Guest Designing at Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge

If you're anything like me, you might enjoy a coffee, latte, tea or other favorite beverage while you're crafting.  My morning must-have drink is a vanilla latte, and my daytime drink is a strawberry acai lemonade.  Other than that, I drink water and unsweetened tea.  Either way, it's always nice to have a deliciously caffeinated beverage on hand when creating.  Today I'm honored to be a Guest Designer at the July Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge #55, and I'm sharing a few lattes with you all.

I cut three 4"x4" squares from white cardstock and layered them with some fun patterned papers from a line called Bundled Up by Crate Paper.  I used the A Cup of Java Dies from Stamp Simply to cut the coffee cups and handles.  The teacup die is an old one from Paper Sweeties because I think I lost my teacup from the Stamp Simply A Cup of Java Stamp Set.😢 The sentiment strips are also from this same paper line.  I used a super old heart die-cut set from Papertrey Ink to cut some small hearts that I attached with Tim Holtz Miniature Paper Clips.

While each card is very similar, they're each different as well.  By using one (cute) paper line, you can switch up the patterns allowing you to create more than one card at the same time.  This is a great way to pop out more cards rather quickly.  Just repeat your process on additional cards and change up the papers, designs, etc.  What a simple design that you could use for any occasion by simply changing up the papers you use.  By the way, the overall design for this card trio came from my talented friend, Esther Asbury.

If I forgot to mention any of the products I used, just let me know.  I'm always more than happy to answer any questions, but I think most of you can figure it out for yourselves.  lol  I just know that I tend to throw a lot on my cards, so I always do my best to list everything just in case there's someone out there who actually cares.  LOL  And if not, I'm getting good practice at my typing skills.

Here's the challenge logo for Challenge #55, and we sure do hope that you'll join all the FUN for your chance at a great prize.  There's always so much fabulous inspiration in these challenges.  Just stop on by to get some ideas and then play along.  It's always so much more exciting when everyone joins the excitement.  I hope to see you there.

For this month's Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge, you can share any new card that includes a Christmas theme and a coffee (or caffeinated beverage) image and/or sentiment.  There's even a fabulous PRIZE for this challenge from the Hostess, who is offering a $25 gift card.  Come by this month's Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge and share your wonderful art with us.  We'd love to have you join the fun.

I'm sharing my card trio here:

The Paper Funday Challenges - Challenge #89 - Anything Goes (obviously for me this time) or Optional Summer Splash.  I'm so excited to play along, as always.

Blessings,

Karen

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Today I had the fun opportunity to do some crafting just for fun.  I've been looking forward to having the time to use this sweet new die-cut set that a "Secret Santa" sent to me in the mail.  I don't know who it was from (other than that it was postmarked from Phoenix, Arizona) but, nonetheless, THANK YOU to whomever it was that sent me these lovely new dies from Honey Bee Stamps.  They are adorable, I love them, and I appreciate the gift.  Thanks for thinking of me.

I used a cream card for the base, and I layered that with several patterned papers from a line called Bundled Up by Crate Paper.  I machine stitched my papers together.  I used the darling In Stitches Candy Cane Dies from Honey Bee Stamps to create my ink-splattered candy canes.  I stitched them with DMC floss and attached them with Scor-Tape and 3-D White Foam Tabs.

Next, I used the Holiday Cheer Stamp Set from Creative Worship Stamps to stamp my sweet sentiment.  I also used the Lovely Layers Dies from Honey Bee Stamps for the foliage, holly, berries and bow.  The darling little coffee mug (because I can't do without coffee) is from the Coffee Talk Stamp Set from Creative Worship Stamps.  Lots of cuteness.

I'll be sharing my coffee candy cane card in a few fun challenges where I enjoy playing along whenever I'm able to do so.  Like I said, it's always fun and exciting when I can create just for fun.  I really do hope that you're all ready for Christmas and that you have a blessed time with family and friends.

Here's where I'm sharing my card:

Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge #48 - December Challenge/Anything Goes - My coffee image is from Creative Worship Stamps.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes Christmas

Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges - Challenge #2550 - Sponsored by Lawn Fawn

Blessings to you,
Karen

Stamp Simply Supports Coffee Lovers

The Coffee Loving Cardmakers' Blog Hops have been taking place for many years now.  I'm so happy to say that Stamp Simply has been a supporter of these Coffee Hops for a long time as well.  As a crafting community, we're all so grateful for the amazing companies (and their Owners) who so generously support our challenges, blog hops, etc.  My friend, Sharon, the Owner of Stamp Simply Clear Stamps is one of these amazing, generous and beautiful people.  I'm so grateful for her.

Stamp Simply carries so many great coffee-themed stamps and dies.  Well, then again, they carry almost every category or theme of stamps and dies that you can image.  Their beautiful images and sentiments cover all of life's wonderful occasions, and then some.  This card combines patterned papers from Carta Bella Fourth of July 6x6 Paper Pad, some dark wood Craft Consortium Wood Textures 6x6 Paper Pad, kraft corrugated cardboard, and kraft cardstock.

I used the A Cup of Java Steel Dies to cut my coffee mugs.  I used the He Is The Light Stamp Set for the lighthouse and wooden logs with rope.  I cut the wooden logs using the He Is The Light Steel Dies.  The coffee sentiment I used is found in the A Cup of Java Stamp Set.  The sentiment was stamped onto a circle that's cut using the Amazing Grace Hemstitch Circle Die.

Coffee is one of those universal loves, I believe.  But then again, so is art.  No wonder so many of us can relate to combining the two.  No matter what type of stamps, dies and products you're looking for, be sure to check out Stamp Simply.  They have SO many great choices, and you're sure to find so many new stamps and things to love.  Thanks so much for visiting me today.

Here's where I'm sharing my coffee card:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Simon Says "Add a Sentiment"

The Paper Funday Challenge - Challenge #68 - Anything Goes/Optional Twist Summer Holiday/Vacation - This card reminds me of our trips to Michigan and Minnesota to see the old lighthouses.

Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenge - Challenge #2433 - Sponsored by Newton's Nook.  Of all the stamps I own, I don't one single thing from Newton's Nook.  They have the cutest things, too.  Come, play along.

Blessings,

Karen