With Sympathy

Hi, friends.  Thanks for popping in today.  I hope you're having a happy and creative week, and hopefully a nice relaxing weekend ahead as well.  While I don't need a sympathy card right now, I decided to make one so that I'd have an extra on hand.  I'm doing my best to get a little stash of cards in each category to have ready for giving.

This card uses black cardstock, sunflower yellow cardstock, and white cardstock that I stencilled and embossed with a beautiful emhossing folder from Altenew called Organic Linen.  It's one of my all-time favorites and I use it quite a bit.  The sentiment strip was also stencilled and pressure embossed.  The sentiment and flowers are from Stamp Simply.

I also added a length of Apple Green Baker's Twine and a few sequins as the finishing touches.  I'm happy to be able to create a few cards to enter in challenges that I enjoy.  I don't always have the time to do this, so I get excited when I'm able to play along in some of these FUN challenges.

Thanks so much for visiting me, and I'd love to hear what you think about my card.  Have a blessed week, dear blog friends.  I sure do appreciate you for stopping by and taking a peek at my art.

I'm sharing this card in the following challengs:

Stencil Fun Challenge Blog - August: Anything Goes/Nautical - I used an Altenew stencil and embossing folder on this card.  I didn't use the nautical theme.

Triple B Challenge Blog (Butterflies, Birds and Blooms) - August Challenge - I used some beautiful blooms on my card.  I added a butterfly, but ended up removing it and added the sequins instead.  Here's the beautiful (optional) inspiration board.

Colorful Options - August: Green/Yellow - See Inspiration Photo - I combined these pretty colors in this card as well.  So sweet.

Happy crafting.

Blessings,

Karen

Thanks

There are those times when simple words aren't enough to thank someone for their kindness towards you or your family.  Those are the occasions when I pull out my supplies to make a card.  Sending a handmade card is just another level, more than mere words, to show someone how very grateful you are for their actions.  So, when our son's Mother-in-law goes out of her way to bless us, I'm SO grateful.

Even before our kids were born, after they were born, and as they grew; I continually prayed for their (eventual) spouses because I knew that God would answer that prayer and give them the spouse(s) they were meant to have.  But what was completely an unexpected blessing was having in-laws who are also a blessing.  Our son's MIL lives near us.  She (their entire family) bless us (and the kids) in so many ways and I always want her/them to know just how much I appreciate it.

This card uses white cardstock and patterned papers from the Craft Consortium for the base.  I cut some scalloped borders, and I also stencilled a piece of white cardstock and also ran it through the Cuttlebug with the Organic Linen Embossing Folder from Altenew.  The flower is from Stamp Simply, and I tied a piece of Yellow Baker's Twine on the stem.

The sentiment is also from Altenew, and can be found in their Tiny Twigs Stamp Set.  I stencilled the sentiment strip with the same stencil and cut it with a Fishtail Banner Die.  I attached a single sequin topped with a heart-shaped Embellishment from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  I'm playing along in some of the challenges I love, and I hope you're doing the same this week.  Happy crafting.

Here's where I'm sharing my card:

 

Stencil Fun Challenge Blog - August: Anything Goes/Nautical - I used an Altenew stencil, stamp and embossing folder on this card.  I didn't use the nautical theme (obviously).

Triple B Challenge Blog (Butterflies, Birds and Blooms) - August Challenge - I used the beautiful bloom on my card.

Colorful Options - August: Green/Yellow - See Inspiration Photo - I combined these pretty colors.

Happy crafting.

Blessings,

karen

Happy Thanksgiving w/The Card Concept

Welcome by today, everyone!  Are you ready for another FUN challenge at The Card Concept?  Well, we've got a FABULOUS new challenge ready for you with another gorgeous inspiration photo that will prompt your creativity (we sure hope).  Actually, you get your choice of two different inspiration photos.  For this challenge, you get your choice of either an Autumn or a Winter inspiration.  Obviously, I chose the Autumn inspiration.

I used dark brown Bazzill cardstock and a scrap of patterned paper to start my card base.  I used a piece of watercolor paper and I pressure embossed it with a Shiplap/Deck Plates Embossing Folder by Altenew.  Next, I used Tim Holtz Oxide Inks in Marmalade, Fossilized Amber, Peeled Paint and Pumpkin to watercolor the faux wood planks.

I took a piece of vellum and I stencilled it using the Delightfully Delicate Stencil from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  I ran a piece of brown seam binding up my card and tied a bow with it.  I also tucked in some bundled Olive Burlap String and Ivory Burlap String.  I poked two stick pins into the bow for added color.  I also did a touch of the stencil work on the sentiment strip.

The pumpkins (stamps and dies) are from Papertrey Ink.  I used the same colors oxide inks for those as well.  Just ask me if you have any questions at all.  Thanks for stopping by today, and please be sure to join us for more FUN and inspiration at The Card Concept.  I'd really love to see YOU there.

Stencil FUN Challenge Blog - October: Stencil Fun - I used a doily stencil from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps on this card.

Colorful Options Challenge Blog - October: Outrageous Orange

Can You Handle the Pressure Challenge Blog - October: Anything Goes w/Twist Orange/Black - I used the Tim Holtz Lumber Embossing Folder on this card.

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Challenge #2242 - Anything Goes - Sponsored by the wonderful Lawn Fawn

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog - Halloween/Spooky

Dar & Diane's Double D Challenge Blog - Orange & Black

Thanks again for stopping by today.

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

Altenew Art by Terrific Taylee

This is my sweet little Taylee.  She's my first (oldest) grandchild.   When I told her Mama, my sweet daughter, Andrea, that I had a fun project for Taylee, she printed them out and got her started.  Altenew always has such FUN challenges, and this one is for the KIDS in our lives.

Taylee got started right away this morning carefully coloring her Altenew pictures. Now, please keep in mind that she is just three (3) and while her coloring isn't the best (don't tell her I said that, please) she gives it 100% effort and concentration. And.... she's VERY proud of her Altenew art.

Here's the link to Altenew and their FUN Kids' Challenge.  If you have grandkids, kids, nieces and nephews or little friends, I'm sure they'd love to play along in this wonderful challenge as well.  I believe in introducing art to children at a young age and, hopefully, inspiring the creativity that lies within them.  Have a wonderfully creative week, friends.

Altenew - Altenew Card Blog - Kids' Coloring Contest #5 - As detailed above, all these gorgeous pictures were colored by my precious granddaughter, Taylee, Age 3.  Thanks for this special opportunity for the children.

Blessings,

Karen

By The Sea at The Card Concept Challenge

It's the first day of a brand-new challenge over at The Card Concept Challenge Blog; and this time the challenge theme is "By The Sea".  You can create anything that the photo inspires you to make.  Let your creative talents run wild.  Because I was terribly pressed for time this week (and I didn't plan ahead through the end of the month), I threw together a very quick card for this challenge.

As you can clearly see, I completely ignored the color scheme and went with the idea of being "By The Sea" when I created this quick little card.  I started with a black cardstock and I used the Crimped Frame Dies from The Greetery on that as well as two October Afternoon journalling cards.  I attached them to the black base, and that was pretty much the entire card.

I attached a few October Afternoon star stickers to the card, and I tied a nice long length of Solid Red Baker's Twine around my card and tied it into a tidy bow.  Like I said, it's incredibly simple.  But that's just to remind everyone that making a card doesn't always need to be a big difficult chore.  Simply use what you have on hand to create something fun.  The challenges at The Card Concept are just a starting point for your creativity.  We can't wait to see what you will create to share with us at The Card Concept.

For lots of FUN with challenges, I really hope you'll come by The Card Concept this week to share your "By The Sea" and other Summer creations.  I'd also LOVE to have you stop by Word Art Wednesday to play along with us there as well.  The wonderful Altenew is our sponsor for this challenge.  Woo hoo.

I'm playing along here:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog - Simon Says "Something Beginning With an S" - I used a Sailboat, Solid Red Baker's Twine and Stickers.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog - Simon Says "Clean and Simple" and for those who know me, you're aware that this card is very clean and simple.

Dar & Diane's Double D Challenge Blog - Beach Time - I was inspired by the beachy ocean theme.

Where are you playing along this week?  I always enjoy a good challenge, and I hope to see some of your art this week as well.  Happy crafting, everyone.

Blessings,

Karen