Author Archives: kth

Sit Back for Father’s Day

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge:

CC&S_2016-06-23_#179

And here is my take:

Father's Day | by karen @ carefree creations

This is such a classic sketch, and so easy to use. I made this card last week when I needed a father’s day card for my in-law.

I hope you join us at CAS Colours & Sketches!

Thanks for stopping by!

A Little About the Challenge: This weekly challenge is posted on Thursday, and alternates between color and sketch (if there is a 5th week in the month you get the double dose of color & sketch).

Happy Father’s Day
Stamps: Polka Dot Parade #3 – Dad, Keep it Simple: Father’s Day (Papertrey Ink – PTI); Woodgrain background (Stampin’Up – SU);
Ink: Enchanted Evening (PTI); Soft Suede (SU); Bamboo (Close to My Heart – CTMH);
Paper: White, Enchanted Evening (PTI); Bamboo (CTMH); Green Leaf (Simon Says Stamp);
Other: Polka Dot Parade chair die (PTI); Starlit Breeze (Memory Box);

Doilies & Stars

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Doilies & Stars | by karen @ carefree creations

I was very much inspired this card by Teri Anderson.

The notched star banner is perfect here (the die was debuted out during Halloween so I never really looked at it outside that context).

I didn’t have a sentiment that would be bold enough on that busy background paper and fit in a rectangle, so I started looking for alternatives. I thought the doily would dress the card up a bit and provide a good focal point. I added weight to it by stamping the frame (which I was so happy that it fit so well!!).

Happy 4th of July
Stamps: July Fourth (StampinUp); Label Basics (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Enchanted Evening (PTI);
Paper: Enchanted Evening, White, Pure Poppy & White patterns (PTI);
Other: Doily Details die, Notched Star Banner die (PTI);
CASEd/Inspired By: Teri Anderson

Oh Say, Can You See

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Oh Say, Can You See | by karen @ carefree creations

I love this flag stamp! For this card, I went for a little artistic feel and kept it one-layer!

Happy 4th of July
Stamps: Land of the Free, Work of Art (Stampin’Up); Keep it Simple: Bless the US (Papertrey Ink);
Ink: Tumbled Glass distress ink (Ranger); Not Quite Navy, Real Red, Pink Pirouette (Stampin’Up);
Paper: White (Papertrey Ink);

July 4th Banner

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July 4th | by karen @ carefree creations

Another 4th of July card. I came up with this design when I was on vacation – it is good to finally get it into creation. I had so much fun stamping yesterday – I got 4 of my July 4th cards done (still need to do 5 more).

This card is ultra simple – just some pattern paper along the edges, a couple die cuts, and done!

I did bend the sentiment so that it would curve along the streamer edge.

Happy 4th of July
Stamps: Keep it Simple: Bless the US (Papertrey Ink – PTI); Streamers (Paper Smooches – PS);
Ink: Enchanted Evening (PTI); Black Licorice (My Favorite Things);
Paper: White, Enchanted Evening patterns, Pure Poppy & White patterns (PTI);
Other: Streamers (PS); Star Framelit dies (Stampin’Up);

Stenciling for the Fourth

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Stenciling for the Fourth | by karen @ carefree creations

I’m on summer break from work, and I’m back from vacation, so now I get to stamp! Today I decided to work on my July 4th cards. After checking out the One-Layer Simplicity challenge, I came up with an idea right away.

I’m still not very good at stenciling. Despite heaving taping, the stencil moved a bit, but I still like the final card.

To get the one sentiment strip masked off, I cut a piece of masking paper and used my grid mat to line it up on the card. I taped the stencil in place and went to town with the sponging.

This is the only “line” stencil I have. I don’t know if I would have chosen a straight line one if I had it, but I’m really happy I used this wavy one – I think the movement helps give this one-layer card some dimension (not to mention the slight shadow affect due to stencil movement).

Happy 4th of July
Stamps: Keep it Simple: Bless the US (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Barn Door, Faded Jeans distress inks (Ranger); Midnight Muse (Stampin’Up);
Paper: White (PTI);
Other: Texture Wave stencil (Memory Box);
Technique: sponging; stenciling;
Challenge: One-Layer Simplicity: Stencil

Birthday Beer

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Birthday Beer | by karen @ carefree creations

My brother’s birthday is in a couple weeks and I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss it (like I did last year).

I thought this beer set would be perfect for his card. I had fun adding little touches – the foam on the beer and water drops on the glass. The foam was done with a puffy paint. The water drops are done with a clear lacquer. I made the drops too big – and I wish I had set the image on its edge to have the drops run a bit instead of being perfectly round; live & learn.

The “celebrate” sentiment is a negative die cut. I didn’t go the easy route of putting a white die cut on top of the pattern paper…no, I had to die cut the word out of the pattern paper panel. To make it stand out, I backed the pattern paper with white card stock and then pieced the little elements in the letter loops back into the sentiment.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Celebrate
Stamps: Craft Brew, Label Basics: Angled (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Lost Lagoon, Hello Honey, Delightful Dijon, Early Espresso (Stampin’Up – SU);
Paper: White (PTI); Lost Lagoon card stock, Moonlight DSP (SU);
Other: Pub Glass die, Angled Label die, Good Times die (PTI); Puffy Velvet fabric marker (Marvy); Goosebumps clear texture spray (Imagine Crafts);

Wedding Botanicals

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge:

CC&S_2016-06-16_#178

And here is my take:

Wedding Botanicals | by karen @ carefree creations

These colors are just so pretty! My sister-in-law recently got married. I made this card to send to her.

The “Mrs” is thin line image and I needed it a bit bolder to stand out so I outlined it with a pen.

I hope you join us at CAS Colours & Sketches!

Thanks for stopping by!

A Little About the Challenge: This weekly challenge is posted on Thursday, and alternates between color and sketch (if there is a 5th week in the month you get the double dose of color & sketch).

Mr & Mrs
Stamps: Botanicals 3, We Connect (Paper Smooches – PS);
Ink: Calypso Coral, Pool Party, Pear Pizzazz (Stampin’Up); Gravel Gray (My Favorite Things); Black (PTI);
Paper: White (PTI); Gravel Gray (My Favorite Things);
Other: Scallop Frame die (PS);

Cat’s Meow

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge:

CC&S_2016-06-09_#177

And here is my take:

Cat's Meow | by karen @ carefree creations

I needed a card to give to someone who helped me out with my cats. I loved this cat image!

Despite my ridiculous stash of ribbon, I couldn’t find anything that would work. In trying to decide how to add a finishing touch to the tag, I decided a flourish would be the perfect stand-in.

I hope you join us at CAS Colours & Sketches!

Thanks for stopping by!

A Little About the Challenge: This weekly challenge is posted on Thursday, and alternates between color and sketch (if there is a 5th week in the month you get the double dose of color & sketch).

You’re the Cat’s Meow
Stamps: Cat’s Meow (SU); Happy Spooky Halloween, Fancy FlLourishes (PTI);
Ink: Boysenberry ( MFT); Espresso Truffle (Momento);
Paper: Grapesicle (MFT); White (PTI);
Other: Happy Spooky Halloween die, Tag Sale 5 die, Fancy Flourishes die (PTI); Tiny Triangles embossing folder (SU);

2016 Graduation

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2016 Graduation | by karen @ carefree creations

I needed one more graduation card for this year. Time time for a nephew who played tons of baseball. Red and green are his high school colors.

The baseball has shading as part of the image. I made sure to stamp it so the shading would be under the mortar board like it was casting a shadow.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Grduation
Stamps: Home Run (Stampin’Up – SU); Keep it Simple Graduation, Star Scribbles (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Daffodil Delight (SU); Black (PTI); Persimmon marker (Marvy Le Plume);
Paper: White (PTI); Green Leaf (Simon Says Stamp);
Other: By the Numbers border die, For the Graduate die (PTI);

Congratulations Grad

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge:

CC&S_2016-06-02_#176

And here is my take:

Pink Graduation | by karen @ carefree creations

I’m running behind in my card making. I needed a graduation card and I thought these colors would work.

I hope you join us at CAS Colours & Sketches!

Thanks for stopping by!

A Little About the Challenge: This weekly challenge is posted on Thursday, and alternates between color and sketch (if there is a 5th week in the month you get the double dose of color & sketch).

Congratulations

Paper: White, Black (Papertrey Ink); So Saffron, Rose Red, Blushing Bride (Stampin’Up);
Other: Graduation Accents die (My Favorite Things); Picnic Plaid impression (Papertrey Ink);