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