Category Archives: cards

Halloween Wishes

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by karen @ carefree creations - Halloween Web

Today is World Cardmaking Day. I’m ignoring the fact that I’m sick and I’m playing along anyway. (Thankfully I do feel a bit better than yesterday.)

I pulled up all my favorite challenges (why are there too many to actually play all of them???) and I found this cool sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.

I don’t do circles easily, but this sketch seemed doable as the circle was a background element.

I browsed my supply index looking for something that would spark an idea. The first thing that brought forth an idea was a stamp set with a filigree circle and Halloween theme. Once I got to the Halloween theme my brain started churning and I thought about the web dies I recently purchases. Thus my card was born 🙂

I embossed the spider with black embossing powder – because I wanted it to be shiny…because I knew I wanted to use either bling or sequins to accent the sentiment. And here I am breaking one of my rules for masculine cards: no bling. But every rule has an exception (hmmmm…does that rule have one too??), so I didn’t mind adding the bling.

I haven’t created enough Halloween cards to send to all my family (which is sad since that only numbers 10), but I have a couple folks I *must* send to. So I’m glad I’ve got one done with time to mail!

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Halloween
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Trick or Treat, Spooky Sweets II;
Ink/Card Stock: Smokey Shadow, Canyon Clay, True Black; Vellum (stash);
Other: Spooky Sweets II die, Spider Webs die; sequins (Neat & Tangled); Black embossing powder (Filigree);

Anniversary Flowers

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge: #45 – colors.

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #45

And here is my take:

by karen @ carefree creations - Anniversary Flowers

It is a new month at CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. A new month brings a new challenge hostess. Patricia came up with some wonderful challenges for this month – the first one is a gorgeous color palette.

She shared that this challenge is on the day of her anniversary (Happy Anniversary, Patricia!!), and so she chose colors from her wedding. In the spirit of the challenge, I chose to make an anniversary card.

I stamped the poppies image and then watercolored. I did use Cherry, but when you watercolor with that color it goes very pink instead of red.

The layout is from an old Retro Sketch challenge (#26).

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).

Happy Anniversary
Stamps: Pleasant Poppies (SU); Round & Round (PTI);
Ink/Card Stock: Soft Sky, White, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Grey (SU); Charcoal (Palette);
Other: Square Lattice embossing folder (SU); ribbon (PTI); Labels die (SU);
Technique: watercoloring

Grateful Greetings

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by karen @ carefree creations - Grateful Greetings

Tis the season to be creating fall cards!

Addicted to CAS just posted their new challenge: Autumn/Fall.

On my last card my kiddo really wanted me to use burlap instead of raffia (or as they called it, hay). So I told them they could chose the elements for this card. Burlap and pumpkins with a thanksgiving greeting – those were their choices.

I pulled out the Ocean tides again because it is such a great compliment to orange.

I used a retired StampinUp set. My kiddo also chose to have me color with Copics instead of watercoloring.

To adhere the burlap pieces I first held them to the back of the Ocean Tides panel with some tape; then I machine stitched them down. I covered the stitching with the linen thread.

The whole bunch is adhered to a Rustic Cream card base. I like that you see it through the edge of the burlap – it helps bring in the sentiment banner.

The pumpkins are popped with foam tape at different heights.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Grateful Greetings
Stamps: Autumn Harvest, Grateful Greetings (SU);
Ink/Card Stock: Rustic Cream, Ocean Tides (PTI); Rich Cocoa (Memento);
Other: markers (Copic); burlap (stash); linen thread (SU); Sketched Shapes die, Woodgrain impression plate (PTI);
Technique: machine stitching

Thanksgiving Leaves

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by karen @ carefree creations - Thanksgiving Leaves

I had fun making this card! I used CAS-ual Friday’s challenge: Autumn Colors & A Leaf.

After doing all the stamping, I wanted to add one more touch. I’m not a big fan of buttons because 99% of my cards get mailed and buttons are hard to mail. I tried some burlap, but I spied my bag of raffia and thought that would be a perfect fall accent!

I have a ton of raffia, so I’m hoping I start (bring back) a new trend and I’ll be able to use up my stash 😉

I love adding blue into an autumn color scheme.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Thanksgiving
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Autumn Acorns;
Ink/Card Stock: Kraft, Rustic Cream, Ocean Tides, Canyon Clay; Crushed Curry (SU);
Other: Autumn Acorn dies; raffia (stash);

Dreaming of Christmas

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by karen @ carefree creations - Dreaming of Christmas

I created this card for the Paper Smooches Sparks challenge – this week is a photo inspiration.

I really loved the dreamy feeling of the photo, which is how I got to my card concept! I sponged around the card base to continue the dreamy feeling.

I kept the colors really muted and soft/pastel – again, as a nod to the photo.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Dreaming of Christmas
Stamps: He Said She Said, Sugar Rush, Warm Hearts, Hang Ups, Gently Seasoned, Alphadot, My Peeps (“of”), All Yule Need (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Card Stock: Gray Flannel (Memento); Smokey Slate, Pistachio Pudding, Soft Sky (SU); Black, White (PTI);
Other: markers (Copic); glitter glue (Stickles-Rangers);

Autumn Tea

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by karen @ carefree creations - Autumn Tea

I created this card for the current CASology challenge – autumn.

I’m a tea drinker all year long, iced-tea. But when the weather gets colder, I break out the hot tea. There’s nothing like wrapping your cold fingers around a hot mug!

Since the challenge theme is autumn, I made sure to use those type colors.

The steam is stamped with Versamark.

I used an old CASe this Sketch (#31) layout.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Warm Thoughts
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Warm Happiness, Warm Happiness Too;
Ink/Card Stock: Kraft, Cream, Spring Rain, Ripe Avocado, Teracotta Tile;
Other: Fall Prints & Patterns paper, Warm Happiness die; Fancy Flourish (MFT);

Birthday Celebration

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by Karen @ carefree creations - Birthday Celebration

I created this card for the current Seize This Sketch challenge.

I didn’t follow the sketch exactly – basically I just brought the bottom scallop layer up to the front.

My card is just a bit smaller than an A2 – 4 x 5 1/4 – because I wanted the streamer dies to go from edge to edge (as it turns out they actually hang over a smidge).

I normally don’t buy the larger ink pads (a storage issue more than any reason). But I do happen to have the large Summer Sunrise pad. I’m happy I do as the pointy end was perfect for adding the deeper tones to the candle flame.

I’m actually quite pleased with how this turned out!

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Wishes Come True, Wonderful Words: Birthday;
Ink/Card Stock: Lemon Tart, White, Berry Sorbet, Black, Blueberry Pie, Winter Wisteria, Hawaiian Shores, Summer Sunrise;
Other: Wonderful Words: Birthday die, Birthday Style die, Wishes Come True die;

Birthday Sunflowers

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by Karen @ carefree creations - Sunflower Tag

I made the sunflower tag for a challenge months ago. I don’t really use tags so it just sat on my desk. Thankfully Dahlhouse Design challenge – Wanna Sketch #9 had a design that would put my tag to perfect use.

The kraft pieces are popped up over the white card base – so the sentiment strip is really stamped directly on the base and is showing through.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Simple Sunflower, Around About Sentiments;
Ink/Card Stock: Soft Sky (SU); White, Kraft, Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise, New Leaf, Dark Chocolate;
Other: Burlap impression plate, Tag Sale #5 die, Simple Sunflower dies; Linen thread (SU);

Tilted Birthday

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge: #44 – sketch.

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #44

And here is my take:

by Karen at carefree creations - Celebrate

So you would think, seeing as I’m the “author” of this sketch that I would have it easy…but no. I had such a hard time – this is my third effort! I think my mojo needs sleep.

I recently purchased these cool word dies from My Favorite Things. I thought it would be fun to include one in this tilted card.

I really love using white over color backgrounds because it pops so well.

I felt the top was too empty so I added some tone-on-tone stamping. That wasn’t enough so I broke out the sequins. Usually I have a really hard time placing sequins, but honestly, these got glued down where they landed when I brushed them out of the baggie! Love serendipity 🙂

Make sure you check out the other design team members:
Jacqueline
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).

Celebrate
Stamps: Birthday Style (PTI);
Ink/Card Stock: Melon Berry, Berry Sorbet, White (PTI);
Other: Accent It – Celebrate dies (MFT); Birthday Style dies (PTI); silver Sequins (Neat & Tangled);

Holiday Wreath

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It is the 25th of the month, which means Papertrey Ink Blog Hop! This month’s theme is wreaths.

by Karen @ carefree creations - Holiday Wreath

This card sorta happened by accident. I was supposed to be working on a design team challenge, but for some reason my brain kept working on a wreath card!

I admit that I usually have problems with this stamp set, but this card pretty much popped into my head. I was skimming my Pinterst board looking for inspiration for another project and honestly don’t know if I saw something that got this card going or if not thinking about it worked.

The wreath is stamped multiple times using both Kraft and Dark Chocolate inks.

I stamped the wreath too far north, and the bottom was feeling empty. I had no idea what to do, but the bottom of the “y” in merry just kept screaming holly berry. Of course after I stamped the tiny holly leaves I wished I hadn’t, but done is done.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Merry Christmas
Stamps: Wreath for All Season, Places Please (PTI);
Ink/Card Stock: Wild Wasabi (SU); White, Dark Chocolate, Kraft, Pure Poppy (PTI);
Other: Wild Wasabi ribbon, Enamel Dots (SU); Stitched Rectangle die (Lil Inkers); Wonderful Words: Holiday die (PTI);