Author Archives: kth

Just Personal

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So my puppy hurt his leg this weekend. After a trip to the vet he is on 4 weeks of restricted movement (no stairs, no running, always on a leash). He’s not even 2 yrs old yet – he doesn’t do “restricted”, lol (though I’m sure most of that is because I haven’t figure out a training method that works for him).

At any rate, being a full-time dog-sitter (almost literally) doesn’t bode well for my time at the craft table.

I may have to learn to craft at night while my hubby is home to take care of the dog!

Coral Butterfly

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by Karen @ Carefree Creations - Coral Butterfly

I combined a couple challenges to create this card.

The layout comes from the Freshly Made Sketch #80 challenge. The colors are from the ColourQ #183 challenge.

To create the card, I first made a mask for the oval. I embossed the oval onto lightweight printer paper and closely trimmed it out. I temporarily adhered it to my Vanilla panel and stamped the flourish with Calypso Coral. Then I went back and did the actual embossing of the oval frame.

The butterfly is Calypso Coral ink on Blushing Bride paper.

To color the Pearls, I used a yellow Sharpie marker.

ETA – To get the embossed oval without the folder edge causes creases, I flip BOTH tabs of my BigShot platform up.

Whew, that is 3 cards in one day. And I think that seems to be my limit – I always seem to hit a wall after 3 cards. Hopefully I’ll have time to stamp during the week – there are just too many good challenges out there!

Thanks for taking a peek!

Thinking of You
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Papillon Potpourri, Creative Elements, Sweet Essentials;
Ink/Card Stock: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Calypso Coral, Blushing Bride;
Other: Coral Ribbon, Designer Frames embosslits, Pearls; yellow marker (Sharpie);

Spring Fusion

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by Karen @ Carefree Creations - Spring Fusion

There is a new challenge! It is called Fusion and basically it is 3 challenges – either a sketch, an inspiration, or a combination of both.

I decided to do both! The layout is the sketch (think of the picket fence as the chevrons…the tops do sorta look like it!) and the colors and flowers are a nod to the inspiration photo.

To do the fence, I die cut it twice and trimmed the second one down to just 2 pickets. I also embossed all those pieces with a woodgrain texture.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Enjoy Your Day
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Mini Blooms;
Ink/Card Stock: Kraft, Black, White, Orange Zest, New Leaf; Daffodil Delight (SU);
Other: Hibisucs Patterns paper, Mini Blooms die, Happy Trails die, Picket Fence die, Woodgrain impression plate; grass die (MFT);

Graduation Collage

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by Karen @ Carefree Creations - Piano Collage

I created this card using the Make-it-Monday collage background technique.

I’ve been pinning lots of cards lately that all have music staffs in them. So I decided to take that inspiration and use it in my collage.

My niece will be graduating from high school this June. She is a fabulous piano player, so I figured, with the above inspiration, I could make a card perfect for the occasion.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Wishing You Success
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Rhythm & Soul, Background Basics: Sheet Music, Fancy Flourishes, For the Graduate;
Ink/Card Stock: Lavender Moon, White, Kraft, Aqua Mist, Black;
Other: sequins (stash);

Heart Racing

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by Karen @ Carefree Creations - Heart Racing

I created this card for the CASology cue Up. My first reaction was to use balloons – but lots of folks were doing that so I decided to try something different. While thinking about what goes up – I came up with pulse rate!

I don’t have a cool pulse-rate-line-thingy image, so I created this (and the sentiment) on the computer! The race car is stamped, cut-out, and popped-up.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Heart Racing
Stamps: Free Spirit Boy (Waltzing Mouse Stamps – wms); Sentiment & pulse line are computer generated;
Ink/Card Stock: White, Pure Poppy (PTI);
Other: Red & Black markers (SU);

Butterflies of Peace

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by Karen @ Carefree Creations - watercolor background

I created this card for the latest Paper Smooches Sparks Trend Watch challenge – Butterflies.

I decided to do a watercolor background. I did the coloring by hand instead of a smoosh technique – I wanted the control over the amount of each color and its placement.

When picking colors, I first chose Baja Breeze and then decided to do an homage to SU colors that are being retired: Baja, Not Quite Navy, More Mustard, and Riding Hood Red. I needed a yellow, so I threw in Daffodil even though it isn’t retiring.

My original attempt at the background involved emboss-resist. That didn’t work, but I knew I still wanted white butterflies. This time I clear embossed the butterflies on white paper and cut them out. The embossing is much more visible in real-life.

I wanted to white emboss the sentiment, so I decided I needed a large size sentiment. The ‘peace, love, & happiness’ sentiment makes this the perfect birthday card for a friend of mine (though it will be hard to send this one away!)!

I’m so very happy with how this card all came together.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Peace Love & Happiness
Stamps: Flap Happy, Pretty Momma, Pretty Phrases (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Card Stock: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Daffodil Delight, More Mustard, Riding Hood Red (SU); White (PTI), Bristol Smooth (Essentials by Ellen);
Other: white & clear embossing + Versamark;

FYI – Paint Stroke Sky

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It is time for another For Your Inspiration challenge. Check out the latest challenge -> FYI43.

For Your Inspiration - Challenge #43

I was really drawn to the colors of the sunset.

by Karen @ Carefree Creations - Paint Stroke Sky

After choosing my colors, I went back to the inspiration photo to help me figure out what stamp set to use. I loved how the clouds looked like paint strokes.

I used 3 different stroke images. The top one is inked with Wisteria and edged with Velvet. The middle stroke has Lavender and Melon Berry. The final stroke (really just a dot) is just Melon Berry. I stamped the sentiment with Velvet.

I finished the card off with a little rhinestone dotting the “i” in “big”.

Thanks for stopping by!

Make sure you check out the other design team members:
Debbie
Michelle
Mynnette
Rochelle
Rudlis
Sara
Steph
Vicki

I hope you join us at For Your Inspiration!

A Little About the Challenge: The For Your Inspiration challenge is posted the first and third Thursday of every month; each challenge is open for two weeks. To play, use the photo to inspire you and create a card – very simple! Make sure you tell us in your blog post how you were inspired!

Wish Big
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Wonderful Watercolor, Stylish Sentiments: Birthday;
Ink/Card Stock: White, Royal Velvet, Winter Wisteria, Lavender Moon, Melon Berry;
Other: Rhinestone (Kaiser);

Owl Be Thinking of You

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge -> #19 – colors.

CAS Colours & Sketches - Challenge 19

And here is my take:

by Karen @ Carefree Creations - Owl Be Thinking of You

I thought I’d have some fun with these colors. I pulled out the adorable Aviary set to use.

I chose to use the blue for my base because it is light and the other colors would pop around it.

I used the cage stand to create a bar for the birds.

Design Point: Despite using a Stamp-a-ma-Jig, the bar is crooked and the extra finial is just a smidge not connected. Thankfully it isn’t obvious. I didn’t try to connect them with a marker because I thought it would draw attention to the gaff. Sometimes it is better to just let the mistake stand, most folks won’t even see it.

I’ll send this card to Mom for her inspiration wall.

Make sure you check out the other design team members:
Jacqueline
Kylie
Louise
Paula
Sandie

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 you get the double dose of color & sketch).

Thinking of You
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Aviary, Teeny Tiny Wishes;
Ink/Card Stock: Raspberry Ripple, Daffodil Delight, Bashful Blue, Whisper White;
Other: twine, Bashful pattern paper, Fancy Fan embossing folder;

Birthday Popper

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by Karen @ Carefree Creations - Birthday Popper

I’ve had this set since it came out, but haven’t inked it. I decided it was time!

I wanted a bright and festive card, so that is how I chose my colors. I’m not a fan of pink, but it sure does get the point across for fun.

Design Point: I originally stamped the popper in Wisteria, but it was too light and not working at all. So I pulled out Royal Velvet but that was too dark. Thankfully Goldilocks remembered about generational-stamping! The popper is stamped with Royal Velvet, off-stamped first.

Why did I stamp the greeting in black? I have no idea. If I felt like re-doing it, I would probably use Royal Velvet (either full-strength or off-stamped).

This ribbon is from my stash. I have NO idea where it came from. It was too narrow on its own, so I wrapped it twice. Glossy Accents did NOT want to hold the bow on. I had to wait for it to dry and then use a glue dot.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Hooray
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Party Poppers;
Ink/Card Stock: Hibiscus Burst, White, Hawaiian Shores, Royal Velvet, True Black;
Other: Party Poppers dies; circle die (Spellbinders); ribbon (stash);

Salted Watercolor

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So last week I created a watercolor + embossing card and ended up with a lot of ink left over on my craft sheet. I sopped up the ink with some watercolor paper and salted it (tutorial). This is how they turned out:

by Karen @ Carefree Creations - Salted Watercolor Backgrounds

The brown spots are where the salt pushed the ink away and, I guess, also reacted with the ink. I love the resulting veining! These papers remind me of landsat photos of the earth.

I loved the results so much that I wanted to make sure the papers were not covered much. Both cards are the exact same, so I’m just showcasing one.

by Karen @ Carefree Creations - Salted Watercolor Birthday

Design Point: My original plan was to use hemp twine/jute (more masculine in my opinion – and it did match those little salt dots in the background) but it really did not look right and as soon as I switched it out for white – the card popped.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Ad Sense (“happy”);
Ink/Card Stock: White, Lemon Tart, True Black, Enchanted Evening, New Leaf;
Other: Tiny Tag die, Wonderful Words: Birthday day; twine (SU);