Category Archives: cards

Merci, French Teacher

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by karen @ carefree creations - Merci French Teacher

I have quite the list of cards to make for this year’s end of school. I’ve posted about half the cards I have made so far, and have a few more yet to make (I’m already sick of making teacher cards, help me!!).

My kiddo started French this year (try as I might to talk them into Spanish, their early start in ballet made them fall in love with French). This card is for the French teacher.

The background is done using the salted-watercolor technique.

It is hard to see in the photo, but I did stamp an Eiffel Tower image and silver embossed it.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Merci
Stamps: Think Big Favorites 3, City Scenes (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: White, Black, Royal Velvet (PTI); Island Indigo (SU); Versamark (Tsukineko);
Other: watercolor paper (Hero Arts); Stitched Mat Rectangle die (Lil Inker); silver embossing powder (Filigree);
Technique: salted-watercolor technique

Thanks, Science Teacher

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by karen @ carefree creations - Thanks, Science Teacher

My kiddo had biology this year; they spent a lot of time on DNA. So, if you can’t tell, the hand-drawn border in the background is supposed to be the double-helix of DNA. I’ve decided someone really needs to make a line of nerdy stamps – math and science!

The teacher dude is normally holding a pointer, but with some creative masking and a bit of snipping of the stamp (nothing removed, just snipped some space so the hand could be pulled out from his head a bit) – I was able to have him hold a light bulb.

Thanks for taking a peek!

thanks teacher
Stamps: Smarty Pants, Great Chemistry (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Cardstock: White, Simply Chartreuse (PTI); Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy (SU);
Other: markers (Copic); Double-Ended Banner die, Limitless Layers: Square die (PTI);
Technique: hand drawing;

Super Star

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by karen @ carefree creations - Super Star

I was inspired by the composition of elements on Anya’s card. I had to work with what I have/own otherwise my card would have been more of a case.

I played around with colors quite a bit (love having my ink swatch tags!!). Now that the card is finished I can’t decide if I like having the secondary sentiment in green, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have wanted it in either stone or black…so…I guess it is good, lol.

This card is for our Assistant Principal who is moving on to another school next year.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Congrats
Stamps: Celebrations (PTI); Free Spirit Sentiments (WMS); Super Star (W+9);
Ink/Cardstock: White, Enchanted Evening, Soft Stone, Spring Moss, Black (PTI); Truffle (Memento);
Other: Celebrations dies;

Best Wishes Bouquet

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by karen @ carefree creations - Best Wishes Bouquet

I made three of these cards to give to the folks in the front office at the elementary school where I’ve been volunteering for the past 5 months.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Best Wishes
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Ruby Rose, Ruby Reprise, Beyond Basic Borders;
Ink/Cardstock: White, Berry Sorbet, Winter Wisteria, Hawaiian Shores, New Leaf; Orange Fizz (MFT); Crushed Curry (SU);
Other: Lemon Tart pattern paper, Double Ended Banner die, Ruby Rose dies;
Technique: machine stitching;

Time Together

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge: #74 – colors.

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #74

And here is my take:

by karen @ carefree creations - Time Together

This is a card that took a couple tries, and some serendipity, to get right – but I’m glad I kept at it as I’m quite happy with the final outcome.

The clock face is stamped-off (second generation) of Midnight Muse ink (it is too dark as a first gen – especially next to the grey…just not enough contrast).

The flowers are done with Primrose Petals and (second-gen) Midnight Muse.

The sentiment – part from the Hands of Time set and part from the Round & Round set – is all stamped with Basic Grey. Originally I stamped the anniversary line centered under the other sentiment, but that didn’t feel right. So on my second attempt, I lined them all up right-justified. Much better.

When I die cut the clock hands, I had two pieces of grey cardstock together – but didn’t know that. Since it didn’t cut well, I put it through the machine again. That resulted in a perfect hand (where the intricate details popped right out) and a hand that the details stayed in. The more solid hand was definitely a better choice (the open one just faded into the background).

I did shave 1/8″ off the side of the card.

Make sure you check out the other design team members:
Jacqueline
Lizy
Louise
Patricia

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 in the month you get the double dose of color & sketch).

Time
Stamps: Hands of Time, Rosie Posie, Rosie Posie Step 2, Round & Round (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: Cream (PTI); Midnight Muse, Basic Grey, Primrose Petals (SU);
Other: Hands of Time die (PTI);

Formula Fun for the Math Teacher

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by karen @ carefree creations - Formula Fun for the Math Teacher

Another end-of-year teacher card. This time for the math teacher. My kiddo took geometry this year, so I thought this Formula Fun background was perfect for the card.

I was inspired by Barb Murphy’s card. I don’t think I would have thought to use this stamp for the chalkboard technique…but love it!

Making the frame to go around the ‘chalkboard’ was harder than it should have been. As usual, I made the chalkboard before I made the frame, if I was smarter, I would have figured out what tools I had to make the frame so that my chalkboard would be the right size. No matter, I made it work! Though I am now eyeing the new My Favorite Things dies that just came out – they would have made this easy as pie!

Thanks for taking a peek!

Thank You
Stamps: Formula Fun (Hero Arts); Bountiful Banners, Tag Its #6 (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: Kraft, White, Fine Linen, Pure Poppy (PTI); Soft Suede, Forest Foliage (SU);
Other: white embossing powder (Hero Arts); red bakers twine (??); Bountiful Banners die (PTI);
Technique: chalkboard

CASE-ing for More Teacher Cards

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by karen @ carefree creations - Music Teacher Thank You

For this card, I CASEd Betsy’s card (last one in her post). I loved the music notes floating on the flourishes! I simplified by making my card a one layer card. I also opted for a slightly more masculine color palette.

by karen @ carefree creations - Gym Teacher Thank You

For this card, I CASEd both Debbie Olson’s card as well as Heather’s card.

Thanks for taking a peek!

thank you
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Life’s Music, Fancy Flourishes;
Ink/Cardstock: White, Aqua Mist, Kraft; Lucky Limeade (SU);
Other: Wonderful Words: Thank You die;
MVP
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: All Star Team, Have a Ball;
Ink/Cardstock: Kraft, Harvest Gold, White, Dark Chocolate, Orange Zest, Pure Poppy;
Other: Woodgrain impression plate, Seeing Stars die;

Shabby Chic for Mom

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Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! Since this card is for my mom, I had to wait until it arrived before I posted it.

by karen @ carefree creations - Shabby Rose

I’m usually a CAS stamper – and hardly ever stray to the shabby chic style, but the sketch I used (Cardabilities #97) seemed to call for it. It was fun to break out a bit 🙂

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Mother’s Day
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Stippled Blossoms, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Travel Journal wheel;
Ink/Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Soft Sky, Pear Pizzaz, Old Olive, Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral, Early Espresso;
Other: Lattice die, Soft Sky seem binding;
Technique: sponging, machine sewing;

Thanks Art Teacher

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge: #73 – sketch.

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #73

And here is my take:

by karen @ carefree creations - Thanks Art Teacher

The end of the school year is fast approaching (only 3 more weekends – eek!), so I am trying to get started on my thank you cards for all the teachers. This is for the art teacher.

Make sure you check out the other design team members:
Jacqueline
Lizy
Louise
Patricia

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 in the month you get the double dose of color & sketch).

Thanks Teacher
Stamps: Positive Strokes, Just a Note, Smarty Pants (PS); Little Labels (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: White, Dark Chocolate, Berry Sorbet, Winter Wisteria, Summer Sunrise, Hawaiian Shores (PTI);
Other: Little Labels die (PTI);

Flower Box for Mother’s Day

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by karen @ carefree creations - Flower Box

These box in a card projects have been showing up everywhere and I just had to try one! I used Sandi MacIver’s tutorial. Though I did make my flaps a tiny bit shorter (I scored the flaps at 2 1/2 instead of 2 3/4).

This was actually harder than I thought it would be, but for a first try, I think it turned out pretty good.

Oh and I am now out of Lucky Limeade paper – if anyone has some they’d be willing to sell, please let me know – this is one of my favorite colors!!

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Mother’s Day
Stamps: Day Dreamer, Tag Its #2 sentiment, Tag Its #5 frame (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: Blueberry Sky, White (PTI); Real Red, Lucky Limeade, Blushing Bride (SU);
Other: Day Dreamer dies (PTI); Lorelai Leaf die & Gentle Leaf die (Memory Box); old pattern paper (SU);
Technique: Card in a Box;