Thinking of You

Thinking of You - by karen @ carefree creations

On a stamping roll this morning 🙂

This time I took on the latest CAS Colours & Sketches challenge (#117) – a sketch…and a great one at that (very versatile/classic).

Part of the reason I have trouble stamping is that I don’t know what to do with my cards. I’ve joined groups where you send them to other folks in the group, but that gets old quick (not sure why). Now that I work, I’m thinking I might start taking my cards in (not for sale, but maybe some commissions will come of it). I like that idea because then I can do whatever sort of cards I want…and if I get artsy and no one wants it, no big deal.

Anyway. This was a very quick & easy card. I don’t know why I went in this direction (masculine and sympathy/thinking of you) – though I think the lack of restriction in my own stamping agenda left the theme open and I haven’t done masculine in a long time. Honestly, though, this doesn’t have to be a masculine card, it really can be for anyone.

Since Papertrey has basically stopped putting out new colors, I’ve been on a mission to find some more colors to fill in what I have. I’ve been trying My Favorite Things and Simon Says Stamp (because they do paper as well as ink…and that is important to me). This card uses an MFT color – Sour Apple…and I *love* the color! I will say, the paper for MFT Sour Apple and SSS Green Apple are almost identical, so I might try the SSS ink to see how they compare.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Thinking of You
Stamps: Leave it Be, Fillable Frames Additions 1, Background Basics: Woodgrain (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: Kraft, Dark Chocolate, New Leaf, Rustic White (PTI); Sour Apple (MFT);
Other: Fillable Frames 1 die (PTI);

Don’t Panic

So today is my hubby’s birthday – and he turns 42. One of his favorite books is Hitchhiker’s Guide and he works in quotes from it as often as he can. Of course, that meant I wanted/needed to make a themed card for him this year. Check it out:

Don't Panic - by karen @ carefree creations

I was so happy how this turned out (despite how hard it was to cut those hands out, even as poorly done as they are)!

I tried my hand at the galaxy technique. I used Kristina W’s distress ink video as a guide. I didn’t have distress paint, so I used watercolor crayons and layered the colors. Not sure if I’ll do it this way again…may have to figure out another medium (or learn to be patient and let layers dry ;).

Oh, since the front says “don’t panic”, on the inside I wrote “it’s just another birthday”.

Thanks for taking a peek!

don’t panic
Stamps: Hot Concoctions – mug, Mini Monograms – numbers, Great Chemistry – mouse, Sunny Side Up – mouth (Paper Smooches);
Paper: watercolor paper; Soft Stone, Pure Poppy, White, Black (PTI); Crushed Curry, Green Galore (SU);
Other: watercolor crayons (SU); black watercolor paint (kid’s craft stash); white distress paint (Ranger); Alpha Whimsy dies (Paper Smooches);
Technique: layered watercolor galaxy

Patriotic Hello

It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge: #86 – colors.

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #86

And here is my take:

Patriotic Hello - by karen @ carefree creations

My nephew is at West Point for college. He has been there since the first week of July and isn’t allowed online or any outside interaction except mailed notes/cards. So this one is for him!

I was going to try to do some negative/positive die-cutting wizardry, but that didn’t work out so well, lol. Instead, I die cut the ‘hello’ from the circle, then I die cut ‘hello’ from both blue and cream. I layered the cream onto the blue and fit it into the circle. I did the layering because I wanted the tiny bit of shadow to help the letters outside of the circle stand out.

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).

Hello
Stamps: Star Prints, Let Freedom Ring, Super Stars (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: Scarlet Jewel, Cream (PTI); Night of Navy (SU);
Other: circle die (Spellbinders); hello die (My Favorite Things);

Celebrate with a Beer

Congrats - by karen @ carefree creations

A friend of mine is retiring soon. I made this card for him.

The beer image was stamped on Hello Honey paper and then sponged with Wild Honey distress ink.

For the foam on the beer, I used Liquid Applique and heat set it right away – you get more “bubbles” that way!

I won’t be posting much the next couple of weeks. I’m doing a lot of clean-up work in the galleries at SplitCoast and I have company.

Thankfully I’ve already created my CAS Colours & Sketches cards and posts for the next couple of weeks – so those will happen!

Thanks for taking a peek!

congrats
Stamps: Cheers to You (SU); Congrats All Ways (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: Naturals Cream, Lost Lagoon, Hello Honey, White (SU); Black (PTI);
Other: Limitless Layers Circle die, Double-Ended Banner die (PTI); Peekaboo Frames die (SU); Liquid Applique;

2014 Graduate

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;

Awesome Day

It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge: #77 – colors.

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #77

And here is my take:

by karen @ carefree creations - Awesome Day

So, I’m the hostess this month. You’d think I would pick colors that would be easy for me….but honestly, I was looking for a combo we hadn’t done yet! I do love bright colors, and maybe it is just because I wasn’t quite in a bright color mood, but I had a challenge with my challenge 🙂 I do love what I finally ended up with…just no idea who I will send it to (probably end up in my Operation Write Home box).

OK, I guess you’d rather read about how I made the card. I started with plain ole white cardstock (mostly because I hate that watercolor paper isn’t white, and has texture to it…one day I hope a vendor will come with a hybrid paper!!). I lightly wet it then did my stamping and wet again. Since it isn’t watercolor paper it did pill the cardstock a bit, but only to a discerning eye (I think, lol). I did go back and overstamp the green dots and yellow stars for a bit more definition.

After heating the panel with the heat gun, I used LOTS of tape to adhere the panel to the card base – not too much warping thankfully.

The “awesome” part of the sentiment is stamped directly on the panel; the “hope your day is” piece is cut-out and popped-up.

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).

Hope Your Day is Awesome
Stamps: So 80s (W plus 9);
Ink/Cardstock: White, Black (PTI); Turquoise, Wasabi, Daffodil (SU);
Other: dimensional adhesive;

Thank You, History Teacher

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;

Super Star

by karen @ carefree creations - Super Star

I was inspired by the composition of elements on Anya’s card. I had to work with what I have/own otherwise my card would have been more of a case.

I played around with colors quite a bit (love having my ink swatch tags!!). Now that the card is finished I can’t decide if I like having the secondary sentiment in green, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have wanted it in either stone or black…so…I guess it is good, lol.

This card is for our Assistant Principal who is moving on to another school next year.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Congrats
Stamps: Celebrations (PTI); Free Spirit Sentiments (WMS); Super Star (W+9);
Ink/Cardstock: White, Enchanted Evening, Soft Stone, Spring Moss, Black (PTI); Truffle (Memento);
Other: Celebrations dies;

CASE-ing for More Teacher Cards

by karen @ carefree creations - Music Teacher Thank You

For this card, I CASEd Betsy’s card (last one in her post). I loved the music notes floating on the flourishes! I simplified by making my card a one layer card. I also opted for a slightly more masculine color palette.

by karen @ carefree creations - Gym Teacher Thank You

For this card, I CASEd both Debbie Olson’s card as well as Heather’s card.

Thanks for taking a peek!

thank you
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Life’s Music, Fancy Flourishes;
Ink/Cardstock: White, Aqua Mist, Kraft; Lucky Limeade (SU);
Other: Wonderful Words: Thank You die;
MVP
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: All Star Team, Have a Ball;
Ink/Cardstock: Kraft, Harvest Gold, White, Dark Chocolate, Orange Zest, Pure Poppy;
Other: Woodgrain impression plate, Seeing Stars die;

Stand Under the Stars

It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge: #72 – colors.

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #72

And here is my take:

by karen @ carefree creations - Stand Under the Stars

These stamp sets may have been out for a year, I only recently bought them. And this card is the reason. That sentiment is awesome and I decided I just had to have it.

I CASEd Pinefeather’s card – just changed up the sentiment and colors.

The background was made using a recent PTI Make-it-Monday tutorial: Water Splats. I used regular white cardstock and sponged on the ink then finished it up with water drops.

Originally I just stamped the star chart image with white ink but as it dried it pretty much just disappeared so I re-stamped (as close to the original placement as I could get) and heat embossed with white powder.

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).

Stand Under the Stars
Stamps: Star Gazer, Star Gazer Additions (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: White, Black (PTI); Smoky Slate, Daffodil Delight, Bermuda Bay (SU);
Other: sponges; Versamark & white embossing powder;
Technique: Water Splats (PTI MIM#161); heat embossing;