I Will be With You w/Stamp Simply

One of the many things that I love about Stamp Simply Clear Stamps is that I know I can always find the perfect stamps, sentiments, scriptures and products I need to help me create lovely cards.  Knowing that I'll always find the perfect scripture or sentiments to express how I'm feeling is such a tremendous blessing.  This week at Stamp Simply, we're showcasing some of the fabulous Lighthouse, Bridge and Great Lakes Freighter stamps we carry.  As always, these fabulous sets are also filled with awesome accent stamps, images, scriptures and sentiments.

I used kraft cardstock for the base and stamped pieces.  The patterned papers are (blue) from the Craft Consortium Beach Hut 6x6 Paper Pad and (red and stamps) from an older Graphic 45 Paper Pad.  I machine stitched my papers together and "roughed up" the edges a bit for a distressed look.  I also added some Jute String, a button and 1.5" Cluny Crochet Double Galloon Natural Lace.

That fabulous lighthouse I used can be found in the He is the Light Stamp Set.  The sentiment, border rope and seagulls are from the He Stilled the Storm Stamp Set.  I also used the coordinating He is the Light Dies and He Stilled the Storm Dies.  My sentiment was cut with one of the Fishtail Banner Dies.  Yes, Stamp Simply Clear Stamps has so many great stamps, dies and crafting goodies.  And....these fabulous products are ON SALE this week.

We hope that you'll visit us on the Stamp Simply Blog for lots of great inspiration, and also at Stamp Simply for some FUN shopping during this fabulous SALE.  Thanks for visiting me here today, and please stop by again soon.  Your visits are such a blessing to me.

Don't miss out on this week's fabulous sale.

Hugs,

Karen

Birthday Fishes Interactive Card w/CCS

When it comes to making Interactive Cards, it really does matter what kind of cardstock you use.  To get the best results and have the interactive mechanism on your card or project work properly, I would highly recommend the high-quality cardstocks from CutCardStock.  They are truly fabulous, and they've made all the difference in my cardmaking.

All the cardstocks I used on this card are from CutCardStock.  They include the base which is Astrobright 80 lb. Eclipse Black Cardstock, then DCS Textured Seafoam Green Cardstock, then DCS Texturized Pearly Curry Green Cardstock, and finally DCS Cougar White 160 lb. Cardstock.  All these same colors were used to cut and piece together the fish which is from The Greetery.

When you open the flap, there's an adhesive under the green star and the flap will stick to the other side revealing a 2.5" honeycomb ball.  I also added some baker's twines and a bit of cheesecloth to represent a fishing net.  Here's a photo (below) of the fish with the green honeycomb ball revealed.

What type of Interactive Cards do you enjoy making?  Be sure to stop by CutCardStock to grab some of their high-quality cardstocks.  They'll make a big difference in your crafting projects, and they'll stand the test of time without bending, creasing, etc.  Thank you so much for visiting me here today, friends.  I'm super grateful for you and I appreciate your visit, as always.

Blessings,

Karen

Fun Instagram Hop w/Creative Worship Stamps

If you love a good challenge, then we've got one ready for you over at Creative Worship Stamps.  Yes, there's a monthly challenge on the Creative Worship Stamps VIP Facebook Page where you can play along to WIN a $25 Creative Worship Stamps gift card.  AND....today also starts this month Challenge IG Hop where the theme is Use Your Scraps.  This is what I came up with using some scraps I had left on my table.  The card was made from two panels that were stencilled using Korin's fabulous stencilling ideas.  I used the negative side for the base and the other piece for the small cuts.

I used a white cardstock layered with black cardstock.  The top layer is a piece of Watercolor Paper that, like I said, was stencilled using the Jumbled Diamonds Stencil and Oxide Ink Sprays.  I cut that panel using the Postage Stamp Cover Plate Die and adhered that to my other base layers.  Next, I stamped the background of my card using the Vintage Snippets Stamp Set and the Library Card Stamp.

The background, and card in general, are a mess.  I rather like the messy look.  There are just SO many great stamps at Creative Worship Stamps to help you make fun cards.  That fun little dragonfly is found in the Funky Flutters Stamp Set.  The sentiment was stamped using the Typed Thoughts Stamp Set onto another stencilled paper scrap, and I cut it with the Typed Thoughts Dies.

Be sure to head over to the Creative Worship Stamps IG Page to get started on this fun hop for your chance to WIN.  Thanks so much for visiting me here today.  I'm always so grateful to have you visit and leave me a note.  Happy crafting, sweet friends.

I'm playing along here:

Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenge Blog - Challenge #2629- Anything Goes Sponsored by Gina K Designs

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Create Your Own Background

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Add Some Text

Blessings,

Karen

Christmas/Winter Mini Album

Hurray!  I get the unexpected treat of sharing one more Christmas project during the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers' Christmas in July Linky Party.  I thought for sure that I'd be sharing only the two projects I had scheduled before I left town.  However, I remembered this little mini album that I had started working on, photographed, and didn't ever post because it's still a bit unfinished.  Being that I'm away and can't create anything else right now, I decided to share this mini album that I created just before I left town for my parents' house.

I used a Greengrocer's Bag Kraft Envelope to create this mini album.  I attached several piece of Crate Paper ephemera including cardboard frames, die-cut pieces and more.  I also added a vintage doily (half on the front and half inside) as a softer accent.  I love the twist tie feature on this sweet envelopes.

The built-in pockets are so much fun.  I tucked in more of the sweet Crate Paper ephemera to the pocket.  I also added a Robin's Egg Wrinkle Ribbon bow topped with some rusty jingle bells.  Like I said in the beginning of this post, this album could use a lot more attention.  There are still some pretty bare spots.  I normally tend to add a lot (as you may have notice...lol).

Yes!  I even tucked in a Starbucks gift card.  The Stitched Pocket Die (black polka dot) is from Creative Worship Stamps.  I'm hoping to make my next mini album with two of these cool envelopes by sewing them together.  They're just so much fun, and those pockets are great for tucking in a surprise or two.  Thanks for taking a peek, friends.

I'm sharing this mini album here:

Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers' Christmas in July Linky Party - This is my third entry, and most probably my last.

Blessings,

Karen

LOVE JOY PEACE w/Stamp Simply

Today I'm up on the Stamp Simply Blog sharing a sweet Christmas card that uses just a few of my favorite products from Stamp Simply.  It's always fun to pull out these sweet stamps and try to find new and creative ways to use them.  The Vintage Christmas Background Stamp is one of my most favorite Stamp Simply products of all time.  It's a Christmas must-have and it makes such super sweet backgrounds.

I used black cardstock for the base that I layered with patterned papers from Craft Consortium Beach Hut 6x6 Paper Pad (green) and Carta Bella Christmas 6x6 Paper Pad.  I machine stitched my papers together.  The top layer was stamped using the gorgeous Vintage Christmas Background Stamp.  I used the coordinating Oval & Twigs Dies to cut the center oval.  I used a cardboard packaging scrap to cut the center oval and to stamp and cut the trees.  I like to repurpose cute things whenever possible.

The trees and the sentiment are found in the O Christmas Tree Stamp Set and I cut the trees with the O Christmas Tree Dies.  The sentiment was cut using the Fishtail Banner Dies and was placed at the bottom of the oval.  The trees have some 3-D Foam Tabs underneath to raise them and give them various dimensions.  I thought about a Seam Binding bow but decided against it this time.  The pretty paper layers are the star of this card.

Stamp Simply has so many gorgeous stamps, dies and crafting products to help you create fabulous cards.  You'll also find lots of great inspiration every day on the Stamp Simply Blog so don't miss any of the excitement, creativity and fun.  Thank you so much for visiting me here today and for leaving me your thoughts on today's card.  There's also a Christmas in July SALE this week that you'll want to take a look at, friends.  Happy crafting.

I'm sharing my Christmas card in this exciting event:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog - Simon Says "Add Some Text" - The text paper I used in my opening and to stamp the trees is a piece of cardboard packaging from and old Crate Paper embellishment set.  I love the text so much that I just had to repurpose it.

A Cut Above Challenge Blog - July 2 Year Anniversary - Anything Goes using die-cuts

Peace on Earth Christmas Card Challenge - Anything Goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenge Blog - Challenge #2629 - Anything Goes

Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers' Christmas in July Linky Party - This is my first (and may possibly be my only) entry.  I'm headed North to help care for my parents.  Bummed I won't be able to really play along in this special event.

Blessings,

Karen

Christmas Coffee Mini Album

A plain old brown paper lunch bag...you know, the kind you carried your lunch to school in every day as a kid?  That's exactly what I used to create this sweet and whimsical little Christmas mini album.  You simply grab a brown paper lunch sack, cover it with patterned papers, and you're well on your way.

This mini album was inspired by a card I created last year for Creative Worship Stamps using their FUN Vintage Snippets Stamp Set to create the tree trunk and branches with the ruler images.  This is such a great stamp set with so many groovy images for creating cool backgrounds and accents.  It's one of my favorites.  I added some rusty jingle bells to the tree branches.  I used the Christmas Wish List Stamp for the little kraft card where I stamped my "Christmas wish" several times......#coffee.

The coffee cup is from the Coffee Talk Stamp Set.  I also used the Scalloped Rectangle Dies and the Typewriter Text Background Stamp on the front cover of my album.  The next photo shows you the album once you untie the torn fabric ribbon bow to reveal the inside.  I failed, however, to photograph the right side where I tucked in a tag.

The very same products were used on the inside of the album.  I think the ruler trees are so fun.  All the different sizes and designs of ruler stamps in the Vintage Snippets Stamp Set are so super cool, and a truly versatile set for fun backgrounds and accents.  Have you stopped by Creative Worship Stamps lately?  If not, I'd suggest you take some time to visit and look around at all their fabulous products.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, friends.  I would have definitely shared this project in the Coffee Loving Cardmakers' July Christmas Card Challenge, but this isn't a card.  I was told you can only enter cards into this challenge.  Bummer.  Have a creative week, everyone.

I'm playing along here:

BYSHC Christmas in July Linky Party - This is my second entry.  I'd forgotten that I made this little album and never shared it anywhere.  I'm excited to be able to share a second entry.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Simon Says "Add Some Text" - For this mini album, I added text on the front cover and the inside using the Typewriter Text Background Stamp from Creative Worship.

Blessings,

Karen

Happy Birthday w/Poppystamps

Making Birthday cards is always a lot of FUN because you're usually thinking about the person who will be receiving it while you're creating it.  Whenever I use my die-cuts from Poppystamps, it's always a fun creative time.  These lovely dies make it SO easy to create pretty cards.  Just look at this sweet Birthday card I created using a few of Poppystamps wonderful products.

This card started with two cuts of basic white cardstock.  The top white layer was cut using the Heart Pinpoint Frame Dies.  This gave me a nice white base with lots of great texture.  Next, I used the Fine Eyelet Frame Dies (second to the smallest size) to cut another piece of the white cardstock.

This is where I placed the focal images for my card (the darling balloons).  I used the Festive Balloon Dies to cut all my sweet little ballons.  I cut them from the same simple white cardstock that I rubbed with inks and splattered with water and paints.  The balloon strings are pieces of DMC floss.  I loved adding the distressed look on the balloons to give them some personality.

At the bottom of my card, I added the Happy Birthday sentiment using the Happy Birthday Tender Script Dies.  I used the same ink colors to rub some shading on the backing of the words.  The top piece is, once again, simple white cardstock.  It's really a pretty simple card, and Poppystamps Dies make it so easy to create.

Thanks for visiting me here today, and please stop by my Instagram Page to Follow me there as well if you will.  It's been such a struggle to try to get to 1,000 Followers there.  But if I ever do, I'll be having a big give-away to celebrate.  I appreciate every visit, every comment, and all your sweet input and inspiration.  Have a blessed and creative week, everyone.

I'm playing along in these FUN challenges:

Seize the Birthday Challenges - Challenge #330 - I'm going with the Anything Goes option this time

A Cut Above Challenge Blog - July 2 Year Anniversary - Anything Goes using die-cuts

Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenge Blog - Challenge #2629 - Anything Goes

Spread joy,

Karen