Funky Junk at The Kraft Journal

For this week's "Funky Junk" Challenge, I wasn't quite sure what to create.  But, looking at all my fun Kraft Outlet supplies, it just kind of came together.  I really hope that you will stop by to play along with us this week.  We'd LOVE having you share your interpretation of "Funky Junk" with us.

I started with pieces of Precut Chipboard and created a mini album (bound using my Zutter).  The front has a decorated Small Kraft Paper Sack.  On the right, you will see a Tim Holtz Memo Pin holding a (hope) Tim Holtz Journaling Ticket & Adage Ticket as well as some Black & White Polka Dot Washi Tape and a cute sticker from the Jenni Bowlin General Store Postage Stamp.  On the left, you'll see another snippet of the Black & White Polka Dot Washi Tape and a Round Metal-Edged Grungy Prim Tag with a (5 cent) Jenni Bowlin Flatback Flair.

On this page, I created a photo mat from Pre-Cut Chipboard and touched  its edges with cream acrylic paint.  There's another length of the Black & White Polka Dot Washi Tape at the bottom border, and on the left side you will see a Mini Kraft Merchandise Bag which holds a Jenni Bowlin Vintage Mini Deck Journaling Card.  It's decorated with some Ephemera, and a postage sticker from the Jenni Bowlin General Store Postage Stamp Sticker Set.  I also die-cut a Papertrey Ink flower using a Vintage Gin Rummy Sheet.  I absolutely LOVE including the Kraft Outlet's different Lunch Sack/Kraft Paper Bags in my mini albums to use as journaling pockets, or a place to hide a gift card, tuck in photos, etc.  They're just SO versatile.

Thanks for visiting me today, and don't forget about this week's "Funky Junk" Challenge at The Kraft Journal.  We'd LOVE for you to join us.

Be blessed,
Karen

Top Dog Dies Mini Album & New Release GIVE-AWAY

It's Friday again, and time for my weekly Friday Top Dog Dies post.  Today, I'm sharing with you all a lovely little mini album I made using the ADORABLE new Top Dog Dies Vintage Alphabet Die Set, and let me tell you friends....this is a MUST-HAVE die set.  It makes adding titles to pages a breeze, as well as personalizing cards, and SO much more.  I'm absolutely IN LOVE with this set, and you will be too!

This photo above is the cover of the mini album.  You can see how this sweet Top Dog Dies Vintage Alphabet Die Set really made the cover POP, and it was SO easy with this wonderful new die set.  It's the letters in pink (OH and DAY).  I also used this same Top Dog Dies Vintage Alphabet Die Set on Page 3 of this album, which you will see later in this post.  This set is just SO versatile.

I used  additional Top Dog Dies in the sweet pockets/journaling spots throughout the album.  Although not every page uses a Top Dog Die, I still wanted to share all the pages with you today......just for fun!  You could easily use this set through the mini album to add the little girl's name, etc.  The possibilities with this lovely set are truly endless.

I used the super sweet Oh Darling line by Crate Paper (papers and embellishments) to create this mini album, and it was SO much fun to use on this project.  My photos aren't the greatest, but I just LOVE the vintage feel to this line - with all its sweet stickers, embellishments and papers.  I used polka dotted paper bags to create journaling envelopes through the album.

Above is Page 3, and again I used the ADORABLE new Top Dog Dies Vintage Alphabet Die Set.  You get the entire alphabet with this set, and Top Dog Dies' wafer-thin quality makes a clean crisp cut every time for precision cuts in creating all your projects.

Here's a close up of this page as well.  I love taking close-up photos to help show off the details.  This mini album also uses the brand new Top Dog Dies Banner #1 Die Set which will be in the new release coming Tuesday, July 29.  At the bottom of this post, you will learn how to enter to win the ENTIRE new release from Top Dog Dies.

And finally, the very last page of the mini album.  I had SO MUCH FUN creating this sweet album, and I hope you've enjoyed it, and that it will inspire you to purchase yourself this FABULOUS Top Dog Dies Vintage Alphabet Die Set to enjoy for yourself!

OK......as promised, I will share with you ALL how you can win the ENTIRE NEW RELEASE from Top Dog Dies.  All you need to do to be entered to win the new release for yourself is to follow this link to Top Dog Dies Blog and enter using the widget available there.

 

And for a little more inspiration using these FABULOUS new dies from the upcoming release, I've create one more card to share with you all to give you another "sneak peek".  This card uses several of the newest dies that will be available for sale this coming Tuesday, July 29.

Again, I used the Oh Darling line from Crate Paper to create this sweet Birthday card.  I used three of the new release dies on this card including the Top Dog Dies Flower Lace A2 Mat Die, the Top Dog Dies Vintage Frame Die, and one of the three banners from the new Top Dog Dies Banners #1 Die Set.  I'm in LOVE with them all, and you will be, too!

This close-up really shows you how I cut the Top Dog Dies Flower Lace A2 Mat, and also gives a great view of both the Top Dog Dies Vintage Frame Die and the Top Dog Dies Banners #1 Die Set.  They really are gorgeous.  Don't miss your chance to win, and don't forget to stop back by for LOTS of inspiration on the Top Dog Dies Blog.  Best of luck in the give-away!
 

Thanks SO MUCH for stopping by today.  Have a blessed weekend, and be creative!

Karen Letchworth

Top Dog Dies Design Team Member

Brand New Release at Top Dog Dies

How exciting is this?  Top Dog Dies has a brand new release of beautiful, wafer-thin dies being released this coming Tuesday, July 29.  To celebrate the release, Top Dog Dies is giving one lucky winner the ENTIRE RELEASE FOR FREE!  All you have to do to win is follow this link and enter with the widget provided.  You could win THE ENTIRE RELEASE!
 

I was SO excited when I got this new shipment of dies, and I could hardly wait to get busy creating with them.  Here is one of the cards I created with some of the new dies.  I will share another new card on Friday to help promote the release which will take place next Tuesday, July 29.  I hope you are inspired by them.

This first card uses the beautiful new Top Dog Dies Corset Die which I cut in black stock paper.  The papers and stickers I used were all from Carta Bella - Sew Lovely line.  This line works really well with the Top Dog Dies Corset Die because of its sewing theme and its lovely arrow elements which worked particularly well with the Top Dog Dies Banners #1 Die Set.  I was lucky enough to be able to use ALL THREE of the banners from this set on this one card.  I really liked how it turned out, and I hope you do too.

This close-up shot of the card shows all three of the Top Dog Dies Banners #1 Die Set on the left side of my card.  I kept the Top Dog Dies Corset Die very simple, and just added a small pink resin flower in the small of the back.  This is going to be a favorite for me as I LOVE making sewing-themed cards.
 

This is a photo of the entire line of dies in Top Dog Dies new release coming out and available for sale on Tuesday, July 29.  YOU CAN enter to WIN the entire new release by clicking the link and using the widget device.  Good luck!
 

You really won't want to miss this AWESOME new release.  There's a lot of creativity being shared on the Top Dog Dies Blog right bow to inspire you to get creative with this fabulous new release.  Thanks for stopping by to take a peek at my card.  I will be back again on Friday with another Top Dog Dies post to share another New Release card, as well as project from the current release (a DARLING Alphabet Die Set, and.......it's a MUST-HAVE!) so you will want to stop back Friday for a reminder about the give-away and more information and great projects/inspiration.

I'm sharing my card in the one following AWESOME challenge:
The Curtain Call Challenge #15 - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today, and please know how grateful I am for your visit.

Karen

New Word Art Wednesday Challenge

Hello, my crafty and creative friends!  I'm so glad you've stopped by today.  I'll be making two posts in total today; one for Word Art Wednesday, and another for Top Dog Dies' New Release.  I can't say that this card is really anything special.  I literally ran my patterned paper through the printer to get my word art/scripture for this week, and then I sewed together a few other strips of patterned paper scraps, and added a couple of embellishments.  Everything is from Crate Paper's Oh Darling line.  I ran some jute across the top, and tied a bow with baker's twine.

I really hope that you will stop by to share your art in this FUN CHALLENGE this week.  Our sponsors are The Frantic Stamper and Moonlighting Designs by Mary.  Both are wonderful shops, and you will be blessed by sharing your art for a chance to win these gorgeous prizes.

Thanks for stopping by, and I will see you in blog land soon!

Karen

Sketch Challenge Fun at The Kraft Journal

Karen Letchworth for The Kraft Journal

For this week's fun Sketch Challenge at The Kraft Journal, I decided to keep my card very simple, and to use some of my most favorite Kraft Outlet supplies.  I started with a Small Lunch Bag Kraft Note Card and covered it with a Dictionary Page.  Next, I cut the shapes of the sketch from pieces of Lunch Bag Kraft Cover-weight Card Stock, and to them, I attached pieces of Vintage Sheet Music.  Once I had all the elements of the sketch in place, I embellished my simple card with a length of Ruler Twill Ribbon and a Jenni Bowlin Icon Flatback.  The final touch was the sentiment which I added by stamping "Praying For You" onto a small scrap of Buff Ivory Cover-wight Card Stock and mounting it on a scrap of Lunch Bag Kraft Cover-weight Card Stock.  ALL the basic Cardstocks available at the Kraft Outlet are very useful, and perfect to purchase and use when playing along in our challenges each week!  We look forward to having you join this week's Sketch Challenge.

I'm sharing my card in the following challenges:

Little Scrap Pieces - Show It Off Saturday Linky Party

Have a blessed week, and thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Hope For Audra

Hello, friends!  I wanted to share this picture and story with you all.  This is my (favorite) sister-in-law, Audra Padilla, and her beautiful family; her loving husband, Rob, and her beautiful children Tomas, Andres, Isaias, and Audranna.  Audra lost the sight in her left eye about a year ago with no real explanation or diagnosis.  About three months ago, Audra noticed the sight in her good eye (right eye) diminishing quickly.  She saw her physician immediately, and after extensive testing, and to make a long story short, Audra was diagnosed with brain cancer.  They removed Audra's left eye and tumor last month.  She is now undergoing radiation treatment and chemotherapy at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.  Her husband has been with her every day along every step of the way.  God has provided a home for them to stay in free of charge while in Rochester Monday - Friday for the next six weeks during Audra's treatment.  God has shown Himself to be faithful, gracious, and worthy of praise at every turn!  We PRAISE HIM for all He has done, and all He continues to do in helping save our dear sister, wife, mother, etc.

Needless to say, with Rob off work to care for his wife, they are encountering great financial strain.  Audra MUST have Rob with her (or someone with her, it just happens to be Rob) because she can't see.  She can't drive, she can't make her way through a hospital, parking lot, she can't see to care for herself completely.  Rob has been Audra's guiding light so to speak.  Together, they must travel from Duluth to Rochester and back every week.  That means lots of gas money is needed.  And, they must keep up with all their normal household bills, provide for the children (who are being watched by Grandma and my husband, Audra's brother, Darren), and they must also cover the ever-mounting medical bills associated with Audra's on-going care.  With Rob not working, he has no income.  Your help would be GREATLY appreciated.  Even if you can give $5 or $10, that small amount REALLY adds up and makes a difference.  They need our help, and if we all work together with even a small amount, we can help them reach their goal.  Little is much when God is in it!

Luke 6:38 says, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.  For with the same measure that ye mete withal shall be measured to you again."

If you are able, please give by clicking on the following link - here:

Audra's Cancer Fund

If you're a mom, here is one thing Audra would share with you all.  "Take a good long look at your kids, and appreciate how beautiful they are.  Etch their faces on your heart.  For some day, you may not see their faces with your eyes, but instead with your heart."  Audra's faith has been unwavering, and she asks you to praise God along with her.  She has already seen some improvement in the sight in her right eye.  She can hardly wait to get home after this week's treatments to SEE her children's faces again.

Your help means SO much, and your prayers are appreciated as well.  God is doing great things.  Praise His name!

The Lord bless you and keep you!  The Lord make His face to shine upon you and give you peace,

Karen

Sip, Talk and Enjoy With Top Dog Dies

Happy Friday, everyone!  And welcome to my post for Top Dog Dies today.  There are SO MANY gorgeous new dies each month at Top Dog Dies, and you won't want to miss out on all the excitement, so be sure to stop by the Top Dog Dies Blog regularly for lots of inspiration.  Today, I'm sharing a sweet little card I created using the new Top Dog Dies Tea Time Decorative Set.  As you can see, I also added the gorgeous Top Dog Dies Alaina Lace Border Die to the top of my card, and I made a "pocket" out of it to tuck in a tea bag.

I used a sweet floral print from Crate Paper's Oh Darling line, and the Top Dog Dies Alaina Lace Border Die is cut from vintage sheet music.  I added a simple little stamped sentiment (Sip, Talk, Enjoy) and then I tucked in a tea bag for gift-giving.  Top Dog Dies makes it SO easy to create something fun and beautiful.  Be sure to stop by the Top Dog Dies Blog for more inspiration and lots of great ideas and special savings offers.

I'm entering my Top Dog Dies DIE CUT card in the following challenge:
Virginia's View - Demystifying Die-Cuts - LOTS of them!


Thanks for visiting, and please stop by again soon.

Blessings,

Karen