Follow Your Dreams w/Brutus Monroe

Welcome by my blog today, everyone.  It's always so good to have you stop by to see what I've been creating and say hello.  I appreciate your visits more than you can possible know.  By the way, if you're not following my blog yet; I'd LOVE to have you become a new follower.  I'm getting ever closer to that big 1,000 followers mark, and I'd really appreciate your help in getting me there.  It's been a LONG time coming.

Today I'm sharing a FUN card that I made using the Brutus Monroe Reach For The Stars Inspiration Box.  I started with some of the pretty cardstocks found in the Inspiration Box to create my base.  Next, I used some Denim Tim Holtz Oxide Ink to create my cosmic background.  I used the adorable stamp set found in the Reach For The Stars Inspiration Box to stamp the stars and little images in the backdrop as well as the darling astronaut, shooting star and sentiment.

When I was "finished", I looked at my card and felt that it just needed a tiny little something more.  Luckily, each Inspiration Box contains a lovely Sequin  Mixture.  I used a few of the pretty sequins to give my card that extra touch it needed.  POOF!  Finished.  The Inspiration Boxes from Brutus Monroe are like getting a big box full of inspiration.  I love opening each box and feeling all these creative ideas rush into my mind.  The Inspiration Box always helps me get my creative mojo up and running.

Brutus Monroe carries many of their own stamps, dies, stencils and more.  They also carry many of your favorite brand name products.  There's something for everyone at Brutus Monroe.  I do hope you will stop by and check out the Inspiration Boxes and all the wonderful things available at Brutus Monroe.  There's also loads of daily inspiration on the Brutus Monroe Facebook Page and Blog.  And next time you fin yourself at a creative stand-still, consider an Inspiration Box.  You'll see how it got its name.

Happy crafting, and God bless!
Karen

Shoot For The Stars w/Brutus Monroe

Welcome back, everyone!  I'm over-the-moon delighted that you've stopped by to visit me today.  It's always awesome knowing your thoughts about my cards, and hearing what you're up to in the crafting world.  Y'all inspire me SO much, and I hope this fun little card inspires you just enough to stop by Brutus Monroe to check out the Inspiration Boxes (and possibly a whole lot more, as they carry just about everything).

This sweet little card started with some of the lovely cardstocks (turquoise, orange, etc.) found in the Reach For The Stars Inspiration Box.  I used them to create my card base, and I used a piece of the pretty silky ribbon (in turquoise) to run a border across my card.  The background was created by using Mermaid Lagoon and Spiced Marmalade Tim Holtz Oxide Inks.

Next I stamped the ADORABLE rocket using the stamp set and coordinating die-cuts found in the Reach For The Stars Inspiration Box.  I also used some of the smaller accent stamps in this set (stars, "rocket thrust exhaust", sentiment, etc.) on the background as well as some of the cute glittery gold foam stars from this Inspiration Box.  A few of the coordinating sequins from this Inspiration Box were the finishing touches.

Finally, for the photo; I used a length of Black Baker's Twine to tether the astronaut (pin) to his spaceship/rocket to do some space exploration.  The black card where the astronaut is "floating in space" was treated with the super COOL White Chroma Mist found in the Inspiration Box. Once it had dried, I used the awesome Galaxy Embossing Folder (also found in this Inspiration Box) to emboss the cool constellation space background.  Let me just say....this Reach For The Stars Inspiration Box is FILLED with darling products to help you explore your creativity.

Thanks again for visiting me today, and please stop by again soon.  I'm SO super grateful for your visits and comments.  Have a wonderfully creative week, everyone.  Brutus Monroe has LOTS of great things to help spark your creativity.

Blessings,

Karen

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Simon Says "Create a Scene" - I created an outer space scene, and I even have the astronaut floating out in space.  He's REALLY creating a scene....LOL.

Dare 2B Artzy Challenge - June Challenge: Masculine

BIG News With Brutus Monroe - You Are Out Of This World

As you can imagine, I was incredibly honored, super excited, and quite humbled when Brutus Monroe invited me to become part of their Design Team as an Inspiration Box Specialist.  I will have the opportunity and honor to share the monthly Brutus Monroe Inspiration Boxes with you all.  I'll be creating lots of fun cards and projects over the next six months using the Brutus Monroe Inspiration Boxes that you can find right here at Brutus Monroe.  And they're FILLED with FUN and creativity.

For those of you who aren't yet familiar with Brutus Monroe, you are in for a real treat.  This FABULOUS store carries their own line of AWESOME clear high-quality acrylic stamps and thin metal die-cuts (and SO  much more) in addition to loads of other popular brands.  They really have a little bit of everything you could possibly need to create something new and fun.  I sure had FUN playing with the new Reach For The Stars Inspiration Box.

I started by using the FUN cardstocks found in the Reach For The Stars Inspiration Box and I created my card base.  Oh, by the way, even the CARDS themselves are included in this box.  How COOL (and helpful) is that?  Once I layered my cardstocks together, I used a piece of white cardstock to ink a background using Tim Holtz Oxide Inks.  I used the DARLING new stamp set found inside the Reach For The Stars Inspiration Box to stamp the stars and images seen on the background as well as the Earth and the adorable little astronaut.  The coordinating die-cuts are also included.  I used Foam Tape to attach the images so that they'd have a bit of dimension - as to appear that they're "floating" in space, as they should be.  The sentiment is also from this same adorable stamp set.  It contains SO many cute images and sentiments.  I know I'll  be using this one quite a bit.  And, let me tell you about all the FUN items in addition to the stamps and dies.  There's a package of sweet ribbon in grey, purple and turquoise; and I wrapped a length of the purple ribbon around my card.

This Inspiration Box also includes cardstocks, cards, ribbons, a cute astronaut pin, background papers (for foiling or other), sentiment papers (for foiling or other), a darling constellation embossing folder, a bottle of White Chroma Mist, a gorgeous sequin assortment, and a two sheets of various sized glittery foam stars (one sheet gold and one sheet silver) like the (small) ones I added to this card.  You get a good BANG for your buck; and these stamps/dies and accessories are SO fun.  I can't wait to create another card (or a dozen...LOL) to share with you all.

Here's the second card I'd like to share with you today.  It also uses lots of the goodies found in the Reach For The Stars Inspiration Box.  I started with the cardstocks and made a base using the black, orange and turquoise papers.  The groovy black background was created using the black cardstock and spraying it with the  awesome White Chromo Spray included in the Inspiration Box.  Once the Chromo Spray dried, I used the Galaxy Embossing Folder found in the Inspiration  Kit to create that wonderful raised background that I brushed with White Ink to accent that wonderful embossed design.

I stamped that ADORABLE alien.  What should his name be?  He's SO cute.....and there's his little buddy flying the space ship.  You'll also see that I stamped the Earth; which the alien has placed on his metal spear (Tim Holtz hardware).  After I'd stamped the space ship, alien and Earth using the ADORABLE new stamp set in the Inspiration Box, I used the die-cuts (also included) to cut the pieces perfectly.  I colored them with my Copics.

I also added some of the FUN sequins from the Sequin Assortment found in the Inspiration Box.  The sentiment (also found in the new stamp set in this box) was stamped on a little journalling card from my stash, and I placed a glittery silver foam star (also included) next to the sentiment.  Don't you just LOVE how fun this theme is?  You can make such fun cards for the space lovers and kids (big and small) in your life.  It's literally a Box FULL OF FUN and creativity.  I hope you'll stop by Brutus Monroe to check out ALL their FAB products including the FUN Inspiration Boxes and more.  Also, please visit me again soon.  I'm really looking forward to being part of this talented Design Team, and I'd love to hear what you think about my Brutus Monroe projects, their fun products, and all things craft related.  I'm always super grateful for your visits and your input.  I hope you're inspired, and that you'll stop by again real soon.

Blessings,

Karen

I'm playing along here:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog - Simon Says "Masculine" - Both of my cards are masculine, but most especially the first card.

Little Red Wagon Challenge Blog - Make It Masculine

Creatalicious Challenge Blog - Challenge #212 - Anything Goes/For a Boy

Dare 2B Artzy Challenge - June Challenge: Masculine