Category Archives: cards

CC&S #297 – You are the Best

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

And here is my take:

You are the Best | by karen h @ carefree creations

My inspiration for this comes from two places. The layout is the 3rd sketch in Papertrey’s October inspiration. The way I stamped the butterflies & their outlines was inspired by some old Stampin’Up paper – Cutie Pie (which has very similar colors to this challenge).

I hope you join us at CAS Colours & Sketches!

Thanks for stopping by!

A Little About the Challenge: This weekly challenge is posted on Tuesday, and alternates between color and sketch (if there is a 5th week in the month you get the double dose of color & sketch).

you are the best
Stamps: Butterfly Dreams, All About You (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Versamark (Tsuniko); Balmy Blue, So Saffron (Stampin’Up-SU); Soft Granite (Hero Arts);
Paper: White (PTI); Rich Razzleberry (SU);
Other: white embossing (Hero Arts); Thank You die (My Favorite Things);

CASology – Arithmetic

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It is time for a new CASology challenge. Check out the latest challenge – ARITHMETIC!

Here is my take:

Better Than Average | by karen h @ carefree creations

I am not good with math, so when this cue came around I was checking out google for math puns. I found this (and once I learned what the heck it meant), I loved it. Oh, and for those of you, like me, scratching your head wondering what the heck that formula is – it means “UR greater than average”. The original is “B” instead of “UR”, but I wanted to give this card to my kiddo and I liked the slight difference in meaning.

I used a graphics program to create the equation, then filled it with a rainbow gradient. After a couple test prints and position tweaks, I printed it directly on the card stock for a perfect one-layer card.

My mojo took a few weeks off (thankfully I had worked ahead on most of the challenges), but I feel like things are coming around again! I’m so happy with how this card turned out!

I hope you join us at CASology – and, for more inspiration, check out the other design team members:

Thanks for stopping by!

math pun
Paper: White (Papertrey Ink);
Other: Adobe Garamond Pro font, printer;

CC&S #296

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

And here is my take:

Holiday Springs | by karen h @ carefree creations

This is an “extra” Tuesday in the month, so we have a Timeless Tuesday challenge – and old CC&S sketch paired with retired colors.

These double challenges are usually hard for me, but this combo came together easily! To add a touch of interest, especially as I wasn’t matting the hanging panel, I used a die with a decorative edge.

I’m not usually a ribbon user, but the ribbon was the perfect way to add a “base” for the stamping.

I hope you join us at CAS Colours & Sketches!

Thanks for stopping by!

A Little About the Challenge: This weekly challenge is posted on Tuesday, and alternates between color and sketch (if there is a 5th week in the month you get the double dose of color & sketch).

sending holiday cheer
Stamps: Holiday Greens, Spruce & Sprigs, Half & Half, Fillable Frames #9 (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Gumball Green, Raspberry Ripple (Stampin’Up – SU);
Paper: Midnight Muse (SU); White (PTI);
Other: Half&Half die (PTI);

CASology – Scary

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It is time for a new CASology challenge. Check out the latest challenge – SCARY!

Here is my take:

Happy Boo | by karen h @ carefree creations

I saw a card some years ago where the crafter wrapped twine around the top of the card and then down to a spider. I tried to find it, but I couldn’t. If anyone knows what I’m talking about – please tell me so I can credit the idea. I loved the idea so much it stuck with me and I just had to use it on my card. Pretty sure I used a different stamp set and the original spider was colorful (though the original was CAS too).

To keep my card clean and simple, I just did a pop of black on LOTS of white.

The spider is Copic colored – and I’m surprised at how well that turned out as I normally can’t do such small spaces with highlight and shadow.

I know the challenge is SCARY, but I just had to add googlie eyes to my spider.

I hope you join us at CASology – and, for more inspiration, check out the other design team members:

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Boo to You
Stamps: Booglie Eyes (Stampin’Up – SU)
Ink: Black (Momento); markers (Copic);
Paper: White (Papertrey Ink);
Other: White twine (SU); Stitched Rectangle die (Lil Inkers); googlie eyes (stash);

CC&S 295

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

And here is my take:

Thank You | by karen h @ carefree creations

When I first saw the sketch, my brain thought ocean scene (and didn’t want to let go). I wasn’t sure how to keep that idea CAS, but then decided to use pastel/subtle colors.

Instead of three separate stripes, I did a wavey die; but, otherwise, I tried to keep very close to the sketch.

I hope you join us at CAS Colours & Sketches!

Thanks for stopping by!

A Little About the Challenge: This weekly challenge is posted on Tuesday, and alternates between color and sketch (if there is a 5th week in the month you get the double dose of color & sketch).

thank you
Stamps: Salt Air Fauna, Salt Air Flora, Keep it Simple – Thank II (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Mint Julep, Summer Sunrise, Canyon Clay (PTI); Espresso Truffle (Memento);
Paper: White (PTI); Sno Cone (My Favorite Things);
Other: Swirly Scribbles die (Stampin’Up); Stitched Rectangle die (Lil Inkers); Salt Air Fauna die (PTI);

CASology – Menu

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It is time for a new CASology challenge. Check out the latest challenge – MENU!

Here is my take:

Love is on the Menu | by karen h @ carefree creations

I bought this chef set because I adored it, but I don’t think I’ve inked it up yet, so when I saw this cue, I knew I wanted to use this set! The sentiment is done on the computer. I used nesting rectangle dies to make the frame around it.

I hope you join us at CASology – and, for more inspiration, check out the other design team members:

Thanks for stopping by!

Love is on the Menu
Stamps: Recipe for Happiness (My Favorite Things);
Ink: Tuxedo (Momento); markers (Copic);
Paper: White card stock, True Black pattern (Papertrey Ink); Moonlight pattern (Stampin’Up);
Other: DJB Chalk it Up font (free at DaFont); Nesting Rectangle dies (Hero Arts);

Muddy Hogs

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

And here is my take:

Muddy Hogs | by karen h @ carefree creations

When I saw Blushing Bride as a color I immediately decided to use the piggy set. With the medium brown included, I thought about a pig in mud. I watercolored my image to get the look I wanted. The suede looks more like chocolate when watercolored, but suede is indeed what I used.

I hope you join us at CAS Colours & Sketches!

Thanks for stopping by!

A Little About the Challenge: This weekly challenge is posted on Tuesday, and alternates between color and sketch (if there is a 5th week in the month you get the double dose of color & sketch).

Hogs & Kisses
Stamps: This Little Piggy (Stampin’Up – SU);
Ink: Black (Palette); Early Espresso, Blushing Bride, Soft Suede (SU);
Paper: White (Papertrey Ink); Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Berry Burst (SU);
Other: Stitched Borders die (Lawn Fawn);

Encouraging Quote

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It is time for a new CASology challenge. Check out the latest challenge – PUNCTUATION!

Here is my take:

Encouragement | by karen h @ carefree creations

This one-layer card is done on watercolor paper. I used distress inks so they’d blend. My kiddo picked the colors – like a sunrise.

Kinda wish I had used a lighter grey for the quotation marks, but done is done!

I hope you join us at CASology – and, for more inspiration, check out the other design team members:

Thanks for stopping by!

Go confidently…
Stamps: Motivational Centers (Cornish Heritage Farms); He Said She Said (Paper Smooches);
Ink: Distress Worn Lipstick, Carved Pumpkin, Squeezed Lemonade (Ranger); Smokey Shadow (Papertrey Ink); Gray Granite (Stampin’Up);
Paper: watercolor;

Life is Sweet

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

And here is my take:

Life is Sweet | by karen h @ carefree creations

Since the sketch specifically said NOT geometric, I went organic. As a pairing to the berries, I used a 3d embossing folder in a weave pattern.

I hope you join us at CAS Colours & Sketches!

Thanks for stopping by!

A Little About the Challenge: This weekly challenge is posted on Tuesday, and alternates between color and sketch (if there is a 5th week in the month you get the double dose of color & sketch).

Life is Sweet
Stamps: Beautiful Berries: Summer (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Strawberry Slush, Raspberry Ripple (Stampin’Up); Elf Green (My Favorite Things – MFT); Pinefeather, Dark Chocolate (PTI);
Paper: Blue Breeze (MFT); Crumb Cake (SU); White (PTI);
Other: Beautiful Berries Summer die (PTI); Woven embossing (We R Memory Keepers);

Thinking of You

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Thinking of You | by karen h @ carefree creations

I started this card for the latest CAS Colors & Sketch Challenge (#292), but I felt the color I picked for the blue wasn’t blue enough.

I like the way the watercolor blob turned out on this one, so I thought I’d share it anyway 🙂

Thanks for taking a peek!

thinking of you
Stamps: Keep it Simple: Thinking of You (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Distress Evergreen Bough, Shabby Shutters (Ranger);
Paper: watercolor;
Other: Fancy Foliage Details die (PTI);