Stamping with Karen

Spring Ahead: Daylight Saving Time Starts March 14 at 2:00 am

 

For a reminder for all of us to "Spring Ahead" tonight to Daylight Saving Time (apparently it is Daylight SAVING time and not SavingS time!) I decided to make a bright and springy card!  It's just a little 3x3 card, but it is one of those things that once I made it I just loved it and want to make some more!  It's a happy card, as my friend would say.  I stamped the flowers from the Happy Moments Sale-A-Bration set (you can get it free with a $50 purchase!) with Black Stazon Ink and watercolored with my Aquapainter and ink refill bottles!  So easy....and you don't have to be perfect with watercoloring....in fact, it enhances the look to let your color get outside the lines.  I added some Melon Mambo ribbon (that will make you happy if nothing else!) and punched the corner with the new Scallop Trim Corner Punch in the Occasions Mini.  Sweet and fun!

So when you go to bed tonight, set your clocks ahead an hour (at least in most US states)...so if it is 10 pm set your clocks to 11 pm.....and they recommend checking the batteries in your smoke alarm at the same time as you change your clocks.

If you would like to make this project and many others, email me or use the online ordering button in the upper right corner of my blog!

Houston Azalea Trail

We enjoyed the Azalea Trail yesterday in River Oaks!  We only went to the four private homes.  There are three other sites to see, but we have visited those before.  While you can walk through the homes (my favorite part!), you can't take photos inside so these are only from the gardens outside.  Unfortunately, we didn't see any azaleas blooming at these homes, but we did see some in another part of the neighborhood.  It's a lovely area to drive around in and see the many mansions and beautiful homes.

Here are a few photos. You should be able to click on them to enlarge.

 

 

Love this picture!! Reminds me of a retired Stampin' Up! stamp!

 

 

I don't know WHAT in the world this is!  Looks like a brain!

Not my backyard!

Gorgeous tulips!

 

Shouldn't we all have a front door like this?! 
        
 
  

 
 

River Oaks Azalea Trail Time!

The Azalea Trail Home and Garden Tour in Houston put on by the River Oaks Garden Club begins today.  It used to be two weekends, but now it is just one.  It's a fun thing to do if the weather is nice.....beautiful homes and lovely gardens to see.  Even inside the homes are beautiful floral arrangements made by the garden club ladies.  We always enjoy going!  We don't have any azaleas blooming yet at our house so I hope we see some today on the trail.  In the meantime, here are some azaleas I stamped on a card!

  

I stamped the flowers from Fifth Avenue Floral (#113734) with Black Stazon Ink (#101406) and colored in and shaded with my Watercolor Wonder Crayons (color families on IB&C page 154) and Aquapainter (#103954).  I LOVE using the Watercolor Crayons but hadn't used them in awhile.....so relaxing to just color and not worry how good it is!  I even used some gray to shade outside the flowers.  It's likely not artistically perfect, but that is the nice part of watercoloring.....you can be a little sloppy and off!  Still looks decent!  For the flower stems, I punched out the branch and leaf from the Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch (#117191).  On some branches I cut off the leaves and put them where I wanted them on other parts of the branch.  That punch is so versatile!  You should have one!

If you want to purchase any Stampin' Up! products, just visit my Online Store!  If you would like to learn how to make a card like this, please contact me!  Or sign up for my stamping newsletter and get on my mailing list!  The box is in the upper left corner.

For information about the River Oaks Azalea Trail, just click on the link.  See you there!

 

Mini Milk Carton Birdhouse

Here is my first attempt at a little birdhouse made from the Mini Milk Carton Die (#117310) for the Big Shot.  It was so fun to make and there's lots of room for creativity!  I punched the hole with the 1" Circle Punch (#109046), the bird and branch with the new Extra-Large Two-Step Bird Punch (#117191), and the little flower with the Trio Flower Punch (#109183).  For the roof you can use any of the new border punches in the Occasions Mini or the Scallop Edge Punch.....or leave it plain.  Try it, you'll love making one!

  

 

A Mother's Day Card for You

 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Stamp Set:  Holidays and Wishes

Cardstock:  Blush Blossom CS, Walk in the Park Designer Series Paper, Vellum Cardstock, Whisper White CS, Cameo Coral CS

Ink:  Cameo Coral

Accessories:  Stampin' Up! Manhattan Flower Textured Impressions Die (you gotta have this!), Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon

 

Glittered Fifth Avenue Floral

Today I came across the Valentine card my husband gave me and remembered that I always wanted to use it as inspiration for a stamped card.  Here is the Valentine:

 

Everyone lately has been playing with this gorgeous stamp set, Fifth Avenue Floral, and the coordinating Textured Impressions Die for the Big Shot.  Although it isn't how I originally thought I would "copy" the valentine card, this is what I came up with:

 

I think it was the "glitteriness" of the sequins on the card that made me think about using the new "Fine Supernova Stampin' Glitter" on page 180 of the Idea Book & Catalog.  I first embossed with the "Manhattan Flower Textured Impressions Die" on page 202 (which is pretty enough by itself on any paper!) and then used the "2-Way Glue Pen" to trace all the lines of the embossed flowers (okay, that takes a little patience and you can't do it perfectly, but you can do it!)  I sprinkled on the Pink Supernova Glitter, shook it off, and then went back in to touch up a few missed spots.  This glitter is very fine, so it is a little difficult to get it completely off your paper where you don't want it.  I found a small watercolor brush to work pretty well.  As you can see, there are still some specks of glitter.  But I think after awhile it will probably drop off.  The sentiment is from "Great Friend" in the Occasions Mini.

Here is the inside of the card since the card base is Basic Black:

 

I just stamped the flower with Pink Passion ink.

The "Manhattan Flower" die was not available until March in the new Idea Book & Catalog, so you may have overlooked it.  You will really want to put it on your next order because it is a beauty!

Fun with a Tree on Arbor Day: A Rub On Tutorial

Happy Arbor Day!  This just shows that any holiday is a good day to make a card!  And with Stampin' Up! a "tree" holiday is an easy one because we have some great stamp sets with trees.  "Lovely As A Tree" is an old one but still very much loved.  A new stamp set I think is very fun is "Branch Out"....you can stamp any color leaves and it comes with the cutest little accessories to place on or around the tree if you want.  "Thoughts and Prayers" has a beautiful tree in it.  "Trendy Trees" is another cute set!

Today I chose to play with the new "Bright Delights" rub ons on page 172 of the Idea Book & Catalog.  You will notice that they are the only set in color!  Rub ons are so much fun you can hardly stop with one once you get started!  I made this card using only rub ons, no stamping.  It only took about ten minutes.  So easy!

                                  Bright Delights Rub Ons

 

 

Cut out the rub on you want to use from your sheet.

 

Remove the backing sheet, place the rub on on your cardstock and rub with the "tool" (popsicle stick!).  You can almost see the image change just a tiny bit.  Peel rub on off carefully peeking underneath to make sure you didn't miss a spot.

Get Stamping on Earth Day!

                       Trendy Trees and Walk in the Park Designer Series Paper

Today, April 22, is Earth Day, a day to think about how we take care of the planet.  If you would like to celebrate Earth Day with some paper crafting and stamping, here are some ideas:

Recycle a tin can by covering it with Designer Series Paper and using it for a desk accessory. (See page 151 in the Idea Book & Catalog!)

Use some soda cans as the cutting material in your Big Shot and see what kinds of projects you can come up with.  Yes, you can cut open Coke cans (use your Craft and Rubber Scissors)  and flatten and run through your Big Shot with the steel rule dies.

Cut an empty cereal box into the shape of a magazine holder you would buy at the store and cover with cardstock or Designer Series Paper.

Stamp a beautiful nature card and send it to someone.

Use plastic containers maybe from a restaurant carryout order  to store your glitter or embossing powder.

Have fun with this!  You're bound to think of many other ideas.

Window Sheet Cards Are In!

These "Clearly Thanks" Printed Window Sheets in the Occasions Mini on page 10 are so popular right now!  You must get yours so you can play, too!  You get two sheets with four printed images......just cut them apart in fourths for cards or smaller pieces for whatever kind of project and you're set to go!  Here is my version of the card shown in the mini:

 

Recipe:

Stamp sets:  Oval All and Great Friend (both Occasions Mini)

Ink:  Baja Breeze, So Saffron

Paper:  Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Walk in the Park Designer Series Paper (Occasions Mini)

Accessories:  Scallop Oval Punch (Occasions Mini), Large Oval Punch, Printed Window Sheets, Button Latte Designer Buttons

Tip:  Purchase the Oval All stamp set, the Scallop Oval Punch, the Walk in the Park Designer Paper, and the Printed Window Sheets from the Occasions Mini and you will have a $40+ purchase from the mini with which to take advantage of the "Get Connected" Promotion and choose a free stamp from page 208 of the Idea Book & Catalog.....and those are great stamps!

Flowerpot Card

These cards are all the rage now!  Pull on the flowers and your greeting goes on the tab inside.  This sample was made with the stamp set "Petal Pizzazz", which required lots of cutting, but was fun nonetheless.  The bird adds a cute touch, made with the Birds and Blooms die cut.