Saturday, November 30, 2013

Dress Up Time


Well here we are at the last day of November. Time is just speeding away. 

I remember being young and thinking how long the days were and that I was never going to be old enough to do the things I wanted to do. 
Think Mary Ellen Walton....."I'm going to be 13 forever!" 
Yup that was me. 
Funny how things change as you get older. Now I'm hoping time will slow down. 

Today's card was made with Dress Up framelits. After cutting out the designer paper I sponged it with Calypso Coral. Background stamps are from Everything Eleanor. They were stamped with Soft Suede, and more Calypso Coral.
Layer vanilla, and base card Crumb Cake. 

I did not go out today and do any Black Friday shopping. I'm staying nice and warm in my house. I'm busy getting boxes ready that I need to mail out of state. Also working on the Christmas cards that need to be mailed. I hope everyone had a wonderful Turkey day! I know I'm looking forward to leftovers! 

Stamping trails
Karen

Friday, November 29, 2013

Barbie Tree


I put up the Barbie tree. It has been up in the living room since the 3rd of November. Yes you heard me right. The 3rd of November. 
I didn't put the Barbie tree up last year as we had our large tree up, so I just was in a mood and put it up early. 
Looks so nice in the spot in front of the picture window. 


Wedding Barbie (I'm ever hopeful!)


One of Ken ornaments. I only have two of them. The other one is in a different wedding set with Barbie


One of my favorites! Barbie and her house. 


Mod Barbie


I've been collecting these Hallmark ornaments for the past 19 years. Last year was the last in the set. 
However.....I did see that they started a new set this season. Since my tree is happily full I'm not going to collect the new ones. 

Stamping trails
Karen

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Turkey Punch Art


Happy Gobble, Gobble! 

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. 
Calories don't count today:)

Little turkey was made with the owl builder, and scallop oval punch. 
Tail feathers were made with Day of Gratitude stamp set. 
Greeting is from Tags 4 You. 

Colors: Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry, Crumb Cake, Vanilla, and Cherry Cobbler. 


Close up view of the turkey.

I am making a turkey today with all the trimmings, but it will just be Skip, John, and me. 
Sarah has other plans for the day. 
I was going to invite other family members, but I'm not up to it. 
I got my first gel shot yesterday. No change yet. It won't start feeling better till the second shot. 
Ah the joys of arthritis! 

Gobble, Gobble trails!

Karen

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Ghirardelli 3x3 Envelope Holder


The envelope punch board is great for also making Ghirardelli holders. 


I used the measurements to make the 3x3 envelope. 

The finished pouch doesn't need to be closed with adhesive. 
After layering the punch outs I adhered it with pop dots, so the envelope flap slides right under greeting. 

Stamp set Very Merry Tags. 

Stamping trails
Karen

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Christmas Pencil Holders


I'm working on some stocking stuffers. 

These pencil holders are so easy and quick to make

You will need a piece of cardstock cut 3 5/8 x 6

With the shorter end going across the simply score tool score at:

3/8, 1 5/8, 2, and 3 1/4

Turn the scored piece with the long edge across the top of the scoring tool and score at 3/8.

Use sticky strip to assemble the box. 

Band was cut at 1 1/2 x 6 and scored the same way the box was scored. 
 
I used Wilton pretzel bags to slide the completed holders into. 
 
 

Stamping trails
Karen

Monday, November 25, 2013

Mailable Monday #37


Welcome to Mailable Monday!

This is a simple one layer card using Wetlands stamp set. 
The goose and greeting were stamped with Early Espresso.
The grass was stamped with Old Olive. 

To get some interest to this one layer card I used the Simply Scored tool and added
some score lines. Keeping in mind that the card would be more balanced to use an odd number of lines.

Base card Crumb Cake. 

Stamping trails
Karen

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Sense of Time Card


After going through all my card boxes and organizing them I knew I needed to re-stock my supply of guy cards. This one was made with Sense of Time set. Greeting is from Wetlands. 

Base card Crumb Cake that was sponged with Soft Suede ink. 
Clock face stamped on vanilla with Soft Suede. Edges of the clock were torn and sponged with Soft Suede. 
Layer Soft Suede sponged with Early Espresso. I added a vintage brad to the center of the clock face and added a natural trim ribbon to the bottom of the card. 

Quick and easy...got to love that! 

Stamping trails
Karen

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Christmas Collectibles 3D Ornament Card


Playing with a new stamp set and matching punch. Christmas Collectibles stamp set also has a matching punch to punch out the ornaments. Got to love that! 

For this card I used vanilla cardstock for the base card and layer. 
The cut circle in the center was made with 2 1/2 circle punch. Layer size is 3 3/4 x 5. 
The boughs were made with the large pine tree from Lovely as a Tree stamp set. 
I did make two of the ornaments. The top one is scored in half to make it a 3d card. 
Layer was also popped over the Cherry Cobbler layer. 


On the side view you can see how the top ornament was layered over the other one. Bottom ornament is flat. 

I would also like to wish my beautiful daughter Sarah Happy Birthday. Love you honey! 

Stamping trails
Karen

Friday, November 22, 2013

Stamp Camp Cards


Just wanted to share a few cards that we made at a recent Stamp camp.
This one uses Snowflake Soiree with Pool Party, Bermuda Bay, and Island Indigo ink.


Gift card holder that uses the envelope punch board to create the inside card. 
Outside uses Very Merry Tags. 


Inside card. 


This card uses Postage Due, Post Card, Festive Flurry, and More Merry Messages. 

Stamping trails
Karen

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Your a Mean one Mr. Grinch


Still more from the gift exchange I'm in. 

These little guys hold a small Kit-Kat. 
So cute! I used lots of different punches to create them. 
I just love the Grinch and his little dog Max! 

Stamping trails
Karen

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Dress Up Lip Balm Holder


Another little gift for the gift exchange. This is a lip balm holder using one of the Dress Up framelits. 
I used the pattern I found on Brenda's site
She has some the best patterns! 

I used Winter Frost designer paper from the Holiday mini, and Pool Party cardstock. The little bit of ribbon going around the waist is Island Indigo. 
 
Stamping trails
Karen 


Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Snowflake Candle


I'm in a gift exchange, so I've been making things to add to the box. 

I got the candle at the dollar store. 
I used Island Indigo with the smaller snowflake from Snowflake Soiree. It was stamped on a strip of white tissue paper. I staggered the flakes as I was stamping. After trimming around the tissue paper I wrapped it
around the candle then tightly wrapped wax paper around it. Last step was to use the heat tool to set the tissue paper into the candle. 
I also used the stamp process to add the word Believe. 
I had forgotten how cool it is to decorate candles this way. So very easy too. 

Stamping trails
Karen

Monday, November 18, 2013

Mailable Monday # 36


Very quick clean and simple Mailable Monday card for you today.

Phone, word bubble and greeting from Timeless Talk stamp set. 

I stamped the images with black ink. Next I added just a pop of color
with some washi tape.  (Love that stuff!)

Not much going on today. I've been working on finishing up Christmas gifts that need to be mailed.
I've also selected a cookie recipe for a cookie exchange. All I need to do now is print them up.

Since this cookie exchange is with friends from Texas I don't actually make the cookies and send them. I just print up the recipe and send. We have book of the recipes that we started several years ago.
I do miss the fun of making and attending a cookie exchange.

So....if anyone locally is doing a cookie swap please let me know....I'd love to join!

That is how the cookie crumbles....
Karen 


Sunday, November 17, 2013

Chalk Talk Snowman Tags


Here is a stack of snowman tags I made using Chalk Talk framelits. 

Isn't this just the cutest thing! 

I fussy cut out the pumpkin pie nose. It was sponged with more pumpkin pie, and I added some little lines on top of it with the pumpkin pie marker.

Cheeks were made with Soft Sky using a sponge dauber. 
The mouth was added with black marker. 
Cheeks and eyes were highlighted with white gel pen. 
I sponged around the tag with Marina Mist. 

These would make great tags to add to homemade bread for the holidays.

Stamping trails
Karen

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Christmas Cracker and Snow


I have been working with the envelope punch board again. 
This is a Christmas cracker. It was so easy and fun to make! 
After completing it I added the deer from Very Merry Tags along with silver
glitter paper. 

Here a video showing how these are made if you'd like to make some.


A few days ago we got some real snow. I say real because up till this point we only had snow mixed with rain that didn't stick. To me its not snow till it starts sticking to the ground and piling up on the cars. 

This happened early Tuesday morning, and today there is still snow on the ground, but the roads are clear. 
Love the look of snow at night. Oh how it just glistens.
 
Should I say it.....I will.....It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! 
 
Snowy trails
Karen 

Friday, November 15, 2013

Remembering Tony


Just wanted to share a few pictures of my brother. Today would have been his 57th birthday. 
As most of my followers know Tony passed away in 2007. He was 50 years old. 
Way to young for us to lose him. 

This is a picture of him with our older sister Charlotte. 


Another pic of him with our sister. The girl on the far left was a neighbors daughter. Since Tony is almost 4 years older than me I was born yet when this was taken. Looks like they were all having a good Christmas.


One of my favorite pictures of Tony as a little boy. This was in a frame for years and years and was always displayed on mom and dad's TV. I love the look in Tony's eyes. He just looks like he is so ready to get into trouble! 


I like his expression in this shot. "Don't take pics of me now....I'm eating"

Tony and me jamming.



 Sarah just loved her Uncle Tony!




Tony and his bike.


Miss you Tony. Think of you all the time. Wish you could have stayed with us all longer... you were a very needed part of the family. 
You will never know how much of a hole you left in my heart...but then again I'm sure you are watching your little sister from Heaven and you do know. 

Your little sis
Karen

Thursday, November 14, 2013

The Wooly Bear


I found a wooly bear in the garage last week. Isn't he just too cute?
They curl up into a ball when you pick them up, but soon they will unroll. 


Now they say you can predict how cold it will be in the winter by how wide or thin the lighter brown section in the center is.
This little one was pretty furry and has hair that is sticky as Velcro. He had all kinds of lint and stuff stuck to him. I let him go about his way outside. 

Here is a link if you want to know more about the "bears". They are so popular here that they even have a Wooly Bear Festival.

Stamping trails
Karen

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Vintage Cards


I found some very "vintage" cards while sorting my cards. 

One on the left was done with canvas background, and Collage Alphabet stamp sets. 
I don't remember now what the bug stamp set was called.
Card on the right was done with the Polar Bear set. I still own this set. I didn't want to let it go as it reminds me of the Coke polar bear ads they have running during the holidays. 


These are from my Asian card making period. 
I don't think I still have any of these sets. 
So watch mailboxes as I'm going to be sending out some vintage cards soon.

Vintage Stamping trails to you!
Karen

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Going through Card Boxes


A week or so ago I got a bee in my bonnet and wanted to sort all my completed cards and organize them. 
I had started to organize them a long time ago but never finished it. I had cards all mixed up in many card boxes. 

So as you can see by the shape of my desk this was not an easy task. 


Of course my desk wasn't big enough so I had cards all over the floor as well. 


and still more on the floor. 

After all was said and done I ended up with 8 boxes of cards. All are organized and labeled. So when I'm looking for a card I can find it now. While I was doing this I also pulled cards to give as Christmas gifts and bundled them up. I had a full box to donate, and still had many left for me to use. 

Stop back tomorrow and I'll share some "Vintage" cards I found while I was cleaning. 

Stamping trails
Karen

Monday, November 11, 2013

Mailable Monday # 35


This card was made using Smacking Acetate technique. 
I haven't used this technique in a very long time, but it does make a nice background and perfect for a mailable Monday non layered card. 


First cut a piece of acetate larger than the area you wish to cover. 
Use stampin'write markers and scribble on the acetate. I used Island Indigo, and Soft Suede for the above card. 


Next take a very fine mist water bottle and mist the marker covered piece very lightly. You don't want the acetate to be soaking wet because the colors will all run together and get muddy. 
Here you can see how the water is causing the markers to bleed. 


Next turn the acetate misted side down an smack it on the cardstock. 
You can use your hand to run over the entire piece to transfer the ink to the cardstock. 

 Here is what the piece looked like when I lifted the acetate. 

At this point way till the cardstock is dry then you can stamp over it. 
I used Jet Black Stazon to add the images from Wetlands. 

The fun thing about this technique is all the cards you make will have a different look as no two pieces are the same. 

Stamping trails
Karen

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Fall Cards


Having fun with a circle punched pumpkin. 
I used the 1 1/4 circle punch with pumpkin pie cardstock.
Punched 5 circles then sponged the edges with Cajun Craze. 
Use Always Artichoke 1/8 strips to make the little curly streamers. 
Stamp sets: Autumn Leaf Prints, Autumn Days, and Harvest of Thanks.
White panel was embossed with the Hexagon folder.
The leaf and pumpkin are popped on the card. 
Layered on Crushed Curry cardstock. Base card Cajun Craze. 



Another Fall looking card I made using Lovely as a Tree.
After stamping the image with Early Espresso I added the colors with sponge daubers. 
Color Palette: Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler, and Crumb Cake. 
Greeting from Wetlands. 

Stamping trails
Karen

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Senior Picture


Since I realized that this year I have been graduated from high school for 35 years....I thought it would be nice if I posted my Senior yearbook picture. 

I have to share the story of how this picture came to be. 

I got a really nice dress that I bought with my own money that I earned working at a retail store called
Uncle Bill's. (the store has since been closed but that is another story)

My mom was suppose to be home on time to drive me to the studio to get the yearbook photos taken. 
Well she wasn't on time, and it was getting late. 
So I got my brother Tony to take me. 
Since Tony's only mode of transportation was his motorcycle I had 
to ditch the dress and change into jeans and the shirt you see me wearing in the photo. 
Good thing I had a brush with me as my hair was a mess by the time we went cross town to the studio. 
 
Thanks Tony! Miss and Love you bunches!!!! 
You were always there for your kid sister.

Missing you much!
Karen