Beauty of the Season and Post Card

Can you believe it is the last day of July? I know

I can't. The Summer is whizzing by and I feel like I'm 

missing it. 

Today's card uses Beauty of the Season (in the new Holiday mini), 

Post Card, and More Merry Messages stamp sets. 

Post card stamp is inked with Soft Suede, and stamped on Crumb Cake

cardstock. 

I then inked the bird with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and colored

in with Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, and Daffodil Delight

blendabilities. 

The berries on the branch are highlighted with white gel pen. 

I used strands of burlap ribbon to layer behind the greeting. 

I'm really happy how this one turned out. 

I'm still playing with the blendabilities but I feel like its

becoming more natural for me to use them. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

New Pics of Cherokee

Happy Wednesday. I'm really late posting today. 

I didn't get a chance to get to my stamping studio yesterday. 

Thought I'd share a few new photos of Cherokee. 

My poor girl had a very hard time last week. 

We took her to have her fixed. She ended up staying overnight

at the vet's because she was not alert enough to come home. 

She's doing much better now, and back to her old self. We have to 

take her back this Friday to get her stitches removed. 

Can't believe she is 5 months old now. 

Since we are not having her de-clawed I've been trying to train 

her where she can scratch in the house. Most of my craft room has peg board instead

of dry wall and she is using it to scratch. I couldn't be happier!

Its been cool this week. More like Fall weather instead of Summer. 

I have a pot roast in the crockpot, and thinking about putting up the Fall/Halloween 

decorations.....just kidding. Its suppose to warm up into the 80's next week. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Take a Tip Tuesday #22

I'll calling this a vintage type of grungy card. 

Simple to create. 

Take a piece of white cardstock and run it through an embossing folder. 

I used Lovely Lace in the sample. 

Next take it out of the Big Shot but leave the cardstock in the 

folder. Just lift the top part of the folder. 

Use the side of a white crayon and rub over the raised image. 

When finished remove the cardstock from the folder and use sponges and 

ink to apply color to the cardstock. 

Anywhere you rubbed the white crayon will resist the ink. 

Colors used: So Saffron, Tangerine Tango, Wild Wasabi, and Pacific Point. 

Stamp set From My Heart.

Stamping trails

Karen

Mailable Monday # 72

I got Backgrounds Rule stamp from SU just to

use with my many sewing themed stamps. 

This one is from TPC Studio called Vintage Threads. 

My friend Kat got it for me I think for Christmas. 

Colors: Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake, Melon Mambo, Pear Pizzazz, and vanilla. 

I also used designer label punch. 

Stamping trails

Karen

VC Rocks Blog Hop 3D and Fun Folds

Welcome to VC Rocks Blog Hop. 

The Hop theme is 3D items and fun folds. 

You can visit http://www.vcrocks.blogspot.com/

to see all the other great blogs in this hop. 

I used the hamburger die to create this fun snowman. 

I'm a big fan of Dr. Who, and have been since

my brother Tony turned me on to the show back in the 70's. 

One of my favorite doctors is # 4 played by Tom Baker. 

Now the one article of clothing that made Tom stand out was

his very long and colorful scarf. I used retired designer

paper Season of Stye for the scarf. 

2 1/2 circle punch used for the snowman head. Hat was made with a square of black

and modern label punch. Eyes are Night of Navy and Owl Builder punch. 

Nose pumpkin pie and pennant punch. 

Buttons 3/4 circle punch. I added the button details with white gel pen. 

Greeting from Num-Num stamp set, and designer label punch. 

Side view. 

I also decided to do a fun fold card. This is shadow box frame. 

Just a 4x4 piece of designer paper makes the frame. I used All Abloom. 

Stamp sets Num-Num, and A Fitting Occasion 

And a closer view of the frame. 

I hope you have enjoy my small part in the VC Rocks Blog Hop. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Puffy Cotton Ball Technique

I am hoping that you can see that this colored

stamped image is actually puffed up from the cardstock. 

I stamped the image on white cardstock using Memento black ink. 

It was then colored with Wisteria Wonder blendabilites. 

 

I then used the stamp mat with the stylus and traced around the outside image of

 

the flower tops. 

You then have to flip the cardstock over and use the stylus again

and gently rub it over the flower tops. 

Next add some mono adhesive and add little pieces of a cotton ball. 

This will keep the image puffed up once it is mounted on a card. 

I mounted the completed piece on Night of Navy cardstock that

was cut with Window Frames Collection Framelits. 

Greeting from Perfectly Penned (retired)

One thing I have to remember when using the blendabilites is to stay away from 

the black outlined image. The alcohol in the ink does spread so if you don't 

want the ink to go outside of the lines best to start coloring away from them. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Mosiac Scallop Card

Remember all those little leftover

scallop pieces from yesterday's card?

I used them to make this card. 

I cut another scallop thinlits die using Night of Navy.

This was glued to a scrap piece of cardstock (the base layer doesn't show)

I then glued in the designer scraps using Tombo liquid glue. 

I had some open cardstock showing so I used the paper trimmer to

trim it down. The trimmed piece was then layered

on Night of Navy. I added a Hello Honey ribbon bow, then 

popped the layered on a white base. 

I didn't think a greeting on the card front was needed. I can

always add one to the inside card when I'm ready to send it. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Take a Tip Tuesday # 21

I love the new Scallop Thinlit die. 

Try using designer paper with the die instead of cardstock for a blast of color. Like

I did for today's card. 

Designer paper Flowerpot. 

Also just like the Hexagon die remember to use a layer of 

wax paper between the cardstock/designer paper and the die. 

This will make the release from the die much easier. 

To attach the die cut I found the best way is to use 

Tombo liquid glue. I just spot glue some of the scallops to 

the base card. 

Don't forget to save all those negative pieces that are left over. 

You can make great mosaic cards with them.

Here is my finished card. I used Beautiful Bunch stamp set and matching punch. 

Colors: Tangelo Twist, Lost Lagoon, Crushed Curry, Garden Green

Greeting from Geometrical stamp set. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Mailable Monday # 71

Very quick and simple card today using

Tone, on Tone. 

Base card white, layered with Baked Brown Sugar.

Stamped with leaves from Kinda of Eclectic. 

Butterfly inked with Chocolate Chip ink and stamped

on white. 

Greeting from Age Awareness stamp set. 

Skip is starting his second week of vacation. 

Poor guy his sleep schedule is all messed up. 

I'm sure by the time he gets it right it will be

time to head back to work. 

 

We will be busy this week getting things together for the yard

 

sale this Friday and Saturday. So if I miss a few posts this

 

week you will understand why. 

Stamping trails

Karen

From the Garden

Check out the size of these

zucchini, and cucumbers.

Skip was so happy that the cucumbers grew this year.

Its hit or miss with them. Sometimes they hit good, 

other times not so much. 

I've been roasting the zucchinis on the grill. 

I slice them up throw them in a large zip lock bag,

add some olive oil, sea salt, and Italian seasonings.

Shake the bag then put them in foil packets for the grill. 

We did go see Rise of the Planet of the Apes on Friday at the

Drive In. A lot of the movie had subtitles due to the apes using 

sign language. I think I'm going to need to get my eyes checked as I 

was having trouble reading all the words. You know I don't go to a movie to 

read! LOL

We also saw Tammy. Was really disappointed in that one.

The movie wasn't that funny, and frankly I was offended by them making fun 

of a large, not so bright woman. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Snowy Cardinal

Playing around with a new stamp set. 

Beauty of the Season will be in the new Holiday mini. 

Colors: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Marina Mist.

I used Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, and Daffodil Delight

blendabilites to color the cardinal. 

I think I got a little heavy handed on the snow. 

This was added using a versamarker and white embossing powder. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Collage Card

A little late posting today. 

My dear son borrowed my camera so I had to wait

to get it back. 

I was in a collage mood yesterday when I made this card. 

We were going to go out for dinner this evening but Skip changed his mind

and wanted to go to the drive in. So we will be going to see

Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and I think the second feature is Tammy. 

Not really sure I want to see either of them, but who knows they 

may be entertaining. 

Well I'm off to hit a few garage sales. 

Happy Friday!

Stamping trails

Karen

Kinda Eclectic Shabby Chic Card

What I like about Kinda Eclectic stamp set is there

is nothing you can do to mess up a card. 

I randomly stamped the images using 

Hello Honey, Tangelo Twist, Lost Lagoon, Mossy Meadow

and Blackberry Bliss inks. 

Flower is from Beautiful Bunch. 

Love the Shabby Chic look. Just a fun set 

to stamp with. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Card Box

The larger part of this card box is made 

with one piece of 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock. 

The flap is made with a contrasting color. 

I used Lovely Lace embossing folder on the Strawberry Slush

cardstock. 

Flowers on the bottom made with Flower Shop. Leaf

is from Kinda Eclectic. I also added some sequins. 

I'll try to remember to post the directions for the box later this week. 

I have a doctors appointment tomorrow, and 

Cherokee needs to go to the vet. She just 

needs shots and to be fixed. 

Weather has been beautiful here. Not to hot just really 

comfortable. Skip has been enjoying his time off. 

He is spending lots of time in the association pool. 

Of course he also quit shaving, so he is getting pretty scruffy looking. 

He was carded when he went to the pool yesterday. LOL

Stamping trails

Karen

Take a Tip Tuesday #20

I have a simple tip for you today.

Remember that pile of cardstock and designer paper scraps

that Cherokee was guarding? (see Sunday's post)

Well at least once every week I'll make a card

or two just using the scraps on my desk. 

It helps to clear up the scraps and gets my 

creative juices on how to use them,

 

Card uses Kinda Eclectic stamp set....which by the way 

 

is going into my all time favorite sets to use. Love it! 

 

Red layer uses another new item on my desk Lovely Lace 

 

embossing folder. 

 

Designer paper Type Set. 

 

I did find a stray tooth mark in the designer paper that I'm 

 

pretty sure I didn't put there so I know it was Cherokee. 

 

I used the piece anyway....Shhhhh don't tell her but 

 

I covered it up under the vanilla layer. She'll never know. 

 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Mailable Monday # 70

WOW! This is my 70th post for Mailable Monday. 

Cardstock Lost Lagoon, Basic Gray, and white.

Decorative Dots embossing folder and stitched Hello Honey ribbon. 

 

Stamp set Traveler. 

 

I added a little square knot using bakers twine. 

 

Skip starts his vacation today. He has the next three weeks off.

 

I know he will enjoy it. One of the big things that needs to be done is 

 

getting the hard top off the Jeep. Love to ride in it with the top off. 

 

One of our traditions during the summer is taking off the top and driving 

 

to Sonic. Can you say chili cheese fries? I can! 

 

Stamping trails

Karen 

 

Guarding the Paper

And here is my baby guarding my paper scraps. 

She is such a good kitty!

And if a stray tooth mark should happen to turn up.....

no problem as it just adds to the overall design. 

Always looking out for mommy's paper. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Christmas in July Little Letters Thinlit Card

I'm wrapping up Christmas in July week with

this card. 

Base card is 5x5. Layer 4 1/4x4 1/4.

Stamp set Lovely as a Tree inked with Mossy Meadow. 

Word peace was made using Little Letters thinlits dies. 

I layered the greeting with Moonlight designer paper. 

2 1/2 inch circle punch used along with Mossy Meadow

stitched satin ribbon. 

Hope you have enjoyed a week of Christmas. 

I had a great time making the projects. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Christmas in July Week Gift Tag Pizza Box

I had to make some vintage gift tags for Christmas in July week. 

Stamp set Christmas Collectibles. I'm so glad that this set

is also on the carry over list. Along with the matching punch. 

The box is a mini pizza box. It holds 3x3 cards. 

Box open.

Some of the gift cards. 

I used the new in line colors. Blackberry Bliss, Lost Lagoon, and 

the Moonlight designer paper. 

I love the rich colors for the vintage looking stamps and punch. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Christmas in July Week Santa Hamburger Box

I just love my Santa punch art on top of 

the hamburger box. 

I had a little trouble finding a hat for this happy old

elf but finally decided on what to use. 

 

 

 

I know you want to make one too so here is a list of punches 

that I used. 

The belt is a strip of black cut 1 inch by 5 1/4 inch.

It is scored at 1 1/4 and at 4 inches. 

The belt buckle was made with silver glimmer paper punched 

with square from little labels punch pack then punched again using

1 inch square punch. 

Santa head 2 1/2 circle using Pink Pirouette cardstock

Santa nose small oval 

Santa ears wing piece from Bird Builder punch

Santa eyes whites 3/4 inch circle punch, 

black pupils medium circle from Owl Builder punch

Hat Extra Large Oval, Modern Label punch for hat brim. This was

punched with dazzling diamond glimmer paper. The top pouf was made with

Boho punch again using the new dazzling diamond glimmer paper. 

Mustache made with two birds overlapped from Bird Builder punch.

Beard was made with the lower part of the large die from 

Apothecary Accents. 

Greeting on front of the box is from More Merry Messages which is also

on the carryover list so it is still a current set. 

Additional notes: I sponged the edges of the pink pieces with Pink Pirouette ink.

Eyes and nose are highlighted using chalk marker. The nose, mustache, hat brim, top pouf, and belt 

buckle where popped up using stampin' dimensionals. 

The entire head piece was attached to the top of the hamburger box using 

more dimensionals. 

I hope you enjoyed this happy little Santa. I had fun making him.

 

I wanted to give a shout out to my son John who turns 26 today. My, my. my.....

 

where does the time go? Happy Birthday John! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Christmas in July Starburst Framelits Angels

Welcome back to Christmas in July week. 

Today I'll be sharing how I made these cute little angels.

They can be used as ornaments, or package trims. 

I made them in two different sizes. The two angels in the back are

larger than the one in the front. 

Click on any of the photos to enlarge the picture. 

I used Starburst Framelits dies to make the angels. 

I'm going to show you how to make the large angels first then I'll give you the 

info on how to make the smaller angel. 

 To make the angel skirt. 

Starting with the largest starburst framelit cut one using cardstock or

designer paper. Fold the starburst in half. 

Open the cardstock back up fold in half again. Use a bone folder to get good creases. 

Okay here is the only tricky part (I promise). Open the cardstock up and

grasp it at the top where the center of the folds are. Now push in the left and right sides. 

This is a basic origami fold.

Now if you were successful you will have a triangle shape. 

Here is an inside view of what the cardstock will look like once

the folds are completed. 

To make the wings

Use the 3rd largest starburst framelit, and repeat the same steps that

you used to create the skirt. This is actually the fun part as you 

can mix and match cardstock and designer paper, to create the skirt and wings.

The head for the large angel is made with one inch circle punch.

The hallo is made with 1 1/4 scallop punch.

 Apply mono adhesive to the wings.

Adhere the wings to the sides of the skirt piece. One flap of the wing will go on the

inside skirt, and the other flap will go on the outside skirt.

Here is a photo of the back so you can see how the wings are placed.

Add the face using one glue dot on the bottom part of the circle then

adhere on the top part of the skirt.

The scallop punched hallo is attached to the back of the skirt using a glue dot.

I added a silver ribbon bow just under the face.

If you want to stamp the skirt make sure to it before putting on the wings.

You can also add a tie in the back to hang the ornament. I used crochet thread, but you

could also use linen thread.

For the smaller angel use the third largest starburst framelit for the angel skirt, and fourth largest

to make the wings.

The smallest starburst framelit can be used to make the hallo.

The face is made with 3/4 circle punch.

I hope you enjoyed today's post. I think the angels have been my favorite

project for Christmas in July week. Hmmmmmm lets see what will

on tomorrow's post.

Stamping trails

Karen

 

Christmas in July Week Gift Box

For day two of Christmas in July week I used the 

same stamp set (Joyful Christmas) as I used for 

yesterday's one sheet wonder. 

This time I inked the stamp with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and

stamped on Shimmery White cardstock. I did this twice. 

I colored in both flowers using Cherry Cobbler blendabilities. 

The bottom flower is in its full form. On the second flower

I cut out the top leaves. This was popped up over the bottom flower. 

Leaves were colored using Old Olive blendabilities. 

Crushed Curry ribbon was wrapped around Tag a Bag Gift Box (#130927) 

The flower was popped in the center of the box over the ribbon. 

Simple tag was added using Scallop Tag Topper punch.

Closer view of the flower. The center was colored with Daffodil Delight and highlighted

with chalk marker. I think you'll be able to see the great look that the shimmery

white cardstock gives in this photo. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Mailable Monday # 69

Welcome to another edition to Mailable Monday.

This post will also kick off Christmas in July Week.

I started with a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 white cardstock.

Then randomly stamped with Joyful Christmas (which I 

was happy to find out it is on the carry over list from SU and still a 

current stamp set) using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. 

Next I used Work of Art to add color to the flower using Crisp Cantaloupe, 

Strawberry Slush, and Real Red. 

The leaves were stamped with Old Olive. 

I used one of the stamps from Gorgeous Grunge to fill in some of the blank areas. 

I cut the sheet in half then took each half and cut into 2 1/8 pieces. So I 

ended up with 8 strips. 

Here are some of the cards I made. 

The greetings are from More Merry Messages. Which is also on the carryover list

and still a current stamp set. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Bookmark Swap

I was in a bookmark swap with some of 

the VC Rocks group. I just received the swap back today. 

Just in time for all that great summer reading! 

Inside view of the bookmark above that is in the center. 

I like the way this bookmark is folded. 

Stamping trails

Karen