Humorous But Masculine Valentine

January 24, 2019 Karen Brown8 Comments

I wanted to create a valentine that would appeal to men and thought a cute \”scene\” card featuring two dogs trying to get together in a florist shop would be fun. One dog is peering out over the window sill as the other dog is using a crate to try and climb inside.

To create my scene, I combined the January 2019 My Monthly Hero kit with two pups from MFT\’s Lucky Dog stamp set. I love both sets! First I created a background using Tim Holtz Stamper\’s Anonymous Bricked Layering Stencil and Simon Says Stamp Hybrid Stone ink. The stencil was not quite wide enough for the full card so I stenciled the right side and blended toward the middle, then stenciled the left side blending so that my A2 card was fully covered. I think the bricks turned out well.

Next I stamped (on Xpress It paper), colored (with Copics) and die cut the images with my new Gemini Junior. I then embossed the sentiment on the window. Using foam tape, I adhered my scene to the background.

Update:

I am very pleased that this card was selected “Top 5” in the Allsorts Challenge:

And Pile It On Sweet Sprinkles Award.

I think this is a fun card and I am excited to enter it in the following challenges:

A Blog Named Hero Crafter\’s Choice Challenge I received my January Hero Arts Kit this week and couldn\’t wait to start playing with it! I tried to attach the graphic but I received an error message.

Addicted to Stamps Challenge #325 I was inspired by the Love theme, the hearts & flowers and the colors green, pink and red.

Cards In Envy Love Me or My Pets Challenge Love and Pets…what could be a better theme?

Allsorts Make it Masculine Challenge This is my first time to enter this challenge. This is the valentine I made for my husband.

Pile it On \”Land Animals\” Challenge

I hope you enjoy the card…I sure had fun making it!

Karen

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WWC205 – Donna\’s "All About Holidays" Challenge

January 23, 2019 Karen Brown3 Comments

Handmade Valentine\’s are such a nice gift and today at Watercooler Wednesday we are creating projects for the holidays. I came up with a pastel pink Valentine design for my mother. I feel extremely lucky to still have my 83 year old mom. She lives a mile away and we see each other often.

Handmade card embellished with Studio Katia Clear Drops, Nuvo Crystal Drops and Nuvo Aqua Shimmer.

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I designed a wreath using the fun elements in SSS\’s Hello Friends Stamp set. I lightly drew a circle where I wanted the wreath placed and then hand stamped all the cute little elements. The sentiment is from Forever in Time – Sentiments. I colored with Copic Markers: RV04, RV21, RV23, YG01, YG03. And because my mom likes lots of sparkle, I brushed the flowers with Nuvo Aqua Shimmer, added Nuvo Crystal Drops to the circles and heart and placed three Studio Katia Clear drops on the wreath.

Hop on over to see what the other Watercooler Artists created this week for All About the Holidays. I hope you will link your creation too.

I am entering my card in: Just us Girls \”Pastel\” Challenge I was inspired by the color theme \”pastels\”.

Addicted to Stamps and More #325 I was inspired by the \”love\” and \”pink and green\” color themes.

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

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WWC204 – Gail\’s Masculine "Anything Goes" Challenge

January 16, 2019 Karen Brown2 Comments

My nephew plays Lacrosse for Tufts University and he was recently injured and tore his ACL. He had surgery to repair his knee and I wanted to send him a Get Well card. He loved the card! I think it is cute with a bit of humor. Masculine cards are perhaps the trickiest so I knew I wanted to submit this card for WWC204 – Gail\’s Masculine \”Anything Goes\” Challenge Stop by and see what the other artists created and then create your entry.

The dog is from one of my go to stamp sets for Get Well Cards- Art Impressions Doggy Kisses. I colored the pup with copic markers, added a bit of shadow underneath the dog and mounted on a gray A2 card.

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

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Square Valentine with Octagonal Insert

January 13, 2019 Karen Brown8 Comments

I bought the Gina K Wreath Builder template a while back and thought it would be fun to use for a valentine. Instead of rotating an 1/8th of a turn each time, I skipped and did quarter turns. I started by stamping the cute birds from Photoplay Thinking of You. Then, in the areas in between the birds, I used the template again and stamped hearts and butterflies from a stamp set I received for Christmas (Inkblot Shop This & That). This card is for my mother-in-law and she loves birds and butterflies.

$Handmade card featuring butterflies and hearts from Inkblot Shop\'s This & That Stamp set.$

After coloring with Copic markers, I was very happy with the panel, but I wondered how it would look with the four corners clipped. I was a bit nervous but went ahead and loved the octagonal result. I mounted on a square 4\” x 4\” hot pink card base. I wanted a vintage feel like the small valentines we used to exchange as kids.

Copic colors used: RV 4, RV 23, Y06, Y08, R35 and BG11.

I am entering my valentine in the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More Holiday Challenge This week I made two valentine\’s and Addicted so Stamps Holiday Challenge called to my designs.

Time Out Loving Challenge This week I was ready to work on Valentine\’s so the \”loving\” theme was perfect for me.

The Card Concept Pink Party Challenge I was inspired by the gorgeous hot pink, white and black color scheme and the butterflies on the table runner.

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

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WWC203 – Karen\’s "All About Occasions" Challenge

January 9, 2019 Karen Brown3 Comments

Let The Bliss Begin! My daughter just got married and this is the card I made for her shower. I thought it was appropriate for my first time hosting a challenge for Watercooler Wednesday.

I bought this stamp set (Colorplay) at a card making expo. I embossed the delicate image in a glossy black and colored with Copic markers. I also embossed the sentiment (SSS Floral Bliss) \”Let The Bliss Begin\”. I mounted this panel on a nice thick gray note card and then added a white insert inside. My daughter loved the card. 🙂

Our Watercooler Artists have some lovely cards showcased this week…pop on over and take a look!

I entered my card in:

Stamping Sensations Fabulously Feminine Challenge What is more feminine than a bridal shower card?

Crafty Creations Anything Goes Challenge This is my first time entering this challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

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Fresh

January 6, 2019 Karen Brown1 Comment

Fresh…fresh year, fresh inspiration, fresh supplies. When I saw Casology\’s prompt I was inspired. In December, I saw this darling stamp set (Sweet Dear Friend by Picket Fences) and ordered it immediately. The girls seemed very fresh and pure and I thought they would be fun to use in the new year. Today was my first day to try them out, but I see many future cards as well.

In brainstorming, I came up with the clean and simple idea of a line of four girls plus the sentiment bordered by a scored band. I embossed the girls on Bristol cardstock and then used my TomBow watercolor markers. The images are sketchy and I wanted to use bright, fresh, vivid colors to bring them to life. I kept the hair and face muted so that the focus was on the dresses.

TomBow colors – Dresses: 933, 755, 173, 443. Face: 990. Hair: 990+055

Handmade card with a scored border and illustrated with Tombow markers.

I am entering this card in Casology Week 325 Fresh Challenge.

UPDATE: I was very excited that my card received Honorable Mention from CASology this week!

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

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WWC202 – Dawn\’s Feminine "Anything Goes" Challenge

January 2, 2019 Karen Brown2 Comments

I made my youngest daughter an assortment of cards as a Christmas gift. Megan is a cute blond who owns her own marketing company so I thought this image was perfect.

The stamp set is Clover by Rubbernecker. The sentiment is Visible Image\’s Live in the Moment which was fun to use as I won it as a prize in a challenge this summer. Link to Yappy Birthday card

I colored Clover with Copic markers and then added three pearlescent sequins for a little interest and shine.

My card is among the artist cards for Dawn\’s Watercooler Wednesday Feminine Anything Goes Challenge. Come take a peek and play along.

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

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WWC201 – Marsha\’s Special Two-Week Year End Anything Goes

December 19, 2018 Karen Brown9 Comments

I love Christmas and all the opportunities for paper crafting. I\’ve decorated several boxes and gift bags and am especially happy with this particular gift.

I ordered some white and kraft boxes and had fun decorating them. This particular parcel features Avery Elle\’s Festive Wreath stamp set. I colored with Copic markers, added shine with a shimmer pen and then fussy cut the images and attached with foam mounting squares. To finish it off I tied on a bright red bow.

I am a design team member for Watercooler Wednesday and created this package for Marsha\’s Two-Week Year End Anything Goes Challenge I hope you will pop over and see what the other artists have posted and then link one of your creations.

I am entering my gift box in the following:
Stamping Sensations Winter Sparkle Challenge My winter sparkle comes form the Wink of Stella I used on the wreath.
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cupcake inspirations #460 My color scheme is kraft (gingerbread), red, green and white.

Casology Holly Challenge – Festive Wreath

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

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WWC200 – Helen\’s "All About Occasions" Challenge

December 12, 2018 Karen Brown1 Comment

Watercooler Wednesday is celebrating their 200th Challenge this week! What an accomplishment! Helen is the hostess of this celebratory challenge.

A friend\’s daughter is pregnant with twins and I thought a retro – vintage card would be fun for the shower. I stamped two storks from the Forever In Time Baby set and then stamped the clothes line overhead. I then re-stamped two storks and the clothesline on Copic friendly paper and colored two baby bundles, shirts and socks. Next I fussy cut the colored images.

Instead of adhering the colored pieces with foam, I went with a less dimensional look and glued the pieces to the card front with a tape runner.

I hope to see your creation on the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge Website

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

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WWC199 – Tristan\’s Feminine "Anything Goes" Challenge

December 5, 2018 Karen Brown13 Comments

I am very pleased to be a new member of The Watercooler Challenges Team! Today, my card is featured on the challenge website. Watercooler Challenges Website

I love this Catherine Scanlon \”Stacked\” stamp set. I recently purchased it at a Card Convention and made a similar watercolor card on Bristol cardstock – Bristol Card– This time, I wanted to try it on Ranger Distress Cardstock. I used Tombow Dual Tip Watercolor Markers and Princess Gold Embossing powder and I love how it turned out.

I am entering this card in:

The Coffee Loving Cardmakers Fall/Winter Blog Hop (I tried to add the hop graphic to my post but received an error message that did not allow me to publish my post).

UPDATE: This card won a $25 gift certificate to Jaded Blossoms. This was a Super Sponsor Prize from The Coffee Loving Cardmakers Fall/Winter Blog Hop Challenge.

Happy Little Stampers CAS Emboss Challenge How about a cozy cup of tea for December?

Muse Card \”Anything Goes\” Challenge: I am enjoying a break from Christmas themed cards.

I hope to see your creation on the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge site. Thanks for stopping by!

Karen