Divas by Design and Jen's Digi Stamps Challenges

Back to School is the theme of the challenges at Divas by Design and Jen's Digi Stamps this week and I normally would not do Back to School cards, but this year I did do a First Day of School card for my grandson Nate. I used a fun digital stamp from Rainbow's Echo Designs that says School is Cool and a new border punch from Martha Stewart with some striped dp behind the holes. I know he agrees with the sentiment and is excited about his new kindergarten class and school. Here are some pictures from his first day:

Stamping smiles, Karen (Grandma)

Woodware USA and Creative Stamp Friends Challenges

The challenge this week at Woodware USA is Anything Goes and at Creative Stamp Friends it is Card for Guys. I bought this set recently from The Angel Company because it would be so great for cards for my boys. And I saw this simple idea on line that made for a pretty cool look - you start with a lightly colored patterned paper (the blue in the middle is what it looks like originally.) Cut it into pieces and color each piece with a different colored Copic pen (I used the chisel side that I never use otherwise.) I used orange, purple, green and yellow and then you put it back together for this fun look. CAS and I love how it turned out.

Stamping smiles, Karen

What If? Wed. Sketch Challenge

The challenge this week at Repeat Impression's blog, The House that Stamps Built, is to create a card using the sketch below and link it for a chance at a great prize. I used RI's beautiful Butterfly stamp from the new Summer Series to create my card. I stamped it on white and colored it and stamped it again on velum, colored and attached with the wings up for dimension. The butterflies on the side are punched with a Martha Stewart punch and I added some gems and ribbon to complete the card. Please visit the blog for all the details on the challenge and to see the other great cards by my fellow Rock Stars (or click on their names on the side of my blog.)

I am entering this card in the challenge at Craft us Crazy for Fall Colors and/or Favorite Embellishments. Punches and Gems are my favorite embellishments and I used fall colors too.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Paper Creations Ink Vintage or Distressed Challenge

The challenge this time at Paper Creations Ink is Vintage or Distressed and if you enter you have a chance at winning a $10 gift certificate from our sponsor, Digi Doodles Shop! I usually don't do vintage, but had fun with this awesome digi stamp from Digi Doodles and really like how the card turned out! I started with a square white card and embossed it wth a Tim Holtz embossing folder and sponged the edges for a distressed look. I added the side piece punched with a large Martha Stewart border punch. The hat was printed on yellow paper and cut out. The bow was paper pieced and the flowers colored with my copics, and then the hat was attached with mounting tape to raise it.

Please visit the blog to see the rest of the dt teams great Vintage cards and to find out all about the challenge. You could win a chance at being featured as a guest design team member too!

I am entering this card in the challenge at Cute Card Thursday to use a punch.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Repeat Impressions Stamp of the Week

The stamp of the week this week at Repeat Impressions is this lovely Footbridge. It makes a serene and peaceful scene and 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 just stamped and sponged and colored and then cut a semi circle with my nesties. I added some dp and a fun sentiment from Repeat Impressions too (of course).

I am entering this card in the challenge at Charisma Cardz for Anything Goes.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Birthday Fun for Kids at SAS4Kids!

It's time for a new challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids and this time we are challenging you to make a birthday card for a child and link it for two chances at some great prizes. Our generous sponsors for this challenge are The Cutting Cafe' who is giving three sets of digital stamps or cutting files to a random lucky winner; and Stamp Fairy who is giving the lucky winner a $9 gift certificate at their online store. I used a cutting file from The Cutting Cafe' to make this darling dress card and I just love how it turned out. Wouldn't it be cute for a little girl? I used my favorite embossing folder, Swiss Dots from Cuttlebug on the whole blue dress and added some dp and ribbon and punched stars to decorate. The inside has a cute saying from Stamp Fairy cut out with my nesties and some more punched stars.

My second card is made with some great birthday digital stamps from The Cutting Cafe'. I printed the background stamp on red and blue paper, printed the presents and paperpieced and printed and cut out the three birthday scalloped circles and added a candle brad to complete the card.

So come on, and make and link up a birthday card for a child - you have until September 16th at noon CST to join in the fun. Please visit our blog to see all the other TEAM S.A.S. cards or click on their names on the side of my blog anytime for inspiration from these talented ladies.

I am scheduling this blogpost ahead of time because I am visiting my sweet grandson and family this Labor Day weekend. He is starting kindergarten on Tuesday- oh, how fast the years go! It seems like yesterday I was seeing him for the first time in the Intensive Care Unit at Neenah Children's Hospital all hooked up to machines because he was born 6 weeks premature. But he received wonderful care and is happy and healthy now and the light of my life and so you can see why this cause means so much to me. Hope you have a great weekend too!

Stamping smiles 4 our kids, Karen

Let's Shower Debby with Thoughts, Prayers and Cards!

About a month ago, one of my SAS4Kids team members, Debby Walker, was in an accident and sustained severe head trauma. After she came out of her coma she has had amnesia. She is slowly remembering things including how much she loves stamping and being on her design teams.  She is having motor skill issues as well and has started physical therapy.

Let’s shower her with thoughts and prayers and cards and let her know all of us are wishing her well. Here is her address:

Debby Walker

1805 Brownstone Blvd #301

Toledo OH 43614

I know stampers and crafters are giving and loving people and I hope you can take the time to send up some positive thoughts and then send Debby a card- just say you are an on line friend from Send a Smile 4 Kids or Karen's Kreative Kards. 

Stamping smiles for Debby, Karen