Guest Designing at Paper Funday Challenge

It's a FUN DAY when you get an invitation to be a Guest Designer.  It's even more FUN when you get to do it at a FUN challenge blog like Paper Funday Challenge Blog.  I was delighted to see one of my recent cards get selected as a top winner that came with an invitation to be their May Guest Designer.  I hope that you'll pop on over to Paper Funday Challenge to play along.  You can share any project as long as the key ingredient is.....paper.

I started this card with a deep green cardstock that I layered with pretty American Crafts floral patterned paper.  The third layer of paper is basic white cardstock that I used as a base to stamp several cute/sweet words in various colors of ink.  These words were stamped using the Blessed Stamp Set and the Merry Stamp Set from Paper Sweeties.  I fought (literally) with my sewing machine over the course of two days.  Guess who won!!??!!  Not me.....so no stitching for now.

I used the Homemade With Love Stamp Set, also from Paper Sweeties, to stamp the cupcakes and candy stick.  Once I had attached my cupcakes, I added a rolled paper flower with some Iridescent White String. I LOVE that this card is made of so many paper layers.  That's what the Paper Funday Challenge is all about.

Be sure to come play along in this fun challenge.  The more you share your art, the more people who get to see and enjoy it.  Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today, and please visit me again soon.  It means so much, and I appreciate you for it.

I'm playing along by sharing my card in the following:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Simon Says "Something Feminine" this week.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Simon Says "Feminine" this week also.

Blessings,

Karen

Come Play Along at Paper Funday

There's a super FUN challenge blog where I love to play along, and I was delighted when they asked if I would be their Guest Designer this month.  The challenges at Paper Funday are always Anything Goes with an optional twist.  This month, for Challenge #51/March Challenge there's the Anything Goes option and also the BREW-tiful Option which is what I chose.  So, I "brewed up" this fun card using some of my favorite coffee themed stamps.

I used kraft cardstock for the card base and stamped the background using Textures Tiles 9 Stamp Set and Going Postal Stamp Set both from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  The coffee mugs and sentiment are from their Coffee Talk Stamp Set.

At the bottom of my card, I added a piece of patterned paper from the Carta Bella Welcome Autumn 6x6 Paper Pad.  I also tied on some Solid Yellow Baker's Twine and some Solid Orange Baker's Twine.  Coffee cards are always some of my most favorite cards to make, and you can probably tell that I had a lot of fun creating this one.

We all look forward to seeing all the BREW-tiful cards you will make to share in the Paper Funday Challenge this month.  Your art is always welcome and appreciated, and we're grateful to have you join the fun.  The sponsors for this FUNDAY Challenge are Varada Sharma Designs and Star Stamps.  Brew up a cup (or two) of your favorite caffeinated beverage, create something new, and head on over to the Paper Funday Challenge to link up with us.  We look forward to seeing you there.

I'm sharing my card here:

Stencil FUN Challenge Blog - February: Anything Goes/Optional Hearts - I used a Paint Splatter Stencil from SNSS.

As You Like It Challenge Blog - Favorite Stencil or Freestyle Background - I do enjoy using a stencil when I remember to do so, but I think I prefer a freestyle background.  The reason why is because I enjoy having the ability to add whatever color best suits my card.  On this card, I used a stencil AND did some stamping.

Blessings,

Karen

Christmas, Coffee and Hearts

What an AWESOME combination for a card.....Christmas, Coffee and Hearts (Love).  Some of my (and our) favorite things, right?  This is a card that I was able to create just for fun.  No DT assignments, no real reason why, but just because it celebrates several of the sweetest things in life.  I was also inspired by some of my favorite challenges when I created this sweet card.

I started with basic black cardstock and I rubbed the edges with white chalk ink.  Next, I added a layer of natural corrugated cardboard.  The next layer is a piece of white/cream watercolor paper that I stamped using the Typewriter Text Stamp from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps and also rubbed on a stencilled background in Brick Oxide Ink using their Delightfully Delicate Stencil.  The cute coffee mug and flower-shaped sequin are from Paper Sweeties.  The holly and ivy were cut from wool felt using a die-cut set from Papertrey Ink.

I also added some Black & White Bold Check Gingham Ribbon and lovely piece of Natural Crochet Lace from Really Reasonable Ribbon.    The big layered hearts were cut from red cardstock and black corrugated cardboard using a lovely heart die-cut set also from Papertrey Ink.  I used Making Memories white rub-ons for the sentient.  I've still got oodles of rub-ons that rarely get used any more so I'm trying to work them into some of my projects and use up those old goodies from my stash.  I'm excited to play along in these FUN challenges that I enjoy.

Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge Blog - Challenge #14 - Hearts - As I mentioned, I incorporated Christmas, Coffee and Hearts.  How FUN.

Paper Funday Challenge Blog - Challenge #50 - Anything Goes/Lots of Layers - I used loads of paper layers on this sweet card, as I usually tend to do.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Love Is In the Air

Stencil Fun Challenge Blog - January Theme: Winter - The stencil I used is the Delightfully Delicate Stencil from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps VIP Challenge - February - Pink, Green and Cream Color Challenge - I didn't really use pink, but I used lots of green and cream.  I used SNSS Delightfully Delicate Stencil and their Typewriter Text Stamp Set.

I hope you're playing along in some fun challenges this week.

Blessings to you,

Karen

A New Challenge at The Card Concept

It's time for a brand new challenge at The Card Concept and we sure hope that you will play along with us.  This is the inspiration photo for the new challenge to give you a starting point.  You don't have to follow it literally.  Just let something in the photo speak to your creative side.  Perhaps a color, a texture, an image or anything that makes you feel creative.  The most important thing is to have FUN.

I was inspired by the colors black, red and pink.  I was also drawn to the idea of using the hearts when I created my card.  I used basic black cardstock and some patterned paper from the Carta Bella My Valentine 6x6 Paper Pad.  The lovely sentiment I used is from the Love Is In the Air Valentine's Bundle at Bonnie Garby Designs.  I used a heart stencil and rubbed on some Spun Sugar and Kitsch Oxide Inks to the sentiment square.  You'll absolutely LOVE all the great sentiments and goodies over at Bonnie Garby Designs.

Next, I used a Papertrey Ink Heart Die to cut the hearts from corrugated cardboard and more of the patterned paper.  I added a small coffee cup (from Paper Sweeties) and a small Crate Paper circle sticker.  I also added a few sequins, some wrapped/knotted Solid Black Baker's Twine and a Miniature Ivory Sweetheart Blossom.

I like how my stencilled hearts match the hearts on the patterned paper (well, sorta anyway...lol).  How will this inspiration photo speak to your creative side?  We look forward to seeing what you come up with to share in this FUN challenge.  The card styles are defined for you here on The Card Concept Blog.  Thanks so much for stopping by to take a peek at my card, and I'll see you out there in blogland.

I'm sharing my card in the following:

Stencil Fun Challenge Blog - Challenge Theme: Winter - I'm sharing a Valentine's Day card which, of course, is a Winter holiday.  I used a heart stencil that I picked up at Walmart in a multipack.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Simon Says "Food and/or Drink" - My card has a cute little coffee cup, which is my favorite drink of all.

Paper Funday Challenge Blog - Challenge #50 - Anything Goes/Lots of Layers - This is yet another card I created with LOTS of fabulous paper layers.  I love using various textures and layering them so this challenge was right "up my alley" so to speak.  This is my Entry 6/6

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Simon Says "Love is in the Air" - What the world needs now is LOVE, sweet LOVE.

Colorful Options Challenge Blog - February: PINK - This is my favorite color and the inspiration photo inspired by sweet pink hearts and accents.

Dar & Diane's Double D Challenge Blog - Theme: Love (Inspiration Photo) -  I was inspired by the all the adorable hearts as well as the color scheme.  I absolutely love to play along in this FUN challenge whenever I'm able.

Thanks again for stopping by my blog today, friends.

Blessings,

Karen