Author Archives: kth

My Universe

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by Karen @ carefree creations - My Universe

I stamped this card for the Paper Smooches Spark Challenge – Sketch.

The planet at the bottom was created using some scrap paper – left over from some technique – but I have no recollection of it, so I don’t know what it was.

After stamping the stars in on the card base, I decided to balance it out with some splatters at the top of the focal panel. I used H2Os for the splatter.

Thanks for taking a peek!

You’re My Universe
Stamps: Space Cadet (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Card Stock: Black, Ocean Tides, Aqua Mist, White (PTI); Black (Memento); Gold (Delcatta);
Other: markers (Copic); Oval die (Spellbinders); Tag die (Paper Smooches); gold splatter (Twinkling H2Os);

Shaving Cream Seas

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by Karen @ carefree creations - Shaving Cream Technique

Yet another technique newsletter card. This time the messy technique was Shaving Cream.

I had such fun with this that I have quite a few left over pieces in all sorts of colors.

This blue piece just screamed nautical, which is quite the trend lately. I pulled out The Open Sea and made a father’s day card.

To make the knot, I just googled knots and found a knot that looked interesting. It did take me quite a few tries and since the ends are chopped off (because the rope was too thick to wrap around the panel), it isn’t like it would work anyway, lol.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Father’s Day
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: The Open Sea, Teeny Tiny Wishes;
Ink/Card Stock: Pacific Point, Garden Green, Black, White;
Other: rope (old SU “ribbon”);
Technique: shaving cream

You are Fabulous

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by Karen @ carefree creations - You: Super Amazing

I created this card for the latest CAS(e) This Sketch. I really wanted to incorporate a rounded bottom with a straight top because that is what stood out to me when looking at the sketch.

I had issues inking this stamp (it isn’t etched deep enough), but after many tries I finally got it. I did have to add some gel pen to the star centers to clean them up.

And oh so lucky, the banner image totally fits on the PTI die – yay!!

I really cannot say how much I love these stitched rectangle dies! I always turn to them when I feel a layer needs just something else but I don’t want to clutter anything up. Definitely one of my best purchases!

Thanks for taking a peek!

You
Stamps: Super Star (Wplus9);
Ink/Card Stock: Hawaiian Shores, White (PTI); Regal Rose, Raspberry Ripple (SU);
Other: Stitched Rectangle Mats (Lil Inkers); Double-Ended Banner die (PTI);

Dual Embossed Flowers

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by Karen @ carefree creations - Dual Embossed Flowers

This is another card I created for the technique newsletter. This time I used Dual Embossing. The basic idea is to use more than 1 color of embossing powder on an image.

You have to add both colors before you heat the image.

The only trick to this technique is that you can’t put the second color back into the jar because some particles of the first color may have come off when you tap off the excess of the second color.

For this card I did the process twice: stamped the leaves, sprinkled the two embossing powders, heated; then again with the flowers.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Thank You
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Summer Silhouettes, Four You;
Ink/Card Stock: Melon Mambo, White, Black;
Other: Embossing Powder – Turquoise, Wasabi, Melon, Tangerine, Rhinestones;
Technique: Dual Embossing

Fall Rainbow

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by Karen @ carefree creations - Fall Rainbow

I was inspired to stamp today. Specifically by this challenge (Inspired Challenges) – which is a photo of leaves in fabulous fall colors.

I also use the current Seize the Sketch challenge for the layout. I’m so happy to have found another sketch challenge!

If I could learn how to “sprinkle” enamel dots/sequins/the-like, I would have added them, but that sort of embellishing confounds me.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday
Stamps: Leafy Greens, Christmas Sampler (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Card Stock: White, Black, Ocean Tides, Scarlet Jewel, Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise, Harvest Gold, Limeade Ice, Simply Chartreuse (PTI); Rich Razzleberry, Summer Starfruit (SU);
Other: Birthday Trio die (PTI);

Zentangle Birthday

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For my birthday a couple months ago my mom paid for a local Zentangle instructor to come to my house and teach me and my two kids how to Zentangle. I was quite surprised at how much the kids enjoyed it!

My oldest kiddo turned 13 today! They love tangling and even makes up their own patterns. Heck, they even tangled their birthday cake:

Zentangle Cake

So of course, for their card, I had to Zentangle!

by Karen @ carefree creations - Zentagle 13th

I didn’t have a good outline stamp suited for tangling, but I did have this large solid stamp. I used the lightest grey ink that I had and stamped it onto the card. Then I used Micron pens to outline and fill-in the flower. I haven’t practiced since the training, so this is a bit rough, but I know they’ll love it all the same.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy 13th Birthday
Stamps: Big Blossom (SU); Stylish Sentiments: Birthday (PTI);
Ink/Card Stock: White, Razzberry Fizz (PTI); Bermuda Bay (SU);
Other: By the Numbers die, Suffix Style die (PTI); pens (Micron);

Poppies Caught in Crystal

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Last month I hosted a newsletter for my mom’s StampinUp blog. I did a theme – messy techniques. Here is one of the cards I created for the newsletter.

by Karen @ carefree creations - Poppies in Crystal

The technique I used is called Acetate & Tissue, but I’ve also seen it called Caught in Crystal. Basically, you stamp your image on acetate using permanent ink. Then you put Crystal Effects (or the like) on the backside, drop re-inker dots, smoosh around, sprinkle glitter, and finally layer with tissue paper.

One thing I really wanted to show in my newsletter was that you don’t have to make the card all about the technique – a technique can be a great touch without being overwhelming.

For this card, I trimmed the acetate piece to be narrow and ran it down the middle of my card. I trimmed it up with a lacey border and plopped my sentiment panel over the “boring” bit.

I think all the additional white-space on the card helps make the technique really pop (hmmm, did I just contradict myself??).

Thanks for taking a peek!

Thank You
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Pleasant Poppies, Four Frames, Four You;
Ink/Card Stock: Soft Sky, Daffodil Delight, White; Stazon Black;
Other: Window Sheet, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds, Decorative Label punch, Finishing Touches edgelit;
Technique: acetate and tissue;

Birthday Flowers

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by Karen @ carefree creations - Mod Flowers

This card is for the Paper Smooches Sparks challenge – this week is a trend challenge: flowers. I love flowers so I knew I had to participate in this challenge.

This is another card I made this past Monday (when I did 7 in 1 day!) and it was done right before bedtime….I’m surprise my brain lasted, but I love how the card turned out!

The flowers and leaves are from Reflections. I did a bunch of stamping on scrap paper before deciding how exactly I would stamp the leaves. I wanted a mod feel to them.

I kept the layout simple (mostly because at the time I had run out of sketch challenges, lol) and it was late. The flowers are hand-cut and adhered with just a dot of glue in the center, so the petals can be fluffed for dimension.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday
Stamps: Reflections, Salutations (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Card Stock: White, Black, Limeade Ice, Melon Berry (PTI);
Other: rhinestones (Hero Arts);

Rainbow Birthday Wishes

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. And, I have to admit, I’m a little nervous: I’m hostessing this month! I hope you like the challenges! Check out the latest challenge: #41 – colors (of course it would be rainbow 😉 ).

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #41

And here is my (first) take:

by Karen @ carefree creations - Rainbow Shadows

I used a baby wipe to make a custom rainbow ink pad. To make sure I had ink in just the right amount of space, I first stamped my image on the baby wipe using a pale grey color. Then it was easy to put the refill ink exactly where I wanted it.

Here’s a photo of that:

Baby Wipe - Controlled Ink

I didn’t want to waste my baby wipe (though you can save the custom ink pads in a ziploc for a bit), so I decided to make another card.

by Karen @ carefree creations - Rainbow Swipe

This time I dragged the inked baby wipe down my card stock.

One thing I did on both cards was to die-cut the word birthday from white and use the “inside” pieces to help block out the background and make the text stand out more.

Make sure you check out the other design team members:
Jacqueline
Louise – taking a break this month
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).

Happy Birthday
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Wonderful Words: Birthday;
Ink/Card Stock: White, Pure Poppy, Orange Zest, Harvest Gold, New Leaf, Blueberry Sky, Royal Velvet, Winter Wisteria;
Other: Wonderful Worrds: Birthday die;
Technique: baby wipe;

New Digs

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by Karen @ carefree creations - New Home

This card is for a couple challenges also.

First up, a theme challenge from CAS on Sunday – welcome home. Another of my nieces moved into a new place recently.

I used a sketch from Dalhouse Designs – Wanna Sketch?.

This card is two (of the many) reasons I prefer photopolymer stamps: it was so easy to stamp that sentiment! All I had to do was to bend the sentiment strand to fit the curve of the hill and then I could see through everything to make sure I stamped it right where I wanted it.

I did have to write the “welcome” on the sign as there is no such stamp in the set (what??).

Thanks for taking a peek!

Enjoy Getting Settled
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Wonderfully Whimsical, Celebrations;
Ink/Card Stock: White (GinaK); Black (Memento);
Other: markers (Copic);