Crafts and Me and Fab n Funky Challenges

The challenge this week at Crafts and Me is "Punch it out" and at Fab n Funky it is "What'eva". I punched out the cross in this CAS card using Stampin' up punches and a tutorial I link to in this post with another cross card. I just love the elegant but simple look of this punched cross. I layered it on white cardstock and then on a peach card. The sentiment on both the front and inside is from Repeat Impressions. I cut and embossed the oval with my nesties and then sponged while the die was still on.

This really is a peach card:) Not sure why it changed colors for my snap of the inside... Oh well.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Craft it Forward and Maybe Win Big!

Craft for Charity – and a chance to win $500!

I wanted to let you know about a really cool charity movement that has just launched! It’s called Craft It Forward and it’s a great way to use your passion for crafting to make a difference in YOUR community. A handmade card can bring smiles to kids in the hospital and you can help us and our kids and maybe win by Crafting It Forward.

Here’s how it works: throughout 2011, visit the Craft It Forward website each month for a new downloadable pattern or design one of your own. Make the project or a card for kids and donate it to a charity that is near and dear to your heart, like SAS4Kids. Then, add your story to the Craft It Forward gallery for a chance to win $500 in cash and a $500 donation to a charity! They’ll be looking for stories to feature in the magazine and on the website, too. Click on the button on the side for more details at their site.

So join me and Craft It Forward throughout 2011. Just make a card for a child, enter it at Craft it Forward and send it to Send a Smile 4 Kids (with any others you have) to the address on this blog. You could also enter it if you wish in one of our fun challenges at our challenge blog to possibly win even more prizes.

For more information, visit the Craft it Forward website:

Scrapbooks etc. magazinewww.scrapbooksetc.com/craftforward .

Stamping smiles for kids, Karen

SAS4KIds Cats & Dogs for Kids Challenge

Our new challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids is Cats and Dogs for Kids. Our wonderful sponsor is Digi Doodles and one random winner is going to win a $10 gift certificate to their shop! The design team got to play with fun kitty digital stamps- be sure to check the blog or click on the links on the side for some more great cards! We even have a guest designer, Tammylee, who contributed an awesome card.

For my cat card I printed the kitty with butterflies and flowers onto patterned paper. I embossed the whole piece with a Sizzix embossing folder with a border and some flowers and rounded the edges. Then I paperpieced the cat and the butterflies. I folded a white card to make an easel card and also embossed the inside of the white card. I used a blue butterfly brad to hold up the front.

My dog card was made with some really cute stamps from Close to my Heart. I cut a circle card with the largest circle die I have leaving a bit at the top not cut. I cut circles out of navy blue cardstock, embossed with swiss dots embossing folder (Cuttlebug) and attached. I stamped the images in the middle and this CAS card for a child is done.

So pull out your cats and dogs and make a cute kids card and enter our challenge here. And remember to send your cards to SAS4Kids to cheer children who are inpatient in Childrens Hospitals. If you are local (central Wisconsin) you can bring them to The Stamp Shoppe in Weston or to the Stamp Show at the Patriot Center on June 18 where I have boxes.

I am entering the kitty with butterflies card in the challenge at Charisma Cardz for Something that Flies.

Stamping smiles 4 our kids, Karen

Party Time Tuesdays and Use it Tuesdays Challenges

The challenge this week at Party Time Tuesday is "Anything Goes" and at Use It Tuesdays it is Flowers and use a stamp that we have never used before. I used Rose Fantasy from Floppy Latte Designs and I absolutely love it. Please go to this post to read about a great sale and how Floppy Latte Designs is helping the people of Joplin by donating their proceeds to the Red Cross. Great cause and great stamps!

This is really a CAS card but I love how it turned out! I embossed the white background with a Cuttlebug folder, rounded the edges and attached to a black card. The roses are from SU and I colored with my copics and attached. I printed the Rose Fantasy digital on red patterned paper and cut out with my nestie. Attach with mounting tape to raise, add a couple red gems and some red Spica dots and I am done.

Stamping smiles, Karen

Dream Valley and KB Cute Mondays Challeges

The challenge this week at Dream Valley is "Stamp Something" and at KB Cute Monday it is "Anything Goes." I am having so much fin with the new Inky Antics stamps and their Honeycomb paper that pops in the inside! This set features some really cute turtles and birds. Too fun! I embossed the background (Cuttlebug) and paper pieced the turtle and birds.

The inside turtle pops up. I showed my grandson and he just about wore it out opening and closing the card and he had to make one for his Nana and Papa who live at Turtle Run. So fun to share this fun hobby with our children and grandchildren!

Stamping smiles, Karen

Paper Creations Ink Challenge and Announcement!

About two weeks ago, my friends Sara and Michael launched their new blog, Paper Creations Ink. This cool blog has challenges on the 1st and 15th of each month, but has so much more than that: check it out for tutorials, causes and community events too! I entered their first challenge and after that, they asked me to join the PCI design team. I am thrilled and honored to do so and will be sharing their great challenges and other fun events on my blog atleast twice a month!

The challenge for June 1st - June 14th is Ribbons and Lace. Our sponsor is The Stamping Boutique and you have a chance at winning 3 images of your choice!

I used the Marilyn Monroe digi from The Stamping Boutique to make my card. I printed her on white cardstock, paper pieced her little black dress and hair, did some sponging and coloring and added some gems for her earrings. The background was embossed and highlighted with a gel pen and of course I finished with some pretty lace ribbon.

So pull out your lace and/or ribbon and have some fun with this challenge. We would love to have your join us!

I am entering this card in the Lace challenge at Bunny Zoe's Crafts.

Stamping smiles, Karen

What if? Wed Sketch Challenge

It's Wednesday and so time for another fun What If? Wednesday challenge at Repeat Impression's blog, The House that Stamps Built. This time we are challenging you to make a card using the sketch below. I used some fun stamps from RI to make a slightly sarcastic funny birthday card. I punched out a punch of candles (source unknown) and embossed them with the yellow and blue pieces (SU folder.) I colored the birthday cake (RI) with sparkly gel pens and layered that unto two pieces of cardstock (opposite of what they are on.) Die cut, embossed and sponged the nestie banner for the sentiment and the card is done.

So come have some fun using this CAS sketch and maybe you will win some great Repeat Impressions rubber! Check out the blog for all the details and to get inspired by the rest of the Rock Stars cards.

I am entering this card in the Birthday challenge at Scrappy Frogs Challenge Blog.

Stamping smiles, Karen