Sketch Frenzy Friday 073115

Welcome to another edition of Sketch Frenzy Friday. 

This week sketch was created my me. 

It is a very simple sketch, cause sometimes you just

don't need all those layers and embellishments. 

Plus when I made this late week I wasn't feeling my best. 

I do however love the card I made using this sketch. 

I used the new butterfly stamp set, and the honeycomb embossing folder. 

All stamping was done before running the layer through the folder. 

Don't forget to check the Sketch Frenzy Friday blog to see what the

other wonderful design team has done using this sketch. 

Can you believe that today is the last day of July? 

The bridal shower is just 8 days and a wake up away. 

So exciting!

Stamping trails

Karen

Bridal Favors and Cucumbers

I've been working on little prizes to be given at 

Sarah's bridal shower. These are little emery board holders for your purse. 

Close up view. 

I also made lip balm holders. 

I'm still not finished. I want to get some card packs together, 

and I was toying with the idea of making a nail polish/file holder. 

Its been so hot here that my mind hasn't been working to much. 

Had an easy dinner last night. Hubby went and picked up chicken and I

made a big salad....Speaking of salad.....check out the cucumbers! 

I have just as many if not more lined up on my kitchen counter. 

Some will be used for cucumber mint infused water for the shower. 

Then I'm also making spicy crab filled cucumber cups. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Dress Card

Here is the card I made for Sarah's bridal shower. 

I used Mocha Morning designer paper. It is really pretty as the designs

are black flocking. 

The main panel was layered on Smokey Slate, then added to the black base card. 

To the dress piece I added some vanilla flower trim. Finished the 

dress off with pearls and rhinestones. 

I also made the bows to put on her gifts. These were made with 

the bow die. I ran them through an embossing folder before putting them

together then added a sunflower to the center. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Zucchini and the Drive In

How is this for a bumper crop of zucchini? 

I was busy over the weekend. Thank goodness for my food 

processor! I shredded enough to fill 4 large freezes bags, 

and chopped up enough to fill 5 freezer bags, with still some

left over. Skip is taking some to the food bank today. 

We also went to the drive in over the weekend. Saw a double feature. 

Pixels, and Minions. Both were very entertaining! 

Skip took this picture of when Minion Kevin was large. You 

can see the moon at the left of the photo. 

Just love the drive in! 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Mailable Monday # 115

Its Mailable Monday time again! 

This is the day I post cards that are pretty much flat, and 

 

take one forever stamp. 

 

Even though the cards are simple I try to add texture and 

 

dimension, without all the layers and weighty embellishments. 

 

For today's card I used one of my favorite new stamps sets:

 

Awesomely Artistic. 

 

Base card and layer Very Vanilla. 

 

The images were stamped with Soft Suede. 

 

Stamped frame image was done on Soft Suede, then the word done on 

 

a scrap of vanilla cut out then added to the center of the frame. 

 

To give the card some texture I added a strip of Delightful Dijon, and 

 

cut the edges with fringe scissors. 

 

Stamping trails

Karen   

Petticoat Junction!

Welcome to Petticoat Junction! 

Okay now I am dating myself referring to this very old TV program. 

Sarah was over last week and a package came containing this petticoat. 

It needed to be aired out so we hung it outside and it just reminded me of the show. 

While I was on the deck I snapped a few more pictures of the flower pots. 

We have two pots of marigolds on either end of the deck. 

 

Stamping trails

Karen 

VC Rocks Happy Birthday Blog Hop

Welcome to the VC Rockers July blog hop. 

Theme for this hop is Happy Birthdays! 

VC Rockers group is celebrating 15 years, and I'm 

happy to say I have been with the group 14 of those years. 

I used Birthday Bash dsp (retired) for my two projects. 

The card is done using 1 inch squares layered on Night of Navy cardstock. 

Greeting is from Butterfly Basics. 

Next project is Birthday Fortune Cookies. How fun are these? 

Fill them with birthday greetings and well wishes. Want to make some? 

Sure you do! Here is how. 

Start with designer paper and the Circle framlits. You will need 

to use the third largest circle. If you don't have the framlits you can use a mason jar lid and 

trace around that then cut out the circle. 

Okay fold the circle in half but DO NOT crease the full length. Just crease the

center and a little bit from the center (you will have a one inch crease in the center)

Open the circle up and fold in the opposite direction and crease just the center one inch.

Lay the completed fortune inside the circle.

Now use your index finger and thumb to fold the circle in on itself. 

Use a glue dot to hold the two ends together. Finished! 

Hope you have fun making fortune cookies. 

Don't forget to check out the VC Blog to see other fun ways our 

group is celebrating 15 years, of stamping and friendship.

Stamping trails

Karen

Sketch Frenzy Friday 072415

Welcome to Sketch Frenzy Friday. 

But first I want to say Happy Anniversary to my friends

Kat and Joe. Hope you two have a wonderful day! 

The base card is black. Layer Blushing Bride. 

Smokey Gray designer paper is from the naturals 12x12 stack.

Stamp set Groovy Love. The heart was inked with Rose Red. 

Lace is from the Paper Studio. Its one of the ones I posted about on Wednesday. 

Had to use it! It matches the flowers in the designer paper. How cool is that! 

Don't forget to visit the Sketch Frenzy Friday blog to see more great cards

using this fun sketch. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Throw Back Thursday Mini Mates

I was digging through some old stamp sets and came

across Mini Mates. Lots of fun little images that

also have matching greetings to go with them. 

The box is a skinny milk carton made from one sheet of 6x6 designer paper. 

I used the new Pretty Petals stack. 

Then I just added some lace, silver sequins and the paper clip with

the crystal on top is from Tim Holtz. 

Look what happened to my brand new spool of silver sequins! 

As I was removing the plastic cover the entire spool came apart. 

Going to have to re-wrap the sequins before they get all tangled. 

I had good news from the ortho doctor yesterday. He gave me the

go ahead to get the other knee replaced. I signed the consent form and 

will be calling today to set up the operation. 

I'll get it done after Sarah's wedding in September. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Lace!

So after dinner yesterday afternoon we stopped

by Hobby Lobby. 

I needed to get gift wrapping paper to wrap up Sarah's bridal 

shower presents. 

While there of course I had to look at other stuff and

found that The Paper Studio trims were 50% off. 

Well since I've been dreaming about lace lately I bought a few things. 

I did also visit Home Sew website and ordered a catalog. 

I hope I get the lace cravings out of my system soon....maybe

after the wedding is over! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Thanks a Bunch Grapes

I used the grapes from Market Fresh stamp set for today's card. 

Base and layer are Blackberry Bliss cardstock. 

Larger white layer was embossed with Decorative Dots folder but 

it does show up very well in the photo.

 

To finish I took some stands of burlap (as I have many of them from 

 

making the wedding invites!) and knotted it across the top.

 

I colored the leaves with Pear Pizzazz. The grapes were colored using Rich Razzleberry, 

 

and a blender pen. The darker grapes were stamped on Blackberry Bliss then cut and

 

and glued on the stamped image. Added highlights with a white gel pen. 

 

Skip is taking me out to Ruby Tuesday today for dinner. 

 

I need a break from cooking. Always nice to get out, and get away from 

 

the daily dish pile up! 

 

Stamping trails

Karen  

Mailable #114

Late posting today for Mailable Monday. 

Stamp sets: Watercolor Wash, and Butterfly Basics. 

I used Blushing Bride for the background stamp, and basic gray for 

the images, and greeting. 

I used one little flower trim from the Artisan kit. I still have 

a few of them left. Great thing about the trim is that they are soft and

go flat in the envelope when mailed, so it makes a perfect little mailable trim. 

Speaking of trim.....I've been yearning for lace so I'm thinking about 

looking up Home Sew and ordering some. Must be the upcoming wedding 

that just has me in a whirl for lace, and burlap. 

 

Stamping trails

Karen 

The Heat is On Peanut Butter

Me and hubby were out a few days ago cruising in the jeep

and I found a store that I had never been in before called Tuesday Morning. 

A really fun store, and I could have easily spent a few hours there just 

looking at all the home decor, and other things they had. 

I did spy this out of my little eye and knew I had to pick it up, seeing

how I am such a peanut butter junkie. 

I've purchased peanut butter from this company before but I 

had never tried the Heat is On, and let me tell you...the heat was really on! 

This PB has chili powder, cayenne peppers, crushed red peppers, and paprika in it. 

I plan on using it today to glaze chicken on the grill. Should be yummy! 

Stamping trails

Karen

RAK, and Beans

I received this many layered card from my roomie. 

We are both members of VC Rocks and we got assigned the

same virtual Hotel Room. So we will also be trading roomie 

boxes. 

This is a mess of beans that hubby picked out of the garden a few days ago. 

We got enough for 5 dinners, with more beans on the way. I think

I'll be freezing some. Funny thing about the purple beans....they change from purple

to green when they are cooked. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Sketch Frenzy Friday 071715

Instead of doing any stamping on today's Sketch I 

decided to use designer paper....and a surprise embellishment. 

Inspired by a book of stamps I got at the post office I used

Market Day designer paper. 

The Summer Harvest and upc code is the larger sticker on the 

book of stamps. I did cut the sticker in half and place each

one on the cardstock layer before attaching to the card base. 

Don't forget to visit the Sketch Frenzy Blog to see

what the other designers have come up with.

Stamping trails

Karen

More Rosettes

Late posting today. 

I'm doing a spin off of tomorrows Sketch Frenzy Friday. 

Its close to the sketch, but I changed it just a bit. 

Stamp set Awesomely Artistic, and Bordering Blooms. 

Colors Delightful Dijon, Island Indigo, and Crumb Cake. 

The rosette was made with Dijon lace that was cut to 10 inches, 

then a running stitch up the center and gathered. I added a button

from the very vintage collection to the center. 

We got to try the pickles I made earlier in the week. They are so good! 

Skip was so excited that I made them that he called his mom to tell her. I 

had to smile at that! 

I made cucumber soup today using the cukes from the garden.

I'll post a photo of that soon. 

Stamping trails

Karen

My First Try Making Pickles

So what do you do when you have a bumper crop of cucumbers? 

Pickles!!!!!

I have never tried my hand at making pickles before yesterday. 

The ones I made are called refrigerator pickles.

 

I was able to make three quarts. Recipe notes said they would keep for 

 

one month in the fridge. Guess we will be eating lots of pickles!

 

Sarah is stopping by today so I'll give her a jar. 

 

Now I just need to figure out what to do with the others that are coming on. 

 

Other than salad. I have also been using a cucumber to infuse my drinking water. 

 

So refreshing ice cold from the fridge! 

 

Stamping trails

Karen 

In Color Lace Rosettes

I joined a card candy swap and decided I'd make something a little 

bit different for it. 

Instead of stamping images I made little rosettes using the new

in line color lace, and Sahara Sand lace. 

After they were completed I slipped them into a flat cello bag and added a 

topped with a butterfly. 

They are easy to make just take about 12 inched of the ribbon and 

do a gathering stitch along the straight edge of the lace, pull to gather and 

tie the ends with a double knot to hold in place. 

They can then be attached onto a card or other project using a mini glue dot. 

Stamping trails

Karen

6x6 Basket/Box

I made this cute little box using one sheet of pretty petals 

paper stack. Love that these paper stacks are now in 6x6 size.

Here is a side view. I took two thin strips of black cardstock and

twisted them together to form the handle. 

Sarah is coming over today. She has to finish getting the bridal 

shower invites filled out and addressed. 

We got some green beans from the garden and I made a batch of 

them last night for dinner. The first crop is always the best! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Bird Cage for the Wedding

I sat down yesterday afternoon and decorated this bird cage. 

It will be used at Sarah's wedding. I still need to make

a tag for it that reads "cards" 

ri

Closer view of the bird that I found at Pat Catan's. 

Its made from burlap with an overlay of lace. Love the burlap, 

feathers, and lace that make up its tail plumage. 

Skip is on vacation now. He has the next three weeks off. 

The garden is going in full swing. We have cucumbers, and zucchini that we have

been enjoying. The corn is taller than I am, and he told me yesterday that we have

little tomatoes on the vine. Oh and we should have green beans ready very soon. 

Since we are having another bumper crop of cukes, I'm going to make

refrigerator pickles. Never made them before but how hard can it be? 

 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Sketch Frenzy Friday 071015

Welcome to Sketch Frenzy Friday!

I love how this card came out. 

Used scraps of Timeless Elegance designer paper. 

Also used Awesomely Artistic, and Watercolor Wings stamp sets. 

The dragonfly was stamped on the card with black ink, then I 

inked one with Garden Green cut and popped it over the stamped image.

Happy Birthday to my son John. He turned 27 today. 

Hope you have a great day John! 

Stamping trails
Karen

Dress Framlits Treat Boxes

Had a great afternoon yesterday making bridal shower favors for Sarah. 

Special thanks to my sis-in-law Cheryl for coming over to help. 

Also the maid of honor Melinda, and bride to be Sarah. 

 

We had a great time, but I am completely out of mini glue dots. 

 

That has never happened to me before. Quick I think I'm going into shock!!!

We used the dress framlits (retired) to make the little candy treat boxes. 

We used some designer paper to make the dresses. 

These are my favorites! Love the brushed velvet of this paper! 

We tied some bakers twine around some of the dresses, and for others used

lace and pearls. 

Very happy how they turned out. One more thing completed! 

 

Thanks again ladies! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Layered Lace Rosettes

I have to say that I really like Mint Macaroon cardstock.I 

didn't think I would but its been growing on me. Reminds me of an 

older color SU made Sage Shadow. 

I used Butterfly Basics stamp set, and check out the cool flower at the bottom.

Here is a closer view. I started in the center with Crumb Cake seam binding and 

made the rosette. Then I layered it on a Sahara Sand, and then on Mint Macaroon rosette. 

Very happy with how it turned out. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Mailable Monday # 113

So on the 4th of July we stopped at the grocery store to pick up

something to take to the cookout Jason's parents invited us to. 

I spy this cute single layer cake that was decorated to look like a 

watermelon slice. That was cute enough but it was even better because 

there were little plastic ants on top. 

I wish I would have thought to bring my camera to take a picture....

However I was inspired to make this watermelon card using the Work of Art 

stamp set. I also used one of the words From the Garden stamp set. 

Now for the big laugh.....I brought the ants home thinking I could use them

for another project or reuse them on a cake someday. I washed them

and put them in the drain rack with all the other clean dishes. 

While putting the dishes away I reached down and out of the corner of my 

eye I thought the "ants" were a very large spider. I jumped and screamed before 

my eyes processed what my brain was trying to tell it.....hey silly its only the 

plastic ants. LOL

Stamping trails

Karen

Bridal Shower Invites

So I have been busy making Sarah's bridal shower invites. 

I started with a standard A2 size card. Then cut a template for the 

dress front. I also cut another template for the bodice. 

I had leftover pattern paper from this years SAB and used that for the 

bodice and sponged it with Crushed Curry. 

Next came a belt using shimmer white glimmer paper. 

To finish off the dress I added three small scallop circle flowers with

rhinestones in the center. 

I showed one to Sarah yesterday at the cook out we had with her and her future in-laws. 

Everyone was happy with them. 

I still have more to make then get them addressed and in the mail.

The party is on August 9th. I can't believe how fast this year has been going! 

Stamping trails

Karen

Awesomely Artistic hits a Brick Wall

I really like this stamp set! Awesomely Artistic is wonderful! 

Base card Sahara Sand, layer Mint Macaroon, and Very Vanilla.

I ran the Mint layer with the Brick embossing folder. 

Flower stamped with Memento ink then colored with Daffodil Delight, and Old Olive. 

I stamped the dragonfly twice. Once on vanilla with Old Olive ink, 

then again on Dijon with black ink. I cut just the wings from the Olive one and 

glued them under the main image of the dragonfly. 

Had a great day with Sarah. She got to see some stuff that she ordered for the wedding. 

I got to take some photos but she doesn't want me to post to the blog as Jason will see

them. So I'll have to share with you after the wedding. 

Poor darling had to go and get her ears pierced again as her holes had closed up. 

Oh and sunflower bottle that I posted yesterday.....she wants me to make more of them. 

I think those will be on the bridle table. 

Stamping trails

Karen

Sunflower Bottle

Last week me and Sarah went out looking for center pieces for the reception. 

We did come up with one that I'll share with you later, but

this was a bottle that was pickup at Old Time Pottery. I decided yesterday 

afternoon to just go ahead and decorate it for Sarah. 

She's coming by this afternoon to pick up some stuff she had sent here for the wedding. 

Should be a fun afternoon. Still have lots of things to go over before the big day. 

The wedding invites all went out and we are receiving RSVP's back already. 

I also received some lovely comments on the rsvp about how beautiful the invites were. 

Happy about that. After all the stuff I had to run though the Big Shot it now has a really

bad and annoying squeak when the handle is turned. I'll have to get 

hubby to check it out and see if it can be fixed or I'll have to replace it. 

Stamping trails

Karen