Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Bunny Butt


Back with another french fry box. 

I used 1 3/4 circle punch for the bunny body, 

and large oval punch for the feet. 

Little blushing bride rosette is from the Artisan kit. 

The box was made with Irresistibly Yours designer paper which 

I sponged with Daffodil Delight ink. 

The designer paper for the feet is from Painted Blooms. 

I working on the post Friday the 27th. Seeing how

I'll still be in the hospital recovering from the knee surgery. 

I wanted to have at least a few things posted this week. 

I got a call from the Cleveland Clinic home care group. 

They were letting me know that they will call after I get home to 

set up some times for them to come to the house and help me to

get around. So that is a good thing. 

Also as I'm writing this up its snowing. Can you believe that! The

grass is all snow covered Suppose to be cold the next few days. I guess no

one told Mother Nature that it is Spring.
 
Stamping trails
Karen

Monday, March 30, 2015

Mailable Monday # 103


I first used Irresistibly Yours designer paper and sponged

it with Hello Honey, and Tangelo Twist ink. 

I then layered Sheer Perfection vellum paper over the sponged paper. 

Greeting from Lovey Amazing You stamp set .

So today is the big day. I had to get up extra early this morning to be at
 
the hospital at 7:45. The knee replacement surgery is scheduled to take place at 9:45 am.
 
I won't be able to post while I'm in the hospital, so I'm doing some of my 
 
posts ahead of time. I'll be coming home either on Wednesday or Thursday. 
 
I'll post an update then. Hope everyone has a wonderful week. 
 
Stamping trails
Karen  

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Beatles Trading Cards



Several weeks ago my son found me something cool at the 

Goodwill. 

He found a box with a ton of Beatles trading cards. 



Most of them are black and white photos. A few are in color. 

Knowing that his mom loves the Beatles he had to get them for me. 

I'm not sure what I plan to do with them at this point. 

I think I'll just enjoy looking at them. 

Tomorrow is the big surgery day. I'll be glad when its over, and I 

recover well. 
 
I did update the blog for this week ahead of time seeing how I won't
 
be able to do so in the hospital. I should be coming home on Wednesday, or Thursday. 

Stamping trails
Karen

Friday, March 27, 2015

Sketch Frenzy Friday 03272015


Happy Friday and welcome to another fun Sketch Frenzy! 

I used the oval collection framelits to make the center layers. 

Stamp set used For Peep's Sake. 

I free hand cut the eggs with Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, and Soft Suede cardstock. 

The ears I put on the chick were made with the bow builder punch. 

I got my inspiration from the Cadbury egg TV ad. I love how they have the 

lion with the bunny ears on his head. 

Be sure to stop on by the Sketch Frenzy Friday blog to 

check out what the other designers have made with this sketch.

Stamping trails
Karen

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Butterfly on a Bunny's Nose



I had been walking around all week with this idea for a bunny card

in my head. 

I was having trouble getting it from my head to the cardstock. 

I used different circles from the Circle collection framlits, 

and the large oval punch. Little heart nose from Owl Builder punch. 

The flowers remind me of the flower power years of the 1970's. 

This stamp is from the calendar set in the Spring Occasions mini. 

The white layer was sponged with Pool Party ink, and the flowers

were inked with Wisteria Wonder. 

I used the decorative dots folder on the tail and ears, and the entire bunny

was sponged around the edges with Smokey Gray ink. 

Love the little butterfly lighting on the bunny's nose. 

Hope you enjoy this card as much as I do. 

Stamping trails
Karen

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Surprise Bunnys


I received a wonderful surprise box yesterday. 

My friend Lisa sent me a mason jar filled with

eatible Easter grass, and candy. There is a little 

chocolate bunny, and foiled wrapped eggs nestled on the 

grass. 


She also made this adorable bunny card. How cute! 

Big thanks Lisa. What a great surprise! This

fits in very well with the bunny theme blog posts I've 

been posting all this week. 
 
John is taking me this afternoon to get my last gel shot injection in my 
 
left knee. I spoke to Sarah yesterday for well over an hour. 
 
We are chatting, and making the wedding plans. She also 
 
wanted to visit me in the hospital next week. Only 5 more days till the 
 
surgery. 

Stamping trails
Karen

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

French Fry Box Bunny


Say hello to this cute little fry box bunny. 

I cut the box using Basic Gray cardstock. 

Then just added some punch art pieces to create the bunny. 

Ears made with the smallest oval thinlit die. 

Inner ears made with large oval punch with Blushing Bride cardstock that

was embossed with decorative dots folder.
 
 
I used the painted blooms baker twine from the Spring Occasions mini to make
 
the whiskers. Cut three strands then use an overhand knot and tie in the center.
 
Attach them to the box with a glue dot. 
 
Cheeks made with 1 inch circle punch
 
Eyes made with 3/4 inch, and 1/2 circle punches. 
 
Heart is from the itty bitty punch pack. 
 
The cheeks were attached over the whiskers using pop dots. Rest
 
of the pieces were attached with glue dots. 
 
 
Easter much be just around the corner seeing how the past three posts have had
 
bunnies! 
 
I think winter is over because Skip cleaned up the snow thrower and put it away for the year. 
 
That is a sure sign of Spring! 
 
I had my last iron iv yesterday. Thank goodness those are over. I'll say one
 
thing the people in that clinic were so nice and good to all of us having the iv's. 
 
I go on Wednesday to get the last gel shot in my left knee. Then I get a break for the rest
 
of the week till Monday when I get the right knee replaced. 
 
Stamping trails
Karen 

Monday, March 23, 2015

Mailable Monday # 102


Today I used the berry basket die in a different way. 

I just used one front section of the basket for the card. 

Punch art bunny was made with the following punches:
 
ears, bow punch
head, sweetheart punch
cheeks, owl builder punch
nose, small heart punch
paws, 3/4 circle punch cut in half
mouth owl builder punch
 
I sponged the ears with Blushing Bride, whisker, eyes, an paw details made
 
with early espresso marker. 
 
Basket stamped with Bordering Blooms. 
 
Greeting from For Peeps Sake. 
 
Lovely Lace embossing folder used on Blushing Bride layer. 
 
Base card white. 
 
I so pleased with how this card came out. Hope you enjoy it. 
 
Stamping trails
Karen 
 
 
 

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Bunny Berry Basket


Well I had some energy yesterday and did some crafting. 

I used the berry basket die, and the hardwood background stamp

to create this cute little basket. 

The bunny was made using the SAB designer paper along with

small oval punch for ears and feet,

and 1 1/4 circle for head, and 1 3/8 circle for body. I added

a cute little tail using one of the blushing bride flower trim from the Artisan kit.

The bow punch was used on the front of the basket and punched with Blushing

Bride cardstock. 

I also got to use Hand Picked thinlit die. I cut the plant poke with

Pear Pizzazz.


I had so much fun making the bunny I had to make another one to place on a card. 

This one is a bit smaller. I still used the small oval punch for the ears and feet, 

but the body was made with 1 1/4 circle punch, and the head was made

with 1 inch circle punch. I sponged the pieces with Crumb Cake ink. 

The barbed wire folder is from Cuttlebug. I thought the bunny would

look cute with the fencing. 

The plant poke was cut with Pear Pizzazz, and stamped with a leaf that is

in From the Garden stamp set. 

The surgery is just a week away. I was talking to my nephew Corbett last week, 

and he asked me if I was excited to get the surgery. Well I wouldn't say I was excited.

I'm a bit scared, as the last time I was in a hospital was when I had my son John. 

But I know it needs to be done. So I'll get through it. 

Stamping trails
Karen

Friday, March 20, 2015

Just Sharing



Well did you ever have one of those weeks where every time 

you tried to stamp or craft anything it just felt forced? 

Well that is me this week. I've started on several things and 

nothing has really felt right. 

Its been a rough week. I've had to go

get two IV's done. One on Tuesday and the other on 

Thursday. Last one is this coming Monday. I'm getting

more iron pumped into me before the knee surgery on the 30th. 

Then on Wednesday I had to get the second gel shot in the left knee. 

I feel like a walking pin cushion, and I'm sure if I drink anything 

I'll be leaking from all the "pin" pricks. 

I have a shout of of thanks to my friend Kat who sent me a 

goodie box. I received it yesterday and it did wonders for 

my spirit. Lots of hand stamped cards, and crispy m&m's. YUM. 

I did get to see some crocus in bloom out in the grass when we 

came home from the hospital. So that was a great lift. Always

nice to see some flowers. Sure sign of Spring. And speaking of Spring

happy first day of Spring, of course here in the Northeast we are

expecting rain/snow mix and colder temps today. Can't

wait to move to TX! 


I did want to share a rare photo of my son John. He 

doesn't like to be in photos. Here he is holding Cherokee,

Skip is in the background. So proud of John as he has lost over

100 pounds. Way to go! 

So I've typed enough. I'm hoping I get some stamping energy soon. As 

I have great new stuff to play with. 

Stamping trails
Karen

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Happy St. Patrick's Day!



Isn't this card cute!!!!

Thanks to my friend Kat for sending it to me. 

I didn't get to making a St. Paddy's day card this year. 

I'll be glad when the knee surgery is over and I have recovered. 

I swear lately I have no desire to do much of anything. 

I'm trying to stay positive but some days it is hard to do. 

I have corn beef and cabbage simmering away in the crockpot today. 

It will be ready later when Skip comes home for dinner. 

It was so nice here yesterday 63 degrees if you can believe that. 

But of course the temps fell overnight and its only going to be in the 40's for the

rest of the week, and rain today. 

I have to go to the Medina hospital today, Thursday, and next Monday to

get IV's. Since my hemoglobin in just a tad low they are trying to bring

it up before the surgery. 

Sarah and Jason came to visit on Sunday. We ordered pizza and talked about the wedding. 

Sarah did find the perfect wedding dress. She got a good deal on it also. 

Was 34 hundred, but only cost her 8 hundred. She still needs 

to decide on the veil, and shoes. Plus another at least details, but it is coming together. 

Stamping trails
Karen

Friday, March 13, 2015

Sketch Frenzy Friday 03132015


Happy Friday the 13th! 

I used Painted Blooms designer paper as my base card. 

Sponged it with Lost Lagoon, Hello Honey, and Tangerine Twist.

The Lost Lagoon layer is the negative space from the egg card I posted on Tuesday. 

Love when I can make a quick card using scraps. 

Tangerine ribbon finished off this card. 

Check out the Sketch Frenzy Friday blog to 

see what the other designers have created this week.
 
Stamping trails
Karen 


Thursday, March 12, 2015

Artisan Box



For today's project I covered the box that the Artisan kit comes it. 

Its a nice plastic box and I thought it was to nice of a box just to 

throw out after I had finished using the kit. 


I have lots of birthdays coming up so I think this will be perfect to

present a gift in. 

I had a gel shot injection yesterday. I must say that the shot really hurt this time around.

I have two more to get in the same knee over the next two weeks. 

This morning I'll be heading over to Medina hospital. I have to have a 

pre-surgery screening. At least the weather will be good. It got up to 50 yesterday,

and today they are saying up to 52. YAY. 

I'm glad for any warmer temps I can get. I talked to Sarah 

yesterday morning. She told me her tulips and daffodils were coming up. 

Stamping trails
Karen

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Kraft Grid Journal Wallet with Painted Blooms Paper


I made this wallet journal using Painted Blooms 

designer paper. 

I cut the paper for the outside cover and adhered it using a transfer sheet. 

I don't know why I didn't get the transfer sheets before. They are great! 

The journal is in the new big SU catalog. 


The inside front and back cover was also done with matching

designer paper. The faux jump ring was made using 1 1/4 and 1 " circle punches. 

The clasp was made with Blackberry Bliss cardstock what was cut with the 

new tag punch from the Occasions mini catalog. It has a velcro closure. 

Stamp set is Painted Blooms. 
 
Stamping trails
Karen 


Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Egg Card


It was so pretty out yesterday. Lots of great sunshine flooding

through the windows. The temperature was also up. We even had 

birds outside just chirping away.

Come this Wednesday it is suppose to be clear and in the mid 40's. 

That is like a heat wave for us! 

The above card was made using paper from from the SAB catalog.

I made a template for the egg then cut them from the designer paper. 

I sponged the eggs using the new in line colors. 

Added some Mossy Meadow using the fringe scissors for the grass. 

The "hello" framlit made with Lost Lagoon and attached to the card

using transfer adhesive sheet. 
 
I don't know if it shows up in the photo so clearly but I did using the large
 
dot embossing folder on the main layer of the card. 


Here is a view of the inside card. Greeting is from 

For Peep's Sake stamp set. 
 
Stamping trails
Karen 
 
 


Monday, March 9, 2015

Mailable Monday # 101


Happy Mailable Monday! 

As I posted before I've been playing with a new stamping technique going around 

called Bokeh. 

I have seen a few different ways to create the look that is actually a photography 

trick. 

For this card I used watercolor paper. Got the paper wet first. Next I added 

three drops of re-inker (soft suede, and crumb cake) to 10 drops of water. These were

in separate containers. 

I began adding the re-inker/water mix using an aqua painter. I continued

to add to the watercolor paper till it was completely covered. 

Next step was to let it dry. I then made a template using a window sheet and 

different sized circles from the circle thinlits. 

White craft ink and a sponge dauber was used to make the circles over the

dried watercolor paper. Completed piece was layered on white then on 

Early Espresso. I then added the little hearts. Greeting is from Lovely Amazing You. 


This card was done using whisper white cardstock. 

I used sponge daubers to add the colors directly from soft suede, and

crumb cake ink pads. 

I used the same circle template and added the circles with white craft ink. 

After it was dry I stamped the greeting using jet black StazOn ink. 

I created the scallop border on the bottom using a 1/2 circle punch and crumb

cake cardstock. 

There are several videos out there using both these techniques. Just google search

bokeh. 

Stamping trails
Karen

Friday, March 6, 2015

Sketch Frenzy Friday 030615


I got to use something new that SU is offering as part of there

SAB promotion. The egg in the center of this card uses sheer perfection designer 

vellum stack. 

The vellum is printed. So all those little tiny dots you see behind the chick is

printed on the vellum. How cool is that! 

I sponged the edges of the egg with Basic Gray ink. 

Stamp set used For Peeps' Sake. 

I also used Perpetual Birthday Calendar, and Gorgeous Grunge stamp sets with

Hello Honey, and Basic Gray ink. These are uses as 

background stamps that go across the white cardstock. 


Here is a close up view of the vellum egg and chick. 

The chick is popped up over the vellum with pop dots. 

Be sure to check out the Sketch Frenzy Friday blog to see other

designs using this sketch.

Stamping trails
Karen

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Stamping on Designer Paper


Just a very simple card as this is about all I can wrap my head around.....

simple! 

I have been playing with a new technique that has been showing up on

lots of different stamping blogs. Its called Bokeh. I however

have not been having much luck with it so I decided to just step away for 

a bit and come back to it later and see how it goes. 

Stamp sets used for today's card: Crazy about You. Colors: Island Indigo, 

Always Artichoke, and Crushed Curry. 

I did the stamping on designer paper, and layered it on Crushed Curry, and Vanilla. 

The ribbon is one of the free SAB be offered from SU. 

I decided not to add a greeting to the front of the card. This will go

in my blank card box. 

Stamping trails
Karen

Monday, March 2, 2015

Mailable Monday # 100


Well thank goodness for polymer stamps! 

I cased this card from another stamper, but I have to admit I had some trouble with it. 

I first thought the artist stamped the images on a white layer then cut the "thanks" thinlit

from the center then layered that image back onto the card. Nope that didn't work. 

So for the second attempt I cut the thanks out first. Then put that on top of the 

layer and held it down with one hand while stamping the images over it and onto 

the layer. 

I wasn't really happy with that either as there were empty spaces around the letters. 

Next thing I did was to use the transfer sheets to add adhesive to the back of the 

stamped "thanks" thinklit. 

I cut another thanks using the back cardboard that is in a designer paper paper. 

The stamped "thanks" was adhered to the cardboard one to make the "thanks" more 

dimensional.
 
Now getting back to the empty spaces. I inked up the same stamps and over stamped 
 
them. With the stamps being of clear polymer I was able to line them up correctly. 
 
The finished "thanks" was adhered to the layer with mini staples. 
 
 
Here is a side view of the card so you can see how the "thanks" seems to come right off the
 
white layer. 
 
Stamp set Painted Petals. Colors: Lost Lagoon, Tangerine Twist, Mossy Meadow, and 
 
Memento black ink. 
 
We had a lot of snow falling down yesterday, but it wasn't enough for schools to 
 
close so Skip went to work today. Only 18 more days till Spring! 
 
Can't wait. 
 
I didn't make my 100 lost goal yet, but I'm only one pound away. YAY
 
Stamping trails
Karen 
 
Start weight 273
Current weight 174
Goal weight 170