Author Archives: kth

Celebrating 75

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Celebrating 75 - by karen @ carefree creations

My father-in-law turns 75 tomorrow! This is the card I created for him.

I used a CAS(e) This Sketch. I’m such a rule follower – my sketch cards are generally right on target, but this card even uses diamonds like in the sketch! I did add a couple more diamonds, but I felt it was necessary.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Celebrating 75
Stamps: Birthday Wishes, Happy Harlequin (PTI);
Ink: Island Indigo, Pear Pizzazz, Baked Brown Sugar (SU);
Cardstock: White (PTI); Island Indigo (SU);
Other: By the Numbers die (PTI);

Chalkboard Blessing

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PTI_BlogHopLogo

Today is PTI’s blog Hop. And this is the inspiration:
2015-09_PTIBlogHop-inspiration

I started my card as soon as the inspiration was posted (a first for me, I think!). I knew right away what I wanted to do – and I needed lots of time!

Chalkboard Blessing - by karen @ carefree creations

This card is for my wonderful husband. I started by white embossing the main sentiment. Then I used white pigment ink to stamp the other words as well as the leaves. I set it aside to dry. After it was dry, I sponged white ink around the main sentiment. More drying time. I used colored pencils to color the leaves.

I finished off the card with some felt acorns and various fibers.

Thanks for taking a peek!

You Are My Blessing
Stamps: Leaf Prints, Basket of Blessings, Hello Sunshine, Top Ten, Top Ten Additions (PTI); Woodgrain background (SU);
Ink: White, Kraft, Smokey Shadow (PTI);
Cardstock: Kraft, Smokey Shadow (PTI);
Other: Autumn Acorns die, Harvest Gold & Dark Chocolate felt (PTI); orange raffia (stash); grey bakers twine (SU); white embossing (Hero Arts); colored pencils (Prismacolor);
Technique: chalkboard;

We Miss You

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Miss You - by karen @ carefree creations

I made this one for the RetroSketches #182 challenge.

To make the heart frame, I just used two heart dies. I die cut the larger heart first, then centered the smaller heart die over the large heart die cut and ran it through the Big Shot.

rs_shoutoutbadge

Thanks for taking a peek!

Missing You
Stamps: Label Love (Altenew); From Us (Simon Says Stamp); Peaceful Garden (PTI);
Ink: Graphite (Brilliance);
Cardstock: White, New Leaf, Pure Poppy (PTI);
Other: USA Map die (Frantic Stamper); Large Holiday Shapes (Simon Says Stamp);

Dancing Fools

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Dancing Fools - by karen @ carefree creations

I feel like I’m finally getting into a groove with my schedule. And I’m enjoying stamping again (which is a good thing considering….)!!

I started this card last night for the CASual Fridays #143 theme challenge of Music. I tried to work in a sketch but it just wasn’t taking, so I slept on it – and came up with a fun idea.

I’m so stoked with how this turned out! I’ve loved seeing cards that use outline images just as they are – no coloring (like the ones … man, I thought it was Susan Raihala that did the post, but now I can’t find it and I’m so far behind in my blog reading that it could have been posted weeks ago….does any one remember the post I’m talking about??? UPDATE: I found it!! Maureen Merritt is the one posting tips for line stamping.).

Anyway, I have loads of non-colored image cards in my inspiration file and I finally found a way to do it without copying someone else! Seriously, this makes me happy!

I did decide that I need to get a few different sizes of googly eyes for my stash – these images are drawn with different sized eyeballs and I would have loved to carry that through with the googly eyes.

OK, I gotta get or I’ll be late for work.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Halloween
Stamps: Booglie Eyes, Grateful Greetings (SU); Keep it Simple: Halloween (PTI); Spooky Music (October Afternoon);
Ink: Lavender Moon, Black (PTI);
Cardstock: Lavender Moon, White (PTI);
Other: googlie eyes (SU);
Technique: fussy cutting

Thanksgiving Basket

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I had time to stamp this evening and I used the time to do a challenge (I miss stamping for challenges!!). This one is for Freshly Made Sketches #204.

Thanksgiving Basket - by karen @ carefree creations

I’m still stamping my Thanksgiving cards and I recently purchased this stamp set (mostly for the sentiments, which I actually didn’t use on this card, but I have fallen in love with the image too!) and wanted to use it. Lots of detail stamping, but it was actually pretty easy to do! I loved picking all the inks, that was the fun part!

This is a very simple card which follows the sketch fairly closely (only the sizing of layers varies from the sketch).

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Thanksgiving
Stamps: Basket of Blessings, Keep it Simple: Thanksgiving (PTI);
Ink: Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Orange Zest, Ripe Avocado, Summer Sunrise (PTI); Crisp Cantaloupe, Soft Sky, Daffodil Delight, Riding Hood Red (SU);
Cardstock: Rustic Cream, Orange Zest, Dark Chocolate (PTI); Riding Hood Red (SU);
Other: Stitched Rectangles die (Lil Inkers); FMS204 sketch

Thankful Wreath

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Thanksgiving Wreath - by karen @ carefree creations

Another Thanksgiving card. This one is very simple – practically a one-layer card (depending on your definition).

I started by stamping the banner onto the card base. Using that as a guide, I stamped the leaves and flowers. The actual banner is stamped on white, fussy-cut, and popped-up on the card base.

I chose to go with Sarah Sand as the card base because I wanted the white banner to pop, but still have the colors of the leaves to show true.

Autumn cards that have a touch of blue have been catching my eye for awhile now and I just had to try it for myself.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Thankful for you
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Endless Thanks;
Ink: Sarah Sand, Soft Suede, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Hello Honey, Lost Lagoon, Rich Razzleberry;
Cardstock: Sarah Sand, White;

Thanksgiving Quilt

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Now that I’ve completed my Halloween cards, I’m on to Thanksgiving cards.

Thanksgiving Quilt - by karen @ carefree creations

I knew I wanted to do a “quilt” card using this die, and when I looked for inspirtion, I found a card that I just had to CASE – this one by Jen Carter.

I’m still in love with these girly autumn colors.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Thanksgiving
Stamps: Circles & Diamonds (Lil Inkers); Keep it Simple: Thanksgiving (PTI);
Ink: So Saffron, Crisp Cantaloupe (SU); Autumn Rose, Scarlet Jewel, Soft Stone (PTI);
Cardstock: Autumn Rose, White (PTI);
Other: Circles & Diamonds die (Lil Inkers); white embossing powder (Hero Arts); white twine (SU);

Trick or Treat

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Candy Corn - by karen @ carefree creations

This is my final Halloween card (at least of ones I’m sending out this year…no telling if I’m inspired over the next month to make another one). I do think this might be my favorite of the bunch (though, honestly, I’m quite happy with most of the cards – what a novel idea!).

I used a recent RetroSketch (though not in time for their deadline).

Thanks for taking a peek!

Trick or Treat
Stamps: Halloween Backgrounds (SU);
Ink: Orange Zest (PTI);
Cardstock: Black, White (PTI); Lemon Drop (MFT);
Other: Tricky Trio die (PTI);

Halloween Home

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Halloween Home - by karen @ carefree creations

I sketched this out a week or so ago. I like the concept of it, but I wish I had made the main panel a bit longer and the striped panel a little shorter, but done is done.

Not much to say about this card.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Halloween
Stamps: Holiday Home (SU); Keep it Simple: Halloween (PTI):
Ink: Cajun Craze (SU);
Cardstock: More Mustard, Old Olive, White (SU):
Other: Creepy Crawly DSP (SU); thread (stash);

Halloween Washi

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No Stamping Halloween - by karen @ carefree creations

Another Halloween card. This one uses the latest sketch from CAS(e) This Sketch.

A very simple card – and not a lick of stamping!

When I decided to start my Halloween stamping, I pulled out my themed supplies and left them on my desk. I’m not one for actually using the washi tape I buy, but this was a perfect sketch – and I had themed tape…how could I not?

Normally I don’t like to mess with my sentiments – I like them to be easily readable and to make sense. So I’m not overly happy that the “or” is highlighted (why the “or” it isn’t the essential part of the sentiment>), but I just couldn’t pass up an easy way to bring more orange to the card.

The card base is the long-retired StampinUp color Lavender Lace…does anyone know of a new purple (from any company) that is close in color? It is a great color and I’m down to my last couple of sheets.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Trick or Treat

Cardstock: Lavender Lace (SU); Orange Zest, Black (PTI);
Other: Washi (SU); Tricky Trio die (PTI);