Author Archives: kth

Year in Review

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After sitting by and watching for a couple years, I’m jumping on the bandwagon. Here are my favorite cards from this year (click the image to see the original post):

2013 Favorites

Image Map

These cards are my overall favorites – I don’t blog with any consistency to do a best of each month. Of course, that doesn’t stop me from picking 16 favorites instead of just 12, lol.

I frequently consider stopping blogging and/or card creating. But even after week-long breaks, I always come back to it. I enjoy it!

It was fun to go back through the last year’s posts and pick my favorites! Thanks for stopping by!

Poinsettia Thank You

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by karen @ carefree creations - Poinsettia Thank You

Another post-Christmas thank you card.

I’ve seen so many lovely cards using the Joyful Christmas set – I had to get it!

I white embossed the flowers and leaves onto vellum and trimmed them out. For the leaves, I used an alcohol marker on the back to give them a green tint. On the flower, I used a gold glitter pen on the center dots.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Thank You
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Joyful Christmas, Another Thank You (SU);
Ink/Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Primrose Petals (SU);
Other: Northern Flurry embossing Folder (SU); white embossing powder; Vellum; marker YG11 (Copic); Gold Spica marker;

Merry Thanks

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by karen @ carefree creations - Merry Thanks

I sketched this card out months ago, but just now got around to making it. Since I’ve already sent my Christmas cards, I’m using it as a ‘thank you’ card.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Merry
Stamps: Background Basics: Christmas (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: New Leaf, White (PTI); Real Red (SU);
Other: gold glitter (SU); Expressions die (SU); double-sided tape (Sookwang);

Christmas Thank You

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by karen @ carefree creations - Christmas Thank You

After a few weeks off, I’m getting back to stamping. I actually made 4 cards today!

I’ve missed loads of challenges 🙁 Thankfully a few have extended their deadlines!

This card was made for 2 challenges: the sketch from CAS(e) This Sketch and anything goes for Paper Smooches Sparks.

I needed a holiday thank you card, so that is how I chose my colors and images.

CAS(e) This Sketch Favorite

Thanks for taking a peek!

thanks
Stamps: Reflections, Fascinators (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Cardstock: White, New Leaf, Pure Poppy (PTI); Crushed Curry (SU);
Other: Thanks die (Paper Smooches); Summer Sun sequin (Neat & Tangled);

Always Been You

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the last challenge for the year: #55 – colors.

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #55

And here is my take:

by karen @ carefree creations - Always Been You

Sketches with layers always confound me! I’m a pretty clean and simple stamper, not very layer-y 🙂 So, as usual, when I get a sketch that confounds me, I went to my stamp index and favorite cards. I found a card I did eons ago that used playing cards – perfect!

I made these playing cards using different stamps. I’ve actually done this before – I like making the playing cards because you can tailor them to the colors and design you want for your card.

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).

Known it was You
Stamps: School Time (frame), Lovely Leaves, Fresh Alpha, Sending My Love (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: Pure Poppy, Black, White, Sweet Blush (PTI); Smokey Slate (SU);
Other: Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder;

Shiny Silver Snowflakes

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by karen @ carefree creations - Silver Snowflakes

I created this card for two challenges. First, the snowflake challenge from CASology. And second, the blue/silver color challenge from Crazy for CAS.

I used an old wind image and then the snowflakes are from silver paper and the sentiment is silver embossed.

This card was so hard to photograph! The snowflakes are from silver paper and it is so shiny – like mirror paper! Here is a different angle (and not really fixed up to show the card base as white).

by karen @ carefree creations - Silver Snowflakes

Crazy For CAS Winner
CASology Honorable Mention winner

Thanks for taking a peek!

Warm Winter Wishes
Stamps: Holiday Hug sentiment (MFT); Air Wave (All Night Media);
Ink/Cardstock: White, Spring Rain (PTI);
Other: Silver Paper (SU); silver embossing;
Technique: sketch: Freshly Made Sketch 112

Winter Snowflake

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by karen @ carefree creations - Winter Snowflake

The latest Addicted to CAS challenge is ‘snowflake’.

I die cut this large snowflake and then spritzed it with a shine mist. I also did the snowbank with the mist.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Warm Winter Wishes
Stamps: Holiday Hugs Snowman (MFT);
Ink/Cardstock: Soft Sky (SU); Black (Memento); White (PTI);
Other: c0, t4, t6, Black, yr12, yr15, bg11, bg72, e57 markers to color snowman (Copic); Black marker for snow outline (Memento); Fancy Flakes die (PTI); Shine mist spray (Mr Huey);

Revealed Flowers

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by karen @ carefree creations - Revealed Flowers

When I saw the new sketch at CAS(e) This Sketch I immediately thought about a zipper. I just had to sit down and make this card tonight!

I tore off the zipper pull so the recipient doesn’t pull it all the way off. The zipper is just a design element, not a functional interactive piece.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Wishing You
Stamps: Movers and Shakers Sentiments (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: Melon Mambo, White, Island Indigo (SU);
Other: Gingham Garden pattern paper (SU); Zipper die (PTI);
Technique: machine stitching;

Christmas Cheer

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge: #54 – colors.

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #54

And here is my take:

by karen @ carefree creations - Christmas Cheer

Once I got the stop light card out of my system (posted yesterday), I needed to move on to a card that had stamping!

I really like how the red and green drinks are up near “Christmas” in the greeting, and the yellow drink (think champagne) is near “New Year”.

Speaking of the sentiment. It is normally grunge-y (meaning it isn’t a “solid” image), but that meant it wasn’t bold enough for me. I fixed that by using a marker and filling in where the stamp had open spots. I couldn’t do “happy” justice enough as it was too fine a line (and my marker is not), but this is better than without!

I’ve loved the projects I’ve seen using the stripe embossing folder, but could never figure out when to use it. I’m so glad I tried it for this card – it really was the perfect accent!

It is hard to see, but I did add glitter to the bits between stripes on the embossed background:

kth_xmas_ChristmasCheer-detail

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).

Christmas Cheer
Stamps: Happy Hour, Christmas Messages (SU);
Ink/Cardstock: Real Red, Gumball Green, Crushed Curry (SU); White, Black (PTI);
Other: Stylish Stripes embossing folder (SU); Labels Two die (Spellbinders); Glitter pen (Spica);