Mixed Up Media Chix Blog Hop

Welcome to my stop on the Mixed Up Media Chix - Art Journal Girlz blog hop!  I was inspired to begin expanding my crafting world into art journals by the fabulous Maria!  This is my first attempt, and I really enjoyed the free feeling of just getting crazy inky!  If you've stumbled upon the hop, start at Maria's blog HERE!

It features several Unity Stamps, so I'm also entering this into Unity FWF!  Recently, one of my favorite crafty online retailers (Crop Chocolate) decided to close its doors.  It's more than a retailer - it's become a family.  I've been on the Design Team since January, so one piece of this journal is dedicated to my DT sisters as they always choose to shine!

One final pic to share is a tag that I made as a "try-out" for art journaling:

Always believe in something absurd!

Before you go, I've got some candy to share

It includes a bling ring, some ribbon, some twine and a HUGE flower stamp set that would be great for art journalists.  All you have to do to be entered is follow my blog and leave me some love <3.  I'll announce the winner on Monday afternoon, so be sure to check back!

Now onto your next stop on the hop - the fabulous Lisa!  I can't wait to see what she has in store for us!

Check out Lisa's blog --->www.lisahetrickdesign.com/in_the_studio

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Crop Chocolate National Scrapbook Day

As many of you have heard, one of my favorite places to shop has decided to close their retail doors.  *Sadface*  The good news is that Crop Chocolate's social doors are going to remain open, and the owner is trying to work with his customers to make things work in some way.  The online friends that I've met through Crop Chocolate mean so much to me, so I'm happy that it will continue in some way.

To celebrate National Scrapbooking Day, Crop Chocolate is hosting a whole series of challenges.  Check them out under the contest tabs at CropChocolate.com!  Here are the challenges I've completed so far:

Challenge #2:  Tic Tac Toe - Using the tic tac toe board, pick one line in any direction and include those three items on your project (card or layout). Please make sure you let us know which 3 you used!

I did the row down the middle - a stamp, patterned paper and a ribbon.  I'm also submitting this to 3 Girl Jam Challenge - Anything Goes!  The ribbon is one of their fabulous crinkly ribbons that I just LOVE!

Challenge #3:  Buttons and Bows - Create a project using at least one button AND at least one bow. As far as the rules: for the bow(s)…you can use ribbon, twine, paper, a stamped image or even a hand drawn bow. And since we are so easy ;) same goes for the button(s)… you can use an actual button, a stamped image, chipboard piece, paper or hand drawn image. The sky is the limit! Use your imagination, go crazy!! We are celebrating today!! Have fun and show us what you GOT!!

Challenge #4:  Bugs - Spring is upon us and many things are coming out of their winter sleep . . . . . bugs being one of them. So our challenge to you is to do a project out of your comfort zone and use bugs in/on it.

You can check out the instructions for this card on my Instructagram - here!

Challenge #5:  Make a card or layout using 2 kinds of glitter, gems, Stickles or some other bling.

Bling on the corner and all the hearts are Stickles!

Challenge #6: Create a project, card, scrapbook page or altered item that contains a window.

Challenge #8:  Use Karen's sketch to create something AMAZING! Only catch?? Aside from using the sketch, you must use something new, and you must use something from your scrap pile.

I will be giving away two prizes.  One is blog candy drawn from a name of someone who enters a project into Challenge #8. It includes some liquid pearls, some rub-ons, a CTMH stamp set, some ribbons and a TH embossing folder.  To be entered into the drawing for this candy, submit a project to Challenge #8 and follow my blog.

I will also be giving away a $15 Amazon gift card to a crafty contestant who follows my blog and enters a different project into each of the 8 challenges!


Craftily yours, 

Karen (karey2005)

May Flowers

There She Goes Stamps asked us to make a project with the "April Showers Brings May Flowers" theme.  I recently had purchased their Blossom by Blossom set, and I can't get enough of inking it up, so my entry into their challenge is using that stamp set.  It only has one flower (the pink button), but the colors of the papers, the smile on the girl's face, and them sweet chickies just made me feel Spring.  It's been gorgeous weather here in No California, so it seemed to be fitting!

Wishing you bright, sunny (and not too HOT) days!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Guest Design - Masculine Cards

It's my final week as guest designer for Marks Finest Paper Sketch with a Twist.  I want to thank MFP for the opportunity....it's been fun to see my cards on their site!  The twist this week is to make masculine cards.  This is tough for me!  This is the card I made for the guest design spot.  It features an adorable image from MFP Gullible stampset!

 And I made a card to submit to the challenge too! I only had the one MFP stamp that was masculine in nature, so I decided to use my owl punch and a Unity sentiment!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

One Fine Chick

Yesterday, I received a new stamp set from There She Goes Stamps.  It was featured on a bunch of posts that they had on their blog recently, and I knew I just HAD to have it!  It's got a lot of really cute images!

I was inspired on this card by the current There She Goes Sketch challenge.  I have been inspired by their design team member, Jessie, as she does a poked hole border.  I love how it looks! 

Shopping our Stash said to use something that we picked up at the dollar bin or something we got at a ridiculously low price.  The Snug Hug ribbon used (light yellow) was purchased for $9 on Amazon.  It's a 100 yard spool meaning that it's about 3 cents a foot.  This little piece probably cost a penny.  I think that's really cheap.  I bought a few spools of it, so I have enough snug hug to be mummified!  Besides the stamp, everything on this card is from my stash!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Guest Design - 3 Girl Jam

I am SO excited to be a guest designer today over at 3 Girl Jam Challenges!  All of the details and instructions for my project follow for this fun-to-make note-holder!

 If you want to know anything specific about the products on this project, click on the Instructagram below.  Of course, the ribbon is the FABULOUS 3 Girl Jam Crinkly Ribbon!







Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Guest Design - Gardens

I do not enjoy gardening.....but I love seeing the fruits of the labors of those that do.

I do enjoy making cards with garden or spring-themes.  Love the pastel colors, love the flowers...  They always make me smile.  So the "twist" on MFP Sketch with a Twist Challenge 43 makes me smile - make a garden themed card.  I didn't have any stamps from Marks Finest Papers with plants or flowers, so I improvised and used either paper or flowers for my image.  The sentiment is from Marks Finest Papers Spring Sayings mini.  I love the sentiments on that set - use them A LOT!

This first card is the one that I submitted for my guest design.  The paper, twine, brad and ribbon are MME Indie Chic.  The washi tape is from my stash.

This second card is my entry into their challenge.  The paper is from Teresa Collins Fabrication line.

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

A Very Birdy Thank you

If you are here for the All That Stickles Baby Hop - click HERE.


For Crop Chocolate's most recent challenge, D2 and Corrie gave us an everything challenge - use an image, buttons and ribbons.  Inspired by the sketch at Try Stampin on Tuesday and products purchased at Crop Chocolate, I made six very birdy thank you cards!

For a list of items used and instructions, check out my Instructagram!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Stickles Baby Blog Hop

Welcome to the Baby Blog Hop brought to you by the All that Stickles design team!

Bring on the bouncing babies! It's time for a Baby Blog Hop filled with all sorts of cute, fun, and of course, sparkly, baby themed projects!

If you've come from Julie's blog, you're in the right place! If you've just come across the hop and would like to start at the beginning, please visit All that Stickles.

For my project, I've made a door hanger to let people know when the baby is sleeping. My "babies" are all adults now, but my nieces and nephews are in the baby-making stage, so this will be given to one of them.  The tag, ribbon and dew drops are from the Robin's Nest Outdoor tag kit. I also cut the letters from this kit and added Patina Stickles.  The baby tears are glittery with Baby Blue Stickles.

We have blog candy for those who are a follower of All that Stickles and leave a comment on every stop of the hop! Winners will be announced Wednesday April 24th at All that Stickles.

Scrappy Moms

1 Stamp Set of Winner's Choice

Pinque Peacock

Handmade Stick Pins or 1 Set of Handmade Fabric Covered Buttons

Digital Delights by Louby Loo
$5 Gift Certificate

Fresh Brewed Designs

$6 Voucher

Bugaboo Stamps

10 Digis of Winner's Choice

Your next stop is Ann's blog.

Here's the complete lineup:

All that Stickles

Ashley
Tonya
Melanie

Cynthia
Cathy

Chas
Julie
Karen
Ann

Thanks for hopping! :)

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Thank God I'm Fabulous

Great title, great digital stamp from Bugaboo Digital Stamps!  Today, All That Stickles has posted their mid-Baby-Blue linky party inspiration.  For my design team project, I decided to use the Bugaboo digital stamp to make a little gift bag!

I'm going to save this bag to give one of the people I work with a little gift.  The TGIF is highlighted with Baby Blue Stickles!  For complete instructions, check out my Instructagram!

What can you make with Baby Blue Stickles?  Follow that link, post your project and you'll be entered to win some fabulous prizes!!! 

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Friends with Flair and Ribbons

It's FRIDAY!  Woo Hoo!  Just a quick post today to link up to Unity's Friends with Flair.  I'm also linking this up to 3 Girl Jam Challenge to make something in the "April Showers with Ribbon" theme.  If you haven't tried their crinkly ribbon, go (do not stop at Reading Railroad or Community Chest) and get some!  It's fun to work with!

Hope y'all have a blessed weekend!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Just Because of this Bunny

There She Goes stamps has a challenge this week to make something that is "Just Because."  Well, just because I love this bunny from their Fairy Best stamp collection and just because the sentiment is sweet, I made this card - just because :)

If you want to see more about the papers or products used for this card, check out my instructagram - here.

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Guest Design - Embossing

This is my third week as guest designer with Mark's Finest Paper Sketch with a Twist.  The sketch to the right is the inspiration for this week's challenge.  The twist for this week is to use two embossing techniques.  I love the look of embossing, so this is a fun challenge for me.

 My first card below is what I submitted for my guest design spot.  The sentiment is wet embossed with black sparkly powder, and the background is embossed with an embossing folder.  The stamps used for this card are from the MFP Gullible Mini Stamps.

The second card is my entry into this week's challenge.  The sand dollar is wet embossed and the background was ran through an embossing folder.  The stamps for this card are from MFP Sand Dollar Mini. 

A lot of the paper used for these cards was purchased cheap, cheap at Crop Chocolate and the second card has also been entered into their weekly challenge.

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

FWF Thanks

The other day, a dear friend asked for her crafty friends to send some thank you cards.  One of her family members is dealing with a terrible crisis and she wanted to offer some thank you cards, so that would be one less thing to worry about.  Of course, I sent her all that I had.  I probably have 100 cards in my "stash" and every so often box them up and send them to Operation Write Home ... but I had only FOUR thank you cards!  What's up with that? 

I decided to build up my stash of thank you cards.  I'm thankful for this adorable Unity stamp (Hello Pretty).  I used scraps to make all three of these cards. I'm thankful that my miserable case of shingles seems to be getting better.  I actually worked four hours in a row today....first time in 3 weeks.  (This from someone who works 50 to 60 hours a week usually....)  And I'm thankful it's FRIDAY FRIENDS WITH FLAIR time!!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Fairy Best

Just a quick post today!  I inked up my Fairy Best stamp-set from There She Goes Stamps to make a card to enter into their color challenge (using yellow, blue and neutral).

I added yellow stickles to the wand and glossy accents to the wings.  Love how it adds just a little something extra :)

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Guest Design - Friends

This is my second week as guest designer for Mark's Finest Paper Sketch with a Twist Challenge.  The sketch to the right is the sketch to inspire cards for this week's challenge.  As always, there is a twist, and the twist this week is to use the word "friend" on your card somewhere.




The card I made for the challenge uses the MFP Happy Easter Mini Stamp set.  The image is actually inside an egg and is a great card for easter.  I cut out a square of it to put inside my little window that is stamped and embossed with a postcard stamp set (but I couldn't find it on their website).  The sentiment is from the Spring Sayings mini-stamp set.  The paper is from Amy Tangerine Sketchbook.  Love that paper!

The card that I made to enter into the challenge uses my new favorite die set from Spellbinders (A2 Curved Borders), Cosmo Cricket Fleuriste, and MFP Willow White paper.  The sentiment is also from the MFP Spring Sayings mini-stamp set.  (I use this sentiment stamp A LOT!)

 Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Blog Candy Winner

Thanks to everyone who left such kind comments on my post about my new Design Team spot with All That Stickles.  I ran a random.org on those who commented on both my blog and the All That Stickles blog post....and the random winner is...............


Dee McD

Congratulations, Dee!!  Please contact me at karey2005 at sbcglobal dot net so that I can make arrangements to get your blog candy out to you!

Craftily (and sparkly) yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Curved Borders

I saw the Spellbinders curved borders and just had to have them....and boy, am I glad I got them!  I am submitting this card to Crop Chocolate's challenge to use bright colors and only one neutral color.  I'm also submitting it to Clear It Out Challenge to use a flower!

For more information about the products used, check out my Instructagram!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

New Design Team - All That Stickles

I am SUPER excited to have been picked for a new design team - All That Stickles!  And seriously, who doesn't LOVE the glittery goodness of Stickles!?!?!

On the All That Stickles blog site, you will find all sorts of fun tips and techniques for using Stickles.  If you're like me, you have TONS of colors.....so go check out all the posts that provide great inspiration for using Stickles!  If you're not like me and need more Stickles, well - Go Get Them!  LOL!

Also, on All That Stickles, there is a linky party featuring a color of Stickles a couple times a month.  The projects that people enter are FABULOUS!  And names are drawn each month for terrific prizes.  Check out the latest linky party using yellow - HERE!  You have until Friday, April 12 to link up your yellow Stickles projects!!

And here's mine!

It's a gift card holder that I gave to my fabulous niece at Easter.  I included an iTunes gift card!  I created an Instructagram so you can see how I made it....HERE!

Since this is my first design team post with All That Stickles, I've got some blog candy!  It'll be a surprise package that will probably have some brads, stamps, ribbon and maybe even some STICKLES!  All you have to do is follow me, follow All That Stickles and leave a comment on both posts.  You can find the All That Stickles post - HERE!  I'll pick a winner on Monday, April 8.

Glad you are HERE!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)

Happy Spring Friday

We have had some rain here in Northern California......but the sun came back out today, and it's GORGEOUS!  Happy Spring Friday everyone!

It's time for Unity Friends with Flair!  I created this pretty card using Carta Bella So Noted.  I love the soft sweet colors of this collection, and they go wonderful with this adorable Phyllis Harris Itty Bitty from Unity!  I had a great time attempting shading techniques with my Copics.....still working on it, but I really love how the sky turned out :)

I'm also submitting this card to Clear It Out's spring challenge with flowers. 

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend!!

Craftily yours,

Karen (karey2005)