Happy Halloween from me and Crackerbox Palace!

Happy Halloween!! It’s Crackerbox Palace Friday and I am sharing a Halloween card in a box card I made with Crackerbox Palace’s awesome Halloween stamps. I made the larger size card in a box this time and used a bunch of Halloween stamps from Crackerbox Palace that you can find here.

Here is another picture from the front of the box: 

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.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenges at Simon Says Stamp and Party Time Tuesday.

Last Minute Quick Halloween Card

Busy busy week for me, but when I saw this cute and easy Halloween card here on this blog, I took a couple minutes to play and made this cute card. I just attached strips of embossed white cardstock onto the front of a kraft card and added some wiggly eyes. I stamped the perfect sentiment and attached with some Halloween washi tape. Then I die cut and attached a spider (QuicKutz). I had to stamp the inside too because I hadn't used this cute mummy yet this year:

I am entering this card in the Happy Halloween challenge at Die Cuttin' Divas (spider is a die cut) and the Spooky challenge at Sweet Stamps. Happy Halloween!

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 recently received the musical background stamp from Repeat Impressions and decided to use that and the sketch to create a “Joy to the World” Christmas card. I stamped the musical background in grey ink and cut out with a Nestabilities circle die. I stamped the “Joy to the World” stamp and sponged the edges with red ink. Following the sketch, I attached some red strips to a white card base and embossed the whole card with a musical embossing folder by Darice. I punched out a couple musical notes to complete the musical holiday card.

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 Through the Craft Room Door and My Craft Creations.

**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!**

One more Christmas card for my stash

Christmas cards can be lovely even if simple and quick to make as long as there is an interesting background and pretty stamps and embellishments. I started with a lighter Bister background on this card, then stamped a pretty snowflake and perfect sentiment both from Raisin Boat. Then I added a couple small doves cut with a Memory Box die and layered the front piece onto a navy card base.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenge at Treasured Times and the Any Holiday challenge at Hiding in my Craft Room.

Kraft Peace Card

I love using kraft paper for my cards and Kraft is the theme at Simon Says Stamp this week. I am sharing a card I made for my daughter's Fellowship featuring their chalice stamp in white. I layered two scalloped circles and a black flourish under the kraft circle. The top flap of the kraft card was cut down with rounded corners and embossed with my favorite embossing folder. I stamped the perfect sentiment on the red dp on the inside of the card.

I am also entering this card in the Anything Goes challenge at Sweet Stamps.

Funny Card in a Box on Crackerbox Palace Friday

It’s Crackerbox Palace Friday and I am sharing a fun get well card in a box card I made with Crackerbox Palace’s funny germs and sentiment sayings. I love to make “cards in a box” and have blogged many since discovering them. This one is the A6 size. I started by embossing the blue card base with a Tim Holtz embossing folder that reminds me of germs. I stamped funny germ monsters and colored them with Wink of Stella sparkly brush pens. Each germ monster has a name and I attached the germ monster and it’s name to an acetate strip and they are popping out of the box card. I added some aspirin strips to the sides and a funny sentiment to the front. “Sending smiles your way” seems a perfect thing to do for a sick friend. Here is a picture from the front: 

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.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenge at Wonderful Wednesday and the “My Favorite Kind of Card” challenge at Mod Squad (card in a box cards and funny cards are my favorite to make).

Make your own Backgrounds with Bisters for Christmas

I need some more Christmas cards for my stash and so I pulled out my Bister powders from I Brake for Stamps and created this green background for this CAS Christmas card. So easy- just sprinkle on the Bister powder, spritz with water and you get this fun background. I embossed the Merry from Stampin' Up with white embossing powder, and added the Christmas and doves from a Memory Box die. I rounded the corners and attached to a white card base.

I am entering this card in the "Make your own Background" challenge at Craft-room Challenge and the Christmas challenge at Inky Chicks.

Leftovers Designer Choice Challenge at Repeat Impressions

It’s another Designer’s Choice Challenge at The House that Stamps Built, Repeat Impression’s blog. It is Joy’s turn and she is challenging us all to make a card using leftovers. Let’s recycle small pieces of paper or ribbon or whatever, create a card and 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!

On my desk, I had some glossy paper pieces I sponged with fall colors for last week’s card and some orange dp pieces I used on another card, so I used them to create this “Pumpkin Day” card. I stamped Repeat Impression’s pumpkin and paper pieced each section of the pumpkin with a different small piece of dp. I framed the pumpkin with a circle cut out using a Memory Box die on a brown piece of cardstock. The sentiment was stamped on a small piece of burgundy paper. I stamped three leaves on the fall colored glossy paper leftovers, cut them out and attached to the gold card.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenges at  613 Avenue Create 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! 

CAS Bister Christmas Card

I made a couple Christmas cards this week using Bister powders for the background (from I Brake for Stamps here) and some new dies and stamps. I used just the red Bister powder on this background after I embossed the "Merry" from Stampin' Up with white embossing powder. I added a snowflake die (Memory Box) and the "Christmas" cut with a new die from Paper Smooches. I distressed the edges of the red piece and sponged a little, then added a couple pearls to complete the CAS card.

I am entering this card in the Emboss challenge at CAS on Sunday and the Anything Goes challenge at 613 Avenue Create.

Minion Halloween Card

Isn't this Halloween Minion cute with his pumpkin costume? I totally cased it from a card I saw on Pinterest, but cannot link back to it to give credit because it goes to a site restricted to SU demos only. He was very fun to create with a bunch of dies and punches. I made this special card for my grandson and will be sending it to him soon with the mummy candy bars I shared yesterday on my blog. I added some washi tape to the top of the card and the orange one says "Happy Halloween Nate!" I found this tip on how to get words on your washi tape here on this blog and tried it. It is not real dark, but IRL it is definitely readable and a fun way to personalize a card or present.

I am entering this card in the Pumpkin or Jack-o-lantern challenge at Open-Minded Crafting Fun (the costume is a pumpkin), and the Halloween challenge at We Do Doobadoo.

Mummy Candy Bar Halloween Treats!

Aren't these super cute? I saw the idea here on this blog and had to run right out for Hershey candy bars and white crepe paper. I punched some eyes and added a Halloween happiness sentiment with some Halloween washi tape.

I am entering this project in the Anything  Goes challenges at Aud Sentiments and Crafty Girls. 

Celebration Cards 4 Kids 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 Celebration Cards 4 Kids! Create and link any celebrations card for a child and you could win one of our great prizes. Halloween, Christmas, Birthday- any celebration opportunity will do.

We have three very generous sponsors for this challenge:  Stitchy Bear Digital Outlet is giving their winner 2 digis of their choice (a $6 value)! The Paper Shelter is giving their randomly picked winner a $20 gift certificate!  And Crackerbox Palace’s  winner gets 3 digis from any of their stamps at their website! 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 card above features some really cute stamps from Crackerbox Palace. I cut a film strip window with a die from Pretty Pink Posh using two sided dp. I flipped the cut out paper squares, taped them together haphazardly, and stamped the perfect sentiment on them before attaching it to a blue card base. I stamped three of CBP's cute fish on brightly colored dp, cut them out and attached them in the film strip window.

My second card features "Brave and Cute Knight" from The Paper Shelter. I printed him on white cardstock and cut him out. I embossed the red piece with a Cuttlebug numbers embossing folder and cut out the "u r 4" with Memory Box alphabet and numbers dies. I think this card could be perfect for a little boy turning 4 while in one of the nine children's hospitals SAS4Kids serves.

I am entering these cards in the For the Boys challenge at Chocolate, Coffee and Cards, and the Anything Goes challenge at Sister Act.

Last "Stretch Your Stamps" Christmas Card from Crackerbox Palace

It’s Crackerbox Palace Friday and I am sharing the last Christmas card in my series of “using your stamps in different ways to stretch your stamp buying power.” Scroll down on the blog to see four other cards using this beautiful holly border and the “Season’s Greetings” stamps.

I stamped a wreath with the holly border stamp and then made a circle spinner card with the cute little penguin spinning around the circle track cut with circle dies. The circle spinner penguin is attached to a penny with pop dots. I attached the front pieces to a green card base with pop dots and rounded all the corners. I used red Wink of Stella to make the berries sparkle.

Here is another pix showing the cute penguin spinning around the circle track: 

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.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenges at Wonderful Wednesday and Penny’s Paper-Crafty.

Birthday Bister Giraffe Card and New Watermark!

I am very excited today to be sharing my first card with my brand new personalized watermark! Ever since my friends Sara and Michael created my blog badge, I wanted to have a watermark using my brand and now I have one! I read about Kathryne of StampArt Design  and how she created watermarks for a design team. I contacted her and she was just great to work with! Even after I approved a final design, she worked on it to make it even more perfect! I was very impressed and recommend her very highly. You should check out her blog here not only for watermark design but for great digital stamps she designs as well. Thanks Kathryne! 

I am still a rookie at the watermark program and adjusting the placement and size of the watermark, but a little more playing and experience and I will perfect that as well. I chose Visual Watermark here and it was pretty easy to use.

I love the card I am posting today! I used a birthday embossing folder on a white card base before I applied blue and brown bister powders and spritzed with water for a fun background. Then I cut an oval opening with a nestie die and stamped a gorgeous giraffe stamp on yellow cardstock. The giraffe stamp and the Bister powders are from I Brake for Stamps. If you check out the Bister gallery there, you will see a bunch of my cards:)

I am entering this card in the CAS challenge at Virginia's View and the Anything Goes with Yellow challenge at Fantastic Tuesday.  

Sketch Card for Repeat Impression's What If? Wed. Challenge

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 love the colors of fall and this fall is especially brilliant in Wisconsin. I brayered fall colors over the Repeat Impression’s stamps I stamped on glossy paper. I masked a moon next to the fall tree and sponged it with yellow. Then I just followed the sketch and applied to a brown card base. CAS but lovely.

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 Through the Craft Room Door and My Craft Creations.

**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!**

The Blues Twisted Easel Card

I used mostly shades of blue in creating this twisted easel card. The stamps are all from Inkadinkado. The "enjoy" label is popped up to hold up the easel. I used a Martha Stewart punch to create the scalloped edge. Here is a picture with the "twisted easel" closed.

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

Stretch your Stamps Christmas Card

It’s Crackerbox Palace Friday today and I am sharing another Christmas card in my series of “using your stamps in different ways to stretch your stamp buying power.” Scroll down here on the blog to see three other cards using this beautiful holly border and the “Season’s Greetings” stamps. I found this fun sketch and quadruple time stamping idea here on this blog and decided it would make a lovely card with these two stamps from Crackerbox Palace. I layered the white pieces (without the red border) together on the green card base with temporary tape and stamped the holly border and the sentiment on the white pieces and also on the card base. It does not matter if they don’t stamp perfectly where the pieces overlap because when you add the red borders, any imperfections are covered up. The red pieces are ¼” larger than the white pieces. I added some red Wink of Stella glitter to the berries and some red gems to complete the card.

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.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenges at Aud Sentiments and Crafty Girls.

Prima Doll and Sten-tangle

I had fun creating this card using some stencils and a large Prima doll stamp. I have to admit I love the Prima doll stamps but not how large they are. In  this case, I decided to cut her down to fit on an A2 card and she still looks great. I paper pieced her hair, headband and dress, and used a brass stencil to "sten-tangle" two panels of her dress using a very fine black pen. I used another stencil to frame her just sponging ink in darker to lighter tones, then layered her onto an aqua blue card.

I am entering this card into the Anything Goes challenges at Love's Rubberstamps and Through the Craft Room Door.

Guest DT Designer's Choice Challenge

It’s another Designer’s Choice Challenge at The House that Stamps Built, Repeat Impression’s blog. We have a special Guest Design Team Member today! Her name is Robin Clendenning and her blog is here. Robin is challenging us all to make a Winter card. Be sure to stop over and check out her cool Winter card and her blog. Then make your own Winter card, and 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 needed some more Winter holiday cards for my kids at SAS4Kids and this one would be perfect.  I cut a triple window with a die from Pretty Pink Posh, cut out the Joy penguins and attached them peeking out of the windows. I stamped and cut out the Ornament penguin, added crystal effects on the ornament and attached him with an Action Wobbles so he bounces. I added the perfect sentiment from Repeat Impressions to complete the Winter card.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenges at 613 Avenue Create 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! 

Frankie in Fall/Halloween Colors

Isn't Frankie cute? And so easy to make with Nestabilities dies and the "goo" punch from Martha Stewart. I started with an orange card that I embossed with a spider web embossing folder from Cuttlebug, then sponged with black ink. Frankie was cut with Labels one, circle and oval Nesties, and even the smile was drawn using a smaller Labels one die. The hair was created with the same labels die and the "goo" punch. Easy and fun and perfect  for Halloween.

I am entering this card in the Fall or Halloween Colors challenges at Open Minded Crafting and at Hiding in my Craft Room.

Dragonflies and Butterfly Harmony Card

I am still loving the look of combining Bister powders (from I Brake for Stamps) and beautiful stencils like this one called Dragonfly Harmony from The Crafter's Workshop to make easy but beautiful cards. This one might be my favorite- 'course I have said that before:) I simply attached the stencil to watercolor paper with low tack tape, sprinkled on blue, yellow and natural colored Bister powders and spritzed with water. The beautiful colors appear where the stencil is not and this background is done. I added a butterfly from Memory Box and a "Celebrate" sentiment from Cherry Lynn Designs and the card is done.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenges at Sister Act and Anything Goes with a Twist, and the Stencil challenge at Addicted to CAS. 

Early Holiday Wishes 4 Kids 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 Early Holiday Wishes 4 Kids! Create and link any Christmas card for a child and you could win one of our great prizes.

If you are wondering why we are starting with Christmas holiday cards already, it is because we want to remind you to start making cards for our kids in the hospitals we serve at Christmas time. Each child should receive a card, of course, but we would also like to donate enough that each child could pick some for family or friends, teachers or classmates they are missing while in the hospital over the holidays. Of course you do not have to donate your card to participate in our challenges, but our kids sure hope you do.

We have three very generous sponsors for this challenge: Stitchy Bear Digital Outlet is giving their winner 3 digis of their choice (a $10 value)! Kitchen Sink Stamps is giving their randomly picked winner a $25 gift certificate!  And DRS Design’s winner gets a $10 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 card above features Reindeer Ralph and Simple Pleasures stamps from DRS Designs. I cut the front of a red card base down to two inches and embossed some hanging ornaments. I printed the lovely holiday sentiment on a white piece, punched a snowflake in the top and attached to the inside of the red card. I printed Reindeer Ralph on a patterned dp, cut him out and attached him with a pop dot to raise.  

This sweet digital image is called "In the Meadow, We can Build a Snowman" by Reece's Scrap Pieces at Stitchy Bear Digital Outlet. I printed her in color, created some snow drifts with glitter and paper and layered her on a blue piece. CAS but really cute for one of our kids.

I am entering these cards in the Anything Goes challenges at Holly Jolly Christmas and 613 Avenue Create.

"Enjoy" CAS Masculine Card on Crackerbox Palace Friday

It's Crackerbox Palace Friday and I am sharing a CAS masculine card featuring Crackerbox Palace’s Trail Break silhouette stamp. I created a sunset background with my Bister powders and water after embossing the silhouette stamp with black embossing powder. He seems to be enjoying his break and his coffee, so I added a die cut “enjoy” (Impression Obsession) and a coffee pot. I attached the piece to a burgundy layer and then onto a black card base.

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.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenge at Crafting with Dragonflies and the Transportation challenge at Simon Says Stamp (horses are transportation- and one of the dt members used a horse too). 

CAS with Bister Powders and Stencils

If you follow me, you know I have been having so much fun designing with Bister powders from  I Brake for Stamps. I decided to try the Bisters with open stencils and love the results! I taped down a corner stencil from The Crafter's Workshop on watercolor paper and sprinkled blue, red and natural Bister powders on and spritzed with water. Doesn't that make a pretty background? Then I simply cut off a curved corner and attached to a teal card base. I die cut Memory Box's Serene Bird out of a text dp, sponged on some color and attached on a Memory Box branch to complete the CAS card.

I am entering this in Virginia's View CAS challenge and the Anything Goes challenge at Die Cuttin' Divas.

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 am loving all the different shaker cards I am seeing on blogville and decided to try one with some of the Flower Soft I have that is so sadly neglected. I started with an orange piece that I cut an oval in the center with my Nestabilities and stamped falling leaves on. I attached some acetate on the inside, a scalloped oval frame and the Thanksgiving sentiment piece. I stamped the fall tree from Repeat Impressions on the center of the cream card base. I used two layers of thin mounting tape to create the shaker part and dumped fall color Flower Soft into the center. Flower Soft doesn’t “shake” as well as sequins or beads, but looks pretty under the tree.

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 Through the Craft Room Door and My Craft Creations.

**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!**