Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Blockheads New Release Part 4

Hi Kids,
So, here I am back with part 4 of the Blockheads New Releases.  Remember the sneaky peak?






The project today is a fabulous tag that could go on a package or a gift bag. You could write a note on the back and use as a card.   I used an image from the Victorian Eccentricities half sheet.

I used the image with the crown which is also available as an individual stamp called Flourished Crown.
Here is the tag.





I stamped the crown image on white CS with black ink.  I added lots of color with distress inks and then went over with Versamark and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.   Now the piece is all shiny.  The corners were punched with a Martha Stewart punch and layered with a olive green CS.  I added a sentiment from Blockheads.




This piece was mounted on black CS.  The ends were punched with the coordinating Martha Stewart edge punch.  I wove sheer green ribbon in and out of the punched edge. 





Here is an ultra close up so you can see the ribbon.





I added some green pearls to finish off the tag.  



In the next installment of the Blockheads New Releases, I will show you two ATC's.  So, see you next time!  Love ya.
Karen

Publishing Update June 2011

Hi!
Just a quick post.  My art work has been published in the following magazines.


Just Cards Volume 22: I have two cards in this issue.  One is a Tea Bag folded card and the other is a collage stamp with a tag.

Scrap and Stamp Arts September issue:  My card uses butterflies and an inspiring sentiment in greens and lavenders.  I hope you will take a look.    I will be back later with Another addition of the Blockheads New Releases.  Thanks for stopping by.  Love ya.
Karen

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Pink Think

Hi Everyone!
I have another of the all occasions cards for you today.  (This is one of the 35 cards I made for my BF.)  I went  Clean and Simple with this one.


The card base is made from White CS.  The dry embossed layer is made from Blushing Bride (Stampin' Up).    After dry embossing the pink CS, I punched a rectangle.  Don't punch the rectangle first and then run it through the Cuttlebug.  The edges of the punched shaped will be all messy.  So emboss first and then punch. The image (Stampendous)  was stamped with black Stazon and watercolored.  I added a wide sheer pink ribbon to finished it off.  Here is a close up view.


And now about a few fun Challenges?!
Challenges:
Dutch Dare: Clean and Simple
Crafty Sentiments: monochromatic
Stampin For the Weekend: My fav things- new embossing folder
4 Crafty Chicks: CAS no more than 2 layers
CCEE Stampers: pink
Charisma cardz: White with one other color
Moving along with the times: CAS
The Spot Light Challenge: Sentiment as focus
Lexi's Creations: bug's life
Make it Monday: Anything goes
Hope everyone is having a great day and taking some time to stamp!  Love ya.
Karen

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Hedgehog on the Run - Birthday

Hi Friends and Neighbors!
I am back with another of the all occasions cards.  This time it's a Penny Black hedgehog image.  And, this hedgey is celebrating a birthday!

 The image was stamped with black ink and colored with Copics; then cut with a die.  The scallop circle was distressed with Fired Brick Distress ink (Ranger).
 The cute sentiment is from My Sentiments Exactly.  I layered the Hedgey with DP from Cloud Nine Designs.  
On the inside is the second half  of the My Sentiments Exactly sentiment and a Happy B-day from Gina K Designs.

I am entering my Birthday Hedgehog on the Run in the following Challenges:
Penny Black at All Sorts: Your favorite Stamp-hedgey-who couldn't love these cute images?
Penny B Friends Saturday: Pesky Critters
7 Kids College Fund: It's so Fluffy- I used a fluffy hedgehog
Scrap-Creations: Animal kingdom
Fab N Funky: Summer Loving
Sir Stamp A Lot: Poppy Photo Inspiration

Hope you are enjoying your day!!  Love ya.
Karen

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Blockheads New Release Part 3

Hi Everyone!
Today I have another installment of the Blockheads Paper Arts New Releases.    This image is available as an individual or in a set called Victorian Eccentricities.  

I will be showing you several more samples using this set over the next few weeks.  So stayed tuned.    Today's card uses the Potted Tulip and the large single Blossom  stamp.    I wanted to achieve a Victorian era feel with this image.  I used lots of colors and texture.  I was hoping to have it look like a piece of needle work.



I started by stamping four of the Blossoms in pale pink ink on white CS.  Next, the Potted Tulip was stamped with a medium blue ink.  I added lots of color with the following Distress Inks from Ranger: Tattered Rose, Faded Jeans.  After all the distressing, the piece was dry embossed using a Cuttlebug 5 x 7 Folder called Kassies Brocade.  I added more distress ink.  Here a few close ups so you can see the details.








The card base is made from a medium blue CS from Bazzill.  I added the sentiment from the Victorian Eccentricities Set and a couple more of the Blossom stamps to the inside.   I distressed with the same inks as listed above.




And just in case you can't read the sentiment, another close up.




And for a little bonus, here is an ATC I made using the cute little Gecko from this set.  Isn't he cute?





I stamped the Gecko and the small blossom, and the swirl from the Bird Cage stamp on a dark rust CS with Rhubarb Stalk and Tuxedo Black from Memento.  I added some velvet ribbon and pearls.  The Nature sentiment is from the ATC-Years Ago Set.




*********************************************************************************
And now, a sneaky peek for the next installment of the New Release bonanza




********************************************************************************* Hope you are enjoying all the new releases!  I am having so much fun working with them.  Have a sweet day and get some stamping in.  Love ya.


Karen

Firefly Fairy Card

Hi Everyone.

Hope you all had a great weekend.  I went over to my parents' house for Father's Day.  My brother and nephews put in  new timbers around a bed under a tree in the front yard.  I brought lots of plants to fill the bed. And, we put new mulch down too.  Looked really good.  I put in hostas, cranesbill, and corydalis.  (For you gardeners.)   These are all perennials.  Now on with today's card.  This card is one of the cards I made for my girlfriend who ordered the large group of all occasion cards.  Her granddaughter loves fairies.  And I just had to  include several fairy cards in the order.
This image is a digi from Melgens.    I printed it on white CS and colored with markers.  I used bright neon colored CS from  The Paper Company.  Here is a close up.


On the inside, I stamped a cute sentiment from My Sentiments Exactly.


And a Few Fun Challenges for Firefly Fairy:
Stampin For the Weekend: Lemon and Lime
Sweet Stamping: things with wings
Happi Challenge: Bright colors
Bunny Zoe: Fairies
Hooked on Craft Challenges (NEW CHALLENGE BLOG):Anything goes
Digital Tuesday: favorite ice cream colors:  I used the colors of lime and lemon sherbet
Card Makin Mamas: card for a child
For Fun Challenges: summer fun or bright colors

I have been busily making cards yesterday and today.  I lots of things done for design teams and now I am working on some submissions.  I will be back in a few days with more of the all occasion cards.  Have a great day!  Love ya.
Karen

Friday, June 17, 2011

Summer Bird House

Hi!
I'm back with a small gift card.  I am still on my challenge kick today.   I wanted to participate in my buddy, Shirley's, challenge over at Impression Obsession.  The theme is : Summer Time.  Simon Says Stamp is having a bingo game too.  I selected: Shape, Lace, and Flowers.  Crafts 4 Eternity is having a recipe challenge and the theme is Embellishments that start with R (I used ribbon, roses, and rhinestones).


































I stamped the image - Tweet Summer Time (F1648) with black ink and colored with Copics.  I cut the image and a folded card with a Spellbinders die.  This is a small card ( 5 x 3 1/2 ) and I think it will be used for a girt card.  I added the ribbon loop at the top so that it could be attached to a box or gift bag.

































I added a stamped bird (Stampin' Up) to the roof of the bird house.  I added lace and paper roses for accents.

































And one more detail photo.



















And, why not one more challenge:


Really Reasonable Ribbon: handwritten sentiment (I wrote Summer Home on the horizontal piece of wood on bottom of bird house.)
I better get going!   Have a great day!!
Karen

Fun Father's Day Card

Hi Everyone!
I thought I had better get going on my Father's Day cards.  This is the card I made for my brother.  I made an outdoorsy scene.

I used Stampin' Up stamps to create the scene.  I stamped the truck and trailer in black dye ink and colored with Copics.   The road and grass were made by running Dark Brown CS (AC Cardstock) and Always Artichoke (SU) through the Cuttlebug with a Stampin' Up folder.  I tore the pieces and glued them to a peice of Kraft CS (TPC).

For the background, I stamped the trees (SU) in Always Artichoke (SU) and Chocolate Chip (SU) inks.  I stamped a circle for the sun using Summer Sun (SU) and Cantaloupe (Memento).

The edges were distressed with Vintage Photo (Ranger) and I added a little blue and pink with a stipple brush for the sky.  I stamped the Father's Day sentiment (Paper Inspirations) on the inside and left plenty of room to write a little note to my brother.  Something sentimental no doubt.
And, since I have not done any challenges for a while, I am entering Fun Father's Day in the following challenges:
Mark's Finest: Father's Day
Dutch Dare: Fathers
Colour Create: Blue, gray and White
Crafty Sentiments: Father's Day
Samuel Taylors: boys
Southern Girls: Anything goes
Cute and Girly: In the Garden (My card is set in nature's garden - the outdoors)
Little Red Wagon: For Dad
Sisterhood of Crafters: Dad
Aud Sentiments: summertime
Amber's Crafts and stuff: Vacation
If the Shoe Fits Scrap it: Men
Well, I guess that's it for me, for now.  I have lots of cards I would like to show you- the ones I made for the  large all occasion cards order for my girlfriend.  I ended up making 35 cards for her.  I will start posting those over the next several weeks.  And, I will also be continuing the Blockheads Paper Arts New Release Cards.  I still have plenty of those to show you.  So, until then, have a super day and take some time to craft.  Love ya.
Karen

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Stampsmith Challenge - Friends

Hi Everyone,
Time for another Stampsmith Challenge!  The new theme is FRIENDS.  Since this is the 15th, please use a Stampsmith image to eligible for the prize.   For my Design Team card, I choose the friends image from the "Those Were the Days" Full Sheet. 

The image was stamped with black dye ink on glossy white CS.  I added a frame made from micro beads using Wonder tape.

The main image was layered with a piece of glossy black CS that was dry embossed.  The other layers are cut from Crate Paper DP.  The die cut flower and tag are  also from Crate Paper.



The sentiment stamped on the tag is included in the Those Were the Days stamp set.  I finished the card off with a great big bow.
Let's see what you come up.  Link up your project on the Stampsmith Challenge blog.  You have until June 30th  to link up your project.

Hubby Update: As some of my followers and friends know, My husband has been off work since Dec 2010 due to cancer.  I am happy to report that Don went back to work yesterday!!!  I was a bit uneasy about him going back....I really think he needed another month off.  But, things being what they are, his employers wanted him to come back now.    Please keep him in your prayers that he continues to get stronger and will have the stamina for his stressful job.  And a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been praying for us.   The Oncologist thinks Don is in remission.  He will have more Cat Scans done in August to see if the tumors are gone.

Thanks for dropping by and hope you are having a great day.  Love ya!
Karen

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Winner of Blackheads Kinetic Challenge!!

Hi Everyone!
We have a winner!!  The winner of the Facebook Blockheads Kinetic Challenge is....
RHONDA SARVER 
Congratulations Rhonda.  Here is Rhonda's winning entry.  
Fabulous Kinetic entry, Rhonda!  Enjoy your $25 gift certificate.  See more photos of Rhonda's entry on the Blackheads Facebook page.
Karen

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Blockhead's New Release Part Two - Victorian Invention

Hi Everyone,
Hope you have had a great weekend.  I am back today to show you the project that I gave you the sneaky peek of the other day.  Remember this?
Blockheads Paper Arts has released a ton of new images which you can see here.  Leigh (fellow Design Team Member) and I will be showcasing some of the new releases over the next several weeks.  For my projects today, I will be using the new Victorian Invention Set.  This is available in the set and in individual images.  Take a look.
Isn't this a super fun set.  I have had a lot of fun with this set.  Here is an ATC  (2 1/2 x 3 1/2") that I made using the engine image.

This was a quick and easy ATC.  I stamped the image with Tuxedo Black ( Memento) ink on some DP and layered with black CS.  The Sentiment is called Efficiency Verses.  Here is a close up.

I am going to make a whole batch of these ATC's  with my info on the back.  Great calling card.  I will show you two more of the ATC's on a later post.  But, for now, let me show you the other project I made using the Victorian Invention set.  This is a 4 1/2 " square card.

I stamped the images on a medium brown CS with inks: Tuxedo Black ( Memento), Vintage Sepia (VersaFine), and a dark yellow.  I used a die to cut out the scallop circle.  I distressed the edges with Vintage Photo (Ranger).   I made the card base from a patterned CS and distressed with Vintage Photo.

I added a polka dot ribbon to keep it fun.

For the inside, I added some of the papers and stamped a sentiment from the Verses-Special Delivery Set.  there is still plenty of room to write a little note.

If you haven't checked out Blockheads, I wanted to let you know that they also carry all your favorite inks with the reinkers!  Which I love...you can't get reinkers in the craft stores.
Are you ready for another sneaky peek??!!  Okay!  I think you are going to love this new release set.  (I do.)   It is called Victorian Eccentricities.  Here is your peek.



Interesting??
Well, hope you enjoyed the new releases for today.  Thanks for visiting!  Love ya.
Karen

DeNami Fabulous Frames Blog Hop

Hi Blog Hoppers!
Welcome to Dreaming and Creating!  Today is the DeNami Fabulous Frames Blog Hop. The Hop begins today at 6 AM PST.  You will have until June 13 to leave comments on all the blogs.   The reason for the blog: to give lots of great ideas for using DeNami Design products.  And, are there prizes??  You bet there  are!  Three $20 gift certificates will be given away.  One to a Hop  participant and two to those who leave comments.   Each participant in the Hop has made a project featuring at least one DeNami product and Frames.  Click over to the DeNami Blog if you want to start at the beginning.


You should have arrived here from Michele's Blog.  And, didn't she have something super sweet for you?!!


And, on with the show!  Here is my project which is called  "City Chic".  I used the stamp City Girls.  I was going for a chic, urban, industrial kind of look.  So, saying that, I used some grays and muted tones.  





I stamped the image with Black dye ink on a piece of cream DP from K & Company.  I used multiple techniques to color the image.  The buildings were  watercolored with black ink.  I used markers (Stampin' Up and Memento) to color the hair and purses.  The suits were colored with watercolor crayons.  



 For my FRAME  I die cut with a  Sizzix die  from SEI DP.   The Chic stamp is from Inkadinkado and is stamped in black ink.
I layered with medium green textured from DCWV, glossy black, and gray CS from Stampin' Up.  For accents I added some silver and black jewel stickers.  

Now keep on hopping.  Your next stop on the Hop is Beverly's blog.  

Don't forget to leave a comment to be eligible for the drawing.  I hope you have enjoyed your visit here today.   Have fun on the Hop! 
Karen