Wednesday, December 31, 2014

My New Years Wish for You

I've got a card up on the 3 Girl JAM blog today, and I'm here wishing YOU a SUPER Happy New Years!

A new year brings resolutions, new beginnings and wishes for a bright future.  My wish for all of you is to capture your dreams, so I made a card for you!



So sweet with my favorite 3 Girl JAM products - Simply White Lace and Crinkle Ribbon in Lemon-Lime from the LG Bundle.  Be sure to use code KN10 for  10% savings from your entire purchase at 3 Girl JAM!  The stamp is from Unity Stamp Company {Dream Capture} and the paper is from Amy Tangerine {Plus One}.

Craftily yours,

Karen

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Love your heart and soul

Merry Christmas Eve!  I'm posting this sweet card over at 3 Girl JAM today and am also submitting it to this month's Unity {Be Inspired} Challenge using the colors. 

Have you started crafting for Valentine's yet?  What?  It's not Christmas yet, you say?!  Well, I'm ready for Christmas.  No time like now to get started with the next holiday, right?


Love this little mouse from Unity Stamp Company {Alfie-heart and soul mouse} almost as much as I love 3 Girl JAM Simply White Lace and Crinkle Ribbon in DaffodilTie Dye Pink, and Tie Dye Green.  And you know what else you can love?!  10% savings from your entire purchase at 3 Girl JAM with code KN10!  Wow!

The paper is from Webster's pages, and I added some Timeless Twine, pearls (from the Pearl Girl) and UmWow Studio heart chip confetti.

Hope your Christmas is filled with love and laughter!

Craftily yours,

Karen

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

You Sly Fox

Today, I'm sharing a thank you card over at 3 Girl JAM.  This month, we are celebrating gratitude over at 3 Girl JAM Challenges!  Get your Christmas thank you cards and join us for the challenge!


I used some of the beautiful 3 Girl JAM Distressed Lace and crinkle ribbon in Green Ribbon Candy!  The image is from Unity.  Hey!  Did you KNOW that YOU can SAVE 10% on all your purchases at 3 Girl JAM with code KN10!?  Why, you're welcome!

Craftily yours,

Karen

Gift Wrap Special

Merry Christmas, Everyone!  I'm up over at the Timeless Twine blog today Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree.  What is the BEST thing Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree?  Yes, that's right - gifts from the heart <3

I made a special gift for my step-daughter and wanted the wrapping to be extra special too.  What is the most extra special thing to wrap with?  Yes, that's right - Timeless Twine!   (All of you get 100% on the quiz!!)


I wrapped the package in Kraft-stripped paper, red ribbon and Firecracker Timeless Twine.  The tag is made with a Unity Stamp Company image.  I then created a Firecracker Timeless Twine pom-pom and topped it with a bow.

Here's a close up of the tag:


I know that my step-daughter will love this gift.  Gifts from the heart are the best!  <3  Thanks for stopping by today.  Before you go, be sure to stop by the Timeless Twine / Bella Creationz shop to see all the fun twine and goodies there!

Craftily yours,

Karen


Sunday, December 14, 2014

Strangers and Friends

I have a special design team project over at 3 Girl JAM today.  Here I'll tell you a sad, but feel-good, story behind these special-to-my-heart cards.

The father of my children (ex-husband) was diagnosed with liver cancer about 3 years ago.  He fought the valiant fight against this horrible disease.  About a week ago on a Friday night, we were told he probably had a matter of days left.  My youngest is in the U.S. Army stationed in Oklahoma and needed to come home.

I started by calling the Army Chaplain.  He got me connected with the Red Cross.  The Red Cross needed medical verification.  Try to get medical verification on a Friday night.  It's not easy.  I spent hours calling anyone I could think of.  Somewhere in the middle of these very stressful phone calls, I got ahold of a random on-call physician with our medical group.  She had never spoken to my ex or my children before.  I had met her once a couple years ago.  She told me that she did not know what she could do.  I accepted that and continued to make calls.  Around 9:30 that night, I ran out of ideas of who to call.  I SO afraid that I would not get the appropriate verification until Monday (when it might be too late).  The on-call physician's nurse called me about 10 p.m. to get the Red Cross information....20 minutes later, the Army had what they needed to grant the hardship leave.  This physician had spent over an hour of her Friday night to help my son.  I don't know how she did it, but I am grateful.  This card, featuring incredibly beautiful 3 Girl JAM Simply White Lace and Crinkle Ribbon in Daffodil is going to her.


During these incredible hours of stress, my son was in his Army barracks, over a thousand miles away, alone and sad, scared that he would not make in time.  I know, in my head, he is an adult, a warrior soldier....but in my heart, he will always be my baby.  At some point in the conversation, one of his commanding officers called me.  She told me, as soon as the Red Cross called, everything else was in order to grant the leave.  She asked me what else she could do to help me or my son.  I told her that I didn't know and began to cry and expressed to her how I was hurting for my son and just wanted to go to him.  I said, "He's alone and sad, and I can't be with him."  She told me that he would not be alone and that I should no longer worry about that.  Within just a few minutes, the troops were deployed, and my son was surrounded by caring brothers and sisters (in arms) all the way until he got on a plane to come home.  Hooah to the U.S. Army.  I am proud to be an Army Strong Momma.  When I called her at 10:30p California time (after midnight her time) and woke her up to ask if everything was in order, she was still gracious.  This card is going to this beautiful soul who made a difference to me.  It features the lace and 3 Girl JAM Diagonal Stripe Ribbon in Bright Blue.


My son made it home on Sunday and got those last few days with his dad while his dad was still able to communicate and hug him before he passed Friday evening surrounded by his beautiful children, family and friends.  My heart still aches for both of my sons and my step-daughter that they have lost their father at such a young age (they are 20 and 21; she is 30), but it also soars with gratitude for the random strangers who helped me to make sure that my youngest could come, be with his brother and sister, and have those last days with his dad.

The stamp is a Phyllis Harris image from Unity Stamp Company.  I have to tell you that it is simply perfect as are all of her images.  The paper on the first card is Heartfelt Creations Classic Sunflower, and on the second card, it's Basic Grey Clippings.  The images are colored with Tim Holtz distress markers.  Coloring these images and crafting these cards gave me comfort.

Thank you for hanging with me through this long post.  It was incredibly cathartic to get it out of my head and my heart.  And if you have a chance, say a prayer for strength for my boys and my step-daughter as they deal with the loss of their dad.

Craftily yours,

Karen

Friday, December 5, 2014

Wrapping Paper Cards

Today I'm sharing several cards over at Cut@Home using the "oh-so-cute" Magnolia stamps along with some wrapping paper!  (This idea came from my crafty mentor, Sharon....she's so freaking clever!)  If you're like me, you love those pretty foil wrapping papers but can't wrap with 'em.  Here's a great use!  Making cards!

My first card uses the Magnolia Snoowie with Star stamp.  



My second card uses the Joyful Tilda stamp from Magnolia.


My final card today uses Magnolia Jingle Bell Rudolph.  


Such cute stamps perfectly paired with products from all my design teams!  (Cut@Home, 3 Girl JAM Ribbon and Timeless Twine!)  

Stop by the Cut@Home blog to see the full supply list for these cards as well as my video with more information!


Craftily yours,

Karen

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Fa la la - with 3 Girl JAM!

Today, I'm sharing a card over on the 3 Girl JAM blog that uses the FABULOUS and NEW 3 Girl JAM Holiday Trim as well as the GORGEOUS Simply White Lace.  (I am completely and utterly addicted to this stuff!)


Doesn't this bird with his pretty trim just make you want to SING?  Fa la la la la la la la la!  He's from Unity Stamp Company, and the embossing folder is one I got at Cut@Home (from Sizzix).

And you know what else will want to make you sing?  Yes, a coupon code for ALL of your purchases at 3 Girl JAM!  KN10 will get you a cool 10% off!  WoW!

I'm entering this card into the Unity Be Inspired Challenge (using the color palette)!

Craftily yours,

Karen

Silver, Gold and Kraft

I'm excited to be sharing with you a Christmas card over at the Timeless Twine blog using Kraft paper and Timeless Twine in Kraft Brown.


I love how the silver and gold looks with this Kraft paper.  To add some fun color and shine, I added some pretty sequins from the Bella Creationz Clearly Beautiful set.  I LOOOOOVE sequins almost as much as I love Timeless Twine!!  For good measure, you also cannot go wrong with a beautiful 4" Bella Creationz doily.  The paper is from Stampin' Up, and the snowflake die is from Spellbinders.

Craftily yours,

Karen