Author Archives: kth

Multiply Happiness

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Yes, another card…I was busy last night having fun playing challenges I’d missed the past week! And that is how I plan to spend today! I’ll start my taxes tomorrow, yeah, tomorrow.

by Karen @ Carefree Creations - Multiply Happiness

I created this card for the CASology cue Flame.

I, like many others, chose to work with candles. For me it actually started with the sentiment “…as each candle is added to your cake”. That just called for a card with lots of candles. And since I was going to add lots of candles – they needed to be a rainbow!

A few weeks ago I took an Online Cards class and the first lesson was about craftmanship. I tried hard on this card, but the fates were against me! Thankfully I think I salvaged it.

First I used my pencil to mark where each of the 7 candles would go (a rainbow being 7 colors). Then I proceeded to stamp only 6 colors, sigh. So I trimmed the card down… it is an odd 4 3/4 x 4 1/4 – not quite square, not quite rectangle.

I had drawn a top line where I wanted the candle tops to be. I managed not to hit my top mark, but as it turns out, I think this is better…any closer to the top and it would have felt claustrophobic.

In erasing my pencil marks, apparently I didn’t wait quite long enough and smudged some ink. Thankfully I stopped quickly and the damage was minimal – and easily removed by scrapping off, very lightly, with an Xacto knife (a lesson I learned in the class!!).

Finally I managed to stamp my sentiment just off center enough to bug the heck out of me (but it was late and done was done, lol).

I still adore this card, despite the problems (which now that I’ve shared them with you, you’ll notice too 😉 ).

Oh and here are some tidbits you might actually want to know:

  • The flames were inked with Summer Sunrise, then the bottoms touched with Poppy – then to really blend them, I inked again with Summer Sunrise.
  • The curve around the sentiment is hand-cut, as is the mat.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Multiply Happiness
Stamps: Hullabaloo (Paper Smooches); Stylish Sentiments-Birthday (Papertrey Ink);
Ink/Card Stock: White, Black, Pure Poppy, Orange Zest, Harvest Gold, New Leaf, Blueberry Sky (I *always* want to call this Blueberry Pie, I think PTI missed out on this!!), Winter Wisteria, Summer Sunrise (Papertrey Ink);

Calls for a Toast

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by Karen @ Carefree Creations - Calls for a Toast

I created this card for the Paper Smooches Sparks’ Cool Shades challenge – Carnival (cherry red, aqua, cream, chocolate).

I went a bit pinker with my “cherry red”, but that’s because anytime I put red with the other colors it screamed Christmas at me and I just was not in the mood to make one of those 🙂

I’ll be sending this card to my sister who recently moved up the ranks in her volunteer fire company!

Thanks for taking a peek!

Calls for a Toast
Stamps: Wake Up, Debonair (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Card Stock: Pool Party, Vanilla, Melon Mambo (StampinUp); Black & Brown (Memento);
Other: markers (Copic); twine (Paper Smooches);

Shamrock Shower

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March will be here before you know it (who decided February should be so short??). That means I need to get working on my cards for the InkUp stamp camp. This one is easy, but fun!

by Karen @ Carefree Creations - Shamrock Shower

I chose to use this little image because sometimes the little images are the hardest to use. I thought this was a good technique to share.

Another bad photo, sorry! BUT – good news: I finally got a replacement light bulb which means now I actually feel like crafting! (My kiddo wanted to know why I didn’t craft and take photos later – that yellow light was just too depressing…maybe if it wasn’t winter too, lol.) Oh, and another thought – GE Reveal, despite saying it is bright white, is NOT! I had to go to Lowes to find a true white light.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day
All supplies Stampin’Up unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Every Little Bit, Teeny Tiny Wishes;
Ink/Card Stock: Gumball Green, Whisper White;
Other: Modern Label punch, Word Window punch;

FYI – Pink Leafy Layers

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It is time for another For Your Inspiration challenge. Check out the latest challenge -> FYI40.

For Your Inspiration - Challenge #40

Isn’t this beautiful? All those pink leaves are breathtaking! I love the play of the dark wood against the pink as well.

by Karen @ Carefree Creations - Pink Leafy Layers

I started my card by selecting my stamp set – I’ve seen a lot of beautiful cards made with this set recently and I decided to finally get mine inky. My layout comes from a Dawn McVey card (first one).

I did the layers in all pinks – how could I not? I added touches of brown to finish it off.

The card base is Rustic White…the photo is bad because I still haven’t replaced my lightbulb that is out 🙁

Thanks for stopping by!

Make sure you check out the other design team members:
Debbie
Michelle
Mynnette
Regina
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!

Happy Birthday
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Lovely Layers, Communique Curves: Sentiments;
Ink/Card Stock: Rustic White; Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Early Espresso (SU);
Other: Lovely Layers dies;

Birthday Butterflies

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge -> #13 – colours.

CAS Colours & Sketch - Challenge #13

And here is my take:

by Karen @ Carefree Creations - Birthday Butterflies

I love Sahara Sand – it is such an awesome neutral. I took advantage of that by using it to stamp my background. The butterflies are inked with both Starfruit & Tangerine and then misted to help the colors blend.

The ribbon, which matches Sahara Sand perfectly is from my stash (no idea where it originally came from) – and I only have about 1 more use left – ack!

Thanks for stopping by!

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

I hope you join us at CAS Colours & Sketches!

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).

Happy Birthday
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Papillon Potpourri, Pleasant Poppies, Bring on the Cake;
Ink/Card Stock: Sahara Sand, White, Summer Starfruit, Tangerine Tango;
Other: ribbon (stash);

Happy Valentine’s Day

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by Karen @ Carefree Creations: Valentine's For Kids

I created these little notes to leave for my girls today (along with a little box of chocolate).

Just a quick note about the sentiment. Many companies don’t make “we” versions, so I often have to piece together my own thing. For this one, I started with an “i love you” sentiment from Paper Smooches. I inked up just the “love you” bit then using a coordinating marker I wrote “we”. Of course I started too far away (despite practicing!!). So to fix it, I just added a small heart.

Thanks for taking a peek!

We Love You
Stamps: Nine Lives, Woofers & Tweeters, Word Salad (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Card Stock: Hibiscus Burst, White (PTI); Black (Memento);
Other: markers (Copic);

Strawberry Sweetness

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge -> #12 – sketch.

2013-02-14

And here is my take:

by Karen @ Carefree Creations: Strawberry Sweetness

I’ll admit it – this sketch stumped me at first. But I did it! All the pieces are there – they just aren’t on their own layer.

I started by trimming a white panel to 3 5/8″ x 5 1/2. I used temporary adhesive to attach it to my green card base (I used temporary at first so if I messed it up it would be easier to start over). Then I stamped the leaves.

The strawberries are all die cut – with the one on the right popped up. I think because they are red and draw your eye, they keep the bones of the sketch (representing the circles).

I’m really happy with the final card – it is so cheery!

Thanks for stopping by!

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

I hope you join us at CAS Colours & Sketches!

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).

Sweet Birthday Wishes
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Strawberry Patch, Strawberry Patch Sentiments;
Ink/Card Stock: New Leaf, White, Pure Poppy, Black;
Other: Strawberry Patch dies;

Rainy Day Cheer

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Firstly, sorry for the bad photo – one of my lights went out and I did not have another white-light bulb in the house 🙁

by Karen @ Carefree Creations: Cheer Up

I created this card for the current Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge – Designer Draft.

This sketch was a hard one, but I’m really happy with how this one turned out. One detail that is hard to see in the photo is that I embossed a rectangle around the clouds & umbrella.

I also worked in some polka dots as a nod to last week’s Spark challenge that I did not get a chance to participate in.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Cheer Up
Stamps: Sunny Side Up (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Card Stock: Baja Breeeze (SU); Black (Memento);
Other: Flag Tags die (Paper Smooches); Lemon Tart, Soft Stone True Black Pattern Paper (PTI); Stitched Mat die (Lil Inkers);

Basket of Daisies

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by Karen @ Carefree Creations: Basket of Daisies

I created this card for the Retro Sketch #50 challenge.

To start this card, I pulled this basket of daisies out of my discard pile (discarded only because it didn’t work for its original intention). I chose to go with the blue because blue and yellow is one of my favorite combinations. I thought the picnic impression plate worked well. I finished it off with a bit of bitty box pattern paper.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Vintage Picnic;
Ink/Card Stock: Spring Rain, White, Lemon Tart; Brown (Memento);
Other: Bitty Dot (in Lemon Tart) pattern paper; Tag Sale #6 die, Double Ended Banner die, Picnic Plaid impression plate; markers (Copic);

Country Charm

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by Karen @ Carefree Creations: Country Charm

Oh I am in love with this card!!

I stared with an adorable gingham & heart inspiration at Inspired By.

This is probably my 3rd attempt at a card. In my other attempts I tried to work in other challenges but they just were NOT working. So I dropped everything else and really focused on the inspiration. What I loved was all the white with the pop of gingham – and the stitching. So that is what I did.

I’m sorta hearted out (not so much from creating them but from seeing them) – so I knew I didn’t want to do a heart. I pulled out a flower die that I think went really well with gingham. I die cut a flower from the gingham square and stitched the square to my focal panel. I topped off the flower center with a wood button.

When I started putting it all together though I decided the flower really should be die-cut through the focal panel too – for the cool shadow effect.

As one final touch I polka-dot embossed a square and placed it on the card base under the negative flower die to add some texture.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Handwritten Notes;
Ink/Card Stock: White, Dark Chocolate;
Other: Poppy Gingham pattern paper, Beautiful Blooms #3 die, wood button; Polka Dot embossing (Sizzix); Stitched Mat die (Lil Inkers); thread (DMC);