Roses for You

I'm here with a card for the latest challenge at Freshly Made Sketches and our hostess this week is Narelle Farrugia.  Here is her wonderful sketch:

I was planning on using a leaf die for my card, but as I was flipping through my dies, I came across this one that I had never used.

I love the art of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and this die puts me in mind of his work.  I didn't want to go the pink and green route, so decided to go with gray and cranberry for a bit of drama.  The pieces of the die were inlaid and then set aside while I figured out how to finish the card.

I originally thought of adding scored lines rather than a strip of cardstock or patterned paper, but then had the idea to add two strips of black cardstock - further adding to the art deco look.  A simple stamped sentiment, some clear sparkle pen on the "petals" and the card was done.

Thanks for visiting.  I hope you'll check out the fabulous cards made by the rest of the design team.

Products used:

Stamps:  KIS:  Just for You (PTI)
Ink:  Obsidian (Altenew)
Cardstock:  White, Black Licorice, Gravel Gray, Cranberry Cocktail (MFT)
Dies:  Rad Roses (Paper Smooches)
Accessories:  Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Pen

Cheers
Karren

Snowdude

Hi and welcome!  I've had the week off work (yay!) but today is Friday and my last day (boo!).  I've spent some time in my craft room, but mostly making cards for upcoming challenges.  I took some time out, though, to make this card which uses the Christmas inspiration at The Challenge as well as the sketch at Paper Players.

Excuse the photo!  I had to take it with my phone as my camera battery was charging.  I went quite literal with the inspiration photo as you can see!  This cute snowman is so adorable and he really stands out against the black snowflake-stenciled sky.  For the "hill" I die-cut some Watercolor Wash patterned paper by MFT in the soft blue shade.  I was going to cut it down to match the width of the black strip, but I quite liked the look of it so left it a bit wider.

Thanks for visiting.

Products used:

Stamps:  Swanky Snowdudes (Paper Smooches), Toasty Greetings (MFT)

Ink:  Black Licorice Hybrid

Cardstock:  White, Black, X-Press It, Watercolor Wash (MFT)

Dies:  Swanky Snowdudes (Paper Smooches), Stitched Hills & Slopes (SSS)

Accessories:  Embossing Paste, Falling Snow Stencil (SSS)

Cheers

Karren

Edited to Add:  This card got a shout out at Paper Players.

Bunny Note

Hi and welcome!  Today's card was made for both the sketch challenge and the color challenge at MFT.  I'm not 100% sure what exact color In the Buff is as I don't have that color, but I googled it and it looks to be a pinky/peachy skin tone so I've matched my Copics to what I think it is.

When Snuggle Bunnies was first released, I loved it but wasn't going to buy it because I didn't "need" it.  Who was I kidding?  I just can't resist the Birdie Brown collection and the newest pig set is right up there on the "must have" list as well :)

I stamped and colored the bunny using kraft tones for his body and peach for his top.  The bear was colored using my interpretation of In the Buff.  I do have Sno Cone cardstock though, so used some of that for the backdrop behind the cut out oval frame.  I also used a snipped of Kraft cardstock to ground the two wee friends.

I wanted more of a generic sentiment than those in the set, so I went with this one from paper Smooches, which covers all occasions.

Thanks for visiting.

Products used:

Stamps:  Snuggle Bunnies (MFT), Sentiment Sampler (Paper Smooches)

Ink:  Black Licorice Hybrid

Cardstock:  White, Kraft, X-Press It, Sno Cone

Dies:  Snuggle Bunnies, Pierced Oval Stax

Accessories:  Copics, Sequins

Cheers

Karren

Birthday Frame

Welcome to another fabulous sketch at Freshly Made Sketches, where this week our hostess is the amazingly talented Kim Singdahlsen.  And she has a wonderfully versatile sketch for us that allows us to use lots of elements.

For my card, I went with an arrangement involving frames and foliage.  And, if you follow my blog, you may remember that my FMS card from a couple weeks ago caused me grief because I planned on using these frame dies and realised I didn't actually own them.  Well, I rectified that quick smart and this is their first outing.

There's not much to explain about this card - lots of die-cutting and arranging with the help of Press N Seal.  Once everything was stuck down, I positioned a few sequins and called it done.

Thanks for visiting!  The rest of the design team have some wonderful inspiration for you, so head on over and check them out.

I'm adding this to the current Seize the Birthday challenge, who are looking for dimension this time.

Products used:  

Stamps:  Precious Mom (Paper Smooches)

Ink:  Versamark

Cardstock:  White, Black, Smoke (SSS), Simply Chartreuse, Autumn Rose (PTI)

Dies:  Pierced Square Frames (MFT), Wonky Stitched Rectangles (MFT), Stitched Fishtail Flag Stax (MFT), Chloe Stem (Memory Box), Lorelei Leaf Outline (Memory Box)

Accessories:  White EP, Sequins

Cheers

Karren

Mother's Day

It's time for another fabulous sketch at Freshly Made Sketches and this week our hostess is the wonderful Rita Wright.  And here is Rita's amazing sketch:

I love this sketch, but apparently I can't follow it because I've just realised I forgot the extra panel under the bird.  Doh!

If you follow my blog, you may remember a card I posted on the weekend that was inspired by both the Muse challenge and Time Out Challenge.  This is the second card I made inspired by both cards.  Of course, the Muse challenge has closed, but I'm going to enter this as my second entry to Time Out.

I started my card by stamping a striped background stamp down the left side of the card base with Fog ink.  I went over it about 6 times to get good coverage (thank you Misti!).  I then went looking for my pierced square frame dies, only to realise that I don't own them.  So I made do with my pierced square stax dies and cut a frame.  The flower bunch was stamped using Altenew inks - my favorite inks for multi-step stamping.  I then used Press n Seal to hold the bouquet together before adhering to the card.

For the panel across the bottom, I white embossed the sentiment on some vellum and adhered it by putting dots of glue behind the embossing.
                                   

Thanks for visiting.  Be sure to check out the design team's amazing cards!


Products used:

Stamps:  Fresh Cut Florals (WPlus9), Precious Mom (Paper Smooches), Bold Diagonal Striped Background (MFT)
Ink:  Versamark, Dark Chocolate, Frayed Leaf, Forest Glades, Jet Black, Soft Lilac, Lavender Fields, Deep Iris, Midnight Violet (Altenew), Fog (SSS)
Cardstock:  White, Fog
Dies:  Fresh Cut Florals (WP9), Pierced Square Stax (MFT)
Accessories:  White EP, sequins

Cheers
Karren

Thanks a Bot

Hi!  We have another fabulous sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week and its creator is the fabulously-talented Narelle Farrugia.  And oh, does my CAS-loving heart adore this sketch even if I didn't remember the placement exactly when it came to making my card....

I was dying to color the wee bots from Paper Smooches Boom Bots set, and this sketch was the perfect opportunity.

I've had this set for a few weeks and the other day I watched an amazing video by Jennifer Dove on how to color metal.  Well, she made it look so easy that I had to have a go and this was my first attempt.  You have to check out her card and video - they will blow you away!  

So anyway, after I colored Bender and Bendette, I die-cut them and set them aside.  I used a die from Blueprints 24 for the grey and black layers and white embossed the sentiment onto the black layer.  All layers are popped up on foam tape.

I finished the card with a few rainstones.

Thanks for visiting!  Please check out my fellow teamies' blogs - their cards are amazing as always!

Products used:

Stamps:  Boom Bots (Paper Smooches)

Ink:  Black Licorice Hybrid, Versamark

Cardstock:  White, Black, Slate, X-Press It

Dies:  Boom Bots, Blueprints 24

Accessories:  Copics, Rainstones, White EP

Cheers

Karren

You Want Fries With That?

Hi and welcome!  It's time for another challenge at Freshly Made Sketches and this week I have the privilege of being hostess.  I've chosen a bit of an unusual sketch but hopefully it gives lots of room for creativity.

For my card, I watercolored some images from a new-to-me set by Paper Smooches called Think Fast.  This is such a fun set and having two teenage boys in the family, I'm sure it's going to get some use :)  I struggled a bit to get a good red color with the watercolors, so I have pinkish tomatoes and fry box.  The sentiment comes from Sentiment Sampler and the font style matches the images perfectly.  I popped the main panel up on foam tape as is the bun.  The patterned papers are adhered directly to the card base.

Here's a close up of the images.

Thanks for visiting.  The rest of the design team have made some wonderful cards with my sketch, so be sure to check them out and I'd love it if you joined us!

Products used:

Stamps:  Think Fast, Sentiment Sampler (Paper Smooches)

Ink:  Ranger Archival Black, Versamark

Cardstock:  White, Black, Watercolor, Let's Bokeh in the Snow (Lawn Fawn), Homespun Gingham (MFT)

Dies:  Think Fast (Paper Smooches), Blueprints 23 (MFT)

Accessories:  Zig Markers, White EP

Cheers

Karren

Hey Chickie

Hi and welcome to Freshly Made Sketch Challenge Day!  This week, our hostess is our super-talented Canadian friend, Jen Brum and she has a fabulous sketch for us:

I just received an order from Paper Smooches a couple of weeks ago and wanted to use some of their fun images.  I chose to go with Chubby Chums, which just cracks me up!

I stamped the chick onto watercolor paper and colored it using Zig markers.  I then fussy-cut it out and put some Wink of Stella and Glossy Accents onto its eyes.  The sentiment was white-embossed on black and adhered using foam tape.

Thanks for visiting!  The rest of the design team have some fabulous examples to get your creativity going, so be sure to check them out!

Products used:  Stamps:  Chubby Chums (Paper Smooches)

Ink:  Versamark, Black Licorice Hybrid

Cardstock:  White, Black, Watercolor, Lemon Tart (PTI)

Dies:  Blueprints 21 (MFT), Pierced Rectangle Stax (MFT)

Accessories:  Zig Markers, White EP, Wink of Stella, Glossy Accents

Cheers

Karren

Hey Friend

Hi and welcome to Freshly Made Sketch Challenge Day!  This week, our resident Queen of Layers, Narelle is our hostess and here is her sketch:

Now, I sort of didn't remember the sketch accurately and my panels are more centred than on the sketch.

I loosely painted some Tumbled Glass Distress Ink onto a white card base and set it aside to dry.  Then I stamped the tablet image and colored it with some grey Copics.  The banner was white embossed on black and once the card base was dry, I stamped the border image from the stamp set in black ink.

The tablet and banner were adhered using foam tape and I finished the card with some blue sequins.

Thanks for visiting.  Be sure to check out the wonderful cards made by the rest of the design team.

I'm entering this card into the Banners challenge at Cupcake Inspirations, and the CAS challenge at Addicted to Stamps.

Products used:

Stamps:  Teen Routine (Paper Smooches)
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark, Tumbled Glass
Cardstock:  White, Black, X-Press It
Dies:  Blueprints Tag Builder 4 (MFT)
Accessories:  Sequins, White EP, Copics

Cheers
Karren

Edited to Add:  This card got a shout out at Cupcake Inspirations Challenge and Addicted to Stamps and More.

Snowdudes

Hi!  I thought I was done making Christmas cards, but I need a couple more and this is one of them.

I have wanted this Paper Smooches stamp set since it first came out and it finally came to live with me :)  I wanted to make a card straight away and made this one for the die-crazy challenge at Simon Says Stamp, the Christmas challenge at Color Throwdown and the Merry Christmas challenge at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.

I stamped, colored and die-cut the snowdudes and then painted the colored parts with Wink of Stella.  For the background, I die-cut a Surf Blue panel with Blueprints 15 and then stamped the snowflakes from the set with Unicorn White ink.  I then die-cut the Stitched Mountain Range and popped it up on foam tape over the Surf Blue panel.The tall and skinny snowman was adhered directly to the mountain range.  The snowy curved panel was die-cut and popped up on foam tape after being lightly sponged with Tumbled Glass ink.  The short and not-so-skinny snowman was glued to the curved panel and the top part had some foam tape to keep it steady.

And that's it!  Thanks for visiting.

Products used:

Stamps:  Swanky Snowdudes (Paper Smooches)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black, Unicorn White, Tumbled Glass

Cardstock:  White, X-Press It, Surf Blue

Dies:  Snowdudes, Stitched Hills & Slopes (SSS), Stitched Mountain Range (MFT), Blueprints 15 (MFT)

Accessories:  Copics, Wink of Stella

Cheers

Karren

Have a Drink

Hi!  I found some time today to play along with the latest Muse challenge.  This is my first time playing along at Muse and as soon as I saw Tracey's adorable card, I decided to join in.  Ironically, that fabulous penguin set is on its way to me at the moment :)  

I took my inspiration from the stenciled background, background colors, layered die cuts, layout and the drink the penguin is holding.  Here's my card:

I started with a white card base and used a stencil cut with my Cameo ages ago.  I sponged Tumbled Glass and Crumb Cake ink in a similar way to Tracey.  The sentiment was stamped onto the card base using Versafine Onyx Black ink.  I then stamped and colored the drink and accessories from Paper Smooches Free Spirits set.  I adhered the glass directly to the card base then layered the umbrella and straw.  I put the flower on last then covered it with Glossy Accents.  

Thanks for visiting.  Here's Tracey's Muse card.

Products used:

Stamps:  Free Spirits (Paper Smooches)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black, Tumbled Glass, Crumb Cake

Cardstock:  White, X-Press It

Accessories:  Free Spirits dies, Copics, Silhouette-cut stencil, Glossy Accents

Cheers

Karren

Edited to Add:  This card was Top Three at Muse.

Enjoy

Hi and welcome to my Paper Players post.  This week, Claire has a fun challenge for us - a CAS "Summer Treats" card.

My card is a little bit similar to last week's DT card, but it wasn't intentional.  It was just the idea that came into my head and nothing was going to make it budge.

I used the sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch as well as the inspiration pic at Curtain Call for my card.  

I sponged a panel of white cardstock using some distress inks to produce a soft and subtle beach scene.  Once I had finished sponging, I added some waves using my white gel pen, which you can see better in the close-up picture below.  The drink was stamped then colored with Copics before being cut out.  I die-cut the sentiment three times in white and once in black and stacked them all together.  Both the drink and the sentiment are colored with a clear Wink of Stella pen.

Given that I'm in the middle of winter where I live, this card makes me feel warm and that's got to be a good thing :)

Thanks for visiting.  I hope you'll have time to check out the inspiration from the rest of the design team.

Products used:

Stamps:  Free Spirits (Paper Smooches)

Ink:  Tumbled Glass, Old Paper, Scattered Straw Distress Inks, Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock:  White, Black

Accessories:  Copics, White Gel Pen, Wink of Stella

Cheers
Karren

Edited to Add:  This card won top honors at Curtain Call.

Smooshed Tag

Hi!  It's my "bonus" day today - the last day of a long weekend - and I intend spending as much of it stamping as I can.  It helps that it's a grey, drizzly day outside :)

I made a card to cover several current challenges:  Less Is More has a tag theme, AAA cards are looking for a hole in our card, the color challenge from ColourQ and the sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch.

This card came together pretty quickly as I really wanted to try the ink smooshing technique.  I love that technique!  So quick and easy and I really love the little dots of color.  

After I smooshed on the watercolor paper, I stamped a texture stamp with Crumb Cake ink then die-cut a tag.  I went around the edge of the tag with a black marker to make it pop and stamped the sentiment from Slang Gang.  On the card base, I sponged Peacock Feathers ink behind the negative die-cut.

The watercolor sheet is popped up on foam tape onto the card base.  I tied some hemp twine onto the tag and adhered that to the card front and I was all done!

Thanks for visiting.  If I'm lucky I might have another challenge card to post today and then there's my Merry Monday post all scheduled for later on.

Products used:

Stamps:  Slang Gang (Paper Smooches), Mesh (Darkroom Door)
Ink:  Peacock Feathers, Crushed Olive (Distress), Archival Black (Ranger), Crumb Cake (SU)
Cardstock:  White, Watercolor
Accessories:  Black Twine, Tag Me die (Reverse Confetti)

Cheers
Karren

Edited to Add:  This card got a shout out at Less is More and ColourQ.