Category Archives: cards

Fabulous Birthday

Posted on by

It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge: #50 – colors.

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #50

And here is my take:

by karen @ carefree creations - Fabulous Birthday

This card is a mesh of a few items on my pinterest board (link on right).

I die-cut the circle from the blue panel and stamped the sentiment through the hole directly onto the card base. I stamped the blue panel with a pattern and popped it onto the card base.

The flowers are generational inkings from Soft Suede.

When I was done I thought the card needed another touch – so I added the brown strips to the edges.

The card itself is a little smaller than an A2: 5 1/4 x 4.

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).

Fabulous Birthday
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Bigger Blooms, Tagged Sentiments, Background Basics: Tin Type (PTI);
Ink/Card Stock: Cream (PTI); Soft Sky, Soft Suede (SU);
Other: Limitless Layers: 1 3/4 Circle die; Bigger Blooms die (PTI);

Peaceful Stripes

Posted on by

by karen @ carefree creations - Peace on Earth

I created this card for the Paper Smooches Spark trend challenge: stripes.

I drew the stripes on a piece of cardstock using a ruler and silver pen. The star is also colored in with the silver pen. The pattern paper I used for the tree had tiny dots on it – which I dotted over with the silver pen.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Peace on Earth
Stamps: All Yule Need, Christmas Sampler (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Cardstock: Midnight Muse (SU); Smokey Shadow, White (PTI);
Other: Silver pen (Zig); Holiday Thyme DSP (SU); Flag Tags (Paper Smooches);

Autumn Candles

Posted on by

by karen @ carefree creations - Autumn Candles

This card is for the Seize the Sketch challenge.

When choosing colors, I wanted to stay away from pink (mostly because I’m tired of it), but also because this is autumn and I love using the rich earth tones.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday
Stamps: Wishes Come True, Birthday Bash Sentiments, Herringbone (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: Island Indigo, Crushed Curry, Tangerine Tango, Early Espresso (SU); Unicorn White ink (Memories); White cardstock (PTI);
Other: Eastern Elegance DSP (SU); Wishes Come True candle die (PTI);

Sweet Candy Wishes

Posted on by

by karen @ carefree creations - Sweet Candy Wishes

I created this card for the CAS on Sunday sketch challenge.

The candy was inspired by Betsy Veldman’s card (the last on the page) – I loved the way she added the popper ends to the large round candy from another set!

I started my card thinking it would be a Christmas card, but since my theme was “sweet” I went with pink and lime instead of red and green. After I settled on my sentiment I realized the card really could be for any purpose!

Thanks for taking a peek!

Sweet Wishes
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Candy Cane Christmas, Party Poppers, Mega Mixed Messages;
Ink/Card Stock: Berry Sorbet, Limeade Ice, White;
Other: Simple Stripes impression plate, Party Popper die, Limitless Layers Circle die 1 3/4;

Lacey Love

Posted on by

by karen @ carefree creations - Lacey Love

I missed a Paper Smooches Sparks challenge last month and it was intriguing, so I’m catching up. The challenge was Trend: Lace. I have a tone of old lace trim/ribbon.

I’ve had the Whirlygigs set on my desk a few times in the past weeks to use but it never works out. So glad this card worked out! I know it is a little out of season, but I’ve always been a bit eclectic in my stamping.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Love You
Stamps: Whirlygigs, Debonair, Salutations (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Card Stock: Pink Pirouette (SU); White, Dark Chocolate, Pure Poppy (PTI);
Other: Lace trim (stash); Love die (Paper Smooches);

Birthday Cruise

Posted on by

by karen @ carefree creations - Road Trip

I created this card for the latest CAS(e) This Sketch challenge.

The idea came because I was trying to decide what the stripe down the one panel should be. As I was looking through my stamp index I saw the highway line and knew what to do.

Coming up with colors was a bit harder. I didn’t want to overload on white, but I also wanted it bright.

I’m really happy with how this turned out!

11/9/13 Update: Eeek – this card won the challenge at CAS(e) This Sketch!
cts_winner

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday
Stamps: Enjoy the Ride (PTI); Metropolis (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Card Stock: Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Wild Wasabi (SU); White (PTI);
Other: Flag Tag dies (Paper Smooches); Car die (PTI);

Christmas Wishes

Posted on by

by karen @ carefree creations - Christmas Wreath

I did some stamping over the weekend. The Paper Smooches Sparks challenge blog is having a Design Team call! This is the first card I made as an entry. I used the bottom photo on their Challenge Photos page as inspiration.

I started by stamping the sentiment in the center of the panel. Then I stamped a small leaf image in 4 different greens around the sentiment. By the time I was done, it was no longer centered, but that is an easy fix…I trimmed it to a square card.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Christmas Wishes
Stamps: All Yule Need, Reflections (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Card Stock: White, Harvest Gold, Pure Poppy (PTI); Pacific Point, Garden Green, Lucky Limeade, Pear Pizzazz, Certainly Celery (SU);
Other: Vineyard impression plate (PTI);

Butterfly Kissing

Posted on by

by karen @ carefree creations - One Layer Butterflies

This card was created for a couple challenges. First, Addicted to CAS’s One Layer challenge. Second, ColorQ’s latest color scheme.

When creating one layer cards I feel it is necessary to have a color scheme that pops. Which is why I went to experts – color is NOT my thing.

Also, since I can’t add dimension (my usual helper for CAS cards), I like to add texture. To achieve texture on this card I used kissing.

I suppose “kissing” is really not the proper term. To me kissing is when you have two inked stamps and press them together (or one inked and one not) before making the impression. This is really an overlay or 2-step stamping. I stamped the solid butterfly in the lighter color ink, then used the same solid image, cleaned then kissed against a pattern image inked with a darker shade. Since the stamps are clear, lining the second impression directly over the first is a snap!

Thanks for taking a peek!

Celebrate
Stamps: Flap Happy, Pretty Phrases (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Card Stock: Lovely Lilac, Lavender Lace, Calypso Coral, Crisp Canteloupe, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Grey (StampinUp); White (PTI);

Watercolor Spark

Posted on by

My life is getting back to a more manageable schedule (which really just means I have more time to stamp)!!

by karen @ carefree creations - Watercolor Background

I was inspired by the latest Paper Smooches Sparks Picture Perfect challenge.

I loved the array of colors and the water spots in the inspiration photo. I used those items to create the background for this card. As I watercolored each portion of the background, I added salt to help add pools and veins.

I kept the rest of the card quite simple.

The layout is also inspired by the photo – which has a large pale leaf on the right side – perfect placement for a sentiment.

Thanks for taking a peek!

hello
Stamps: Potpourri, Chit Chat (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Card Stock: Royal Velvet, Autumn Rose, Simply Chartreuse, Ocean Tides, Canyon Clay, Kraft, Dark Chocolate (PTI);
Other: Watercolor paper (Strathmore); twine (stash);
Technique: salted watercolor;

5th Thursday

Posted on by

It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. There is an extra Thursday in the month of October – and that means today’s challenge is a double: #49 – sketch & colors.

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #49

And here is my take:

by karen @ carefree creations - Thank You Flowers

I’ll admit, this sketch threw me – just so many options to fill in the focal panel. I really wanted to do something a little unexpected.

For the focal panel, I chose a large bold sentiment (so large it falls over the card base edge both top and bottom!); and stamped the flowers where the smaller rectangle would be. I love that this is is just one additional layer (do you count mats when counting layers?).

Speaking of layers – mine might be a bit wonky….my trimmer finally gave up a couple days ago. And I don’t have a backup! Good thing I have a t-ruler 🙂 Hopefully by next week I’ll have not only a working trimmer, but a backup too!

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).

Thank You
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Another Thank You, Field Flowers;
Ink/Card Stock: Naturals Cream, Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie, Wild Wasabi;