Lotus Blossom in Grays

Back with Lotus Blossom. I thought this would make a

beautiful Sympathy card. 

I used some other new things on this one. 

The background layer is embossed designer paper. 

I added the color with Garden Green and a stamping sponge.

I decided not to color the entire 4 x 5 1/2 layer but to highlight the center of

it sponging on an angle. 

Another new item. 1 1/4 white jute ribbon. Both of these items

will be in the Occasion Catalog. 

The flowers were inked with Basic Gray and Smokey Slate. 

For the bold last layer I inked up the flower with Smokey Slate, but then

stamped it on a scrap piece of paper before stamping it on the card. 

 

Happy New Year's Eve to everyone. If your out and about tonight make sure

 

to be safe! 

 

We will be staying in and watching the ball drop. Not expecting anyone to come over. 

 

I'll be making taco soup sometime today. That will be nice and warm on a cold Winter's night. 

 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Take a Tip Tuesday

Since I got such a large stamping order from dear hubby I've been

putting the stamps together and using them.

Name of this one is Guy Greetings. It is new in the upcoming Occasions Catalog. 

Love the vintage look of this great set. 

The designer paper is from a paper pack called Adventure Bound, and is sized at 4 1/4 x 6 1/2.

 

After cutting the designer paper at 4 inches to be a layer for the card I was left 

 

with a narrow strip. Since I didn't want to throw it away I used it on the 

 

inside of the card. That way I carried the card front theme to the inside and 

 

used up that scrap. 

 

 

I also cut a 1/4 strip of Basic Gray to layer 

 

over the top of the designer strip. 

 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Mailable Monday # 91

New stamp set which is part of the 2015 SAB sets called A Happy Thing

I used the new Soft Sky blendabilites to color in the bird. 

Also used Kinda of Eclectic stamp set for the background images. 

Window Frames collection framelits to stamp the bird image, Island Indigo 

layer also cut with the same framelits.

I have a doctor appointment this morning. Not looking forward 

to it, but I'm thinking it will be in a long line of appointments I'll 

be doing for the new year. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Candy Dispenser Case using Santa Stache

I got the Santa Stache stamp set for Christmas and wanted to play with

it before the holidays were over. This is a candy dispenser using the 

gift box punch board. I found the great tutorial for this on Brenda's blog

Here is the wide mouth open. 

Brenda also did one using the Santa, but I haven't made that one yet. 

I think I'm going to make these as guy gifts for next year. I'm 

pretty sure I'll be able put a gift card in with some candy. 

The tree is down. I think Cherokee was mad at me. She sat under the tree

while we were taking off the decorations and lights. I think she was 

having a "sit in" to protest her toy being removed. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Lotus Blossom Card

I was able to play with a new stamp set called Lotus Blossom. 

This is a three step stamp set that can be earned free during the Sale-a-Bration time

period.

I used Tangelo Twist for the first layer, Pumpkin Pie for the second, and 

Daffodil Delight for the last layer.

Base card and stamped layer white, with a layer of Mossy Meadow. 

Taking the tree down today. I normally leave it up till New Year's Eve but 

my little wild cat Cherokee has made me decide to pull it down early. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Announcement

We had a wonderful Christmas! 

Our Beautiful daughter Sarah and boyfriend Jason announced their

engagement. 

Jason has to get the ring re-sized. They wanted to have the ring for the 

 

announcement so re-sizing will wait till next week. 

 

 

And here is the happy couple. 

 

They don't want a long engagement so I'll be busy coming year helping out with

 

everything as they are planning a September wedding. 

 

Can't tell you how happy her father and me are!!!

 

We also had some more good news. I've been having 

 

trouble with low hemoglobin, and because of that I haven't been

able to get the much needed knee replacement done. 

Doctor's office called me on Christmas Eve and said it had gone up so

now I can start talking to the ortho doctor about the surgery. 

I still have to see a specialist about digestive issues. Hoping I can

get everything taken care of as I'd like to be able to walk at Sarah's wedding. 

We had a wonderful Christmas. Hope all my friends, family, and stamping

readers also had a wonderful holiday! 

Hoping to be back with artwork tomorrow as hubby got me a very large SU order. 

So I have lots of new things to play with! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Merry Christmas to All

Well this was yesterday morning. Cherokee always has

her nose in my yogurt. 

YUM!

Dirty face. 

I have wonderful news, and even better news to share, but I'm not ready yet. 

I should be able to post it tomorrow. 

Merry Christmas to all! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Merry Christmas Eve

Just a quick post to wish everyone a safe and Merry Christmas. 

We have a few things going on today. Skip's mom is celebrating her 81st

birthday. So a very happy birthday to mom Kate! 

Sarah and Jason are coming over in a few hours. We are going

to exchange gifts, grab a late breakfast as John requested salmon patties. 

He is actually at work today till 3pm. 

Then a little later the group will be heading over to Skip's sister's house for 

dinner. 

Above photo is of Cherokee. She was in the craft room clawing at a box and 

playing with some scrap cardstock. I should have got a Santa hat for

her then she could have been kitten Claws! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Take a Tip Tuesday

Well I learned something new. 

Did you know that you can ink framelits then run them through the 

Big Shot on card stock and have them look like a stamped image? 

I inked up the largest of the Butterfly from the new Butterflies framelits (will be in

the Occasions catalog)

with Smokey Slate ink. 

Next I placed it ink side down on confetti white card stock. 

I made the sandwich using the base plate, then a clear plate, then the cardstock,

then the crease pad. After running it through the Big Shot I had a nice image of the butterfly. 

I'll being doing more of this! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Mailable Monday # 90

WOW can you believe that this is Christmas week? 

Also I can't believe that this is Mailable Monday # 90. 

I've been doing these posts for a long time now!

Today's card uses the pine cone from Ornamental Pines stamp set. 

I punched a circle using the 1 3/8 punch on a post it. 

This was placed on the card front. Then 

I stamped the pine around the circle evenly spaced five times with 

Pear Pizzazz ink. Next I stamped the pine again in between the pines 

already stamped using Mossy Meadow ink. 

After removing the post it note circle I had a perfect wreath. 

I added a cherry cobbler seam binding ribbon at the top. 

Base card and layer are both Confetti White cardstock. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Sketch Frenzy Friday SSF121914

Happy Friday! Can you believe the Christmas is next week? 

I sure can't. I don't know where the month went! 

Welcome to Sketch Frenzy Friday. 

My base card is white. Pistachio Pudding layer that was stamped with the same

ink color using Lovely as a Tree. 

Scallop circle punch used with Trim the Tree designer paper pack. 

Tis the Season greeting from Many Merry Stars stamp set. 

I think I got carried away with the inside card design. I think this

could be the front of a card. 

Don't forget to check out the Sketch Frenzy Blog to see what the other

great designers have made using this sketch.

 

I must have been a good little girl this year as dear hubby got me a great

 

Christmas gift.....it may be here by Christmas Eve but I'm thinking I'll have

 

to wait till the day after Christmas before it arrives. What he get me? 

 

I very large pre-order from the new Occasions mini catalog. Can't wait

 

to play with some new toys! 

 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Butterfly Basics

I earned a free stamp set for my sales in November. Its a new

set that will be in the Occasions mini catalog. Name of the stamp set is

Butterfly Basics. What I love about it is the matching Butterflies framelits that

go with it. 

I see that I messed up the greeting at the bottom. I didn't have it lined up straight, but

other than that I'm happy with the card. 

Color palette: Smokey Slate, Daffodil Delight Temping Turquoise, Hello Honey, 

Pear Pizzazz, Pink Pirouette, and Melon Mambo. 

I used a piece of wax paper when running the framelit through the Big Shot. 

I also added the wax paper cut out to the design. Its under the Turquoise butterfly. 

I used the smaller butterfly stamp with Smokey Slate to decorate the

inside layer on the card. 

I just know I'll be using this stamp set a lot! 

Just a shout out to my girlfriends: Kathy, Lisa, and Connie who are 

meeting up today for a cookie/gift exchange. Wish I was there with you ladies! Hope you

have a blast. Eat some cookies for me!

Stamping trails

Karen

Non Breakable Ornaments for the Tree

Not a very good photo. I took this later at night when I didn't

have as much light in the room as I would have liked. 

Since Cherokee keeps insisting on climbing the tree

I needed a few more ornaments that wouldn't break if....or I mean

when she knocks them off the tree. 

These stars were all made using things found in the Many Merry Stars kit. 

We were lucky and had a few nice days. Yesterday it got up to 65 degrees. 

Of course it won't last suppose to get snow on Wednesday. Ah the joys of 

living in Northeast Ohio. 

Mailable Monday # 89

Just a quick and easy no layer card today.

Stamp sets: Mingle all the Way, Gorgeous Grunge, and Post Card.

Colors Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, and Basic Gray. 

Added just a bit of washi tape. 

Sarah came over yesterday afternoon. She was out of homemade Christmas cards and

needed more. Well mom to the rescue as I have a ton of them. 

We addresses cards, and made a few batches of cookies. It was a great 

afternoon. 

Skip watched football but was around to share the cookies. We all needed them as the 

Cleveland Browns were shut out by the Bengals.

 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Stamped Muslin Gift Bag

Back with another holiday project. This is a stamped muslin bag. 

I used Island Indigo ink and ribbon for the bag. 

Stamp set Bright and Beautiful 

I added a Hello Honey star to the center of the ribbon bow. 

I also added some rusty jingle bells to the ends of the bag ties. 

These I had to hot glue in place. I tried to clip off the knot at the end of the ties but

then the ties started to come apart. It was easier just to glue them on. 

The Holiday Blog hop for the VC Rocks group is still going on so be sure to check 

out there blog to see the other projects. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Holiday Edition of VC Rocks Blog Hop

Welcome to the Holiday edition of VC Rocks Blog Hop. 

I made this cute little snowman using Ghirardelli peppermint bark squares. 

Using a 2" circle punch I made the head and body with white cardstock. 

Eyes and buttons made with black marker. I gave him some cheeks using a sponge and 

Real Red ink. 

Vest made with scallop circle punch and Trim the Tree designer paper. 

Greeting is from Mingle all the Way stamp set. 

His hat is just a square of cardstock and brim made with the window punch. 

After attaching the circle punches to the candy squares I slid them into a flat cello bag. 

Please visit the VC ROCKS blog to see other great projects.

Stamping trails

Karen

Sketch Frenzy Friday 121214

Happy Friday, and welcome to this weeks Sketch Frenzy Friday. 

I used Trim the Tree designer paper pack on a white base card. 

The larger star is a punch out from Many Merry Stars kit. 

The smaller Cherry Cobbler star was cut using the star framlits. 

Ho ho ho is from Get Your Santa On. the sled with Santa is from Holiday Home stamp set. 

I added Cherry Cobbler seam binding ribbon under the stars. 

Oh and I also used a white gel pen to add the dots going around the greeting layer.

I thought that it needed a bit more of a pop. 

Hope you enjoyed this sketch. Please check out what the other talented

designers have made using this one by visiting

Sketch Frenzy Friday Blog 

Stamping trails

Karen

French Fry Box

Another little project. 

This one uses the french fry box die. After cutting the box with 

the under the tree specialty paper I cut a second one using black cardstock. 

I cut just the center panel and stamped it with Mingle all the Way. 

I filled the box with a cup of soup mix, hot chocolate, candy candy and a Ghirardelli candy. 

I wrapped the gift up with cello wrap and added tree to the top using a mini clothes pin. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Little Boxes

Just one of the projects I've been working on for Christmas gifts. 

I got the patterns from Becky Roberts. She has some wonderful projects. 

There are little boxes that are a perfect fix for the tag a box found in the large 

 

SU catalog. 

 

I've had a upset tummy the past few days. Dear hubby was kind enough

 

to pass it along to me as he was sick last week with it. 

 

I'm just now starting to feel a bit better. 

 

Did I tell you that our cat Cherokee loves the Christmas tree as I knew she would.

 

Everyday she is climbing up the tree. Good thing I didn't put ornaments she could break. 

 

I squirt her with the water bottle every time I see her in the tree but I don't think

 

it is doing much good. I'll have to see if I can get a photo of her caught in the act, before 

 

the tree comes down. 

 

Stamping trails

Karen 

 

start weight 273

current weight 177

goal weight 170

 

 

Mailable Monday # 88

Happy Monday. 

I used Stars framelits, along with Bright and Beautiful stamp set to create this card. 

Base card is shimmery white. Star inked with Lost Lagoon. 

Star layer was done with Island Indigo. 

I added some glimmer white stars just to perk the card up a bit. 

Looks like the greeting was tilled a little on the stamp block. Hmmmm I think

I'll have to drag out the stamp-a-ma-jig for these clear stamps. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Get Your Santa On Candy Cane Wrapper

It's Sunday and I'm posting this using my brand new laptop. 

You should have seen me trying to figure out how to import my 

pictures, crop, and file them so I would be able to post them to my blog. 

Took some doing but I did figure it out and all on my own. Gotta love that! 

This is a simple candy cane wrapper. I used the Top Note die with Crumb Cake

card stock. Stamp set Get Your Santa On. This was inked with black ink then

color added with blendabilites.

After the coloring was done I added some dots using a white gel pen. 

The wrapper then folded around the candy cane and snugly stapled using the

mini stapler. 

While I do love the new laptop I have to get use to it, and still figure

some things out. Its a work in progress. Or should I say I'm a work in progress?

Stamping trails

Karen

Sketch Frenzy Friday SSF120514

My turn to design a card sketch to be used for Sketch Frenzy Friday.

Here is the design I came up with. 

And this is how I used the design to make my card.

Stamp sets Ornamental Pines, and Festive Trees.

The Crumb Cake layer is from Under the Tree specialty paper. 

Other designer paper used Trim the Tree. 

I had fun with this one. Hope you will to. 

Please visit Sketch Frenzy Friday blog

to see how the other designers created cards using this sketch.

Stamping trails

Karen

Muslin Santa Gift Bag

Isn't this a cute little gift bag? 

The muslin bag is from the large SU catalog. 

Get Your Santa On stamp set from the Holiday mini. 

I stamped the bag using Garden Green and Gorgeous Grunge stamp set. 

Santa was colored with Cherry Cobbler blendabilities. 

Santa was then attached to Crumb Cake scallop circle layer. 

Stars were punched with silver glimmer paper. 

Very happy with how this project came out. 

Stamping trails

Karen

White Christmas Stand Up Card

Not the best photo of this card, but I was having trouble getting a good

image. 

This is a case from a card that Karen Squires made.

Check out her card to see the inside view. Also she has a link on her

blog for the size and scores of the base card. Its made using a 12x12 sheet of 

cardstock. My friend Kat saw this card on pinterest and asked me to make 

one for her as I had the stamp set used White Christmas. This layout

is a great way to show case this stamp set. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Hat On or Hat Off

I was stamping yesterday morning and came up with 

snowman card. Lost Lagoon used for the base. 

I free hand cut the white circle for the face, and also

free hand cut the nose. For the eye I used 1/2 circle punch, and

for the mouth I used the owl builder punch. 

I added the snowflake sequin to the nose and put a small

rhinestone in the center. 

Now I liked the card, but I have this thing about not having a hat and scarf on 

snowmen. So.......

I made a hat and scarf for him. Of course this card would have 

to be either hand delivered or put in a much larger envelope as the snowman is

bigger than the A2 size base card. I have to say I like this one better! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Mailable Monday # 87

Happy 1st day of December! Christmas is closing in on us fast! 

For today's card I used Holiday Home.

Paper is from Trim the Tree paper pack. 

I stamped the sled with black then punched with 2" circle punch. 

I like the polymer stamp sets as they allow you to bend them. That is what 

I did with the sled I just curved it a little bit when I attached it to the stamp block. 

 

We had some warm temps yesterday. Got up to 67 degrees. Great seeing how we had

 

some really cold days in November. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Festive Trees Gift Box

I've been playing some more with the gift box punch board. 

I used Under the Tree specialty paper for the box. 

I added some doilies, and trees using Festive Tree stamp set, on

Garden Green, and designer paper Trim the tree. 

Noel is from Wonderful Wreath Framelit. 

Along the bottom of the box I used Cherry Cobbler seam binding. 

The design is done on all four sides. 

I thought about adding a bow to the top of the box, but 

I didn't want the bow to over shadow the designs on the box sides.

I still didn't get the tree up. Instead I used the last of the turkey to make

turkey noodle soup. Always a tradition at my house. We went through a lot

of turkey even though it was almost a 14 pound bird. It was so good everyone enjoyed it,

and of course I sent leftovers with Sarah and Jason.

Maybe today I'll try to tackle the tree. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Sketch Frenzy Friday SSF112814

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I know we did.

It was good to just have dinner with our family. 

Ate to much but that was to be expected!

Welcome to Sketch Frenzy Friday. 

I used Night of Navy for the base card. 

Layers are Confetti White, and Pool Party.

Trees were inked with Early Espresso and stamped on Soft Suede and Sahara Sand.

Greeting is from Ornamental Pines and inked with Cajun Craze. 

Pool Party layer was embossed with Northern Flurry folder. 

To finish it off I added some frosted sequins. 

 

 
Check out the other designers to see what they did with this great sketch

 

by visiting the Sketch Frenzy Friday Blog

No black Friday shopping for me today. I think I'll get the family to 

help put up just the tree with the lights. No ornaments for now.

I'm going to wait and see how Cherokee does with the tree. 

I'm thinking she will be climbing up into it. 

 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

Blog spot is acting strange this morning so I don't know

if the card I uploaded will work or not. 

At any rate....we had some snow this morning. Not much but a little. 

Got up at 5 am or should I say dear hubby woke me up at that time. 

He got use to working day shift this week so he just got up early. 

I can't complain to much as he made the coffee which was very good. 

We got the turkey in the oven at 8 am. The house is smelling really good! 

I think it is even making the cat hungry. She keeps going over

to the oven door and trying to see in. LOL

Sarah and Jason are coming over at 2. So dinner should be ready by 2:30. 

If for some reason the card does show up on the post I used 

Mingle all the Way, and Jack of all Trades. Base card vanilla. 

Ink colors, Mossy Meadow, Tangerine Tango, and Cajun Craze. 

Just added a strip of designer paper across the bottom, and popped

the pumpkin on top of the greeting. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Sleepy Kitty

No artwork to share today. 

I've been busy working on some holiday gifts, but

I can't post them to the blog yet. 

My faithful cat Cherokee loves to lay

next to me while I'm crafting. 

She will watch for a little while then its time for a catnap. 

Speaking of nap I think I could use one! 

 

Skip has been working day shift all week. 

 

The schools kids last day was yesterday. They are off for the

 

holiday. Skip has Friday off, but I don't think we will be doing

 

any black Friday shopping. Maybe we will get the tree up instead. 

 

Stamping trails

Karen

Blendabilities Holder

I got a great gift in the mail last week from my friend Kat. 

She made me a holder for my blendabilities. 

It holds all the colors currently out by SU along with

the color lifter and ink pad. 

Here is a side view. Kat said she found the directions on line, but

she had to adjust them to get it to work. 

Whatever you did Kat thanks! Love being able to just 

reach out and get the blendie I need. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Mailable Monday # 86

Happy Mailable Monday! 

This card was done in sort of non traditional Christmas colors. 

I used Pool Party for the layer that the pines are stamped on. 

Stamp set Ornamental Pines. 

Cardinal is from Beauty of the Season stamp set. 

The bird was stamped on Shimmery White cardstock with tuxedo black memento ink. 

Was then colored with Cherry Cobbler blendabilities.

To add some texture to the card I roughed up the top edge of the Pool Party panel

and curled two edges. Panel was then adhered to a white base card. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Triple Time White Christmas Card

This is a card I did for last Friday's Sketch Frenzy challenge. 

I didn't get it posted to my blog due to the laptop crashing on me. 

My very first triple time stamped card. 

I did mine a little bit different from some of the cards I've seen using

this technique. I didn't stamp randomly, but planned out the

card so the trees could continue on both sides of the layers. 

The car and tree were stamped cut out then popped on the center of the card. 

Such a simple technique to do I'll have to make some more. 

Happy Birthday Wishes to my little girl Sarah. She turns 32 today. Doesn't matter

how old she gets she will always be my little girl. I won't be seeing her today.

Jason is taking her out to celebrate, but they will be sharing Thanksgiving day with us. 

Happy about that. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Decorative Window Gift Boxes using Wondrous Wreath

This gift box was so much fun to make! 

I got to use a new stamp set Wondrous Wreath, and matching framelit. 

This fit perfectly over the decorative window gift boxes from SU. 

Wreath was inked with Garden Green, next layer Mossy Meadow, and 

the berries were inked with Cherry Cobbler. 

I used designer paper trim the tree with the boho punch to give some

extra pop to the wreath. Also used the same paper for the bow. 

Joy was cut with brushed silver cardstock. 

The boxes are food safe and sized at 4x4x 1 1/2 "

Perfect to fit some holiday cookies in. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Removable Tag Topper for Polka Dot Gift Bag

Back again with another fun way to use the polka dot gift bags from SU.

This time I made a removable topper that can be reused. 

I just measured out the cardstock to allow for some extra width of the bag,

and to length to be folded over. 

I used the trees from White Christmas and stamped on a Crumb Cake panel.

The bear was stamped on white cardstock then popped between the trees. 

 

I used trim the tree designer paper pack with the scallop border punch to make the 

 

lower edging so I could stamp a greeting. 

Here is a close up of the topper. 

I used the mini stapler to hold the edges of the topper together, 

but if you made the topper a little bit wider you could use red line sticky strip if

you didn't like the look of the staples. 

I did fold the bag down about one inch before slipping on the topper. 

Here you can see how the topper is removable. 

 

I can't tell you how happy I am to be posting and sharing with my readers again! 

If you are wondering why no Sketch Frenzy Friday post today it was because 

I missed the deadline. I'll be back next Friday to share a sketch with you. 

Stamping trails

Karen