Tag Archives: masculine

Amazing Man

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by karen @ carefree creations - Amazing Man

It took me a few days (had to take a break to care for a sick kiddo), but I finished my ink swatch ring. Now I can focus on getting back to the challenges.

The latest Freshly Made Sketche #117 immediately made me think ties.

Normally I wouldn’t have something hanging over the edge, but as this is for my hubby, I don’t need to worry about an envelope.

FreshlyMadeSketch-HonorableMention

Thanks for taking a peek!

You super amazing spectacular
Stamps: Super Star (W+9);
Ink/Cardstock: Kraft, Dark Chocolate, White, Ocean Tides, Simply Chartreuse, Enchanted Evening, Avocado (PTI); Island Indigo (SU);

Autumn Candles

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by karen @ carefree creations - Autumn Candles

This card is for the Seize the Sketch challenge.

When choosing colors, I wanted to stay away from pink (mostly because I’m tired of it), but also because this is autumn and I love using the rich earth tones.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday
Stamps: Wishes Come True, Birthday Bash Sentiments, Herringbone (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: Island Indigo, Crushed Curry, Tangerine Tango, Early Espresso (SU); Unicorn White ink (Memories); White cardstock (PTI);
Other: Eastern Elegance DSP (SU); Wishes Come True candle die (PTI);

Birthday Leaves

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by karen @ carefree creations - Birthday Leaves

I created this card for the Paper Smooches Sparks Cool Shades color challenge -> Autumn.

Maybe it was the subliminal message in the color story title, but I definitely thought autumn once I got my color swatches out. So I picked out a leaf set to work with.

I used the current sketch challenge from CAS(e) This Sketch for my layout.

When stamping the solid leaves, I thought it would be good to give them a little texture/pattern. First I stamped the solid image then I stamped the pattern overlay. To do the overlay, I inked a gingham image and kissed it to the clean solid leaf. Since the stamps are polymer, it was easy to line them back up.

The card still needed a bit more texture, so I dropped some smooch spritz onto the card base (my spritzer doesn’t spray any more, but the ink inside is still good so I just uncap the bottle and shake the straw over the project).

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday
Stamps: Leafy Greens, Sentiment Sampler, Debonair (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Card Stock: Kraft, Cream, Rustic Cream, Canyon Clay, Plum Pudding, Dark Chocolate (PTI); Island Indigo (SU);
Other: Flag Tag die (PaperSmooches); Log Cabin Smooch Spritz (Clearsnap);

Halloween Wishes

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by karen @ carefree creations - Halloween Web

Today is World Cardmaking Day. I’m ignoring the fact that I’m sick and I’m playing along anyway. (Thankfully I do feel a bit better than yesterday.)

I pulled up all my favorite challenges (why are there too many to actually play all of them???) and I found this cool sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.

I don’t do circles easily, but this sketch seemed doable as the circle was a background element.

I browsed my supply index looking for something that would spark an idea. The first thing that brought forth an idea was a stamp set with a filigree circle and Halloween theme. Once I got to the Halloween theme my brain started churning and I thought about the web dies I recently purchases. Thus my card was born 🙂

I embossed the spider with black embossing powder – because I wanted it to be shiny…because I knew I wanted to use either bling or sequins to accent the sentiment. And here I am breaking one of my rules for masculine cards: no bling. But every rule has an exception (hmmmm…does that rule have one too??), so I didn’t mind adding the bling.

I haven’t created enough Halloween cards to send to all my family (which is sad since that only numbers 10), but I have a couple folks I *must* send to. So I’m glad I’ve got one done with time to mail!

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Halloween
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Trick or Treat, Spooky Sweets II;
Ink/Card Stock: Smokey Shadow, Canyon Clay, True Black; Vellum (stash);
Other: Spooky Sweets II die, Spider Webs die; sequins (Neat & Tangled); Black embossing powder (Filigree);

Grateful Greetings

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by karen @ carefree creations - Grateful Greetings

Tis the season to be creating fall cards!

Addicted to CAS just posted their new challenge: Autumn/Fall.

On my last card my kiddo really wanted me to use burlap instead of raffia (or as they called it, hay). So I told them they could chose the elements for this card. Burlap and pumpkins with a thanksgiving greeting – those were their choices.

I pulled out the Ocean tides again because it is such a great compliment to orange.

I used a retired StampinUp set. My kiddo also chose to have me color with Copics instead of watercoloring.

To adhere the burlap pieces I first held them to the back of the Ocean Tides panel with some tape; then I machine stitched them down. I covered the stitching with the linen thread.

The whole bunch is adhered to a Rustic Cream card base. I like that you see it through the edge of the burlap – it helps bring in the sentiment banner.

The pumpkins are popped with foam tape at different heights.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Grateful Greetings
Stamps: Autumn Harvest, Grateful Greetings (SU);
Ink/Card Stock: Rustic Cream, Ocean Tides (PTI); Rich Cocoa (Memento);
Other: markers (Copic); burlap (stash); linen thread (SU); Sketched Shapes die, Woodgrain impression plate (PTI);
Technique: machine stitching

My Universe

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by Karen @ carefree creations - My Universe

I stamped this card for the Paper Smooches Spark Challenge – Sketch.

The planet at the bottom was created using some scrap paper – left over from some technique – but I have no recollection of it, so I don’t know what it was.

After stamping the stars in on the card base, I decided to balance it out with some splatters at the top of the focal panel. I used H2Os for the splatter.

Thanks for taking a peek!

You’re My Universe
Stamps: Space Cadet (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Card Stock: Black, Ocean Tides, Aqua Mist, White (PTI); Black (Memento); Gold (Delcatta);
Other: markers (Copic); Oval die (Spellbinders); Tag die (Paper Smooches); gold splatter (Twinkling H2Os);

Fall Rainbow

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by Karen @ carefree creations - Fall Rainbow

I was inspired to stamp today. Specifically by this challenge (Inspired Challenges) – which is a photo of leaves in fabulous fall colors.

I also use the current Seize the Sketch challenge for the layout. I’m so happy to have found another sketch challenge!

If I could learn how to “sprinkle” enamel dots/sequins/the-like, I would have added them, but that sort of embellishing confounds me.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday
Stamps: Leafy Greens, Christmas Sampler (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Card Stock: White, Black, Ocean Tides, Scarlet Jewel, Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise, Harvest Gold, Limeade Ice, Simply Chartreuse (PTI); Rich Razzleberry, Summer Starfruit (SU);
Other: Birthday Trio die (PTI);

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 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)

Monster Cards

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The second VSN Mini challenge of the evening is mine!! The idea is to use the same stamp set and create 2 cards – one masculine, one feminine. Here are my cards:

by Karen @ carefree creations - Monster Cards

I actually had a lot of fun with these cards. I challenged myself even further by using the same image (not just set) and the same layout.

Here’s a closer look at the first card, the masculine birthday:

by Karen @ carefree creations - Monster Birthday

When I create masculine cards, I tend to use blues and greens. I also like to have texture. I don’t normally distress cards, but this one seemed to call for it.

I love the white image on the blue jean background, it really pops like that!

I’m also putting this card in for the Paper Smooches Sparks weekly challenge. This week is Anything Goes.

Here is the feminine version:

by Karen @ carefree creations - Monster Hugs

I don’t normally make girly girly cards, but when I do… 😉 Honestly, I think feminine cards are harder for me than masculine! I’m not much of a girly-girl myself – and pink is my least favorite color….but it does make a great girly card! I also used a lacey / filigree border die.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Monster Birthday
Stamps: Falling for You, Party Posse, Hullabaloo (Paper Smooches); Just Jeans background (SU); Farm & Barn background (PTI);
Ink/Card Stock: White, Kraft, Spring Rain, Enchanted Evening, Dark Chocolate (PTI);
Other: Orange Zest pattern (PTI);
Monster Hugs
Stamps: Falling for You (Paper Smooches);
Ink/Card Stock: White, Raspberry Fizz, Black (PTI);
Other: black gingham ribbon (SU); Alpha Whimsy dies (Paper Smooches); Filigree Border die (PTI); old pattern paper (SU); Black Rhinestones (Kaiser);