Category Archives: cards

Shamrock Shower

Posted on by

March will be here before you know it (who decided February should be so short??). That means I need to get working on my cards for the InkUp stamp camp. This one is easy, but fun!

by Karen @ Carefree Creations - Shamrock Shower

I chose to use this little image because sometimes the little images are the hardest to use. I thought this was a good technique to share.

Another bad photo, sorry! BUT – good news: I finally got a replacement light bulb which means now I actually feel like crafting! (My kiddo wanted to know why I didn’t craft and take photos later – that yellow light was just too depressing…maybe if it wasn’t winter too, lol.) Oh, and another thought – GE Reveal, despite saying it is bright white, is NOT! I had to go to Lowes to find a true white light.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day
All supplies Stampin’Up unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Every Little Bit, Teeny Tiny Wishes;
Ink/Card Stock: Gumball Green, Whisper White;
Other: Modern Label punch, Word Window punch;

FYI – Pink Leafy Layers

Posted on by

It is time for another For Your Inspiration challenge. Check out the latest challenge -> FYI40.

For Your Inspiration - Challenge #40

Isn’t this beautiful? All those pink leaves are breathtaking! I love the play of the dark wood against the pink as well.

by Karen @ Carefree Creations - Pink Leafy Layers

I started my card by selecting my stamp set – I’ve seen a lot of beautiful cards made with this set recently and I decided to finally get mine inky. My layout comes from a Dawn McVey card (first one).

I did the layers in all pinks – how could I not? I added touches of brown to finish it off.

The card base is Rustic White…the photo is bad because I still haven’t replaced my lightbulb that is out 🙁

Thanks for stopping by!

Make sure you check out the other design team members:
Debbie
Michelle
Mynnette
Regina
Rochelle
Rudlis
Sara
Steph
Vicki

I hope you join us at For Your Inspiration!

A Little About the Challenge: The For Your Inspiration challenge is posted the first and third Thursday of every month; each challenge is open for two weeks. To play, use the photo to inspire you and create a card – very simple! Make sure you tell us in your blog post how you were inspired!

Happy Birthday
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Lovely Layers, Communique Curves: Sentiments;
Ink/Card Stock: Rustic White; Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Early Espresso (SU);
Other: Lovely Layers dies;

Birthday Butterflies

Posted on by

It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge -> #13 – colours.

CAS Colours & Sketch - Challenge #13

And here is my take:

by Karen @ Carefree Creations - Birthday Butterflies

I love Sahara Sand – it is such an awesome neutral. I took advantage of that by using it to stamp my background. The butterflies are inked with both Starfruit & Tangerine and then misted to help the colors blend.

The ribbon, which matches Sahara Sand perfectly is from my stash (no idea where it originally came from) – and I only have about 1 more use left – ack!

Thanks for stopping by!

Make sure you check out the other design team members:
Jacqueline
Kylie
Louise
Sandie

I hope you join us at CAS Colours & Sketches!

A Little About the Challenge: Posted every Thursday, the challenges alternate between color and sketch (if there is a 5th week you get the double dose of color & sketch).

Happy Birthday
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Papillon Potpourri, Pleasant Poppies, Bring on the Cake;
Ink/Card Stock: Sahara Sand, White, Summer Starfruit, Tangerine Tango;
Other: ribbon (stash);

Happy Valentine’s Day

Posted on by

by Karen @ Carefree Creations: Valentine's For Kids

I created these little notes to leave for my girls today (along with a little box of chocolate).

Just a quick note about the sentiment. Many companies don’t make “we” versions, so I often have to piece together my own thing. For this one, I started with an “i love you” sentiment from Paper Smooches. I inked up just the “love you” bit then using a coordinating marker I wrote “we”. Of course I started too far away (despite practicing!!). So to fix it, I just added a small heart.

Thanks for taking a peek!

We Love You
Stamps: Nine Lives, Woofers & Tweeters, Word Salad (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Card Stock: Hibiscus Burst, White (PTI); Black (Memento);
Other: markers (Copic);

Strawberry Sweetness

Posted on by

It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge -> #12 – sketch.

2013-02-14

And here is my take:

by Karen @ Carefree Creations: Strawberry Sweetness

I’ll admit it – this sketch stumped me at first. But I did it! All the pieces are there – they just aren’t on their own layer.

I started by trimming a white panel to 3 5/8″ x 5 1/2. I used temporary adhesive to attach it to my green card base (I used temporary at first so if I messed it up it would be easier to start over). Then I stamped the leaves.

The strawberries are all die cut – with the one on the right popped up. I think because they are red and draw your eye, they keep the bones of the sketch (representing the circles).

I’m really happy with the final card – it is so cheery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Make sure you check out the other design team members:
Jacqueline
Kylie
Louise
Sandie

I hope you join us at CAS Colours & Sketches!

A Little About the Challenge: Posted every Thursday, the challenges alternate between color and sketch (if there is a 5th week you get the double dose of color & sketch).

Sweet Birthday Wishes
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Strawberry Patch, Strawberry Patch Sentiments;
Ink/Card Stock: New Leaf, White, Pure Poppy, Black;
Other: Strawberry Patch dies;

Rainy Day Cheer

Posted on by

Firstly, sorry for the bad photo – one of my lights went out and I did not have another white-light bulb in the house 🙁

by Karen @ Carefree Creations: Cheer Up

I created this card for the current Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge – Designer Draft.

This sketch was a hard one, but I’m really happy with how this one turned out. One detail that is hard to see in the photo is that I embossed a rectangle around the clouds & umbrella.

I also worked in some polka dots as a nod to last week’s Spark challenge that I did not get a chance to participate in.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Cheer Up
Stamps: Sunny Side Up (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Card Stock: Baja Breeeze (SU); Black (Memento);
Other: Flag Tags die (Paper Smooches); Lemon Tart, Soft Stone True Black Pattern Paper (PTI); Stitched Mat die (Lil Inkers);

Basket of Daisies

Posted on by

by Karen @ Carefree Creations: Basket of Daisies

I created this card for the Retro Sketch #50 challenge.

To start this card, I pulled this basket of daisies out of my discard pile (discarded only because it didn’t work for its original intention). I chose to go with the blue because blue and yellow is one of my favorite combinations. I thought the picnic impression plate worked well. I finished it off with a bit of bitty box pattern paper.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Vintage Picnic;
Ink/Card Stock: Spring Rain, White, Lemon Tart; Brown (Memento);
Other: Bitty Dot (in Lemon Tart) pattern paper; Tag Sale #6 die, Double Ended Banner die, Picnic Plaid impression plate; markers (Copic);

Country Charm

Posted on by

by Karen @ Carefree Creations: Country Charm

Oh I am in love with this card!!

I stared with an adorable gingham & heart inspiration at Inspired By.

This is probably my 3rd attempt at a card. In my other attempts I tried to work in other challenges but they just were NOT working. So I dropped everything else and really focused on the inspiration. What I loved was all the white with the pop of gingham – and the stitching. So that is what I did.

I’m sorta hearted out (not so much from creating them but from seeing them) – so I knew I didn’t want to do a heart. I pulled out a flower die that I think went really well with gingham. I die cut a flower from the gingham square and stitched the square to my focal panel. I topped off the flower center with a wood button.

When I started putting it all together though I decided the flower really should be die-cut through the focal panel too – for the cool shadow effect.

As one final touch I polka-dot embossed a square and placed it on the card base under the negative flower die to add some texture.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Handwritten Notes;
Ink/Card Stock: White, Dark Chocolate;
Other: Poppy Gingham pattern paper, Beautiful Blooms #3 die, wood button; Polka Dot embossing (Sizzix); Stitched Mat die (Lil Inkers); thread (DMC);

Cozy Kraft

Posted on by

by Karen @ Carefree Creations: Cozy Kraft

I have another multiple challenge card for you this evening.

Today’s Papertrey challenge was a color inspiration. I went with inspiration #5: Fine Linen, Classic Kraft, Melon Berry, Scarlet Jewel, Soft Stone.

In addition, the layout is from CAS(e) This Sketch #14. I stayed pretty true to the sketch. The only change I made was in the sentiment placement.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Hugs & Kisses
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Framed Out #11;
Ink/Card Stock: Kraft, Scarlet Jewel, Melon Berry;
Other: Linen Patterns paper, Linen/Canvas impression plate, Framed Out #11 die, XO Border die, Vintage button, thread; vanilla embossing powder (SU); Stitched Mat Rectangle die (Lil Inkers);

Just Called to Say Hello

Posted on by

I really wanted to spend all weekend getting inky, but I had an offer I couldn’t say no to (involving my other hobby – reading). But I squeezed in a bit of time this evening and came up with a card for a few challenges.

by Karen @ Carefree Creations: Hello

I didn’t get a chance to finish the second week of the Clean & Simple class at Online Card Classes, so I’m catching up now. This card is a one-layer card. I used off-set stamping to help give dimension and grouping and lines to draw the eye.

I used a layout from Papertrey’s current Anniversary festivities (sketch #5).

In addition, the current CAS-ual Friday challenge is to be inspired by a love song (cfc89). The song I used was “I just called to say I love you”. I know, my card says “hello” not “love you” – but there is a telephone and a heart on it!

Thanks for taking a peek!

Hello Friend
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Heart 2 Heart #4, Little Bitty Bird, Think Big Favorites #3;
Ink/Card Stock: Lemon Tart, Smokey Shadow, Summer Sunrise, Hibiscus Burst;