Doodle Buds for Spring

I finally purchased a Gemini Junior die cut machine and I am having so much fun!  I am not sure why I waited so long!  Previously, I fussy cut everything.  Doodle Buds by WPlus9 is one of my all time favorite stamp sets so it was in my first “die” order.

I started by stamping, coloring and die cutting three blooms. I added some white accents with a gel pen.   I then used a new stamp for the ground, the stripes from Pink & Main’s pattern maker set.  I used Altenew’s Green Apple ink.  This is my first time using this stamp but I really like how it simulated grassy ground.  Next I stamped the stems and leaves for the three floral images and colored.  Then I cut the card using the largest stitched rectangle die (from My Favorite Things A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax set 2) and added the die cut blooms.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

The Flower Challenge Use Your Latest Stamps and Dies. I used plenty of “new” on this card. New Dies:  WPlus9 Doodle Buds, My Favorite Things Stitched Rectangle Dies. New Stamps: Pink&Main Pattern Maker stamp set.

Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies Dies used: WPlus9 Doodle Buds
 and My Favorite Things A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax set 2.

Craft Stamper Take It Make It February Challenge  This is my first time to enter this challenge.  I am very pleased with this card and am excited to share it  in your challenge.

Pile It On February Pink Challenge Always fun to enter!

I really enjoyed making this happy little card and I am so pleased you stopped by to see it!

Karen

WWC208 - Charlotte's "All About Occasions" Challenge

Here at Watercooler Wednesday, we are hosting our  All About Occasions Challenge..  Birthday, Anniversary, Graduation, there are so many themes you can use to enter.

I purchased Gina K's Wreath Builder Stencil a while back and thought it would make a pretty background behind some large blooms from the Create a Smile Botanical Love and In  Bloom stamp sets.  These are two of my “go-to” floral stamp sets.  This is a birthday card for one of my girlfriends.

I stamped the background wreath off center and then trimmed the card base down to 4 x 5 1/4".  Next I stamped, Copic colored and fussy cut the two blooms and adhered with foam tape.  I popped it on a coordinating lavender A2 card and it was ready to send.

I am entering this card in The Create a Smile Friends Challenge.  I made this card for one of my girlfriends.

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

WWC207 - Helen's Feminine "Anything Goes" Challenge

I wanted to try a girly card in slightly non-traditional colors, in this case, oranges and lime greens.  I came up with the idea of a confetti background forming a square with some pattern stamping for the focal point.  I used WPlus9 Doodle Buds, Sunny Studio Tropical Paradise and SSS Beautiful Ride floral stamps.  The sentiment is from Lawn Fawn Year 2 Birthday Turtle.

I colored the images in with Copics and then used the markers to make the confetti background.   I then embellished with tiny gem stones on four of the flowers.

I hope you will stop by Watercooler Wednesdays Challenge to see what the other artists have created.  This week is Feminine Anything Goes which is such a fun prompt.  We would love to see your creation!

I entered this card in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge "Add Some Red".   I used Copic R20 and several shades of yellow-red.

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Baby Shower Card

One of my girlfriends is about to become a grandmother and I wanted to make a card for the shower.  The baby is a little girl to be named London....so cute.

When I saw this Polkadoodles "Hanging Out" stamp , I ordered it that very same day!  I've made three cards so far and I love them all.  For this card I  embossed the image on Bristol cardstock and then used my Tombow Watercolor markers.   Since London is a girl, I thought a pink bunny would be appropriate.   I then hand striped the A2 base card and added some Studio Katia clear drops. This image is so fun to work with.

I am entering this card in the following Challenges:

Polkadoodles Week 5 Anything Goes Challenge  This is my first Polkadoodles stamp and my first time to enter their challenge.

Alphabet "W is for Winged" Challenge I love owls!   We have an owl family that raises their owlets on the column of our front porch every year and we really enjoy watching them.  The owl on this card is just adorable.


Stamping Sensations All Things Bright and Beautiful  This card really personifies the beautiful hymn.
 


613 Avenue Create Challenge  Anything Goes and participating in the Optional Twist of "Critters".


I really enjoyed making this card and  appreciate you stopping by.

Karen

Bright Colorful Pattern Stamping

I have a fondness for pattern stamping, and when I received a new stamp set for Christmas, I thought this brightly colored layout would work well.  I used my new Inkblot Shop This & That stamp set along with images from SSS Hello Friends and Photoplay Thinking of You.

I started by stamping the sentiment (Ranger Letter It Birthday) with Gina K Amalgam on XPress It paper.  I then worked out from the sentiment and stamped the larger images first. Next I went in and filled in with the smaller details.  I colored with Copic markers and added three black sequins.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Addicted to Stamps Anything Goes Challenge


The Twisted Challenge  This is my first time to enter a Twisted Challenge challenge.

• Something Old:  my beloved Copic markers
• Something New:  my new sentiment stamp set from Ranger.  I love the big flowing script!
• Something Gifted:  I received the cute Ink Blot Shop stamp set for Christmas last month.
• Something Blue:  Blue is my favorite color so I've colored some flowers and blueberries blue.  

Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge This is my first time to enter this interesting challenge.

Daring Cardmakers Lots of Color Challenge  This is my first time to enter a Daring Cardmakers challenge, but I LOVE bold bright colors so I thought this prompt was perfect for me!.

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

WWC206 - Anything Goes Challenge

Its time for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and this week is the bonus 5th week of the month so we have our broad "Anything Goes" prompt.  To find out more, please pop on over to the Watercooler Wednesday website.

A while back I watched a Jennifer McGuire video about one layer "Framed Stamping" and thought I would give it a try.  I loved the last card she did where there was coordinating outline stamping outside the frame.  Jennifer McGuire Framed Stamping Video link.

I used the Create the Smile Botanical Love (love that daisy!) and In Bloom sets and then hand drew in the black frame.  For the outline outside the frame I used pink dye ink   I then colored with Copic markers. Pretty effect.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Create a Smile Challenge  L is for (Botanical) LOVE!  Create-a-Smile florals are definitely favorite stamps sets.

Tuesday Throwdown - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Humorous But Masculine Valentine

I wanted to create a valentine that would appeal to men and thought a cute "scene" card featuring two dogs trying to get together in a florist shop would be fun.  One dog is peering out over the window sill as the other dog is using a crate to try and climb inside.

To create my scene, I combined the January 2019 My Monthly Hero kit with two pups from MFT's Lucky Dog stamp set.    I love both sets! First I created a background using Tim Holtz Stamper's Anonymous Bricked Layering Stencil and Simon Says Stamp Hybrid Stone ink.  The stencil was not quite wide enough for the full card so I stenciled the right side and blended toward the middle, then stenciled the left side blending so that my A2 card was fully covered.  I think the bricks turned out well.

Next I stamped (on Xpress It paper), colored (with Copics) and die cut the images with my new Gemini Junior.  I then embossed the sentiment on the window.  Using foam tape, I adhered my scene to the background.                                                                                                                                   

Update:  I am very pleased that this card was selected “Top 5” in the Allsorts Challenge:

And Pile It On Sweet Sprinkles Award.

I think this is a fun card and I am excited to enter it in the following challenges:

A Blog Named Hero Crafter's Choice Challenge I received my January Hero Arts Kit this week and couldn't wait to start playing with it!  I tried to attach the graphic but I received an error message. 

Addicted to Stamps Challenge #325 I was inspired by the Love theme, the hearts & flowers and the colors green, pink and red.

 

Cards In Envy Love Me or My Pets Challenge Love and Pets...what could be a better theme?

Allsorts Make it Masculine Challenge  This is my first time to enter this challenge.  This is the valentine I made for my husband.

Pile it On "Land Animals" Challenge

I hope you enjoy the card...I sure had fun making it!

Karen

WWC205 - Donna's "All About Holidays" Challenge

Handmade Valentine's are such a nice gift and today at Watercooler Wednesday we are creating projects for the holidays.  I came up with a pastel pink Valentine design for my mother.  I feel extremely lucky to still have my 83 year old mom.  She lives a mile away and we see each other often.

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I designed a wreath using the fun elements in SSS's Hello Friends Stamp set. I lightly drew a circle where I wanted the wreath placed and then hand stamped all the cute little elements.  The sentiment is from Forever in Time - Sentiments.  I colored with Copic Markers:  RV04, RV21, RV23, YG01, YG03.  And because my mom likes lots of sparkle, I brushed the flowers with Nuvo Aqua Shimmer, added Nuvo Crystal Drops to the circles and heart and placed three Studio Katia Clear drops on the wreath.

Hop on over to see what the other Watercooler Artists created this week for All About the Holidays.  I hope you will link your creation too.

I am entering my card in: Just us Girls "Pastel" Challenge  I was inspired by the color theme "pastels".

Addicted to Stamps and More #325  I was inspired by the "love" and "pink and green" color themes.


Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

WWC204 - Gail's Masculine "Anything Goes" Challenge

 My nephew plays Lacrosse for Tufts University and he was recently injured and tore his ACL.  He had surgery to repair his knee and I wanted to send him a Get Well card.  He loved the card! I think it is cute with a bit of humor.   Masculine cards are perhaps the trickiest so I knew I wanted to submit this card for WWC204 - Gail's Masculine "Anything Goes" Challenge  Stop by and see what the other artists created and then create your entry.

The dog is from one of my go to stamp sets for Get Well Cards- Art Impressions Doggy Kisses.  I colored the pup with copic markers, added a bit of shadow underneath the dog and mounted on a gray A2 card.

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Square Valentine with Octagonal Insert

I bought the Gina K Wreath Builder template a while back and thought it would be fun to use for a valentine.  Instead of rotating an 1/8th of a turn each time, I skipped and did quarter turns.  I started by stamping the cute birds from Photoplay Thinking of You. Then, in the areas in between the birds,  I used the template again and stamped hearts and butterflies from a stamp set I received for Christmas (Inkblot Shop This & That).  This card is for my mother-in-law and she loves birds and butterflies. 

After coloring with Copic markers, I was very happy with the panel, but I wondered how it would look with the four corners clipped.  I was a bit nervous but went ahead and loved the octagonal result.   I mounted on a square 4" x 4" hot pink card base.  I wanted a vintage feel like the small valentines we used to exchange as kids.

Copic colors used:  RV 4, RV 23, Y06, Y08, R35 and BG11.

I am entering my valentine in the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More Holiday Challenge  This week I made two valentine's and Addicted so Stamps Holiday Challenge called to my designs. 


Time Out Loving Challenge This week I was ready to work on Valentine's so the "loving" theme was perfect for me.



The Card Concept Pink Party Challenge   I was inspired by the gorgeous hot pink, white and black color scheme and the butterflies on the table runner. 

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

WWC203 - Karen's "All About Occasions" Challenge

Let The Bliss Begin!  My daughter just got married and this is the card I made for her shower.  I thought it was appropriate for my first time hosting a challenge for Watercooler Wednesday.

I bought this stamp set (Colorplay) at a card making expo. I embossed the delicate image in a glossy black and colored with Copic markers.  I also embossed the sentiment (SSS Floral Bliss) "Let The Bliss Begin".  I mounted this panel on a nice thick gray note card and then added a white insert inside.  My daughter loved the card.  :-)

Our Watercooler Artists have some lovely cards showcased this week...pop on over and take a look!

I entered my card in:

Stamping Sensations Fabulously Feminine Challenge  What is more feminine than a bridal shower card?

Crafty Creations Anything Goes Challenge  This is my first time entering this challenge. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen