Gearing Up for Valentines w/Blank Page Muse

Hello, blog friends, and welcome by again today.  With Christmas fast approaching, a house full of family, and no time on my hands for anything, it's always good to work ahead.  I always know that Blank Page Muse will have all the perfect stamps to help me create sweet cards for every occasion.  Today I'm sharing a card for Valentine's Day.  It's good to get ahead of the game, right?

This card uses basic black cardstock layered with a pretty floral patterned paper.  Next, I die-cut a background using cream cardstock and the Crimped Frames Dies from The Greetery.  I rubbed some Spun Sugar Oxide Ink onto that.  I stamped the background using the Handwritten Note Background using Hickory Smoke Oxide Ink.  I used the Scribble Hearts & Elements Stamp Set to stamp the hearts and sentiment.  I raised up one of the hearts with 3-D Foam Tabs.

I added some Cream Seam Binding, Mulberry Leaves and a Pink Open Rose to my card as accents.  At the top of the card, I added a border in green ink again from the Scribble Hearts & Elements Stamp Set.  There are so many great background stamps, border stamps, images and sentiments to be found at Blank Page Muse; and you're always sure to find just what you're looking for every time.

Thanks so much for visiting me today.  I'd love to hear your thoughts on my Valentine card.  Have fun creating whatever you're working on this week.  And please don't forget to check out Blank Page Muse to have a look around at all their amazing stamps.

Blessings,

Karen

Wishing You Joy w/Really Reasonable Ribbon

Some things just go together perfectly, you know?  Like peanut butter and jelly, coffee and cream, corn-on-the-cob and butter, AND......cute cards and ribbons.  Another great pairing is using digital stamps from Bonnie Garby Designs and goodies from Really Reasonable Ribbon on your cards.  These are just things that go together perfectly, and I love using them together.

This card starts with basic black and then basic cream cardstocks along with a piece of Carta Bella patterned paper that I machine stitched together to create my fun and simple base.  Next, I added that DARLING retro sentiment and image which are found in the Vintage Christmas Digital Stamp Bundle from Bonnie Garby Designs.  How cute is that?

I ran a length of Cream Seam Binding across the card and tied a pretty bow with it. I tucked in several Double Head Stamens, some bundled Ivory Burlap String, a piece of Solid Black Baker's Twine, and I topped it all with a beautiful Black Open Rose.  I just LOVE all the texture and beauty it adds to my simple cards.  Really Reasonable Ribbon truly has OODLES of gorgeous ribbons, trims, adhesives, flowers and SO much more.

Be sure to catch all the fabulous inspiration on the Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog and all the amazing products available at Really Reasonable Ribbon.  We love and appreciate your visits, and we hope to be your number one "go-to" for all things spindled and spooled....and then some.  We appreciate your business and look forward to having you stop by to visit.  Have a blessed and creative week, everyone.

Blessings,

Karen

Christmas Joy w/Stamp Simply

From all of us at Stamp Simply, we hope that you truly will be blessed with the joys of Christmas all year long.  We also hope that you'll visit us at Stamp Simply and the Stamp Simply Blog whenever you need some inspiration or some new stamps, dies and crafting products.  This sweet store is filled with the lovliest products to help you create amazing cards and projects all year long.

This card uses basic black cardstock, basic white cardstock, and a pretty patterned paper from The Craft Consortium's Tartan Plaid 6x6 Paper Pad.  I machine stitched my layers together to create the card base.  Next, I cut a circle from white cardstock using Spellbinders Amazing Grace Hemstitch Circle Dies and I used a star stencil to add some fun background color.

I used the pretty candle from the Christmas Peace Stamp Set to stamp my image, and I used the coordinating Christmas Peace Die to cut the candle.  I colored the image with my Copics (which are starting to dry out and I absolutely dread the thought of replacing them $$).  The sentiment I used can be found in the Farmhouse Christmas Stamp Set, and I cut it using the Fishtail Banner Dies.  A few sequins were the finishing touch.

Please visit us on the Stamp Simply Blog for more inspiration and to stay up-to-date on special sales and promotions including our Wild Wednesday Specials.  Thanks so much for stopping by to visit me here today.  I hope you're staying creative and that you're all ready for Christmas.

I'm sharing here:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes (Entry 2/5)

Time Out Challenge Blog - Challenge #252 - Winter/Holidays

Inspiration Station - Inspiration Prompt #56 - I was inspired by the blue sky and background, and the lights.

Happy crafting.

Blessings,

Karen

Home For the Holidays w/The Four Seasons

Well, ready or not, Winter is here.  And that means it's time for our first Winter challenge of the year at The Four Seasons Challenge Blog.  You can find the inspiration photo and some fabulous inspiration from the Design Team at The Four Seasons.  Making Christmas and Winter cards is probably my most favorite crafting, so I had a lot of fun creating my card for this challenge.

Back in September, I saw this gorgeous card made by the talented Melissa Phillips, and I knew right away that I wanted to "scraplift" it.....or at least my own version of her beautiful card.  I used basic black cardstock and a background patterned paper from Prima.  I worked with what I already had because I just couldn't justify spending that kind of money when I owned similar items that would work.  My card isn't as pretty as Melissa's, but I am happy with how it looks.

I used  PTI snowflake die and holly/berries die, a Paper Sweeties Christmas tree die, and a Temu car die. I added some tiny foam balls to trees that are from Pretty Pink Posh, and I wrapped the tree in an iridescent twine from Really Reasonable Ribbon. The stamped sentiment is also from Paper Sweeties.

All of us at The Four Seasons Challenge look forward to seeing your amazing cards this month as we celebrate Winter. Thanks so much for visiting me today.  I'm always so grateful to have you visit and leave me a comment.  I look forward to visiting your blog to see what you'll share with us.  Have a wonderful week.

I'm sharing my card here:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Simon Says "Anything Goes" (Entry 1/5)

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Simon Says "Trees" (Entry 2/5)

TIME OUT Challenge Blog - Challenge #252 - Winter/Holiday - I love to play along here whenever I can.

Keep on crafting!

Blessings,

Karen

Merry Christmas From Stamp Simply

Are you ready for Christmas?  Well, ready or not; it's less than a month away.  While most of  my Christmas cards are already in the mail, it's always good to create a few extras for "just in case".  You know...when someone sends you a card or gives you a gift that you weren't quite expecting.  It's good to be prepared.  If you don't end up using the extra cards, you'll have a head start on next year.  With Stamp Simply Clear Stamps, you have so many beautiful options for the perfect sentiments, images and more.

The O Christmas Tree Stamp Set is one of my favorite Christmas sets.  It's got three different Christmas trees and several gorgeous sentiments that can be used all year long.  This is just one of the darling trees in this sweet set.  I stamped, colored, and then cut it twice using the coordinating O Christmas Tree Dies.  I used two different patterned papers from the Craft Consortium's Beautiful Blooms 6x6 Paper Pad.  Non-traditional Christmas colors are fun.

Some machine stitching and some Solid Black Baker's Twine were the finishing touches.  The background was created using a piece of basic white cardstock rubbed with various colors of Tim Holtz Oxide Inks.  I love all the different layers of paper, and keeping the pretty Christmas trees the focal point of my card was easy to achieve in doing so.

There's so much amazing inspiration on the Stamp Simply Blog and lots of great shopping at Stamp Simply.  You're always sure to find the perfect scriptures, sentiments, images in their high-quality stamps and dies.  Thanks so much for stopping by today and please visit us again soon.

I'm entering the following:

Double D Challenge Blog - Dots and/or Stripes - I guess this card combines both elements. I have dots in the trees as ornaments and stripes in the trees as the garland on my fun garland.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Make it Sparke - so I added Stickles to the stars.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Trees

Blessings,

Karen

3 for 27$ w/Blank Page Muse

Hi, sweet blog friends!  Thank you for stopping by to visit me as I share a fun card that I created for Blank Page Muse using some of their fabulous stamps.  Again today, I'm sharing a card that was created using only rubber stamps.  Yes!  Rubber old-school stamps that save you money $$$.  Blank Page Muse and I Brake for Stamps have SO many great stamps, and they come in your choice of rubber or acrylic.

This card started with basic black cardstock layered with a ruler patterned paper.  I stamped everything using Tim Holtz Oxide Inks.  I used the following stamps from Blank Page Muse:  Tape Measure Stamp (at bottom of card), Vintage Spring Hook & Eye Stamp (twice), 3 for 27 Stamp on a sentiment strip that's also stamped with the Bubble Wrap & Sequin Texture Stamp.

I also added a dress form, scissors, and a miniature paper clip as accents.  I like to make sewing-themed cards to send to my sewing friends.  They always enjoy receiving them, and I enjoy making and sending them.  No matter what theme you're looking for, Blank Page Muse more than likely has the perfect stamp to help you create your next project.

You can find loads of wonderful inspiration each day on the Blank Page Muse Blog, and you can find lots of great shopping at both Blank Page Muse and I Brake for Stamps.  I appreciate your visit today and I hope you'll stop by again soon.

I'm sharing my card here:

Colorful Options Challenge - November: Red - I used lots of red ink and red accents in my stamping

Blessings, 

Karen

Let It Snow w/Really Reasonable Ribbon

It's no secret that I absolutely LOVE using ribbons, trims and twines of different kinds on my cards and projects.  There's just something special about the texture and depth that ribbons, trims and flowers add to our cards.  With that said, I am a HUGE fan of all things from Really Reasonable Ribbon. Not only do they carry the best assortment of ribbons and trims, Mulberry Flowers, Adhesives, Hair Accessories and more; but this fabulous company is also owned by one of the sweetest gals in crafting that I've ever met.  You'll always receive amazing Customer Service and fair shipping costs at Really Reasonable Ribbon in addition to having access to amazing products at great prices.

This darling card uses lots of patterned paper and ephemera from Crate Paper (my favorite).  I cut the birdhouse and bird using dies from Simon Says Stamp.  At the top of the birdhouse, I added a bow that's tied with Red Seam Binding.  Don't you just love these soft sweet colors and wonderful textures?

Down on the bottom left, I added some bundled Ivory Burlap String underneath all those leafy branches. I also added a few pretty Red Open Roses to the branches.   At the bottom of the birdhouse, I added a piece of Ivory Crochet Lace.  I used lots of Scor-Tape to secure everything in place.  I added some pretty White Flatback Pearl Accents to the chipboard banner.

No matter what you're looking for and no matter what your crafting style or skill level is, there are certain things at Really Reasonable Ribbon that every crafter needs.  I truly hope that you'll stop by and check out Really Reasonable Ribbon and support this awesome company and store-owner.  You'll LOVE what you find there.  Happy crafting, everyone, and thanks so much for stopping by today.

I'm sharing my card here:

Triple B Challenge - Birds, Butterflies and Blooms - While I didn't follow the color theme of the inspiration photo this month, I was inspired by the use of BLOOMS by way of my pretty red roses, as well as the foliage and my sweet bird.

Colorful Options Challenge - November: Red - I used lots of red ink and red accents in my stamping

Blessings,

Karen