SuperBowl Sunday/Card Share

 Happy Superbowl Sunday my fellow crafters and readers.  If you are into football, then today is the biggest game of them all.  I like football, but I am a bigger baseball fan - STL Cardinals fan for life!  Anyhoo, most of us watch of course the game, but it is a big day for commercials too!  That sounds funny when you put it like that, but its true.  So - we will see what a 1 min. spot for millions of dollars will bring to the TV this year.   **grin**. Also - today is a day where I am taking a "vacation" off of my "diet" of eating healthier.  I am eating a supreme pizza, I am SO looking forward to it!

  In other news::  Today I am sharing with you a card I "whipped up" for the FlutterBy Wednesday challenge.  It has been a while since I made a card for this challenge.  With Valentines Day coming up, I used that as some inspiration for my creation on this card.  It is a fairly simple card.

 For the butterflies, I used two of my Martha Stewart punches, the Monarch Butterfly Punch, and the 3 in 1 Butterfly punch.  The paper I used on my card base comes from My Minds Eye, Blink of an Eye 6 x 6 pad, and the glitter paper comes from Stampin' Up!  I used a piece of Kraft card stock from PTI ( Paper Trey Ink) and the cute sentiment comes from a  mini stamp set from Inkadinkado.  Here are additional closeups of the butterflies.

Have a nice afternoon!!!!

- Kari

Simon Says Stamp Presents a Product Challenge:Lilly Pad Cards

I'm back!!  Those of you in the States - I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving, and shopped till your hearts content!!  I am back to share with all of you my entry for the latest challenge over at Lily Pad Cards.  All you have to do is make a card featuring buttons.  I love buttons, and I love the sponsor, Simon Says Stamp.  I wanted to make a bright and cheerful card, but rather simple.  I used the cute flower from the stamp set called "Button Buddies" from SU!.  I want to point out, I didn't do that on purpose - :)

I stamped my flowers on Kraft card stock, and added some buttons from PTI, and baker's twine from The Twinery.  The leaves were punched from a Martha Stewart leaf punch, and the patterned paper comes from Echo Park "Holly Jolly Christmas" 6 x 6 pad.  My sentiment comes from Paper Smooches, and I did some paper piercing with my mat stack from SU!.   Hope you all enjoy the simplicity, and the colors as I do. 

See you soon!!
~Kari~

In love with Distress Inks!

Good Tues Evening! I am back to share with you a birthday card I made for a good friend of mine, and the gal that got me into card making 2 years ago.  It was her birthday on the 10th of October, and like me she loves purple, and butterflies.  So, I wanted to incorporate both!  I was one of the luck ones that bought and received the Limited Edition Seasonal Distress Inks for fall this year.  These colors are gorgeous and they compliment the rest of the colors of DI so well.  On this card, I used the purple color which is Seedless Preserves, and Wild Honey.  The background stamp is from Hero Arts/Basic Grey.  I did one of my favorite techniques - Emboss resist!  This technique is so much fun and easy!! 

To make my birthday sentiment pop, I die cut a piece of patterned paper from one of my Beaded Circles dies from Spellbinders and punched out a ribbon border from the Lace ribbon punch from SU!.  I didn't have any purple gems to match, so I took one of my Copic markers that was close, and colored some of my clear gemstones from SU!.  This is another great way to use your Copics!  I added some Baker's Twine - who doesn't love this stuff.  It is so easy to work with and it is so versatile!  The "softie" with the butterfly image comes from KI Memories.    My card base is from PTI in Summer Sunrise!  I love PTI for my card bases! 

Another reminder that I have a giveaway going on for a $30 GC from Simon Says Stamp!!  Don't miss your shot at this great prize to celebrate my one year anniversary for my blog!!!  You can leave your comments on THIS post!

Thanks for stopping by!!  I appreciate your comments!!

- Kari

You're in my thoughts

Happy Sat crafters.  It is a rainy Saturday here in Missouri, but we need the rain.  What a better time than to share another card with my readers.  Today's card features some hand stitched sewing that I have tried for the first time on my cards.  It turned out pretty good.  I had help with my new tool - the We R Memory Keepers Sew Easy tool.  It is actually a little card to use than I thought - and maybe for that reason is because I tried to pierce through two sheets of cardstock, I am not sure, but nonetheless I made it work, and it didn't turn out too badly in my opinion.  I made this for a friend who has been going through a lot of rough times lately in her life, and with her family.  I just wanted to show her that I care! 

The butterfly image comes from Stampendous.  I actually did a haul video and this set was in that video.  If you wanted to see the video here is the link.  I added some Linen twine around the butterfly for something different for the antennae.  I added some pearls for more dimension and interest, and the sentiment comes from HA set called "Friends".  Thanks for visiting me!!  Be back soon with another card or project!!!  :)

- Kari

Getting back in the creative groove

Happy Friday people!!  I know I have already apologized for my recent blogging absence - but things for me have been crazy.  I will spare you all the details - but let us just say - my creative juices and spirit were at zero!!  Hopefully this post will be a start to change all that.  So - we are moving on.......

This evening I want to share with you a card I made for a co -worker about 2 to 3 weeks ago as my appreciation and understanding that things don't always stay the same - and that could be a good thing!  I used some patterned paper from BG - Sweet Threads.  I am really sinking my teeth into all the 6 x 6 paper pads out there on the paper crafting market.  They are so perfect for card makers.  My card base is from PTI and the color is Hawaiian Shores.  I love PTI and the weight of their card stock!  I am also into circles right now for some reason.  Depending on how the arrangement of them are, and the colors - the eye really does go right to them - and it is very appealing.  I also punched out some butterflies using my Martha Stewart 3 in 1 butterfly punch.  I glued some of my circles directly on my card base and some I popped up with dimensionals or pop dots.  My sentiment comes from SU! "Flight of the butterfly".

To finish off my card, I added some bakers twine and a button from BG.  I will be back in a few days if not sooner with another creation.  Thanks for stopping in!!

~Kari~

Flutterby Wednesday Challenge # 160 : OPEN

Hello!!!  I  have discovered a new challenge blog - and they love butterflies as much as I do - hench the blog's name - Flutterby Wednesday's.  This week's challenge is an OPEN challenge - you can do whatever kind of card you like as like as an angel, butterfly, or fairy is featured on your card.  Well, of course I am doing a butterfly.  Here is the card I made!!

I started out by taking one of my favorite background stamps - the flourish stamp by Hero Arts, and inking that up with Memento Tuxedo Black ink - and stamped my base card.  I took some purple patterned paper, and a piece of paper from the Naturals stack from DCWV, and cut out two butterflies from the Beautiful Butterflies die from SU!.  I, then cut a piece of vellum cardstock, and put that at the bottom base of my card, to give the Flourish stamp a softer look, and added my butterflies.  I, then added some purple corduroy ribbon and a flower dimensional sticker to the top of my card.  I finished off by adding some gems around the vellum cardstock and the butterfly, and my "Many Thanks" sentiment.


They have a great sponsor for this week! - Through the Craftroom Door.   I love discovered new challenges!!  :)

One Year Old Birthday

Hi all!  I'm back to share with you what I created for a special little girl who is turning a year old coming up in July.  One of my co-workers has a granddaughter who is turning a year old, and she saw the Butterfly Chipboard Banner I made a few weeks back, and wanted me to make her granddaughter Cara one.  I also made her a birthday card as well.  Both projects turned out better that I expected - especially the birthday card.  First here is the banner.  Again, her name is Cara.  She wanted it to be very "girly girl".  The best part about the banner is this can stay with her, and be displayed in her room for years to come - and not just for her "First" birthday.

Now here is the birthday card I made her.  I already had in mind that I had some butterfly shaped cards.  I added some pink patterned patter from K & Company from the Sweet Nectar  6x 6 pad. 

I, then took my 1 1/4" circle punch from SU!, and punched out 4 circles  in the middle of the butterfly's wings, and I added two rosettes with buttons, and then, I added two yellow buttons from American Crafts and added some hot pink baker's twine to them.  I attached all these embelly's with Glossy Accents from Ranger - it is my go to adhesive for when I want something to stick for the long haul. :)  Then, I took my word window punch also SU! and punched out two pieces of white card stock, and glued them together to created a longer strip, and I wrapped that same baker's twine around those punched pieces - I eventually created the number "1", to accent that this was for Cara's first birthday. I also added some ribbon for the "antenna".  I didn't take a picture of the inside, but I did some faux stitching with a bright pink gel pen, and really added to the inside of the card with the embellishments, and at the top of the two yellow buttons, I added a "Happy Birthday" sentiment.  There was enough room in the middle for Sandy ( grandma) to add her message if she wanted to.  I think her mom and dad will just love it - and it is something they can treasure for her, and keep in a keepsake book , or scrapbook even. 

I love being challenged with  my crafts!!  This is one of those times where I was so full of pride and joy of how it all turned out - and it makes it all worth it when the recipient loves it too!!!

~~Kari~~

Lily Pad Cards : May Arts presents: Ribbon Challenge

Hi all!  Two cards in one day!!  The creative juices must be flowing!  This time I am back to share my card I made for the Ribbon Challenge over at Lily Pad Cards.  This is my first time entering into their monthly challenge, and I was up for the task.  Simply - you have to make a card using ribbon.  Instead of just wrapping ribbon around a card, and tying a pretty bow, I wanted to do something a little different.  I traced my butterfly die cut onto a piece of white card stock, and then cut that out so I would have a frame of sorts.  Then I had some very colorful self adhesive ribbon, and wanted to give my butterfly a rainbow effect.  After getting my ribbon all down the way I wanted it ( which took longer then what you may think), I took my frame and embossed it with one of my cuttlebug folders.  I then took some black soot Distress Ink, and gave my frame a "frame" and brought out some of the embossing.  I took a piece of twine and twisted it to give the butterfly more of a dimensional body, added some liquid pearls and stamped my "Thinking of you" sentiment.  I wanted my butterfly to be my focal point without using too much color to the rest of the card. 

 

I'm liking these challenges.  They are fun, and really caused my brain to stretch its creativity.  Wish me luck!!  

~Kari~

Chipboard Album turned Butterfly Banner

Happy Saturday to you all!!  Well I did it - In one day no less!  When I saw in the new Creative Spaces Magazine, in the back of the magazine, there is a beautiful butterfly banner that was made by Jing - Jing Nickel - and she turned a plain butterfly chipboard album into a beautiful banner!!  I was immediately inspired to do my own!  My heart was happy because first it was a BUTTERFLY banner, and two - it gave me something new to try!  So - I found the album, and the pins that are the "antenna" both by Maya Road, and waited patiently till they were in my mailbox.  Then, this morning I was off to joy - filled creating my banner!  Our versions are totally different - but both our own.  So - here is mine! And if you have this awesome magazine - I hope you check out Jing Jing 's version!  Maybe it will inspire you as well.

 

I can't tell you how proud of this I am!  I am going to have my husband help me put it up in my craft room - and everyone time I walk into I, it will be a sweet reminder to continue to "DREAM" - and I hope one day to be crafting full time in one way or another!!  Thanks for stopping by!!


Stay Inspired - and Dream!

Kari

I'm so sorry butterfly Card

Hi crafters - It is raining once again here in Missouri. We most certainly do not need any more rain for a while.  We had a couple of rain free days, which helped, but I just know that when we need the rain later in the summer, we won't get any.  Just have to put it in God's hands!  Today, I wanted to share with you a card I made this morning.  I don't have too many "I'm sorry" or "Sympathy" cards on hand, but ever now and then, you need them to express those feelings.  I didn't want it to be too serious - the intention for this one was to express the "sorry" sentiment, but leave it colorful to make the recipient smile. 

The butterfly stamp is one from the new cling stamps from Inkadinkado.  I did some Copic coloring on the butterfly.  I also used the Tree background stamp from Hero Arts.  I added a smaller butterfly from the sizzlets die from Stampin' Up.  To make the imaged background pop - I embossed it with one of my cuttlebug
folders, and added some of the new Pom Pom trim in Daffodil Yellow from SU!.  Also on the butterfly's body - I added some Glossy Accents by Ranger for shine and dimension. 


Please feel free to leave any questions or comments, as I enjoy hearing from all of you!!  We have another work week upon us.  I must complete some things around my home, and get ready for it.  Then - I will be on vacation for 8 days!!  I am so looking forward to the time off!!  Till next time!!


-Kari

Butterfly Birthday

Hi all - I am posting this late - but wanted to get it in before I head to bed.  Hope your Monday was good as a Monday can get. :o)  I wanted to share with all of you this Birthday card I made for my mother - in- law's sister's birthday that is coming up.  She asked for me to make her a card - and of course, I said yes without any hesitation!  This is another "window card" but with a bit of a different variation. 

I just love Epoxy stickers.  They give a different "flare" to a card or scrapbook page.  I thought this card had a vintage antique feel.  Very feminine.  Hate to cut this one short - but got to get ready for another work day!  Night all!!

Thinking back when....

Hi all- I wanted to pop in and share another creation - and also share with you that today is my 4th wedding anniversary!  I was thinking back today 4 yrs. ago at different times where I was - and what I was doing before Chris and I said our " I do's".  That day was the happiest day of my life.  I found my soul mate, and my best friend.  The best part is that we get closer each and every year.  I love him more and more every day, and the great thing was - I knew how I felt about him the moment I laid eyes on him Dec 13, 2003 - our first date!  It was meant to be for sure!



Today I thought I would share my "Just because" card I made for a co worker.  Bonnie is pretty new to my dept. at work - and you could tell she was a little overwhelmed with everything that she has to learn, and process...so I made her this card to perk her up - and also because I found out from her she liked butterflies like I do!  So - I knew I had bought this new "Flower butterfly" stamp.  That isn't the name - just what I am calling it.  I love browns and blues together!

I used some pattern paper from that same pad I used a couple of posts ago from MM called "Just Chillin" - embossed a piece of scrap blue paper with one of my cuttlebug folders, and added some chocolate ribbon from PTI.   I stamped the butterfly flower image on this scallop die cut, colored it with some copics, and added some gold stickles to make it pop!  I also added an epoxy brad in the middle that really went well with all the colors.


Before I go - I posted on one of the forums at Two Peas in a bucket if anyone new where I could find one of the Dark Pink Cuttlebug machines.  They were sold exclusively thru HSN last year - and since my V2 machine broke - I am looking to replace it.  If any of you crafters know where I could get one from someone that might be selling theirs - PLEASE contact me!!  I want one really bad!!! 


Thanks everyone!!  Night!!
Stay Inspired!,

I love Butterflies!

Hi all!!-  It is a Friday evening here in MO, and it is snowing!! It seems winter is here to stay!  Goodness!  I don't remember in recent memory having such a cold, cold winter, and all this precip on the ground.  Maybe we are in for a beautiful Spring!!  I love Spring because the birds are happy, the sun shines, the flowers bloom, and you get to see butterflies.  I love, love butterflies.  I always have, but it has been more of an intense liking within the last couple of years.  They are just beautiful creatures!!  There is no doubt that they make me happy, and smile.  So, guess what my card is featuring today!!  Take a wild guess :o)  I have smart readers! :o)  

Of course, some of my favorite colors are purples, blues and greens.  You probably starting to think that I made this card for myself, but I didn't.  This is another card that I made for the card swap that I am in.   This set features also a stamp set from Gina K. Designs.  The butterfly dimensional sticker is from K&Company.  I also used one of my new tools from We R Memory Keepers- the corner chomper that has the "Deco and Stub" options.  I love my corner rounder from them, and liked the others they have as well.  Their tools are made in very good quality.  I would recommend them to any crafter for sure.  I added some pearls from SU,  and some ribbon I purchased from Oriental Trading.  Any questions or comments you may have, feel free to contact me or leave them underneath this post.    Also- be sure to check out my Etsy Shop!  I will try and add some new cards and other projects soon.  Take care all!  Till next time...

Stay Inspired!!,

Burrrrrrrrrrr- ready for Spring!

Hi all!- Can I just start out by saying, I loathe winter!!  I am ready for spring!!  Thankfully for today's case anyway- I am glad I don't live in Springfield, MO and in the surrounding areas- they have lots and lots of snow and ice.  We have minimal snow and slick streets. I digress.  Well, at the moment I am currently involved in a card swap which features us having to do a Spring themed cards.  Tonight, I wanted to share one of my cards with you that I have been creating for that swap.

I tell ya how much I would enjoy sitting on a bench on a spring day around the butterflies and birds drinking from the water fountain right now.  It is suppose to get down in the below digits tonight.  For my friends/readers in Canada, I don't know how you do it!!  My hat goes off to you for sure!    In other news ::: I have been following on YouTube the CHA Winter show.  It looks like there are going to be some pretty neat products coming out.  I love NEW stuff.  I have my eye on the Ecraft cutting machine from Craftwell.  This thing is neat!! I know it isn't new, but it is new to me.  The best part, it works like a printer pretty much, and you don't need a cutting mat!!  It looks so much more user friendly than the Cricut- my opinion of course.

I wanted to give a special shout out to Momo!  I'm looking forward to my card from you Momo!  I am super excited!!  Thanks again!!

OK!  I am calling it a night.  I need to go wrap up in my blanket and get warm!!  Night all!!

Stay Inspired!! ( and warm)

Keep your friends close...

Hi crafters and blog readers!- I'm back late this evening with a new card share.  I have a friend that is also my co- worker that is transferring dept. and I wanted to make her a card just to let her know that I will miss her, but I'm happy for her new venture.  Like most of the cards I make- I make on a whim.  Sometimes I have an idea, but most of the time I just randomly grab my paper, inks, and other supplies and see what comes of it.  I like most of all the cards I make, but this one, feels some what different for me. Not sure why, but I like it!!  I'm glad that we are half way in the week, and looking to the weekend.  It is suppose to be warmer temps here.  I hope so, for my hubby's sake.  He has been wanting to play golf, and it is so much harder during the winter months.
Anyway- back to my card- I kind got off track there, didn't I?  So sorry- here is tonight's card.

 

 






















It was time to use some more scraps.  I am trying so hard to use things that haven't been used yet, before I get into new paper.  I have many die cuts, and other embellishments, not to mention a lot of scrap card stock that needs to be used.  I am sure I am not telling you paper crafters anything new when it comes to scraps.  The only thing new I used for this card is the embossing folder that looks like buttons at the bottom, other than that the butterfly and the handmade flower I have been meaning to use for a long while, but felt I didn't have a place for them, till now! Hope you all like this card as I do.  I need to wrap up this post for tonight.  I'm gonna get something to calm my sweet tooth and then head to bed.  Night my friends!!

Stay Inspired!!

Another year older - another year wiser?

Happy Thursday everyone.  It is the eve of my 34th birthday, and I am thinking to myself where have the years gone..I still feel like I should be 18!  I guess all of us ask ourselves where time goes.  I am very blessed to be happily married to my husband.  I am thankful for many things.  I will tell you this year has flown by for sure.  I still can't believe that I have been doing my hobby of card making for a little over a year.  I have learned so much, and love it more and more each day.  Since it is my birthday ( Friday)- how about a Birthday card! 

This card is one of my "earlier" cards I made.  Actually, to tell you the truth, I was over at a friend's house, and we were hanging out, and I made this card just from her scraps!  Not bad for scraps!  I also love, love butterflies.  It has some of my favorite elements in it, butterflies, bright colors, especially purple. 

I would love to hear what any of you think of the cards that I post on my blog.  I do not get too much feedback, positive or otherwise.  When hearing from others, I feel I would get better, and change the things that would need to be improved.  I do realize, my style is just that, but I only want to strive and continue to get better in making my cards. 

On that note, I am closing the post up for tonight.  Thank you to those that take the time and look at my blog, whether you comment or not.  I appreciate it so much! Happy Birthday to me!!  :o) 

Stay well friends,

-Kari