Category Archives: Cards

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JOIN MY STAMPING WITH KAREN MAILING LIST!

Stamping With Karen Mailing List

Join my Stamping With Karen Mailing List and get a FREE GIFT!  Well, besides that, I will keep you up with the latest Stampin’ Up! news and offers and send you free projects complete with supply list and instructions every Tuesday!  You know with the holidays coming, there are bound to be some special offers!  Just sign up in the red box on my blog!

Right now, every Wednesday, I am sending out a FREE holiday email, The 12 Weeks of Christmas, with a new holiday project each week leading up to Christmas!  This is a free gift to my subscribers only!  These projects will not be on my blog, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.  They are exclusive to my Mailing List! We start with holiday card ideas, then gift ideas, and also gift wrap/gift bags/gift tags!  Everything you need for the holidays!

Sign up right now in the box below or in the sidebar on my blog or in the pop-up box! No matter where, you will be signed up! If you do it before Tuesday, you will receive my Tuesday newsletter and Wednesday you will receive my 12 Weeks of Christmas email!  I hope you will join us!

Paper Pumpkin October 2018 Handmade Cards

Paper Pumpkin October 2018 Handmade Cards

I got started pretty soon on my October 2018 Paper Pumpkin Kit after it arrived and made all the cards. I made some exactly as designed but changed some of them up a bit.  You can do whatever you like with your Paper Pumpkin Kit each month!

I have to admit when I saw the package of the contents I wasn’t too thrilled. But once I started making the cards I really liked the kit! I especially loved the finishing touch of the sequins (although I forgot to put them on the white cards until after the photo)!  I think that even though the pieces are feathers, to me they reminded me more of colored leaves!

Paper Pumpkin October 2018 Kit Contents

In the above photo you can see all the pieces that come in the kit!  I stamped a few of the pieces with the greetings and left some plain until I could see how I wanted to use everything.  Each month there are plenty of alternative ideas online if you want to make something different with your kit and need some inspiration.

Paper Pumpkin October 2018 Kit Extra Pieces

Even after making eight cards, I still had all these pieces left over in the kit!  I already have some ideas of what I want to make with them. What I have in mind could serve as Thanksgiving cards with the right greeting…..or no greeting and just a note!

I’ve discovered that our new Take Your Pick Tool is great for using the tiny glue dots that come in the kit.  They aren’t as easy to use as our usual Mini Glue Dots on the roll. In the past I have used my Paper-Piercing Tool  to pick them up off the sheet, but I think I like the Take Your Pick Tool better!  The Take Your Pick Tool has lots of uses, has two ends, and extra pieces to change out.

Here is the Stampin’ Up! video that shows how to assemble the October Kit! I always like to watch these videos for each kit even though directions are included.

If you would like to start getting Paper Pumpkin Kits in the mail every month all you have to do is sign up!  Once you are a subscriber you can even go back and look at whatever past kits are available in the Online Store under Paper Pumpkin (the category shows up after you subscribe) and purchase those. Sometimes a full kit with the exclusive stamp set and ink spot are available and other times just the “refill” with all the pieces since you probaby already have the stamp set and ink.

Sometimes I just save the ink spots for other things and use my regular ink pad. The ink spots are good for using with the Stamparatus and for travel!  They fit nicely in the empty Stamp Cases.  Did you know you could just buy those for storage for whatever you like?  They come in handy!

Think about joining Paper Pumpkin because the November Kit is coming soon!  It’s going to be in a plaid holiday box, and when they design a special box you know it’s going to be good!  Sign up by November 10th to get the November Kit that will ship out mid-November.

The cost is just $19.95 a month, plus tax, but that price includes shipping!  For that you get an exclusive stamp set you can use over and over again, an ink spot, and all the materials you need for the project inside, even glue dots and dimensionals if needed! And the presentation is perfect!  You deserve a gift for yourself each month! The kit is always easy enough for beginners and you don’t need a closet full of supplies!  You just need the box!  And maybe scissors to open the package! Treat yourself and enjoy some crafting time before the holiday season is upon us!

JOIN PAPER PUMPKIN AND GET THE PRETTY PLAID BOX IN THE MAIL!

(This is my personal link OR go to www.PaperPumpkin.com and find my name as your Demonstrator!)

Paper Pumpkin Nov 2018

 

Don’t Miss Out! Are You On My Stamping With Karen Mailing List??

Christmas MailboxJOIN MY STAMPING WITH KAREN MAILING LIST!

Join my Stamping With Karen Mailing List and get a FREE GIFT!  Well, besides that, I will keep you up with the latest Stampin’ Up! news and offers and send you free projects complete with supply list and instructions every Tuesday!

AND…..especially right now, every Wednesday I am sending out a FREE holiday email, The 12 Weeks of Christmas, with a new holiday project each week leading up to Christmas!  This is a free gift to my subscribers only!  These projects will not be on my blog, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.  They are exclusive to my Mailing List! We start with holiday card ideas, then gift ideas, and also gift wrap/gift bags/gift tags!  Everything you need for the holidays!

Sign up right now in the box below or in the sidebar on my blog or in the pop-up box! No matter where, you will be signed up! If you do it before Tuesday, you will receive my Tuesday newsletter and Wednesday you will receive my 12 Weeks of Christmas email!  I hope you will join us!

Graceful Glass Stained Glass Birthday Card

Graceful Glass Stained Glass Birthday Card

With all the excitement over Halloween and Christmas products and projects, let’s not forget about one of our greatest needs as cardmakers, and that is birthday cards like this Graceful Glass Stained Glass Birthday Card. It’s always great to sit down and make a birthday card for a loved one or friend.

One of the most beautiful groups of products has been the Painted Glass Stamp Set and the  Graceful Glass Designer Vellum Paper.  The vellum comes in a 6″ x 6″ stack with two each of 12 designs. This vellum provides a wonderful opportunity for some “adult coloring”!  Coloring is therapeutic and relaxing!  I especially like to use the Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers but you can use the regular Stampin’ Write Markers or Watercolor Pencils if you like. Sometimes it is interesting to put different colors of cardstock behind the colored piece.  Usually you might just want Whisper White Cardstock behind the colored piece which brightens the colors.

You might enjoy the Painted Glass Bundle which consists of the Painted Glass Stamp Set and the Stained Glass Thinlits to use with the Big Shot.  This elegant, medieval look will be beautiful on any of the projects that you make.

Enjoy this video about the Graceful Glass Suite!

I hope you get some new ideas from this video. I can’t emphasize enough the fun and relaxation of doing the coloring on this paper!

For my card, I also used the Tufted Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder for the background layer. I think this embossing folder really gives a nice look for lots of cards.

Take a day and think about upcoming birthdays so you don’t get behind in the midst of all the holiday projects. There are other good sentiments in the Painted Glass Stamp Set, too for other types of cards.  The Graceful Glass Suite is a slightly different style to have on hand but will produce cards and projects of beauty. Check out this blog post with another example of a card using the Graceful Glass Vellum!

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! 

Coming November 1st: Snowflake Showcase!

Snowflake Showcase Flyer

Coming soon!  The Snowflake Showcase is coming November 1, 2018 through November 30, while supplies last!  The Snowflake Showcase is a  suite of products with which you can make beautiful winter and holiday cards and projects – just in case you didn’t see enough beautiful products in the Holiday Catalog to tempt you!

The Snowflake Showcase has two stamp sets, white velvet paper, dies and Snowflake Trinkets. Think of the beautiful snowy wonderland projects you can make with these products!

Snowflake Showcase Stamps Etc

If you want these products right now in October, you can buy the Stampin’ Up! Starter Kit and put them on your list and become a Demonstrator! Otherwise, just wait until November 1st and order your products right away to beat the rush!  You will actually be able to use some of these products to make designs other than snowflakes.  Use your creativity!

SHOP The Snowflake Showcase Beginning November 1st!

Black Cat with a Hat Halloween Card

Black Cat Halloween Card

It’s fun to make a silly card like this Black Cat With a Hat Halloween Card for Halloween!  This is an easy one because it just uses a punch, paper, scissors, a few sequins and a bit of ribbon!

The card base is Basic Black on this card with a layer of the cute Toil & Trouble Designer Series Paper.  I thought this pattern of the little black cats on the orange background was perfect for this card!

I used the Cat Punch to make the cute black cat.  You could also cut out the cat from designer paper with a small pattern for something different to put on a solid background.  I cut out one of the witch’s hats from the Toil & Trouble Designer Paper to put on the cat.  I stamped the little greeting from the Trick or Tweet Stamp Set and decorated it with a few Iridescent Sequins.  I punched it out and layered it on a piece of Basic Black. You can use whatever punches or dies that you like.

The little bit of ribbon is the beautiful Black 5/8″ Glittered Organdy Ribbon. It has bits of real glitter in the ribbon.  Unfortunately, the ribbon is backordered right now and might not be available until just before Halloween.  But you can use this ribbon for any elegant project and Christmas and New Year’s! I don’t think we have ever had a ribbon like this one and it has been very popular.

Make a few fun cards for your friends for Halloween and be sure to mail them out, like this Black Cat with a Hat Halloween Card.

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! ONLINE HERE!

Last Day! Stampin’ Up! World Card Making Day Sale! Save 10% on Select Products

World Card Making Day Banner

World Card Making Day Products List 2018

Click to Open!

Did you check out the Stampin’ Up! Sale to celebrate World Card Making Day, with select products 10% off?  Today, Sunday October 7 is the last day for the sale!

Some of my favorites are the Petal Palette Stamp Set in wood or clear-mount, the 12″ x 12″ Vanilla or Whisper White Cardstock,  the Whisper White Note Cards & Envelopes available in Whisper White or Very Vanilla,  Stampin’ Dimensionals, Stampin’ Mini Dimensionals, and Tear & Tape Adhesive.  All good things we use all the time so saving even a little bit of money on them will be worthwhile!

Check out the World Card Making Day Sale today!  Last Day!

Add on any other items, too!

Celebrate World Card Making Day With a New Fancy Fold! Try This Pop Up Corner Card!

Pop Up Corner Card With Frosted Floral

It’s World Card Making Day so try a new kind of card fold, this Pop Up Corner Card With Frosted Floral Designer Paper. It’s really quite easy to make! How fun would it be for your friend or loved one to receive a card made like this!

Pop Up Corner Card With Frosted Floral Inside

Start with a piece of cardstock that is 8 1/2″ x 8 1/2″.  Score with the Stampin’ Trimmer or the Simply Scored Tool. Score down the center (4 1/4″) vertically and horizontally.  Then in the upper left corner, score horizontally.  You can line up the tips of the paper at the top and bottom in the cutting channel.  You could also use a ruler and stylus on a piece of foam or something soft like the Stampin’ Pierce Mat.

Pop Up Corner Card ScoringNext, cut along the score line as you see in the photo below. Fold and crease all the score lines.  I find it is best to fold back and forth, both ways.  If you find the edges don’t match up exactly, you might try trimming this scored line that you cut in the photo below just a very thin smidge off which might make that piece fold in better to get that extra bulk of the score off.Pop Up Corner Card Fold1Pop Up Corner Card DiagramFlatten out the cardstock and fold the top half down over the bottom half.

Pop Up Corner Card Fold2Now lift up the right hand corner and fold it back along the diagonal fold forming an L-shape.

Pop Up Corner Card Fold3Now pick up the right corner and fold over to the left. If you did the previous step correctly, you will be folding the right section over onto the diagonal score line.  Just practice folding this card first without gluing anything to make sure you have it correct and understand the card.  BUT after you have the hang of it, after you fold this right section over to the left, you will put adhesive on the face of that section. OR imagine it like this – after folding over the right section to the left, the piece above that will be folded down and adhered, so you can put glue on either the top piece or the bottom.  At first just hold the pieces together so you can see how it will open up and make sure you know which section will be the front of the card.

Pop Up Corner Card Fold4
Then fold the top section down.  When you are ready, this is where you will put adhesive, between these two sections.

Pop Up Corner Card Fold5

On this photo, you can see on the final fold the edges didn’t quite match up. This is where I went back in and trimmed a teensy tiny bit off the little bulk of the score line where I cut the straight line initially.

If you feel confident to plan ahead, you could write in pencil on the sections where you want to adhere other cardstock or designer paper or simply stamp to decorate. It’s easier to do all these things when the paper is flat. But otherwise, go ahead and assemble the card and then adhere the extra paper.

For this card, I chose the beautiful Frosted Floral Designer Paper.  It has a shimmer to it that normal designer paper does not have.  It is lovely!!  I stamped the inside with some stamps from the First Frost Stamp Set.  The greeting is from the Petal Palette Stamp Set, which is discounted 10% for the World Card Making Day Sale at Stampin’ Up!

Click HERE to see another Pop Up Corner Card I made a couple of years ago!  I had fun making that one and made others ones, too.

Celebrate World Card Making Day today by trying a different fold or making any kind of card and sending it!  Or start working on your holiday cards!  Whatever you like but take a moment today to stamp!  And check out the World Card Making Day Sale!

Joyous Noel Thinking of You Card

Joyous Noel Thinking of You Card

This Joyous Noel Thinking of You Card is made with one of those basic, classic designs that works well almost any time. It’s just the card base, a layer or two perhaps wrapped with ribbon or a strip of paper across the card, and the greeting layered to the side.  So simple, just fine!

I only recently ordered this Joyous Noel Specialty Designer Series PaperHonestly, I didn’t care for it just looking at it in the catalog.  Then I started seeing some samples of projects that other people made and I started to like it. And of course, we all know it is a fact that ALL designer series paper looks way better in person than it does in the catalog!  So I ordered it and  wow, was so pleased when I opened the package!  It is REALLY pretty paper!  These are the coordinating colors if that helps you to imagine:   Copper foil, Gray Granite, Merry Merlot, Sahara Sand, Soft Suede, Tranquil Tide, Whisper White.  This card is a little difficult to photograph because it has the copper foil accents on one side of the paper, plus I added some Copper Foil.

To make this card, I used a card base of Merry Merlot Cardstock.  The designer paper has a layer of Copper Foil underneath.  I have to admit, I cheated and cut out the center of the Copper Foil piece leaving about a 3/4″ margin so that I wouldn’t waste the copper underneath the paper that wasn’t going to show anyway.  I could also have punched or die cut some pieces out of it to use some of the foil.  The ribbon tied around is the Merry Merlot & Copper 5/8″ Reversible Ribbon.  It’s very pretty!

The greeting is stamped in Merry Merlot Ink on Whisper White Cardstock and die cut with a Layering Ovals Framelits Die.  The greeting is from the Winter Woods Stamp Set. It is layered on a scalloped oval from the same die set.  I adhered it over the ribbon with two Stampin’ Dimensionals. I finished off the card by just tying a knot with the ribbon on the left side of the card.  You could also do a bow.

Check out the pretty designer series paper in the Holiday Catalog!  All of it is beautiful!  And don’t forget the World Card Making Day Sale going on now through October 7 (Sunday!).  Save 10% on select products!  Even if you don’t have this Joyous Noel paper, you can use this basic design that I used on my Joyous Noel Thinking of You Card because it works with almost any paper and greeting!

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! ONLINE!

My 12 Weeks of Christmas Holiday Emails Begin Today! Sign Up!

12 Weeks of Christmas Begins Today

My 12 Weeks of Christmas holiday emails begin today, Wednesday, October 3 at 1:00 PM! Be sure you are signed up for my Stamping With Karen Mailing List TODAY before 1:00 PM so you don’t miss a single week!  Just add your name and email in the red box on the side of my blog or just below!

Each Wednesday from now until right before Christmas, I will send out a fun holiday project with a complete supply list and instructions. First we start with Christmas cards, then gifts, then ideas for wrapping – bags, tags, and wrapping ideas.  You may copy the idea or get inspired to make something of your own.  The holidays are the best time for stamping and crafting and we should enjoy it!

These holiday emails each week are my annual gift to my mailing list subscribers.  It is ONLY available to them so you MUST sign up for my Mailing List to get these exclusive ideas.  You won’t find them later on my blog or Instagram or Facebook.

Please join us and get inspired and in the mood for the holidays!  We’d love to have you!

Only 24 Hours Until the “12 Weeks of Christmas” Begins!

12 Weeks of Christmas 2018 Is Coming Santa

Tomorrow is the first day of my 12 Weeks of Christmas holiday emails! Can you believe it?!

Once a week, for the 12 weeks leading up to Christmas, I’m going to be sending you an email with a wonderful holiday project that you can make or be inspired by to create something of your own. Each email will have one holiday project, the list of supplies and complete instructions to make it.  You can copy it or use the idea to create something of your own.

There will be cards, gifts, bags, tags, and wraps over the course of the 12 weeks. We will start with cards for the first few weeks. This is absolutely free and I love to share it with you!

This is a special gift to my mailing list subscribers, so in order to receive these holiday emails, you must be on my mailing list. Be sure to sign up by Wednesday, October 3 at 1:00 PM Central Time so you won’t miss the first one!  These projects won’t be shown anywhere else.

Just sign up in the box below or in the box in the upper-right corner of my blog.  You will get a free gift just for signing up!  We’d love to have you!

New Stamparatus Accessories!

Stamparatus Thank You Card

Here’s a thank you card that is easy to make with my Stamparatus!  I just placed the stamp on the card where I wanted it, lowered the Stamparatus lid to pick up the stamp, inked it up, and then stamped.  With the Stamparatus you can move the plastic plate down to the next hinge and the next to get the various lines of stamping.  Can you imagine how long it would take to do that by hand and get it all straight??

Stamparatus Thank You Card Setup

I like to put a piece of window sheet over the card stock particularly with a greeting that I want placed perfectly because I can stamp the window sheet and see how it will look on the card.  If the stamp is slightly crooked, I can correct it and re-stamp.  When I have it right, I just remove the window sheet, clean it off, and stamp directly on the cardstock.  With the Stamparatus the paper doesn’t move so you can stamp over and over and the paper is in the same place.  If the image didn’t stamp dark enough, just reink the stamp and lay the plate back over the cardstock and stamp.  Perfect positioning!

Stamparatus Accessories

Stampin’ Up! has come out with some new accessories for the Stamparatus®!  I’m especially happy about the Small Grid Paper that easily fits in the Stamparatus to protect surfaces but mainly to give you lines for lining things up. Just like the big Grid Paper I use all the time for stamping.

There are extra Stamparatus Plates if you want even more stamp arrangements to have handy and another Foam Mat.  If you want to order all three items, just order the Accessories Pack.

Just think how handy the Stamparatus will be for making holiday cards this year!

 

A World Card Making Day Stampin’ Up! Sale!

World Card Making Day Banner

World Card Making Day will be celebrated on Saturday, October 6, 2018. It’s a special day that was started in 2006 declaring the first Saturday of October to be World Card Making Day, a day for those of us who craft and create and make cards! It’s a good time to get started on our holiday cards, and it’s also a good day to make a selection of cards to actually MAIL to people we know.  How often have you heard someone say that your card came at just the right moment?  We often underestimate the power of a card! Email and text messages are handy and have their uses, but what can compare to finding a personal card in your mailbox?

To celebrate World Card Making Day, Stampin’ Up! has a special promotion! 

Select products are 10% off from October 1-7, 2018.

Click the list below to see all the products available on this special sale!

World Card Making Day Products 2018

Think about celebrating World Card Making Day by just stopping the world and sitting down and making cards yourself or perhaps getting together with some friends and making cards. And after you enjoy making the cards, take a minute to write a little note inside and send it off to a friend, neighbor, or loved one to let them know you were thinking of them!  What a treat!

And to treat yourself (why not?!), do some Holiday Catalog shopping at the Online Store and add on some of the products on sale this week! Ten percent is a small amount but it’s like getting free shipping on those products!

Let’s all celebrate World Card Making Day this week!

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! ONLINE HERE!

 

Check Out These Stampin’ Up! Holiday Catalog Products

Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog 2018 CoverEnjoy these Stampin’ Up! videos about some of the new products in the Holiday Catalog!  If you are interested in Stampin’ Up! products and would like your own copy of the catalog,  have a few extras right now that I would be happy to send you.

Note:  If you are interested in the Timeless Tidings Project Kit 148028 order it today (or at least by Monday, October 1st). It has been very popular and is now on backorder for at least 30 days. On Monday it will become unorderable until Stampin’ Up! replenishes the stock.

For more videos, you might like to check out another blog post of mine HERE.  The Holiday Catalog is really awesome this year (yes, we say it every year!) as evidenced by a few backorders, unfortunately!  When there are backorders, you know the products are extremely popular!

CHECK OUT ALL THE GREAT HOLIDAY CATALOG PRODUCTS AND SUITES (SAVE 10%!) HERE!

Broadway Birthday Shaker Card

Broadway Birthday Shaker Card

If you want to send a fun birthday card to someone special, you might want to try this Broadway Birthday Shaker Card.  You can find it as a sample in the Stampin’ Up! Catalog on page 69 with the Broadway Bound Suite of products.  I made this card for my brother, my little brother, as I will always think of him no matter how old we get, even though he is only two years younger than me! On my birthday I told him I wished I was as young as he was! I thought this card was perfect for him because I wanted to make something special for him and because if anyone does deserve a wonderful birthday wish, it is him. In THIS POST I mentioned that he and his wife adopted eight (yes, eight!) children in international adoptions over a few short years. Amazingly, time is passing by quickly and those children are growing up and some have left the nest for college! We never could have imagined that would happen (as most of us parents can’t imagine!)!  His family threw him a surprise birthday party earlier this month since he is often busy at work around the time of his birthday.

While shaker cards take a little extra effort, they are fun and impressive!  Anyone can make them!  This one is sized at 4 1/4″ x 4 1/4″ with a Basic Black card base. There is a piece of Broadway Bound Specialty Designer Series Paper layered on the card base. This paper is fun because one side has a bright party design and the other a design with gold foil accents.

I cut two pieces of Whisper White Cardstock, one very slightly smaller than the other so that it could go behind the front piece and not show. This piece provides the background that you can see through the window. I stamped a few of the small images on this background piece.  I also stamped some of the diamonds on the front piece after die-cutting the square opening with the Layering Squares Framelits Dies.  A piece of  Window Sheet was adhered to the back of this front window piece. Then I used Foam Strips to make a tight border around the edges of this window on the Window Sheet.  I poured in some retired gold glitter and some colored sequins I had leftover from a Paper Pumpkin Kit. After the contents are in the shaker window it is time to adhere the smaller Whisper White piece over it. Then this whole window shaker piece was adhered to the front of the card.

Next comes decorating the front of the card on the shaker window. I die cut the word “Wish” with the Broadway Lights Framelits Dies out of Gold Foil. I stamped the greeting with words in the Broadway Birthday Stamp Set and just hand cut the little banners.  There is also a little candle and flame that I stamped and die cut.

There are many ways this card could be decorated using the basic sample in the catalog!  Get the basic shaker part made and then decorate the card however you like for whatever occasion. The Broadway Bound Suite is a great group of products to have on hand for birthday and other congratulatory occasions!

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! ONLINE!

Be sure to use your Bonus Coupon Codes by September 30, 2018!