Monday, March 18, 2024

Thinking of You w/Stamp Simply

Hurray!  It's time for another FUN blog post showcasing another sweet card that I made for Stamp Simply Clear Stamps using more of their wonderful products.  These stamps and dies are so amazing that I can't seem to put them down....ever.  Here's what I came up with to share with you today.
This card uses basic black cardstock layered with a green gingham patterned paper and a cool woodgrain patterned paper from the Craft Consortium's Wood Textures 6x6 Paper Pad.  I added a length of May Arts White Lace and a piece of Solid Yellow Baker's Twine as accents.
I also added a piece of vellum over the green gingham patterned paper that I stamped with the floral cluster image that I used on my card.  This lovely floral can be found in Fall Flowers Floral Cluster Stamp Set and I used the coordinating Floral Cluster Die.  The sentiment I used is found in the Farmhouse All Occasion Greetings Stamp Set and was stamped on a banner cut using the Fishtail Banner Dies.  I did some yellow circle stencilling over the sentiment.
Thanks again for taking the time to stop by my blog today.  It's such a joy to have you visit me and leave your kind thoughts.  I hope that my cards inspire someone, and I really do hope you'll check out Stamp simply Clear Stamps.  It's truly a wonderful store that will be an asset to your creative adventures in card-making.

I'm sharing my card in the following:


Stencil Fun Challenge - March: Anything Goes/Optional: Easter/Spring - I used a dotted stencil on my sentiment strip.


Die Cut Divas Challenge Blog - March: Anything Goes - The die-cuts I used on my card include the Fishtail Banner Die for my sentiment, and the Floral Cluster Die Cut.  I love the sponsor, Lawn Fawn.

Blessings,
Karen


Thursday, March 14, 2024

Let Love Bloom at The Card Concept

It's time for another FUN challenge at The Card Concept and we hope that you will come by to play along with us.  This beautiful inspiration photo (below) got my creativity going at just one glance.  I was immediately drawn to the bird, the soft blue and pink, and the light feeling of Spring.  That's what I tried to capture in my card.
I used basic white cardstock, patterned paper and vellum to create my card base.  The nest was cut from painted corrugated cardboard using the Jumbo Curiosity Nest Die from The Greetery.  I splattered it with paints.  The bird is a die-cut from Simon Says Stamp.  I colored the bird by rubbing him with oxide inks.  The same is true of the eggs that are also found in the Jumbo Curiosity Nest Die from The Greetery.
The sentiment is from an Echo Park Spring Market stamp set that I picked up at Hobby Lobby several years ago.  I love the soft colors in the inspiration photo and my goal with this card was to balance those soft pastels with the images I wanted to incorporate (bird, nest, eggs).  You can let your creativity lead you when creating a card for this challenge.  Simply look at the inspiration photo and let the colors, images, or mood inspire your creativity.  We really look forward to seeing what you'll make to share with us.
Thanks so much for visiting me today.  I'm always very grateful to have you stop by to take a quick peek at my card.  It would be awesome to have you come play along at The Card Concept.  You all inspire me so much, and I hope that my card has inspired you to come join the fun.  Have a blessed week.
Happy crafting,
Karen

I'll be sharing my sweet little bird card in the following challenges that I absolutely LOVE:

Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenge Blog - Challenge #2410 - Anything Goes - I absolutely LOVE to play along at Pammie's any time I can.  And, I absolutely LOVE Lawn Fawn......who doesn't, right?

Double D Challenge Blog - First Signs of Spring - My eggs, birds and nest (along with the sentiment I used) are all first signs of Spring.

The Paper Funday Challenge Blog - Challenge #63 - Anything Goes/Optional Twist: The Dies Have It.  I used several dies on this card including the bird, the nest, and the postage stamp background frames.

TIME OUT Challenge Blog - Challenge #259 - Birds of a Feather - In collaboration with Just Us Girls Challenge Blog, TIME OUT is hosting this fun challenge that's all about BIRDS.

Die Cut Divas Challenge Blog - March: Anything Goes - I used a SSS bird die and the Jumbo Curiosity Nest Die from the Greetery.

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

It's Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog Hop Time

Blog Hops are FUN, and they're a great way to win some fabulous prizes, get some great inspiration, and just meet some different crafters. So with that said, you're in the right place if you're looking for the monthly Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog Hop.  Hopefully, you arrived here by way of Misty's Blog.  If not, you can catch up quickly.
There are TWO FUN PRIZES to be won on this Blog Hop.  First and foremost, the lucky person who comments on each blog and gets their number selected by random draw will WIN a $10 Gift Card to spend at Really Reasonable Ribbon (which can go a long way) AND they'll also win their choice oany one (1) digital stamp set from Bonnie Garby Designs.  Let me tell you, there are some really DARLING stamp sets at this darling Etsy Shop.  I use them on my cards quite a bit because I can find the perfect sentiment every time, and that makes it easy.
This was such a fun card to make.  It uses basic white cardstock, gold glittery paper, and some Crate Paper patterned papers from my stash.  I used a cute little alarm clock die-cut from Echo Park and added some adorable Twiddler's Nook sprinkles here and there.  A piece of Bay Leaf Seam Binding separates the two patterned papers, and I also used it to tie a pretty bow.  I topped it with a bow that's tied with Gold Metallic String.  Like I said, Really Reasonable Ribbon always has the perfect trim for every project.  I also tucked in several Double Head Stamens at the top of the alarm clock, and everything is secured in place using Scor-Tape and 3-D Foam Tabs.
I'll also say this about my friend Bonnie, the Owner of both RRR and Bonnie Garby Designs.  She's honestly one of the sweetest, most amazing women I know.  She amazes me with how she ROCKS at card-making/crafting, at her businesses, and how hard she works all the time.  She's had (more than) her share of life's hurdles for a season in her life, but she keeps on going.  She's a real-life super-hero.  It's such a blessing now to watch her succeed as she moves forward, and I'd be truly honored to have you support her AWESOME small business(es).  RRR carries so many great products including ribbons and trims, Adhesives and much more; so please stop by to take a look at what you might possibly need.  It would be a blessing to have you visit the store just to make sure there's nothing you "can't live without".  lol

Your final stop is at the Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog where you'll need to answer one quick question making you eligible for the wonderful prizes being offered in this FUN Blog Hop.  Please leave your comment here to let me know what you think of this card I created, and then head on over to the RRR Blog.  We're so grateful to have you hop along with us.

Thanks again for visiting me today, and happy crafting.

I'm sharing my card here:

The Paper Funday Challenge Blog - Challenge #63 - Anything Goes/Optional Twist: The Dies Have It.  On this card, the dies I used include the postage frame dies, the sentiment banner, and the darling alarm clock.  I just LOVE die-cuts.

Die Cut Divas Challenge Blog - March: Anything Goes - This card uses a cute alarm clock die cut, a postage stamp background die and a Fishtail Banner Die for the sentiment.

Blessings,
Karen

Monday, March 11, 2024

Just Popping By with Stamp Simply

Hello there, everyone, and thanks so much for stopping by my blog today as I share a fun card that I created for Stamp Simply Clear Stamps using some of their amazing stamps, dies and products.  I hope that this sweet little card will inspire you to stop by Stamp Simply to pick up some of these fabulous stamps for yourself.
I used basic white cardstock and a pink cardstock that I stamped using the Pretty Poppies Stamp Set in Raspberry Oxide Ink.  Next, I used the Pray Without Ceasing Die Set to cut the two small squares (white cardstock and vellum) and I used a corner rounder on the edges at top and bottom.  I stamped the sentiment and the gorgeous flowers using the Pretty Poppies Stamp Set, and I cut the flowers with the coordinating Pretty Poppies Steel Die Cut.
The small foliage images I stamped in mint green can be found in the Farmhouse Signage Stamp Set.  I also ran a length of May Arts Ivory Lace across my card and added some Double Head Stamens, a Sweetheart Blossom, and a few sequins as the finishing touch.
Thanks again for stopping my blog today.  Your visits mean so much to me, and I really do fully support and LOVE Stamp Simply, its Owner, the Customer Service, and its wonderful products.  I'd love to hear what you think of my card today.  Have a blessed and creative week and be sure to stop by the Stamp Simply Blog for lots of wonderful inspiration.

Blessings,
Karen

I'm playing along here in these FUN challenges that I love:

Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenge Blog - Challenge #2410 - Anything Goes - I absolutely LOVE to play along at Pammie's any time I can.  And, I absolutely LOVE Lawn Fawn......who doesn't, right?  (Entry 3/3)

Thursday, March 7, 2024

March Word Power Challenge Guest Designer

Hello, creative friends!  Thanks for stopping by today as I share to inspire you in the hope that you'll stop by and play along in the March Challenge at Word Power Challenge #3 that starts Thursday, March 7.  As you might you guess from the name of the blog, the main focus of the cards you enter in this challenge need to make the WORDS the focal point of your card.  I made this fun card to get your creativity flowing.
I pulled out some much older patterned papers from an Echo Park line called Reflections by Lori Whitlock.  Yes, it's old stash paper; but I liked the map papers because they sort of go along with the sentiment stamp I used which says, "Happiness Is Not A Destination, It's A Way Of Life".  I stamped it right on the map paper.  The stamp is also super old.  It's from a (now long since closed down) My Craft Spot - a store I loved.  It's a little bit strange that I also used a floral patterned paper (the dark blues), but it's part of the line so it worked.
I also found a cool itty-bitty compass in my stash of metals, etc.  Some Solid Dark Green Baker's Twine was a perfect color accent to use for tying around my card and using to tie a bow on the side.  My only regret with this card is that I probably should have stamped the sentiment in black to stand out more, or at least a darker blue.  I used a blue because I was a little bit afraid of the black getting lost in all the other black lines of the patterned paper.
We all hope to see you and your wonderful art at the Word Power March Challenge.  Let us see how you put the power of words to your art.  Oh, I also did some stencilling on the focal card by using a circle/bubble stencil and rubbing it with Antique Linen Oxide Ink.  Yes, lots of ink going on everywhere.  Thanks so much for stopping by today, everyone.

I'm playing along in the following challenges:

Stencil Fun Challenge Blog - March Challenge - Easter/Spring - I didn't create an Easter card, but I did use a circle stencil from Funky Fossil Designs on my background behind the sentiment.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Simon Says "Add a Sentiment" so I stamped the large sentiment right onto the map pattern paper.

Snippets Playground - Challenge #475 - Use Your Snippets - I haven't played along in this challenge for quite some time.  That never means, however, that I'm always using my snippets.  This card (as I explained above) uses some really old patterned papers from my stash, and I was really happy to enough enough big pieces of the map paper left over that I was able to use it in this way.  I like how the map paper looks on this card (even if it is too busy).

Blessings,
Karen

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Easter Fun w/Really Reasonable Ribbon

Welcome by my blog, everyone, and thanks for visiting me.  I'm sharing a sweet card that I created for Really Reasonable Ribbon using some of their fabulous ribbons and trims, Adhesives and other goodies.  It's always fun creating cards that incorporate trims, Mulberry Flowers and many of the other fabulous touches you'll find at RRR.
My first card uses white cardstock layered with some older Crate Paper patterned papers.  The darling Easter sentiments I used (on both cards as well as the bookmark) are from the Religious Easter Bundle from Bonnie Garby Designs.  You can find so many great digital stamp sets at Bonnie Garby Designs.  I used a postage stamp die-cut set to cut all the layers of patterned papers.  I ran a length of Sharon White Crochet Lace across my first card and a length of Apple Green Baker's Twine.  I topped the bow with a pretty Yellow Sweetheart Blossom by using some Scor-Tape Adhesive.
The second card is very similar and again uses the same dies to layer the patterned papers.  I ran a length of Lemon Baker's Twine around my second card and I attached several Sweetheart Blossoms to this card as well.  The Lemon Baker's Twine was strung through a sweet 16mm Faux Pearl Heart Shaped Buckle Slide.  I also used some vintage scotch tape and lots of Scor-Tape to secure everything in place. The floral stamp and die-cut set I used on my first card are from Stamp Simply.
The bookmark was cut using scraps of the same patterned papers.  I added some Green Apple & White Gingham Ribbon to the bookmark along with more of the Sharon White Crochet Lace and some Solid Ivory Baker's Twine that was strung through the yellow button.  The sentiment, which is also from Bonnie Garby Designs, got some extra color and pizzazz by using Mowed Grass & Lemonade Oxide Inks and a Tim Holtz Stencil.  There's always a perfect trim at Really Reasonable Ribbon to help you create and tuck in a cute bookmark with your cards.
We hope you'll check out the Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog for lots of great ribbon inspiration and news about special sales and promotions at RRR.  Thanks again for taking the time to visit me here today and please stop by again soon.  I'm always super grateful for your visits here, and I love hearing your thoughts about my cards.  Have a blessed week, and please be sure to share your art in lots of fun challenges.

I'll be sharing my cards and/or bookmark in the following challenges:

Stencil Fun Challenge Blog - March: Anything Goes - Optional Twist/Easter or Spring - I used the twist this time.  The bookmark was stencilled using a Tim Holtz rose stencil.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Simon Says "Add a Sentiment" - I added a sentiment to each of my (two) cards as well as to my bookmark.  Each of the sentiments I used is from Bonnie Garby Designs.

Double D Challenge Blog - First Signs of Spring - I'm entering my daffodil card.  I was very much inspired by the yellows and flowers (lower left) in the inspiration photo, and so I added similar daffodils and colors which are some of things that come to mind when I think of those "first signs of Spring".

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Simon Says "Bright and Cheerful" - Both of my cards and my bookmark are pretty bright and cheerful in my opinion.  The yellow is always a bright cheerful Spring color in my mind.

Blessings,
Karen

Monday, March 4, 2024

Happy Easter w/Stamp Simply

Hello, sweet blog friends and thanks for stopping by today.  I'm sharing a card that I created for Stamp Simply Clear Stamps using a few of their (many) wonderful products.  The stamps and dies from Stamp Simply truly make it "simple" to create beautiful cards for every occasion.  Today's card is an Easter card that combines the image of the cross along with some pastel Easter eggs.
I used patterned papers from the Craft Consortium's Bright Blooms 6x6 Paper Pad on white cardstock.  The sentiment, cross and eggs can all be found in the Easter Is For Jesus Stamp Set.  I used the coordinating Easter Is For Jesus Die Cuts to cut the cross and the eggs.  I also decorated the inside of this card, and I made a bookmark to tuck inside a small glassine bag.
I used the Easter Stamp Set to stamp the sentiment (Let Us Rejoice) on the tag inside the card.  The bookmark was cut from the same patterned paper scraps, and on the white cardstock I stamped the musical notes using the God Will Take Care of You Stamp Set and the word Hallelujah using the Easter Stamp Set.  I tied Brown Baker's Twine at the top of the bookmark.
All the fabulous stamps and dies from Stamp Simply work beautifully on their own or when combined with other products.  They're all super versatile and each stamp set has several sentiments, images, etc. depending on what you're looking for in a theme.  You can find pretty much everything at Stamp Simply Clear Stamps.  They also have lots of great scripture stamps and encouraging sentiments to uplift others.
The cross in the Easter Is For Jesus Stamp Set has a really fabulous wood grain texture to it.  There are multiple sentiments, a cute bunny, and three different Easter eggs in this darling stamp set as well.  The pink trim that I placed at the bottom of my card is May Arts 1/2" Pink Scalloped Loop Ribbon.  Whatever you're looking for in a stamp, I hope you'll take a peek at Stamp Simply Clear Stamps.  Thanks again for visiting me today.

Blessings,
Karen