Author Archives: kth

Never Too Much Happy

Posted on by

It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. And since January has an extra Thursday in the month, that means the latest challenge is a double!

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #59

And here is my take:

by karen @ carefree creations - Never Too Much Happy

Firstly, I’m sorry I’m late in posting. Life has gotten the better of me – nothing wrong, just really busy! (I’m now volunteering a few hours every day at the local elementary school – which probably means you won’t see me on here quite as often…sigh.)

Now, on to my card. When designing this sketch, I was inspired by this packaging I found on Pinterest.

When it came time to make my card, I wanted to add those little details – the window and front trimmed a little to show the inside. Speaking of the inside:

by karen @ carefree creations - Happy inside

Getting that flower stamped just right stumped me at first (it is a tight fit to the die-cut window). I’m sure what I did do was the long way around (that seems to be my norm), but it worked. Here is how I did it:

by karen @ carefree creations - Stamping Through a Window

Make sure you check out the other design team members:
Jacqueline
Lizy
Louise
Patricia

I hope you join us at CAS Colours & Sketches!

Thanks for stopping by!

A Little About the Challenge: Posted every Thursday, the challenges alternate between color and sketch (if there is a 5th week in the month you get the double dose of color & sketch).

Never Too Much Happy
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Secret Garden, Yippee-Skippee;
Ink/Cardstock: Soft Sky, Blushing Bride, Rich Razzleberry;
Other: white twine, Secret Garden die, Adorning Accents die;
Technique: window

College Acceptance Congrats

Posted on by

by karen @ carefree creations - West Point Acceptance

My nephew was accepted to West Point Military Academy. I made this card to send to him.

While it isn’t perfect, I tried to re-create the West Point crest/logo. The bottom bit is made from a heart die.

I wish the eagle was bigger, but I had to work with what I have. Lots of military in my husband’s family – I think I need to invest in a good patriotic stamp set!

Thanks for taking a peek!

Congratulations
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: est 1776, Distressed Stripes, Bountiful Banners, Everyday Classics;
Ink/Cardstock: Kraft, White, Enchanted Evening, Pure Poppy, Fine Linen, Dark Chocolate;
Other: Bountiful Banners die, Limitless Layers die;

Greetings

Posted on by

by karen @ carefree creations - Happy Mail

CurtainCallBadge
 
I created this card for the Curtain Call inspiration challenge.

The photo used for inspiration was so adorable, and while I didn’t need to make another Valentine, I thought I could use the ‘mail’ theme to create a happy-mail card that I could send to my niece in college.

The only stamping on this card is a bit of text on the white. I used a very light color because I wanted the text just to be there for texture.

To do the twine, I snipped a tiny hole in the top of the card base using scissors and then threaded the twine through a few times.

I like how the finished focal panel looks, to me, like an address label on an envelope.

Thanks for taking a peek!

hello
Stamps: Background Basics: Text (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: Distress Old Paper (Ranger); Kraft, Pure Poppy, White (PTI);
Other: red twine (PTI); First Class Friend die (MFT); Happy Hellos die (MFT);

To Infinity

Posted on by

by karen @ carefree creations - Geometric Infinity

I haven’t had any time to stamp this week, but I carved out an hour today and got two cards done!

This first card is for a great sketch at RetroSketches. I just really loved the fresh/different layout and I had to play.

I didn’t have anything in mind, so I just started flipping through my stamp index. I recently bought the geometric background so it was at the front of my book. My kiddo is taking geometry this year – and math is their favorite subject – so I thought I could make a valentine.

Even though I missed the deadline for the challenge, I did use the Friday Mashup colors and theme.

Normally when I stamp I try to keep to one vendor, I don’t know why really (I’m not a designer for anyone so it really doesn’t matter). It takes a lot to make me break out of that – but when I do, I usually love the finished card. I love this one because I think my kiddo will really enjoy it.

It has been ages since I took geometry, but I think I got clever pairing the background and the ray that goes on with the infinity sentiment.

Thanks for taking a peek!

I Love You
Stamps: Formula Fun (Basic Grey/Hero Arts); Get to the Point, Bountinful Banners (PTI); Great Expectations (Verve);
Ink/Cardstock: Coastal Cabana, Real Red, Crumb Cake (SU); White (PTI);
Other: corner rounder (Cropadile);

Thank You for Your Service

Posted on by

CASColours&SketchesBadgeIt is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge: #58 – sketch.

In coming up with the sketches for this month, I went to Pinterest and looked at my inspiration board. For this sketch, I used this image of a color-blocked guitar. Which resulted in this sketch:

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #58

And I pretty much copied the inspiration to make my card:

by karen @ carefree creations - Military Thank You

I know the guitar is painted like the Texas flag, but I didn’t want my card to be that exactly. In addition to swapping the red and white panels, I added stamping on the color blocks to help move away from the state flag.

CASualFridayBadge

And what luck, the current CAS-ual Friday challenge is color blocks!

Make sure you check out the other CAS Colours & Sketches design team members:
Jacqueline
Lizy
Louise
Patricia

I hope you join us at CAS Colours & Sketches!

Thanks for stopping by!

A Little About the Challenge: Posted every Thursday, the challenges alternate between color and sketch (if there is a 5th week in the month you get the double dose of color & sketch).

Thank You for Your Service
All supplies Papertrey unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Military Hero, Est. 1776, Distressed Stripes;
Ink/Cardstock: White, Blank, Pure Poppy, Enchanted Evening;
Other: Versamark (Tsukineko);
Technique: color-blocking;

Sit Back and Relax

Posted on by

by karen @ carefree creations - Sit Back and Relax

CASeThisSketchBadge I used the latest CAS(e) This Sketch to create this birthday card.

I wanted a mat for the focal panel, but nothing was working (kraft just blended in and chocolate, green, and blue were all wrong). I decided to take a kraft piece and stamp it with the same wood image. I’m really happy with that!

Thanks for taking a peek!

Sit Back and Relax
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Polka Dot Parade #3, Background Basics: Farm & Barn;
Ink/Cardstock: Kraft, Cream, New Leaf; Pacific Point (SU);

Butterfly Grid

Posted on by

by karen @ carefree creations - Butterfly Grid

ColourMeBadge This card is for the Colour Me challenge.

Whew, this card took quite a bit. The butterflies did NOT stamp well, and filling-in with marker wasn’t as smooth as I would have wished. And then my sentiment is crooked (boo!).

I do like the concept of the card.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Thinking of You
All supplies StampingUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Butterfly Collection wheel, Four You;
Ink/Cardstock: Blank, Smokey Slate, So Saffron, Pink Pirouette;

By Your Side, Forever

Posted on by

by karen @ carefree creations - By Your Side

I made this card for two challenges. The new Card Concept whose first challenge is a color scheme. The other challenge is from CAS on Sunday which is a love theme.

CardConceptBadgeCASOnSundayBadge

When I first saw the color scheme, I wasn’t sure what to do – though I really loved the image that they used to demonstrate the color pallet. But once I saw the theme challenge I knew how to make them work together!

I did play quite a bit for how to use the colors, but I settled on just a pop of the pink to highlight the best part of the sentiment. The heart strip is done with masking – which helps keep the card quite CAS.

Thanks for taking a peek!

By Your Side
Stamps: Sending My Love (PTI); I {heart} Hearts (SU);
Ink/Cardstock: Kraft, Chocolate, Cream (PTI); Blushing Bride (SU); Bamboo (CTMH);
Other: Framed Greetings die (MFT);
Technique: masking;

Freshly Made Birthday

Posted on by

by karen @ carefree creations - Freshly Made Birthday

FreshlyMadeSketchesBadge When I first saw the latest Freshly Made Sketches challenge, I was excited – what a fun sketch! It took me a LONG time to finally decide what to do, but I’m quite happy with how the card turned out.

I love the cheesecloth as the tilted layer – and how the sentiment nestles in the corner.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday to You
Stamps: Ruby Rose (PTI); Cheesecloth background (SU);
Ink/Cardstock: Kraft, White, Simply Chartreuse, Berry Sorbet, Hawaiian Shores, Chocolate Chip (PTI);
Other: Brights Candy Dots (SU); Leafy Flourish die (MFT);

Crazy for CAS

Posted on by

CrazyForCASBadge Today is a new Crazy for CAS challenge – and I was asked to be a guest designer! Thank you, Sientje, for the honor!

Today’s challenge is a sketch:

Crazy for CAS Sketch Challenge

And here is my card:

by karen @ carefree creations - Hello

I never feel real comfortable with the collage-style, but with this sketch it actually came quite easily (probably because it was all laid out for me already, lol). I went with snowflakes because it was snowing when I was creating.

Since there is a lot going on in the collage, I kept the rest of the card plain (no embossing even).

Thanks for taking a peek!

hello
Stamps: Mixed Messages (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: Soft Sky, Crumb Cake, Island Indigo (SU); Winter Wisteria (PTI);
Other: Winter Penguin snowflake die (PTI); Snowflake Trio die (MFT); MaryAnne snowflake die (Simon Says); Modern Landscape Border die (Memory Box); Lace Tape (SU); washi tape (Target); Rhinestones (Hero Arts);