Be Joyful - Make My Monday

Are you ready for another FUN and creative challenge?  Well, we've got a great one for you over at Make  My Monday Challenge Blog.  The theme for this new challenge #241 is Stitching Real or Faux.  This one was right "up my alley" because I love to machine stitch on my cards.  If you don't have a sewing machine or don't sew on paper, you can draw the stitches, use rub-on stitches or even stamped stitches.  The idea is to simply add some stitching either real or faux (fake).

I used kraft cardstock and an old cream patterned paper to create my card base.  I machine stitched the two pieces together using my sewing machine and some cream thread.  On that cream base, I used the Tim Holtz Holiday Knit Stencil to rub on the festive background in both red and green inks.  I just wanted that pop of color on my background.

I used small scraps of fabric and some cream wool felt to create the stitched fabric squares.  I cut the cream wool felt with my pinking shears and then I machine stitched on the various fabric scraps.  This gives me great texture and dimension.  It also lends a warm homespun feel to me card.  I added a couple buttons and a piece of Prima Flair (wreath button).  I've had fun being a special Guest Designer at Make  My Monday Challenge Blog, but this is my last challenge designing for them.  I've got some really exciting new things happening in the New Year.  Praise God!

We sincerely hope that you'll create something Stitched (Real or Faux) and come play along with us over at Make  My Monday Challenge Blog.  It's always more fun when YOU can play along.  That's how you'll get more people to see your art, visit your blog or social media, and have a lot of fun in the process.  Grab those stitched elements and come join us.  I'll see you out there in Blogland, friends.

I'm sharing here:

Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenge - Challenge #2450 - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Simon Says "It's a Wrap" - I used fabric on my card which is something you "wrap up" with when you're cold.

Stencil Fun Challenge Blog - Use a Stencil/Winter or Christmas - I used a Tim Holtz Holiday Knit Stencil on this card.  I just love using stencils on my backgrounds.

Blessings,

Karen

Sweet Treats at Make My Monday

It's time for a delicious new challenge over at Make My Monday Challenge Blog, and the theme this time is Food & Drink.  I got excited when I saw this theme, and I hope it excites you too.  I had this darling new die set from The Greetery that I've been waiting to use, so this was the perfect opportunity to do so.  It's always fun creating yummy food and drink cards, and we're all looking forward to seeing what you will create to share with us.

I used basic white cardstock and one patterned paper from American Crafts Good Tidings 6x6 Paper Pad.  I cut each layer using the Crimped Frame Dies from The Greetery.  I used the Christmas Figgy Pudding Dies for the cake, frosting (which I glittered), the holly/berries, bow and platter.  The candy sticks and sentiment stamp are from Paper Sweeties.

I tied a bow using Iridescent String from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  You can see the glitter better in the above photo.  I used the Psalm Reflections Corner Dies from Papertrey Ink on my corners.  I gave them some "snow" with my white pen.  I think that pretty much covers all the supplies I used, but if you have any questions; just let me know.

We really hope that you'll stop by Make My Monday to play along in this FUN new challenge.  It's always more fun when everybody plays along, and we always enjoy seeing your wonderful creativity.  Have a blessed week, and thanks again for stopping by my blog.  Your visits and comments always make my day.

I'm playing along here:

TIME OUT Challenge - Challenge #276 - Warm & Cozy - I love to do Christmas baking.  It really makes me, and my whole house, feel warm and cozy.

A Cut Above Challenge - November: Let's Warm Up - My card celebrates baking which is always a favorite way to warm up during the Winter months.  YUM!  The dies I used on my card include the Crimped Frame Dies and the Figgy Pudding Dies all from The Greetery.

Blessings,

Karen

  

Wild Animals at Make My Monday

Wild Animals is the theme of the new challenge #238 over at Make My Monday, and we hope you'll visit to play along with us   When I first saw this challenge theme, I really didn't know what I would create.  As I started looking through my stamps and dies for some wild animals, I realized I didn't have many.  I ended up having to create my own. What Wild Animals do you have hiding in your craft room?  I can't wait to see.  And if you don't own any, you can draw them like I did.

I started my card with black cardstock that I layered with a piece of giraffe patterned paper.  I cut the background frame using a Taylored Expressions Frame in Frame 2 Scallop Dies.  I hand drew the black lines around the edge, much the same way that I drew the faces and touches onto the animals.  The sentiment is from Paper Sweeties and was placed on a Fishtail Banner Die.

The elephant is from the Sketched Elephants Clear Stamp Set found at Whimsy Stamps.  The chicken is from the What's Up Chickie Stamp Set found at Paper Sweeties.  The giraffe, lion and hippo were just images that I drew by hand onto white cardstock, colored with my Copics, and hand cut.  The sweet Yellow Gold Gingham Ribbon I used is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

I really hope you'll pop over to Make My Monday to join us.  Let your creativity "run wild".....get it?  LOL  It's a really fun theme that you'll enjoy creating a card for, and we're really looking forward to seeing what you will come up with to share in this challenge.  See you out there in blogland, everyone.

I'm sharing my fun animal card here:

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

As You Like It Challenge - Favorite Critter and Why - I love animals in general.  My favorite, or at least one of them, is the elephant.  The reason why is because it reminds me of my childhood and going to the Ringling Brother Barnum & Baley Circus.  I love the elephants and how inteligent they are.

Blessings,

Karen

My Halloween BOO at Make My Monday

Are you ready for some spooky fun and another great challenge?  Well, it's time for Challenge #237 at Make My Monday and there's a fun Spooky/Halloween theme this time.  Here in the US, Halloween is in just ten more days.  The challenges at Make My Monday are based out of the UK, and I'm not really sure if Halloween is a "thing" there or not.  Either way, you can play along and share anything that says Halloween/Spooky or Autumn to you.  We just look forward to seeing your creativity at play.

For this card, I used a cute slimline die from Whimsy Stamps called Slimline Scallop Die.  I just love the cute little openings.  They're pierced (have holes), so you could actually stitch them if you wanted (which I've done before - SO cute).  This time, instead, I inked each one with oxide inks. I hand-cut a wavy piece of paper that I used to section off a piece of the card (middle) that I rubbed with oxide inks to create the purple/pink background.

How cute!  Not really all that "spooky", but that's quite alright with me.  I used a (long since retired) stamp set from Simon Says Stamp called Too Cute To Spook.  I colored all the darling images with my Copics.  The cute sprinkles around my card are Candy Glazed Confetti from Whimsy Stamps.  They're fun to use in shaker cards or as photo props.

We really hope that you'll come play along with us at Make My Monday Challenge.  I'm even offering up a special PRIZE for this challenge - for participants in the US only.  Sorry, UK players.  I love and appreciate you all, but shipping costs are crazy.  This (retired/out of stock) stamp set is called Halloween Ingredients and is from the wonderful Poppy Stamps.  UPDATE:  Winner: #37 Donna W. please email me to claim.

Thanks SO much for stopping by today.  I really hope that you'll become a new FOLLOWER of my blog and my Instagram Page.  I'll see you at Make My Monday and out there in social media/blog land.

I'm playing along here:

Simon Say Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Spooky/Halloween - My card is cute, but super "spooky", too.  Right?  LOL

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Spooky/Add Some Purple - I absolutely love adding purple to my Halloween cards.  I used a hand-cut "wavy stencil" or block to add my inked border to incorporate the purple at the center of my card.  I also used some purple on the scalloped window, etc.

Blessings,

Karen