Sat. 3.31.12 PAM033112 The Outlawz challenge

Hi everyone!  I am hostessing the Paper a la Mode challenge at The Outlawz this week and I hope you'll play along, since we do have prizes!!!!  I decided the challenge would be to make a shaped card, that is other than a square or a rectangle.  

As you can see, I decided to make a round one this time.  I love the way this turned out, and I think I will be making more of these! The flower is Silhouette cut and I sponged with Distress ink and also used some Copic markers.  The sentiment is from Gina K Designs.

I can't wait to see what you create!  Come on and play with us!

Fri. 3.30.12 Happy Friday morning!

Yikes- I am running late getting this post up today. I will make this a quick one, using the adorable stamp set from Mark's Finest Papers called "Flaps my Wattles". Hope you have a wonderful day- it's storming here now with lots of thunder and lightning.  See you tomorrow with a challenge from Paper a la Mode at The Outlawz.  I hope you will play along, since it's my turn to hostess this week.   ...Karen

Thurs. 3.29.12 Wild Giraffe for Suzanne's Challenge

I decided to play along in Suzanne's sketch challenge, celebrating the 2nd birthday at CMC Classroom.  The image I used is from Theresa Momber's latest set called "Wild about You" from Gina K Designs.

The chevron bg is machine cut.  I sponged with a couple of Distress ink colors.  Love this sweet giraffe too.  I am very happy with how this card turned out. Here is the sketch.

Ta-da!  This is what I came up with.

I'd love to hear your comments!  Have a crafty day!   ...Karen

Wed. 3.28.12 Two MFP cards today

I love the new "Lighthouses" stamp set, just released last week from HERE. I think the images make some really nice masculine cards. This would be a wonderful Father's Day card, if I changed out the sentiment.  The bg is a CB embossing folder.

One of the other new sets from MFP, is called "Flaps my Wattles".  This is really a fun set to play with.  I like the folksy look!  For this card, I used a Silhouette 'chicken wire' cut file.  Cool lattice, huh?  I sponged it with Vivid dark grey, to give it a slightly metallic feeling.  My chick was colored with Copics, and popped up on an oval- to resemble an egg-LOL. The sentiment is also from this set!

 Thank you for stopping by and I hope you'll be back tomorrow.  I have two new flower cards to share.

Tues. 3.27.12 Two cards for STV challenges

I am sure that you know how much I love StampTV challenges.  Today, I'd like to show you a couple of cards I recently entered on STV. My first card today is for STV12MON9, Miesje's challenge to "Welcome Spring". This image is from the new "Petals and Wings" set from Gina K Designs. I colored with Copics and add little dots of Clear Star pen to the heart. The extra cloud with the sentiment is from this same set, was die cut with a PTI die. I sponged the backgrounds with Distress inks.

Next up is the card I made for Sean';s challenge STV12FRI7.  A Spring card, with spring colors, bling and layers.  I decided on a round card, shaped like a button.  My little froggy is from Tami Mayberry's "Fairy Tales" stamp set. I colored him with Copics and then added Art Institute transparent glitter (love this stuff!).  I added two rhinestones to the pennant which is also from one of Tami's sets-"Perfect Pennants."  I used my Crop a Dile to punch out the button holes, and some Glossy Accents to his eyes.
The dotted bg was stamped with a strip stamp from Mark's Finest Papers. Thanks for stopping by today!    ...Karen

Mon. 3.26.12 JUGS #129

The challenge at Just Us Girls Challenge this week is to make a boxed set of note cards. These are fun to make and wonderful to have around for that last minute gift we may need. Here is the box I made which resembles a VCR box. The frame is a Cameo cut file and the sentiment is from Gina K Designs'

"Stately Flowers 2", by Melanie Muenshinger.

The sentiments I stamped on the cards are from Gina K's "Floral Wreath" stamp set. I cut the design on the front of the cards with my Silhouette. The butterflies are Cheery Lynn die cuts. The white cs is Gina K and the Ocean Tides cs and ribbon is from PTI.  

Thank you for stopping by,   ...Karen

Sun. 3.25.12 A "CASE" card and a jungle

Good morning!    The first one is a card challenge-Case the DT-(Lee Murphy), from Gina K Designs.

Here is Lee's card- there were so many fabulous cards to choose from!!!!

Next is my interpretation of Lee's card.  I used a different embossing folder, different tag, frame and sentiment.

My next card is one using the gorgeous elephant image from Theresa Momber's newest stamp set, called "Wild about You".  It is available at Gina K Designs.

I was playing around with backgrounds, and this is a take on one I had seen online somewhere.  I striped streaks of Copic colors and then spritzed with rubbing alcohol. I kept blending and blending with my fingers and the Copics.  I was really happy with this result.  I also colored the elephant with Copics, cut him out and cut his ears loose so I could pop them up. The tree and the branch are Cameo cuts.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you have a wonderful day!   ...Karen

Sat. 3.24.12 Outlawz challenge PAM032412

The Paper a La Mode challenge this week was suggested by Heather- to use a big bow.  Well, not only did I use a big bow, but I also used a big butterfly (Silhouettte Cameo).  The sentiment is from Gina K's newest stamp set called "Petals and Wings", which is perfect, don't you think? The Jelly Bean Green cs and the patterned paper is also from the same kit. 

Thank you for stopping by!      ...Karen

Fri. 3.23.12 MFP March Blog Hop Day 4

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

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Lighthouses Featured March 20
Flap My Wattles Featured March 21
Wild Horses Featured March 22
Mother's Magnolias Featured March 23

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 for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on March 24, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday March 23, 2012.

                                                         Isn't this a fabulous sentiment?

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K. (you are here)
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Brenda
Toni
Tangii
Anna S
Mark's Finest Papers

Our new promotion begins this month! With the purchase of the March  New Release Package, you will receive this stamp set for FREE!

Our March New Release Mini:

Brick Wall

Thurs. 3.22.12 MFP March Blog Hop Day 3

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

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Lighthouses Featured March 20
Flaps My Wattles Featured March 21
Wild Horses Featured March 22
Mother's Magnolias Featured March 23

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 for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on March 24, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday March 23, 2012.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K. (thanks for stopping by)
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Brenda
Toni
Tangii
Anna S
Mark's Finest Papers

Our new promotion begins this month! With the purchase of the March  New Release Package, you will receive this stamp set for FREE!

Our March New Release Mini:

Brick Wall

Wed. 3.21.12 MFP March Blog Hop Day 2

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

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Lighthouses Featured March 20
Flaps My Wattles Featured March 21
Wild Horses Featured March 22
Mother's Magnolias Featured March 23

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 for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on March 24, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday March 23, 2012.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K. (you are here)
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Brenda
Toni
Tangii
Anna S
Mark's Finest Papers

Our new promotion begins this month! With the purchase of the March  New Release Package, you will receive this stamp set for FREE!

Our March New Release Mini:

Brick Wall

Tues. 3.20.12 MFP March Blog Hop Day 1

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

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Lighthouses Featured March 20

Flap My Wattles Featured March 21

Wild Horses Featured March 22

Mother's Magnolias Featured March 23

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 for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on March 24, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday March 23, 2012.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K. (so glad you're here)
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Brenda
Toni
Tangii
Anna S
Mark's Finest Papers

Our new promotion begins this month! With the purchase of the March New Release Package, you will receive this stamp set for FREE!

Our New March Release Mini:

Brick Wall

Mon. 3.19.12 Getting ready for Easter

Hi everyone!  Easter dinner is at my sister and brother-in-law's home, and I usually make the place cards with treats.  This year, I made them with my Cameo.  These sure were fun to create.

Thanks for letting me share these with you!  ...Karen

Sun. 3.18.12 Sneak Peek Wild Horses

Good morning!  Today I have another sneak peek for you, using an image from Mark's Finest Papers soon to be released "Wild Horses" stamp set. I sponged the background and colored the horse with Copic markers!
 Our release hop starts this Tuesday, 3-20-2012.  Hope to see you then!  ...Karen

Sat. 3.17.12 Outlawz PAM031712 Challenge

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Will you be wearing green today?

The challenge at The Outlawz Paper a la Mode this week, is to make a card or project that recycles something in your house and to use green too. Well, I accomplished that, without any stamping on this card. Scroll down to see my second card.
The floral dp I used is Prima, the frame, leaves, shamrock and banner were Silhouette cut. The sentiment was computer generated, and the flower was made with a coffee filter.  I layered about 4 of them and cut them with a Scalloped Nestie, and cut as many as I could. I spritzed with Glimmer Mist and then add a little gold acrylic paint to the edges, after I shaped the flower. Here is my next card with a recycled element. I used a PTI die and a page from an old calendar for the flower. Thank you for stopping by.  Have a great day!  Come visit The Outlawz and play in our challenge.  We have prizes, you know!          ...Karen

Fri. 3.16.12 CSST Alumni Color Challenge

Welcome to another CSST Alumni challenge. We have some fabulous inspiration for you. If you arrived from  JOY's blog, you are in the right place.  If you would like to start at the beginning, click HERE.
Check out these gorgeous colors!!! Melissa S. picked a great color combo. It's so Spring-like!!!!

****Make sure to leave a comment as you hop along because on Tuesday morning (March 20), we will randomly choose one of the comments from all the blogs and that person will receive a huge grab bag of fabulous Gina K. Designs Stamps!***

I made my card using Melanie's "Wild at Heart" set, colored with Faber-Castell Gelatos.  I then stamped a flower from Melanie's "A Year of Flowers" set.  I stamped all three flowers with Memento and colored with Copics.  After cutting them out, I shaped them and popped them up on some blue grosgrain ribbon. The bird and the birdhouse are Silhouette cut files.  My card base is GKD Key Lime card stock.

Thank you for hopping along, and now your next stop is  KAY 's blog.  Wait until you see what she's going to share with you!!! Thank you for stopping by!   ,,,Karen

3.16.12 Where in the world is my Vagabond?

Tim Holtz and Sizzix want to know where our Vagabonds are, and we have to post a photo.  Here's mine, waiting for Spring!

Fri. 3.16.12 MFP Sneak and more

Here is another sneak peek image from a new stamp set being released next Tuesday, by Mark's Finest Papers.  This set is called "Flap my Wattles".  This is a fun set to color and creates such a home-y feeling card. I am just loving the dotted Swiss stamp that is in the set too!  I love this birthday sentiment.

Thurs. 3.15.12 More GKD challenge cards

Wow- the StampTV challenges are coming fast and furious this week.  So much fun!!!!!

This card is for Cat's challenge to make a 4 x 4" card with a matching envelope.  I used flower images from Theresa's " Whimsical Wishes" set and a sentiment from her "Happy Camper" set.

This card is for Lori's Cracked Glass challenge.  I used the fish image from Gina's "Eclectic Summer' stamp set  and the sentiment from "Eclectic Summer Sayings" set.  The bg is one I made using the wax encaustic technique, that I found online.  

I think this is a really fun card.  Do you?

Wed. 3.14.12 GKD Anniversary challenges

Good morning blog friends!  Woo-hoo, we are supposed to have temps in the 70's today!  This is way warmer than normal for March!

My first card today is for Tina's challenge called "Emerging Butterflies".  I decided to use "Bold Flowers" from Gina's stamp set of the same name.

 

My next card is for  Deb Felt's "popping pastels" challenge.  I haven't had a lot of luck with this technique in the past, but it worked so much better for me, this time around.  I used a flower from Gina's "True Love" stamp set, along with GKD ribbon and card stock.

Thank you for stopping by!  ...Karen

Tues. 3.13.12 MFP Sneak Peek

Next week Tuesday starts the New Release blog hop for Mark's Finest Papers, but I have a sneak of one the new sets for you today. The name of this set is called Mother's Magnolias and the images are ones you will be able to use year round.

I colored with Copics and I carefully cut around the flower center and popped it out, using a pop dot.

I also entered this into the SCS sketch challenge # SC375.

Thank you for visiting!   ...Karen

Mon. 3.12.12 Ha! More than a couple cards today

Happy Monday morning!  I hope you had a great weekend.  The weather here was fabulous, and the giant pile of snow in front of our house is just about gone- yeah!!!

I have three cards to show you today, and I hope you like them.

This one was stamped with a LeBlanche stamp called Wildflowers.  This is a silicone stamp and is a dream to stamp with. The sentiment is from GKD, stamped on a partial die cut. The dp is My Minds Eye.   Next up is a springy thingy candle on a birthday card. The sentiment is PTI. I made the background with Paint stains sprayed with water and blotted.

My thiurd card today is a challenge card for Theresa Momber's Release party challenge (gkdmarch2012tm). I used Theresa's Dino-mite stamp set to create this sponged scene. The tree and the dinosaur were colored with Copics.
 Well, that's it for me today.  Please know that your comments mean a lot and I am so grateful when you leave them.  See you tomorrow!   ...Karen

Sun. 3.11.12 Hexagon Box and a card

Happy Sunday morning!  Today's post to share a little box I made for Donna's Challenge (gkdmarch2012db) from Gina K's Release Party last Thursday, and a card for Melissa Cash's Friday challenge STV12FRI6.  As always, Melissa gave us another wonderful sketch to work with.

The box itself is from a Silhouette cut file.  The top was decorated with small squares of dp and then faux stitched.  I added some flowers that I made a few weeks back, along with some punched and die cut greenery.  The sentiment is from Melanie's "Buds and Vases" stamp set.

Next up, is my card for Melissa's challenge! I also entered this one into the JUGS127 challenge.

Thank you for visiting!  Tomorrow I will be sharing a card I made for Theresa's challenge. See you then!

Sat. 3.10.12 The Outlawz PAM031012 Challenge

I hope you will have some time this week to play along in the Paper a La Mode challenge at The Outlawz. I hope you can play along with our challenge this week.  (There are prizes!!!)

Jenny's challenge is to make something mini. A mini card, mini box, ,mini album-really anything mini. Can you stamp a mini skirt????
I made this mini album with 4" coasters.  I sponged to give it an antique leather look.  The leaves and the butterfly are Silhouette cut files. The album was bound with my Bind-it-All.

I didn't take pictures of the inside pages, but I was able to use up a slew of small pieces of Prima paper I had in my stash-pretty vintage looking paper, with subtle stripes and little roses.

Thank you for stopping by!  ...Karen

Fri. 3.9.12 One Layer Wednesday Challenge 82

I have a quick card for you today!  One Layer cards can be so much fun, and the challenge this week was to use a swirl!  The background stamp I used is one from Unity called "Everlasting Romance" and the sentiment is from Theresa Momber's "Whimsical Wishes" set from Gina K Designs.

I stamped using Colorbox Frost White ink on kraft cs.

 

Thank you for visiting.  I'll be back tomorrow with a 'little' project!   ...Karen

Thurs. 3.8.12 Just Us Girls 126

Good morning! 

I wanted to play along with the JUGS 126 challenge this week.  I used their sketch and the poppy image from Melanie's "Stately Flowers 1" stamp set, from Gina K Designs. I stamped with Memento and colored with Copics.  These flowers are so much fun to color!

That's it for me today!  See you tomorrow!  I really enjoy reading your comments, so thank you for leaving them!    ...Karen

Wed. 3.7.12 Sweet Little Froggies

Good morning blog friends!  I hope your week is going well for you!  Today I have a fun little card to share with you today.  The frog image and the sentiment are from Gina K.  I paper pieced her legs, Little tiny flowers just seemed a way to make her girlie! I hope the flower and the feather help too.

Next up is a card I made for a challenge that Julie is hosting on StampTV, called three for Spring.  I used three different shades of blue and three frogs. The frogs are mounted on Springy Thingies- tutorial is HERE. These are so easy to make and inexpensively too!  Love that! The sentiment on the banner is computer generated.  The frog is from Tami "Fairy Tales" stamp set at Gina K Designs.

 Here's a quick little video that shows you the movement of the frogs! (don't laugh, I've never posted one here before) 
 Click HERE.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you'll be back tomorrow!   ...Karen

Tues. 3.6.12 Spring Duck

I have a fun card for you today!  I used a Silhouette cut file, colored the pieces and built my image. Oh my, this was fun-  just like playing with paper dolls, when I was a little girl!!!! Back then,  I liked coloring with Venus coloring pencils-do you remember those??? Of course, had no idea about Gamsol back then and I doubt my mom would have let me use it anyway! Haha.

 Thank you for letting me share with you today!   ...Karen

Mon. 3.5.12 A challenge and a thank you

Hi friends! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Chevrons are all the rage right now, at least that is what I have been seeing in blogland. This card is the one I made for Betty's Black, white and on other color challenge for Mix it up Monday on StampTV.

The chevron background was made with a cut file and the flower, from Melanie's Stately Flowers 2 set was colored with Copics and popped up. This came together rather quickly and I liked the result.

I needed to create a Thank you card for a very nice sponsor on The Outlawz blog.  I hope he likes it. For this one, I used the chevron pieces left over from the card above, which I colored with Copics to match my dp.  The sentiment is a stamp that I received as a gift with an order, but for the life of me, I can't remember which stamp company sent it. Duh!!!!  The balloon image is from Melanie's "Square Pegs" stamp set. All CS used is from Gina K.

 Thank you for visiting!   ...Karen