more mojo

I've been wanting to do these Mojo Monday sketches for the week and I'm on day 3 - not too shabby! Now I'm 2 days behind with the sketches, but that's better than most weeks. I always have all my favorite sketch challenges up on my browser, just waiting for me to use them, and then the week gets away from me and I give up, lol! I need about 3 more days in my week!

This card is for Teresa's sketch, which is from Wednesday's Mojo blog post. The good thing is my order of new Verve came in Wednesday afternoon, so now I can use some for the rest of the Mojo challenges - sweet! Today I'm using the set Delightful & Delicious along with Enjoy - love mixing and matching sets. I just kept this card simple and let the beautiful Bella Bleu paper and delicious stamps do the talking. I colored some coffee in the cup with a Copic marker and I used some of my new favorite Not Quite Navy ribbon from the Elementary ribbon originals and boy does that ribbon really dress up a card! Yum-O!

Alright - off to make more cards (I'm so addicted to paper, it's rediculous!)
Karen


recipe -
stamps: enjoy, delightful & delicious (verve stamps)
ink: not quite navy
paper: kraft, not quite navy card stock; bella bleu dsp
accessories: elementary ribbon originals; ticket corner punch, scallop edge punch; stampin' dimensionals

hope grows

I'm back with the 2nd sketch for Mojo Monday's 100th celebration and I'm only a day behind - I think this might be a record! I loved working with the sketch today - it really shows off the paper and embellishments and that makes for an easy card to make.

This is the first time I'm using Pink Flamingo paper and since my sentiment is all about blossoms, I used lots and lots of blossomed paper and then added my 'go to' playground/latte designer buttons.

Thanks for stopping by - now go give your Mojo some love :)

Karen



recipe -
stamps: miracles blossom (verve stamps)
ink: chocolate chip
paper: real red, tempting turquoise, cameo coral, whisper white card stock, pink flamingo dsp
accessories: real red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, scallop edge punch, latte & playground designer buttons, embroidery thread, stampin' dimensionals

a little neopolitan

Hello! Can you believe this week is the 100th Mojo Monday sketch? Wow! The Mojo Monday blog is ready to go this week with a sketch everyday - how fun is that? I hope to play along with all of them, but we'll see how life catches up with me.

I went rummaging through all of my designer paper and found this sheet of Spring Flowers (old!) and the thought of Neopolitan ice cream went through my head - what goes with ice cream? Cake! I've only used this Cupcake Collection set once and thought I should give it some love. I added some Cotton Candy Stickles on the icing to make it even sweeter.

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen



recipe -
stamps: cupcake collection (papertrey, ink), on your birthday
ink: sahara sand, pretty in pink, so saffron, chocolate chip
paper: sahara sand, chocolate chip, whisper white card stock, spring flowers dsp
accessories: circle/scallop nestabilities (spellbinders), chocolate chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, cotton candy stickles, stampin' dimensionals

birthday wishes

Happy Saturday! I'm so happy it's the weekend, aren't you? Today I thought I'd make a fun little birthday card using a technique called paper-piecing. I'm using Taylor's Cupcake Challenge for this week, TECC77, and the sets Beary Special and Beary Special Accessories.

I love the look of a paper-pieced image - the patterns and textures can't be replicated with markers or watercolor. It's such a fun little technique. I stamped the bear in Memento Rich Cocoa ink on a piece of Tall Tales Designer Series Paper and cut it out. I stamped it again on a piece of Banbury DSP and cut out the insides of the ears and feet (I also used the little patch stamp on this paper). Now how many times have you cut out something to paper-piece and it's been way too small or irregular to easily add adhesive? Taping these little pieces has become so much easier with a handy little gadget called the Xyron Create-a-sticker. This little piece of happiness will add adhesive to the back of all those little pieces of paper will drive me absolutely bonkers. It's perfect for all those small letter die cuts, or really odd shaped images that are too skinny to add tape to. Seriously, it's one of the tools I use most - love it! To add a little something extra to the card I used some linen thread around the balloons.

Thank you so much for stopping by!
Karen



recipe -
stamps: beary special, beary special accessories (taylored expressions)
ink: memento rich cocoa
paper: ruby red, so saffron, whisper white card stock, banbury dsp, tall tales dsp, the write stuff specialty paper, maine blueberries dsp
accessories: rectangle/scallop, circle & blossom nestabilities (spellbinders), scallop edge punch, so saffron 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, linen thread, stampin dimensionals, create-a-sticker (xyron)

Taylored Expressions Release Party!

Today is THE day! You can now find Berries & Cherries and Chillax in the Taylored Expressions store! I'm going to give you another look-see at Chillax because there is an amazing bundle that coordinates with this set. The Kick Back Beverage Bundle comes with so many fun items: the Chillax Stamp Set, Yellow Stickles, Lime Stickles, Fruit Punch Stickles, 2 Yards each of Lemon Swirl, Lime Swirl, and Pink Lemonade Swirl Grosgrain Ribbon, 6 Charms {Lemonade, Margarita, and Lemon Slice}, 12 Orange/Lemon/Lime Brads, 10 Window Treat Bag Die Cuts, 10 Cellophane Bags, and a Metal Lunch Box Tin. Such an amazing deal! This should jump start your end of the summer party plans, haha!

I started by stamping the blender and lemon images in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored them in with Copic Markers - which Taylored Expressions is now selling! GASP!! I cut out the blender with my Circle Nestabilities die template and then the background with the Labels 3 Nestabilities - love that look! I used Razzleberry Lemonade paper {seems so appropriate, right?} and finished by tying some Crushed Curry Polka-Dot grosgrain ribbon around the bottom. The sketch is MOJO98.

For the Window Treat Bag, I used the same Razzleberry Lemonade paper and cut it to size and used a hobby blade to cut out the center window. I ran the Melon Mambo texured cardstock through my Cuttlebug with the Square Scallop and Square Nestabilities to dress up the window just a bit. I filled a little zipper bag with lemonade mix and stapled it to the top of the treat box and then tied the ribbon around the top to hide the staple. I also used the scallop edge punch along the top flap of the box. To coordinate it with the card, I added the same little lemon image to the bottom. Cute!

Be sure to stop by the Taylored Expressions website and sign up for their montly newsletter - you'll have access to what is new at the store along with more fabulous ideas and projects from the Baker's Dozen. You can sign up in the lower left-hand corner of the homepage.

The Baker's Dozen have more fun projects to show you today, so please hop on over and check them out. Jami also has something yummy for all of us today too, so don't forget to stop by her blog too.

Ana Wohlfahrt
Charmaine Ikach
Dawn Easton
Denise Marzec
Donna Baker
Jami Sibley
Jen del Muro
Jodi Collins
Karen Motz
Laura Fredrickson
Laurie Schmidlin
Sankari Wegman
and Taylor VanBruggen.

Thanks so much for stopping by - it was a huge post today!
Karen



recipes -

card
stamps: chillax (taylored expressions)
ink: memento tuxedo black, copic markers
paper: pumpkin pie, melon mambo, whisper white card stock, razzleberry lemonade dsp
accessories: crushed curry polka-dot grosgrain ribbon, labels 3/circle nestabilities (spellbinders), stampin' dimensionals

window treat box
stamps: chillax (taylored expressions)
ink: memento tuxedo black, copic markers
paper: melon mambo card stock, razzleberry lemonade dsp, window treat box die cut (taylored expressions)
accessories: melon mambo polka-dot grosgrain ribbon, square/scallop nestabilities (spellbinders), scallop edge punch, stampin' dimensionals, lemonade mix, 3x5 zip baggie

a little of this, little of that

Hello! Today's card uses several sets, which makes me chuckle a bit - I just couldn't make it easy on myself for this one, haha! The silhouette is from the hostess set Kind & Caring Thoughts, the sentiment is from just a portion of a stamp from Eight Great Greetings, and the circle border is from Circle Circus. I think this is the first time I've used Circle Circus, can you believe that? I orderd it from the Demonstrator pre-order and those poor stamps were neglected until today. I'm bringing Maine Blueberries back out of the retirement bin for a breath of fresh air too. I will be SO sad when I cut my last piece of that delicious paper. I used Amy's Friday Sketch for this lovely layout today too.

Have a wonderful day!
Karen


recipe -
stamps: kind & caring thoughts, eight great greetings, circle circus
ink: old olive, not quite navy
paper: bashful blue, not quite navy, old olive, whisper white card stock, maine blueberries dsp
accessories: old olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, flower punches (ek success), scallop punch, 1-3/8" & 1-1/4" & 1/4" circle punches, vintage brads, stampin dimensionals

trendy trees indeed

Hello! There is a hot new look on the papercrafting scene and that is using buttons with your main image and I'm jumping on the bandwagon and adapting one of my absolute favorite sets, Trendy Trees, for this look. Isn't it fun? The layout is SC238 at Splitcoaststampers and I wanted a uniform look for the trees, so I just stamped them all alike. I used new paper from the Tall Tales dsp pack and made it easy for me by using the clouds which were already printed on the paper. Super simple card to make if you are looking for something quick.

Have a great afternoon (or morning) -
Karen


recipe -
stamps: trendy trees
ink: close to cocoa, old olive
paper: so saffron, old olive, whisper white card stock, tall tales dsp
accessories: playground designer buttons, 5/8" certainly celery grosgrain ribbon, white embroidery thread, 1-1/4" square punch, square scallop punch, stampin' dimensionals

a little mojo

I had a chance to make a card for this week's MOJO sketch and this was another fun sketch to work with. I broke open some new Designer Series paper, Thoroughly Modern, and went to town. The colors in this pack are Rose Red, Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede, and Sahara Sand and I think I'm becoming quite partial to Bermuda Bay - love that color!

Just a quick post today - thanks for stopping by!
Karen


recipe -
stamps: beautiful kindness (verve stamps)
ink: bermuda bay, rose red
paper: bermuda bay, rose red, soft suede, whisper white card stock, thoroughly modern dsp
accessories: soft suede 1/2" polka-dot grosgrain ribbon, 5/8" neutrals jumbo brads, circle/scallop nestabilities (spellbinders), photo corners punch, stampin' dimensionals

cupcake friday

Hi! It has been SOOOOO long since I've played along in Taylor's Cupcake Challenge and I'm so thrilled I could get a card done this morning before leaving for a little retreat with some very fun girls. I used the July Key Ingredients for this card - I am loving this kit and I know I always say that, but this is such a cute one! I stamped the cuppies from Downtown Diva in Memento rich cocoa and colored them with Copics (seems like that red got away from me a little bit there, hee). I really liked this sketch and I'll have to use it again - super fun and super quick.

The July Key Ingredients kit has been SO popular that it is temporarily sold out. To be notified when the kits are available, CLICK HERE and add your email address.

Well, I'm off to pack my things - have a great weekend and I'll see you back Sunday (my sketch might be late though - I didn't plan ahead and will have to whip one up Sunday afternoon)

Karen



recipe -
stamps: downtown diva (taylored expressions)
ink: memento rich cocoa, copic markers
paper: baby blue medium prism, classic red prism, choice buttercream card stock, early bird (cosmo cricket) - all part of taylored expressions july key ingredients
accessories: circle/scallop nestabilities (spellbinders), blue twill ribbon, small/large oval punches (su), stampin' dimensionals

thank{you}

Hi! I'm back for the third day in a row! Maybe I'm getting back into the swing of things around here, finally... I have another Clean & Simple sketch for you - this on is FTL51 and I love this sketch. The little curly label layer really adds something to the card. Ok, off to make more for you to see later *wink*.

Have a fantastic day!
Karen



recipe -
paper: sahara sand, whisper white cardstock, retired valentines dsp, soft sky prints dsp (retired)
accessories: daiquiri thickers (american crafts), card sayings rub-ons (making memories), flower fusion felt flowers, sherbet designer buttons, labels one nestabilities (spellbinders), white thread

verve release challenge cards

Hi! This is a long one, so grab a cuppa and enjoy! I decided yesterday I would jump in and try to finish all 5 Verve challenge sketches for the Verve release week and I made all 5 in one afternoon - that has to be a record for me. I'm a one card in an afternoon kind of gal! To make it easier on me, I used the same color scheme and Patterns paper - this cut out the "what colors should I use" dilema, lol!

My first card is for VSJUN01 or MOJO92 - I love this sketch, but when I put it all together, I couldn't use the really cool ribbon treatment Julee had. I have a tulip there instead.


My second card is for VSJUN02 - I love these kinds of sketches. Instead of the circle, I put a bow and I can't believe the bow looks normal! Usually with this wider ribbon I opt to tie a button to it.



My next card uses VSJUN03 - this was the quickest card to make. Add a fun sentiment and a little accent and it's done. Loved this one. I added little rhinestones to the butterfly.



The next card uses VSJUN04 - I liked the unique look of this sketch with the diagonal that isn't quite corner to corner.




Finally, I used VSJUN05. I just LOVE square cards! This was a fun one.


Ok, that's it! Thanks for hanging in there with me. This was fun and using the same color scheme really helped when I cleaned off the desk - everything goes in the same places, haha! Have a great day!

Karen


recipe -

card 1:
stamps: beautiful kindness, miracles blossom (verve stamps)
paper: pumpkin pie, riding hood red, bashful blue, very vanilla cardstock, pumpkin pie patterns dsp
ink: old olive, riding hood red, bashful blue
accessories: rectangle/scallop nestabilities (spellbinders), old olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, stampin' dimensionals

card 2:
stamps: miracles blossom (verve stamps)
paper: riding hood red, bashful blue, very vanilla cardstock, pumpkin pie patterns dsp
ink: old olive, riding hood red, bashful blue
accessories: square/scallop nestabilities (spellbinders), old olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, 3/4" & 1/2" circle punch, horizontal slot punch, stampin' dimensionals

card 3:
stamps: floral whimsy (verve stamps)
paper: riding hood red, bashful blue, old olive, very vanilla cardstock, pumpkin pie patterns dsp
ink: riding hood red
accessories: oval/scallop nestabilities (spellbinders), scallop edge punch, riding hood red taffeta ribbon, mini/micro twinkle dots (a.muse), stampin' dimensionals

card 4:
stamps: floral whimsy (verve stamps)
paper: pumpkin pie, riding hood red, bashful blue, old olive, very vanilla cardstock, pumpkin pie patterns dsp
ink: riding hood red, bashful blue
accessories: circle/scallop nestabilities (spellbinders), scallop edge punch, riding hood red taffeta ribbon, stampin' dimensionals

card 5:
stamps: miracles blossom (verve stamps)
paper: pumpkin pie, riding hood red, bashful blue, very vanilla cardstock, pumpkin pie patterns dsp
ink: old olive, riding hood red, bashful blue
accessories: rectangle/scallop & circle/scallop nestabilities (spellbinders), old olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, stampin' dimensionals

viva la verve

I have another Verve card for you today - this one uses Floral Whimsy. This is the last of the June Viva la Verve sketches and this week's twist is to use only ONE piece of patterned paper. Huh? I don't even think that can be legal, lol! I came up with this color combo from the SU catalog - Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, and Old Olive. It looks really nice in the catty, but I changed my mind about 3 times while making the card. I ended up keeping it, and it is growing on me. What do you think? I glued some Tiny Twinkles on the pink flowers with some Tombo Multi Adhesive. It was a fun challenge and a very cute sketch.

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen



recipe -
stamps: floral whimsy (verve stamps)
ink: basic black, pink pirouette
paper: pink pirouette, riding hood red, old olive, whisper white cardstock, candy lane dsp
accessories: tiny twinkles (taylored expressions), silver brads, old olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, circle/scallop nestabilities, stampin' dimensionals, tombo multi adhesive

simple trees

I think it has been a week, at least, since I've used Trendy Trees and they were yelling at me, begging me to pull them out of the box. Poor things. I'm using Fall To Layout 46 from Clean & Simple Stamping for my sketch this week. Talk about a fun and easy AND fast card to make. No layers, no Nestabilities, {GASP}, only ink. I love this look -the drawn frame really adds a lot to the card. So if you are ever in a mojo slump, this is a great layout to work with. Ooooh, you could tweak this and make an awesome Father's Day card - I'll have to do that!

Have a great day!
Karen


recipe -
stamps: trendy trees
ink: garden green, chocolate chip, garden green stampin' write marker
paper: kraft cardstock
accessories: straight edge, haha!

birthday wishes

I haven't played with this paper, East Coast Prep, in a LONG time - it kind of scares me, but look how cute it is on this birthday card for a child! I'm using the Mojo Monday sketch mojo91 and I just love that it's a tall, skinny card this week. Fun and out-of-the-box, love it. I used the bear from Beary Special and the balloon and hat are from Beary Special Accessories. He looks so ready to party! I used Copics to color the images and then cut out a little ribbon accent from a piece of patterned paper to tuck underneath the sentiment.

I think this is quite possibly my favorite little kid card I've made so far. Love that little bear!

Have a great day - see you back soon.
Karen






recipe -
stamps: beary special, beary special accessories (taylored expressions) ink: memento tuxedo black, copic markers
paper: tempting turquoise, real red, whisper white cardstock, east coast prep dsp
accessories: oval/scallop nestabilities (spellbinders), real red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, stampin' dimensionals

life is good

I had a chance to play with Beach Bum again today and thought it would be fun to make a retirement card, or birthday card, or congratulations card - well, this one can be for many occasions I suppose, lol! I used SC232 for the layout. I stamped the palm tree on a piece of Cosmo Cricket paper from the Beach Bum Key Ingredients and then pieced the green leaves up top. Love all the fabulous colors in this kit and they work so great with all these little vacationing cuppies! I used my Copics to color in the beach ball and sun block bottle and then added some bling for the cuppie and my ribbon. So what do you think? Retirement? Birthday? Congrats? Oooh the possibilities! All I know is I would love to be resting under a palm tree somewhere glorious!

Have a fantastic day!
Karen


recipe -
stamps: beach bum (taylored expressions)
ink: memento tuxedo black, copic markers
paper: beach bum key ingredients
accessories: beach bum key ingredients, stampin' dimensionals

cupcakes make life sweet

Have you ever heard anything more true?! How can anyone be anything but happy while eating a cupcake? Great, now I'm craving one... haha! This card was made for a very special birthday today - Miss Taylor Van Bruggen, yes the cupcake queen herself, is celebrating her birthday today - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TAYLOR!! Even on her birthday she showers us all with sketch happiness! Hop on over to her blog and check out her latest Cupcake Challenge, TECC72 and join in on all the fun! I broke out the new designer series paper, Razzleberry Lemonade, from Stampin' Up! and I'm just so excited to use all these fun patterns! I'm going with a pink theme today, which is Melon Mambo, one of the new In Colors for this summer. I inked up another adorable cupcake from the Taylored Expressions set, For the Love of Cupcakes and added some Cyclamen glitter and little rhinestones. The heart and cupcake wrapper are paper pieced for a fun little look. I found some clear buttons and added some paper underneath them for a little extra pop.

I want to give a little shout-out to Our Friday Friend, Julie Smith, who has an adorable little creation for you today over at the Stamp A Sweet Impression blog. Congratulations Julie!

If you would like a chance to be the next Friday Friend, upload your Taylored Expressions creations to the SplitcoastStampers gallery and use the keyword tayloredexpressions (no space). You never know when your card will be selected and it would be SO cool to have you featured on the SASI blog!

Have a FABULOUS Friday, and Taylor, have a WONDERFUL birthday today!
Karen

recipe -
stamps: for the love of cupcakes (taylored expressions)
ink: memento tuxedo black, copic markers E31, C1
paper: melon mambo, very vanilla cardstock, razzleberry lemonade dsp
accessories: cyclamen glitter (taylored expressions), clear buttons, mini/micro twinkle dots (a.muse), rectangle/scallop nestabilities (spellbinders), scallop edge punch, stampin dimensionals

handmade flower

Hi! Today's card uses Weekend Sketch Challenge #84 and a very fun distressed flower that I've seen on othe blogs. I love this look! You can see a tutorial on Dawn's blog. I only had time for a quick card today, so I grabbed some scraps of Maine Blueberry paper which were still sitting on my desk from yesterday's card (sorry for using the same paper twice in a row, lol!).

Ok, I better get going - lots of housework has to get finished, it's been ignored LONG enough!

Have a fantastic day,
Karen



recipe -
stamps: short & sweet
ink: not quite navy
paper: not quite navy, bashful blue, old olive, whisper white cardstock, maine blueberry dsp
accessories: small/large oval punches, latte buttons, linen thread, stampin' dimensionals

a little new, a little old

I'm still having so much fun with my new Verve stamps - today I'm using Floral Whimsy. There is another sketch with a {twist} over in the Verve forum for this week and the twist is to use something new - well that's not difficult, got my new stamps! Everything else on the card is old, Old, OLD, but still very, very loved all the same. You may recognize the Maine Blueberry paper (yep, use it all the time and I'm needing some different paper here people!) and of course my new favorite ribbon treatment with the Latte button. Love that. Oh, and I used my second library clip, haha! I love them, I just forget about them. I'm all caught up for the June challenges over there, so now I can get on with all my usual sketch challenges and inspirations. I hope you are having a wonderful day!

See you back soon!
Karen


recipe -
stamps: floral whimsy (verve stamps)
ink: bashful blue, not quite navy
paper: old olive, not quite navy, bashful blue, whisper white cardstock, maine blueberry dsp
accessories: latte buttons, 5/8" old olive grosgrain ribbon, linen thread, library clips, rectangle/scallop nestabilities, scallop edge punch, stampin' dimensionals

simple pleasures

Happy Monday - It might be a Verve Stamps week here at my blog. It all started when I entered a sketch challenge sponsored by Verve for the Stampin' Out Alzheimer's event and I was completely shocked when I WON! I got my freebies in the mail on Saturday and I can't put them down. Love them! I might sneak a Stampin' Up! or Taylored Expressions card in here somewhere, but it's like when you get new shoes and you find every excuse to wear them, lol! I'm trying my hand at one of the challenges from the Verve Forum and this week's sketch with a {twist} is you must use 3 colors of cardstock (white does not count), 3 different embellishments, and 3 different stamp sets. WOWZERS! This one ended up being a lot harder than I first thought. I used the colors from Stacey Schafer's Jewelry Color Inspiration - Garden Green, Certainly Celery, Pretty In Pink, and Whisper White. I also used my new sets from Verve Stamps - the background is stamped with the flourish from Beautiful Kindness, the flowers are from Miracles Blossom, and the sentiment is from Floral Whimsy. I added a few pink buttons, ribbon and dew drops on the flowers - that was the tough part! 3 embellishments is more than I usually use, so I hope it isn't too over the top. Ok, off to try the next challenge...

Have a wonderful day!
Karen


recipe -
stamps: beautiful kindness, miracles blossom, floral whimsy (verve stamps)
ink: memento tuxedo black, regal rose, garden green
paper: certainly celery, garden green, pretty in pink, whisper white cardstock
accessories: savannah buttons (taylored expressions), dew drops (taylored expressions), rectangle/scallop & oval/scallop nestabilities (spellbinders), scallop edge punch, 5/8" certainly celery grosgrain ribbon, stampin' dimensionals, tombo multi adhesive

happiest birthday yet

Hello! I hope you all are having a wonderful day today - this is day 2 of summer/no school and I'm trying to find a good routine. Seems like the kids are a little more high maintenance in the summer, which leads to less crafty time! Booo! But it's so much fun watching them play outside. It's hard to remember that feeling of summertime - the only responsibility is getting home before the street lights come on in the evening.
Today I'm actually participating in Mojo Monday's contest sketch - woo hoo! I'm usually so far behind that I don't get to play in the contest, so I'm SUPER excited! The sketch is Mojo89 and I picked up some old retired paper called Spring Fling (one of my faves) and the hostess set Darling Dots - I think this is the first time I've inked it up! The sentiment is from On Your Birthday.

Have a wonderful day!
Karen


recipe -
stamps: on your birthday, darling dots
ink: basic brown, regal rose, riding hood red
paper: regal rose, so saffron, whisper white cardstock, spring fling dsp
accessories: so saffron 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, square/scallop & circle/scallop nestabilities (spellbinders), stampin' dimensionals