Category Archives: cards

Let’s Be Adventurers

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by karen @ carefree creations - Let's Be Adventurers

I created this card for the CAS-ual Fridays #125 In a Word challenge.

I’ve been living in Colorado for 3 years now. I’m not really an outside kinda gal, but I feel we should take advantage of having so many awesome venues here. I hope to do more hiking and biking this year.

For the layout, I was inspired by this pin.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Let’s Be Adventurers
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Wanderlust;
Ink/Cardstock: White, Marina Mist, Garden Green, Soft Suede, Pumpkin Pie;
Other: Woodgrain embossing folder;

Happy Hello

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by karen @ carefree creations - Happy Hello

I’ve always found one-layer cards to be a challenge, but one I want to take.

The One Layer Simplicity Challenge has changed its format to a monthly challenge (instead of weekly). I think that is doable for me.

This month’s challenge is to “restock the shelves”. I definitely need more general hello cards. This particular one won’t be on the shelf for long – I want to send it to my niece who will be back at college any day now.

Thanks for taking a peek!

happy hello
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Wonderful Words: Hello, Background Basics: Music (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: White, Lavender Moon (PTI); Rich Razzleberry (SU);

Amazing Man

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by karen @ carefree creations - Amazing Man

It took me a few days (had to take a break to care for a sick kiddo), but I finished my ink swatch ring. Now I can focus on getting back to the challenges.

The latest Freshly Made Sketche #117 immediately made me think ties.

Normally I wouldn’t have something hanging over the edge, but as this is for my hubby, I don’t need to worry about an envelope.

FreshlyMadeSketch-HonorableMention

Thanks for taking a peek!

You super amazing spectacular
Stamps: Super Star (W+9);
Ink/Cardstock: Kraft, Dark Chocolate, White, Ocean Tides, Simply Chartreuse, Enchanted Evening, Avocado (PTI); Island Indigo (SU);

Happy New Year!

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A couple nights ago I decided to start the new year off organized. I decided to finally sit down and make an ink swatch book. I die cut 100 tags (yes, 100 – thankfully Pandora kept the tunes rolling and I danced my way through it).

I managed to get all my PTI inks done:

by karen @ carefree creations - Color Swatch

The front of the tag has two stamp images – one more dense than the other to help show what the ink will look like for solid and line-art type images. The back has a second-generation impression of the top image – because sometimes a second impression can give a wonderful new shade and sometimes it gives nothing! I also have a little label with the color name (have to have that!).

I can not explain how happy this little ring is making me!

I have enough tags left to do all the current StampinUp inks too (almost done with those).

I will need to make a few dozen more tags to make samples of the retired SU colors I still use, as well as all the neutral inks I’ve accumulated.

One great thing about doing this was that I finally made the decision to toss some inks that haven’t been used in YEARS (and for which I don’t have a refill). My ink drawers are lighter and less crowded!

Year in Review

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After sitting by and watching for a couple years, I’m jumping on the bandwagon. Here are my favorite cards from this year (click the image to see the original post):

2013 Favorites

Image Map

These cards are my overall favorites – I don’t blog with any consistency to do a best of each month. Of course, that doesn’t stop me from picking 16 favorites instead of just 12, lol.

I frequently consider stopping blogging and/or card creating. But even after week-long breaks, I always come back to it. I enjoy it!

It was fun to go back through the last year’s posts and pick my favorites! Thanks for stopping by!

Poinsettia Thank You

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by karen @ carefree creations - Poinsettia Thank You

Another post-Christmas thank you card.

I’ve seen so many lovely cards using the Joyful Christmas set – I had to get it!

I white embossed the flowers and leaves onto vellum and trimmed them out. For the leaves, I used an alcohol marker on the back to give them a green tint. On the flower, I used a gold glitter pen on the center dots.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Thank You
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Joyful Christmas, Another Thank You (SU);
Ink/Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Primrose Petals (SU);
Other: Northern Flurry embossing Folder (SU); white embossing powder; Vellum; marker YG11 (Copic); Gold Spica marker;

Merry Thanks

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by karen @ carefree creations - Merry Thanks

I sketched this card out months ago, but just now got around to making it. Since I’ve already sent my Christmas cards, I’m using it as a ‘thank you’ card.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Merry
Stamps: Background Basics: Christmas (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: New Leaf, White (PTI); Real Red (SU);
Other: gold glitter (SU); Expressions die (SU); double-sided tape (Sookwang);

Christmas Thank You

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by karen @ carefree creations - Christmas Thank You

After a few weeks off, I’m getting back to stamping. I actually made 4 cards today!

I’ve missed loads of challenges 🙁 Thankfully a few have extended their deadlines!

This card was made for 2 challenges: the sketch from CAS(e) This Sketch and anything goes for Paper Smooches Sparks.

I needed a holiday thank you card, so that is how I chose my colors and images.

CAS(e) This Sketch Favorite

Thanks for taking a peek!

thanks
Stamps: Reflections, Fascinators (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Cardstock: White, New Leaf, Pure Poppy (PTI); Crushed Curry (SU);
Other: Thanks die (Paper Smooches); Summer Sun sequin (Neat & Tangled);

Always Been You

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the last challenge for the year: #55 – colors.

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #55

And here is my take:

by karen @ carefree creations - Always Been You

Sketches with layers always confound me! I’m a pretty clean and simple stamper, not very layer-y 🙂 So, as usual, when I get a sketch that confounds me, I went to my stamp index and favorite cards. I found a card I did eons ago that used playing cards – perfect!

I made these playing cards using different stamps. I’ve actually done this before – I like making the playing cards because you can tailor them to the colors and design you want for your 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).

Known it was You
Stamps: School Time (frame), Lovely Leaves, Fresh Alpha, Sending My Love (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: Pure Poppy, Black, White, Sweet Blush (PTI); Smokey Slate (SU);
Other: Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder;