Category Archives: cards

Birthday Flowers

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by Karen @ carefree creations - Mod Flowers

This card is for the Paper Smooches Sparks challenge – this week is a trend challenge: flowers. I love flowers so I knew I had to participate in this challenge.

This is another card I made this past Monday (when I did 7 in 1 day!) and it was done right before bedtime….I’m surprise my brain lasted, but I love how the card turned out!

The flowers and leaves are from Reflections. I did a bunch of stamping on scrap paper before deciding how exactly I would stamp the leaves. I wanted a mod feel to them.

I kept the layout simple (mostly because at the time I had run out of sketch challenges, lol) and it was late. The flowers are hand-cut and adhered with just a dot of glue in the center, so the petals can be fluffed for dimension.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday
Stamps: Reflections, Salutations (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Card Stock: White, Black, Limeade Ice, Melon Berry (PTI);
Other: rhinestones (Hero Arts);

Rainbow Birthday Wishes

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. And, I have to admit, I’m a little nervous: I’m hostessing this month! I hope you like the challenges! Check out the latest challenge: #41 – colors (of course it would be rainbow 😉 ).

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #41

And here is my (first) take:

by Karen @ carefree creations - Rainbow Shadows

I used a baby wipe to make a custom rainbow ink pad. To make sure I had ink in just the right amount of space, I first stamped my image on the baby wipe using a pale grey color. Then it was easy to put the refill ink exactly where I wanted it.

Here’s a photo of that:

Baby Wipe - Controlled Ink

I didn’t want to waste my baby wipe (though you can save the custom ink pads in a ziploc for a bit), so I decided to make another card.

by Karen @ carefree creations - Rainbow Swipe

This time I dragged the inked baby wipe down my card stock.

One thing I did on both cards was to die-cut the word birthday from white and use the “inside” pieces to help block out the background and make the text stand out more.

Make sure you check out the other design team members:
Jacqueline
Louise – taking a break this month
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 Birthday
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Wonderful Words: Birthday;
Ink/Card Stock: White, Pure Poppy, Orange Zest, Harvest Gold, New Leaf, Blueberry Sky, Royal Velvet, Winter Wisteria;
Other: Wonderful Worrds: Birthday die;
Technique: baby wipe;

New Digs

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by Karen @ carefree creations - New Home

This card is for a couple challenges also.

First up, a theme challenge from CAS on Sunday – welcome home. Another of my nieces moved into a new place recently.

I used a sketch from Dalhouse Designs – Wanna Sketch?.

This card is two (of the many) reasons I prefer photopolymer stamps: it was so easy to stamp that sentiment! All I had to do was to bend the sentiment strand to fit the curve of the hill and then I could see through everything to make sure I stamped it right where I wanted it.

I did have to write the “welcome” on the sign as there is no such stamp in the set (what??).

Thanks for taking a peek!

Enjoy Getting Settled
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Wonderfully Whimsical, Celebrations;
Ink/Card Stock: White (GinaK); Black (Memento);
Other: markers (Copic);

Hello

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by Karen @ carefree creations - Hello

One of my nieces started at college this past week – away from family. I thought I’d send her a card to let her know we’re thinking of her.

I picked up the latest Addicted to CAS challenge, whose theme is music. My niece is attending an arts college on a piano scholarship, so this challenge totally fit!

For the layout, I found a great sketch at Retro Sketches. I will say that I started off with loads of layers and pattern paper, and while it did look good, I was travelling far from my CAS comfort zone. I backed off and I’m really happy with how this turned out – all with stamping!

Finally, choosing the colors I worked with the CAS-ual Friday challenge which is to use kraft and text/type.

Thanks for taking a peek!

hello
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Rosie Posie, Background Basics: Music, Background Basics: Text Type;
Ink/Card Stock: Kraft, Vintage Cream, Raspberry Fizz, Simply Chartreuse, Dark Chocolate, Fine Linen, Chamomile-Tea Dye Duo;
Other: Wonderful Words: Hello die, Rosie Posie die;

Life is a Journey

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by Karen @ carefree creations - Life is a Journey

I started with a layout from Fab Friday (#25). That challenge is done by Stampin’Up Demos, so I wanted to use SU supplies.

When deciding what images to use, I pulled up another challenge: Cards in Envy. This is a new-to-me challenge. The purpose of the challenge overall is to create a card that fits in an A2 envelope and isn’t lumpy – well, that is right up my alley as I mail 90% of my cards. Their latest challenge is to create a masculine card. This worked out well as my father-in-law has a birthday later this month.

The final challenge I used was from another new-to-me blog: Shopping Our Stash. Their theme this week was also masculine, but I went for the “use what you have” aspect of the overall challenge-blog purpose. I did not have a good greeting for the card I envisioned, so I used a font. Years ago when I started crafting, I started as a scrapbooker and collected thousands of fonts. I’m kind of a lazy card maker and I try hard to find (or buy) stamps that say what I want, but really, I have such an eclectic collection of fonts that I should use them more.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Life is a Journey
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: The Open Sea;
Ink/Card Stock: Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip, Island Indigo, Very Vanilla;
Other: font (butterbrotpapier);

Birthday Bees

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After a month or so of not being able to squeeze in stamping time, I made 7 cards yesterday! I’m still in shock! I’ll spread them out a bit over the week, but all of them are for challenges, so I’d like to post to make the deadlines.

This card is probably my favorite of the whole bunch!

by Karen @ carefree creations - Birthday Queen

I created this card for two challenges. First, a “trend” challenge at SplitCoast to use stencils – Clean & Simple #239.

I don’t have any stencils, so I made one. I used a die to cut heavy plastic; I chose a die that I figured I’d like to use over and over as a stencil.

Once I cut the stencil, I knew I wanted to use it to make a honeycomb background using spritzing.

Of course next I had to figure out a layout. I found a perfect Fall-to-Layout sketch at Clean & Simple Stamping (#256).

I didn’t have a sentiment that was big an bold enough to accomplish what I had in mind, but thankfully it was easy to do with dies.

There is a tiny square gem in the crown – oh and I painted the crown with H2Os to give it some sparkle and shine.

Thanks for taking a peek!

You Rule
Stamps: Honey Bees (PTI); Hats Off (Lawn Fawn);
Ink/Card Stock: Summer Sunrise, White, Harvest Gold, Dark Chocolate (PTI);
Other: Wonderful Words “you” die (PTI); Typewriter Lower alpha die (Memory Box); H2Os; Honey Bee dies (PTI); Cover Plate Hexagon die (PTI);
Technique: masking, stencil, sponging, spritzing;

Birthday Spots

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Woot – this is the 5th Thursday in the month which means this week’s CAS Colours & Sketches challenge is a double! Check out the latest challenge: #40 – colors & sketch.

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #40 - Double

And here is my take:

by Karen @ carefree creations - Birthday Spots

The Dot Spot stamp set came to mind right away when I saw the sketch. After that, it was just figuring out where to place a sentiment.

I came up with a few possibilities. First, a circle sentiment placed in the center of the lower right image. Second, stamp the sentiments following the outside curves of all the circles. Finally, a banner sticking out from a circle center.

The reason I chose the banner option is that I’ve learned that curves love angles/lines. A line helps break up the curves and gives the eyes direction.

I might have been able to get away with one of the other placements if my color scheme had been different, but with a monochromatic scheme, you need some way of adding contrast.

Make sure you check out the other design team members:
Jacqueline
Kylie
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 Birthday to You
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Dot Spot, Around About Sentiments;
Ink/Card Stock: White, Enchanted Evening, Blueberry Sky;
Other: circle die (Spellbinders), star die (MFT);

Paper Frame

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge: #39 – sketch.

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #39 - Sketch

And here is my take:

by Karen @ carefree creations - Paper Frame

I knew I wanted to do a frame as soon as I saw the sketch. My only question was how to keep the design clean & simple.

I decided that if the pattern was only peeking out, it wouldn’t be overwhelming. That narrowed down my paper choices to those with white backs.

In addition, I chose to just stamp a sentiment and not use any additional images (again, to keep the overall design CAS).

To create the frame, I turned the paper pattern-side down. I then used a T-ruler and pencil to draw a square in the center. Then I took my Xacto knife and cut diagonally, from corner to corner, of the drawn square. Finally a bit of scoring along the drawn square’s edges and my paper folded back easily.

I know it probably seems like the white sentiment square is just centered under the opening allowing the blue card base to show through, but I actually did a frame there too. I took a piece of blue cardstock and used a square die to cut an opening then backed that with the white sentiment panel. I think it adds a nice finishing touch to the final card.

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

Best Wishes
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Scrolling Script;
Ink/Card Stock: True Black, Hawaiian Shores, White;
Other: Beautiful Blooms pattern paper; Xacto knife; square die (Spellbinders);

Birthday Plaid

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge: #38 – colors.

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #38 Colours

And here is my take:

by Karen @ carefree creations - Birthday Plaid

Sorry, I’m running crazy this week. The only thing I wanted to mention on this card is that I chose a bold sentiment and stamped it in black because I saw a Jennifer McGuire card recently like that.

Sometimes I think black is just too stark, but I think when you have lots of busy-ness going on, black works great (especially since, for me, the greeting is the point and thus should be the focus).

I’m still not completely sure about this card, but I’m not sure any other color for the sentiment would have worked as well either.

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

Birthday Wishes
All supplies Papertrey unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Birthday Tags 2012, Background Basics – Super Stripes;
Ink/Card Stock: Spring Rain, Pure Poppy, Kraft, Vintage Cream;
Other: Limitless Layers Oval die; Stitched Rectangle die (Lil Inkers)

Snail Mail Call

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge: #37 – sketch.

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #37 Sketch

And here is my take:

by Karen @ carefree creations - Telephone

This is such a great go-to sketch! I had so many options for this card it was hard to decide. I finally chose the telephone just so it could have a little love.

I knew I wanted to stamp the phone in blue, so I looked for some pattern paper that wouldn’t overwhelm the focal image, but also allow the loop de loop die to show up.

The rhinestone is a clear one that I colored with Copic marker Y35.

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

hello
Stamps: Heart-2-Heart #4, Borders & Corners: Cirlces (PTI);
Ink/Card Stock: Simply Chartreuse, White (PTI); Taken with Teal (SU);
Other: Petals & Paisleys DSP (SU); Loop de Loop border die (PTI); white embossing powder (Filigree); Copic colored rhinestone (Kaiser);