Category Archives: Papertrey Ink

Square Print Flag

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Square Print Flag - by karen @ carefree creations

I love everything I see that has used Square Prints, but I have the hardest time using it on my own. When I ran across Debbie Olson’s card I knew I could use the concept to make a flag card.

I wish I could have spaced the blocks a little more evenly horizontally, but honestly, I’m still impressed I got them lined up!!

When I was done I felt the card needed just a little something, so I added rhinestones to the centers of the blue squares.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Celebrate
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Square Prints, Celebrations;
Ink/Cardstock: Enchanted Evening, White, Pure Poppy;
Other: rhinestones (Kaiser); Stitched Rectangle dies (Lil Inkers);

July 4th

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July 4th Waves - by karen @ carefree creations

Oh my – I love this card! Not often does a fuzzy idea work for me so well!

Last night I decided it was time to start working on my 4th of July cards – or they wouldn’t get sent out (much like last year). So I started googling the patriotic stamp sets I have to get some inspiration. A non-patriotic card popped-up that used the Rainbow Stripes die. I bought that die when it was released, but have not actually used it yet. Seeing that die in use got me thinking and this fuzzy idea to create the flag came to be (my card looks nothing like the one that sparked my idea – that too never happens for me…usually I see and idea and I can’t get away from it).

First I used the die to trim the edge of a panel of blue pattern paper (just lined up the die so the top stripe would cut the bottom of the panel…does that make sense??). Then I die cut the stripes from red cardstock.

The die is long enough to work on a landscape card, but I really liked the vertical orientation.

For the sentiment, I die-cut a star from white and then oriented it the way it would sit on the finished card – then I stamped the sentiment so it would be straight. I had another star that I tried a different approach (I added a little “happy” as well) but it just didn’t look right – not sure if it was crowded with the extra word or because the words weren’t straight…whatever it was, even though it didn’t work in this situation, I saved that piece….maybe you’ll see it in the next week or so 🙂

A very clean and simple card – just the way I like ’em!

Thanks for taking a peek!

4th of July
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Let Freedom Ring;
Ink/Cardstock: White, Pure Poppy, Enchanted Evening;
Other: Enchanted Evening pattern paper, Seeing Stars die, Rainbow Stripes die;

Inlaid Die Technique

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The Cutting Edge Challenge There is a new challenge in the blogosphere: The Cutting Edge where the challenges will be focused on die-cutting (either with a metal die or an electronic cutting machine).

This first challenge provided 6 different cards for inspiration. One of the cards used the inlaid die technique. I haven’t tried this technique yet and thought it would be fun to give it a go.

Hello Bright Colors - by karen @ carefree creations

When looking through my index to decide which dies to use I figured this technique would be awesome to do bright colors on a black background (something I *love* but have a hard time creating with other methods).

I ended up designing quite a composition as a first time card – lots of layers, but I love how it turned out!

There is a tiny bit of stamping – the centers of the flowers are stamps – but the leaves are two die cuts!

Thanks for taking a peek!

Hello
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Happiness in Bloom;
Ink: Winter Wisteria, Hibiscus Burst, White;
Cardstock: Black, Limeade Ice, Simply Chartreuse, Hibiscus Burst, Hawaiian Shores; Lavender Lace (SU);
Other: Happiness in Bloom leaf dies, Beautiful Blooms 1 die, Wonderful Words: Hello die; Stitched Rectangle mat die (Lil Inkers);
Technique: inlaid die technique

2014 Graduate

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2014 Grad - by karen @ carefree creations

I have a nephew who is graduating this year. His school colors are maroon, white, and gold. I was heavily inspired this card by Heather – I loved the large numbers with pattern paper showing through.

On the smaller white panel, I drew a light pencil line to assist in lining up the number dies. I also kept the inner parts for the 0 and 4. After attaching the small white panel with dimensional adhesive, I laid number die cut into its hole and then adhered the inner parts – and popped the number die back out.

Thanks for taking a peek!

2014 congrats
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: For the Graduate;
Ink/Cardstock: White, Black, Scarlet Jewel; gold (SU);
Other: For the Graduate die, Scarlet Jewel pattern paper, Wonderful Words: Congrats die, Super Stars border die, By the Numbers die;

Cupcake Wish

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge: #76 – a double.

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #76

And here is my take:

by karen @ carefree creations - Cupcake Wishes

The double challenges are the hardest for me! Thankfully these colors are quite fun to work with and the sketch is a basic one that I use a lot.

I didn’t waste too much time picking a stamp set – as soon as I found something that worked, I went with it (that’s what happens when you don’t have time to stamp until the last minute, lol).

My card is very simple. I added a bit of texture to the red strip and that really did help finish the 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).

Make a Wish
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Cupcake Collection;
Ink/Cardstock: White, Pure Poppy; Baked Brown Sugar, Coastal Cabana (SU);
Other: Simple Stripes impression plate, Cupcake Collection die;

Papertrey Blog Hop – May 2014

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PTI_BlogHopLogo

This month’s Papertrey Blog Hop is all about Melon & Aqua. I love this color combo!

In addition to the color palette, I was inspired by the flowers in this Design Seed flora post.

Here is my card:

by karen @ carefree creations - Thanks for Everything

I love seeing the wide striped backgrounds and decided to try one.

Since I was going with white flowers, I made the background Melon.

This card is another of my teacher cards…actually for the principal. I volunteered a lot in the office this year and had a great time.

Thank you for stopping by!

Thanks for everything
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Wet Paint, Botanical Silhouettes, Background Basics: Super Stripes;
Ink/Cardstock: Melon Berry, Aqua Mist, White, Black;
Other: Mega Gracious Vases die, Bigger Blooms die;

Thank You, History Teacher

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by karen @ carefree creations - History Teacher

Nope, I’m not done yet! I actually have two more teacher-card posts after this (though it may be a few days before they get posted).

This one is for the history teacher.

It is almost a one-layer card – the stamping is all on the card base, except the compass rose which is popped up over the strip of chocolate cardstock.

The compass rose wanted to fall over the edge; to fit the card in the envelope without crushing anything, I lopped off about a 1/4″ from the right side.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Thank You
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: World Map, Out to Sea, Teach & Inspire;
Ink/Cardstock: Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Hawaiian Shores, Vanilla;
Other: nada;

Apple for Teacher

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It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge: #75 – sketch.

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #75

And here is my take:

by karen @ carefree creations - Apple for Teacher

Since I’m in the midst of stamping for all the teachers in my life, I decided to use this challenge to get another card done.

I’ll be giving this card to the teacher I’ve been volunteering with for the past 3 years (I’m going to miss her!!).

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).

Congrats
All supplies Papertrey unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Teacher’s Apple, Mega Mixed Messages (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: White, Pure Poppy, New Leaf, Blueberry Sky, Kraft (PTI); Orange Fizz, Grape Jelly (MFT);
Technique: masking;

Thank You for the (English) Adventure

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by karen @ carefree creations - Thanks, English Teacher

I think I finally hit a brick wall this past weekend while I was stamping all these teacher cards. My mojo just gave up!

I love the idea for this card, but I’m not sure I pulled off what I really wanted. My kiddo likes the card, so I’m going with it!

If you can’t guess, this is for their English teacher.

And now, a few days later, I think I like the card even better in the photo, lol.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Thank You
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: All Booked Up, Up Up Away, Beautiful Butterflies, Tiny Treats – Halloween, Tiny Treats – Valentine, Tag Its #5;
Ink/Cardstock: White, Black, Spring Rain, Hibiscus Burst;
Other: Lemon Tart pattern papers; circle dies (Spellbinders);

Another Teacher Card

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by karen @ carefree creations - Cooking Teacher

I CASEd Laurie’s card, though working with what I had meant some changes to the layout.

I chose my sentiment because I thought it looked like chalkboard art. Even though I used the largest mat die, I still didn’t have room on the left to hang the flags, so I put them across the top. Since I stamped my sentiment so far to the right (hoping there was room for the flags), I needed something to take up that space; some linen thread wrapped around solved that. My original plan was to have the utensils on the flags, but that just didn’t look good, so they ended up being an accent – which is topped off with the button.

This card is for my kid’s Family & Consumer Science teacher (think home-ec). While they did quite a few varied projects, the cooking aspect is what resonated with my kid the most (hence the food theme).

The awesome part is that the kid now cooks on Friday nights! I am so grateful for this – not only does it give me a night off, but she’s gotten a different perspective on providing for a family.

A funny story, last Friday kid1 cooked quiche (was wonderful!). The younger sibling, kid2, tried it but decided they didn’t like it. My normal rule is that whatever is cooked is what is available for eating (no scrounging) – but they are allowed fruit and/or veggies all they want. When kid2 said they were going to eat something else. Kid1 was upset (disappointed maybe a better word). Every night since, kid1 has thanked me for cooking and made a big effort to eat it, even if not totally thrilled by the meal!!

Thanks for taking a peek!

Thanks
Stamps: Big Thank You, Thanks All Ways (PTI); Fork & Spoon (Hero Arts);
Ink/Cardstock: White, Black, Soft Stone (PTI); Unicorn white pigment ink (Memento); Versamark (Tsukineko);
Other: Pure Poppy & Blueberry Sky pattern papers, banner dies, wood button (PTI); Linen Thread (SU); Silver embossing powder (Filigree);
Technique: chalkboard;