Category Archives: cards

July 4th Fireworks

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Fireworks | by karen @ carefree creations

Oh my gosh – this embossing powder is amazing! It is gold, but it has glitter in it.

Edited to add: I forgot to say… I made the scallop frame smaller than normal. The die cuts just shy of a card front, but I wanted it as a mat for the Wonky frame. I die cut the scallop frame and then repositioned the panel back into the die so that it would trim off the edges but keep the scallop correctly. If you have questions, let me know and I will post a photo!

Celebrate wtih Style
Stamps: July Fourth; (Stampin’Up – SU); Big Bold Wishes (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko);
Paper: Stone Gray (My Favorite Things – MFT); White, Smokey Shadow (PTI); Soft Navy (Simon Says Stamp);
Other: Enchanted Gold embossing powder for fireworks (Ranger); Gold embossing powder for sentiment (Filigree); City Scape Silhouette die (Memory Box); Femme Frames die (Mama Elephant); Wonky Rectangle Frame die (MFT);

this age looks good on you

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old age | by karen @ carefree creations

I’m playing along with Paper Smooches’s monthly inspiration challenge. This month is layers!

PaperSmoochesSparksBadge

I had fun making this one. The background is layered up with 6 colors of torn cardstock. I chose a blue pattern paper so that the dinosaur stands out. This sentiment was too fun not to pair with the dinosaur!

Thanks for taking a peek!

happy birthday
Stamps: Cuteasaurus, Sentiment Sampler, Happy Birthday (Paper Smooches);
Ink: Graphite Black Brilliance (Tsukineko);
Paper: True Thyme, Delightful Dijon (Stampin’Up); Canyon Clay, Terracotta Tile, Americana, Blueberry Pie Patterns (Papertrey Ink); Milk Chocolate (My Favorite Things);
Technique: paper piecing; tearing;
Challenge: Paper Smooches – June 2016

July 4th Burst

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Burst | by karen @ carefree creations

This was a fun card to make. I went with some colors that are a little off the true red and blue. I used a marker to fill in the “4th”.

Happy 4th of July
Stamps: Let Freedom Ring, Label Basics (Papertrey Ink – PTI); July Fourth (Stampin’Up);
Ink: Marina Mist, Primrose Petals (SU); Enchanted Evening (PTI);
Paper: White (PTI); Marina Mist (SU);
Other: Limitless Layers Circle 1 3/4″ die (PTI);
Inspired/CASEd from: Melissa at Inked Regards

Papertrey June 2016 Blog Hop Challenge

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PTI_BlogHopLogo

I love the inspiration piece for this month’s Papertrey Ink Blog Hop:

2016-06_PTIBlogHop-inspiration

The colors are what strike me first, and then the soft watery feel. Those are the things I used when making my card:

PTI Blog Hop | by karen @ carefree creations

The background and shells are done on watercolor paper – all my supplies are listed below. The background was washed with a few different distress inks, splattered with a marker – I loved the speckled background in the inspiration photo. One of the first things I decided when making the card was what I was going to use for the background plant – it is actually a Mistletoe image!

The shells are also first washed with a pale color, and then wet stamped with the 2nd and 3rd images for each shell. I do wish I had an outline image for the shells, I think that would have set them off from the background much better.

I struggled with how to do a sentiment (I didn’t even have a sentiment picked out when I started). Eventually I decided the banners with the shells on top helped the shells to stand out.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday to You
Stamps: Simple Seashells, Mistletoe & Holly, Little Bitty Bird (PTI);
Ink: background: Tumbled Glass all-over wash, Salty Ocean wash, Mermaid Lagoon big splatters Distress Ink (Ranger); Pacific Point marker (Stampin’Up); plant: Autumn Rose (PTI); shells: Shaded Lilac wash Distress Ink (Ranger), Winter Wisteria, Royal Velvet (PTI); Aqua Mist wash, Hawaiian Shores, Tropical Teal (PTI); Sweet Blush wash, Hibiscus Burst, Raspberry Fizz (PTI);
Paper: Watercolor (Ranger); White, Kraft (PTI);
Other: Simple Seashells die, Double Ended Banner die (PTI);
Technique: tearing;

Flip Flop Fourth

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Flip Flop Fourth | by karen @ carefree creations

In my search for inspiration for July 4th cards, I found a few gorgeous flower cards and that got me thinking out of the box. When I saw the flip flops in my index, I knew this would be a perfect set to use for my sister. When I saw this card by Kara, I had to CASE it.

I changed up the colors to make it patriotic. The thongs are glitter paper – her flip flops are always full of bling! And instead of hearts, I used stars to keep with the theme.

Happy 4th of July
Stamps: Flipping Out, Bitty Background Blocks, Keep it Simple: Bless the US (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Spring Rain, Enchanted Evening (PTI);
Paper: White, Harvest Gold, 2008 Bitty Star Basics patterns (PTI); Silver Glitter paper (Stampin’Up);
Other: Flipping Out die, Merry & Bright star die (PTI);
Inspired/CASEd from: Kara Vrabel

Sit Back for Father’s Day

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

CC&S_2016-06-23_#179

And here is my take:

Father's Day | by karen @ carefree creations

This is such a classic sketch, and so easy to use. I made this card last week when I needed a father’s day card for my in-law.

I hope you join us at CAS Colours & Sketches!

Thanks for stopping by!

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

Happy Father’s Day
Stamps: Polka Dot Parade #3 – Dad, Keep it Simple: Father’s Day (Papertrey Ink – PTI); Woodgrain background (Stampin’Up – SU);
Ink: Enchanted Evening (PTI); Soft Suede (SU); Bamboo (Close to My Heart – CTMH);
Paper: White, Enchanted Evening (PTI); Bamboo (CTMH); Green Leaf (Simon Says Stamp);
Other: Polka Dot Parade chair die (PTI); Starlit Breeze (Memory Box);

Doilies & Stars

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Doilies & Stars | by karen @ carefree creations

I was very much inspired this card by Teri Anderson.

The notched star banner is perfect here (the die was debuted out during Halloween so I never really looked at it outside that context).

I didn’t have a sentiment that would be bold enough on that busy background paper and fit in a rectangle, so I started looking for alternatives. I thought the doily would dress the card up a bit and provide a good focal point. I added weight to it by stamping the frame (which I was so happy that it fit so well!!).

Happy 4th of July
Stamps: July Fourth (StampinUp); Label Basics (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Enchanted Evening (PTI);
Paper: Enchanted Evening, White, Pure Poppy & White patterns (PTI);
Other: Doily Details die, Notched Star Banner die (PTI);
CASEd/Inspired By: Teri Anderson

Oh Say, Can You See

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Oh Say, Can You See | by karen @ carefree creations

I love this flag stamp! For this card, I went for a little artistic feel and kept it one-layer!

Happy 4th of July
Stamps: Land of the Free, Work of Art (Stampin’Up); Keep it Simple: Bless the US (Papertrey Ink);
Ink: Tumbled Glass distress ink (Ranger); Not Quite Navy, Real Red, Pink Pirouette (Stampin’Up);
Paper: White (Papertrey Ink);

July 4th Banner

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July 4th | by karen @ carefree creations

Another 4th of July card. I came up with this design when I was on vacation – it is good to finally get it into creation. I had so much fun stamping yesterday – I got 4 of my July 4th cards done (still need to do 5 more).

This card is ultra simple – just some pattern paper along the edges, a couple die cuts, and done!

I did bend the sentiment so that it would curve along the streamer edge.

Happy 4th of July
Stamps: Keep it Simple: Bless the US (Papertrey Ink – PTI); Streamers (Paper Smooches – PS);
Ink: Enchanted Evening (PTI); Black Licorice (My Favorite Things);
Paper: White, Enchanted Evening patterns, Pure Poppy & White patterns (PTI);
Other: Streamers (PS); Star Framelit dies (Stampin’Up);

Stenciling for the Fourth

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Stenciling for the Fourth | by karen @ carefree creations

I’m on summer break from work, and I’m back from vacation, so now I get to stamp! Today I decided to work on my July 4th cards. After checking out the One-Layer Simplicity challenge, I came up with an idea right away.

I’m still not very good at stenciling. Despite heaving taping, the stencil moved a bit, but I still like the final card.

To get the one sentiment strip masked off, I cut a piece of masking paper and used my grid mat to line it up on the card. I taped the stencil in place and went to town with the sponging.

This is the only “line” stencil I have. I don’t know if I would have chosen a straight line one if I had it, but I’m really happy I used this wavy one – I think the movement helps give this one-layer card some dimension (not to mention the slight shadow affect due to stencil movement).

Happy 4th of July
Stamps: Keep it Simple: Bless the US (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Barn Door, Faded Jeans distress inks (Ranger); Midnight Muse (Stampin’Up);
Paper: White (PTI);
Other: Texture Wave stencil (Memory Box);
Technique: sponging; stenciling;
Challenge: One-Layer Simplicity: Stencil