Unity Halloween Card

Submitted to Chick Challenges Sketch #43

A month or so ago, I joined Unity's Stamp of the Week club. I've gotten some really cute stamps....like the one used to fit this sketch challenge.  I was in a Halloween mood today.... 
 







It's colored in with Copic At You Spica glitter markers. Even the spider webs!  ooo, scary!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Happy Life

Submitted to Die Cuttin Divas Challenge 80 - The Recipe: Twine, Pop Dots and Buttons

Die Cuttin Divas challenged us to use twine, pop dots and three buttons in our creation. I really love this unity stamp that I got from their stamp of the week club, so I colored it up with my copics. The die I used to cut it out was Nestabilities wonky squares.  The edge pattern is Nestabilities In Spades. As long as I had my cuttlebug rolling, I embossed the background too.  The image and sentiment are popped. The buttons have twine tied in them.  Cute, cute!  (even if I do say so myself!!) Here's the card:

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Operation Write Challenges 6, 7, 9 and 10

These cards are submitted for Operation Write Home's Virtual Card Making Party

Challenge 6 of the Operation Write Home's Virtual Card Making Party was to make a card based on this sketch:

Linda from Creepin' Along provided this challenge. I love my bird punch! I took this opportunity to use it and make these fabulous little birds for this card that hopefully one of our heroes will love to send to someone.

Challenge 7 from Scrapping with Purpose asked us to make a holiday card either for a child or to send to any hero. I made this card that I'll send to any hero!











Yes, I do know how to count (ha ha), but I had to skip a challenge that asked us to make a card that was sports-related. My kids are past the age of playing sports, and I have NO stamps or stickers that were sports-related. Sorry!

Challenge 9 from Sharing My Work for OWH challenged us to use a neglected tool. I used to use my spirelli punch all the time, but it's been in the back of a drawer for a couple years. I pulled it out and remembered why I don't use it a lot. I have to stand on it to make it punch! I still love the look of this card.

The 10th and final challenge for the Virtual Card Making Party was offered by Kathryn's Cards. Kathryn asked us to make a card that represents our state. I live in California and work at the University of California. I knew that my state colors were blue and gold. I looked up our other state symbols and found that the California state insect is the butterfly. (Who knew?!) I covered a piece of paper in blue and gold washi tape and die-cut this butterfly. I plan to send this card to any-hero too.







The party was fun, and I would like to thank everyone who hosted a challenge!

Craftily yours,

Karen

My Favorite Scrappy Thing

Submitted to Shopping Our Stash 66: Use Your Favorite Things

Shopping our Stash challenged us to use our favorite things. My "go-to" favorite tool is my Cuttlebug and my Nestabilities dies. My favorite holiday is Christmas. I decided to combine the two and make this Christmas card using my Cuttlebug and the Holiday Nestabilities dies!  Here's the card:

I also LOVE, LOVE glitter, so I painted this fantastic reindeer with glitter paint. Every year, I make tons of cards for friends, family and co-workers. I imagine this reindeer will be making its appearance over and over!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Grandpa's Birthday

Submitted to Kaboodle Doodle Challenge #134: Tribute to Someone Older Than Us

This is the oldest person I know - my grandpa, Russel. A couple years ago, he moved to my hometown into a really nice retirement center. He grouses and grumps, but I think he really likes to live nearby to my mom/dad, my brother and me. In this picture, he is showing off two pictures he painted that won first place at the county fair.





His birthday is November 18. He'll be 93 this year.  To meet the Kaboodles challenge, I made this birthday card in advance for him.

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Link Up for Pink

Am posting to advertise a give-away for Link Up to Pink.

 

 

Here's what one lucky winner will receive:

1- Stamp It Hinged Based
1- Summer Stamp It set (stars)
1- Autumn Stamp It set (paisleys)
1-Winter Stamp It set (swirls with hearts)
(Each stamp set include 3 corner and 3 border stamps. Please note, the Hinged Base and Summer stamp are packaged together.)
Total prize value: $69.85

Go here to enter the giveaway Link Up for Pink.


Craftily yours,


Karen

Operation Write Home - Challenges 1 and 2

These two cards are for the Operation Write Home Virtual Card Making Party - Challenges 1 and 2

This fun triple-stamped card is for the first challenge by Angie who asked us to create a card with a Scripture verse or an uplifting quote or sentiment. My quote says, "Remember Life's Treasures are People, not Things." In thinking about all of the men and women serving our country in the military, I think it is true that they are America's treasures.

 My dear husband honorably served in the U.S. Marine Corp for two terms....once a Marine, always a Marine.

The second challenge from Cherie's Corner of the world gave us a recipe to use an image, patterned paper, and words. This card made with Stampin' Ups double-stamped flower and "thinking of you" sentiment fits that bill.











Off to see what other challenges Operation Write Home has in store.

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Twins Graduation - Page 2

Submitted to Creative Scrappers - Sketch 223

In scrapping the second page to the twin's graduation, I used this sketch.

I used the same papers (of course) as I did on the first page.  They are: Bazzill Orange, MME True Blue, EP Paradise Beach, EP Apothecary Emporium, MME Lime Twist Spring, MME So Sophie, and MME Lime Twist Fly a Kite! I really enjoy scrapping from sketches sometimes. It makes me be a little more creative, and on this sketch, I took some creative liberty....

Here's the 2nd page of their graduation lay-out:

The top pic is my husband, me and my oldest son. The bottom pic is the twin's mom, her twin and one of their uncles. Their mom is the youngest of 16 kids! Lots of family there.  I am fortunate that their mom is a nice person. It makes being a step-mom a lot easier. :)  We are all so proud of Michael and James!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Twins Graduation - Page 1

Submitted to Scrapbook Steals - Mid Week Mojo Pearl 8

Matt, my husband, has twin boys - Michael and James. In June 2012, they graduated from Woodland High School.  Woodland's colors are orange and white, so to use the lay-out sketch below and match their graduation gowns, I had to dig out a bunch of orangey papers.  My lay-out is based on this sketch.

The papers I used were:  Bazzill Orange, MME True Blue, EP Paradise Beach, EP Apothecary Emporium, MME Lime Twist Spring, MME So Sophie, and MME Lime Twist Fly a Kite! I've got lots of left-overs, so I'll be making some cards tomorrow - Woo Hoo.  The background is cut from a Super 8 punch I purchased on Scrapbook Steals. Wish I'd have gotten more of them and hope for some more!  hint hint!!

Anyway, we are so proud of the young men that they are becoming. They went through high school drug and alcohol free. They are nice guys, smart, and handsome. But then, maybe I'm a little biased!  Anyway, here's the LO:

I love all the patterns and colors. It was a great sketch to use to bring out this lively, happy day!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Coloring for Pinspiration

Submitted to {Pin}spirational Challenge 22

Here's the {Pin}spiration:

What a beautiful little girl in an adorable little mermaid outfit. When I saw the {Pin}spirational photo, I thought of the Mermaid card I recently made.  I wanted to color something new, so I dug through the digi-stamps and saw this sweet girl digi-stamp. I decided that the sweet image of a young girl with her feet in the water would work for this challenge. I love my copic pens and love the water that I made by using two colors of blue and blending them.  The girl is all in green and pink as a nod towards the baby's mermaid outfit. Finished it up with some washi tape for some pops of color.  And here's the card!

I wish I was sitting exactly where she's sitting, don't you?

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Because You're You

Submitted to Scrapbook Steals - Monday Card Madness #98

It's been a productive day!  Woo hoo!

I was going to stop after scrapping my niece's graduation, but I decided to use some of my Piggy Tales scraps to meet the challenge of Scrapbook Steals sketch here:

It was such a cute and simple card lay-out, I couldn't resist!  I also added a washi tape flower and some cutie brads from my stash.  And here's the card:

So simple - so cute, don't ya think?

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

My Beautiful Niece - Page 2 Graduation

Submitted to Stuck On You Sketches - August 17 Sketch Challenge

This 2nd page LO is based on a Stuck on You Sketch here:

This 2nd page LO of my smart, beautiful niece was made from Piggy Tales paper. It's almost as bright and colorful as she is. I am so proud of the young lady she is becoming.  Here's my take on the LO sketch:

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

My Beautiful Niece - Page 1 Graduation

Submitted to Scrapbook Steals - Mid Week Mojo Pearl 7

My beautiful niece, Katheryn, graduated from 8th grade this year. She's a very smart (4.0 GPA) and very beautiful young lady. It's hard to believe that she's in high school now. It just seems like yesterday that I was changing her diapers!  (She'd say "Geez, Aunt Karen!" to that statement!!  LOL!)

This LO is based on this sketch:

The sketch is super colorful - I love it.  It inspired me to break open some Piggy Tales paper I just got that is so bright and colorful.  Here's my take on the sketch:

The two tall guys on the right are my brother (6'5" tall) and my son (6'4" tall). This project included Piggy Tales paper, Trendy Twine, and some flowers...  I used my Nestabilities die for the butterflies and hearts.  It's hard to see in the picture but I used glitter and glossy accents on the hearts and butterfly.

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Sending Bowfulls of Comfort

Submitted to Shopping Our Stash 65 - Sketch It

I really love the Unity Itty Bitty Stamp that I used to create this card. You've seen it before on my blog, but it's a great stamp, and in the spirit of Shopping Our Stash, I am re-using it for this challenge.  Shopping our stash asked us to make a card based on a sketch - any sketch.  I'm not sure where I got this sketch, but I liked it....

It's very Christmasy in color, but I didn't go that route, and I took some liberty in the size of the "cross" panel.  (i.e. mine is really small!)

I'm making some cards for Operation Write Home. This one seems appropriate for that effort!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Inky Flower

Submitted to The Paper Girls Challenge #14 to Get Messy!!!

And yeesh, did I ever get messy! I pulled out the TH alcohol inks and made the blue/brownish background. I stamped the flower and colored it with Copic markers (and their glitter markers), added the transparency and some ribbon and here's the simple cute card.

Now to scrub the ink off my fingers!  I watch TH videos......he's always so NEAT.  Me, not so much.

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Does this go together?

Submitted to Authentique August Sketch Challenge

Paper used for the challenge is Authentique Delightful

Based on this sketch (turned sideways):

My dear husband hardly ever gets clothes for himself. I talked him into shopping a few weeks ago.  He wanted some simple t-shirts and shorts, so off to Walmart we went. He came upon the first aisle of shorts and shirts, and found this sweet pair of bright green shorts and orange v-neck t-shirt.  Styling?  Umm, nope.  I had to take a picture which was hard because we were laughing. Who would wear this?  An upside-down pumpkin?  LOL!

Check it out!

It's hard to see the next in the picture. On the left side it reads, "Does this go together?" On the right, it says, "Nope."  Says it all, yes?

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Scraplifting upon scraplifting

Submitted to Clayton528 and Raebae's challenge to scraplift the heart lay-out that Clayton528 created. I decided to make a card instead.

What's extra special about this card is that some of the products I used were won in a blog hop challenge from Clayton528 (aka Kathy).

I used mostly scraps of paper to cut the circles.  The stamp is from Unity - Stamp of the Week club.  I colored in the stamp with sparkly copic glitter pens AND I distressed the edges of the stamp and the heart with my NEW Tim Holtz summer distress inks from Clayton528.  They're perfect! I also added a few dots of my NEW liquid pearls that Kathy sent me as a special surprise.  So cute!  Thanks Kathy!  (((hugs to you, my friend))) and thanks to you and Raebae for the challenge!

The reason why I titled this scraplifting upon scraplifting is that I got the idea to ink up around the heart from ANOTHER scraplift from the very inspiring, Michele.  See her version - here.  She used a mask, but the idea is similar. :)

Here it is:

It's particularly appropriate today. My wonderful husband treated me like a queen tonight - cooked dinner, let me just sit.  I appreciate him. With him and my crafty friends, this is a happy life!  I'm a lucky gal. :)

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

What's it?

Submitted to Scrapbook Steals Monday Madness Challenge #97

This card was based upon this sketch:

I used left-over products from my rainbow table centerpiece and added a washi tape flower.  I love how these flowers look!

Here's the card:

I

The digi-stamp is called a "What's it" because....wellllll, I think it's because we don't know what it is!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Rainbow Leaves Centerpiece

Submitted to Crop Chocolate - Rainbow Challenge and Shopping our Stash Challenge 64  - try a new technique.  My new technique was, well, pretty much everything.  I have never used floral wire, styrofoam or made a centerpiece :)

Many of you know that I manage The Arts at UC Davis.  We are coming up upon our annual Arts Fall Luncheon, and I found a version of this online and thought it'd be cute to make them as table centerpieces for the luncheon.  I'm calling it rainbow because I cut leaves in red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet.

Products used:

Red:  Dots and Stripes; Orange:  Trinity Surf and Swim; Yellow:  Echo Park Country Drive, Green:  EP For the Record; Blue: Doodlebug Blue Jeans; Violet:  BG Kioshi.  Other products used:  Floral wire, mod podge, washi tape, twine, styrofoam and spray mount.  Oh ya, and an empty green bean can.

It was so easy to make.....

First, I cut a bunch of leaves using Nestabilities dies.  Remember to cut two of each leave you want to use because you have to glue them to floral wire like this...

Then, I went and pulled some twigs off  a bush in the yard. A hint, I didn't want to pull "live" twigs off, so I used the deader portions, but the twigs were pretty brittle. I think I'll use something a little greener for the next one I do.  Wrap the floral wire around the twigs.

 I embellished my can with some washi tape (in rainbow colors of course) on some scrap paper and spray mounted it to the can. I also covered the whole thing with mod podge for good measure.  My dear husband cut some styrofoam to fit inside the can.  I think I need to add some moss or something to the top.  Hmmm.... I stuck the twigs into the styrofoam and arranged the leaves artfully (ok, I think it's artful - be nice!!) I also embellished the can with some bling, die cuts, twine (in rainbow colors!) and a flower I got from UmWow Studios.



And voila, a fun and funky centerpiece for the Arts luncheon!

 Hope you like my rainbow leaves centerpiece.

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Stapler Card

Submitted to Chick Challenges {with Ippity}: Sketch Challenge 42

Recently I joined the Unity Stamp of the Week program.  For around $5 per month, you get these really cute stamps from Unity.  When I was trying to decide whether or not to join, I looked at past stamps. They were so CUTE that I thought, "Why not?"  And the first few stamps I got were cute, cute, cute!

Then I got one of a stapler.  I thought, "uhhhh...."  For this Chick Challenge, I decided to challenge myself a little extra and make a thank you card that was both cute and girlish with a stapler. 

Products used:

Websters Pages paper
Itty Bitty Blossoms and some flowers from Michaels
Colored Staples
Copic At You Spica Glitter Pens
Little yellow flower brads (not sure what brand)
AND the Unity Stapler Stamp

 

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Colorful Birthday Card

Submitted to Paper Girls Challenge #13 - Birthday!

The challenge was to create something in the birthday theme. Everything in this cute little card is from my scrap pile. I created this cute little card using yellow and white cardstock and some purple patterned paper. The leaves are cut with my bird punch. (I love that punch!)  I added some yellow ribbon and some bling.  I used my nestabilities dies to cut the flowers and a Stampin' Up emboss folder on the white paper to give it some texture (although it's hard to see in the picture!).....and Voila!

I love the yellow and purple together!  Not a color combo I would have thought would work well.  What color combos do you like?

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Ship Card

Submitted to Trendy Twine August Challenge - A Day at the Beach

I recently purchased a sampler pack of Trendy Twine. Their recent challenge "A Day at the Beach" was a perfect opportunity to try out their sand and ocean colored twines.  (Not sure the actual names of these colors, but that's what they looked like to me!)

I also used some left-over papers from the Journeys cards I made last month and a couple wood buttons. The ship is from Umwow Studios. 

Here's the card:

When I tried to find the beginning or the end of the sand twine, it got a little twisted up. I do believe that something wonderful is always possible, but I'm not sure I'll ever untangle this twine!

Check it out!!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Owl Card

Submitted to
1.  Peachy Keen Stamps Challenge #30 - Popped Up
2.  Little Scrap Pieces Fun Friday Challenge - Use Your Bling

So, I've been wanting the Peachy Keen face stamps forever and ever.  I love that you can add a face to an inanimate object - so cute.  I finally got them, and decided to use them first on this adorable little owl made from punches I found on Pinterest (ok, I realize an owl isn't inanimate...next time, I'll do that!)

I used Echo Park For the Record paper - and some black, beige and white cardstock.  Also, stickles to make the cap and baker's twine for the tassel....and added the pearls for bling :)

Here's the card:

The matting that the owl is sitting on it popped as is the owl's face and his hat - so that's like tripped popped!  The face is pretty light.  When I tried to get the stamp "good and inked" - the image got pretty blurry or there a big blob of ink.  It seems that the image is only "poked up" a little....  I don't know all the technical terms.  Any tricks and tips to using these stamps would be appreciated!  I still like the way he turned out!

 Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Birthday Gift

Submitted to Crop Chocolate's Challenge to use an older-style element and a newer-style element.

This candle holder is a birthday present for my son's very sweet girlfriend, Sydney.  I asked him what colors and theme I should use. He said Red is her favorite color and make it like a Harley Davidson - she'll like that.  Uhhhh.  Make a cute home-made candle holder like a Harley Davidson.  I'm crafty - but THAT would be a challenge!

So I decided I'd use red as one of the main colors.  All paper is Echo Park For the Record, the flower from UmWow Studios, button from Stampin Up, twine is Timeless Twine.  Clothespins made red with TH alcohol ink.  Not sure of the brand on the washi. It's all glued together with Mod Podge and hot glue.

The candle holder is wrapped with twine (old) and washi tape (new).

Here's Syd's gift...

 

I made one of these candle holders in July.  It took me over two days of crafting to finish it.  This one took me about 4.5 hours start to finish.  I really love making them. Instructions for making these wonderful little candle holders can be found on Scrappy Canuck's blog - here.

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Triple Stamping

Submitted to Shopping our Stash Challenge #63

Shopping our stash put up a challenge to be monochromatic.  That's harder than it sounds!  Fortunately, the challenge allowed us to use a neutral as well.  As always, the idea is to use what we have on hand. 

 I had been a stamping class where we learned this really cool technique of triple stamping.  Many of us paper crafters know that we can create really cool backgrounds by random stamping several images.  With this technique, you take three pieces of different sized papers, tack them together and then do the random stamping.  I added some blue cardstock to show the graduations of papers - stamps all in blue and neutral colors.

Check it out!

 

Dear hubby loves nautical stuff, so I'm sure that he will love this card!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Challenge Entry - {PIN}spirational #19

 

Card entered into {PIN}spiration Challenge #19

The card I made is inspired by this picture.

When I saw it, I decided to do something with several shades pink (for obvious reasons). I also thought that a big soft flower was in order.

Products used:
Scraps of Bazzill dark pink and medium pink as well as a piece of white paper that is edge punched.  The pink pattern paper is from the Authentique Carefree collection.  Washi tape by MME.  Flowers from a tin I purchased at Michaels a long time ago and a brad that I've had in my stash forever and ever!  Oh, and of course, had to add some bling and a rub-on sentiment...

Here's the project:

It was pretty simple to make....turned out cute :)

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Senior Prom for Michael and James

Submitted to Creative Scrappers - Sketch 219

This is the fourth lay-out I've done for proms in the last couple months!  I feel like I've been scrapping proms for months. I guess that's what happens when you have four incredibly handsome and sweet sons all roughly the same age.  (Matt's are twins and mine are about the same age!) This is the final one - senior prom for Michael and James.

I took my inspiration from the sketch - loved all the circles!! Products I used:

FP My Family (light greens)
BG Paradise Beach (beige)
Stampin' Up Brads
Some purple glitter paper and some other scraps
Lots and lots of nestabilities!

The boys and their beautiful dates had such a good time! What a nice way to end their senior years! :)

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005.blogspot.com)

Dish Cloth Dave (or Matt!)

Card submitted to "Scrap It Girl" challenge to use our numbers

I've recently purchased a starter set of copic ciao pens and am having a blast coloring. Those things are super expensive, but I got an Amazon gift card for something at work and decided to use it to help in the purchase of these pens. They are WORTH it. Coloring takes me back to my childhood.  Love it!

My dear hubby's birthday is coming.   I made this card for him. I'm sure he'll think it's cute...

Supplies used:
Bazzill green cardstock and white cardstock (cheapie stuff from Michaels)
Doodlebug Blue Jeans paper
CTMH stamp
Digital Stamp by Dr. Digi's House of Stamps
and my new copics!

Here's the card:

Isn't a man doing dishes just the sexiest thing on earth??!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Another sweet birthday card!!

Submitted to Stuck On You Sketches - August 1 Card Sketch Challenge.

This one for my friend, Tamela.  Her birthday is coming up in September. :)

Products I used for this challenge:
Authentique Delightful and Bazzill Dark Pink
Timeless Twine in light green
Copic Markers (love them!!)
Some bling

The digital stamp was created by Cuddlebug Cuties.  Her name is MacKayla.  Isn't she just adorable? She actually looks quite a bit like Tamela!

 Hope Tamela likes it!!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)