Warm Autumn Wishes

It's already October if you can believe it.  WOW, where has this year gone?  It seems like we just got started, and here we are.  Well, a new month means a new and exciting challenge over at The Four Seasons Challenge Blog.  This month we're celebrating Autumn with a gorgeous inspiration photo, and it will be a whole lot more FUN if YOU come play along with us.

Things really start changing in October, and I was drawn to the warmth of the blankets, candle, gorgeous Fall leaves, and all the joy Autumn brings.  I used black cardstock and a piece of orange gingham Carta Bella patterned paper from the Welcome Autumn 6x6 Paper Pad to create my card base.  A did a bit of machine straight stitching in black just to make it a tad more interesting.

I used the Shiplap Builder Dies from The Greetery to cut my wood slats by laying woodgrain washi tape on paper and then cutting the strips.  I did the same thing for the sentiment strip.  I added some bundled Burlap String, a few Stamens, a miniature paper clip, and a Sweetheart Blossom as the finishing touches.

The pumpkins and the sentiment are from an old PTI set called Pumpkin Patch that I always pull out this time of year.  It's still a favorite of mine.  What part of the inspiration photo speaks to your creativity?  We can't wait to see all the wonderful Fall cards and projects you'll make and share this month.  We're excited to have you stop by The Four Seasons Challenge to share with us.

Thanks again for stopping by today.  I'm always SO blessed by your visits, your comments, and your friendships.  You all inspire me SO much.

I'm playing along here:

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

Allsorts Challenge Blog - Week #696 Gardener's Delight

Happy crafting,

Karen

Celebrating Coffee Day w/Stamp Simply

We all love coffee, right?  Well, at Stamp Simply Clear Stamps, we LOVE coffee and we're celebrating along with our friends at the Coffee Loving Cardmakers' Blog for National (and International) Coffee Day.  What could be better?  To celebrate the Coffee Loving Cardmakers Blog Hop, Stamp Simply is having a BIG SALE on ALL their coffee-related products.

My card starts with a basic black cardstock.  I attached a piece of patterned paper from the Carta Bella Happy Christmas 6x6b Paper Pad and I machine stitched the papers together.  I also used a piece of woodgrain paper from the Craft Consortium's Wood Textures 6x6 Paper Pad and I ran that through my BIGkick using a Tim Holtz Lumber Embossing Folder.

I used the coffee set called Have a Cup on Us Stamp Set for the latte cup.  I cut it using the coordinating Have a Cup on Us Dies.  Then, I used the Christmas Stockings & Mittens Stamp Set to stamp the sentiment and the mittens and I cut them using the coordinating Christmas Stockings & Mittens Dies.  The snowflake die-cut is also found in the Christmas Stockings & Mittens Dies.

I also added a length of Solid Ivory Baker's Twine to the mittens, and I ran a length of Grey Seam Binding up the right-hand side of my card and tied a pretty with bow it at the top.  There's lots of great ribbon, lace and papers at Stamp Simply in addition to all their wonderful stamps.  Be sure to stop by the Stamp Simply Blog for your chance to win a $25 Gift Certificate to Stamp Simply.

Be sure to check out Stamp Simply and don't miss your chance to WIN $25 to spend at Stamp Simply.  We look forward to having you visit us soon.  Happy hopping, crafting and coffee drinking; and thanks for visiting me today.

I'm playing along here:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Blessings,

Karen

Harvest JOY w/Stamp Simply

Welcome by, everyone.  I'm so grateful to have you visit me today.  Knowing you've been here, reading your comments, and seeing all your wonderful creativity blesses me so much.  Please know that I am SO very grateful for every single person who stops here.  Since you're here, I hope you'll stay long enough to see this Autumn card I created for Stamp Simply Clear Stamps using just a few of their (many) amazing products.

I started with basic black cardstock and then I layered some of the lovely patterned papers from the 6x6 Carta Bella Welcome Autumn Paper Pad.  It's filled with gorgeous patterned papers that are perfect for Fall card-making.  I machine stitched the papers together with black thread.  I added a few sequins and a Tim Holtz miniature paperclip.

I used the Fishtail Banner Die-Cuts for the white sentiment strip where I placed the word JOY which was die-cut from basic black cardstock using the Peace & Joy Die Set.  The leaves were stamped using the beautiful Harvest Stamp Set, and I used Copics to color them.  They were die-cut using the coordinating Harvest Die Cuts.  There are SO many lovely sentiments in this set (as in all Stamo Simply sets).

I made a matching envelope for this card by simple taking an extra envelope I had on hand (you know, the kind that come in the mail when you make a charitable contribution) and I stamped the word Autumn across the pre-printed tree.  It's always quick and easy to make a matching envelope, and it adds so much to the card-giving experience.

Thanks again for stopping by my blog today, friends.  It really does touch my heart, bless me and make me grateful.  We all need encouragement now and then, and I always appreciate it more than you'll know.  Have a blessed week and please don't forget to stop by Stamp Simply to check out all their wonderful stamps and products.

Dar & Diane's Double D Challenge Blog - Things That Fall - I'm entering my falling leaves card and envelope

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Simon Says "Card and Matching Envelope"

Blessings,

Karen

Congratulations w/Love My Tapes Washi

Thanks so much for popping by again today, friends.  I'm sharing a cute little back-to-school card that I created using some FUN Washi Tapes and Stickers from Love My Tapes. OOOoooo...they're just SO much fun, and I never get tired of finding new and creative ways to use my Washi Tape.

I used white cardstock to create my card.  I covered it completely using torn strips of then 108 Track Washi Tape to create a unique "patterned paper" of sorts.  What a FUN background.  Next, I die-cut a yellow piece of cardstock onto which I stamped my sentiment (Congratulations).  I stamped this, along with the flag and stack of books using stamps from Paper Sweeties.

I used torn pieces of the 108 Track Washi Tape, some pieces of  91 Notebook Washi  and also Ruler Washi Tape and laid them, again, onto white cardstock.  Then I used a Paper Sweeties Small Tag Die to cut the small Washi Tape tags.  I ran some Solid Baker's Twine through the small tags.  I also added some of the adorable Lovely Bear Stickers to my tags and to the matching envelope.

Love My Tapes has so many cute styles and designs of Washi Tape as well as adorable journalling stickers to help you get creative.  I hope you'll stop by Love My Tapes to take a look around at what might inspire YOU to get creative with washi.

I'm linking up here:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Simon Says "Card With Matching Envelope" - This is something I do pretty regularly, and using washi tape is a great, quick, easy way to make a matching envelope.

Happy crafting,

Karen

Give Thanks Again and Again

Hello, and thanks for stopping by today.  This card I'm sharing today is one that you may recognize because I've created this card before for Stamp Simply.  I liked how it turned out so much that I used the same suppplies as the first time around, and I recreated it using almost exactly the same things.  The only differences are one of the patterned papers is different, and I also added some embellishments this time.

This card started with black cardstock and the beautiful patterned papers found in the Carta Bella Welcome Autumn 6x6 Pad following a card layout inspired by my talented teammate, Esther.  I just LOVE these papers and wanted to show you how easy it is to make a pretty card using them.  The stamped sentiment is found in the new Falling Leaves Stamp Set.

One fun thing I did for this card that I didn't do last time I made this card was to create a matching envelope.  To do so, I simply attached another one of the journalling cards found in the Carta Bella Welcome Autumn 6x6 Pad.  Making a matching envelope is quick and easy and it makes card-giving extra fun.

Below are the challenges where I'll be sharing my card and matching envelope.  I hope that you are having a blessed and creative week.  Thanks again for visiting me.  I appreciate it so much.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Simon Says "Matching Card & Envelope"

Have a blessed day,

Karen

Give Thanks w/Really Reasonable Ribbon

It's no secret that I absolutely LOVE ribbons.  Those who stop by my blog frequently (and I do SO appreciate you) are aware that I enjoy working with lots and lots of RIBBON, and that I feel so very blessed to be on the Really Reasonable Ribbon DT.  I just love the extra texture that ribbons and trims add to any and every project they touch.  And when it comes to ribbons and trims, Really Reasonable Ribbon has it ALL and then some.

I used black cardstock and some cute Carta Bella Hello Autumn 6x6 Patterned Papers and journalling card to create my card base. Well..... all that AND lots of lovely RIBBONS. I added a length of Black & White Gingham Ribbon, Plaid Orange Ribbon With Black Stitched Edges, and one of my all-time favorites - Bay Leaf Seam Binding. I used all the same trims as listed and linked above to make my little tag at the bottom left. I stamped the word thanks on a small kraft tag and tied it all together with a nice long piece of Ivory Burlap String. It just helped me tie in, and repeat, all the different ribbons I laid on my card underneath the sentiment square. Thanks for stopping by today, and please don't forget to visit Really Reasonable Ribbon for ALL your ribbon needs (as well as Adhesives, Flowers, Embellishments and SO much more).

I also made a matching envelope for my card.  I like to do this whenever possible because it's SO easy to do, and it makes card-giving so much more fun.  Just handing someone a decorated envelope lets them know that something extra special is inside.

Here's where I'm playing along:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Card & Matching Envelope - I do this quite a bit

Thanks again for visiting.

Blessings,

Karen

Autumn Blessings

Hello, and welcome by.  I had a little extra time yesterday here and there throughout the day in between doing other things where I was able to step in and out of my craft room working on this card.  By early evening, I was finished; but it was too late in the day for me to photograph the card.  I waited until this morning to do that, and to finish this blog post.

Here's what I created.  I used cardstock and then patterned paper scraps to make the card base.  I also cut several scalloped border strips; one from inked paper and several from the patterned papers.  I used a Sweet 'n Sassy Scalloped Border Die for that.  I also tied some Solid Pumpkin Baker's Twine around the card.  I used more patterned paper scraps to cut all the leaves.  I inked them, attached them, and added some floral prills to the leaf clusters.

I used a piece of white paper that I embossed using the Deck Planks Embossing Folder from Altenew.  I used oxide inks to paint that, and I stamped a Stamp Simply sentiment on that.  I splattered that embossed sentiment spot with black paint.  I added a few more floral prills to that piece as well.  There's a Tim Holtz rusty paperclip on this card.

Because I love to do so, I also created a quick and easy matching envelope for this card.  I used some woodgrain washi tape, a patterned paper scrap, and some Stamp Simply stamped (image and sentiment) to complete the envelope.  Very simple, but a very nice touch to have a matching envelope.  I do this almost always.  Please let me know if you have any questions about anything I used.  I'll be sharing my card in the challenges listed below

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Simon Says "Matching Card and Envelope"

Try It On Tuesday Challenge Blog - Theme: Emboss It - I used an Altenew Plank Embossing Folder on the sentiment spot and on some of the leaves.  I've really been "challenging" myself to use my embossing folders more often.  I do love the amazing texture they give our cards.

Double D Challenges - Dar & Diane's Challenge Blog - Theme: Things That Fall - I used LEAVES as my "falling" item.  I love to sit and watch the leaves fall from the trees.  I also love the colors of the Autumn leaves.

Art Impressions Challenge Blog - Theme: "It's Fall Y'all" - I'm sharing this fun Fall card.  I love AI and all the great inspiration there.  I'm sure they'd love to have you all play along as well.

Blessings,

Karen