Author Archives: kth

In My Heart

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There is a new challenge: CAS Mix-Up Challenge. Mixed media is not something I do, but I really like the idea of it, so I’m taking up this challenge to help stretch myself.

The first challenge was to use watercoloring, stamping, and a user’s choice. Here is my card:

In My Heart | by karen @ carefree creations

I did the Splash Technique that Loll used in the reminder post.

I used burlap as my choice. I also did splattering, but I wasn’t sure if that showed up enough to qualify.

Thanks for taking a peek!

In My Heart
Stamps: Lovey Words (Reverse Confetti-RC);
Ink: Peeled Paint Distress, Forest Moss Distress (Ranger); Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Paper: Watercolor (Canson); White (PTI); Milk Chocolate (My Favorite Things);
Other: Lovey Words die (RC); Burlap (Die Cuts With a View); Framed Out 11 Heart die (PTI); Stitched Rectangle die (Lil Inkers); Sunflower Twinkling H2O (Luminarte);
Technique: Watercolor Splash Background;

Let’s Get Together

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

CC&S_2016-03-24_#166

And here is my take:

Dinner Together | karen @ carefree creations

Once again, I had a few ideas for this sketch. The Monday challenge at Simon Says Stamp pushed me to this card.

I pulled out some utensil dies to create a border, found a couple sentiments that worked with the dinner theme, and added the final touch — a little flower accent to add a pop of color and interest.

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).

Let’s Get Together
Stamps: Foodie Fun, Heart-2-Heart #1 (Papertrey Ink-PTI);
Ink: Calypso Coral (Stampin’Up-SU);
Paper: Peach Bellini, Sour Apple (My Favorite Things); Calypso Coral (SU); Lemon Tart, Luxe Silver (PTI);
Other: Flatware 2 die, Bookplates {flower} die (Paper Smooches);

Bird on a Wire

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Today is blizzard day (I really wish I had taken a photo of yesterday’s beautiful 50° day…just to have the comparison to put in my scrapbook). My kid and I are doing a marathon of chick flicks. I’m trying to stamp at the same time, but some of these movies are really good.

For the past 4 hours, I’ve been working on this card:

Bird on a Wire | by karen @ carefree creations

which I created for the CAS(e) This Sketch challenge.

CASologyBadge

My card base is only 3.5″ wide. When I was playing around with the card my cloud border was wider than the 4.25 card and I liked the look of the overhang. To keep the card mailable, I trimmed the base down.

Thanks for taking a peek!

hello
Stamps: Bird Watching Additions (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Berry Sorbet (PTI);
Paper: Spring Rain, White, Lemon Tart (PTI); Gravel Gray (My Favorite Things – MFT);
Other: Hello Words die (Paper Smooches); Wonky Scallop die (MFT); Loop de Loop die (PTI);

Spring Daffodil

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Spring Daffodil | by karen @ carefree creations

My last card for the day. This one is for the Less is More challenge What’s Outside Your Window.

The weather here in Colorado is wacky – one day gorgeous, the next snowing. That is supposed to be this week. Today there is a daffodil outside blooming, but tomorrow there will be snow. I do love seeing the daffodil even if it might not last – because it means that spring is here and despite the snow, the temperatures will rise.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Welcome Spring
Stamps: Year of Flowers Collection, Wreath for All Seasons (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Black (Momento);
Paper: White (PTI); Bashful Blue (Stampin’Up);
Other: markers (Copic); Rectangle Frame die (My Favorite Things);

Delicate Leaf

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With Sympathy | by karen @ carefree creations

I started this card last night, late, and it was not working. Sleeping definitely helped!

This card is for the Addicted to CAS: Delicate challenge. I first selected skeleton leaves as my delicate thing and then thought that needing a sympathy card was also a delicate situation.

Thanks for taking a peek!

With Sympathy
Stamps: Autumn (Stampin’Up); Keep it Simple: Sympathy (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Smokey Shadow (PTI); Versamark (Tsukineko);
Paper: Tropical Teal (My Favorite Things); Vellum (stash);
Other: gold cord (stash); Stitched Square dies (Lil Inkers); gold embossing powder (Filigree);

Grateful Heart

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Grateful Heart | by karen @ carefree creations

I created this card for the One-Layer Simplicity Challenge: Let Green March In.

There is another layer to the horizontal/vertical leaves, but I liked how just having the whispy veins adds interest.

Using linen paper also adds a touch of elegance to the final card (I’m really starting to enjoy the linen card stock!).

Thanks for taking a peek!

Grateful Heart
Stamps: Lovely Layers (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Sour Apple (My Favorite Things); Gumball Green, Mossy Meadow (Stampin’Up); Smokey Shadow (PTI);
Paper: White Linen (PTI);
Technique: masking;

Think Happy Frogs

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Think Happy Frogs | by karen @ carefree creations

I’m squeezing in another card for a challenging ending soon: Freshly Made Sketches #228.

FreshlyMadeSketchesBadge

There are some sets that I know I will never get rid of. This really old frog set is definitely one of them. I don’t know what it is, but I love this set. Many of my old sets don’t see as much love because I have my digital index is sorted by date added and often when I’m looking for something non-specific (like to put in the circle bit of this sketch), I find something in the recent sets. Today I made myself go through the whole index before deciding…and I love the result.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Think Happy Thoughts
Stamps: Leapfrogs (Stampin’Up – SU); Thoughs (Impression Obsession);
Ink: Mossy Meadow, Lucky Limeade, Crushed Curry (SU);
Paper: Mossy Meadow, Lucky Limeade (SU); White, Bright Buttercup (Papertrey Ink);
Other: Thoughts die (Impression Obsession);
Techniques: fussy cutting;

Woohoo Doodles

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Woohoo | by karen @ carefree creations

This week is spring break – no work (working for the school has its perks!!). Although I still have to do my taxes, I decided to get some stamping done this weekend first.

CASologyBadge

I’m squeaking in a card for CASology: Doodles. I love “keyword” challenges – it leaves everything so open.

I used to doodle like crazy when I was in high school, so of course I own a few doodle style stamp sets. I pulled out one I haven’t used in a long time.

Since I was reminded of my youth, I chose to color the image with colored pencils.

The background was done by sponging a light grey ink onto the background stamp. I was aiming for a fade just around the main image.

I tried to foil the center of the star. My toner pen stopped working, so I went the glue route, but didn’t know what I was doing. I thought I had destroyed the card, but I was able to salvage it and honestly, the grungy look of the foil goes with the messy/imperfect coloring. And my kid approved, so I kept it 🙂

Thanks for taking a peek!

Woohoo!
Stamps: Notebook Stamps (Lil Inkers); Chubby Chums sentiment (Paper Smooches); Writing Notes background (Stampin’Up);
Ink: Black (Hero Arts); Fog (Simon Says Stamp);
Paper: White (Papertrey Ink);
Other: colored pencils (Prismacolor); gold foil (decoFoil);

Watery Hello

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge: #165 – colors.

CC&S_2016-03-17_#165

And here is my take:

Hello | by karen@ carefree creations

The water background is watercolored with distress inks. The frame is popped up over the background – as is the jellyfish and sentiment.

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).

Hello
Stamps: From Land to Sea (StampinUp-SU); Label Love (Altenew);
Ink: Abandoned Coral, Broken China, Chipped Sapphire Distress Inks (Ranger); Graphite Black Brilliance (Tsukineko);
Paper: Marina Mist (SU); White (Papertrey Ink);
Other: Rectangle Frames (My Favorite Things); Sea Things die (Dies by Dave);
Technique: watercolor;

You are so Sweet

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge: #164 – sketch (and it is requested the square shape is part of your card – i.e., don’t change it to a circle, or star, etc).

CC&S_2016-03-10_#164_USE SQUARE!!

Such a simple, classic sketch, but boy did I take forever to come up with my card! I think because it felt like the options were endless, I just couldn’t decide which direction to go. I really didn’t want to just stamp something on a square and be done…I wanted something a bit different – but still CAS. I love CAS, but sometimes I find it hard to keep it simple (usually only when I *have* to, figures, eh?). Anyway…

I finally came up with the idea to take an object and do an artistic impression of it. Watermelon came to mind and I thought I could make that work.

So Sweet | by karen @ carefree creations

The card base is watercolor paper – as are the square and pinked mat.

I painted green stripes on the card base and then did a gradient pink wash on the square. I liked the pinked edge for the mat as it made me think of the way watermelons can be cut open.

I used a brush marker to make little seeds along the bottom of the pink panel.

The “sweet” is die cut using an alphabet set. The letters have longer swoops at their ends, but I cut them down so I could squish the letters closer together.

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).

Sweet
Stamps: Strawberry Patch (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Worn Lipstick, Festive Berries, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint Distress Ink (Ranger); Black (PTI); Black brush marker (Zig);
Paper: Aquarelle Watercolor (Canson); Black (PTI);
Other: Limitless Layers: Squares 2 1/4″ die, Script Alphabet die (PTI);
Technique: watercolor