Handsome Mutt Handmade Card

My daughter adopted a rescue mutt.   Tank is a very handsome dog, but since he is not a purebred I had not been able to find a stamp that looks like him.  At a Craft Convention I found Friends4Cookie by Stamps of Life and bought the set immediately, because Cookie looks like Tank.  So, of course I wanted to make a card for my daughter.

Adorable Mixed Breed Mutt

Since Tank is a reddish brown color, I thought a bright background would make the card more interesting.  I used distress ink mini cubes and a wide flat brush to paint a messy rainbow brushstroke background.

I stamped and colored Cookie/Tank, fussy cut the image and then went along the edge with a brown Copic so he wouldn't have a white edge.  I thought the sentiment was cute so I fussy cut and mounted it as well.

I am entering this card in Card Concepts Colorful Basics Challenge
I was drawn to the rainbow stripes in the inspiration photo.  I think my card fits best in the Clean and Layered category.


Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

CAS Floral Card

 My daughter is getting married this month and my sister is hosting a Bridesmaid's luncheon for Kristen.  I wanted to make a thank you card to go with the hostess gift.  I had a Catherine Scanlon (Clara Paisley) stamp set that I hadn't used yet so I decided to play with it.  I was VERY pleased with the clean and simple finished card. 

I found a Copic color scheme that I really like:  V04, B02 and YG01.  Just three colors and very easy to stamp, color and duplicate.

I am looking forward to giving this card to my sister.

I am entering this card in:
CAS #141 Flowers Challenge

Addicted to Stamps Clean and Simple Challenge


Muse Card Challenge #282.  I focused on:

• The floral theme
• Simple color palette 
• CAS design.

Pause Dream Enjoy Challenge


Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Handmade Get Well Card

Its time to replenish my stash of homemade get well cards.

I started by making a background with a stencil and Distress Ink and then stamped the Feel Better sentiment.  Next, I stamped and colored four images from Lawn Fawn's Get Well Soon set.  I fussy cut the images, topped the red lids with Nuvo Crystal Glaze for some shine and used foam squares to adhere them to the card base.

My color inspiration came from the current Color Throw Down #509 challenge, which uses vibrant red, orange and blue.  Update:  I was pleased to see this card featured on the Color Throwdown site!



I think the result is a cheery little card.

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Celebrate

Aren't celebrations wonderful?  I made two similar cards, one for graduation (purple and white are the school colors) and one for a friend who was promoted and being transferred.  I loved ending with "see you later" at the bottom.   I dug through all my sentiments and selected the ones I thought appropriate  I decided a rainbow cascade of sentiments would be festive and fun so I started with purple and worked my way down.

 To add a little extra interest, I used distress ink to make a purple accent strip along the right edge.  I then added some sequins and gems to finish the card.  I am happy with the way the cards turned out and think I will try something similar again in the future because it is always surprising how many graduation cards I need every year.

I am entering the cards in the:

Just Us Girls Celebrate Challenge

Watercooler Anything Goes Challenge

Addicted To Stamps Make Your Mark

UPDATE:  I was pleased to learn that this card was selected as a Watercooler Rocker!

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Bright Welcome Card

In June, I entered The Dare2B Artzy Bold Colors Challenge and I won some lovely prizes. I selected The Home Sweet Home stamp set, which is fun and whimsical.

My mother-in-law just moved to an Assisted Living Senior Center and I wanted to make her a cheery welcome card so I started by embossing the homes, trees and sentiment in black.    Next, I picked out my favorite bright bold watercolor marker pens and started adding color.

This was my first time using Bristol paper but the watercolors worked great!  I am happy with the result and my mother-in-law has the card displayed on her book case.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Dare2B Artzy Anything Goes Challenge

 

Time Out Bright Challenge



Addicted To Stamps Anything Goes Challenge



Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

"Hang In There" Encouragement Card

I ordered the cutest stamp set from Tiddly Inks.  Today, I made two encouragement cards for friends with cancer but I can see this as a fun birthday card too.  I love the included sentiment "hang in there".


















I colored the images with Copic markers and mounted on a card base.  The little girl was so fun to color!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Muse Card Challenge #280.  I was inspired by the yellow birds siting on a tree branch.



Addicted to Stamps Anything Goes Challenge



Time Out Bright Challenge



UPDATE:  So pleased to report that this card was voted  a "Featured Card" on the Muse Card Challenge #280!

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Puffer Fish

Tri-color Puffer Fish birthday card. This is a versatile card that I think would be perfect for a beach loving girlfriend or child's birthday.  I love the happy whimsical fish from The Hero Arts I Am Puffer For You Stamp set.

I mounted three fish on an acrylic block and hand stamped the pattern.  I knew I wanted to use three colors so I next worked out which fish would be which color.  I didn't want stripes of color so I went with the combination above.  I then heat embossed the sentiments on gravel cardstock and loosely fussy-cut the words.  I then mounted the base on a "gravel" colored card from Paper Source.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Paper Sweeties 6th Birthday Challenge

Pause Dream Enjoy #33

Sunny Day Animal Challenge

Always Happy Birthday "Water" Challenge

UPDATE:  I am very pleased my card received "Top Pick" Honors at Pause Dream and Enjoy!


Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Masculine Get Well Card

I needed some more Get Well cards for men and decided this statement sentiment (Ranger Letter It Greetings) would be fun paired with the birds from SSS's Stacking Animals.  I thought the baby bird hanging upside added a light element to the card. I mounted my card base on a "gravel" colored card to add to the masculine theme.

Sunday Stamps has a Summer Splash Color Challenge and I used their color palette as my inspiration.

I love Watercooler Wednesday's prompts and am also entering this card in their Masculine Card Challenge.

Since this card features animals, I am also entering it in the current Sunny Day Challenge.

This is a CAS card and I wanted it bold so I embossed the sentiment and birds in a glossy black and then colored with Copic markers.  So fast and easy as I only used three colors:  B24, B29 and YR07.

UPDATE:  I was pleased to see this card was selected as a "Watercooler Rocker"!


Thanks for stopping by,

Karen

Watercolor Tea Cup Card

I went to a Card Convention in June and bought several fun new stamp sets.  This one is Catherine Scanlon Stacked.  I have a friend who loves tea and I thought this would make the perfect Birthday card for her.

I love fancy little teacups so I decided to emboss the cups in gold on Bristol paper.  I did a google search for teacups and used the results as inspiration for my color palette.  I painted with watercolor markers and then added an embossed sentiment on contrasting black cardstock.

I really enjoyed making this card and think I will try a Get Well card next.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Time Out Food and Drink Challenge



Watercooler Wednesday Feminine Challenge

 

Seize the Birthday Water Challenge (tea is made with water and the card is water-colored)



Always Happy Birthday Water Challenge (tea is made with water and the card is water-colored)

Update:  My teacups were chosen as "Watercooler Rockers"!


Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Handmade Wedding Card

My daughter is getting married in our backyard in September so I wanted to make a handmade card with seasonal color.  I LOVE The Concord and 9th Happy Day stamp set.

I silver embossed the cake and sentiment on watercolor paper and then watercolored with Daniel Smith watercolors.  I love the bright vibrant colors.  

It was cloudy while I was photographing so I thought I would try some outdoor shots.  Nontraditional for cards, but I like them.

My inspiration for the orange flower came from Just us Girls Challenge #451

I frequently enter the Addicted to Stamp Challenge as I like their prompts.  This week is "Make Your Mark". 

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Handmade Halloween Card

My daughter is getting married in September so I am getting an early start on Halloween cards.  I think this Art Impressions image is so fun!

I embossed the haunted house and then colored with vividly hued watercolor markers.  I also made a coordinating envelop from a Penny Black Halloween stamp set.

I am entering this card in:

Watercooler Wednesday Holiday Challenge



Addicted to Stamps Make Your Mark



Update:
I was very excited to learn that my Halloween card was chosen as a "Watercooler Rocker". 



Thanks for stopping by!

Karen