Category Archives: cards

Mother’s Day Art

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Artful Flowers | by karen @ carefree creations

All my Mother’s Day cards this year are some form of watercoloring. This one uses one my favorite techniques – wet paper stamping. I wet the watercolor paper, stamp with ink – let it run, then, once dry, over stamp with either an outline or the original (but since it is dry it doesn’t run/bleed).

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Mother’s Day
Stamps: Artful Flowers (Simon Says Stamp); Fillable Frames #4 (Papertrey Ink); Gingham & Co (Waltzing Mouse Stamps);
Ink: Abandoned Coral, Dried Marigold, Broken China, Spiced Maramalade Distress Inks (Ranger);
Paper: Watercolor (Ranger); Watermelon Wonder (Stampin’Up);
Other: Stitched Rectangle die (Lil Inkers); Bookplates die (Paper Smooches); gingham ribbon (stash);
Technique: wet paper watercoloring;

Happy Mother’s Day

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Scribble Flowers | by karen @ carefree creations

When I sat down to make my Mother’s Day cards, I checked out the current challenges. I loved the CAS Mix Up challenge to use heat embossing.

I embossed my flowers with white powder, then watercolored the images and background.

CAS-MixUp-badge

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Mother’s Day
Stamps: Circle Scribble Flowers (My Favorite Things – MFT); One Big Happy (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko); Worn Lipstick, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Tumbled Glass, Broken China Distress Inks (Ranger); Gravel Grey (MFT);
Paper: Watercolor (Ranger); Tempting Turquoise (Stampin’Up); Gravel Grey (MFT);
Other: One Big Happy die (PTI); white embossing powder (Hero Arts);
Technique: watercoloring; emboss resist;

hello, goodbye

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It is a new month, which means a new hostess over at CAS Colours & Sketches challenge – Caro. Check out the latest challenge:

CC&S_2016-05-05_#172

And here is my take:

hello | by karen @ carefree creations

My post title is in reference to the sentiment I used, and that the challenge colors are being retired this month by Stampin’Up.

I’ve loved this stamp set / die combo since it came out, but I haven’t used it yet (fairly typical for me – I think I get intimidated by the wealth of awesome cards that are made with sets that I love). I figured this was a perfect opportunity to pull the products out!

The card base is rustic cream cardstock. I used the border die to cut off a bit from the card base front. Then I embossed a kraft panel (card front size) and adhered it to the inside of the card. I did a full front size because I didn’t want a seam to show inside.

I thought about adding a rhinestone to the flower center, and if I send this card myself, I will before I mail it…but usually my cards end up in the box I take to work and I want those cards as mailing-friendly as possible (though, I admit, it doesn’t seem to matter if I label some cards as extra postage / hand carry – they still get taken…and that makes me happy!).

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).

hello
Stamps: Botanical Blooms, Endless Birthday Wishes (Stampin’Up – SU);
Ink: Mossy Meadow (SU);
Paper: Rustic Cream, Kraft (Papertrey Ink); Mossy Meadow, Tangelo Twist, Hello Honey (SU);
Other: Botanical Builder die, Woodgrain embossing (SU);

Celebration Cupcake

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Celebration Cupcake | by karen @ carefree creations

I need to send a birthday card out this week. It was fun to make a bright cheery card (it has been snowing here for 3 days – no accumulation, but cold and dreary).

I used a few challenges to help me decide what to do. The layout is from the CAS(e) This Sketch. I used pattern paper for the Less is More challenge. And finally, I added a few sprinkles to my cupcake to play along with the CASology challenge.

CASeThisSketchBadge        LessIsMoreBadge        CASologyBadge

I decided to use the sketch to make my card look like a gift. To keep the twine in place I figured out how I wanted it to run, and cut tiny notches into the layer.

All the challenges are CAS style challenges, so I kept it very clean by just using white for my base and main layer.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Celebrate Today
Stamps: Cupcake Collection (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Raspberry Fizz, Summer Sunrise (PTI);
Paper: White (PTI); Baked Brown Sugar (Stampin’Up); Country Drive pattern (Echo Park);
Other: pink baker’s twine (stash);

Owl Birthday

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My kid is off to a birthday party for a friend. They asked me to make a card – with owls and yellow. This is what we came up with.

Birthday Owls | by karen @ carefree creations

I love this owl set by Gina K (it is an old one) – the owls are just adorable! I colored with Copic markers. I could not get the browns to blend – I think I need one more marker…or possibly a refill on what I have.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday
Stamps: Owl Always Love You (Gina K); Keep it Simple: Birthday (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Black (Momento); Black (PTI);
Paper: White, Bright Buttercup (PTI);
Other: markers (Copic); Woodgrain embossing folder (Stampin’Up); Stitched Rectangle die (Lil Inkers); Banner die (PTI);

Thanks for the Appreciation

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Wednesday this week was Admin Professionals day. In my office, we were treated to flowers, lunch, and sweet treats. It was quite nice! Last night I made thank you cards and took them in to my bosses today. I chose the 4-bar size and kept them very simple.

Thanks | by karen @ carefree creations

Thanks | by karen @ carefree creations

Thanks | by karen @ carefree creations

Thanks for taking a peek!

Thanks
Stamps: Square Prints (Papertrey Ink – PTI);
Ink: Spring Rain (PTI);
Paper: White, Enchanted Evening (PTI);
Other: Wet Paint die (PTI);
Thanks
Stamps: Graceful Greetings (PTI);
Ink: Espresso Truffle (Momento); Ripe Raspberry (My Favorite Things – MFT); Lucky Limeade (Stampin’Up);
Paper: White (PTI);
Thanks So Much
Stamps: Think Big Favorites 1 (PTI);
Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko);
Paper: White, Simply Chartreuse patterns (PTI); Pure Plum (MFT);
Other: Bloomin’Cute Sentiments die (PTI); white embossing powder (Hero Arts);

More than Bacon

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

CC&S_2016-04-28_#171

And here is my take:

More Than Bacon | by karen @ carefree creations

Whew, this was a challenge! Despite that, I did come up with a few options, but bacon really worked for me 🙂

I did flip the sketch so that the sentiment/image combo were in the correct order.

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).

More Than Bacon
Stamps: Calorie Free (Paper Smooches – PS);
Ink: Black (Papertrey Ink – PTI); Poppy Parade (Stampin’Up – SU);
Paper: Blush Blossom (SU); White (PTI);
Other: Calorie Free die (PS); Stitched Rectangle die (Lil Inkers);

Every Day is a Gift

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

CC&S_2016-04-21_#170

And here is my take:

Every Day | by karen @ carefree creations

For my card, I stamped the branch and flowers with color and then went back over them with Versamark and clear embossing powder, finishing with a quick zap with my heat gun. The blue is lightly sponged on over the embossing.

The sentiment is a straight image, so I cut mine up so I could stamp in this configuration.

It snowed like crazy over the weekend, and I woke up to more today. Stamping some cherry blossoms was just the thing I needed!

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).

Every Day is a Gift
Stamps: Out on a Limb, Everyday Button Bits (Papertrey Ink-PTI);
Ink: Dark Chocolate (PTI); Blushing Bride (Stampin’Up); Mermaid Lagoon Distress (Range); Versamark (Tsukineko);
Paper: White (PTI);
Other: clear embossing powder (Filigree); MISTI tool;
Technique: sponging; emboss resist technique;

hello

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

CC&S_2016-04-14_#169

And here is my take:

hello | by karen @ carefree creations

Sorry….I’m up late trying to get this card posted and my brain is dead tired. I’m not going to write much as I’m pretty sure it won’t be coherent.

The sun and house are paper pieced. Otherwise, this is a very simple card!

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).

hello
Stamps: Bitty Bungalows, Sunny Side, Forest Whimsy, Chit Chat (Paper Smooches);
Ink: Black (Papertrey Ink-PTI);
Paper: Lemon Chiffon, Sour Apple, Sno Cone (My Favorite Things); White (PTI); Country Drive pattern paper (Echo Park); Domestic Goddess pattern paper (Stampin’Up);
Technique: fussy cutting

Level Up

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Level Up | by karen @ carefree creations

Playing along with the Freshly Made Sketches challenge.
FreshlyMadeSketchesBadge

My kid is a gamer. I recently bought this game controller die and decided to use it with this sketch to make a birthday card.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Level Up
Stamps: Level Up (My Favorite Things-MFT);
Ink: Black (Papertrey-PTI);
Paper: Bermuda Bay, Old Olive, Crushed Curry, Calypso Coral cardstock, Birthday Bash pattern paper (Stampin’Up); White, Soft Stone, Black (PTI); Gravel Gray (MFT);
Other: Game Controller die (MFT); black cord (stash);