Author Archives: kth

Split Negative

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My SU Demo (aka Mom) is taking the month of August off to get some work around the house done. I told her I’d be willing to put together a weekly newsletter so her customers would have something pretty to look at. I chose the theme of “techniques”. This is the first week:

by Karen @ carefree creations - Split Negative

I’m very happy with this card! I used an old CAS(e) This Sketch layout (#3).

If you want the directions, you’ll have to sign-up on her site 😉

Thanks for taking a peek!

Thinking of You
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: By the Seashore, Sweet Essentials, Gorgeous Grunge;
Ink/Card Stock: Soft Sky, Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler;
Other: Cherry Cobbler & White embossing powder, Circle dies, Natural Trim ribbon;
Technique: split negative

Color Opposites

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The third VSN Mini challenge is a color wheel challenge – use colors that are opposite on the wheel!

I made two cards! Here is the first:

by Karen @ carefree creations - Christmas Squares

When you look at a color wheel, there are 3 basic opposite pairings: red/green, orange/blue, and yellow/purple. Anytime I pair red/green I think Christmas, so I went with it!

To create this (and the next) card, I drew a light line on the card and aligned the square blocks. I eyeballed the space between the blocks.

Here is the second card, using a yellow/purple combo:

by Karen @ carefree creations - Graphic Duo

I chose a few different stamps from the set, but tried for ones that all included thick lines. I knew I wanted the sentiment to be the purple color, so I stamped the images alternating colors, starting with yellow.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Merry Christmas
Stamps: Square Prints, Mega Mixed Messages (PTI);
Ink/Card Stock: White (PTI); Wild Wasabi, Real Red (SU);
Happy Birthday
Stamps: Square Prints, Paper Tray (PTI);
Ink/Card Stock: White (PTI); Rich Razzleberry, Summer Starfruit (SU);
Other: patience and a T-ruler!

Monster Cards

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The second VSN Mini challenge of the evening is mine!! The idea is to use the same stamp set and create 2 cards – one masculine, one feminine. Here are my cards:

by Karen @ carefree creations - Monster Cards

I actually had a lot of fun with these cards. I challenged myself even further by using the same image (not just set) and the same layout.

Here’s a closer look at the first card, the masculine birthday:

by Karen @ carefree creations - Monster Birthday

When I create masculine cards, I tend to use blues and greens. I also like to have texture. I don’t normally distress cards, but this one seemed to call for it.

I love the white image on the blue jean background, it really pops like that!

I’m also putting this card in for the Paper Smooches Sparks weekly challenge. This week is Anything Goes.

Here is the feminine version:

by Karen @ carefree creations - Monster Hugs

I don’t normally make girly girly cards, but when I do… 😉 Honestly, I think feminine cards are harder for me than masculine! I’m not much of a girly-girl myself – and pink is my least favorite color….but it does make a great girly card! I also used a lacey / filigree border die.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Monster Birthday
Stamps: Falling for You, Party Posse, Hullabaloo (Paper Smooches); Just Jeans background (SU); Farm & Barn background (PTI);
Ink/Card Stock: White, Kraft, Spring Rain, Enchanted Evening, Dark Chocolate (PTI);
Other: Orange Zest pattern (PTI);
Monster Hugs
Stamps: Falling for You (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Card Stock: White, Raspberry Fizz, Black (PTI);
Other: black gingham ribbon (SU); Alpha Whimsy dies (Paper Smooches); Filigree Border die (PTI); old pattern paper (SU); Black Rhinestones (Kaiser);

Strawberry Spotlight

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Tonight is the VSN Mini at Splitcoast! There will be 5 challenges (and I’m hosting one this round!!). I hope you’ll join us!

The first challenge is to use neutral colors with a pop of color. Here’s my card:

by Karen @ carefree creations - Strawberry Spotlight

I used the spotlight technique because it lends itself to the idea of a pop of color. I love how it turned out – I think I’m in love with Stampin’Ups new grey!

To do the sentiment, I had to borrow the “sweet” from another set – Little Bitty Bird. It is the right size just a tiny bit thicker line.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Berry Sweet Birthday Wishes
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Strawberry Patch, Litty Bitty Bird;
Ink/Card Stock: Pure Poppy, New Leaf, White; Basic Grey, Smokey Slate (SU);
Other: circle die (Spellbinders);
Technique: Spotlight;

Modern Silhouettes

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge: #36 – colors.

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #36

And here is my take:

by Karen @ carefree creations - Modern Silhouettes

These colors felt very modern to me. I chose Summer Silhouettes because it had great solid images as well as the perfect border image.

I white embossed the border image on my card base. My main white panel is adhered to the right and popped-up.

The large pink flower is cut-out and popped-up. I added a grey stamped center and a rhinestone.

Make sure you check out the other design team members:
Jacqueline
Kylie
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).

Hello
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Summer Silhouettes, Four You;
Ink/Card Stock: Basic Grey, White, Melon Mambo, Old Olive;
Other: Basic Jewels – Rhinestone, White Embossing Powder;

Glittery Dragonfly

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by Karen @ carefree creations - Glittered Dragonfly

I’m trying to catch up on some of my favorite challenges. The current challenge at Addicted to CAS is Glitter.

I decided to try a technique that I’ve been wanting to try for a while now (I bought all the stuff to do it a while back, but never tried it). Julie Ebersole did a great video (see it here) about the technique -> Glittered Copics.

I bought a few different sticker sets, but I thought using the dragonfly would be fun today.

It is hard to get a good photo of glitter, but I tried:

by Karen @ carefree creations - Detail Shot

I used the current Freshly Made Sketch challenge for my layout.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday
Stamps: Think Big Favorites #13 (PTI);
Ink/Card Stock: White, True Black, Wisteria, Hawaiian Shores (PTI);
Other: stickers (Elizabeth Craft); markers (Copics); micro-fine glitter (Glitter Ritz); eyelet!!; twine;
Technique: glittered copics, burnished velvet;

Watercolored Sweet Peas

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by Karen @ carefree creations - Watercolored Sweet Peas

This week is Dare to Get Dirty at Splitcoast. I don’t know how many challenges I’ll get done (there are 6 every day for a week!!), but the challenges are awesome!

This is the first challenge and I had to make a card! The actual challenge is a secret – just for Fan Club members.

I have a few pins on my Pinterest board that use a technique I’ve been wanting to try – white embossed outline image, which is then watercolored. I had to try it!

I will probably do this again – it has such a soft, pretty look when done.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Year of Flowers: Sweet Pea, Think Big Favorites #12;
Ink/Card Stock: White, Wisteria, Sweet Blush, Limeade Ice; Slate ink (SU);
Other: Herringbone impression plate; white embossing powder (Filigree); Stitched Rectangles die (Lil Inkers);
Technique: watercoloring;

Inspired Butterfly

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by Karen @ carefree creations - Inspired Butterfly

This summer has been non-stop and just when I think it will get quiet, something else comes up! I just want a week or so to hide from the world!!

I did stamp yesterday – 5 cards!!! This card was finished this morning because frankly 3 is my daily limit and I was pushing it last night – and the watercolor paper needed a chance to dry.

The challenge was a CAS inspiration challenge at SCS: cas230.

What I pulled from the inspiration was the gradient – I love gradients! And the “die-cut” out of the window. And the different textures. I decided to just use the brick on my background, but it was all I could do not to add some woodgrain too!

To get the partial inking on the brick background, I used a sponge to apply the ink to the background. I love how it fades out.

The butterfly is a negative die-cut. The paper underneath is watercolor paper that had a wash of two colors applied.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Just a Note
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Botanical Silhouettes; Brickwall (Cornish Heritage Farms);
Ink/Card Stock: Soft Stone, Smokey Shadow, Autumn Rose, Royal Velvet; Sahara Sand ink (SU);
Other: Beautiful Butterflies die; rhinestones (Kaiser); watercolor paper (art store);
Technique: watercoloring / watercolor wash;

Miss You So Much

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge: #35 – sketch.

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #35 - Sketch

And here is my take:

by Karen @ carefree creations - Giraffe Longing

I haven’t played with my Paper Smooches stamps in a while, so I broke them out for this sketch.

I chose the giraffe image because it suits the sketch. Then I had to find a sentiment that would fit in the speech bubble. I chose a miss you sentiment because I can pop this card in my hubby’s suitcase for his next trip.

After laying out the pieces, I felt the card was too plain. I decided to doodle a frame. That is always so scary to me, but I thought it went with the fun & cute feel of the images.

Make sure you check out the other design team members:
Jacqueline
Kylie
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).

I Miss You So Much
Stamps: Zoo Crew, He Said/She Said, Word Salad (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Card Stock: White (PTI), Black, Pumpkin Pie, Gumball Green, Daffodil Delight (SU);
Other: Sunshine & Sprinkles DSP (SU); Grass die (My Favorite Things); Signo white gel pen (Uniko);

Birthday Bouquet

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by Karen @ carefree creations - Summer Bouquet

I had a bit of time yesterday (well, really I was procrastinating, but stamping is more fun than chores) so I played along with the current Clean & Simple challenge at SCS (CAS229 – colors).

I liked the idea of using the grey as my background and adding pops of the colors as flowers.

As for layout, I kept it simple and stamped the bouquet in the corner. I used die to cut out the top panel (love those stitch marks!) and then embossed the card base to add some interest/texture.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday
Stamps: Mini Blooms, Bigger Blooms (PTI);
Ink/Card Stock: White (PTI); Sahara Sand, Primrose Petals, Calypso Coral (SU);
Other: Herringbone impression plate (PTI); Stitched Rectangle Mats die (Lil Inkers);