Sunday, July 31, 2011

Hot Summer Days

I know we've all been experiencing the warmth of Summer lately.  It feels so good to be inside my scrap room with the air conditioning blowing peacefully on my brow.  As much as I enjoy the warm summer days, I thank God for the relief of air conditioning.  I feel so badly for those who don't have air.  It makes me grateful!

Today I created a sweet little card for a friend's birthday.   I used Melissa Frances and The Girls' Paperie patterned papers, some vintage sheet music, a Melissa Frances rub-on and vintage ephemera sticker, a Prima leave and flower, some wool felt cut with a Papertrey Ink die that I hand-stitched with pink DMC floss.  Then, I stamped a Happy Birthday image from Verve stamps and did some machine stitching.  I just love the soft, vintage feeling of Melissa Frances products.
I hope you're all keeping cool indoors, and yet.....enjoying the beautiful hot summer days.  I love God's gift of all the different seasons, so I really try not to complain.  There's joy to be had from each season.  I'd love to hear how you're keeping cool and how you're spending your summer.

As a side note, the winner of my Birthday blog candy was Alicia T.  You have until Monday, August 1, Alicia, to contact me to claim your prize, or I will have to go to the alternate winner.  I am SO very grateful for all my followers.  I will be having an amazing give-away coming up with some of the beautiful hand-made scrunched seam binding I've been making.  I just love it, and it's so versatile.  Thanks again for visiting, and please tell your friends to visit and participate in the upcoming giveaways.

I couldn't wait to play with my new dies from Papertrey Ink.  I purchased several different floral dies, and cut some from paper and some from canvas to make these sweet little flowers.  I used one of  Pebbles newer paper lines on this card, and some Melissa Frances rub-ons.  PTI's dies are just so cute, you can't go wrong.  Thanks for stopping by.  Enjoy your summer, everyone!

My Cup Runneth Over,

Karen

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Taking Shape

I'm working on "my shape" this week.  For my body, that means getting back into the daily habit of working out and getting my body in shape.  For this week's challenge at http://www.simonsaysstampblog.blogspot.com/ our challenge is also to work on "our shape".  We were challenged to create a card that's out of the ordinary....not a square/rectangle.  I chose to do a flower-shaped card, and I had a lot of fun making it.

I traced a chipboard flower, cut it out of Bazzil cardstock and covered it with a striped Scenic Route patterned paper.  Then, I used a doily inked with Ranger ink, a little cutie cut from Cosmo Cricket's Odds & Ends line, some Making Memories flowers, a resin flower from Webster's Pages, and used a stamped image from Papertrey Ink.  I can't wait to see all the other shapes the creative participants have made for this challenge.


Thanks for looking!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Cupcakes Anyone?? Cupcake Inspirations - Challenge #120

Today I'm joining in on Challenge #120 over at http://www.cupcakeinspirations.blogspot.com/ that is being sponsored by Paper Pretties.  Who wouldn't love to win some of their goodies!  Have you seen them?  If not, you will want to check it out - they're amazing.

For this challenge, I made a little cupcake card (that was our inspiration, and it's making my mouth water for a cupcake).  I used Bo Bunny patterned papers, Bazzill cardstock (base and cupcake papers), painted and glittered buttons for the cherries, Papertrey Ink die and wool felt, stamps, machine stitching, hand-made scrunched seam binding, Ranger inks, and gems from Michaels.  This is what it looks like.


Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to check out all the other awesome creations for this challenge.

Blessings,

Karen

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Missing My Home Town in Minnesota - Newspaper Challenge

I love Las Vegas.  It's my home - where my family and I live.  But every now and then, I must admit that I miss my hometown - Duluth, Minnesota.  Duluth is situated along beautiful Lake Superior.
This week's Chellenge at http://www.simonsaysstampblog.blogspot.com/ was to create a card somehow incorporating newspaper.  I found some newspaper from Minnesota, and decided to use it to show people my awesome hometown.  I used Graphic 45 paper, and a Verve stamp with my Grandfather's most favorite Bible verse.  This Bible verse, Psalm 121:1-2, always reminds me of beautiful Duluth.  The above photo shows the Aeriel Lift Bridge from "one of the many hills".  It's a beautiful sight every time we drive into Duluth.  I'm so excited to share Duluth with you.

This is my little card.  In addition to the above-mentioned supplies, I used machine stitching, hand-made scrunched seam binding, a vintage button, Prima leaves and a Prima flower.  Thanks for stopping by today.

My Cup Runneth Over,
Karen

"Friends" Card & Happy Saturday!

Happy Saturday, everyone!  I'm celebrating my 46th Birthday today, and I made this little "Friends" card.  I used the following products:

Graphic 45 paper, Graphic 45 ticket, Bazzill cardstocks (cream and red), hand-made scrunched seam binding, button, jute, acrylic stamps, embossing powder, Martha Stewart doily, and machine stitching.  It's a little hard to see the embossing, but....I promise, .it's there!

Thanks for taking a look.  Thanks for all the Birthday wishes too!

My Cup Runneth Over,
Karen

Wishing You Happiness

Today is my birthday; a day when my family treats me like a queen.  I am blessed to have them in my life.  They make life worth living.  I hope that everyone has family, or someone special to bring happiness to their lives, as well.

To celebrate, I'm giving away a set of KI Memories softies buttons.  For anyone who "follows" my blog between now and Thursday, July 28, I will randomly pick a winner.  I want to say that I am grateful for everyone who visits my little blog, and especially for followers.  I'm just getting started, and I look forward to bigger and better things in the future.


My Cup Runneth Over,

Karen

Monday, July 18, 2011

Birthday Wishes/Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Challenge

This card is my entry for this week's "Anything Goes" challenge at http://www.simonsaysstampblog.blogspot.com/

I wanted to share this little card I created for a friend's daughter for her 5th Birthday.  I absolutely LOVE October Afternoon papers and embellishments.  She was (obviously) celebrating her 5th Birthday.  It's such a blessing to me to give someone a handmade special card, and to know they appreciate it.  I think it's important to use our God-given talents to bless others.  Each one of us has God-given talents that should be used to glorify God and bless the special people in our lives.  What a wonderful feeling to be able to do something nice for others.
Thanks for taking a peek.  Have a great week, and remember to use your God-given talents to bless others!

I also want to share with you a new inspirational website I found this week.  My new friend, Noreen, has an awesome website that will inspire you.  Please check out http://www.make-homemade-gifts.com/ and see all of Noreen's wonderful creations.  She's definitely sharing her talents with us, and I'm so grateful for her willingness to share her wonderful creations.
My Cup Runneth Over,

Karen