CAS-ual Friday Challenge - Penguin Suit ( third and final )

Gosh - This challenge has really got my creative juices flowing!! I am back again for the third time today to share my third and final ( I promise ) submission for this challenge. I will make this short and sweet, so what I did was you call the "split negative" technique. VERY FUN!! Looks super cool too!! Take a look!!

My sentiment comes from Hero Arts set called "Friends". I love this set. It has some very nice sentiments!! OK - That's it from me today!! Third times a charm right!! :) See you all next time!! Kari

CAS-ual Friday Challenge - Penguin Suit # 2

Yes - I am back. I decided to go ahead and make another card since I was in crafty mode!! So this time I took out one of my HA stamp sets that I hadn't really used yet, and have had for a while.

This type writer is so cute, and this set comes with three different sentiments! This one is my favorite out of all of them. I used some black enamel accent by Ranger to bring out the type writer keys. Here is a closer look. Gives them a bit more dimension.

I enjoy entering into these challenges - because it is just that a challenge to see where your creativity takes you. I am hoping one day that I will have the winning project!! I will be over the moon happy. One day my day will come!! Thanks for visiting!! See you soon!! - Kari

CAS-ual Friday : Penguin Suit

Good Afternoon! So I'm sharing with you all this afternoon my submission for the latest CAS-ual Friday challenge. Pretty simple really on the concept. Make a black and white card. You know I haven't made too many black and white cards. Don't know why - know real reason really, but nonetheless I wanted to enter this challenge. I do have a confession. I started out making a completely different card than the one shown, which was an actual penguin card, but after the advice of my husband ( I asked ), I decided not to do that. So - here is what I did come up with. I am also thinking of doing another one as well - we will see. For now - here is my first entry :o)

I love doilies!! They can really make an impact on a card. This one is from Stampin' Up! This is all one layer card. My sentiment comes from Paper Smooches, and the tag image comes from Inkadinkado. Hope you all like! I might be back to share another submission...we will see! Have a nice rest of the weekend!! - Kari

New items, and changes in my craft room

Hi all! I am back this evening to share with all of you my newest addition to my craft space. Right after the New Year, my hubby and I took a trip to Springfield, MO which is about 1 1/2 hr. from me to do a little shopping and cash in on some coupons. At Michael's they were having a sale on all of their storage, including all of the JetMax storage. I bought this magazine organizer, because I didn't have anymore room in my other storage for magazines, and I knew I would be growing with my magazine collection as time went on.

Last weekend, I felt in the mood to change around my craft room some, and clean out some things. I have been purging some supplies, and things I don't use anymore, too. So now all my Jetmax cubes are all on one wall when you first come into my room.

Like many of us - we all probably have more paper than we will ever use, but I know for me - even though I have lots of paper, it is hard to say no to a 6 x 6 paper pad. They are the perfect size for card makers. It seems you don't waste as much as you would obviously with a 12 x 12 or an 8 x 8 piece of pattered paper or cardstock. Well - I just wanted to share my love of 6 x 6 paper pads, and believe me this collection is growing too.

And, I also love the way Stampin' Up has their cling stamps now. I rarely buy a wood mount stamp anymore. It is funny - when I started out doing this over 2 years ago, I only wanted wood mount stamps - and now that has totally flipped!!

I love my space. It is my safe haven for sure!! A place where I can come, and relax, and whether or not I am making something or not....if I am in my room just surfing the web, tending to my blog, or what ever it is...just being in my space makes my heart happy!!! Maybe sometime soon I will do an updated video as well.

OK- That is all from me tonight!!! See you all on the flip side!! :)

- Kari

CAS-ual Friday Challenge #35 - Highs and Lows

Hi crafters-

I am back to share with you my submission to the current CAS-ual Friday Challenge. This time it is creating a clean and simple card using scallops!! Easy - Peazy!! For my card, I envisioned nothing but color!!! I also wanted to use my newest Paper Smooches stamp set!! I thought what a better and simple way to create my card is use a big scalloped circle and add lots of color!!!!

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!! Mine so far as been pretty "Cas-ual". HAHA. Thanks for stopping in!!! See ya next time!!


- Kari

How 'bout one more - Lawn Fawn CHA challenge

Hi all!! I am back real quick to share another submission I am entering into the LF CHA Challenge. Once I was done with my first card, I had a brain storm...and thought it was a cute idea. This is not sucking up what so ever.....LOL. I just thought it was a cute idea!! What do you all think??

Well- I am closing for the night, but I will be back soon to share more creations with you!! See you then!!

- Kari

Lawn Fawn Catalog Challenge

Hi all!! Here is my first post for 2012, and what a better way to start it off is share with you my entry for the Lawn Fawn Catalog Challenge. If you are a regular reader of mine, you know I heart Lawn Fawn...so...with very little time to spare I found the time to come up with this card to submit to their fun challenge. A challenge it was...there were restrictions, like NO patterned paper, and a few certain sets to be the MAIN part of the card. I didn't have only but two of the sets they required, but I made do I think. I made it an even bigger challenge on myself by making it a "clear" card!! First time I've done one!! It was a bit tough, and time consuming, but I think the card turned out cute!! I used Critters in the Burbs - I even used the tree top as the clouds too!!! The sentiment comes from Clear to See. I wanted to show how excited that lil squirrel was to find THE acorn!! HAHA.

So - what do you think??? Wish me luck!!! See ya soon!!

- Kari

Happy New Year!!!

Hi all!! I don't have a project today, but I wanted to pop in real quickly to thank you all for supporting me and my blog in 2011. It was my first full year, and I am thankful to have made some friends through my blog, and paper crafting. I will be having Christmas with my in laws today, since we didn't get to on Christmas, and then Sunday I will be at with my family, including my cousin who is in from Chicago, and I will spend some time with them, eating our black-eyed peas for good luck :)

May all of you have a wonderful 2012 in store, and I will be back for my first post for the New Year!! God Bless!!

Kari

Merry Christmas!!!

I wanted to take this time before heading to my brother's for Christmas to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!! May the love of being with family, and the joy that you see on children's faces this holiday restore the true meaning of Christmas, and why we celebrate this joyous holiday!! God Bless all of you, and I will be back after Christmas!!!!

- Kari

'Tis the season!

Hi all!! My posts have been sparse during this holiday season.  So much to do, and so little time to do it!  I am sure everyone knows what I am referring to.  I wanted to share with you another Christmas card I made.  We are one week away from celebrating Jesus' birth, and I honestly I am trying to get in the true meaning of what Christmas is, but it is being masked by having to tend with work, buying presents ( with lack of funds I might add), paying bills, etc.....I know they are all excuses, but I speak the truth! :)  Nonetheless, I have made several Christmas cards this year, and have sent some, and personally given some.  I think all that have received one is appreciative.  This one was given to my nail tech.  She does a great job tending to my nails every 2 to 3 weeks, and I wanted her card to be special.

The stamp I used and embossed in gold is from Hero Arts.  I added some gems to make the "strings" come alive, and added some self adhesive trim I purchased at Hobby Lobby a few months back.  She loved it! :)

Here are a couple of others I made and sent or gave to someone....

My hubby is always telling me that I should do cards during the holidays that are the same, that I don't always have to make different ones, but you know I did do that too, but I also want to give "special" ones too.  He is supportive either way it goes :)


Before I go, I wanted to share with you all that I received my Gina K. Designs cards back from the card swap I was involved in.  A month ago I share with you the cards I made, and now I wanted you to see what cards I received back.  The hostess gets to keep 1 card from each "spot" - so she kept 3 of mine since I signed up for 3 spots, and one of the cards is displayed at work.  It folds into a "Christmas Tree", so that one is not pictured, but here are the rest...

Ok - that is all from me this evening.  I will try to post once more before Christmas, but if I don't Merry Christmas to all my followers, and readers.  I appreciate you all, and interested in seeing my projects that I create.  All of YOU inspire ME!!  :)

~Kari~

Two weeks away.....

I can't believe that Christmas is almost here.  I would like to say that I am ready and prepared, but I won't kid myself, I'm not!!  I have a bit to go, and will probably come down to the wire before getting into my car with my hubby to drive to my brother's house to travel and celebrate Christmas.  So much to do, so little time.  I am trying to make and finish up my Christmas cards that I want to make for my friends and family that mean the most, and wanted to come and share one of those cards with you today.  It is a relative simple card, but elegant.  I like the simplicity of it, but it packs a beautiful punch too ( if I do say so myself).  I have actually repeated this card a few times because it is so simple, and elegant to send to a couple of friends and family already.  This one I added some mini jingle bells that I bought from SU!, and used the Lost and Found Christmas 6 x 6 paper pad.  The stamp comes from Basic Grey, and the sentiment is from the Holiday Lights set from PTI.

 

I cut the image using my largest scallop Sizzix Die, and the used my circle cutter to cut out the center.  I inked the edges with both barn door and festive berries Distress Ink.  It is all put on a Vintage Cream card base from PTI.   Hope you all are having success in getting ready for Christmas, and soon to come New Year.  I hope you come back when I share with you another paper craft creation!  :)  Thanks for stopping in!!

~Kari~

Mini Sanitizer Holders

Good ( late) Evening - I am back in my second post today to share with you what I created this afternoon.  I had bought up some mini hand sanitizers from Bath and Body Works a few months ago on a sale they were having, and I saw a video by Stampin' Up Demo Dawn from Dawn's Stamping Thoughts.  She is a very popular SU Demo, and once I saw her video on how to make a holder for these hand sanitizers, I wanted to try my hand at them.  So, I finally made the time to do that.  I immediately thought these would make cute little gifts for the holidays, and little stocking stuffers. 

If you would like to try doing these too, here is the link to the video on this project.  Once you get the measurements down, and all your scoring done, you can do this in a assembly line type way.  I made a template for myself to make it even easier, and it goes faster.  I am not the greatest at measurements on a paper cutter or ruler, and I will be the first to admit that, so with that said, if I can do it, you can too!!  They are fun, and right now online at Bath and Body Works, you can do a "Mix and Match" 5 for $5.00 which that would mean the sanitizers would be $1.00 a piece!!  Hope this gives you a nice idea for a small gift idea during this holiday season!!!
Thanks for stopping by!! 

Busy, Busy!

Hi all!
I wanted to quickly share with all of you where I have been since I haven't posted in a about a week.  This week was a busy one at work, and then I celebrated my birthday yesterday ( Dec 3rd) with my hubby, mom and dad.  We had our local craft fair going on this weekend, so I went to that, and saw all of the wonderful creative people and what they have made. There was everything from ornaments, to jellies and jams, to home decor, to leather works.   One of these days, I would like to have a booth at least once, and see how would do. I know it is very time consuming to even prepare for a craft fair, but I would like to give it a shot at least once.  Today (Sun) I am busy in craft room creating some cards, and little goodies for some co-workers.  Our Secret Santa week is this week at work, so I am preparing my gifts for that as well.  I have posted a new video on my YouTube Channel if you all want to check that out, and I am trying to post a new one.  I have been trying since Friday, if you can believe that, but it is 18 min. long, and it is taking a long time to upload, and it stalls, so I am working on trying to get that posted as well.  It is a big haul video, and some goodies I got from my husband for my birthday that he bought from Simon Says Stamp!! 

Anyhoo, that is what has been going on with me the last week.  Like I said I have been crafty today, so I will share with you what I've made soon!!  Thank you all for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day where ever you are in the world!!!  :)


Kari