It's The Little Things

Hello!  I'm so glad you're here.  It's always a blessing to me when I learn who has been by to see my art.  So if you're here, I truly hope you will take the time to leave me a thought about my bright card.  My BFF bought me a huge bucket of bright double-head stamens in every color of the rainbow and beyond.  I hadn't used them yet, and they sat up in my cupboard until today when I was inspired to create a "bright" card.  I used lots of cheerful colors for sure....turquoise, hot pink, sunshine yellow, etc.  This should brighten someone's day for sure!

I used a mish mash of patterned papers and machine stitched them together.  The chipboard sentiment is form Echo Park This & That as is the journalling card underneath it.  I inked all the patterned papers with Tim Holtz Distress Inks (as I always tend to do).  Then, for the finishing touches....I added a width of brown seam binding and used that to tie a sweet bow topped with Pink Burlap String, lots of bright double-head stamens, Open Roses, and a few color coordinated stick pins.

Last night I received an email from a friend and she placed an order for Thank You cards.  Needless to say, the inside of this card says......(you guessed it) - Thank You!  Now I'm on a mission to finish all these thank you cards by Sunday evening when I see her.  It's kinda fun to post a card that I created just for fun (as opposed to my regularly scheduled Design Team posts) and I'm excited to be sharing my card in some fun challenges.

Again, I thank you for stopping by.  Have a blessed week, and please stop by again soon.  I'm truly grateful for your visits, your comments, and your valued input.  

Karen

Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge Blog: Bright & Cheerful - This was about the most bright and cheerful card I could come up with.  It sure was a lot of fun to make!

Dies R Us - Challenge# 99: Summertime Fun - I hope my bright, cheerful card says Summer to everyone with its sunshine yellow paper and bright accents.

ScrapyLand Dies Challenge Blog - Challenge #92:  Anything Goes - I used a Sunny Studios scalloped border die on my card.

Dare 2B Artzy - June Challenge: Bright Colors - These bright Summer colors are so much fun.

CropStop Challenge - June Linky Party #40 - Anything Goes - I used Tim Holtz Distress Inks, May Arts Burlap String, and Tombow Adhesive.

Bright & Cheerful Anniversary Card

Welcome by, friends!  It's a sunny 103 degrees today here in Las Vegas, and the expected high today is 113.  Yikes!  I'm staying INSIDE for the most part today.  A good day to crank down the air conditioning and do some crafting!

This card was made using some My Mind's Eye and Echo Park patterned papers and vellum.  I machine stitched the card to create a "pocket" and slid lots of pretty sequins under the vellum to match the colors in the papers.  I ran some pink seam binding up the side of my card, and tied it into a bow with some brown seam binding, and added some double-headed stamens and flowers.  The sentiment is stamped on a banner/flag cut using the Sweet Borders Sweet Cuts from Paper Sweeties, and I inked it with Tumbled Glass and Spun Sugar Distress Inks from Tim Holtz.

Please forgive me for not announcing the winner of my coffee die dive-away on Sunday as I planned.  I'm so grateful for all the wonderful comments you left me, and I'm excited to announce that the winner of this love die-cut is Stephanie Wright.

I'm sharing my card in the challenges listed below.  Thanks so much for stopping by to take a peek at my card. Have a blessed week!

Karen

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Bright and Cheerful

CropStop Challenge Blog - June Linky Party #40 - Anything Goes - I used Tim Holtz Distress Inks and Tombow Adhesive

Dare 2B Artzy - June Challenge: Bright Colors

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge Blog - Challenge #448 - Color Inspiration

Paper Sweeties June Release Rewind

I'm so glad you're here again today as my Paper Sweeties teamies and I wrap up the new June Release.  If you happened to miss my project posts from yesterday and Friday, you can find them by clicking on each day's colored links.  I combined this month's sweet new sets with some of my other Paper Sweeties favorites.  That's what I love most about Paper Sweeties Products (well, besides the fact that they're ADORABLE) is that they all compliment one another SO well and look so darn sweet together.  Paper Sweeties embellishments like Seam Binding and Sequins are even more "icing on the cake".  It's like cuteness, on top of cuteness, on top of even more cuteness.

So, for this card I attached some patterned papers together, and then ran a length of Frosting Seam Binding up my card and tied a bow with that and some Robin Egg Blue Seam Binding.  I fell in love with this idea when I did for my card on Friday, so I used the idea again for this card to top my bow.  I used the smallest circle in the Circle Scallop Sweet Cuts and cut it from a pinkish red wool felt.  I took the outer scalloped circle, and snipped it.  Then, using craft glue and a toothpick, I carefully rolled the scalloped piece into the darling little rosette you see placed in the center of the Seam Binding bow.  I placed a sweet Cookie Dough Sequin in the center of the rosette.  The larger circles in the Circle Scallop Frames Sweet Cuts could also be used to cut larger pieces to help you create larger rolled flowers.  It's a great idea, was very easy, and achieved a really sweet result.  I used the new Treat Box Home & Garden Add-Ons Stamp Set and coordinating Treat Box Home & Garden Add-Ons Sweet Cuts to create the tree, branch, and birds.  I cut the polka dot tag using Stitched Tags #1 Sweet Cuts.  And finally, the sentiment (Hey, Shug!) is from last month's ADORABLE new Hey Y'all Stamp Set.

Here's the list of all my fabulous Paper Sweeties teammates who have created some inspiration for you today using these sweet new sets (and some their other favorites as well).  I sure hope you've enjoyed this month's release party.

Debbie Marcinkiewicz - Paper Sweeties

Jinny Newlin

Karen Letchworth - That's Me💘

Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett

Lisa Bzibziak

Mackie Robertson

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala

Nancy Salkeld

Blessings,

Karen

June Release Day at Paper Sweeties

It's here, friends!  It's the SWEETEST day of the month as Paper Sweeties releases their adorable new sets - Treat Box Home & Garden Add-Ons Stamp Set and coordinating Treat Box Home & Garden Add-Ons Sweet Cuts.  They are SO cute, and they work so well with several other Paper Sweeties sets.  As I showed yesterday, these sets work well with the Home Is Where Your Story Begins set; and as I'm showing today, it also works great with last month's new Treat Box Sweet Cuts.  This adorable little treat box can also be turned into a sweet little house, or.....as in this case where it became a wooden "log" cabin.

Using the Treat Box Home & Garden Add-Ons Stamp Set and Treat Box Home & Garden Add-Ons-Sweet Cuts, I stamped and cut a sidewalk, the flower pot and flowers, the door (with small heart), the window, and chimney, as well as the awning and shutters which were both cut from wool felt.  I attached some Cookie Dough Seam Binding, Mint Seam Binding, and some Cookie Dough Sequins and Strawberry Sequins to the awning.

I am SMITTEN with this sweet little house/treat box.  There are SO MANY adorable things you can do with it.  I highly suggest this particular product just for the endless gift-giving crafty possibilities it holds.  To see even more inspiration using these sweet products, I invite you to visit all my talented teammates by clicking the links below:

Debbie Marcinkiewicz - Paper Sweeties

Jinny Newlin

Karen Letchworth - That's Me💘

Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett

Lisa Bzibziak

Mackie Robertson

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala

Nancy Salkeld

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you again tomorrow.

Karen

I'm playing along here:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Simon Says Anything But A Card

Paper Sweeties June Sneak Peek

Hello, everyone!  Today I'm sharing a card that made using the New June Release sets from Paper Sweeties.  They will be available for purchase as of tomorrow, so today is a great day to start making a "Wish List".  You will absolutely LOVE everything from Paper Sweeties.  I know I sure have fun playing and creating with mine.  Here's what I came up with for today.

This card was created using a combination of new and old Paper Sweeties products, which is PERFECT because all of their sweet products - including the stamps, sweet cuts (dies), and embellishments - work together beautifully and compliment one another SO well.  For instance, for this card I used the brand new Treat Box Add-Ons Home & Garden Stamp Set and the coordinating Treat Box Home & Garden Add-Ons Sweet Cuts from the June Release to create the tree, the bird, the birdhouse, the sidewalk, shrubs, flower pot and flowers.  And....from the May Release I used the sweet Hey Y'all Stamp Set for the sentiment, and I stamped it on the flag banner found in the Sweet Borders Sweet Cuts.  The house is from the Home Is Where Your Story Begins.  I love that saying...Home Is Where Your Story Begins (available in the set) because that's where we feel most alive and comfortable.  This new release celebrates "home", and everyone on the team has created such cute houses to inspire you.

I added half of a white doily, and then I ran a width of Mint Seam Binding across my card and tied it into a double bow.  To create the reddish-pink rosette in the center of my bow, I cut a piece of wool felt using the Circle Scalloped Frames Sweet Cuts and cut the smallest size circle.  I made a cut in the outer scalloped part of the circle, and rolled it into a rosette; securing it with crafting glue as I rolled it.  Perfect!  Another creative idea to show how incredibly versatile these sweet products truly are.

Every month, our talented Design Team has SO much fun creating with Paper Sweeties products; and we all know that you will absolutely adore everything you purchase from Paper Sweeties as much as we do!  Here's a list of my teammates who have created something to inspire you today, and we'll all be back again tomorrow with another post for you.  I sure hope you will check out the darling new sets available tomorrow at Paper Sweeties.

Debbie Marcinkiewicz - Paper Sweeties

Jinny Newlin

Karen Letchworth - That's Me💘

Kathy Schweinfurth

Larissa Heskett

Lisa Bzibziak

Mackie Robertson

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala

Nancy Salkeld

Blessings,

Karen

I'm playing along here:
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - June/Anything Goes - I used lots of fun patterned papers from Crate Paper.

Words 2 Craft By Challenge Blog - Challenge #54 - Where You Feel Most Alive - As I talked about in my post, home is where I feel most alive and where I can really be myself.  We are so blessed to have a place to call home, and there's truly no place I'd rather be.

It's Blog Hop Time at Really Reasonable Ribbon

Hello, all my ribbon loving friends!  It's time for the Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog Hop, and I'm so glad you're here to join in on all the fun.  You should have arrived here by way of Bonnie's Blog; but if you didn't, it's easy to get started and catch up.  One lucky person will win this month's Ribbon Club Assortment and it is GORGEOUS!!!  Take a look at this:

Here's a list of all of the GORGEOUS ribbons in this month's Ribbon Club Assortment including a link to each one: 3/8" Quatrefoil Print on Shocking Pink Satin Ribbon, 5/8" Checkerboard Satin Ribbon, 3/8" Pink and Purple Bold Diagonal Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, 5/8" Diamond Satin Regal Purple, 5/8" Vintage Floral Print Satin Ribbon, 5/8" Delicate Stitched Satin Shocking Pink Ribbon, 3/8" Vertical Striped Grosgrain Mixed Pink & Purple Ribbon, 5/8" Double Faced Satin Hyacinth, and 3/8" Shell Print on Regal Satin Ribbon.  All of these lovely ribbons can be used for Summer projects, and all year long.  They are absolutely beautiful!  This little butterfly bow was created using a sparkly vinyl fabric sheet cut into the shape of butterfly wings, and carefully attached to a French Clip.  The butterfly wings include pieces of 5/8" Vintage Floral Print Satin Ribbon, 3/8" Quatrefoil Print on Shocking Pink Satin Ribbon, the base is wrapped with and 3/8" Shell Print on Regal Satin Ribbon, and the "antennas" were made using the adorable 3/8" Vertical Striped Grosgrain Mixed Pink & Purple Ribbon.  

I also wanted to make a card using some of these fabulous trims, so I put this card together.  I used Echo Park patterned papers and journalling card, a vintage dairy bottle cap, a Prima wire butterfly, and some Tim Holtz Distress Inks on the edges of the paper.  I ran a width of the 5/8" Vintage Floral Print Satin Ribbon, as well as 3/8" Vertical Striped Grosgrain Mixed Pink & Purple Ribbon, across my card as borders.  I also created a lovely bow using some Baby Pink Seam Binding, Peacock Alley Seam Binding, Ivory Burlap String, and one of the sweet trims from this month's Ribbon Club Assortment called 3/8" Quatrefoil Print on Shocking Pink Satin Ribbon, and I topped that with a 25mm Open Rose Pale Pink With Hot Pink Center, as well as some Sweetheart Blossoms in turquoise, mixed blues, ivory and mixed pinks.  I also tucked in some adorable Pink Double Head Stamens, Baby Blue Double Head Stamens, and some Teal Double Head Stamens and White Double Head Stamens (temporarily sold out).  There are so many ADORABLE Mulberry Flowers, Embellishments and trims at Really Reasonable Ribbon to adorn ALL your projects.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Your next stop on this hop is at the blog of my awesome teammate, Kathy.  I hope you enjoy her project.  Don't forget to answer the question on the RRR Blog at the end to be eligible for the prize, which is this month's Ribbon Club Assortment.

Before I run off...I want to mention that the Double Head Stamens at $1.99/bundle of 160 pieces, are selling out quickly (some colors are already unavailable) so I'd suggest grabbing these today while you can.  They're SO pretty, and add SO much personality to your flowers, bows, etc.  Today is a great day to treat yourself.

Thanks again for visiting,
Karen

Family Memories with Really Reasonable Ribbon

Welcome by my blog today, everyone!  I'm sharing a sweet mini album I created for Really Reasonable Ribbon using lots of their fabulous products.  I used three paper bags, and I attached several different patterned papers using a fabulous Adhesive called Scor-Tape.  I did some machine stitching, added lots of great photo spots, journalling spaces, and tucked even more photo mat tags into each pocket.  That's the great thing about paper bag albums......they're cute, inexpensive and have built-in pockets for storing family memories.  This one was created for some very special friends who are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary!

The mini album cover is decorated with some blue Cosmo Daisies, a Mulberry Leave, some Ivory Burlap String, Red Double Head Stamens, White Double Head Stamens, and a 12mm Red Gingham Covered Button from our awesome Embellishment section.  I also placed one Blue Sweetheart Blossom on the cover just because they're SO cute!

The second page has photo mats, and is adorned with some Red, White and blue Sweetheart Blossoms, some Ivory Burlap String, a piece of Navy Ric Rac, Natural Crochet Lace, and a piece of 1/4" Red Chevron Striped Twill.  This shows you a great way to use up small ribbon/trim scraps.  I also tucked in another 12mm Red Gingham Covered Button.

On page 3 of the mini album, I kept it pretty simple.  There's a journalling spot, a photo mat, and some fun Embellishments.  I topped that with a small snippet of 1/4" Red Chevron Striped Twill and added a 12mm Blue Gingham Covered Button.

The next page has more places for photos and journalling, and has a wooden frame that's tied with some Cherry Baker's Twine, Blueberry Baker's Twine, and is topped with some more of the adorable Sweetheart Blossoms.  Really Reasonable Ribbon also sells Miniature Sweetheart Blossoms for smaller accents.....and they're all SO sweet!

Page 5 is the last page (other than the back cover), and it has a piece of Red Center-Stitch Burlap Ribbon topped with a lovely Ivory Open Rose.  These GORGEOUS flowers come in several sizes and come in over 24 gorgeous colors.  Finally, I used my Zutter to bind this mini album, and I tied some Red Center-Stitch Burlap Ribbon, Navy Micro Gingham, Red & White Houndstooth Ribbon on the binding.

There's simply no end to the possibilities for creativity when you use all that Really Reasonable Ribbon has to offer.  I hope you'll treat yourself today.  You won't regret it!  Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope you'll visit again soon.

Karen

Joy Clair Challenge Blog - June Challenge - Patriotic Inspiration

Mini Album Makers Challenge - June Challenge - Anything Goes

Words 2 Craft By - Challenge #53- If You Can Read This Thank a Teacher.....a challenge that celebrates teachers, those who have helped mold you, given you a love for reading, and those for whom you are thankful, etc.  So, this mini album is for a family (very good friends of ours) who are not only teachers; but who have been such a blessing in our lives.  As explained above, they are celebrating their 40th wedding Anniversary, so this is going to them.  This gift celebrates everything the challenge is about; so it fit perfectly!

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anniversary/Wedding - While this isn't specifically an "anniversary" card, it really is for an anniversary.  As explained above, this mini album is a gift being given to some very special family friends who are celebrating their 40th Wedding Anniversary.  I know they will fill it with family photos, and enjoy it for years to come.