Paper Crafting Journey and MilkCoffee Challenges

Anything Goes at Paper Crafting Journey this week and "New Beginnings" is the theme of MilkCoffee Challenge. The latter is a perfect title for this card because it was the card I made to celebrate my daughter's recent engagement to a wonderful man. It was also the first time I tried the Chalkboard Technique and I am having a lot of fun with it. Easy to do- white embossing on black paper, then add stamping with white craft ink, some white lines and smudges with the white ink. It does remind me of the blackboards we had in school way back when:)

Stamping smiles, Karen

Tuesday Throwdown and Penny's Paper- Crafty Challenges

"Shiny and New" is the challenge this week at Tuesday Throwdown and Anything Goes at Penny's Paper-Crafty.  I am sharing a card I made with new dies from Spellbinders that I just love. The cat-tails are a new Shapeabilites D-Lite die and the layering was done with Spellbinders Resplendent Rectangles which were cut and embossed. I also used a circle mask for the moon and sponged yellow and brown inks behind the cat-tails. I used my new favorite color combo - cream and kraft with a little brown and love the look.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Simon Says Stamp and Crafting for All Seasons Challenges

Black and White and a Splash of Color is the theme at Simon Says Stamp this week and Crafting for all Seasons wants to see "Something New". I am showing a new stamp set and a new technique to me - the Chalkboard Technique. I have had so much fun with this easy and different look, so you will be seeing more of it here on my blog very soon. Here is a link to a tutorial that explains it very well. but basically you start with black cardstock, emboss with white embossing powder the sentiments or images you want to highlight, add more sentiments or images with white craft ink, draw some lines with white colored pencil and smudge with the white ink to look like chalkboard smudges. I added a splash of color with some punched stars and an orange colored pencil. The stamps are all from a new set from Our Craft Lounge and I had to buy it because of the "You're Da Bomb" sentiment and bomb image- just such a fun way to say Thank You! 

Stamping smiles, Karen 

Crackerbox Palace Thursday

Inside view of Monkey Off Centered Gatefold Card 

It’s another Crackerbox Palace Thursday and I am sharing two awesome cards created by Vicky Briggs, the owner of Crackerbox Palace.  Aren’t they fun? I love the monkey one!  For all the details on how she made them and what CBP stamps she used, please visit her blog here- if Blogger cooperates and she is able to upload them.

Mr. Random has chosen and the winner of last Thursday’s blog candy is:                                            Leanne!  Here is her winning comment from the CBP blog: “Lovely cards. Like the snowmen all wrapped up. I'm your newest follower.”

Leanne, please send me or Crackerbox Palace your address and your choice of which stamps you want (see your options below), so we can get you the stamps you have won.  

So would you like to win the stamps featured on today’s card or your choice of another CBP stamp? Here is how to win our weekly blog candy: 

Vicky or Karen will post a card or two every Thursday on both blogs. All you need to do is to leave a comment on either blog and if you leave a comment on both blogs you will have a double chance to win. We hope you also want to 'follow' the blogs. The following Wednesday a name will be picked at random and the winner will receive:

The featured stamps that we used in one of the cards that were posted,
OR you can pick out a stamp that is worth up to $10.00 and email us your choice
OR Vicky will email you a coupon code so you can go shopping at Crackerbox Palace store for your choice of the stamp(s) you would like with a $10.00 coupon.

For a Bonus: if you use the blog candy stamps and post it on your blog, Splitcoast or somewhere else you will be able to choose another free stamp. So make sure you check out one of our blogs on Thursday! The winner will have 2 weeks to contact Karen or Vicky.

So leave us a comment for a chance to win and come back and see us again next week!

Crackerbox Palace 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 Santa Cat – but I made him a Packer Cat Snowman instead of a Santa- GO PACK! I did a little coloring, rounded the edges and added some glitter to the snow. I followed the sketch and added some pearls and a sticker line on the grey and black 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 challenge at Lexi’s Creations.

How about a laugh for a cold winter day: 

Church Fart

This says it all about getting older & the whole aging thing.

An elderly couple, Charlie & Jean, were recently attending church services
in Midland, TX.

About halfway through the service, Charlie took a pen and paper out of his
pocket, wrote a note and handed it to Jean.

The note said:" I just let out a silent fart, what do you think I should do?


Jean scribbled back, "Put a new battery in your hearing aid."

Stamping smiles, Karen 

QKR Stampede and Kaboodle Doodles Challenges

Anything Goes at QKR Stampede and Kaboodle Doodles challenges this week so I am sharing a card I made recently after getting inspired by an idea on Pinterest. I used my new Poppy die from Memory Box and created a mask, then sponged with grey for a shadow look. I cut out an aqua blue Poppy to place next to the shadow. The sentiment is an old favorite from CTMH.  The embossing folder is from Tim Holtz (Sizzix) and I distressed the embossed areas with a sanding block.I added a butterfly (Martha Stewart) and some liquid pearls to complete the card.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Repeat Impressions Stamp of the Week

The stamp of the week this week at Repeat Impressions is one of my favorite all time Repeat Impressions stamps, Rebecca, 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 Rebecca on some off white paper and cut her out with one of Spellbinders Resplendent Rectangles, then attached her to two more layers of Resplendent Rectangles in kraft and off white, my new favorite color combo. One of the reasons I love Rebecca is she is so fun to paper piece and I chose subdued yellows and orange shades to do that with on this card. I added a perfect sentiment and the card is ready for someone special.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenges at Stampin’ with the Dragon and Crafty Catz.

Stamping smiles, Karen