Joy Clair and Therm-o-Web

Welcome back by, friends, and thanks for visiting.  Today I'm sharing a fun card and a tag that I created for Joy Clair Stamps in coordination with our friends over at Therm-o-Web.  This month, our talented Design Team has been creating projects that feature our wonderful Joy Clair Stamps along with some of the fun products from Therm-o-Web.

My card started with a gold foil cardstock base.  Next, I took a piece of white cardstock and used a Funky Fossil Designs stencil and some Therm-o-Web Gold Glitz Glitter Gel.  You simply rub a thin layer of the Gold Glitz Glitter Gel over the stencil, wipe away the excess, then carefully lift the stencil.  It leaves behind a glittery design that's raised up with fabulous texture, and when you move it...you can see all that gorgeous sparkle.  This particular product comes in many beautiful colors.

I cut another layer of paper to create a focal point where I stamped my sentiment (Rise And Shine And Give God The Glory) using the Rise & Shine Stamp Set.  I embossed the stamped image in gold to match the rest of the card.  The finishing touch was a simple bow of Gold Metallic String.

My tag was created using a cardstock base to which I adhered a piece of gorgeous Silver Foil Deco Sheets to create the backing on this shiny tag.  I stamped a sentiment at the bottom of the tag, and I pieced together the castle using the Heir of God Stamp Set from the Color By Faith collection at Joy Clair Stamps. 

Thanks again for stopping by today.  I hope that you'll stop back by the Joy Clair Blog often this month to see all the fabulous projects using Joy Clair Stamps and Therm-o-Web products.  You'll find lots of fabulous inspiration, and some really cool products.  Thanks so much for visiting me today, friends.  I really appreciate it.

Blessings,

Karen

I'm playing along here:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Clean and Simple - Both of my projects are pretty CAS, but I entered the top card.  It's just got a textured background using a stencil, and then the stamped sentiment.

Trying My Hand at ATCs

What are ATCs, you ask?  Well, I got educated this week by reading all about the 1997 origin of the ATC over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog; and you can read all about it there as well.  According to the article, the ATC (or Artist Trading Card) is 2 1/2" x 3 1/2".

I had a lot of fun creating mine.  I used cardboard and painted them with layers of acrylic paints and some Tim Holtz Distress Ink.  Once I had my ATCs painted and dried, I added some Tim Holtz ephemera and metal pieces.  I also attached some (very old) Making Memories inked tags, and some Petaloo flowers.  I was also able to use some (also very old) metal accent pieces.

I wanted to give these ATCs a grungy look because I'm linking up my cards in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, which is more that style.  I had a lot of fun making these fun little ATCs.  I added a Prima wooden tag to the ATC above, and also added some bundled Navy Burlap String.   I just LOVE those miniature rusty paper clips...they're the cutest!

You'll also notice that I tied some Blueberry Baker's Twine around the Petaloo flower bundle.  And yes, I do realize that the Petaloo flowers/berries are green.  I just didn't want everything to be all matchy matchy too much, so I thought I'd bring in some green.  I thought it went well with the metal touches and earthy tones.

The close-up photos are cool because it allows you to see all the cool textures those acrylic paints gave my ATC background.  I love textures SO much, and always enjoy working with paints and other mediums that give my cards and projects such great dimension.

Well friends....I realize that's a whole lot of photos, but I was kind of excited at how cool these turned out...especially since it was my first real attempt at this sort of thing.  I really enjoyed it, and I'm so glad that SSS  Monday Challenge Blog put this out there this week cuz it really did inspire me.  I hope YOU are staying creative this week.  I look forward to seeing what you've created.

Blessings,

Karen

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - ATC: Artist Trading Cards - As I mentioned above, I really had fun with this.  It's new to me, but I sure enjoyed myself and will definitely make more ATCs.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Midsummer Blues - This was FUN!

Dare2BArtzy - August Challenge:  Anything Goes

Paper Sweeties New Release Rewind

Welcome back by today, everyone!  I hope you've been enjoying all the excitement at Paper Sweeties this month as we CELEBRATE our 5th Birthday.  If you've missed anything, be sure to stop by the Paper Sweeties Blog to learn more about the daily Guest Designers, the $100 Give-Away, 50% off all dolls, doll cuts, and doll outfit stamp sets, and SO much more excitement.   We've all had SO much fun sharing these super sweet projects with y'all.  The two New Release Stamp Sets this month from Paper Sweeties are DELICIOUSLY irresistible.  I can't get enough of them.....YUM!!  Here's my final project to wrap up this month's New Release. 

How sweet is this?  I just can't!  I'm DYING because it's just too cute!!  I made several different cupcakes (trust me) with this DARLING new Cupcakes & Sprinkles Stamp Set, and each one turned out SO super delicious....just as cute and sweet as the next.  It's just such a cute stamp set that you can't help but make darling projects with it.  Yes, I'm smitten once again.  The cupcake, banner strips (with flower) are all found in the Cupcakes & Sprinkles Stamp Set, and the fun sentiments I used (Best Teacher Ever) are from the new Best Day Ever Stamp Set.  I also tied in some Oatmeal Seam Binding and a few Cookie Dough Sequins.

This next photo is another version of this little treat bag that I made recently.  Since it also uses the new Cupcakes & Sprinkles Stamp Set, the Cupcakes & Sprinkles Sweet Cuts, and the new Best Day Ever Stamp Set.....I figured I share this one with you also. The extra cupcake banner I stamped and covered in vanilla glitter (the one you see moved around in various photos) was cut out using the Cupcakes & Sprinkles Sweet Cuts, and was hot glued to the front of a miniature clothespin. What a cute little accent!  It's like I said...you really can't keep your hands off this sweet set.  Everything just turns out, oh, SO sweet!!

Here's the list of all my talented teammates who have prepared some more SWEET inspiration for you.  Just click on their links, and you'll be taken directly to their Paper Sweeties' blog posts for today (I know you won't regret it).  There's so much excitement all month long at Paper Sweeties, so be sure to stop by often for inspiration, prizes, special sales/promotions and more.  Thanks again for visiting!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Amanda Bodine - Guest Designer
Diane Hover 
Karen Bull  
Karen Letchworth

Larissa Heskett
  Lisa Golzbein
Sarah Wyles 
Mackie Robertson

Maria Patrick

Blessings,

Karen

I'm playing along here:
Cupcake Inspirations Challenge Blog - Challenge #476 - Add Glitter.  Since I made several cupcake cards this week, of course I needed to "frost" them.  What better to "frost" my cupcakes than with glitter, right?  There's (vanilla) cream chunky glitter on my cupcake bands.  I love how the glitter makes the cupcakes look SO tempting.  Almost good enough to eat, huh?  Well, not quite...but they're fun to look at anyway.  Glitter makes everything sparkly and delicious.

Paper Sweeties August New Release Day

Hello!  I'm so glad you're here again today for the New Release at Paper Sweeties.  As of today, the two darling new sets - Cupcakes & Sprinkles Stamp Set, the coordinating Cupcakes & Sprinkles Sweet Cuts (steel dies), AND the  new Best Day Ever Stamp Set are available for sale in the Paper Sweeties Shop.  And....because we're celebrating our 5th Birthday, there are daily Guest Designers, a $100 Give-Away, and so much excitement happening  - so be sure to stop by the Paper Sweeties Blog often this month. You won't want to miss a thing.

I am absolutely in love with the delicious new Cupcakes & Sprinkles Stamp Set and Cupcakes & Sprinkles Sweet Cuts as well as the awesome new Best Day Ever Stamp Set with all of its amazing sentiments.  I love the cupcakes, cupcake wrappers, sprinkles, different banners, and sweet flowers.  I combined the two new sets together to create this sweet card for my Mom's birthday.  The card also includes a small tag (down at the bottom in pink) that was cut using the Stitched Tags #1 Sweet Cuts, and is tied with some Bubblegum Seam Binding and Watermelon Seam Binding and topped with a Pink Grapefruit Sequin.

You really can't resist all this sweetness.  I know you will LOVE these sweet stamp sets as much as I do.  As I've mentioned before, I absolutely cannot keep my hands off these delicious Cupcakes & Sprinkles.  So...I made yet another card.  This one uses a vintage soda shop receipt pad as the journalling spot.  I stamped the cupcakes, banners, and flowers using the Cupcakes & Sprinkles Stamp Set and cut them with the coordinating Cupcakes & Sprinkles Sweet Cuts.  I used a toothpick to put a bit of craft glue onto the stamped and cut cupcake banners, and carefully added tiny pink prills to the banners to give my card some awesome dimension.  I stamped several of the peppermint sticks found in the Homemade With Love Stamp Set and cut them with the Homemade With Love Sweet Cuts.  I also added some Marshmallow Sequins, Robin Egg Sequins, and Bubblegum Sequins.

I hope that by seeing my cards you're able to really see how much I really do ADORE these sweet new stamp sets.   I used the brand new Best Day Ever Stamp Set for the sentiment on my second card (Best Birthday Ever).  There are 20+ sentiments/words in this fabulous set, and this will help you to personalize the cards for any occasion and any person in your life.  It's just one of those perfect little sentiment sets.  I'm having SO much fun creating with these fabulous new stamp sets, and I hope you'll pick up yours today (I'm predicting this set will sell out because it's just so sweet) in the Paper Sweeties Shop. 

Sadly my photos of this second card didn't turn out the greatest because we had some really overcast weather.  I apologize that it's not as cute in the photos as it is in real life.  OK...here's that list I promised you, and I know that each of my talented teammates will have something extra special to share with you again today.  Oh...and don't forget about all the fabulous excitement going on this month at Paper Sweeties.  You'll definitely want to stop by often.  See y'all tomorrow. 

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Amanda Bodine - Guest Designer
Diane Hover 
Karen Bull  
Karen Letchworth

Larissa Heskett
  Lisa Golzbein
Sarah Wyles 
Mackie Robertson

Maria Patrick

Blessings to you,

Karen

I'm playing along here:
Cupcake Inspirations Challenge Blog - Challenge #476 - Add Glitter.  I love using glitter, and in this case; it was perfect choice to "frost" my cupcakes.  I used pink chunky glitter on my first card.  Click on the link to come by and play along.

Dare2B Artzy Challenge Blog - August: Anything Goes - I love to play along when I can.

Paper Sweeties August Sneak Peek

Hello friends and welcome by today as my friends at Paper Sweeties and I share some peeks at the DARLING New Release that will be available as of tomorrow in the Paper Sweeties Shop.  The new Cupcakes & Sprinkles Stamp Set is such a delicious set.  I can't get enough of it, and I'm sure you can see why.  These cupcakes turn out SO cute that they almost look good enough to eat.  I think I consumed a few calories just making my sweet card.

Using the new Cupcakes & Sprinkles Stamp Set, I stamped the adorable cupcake several times.  I also stamped the cupcake wrapper onto patterned paper and used the coordinating Cupcakes & Sprinkles Sweet Cuts to cut out the cupcakes, wrapper, toppers, etc.  I "frosted" all the cupcakes and wrappers with some chunky pink glitter, and added some Robin Egg Sequins, Bubblegum Sequins and Marshmallow Sequins to these sweet cupcakes.  Aren't they absolutely delicious?   YUM!!  This fun set is way too sweet to resist.

I used the Scalloped Square Frame Sweet Cuts to make the scalloped square frame.  I outlined that in the same chunky glitter that I used on the cupcakes.  The sentiments (batches of love AND sending you sugar, spice and everything nice on your birthday) are also all found in the new Cupcakes & Sprinkles Stamp Set.  The little banner was placed on a Mint Paper Straw and was stamped onto a tag found in the Stitched Tags #1 Sweet Cuts.  The Mint Paper Straw is topped with Bubblegum Seam Binding and Raspberry Seam Binding.  How SUPER sweet is this new set?

There's also a darling new sentiment set being released tomorrow that's called Best Day Ever which includes 20+ sentiments/words that can be used to help you personalize your cards for everyone in your life, and I'll be showcasing it tomorrow.  Thanks again for stopping by.  Here's the list of all my talented teammates who have created something sweet to inspire you using this darling new Cupcakes & Sprinkles Stamp Set.  Please stop back by again tomorrow for more inspiration on Release Day.  There's always lots of great inspiration, darling new products, and lots of fun at Paper Sweeties.  And...because we're celebrating our 7th Birthday at Paper Sweeties this month, there's lots of extra excitement on the Paper Sweeties Blog so be sure to stop by often.

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Amanda Bodine - Guest Designer
Diane Hover 
Karen Bull  
Karen Letchworth

Larissa Heskett
  Lisa Golzbein
Sarah Wyles 
Mackie Robertson

Maria Patrick

Blessings to you,

Karen

I'm playing along here:

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge Blog - Challenge #476 - Add Glitter.  This was the perfect challenge for this card.  I used lots of chunky glitter all over  my card, including on the cupcakes and around the frame.  Glitter is wonderful!!







Pammie's Inkie Pinkies Challenge Blog - Challenge #1932 - Anything Goes, sponsored by Newton's Nook. Thank you, Pam and friends, for another super fun challenge.  I always love to play along when I can.

Really Reasonable Ribbon August Blog Hop

It's Blog Hop time, ribbon lovers.  One lucky person is going to win this month's awesome Ribbon Club Assortment from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  Hopefully, you arrived here at my blog today by way of Cheryl's Blog; but if not, you can get caught up very quickly.  This is never a long hop, but it's filled with inspiration and one person will win this month's gorgeous Ribbon Club Assortment:

As I like to do, I'm sharing a sweet hair bow that incorporates ALL the fabulous trims found in this month's GORGEOUS August Autumn Ribbon Club Assortment including a length of each of the following: 3/8" Brown/Cream Plaid Ribbon, 5/8' Kiwi Delicate Stitched Satin Ribbon, 3/8" Autumn Paint Splatter on Ivory Grosgrain, 5/8" Copper Diamond Satin Ribbon, 5/8 Ivory/Brown/Copper Plaid Ribbon, 5/8" Tangerine Taffeta Ribbon, 3/8" Fall Leaves on Ivory Grosgrain Ribbon, 5/8" Tuftan Brown Delicate Stitched Satin Ribbon, 3/8" Copper/Cream Plaid Ribbon.

You can always purchase RRR trims individually, based on what you need, or in the Ribbon Club Assortment.  The bow is secured with a French Clip; which is one of many fabulous choices in the Headband/Clips section at Really Reasonable Ribbon.  It doesn't matter WHAT you're planning to make....Really Reasonable Ribbon will always have the perfect ribbons, trim, and SO much more to help you create something extra special.

Your next stop on this RRR Blog Hop is at my teammate Kathy's Blog.  She always has something fun to share that incorporates the ribbons in the Ribbon Club Assortment. Oh, and don't forget to answer the question at the end of the hop on the Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog so that you'll be entered for the Ribbon Club Assortment prize.  Thanks again for stopping by, everyone!

Blessings,

Karen

Have a BEE-autiful Day

Welcome by!  I hope you're having a BEE-autiful Day!  When I saw the new challenge over at Moving Along With The Times, I just KNEW that I wanted to play along.  You see, I got a new bee stamp set a while back from Honey Bee Stamps, and I hadn't used it yet.  This fun challenge gave me the perfect opportunity to pull it out and use it.  I also used a cool bee-hive type die-cut from Darice which I have used before; but it was so perfect for this card that I just had to incorporate it into this card.  It's similar to this Hexagon Cover Plate Die, but mine is by Darice.  Once I had my base together with the die-cut honeycombs, I stamped the bee hive, bees and swirls from the Bee Hive Stamp Set from Honey Bee Stamps.

I colored the images with my Copics, added a few yellow prills, and the sentiment I used is from a Paper Sweeties stamp set.  I couldn't find the exact stamp I was looking for.  I just knew that I wanted to create this card because I love the BEES and just hadn't had the opportunity to use this sweet new stamp set yet.  I love how it turned out. 

Here are the challenges where I'm sharing this fun little BEE card.  I hope you're having a creative week as well.  I look forward to getting some projects done this weekend while my boys are busy with work, hockey, and other "guy things".  You'll almost always find me in my craft room on the days they're busy doing other things.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Blessings,

Karen

Moving Along With The Times - Challenge #103 - BEES

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Add A Die-Cut - I used a Darice Honeycomb Die (similar to this one at SSS) to create the honeycomb background.  I used Honey Bee Stamps Bee Hive Stamp Set from SSS.