Author Archives: kth

CASology – [Skyline] at Night

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There is still time to play along with the CASology challenge – SKYLINE!

I thought I’d post some more inspiration for you:

I Love You | by karen h @ carefree creations

This time I used a die to create the skyline. I first took a large panel of grey cardstock and did partial die-cutting to get the skyline across the top (the die actually cuts the bottom edge too). Then I did more partial with the stitched rectangle as I didn’t want the stitches going up into the buildings.

There are actually 2 dies, one does the outline and windows, the other is just the outline. I used both dies, but for the yellow solid one, I did trim it down so none of the yellow could be seen except through the windows.

I added some sparkle to the card base (masked the edge so that it was an “extension” of the skyline panel). I also added some acrylic paint spots. Here is a closeup:

sparkle detail | by karen h @ carefree creations

I wasn’t sure what sentiment to use. This one worked – and it let me add a moon (which was good because the paint stars seemed more like snow and adding the moon made it look better to me).

And those with eagle eyes may have spied that I used my sketch from when I hosted at CC&S in January.

You have another week to get your card made – hope you join us!

Thanks for stopping by!

i love you
Stamps: Out on a Limb Sentiments (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko);
Paper: Smokey Shadow (PTI); Crushed Curry (Stampin’Up);
Other: white Fine Line embossing powder (Ranger); Cityscape dies (Memory Box); Stitched Rectangle die (Lil Inkers); white acrylic paint; sparkle spritz;

CC&S #361 – Go Nuts

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

And here is my take:

Go Nuts | by karen h @ carefree creations

When I saw this sketch I realized that it would be a good one to use those smaller images that might get lost on a card by themselves. When I was stamping, the Friendly Forest set was catching my eye.

The squirrel has some open areas – I filled those in with colored pencil.

This is one of those cards that makes my multi-brand-buying heart very happy! Three images all from different companies!

My kid commented that it uses a lot of different browns, but I think it works. I did feel the acorn top was a bit too pale, so I added colored pencil accents.

I hope you join us at CAS Colours & Sketches!

Thanks for stopping by!

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

it’s your birthday, go nuts
Stamps: Friendly Forest (My Favorite Things); Rooted in Nature (Stampin’Up – SU); Floral Christmas (Ink to Paper);
Ink: Crumb Cake, Dusty Durango, Soft Suede (SU); Fine Linen (PTI);
Paper: Rustic White (Papertrey Ink – PTI); Into the Woods pattern (SU);
Other: colored pencils (Prismacolor);

CASology – Skyline

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It is time for a new CASology challenge. Check out the latest challenge – Skyline!

Here is my take:

Greetings | by karen h @ carefree creations

I stamped the skyline, then added the road image right up against it. I fussy cut everything – the city was tedious, but with nothing but straight lines, easy at the same time.

I liked the grey against blue, but wanted a pop so stamped the balloon on pink and a cloud on white.

Check back next week when I’ll have more inspiration from this challenge!

I hope you join us at CASology – and, for more inspiration, check out the other design team members:

Thanks for stopping by!

greetings
Stamps: Metropolis (Paper Smooches);
Ink: Brilliance black (Tsukineko);
Paper: Blue Breeze, Ripe Raspberry (My Favorite Things); Gray Granite (Stampin’Up);

CC&S #360 – Lucky Pig

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

And here is my take:

Lucky Pig | by karen h @ carefree creations

Welp, you must know by now that these pale pink shades from Stampin’Up require my use of This Little Piggy, so this card really shouldn’t be a surprise 🙂

This is the first time I’ve just stamped onto colored cardstock (usually I watercolor).

The frame is made by cutting a pair of rectangle dies.

I hope you join us at CAS Colours & Sketches!

Thanks for stopping by!

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

i’m so freakin lucky
Stamps: This Little Piggy (Stampin’Up – SU); Freaking Sentiments (Snarky Stamps);
Ink: black (Memento); Narwhal (Lawn Fawn);
Paper: White (Papertrey Ink); Blushing Bride, Shaded Spruce, Soft Sea Foam (SU);
Other: Lucky Leaves die (Memory Box); rectangle dies;

CASology – [Tall] as the Mountains

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There is still time to play along with the CASology challenge – TALL!

I thought I’d post some more inspiration for you:

Blue Misty Mountains | by karen h @ carefree creations

I live near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. I grew up near the Blue Ridge of the Appalachian Mountains. I love being near the mountains – they are always quite a sight!

I bought new ink for this card – and I’m not sorry! These gorgeous colors will get much use in the future.

You have another week to get your card made – hope you join us!

Thanks for stopping by!

miss you
Stamps: Mountain Majesty (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Misty Morning, Cloudy Sky, Nimbus (Altenew);
Paper: White (PTI); Not Quite Navy (Stampin’Up);
Other: Handwritten die (Little B);

CC&S #359 – Cup ‘o Tea

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

And here is my take:

Cup 'o Tea | by karen h @ carefree creations

I stuck pretty close to the sketch.

The cup is paper pieced. I cut one cup from white and used Copics to color the tea; then I cut the outside cup layer from pattern paper and layered it on top.

I hope you join us at CAS Colours & Sketches!

Thanks for stopping by!

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

you are not basic
Stamps: Hot Concoctions, Inverted Greetings (Paper Smooches);
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento); Brilliance black (Tsukineko); markers (Copic);
Paper: White (Papertrey Ink); Ripe Raspberry (My Favorite Things); Rainbow Sherbert pattern (Paper Smooches);
Other: circle die (Spellbinders);

CASology – Tall

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It is time for a new CASology challenge. Check out the latest challenge – Tall!

Here is my take:

Merci | by karen h @ carefree creations

When you are 5-foot-nothing, most things are tall 🙂

My first thought though was of the Eiffel Tower.

Check back next week when I’ll have more inspiration from this challenge – something a bit closer to home!

I hope you join us at CASology – and, for more inspiration, check out the other design team members:

Thanks for stopping by!

merci
Stamps: City Scene, Think Big Favorites #3 (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Amethyst Allure (PTI); Espresso Truffle (Memento);
Paper: Lilac Grace (PTI);

CC&S #358 – Squeeze the Day

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

And here is my take:

Squeeze the Day | by karen h @ carefree creations

In my head Grapefruit Grove is always more pink – so I actually thought grapefruit when deciding what to stamp (even though this turned out more like an orange).

When stamping the fruit, I did masking because I wasn’t sure which sentiment I would use so I wasn’t sure how thick my green strip would be and I didn’t want any overlap showing.

I hope you join us at CAS Colours & Sketches!

Thanks for stopping by!

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

Squeeze the Day
Stamps: Main Squeeze (Altenew);
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Grapefruit Grove (Stampin’Up – SU); Versamark (Tsuneko);
Paper: Pear Pizzazz (SU);
Other: Stitched Rectangle die (Lil Inkers); white embossing powder (Hero Arts);

CASology – [Sweetheart] Burning Love

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There is still time to play along with the CASology challenge – Sweetheart!

I thought I’d post some more inspiration for you:

Hot Stuff | by karen h @ carefree creations

I don’t have too many “love” based sets. This is one I got because it was different. When I was laying out the design I realized I needed something to keep this one-layer card from being too boring. My mind saw the match and wanted to make it seem like the match set the paper on fire.

Of course then I decided why make it seem like it was on fire when I could just set my paper on fire! Don’t worry, I had adult supervision 🙂 I don’t have any matches, so I used toothpicks. I didn’t want the fire to look like it started on the edge but at the match location. I poked a hole the paper where the match head would be, and stuck the burning toothpick through – leaning it towards the top to force the burn in that direction. I will say, neither the toothpick nor the paper really made a flame, they both sorta simmered and I went through a few toothpicks to get the desired burn. So happy with how it turned out!

I added “flames” using colored vellum (which was die cut using flamingo wings!!). The matchstick head was hand cut from dark grey cardstock – and I did that mostly to hide the adhesive I needed to stick the vellum pieces together and to the card base.

I hope you join us at CASology – and, for more inspiration, check out the other design team members:

Thanks for stopping by!

hey there, hot stuff
Stamps: Perfect Match (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Classic Kraft (PTI); Raspberry Ripple (Stampin’Up); Espresso Truffle (Memento);
Paper: White, Smoky Shadow (PTI); vellum (stash);
Other: Flamingos die (My Favorite Things);

CC&S #357 – Life is Sweet

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

And here is my take:

Life is Sweet | by karen h @ carefree creations

Flowers are my favorite, so I’ve been trying to stamp more of them. This sketch worked well for them.

For the short trellis, I did some partial die cutting. I figured out how much of the trellis I needed and die-cut just a bit more than that. I also die-cut the end-cap piece. I glued the end cap onto the trellis and trimmed off the extra bits.

The sentiment is fussy-cut.

I hope you join us at CAS Colours & Sketches!

Thanks for stopping by!

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

Life is Sweet
Stamps: The Sweet Life (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Grapesicle (My Favorite Things); Amethyst Allure, Plum Pudding, Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado (PTI); Espresso Truffle (Memento);
Paper: Soft Sky (Stampin’Up); Soft Stone, White (PTI);
Other: The Sweet Life die, Garden Gate die (PTI);