FWF Dreams

It's Friday!  Yay, that means the weekend is coming, and it's time for Friends with Flair at Unity Stamp Company!  Woo hoo!

For this week, I broke out one of my Phyllis Harris Unity stamps.  I love this little guy wearing daddy's boots.  I remember clomping around the house as a little girl wearing my fabulous daddy's size 12 boots.  He had boots that looked quite a bit like the ones in this picture.  I used a sketch from Try Stampin on Tuesday for inspiration for this card.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Happy Birthday - Winter style

Brrrr.....it's cold outside.....  Ok, I live in Northern California where it's sunny and almost 60 deg F in the afternoon, so it's not really all that cold - but how else to introduce a winter birthday card? :-)  Tuesday's Alchemy gave us a picture for inspiration that was all light blue and wintery.  Little Scrap Pieces said to make a birthday card.  Marks Finest Paper said to add a flower.  Aha!  I combined the three!  Ooooh....

Paper by BoBunny - flower by UmWow Studios!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Very Pretty

Marks Finest Paper's Sketch with a Twist challenge provided this sketch....and said to use layers.  It's a perfect sketch for layers.  The base of the card is from paper purchased at Mark's Finest Paper. The patterned paper is Fancy Pants Hopscotch.  I love how it pops with the black matting.....and yes, it's another Unity Stamp of the Week.  Yes, I'm totally addicted to these stamps!  ha ha! 

Shopping our Stash said to use our oldest ribbon.  I've had this ribbon forever!  It's one that came in a ribbon round from Stampin' Up.  I used the rest of the round ages ago.  It's beige, but I decided to use some TH distress ink's to color it up a little.  Love getting the fingers all inky!!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Hoppy Birthday

Another Unity stamp is featured in this post.  It's the set I got free for being the Growing in Unity girl a few weeks ago.  I really am so addicted to these stamps!

Crop Chocolate's challenge this week is to use green, blue and white.  Seize the Birthday's sketch this week is to be used on a feminine card.  I broke out the Fancy Pants Hopscotch paper to go with this sweet image.

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Mug of Hugs

 Long week.  So glad it's the weekend.....and so glad I'm getting my crafty on! 

The Mug of Hugs is one of the stamps I got from Unity Stamp of the Week - and I love it!  This week, Sketch Frenzy Friday provided this sketch.  Scrapbook Steals said to do something with sparkle and shine.  I will be sending these cards to my son after he's out of boot camp (U.S. Army), so I didn't want to use glitter.  Instead, I added a little sparkle to the hearts with Stickles in gold.




And here are the cards:

I used two sides of a MME So Sophie paper....trying to decide which one I like better?  What do you think?

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Happy Life

Part of my "Happy Life" is being able to be crafty in my spare time.  For this week's Unity Friend's with Flair, I decided to make a card using one of my stamps of the week that I adore!  I'm also linking this up to Try Stampin' on Tuesday as I used their sketch in my creation.  Finally, I'm linking to Clear It Out who challenged us to use circles. 

Hope y'all have a happy Friday!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

My First Crop Chocolate Design Team Project

Today is an exciting day!  It's the reveal date of my first Design Team project for Crop Chocolate.  The "final" picture wasn't there, so I am posting it here.  For a complete tutorial, check out The Crop!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Par-Tee Time

Seize the Birthday asked us to use their sketch and make a masculine card. Now, that's a challenge!  Am I up to that challenge?  Heck ya!  I have lots of golfers among my friends and family, so I broke out my Par-Tee stamp from Unity.

Shopping our Stash said to use two things with a T. Well, this card has a "Time" and a "Tee" and a "to" and "Tires"! 

It probably even has a "ten" iron!  (ok, maybe I'm not much of a golfer!!)

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Scrappy Circles

Sketch Frenzy Friday provided this great sketch.  What a simple, yet lovely way to use up some of those scraps from the drawer!  Clear It Out challenges also said to use circles, so I decided to combine these challenges into one.  I love being able to use some of those left-overs...

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Assembly Line Cards

Instructagram has another challenge, and all you have to do is do an IG to tell the world how you de-stress.  My favorite way is to craft OF COURSE!!  I am doubling their challenge and also submitting these cards to the 52 card challenge from The Old Back Porch to use a home-made flower.

This is what I came up with!

These cards were super easy and fun to make.  If you want to see how I made them and all the products used, check out my Instructagram HERE!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Such a cute girl

I really adore my Unity stamps, and this one is no exception.  Unity recently had a sale on their Phyllis Harris stamps, and I had to pick up a couple.  Just had to!

Scrapbook Steals asked us to include bling on our creations, and I followed a sketch from Try Stampin' on Tuesday.  Cute cute!

She's amazing!  :-)

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Flip Flops

So I'm in Northern California, so I realize it's all a matter of perspective, but my feet are COLD and feel like they have been for a LONG time!  I don't really want the 105 deg days of summer, but I want warm feet!  MFP Simple Salutations Challenge said to create something with shoes or a purse.  I decided to cut some flip flops from my new Cameo.  Wishful thinking?  Pause, Dream, Enjoy said to use some ribbon, and I love this crinkly pink ribbon so much that I used my whole spool.  Time to get some more!!  The paper is from my warehouse sale Basic Grey box.

Anyone else ready for warm feet?  :-)

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Seize the Birthday #1

Submitted to Seize the Birthday Challenge #1

I love crafty challenges!!  One of my Crop Chocolate pals turned me onto a new crafty card challenges.  This one sounds really cool.  They provide a sketch....and then you make a feminine birthday card from it....and then a masculine birthday card on the next challenge.  Who doesn't need more birthday cards??!  This is their first sketch:

I used more Basic Grey Kioshi scraps to make this:

I've "only" got about three packs of Kioshi left.  Ack, what am I going to do?!  I love, love this paper!!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Follow Your Heart

Submitted to Sketch with a Twist - MFP Challenges


 MFP Challenges gave us this sketch and asked us to use Baker's Twine in our creation.

 I pulled out one of my Unity Stamps and a Stampin' Up sentiment and used up some of my Basic Grey Kioshi scraps to create this card which will go into my next batch to Operation Write Home:

I really love the darker purple with the lighter shades of Kioshi!  What colors do you like to put together?

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

CC Blog Hop and GIU Winners

Over the weekend, there was a GREAT Crop Chocolate blog hop.  I'm so honored to be part of their design team with some incredibly talented ladies.  On my post, I posted four facts and a lie and promised to draw a name of those who guessed my lie correctly!  Well, here goes:

Fact 1:  My dog, Pete, has one leg slightly shorter than the other and always looks like he's leaning.
--- Truth.  When we picked him up at the shelter, we fell in love with him because he was leaning against the gate just slightly.  My boys and I thought it was because he loved us!  Little did we know at the time that he always leans!   He's a great dog! 

Fact 2:  My first job was as a bus-girl at a truck stop when I was 15.
--- Truth.  My dad was a California Highway Patrol officer and went in there regularly for coffee.  He helped me get the job there. I worked there for four years (one as a bus-girl and three as a waitress).  The nickname of the truck stop was Pantyhose Junction because we wore mini-skirts.  Quite the place!

Fact 3:  When my dear husband and I married, he was wearing shorts.
--- Truth.  We wore matching Hawaiian clothes - my dress and his shirt.  We even ordered orchid leis from Hawaii!  We also asked our guests to wear their luau attire.  We married in my parents backyard in August - it was hot....but everyone was cool and relaxed.
  
Fact 4:  My first car was a mint-green Pinto.
--- Lie.  My first car was a blue Toyota Corolla liftback.  Great car.  By the way, many of you disbelieved in the mint green Pinto's existence.  Well, disbelieve no more!  It wasn't mine....but it does exist!

 

Fact 5:  I almost always have some sappy movie on when I'm crafting and/or updating my blog.
-- Truth.  Love them.  Christmas sappy movies are my fave.

I drew a name of those who guessed my lie correctly.....drumroll - the WINNER is POLLYZAS! 

Last week, I was also the Growing in Unity girl at Unity Stamp Company.  I really loved and appreciated the comments on my blog!  SO fabulous.  I used a random number generator on the number of comments.  The winner of the TWO Itty-Bitty stamps is MICHELINA!

Congratulations to the two winners, please email me....  karey2005 at sbcglobal dot net


Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Crop Chocolate Near Year New Team Blog Hop

Welcome to my stop on the Crop Chocolate (CC) New Year, New Team Blog Hop!!  I can't tell you how excited I am to be part of the CC Design Team. There are so many amazing crafty ladies on this team, and I'm certain that they will inspire me to be the best that I can be in each and every project.

My first DT project is a gift card holder for the holidays. CC Products used:  EP Christmas Snowy Pine Medium Dot, bling  Non-CC: red paper and the flower-soft snow.  When I did this project, I had just purchased my first set of copic markers, and I am LOVING coloring again.  The card is fun and cheerful yet, looks fancy - but it's easy sneezy.  It also uses one of my Nestabilities dies, and I love those things....

My out-of-the-box DT project is based on an image that I cut out of a calendar.  I love the image and saying on it because it reflects me at work.  I viewed it as out-of-the-box because I took something that would normally have thrown away and turning it into something I'm very proud of!  The paper is BG Kioshi purchased on CC.  The flowers are about 50% made from CC paper or are bitty blossoms.  The centers are almost all CC-purchased brads.  The washi tape, ribbon, feathers and the rest of the flowers are from my stash (except the brown one which came from UmWow - D2, a fellow CC DT member).

Amber (Design Team Leader) asked us to tell you five interesting facts about ourselves.  I have a twist.  There are four truths and a lie.  Please follow me and leave me a comment with which fact you believe is not true.  I'll pick a random person from those who guess correctly to win blog candy (that will have in it a bling ring, a couple stamps, some twine and assorted other goodies)!  I'll pick a winner on Monday afternoon!

Fact 1:  My dog, Pete, has one leg slightly shorter than the other and always looks like he's leaning.
Fact 2:  My first job was as a bus-girl at a truck stop when I was 15.
Fact 3:  When my dear husband and I married, he was wearing shorts.
Fact 4:  My first car was a mint-green Pinto.
Fact 5:  I almost always have some sappy movie on when I'm crafting and/or updating my blog.

Now, onto the next stop in the blog hop to see what the ever-so-fabulous Julie has in store for you!

Amber - http://ambaju.blogspot.com/
Jenni - http://wishiwasscrappin.blogspot.com/
Kathy - http://upinthenightwithkat.blogspot.com/

Jasmine - http://wildflowerford.blogspot.com/Mary - http://mkbugs.blogspot.com/
Nina - http://ninastimeout.blogspot.ca/
Polly - http://pazasproductions.blogspot.com/
DeeDee - www.umwowstudio.com
Miwa - http://miwannascrap.blogspot.com/
Chris - http://thriftysisters-chris.blogspot.com/
Corrie - http://corriescrafts.blogspot.com/
Karen - http://karey2005.blogspot.com/ <--- You are here!

Julie - http://muddypawsinkyfingers.blogspot.com/ <--- Go here next!

Becky - http://onceuponadelight.blogspot.com/
Laura - http://lauraannsbreakfastpizza.blogspot.com/
Michele - http://stuffbybelle.blogspot.com/

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Growing in Unity Day 5

For my last post during my Growing in Unity week, I've got some fun stuff!  I love Unity Stamps - they are AWESOME, and I've loved creating my projects this week!  Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win two Itty-Bitty stamps!!  First, the card, in celebration of Angela's Birthday SALE!

I got this Birthday Wishes stamp as part of my stamp-of-the-week club a while back, but I didn't put it where it was supposed to go, so this was my first opportunity to use it.  I love how it turned out.  I used sparkly pens on the stars (hard to see in the picture...)  I am submitting it to Friday Friends with Flair at Unity....  I'm also submitting it to Reasonable Ribbon who asked us to use our new toys.  (I used a new chomper corner rounder I got at Christmas...)  Finally, the Paper Girls Challenge said to use ledger paper.  I never use that side of double-sided paper, but I love how it looks on this card - great challenge!

As if all that wasn't fun enough, today is the Crop Chocolate Design Team blog-hop.  Wanna see some very crafty ladies and have a chance for some great blog candies?  Start at Amber's post here....and enjoy the ride.

Hope y'all are having a FABULOUS Friday!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Growing in Unity Day 4

Welcome to Day 4 of my week as the Growing in Unity Girl!  I'm dedicating this blog post to my youngest son, who left one week ago today, to be a soldier in the United States Army. I am super proud of him and sure do miss him, but he's chasing his dreams...  I used a Phyllis Harris stamp from Unity to create this sunflower girl.  (The sentiment was part of a grab bag...)  The background paper is from Basic Grey.  The card is inspired by a sketch from Sketch Frenzy Friday.....

I'll be sending this card to Operation Write Home, so hopefully another soldier can use it to stay connected to his family.

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Growing in Unity Day 3

Yay!!  Today I'm featured on the Unity Stamp Company blog.  How exciting!!  This "You are Cute" Itty-Bitty is one of my all-time favorite stamps.  I adore these guys; they make me smile every time I see them, so it was an obvious choice for me which card to feature!  I added bling to meet a challenge from Scrap It Girl.  The paper is Amy Tangerine sketchbook that I got from Crop Chocolate, one of my favorite crafty deal-at-a-time sites! 

Hope you are enjoying my Growing in Unity creations this week.  Be sure to leave a comment to win two Itty-Bitty stamps of your choice!  And leave comments on other days this week to increase your chance of winning!!

Have a VERY happy hump-day!!

Karen (karey2005)

Growing in Unity Day 2

Welcome to Day 2 of my week as the Growing in Unity girl!  The stamp I used for this card came from a Unity Stamp Company grab bag.  I really am SO happy to be this week's featured girl that I had to use a sketch from Retro Sketches to create this beauty!  52 card pick up also used this sketch! I love this card!  The background paper is Core-dinations, and the rest comes from Webster's Pages.  The green and pink washi tape was part of a washi tape swap that we did on Crop Chocolate.

Be sure to leave a comment to be entered into a drawing for two Itty-Bitty stamps and come back each day to increase your chance of winning!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Growing in Unity Day 1

Thank YOU for stopping by my blog during my week as the Growing in Unity girl!  My first card has an adorable little owl (Sweet Owl just because) that was a Stamp-of-the-Week club. The thank you stamp I received in a grab bag. The paper is from Authentique's Blissful and Genuine collections that I got for a scrappy deal on Crop Chocolate!

I got the inspiration for this card from Try Stampin' On Tuesday.  They had a really great sketch that fit perfectly for this stamp.

Leave a comment for a chance to win two Itty-Bitty stamps, and be sure to stop by each day this week to increase your chances of winning!!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Because I Care

I make cards because I love to craft, and because I care....that's why this Itty-Bitty from the stamp-of-the-week club was one that I totally fell in love with! 

MFP Sketch with a Twist gave us an awesome sketch and said to use black, white and silver.  I love how the flowers really become the focal point.  I also got to use my silver pen (which I love!).  :-)  Little Scrap Pieces said anything goes!  I can do that!  ha ha

Hope you are all having a great Sunday! 

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

PS to Karen from Little Scrap Pieces - congrats on your 500th post!  Wow!

FWF Bowlfuls of Comfort

Submitting this card to Unity Stamp Company Friends with Flair

One of my co-workers was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer just before the holidays and has gone out on medical leave for the foreseeable future.  The doctors have given her some amount of hope, but she's going through some pretty difficult medical procedures trying to fight it.  I wanted to let her know that I am thinking about her and praying for her.....so I'm sending her this card.  This stamp-set is perfect - the sentiment on the inside says "Sending comfort by the bowl-full."  

Hey, by the way, I'm next week's Growing in Unity Girl.  Please stop by and see what I've been up to using Unity - and have a chance to win some for yourself!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Beauty Surrounding Us

Submitted to Die Cuttin Divas Challenge 96

The sentiment on this card inspired by Die Cuttin' Diva's sketch says it all.  Hope everyone remembers to do this every now and then...

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Cameo Flower

Blue and White Card submitted to Sandy's Crafty Creations - January challenge
Cream and White Card submitted to Shopping Our Stash Challenge 83

I won a Silhouette Cameo from Instructagram.com and have just had the best time cutting up everything.  I love this little flower I downloaded so much that I decided to make a blue/white version following the twist from Sandy's Crafty Creations and a cream/white version to submit to Shopping Our Stash challenge.  I used a WHOLE sheet of double-sided blue/cream CTMH paper...  No left-overs.

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Birthday Girl

Submitted to Sketch N Stash - Challenge 104
and to Tuesday's Alchemy - Challenge #47

My first blog post of 2013.  Just yesterday, I finally got most of my new craft room put together.  I still have a pile of stuff to go through - but at least I was able to craft a little.  I wanted to make something pink and cutesy.....so I pulled out some pink paper I got from a blog candy and made a card based on Sketch N Stash's super cute challenge sketch.  I cut the flourish with my new Cameo....and didn't even ruin any paper doing it!  Woo hoo!

Tuesday's Alchemy said to our hopes, dreams and resolutions.  My resolve this year is to continue to make time for myself.  I felt it was fitting to submit this card because I finally have my "dream" of having my own crafty space.  Yay me!  :-)

Happy New Year!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)