Wedding Card for John, and Emily

The wedding was wonderful! So pretty for an outside wedding. 

72, and sunny. Just perfect! 

This is the card I made for John, and Emily. 

The center part is made from acetate. Love how it turned out. 

Really tired from long day, so I'll end this post. Hopefully back

tomorrow with more pics. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Vintage Tatting Thread from Grandma Alice

A long time ago my friend Connie decorated this very large jar for my

birthday, and filled it with ribbon. 

I've long since used all the ribbon, but still wanted to keep the nice jar. 

My mom had given me a box full of thread that my grandmother Alice

use to tat with. There were even some tatting tools with the thread. 

Since I have the new stamping chateau/sewing room I decided

to display the thread in the jar. 

There are a few of Alice's projects on top of the heap of thread. I'll take

photos, and post those at a later date. 

Now I crocheted a lot of doilies in my day using crochet thread, but

it does not compare to how thin the tatting thread is that was used. Don't

think that is a craft I could ever master. My hat is off to my grandma Alice! 

Stamping trails

Karen 

One of a Kind Mermaid ATC

More happy mail this week. 

These two pretty ATC were created by my crafty swap

buddy Kathi. 

She wrote a note on the back, and said that the mermaid was inspired by

my blog. 

It must have been from the jumbo altered paper clip I made. 

In case you missed it here she is again. 

Thanks Kathi! I just love being an inspiration to other crafters! 

Tomorrow is the big day! Suppose to be 73, and sunny so

it should make for a wonderful outside reception. 

This afternoon is the rehearsal, then out to

dinner with the combined families. 

Big weekend! Hoping to be posting pics on Sunday. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Pretty Cards in the Mail

I received some pretty cards in the mail this week. 

This one was made by my crafty buddy Kathleen. Just gorgeous!!!!!

Even better looking holding it. Lots of glitter on those flowers. So lovely! 

This one I received from my friend Connie. 

Love the shading on the flower. 

And these came in from my swapping buddy Krystal Rose. 

She was practicing with her new fuse tool, you can see

the shaker artist trading card she made on the left. Love

the colors of the background she made to stamp the girl image. 

Wedding day almost here! Can't believe how fast the summer has gone. 

Kids here in Brunswick have been back to school for a week and a half already. 

I remember going to elementary school the day after Labor day which sometimes

was not until September. I think they bring the kids back to school too early. 

Stamping trails

Karen  

Shopping with my Crafty Buddy Betty

Well me, and my crafty buddy Betty had an awesome shopping day. 

She picked me up yesterday, and we headed for Fairlawn. 

Betty discovered  there was a Tuesday Morning that we

had not explored. It is in a very good location as Hobby Lobby, 

Michael's, and Joann's are all in the same area. AWESOME! 

The above pic is my haul from Hobby Lobby. We found lots of stamps

and other crafty goodies on clearance. Gotta love that.

Closer look at the girl stamps. My followers know how much

I love my doll stamps. I'll be playing with these today. 

Found some goodies at Tuesday Morning. 

Got some new Halloween stamps. I know I need more Halloween

stamps like I need a hole in my head, but they were cute so I had to have them.

Between all the stops I ended up with 10 new stamp sets. 

Didn't find much at Michael's, but Betty was searching around

the clearance aisle, and found these cool keys. Love them! I collect lots

of different keys to use in my projects, and these are unique as they have some that

look like toy wind-up keys. 

and at our last stop of the day I got these spooky potion bottles. 

Filled with black, and silver stars, and Halloween colored gems. 

Couldn't stop at just one, and two would have seemed unbalanced, so

I had to have three! 

Today I'm taking a rest, and getting caught up on some light housework, 

and crafting. Wedding is so close!!!!! Want to be well rested for it. 

Stamping trails

Karen  

Live Life Simple Card

I'm back. So glad the yard sale is over, and done with. 

We packed up the last of the stuff that didn't sell, and took

it to Goodwill today. 

The above card started out as an artist trading card, and evolved into a card. 

Thinking this one will be used for a birthday. 

So the wedding is in less than a week. Can't believe it! Summer is flying by. 

Speaking of the groom he is stopping by today to give us a hand with some 

heavier moving that I'm not able to help hubby with. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Tales from the Garden

Wanted to post some pics of the garden veggies. 

Cucumbers are producing a lot! 

as is the zucchini. There are a few cucumbers mixed

in with them. I see zucchini bread in our future this fall. 

I plan to use the food processor to grate it. I'll bag it and into the freezer to be

used for fall, and winter baking. 

First harvest of beans. Purple, and green. Funny thing when

you cook the purple ones they turn green. Go figure. 

Still waiting on the tomatoes. We have a ton of green ones. 

With the garden not getting planted till the 2nd week of June I'm thinking

maybe by the end of summer we will see some red ones. Really excited

as we planted some roma tomatoes that I'll use to make and freeze spaghetti sauce. 

Garage sale is almost here. Hoping to sell a lot so I will have less to box up

and take to goodwill. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Paris Themed Skinny

I signed up to do a Paris themed skinny swap. 

Well since it was Paris I had to join! 

Skinny's are 3x5, just a bit bigger than artist trading cards. 

It is a nice size card to work with. 

I used Tim Holtz visual artistry collection, and his Paris collection. 

Distress ink colors: carved pumpkin, wilted violet, shaded lilac, and black soot. 

Hope my partner is happy with it. I'm thinking about making another one

for me, as I love it! 

Went walking twice yesterday. Once in the morning around Brunswick Lake, then again

after we had ice cream at Z's cream & bean in Hinckley. It was the first

time we went there. Ice cream is very good. The shoppe is very pretty, and so clean! 

Will be going there again before summer is over. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Mermaid Altered Jumbo Clip

This project started off all because I 

went to Hobby Lobby, and found this tail charm. 

Of course I used a coupon on it so it wasn't as much. 

I knew I had a mermaid stamp that would look good

on a jumbo paper clip. 

Love how it turned out. The mermaid was

colored with a mix of glitter gel pens, and prisma pencils. 

Well the yard sale is on Thursday. At this point I'll be 

glad when it is over. Thank goodness John is coming over to help. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Stenciled ATC

Spent the afternoon stamping with my friend Betty. 

Made some artist trading cards to share for September. 

I know right! September is coming up. 

I used several layering Tim Holtz stencils to 

create the background for the cards. Tried my hand

at using distress paint. You can see the paint on the letters, and

the blue dots. 

Love how the colors pop! 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Miss You ATC

Made a artist trading card yesterday afternoon. 

I actually didn't do a lot yesterday. Rained all day, and

couldn't even go out for a walk. 

Not going to be much better today. Thinking I'll

be spending another day crafting. I did work on

the yard sale. Went through my kitchen cabinets, 

and de-cluttered. Always a fun job! 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Herbs are Growing

My basil is doing great! We got a late start with 

the garden this year as it wouldn't stop raining, and hubby

couldn't even till the ground till June. He

normally gets it all tilled in April. 

We will have a late growing season. We

do have green tomatoes on the vines, but I'm thinking they

won't get ripe till the end of August. 

The herbs I have in containers on the deck. 

The dill is growing well also. 

Have two containers of kale. 

Didn't take a photo of the pot, but here is a photo

of some I picked. Using it mostly for green monster 

smoothies. 

Happy birthday to my dear friend Connie. 

Hope you have a wonderful day!!!!

Stamping trails

Karen 

Hope you Chirp Up!

First off I'd like to wish my long time good friend Marianne

a very happy birthday today. Hope you have a wonderful day! 

Still working on cards for my friend Melody. 

This is a three step stamp set made by Hero Arts. 

I found the set on clearance at Joann's last year, and

this is the first time I've used it. I like how the stamped 

images look like watercolor. I'll be making more with this set. 

I thought about going out and shopping yesterday, but with all 

the madness going on I don't really want to go to any store. 

I'm wondering if more, and more people will skip the box stores

altogether, and do their shopping online. 

I'm also considering not being a part of working at the voting location this November. 

Tensions are running to high, and I feel there is no safe place.

Sending prayers for the world. We need lots of them. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Funny Get Well Cards

Working on a card order this weekend for my friend Melody. 

One of the type she asked for was get well.

Since laughter is the best medicine I used a stamp set

made by Art Impressions. 

The man, and women were water colored then mounted

on the embossed layer using pop dots. 

Another water colored one using this fun cat with a cone 

on it's head. 

Inside reads I'm gonna knead you to get better meow. 

Cute right? 

I have more to do. Going to start on some birthday cards today. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Shabby Chic for August ATC

Here is a collection of artist trading cards that I made

for the August swap. Did simple shabby chic cards. Love

how they turned out. Using Tim Holtz paper dolls, and botanical 

ephemera for the focal point. The backgrounds were stenciled, and then

a script stamp was done over that. 

Spent a lot of yesterday away from the house. Was stamping with my crafting

buddy Betty all afternoon. Today I'll be working on the yard sale again. 

Stamping trails

Karen  

Artist Trading card with Paper Fastener

Making a few artist trading cards for the month of August.

OMG it is the first day of August! 

John, and Emily are getting married in 22 days, and a wake up! 

You can see on this card I used one of the stickers from the sheet I posted yesterday. 

The little gold paper fasteners in the upper, and lower corner are very vintage indeed! 

When I was at Hollo's last week I found a box 

of 100 mini paper fasteners for .99 cents. 

To attach them to paper you just put one around and

squeeze closed. 

I thought they were unique. I also picked up a package of silver ones. 

Must have been feeling good yesterday as I went for a long

walk in the morning, and another walk around Brunswick lake in the late afternoon. 

Well they say walking is good for you. Today I'll be working 

on the yard sale again. That will be coming up in two weeks. 

Stamping trails

Karen