Thank You

The Love Fest Challenges at Splitcoast have been keeping me busy over the past week, and I haven't even shown you everything I created yet.

My card today is for the day 6 Inspiration Challenge sponsored by The Cat's Pajamas. I decided to go very clean and simple and used a sentiment from the Simply Said stamp set.

I started with a card base of Sweet Tooth cardstock then chose patterned papers from the My Mind's Eye Breeze collection. I was inspired by not only the colours in the inspiration photo, but also the hexagon tiles, so I used my Open Hexagon Borders Die-namics to cut out the hexagons from both Black Licorice and patterned paper. I added a little texture to the bottom of the card by running it through my modern wallpaper embossing folder before adhering the hexagons.

I created the flower by cutting out the yellow patterned paper using the Plentiful Petals Die-namics. The flower center is cut from Steel Grey and I added a Sweet Tooth button to finish it off. The simple 'thank you' sentiment was stamped with Black Licorice Premium Dye Ink.

Here are the supplies I used:

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Warm & Toasty

I made a sweet little lovey dovey card today using Sheepish from The Cat's Pajamas and the heart trio CutUps.

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Alma is having a fun little Valentine blog hop and I wanted to join in. Here's the post with all the details, in case you're interested. I used the latest sketch from Splitcoast, SC371, but I flipped it to use the mirror image.

I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured it with copic markers, then I cut it out. I paper pieced the scarf with one of the patterns from the My Mind's Eye Love Me paper pad and I wanted to make sure the stripes were going in the right direction so I pieced one end of the scarf a second time. I cut out the hearts from patterned paper first, then I cut them again from pink felt and stitched them together.

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Take Off, eh!

I've had this Take Off set from The Cat's Pajamas since it was released and it had yet to see any ink, so I pulled it out and played along with the TCP Tuesday sketch challenge, TCPTUES180.

The sketch was a little intimidating with that big 'ole star, but I just treated it like any other layer and I love how my card came together. This little guy is SO cute!!! I love that his ears are practically bigger than the plane!

I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black onto choice buttercream and coloured it with copics. I paper pieced the airplane with two patterns from the Blink of an Eye collection by My Mind's Eye. I added a couple coats of clear glaze pen to his goggles and a rhinestone swirl coming out of the exhaust pipe. I cut out the row of clouds using the cloud border die then stitched them in place. I gotta say, my little Janome Sew Mini did not like going through that many layers of card stock! LOL!

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Sweet Sunday Penguins

I couldn't resist making another card with this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge, SSSC14. This is card #13 for Project Christmas 2011. I used the fun Round the Chimney set from The Cat's Pajamas. These little penguins are totally adorable!!

I have to say, I can't remember the last time I made a card without using patterned paper, but there's not a stitch of patterned paper on this one! I did "make my own" patterned paper though by repeating the sentiment on the smaller panel...it's a neat effect!

The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black onto choice snow white and coloured with copics. I added a few coats of clear glaze pen to the glass and some fluffy white liquid applique trim to the stockings and hat. I wrapped some Green Apple Divine Twine around the bottom of the card and anchored it in place with some layered snowflakes. I really love the simple look of this card!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Sweet Sunday Balloon Bear

It's time for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge, SSSC112.

I was fortunate to pick up some of the new TCP products when Alma was at my LSS a couple of weeks ago, but the sad part is I didn't have time to ink them up until now!

I used the new Catch My Drift set. This little bear is just adorable with his sweet expression. He's stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black onto choice buttercream and coloured with copics. I added sparkle to the balloons with a few Spica glitter pens. The patterned papers are from My Mind's Eye Alphabet Soup collection.

I love how the Inside Pinking cut-up along the bottom echos the pointy shape of the stacking stars die-namics. I added some green apple twine and "pulled a Pedro" by wrapping it multiple times then separating the strands. I always love when Jackie does that, but she gets the ends to look so much more swoopy than mine.

I hope you'll play along with this week's sketch and link your creation on Karen's blog. Now it's time to hop around and see what the rest of the Sweet Sunday Stampers came up with.
Dana White
Jen Tapler
Lynn Put
Sarah-Jane Kale'
Vicki Burdick
and Karen Giron

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Sweet Sunday Ski Bunny

It's time for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge, SSSC105. You'll find the sketch on Karen Giron's blog, The Sweetest Thing.

This is Project Christmas 2011, card #7...yay!

I used the Ski Bunny set from The Cat's Pajamas...FUN!! Aren't the little icicles on his whiskers adorable!!! I don't know why but I'm hooked on keeping this little guy white for some reason. The rest is coloured with copics and I drew in a few more snowflakes then added Twinkles to each one. It's hard to see in the photo but his scarf is popped on foam tape.

The patterned paper is Pebbles Inc. Snow Fun...perfect wintery colours. I stitched around each of the panels then added some green velvet ribbon for a little texture. The tiny snowflakes in the corner are the punched out portions of my EK snowflake border punch. To finish the card I added a ghost snowflake (haven't used one of those in a while) topped with a blue snowflake I cut out with the smallest snowflake die-namic.

I hope you'll play along with this week's sketch and link your creation on Karen's blog. Now it's time to hop around and see what the rest of the Sweet Sunday Stampers created.
Dana White
Jen Tapler
Lynn Put
Sarah-Jane Kale'
Vicki Burdick
and Karen Giron

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Sweet Sunday Bunny Cake

It's time for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge, SSSC101. You'll find the sketch on Karen Giron's blog The Sweetest Thing.

I decided to flip the sketch this week so I could use another new-to-me set from The Cat's Pajamas, Forget About the Cake. I made this card with my dad in mind...he's celebrating a big 'ole milestone birthday in March and one of the sentiments reads "you're not getting older, you're getting a lot older"...which would be just perfect for him! LOL!!! If I decide to use this card for him then I'll add the sentiment on the inside, but for now I left the sentiment off just in case I come up with something else.

The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black onto choice snow white and coloured with copics. I cut out the cake (including his paws) and popped it on foam tape for dimension. I added yellow Stickles to the candles then covered the bunny with white Fun Flock. The patterned papers are from the Echo Park Little Boy collection...such fun colours!! I did some zig zag sewing around the oval and only messed up at one little spot...can you find it? I can't believe how much easier it is to zig zag around an oval or circle rather sewing a straight line! I also picked up the Inside Pinking border die from TCP because it's a fabulous option for masculine cards...I was getting tired of always using stars...ugh.

I hope you'll play along with this week's sketch and link your creation on Karen's blog. Now it's time to hop around and see what the rest of the Sweet Sunday Stampers created, and we have a brand new Sweet Sunday Stamper on the team...Dana White! Yay Dana!!!! Be sure to give her a warm welcome!
Dana White
Jen Tapler
Lynn Put (she's out sick this week...feel better soon Lynn!)
Sarah-Jane Kale'
Vicki Burdick
and Karen Giron

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Define Good...

Today I'm playing along with Jen's January Sketch For You To Try and this is my Project Christmas 2011, card #2. Yay me!

I find the best way to motivate myself to make Christmas cards right after Christmas is with new product...grin! So I did a little shopping at The Cat's Pajamas and picked up some fun stuff, including this Define Good set.

My buddie Jeanie often uses kraft cardstock and thanks to her, I'm reaching for kraft cardstock more often. It worked perfectly with my idea to have a white bunny so he really pops. I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black onto kraft and cut it out with rectangle Nestabilities. Then I stamped it again onto choice snow white, coloured it with copics, then cut it out. It's adhered right to the kraft panel...no foam tape. I added some white flock to the bunny and white liquid applique to his hat.

The patterned papers are from my Basic Grey Jovial pad. I used my MS modern garland border punch along the edge of red and added some clear Twinkles for a little sparkle. The sentiment just cracks me up...that's something I would have said as a child! LOL!!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Sweet Sunday Elves

It's time for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge, SSSC86. You'll find the sketch on Karen Giron's blog The Sweetest Thing.

This is the last sketch in the "bar napkin" series that Nancy McKinney created for us back in July at CHA, and she'll be playing along again with us this week. Thanks for all the fun sketches Nancy!

I went the Christmas route for my card today and pulled out the sweet Give a Little set from The Cat's Pajamas. Isnt' this penguin just darling!?! I stuck with reds for the colouring but jazzed them up by using my red Spica glitter pen on the ornament and my clear glaze pen on the light bulbs. I also used some white liquid appliquee on his hat. The patterned papers are from Cosmo Cricket's Mitten Weather mini deck, paired with blush red dark and island mist light solids. The sentiment panel separated from the circular accent looked too bizarre to me so I connected them...I know...I cheated a little, but that's ok, right?

I hope you'll play along with this week's sketch and link your creation on Karen's blog. Now let's go see what the rest of the Sweet Sunday Stampers came up with.
Jen Tapler
Joanne Basile
Laura Fredrickson
Lynn Put
Nancy McKinney
Sarah-Jane Kale'
Vicki Burdick
and Karen Giron

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Sweet Sunday Elves

It's time for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch, SSSC68. You'll find the sketch on Karen Giron's blog, The Sweetest Thing.

I went for Christmas with this card since I fell off the Christmas-card-a-week wagon a couple of weeks ago! This fun Give a Little set from The Cat's Pajamas has been sitting patiently on my stamp table since February and yesterday Poochie called out to get inky, so I obliged. I {heart} Poochie...he reminds me of our sweet mini Schnauzer, Shadow. This image takes me back to when we were kids and we'd pile the presents around us before opening them...good times!!!

Anyway, on to the card...I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Choice Buttercream three times. Everything is coloured with copics and I popped the presents for dimension, then popped the little teddy bear one more time cause he's out in front. The patterned papers are from the October Afternoon Good Cheer 8x8 pad and I did a little stitching around all the edges. The sentiment is punched out with my SU modern label punch, sponged with black around the edges, then I added two red Tiny Twinkles. I finished the card with pink and red buttons.

I hope you'll play along with this week's sketch and link your creation to Karen's blog. Now let's go see what fabulous eye candy the rest of the Sweet Sunday Stampers came up with.

• Jen Tapler
• Joanne Basile
• Karen Giron
• Laura Fredrickson
• Lynn Put
• Nancy Riley
• Sarah-Jane Kale'
• Vicki Burdick

I totally spaced on today being Mother's day...see, we don't have kids, my Mom is travelling so I won't be talking to her and she lives in Canada so I won't be seeing her, and my MIL already received her gift on Friday and she's in Canada too with plans for today. So, for me, today's just another Sunday. But, for all the Moms out there, Happy Mother's Day and I hope you have a fabulous day!  :)

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Sweet Sunday Splashing

It's time for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch, SSSC61. You'll find the sketch on Karen Giron's blog The Sweetest Thing.

The weather was soooooooooo gorgeous in New England yesterday...sunny, warm, 75 degrees (that's 24 for my metric friends) and a perfect top down day (on the car of course!). I even had hubby take a picture to document the top down on March 20th!!! I think it was a perfect "gold star on the calendar" kinda day. But all this gorgeous weather has me longing for summer so I reached for my By the Sea set from The Cat's Pajamas.

The little penguin in the floaty toy was calling my name. Could also be because we're in the midst of deciding on a spring vacation and I'm hoping to look like this soon...I mean floating around and snorkelling, not looking like a penguin...doh! Oh my goodness, this chatter is getting out of hand...maybe it's the two glasses of wine I had before typing this up...sorry! LOL!!! Gosh, this may not even be appropriate for Sunday reading.  :)

So, back to the card...I stamped the penguin with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Choice Snow White and coloured it with copics. I added a little sparkle with my Spica glitter pens and coated the goggles with my clear Glaze pen. The image is cut out with circle Nestabilities and layered onto a circle of Prism vibrant pink. I decided to layer with a black scallop to really make the image pop.

The fun patterned paper is from My Mind's Eye Quite Contrary line....loooooooooooooooooove it!!!!! I have plenty so you'll be seeing much more of this line...hope you like it too...wink! The two shades of blue are Prism frosted teal and vibrant teal. I added a little texture with my swiss dots Cuttlebug folder then stitched everything together. The polka dot ribbon adds a fun contrast and the pink flower is from Stamp New England...yes, I've been hoarding it for a year! I tucked the little sentiment under the flower...it reads Stay Cool (the S is hidden in the photo).

I hope you'll play along with this week's sketch and link your project on Karen's blog. If you're looking for more inspiration with this week's sketch then hop along to the rest of the Sweet Sunday Stampers' blogs. We're lucky to have Joanne Basile joining us for March...
Jen Tapler
Joanne Basile
Laura Fredrickson
Lynn Put
Sarah-Jane Kale'
Vicki Burdick
and Karen Giron

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Beary Christmas

It's time for my Christmas-card-of-the-week. I find that to be motivated to make Christmas cards at this time of year, I need to work with new stamps. Problem? Not for me!!!  :)  I indulged in some sweet new Christmas sets from The Cat's Pajamas. Am I the only weirdo ordering Christmas stamps in the new year?!?!

For my card today I wanted to play along with the TCP Tuesday challenge. This week's it's hosted by Amy Rohl and the challenge is to paper piece...perfect...I love paper piecing! I reached for the bear from my Give A Little set and used last week's sketch challenge, SC266, from Splitcoast for the layout.

The bear is completely paper pieced and the honey pot and candy cane are coloured with copics. I added white Liquid Applique to his hat for the fur trim and glittered up the candy cane with my uber sparkly Glitzy Glitter. His eyes were a little lost on the chocolate patterned paper so I went over them with my black Glaze pen to bring them out a little more. The patterned papers are all from the SU Ski Slope pack.

The sentiment is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Riding Hood Red then cut out with a small scallop rectangle Nestabilities and I stitched around the edge to give it a little oomph. I couldn't resist adding a zig zag stitch along the outside edges and you had to know that there would be a ghost snowflake on here somewhere...wink! There's a chocolate circle under the ghost snowflake to help it stand out a little more, then a punched Baja Blue snowflake topped with a lovely button from my new Sweet Thing Buttons Pack.


A few of you have told me that you hopped on my Christmas-card-a-week wagon and that's awesome!!! You'll be soooooo happy in December...trust me! If you're not on the wagon, it's never to late to hop on!

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen