Birthday Cards from Friends

Just some birthday cards I received from my crafty friends. 

Some of them were made using napkins. I'll be back tomorrow

to share the card I made using a paper napkin. 

One of my favorite cards I received from my friend Kym. 

Love the red lady, and stitching. 

Flowers hubby brought me this morning along with some pumpkin bread from

the bakery. YUM! I've been wanting to bake all month, but it has really been hot! 

You can see  my cat Cherokee photo bombed the pic of the flowers. 

Happy birthday to me trails

Karen 

October Artist Trading Cards

I got a jump start on my October artist trading card swaps. 

Borrowed Betty's little girl stamp. She reminds me of Wednesday 

Addams. Stamped her on pattern paper then colored with Prisma pencils. 

The Need More Brains stamp I got at Pat Catan's. Perfect for

Walking Dead fans. 

Had a great visit with the kids on Saturday. They took me and hubby

out to Buca di Beppos for dinner. 

It was nice to just get caught up in the events in their lives. 

Now that September is at an end I really need to start working

on some Christmas gifts for friends, and family. Next few months 

are going to be busy! So happy I'm in my new stamping studio. I know

I'm going to enjoy it this winter! 

Stamping trails

Karen 

The Old Witch

I got to do some stamping with my friend Betty yesterday afternoon. 

So nice! We made some cards, then had some lunch, then back to 

the craft room to make a few more cards. I really needed to get out

of the house as I've been home with hubby this week. He is still

pretty sore from the fall he took last Saturday. 

Later today I'll be getting with the kids to celebrate my birthday. 

It falls on Monday this year, but since they are working we are

getting together today. Can't believe September will soon be over, and what 

a month we have had! No Fall weather for us. Its been hot!!!! I'm 

looking forward to be able to make soup! 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Owl Skinny Card

I joined an Owl skinny swap, and chose a Halloween 

theme to highlight the owl. 

Background made with distress inks. Stamps are 

some vintage ones I had in a binder. 

Added some sequin silver stars, and black dots to the sky. 

Hopefully my partner will enjoy this one. 

Hubby still in pain. Looks like it might be a cracked rib, so

may take awhile for him to feel better. 

I'm trying to pick up the slack which means I'll have to be

heading out to the garden today as I know there are a ton of ripe tomatoes

and more green beans to be picked. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

I Smell Children

I smell children! Loved that line from Hocus Pocus 

Took some time yesterday afternoon to complete artist trading cards for the

month of September. Was going to do a back to school theme, but

this late into the month I'm thinking Halloween not back to school. 

The back ground was made using Tim Holtz Oxide inks.

Greeting was made using my trusty Dymo label maker. 

Since I had to have a witch I used a pattern paper pack that I 

found at Tuesday Morning. I like that the witch looks like the one

from the old Bugs Bunny cartoons. Remember her Witch Hazel? 

The face on the pattern paper isn't green, but the style of the drawing is close. 

Hubby is still recovering from his fall on Saturday. He is pretty

sore. I'm going to have to pick up some of his jobs while he is recovering. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Paris Themed ATC Box

Here is a Graphic 45 artist trading card box. 

It came as a plain brown box. I added

the Paris theme pattern paper to it. 

the entire box was then coated with Modge Podge. 

Here is an inside view. 

Should hold many artist trading cards. Speaking of which I really need

to make my cards for the month of September. I am late!!!!

Going to be 90 today. Can you believe that one? Fall starts tomorrow

but it is still Summer here! Going to be in the 80's for the rest of the week. 

I'm going to be staying indoors today, and getting caught up on my crafting. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

An Unfortunate Ending Shaker Box Witch

My talented new daughter in law Emily drew this gorgeous witch. 

I decided to use her drawing in a shaker box. 

Had a little spill when I took off the lid to the stars, and dot sequins. 

Had them all over my desk. Going to have to vacuum tomorrow. 

Since the witch is standing over a boiling pot I decided

that she was cooking someone it in. The words at the bottom of the frame 

read "an unfortunate ending". 

Used up some things in my Halloween stash. The purple check wire ribbon is

gone. I've had it for years. So happy when I can use up supply. 

Hubby took a tumble early this morning, and is pretty sore. He hurt his lower back. 

Hoping he will recover soon. He is not use to sitting around. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Glycerin Blended Colors

Sorry I've been away from blogging for so long. 

Been busy, and just needed a break. 

My latest card creation. 

Thanks to my crafty buddy Kathleen I learned a new technique. 

Who knew you could use pure vegetable glycerin with water based

markers to blend? I sure the heck didn't.

All you need is water based markers, a round blending tool, 

and the glycerin. Which I found at Giant Eagle in the pharmacy. 

You only need a little bit of it. I put some on a acetate sheet picked it up

with the blending tool, then rubbed a spot of marker also on the acetate sheet. 

Picked up the color with the tool then blended onto watercolor paper. 

See the gray and green on the embossed layer? The color was added to 

the watercolor paper using the glycerin. Blends beautifully! 

I'll be making some more cards using this simple blending technique. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Burlap Wreath Class

I attended a burlap wreath making class last night at the

Buckeye County Library. 

Picked up the wire wreath form, and roll of burlap at Marc's for 

a great price. They had kits for 1.99. Some of the ladies

in class last night told me they paid 5 dollars a roll just for the burlap. So

I think I got a good deal. 

The library supplied all the trims. Love that ribbon!

Just made a simple shoestring bow, but I like how it turned out. 

Not overly thrilled with how the burlap came out. I think my loops 

were to small, so the 10 inch wreath is pretty compact. 

However I think it looks good on our red door. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

1902 Reprint Sears Roebuck Catalogue

I found this reprint of a 1902 Sears, Roebuck catalogue at the Goodwill.

I've been having the best time with it! 

Perfect for all my shabby chic, and vintage craft projects. 

I'll post a few of the pages. 

So many wonderful photos! 

Planning on use some for Halloween embellishments. 

Worm cakes! Really?

Blood pills!

The list just goes on, and on. 

There are some really good headstone photos that I'll also be using

for Halloween projects. 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Jumbo Altered Spider Clip

Here is another fun altered paper clip. 

I used a jumbo clip which is about 4 inches long. 

The orange base was stamped with a spider web in black. 

The large gold spider on a book is from a die pack that I got

at Micheal's by Recollections. 

The little October 31st square is from a pattern paper pack I got at Tuesday Morning. 

Spider charm was purchased at Hobby Lobby. 

Love that spider! 

Stamping trails

Karen 

Fun Witches Broom Embellishments.

I've been making some Halloween embellishments. 

Love these cute little witch brooms! 

Used fringe scissors to cut the pattern paper then wrapped

it around some cute paper straws. 

To finish them off I added a piece of spider web doily. 

Topped with a bakers twine bow. 

These are for a swap I'm in, but I'll be making more of these because

I want some to use on projects. 

This is how I packaged them for the swap. Cute right?

Stamping trails

Karen 

Chicken Wire Frames

I found these chicken wire frames at the dollar store for half off. 

Thought they would look good on the wall to hold some

of the many artist trading cards I receive. 

I plan to change them out every so often. 

Can you believe today is September 1st? I can't! 

Happy that it is here as September has always been

my favorite month of the year. Too bad it normally flies by

way to fast. 

Me and hubby are taking part in Trekking Through Autumn. 

It is one of the things that the Medina County Park District's offer. 

We will be hiking through 8 different parks beginning today. 

After we finish the hikes we can turn in our completed check list

and receive a free backpack. Looking forward to checking out

some other hiking areas, and green trails. 

Stamping trails

Karen