Great Alphabet Die Ideas from Online Card Class Spring Card Camp

I am taking the Online Card Class Spring Card Camp and everyday we get a new video lesson in our email mailbox. One of my favorite days so far was Day 14 with Laura Bassen and these cards were inspired by her ideas with alphabet dies. I loved how she layered alphabet dies overlapping and stenciled on different colors and I did that with HUGS using dies from Kat Scrappiness. She also suggested stenciling around the edge of the card front with the same lighter colors used on the letters and I did that with an older Memory Box stencil. I love how this card turned out! "Sending" is a stamp from Stampendous and the "Random Act of Cardness" is a perfect stamp sentiment for these days from Technique Tuesday. 

Laura also suggested "gold tipping" on our alphabet dies and I tried it on this card. I die cut YOU from Kat Scrappiness out of a white card front and half of the letters out of a sparkly gold and glued them together. I put them back in their negative space and embossed it all with a new gorgeous 3D embossing folder from Memory Box. I added a little green to highlight the embossing and raised the letters up on foam before attaching them back for the eclipse look. "Thinking of" is from a die set from Spellbinders. 

Spinner Easel Card and Inside Spinner Card From My Newest Video

I had so much fun making spinner cards for my newest video and this one is a spinner easel card that I learned how to make here. I started with a 5 1/2 inch square card scored at the center and also at 2 3/4" and folded down for the easel. I used My Favorite Things inside and out stitched rounded square dies for the frame and the spinning cupcake is a die from Karen Burniston. The sprinkles were created with an embossing folder and the perfect sentiment is from Technique Tuesday. Karen Burniston's Happy Birthday was die cut out of yellow and black fun foam and is raised to hold open the spinning easel.

I used some darling puppy stamps from Simon Says Stamp (the Pupperoni on the front) and Art Impressions for the spinner inside to make this super cute spinning card for my grandson. He loves puppys and pepperoni pizza so this will be perfect. The "love you" message for him was created with a Karen Burniston die and the wonky stitched rectangles and circle dies are from Gina Marie Designs. 

I will spin the two sided puppy well before putting in the envelope and when he opens it, the puppy will spin around and around. Spinner cards are so fun to make and send and I hope you watch the new video here for tips and instruction on how to make them.

Monochromatic Glazed Distress Oxide Cards with Favorite Dies

While having a play with the Glazed Distress Oxide Technique for my newest YouTube video here, I also played with many new dies. This wedding card features a pretty heart border die from Technique Tuesday and a Mr. & Mrs. die from Honey Bee Stamps. I used Picked Raspberry, Candied Apple and Fired Brick Distress Oxides for the monochromatic background. 

This monochromatic blue card features a pretty new "let your dreams soar" die from Impression Obsession as well as birds cut with another IO die.

My last card today was made with several green Distress Oxide inks as well as a touch of blue and yellow. The fish net die was from Tutti Designs, the fish were from IO and the sentiment made with a Little B die. To see how to make backgrounds like these with layers of Distress Oxide inks that are brightened with Distress Micro Glaze, watch the video here.

Two More Impossible Fun Fold Cards From My Latest Video

I recently played with a new fun fold called the "impossible card" because it is named after a magic trick that looks complicated but is very easy to do with a simple fold. I learned how to do the fold and how to make many sizes of the card here on this blog post. I show today's cards in a video I posted this week here. This birthday version features funny Technique Tuesday sentiment, a cupcake die from Karen Burniston, "enjoy" by IO and the fun "happy birthday" die from Penny Black. Here is another look at this card and a Christmas version I made to teach to my class: 

I teach Christmas cards all year so we all have a stash when December comes. I made this one 5 1/2 square so it will fit in a 6 inch square envelope and added some cute dies from Penny Black, Sue Wilson and My Creative Time. This fold is so easy to do, and will pop up to display in the recipient's home. To learn how to make this card and the others I shared yesterday, come watch my newest YouTube video here.

Video - Interactive and Not At All Impossible Cards to Make

If you follow me, you know I absolutely love interactive and fun fold cards, so in this week's YouTube video, I share some of my favorite cards I have made recently. When I saw the Technique Tuesday valance die set with an interactive window valance that can be pulled up and down, I just had to have it. I also love to use humor in my cards, and so also had to purchase the Sammy the Squirrel stamp set with the many funny sentiments such as I used in this humorous get well card. I show in the video how easy it is to make this valance that can be pulled up and down. Here are a couple more pictures of this card:

I especially loved the sentiment in the inside of the card from the Technique Tuesday set because I do say that- a saying from my youth. 

The second card I make in the video is a version of the very popular Impossible Card fun fold sized to fit in an A2 envelope. The card stands up and looks complicated to make, but is in fact very simple to make. I made mine with some darling stamps and dies from Julie Ebersole for Ellen Hutson with a fortune cookie that has a pull out fortune. For more information on how to make both of these cards, please visit and watch here. 

Thanks for watching, subscribing, sharing and helping me #share the joy of creativity!

Video- Nuvo Shimmer Powders Sparkle and Gorgeous Color!

I have posted a new YouTube video today that is chock full of card samples and information on a new pigment water activated powder from Tonic Studios called Nuvo Shimmer Powders. I have most of the watercolor powders on the market and I will say that these Nuvo Shimmer Powders are my favorite. It is hard to see in the pictures, but the powders shimmer with Mica and create gorgeous glimmer on our cards and projects. The video here is long I admit because I had so much fun playing and then making cards with what I created. You can break it down into two sessions if you wish, or choose to watch the first 17 minutes with all the backgrounds and a few technique tips, or the part after the 17 minute break with all the finished card samples and more techniques you could try with the Nuvo Shimmer Powders.

Today on my blog, I am sharing three of my favorites of the many cards I created with the Shimmer Powders. As I show in the video, all you need to do to get a gorgeous background is sprinkle on a few colors of the Shimmer Powders onto watercolor paper and spritz with water. Then cut a few lovely diecuts and you have a beautiful card. For the card above, I die cut Technique Tuesday's Tulip on the Border die on the side of a piece I created with Catherine Wheel, Cherry Bomb and Solar Flare Shimmer Powders, and then added "On Your Day" from Tonic Studios. 

I watched Paula Pascual demo at Creativation 2018 in the Tonic Studios booth and on Hochanda shows using Nuvo Aqua Flow Pens to wet watercolor paper with gorgeous color and then add the shimmer powders for more color and shimmer, so I tried that on this card. The result reminded me of a sunset or sunrise, so I added Memory Box's Cat Tail Sunrise die cut out of black cardstock. I tried to bleach out the moon but when that did not work, I die cut and added a thicker vellum moon and love the look. I made this card a Thank You card with a "thanks" die from Die-Versions.

My third favorite card of all those I did with the Nuvo Shimmer Powders was made with a technique I also demo in the video. It involves cling wrap, glossy cardstock and a beautiful mess created with the Shimmer Powders and is so fun to do. I created this card with one of the pieces I made using Kat Scrappiness Condensed Alpha diecuts and part of a "thinking of you" die from Tonic Studios. 

I am entering the second card in the Anything Goes challenge at Scrapy Land and the May Linky Party at Crop Stop. 

To see many many more card samples and techniques using Nuvo's Shimmer Powders, come watch the video here. Thanks for sharing, subscribing, watching and helping me #share the joy of creativity!

Anything Goes 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 Anything Goes 4 Kids!  Create and link any card for a child and you could win one of our great prizes.

We have three very generous sponsors for this challenge: Doodle Pantry is giving their winner a $10 gift certificate!  Kenny K. is giving their randomly picked winner 3 digis of their choice!  And Fred She Said’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 Quirky Mouse from Doodle Pantry. Isn't he cute? I printed him on white cardstock and cut him out. I also printed out the sentiment from the same Doodle Pantry set, cut it out with deckle scissors and sponged with green ink. The "cheese" top and bottom was created with a circle edge punch from Martha Stewart and a stitched die from Lawn Fawn. I raised those pieces up with pop dots and attached the Quirky Mouse on top.

My second card features an awesome stamp called Skateboard Girl by Kenny K. I printed her on white cardstock and cut her out with a circle Nestabilities die. I paper pieced her helmet, skateboard and clothes and colored the rest. I sponged the circle and the blue square card. I stamped Awesome (from Technique Tuesday) and attached the "seriously" diecut (by Lil' Inker.) 

I am entering these cards in the Anything Goes challenge at Crafting with Dragonflies and 613 Avenue Create.

Print and Cut on Silhouette Sunday

The challenge this week at the Silhouette Blog is to create a new project using their print and cut files. I made this fun frog card for a special young lady using a Silhouette America frog that I printed and cut three times. One of the frogs was flipped before printing and cutting. Those operations are so easy to do with the Silhouette software. I cut 3 holes in the center piece with a Spellbinders circle die and have the cute frogs peaking out from them. The sides were punched with an ek success border punch, and the "cool" sentiment is from Technique Tuesday.

I am also entering this card in the challenge at Cut it Up to use green and die-cuts.

Graduation Cards with Twine for Challenges

The challenge this week at Simon Says Stamp is anything Goes with Twine or String and I remembered that I had not blogged these graduation cards I made last spring for some family members and to teach in my classes. I found tutorials on line on how to make the card and the tassels, but I am not sure where they are now. This is what the inside looks like:

It is designed for a money or check holder, and I put a graduation pix and sentiment from Technique Tuesday on the card inside.

I am also entering this card in the Anything Goes challenge at Challenges 4 Everybody.

Stamping smiles, Karen

For The Boys 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 For The Boys.  Create and link any card for a boy and you could win one of our great prizes. We created this challenge to draw attention to the need we have at SAS4 Kids for boy’s cards, particularly cards for pre-teen and teenage boys. This is the category of cards we receive the least of, so if you are designing cards to donate to SAS4Kids, please keep our boys in mind.

We have three very generous sponsors for this challenge:  The Paper Shelter is giving their winner a $20 gift certificate! Jellypark is giving their randomly picked winner 4 digis of their choice!  And Sassy Studio’s winner gets 4 images of their choice! 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 the cute Robot and Sign from Jelly Park. I cut the right side of the front of the card off and layered a grey piece that I embossed and sponged. I printed the robot and his sign on grey patterned paper and cut out. The sentiment is from Technique Tuesday and I added some black brads to the sign.

Oh how this card makes me long for warmer days! Happy Times Beach Boy is a colored digi from The Paper Shelter- isn't he sweet? I printed him and his beach scene, and cut a circular frame with my Spellbinders circle dies.The sentiment on this card is from Paper Smooches.

I am entering these cards in the All New challenge at Southern Girls,(the digis are all new to me) and the Anything Goes challenge at QKR Stampede. 

Stamping smiles 4 our kids, Karen 

Anything Goes 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 Anything Goes 4 Kids. Create and link any card for a child and you could win one of our great prizes. 

We have three very generous sponsors for this challenge: Saturated Canary is giving their winner 2 digis of the winner’s choice! Sassy Studios is giving their randomly picked winner 4 digis of their choice!  And Floppy Latte’s winner gets 2 digis! 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 a sweet stamp from Saturated Canary called Angels Among Us. I created a easel card and popped up a feather stamp with a pop dot to hold it open. I printed the sweet girl  and cut her out with a square scalloped Nestabilities die. I paper pieced her clothes and colored the rest with Copics. I added a couple sequins for fun.

My second card reminds me of some fun times we had recently at Disney World in Florida:) This stamp is from Sassy Studios and is called Disney Fan Sassy. I had fun paper piecing her balloons and outfit with all sorts of patterned papers. I die cut a few more Mickey Mouse shapes and layered on the same dp and then onto a blue card. The "cool" sentiment is from Technique Tuesday. 

I am entering these cards in the Anything Goes challenges at Crafty Girls and Scrapper's Delights. 

Stamping smiles 4 our kids, Karen 

Silhouette Sunday 3D Cards

The challenge at the Silhouette Blog Weekly Challenge this week is to use 3D elements in our cards. I have three cards to share with you and in the last two, the 3D elements are on the inside of the card. My first card above was made with a floral card shape from the Silhouette America cutting files store and my favorite new paper: Tim Holtz Kraft-Core Shattered paper from Core'dinations. It is kraft on one side and colored with kraft cracks on the other side. I added floral punches and pearls for the 3D elements. The sentiment is from Technique Tuesday.

I created a romantic card for my husband with a beautiful sentiment cutting file from Silhouette America, an embossing folder from Craft Concepts and a line of black script Washi tape. But the inside is the fun part:

I love this heart shape that spreads out as you open the card. I paid about 10 times as much for a circular similar die a few years ago and now for 99 cents (or less with my subscription), I can get hearts and circles and other shapes that surprise the recipient when they open the card.

My third card today is a birthday card I made for a special friend. I cut the friendship sentiment with my Silhouette Portrait cutting machine and attached it to a white piece with an embossed frame (Sizzix) and embossed butterfly (folder by Cuttlebug, punch by Martha Stewart.) But again the fun part is in the inside of the card:

The whole inside of the card pops up in a fun frame with the Happy Birthday letters inside. Another great 3D element you can purchase at the Silhouette America store for 99 cents or less, make it any size or color you want and personalize the sentiment for the lucky recipient.

I am entering these cards in the Texture challenge at Nutcrafters and the Anything Goes challenge at  Bearly Mine.

Stamping and Silhouette smiles, Karen

Silhouette Sunday - Embossing with Silhouette Files

Summer is the theme at the Silhouette Blog Weekly Challenge this week and I think of flowers when I think of summer. I discovered recently that with the thick embossing pad No More Shims (from Scor-Pal) and any die cut or punched object, you can emboss on your cards! I was very excited to try this idea and this is the first card I made. The cutting file from Silhouette is a card shape with the flower on the side, so I cut the card with two sided paper. I cut an extra one just out of scrap piece of white card stock (see below.) I attached the flower to the back side of a lightly colored dp and ran it  through the Big Shot with the No More Shims embossing pad. Then I sponged with light blue distress ink to bring out the embossing. Just think of the possibilities available if we can emboss with any of our dies cut with our Silhouette or with traditional die cuts or punches!

My second card has an embossed background too, but it is hard to see in the picture because it was not sponged. Here is a close up and the chipboard cut out I used to create the background:

I used a cool background cutting file from Silhouette to create the background that is much more visible in real life. You can do this technique with any card stock or material, and for this one I tried the Silhouette brand chipboard. It is a little thicker than card stock and worked very well for the embossing. I also cut out the RAD with chipboard and with blue cardstock, so it was raised on the card. I added some washi tape and a sentiment from Technique Tuesday to complete the card.

I am entering these cards in the Anything Goes challenges at Sister Act and Stampin' for the Weekend.

Stamping and Silhouette smiles, Karen

Through the Craft Room Door and Aud Sentiments Challenges

Anything Goes at Through the Craft Room Door this week (and every week!) and at Aud Sentiments, they want to see our cards for guys. If you have been following my blog, you know I have been having fun with the feather dies from Lifestyle Crafts. This time I am using the negative of the die to show some very cool dp with a string of horses running. All the horse stamps on the card are older stamps from The Angel Company which is not in business anymore. But did you know, there is a company called Red Rubber Designs who bought up their inventory and has been in business a year now selling TAC stamps and paper? I tried a search under horses on the site and didn't find these, but they have many other great TAC stamps available for purchase.

The sentiment is from a favorite set by Technique Tuesday.

Stamping smiles, Karen