April Challenge at The Card Concept

It's time for the April challenge at The Card Concept.  The inspiration photo is super sweet with soft pastels and sweet images.  We're all looking forward to seeing what you come up with when you look at this photo for your inspiration.  There were several elements that immediately caught my eye including the colors (pink, yellow, blue and green pastels), the cake/cupcakes, a party theme, etc.  What things pop into your creative mind when you look at the inspiration photo?

I used a sweet Crate Paper patterned paper for my base that I layered with white cardstock cut using the sweet Eyelet Rectangle Die Set from Pretty Pink Posh.  I stitched the eyelet holes with Solid Lemonwood Baker's Twine.  I rubbed the background of the white cardstock using a blending brush and Spun Sugar Oxide Ink.

All the other things on my card are stickers from Crate Paper.  I've got a HUGE stash of Crate Paper products that I tend to hoard a bit.  I was rather "lazy" in making this card by using only stickers and no real stamping, but it's still a fun card.  That's kinda the point with the challenges at The Card Concept.  You don't have to create anything super fancy, just whatever you're inspired to create when you look at the sweet photo (below).

I'm already excited to see what you'll create to share with us this month at The Card Concept.  It's one of my favorite things to see when I visit the blogs of those who play along in the challenges.  I so enjoy seeing how the photo inspired you and what products you used to make your card.  I also love how everyone sees something different and is inspired in a completely unique way according to the various artistic gifts given to us by our Creator, Jesus Christ.

Come play along with us this month at The Card Concept.  It's always more fun when everybody plays along.  Just look at the photo, think of a design, grab a few supplies, and come up with something to share with us.  I can't wait to see what you make.  Have a great week, everyone.  Thanks again for visiting me here today, and please pop back by again soon.  I look forward to your next visit.

Blessings,

Karen

Let It Snow

Hi friends!  Well.....it won't be snowing any time soon where I live.  That's just a fact.  But that doesn't mean that I can't dream about snow and all the fun things you can do in the snow.  Now of course, I'm not referring to the shoveling, cold mornings or having to plug in your car at night so the battery doesn't freeze.  No.  I'm referring to sitting by the picture window watching the snow fall, going sledding, making snow angels or catching a snowflake on your tongue.  You know....all those FUN Winter things.  That's exactly what we're celebrating this month at The Four Seasons Challenge Blog.  All things Winter - and we'd LOVE to have you play along with us.

I used a white cardstock base and attached some pretty Crate Paper patterned papers from an old line called Peppermint.  I die-cut a small doily, attached a tag, sticker, and a button from this line.  I stamped the JOY sentiment using Paper Sweeties Merry Stamp Set.  Some simply Pink Baker's Twine and a miniature paperclip were the finishing touches to this sweet little Winter card.

You can use the inspiration photo as a starting point and just let your creativity run wild.  When I saw the inspiration photo, the SNOW was what I saw.  That made me think about sledding and snow angels.  You don't have to use the photo literally.  It's just an inspiration.  We sure would LOVE to have you share your Winter cards with us as well.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today.  As I write this, I'm enjoying pure chaos (the good kind, of course) with our middle daughter and son-in-law who are missionaries.  They're staying with us for another week or so.  This "chaos" won't last forever; so I'm soaking it up and enjoying every crazy second of it.  They'll be heading overseas soon, so our time together is PRECIOUS.  Thanks for understanding, friends, why my card for this challenge was late.  There's still LOTS of time for you to play along at The Four Seasons Challenge Blog.  Happy crafting, and I'll see you in blogland soon.

Blessings,

Karen

Celebrate Christmas Critter Fun

Those of you who know me best are well aware of my deep love for all things Crate Paper.  They have made, over the years, very little that didn't appeal to me.  The lines I love most, I have LOTS of and use frequently.  Every now and then, I (or should I say we) get lucky and find things we love at a bargain price.  Such was the case with my beloved Crate Paper, a line called Snow & Cocoa, and a few random trips to my local Tuesday Morning stores.  There are two near me, and I try to hit them when I'm in that area.  I found several products from the sweet Winter Crate Paper line called Snow & Cocoa.  I went to Pinterest for some inspiration, and I found some.  I'm not real sure who originally made this card first shared on scrapbook.com.  Using that inspiration, here's what I created to share with you today....just for fun.

I started with patterned paper from the Snow & Cocoa 6x6 paper pad by Crate Paper.  Pretty much everything I used is from this sweet line.  I was lucky enough to find at Tuesday Morning the Snow & Cocoa Pom Poms, the chipboard jar with cellophane cover, the ephemera (deer, snowflakes, stamp, etc.), a white doily, and Black Licorice Baker's Twine.

The gold word JOY is actually printed on the cellophane cover on the jar; which is nice because it's a built-in sentiment.  There was lots of great ephemera in the various packages I purchased.  That's another reason why I LOVE Crate Paper so much.  All their lines comes with all the sweet extras you need (ephemera, stickers, journalling cards, chipboard, etc.) to make something lovely.  Anyway....I won't bore you with my deep LOVE for all things Crate Paper and my strange obsession with their lines/products (that I tend to hoard like a mad woman).

It's just cute stuff, right?  I didn't do anything difficult here.  No stamping, no real "technique" so to say; but it's FUN nonetheless, and I always enjoy these sweet products.  I love the layers of paper, etc.  I also like inked edges.....if you haven't noticed.  I'm excited that I'm able to enter a couple challenges this week, as I haven't had much time lately to do so.  I hope you're having fun whatever you're up to this (busy) week.  Take time to remember Jesus....the real reason for Christmas.  He's always thinking of you.

Blessings,

Karen

Here's where I'm playing along this week:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Simon Says "Christmas Critters" - My critters on this project are the deer on the background patterned paper, as well as the deer inside the jar, and even a polar bear on the stamp.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Simon Says "CELEBRATE" - This card was made to celebrate Winter, and to help its recipient (my niece) to take in all the JOY around her this season.  She lives where there actually are deer (not like here in Las Vegas).  She'll enjoy this, and it will help her to CELEBRATE Christmas.