Creative Cottage #26 & Always Playing with Paper

 

The challenge at Creative Cottage was to use embossing on our cards, and at Always Playing with Paper is Anything Goes. I admit I am addicted to embossing folders (among other addictions:), and when I found Crop Stop had some brand new folders I had never seen by new brands like Craft Concepts, I just had to order them! This is one of them I couldn't resist. I simply embossed, colored with ink on a swab, added sentiment from TAC and layered on a card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Stamp Simply #163 & Critter Sketch #38 & Correction!

 

The challenge this week at Stamp Simply was CAS Christmas cards and at Critter Sketch it was also Christmas cards. I saw a card on line somewhere that showed this idea: on top of a lighter colored dp, sponge the inside of a diecut with a couple different colors of ink. I cut out the ornament topper as it wasn't sponging decent and added a cord to hang it on. The sentiment is from CTMH and says it all, doesn't it?

CORRECTION from yesterday: JoAnn's made a mistake and put the voting link up too early, so have now shut down. I voted atleast two dozen times for OWH yesterday and sent emails to everyone I know before they did and before OWH sent another email with JoAnn's apology for the error. The voting will start November 7th and I will post a new link when it starts officially.

Stamping smiles, Karen

OWH Card and Big News!!

 

The challenge at Operation Write Home this week was Anything Goes (except glitter.) I will tell you about my card alittle later, but first:
OWH is one of the finalists in JoAnn's Craft for a Cause!! Between now and early December, voting will be going on between OWH and two other worthy causes to determine how JoAnn's distributes thousands of dollars to help these charities. As often as you can, please go to JoAnn's and vote. Think of the thousands of soldiers overseas and their families here missing them that this could help!

I know today is a bad day to be begging for your vote:) If you are like me, you are so sick of the political ads and can't wait for tomorrow to be here and those to be done. But this is a great fun thing to vote for, so thanks for taking the time (over and over) to vote!

The card above was inspired by a tutorial at Stamp TV. Stamp a background with words in black or brown on a neutral cardstock. Emboss a flower or vine type stamp (or anything you like) on top of the words. Sponge ink over and around the image. I added a MS vine edge punch and layered for the finished card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

PPA66 & Colour Create Challenges

 

Loved the sketch at Pals Paper Arts this week and I used the colors of purple, aqua and white from Color Create to create this card. The stamps are all from
my latest two rental sets from Raisin Boat . I sponged inside a nestie with aqua ink to highlight the great sentiment from Raisin Boat. The border is a long diecut from Sizzix. I had lost it in my craft room but last week I was delighted to find it again so I had to use it right away. Does that happen to you in your stamping place?

Stamping smiles, Karen

Stampavie & More Christmas Card

 

The challenge this week at Stampavie & More was to make and post a Christmas card. I am so past Halloween (and can't wait until after Tuesday and the political ads stop!), so have been in the mood to make holiday cards. This one I copied off a site that had various faces - sorry don't remember where it was... Santa was pretty easy to make- circle punches, CB embossing folders and a crimper were all that are needed to make him. Too cute.

Stamping smiles, Karen

CCEE #1043 & Fab & Funky #46 CAS

 

The challenges at CCEE & Fab & Funky this week were to create Clean and Simple cards. CAS is me so this was easy to do. This card was totally inpired by a card we made at our stamp club- Thanks Phyllis! The embossing folder is from SU and was sponged with a brown ink. The focal image is simply an oval cut out with nesties and then the outer edges of the hole are sponged with brown ink. Then a branch was stamped in the center of the oval. I layered on black paper, punched corners and added the pearls. CAS but lovely for a sympathy card or any kind of card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Crafty Calendar Birthday Card Challenge

 

The challenge this month at Crafty Calendar was to make a birthday card. I did some awesome cards at a make and take session at our local Stamp Shoppe and combined some of Heidi's ideas to make this card. Isn't it just beautiful? The embossing folders are all Tim Holtz and so are the flower diecuts. I used a SU punch on the side but there is a longer side punch like it available as well at the Stamp Shoppe. All the pieces of the card front are sponged with distress ink and I used blue liquid pearls for the finishing touch.

Stamping smiles, Karen