Motorcycle Birthday

My brother's birthday is coming up at the 

end of the month, so I pulled out Rev Up the Fun 

motorcycle stamp (Stampin'Up) to make his 

birthday card. I don't have a lot of 

"masculine" stamps, but this is often 
used for my motorcycle riding brother!! 

I started by creating a water coloured card front 

using Aqua Mist and Hawaiian Shores inks. 

I was going for a 'smooshed' look, but it really 

didn't turn out as I expected. 

I definitely need more practice!! 

I decided to cut the aqua panel using the  

Star Cover Plate and adding some black and 

red stars to make the card front.

After stamping and fussy cutting the motorcycle, 

I realized it needed a background panel before 

adding it to the (very busy) card front. 

I stamped the rectangle frame (Label Basics) 

with Aqua Mist ink, cut it out and then 

mounted the motorcycle with foam dots.

I didn't have a plan for this card when I started, 

so it took some trial and error to find a way 

to add the sentiment. Sketched Stars dies and 

Postmarks stamps came to the rescue!!

I cut one of the Sketched Stars twice  

(Smokey Shadow and Aqua Mist); then 
layered onto a piece of Linen Vellum 
card stock that I cut a little larger 
than the original star. These were added 
to the card front with two layers of fun 
foam to create dimension. 
A sentiment and star (Postmarks) were stamped 
onto white card stock; then cut with a circle punch 
and added to the center of the larger stars.

The inside sentiment (Stylish Sentiments: Birthdays) 

was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black.

A splotch of ink got onto the left side of the card, 

so I covered it up with a black die cut star and 

added the dotted image (Rev Up the Fun) with 

Aqua Mist ink. In order to make it look like I 

planned this "addition" two more stars were included!!

Supplies (PTI, unless noted)
Stamps - Postmarks, Label Basics, Stylish Sentiments: Birthdays; 
Stampin'Up: Rev Up the Fun
Inks - Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Pure Poppy; Versafine Onyx Black
Papers - watercolour paper; Stamper's Select White, Smokey Shadow, 
Pure Poppy Patterened Paper ( bitty dots), Linen Vellum card stock
Dies - Cover Plate: Stars; Sketched Stars
Other - fun foam sheets; foam dots; Sakura Gelly Roll clear glitter pen; circle punch; red marker

Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.

Thank You Notecards

I've been busy with a few projects for my 
son's upcoming wedding in October. 
My future daughter-in-law asked for a set of cards 
for wedding gift thank-you notes. 
Here's the final set, packaged up and ready to use.

 

I made a total of 60 (3 1/2" x 4 7/8") 
A1 cards using a variety of stamps.

The wedding colours are blue and rust , so this was

my inspiration. A floral image from Vintage Vogue (Stampin'Up) 

 was stamped with Moonstruck Blue (Close To My Heart); 

stamped again with VersaMark and 

then heat embossed with Clear Embossing powder. 

The floral center was stamped with Canyon Clay ink.

The green lines were added with Simply Chartreuse ink 

using an image from Button Boutique. 

The sentiment (Star Prints) was stamped with blue ink 

and VersaMark and heat embossed as well. 

It is a simple and clean look that was important 

since I was making so many cards.

A small blue box from the Dollar Store was a perfect fit for 

two stacks of cards and matching envelopes. 

I'm going to add a pen and some stamps, so the busy couple 

will have everything they need to write their Thank you notes.

I added a tag using Tag Sale #11, cut from 

Canyon Clay and white card stock. The floral image 

and sentiment was added to the white panel. 

The small circle was created by stamping '60'  

(Mini Scrapbooking:Tabs) and 'cards' 

(Moments Inked: Planner Banners). 

I punched this out using a circle punch, 

then inked the edge before adhering it to the tag.

Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.

Calendar Project: Part 2:

This is the second post featuring various designs that I 

created for my Event Calendar (Close To My Heart). 

You can find the initial post, including projects from January to June  here.

I designed decorative panels to fit the blank square at the 

top of each page and another to fit across the bottom 

(this covers the Close To My Heart logo and complements the top design panel).

Part 2: July - December

Common Supplies and Tools

Nestabilities Classic Squares (large and small)

Stamper's Select White Card Stock

Papertrey Patterned Paper Packs (Bitty Dots and Gingham)

All other supplies listed are Papertrey Ink, unless noted.

 

 

July - Vintage Picnic

Vintage Picnic Stamps & copic markers

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Comfort Foods Stamps (sentiment)

Funky Florals Stamps ("fireworks") + Clear Glitter pen

Spring Rain, New Leaf, Pure Poppy inks

Close To My Heart: Celebrate Canada Stamps (maple leaf)

Pure Poppy Bitty Dot Paper; Glossy Accents

July - Bottom Panel

Selective stamping allowed me to create the sentiment:

Monthly Moments: June Stamps ("summer" sentiment + "s")

Monthly Moments: July Stamps ("celebration" sentiment)

August - Sunflowers

Simple Sunflowers Stamps & Dies

Dark Chocolate, Harvest Gold, Spring Moss, Simply Chartreuse inks

Copic markers; Amber rhinestones

Purls of Wisdom ('wishes' sentiment)

Spring Rain inks stippled background

Linen Impression Plate; Summer Sunrise Bitty Dot Paper 

August - Bottom Panel

Tag It's #1 Stamps (small sunflower)

Memento Tuxedo Black + copic markers

Luck of the Irish Stamps (sentiment)

September  - Vintage Picnic

Vintage Picnic Stamps

Memento Tuxedo Black & copic markers

Just For You Stamps (sentiment)

Vintage Tea Dye Chamomile Ink

Glossy Accents (apples)

Pure Poppy Bitty Dot Paper

September - Bottom Panel

Label Basics Stamps + Kraft ink

Happiness in Bloom Stamps (sentiment)

Fruit Fusion (cherry image used as an apple)

Memento Tuxedo Black + copic markers

Hand drawn leaf and stem (coloured with Zig Markers)

 

October - Greeting Card Kids

Stampin'Up: Greeting Card Kids 

Memento Tuxedo Black & copic markers

Tag It's #7 (sentiment)

Inkadinkado: spider and web 

Versamark and Black Embossing Powder

Vintage Tea Dye Chamomile Ink

Canyon Clay Bitty Dot Paper

October - Bottom Panel

Tag It's #7 (pumpkin & sentiment)

Memento Tuxedo Black + copic markers

Double-ended Banner Die 

November - Reasons To Smile

Reasons To Smile Stamps

Pure Poppy, Simply Chartreuse, Black inks

Monthly Moments: February (sentiment)

Versamark and Black Embossing Powder

Black Card Stock (mat); Pure Poppy Gingham Paper

 

November - Bottom Panel

Label Bascis Stamps + True Black ink

Happiness in Bloom (flower)

Close To My Heart: Picture Perfect Stamps (sentiment)

 

December - Wreath

Wreath For All Seasons Stamps

Pure Poppy & New Leaf inks

Two Feet Deep Stamps (bow)

Versamark & Gold Embossing Powder

Framed Out #8 (sentiment)

Pure Poppy Bitty Dot Paper 

December - Bottom Panel

Believe Stamps (small wreath)

Memento Tuxedo Black + copic markers

Fillabile Frames #8 (Gold embossed sentiment)

Hope you enjoyed the monthly projects!!

Thanks for visiting today.

Karen C. 

A Birthday Hi!!

 I needed a birthday card for my grand nephew who will be celebrating his 5th birthday this month. I don't have many stamp images to use on "little boy" cards, but an older Stampin' Up set, along with some Papertrey Ink 'extras' provided some inspiration:

PTI supplies, unless noted.  
Truck,Trees & Sentiment:  
Loads of Love & Loads of Love Accessories (SU); copic markers;
Stampers's Select White card stock; Memento Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa inks
Sun: Heart-2-Heart #6 die, Summer Sunrise ink
Background: The "sky" was stippled with Crystal Blue ink (Close To My Heart);
the "grass" with New Leaf ink. Green and blue markers were used to create faux stitching. The road way uses journalling lines from School Time along with copic markers.
Card Base: Light Blue card stock (Recollections) was stamped with Crystal Blue (CTMH) with Background Basics: Woodgrain.

The truck, little people, dogs and gift packages were 

coloured with copic markers, fussy cut, then layered, 

before being mounted onto the card front with foam dots.

Inside

Sentiment: Heart-2-Heart #2; Dark Chocolate ink
Balloons: Heart-2-Heart #2; 
Kraft, New Leaf, Pure Poppy, Blueberry Sky, Harvest Gold, Orange inks
Basket: Heart-2-Heart #1 (I used the coffee cup cozy!!)

 Envelope

Stamps - Polka Dot Parade Alphabet: Upper Case; Heart-2-Heart #2; Postmarks
Inks - Blueberry Sky, Summer Sunrise, New Leaf, Dark Chocolate

When I was stamping the postage stamp with a Dark Chocolate cube, 

I dropped it onto the envelope. I didn't want to re-do the envelope, so 

I took the cube and lightly stamped it over the whole envie!! Problem solved!!

Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.

A Few of My Favourites: 2013

At the end of each year many bloggers share some of their 

favourite cards and projects. Here are 12 of my favs from 2013. 

You can click on the dates to view the original post.

January 2013: Papertrey Ink Blog Hop

This was my first attempt at the chalkboard effect.

Chalkboard Effect

Chalkboard Gift Card Holder

February 2013: Designer Inspiration

I love using the impression plate and (faux) stitching to create fabric texture. 

Aida Impression Plate & Sew Simple Borders

 March 2013: Waiting for Spring

Colouring with Copic Markers

April 2013: Rock On

The Cover Plate: Circles has become a favourite. 

I enjoy combining colours and designs to create a background.

I chose 2 cards for May - 

one has lots of details and techniques, 

the other uses simple stamping and an Impression Plate.

May 2013: Kitty for Parker

This card incorporates lots of my favourite things:
* layering of patterned paper and card stock,  
* paper piecing, * masking and * a 3D flower.

May 2013: Papertrey Ink Blog Hop

Simple Stamping for colour and design and an Impression 

Plate for texture. I usually add die cuts, ribbons and other 

embellishments, so this was a departure from my normal style.

Mini Blooms

June 2013: Clouds & Rainbows

The clouds and rainbow paper is a perfect match for the hot air 

balloons and the sentiment from Movers & Shakers Sentiments.

July 2013: Rev Up the Fun

Gold Embossing and a watercolour stamp create a colourful background 

 for the fussy cut motorcycle. The matching envelope takes it up a notch!! 

August 2013: SAF#3

A new technique (rolled dough design) and supplies were used 

during this Stamp-a-Faire activity. This card was also featured in 

the 'wrap-up' video for the day, so it had to be on my favourites list!!

 September 2013: Golden Wreath

An embossed golden wreath and dimension from the 
die-cut wreath, flowers and birds, and a little tag, make 

this a favourite. I love using the Wood grain Impression 

Plate to create an outdoorsy/natural atmosphere.

October 2013

I took a break from blogging this month, so I 

chose an 'extra' card during the month of May.

 November 2013: Rosie Posie Birthday

I finally purchased the Rosie Posie dies and stamps and this 

was my first card using all of these. I usually make A2 cards, but 

decided on a square card base. The gold embossed background 

and colourful grouping of flowers are favourites from this card.

 December 2013: Winter Hills

This card makes me feel the warmth and coziness of home at Christmas time. The Stitching Impression Plate has become a favourite of mine and adding blue ink to the raised texture as well as the main focal panel adds a lot of dimension 

to the card. I also like the colour scheme of red, light blue and chocolate.

* Hope you enjoyed a look back at my favourites from 2013. 
* It's fun to see some of the features and techniques that keep appearing in my projects - I definitely like using embossing folders and Impression Plates, and background stamping is also something that I often use. 
* I still find Clean and Simple cards are a challenge for me. I admire others that make this work, but I'm most happy when I can add layers to my projects!!.

Thanks for visiting today.
Happy New Year and Best Wishes for a Wonderful 2014!
Karen C.

A Christmas Cottage Window

I bought Cottage Window (Stampin' Up) because it included a variety of stamps for different seasons. I finally decided to use it to make a Christmas card with the window image and the holly berry swag.

* The window image was stamped onto Bella White card stock, coloured with copic markers and then fussy cut (on the outside and the inside).
* The holly swag was stamped onto another piece of card stock and coloured with copic markers. The snowflake stamps were added with Bashful Blue ink and highlighted with a clear glitter gel pen.
* I was then able to mount the cut window over the stamped holly and snowflakes so that the swag was positioned in the top and right corners of the window. These layers were then added to the card front. (Confetti White impressed with the Woodgrain IP)  This was time consuming, but creates a lot of dimension to the final image.

* The set of gift packages (SU: Loads of Love) were stamped, coloured with copic markers and then fussy cut, before gluing them on the window sill. A small red bow was added to the top corner of the window and holly swag.

Sentiment Panel

Inside Details

Card Details
Stamps - Stampin' Up Cottage Window; PTI Peaceful Pinecones
Inks - Memento Tuxedo Black & Rich Cocoa; Pure Poppy
Paper - Bella White; SU Confetti White; PTI Pure Poppy
Other - PTI Wood grain Impression Plate; EK Success Dotted Scsallop Border Punch; copic markers; Sakura Clear Glitter Gel Pen; 3D Foam Tape; red mini adhesive pearls

Day of Gratitude

I haven't posted since late September, but I'm hoping to get back to crafting and sharing more often.

September and October were tough months in my household and we're just starting to settle into a new routine. I had eye surgery at the beginning of the month and then near the end of September, my husband had a heart attack and spent several days in ICU at our regional hospital. I am so thankful to all of the professionals who helped us through a very difficult time. Once he arrived at the emergency department, it only took a short time for them to mobilize a special team of nurses and a cardiologist who performed an angioplasty and inserted a stent into one of his arteries. 

I made a set of 7 thank you cards for my husband to send to a group of friends who sent him a card and gift during his hospital stay.

Vintage Cream card stock was cut into 4 1/4" x 7" strips and then folded to create 3 1/2" x 4 1/4" cards. The leaf image and sentiment (Stampin' Up: Day of Gratitude) were stamped with Memento: Rich Cocoa ink.  A variety of copic markers were used to colour the leaves - a simple but dramatic look that added lots of colour to a CAS card. Linen thread (SU) was tied into a knot and added to the bottom of the leaf stem. To create some texture I used several different impression plates on the front of the card. (4 - Woodgrain; 2 - Herringbone; 1 - Canvas). My husband liked the woodgrain one the best!!

Card Details (PTI, unless noted)
Stamps - SU: Day of Gratitude;
Inks - Memento Rich Coca; Canyon Clay
Paper - Vintage Cream
Other - Impression Plates: Woodgrain, Herringbone,Canvas; 
SU: Linen Thread; Copic Markers: YG93, YG95, YG97, E19, E37, Yr24, Y17, Y21

These seven cards came together very quickly, but then I realized I needed one more card and some envelopes for this card size. 
Solution? I made another card using Leaf Prints (PTI). I stamped the small leaf images onto the card stock before impressing the front with the Herringbone Impression Plate. Another leaf was stamped onto Fine Linen card stock and then fussy cut. Linen thread was knotted and attached to the leaf.

I used a thinner card stock from my stash to make 8 little envelopes with co-ordinating stamps.  Label Basics rectangle was added to the front.

Card Details (PTI, unless noted)
Stamps - Leaf Prints; SU: Day of Gratitude; Label Basics; 
Inks - Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise, Canyon Clay;
Close To My Heart: Vineyard Berry; Memento Rich Cocoa
Paper - Vintage Cream;  Recollections: Cream (for envelopes)
Other - Herringbone Impression Plate; SU: Linen Thread 

Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.

Rev Up the Fun!! Racing Car

Rev Up the Fun!! (Stampin' Up) is a fun set for masculine cards. I used the racing car stamp for my son's birthday card. He owns a silver/grey car, so I thought this image would be perfect for him.
* I used a colour scheme of black, red, white, silver and yellow. Stamper's Select White was used for the card base. 
* Two strips of black gingham paper were adhered to Pure Poppy card stock and then mounted onto the card front. The Rick Rack Border die was cut from yellow card stock and positioned on the center of each piece of gingham.
* A red star button (from my button stash) was added to the top panel and accented with red embroidery floss.

* The 'dust' was stamped along the center of the card front using black ink 
and then highlighted with a clear glitter gel pen.
* The racing car was stamped onto a small piece of cardstock with Versamark and then heat embossed with silver embossing powder. It was fussy cut and then added to the card with 3D foam dots. 
* The tires were stamped onto Soft Stone card stock with Versamark, heat embossed with black EP, cut and glued to the original image.
* Finally the number panel (using the tiny numbers from Postmarks) was stamped onto a yellow circle and also added for a touch of colour.
* The sentiment panel was made with Fabulous Frames stamp and die. The sentiment was stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with black EP.

Inside
I used more of the black gingham with a red trim on either side. 
Yellow card stock was used to cut a Double-ended Banner Die and 
then the sentiment (Stylish Sentiments: Birthdays) was layered on top.

Card Details   (PTI, unless noted) 
Stamps - Fabulous Frames, Postmarks, Stylish Sentiments: Birthday; Stampin' Up:  Rev Up the Fun!
Inks - Pure Poppy;  Momento Tuxedo Black, VersaMark
Papers - Stamper's Select White, Soft Stone, Pure Poppy;  
Making Memories: Black Gingham, Recollections: Bright Yellow
Dies - Fabulous Frames, Double-ended Banner Die, Rick Rack Border Die ; Spellbinder's Classic Squares
Other - Stampin' Up Black & Silver Embossing Powder; red star button; red embroidery floss; copic markers;
3D Foam Dots; Sakura Glitter Gel Pen - Clear.

Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.

Festive Friday: SNOW

 

The current challenge on the  Festive Friday blog calls for a holiday project focusing on SNOW!!  Kind of hard to fathom winter flurries when we're in the middle of a heat wave here (and lots of rain too!) 
The news reporter likened our weather to the type you would experience in a rainforest!! This isn't something we're used to in Northern Ontario!! 

Hopefully a little bit of snow (on my card) will help cool things down!!

* The background of the card was created by cutting 3 strips of blue card 
stock and then embossing them with a "Snowflake" embossing folder. These
strips were mounted to Confetti White (Stampin' Up) card stock. 
* I swiped the front of this with Versamark and heat embossed with white embossing powder. This really made the snowflakes 'pop' against the blue.
* Pure Poppy was used to mat the card front and then this mounted onto a  
     white card base.

* The focal panel was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, coloured with copic markers and then cut with a square Nestibilities die. The little snowflake dots were highlighted with a clear glitter gel pen. 
* Several mat layers of Pure Poppy and blue card stock were added so the main image has some added dimension. A red ribbon and bow were added to the top of this panel and then adhered to the card front.

* A Holiday Photo Finishers die was cut from blue card stock, stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with white embossing powder. Three red dots were added to accent the berries on the sentiment panel.

* The inside of the card was finished with snowflakes (Winter Penguin) and a
     faux stitching line (Sew Simple Borders) using Bashful Blue ink (Stampin' Up).
     A sentiment from Silent Night was stamped with Pure Poppy ink.

Card Details   (PTI, unless noted)

Stamps - Stampin' Up Trees for All Seasons; PTI Holiday Photo Finishers,
Inks - Memento Tuxedo Black; Versamark
Paper - Bella White;   Recollection Blue; Stampin'Up Confetti White; 
            PTI Stamper's Select White, Pure Poppy;
Dies - Spellbinders Classic Squares; Holiday Photo Finishers
Other - Cuttlebug 'Snowflake' Embossing Folder; Stampin' Up White Embossing Powder; 
red ribbon; copic markers; Sakura Clear Glitter Gel pen.

Thanks for visiting.
Karen C.