A different color combination

but do you think it works? It's interesting.

I stamped the image with Melon Mambo ink onto white cs, coloring in the leaves with the crushed curry marker, then I cut/embossed it using an oval Spellbinders die. It is mounted onto a black oval and popped up. The duo color bg is embossed with Spellbinders Floral and Stone impressabilities with a border of Fleur de Lis. I think the black helps tie it together and makes it pop. What do you think?

Make your own buttons

Today I made a faux button to match my card. It really is easy, just takes a little patience, which I am not good at. lol Punch out five layers of cardstock (it doesn't have to be anything grand) and one punch out of your designer paper. Glue the layers together with the dp on top. Allow to dry (this is the patience part). I could have let mine dry a bit longer. Once dry, sand the edges to make them "one" and give a better appearance of a button. I colored the edge of my button with a black sharpie. Then punch holes. I used the crop-a-dile as it easily punches through multiple layers. Then cover top entirely with crystal effects, being careful to leave your holes open. PATIENTLY allow this to dry thoroughly, or if you are like me, let it dry most of the way and then move on. lol I used black embroidery floss to tie onto my button. Here is something I learned just a bit too late - I marked the holes on the back of my button and punched. Then I turned it over and noticed the buttons weren't level and where I would have wanted them with this pattern of paper. Most patterns probably wouldn't even matter.

The piano image is from a friend, Dawn Mercedes. I used Tim Holtz tea dye distress ink on the edges and mounted it onto black. The right side of the Bravo Burgundy card front is embossed with the Cuttlebug Textile Texture folder. The music panel is mounted on black cs as well. It is a fairly simple card, but takes time and patience.

Now I seriously need to take some time to clean up my stamp room! It has gotten really bad and I am losing things. lol It's gonna take a while.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,
Karen

Step by step

Double Aperture Triangle Fold Box

You can create these boxes in any size you wish. They are great for small treats or gifts like jewelry.

Supply list:
Spellbinders Nesting Pine Tree S4-220
Spellbinders Holiday Cheer S4-225
Color Core Cardstock by Core’dinations
Green Shimmer Paper by The Paper Company
Ribbon by Creative Impressions
Brad by Creative Impressions
Holiday Tags Stamp Set by Hero Arts
Smooch Moonlight by Colorbox
Glitter Winter Frost by Colorbox
Clear envelope
Clear embossing powder
Dark Green pigment ink


For this sample, cut a piece of cardstock 6 X 12”. Score at 6” and fold. Mark center of each end (3”) and score from that mark to the edge of center fold on each side, creating a triangle. Do this to both ends of the cardstock. Fold on scored lines.

Position die template on front of box, centering in triangle created by folds. Use repositionable tape to hold in place. Cut/emboss.




Cut a triangle just slightly smaller than the one created for the front of the box from the lighter green cardstock.

Apply a thin layer of adhesive to the edges of the lighter cardstock and adhere to the inside of the box. Position smaller tree die template onto lighter green cardstock and cut/emboss.







Cut a piece of acetate to cover the opening and adhere to the inside of the box. I actually used part of a clear envelope.

Fold along center and bring sides together, overlapping front over back. Mark position about ½” from top and centered and punch hole through all layers. Do the same on the other side.



Cut/emboss stocking from shimmery green cardstock. If desired, use Smooch to highlight the snowflakes, heel and toe and add glitter. Stamp front of box. Use brad to attach stocking to box front.

Fill with your small gift or treat.



Thread 16” length of ribbon through the holes, beginning at the outside of one side, through both layers, and from the inside to the outside on the other side. Tie ribbon into bow.




I hope you will try this fun little project. I know you will love it.

Hugs,
Karen

Fun gift bag

Hi there! Thanks for stopping by.

Here is a little gift bag I created and thought I would share with you. The base for the bag is a white lunch bag. See that cute border on the bottom. Do you know how it was created? I do. Oh, you want to know too! All right. To create this border, I used the Spellbinders eyelets borderabilities. One of them cuts both edges, and one cuts only one edge. For this border I used the one edge one and ran a strip of card stock through twice, cutting both edges,and meeting in the middle. Wasn't that a clever idea? LOL I like how it turned out. Do you? I used the Spellbinders scalloped circle to cut/emboss the main panel with the tree. I used Copic Spica glitter pens for a little bling on the trunk and on the hearts.

Happy Birthday Wendy!!!!!!

Today is my beautiful daughter's birthday. I won't tell you how old she is so you won't know how old I am! lol I made this card for her because she loves a little bling and she loves loves loves shoes. So for this card I used a shoe stamp and added Spica pens for the shine on the shoes and the glitter domes for even more appeal. Of course I stamped in red because red shoes are so awesome, aren't they? The red and white gingham is wrapping paper I used on her gift so it would be all matchy matchy! Am I clever, or what? LOL I hope my darling daughter has a most beautiful day!

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Baby Mia

What is sweeter than a new baby? Not much! They smell so sweet (most of the time) and they are so soft and snuggly! Delicious! I made this card featuring a photo of my great niece. I used Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Pendant because I think it is so feminine and lacy, the perfect compliment to a picture of a beautiful little lady. See what a perfect frame this die creates! I think that is awesome! What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by.

Looking for a baby!

Hi there! This is an unusual post for my blog, but I need to help my sweet niece Kelly find a baby to adopt. I thought I would just throw this out here and see if anyone knows of a baby that needs a wonderful home with a loving Mommy and Daddy. If you do, please contact me: carrotsoup@hotmail.com. Thanks!

Hope

For this card, I stamped the sentiment with eggplant ink and then cut/embossed with Spellbinders Labels 4. I wanted it to stand out a bit more, so I used my marker to color the embossed edge. I also wanted to mat it with the old olive, but didn't want that solid paper covering the background stamp, so I cut the larger label from vellum and then sponged the color on the back. I got that color, without the density of the card stock. Oh yeah, that's what I wanted. I added the bow and popped the sentiment up with dimensionals. The background is a stamp by Hero Arts which I colored with markers to get both the eggplant and the olive onto it. The card is mounted onto Elegant Eggplant. What do you think?

Something simple

I was just introduced to "scraplings". I had never heard that term before, but it is to basically take a scrap of cardstock 8 X 1-1/2 and make a little note card. I had never tried that size before, but was up for the challenge. Here is what I came up with. I stamped the guitar guy using versamark ink and detail black embossing powder. The full image wouldn't fit on the width of the cardstock, but I think there is enough you get the idea. Rock star was stamped onto white using red pigment ink, clear embossed and punched out. Kind of flimsy. I wanted the black to just peek around the edges, so I mounted it onto black and used scissors to cut the outline. Oh yeah, that's better. So here you have my little Guitar Guy note card. It makes for a great bookmark, don't you think?

Thanks for stopping by! Come back soon.

Hugs,
Karen

Sandy beach

Today SCS challenge was to incorporate sand or sanding into your creation. I love to sand core'dinations cardstock, so I surprised myself by choosing to create this beach scene with Copic markers and the air brush system. Silly me, I airbrushed the scene and then realized I couldn't stamp the image on it or the background would show through. Hmmmmm, what to do? Not a mistake, but another creative opportunity. lol So, I stamped the image, cut it out and affixed it to the locket. I like the look a lot. What do you think?

And laying a finger aside of his nose

I love this Santa from Stampers Anonymous and thought he would be great for today's sketch. I stamped him onto vanilla cardstock with riding hood red ink, then used a sponge with tea dye distress ink and a little more riding hood red to distress it. I cut/embossed it with Spellbindersd large deckled rectangles and matted it with the same shape. The dotted paper was cut/embossed with Spellbinders Curved Rectangles and ink distressed in the same way. The bg dp is also distressed before being mounted onto the riding hood red card. I added the striped grosgrain ribbon and there you have it. I hope you like it. Thanks for looking!

Sympathy

I used some unusual colors for this card, don't you think?

I cut/embossed the leaves using Spellbinders Nested Maple Leaf. After inking the stamp with markers, I stamped the sentiment onto the largest leaf, then sponged with Melon Mambo ink. I cut another of the largest leaves from the Melon Mambo paper and layered it behind. The card front is embossed with D'Vine Swirls and mounted onto crushed curry cardstock. I popped some of the smaller leaves up with dimensionals. I also put one of the leaves on the inside of the card.

The stamp is from JustRite and is from the Thinking of You Set.

I hope you like it. Thanks for stopping by!

Which tool rules?

So, I am sure it is quite obvious I am a huge fan of Spellbinders products, and I hope you are too. If you are, or if you would like to support my addiction and art, please go vote for Spellbinders Impressabilities as part of this contest.

This is an adventure sponsored by When Creativity Knocks! It’s a chance for you to participate by voting for the Spellbinders Impressabilities as your favorite craft tool! Voting begins August 28 at midnight (PST) and ends on September 8, 2009 at midnight (PST).

Just register and log in at the When Creativity Knocks homepage, go to the Creativity Forum. Select Categories, and then scroll down to the Great Crafter’s Tool Hunt section, select Spellbinders Impressabilities, and leave a brief message in the forum. You can even watch a short video of the Impressabilities in action! There is a vote button you need to click to vote for Impressabilities. Then, to verify it you will need to do the math in the little square. This is confusing because it says to type what you see. That's not quite right - it really wants the answer to the math problem. Just a little head's up from me to you.

Why should you vote? Everyone who votes will be put into a drawing to win the big prize package including one of each nominated tool! I know you love prizes!

What does Spellbinders get? When the Impressabilities win the most votes (thanks to you all!), Spellbinders will win a full-length episode featuring the Spellbinders Impressabilities and be featured on the When Creativity Knocks website as the When Creativity Knocks Best Tool and receive a trophy! Wahoo! We love trophies!

So go ahead and join me in voting for the Spellbinders Impressabilities, and we can all win!

I recently got some new products and used some on this fun card. I love this stamp set from Hero Arts called High Heels. Unfortunately I can't wear them anymore, but I can stamp them. I used tsukineko brilliance pearlescent chocolate to stamp the shoe. You can't see all the shimmer, but trust me, it's there and it's gorgeous. What a great ink! I am loving all their shimmer inks. The papers are from Melissa Frances (such gorgeous stuff in this line) and Nikki Sivils. I guess she is new and has some really fun new papers.

So my challenge to you today is to get something new and give it a try! You may find a new love! Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,
Karen

Just playing around

Just playing around with the new Spellbinders Pumpkins dies. Why not stack them? So, I did. Just a different way to use the pumpkin dies. I used a leaf die behind the pumpkin's head, and the Paisley Impressabilities on the card front. The arms are twine. Just wanted to share another way to use the Pumpkins. They are only available for a limited time, so if you want to order them, now is the time!!!!! Have fun!

A new technique!

My friend Kimberly has come up with a fun new technique. Go check her blog for the scoop! It is a really cool idea. She's so creative. Here is the link to her post about it.

Then check her new video tutorial posted today.

Hugs,
Karen

A Christmas card

Here is another Christmas card to add to my collection of holiday cards I don't send out! What's wrong with me? This year I am going to actually put them in the mail! That's my goal.

For this card I used some brand new products from Flower Soft. They have beautiful cards which you can embellish with popped up layers (they include die cut pieces of the images, so it is oh so simple) and their beautiful flower soft. This card showcases the Polar White snow. It is so glistening and beautiful.

Hugs,
Karen

Is Autumn really coming?

No signs of it in Phoenix, but this card made me feel better.

You really need to click on this photo to enlarge it so you can see the wonderful embossing on this card.

. For this card, I embossed the ruby red card front with Spellbinders Paisley Impressabilites. I then cut/embossed the chocolate chip card stock with the Scalloped Paisley die and then embossed it with the Paisley Impressabilities. I also cut out a circle for the opening in the cornucopia with the scalloped circles and created a small border using two of the dies for the outside border of the opening. I thought it gave it more of a basket dimension. I added some machine stitching too. The pumpkins were cut/embossed with the new Pumpkins Nestabilities. These are only available for a limited time, so hurry and get yours. I added some of the brand new Autumn Flower Soft to the bottom of the card. I hope you like it.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,
Karen

A new addiction

Oh what was I afraid of????? I was so chicken to try airbrushing, thinking I couldn't do it well. So who cares? I don't know if I can do it well, but I love the looks and I am hooked. It isn't hard at all and with a little practice, I'm sure I'll get better.

I layered the Spellbinders Illuminations 12" border in teal and vanilla which was airbrushed with Copic marker. I love the detail and dimension it added! Awesome. I also embossed the top of the card with Cuttlebug D'vine Swirls. I added a little taffeta ribbon and left it at that.

Thanks for stopping by! Make it a great day!

Hugs,

Karen

Cute Halloween Kids!

I wanted to share this layout of my cute, cute grandchildren all dressed up for Halloween. The new Spellbinders Nesting Pumpkins are so great. I used chalks to create dimension on the pumpkins. Don't you just love this vine ribbon? I got it from Creative Impressions. Oh yum! The background paper is by My Mind's Eye.

Sharing

I wanted to share a couple of my creations with you today that are in the new Spellbinders catalog supplement.

This first one is using the new S4-229 Labels 5 dies. Isn't this a fabulous shape? I also used a thicker from Crafty Secrets. Their designs are so vintage and nice, aren't they? After I took this photo of the project, I went back into my craft room to load it to the computer, etc. Probably an hour (at least) later I came back into the kitchen and there was that candle - STILL BURNING!!!!! YIKES! Never leave a candle unattended! I could have burned my house down! Don't do that! lol
I also added a little butterfly from Flying Beauties! I love butterflies and flowers.


This next one is a box in a bag. It is quite easy to make, and a great way to present a small gift or treat. I used Spellbinders S4-223 Create-a-flake 2, S4-234 Ribbon Tag Trio 2, and S4-224 Snowflake Borderabilities PetiteSpellbinders Create a Flake 2 for this. I also used Artsylicious Fine Flocked Paper in Peacock by Chatter Box. It's a lovely paper. Unfortunately, the photo can't capture that beautiful flocking. The snowflakes are white and silver shimmer papers by The Paper Company. So pretty.


I think you are going to need these new dies too. They are fabulous!

Thanks for stopping by! Hugs, Karen

New Pendant

I used one of Spellbinders new Pendant dies to create this very simple, yet stunning card. I cut/embossed the Tulip Pendant from Golden Shimmer paper by The Paper Company. It's gorgeous! The center tulip is cut with the tulip charm., and I used a 1/4" punch for the faux brads in the corners. It is mounted on Stampin' Up! shimmery white card stock. I colored a white silk ribbon with a copic marker, leaving some of the white so it is slightly variegated. So, what do you think of this new pendant?

Such a nice birthday!

I had such a nice birthday! I wanted to show you the cards I received and a picture of the yummy lunch I had too! The lunch is the Ahi Tuna sandwich from Joe's Farmhouse Grill. It was featured on Diners, Drive-In's and Dives on the food network. OH YUM. Then for dinner we went to Joe's Crab Shack! Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of the Crab Pot. Sorry. But it was oh so good! It was a Joe day, but they are two of my favorite places. See, now you want to go there too, don't you? So, enjoy the photos!

Today is my birthday!

Today is my birthday
na na na na na na na
I'm gonna have a good time
na na na na na na na

A friend of mine recently had her birthday and declared "birthday immunity". This is what she said, "I decided to give myself the gift of "birthday immunity" this year. This meant I was free of any responsibility for any of my actions and also free from everyone else's problems. I figured that for one day people should be able to "figure it out" without involving me."

Isn't that a great idea? I loved it. Her kids did NOT! lol That may have made it even better!

I don't know if I am going to need Birthday Immunity or not, but I'm holding it in reserve, just in case!

Now, I'm off to a great, great day!

Hugs,
Karen

I scream, you scream, we all scream for sherbet!

Uh oh, that didn't rhyme at all! lol Oh well. Today's SCS challenge was to make a card with something edbible as the main image. Guess what! My stamps are sadly lacking in edible images. I may need to do some shopping. Now isn't that a shame. lol
Not only the image needed to be edible, but the color names as well.


I reached into the way back of my stamps (to one of the sets I started with so many years ago), dusted off Perfect Party and got to work. I inked the cone with creamy caramel and stamped it onto very vanilla card stock. See, I am a stickler for rules. I then looked through my colors for a name that was edible as well and found only orange. Now I prefer raspberry sherbet, but none of my pink inks had edible names! I used my marker to create the drips, after all it is over one hundred degrees here - AGAIN, so you know it's melting faster than you can eat it. The cardstock colors I used are only orange and certainly celery. The card front is embossed with the cuttlebug Happy Birthday folder. I added a little certainly celery ribbon and - I had a bright, fun birthday card. What do you think? Are you a fan of orange sherbet?

Coloring with Copic markers

Oooooo, I love the results of coloring with copics. I stamped the flower with Memento Rich Cocoa ink, heat set just to be sure, then colored with my copic markers and Spica pens. That stuff is oh so pretty. Who doesn't like a little shimmer and shine? Pretty! Oh so pretty! I get to teach a Copic coloring class in a couple of weeks, so I'm practicing a bit. This is an interesting color combination, don't you think? But I like how it works. The flower is colored with Copic E11 Barely Beige. What I love about copics is that you color it, then go back over the places you want to make a bit darker and the color just layers on. I then used the blender pen to lift some color for highlights. I colored the stamen of the flower with lipstick spica pen and added some dots and shimmer around each petal with the peach one. I cut around the petal and curled them and popped some of them up with dimensionals. I cut/embossed the chocolate chip and rose red card stocks with Spellbinders Peony dies, then went around the edges of those with Copic spica pens as well. The ribbon is pleated using Craft and Photo tape from 3L. The background chocolate layer is embossed with cuttlebug's Textile Textures.Thanks for stopping by. Make it a great day!

Richly blessed!

I am feeling extremely grateful today. I am working at something I absolutely love, with people that are so inspirational, talented, kind, thoughtful and generous. I have to keep pinching myself to be sure I'm not dreaming. I'm not! It's all real! The opportunities for me to grow are just coming one after another and I am overwhelmed and thrilled!!!!! I just wanted to express my gratitude.

Thank you ever so much for stopping by my blog. I appreciate your comments too, so please let me know what you think of my blog, my creations, whatever is on your mind.

For this card, I inked the image with markers in blush blossom, cameo coral, certainly celery and close to cocoa before stamping it onto the twill tape. I also sponged the twill a bit with the cameo coral ink. That panel was backed with cameo coral card stock. The card base is blush blossom, embossed with the Spellbinders Butterfly Impressabilities. I sponged cameo coral onto that to bring out the embossing. The entire card is backed with the cameo coral card stock. The sentiment is from Hero Arts Thoughtful stamp set and stamped with close to cocoa ink.

Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate it.

Hugs,
Karen

Happy Birthday!!!!!!

Today is my hubby's birthday!!!! He is working away from home right now, and I didn't get a card in the mail. No surprise there. I make all kinds of cards, but don't get them mailed. lol Does that happen to any of you?



Anyway, I want to wish my sweetums a very happy birthday. Oh, and this card doesn't do anything - except look mahvelous! lol I love ya' honey!

The card base is kraft and embossed with the Cuttlebug Paisley folder. The smaller stars are punched out, mounted onto other papers and then I used scissors to trim to get the larger mats. (Note to self - order the Stars Five Nestabilities!!!! OR, my birthday is Saturday the 8th. Maybe someone will send them to me. hint hint hint) The strips are Handsome Hunter paper which was distressed and stamped with Celebrate using versamark and clear embossing powder. It just needed something more, so I added the buttons. Yes! That's the ticket. I really like this masculine card. I hope you do too!

Time with Charlotte

My sweet niece Charlotte came over yesterday. We went to a great salon and had pedicures before dinner.

I had fixed a delicious Gazpacho with shrimp and avocado for us. Doesn't it look delicious? Come to find out Charlotte doesn't like tomatoes and especially NOT SHRIMP! Uh oh! Luckily I had a frozen pizza she thought would be all right.

IMHO, the Gazpacho was delicious and I enjoyed more of it tonight for my dinner.

We stayed in our jammies today and stamped and created. Want to see what we made?

Hey, thanks for stopping by!