Wed. Nov. 30, 2011 Wow- the last day of November???

This month had flown by, hasn't it?  Onward to Christmas, which will be here before we know it.  I remember how long it was between Thanksgiving and Christmas when I was a kid-now- not so much.  LOL!

The card I want to show you today, is one I made for Cat's challenge STVFRICT12, at StampTV-so you may have seen it already.  The challenge was to do some fussy cutting.  I used a branch die cut, but did fussy cut the cats image.  This image is from Melanie's "Cuddles and Hugs" stamp set, available HERE.  The branch die is a new one I recently purchased, and is from Memory Box.  Their dies are awesome! I used my Copics here and also sponged with Distress, for the bg.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tues. Nov. 28, 2011 STVMONDB6

Today I am sharing a card I posted on StampTV for last Monday's challenge. Donna gave us a CAS sketch to work with, and I had fun with it.

The die cut  behind Melanie's poinsettia is called LaRue Flourish and is from Memory Box dies.  Wow- I am loving their dies!!!  Thank you for stopping by!

Mon. Nov. 28, 2011 Counting down to Christmas

Good morning!


I don't know about you, but I really enjoy making Christmas cards, and I think I have enough made for this year's mailing.  Maybe I should just keep going and I'll have a head start for next year-LOL.

Here is another one for you to see today.  This adorable little penguin and the gifts are from Rupa's Winter Friends set, from Gina K. Designs.  The snowflakes were cut using a MS punch.  The metal Merry Christmas tag is one I have had for a very long time.  The penguin was colored with Copic markers. The red cs is GKD.
I hope you have a wonderful week.  I am determined to get all my cards in the mail this week. I am behind in getting that part done-sheesh!

I entered this card into the challenge here: http://www.hidinginmycraftroom.com/
  Why not play along and enter a Holiday card!  Thank you for visiting.

Sun. Nov. 27, 2011 Two new dies

Good Morning Blog Friends!!!

I recently bought two new Memory Box dies and wanted to use both on a card.  They make for a fun scene.  This would work for a Congrats on a New Home, or a Thank you for your Hospitality, or just an any occasion at all. I sponged the bg and the leaves with Distress inks.  The pine tree is from Gina K's Winter Wonderland stamp set.  Thank you for stopping by!   ...Karen

Sat. Nov. 26, 2011 Arizona Desert

I made this card for the "For Your Inspiration" blog. FYI18.

 The photo is a gorgeous view of the desert.  I used Distress inks and a sponge to create the bg.  The tree is a Memory Box die that I purchased here. I used a mask to create the red rocks.  Thanks for stopping by today!   Karen

Fri. Nov. 25, 2011 Are you shopping today?

I am not a fan of big crowds, so if there are super deals out there, they better be online-LOL!

A few weeks back, I bought some Tim Holtz glassine paper and it is really cool stuff.  Check this link. This is the paper I used to make the flower for my card today.  I die cut the flowers with the TH Altered Flowers die, and added distress inks and stains.  I love the way it turned out.  The shine was added with Goosebumps shimmer texture spray. I won 3 different types of Goosebumps from Tsukineko, for my entry into the World Card Making contest.

I am happy with the result I achieved with this card.

Thank you for visiting!  Have a wonderful day!   ...Karen

Thurs. Nov. 24, 2011 Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so thankful for all of you that visit and follow my blog.  I wish you a blessed Thanksgiving Day!  We are having a small gathering here this year. DH and I will be welcoming my mom, sister and brother in law, and my son.  My daughter will be joining her boyfriend's family for dinner this year.  My granddaughter will be spending the day with her dad in Arizona this year.  My oldest stepson will be with his mom and the youngest step and his wife live in NJ and spending the day with her family. We are praying that all will be here for Christmas!!!

The card I have for you today is a simple Thank You card.  I got some new dp the other day, and I loved these colors.  I layered flowers (which I colored with TH stains) to make a creation to match the papers. I dedicate the card to all of you!

Enjoy your day!  Thanksgiving is my favorite meal of the year-so back to the kitchen, for me!

...Karen

Wed. Nov. 23, 2011 MFP Blog Hop Day Three

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's November Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Peaceful Nuthatch

A Trip to Lancaster

What a Fox

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day! We will announce all three winners on Thanksgiving Day. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Wednesday November 23, 2011.

I am sharing a birthday card today, using a fox image from a new stamp set from Mark's Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company, called "What a Fox".  I colored this little guy with Copics.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Connie
Linda
Karen H.
Patty P.
Geri
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K. ( Thank you for visiting)
Pam
Debbie
Brenda T
Bonnie
Harriet
Mark's Finest Papers

Tues. Nov. 22, 2011 MFP BLOG HOP Day Two

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's November Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Peaceful Nuthatch

A Trip to Lancaster

What a Fox

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day! We will announce all three winners on Thanksgiving Day. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Wednesday November 23, 2011.

The card I am showing you today was made with the barn image from the new set called "A Trip to Lasncaster" .  I think this makes for a cool masculine card.

Thanks for visiting today, and don't forget to visit my team mates!  We all love your comments!

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Connie
Linda
Karen H.
Patty P.
Geri
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K. (You are here)
Pam
Debbie
Brenda T
Bonnie
Harriet
Mark's Finest Papers

Mon. Nov. 21, 2011 BLOG HOP Day one

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's November Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Peaceful Nuthatch

A Trip to Lancaster

What a Fox

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day! We will announce all three winners on Thanksgiving Day. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Wednesday November 23, 2011.

I am sharing a tag with you today, featuring the bird from the "Peaceful Nuthatch" stamp set.  Be sure to head over to the Mark's Finest Paper's website, since the new sets are available starting today.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Connie
Linda
Karen H.
Patty P.
Geri
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K. (you are here)
Pam
Debbie
Brenda T
Bonnie
Harriet
Mark's Finest Papers

Sun. Nov. 20, 2011 Today is my Granddaughter's B-day!

My granddaughter is away at the University of AZ and I am missing her, as she celebrates her 20th birthday today!  Happy Birthday, Megan!

I have a very wintery card to share today, that is a sneak peek for a soon to be released stamp set from Mark's Finest Paper's, a Heinrich Company.  Three new sets will be previewed starting Tuesday, Nov. 21st.

This scene stamp is from "What a Fox". I colored the fox with Copics, sponged the sky with Distress ink and used Flower-soft for all the snow. My card base and panel are 140# cs pieces from Mark's too.  I scored around the edges with my Scor-Pal.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Fri. Nov. 18, 2011 CSS Inspiration Hop

As we approach Thanksgiving 2011 (wow, how did that happen so fast?), it's time for the CSS Team to take another Inspiration challenge. If you arrived from Joy's Blog, you are in the right place.  If you'd like to start at the beginning, click HERE.

Here are the challenge details, from Carolina:

Create a card or project based on any of the boxes featured in photo from Better Homes and Gardens. Take inspiration from the colors, the shapes, the prints, etc. - they don't have to necessarily be Christmas cards or projects, feel free to let your creativity and imagination go wild!

*** Make sure to leave a comment as you hop along because on Tuesday morning (November 22), we will randomly choose one of the comments from all the blogs who will get a stamp set of their choice valued up to $24.95!

Aren't these boxes awesome?  I decided to make a tag, and a card.  I am still needing some for Christmas, so making them for challenges accomplishes both needs. Here is my tag, using the Gnome image from Tami Mayberry's "Gnome one like You" set and a tree from Gina's "Winter Wonderland". I colored this little guy with Copics and used Flower soft for the snow. The background was created with TH Stains.

Now for my card:  I used some punched ornaments, ran two of them through an embossing folder and created the striped one and the diagonal bg with my Scor-Pal. All three were sponged with Distress ink.  The sentiment is from Theresa's "A Very Merry Christmas" set. The card base is Gina K's Pure Luxury 110# cs.

It's time to check out a fabulous creation at Kay's blog.  Thank you for visiting!

Fri. Nov. 18, 2011 Ghosting challenge JUGS 110

I have another Christmas card to share with you today, using the ghosting technique.   This is for the JUGS Challenge 110.

I used Melanie Muenchinger's "A Year of Border" stamp set, as well as her "Festive Frame" set. I embossed with white EP, and used TH Distress inks on glossy cs. I popped up the front panel onto a pre-embossed piece of cs from my stash, which I bought at Michael's eons ago. That's it for now, but be sure to stop by tomorrow morning for another CSS team inspiration blog hop---with a chance to win!!!

Thurs. Nov. 17, 2011 Sneak Peek

Next Tuesday, starts the Blog Hop for the new releases from "Mark's Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company.  Today I am sneak peeking a card made with an image from "A Trip to Lancaster" stamp set.

 This card is going to an old friend, who was one of the dentists I used to work for, back in the 80's. Not sure if I ever mentioned it before,  but I was a dental assistant for 23 years.  17 years in general dentistry and 6 in orthodontic offices.  I really liked that career!

Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 One card for two challenges

Good Morning,  blogger friends!

The card I want to share today is for two challenges.  The first one is "snow" for the Mix it up Monday challenge at StampTV, # STVMONSJD4. I also am entering it into the TouchTwin challenge 05,  "In the Garden."

The poinsettia border was colored with Copics, and is a stamp from Melanie's "A Year of Borders" set.  I CB'd the background, after brayering Pearl Adirondack Paint. The snowflakes have tons of sparkle, although it was difficult to photograph. I added a bit of Liquid Applique for snow on the pinecones. Behind the sentiment is a strip of Scor tape that I covered with teeny silver beads.

Tues. Nov. 15, 2011 Outlawz CFC1106 Challenge

There is a new challenge group over at the Outlawz, with free digis.  If you make a project with one of their digi stamps, you will get four new ones next time.  How cool is that?  This time I used one by Sandi Hugget-what a cute little stocking this is, and I had fun coloring it too.

Thanks for stopping by!

Mon. Nov. 14, 2011 PTI Make it Monday #40

Good Morning!!!  Can hardly believe that another weekend has bit the dust, can you?  Time is flying and I wonder if I'll catch up-ugh!

My card today is one I made for the PTI Make it Monday challenge using the reverse applique technique. I started using a MS punch.  For the cut out area, I used Scor tape and glittered the strips different colors.  I then attached it behind the opening.  I hand stitched around this.  The sentiment and its border are PTI stamps. I colored seam binding to match, for the ribbon and the bow. Thank you for stopping by today!

Sun. Nov. 13, 2011 Cute Ornament

I seem to be on an ornament kick lately, and today I want to share this one with you.

This started out as a box, one that Deb Felts had a tutorial for, on her blog.  But, I decided to alter it a bit and make an ornament instead.

I think it's really cute!

I entered this into Speedy's Challenge  #80 at Mark's Finest Papers.

Thank you for visiting!

Sat. Nov. 12, 2011 StampTV challenge STVMONJH5

Happy weekend blog friends!!!

The card I have to share with you today, is one I made for Jennie's challenge on StampTV.  We were to use scraps, and I bet you all as many scraps as I do! Since my background was kind of busy, I thought I'd use just a sentiment as my focal point.  This one is from Nina's Heirloom Ornaments stamp set. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you come back tomorrow.  I have another ornament to show you!                  ...Karen

Fri. Nov. 11, 2011 Second post for today

This past Monday, I was very lucky to be the Guest Designer for Scor-Pal.  I created a box for the Thanksgiving table. You can see the post HERE.

This morning I received Selma's blog in my inbox and she had a tutorial for some pumpkins.  I thought they'd look terrific with the Thanksgiving box. I am also going to enter them into Joan's Garden challenge this week.

 I just love how these pumplins turned out!

I used a scalloped circle die and also an oval one from Spellbinders.  The vine die cuts were made with grunge paper and colored with TH stain.  That die is from Cheery Lynn, available at Joan's Garden. 

 Thanks for looking!

Fri. Nov. 11, 2011 A Trip to Lancaster Sneak Peek

I made this card for 3 challenges.  CR84FN42, Flourishes and IC309 at Splitcoast.

The color challenge at CR84FN was to use Black, Pale Pink and a Neutral.  Tami Mayberry created the sketch for Flourishes, and the inspiration photo I used from SCS was this wallpaper.  This image is from a soon to be released stamp set called " A Trip to Lancaster" from Mark's Finest Papers, A Heinrich Company, that will be available on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2011.

 Thanks!!!  
                ...Karen

Thurs. Nov. 10, 2011 Box Ornament # 2

Good Morning blog friends! We are getting closer and closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Are you on schedule or behind???

Box ornaments are fun to make, but would also make cute gift boxes.  I made my boxes  as 2.75" cubes.  There is no stamping on this one, but rather some Tim Holtz  dp (Christmas music), which I distressed and sponged with Distress ink.  I added some lace and some pearls around the box.  For the top,  made a TH rosette and used jute and a button, for decoration and for the hanger.

Wed. Nov. 9, 2011 Another Tree Ornament

If you read yesterday's post, I mentioned which die I used to create this ornament.  These two ornaments are similar, but I used different dp. I really like both of them.

Tomorrow I will share another box ornament.

Here is my second tree ornament. They kind of look like fancy cookies to me!

Thank you for visiting!

Tues. Nov. 8, 2011 Another Charity Tree Ornament

A couple of weeks back, I shared an box ornament I made for a Charity Tree Auction, and today is another one.  I promised to make 8, and I have completed my committment, and will be sharing them with you over the next few days.

I used one of the Sizzix Bigz dies and it measures about 4.5" x 6", so won't really work on a standard size A2 card, but it does make cute ornaments and gift tags. The star, the bird and the little tag, are included with the die.

Thank you for letting me share.  I'll have another one to share tomorrow!

Mon. Nov. 7, 2011 Scor-Pal and I'm so excited!!!!!

Last month I entered a decorated box to the Scor-Pal blog, and I am thrilled and honored to be chosen as a Guest Designer this month.  The theme is "Give Thanks".
Wouldn't this be a great gift to take to Thanksgiving dinner?  Of course, if you are cooking and hostessing the holiday- you could make it for yourself- LOL.

I decided to make a box to hold 3 empty Frappuccino bottles.  First, here are the photos.  The instructions and measurements are below.

Front side

                                                            Back side

                                           Here are a few close-up photos:

             Scor-Pal Gift Box for 3 Frapp bottles by Karen Knegten

Start with a piece of poster board 10.5” x 15.5”

With 15.5” side on left side of your Scor-Pal,  score at 4” and 6.5”.

Now rotate your card stock, so that the 10.5” side is on the left.

 Score at 4” and 11.5”.

Now, decorate to your heart’s content!  Have fun!

Sun. Nov. 6, 2011 Triangle for JUGS 109 Challenge

Shaped cards can be so much fun to make.  JUGS (Just us Girls) challenge this week was to make a triangle card.  I like how this one came together, and it's a really fun shape for Christmas cards, don't you think?

Thank you for stopping by!  I have an exciting project to share with you tomorrow, so please stop in and visit!

Sat. Nov. 5, 2011 Blue Christmas

Tina's challenge at StampTV Friday was to create a Blue Christmas card.  Here is what I came up with.

 The easel die is from Quikutz, and the Christmas tree is from Gina's "Holiday Cheer" stamp set.  The sentiment is from Theresa Momber's "Very Merry Christmas" set. I used the Sizzix Lattice embossing folder for the wall and a Tim Holtz Woodgrain one for the floor.  I made the baseboard using my scor-buddy.

Thank you for visiting!   

...Karen

Fri. Nov. 4, 2011 LilyPad Sketch challenge

Nina B.  had a wonderful sketch this week and I wanted to play along. 

I started with an Ivory CS base and used some DCWV patterned paper.  The flower/leaves are Webster's Pages.  

For the die cut I used Nina's Lovely Labels for the border and the sentiment. I colored the seam binding with Distress ink.

Glad you popped in to check out my card today!   ...Karen

Thurs. Nov. 3, 2011 Outlawz SC1102

Today I am sharing a card I made for an Outlawz challenge. The flower is one from Webster's Pages.  The sentiment is from Theresa Momber's "Vogue Vases" stamp set from Gina K Designs. The doily is a store bought one, that I shaded with TH Stains.

Thank you for visiting!   ...Karen

Wed. Nov. 2, 2011 Snowman Ornament

Hello Blogger buddies!

 All of last year, I wanted to purchase Tim Holtz's Snowman die.  I finally got it, so today I  have to share one of them with you. 

I wanted him to be sturdy, so I cut 4 layers for the body out of cereal box cardboard and glued all the layers together.  I painted on a couple of coats of gesso, followed with white acrylic paint.  I did the same with his hat. scarf and arms-but only two layers thick, and colored these with Copics. I attached the ribbon in between the two hat layers with Glossy Accents.

I made four of these, and they came together rather quickly after I had all the parts cut.  Thank you for stopping by!   ...Karen

Tues. Nov. 1, 2011 November, already????

Now that Halloween is over and Thanksgiving and Christmas are around the corner, it's time to get some Christmas projects made.
  My project today is a 2.75" ornament.   I have 8 ornaments to make as a donation for a Charity Auction.  The tree with all handmade ornaments will be auctioned off for charity just after Christmas.  This tree and many others will be on display from Nov. 18th throught Dec. 19th.  So, now I have one down and 7 to go!!!
The front of this one qualifies for Theresa's Mix it up Monday challenge on StampTV, STVMONTMCC3.

I used my Scor Buddy to create the box.  Die cuts were glued on each side after I embossed them with my Vagabond and CB folders.  The ornament image is from Asela's "First Christmas" stamp set from Gina K's. The poinsettia on the top is from Melanie's "A Year of Flowers" set.