Cat in the Hat

I know, I know....two posts in one day! I finished up this Cat in the Hat card late last night and didn't get it posted. Took awhile to figure out how to make him. Since I did the Grinch card I just had to make the Cat too! His face started out with the ornament punch, then I cut one side to make his cheek. Hat was made with 1 inch circle punch that I cut the top and bottom off of to make flat. Neck, and hat brim,window punch, small heart and circle from the triple punch used for the bow.

He was a challenge, but fun to make.

Gotta run my breakfast is done. Skip made me breakfast seeing how its my birthday. Brrr its cold outside! Not getting out of the lower 50's today.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Birthday Card Shares

While going through the storage space this summer I happened to find this cute little teddy bear card that my friend Lisa gave me years ago. If you look close you can see she wrote Lisa and Karen on the bear's tummies. The card wasn't dated so I don't know what year it was given to me. I know it was pre 2000 as I don't think we were stamping before that.

This is the card Lisa sent me this year. Love that birthday cake, great job on the card Lisa thanks. Looking back at the teddy bear card I still like it. So it will go back in a box with lots of other "treasured vintage" cards that I won't part with.

This card was made by my friend Connie. Such a FUN card!!! The netted ribbon is perfectly used with the corset stamp. Thanks Connie!

Hubby was sweet last night. He stopped on his way home from work and bought me flowers. I didn't think he would do anything else for my birthday as he paid for my 300.00 dollar Stampin'Up order earlier yesterday. Again....Sweet Guy!!!

Stamping Trails
Karen

I got a Birthday Card

I received this gorgeous card yesterday from my dear friend Marianne. It is just beautiful! I love everything about it. I had to ask her about the lattice that is layered under the glittered flowers. She told me it was a EK Success lattice punch. I may just have to get this one. I'm such a punch diva! The white on white is very stunning, with just a splash of color from the flowers. Thanks bunches!!!

After visiting with my friend Faith yesterday afternoon and seeing her colorful mums I had to go and get myself one. I was going to pick up pumpkins to place in the yard anyway and since Mark's had mums sitting right next to them made it easy for me to get one. Isn't it just great? Smells so nice too.

So today is the last day I'll be 50. Looking forward to going to the movies with my son on Friday. He's treating his mama to lunch and a movie. Sunday Sarah, Jason, and Skip's mom Kate are coming over for spaghetti dinner. I told Sarah she had to bring the cake.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Grinch Card

Since my friend Kat will be painting light bulbs today in preparation for making them "Grinch" ornaments I made this card for her. She is helping with a church group to make things to sell at a upcoming craft fair event. I do not envy her painting the faces on all those bulbs, but she is a wonderful girl for doing it!

This design is not mine and I'm sorry that I can't give credit to the one who inspired it. I CASED it so long ago that I just don't remember.

I used Wild Wasabi for the base card using Top Note die. Modern label punch for the nose, 1 3/8 circle punch eyes, 1/4 circle punch for pupils, hat, trim, eyebrows were just free cut. I was joking with my hubby after watching Jeff Dunham this week that with the eyes and eyebrows the Grinch reminds me of Achmid.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Vintage Tree

These colors remind me of really old vintage Christmas cards mom received when I was kid. Colors Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, glossy white: ink, Garden Green, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Chocolate Chip.

Crayon Resist technique. I wanted it to look like the wind was blowing and I chose to highlight only one side of the tree. I like the effect but hubby said it didn't look right with only one side covered with snow and glitter. Oh well can't please everyone.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Corn Hole

If you have never played Corn Hole before the best way I can explain it this....Corn Hole is a bean bag toss game for adults that never grew up, but really....it is a fun game to play at picnics with a group of friends, or on your newly completed back deck. Skip was great getting all the stuff to make these two boards. He got on the internet to order the Cleveland Brown stickers, and he cut the wood, put together, sanded and painted them. I think they came out pretty cool. I think Skip was happy that it stopped raining long enough on Saturday and part of Sunday to finished them up and we actually got to play a quick game.

I didn't get time to stamp yesterday. I was pretty busy. The workshop went well. Had fun and enjoyed seeing some old friends. Didn't get home till past 9.
Hoping to get some stamping in today. I have a stamp camp coming up on the 8th of October so I have to prep for that.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Make and Takes

Wanted to share the two make and takes I'll be doing tonight at a workshop. This easel card was designed by Janice Heighway for a swap we did during the summer. I changed it up a bit, but I wanted to give her credit for the design.

I just love easel cards. This one uses Lovely as a Tree, and Winter Post stamp sets. Colors Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist, and Early Espresso.

Close up of the inside layers

This is the easy card we will be making. Just white cardstock stamped with Come to Bethlehem stamp set. I used one of the clear blocks and inked it up with Bashful Blue to get the background color. Stamp was inked with Night of Navy.

I thought we would do one nice and simple card, then step up the next card with more layers.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Greeting Card Holders

I have a workshop coming up this Sunday for a church group. They want to make Christmas cards. While I have some make and takes planned for that I also wanted to show them a quick and easy way to give the cards they make as gifts.

These are very quick and simple to make holders. Start with a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 piece of cardstock. Place cardstock on work surface 11 inch side at top. Fold in half. Open up lay fat again and fold up bottom at 2 1/4. Open back up. At this point you will need to cut a small "V" in the center fold. This will allow the cardstock to fold flat.

I did the closure in two different ways. One is closed with piece of ribbon wrapped around and glued down on the front and back. The other is held closed with a Velcro dot.

This snowman card is sort of silly I know. Just playing around the other day with crayon resist technique. I'll say one thing for it......It certainly is colorful!!!

Stamping Trails
Karen

Concrete is Poured!

What a pretty sight to see the cement truck this morning! The skies were clear and free of rain so it was time to get pouring that cement!

Here you see one of the contractors smoothing out the cement.

Oh No! Watch out Burbank! You might get your paws stuck....we had to catch the cat and keep him indoors today. Needless to say he wasn't happy about it, but we didn't need little kitty paws all over the newly poured cement!

Stamping Trails
Karen

Purse Card Holder

Remember that stocking box I made a few days ago? Well I had an extra one and decided to put it on a Holiday Card Holder Purse. Purse is the perfect size to hold A2 cards, and envelopes. Really easy to make. I'm hoping to get the pictures taken and I'll post the instructions for this in a few days. I used one of the scallop circles from the pennant die, and the small scallop circle punch. Merry Christmas is from Easy Events.

I got another birthday card from Kat! YUM a no calorie cupcake!!!! Thanks Kat

The contractors called early yesterday morning to let us know they couldn't pour the concrete due to rain. And OMG did it ever rain yesterday. Cats and Dogs and I think hamsters too! Not to mention thunder and lightning. They may not be able to pour till next week as its suppose to rain the rest of the week.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Contractors

We finally found contractors that would come and extend the patio. Can't believe we struggled all summer with this and now that Fall is just a few days away the work started. Here you see an addition to the concrete patio. We are having it extended to go to even with the kitchen window.

Also having the concrete extended in front of the storage room behind the garage. They have the gravel and wire mesh down. Tomorrow they are coming to pour the concrete.

Here you see a picture of the side of the driveway. We are also having that extended.

When completed we will have a walkway next to the garage. Looking forward to it being completed.

Jack of all Trades Candy Wrapper

So I was just playing around in the stamp room this weekend, and came up with this cute little candy wrapper. I haven't made one of these in years.

The ribbon goes through the holes at the top and then around the candy bar. To get the candy out just pull the ribbon.

I used Frightful designer paper, and the zig zag trim from the Tasteful Trim die to wrap around the confetti base. Then added the pumpkin, and hat with pop dots.

Here you can see how the candy bar comes out at the top.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Stocking Box

I've seen others making this stocking gift box using the Box 2 die from SU. So I wanted to try one since I had that die. Before attaching the finished box to the stocking front and back I removed the short side of one end of the box. This allows the box to be filled at the top.

I used Pines and Poinsettias with white craft ink to stamp the front and back on stocking. The white shows up really well against the Cherry Cobbler cardstock. Also used white gel pen to make the little stitch lines. Holly and berries were made using the die from the Holiday mini catalog. Added quilted cherry cobbler ribbon, and a scrap of victoria lace. Oh the holly and berries were added using pop dots.

Side view.

Weather was beautiful yesterday. Sunny and 73 degrees. Me and Skip took advantage of the great day and went biking. Won't have many more of these days so have to use them when we get them.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Who is a Lucky Girl?

I am!!!! I'm a lucky girl. Look at what I got in the mail on Friday. A box packed full of fabric! Kat sent me an early birthday box. I had been wishing for sewing stuff as I wanted to get back into sewing, and now I have a ton of fabric to work with.

I just can't believe how much fabric she got into this box!!!

And more birthday cards!!! Love this one! Colors are just so Fall!

Lattice die is great on this card layered over Lattice square embossing folder.

Big thanks Kat!!!! All I can say is WOW!!!!!

Stamping Trails
Karen

SU Stars Blog Hop

Welcome to the SU Stars Blog Hop. Theme for this weekend's hop is scrapbooking. I decided to make a little mini album using the stocking die found in the Holiday mini catalog. Using the Big Shot I cut chipboard and frostwood lodge designer paper. I also cut 8 crumb cake pieces of cardstock from the stocking. Tombo liquid glue was used to adhere the designer paper stocking to the chipboard. The tree from Christmas Lodge stamp set was stamped on Shimmery white cardstock using garden green, and espresso ink. Tree was then cut out, sponged, and popped on the stocking front. I added some rhinestones just to perk it up a bit.

The lodge was stamped with espresso ink, and I used a white gel pen to add the snow to the roof. Trimmed down some Christmas tree photos for the inside pages. Seems like I have a ton of photos that I've taken with just the Christmas tree over the years. I thought a fun way to showcase them was to punch parts of the tree with the scallop square punch and use them randomly throughout the book.

Thanks for stopping by. Next up on the Hop is Robin Messenheimer you can see her blog HERE

If you'd like to start at the beginning of the HOP visit HERE

Trick or Treat Owl

While I was video chatting with Kat yesterday I found the frame I had been looking for stuck in a drawer. I used Warmest of Wishes Hostess set from the Holiday mini, and Grateful Greetings. The frame was a pearl color so I sponged it with Pumpkin Pie and Black ink. Owl was stamped on Pumpkin Pie cardstock using black ink. I used the Owl builder punch and black and white cardstock for the eyes. He is layered on Frightful Sight designer paper.

Couldn't stop with just the frame I had to make another owl to top off the 1 x 8 inch cello bags that are also in the holiday mini. I used the pennant die as a base.

Big thanks to Kat's hubby Joe, and my son John for setting up Skype for us. Now me and Kat can video chat on the computers. We may even get to do some stamping together since both of our computers are in our craft rooms. How COOL!!!!!

Stamping Trails
Karen

Christmas Lodge

Lovely as a Tree stamp set was just made go with Christmas Lodge. Love the two of these stamp sets together. Base card and ink Not Quite Navy. Images were stamped on Shimmery White cardstock. Top was punched with eyelet border punch. I then used white cord to thread through the holes and tied a bow. For the bottom I tore three layers of Shimmery white cardstock and layered them sponging the middle layer and bottom with Not Quite Navy. Rhinestones finished it off. Simple, but pretty.

Its not even going to get out of the 50's today. I may have to wear pants today instead of shorts. OH NO!!! Not at all ready!!!!

Another Oh No! I'll be 51 in 15 days, and I think at this point I'll still have birthdays.....I just won't assign numbers to them.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Sunflower

I used emerging color technique on today's card. First I stamped Musical Score (retired background stamp) in More Mustard on vanilla cardstock. Next I inked the Sunflower background stamp VersaMark, stamped on top of the music notes then embossed with clear embossing powder. For the next step I used a brayer with Espresso ink and brayered over the entire piece of vanilla cardstock. I took a tissue and wiped off the ink from the embossed image, and Ta-Da, the More Mustard ink showed through the sunflower. I wanted the center to pop so I inked the stamp again with Espresso and embossed with clear EP. Used 1 3/8 circle punch, and 1 3/4 circle punch for the Mustard layer. Word stamp from Grateful Greetings.

Since the inside of the card was dark I used a piece of vanilla and stamped just a bit of the sunflower on it with Mustard ink. Used a sponge to add the Espresso to center. I also used the Build a Blossom punch to make the leaves.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Birthday....Again!

My new Doily background stamp has really been getting a workout, and the wood block has the stains to prove it!

For this birthday card I also used Delicate Doilies, and Hostess set Happiest Birthday Wishes. Colors: Basic Black, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, and Crumb Cake.

I used the ribbon lace punch with Pink Pirouette cardstock. After punching I cut the ribbon lace down the center and attached it to either side of the main image. Added a few pearls and had a quick and easy card.

I got another Birthday RAK from Kat. While we were chatting this week she let me know that all my RAKS this month will be birthday ones. Kat is really good about sending RAKS each week. How "FUN" to receive birthday ones all month! Thanks Kat!!!

Stamping Trails
Karen

Keepsake Box

I finished the Christmas Keepsake box that Stampin'Up! gave to new demonstrators that signed up in the summer. Was a fun project to work on. Took me a few days. As I would do a few steps then walk away and come back to it. One thing I decided not to do was add the glitter. The photo of the completed box SU provided had lots of glitter going around the rosette and all over the box. I'm not a big fan of glitter anyway and just said no to adding it.

Here is a side view.

Close up of the top, with vintage trim flower, designer paper flower, and fabric flower. SU was so generous as they provided the supplies for the box even the stamp set from the Holiday mini Pines and Poinsettias.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Doily Little Darling Witch

I must say that I truly love my doily background stamp! Just so awesome, that you can use it for so many different cards. I inked the stamp in black and stamped on Crumb Cake cardstock. Little girl in the center was stamped on vanilla cardstock and colored with Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive, Crumb Cake, and Pumpkin Pie. Stamp set Greeting Card Kids, and Hand-Penned Holidays. Image was punched using 2 1/2 circle punch.



There is a lot of info in the media now about 9/11. It is a time to remember. I don't think any American will ever forget that day. I will be taking some time today to pause and reflect in silence...and remember.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Wicked Halloween

Welcome to the blog hop! Theme for the hop is holidays. Since the weather here has been cold and rainy I was in the mood for Halloween!

Stamp sets: Wicked Cool, and Jack of all Trades
Cardstock: Basic Gray, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Gray, and Old Olive marker
Frightful designer paper
1 inch and 1 1/4 circle punches
rhinestones, pop dots

I liked the witch feet coming out of the pumpkin. Guess she lost her direction, or maybe had too much Witches Brew! Either way she landed in the pumpkin.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Elton John

Sarah, Skip, and I went to see Elton John last night at Blossom Music Center. Great concert. What a thrill to see him. This was the first time either of us ever saw him in concert. Elton hadn't played in Ohio for the past 22 years. We figured we should go as it maybe the last time we would have the opportunity to see him in concert.

Sarah on the grass. We had lawn seats. Which as it turned out was okay. It has been raining here all week, but as luck would have it....it stopped raining by the time we got there. Thank goodness for that!

Music was great! He played all his hits. He can't hit those high notes anymore. He really needed the help of the audience for Crock-a-dile Rock. With all the La,La,La,La, La's.

I had to take a picture of the Moon. It came out once the clouds moved out. I'm still tired! We didn't get home till 1 am, and there all of us sat around and talked. Sarah didn't leave for home till 2. I think I'll be taking a nap sometime today!

Stamping Trails
Karen