Karen's Krafty Musings

10/29/2022

A Good Day

GIVEAWAY! (As this is in appreciation for those who participate in the Cat Lovers Hop, entry in the drawing requires an entry in the hop challenge. Thanks for understanding!)

Here I am, back again, to share this card for the 2022 Cat Lovers Hop. Everyone knows that cats love nothing more than to knock things onto the ground and make a nice mess, so I used the Hello Stampurr set to create this scene of two naughty kitties who have scattered books and cards across the floor...while acting perfectly innocent. "Who me? No, it wasn't me". The papers are by DCWV and the sentiment is Simon Says Stamp.

I would like to offer a cat stamp by Nellie's Choice to one, randomly chosen commenter to thank you for checking out my project and joining in the hop. Sorry for the glare but I can't seem to get a decent photo and didn't want to open the package. Open to US or International.

2022 Cat Lovers Hop

2022 Cat Lovers Hop
SSS Wednesday, AG

SUYP challenge 82

10/28/2022

Victorian Kitties

GIVEAWAY! (As this is in appreciation for those who participate in the Cat Lovers Hop, entry in the drawing requires an entry in the hop challenge. Thanks for understanding!)

Here is another card, made with some of those old stationary elements. I, again, used papers by Graphic45, along with the same paper lace, a sentiment by Anna Griffin, and added a small bow with pearl center. Isn't this a handsome pair of cats?

I would like to offer a cat stamp by Nellie's Choice to one, randomly chosen commenter to thank you for checking out my project and joining in the hop. Please indicate whether or not you are interested in being part of the draw for my giveaway. Thanks. Open to US or International. (stamp shown in my post on 10/26.

SUYP challenge 82

Charming

GIVEAWAY! (As this is in appreciation for those who participate in the Cat Lovers Hop, entry in the drawing requires an entry in the hop challenge. Thanks for understanding!)

I bought a sheet of stationary over 20 years ago that featured the sweetest Victorian kittens, and could never bring myself to actually write on it. So, I finally pulled it out two weeks ago and proceeded to snip and trim, to turn the elements into a card. I combined the kittens with paper by Graphic45, paper lace, and a stamped sentiment by 7Gypsies. This card used items and supplies from three different companies that have been languishing in my stash for 8-25 years. Yay for stash-busting!

Still having trouble getting a decent photo, due to glare, argh!

GIVEAWAY INFO:

I would like to offer a cat stamp by Nellie's Choice to one, randomly chosen commenter to thank you for checking out my project and joining in the hop. Please indicate whether or not you are interested in entering the draw for the stamp. Thanks! Open to US or International.

2022 Cat Lovers Hop
SSS Wednesday, AG

SUYP challenge 82

10/26/2022

Laundry Day

GIVEAWAY! (As this is in appreciation for those who participate in the Cat Lovers Hop, entry in the drawing requires an entry in the hop challenge. Thanks for understanding!)

Can you believe it's the 8th year of the Cat Lovers Hop? I still remember when it was a twinkle in Janis' eye Her Peaceful Garden ...should she do it, should she not? As you've figured out, she did decide to host one and here we are. I am pleased to one of the guest designers on this year's 2022 Cat Lovers Hop again, and am sharing a card made with a stamp by VivaLasVegastamps, which is one of the sponsors. I have quite a few VLVS images in my stash, as I collected unmounted stamps years back. This one was begging to be inked up for the hop. I love the vintage look of the image..

Did anyone's mom or grandmother have a kitchen towel or potholder embroidered all in red, in the style called Redwork? I remember a kitchen towel in my Grandma's kitchen that seemed to be part of a "Days of the Week" set, with only the "Tuesday" part left. This card is inspired by redwork, and I just love the charming mama kitty, by VivaLasVegastamps, hanging up mittens to dry on wash day. I used a Spellbinders die, and eyelet and embroidered lace by May Art Ribbon. The sentiment is by Cardz TV.

2022 Cat Lovers Hop

SUYP challenge 82, cat theme

10/13/2022

Unforgettable You

Here is another card that I made with the K&Co embellishments that have been gathering dust for over 10 years. As before, the papers I used are from Small Wonders by K&Co. The small die cut doily is by Stamplorations (Bloomdale Bliss - Felicity die) and I tied some jute twine in the middle of the flower to add texture. I also used strips of paper scraps to layer behind the main focal point.

Pixie's Snippets Challenge 438. I used lots of snippets from my stash here, for layers and the die cut doily
.Double Trouble challenge 122, I did Thing 1 (fall colors)

DL.Art October challenge

SSS Wednesday, Fall colors

9/29/2022

Peace On Earth

Here I am, just squeaking by the deadline for the Rudolph Days challenge, which I never miss! It's a great way to stay on track for my holiday card making but this month just flew on by. Once I made my card I had the hardest time photographing it so you can see the detail. A white-on-white card is always so tough to photograph, and this was no exception. I used an embossing folder for the design, and then fussy cut the dove from a second embossed piece. Popped it up on foam tape for dimension and added a few little rhinestones for color and sparkle. The embossing is much easier to see in person, trust me.

September Rudolph Days challenge

DL.Art's September linky

SSS Monday, emboss it

CYHTP Challenge, AG with option of leaves. although leaves are optional, my dove is carrying some olive branch leaves!

Word Art Wednesday 563-564

9/26/2022

Teachers Affect Eternity

I made this card for my granddaughter's teacher and especially like the sentiment. Teachers never know how much they influence the lives of their students, but they can be assured that the impact will be felt through a lifetime. The stamp and sentiment is by Gina K Designs. I stamped the stack of books first, then stamped and fussy cut the globe to layer over it. Some bakers twine and Nuvo drops add texture.

We Love Stamping September challenge AG with stamping

Snippets Challenge 437. I used snippets from my stash for all part of the card, and the kitty was cut from old packaging as well.

DL.Art's September linky

9/23/2022

Halloween Kitty

Pulled out some of my Halloween papers this week as I prepared for the changing season. The papers are by DCWV and the embossing folder is by Cuttlebug. I used a stamp by Pink Paislee, a sentiment by Kat Scrappiness, and die cut cat by Amy Designs. The cat was die cut from glossy black packaging to make it really stand out. Then, because there wasn't enough cuteness already, I made a matching envelope by masking the circle and ink blending, and then over stamping with the image.

SSS Wednesday, card and matching envelope

SUYP challenge 81, cats
DL.ARt September linky

Two Old Bats Sept challenge, halloween

Wishing you the Best Birthday

A friend sent me this fun card base, which she embossed with a Cuttlebug folder, and I finally used it. The tiny kitty is an unmounted stamp by VivaLasVegastamps, and I drew lines on it, then used tiny round punches to make balloons. The label punch is by Stampin' Up, and the sentiment is by Simon Says Stamp. Isn't that little birthday kitty the cutest thing?! In fact, he's so cute that I made a matching envelope to go with the card.

SUYP Challenge 81, cats

SSS Wednesday, card and matching envelope
DL.ARt September linky

Double Trouble challenge 121. I did Thing 1 (use punch or die)

9/22/2022

Be Happy

I have a lot of small, unmounted stamps that I keep in binders and often forget to pull them out. So, I went through some of them last week and found this funny little kitty image by VivaLasVegastamps that made me laugh. I colored him and mounted him on various die cut and punched squares , then added a tiny die cut tag with a sentiment by Paper Sweeties. The sentiment below the image is also by Paper Sweeties, and all this needed was more layers, inked edges and a bit of ribbon. I even found a tiny wooden clothespin as the perfect finishing touch, and then I made a matching envelope.

SUYP challenge 81, cats
DL.Art September linky

Double Trouble challenge 121. I did Thing 1,( use a punch or die), Thing 3 (use wood) and Thing 2 (Enter at Use Your Stuff) . I also had a nice mug of coffee as I planned my card!

Use Your Stuff challenge 467, use a punch or die, plus wood

PIP Challenge 2238, AG

SSS Wednesday challenge, matching envelope

9/20/2022

Happy Purr-thday!

I needed two birthday cards for friends with birthdays this month, so pulled out my "Cool Cat" stamp set by MFT and got to work. The arched die is by Makers Movement and was part of a craft order that I gifted myself for my birthday. I used a birthday cake stamp by Pink Fresh Studios, enamel stars by Fun Stampers Journey, and some very, very old paper by DCWV. I liked this card so much that I went ahead and made 4 of them, instead of just two!

SUYP Challenge 81, cats

SSS Wednesday, critters

We Love Stamping, AG with stamping

PIP #2238

9/19/2022

Sending Wishes

I'm still working with Graphic 45 papers this week, as they've always been something I hoarded but never used. That has to change, so I'm trying to make up a batch of birthday cards for my stash with these collections. This is the Gilded Lily collection again, and I used the window fold and placed it diagonally on the card front. I layered patterned papers and journaling cards, then fussy cut some floral elements which I tucked under the window fold focal point. The sentiment is by Stampin' Up and the wood veneer butterfly is by Prima Marketing. Seam binding ribbon in oatmeal, tied in a bow adds more softness and some texture.

Butterfly Challenge 173, W is for the colors Wheat and Wild Blue Yonder, along with the wood theme, Window fold,, and my butterfly.

SSS Monday challenge, use dies

PIP Challenge #2238, AG

9/18/2022

Summer Garden Birthday

I pulled out some of my long-hoarded Graphic 45 papers some months back and am finally determined to use them on a regular basis. I love the colors in the Time to Flourish and Children's Hour calendar paper pad, which are perfect for card making. The large tag die is by Sizzix and the smaller, patterned paper tag is by Gina K Designs. Rather than use the Gina K tag die shape as-is, I cut detail into the top edge with a Spellbinders nested label die. This is a quick and easy way to switch up the look of a tag and I don't know it took me so long to do it! A piece of heavyweight vellum as scored and clipped to form a pocket, which I used to hold my tag, and I tied seam binding ribbon and twine around the pocket. The sentiment is by Simon Says Stamp .

SSS Monday challenge, use die cuts
DL.Art September linky

9/17/2022

Anniversary

My sister and I were married in the same year, within a week of each other. So we always get together to celebrate our anniversary each year. I used a paper collection by Echo Park, along with a stamped sentiment by Cardz TV to make this card. The die cut border design is by Cheery Lynn, and the circle dies are Nellie's Choice. At the last minute, I added some wine glass dies by Creative Expressions and colored them with alcohol markers.

Quick and easy is fun, when the papers are beautiful.

Butterfly Spot challenge 173, W is for the colors Wheat and Wild Blue Yonder. I also used a butterfly, of course!

Butterfly Celebration

Yes, it's another birthday card using the Gilded Lily papers by Graphic45, along with a fancy doily die by Spellbinders, butterfly die by Sizzix, and label die also by Sizzix. The sentiment stamp is by Pink Fresh Studio, and I added adhesive pearls. It took me several years to cut into these papers but now I'm on a roll and I can't stop. Gives me motivation to use some of those pearls that have been multiplying in my craft stash as well, so it's all a win.

SSS Monday challenge, use die cuts. I used a butterfly die, doily die by Spellbinders, and label die by Sizzix

DL. Art September linky

Double Trouble Challenge 120. I did Thing 1, three colors, two embellishments (pearls and pocket) , one stamped image

Butterfly Window

I am always fascinated by fancy folds for cards but rarely attempt them myself. However, this one, which was offered as part of the Butterfly Spot Challenge seemed easy enough to try. You basically start with a square of double sided paper and make various folds for the result seen here. I used papers by Graphic 45 from The Gilded Lily collection, along with a wood veneer butterfly that i decoupaged with paper from the same collection. The sentiment is by Papertrey Ink. After I folded the square element, it looked too plain so I punched tiny holes in the corners and tied twine through them, with a knot.

Butterfly Challenge 173, W is for Window card. I used the window card option, along with colors Wheat and Wild Blue Yonder, and a wooden butterfly. The butterfly is wood veneer, which I decoupaged with paper.

SSS Monday challenge, use die cuts. I used a Spellbinders die to cut the scalloped border along the bottom.

Word Art Wednesday 461-562

Double Trouble challenge 120. I did Thing 1 (3 colors, 2 embellishments, one stamped image)

9/16/2022

Groovy Birthday Jams

Pulled out my Punny collection by Recollections to make this birthday card for my niece. Fun look back at the days of roller disco, casette tapes...and dinosaurs, haha! I fussy cut bits and pieces from the patterned paper and coordinating journaling cards, and used a sentiment banner stamp by Fun Stampers Journey. The gold metallic card stock is also by Recollections and I matted everything on scraps from my stash, then popped up on foam tape .This one was a ball to make.

SSS Wednesday challenge, critters. True, the t-rex is extinct, but it still qualifies as a critter, right?

Word Art Wednesday week 561-562

SSS Wednesday, Little Critters

9/15/2022

Little Bit Crazy

My niece turned 35 this week, yikes, and I forgot to send her a card. So, off to my craft room I went, and used a llama stamp by Stamplorations, along with a fun sentiment by Tracey Hey for Hampton Arts. I colored the llama with alcohol markers (although the blue shading around the llama isn't showing up in this photo, no matter how I tweak it), and added enamel shapes by Spellbinders. The border stamps at the top are from a set by Waffle Flower. This is similar to a card I made awhile back, with tweaks to the sentiment and added border. It was good not to have to start from scratch with an idea, as I'm still recovering from a bad cold and bout of infections.

Word Art Wednesday week 561-562

Papercraft Challenges #86, one layer wonder

We Love Stamping Sept challenge, AG

DL.Art Sept linky

9/03/2022

Butterfly Birthday

Here is another birthday card that I made today. It's almost 90 degrees outside, so the perfect excuse to hole up in my craft room and make cards. I used the Organic Linen embossing folder by Altenew, along with Etched Engravings and the Floral Brocade stamp, both by Hero Arts. The sentiment is by Simon Says Stamp. For some reason, my photo keeps coming out more blue than purple, but the purple is an actual true purple.

Stay Crafty with Hero Arts August challenge, It's Hip to be Square

Butterfly Spot Challenge #172 F is for the colors flirt and forest green, plus my butterfly

DL.Art's September linky

Can You Handle the Pressure, embossing folder

TTCRD Challenge, AG

Panda Birthday

I won this cute birthday stamp set by Hero Arts some time ago and had to ink it up today. The stamp set is From The Vault Birthday, and the background was made with a Hero Arts stencil called Sprinkles. I stenciled the little sprinkles in yellow first, then flipped the stencil around and stenciled in turquoise for an additional color. The sentiment is also by Hero Arts, and the square dies are by Cottage Cutz.

Stay Crafty with Hero Arts August challenge, It's Hip to be Square

DL.Art's Sept linky
SSS Monday, make your own background

Die Cut Divas August challenge, shaped cards

8/31/2022

Missed Your Birthday

Oops! I somehow missed my brother-in-law's birthday this year so I had to scramble to make a belated card to send this week. I had this unmounted stamp in my stash that just needed some ink blending and masking for the clouds, and I turned it into a circular card. The sentiment is by Simon Says Stamp, and I cut the round card base with a Sizzix nested die set.

SSS Wednesday, AG
TTCRD Aug. 30 challenge, AG

Papercraft Challenges 85, AG or summertime

Inspire

Here is another shaped that uses a tag die base by Die'sire. The embossing folder is by Tim Holtz for Sizzix and the floral and border images at by Hot Off the Press. The sentiment is by Paper Sweeties, and the butterfly is Bo Bunny.

Die Cut Divas August challenge, shaped card

TTCRD Aug. 30 challenge, AG

Birthday Fairy

I needed to make a birthday card for my niece's daughter, who is turning 3 next month, and what better design for her than a fairy? This fairy image was in my stash and I'm not not who makes it, but I colored it with markers, then added rhinestones for extra sparkle. The tag shaped die for the base is by Die-sire, and I also cut a frame from the same set. The sentiment is by Papertrey ink.

Die Cut Divas August challenge, die cut shaped cards

TTCRD Challenge Aug. 30, AG

Papercraft Challenges #85 , summer fun

8/29/2022

Happy Hello

This month's Poppystamps challenge was the perfect motivation to pull out a few more Poppystamps word dies to act as a focal point on this card. The embossing folder is by Sizzix, as are the butterfly dies. I used Happy Sash and Hello scripty die by Poppystamps, and then added some rhinestones for sparkle

PSC Challenge 95, word art

Butterfly Challenge #172 . F is for the colors Fandango and Flirt, along with my butterfly

SSS Wednesday challenge, shimmer and shine

PSC#95, word art with Poppystamps
DL.Art's August linky

8/28/2022

Birthday Flourish

I pulled out this fancy Birthday Flourish die by Poppystamps today, to make a card with a focus on the sentiment. A few deco squares made from die cut squares, a square card base, heat embossing, and a bit of ribbon makes this one easy to make in multiples. That is, if you remember to use adhesive backed paper for the sentiment die, which I forgot to do!

Stay Crafty with A Blog Named Hero, It's Hip to be Square

Good Tidings

I was given this set of bold Christmas Greetings by Stampers Anonymous and decided to try embossing it with Ranger EP in Bottle Green. The EP has a rough texture, rather than a glossy one, which is interesting and fun. I paired it with gold glitter paper by Recollections, a snowflake die by Spellbinders, and a tiny gold star.

August Rudolph Days challenge
DL.Art's August linky

SSS Wednesday, shimmer and shine

8/25/2022

Keep It Simple

I needed a couple of general themed cards to send and decided to dig out some old papers by Nikki Sivils that have been gathering dust in my craft closet. I used to have the terrible habit of overbuying if something was on sale, and this was an example of that. I bought papers from about 6 different collections, and none of them were likely to ever be used because I scrapbooked with solid card stock on the whole. These papers are BOLD and BRIGHT...and would clash with my photos. Thus, they sat in my craft closet for 12 years...argh.

Today was the day to remedy that by using them on this card. I made two of the same design, to take advantage of everything I had pulled out. The sentiment stamp is by Pink Fresh Studio, and the tag die is by Paper Smooches.

Paper Dragonfly Challenge #8, summertime buzz

Can You Handle the Pressure August challenge, AG with embossing

8/24/2022

Ocean Dreams

As I went through years worth of old craft supplies in my closets and cabinets, I found small bits of fabric that were too small to use for sewing but too pretty to toss out. This fun dolphin print was one of them, so I turned it into a tag. A bit of raffia, stamped text background directly on the fabric, and a shimmery copper seahorse die by Spellbinders became the focal point for this card. The background stamp is by Darkroom Door and I embossed a strip of card stock with the Altenew Linen embossing folder. Sometimes just a bit of dry embossing gives just the amount of additional texture you need.

Here is the embossed and shimmer detail , as it's difficult to see in the original photo

SSS Monday challenge, mixed media

SSS Wednesday, shimmer and shine

Colorful Options August challenge, turquoise

Papercraft Challenges #85, summer fun

8/23/2022

Birthday Blessings

I was given some beautiful fairy stamps by Lavinia awhile back and finally pulled them out to ink up. I stamped this fairy scene on a Distress Oxide background, which I die cut with a Spellbinders oval die. The die cut leaves are by Impression Obsession and the embossing folder is by Sizzix. I also added a sentiment by Taylored Expressions and layers of card and vellum.

The bit of Oxide background that I had was so small that I barely fit the fairy scene on it, and used every bit of scrap that I had left. Same thing with the die cut leaves. This is a card that made great use of snippets from my stash.

Here are some of the snippets that I used to make my card. As you can see, I use my scraps to the very end! The embossed bit will be turned into a tag at a later date.

Pixie's Snippets challenge 435. I used lots of snippets from my stash, including left overs from previous cards.

Lost Coast Designs challenge 150, stamped silhouette

We Love Stamping August challenge, stamped garden

SSS Monday, mixed media

Can You Handle the Pressure Challenge, AG with embossing folder

8/19/2022

Many More

I pulled out a few alcohol ink backgrounds this week and made this undersea themed card for a friend. The octopus die is by Spellbinders and the sentiment stamp and label die is by Taylored Expressions. I backed the octopus with a double layer of shimmery vellum, die cut into a circle to make it stand out against the background.

PIP challenge 2233, AG
KreativTanten challenge 68, Maritim

Colorful Options challenge, turquoise or rainbow

Butterfly Challenge 172. I used the colors Forest green and Fulvos (dark yellow), plus a butterfly, and faux stitching.

Butterfly Garden

I was given a big bag of stationary by Current Inc, some years ago and put it aside to use in future projects. There were so many different sets that I ended up donating quite a bit of it to the Senior Center, but I saved some to use as card bases and embellishment sources. This pretty garden scene is combined with a stamped sentiment by Unity Stamp Co, and a butterfly image by Rubber Stampede. I stamped the butterfly, colored and then fussy cut. That coral colored seam binding is hand-dyed silk, which I bought as part of a ribbon assortment at a thrift shop long ago. This card will be added to my donation stash for the local retirement community and nursing homes.

PIP Challenge #2233

8/17/2022

Gilded Lily

Here is another card that I made with the Gilded Lily collection by Graphic45. The larger illustrated panels fit perfectly on a 5x7 card base, so I made a nice little stack of this larger card size to have handy. I layered papers and panels from the collection, then fussy cut elements from several of the prints to ink and layer on the card front. Some of the embellishments are popped up with foam tape for dimension and I left this card sentiment-free, so I can use it for any occasion.

PIP Challenge #2233