sweet sunday sketch winner

Hello again! I love it when I can pop on here more than once a day and say hello. It's time to announce this week's SSSC winner....................................

Random.org has chosen #6 - Sanwanya!

I really like the way she has incorporated the background paper into her circles and all the fun colors she used. Congrats Sanwanya! Please hop on over to her blog, Little Bit of This and That and say hi - she has some really cute projects over there.

Thank you all so much for participating this week - I know it was a tough sketch with all of those dreaded circles. Next week I'll be more kind :)

Karen

a little of this, little of that

Hello! Today's card uses several sets, which makes me chuckle a bit - I just couldn't make it easy on myself for this one, haha! The silhouette is from the hostess set Kind & Caring Thoughts, the sentiment is from just a portion of a stamp from Eight Great Greetings, and the circle border is from Circle Circus. I think this is the first time I've used Circle Circus, can you believe that? I orderd it from the Demonstrator pre-order and those poor stamps were neglected until today. I'm bringing Maine Blueberries back out of the retirement bin for a breath of fresh air too. I will be SO sad when I cut my last piece of that delicious paper. I used Amy's Friday Sketch for this lovely layout today too.

Have a wonderful day!
Karen


recipe -
stamps: kind & caring thoughts, eight great greetings, circle circus
ink: old olive, not quite navy
paper: bashful blue, not quite navy, old olive, whisper white card stock, maine blueberries dsp
accessories: old olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, flower punches (ek success), scallop punch, 1-3/8" & 1-1/4" & 1/4" circle punches, vintage brads, stampin dimensionals

trendy trees indeed

Hello! There is a hot new look on the papercrafting scene and that is using buttons with your main image and I'm jumping on the bandwagon and adapting one of my absolute favorite sets, Trendy Trees, for this look. Isn't it fun? The layout is SC238 at Splitcoaststampers and I wanted a uniform look for the trees, so I just stamped them all alike. I used new paper from the Tall Tales dsp pack and made it easy for me by using the clouds which were already printed on the paper. Super simple card to make if you are looking for something quick.

Have a great afternoon (or morning) -
Karen


recipe -
stamps: trendy trees
ink: close to cocoa, old olive
paper: so saffron, old olive, whisper white card stock, tall tales dsp
accessories: playground designer buttons, 5/8" certainly celery grosgrain ribbon, white embroidery thread, 1-1/4" square punch, square scallop punch, stampin' dimensionals

a little mojo

I had a chance to make a card for this week's MOJO sketch and this was another fun sketch to work with. I broke open some new Designer Series paper, Thoroughly Modern, and went to town. The colors in this pack are Rose Red, Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede, and Sahara Sand and I think I'm becoming quite partial to Bermuda Bay - love that color!

Just a quick post today - thanks for stopping by!
Karen


recipe -
stamps: beautiful kindness (verve stamps)
ink: bermuda bay, rose red
paper: bermuda bay, rose red, soft suede, whisper white card stock, thoroughly modern dsp
accessories: soft suede 1/2" polka-dot grosgrain ribbon, 5/8" neutrals jumbo brads, circle/scallop nestabilities (spellbinders), photo corners punch, stampin' dimensionals

deal of the week

Deal of the Week: Heart to Heart Punch

You're going to LOVE our Heart to Heart punch, especially July 27-31 when it's just $10.99—that's more than 30% off the regular price of $15.95!

Throughout July, be sure to check my web site every Monday for the week's new deal. Click the SHOP NOW button in the top right-hand corner.

Enjoy!
Karen

new hardware!

So did you jump at the chance to purchase the Stylized Vanilla Hogdgepodge? I just got mine in the mail Friday and finally had some time this afternoon to break it out, woohoo! I also used Cottage Wall paper for the first time and it's one of my favorite new papers from the new catty. I was having some "tired of the same paper all the time" woes, and I'm so happy to have new colors to use.

Thank you all for your handy organizing tips - I'm working on something and if it works out I'll post it for you.

Don't forget to check out this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch too!

Karen



recipe -
stamps: razzle dazzle, amazing to zany
ink: rich razzleberry, old olive
paper: rich razzleberry, old olive, very vanilla card stock, cottage wall dsp
accessories: stylized vanilla hodgepodge hardware, flower fusion accents and elements, stampin' dimensionals

sweet sunday sketch challenge #28

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use Mr. Linky down at the end of my post to enter your card. On Thursday at 10 PM (Mountain Time), I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog. So, as long as your card is linked in the Mr. Linky box by 10 PM Thursday, your card will be in the drawing. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC28 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

cupcake friday

Hi! It has been SOOOOO long since I've played along in Taylor's Cupcake Challenge and I'm so thrilled I could get a card done this morning before leaving for a little retreat with some very fun girls. I used the July Key Ingredients for this card - I am loving this kit and I know I always say that, but this is such a cute one! I stamped the cuppies from Downtown Diva in Memento rich cocoa and colored them with Copics (seems like that red got away from me a little bit there, hee). I really liked this sketch and I'll have to use it again - super fun and super quick.

The July Key Ingredients kit has been SO popular that it is temporarily sold out. To be notified when the kits are available, CLICK HERE and add your email address.

Well, I'm off to pack my things - have a great weekend and I'll see you back Sunday (my sketch might be late though - I didn't plan ahead and will have to whip one up Sunday afternoon)

Karen



recipe -
stamps: downtown diva (taylored expressions)
ink: memento rich cocoa, copic markers
paper: baby blue medium prism, classic red prism, choice buttercream card stock, early bird (cosmo cricket) - all part of taylored expressions july key ingredients
accessories: circle/scallop nestabilities (spellbinders), blue twill ribbon, small/large oval punches (su), stampin' dimensionals

sweet sunday sketch winner

Hello again! I'm back to announce this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch winner - Random.org has chosen...............................

#44 - Michelle!



Isn't Michelle's card just adorable? I love all the elements Michelle added to her card - the border punches, ribbon, bling, very fun paper... all of it! Head on over to Michelle's blog, Stamp and Smile and say hello; she has some gorgeous cards!

One more thing - I made the SSSC badge transparent and there is new HTML for the logo. Just click the "Want this badge?" link and then you can copy the HTML to your blog. The old logo link isn't working anymore, so you might want to update it if you have the old one. :)

Want this badge?

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

super simple

Hi! I'm trying to organize ALL of my paper, what a task that is turning out to be. I'm so overwhelmed with it all and am not entirely sure how to organize it - by paper packet, by color, by retired/not retired??? Any suggestions? What works best for you? Right now, mine is all in those little paper holders SU sells and it's a jumbled mess, even with the dividers, lol!

edited: I guess I should have said it is my designer paper that is a disaster, lol! My card stock is organized in hanging files - the scraps are in a file folder and the whole sheets are behind it, all inside a hanging file. My designer paper is in the paper holders and all over the place - so I'm all ears in hearing what you have done to organize your designer paper :) I've heard that it is easier to organize your designer paper by color, not DSP packs and I'm wondering if this is the direction I need to go in? When I need a piece of Old Olive patterned paper, it would be easier to go to my Green bin instead of sorting through all the paper packs, right? Sigh... I don't know what to do... Like I said, I'm all ears.

So I took a little break from the chaos and whipped up a really super simple card. This card took me about 5 minutes, seriously! It's taking way more time to photograph it and post it than it did to make it and clean up - that never happens to me.

I started off by running my card stock through the Cuttlebug with the biggest square Nestabilities and then used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to postition the tree and sentiment. I stamped the tree in Close To Cocoa and then colored the leaves in Old Olive. D-O-N-E!

Have a fabulous day! I'll be back tonight with the winner of this week's sketch challenge - you still have 10 hours to finish yours, *wink*.

Karen


recipe -
stamps: thoughts & prayers
ink: close to cocoa, old olive
paper: kraft card stock
accessories: square nestabilities

thank{you}

Hi! I'm back for the third day in a row! Maybe I'm getting back into the swing of things around here, finally... I have another Clean & Simple sketch for you - this on is FTL51 and I love this sketch. The little curly label layer really adds something to the card. Ok, off to make more for you to see later *wink*.

Have a fantastic day!
Karen



recipe -
paper: sahara sand, whisper white cardstock, retired valentines dsp, soft sky prints dsp (retired)
accessories: daiquiri thickers (american crafts), card sayings rub-ons (making memories), flower fusion felt flowers, sherbet designer buttons, labels one nestabilities (spellbinders), white thread

july key ingredients challenge

Good morning! Today, Taylor has challenged some of the Baker's Dozen to create a home decor item or housewarming gift using the July Key Ingredients kit. The minute I saw the kit, I was SUPER excited to start crafting with it - it is SO cute! The paper this month is from Cosmo Cricket {Early Bird} and the colors are so trendy!

When I saw all the flower chipboard pieces in the kit, I instantly thought of making a little flower bouquet, but wondered what I should do with it. Do I add buttons to the centers, or brads, or bows....? oh hey, I'll put photos of my precious little ones in the centers and make a fun little gift for one of the Grandmas. I looked up some quotations about grandmothers online and I found this one, which is so perfect, "A garden of love grows in a grandmother's heart." ~ unknown. I used Photoshop Elements to make my sentiment and printed it on Choice Buttercream cardstock and added it to the chipboard center of the big oval flower. To add the paper to the chipboard I used Tombo Multi Adhesive and then cut the shapes out with a hobby blade. I used a precision file set to smooth out the edges. Here is a new product for me - Liquid Pearls! I added little drops of Liquid Pearls in the petals of the big round flower and I have to say that I'm very disappointed in myself for not using this marvelous embellishment before. Love it! This is why I love these monthly kits - they introduce me to new products! I used sticky strip to wrap more paper around pencils and then tied the stitched olive ribbon around the stem to make it look like the leaves. What do you think? I just can't decide which grandma to give this to now - might have to make another one, haha.

Don't forget to sign up for the 3-month or 6-month KI subscription - you can get your Key Ingredients delivered right to your doorstep at a discounted price!

Want to see more fantastic projects? Check out the rest of the Baker's Dozen participants for this month's challenge.

Ana Wohlfahrt
Charmaine Ikach
Donna Baker
Jodi Collins
Laura Fredrickson
Taylor VanBruggen

Thanks for stopping by today!
Karen


recipe -
paper: choice buttercream cardstock (taylored expressions), early bird paper (cosmo cricket)
accessories: {flower chipboard, lemon yellow liquid pearls, olive stitched grosgrain ribbon, olive satin ribbon, all from july key ingredients - taylored expressions}, sherbet buttons (stampin' up!), ecru embroidering floss, pencils, sticky strip, mini glue dots, precision file set (basic grey)

sweet sunday sketch challenge #27

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use Mr. Linky down at the end of my post to enter your card. On Thursday at 10 PM (Mountain Time), I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog. So, as long as your card is linked in the Mr. Linky box by 10 PM Thursday, your card will be in the drawing. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC27 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

I have been in the worst slump - no motivation to stamp, just a case of the blahs... BUT - I got some new paper, a new punch, new ribbon, new die cut and hey, my mojo is returning and not a moment too late! I ordered the new butterfly punch from the new catty, along with the little leaves die cut and just had to use them first thing. I really like how the leaves are kind of muted in the background and really let the butterfly pop. It feels SO good to stamp again and be happy with what comes of it. Whew!

Now it's your turn - have fun!
Karen


recipe -
stamps: trendy trees
ink: pumpkin pie
paper: so saffron, whisper white cardstock, tall tales dsp, pumpkin pie patterns dsp
accessories: elementary ribbon originals, taylor's tiny twinkles (taylored expressions), butterfly punch, little leaves sizzlits die, circle/scallop nestabilities (spellbinders), stampin' dimensionals

sweet sunday sketch winner

It's time to announce this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch winner.... Random.org has chosen #41, Natasha! She actually made 2 wonderful cards for her post, that girl was on a roll. Congrats Natasha!! Hop on over to her blog, Natasha's Creations, and see all of her super cute cards.

So I messed up for this sketch and forgot to change the deadline back to Thursday, OOOPS! So this next challenge will be closed on it's regular day, Thursday, but I've kept the time at 10PM.

See you back very shortly for the next challenge - it's a good one, don't miss out!

Karen

paper & ribbon share update

The ribbon and paper shares were dropped in the mail earlier this morning, so be peeking in your mailbox in a few days.

Thanks to everyone who placed an order, now we all have new paper to play with!

Have a great day!
Karen

adding a watermark using GIMP

I have a watermark tutorial for you today and I want to show you how to layer a watermark on top of a photo using a free program called GIMP. If you are wanting a decent photo editing program, this is a good place to start - you can download it at http://www.gimp.org/.

When you open GIMP, this is what it looks like. It layers on top of your desktop.


First, you'll need to open your photograph as well as your watermark.


Select your watermark and you will see it in the layers bin on the right of your screen. Click on the watermark layer in the layers bin and drag it over your photograph.


The watermark will now be in the center (most likely) of your photo.


To move the watermark, click on the 'move' tool in the toolbox. I have it selected here.


Make sure the "move selected layer" button is marked and then click and drag your watermark to move it.


To make your watermark larger (or smaller), click on the 'scale' tool in the toolbox. I have it selected here.


Be sure to select the "keep aspect" button at the bottom of the toolbox and then click on the corner of your watermark. This dialog box will appear.


Click "Scale" in the dialog box once your watermark is at the size you like.


Go to File: Save. Be sure to select "Flatten Image" in the dialog box. Click 'Export'.


Now you can click "Save".


I hope you find this tutorial helpful.


Enjoy!
Karen

Christmas in July blog hop

Happy Wednesday! I'm having a little "Christmas in July" today and showing you a little peek at a new product over at Taylored Expressions - Perfect Packages. These amazing little boxes come in different sizes, and now they come in the perfect size to hold the standard A2 size cards! I love putting card sets together, and this incredibly sturdy box really gives the set a professional & classy look. The best part is you don't need any adhesive to assemble it! AND it stays closed by a single magnet clasp in the front - how cool is that? Hop on over to Taylor's blog to find out how you can win your very own set of Perfect Packages! Taylor is also running a special on all Christmas stamps - get them for 20% off from July 15-25!

I thought it would be fun to decorate my box to look like a Christmas gift, all wrapped up, waiting for someone to pull the ribbon. I made quick and easy cards to fit inside - I have 10 cards and 10 envelopes sitting in this box and look how cute they look in there - you could even decorate a set of 10 cards with more layers and embellishments and they would still fit nicely inside!

I used Season of Joy to make my little poinsettia flowers and then added a few drops of Christmas Red Stickles to give the centers just a little pop. This is an excellent way to cut down your cost when mass producing cards. One little bottle of Stickles lasts a LONG time. Love that stuff.

The Baker's Dozen have created more examples for you to peek at today - go check them out.

Jodi Collins
Charmaine Ikach
Ana Wohlfahrt
Karen Motz
Sankari Wegman
Laura Fredrickson
Jami Sibley
Taylor Van Bruggen
Donna Baker
Dawn Easton
and special guest, Rachel Sztonyk


recipe -
stamps: season of joy (stampin' up!)
ink: cranberry crisp
paper: kraft, old olive, cranberry crisp, whisper white cardstock, retired holiday paper
accessories: christmas red stickles, old olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, cranberry crisp stitched grosgrain ribbon, rectangle/scallop nestabilities (spellbinders), perfect packages (taylored expressions), stampin' dimensionals

deal of the week

There is a new Deal of the Week around town and this one is a steal of a deal! Today through July 19th, you can order some fabulous Square Fire Rhinestone Brads for only $6.99. Click on the icon in my left sidebar and you'll be linked dirctly to my demonstrator website - click SHOP NOW in the upper right corner.

sweet sunday sketch challenge #26

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use Mr. Linky down at the end of my post to enter your card. On Saturday at 10 PM (Mountain Time), I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog. So, as long as your card is linked in the Mr. Linky box by 10 PM Saturday, your card will be in the drawing. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC26 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

Is it just me, or does this sketch look a wee bit like an old TV? I just can't get it out of my head! I should have made a card that looked like Tivo, haha! I haven't stamped in a little while and I needed a jump start to my mojo - so I picked my new favorite color combo {garden green, certainly celery, and regal rose} and one of my favorite stamp sets {Cheep Talk} and went to it.

Now it is your turn - have fun!
Karen


recipe -
stamps: cheep talk
ink: garden green, certainly celery, regal rose
paper: garden green, regal rose, very vanilla cardstock, banbury dsp {retired}
accessories: certainly celery 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, 5/16" neutrals brads, stampin' dimensionals

sweet sunday sketch winner

Happy Saturday! Has this week gone by extremely fast, or is it just me? I have not had a chance to even play in my own sketch challenge this week - what is wrong with me? LOL! I have quite a few irons in the fire, so to speak, so bear with me here while my blog is quiet.

But I do have a fun announcement right now - this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge winner is....

Vicki!!

Isn't her card just gorgeous? I love the distressed flowers and especially the crimped leaves - I wondered how those were made, so thanks Vicki for spilling the secret and giving us all a new reason to break out that paper crimper again!

You can find more of Vicki's wonderful creations on her blog, It's A Stamp Thing.

I promise to make a card with this week's sketch and also hop around to see all of your cards this weekend sometime. Busy, busy, busy... The next sketch will be up a little bit later on Sunday, so don't panic if you don't see it at the usual time.

~Karen

check it out!

Happy Friday! I've got a cute little somethin' for you over at the Stamp A Sweet Impression blog - go check it out and tell me what you think.

~Karen

Ribbon/Paper Shares update

I am wanting to order the paper and ribbon for the Ribbon & Paper Shares soon, and I have open spots. I think I will close the Ribon & Paper Shares after this order since they have been difficult to fill, (or at least the paper has been), so now is your chance to get your selection.

I would like to order these over the weekend. Here is the tally so far and what is available...

DSP #1 {Returning & New papers}
1. Carrie S
2. Julee T
3. Open
4. Open
5. Open
6. Open
7. Open
8. Open

DSP #2 {New papers only}
1. Sandi B
2. Stephanie K
3. Karen Z
4. Open
5. Open
6. Open
7. Open
8. Open

Ribbon {New In Colors Polka Dot ribbon}
1. Sandi B
2. Miriam D
3. Linda P
4. Karen Z
5. Open

Possible Group 2 and 3 for ribbon??
1. Open
2. Open
3. Open
4. Open
5. Open

Deal of the week! Click on my sidebar to check out the details.

URGH!!!!

I just got home from my little mini vacation and my blog posts I had scheduled never posted - ugh!! Blogger...

Anyway - If you have been wondering where the SSSC is for this week, it's now in the post below with a special guest stamper. I'll extend the deadline to Saturday 10 PM Mountain. Sorry gang!

I'll be working on my sample shortly - but first I must attack this gigantic pile of vacation laundry....

Have fun!
Karen

sweet sunday sketch challenge #25 & a guest stamper

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use Mr. Linky down at the end of my post to enter your card. On Saturday at 10 PM (Mountain Time), I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog. So, as long as your card is linked in the Mr. Linky box by 10 PM Saturday, your card will be in the drawing. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC25 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

I'm enjoying a little time away in the gorgeous Rocky Mountains with my family - Ahhh, the fresh air will surely bring some fantastic creativity home with me. While I'm away, the fabulous Sarah-Jane Kale' is making a surprise guest appearance on my blog with this gorgeous sample! Hop on over to her blog and say hello and get all the details for her card - then sit down, grab a cuppa joe and stamp the day away. I'll be back to post the winner as well as my version of the sketch on Thursday.

Have a great day!
Karen

sweet sunday sketch winner

Hello! It's time to announce this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch winner...... Random.org has chosen #31, Deb! She has made an amazing, clean & simple masculine card which I love! Congrats Deb! Please hop on by her blog, Artfetlt Impressions, and give her some love. She has some amazing cards there - Love your clean style, Deb!

the new CATTY is here!

Are you as excited about July 1st as I am!? The new Stampin' Up! catalog is here and current and ready to be loved on! To kick off the summer, every week in July Stampin' Up! has a Deal of the Week - I know!!! It's awesome. This week's deal is the Scallop Egdge Punch and if you have been waiting to get this fabulous punch, now is the PERFECT time to order it. I think I use this punch in about 95% of my projects, so it has been well worth the purchase.

To browse the new catty and make a purchase, check out my demonstrator website and click SHOP NOW in the upper right-hand corner.

Also, I don't have enough people to order our ribbon and paper share just yet. I'll update you next week and please email me to get on the list.

Enjoy the new catty!

Karen