Hello Sunshine

It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge -> #14 – sketch.

CAS Colours & Sketches #14

And here is my take:

by Karen @ Carefree Creations - Hello Sunshine

I think this card was inspired as much by the sketch as by the fact I got a new light bulb (I made the card last week). I’ve never considered myself affected by light, but I did NOT feel like crafting with that dismal yellow bulb!

Anywho! To keep my card clean and simple I knew the “circles” would need to be stamped. In scanning my stamp index I saw the sun rays stamp set and knew that would be perfect.

I had a few ideas for sentiments, but none worked in the space. I decided to use this large die – a bonus that the companion stamp set had the word “sunshine” in it! I chose to use the negative cut because I really love the shadow effect (you can’t have sunshine without shadows).

Thanks for stopping by!

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

Hello Sunshine
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Hello Sunshine, Wonderful Words: Hello;
Ink/Card Stock: White, Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise;
Other: Wonderful Words: Hello die;

Warm Cuppa

by Karen @ Carefree Creations - Warm Cuppa

I created this card based on the inspiration at Inspired By challenge #63. I really loved the pastel colors and the banner in the photo. I also used the tea cup. I started the card with a blue base and grey cup; to add the other colors I found a piece of pattern paper that wasn’t overwhelming and added a touch of whimsy.

As a final touch, I added pierced steam. I like the additional depth the shadows add. The piercing qualifies the card for the Less is More challenge #108.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Warm Thoughts
Stamps: Warm Happiness Too, Warm Happiness (steam) (Papertrey Ink); Bannerific (Lawn Fawn);
Ink/Card Stock: Spring Rain, Sahara Sand (SU); White (PTI);
Other: pattern paper (SU);

Smiles & Silver Flowers

by Karen @ Carefree Creations - Smiles & Silver Flowers

I created this card for the CASual Fridays challenge – #91 Hi Ho Silver. It is probably hard to tell in the photo, but the stems and large flowers are stamped with silver ink.

I got additional inspiration from this pin – a pattern wallpaper with yellows and greys. I added blue because I didn’t want the silver to get lost as grey on my card, and besides, I love Baja!

I wanted a sentiment that wouldn’t get lost in my pattern paper, but I also didn’t want to cover up all that hard work, so I kept the card pretty sparse. I think the shine from the silver ink is just enough that no embellishment is necessary.

I did toy around with doing more than just one word of the sentiment with the yellow, but it got too busy. I do like how the one pop of yellow brings in the background but also focuses you to the sentiment.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Smiles to Last the Year
Stamps: Spiral Bouquet, Stylish Sentiments-Birthday (PTI);
Ink/Card Stock: Baja Breeze, Summer Starfruit (SU); White (PTI); Silver (VersaColor);
Other: Limitless Layers-Oval lg die (PTI);

Multiply Happiness

Yes, another card…I was busy last night having fun playing challenges I’d missed the past week! And that is how I plan to spend today! I’ll start my taxes tomorrow, yeah, tomorrow.

by Karen @ Carefree Creations - Multiply Happiness

I created this card for the CASology cue Flame.

I, like many others, chose to work with candles. For me it actually started with the sentiment “…as each candle is added to your cake”. That just called for a card with lots of candles. And since I was going to add lots of candles – they needed to be a rainbow!

A few weeks ago I took an Online Cards class and the first lesson was about craftmanship. I tried hard on this card, but the fates were against me! Thankfully I think I salvaged it.

First I used my pencil to mark where each of the 7 candles would go (a rainbow being 7 colors). Then I proceeded to stamp only 6 colors, sigh. So I trimmed the card down… it is an odd 4 3/4 x 4 1/4 – not quite square, not quite rectangle.

I had drawn a top line where I wanted the candle tops to be. I managed not to hit my top mark, but as it turns out, I think this is better…any closer to the top and it would have felt claustrophobic.

In erasing my pencil marks, apparently I didn’t wait quite long enough and smudged some ink. Thankfully I stopped quickly and the damage was minimal – and easily removed by scrapping off, very lightly, with an Xacto knife (a lesson I learned in the class!!).

Finally I managed to stamp my sentiment just off center enough to bug the heck out of me (but it was late and done was done, lol).

I still adore this card, despite the problems (which now that I’ve shared them with you, you’ll notice too 😉 ).

Oh and here are some tidbits you might actually want to know:

  • The flames were inked with Summer Sunrise, then the bottoms touched with Poppy – then to really blend them, I inked again with Summer Sunrise.
  • The curve around the sentiment is hand-cut, as is the mat.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Multiply Happiness
Stamps: Hullabaloo (Paper Smooches); Stylish Sentiments-Birthday (Papertrey Ink);
Ink/Card Stock: White, Black, Pure Poppy, Orange Zest, Harvest Gold, New Leaf, Blueberry Sky (I *always* want to call this Blueberry Pie, I think PTI missed out on this!!), Winter Wisteria, Summer Sunrise (Papertrey Ink);

FYI – Pink Leafy Layers

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;

Strawberry Sweetness

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;

Basket of Daisies

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

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

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

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;