Celebrating a 50th Wedding Anniversary

How exciting is it to watch your friends celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary?  Well, we're SO blessed to have our friends, Don & Joan Wright, celebrate this amazing milestone in their lives and we feel very blessed to help them enjoy this special occasion.  When I created this little booklet, I followed a card design from my talented DT mate, Julie Gearinger.

I fell SO in love with Julie's sweet card, that I totally "lifted" it.  The only major difference between our cards is that I used a different sentiment.  The background was stamped in Tumbled Glass Oxide Ink using one stamps from the Pretty Poppies Stamp Set and another from the Delightful Dahlias Stamp Set.  I just love the green and teal color combination.  The sentiment (Think of you.....as you celebrate your anniversary) can be found in the Pretty Poppies Stamp Set.

The pretty florals (inside and out) were creating using the Pretty Poppies Stamp Set and coordinating Pretty Poppies Dies.  I used a large glassine bag to create this little album.  The card (above) is the front of the album.  I used some 1/5" Red and White Striped Ribbon to make a way to tie the book shut.  When you untie it, you can open it and you'll see this (above).

On the left side page, I left a place to add a photo.  I added some vintage sheet music, a pretty border, and a wooden heart with a 50 rub-on.  It was a Jenni Bowlin rub-on from my stash.  On the right side page, I cut a journalling spot using a Spellbinders Die.  To that, I added some (old/stash) Melissa Frances rub-ons and left space for another photo.  I stamped and cut another set of the poppies again using the using the Pretty Poppies Stamp Set and coordinating Pretty Poppies Dies.

It's easy to create a small album like this using a glassine bag or even a lunch bag.  It also has those built-in pockets where you can photos, journalling, a gift card, bookmarks, etc.  I just want our dear friends to know that we love them and that we praise God for them and for their service to Him as well as their commitment to each other.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today.  I'm always so grateful to have you visit, take a peek at my artwork, and to (possibly) leave me a comment.  I do hope you'll take time to stop at Stamp Simply to look around at all their amazing stamps, dies and products.  You're sure to find something you LOVE, and you deserve it.  Have a blessed week, everyone.

I'm playing along here:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Simon Says "Anything Goes"

Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenge Blog - Challenge #2321 - BINGO - My BINGO is diagonally with Patterned Paper, Image (floral - inside and out), and ribbon which is the 1.5" striped ribbon I used as a closure for this little album.

Happy crafting,

Karen

Summer Breezes at The Four Seasons Challenge

Well friends, Summer is here.  I hope you're ready for warmer temps, vacations and beach time.  There's another FAB challenge starting today over at The Four Seasons Challenge where you can share anything that says SUMMER to you.  Here's what I came up with for this challenge.

I used cardstock for my base and I rubbed Tumbled Glass Oxide Ink to the background.  Next, I used a bubble stencil to create the water bubbles you see.  The sentiment, jelly fish, fish and seaweed are all from Paper Sweeties.

When I first saw the inspiration photo, I knew this one would be a true challenge for me.  I wasn't sure what direction to go with my card because I don't, to the best of my knowledge, own any shell stamps.  The beach image started calling to me, and I just went in that direction.  I accidentally stamped ON MY PAPER the upside down jellyfish because I'd left it on my Misti.  Woops!  So, upside it was.  I had to work around it because I wasn't about to start over at that point.  My motto is that you can always fix or hide a mistake.

We really do hope to have you stop by The Four Seasons Challenge to play along with us this month.  You don't (ever) have to follow the inspiration photo in a literal manner.  It's simply a starting point for your own creativity, so any Summer creations are welcome.  We'll see you in blogland.

I'm playing along here:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog - Simon Says "Anything Goes"

Blessings,

Karen

One Nation Under God w/Stamp Simply

Welcome back to my little slice of blogland, everyone.  As always, I'm super grateful that you've chosen to visit me today.  When it comes to stamping, I can always trust that Stamp Simply Clear Stamps will have the perfect sentiments, scriptures, images and stamps to help me say what I want to say, and also to help me to create something special.

For today's posting, I knew that I wanted to create a patriotic card.  Stamp Simply carries a wonderful assortment of Patriotic Stamps.  I used red and white cardstock for the base of my card.  On the white layer, I added some blue paint that I blew with a straw to help it spread.

Once I had my card base and background finished, I stamped the United States of America image that's found in the fun patriotic Old Glory Stamp Set.  I colored some of it with my Copics, and I left some of it white.  Next, I used the coordinating Old Glory Dies to cut the USA image.  The fabulous sentiment I used can also be found in the Old Glory Stamp Set.  The sentiment and USA image were stamped using Momento Tuxedo Black Ink.

You'll always find lots of great inspiration on the Stamp Simply Blog and you'll always find great products and deals at Stamp Simply.  We appreciate your visits and we want to help you find all the perfect stamps, sentiments, dies and everything else you need to help you create something wonderful.  Have a blessed week and thanks again for stopping by today.

I'll be sharing my patriotic card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Simon Says "Add a Sentiment" - I stamped my sentiment at the bottom of the card.  This is my Entry #3/5

Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenge Blog - Challenge #2321 - BINGO - My BINGO is down the middle with Die Cut (the USA shape die cut) an image (the USA) and a sentiment (stamped at the bottom).

Keep on crafting, everyone.

Blessings to you,

Karen

Congrats to the Grad w/Really Reasonable Ribbon

Hello, sweet blog friends, and thanks so much for stopping by today as I share a FUN graduation card that I created using some awesome products from Really Reasonable Ribbon along with a digital sentiment stamp rom Bonnie Garby Designs.  I just LOVE how a few simple trims can spice up a card and take it to the next level.

The patterned papers are from the Reminisce Paper Pack.  They're all attached to the black cardstock base using strips of Scor-Tape to secure them.  The sentiment can be found in the Graduation Bundle from Bonnie Garby Designs.  I cut several stars from the patterned paper and I attached the stars and the oxide inked sentiment square using 3-D Foam Tabs.

I bundled some Bright Yellow Burlap String and Black Burlap String to create the bow on the lefthand side of the sentiment.  I topped that bundle of twisted strings with a beautiful pearl Embellishment from RRR.  There are so many great colors, widths, textures, and choices when it comes to ribbons, twines and spooled items.  Really Reasonable Ribbon truly has it all.

I'd just like to say thank you again for visiting me here today.  I can't express to you enough how much it blesses me and touches my heart when y'all leave a comment here.  I'm just so grateful to have you stop by.  Really Reasonable Ribbon really is an AMAZING store that you'll LOVE.  I hope you'll stop by to browse at least.  Have a blessed week.

I'm playing along here:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Simon Says "Add a Sentiment" - For this fun graduation card, I used a sentiment from Bonnie Garby Designs.

Wishing you joy,

Karen

Patriotic Picnic Challenge at The Card Concept

Hello to all my crafty and patriotic friends stopping by today.  I welcome and appreciate your visits and remain so very grateful for you.  We all need encouragement, and your comments and visits always mean so much to me.  Today I'm sharing a fun patriotic card that I created as an inspiration for the new challenge over at The Card Concept with the theme of Patriotic Picnic.  You can pull any details from the inspiration photo that speak to your creative side.  Here's what I came up with for this challenge.

I decided to use a white cardstock for the base, and I layered that with some patriotic patterned papers found in Echo Park's fun Fourth of July 6x6 Paper Pad.  The sentiment I used is a journalling card that can be found in the same Echo Park paper pack.  I also ran a length of White Crochet Lace across my card and added some bundled Red Burlap String, Double Head Stamens & an Ivory Open Rose.

We really do hope that you'll come play along with us at The Card Concept.  There's so much beautiful art out there and we'd be honored to have you share your cards with us.  There's also a new challenge starting today over at Word Art Wednesday and I hope you'll join us over there as well.  The more you share your art, the better.  That way, more people get to see your art AND you have a chance to WIN prizes.

Have a wonderfully creative week, everyone.  Thanks again for your visit and your encouragement.  I appreciate you.  Oh, and don't forget to COME, play along with us at The Card Concept and Word Art Wednesday (maybe even a few more, who knows?).  It's always a blessing to have you share your art with us.

I'm playing along here:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Simon Says "Add a Sentiment" - This card uses an Echo Park journalling card for the sentiment piece.

Blessings,

Karen

Miss You a Lot w/Stamp Simply Clear Stamps

Don't you just love to make floral cards?  They're just about the prettiest of all the cards we make.  The gorgeous flowers that I used for this card are called Coneflowers, and these ones are found in the Coneflower Stamp Set from Stamp Simply.  This is one of my all-time favorites from Stamp Simply when it comes to florals.  And...guess what???  Today is the last day of an AMAZING SALE to celebrate Mother's Day.

I used black cardstock for the card base and then added some pink patterned papers from the Carta Bella My Valentine 6x6 Paper Pad and green patterned paper from the Carta Bella Gather at Home 6x6 Paper Pad.  I also cut a scalloped white border and wrapped some Coral Baker's Twine around my card.  The pretty patterned papers matched the colors in my card so nicely, and a piece of green ribbon and green border helped tie in the green leaves in my flowers.

I stamped and cut the Coneflower twice, and I placed my second one on 3-D Foam Tabs to help raise them up in order to add some dimension.  The sentiment I used can be found in the Thinking of You Rose Stamp Set.  It's stamped on a banner that was cut using the Fishtail Banner Dies.  No matter what occasion you're needing to design a card for, you can be certain to find exactly what you need at Stamp Simply because of their wide variety of amazing images, sentiments, scriptures and words of encouragement for every occasion.

At the beginning of this post, I mentioned an amazing SALE, right?  So, here it is, y'all.  It's time for some fabulous savings on these gorgeous stamps, dies and products from Stamp Simply.  You won't want to miss out on this special sale, and today is the final day to grab this 20% OFF.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I'm always so grateful to read your kind comments and to hear your thoughts about my cards.  Don't miss all the fabulous inspiration over on the Stamp Simply Blog.  I appreciate you all. 

Blessings,

Karen

May Blog Hop w/Really Reasonable Ribbon

Hello, sweet blog friends and crafters.  Thank you so much for stopping by my blog for the May Blog Hop at RRR.  You should have arrived here by way of Bonnie's Blog; but if not, you can catch up quickly.  The theme for this month's blog hop is PATRIOTIC, so I pulled out a few patriotic items and counted on Really Reasonable Ribbon for the rest.  This is a short hop so please leave a comment at each stop and then answer the question on the Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog at the end.  One lucky person who does so will WIN a $10 gift certificate to RRR as well as one digital stamp sheet from Bonnie Garby Designs.

This card started with some patterned paper and then another layer of woodgrain patterned paper from the Craft Consortium Wood Textures 6x6 Paper Pad.  I added a Jenni Bowlin BINGO (BRAVE) card and I stamped two stars and die-cut them using the American Eagle Stamp & Die Set.  The sentiment is from the Old Glory Stamp Set.  I attached pretty much everything (paper) using cut strips of Scor-Tape.  I did a bit of machine stitching for texture.

I added some bundled Natural Burlap String and Red Burlap String, tucked in some Double Head Stamens (Lake Blue, Deep Red, Ivory), and topped it with a Glitter Rhinestone from the Embellishment Section.  I just love to add bundled Burlap String and it's such a bargain at just ten cents per yard.  Really Reasonable Ribbon always has the perfect twines, trims, ribbons and much more in every color, width and variety you can imagine.

Thanks so much for much for stopping here, and please don't forget to comment to WIN.  Your next and final stop on this Blog Hop is at the Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog where you will answer one question.  Please don't forget to leave a comment on each blog along the way.  Have a great day, everyone.

I'll be sharing my patriotic card in these fun challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Simon Says "Inspired By Music" - This card was inspired by The Star Spangled Banner.  "o'er the land of free, and the home of the brave"🎶🎜

PaperMinutes Challenge Blog - Challenge #795 - Sterne/Stars

Colorful Options Challenge Blog - May 2023 - Blue

What challenges are you enjoying this week?  I'd love to hear.  Of course, you're always most welcome to come play along with us at Word Art Wednesday.  I'd love to see your art linked up there.  And YOU could WIN some awesome prizes.  Just sayin'.  You can find it here at Word Art Wednesday.  Keep on crafting, my friends.  And in case you got sidetracked, don't forget to stop at Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog to answer the final question so that you're entered to win the awesome prizes.

Blessings,

Karen