cutting Edge Stencil gift certificate and free shipping on the stencils you choose if you win? Of course you would! All you need to do is visit the Cutting Edge website, pick our your favorite stencil and leave a comment on this blog post with the name of your favorite stencil and your email address so you can be contacted if you win. (You can write it out like khasheck at gmail dot com to avoid spammers.) For a second chance to win, Follow Cutting Edge Stencils on Facebook, and for a third chance to win, subscribe to their blog here.  Please leave an extra comment if you have chosen to follow them on Facebook or subscribe to their blog and you will receive extra chances to be the big winner. You have until Sunday, July 13th at noon CST to enter this giveaway. The winner will be announced on my blog Monday, July 14th when I post some more cards I made with Cutting Edge Stencils.**

EDITED TO ADD: You have all been so kind with your lovely comments, I have decided to add a second prize! A second randomly drawn winner from the comments will be drawn and he or she will win a set of 4 rubber grip Crafter's Choice Stencil Brushes and a beautiful butterfly stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils of course. All I ask is that you leave any comment and be a follower of my blog.

I used Cutting Edge Stencil's Birch Forest Card Stencil for the first card I am sharing today. The first thing I noticed when I opened the stencil package was how sturdy and flexible the stencil was, and that is was larger than most of the other card stencils I own. The card size design is 6 x 8 inches and the stencil itself is 9 x 11 inches. The bigger size can be an advantage if you are making a larger card (see below) and it makes it easy to tape it down outside of the cardstock piece you are stenciling. However, it was too large to emboss in my Big Shot machine and I even had to cut it down somewhat to run it through my Grand Calibur. If you visit the Cutting Edge Stencil website, you will see they have a long history of making high quality stencils for walls and decorating homes, and that quality is obvious in their card stencils too. The ones I received are sturdier and more flexible than others sold by companies just now getting into the stencil market.

I also received a package of Crafter's Choice stencil brushes with rubber grips. I usually don't use stencil brushes on my cards, but when a fuller softer brush and a sponge did not give me the dark look I wanted in between the kraft colored birch trees, I tried the largest stencil brush in the package and it worked beautifully. It was so easy to hold on the rubber grip. I used Ranger Archival black ink and that was a mistake, as the brush and the stencil did not come clean when I washed them after use. I am sure with a regular dye ink, it would have been fine. But the brush and the stencil can be used for any color next time, they just has a black edge now. Ranger's Archival black ink is my favorite as it is a true dark black and it is on my desk all the time, but it is much more permanent than other dye inks, so another black dye ink would be better to use for the stencil and brush.

I cut Memory Box's Serene Bird in grey, wet embossed Repeat Impression's bamboo in clear embossing powder, and attached with mounting tape to raise. I stamped Avery Elle's Hello and added a pearl to complete the card.

I have been wanting to get one (or more) of the lovely Prima doll stamps by Julie Nutting and recently I purchased "Kate" on line. When I opened the package, I realized just how big these Prima doll stamps are - Kate is 7 1/2 inches tall. Way to big for any standard size card, and if I used a standard size 6 x 6 stencil for a background, it would not be big enough. So the larger size of the Aladdin stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils was a real advantage for this card. You can also choose a page size stencil if you want it even bigger, like for scrapbooking. I prefer mine a little smaller usually for card making, and so am hoping Cutting Edge Stencils might add a third size like 6 x 6 with smaller image details too. But the ones I received worked great for the backgrounds I created.

I started with a business size cream colored card 8 1/4" tall by 8" wide and folded it in half. I attached a paint strip down the long way on the card and sponged Tea Dye Distress Ink on with the Tim Holtz distress sponging tool using the Aladdin stencil. I was going for an ombre look on the paint chip part. I stamped "Kate" on cream paper, paper pieced her hair, dress and shoes and attached her to the card. I stamped the Heidi Swapp "shine" to complete the card.

I have one more card to share today. I mentioned the stencils I received were too big to do one of my favorite techniques with stencils- emboss with my No More Shims thick embossing pad and then sponge while the stencil is still attached. However, Cutting Edge Stencils sent me a bonus smaller hummingbird stencil with my order, and so I was able to easily make this CAS fun card. I picked a subtle floral cardstock, attached the stencil and ran it through the Big Shot with my No More Shims thick embossing pad. The image is raised with nice dimension. Then I sponged the bird with Starry Skies Distress Ink (Ranger) and Tim Holtz's distress sponging tool. I cut the piece and attached at an angle on an A2 sized card base. I stamped the Soar (from CTMH) on vellum and attached at an angle too.

I do recommend you check out the stencils on the Cutting Edge Stencil website for card making, scrapbooking and also for any decorating you might want to do in your home. I am hoping they expand their card size choices and will be shopping there myself. Please stop back next Monday to see if you won the giveaway and to see some more cards I made with these great stencils.

I am entering these cards in the Anything Goes challenges at 613 Avenue Create and Scribble and Scrap.

Inspired by The Cutting Edge Challenge

I really was inspired by this photo and even more by the DT cards at a new challenge called  The Cutting Edge Challenge and just had to make a card with die cuts and participate. The reason I am blogging a second time today with my card is that every day this week on my blog is booked already, and the deadline to enter this challenge is 9 a.m. EDT on Thursday. Here is the card I just made for this challenge:

I pulled out a die cut from My Favorite Things and die cut the skyline in peach, grey and black, layering them so each color shows just a bit. Love the look! The Be.you.tiful sentiment is a digital stamp by the Desert Diva. I added some pearls in different sizes in peach, black and grey and layered the front piece onto a black card base. I have a special young lady in mind who loves skylines to receive this card and the sentiment is perfect for someone her age too.

Hooray for SAS4Kids in Die Cut Crazy Magazine

The newest issue of Die Cut Crazy Magazine has just been released and I am thrilled to have two articles in  this issue, including one about my charitable blog, Send a Smile 4 Kids. Please visit the Die Cut Crazy blog  to find out how to get this awesome digital magazine with 80 pages of die cut ideas.

I created this card to show one that would be perfect for our kids of any age at SAS4Kids. I embossed the white background piece with a stencil from ColorBox and my No More Shims thick embossing pad, then sponged distress inks on the debossed side. I ripped three washi tape strips and attached a bike die cut (Memory Box) over them. I added the Hooray die cut from Penny Black and attached the whole piece to a black square card. Here is something else to say Hooray about - a great way to store washi tape I found on Pinterest:

19 rolls of decorative tape in one aluminum foil box! Hooray for great storage ideas!

I am entering this card in the die cut challenge at Virginia's View and the Anything Goes challenge at Sister Act.

Christmas Card in a Box in July Die Cut Crazy Magazine

Woo Hoo- I am so excited! The newest issue of Die Cut Crazy has been released and it is 80 pages full of die cut inspiration!! This is one of the cards I designed and wrote an article about. As I pointed out in the article (which is going to be a monthly feature), it is never too early to start making our Christmas cards so that in December we can relax and enjoy our holidays.

Here is a link to where you can download the July issue if you have an iPhone or iPad. PDF versions are in the works. It is unbelievably inexpensive for either a subscription or just one issue. My articles are on pages 35-37 and 51-53, but the whole issue is packed with die cut ideas and great articles!

This card is another of the longer version of a card in box that folds to fit into an A2 envelope. I decorated with Memory Box and W Plus 9 die cuts. Here are a couple more pictures showing the card from the front and the back side where you can write a personal message.

I am entering this card in the Die Cut challenge at Virginia's View Challenge and the Christmas Stampin' all Year Round Challenge, using a favorite holiday color combo: blue and white.

Bright Colors 4 Kids Challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids

 It’s Saturday and time for another fun challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids! This time our challenge is Bright Colors 4 Kids! Create and link any card for a child with bright colors on it and you could win one of our great prizes.

We have three very generous sponsors for this challenge:  Bugaboo is giving their winner 7 digis of their choice! QKR Stampede is giving their randomly picked winner 5 images of their choice!  And The Paper Shelter’s winner gets a $20 gift certificate! TEAM S.A.S will also be choosing their favorite cards for our top three and the winners will receive a blog badge and an opportunity to be a guest design team member on a future challenge.

My first bright card features a fun colored digi from The Paper Shelter called "My Racing Car." I printed him and cut him out, then attached him with mounting tape over a couple circles cut out with my nesties. I die cut 'hi" with a Paper Smooches die and added some bright colored dots.

I love this Ladybug Stack from Bugaboo- aren't they sweet? I paper pieced all of the ladybugs and flowers with bright colored scraps. Then I cut "thanks" from Lil' Inker twice, layered just offset and attached. Our kids do use thank you cards for their medical staff and other special people, so cards like this one are requested by the hospitals we serve.

I am entering these cards in the Child's Play challenge at Creative Knockouts, and the Anything Goes challenge at Scrapper's Delights.

Happy 4th of July from me and Crackerbox Palace!

Karen H. here today and I am sharing a patriotic 4^th of July card made with CBP stamps. I love using silhouette stamps and this patriotic parade of kids makes me smile. I simply stamped them on red and cut out with a Spellbinders die. I stamped the fireworks and Woo Hoo and embossed the blue background with a fireworks embossing folder from Darice, then layered on a square white card.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. The stamps I have used today and many other awesome stamps are available on our website here.  And don’t forget you can save 15% off your order at Crackerbox Palace.com with my name (Karen) in the coupon code box. All I ask is that you sign up as a follower here and then go shop for all these great stamps and more. You know you want toJ

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes/Summertime challenge at Scrapper’s Delights and the “In the Sky” challenge at Freshly Brewed Challenges.

Happy Birthday to the U.S.A.! Hope you have a safe and fun holiday weekend!

Celebrate 4th of July!

I am in the mood for red, white and blue this week, so I made a card based on something I had seen once on Pinterest- sorry do not have a link to the originator. But it is simply a popsicle in patriotic colors and embossed with a SU embossing folder. I happened to have a real popsicle stick that came with some rub-ons and I added a bow around that stick. I embossed the card base with a fireworks embossing folder from Darice. Then I cut a star with a nesties die and stamped the sentiment from Inspired by Stamping.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenge at Fantastic Tuesday and the "no designer papers" challenge at Crafty Sentiments.

Fur or Winged Things Designer's Choice Challenge

It’s another Designer’s Choice Challenge at The House that Stamps Built, Repeat Impression’s blog. It’s Deonna’s turn and her challenge is Fur or Winged Things.  After you make your card with something with fur or wings, you can enter it for a chance to win some awesome Repeat Impressions rubber! Please visit the blog for all the details and to see the other Rock Star's cards for this DCC challenge. I have seen them and you do not want to miss them!

I saw a new fold here on this blog and decided to try it. It was easy and creates a fun card. Remember when you were little and you tried to capture fireflies in a jar with nail holes in the cover? I totally do! I stamped the firefly jar, cut it out with deckle scissors and attached to the top part of the folding card.  I cut and attached yellow polka dotted dp along the bottom of the card. Then I stamped a bunch of the individual fireflies (or lightning bugs- we used both terms when I was young.) I colored all of them with a grey marker and yellow gel pen. Then I added the perfect sentiment (from RI of course) to the center fold of the card.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenges at Through the Craft Room Door and Crafting From the Heart.

And don’t forget: For a 10% discount on any size order at Repeat Impressions, just make a note of my discount code (rr10kh), click on the blog badge on the side of my blog and go to the website here to shop and save!