Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween to all the ghosts, goblins, and witches out there! 

This is the Halloween card I made for family and fiends, oh I mean friends. 

I used the dresslit die to create the dress, and dress form. 

Stamp sets used for the shoes, hat, and greeting. 

Pistachio Pudding is a perfect color for the witch's body, and shoes. 

Inside card view. 

I'll be getting dressed up tonight in my own witch costume to hand out candy to all the ghouls, and  boys. 

Hope its not to cold out this evening. 

Haunted trails!

Karen 

Primitive Snowman Tags

I made some cute primitive snowman tags using metal rimmed white tags. 

I saw the idea on Pinterest and knew I had to make some. I thought the

snowmen looked a little plain so I came up with the scarf idea. 

I used the modern label punch with Marina Mist cardstock. I also using A Fitting Occasion stamp set. 

After the face details were done with markers I sponged over the entire tag with Crumb Cake ink. 

The cheeks were made with a sponge dauber and Cherry Cobbler ink. 

I like them so well I may go back and try to make some with hats. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Clear Block Stamping

For this card I broke out an old ink pad. Kaleidacolor Autumn Leaves by Tsukineko. 

I inked up a 3x3 clear block with the pad then pressed in on a vanilla panel.

I used Chocolate Chip, Cherry Cobbler, and Old Olive for the leaves.

After the stamping was done I ran the panel through the crimper, then sponged the edges with Old Olive. 

This was layered on Old Olive base card. 

I just added the greeting from Perfectly Penned and a few vanilla candy dots to finish it. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Mailable Monday # 33

I got snowflakes for today's Mailable Monday installment. 

Simple and clean color palette: white, Smokey Gray, Basic Gray, and Cherry Cobbler. 

 1 3/8 and 1 inch circle punches used with Snowflake Soiree stamp set. 

I first stamped the larger snowflake on the base card, then stamped it again on Smokey Gray. It was punched with the larger circle punch then mounted over the stamped base card image. 

To give the card some interest I turned the smaller snowflakes so the points would be going in different directions. 

Hope you enjoy today's Mailable Monday. Hope you stop by again next week. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Taco Soup

Since Fall is here I've been making soup like there is no tomorrow! 

One of my favorite ones is Taco Soup. 

So easy to make, yummy, and spicy! 

Taco Soup

1 pound lean ground hamburger

1 medium chopped onion

1 packet taco seasoning mix (I get the one that is 40% less sodium)

1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch mix

1/2 cup water

1 can stewed tomatoes (14 oz) I use salt free

1 can tomato pieces (14 oz)  I use salt free

1 can Rotel

2 cans pinto beans rinsed well

1 can tomato sauce (8oz) I use salt free

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 1/2 cup water

1 cup frozen corn

Brown the meat with the onion till its cooked. Add the taco seasoning packet and the Hidden Valley Ranch packet. Also add the 1/2 cup water. Mix well and simmer till its thick. 

Open up all the cans and add to a dutch oven or stock pot. Add the water, chili powder, and corn. Add the meat mixture. Let it simmer for an hour. 

Makes 12 cups. Serving size 1 cup. Weight Watcher points 2

I like to add a little 2% shredded cheddar cheese on top. You can also serve it with taco chips. I like making corn bread to go with it. YUM!!!

Envelope Punch Board 4x4 Storybook Cards

The envelope punch board is fast becoming my favorite tool. 

Having lots of fun making envelopes using designer paper. 

The great thing about it is I have so much designer paper that I'll be able to use 

a lot of it now to make pretty envelopes! 

Now I've made envelopes using scoring tools, but they were time consuming for me. With the punch board its so fast and easy! Love the build in punch that lets you notch the sides and the corner punch (two in one!) that rounds the edges of the flaps. 

Stamp set used Storybook Friends. The greeting above the cat You're Purrrfect is from an ink-a-dink-a-do set. 

Color palette: white, Melon Mambo, Smokey Gray, Midnight Muse, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Jet Back StazOn

I used a blender pen with the ink to color in the images. I love to do color book....when I'm in the mood for it! Reminds me of being a kid and coloring with Crayolas. Nothing better than a new box of crayons when I was kid! 

The doggie's bone was made with the word window punch and a small heart punch. I sponged the edges then added lines with a marker for the detail.

Score lines on the Smokey Slate layer added by using Simple Scored.

I was happy to find designer paper that had straight lines to match the scoring and the stitched Midnight Muse ribbon. It gives me a "happy" to be able to use some of my older stuff.

and what is this I see? Oh my its white...must be snow! We got the first dusting of snow in the wee hours of the morning yesterday. Look at the spare tire in the back it has snow on the top.

And there was a little bit of snow around the trees.
Going to be a long winter if we had snow on the 25th of October!

Stamping trails

Karen

Time for Putt Putt

It was so beautiful last weekend that we drove out to Hinckley Lake to check out the Fall colors. 

It was really too early for the colors, but we decided along the way to stop and go to the Buzzard Cove Putt Putt course. 

Here is Skip in the ye old stockade. See his little friend next to him? LOL

Love the old Victorian house they have as one of the holes. 

Rapunzel's house.

 

 

And the last hole has the large pirate buzzard. 

It was a fun afternoon and such a treat to go out in the middle of October to 70 degree weather. 

Oh you want to know who won? Skip beat me 49 to 53. He was lucky to get two holes in one. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Wetlands Reflection

Taking time to try the reflection technique. Pretty easy. 

Just ink the stamp with a dye based ink pad on to a window sheet (or acetate).

Turn the image upside down and press it onto cardstock. The ink will transfer to the cardstock

and will be a lighter shade. Perfect for a reflection in the water as I've used for this card. 

When I inked the image again and stamped it right side up on the cardstock I placed it 

just a little off center from the first image. Gives it a more natural appearance.

Color Palette: Soft Suede, Coastal Cabana, Baked Brown Sugar, Crushed Curry, Confetti white

Stamp sets Wetlands, and Itty Bitty Banners

I also used the square lattice embossing folder and a candy dot.

Stamping trails

Karen

Leafy Fall Birthday Card

Just a quick and easy card idea for you today. 

I used Autumn Leaf Prints (retired) and Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, and Cherry Cobbler ink pads. 

I'm really like using Cajun Craze for fall leafs. So very pretty! 

Greeting from Blooming with Kindness. 

I just added some vanilla crochet thread bows to the bottom of the leaves, and two candy dots at the bottom right of the card. 

Panel is layered on vanilla base card.

Stamping trails

Karen 

Great Pumpkin Thank You Card

How about a great pumpkin card? This reminds me of the Great Pumpkin with Linus sitting in the pumpkin patch. Pumpkin is made with large oval punch and Pumpkin Pie cardstock. 

Stamp sets: Everything Eleanor, and Harvest of Thanks. 

The edges of the ovals were sponged with Cajun Craze ink. The center oval was popped over the two ovals on the bottom. Completed panel was layered on Early Espresso, base card vanilla.

Stamping trails

Karen

Mailable Monday # 32

Welcome back to another Mailable Monday. 

You may not think that this card would qualify for a Mailable Monday card because it has a button on it. 

But it works seeing how the silver button is very flat and thin. 

I love how all the colors just blend together in the happy hello message. 

Morning Post Stamp set with color palette: Bermuda Bay, Cherry Cobbler, Crushed Curry, Basic Gray, Midnight Muse, and vanilla. 

Designer paper Winter Frost, base card Basic Gray. 

Ribbon is satin 5/8 inch Basic Gray. 

This would make a great guy card. Could be used as a birthday card just by adding 

a birthday greeting to the inside. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Fall Color

Just a little Fall color was needed on my front porch. 

After cleaning up the front flower bed so I could find my white picket fence I added a nice colorful fall leaf garland all the way along it. 

I also added some fall flowers and decorations to the plant stand I keep on the front stoop. 

Ahhh just right! 

I just love the Fall! Its been really nice here during the day. Going up into the high 60's and going down to 50 during the nights. Perfect sleeping weather. 

And oh has it ever been comfortable to be in the stamping studio. I'm trying to 

enjoy it and pump out as much crafts as I can before it gets to cold. 

This week I'm working on my Christmas wrapping paper. 

All the gifts are made and bought for people I need to send out of town to. 

Glad I have that finished! 

 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Oatmeal Cookies made using Olive Oil

Cookies made with olive oil? Why not? 

I got the recipe from SparkPeople. It is a healthy version of oatmeal cookies. 

Of course I had to add some mini chocolate chips....just because I was craving chocolate, and if I have learned anything from my weight lost journey it is never deprive yourself. Its okay to indulge with a little chocolate.....just don't eat the whole bag!!!!! 

Trust me this is what has kept me on track and away from binge eating.

So you want to make some? Here is the recipe

1 1/2 cup old fashioned oats

3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup olive oil

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

Set oven at 350

Mix the sugars with the oil. Add egg and vanilla

Combine the dry ingredients (except for the oatmeal) then mix into the sugar/oil mixture.

Add the oats. Mix well. 

Use a tablespoon to drop onto cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Makes 24

Optional 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips. 

If you don't add the chips the cookies are 98 calories per cookie.

Stamping trails

Karen

Bottle Cap Key Fobs

Well I was going through some of my embellishment containers on my desk and decided to make some key fobs. 

These could not be easier! All you need is a bottle cap, filigree brad, key ring, and a large rhinestone. You will also need a Big Shot, and Cropodile. 

I used wire cutters to clip off the brad from the back of the filigree brad. The bottle cap was ran through the Big Shot to flatten it out. Since these are going to see some use I wanted to make sure they would hold together well so I used my favorite glue......Crystal Effects. It has a wonderful strong hold. I also used it to adhere the rhinestone to the center of the brad. After the fob was dry I used the Cropodile to put a hole in the bottle cap so the split ring could go through.

So here are the 4 pieces that I used. I'm thinking these will make some great stocking stuffers, and will be a great way for me to used up some embellishments. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Feather Card

Another "case" from a card I found on Pinterest. 

I used Autumn Leave Prints and stamped the leaf on Island Indigo, Cajun Craze, and Crushed Curry.

After fuzzy cutting the leaves out I cut them on one side in 1/8 inch intervals. At this point I think the 

leaves are looking like feathers. 

 

Other things used: Gorgeous Grunge, Off the Grid. Greeting is from a retired SU set. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Cute Pumpkin Card

Today I have pumpkin card for you. 

I saw one on Pintrest but it was a scary face and I wanted something cute and sweet. 

The Pumpkin Pie layer was embossed with a wood grain folder. 

I free hand cut the eye and mouth from black. 

The little hexegon pumpkin at the bottom of the card was inked with Pumpkin Pie then I "rocked and rolled" then inked stamp in Cajun Craze just around the edges. 

All of the elements on the card have been popped with pop dots. 

I'm very happy with this cute little pumpkin fellow!

Stamping trails

Karen

Haunted House Card

I really like the Best of Halloween set by SU!

I layered the tree with the owl on vanilla cardstock.

The haunted house was also stamped on vanilla then fussy cut.

 Windows were colored using Crushed Curry marker. 

Spider web folder by Cuttlebut. 

Then I just added some cream color tulle.

October is sure flying by. Can't believe its the 15th already! Halloween will be here before you know it.

Stamping trails

Karen

Mailable Monday #31

I was going through some old Stampin Success magazines, and came across this card. 

I liked it so much I just had to CASE it. 

Base card Crumb Cake, layer vanilla

Stamp set Postage Due, and Morning Post. 

Color Palette: Island Indigo, Crushed Curry, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, and Crumb Cake. 

The old car is popped up and I have some linen thread across the bottom of the panel. The

card is still pretty light and fits in a envelope well so it works for a Mailable Monday. 

Okay.....know your stamp sets!!!! You would have laughed at me while I was making this card. 

I was looking around all over trying to figure out what stamp set the pointing hand was in. As I knew I saw it somewhere and also knew I must have it. Well after looking for about 10 minutes I finally figured out that the pointing hands are in the Morning Post set. Silly me!!!!!!

Stamping trails

Karen

Clean and Simple Wedding Card

My friend Lisa's daughter Jessica is getting married this month. 

This is the wedding card I made for her. 

Very clean and simple, yet elegant. 

Vanilla base card. On the vanilla layer I added lace, then flower trim with die cut leaves using the Big Shot. 

Simple greeting says it all. 

Stamping trails

Karen

What's Up Doc?

Skip was going through the garden on Saturday to harvest what was left. 

He discovered a carrot that Bugs Bunny would have loved to have! 

 

Take a close up look at this very large carrot.

 

 

He cleaned it up and we ate most of it. 

Him being silly. 

Some more harvested veggies. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Pumpkin Shaped Card

This is a top folding card. The pumpkin shape I drew free hand then ran it through a wood grain Cuttlebug folder. The stem is a separate piece that was also cut on the fold line then ran through a dot folder. 

I liked the design so well that I made for Thanksgiving. 

Here you can see a side view of the card. I also ran the back of the card through the folder. 

Base card is pumpkin pie and the size is 4 x 5 1/2. After adding the stem the height of the card is about 5 3/4.

My first Selfie. I didn't even know they had a word for taking a picture of yourself but they do!
I went and got my hair cut on Monday, then came home and washed the gray out. I had them take off 7 inches. WOW

 

I had to get up early this morning to take MIL Kate to her MIR appointment at the Medina Hospital. She had to be there at 8 so I was up by 7 and on the road soon after that. 

Glad to be home again so I can do some more stamping! 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Up-Cycled Organizer Boxes

I was looking around on Pinterest last week and came across some up cycled organizer boxes made from the bottoms of cereal boxes. 

I thought it was a good idea. I used my hubby's Cheese it box to make these. I covered them 

with designer paper. 

Since my friends were so nice and sent me washi tape for my birthday I had to figure out how to store it. 

The covered boxes work perfectly and they fit in one of the rolling cart drawers. 

So I'm good to go....but looks like I have room for a few more rolls......wink....wink.

Stamping trails

Karen

Thank Yous

This arrived at my door on my birthday from Ediable Arrangements. 

I wanted to thank Kathy so much for sending it to me. Even though it was my birthday she really just wanted to brighten my day since Burbank had passed away.

Your kindness really helped to make my day Kat.....Thank you!!!!

I also want to thank all those who posted and send me cards and emails regarding Burbank. 

I am so touched by your caring. 

I miss my buddy a lot. Took me several days to even go back into my stamping studio since he passed away there. I'm still looking for him. Guess it will just take awhile to get over. 

Stamping trails

Karen

More Butterflies

Another swallowtail card. This one is using emboss resist technique. 

I inked the stamp with VersaMark on a white layer. 

Then embossed with clear embossing powder. 

I first used a sponge with Blushing Bride ink to add the color to the image. This is best done using circular motions, and its okay to color outside the lines. 

Next I repeated using Soft Suede just to the center of the butterfly. 

Added a greeting and mounted on Soft Suede base card. 

And seeing how I liked the colors so much on the outside card....I saw no reason not to carry it over to the inside! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Mailable Monday #30

One of the gifts I received from Kat was the Swallowtail background stamp. 

It is just so pretty! I had debated on purchasing it since it came out in the Spring mini last year. 

Kat finally got me off the fence and got it for me. Thanks!!!!

She also got me the large clear block that I very much needed for my background stamps.

See I told you my friends know just what I need. So glad I have them! 

This was inked with Midnight Muse and stamped on Shimmery White cardstock (thanks again Kat!)

I stamped the other background stamp on more shimmery white then just cut out the border to frame the butterfly. 

So simply stamped but what an impact. Perfect for Mailable Monday.

I'll be going out later today to get my hair cut and styled. I'm thinking long layers and framing my face. Then of course I'll have to get some hair color on the way home so I can wash that gray right out of my hair!
Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself!
Right now my hair is to my waist, and I haven't cut it in 3 years, but its time. Night sweats are killing me so the hair has got to get shorter! Sorry honey!!! (Skip loves the long hair) 

Stamping trails

Karen

Something Different

My friend Kat wrapped my birthday gifts using this pretty wrapping paper. She used matching tulle to tie a bow around the packages. 

I was thinking that the wrapping paper would look so pretty on a card. I was right! 

This was just layered on a white base card, with a simple greeting. 

I think what I may start doing is using the wrapping paper that is on my gifts to make thank you cards for the person who sent them. Cool idea... what do you think?

Stamping trails

Karen

Withcy Shoes

Just love how this card turned out! 

I used the stamp set Bootiful Shoes, and the new Best of Halloween set. 

Color Palette: Black, white, Crisp Cantaloupe, and Pistachio Pudding.

Oh and I also used Gorgeous Grunge stamp set.

I cut thin strips of cantaloupe cardstock to make the stockings. I used a black marker to make the

line marks on them. I added black candy dots to the shoes. Loving those candy dots. I think I'll have to pick up more of them. 

Stamping trails

Karen

The Brother's Grimm

Another thoughtful gift. This one is from my daughter Sarah. 

Its a book of Grimm's Fairy tales. 

She know how much I love the Brother's Grimm.

The book is so nice with gilded edges, and built in ribbon bookmark.

Inside pages. Has all the wonderful classic tales.

 Sarah also brought me some very yummy cupcakes that she got a a cupcake bakery.
Since there were 4 different ones we thought the right thing to do was to cut them into fourths so we could all sample them. There were so good!

Thanks Sarah! 

The prednisone is working. I'm starting to move better. What a relief!!! 

I'm going over to visit with MIL Kate this afternoon. Need to take her out shopping. Looking forward to it now that I can walk without being in pain. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Weight Loss Update

With everything going on this past week I forgot to post that I lost another two pounds. Now I am 16 pounds away from my goal weight. YAY!

I really think I can get there! 

Another birthday gift from my friend Lisa. 

Love the little stuffed elephant. See the little one in the front? 

Its a battery operated fan. His little propeller spins. 

My friends know what I need (hot flashes!)

She also got me some nice kitchen towels to match my new grape theme. The grapes have a place in the back for a scrubby pad. 

Thanks for all the wonderful thoughtful gifts Lisa. 

Stamping trails

Karen