Karen Creates Cards

15 April 2014

Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge #104 - Use the the colours Slate, Kraft and White or Cream on your Christmas card.

It is my turn to challenge our wonderful cardmakers on Merry Monday this week. I have gone for non-traditional colours, but perhaps not so non-traditional for our Scandinavian friends. I am really looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

For my card I have used, Basic linen textured Bazzill for the base card, Kraft from PTI, spots from MME, and a metallic blue/grey, embossed white and a PTI kraft for the banners. The Lil'Inker stitched square is Neenah white, the trees are Dies and Stamps from PTI. The card is finished with silver ribbon, rhinestones and enamel dots.

See what the design team have created to inspire you by going to the challenge site (link above) or by clicking on the links below.

Karen Davis (you're here)

This month's featured designer is Jennifer Timko

Thanks for dropping by.

08 April 2014

Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge #103 - Use a snowman on your Christmas card.

Hello there! Are you ready for another Merry Monday Challenge? This week we have a snowman theme, so roll out those lovely snowmen stamps and create a card featuring these gorgeous wee fellas. For me they seem quite mythical, as I have never seen a real one, so stamping is as close as I will ever get to a snowman.

My card started with my own snowman design/image, I have used him before here, but this time I was able to import him into the Silhouette program and set him up for print and cut. So excited about this.
I still like to hand colour him though (rather than colour him on the computer), I like the organic feel of my rough colouring.
I forgot to dust the image before I white embossed the hat brim etc and managed to get powder all over the show. I decided not to clean it off because it looked like sprinkled snow to me.
His stitched circle is made with two Lil' Inker circle dies.
The large leaves are Quickutz, the small leaves are a hand punch, and the snowflake and scallop strip are Lil' Inker. The Sentiment is Hero Arts.

See what the design team have created to inspire you by going to the challenge site (link above) or by clicking on the links below.

Karen Davis (you're here)

This month's featured designer is Jennifer Timko

I look forward to seeing what you create for the gallery, have a good week.

03 April 2014

The Card Concept Challenge #7 - Use a Butterfly on your card

This weeks inspiration photo for The Card Concept Challenge is so gorgeous, I predict a large gallery of beautiful cards featuring this very popular subject. Have fun with butterflies.

Here is my card inspired (rather directly) by the inspiration photo. For some reason ( I am not a very well informed photographer) my image proportions are shorter and wider than the actual card. I will have to get to the bottom of this?? I am sure my mirrors do this to me as well!!

When I looked at the inspiration image, the elements that popped into my mind were the butterfly (hmmmm!), wood grain, trellis and curly cues. I added a light splatter of turquoise ink (still trying to control those little suckers) and a few wee sequins. The button with twine and the two studs from Prima finished the card off. I am not sure who the butterfly is from. Its an old set of red rubber cling stamps. The trellis is Spellbinders and the sentiment is Hero Arts.

Have fun creating over the next two weeks. Stay safe.

01 April 2014

CASE Study Challenge #184 Casing Joni once again!!

I just had to squeeze in some time to case Joni again on the Case Study challenge blog. I adore this card, I can remember gasping when I saw it!! :-)

I loved the vellum leaves, the colour and the format so kept those. Here is my rendition.

Thanks for stopping by.

Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge #102 - Use or create Mistletoe on your Christmas card.

One quarter of the year has gone!! As I close in on 60 (yikes!!), time seems to be rushing by faster than ever. It's not true of course, that clock ticks at the same rate as it always has. However, I have found time spent making cards seems to slow that minute hand down, for a short time anyway........you breath, contemplate and create. I am sure it's like balm to the brain. LOL

With this in mind, how about joining us for this Merry Monday Challenge to create or use mistletoe on a card. Slow down for a while, and immerse yourself totally in the process.

For my card, I decided I could use these leaves (which are one of three branches on a Quickutz die) to create my Mistletoe. A few pearls created the berries. I wanted something other than a diecut frame for the card so I stamped and hand cut this lovely Frame stamp from Hero Arts. Once I had assembled these items it was just a matter of layering and adding a sentiment.