Tag: Easy Cards

cardmaking · Give Away · papercrafting

Hero Arts | Spring Catalog Collection Release + Blog Hop

Karen Brown53 Comments
Bright and colorful Smile Friend sentiment handmade card from Hero Arts.

I am so excited about Hero Arts Spring Catalog release, which goes live TODAY! There is so much wonderfulness that I can’t wait for you to see. To celebrate, Hero Arts is hosting a Blog Hop and Giveaway.

I wanted to start off with two fabulous new sentiment dies that I just love from Smile Friend Stamp and Cut XL. I went crazy die cutting a bunch so I will have them on hand for future cards.

Products Used on Smile Friend Card:

Flower Pattern Cover Die

Rainbow ink blending + Inlaid die cutting using Hero Arts Flower Pattern Cover Die.

I LOVE cover dies so I was excited to create with this Flower Pattern Cover Die, which is perfect for Spring and Summer. I started by ink blending a rainbow panel which I then die cut with the cover plate and then used the inlay technique to create a one layer background. This went more quickly than you would think because the die cuts fit like a good quality puzzle. My placement and gluing took about 20 minutes.

TIP: Keep your die-cuts in the panel until you start gluing so you know the orientation and position on your background.

Products Used on My Flower Pattern Cover Die Card:

Birthday Animals Stamps + Pointed Arches Infinity Dies

Fun and happy Copic colored Alligator Gator Birthday Card using Hero Arts Birthday Animal Stamps + Pointed Arches Infinity Dies.

Isn’t this Alligator the cutest? He is one 7 animal stamps included in the Birthday Animals Bundle. The set also includes 8 birthday/everyday sentiments. I combined the stamps with the Pointed Arches Infinity Dies. Infinity Dies are definitely staples in my craft room and I like the interest the arches add to projects. 

Products Used on The Gator Card:

Easy One Layer Sympathy Card

Easy one layer Sympathy Card Using With Sympathy Hero Rub-on Transfers.

I love everything about Rub-on transfers. I love how easy they are to use, the look they add to projects and how fun they are to apply! This Spring, Hero Arts included “Sympathy Transfers” in their release. I did some quick ink blending on my background and then added my Hero Transfers for a quick and easy card.

Products Used on My Sympathy Card:

Blog Hop and Giveaway Information:

Hero Arts will be giving away two $50 gift cards, drawn from the comments left along the hop. Comment on all the blogs for more chances to win! You have until Wednesday, February 21st at 11:59pm to enter. The winners will be announced on the Hero Arts blog.

Kailash Naidoo is next on the hop and I have links to everyone below.

Hero Arts
Hero Arts Creative Team:
Mindy Eggen
Natasha Vacca
Ilina Crouse
Charlene Madrid
Lydia Fiedler
Heather Ruwe
Natasha Polite
Seeka
Jeannie Lieu
Dana Joy
Pocono Pam
Rachel Kleinman
Michelle Short
Jennifer Kotas
Rosie Lopez
Karen Brown
Kailash Naidoo
Channin Pelletier
Special Guests:
Nichol Spohr
Ralph Tyndall
Laurie Willison
Cathy Zielske
Laura Bassen
Caly Person

I am so glad you could join this Hop!

cardmaking · Die cutting · Stamping

Spellbinders | Simon Hurley’s Big Hugs 5 Ways

Karen BrownLeave a comment
3 Simon Hurley Big Pug Hugs Birthday Cards.

Can you have too many dog stamps? I think not! I am loving Spellbinders + Simon Hurley’s new Big Hugs stamp and die bundle. These cute critters – Pug dog, Panda bear and Zebra – are sure to be favorites in my family. I love this set so much I went a little crazy making cards! 

Pug Dog Masculine Birthday Cards

Spellbinders Big Hugs Pug Birthday Scene Card

My first card is for my husband and I wanted to make a quick little scene. I stamped and Copic colored my Pug (complete with a festive party hat), embossed a brick wall, ink blended a background and heat embossed a cute sentiment.

Products Used:

Simon Hurley's Big Hugs Pug Birthday Card

This card is for my dog loving son-in-law. I think the Pug stamp has so much personality!

Products Used:

Quick and Easy Stamped Get Well Card

Sending Pug Hugs Handmade Card

I like to keep Get Well cards on hand and this card is sure to make the recipient smile.  This card came together very quickly. I stamped and Copic colored my Pug and added a blue mat for interest. Just two Copic markers!

Products Used:

Simple Pug Dog and Panda Bear Cards

I heat embossed my last two cards. Quick and easy but the heat embossing adds so much interest. 

Two Easy Pug Dog and Panda Bear Cards with Minimal Supplies

I added a quick die cut party hat to this simple card.

Simple Heat Embossed Pug Dog Card

Easy Beginner One Layer Panda Bear Card

Easy One Layer Panda Bear Card

Products Used:

Thanks for stopping by! I’d love to know which card you like best.

Karen

cardmaking

Spellbinders FransFormer Snowy Friends | Cute Quick Christmas Card | Easy Copic Coloring

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Spellbinders Fransfomers Snowy Friends cute with quick easy Copic coloring

Cute creatures + easy Copic coloring makes for an enjoyable afternoon! Spellbinders was kind enough to send me an advance copy of the new Fransformer Snowy Friends by Stupendous cling stamp set and I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed creating a card more. FransFormers are flexible clear stamps that you can squish, squeeze, shape and adjust plus they are just loads of fun!

My card is 5 1/2″ square which allowed me to add three snowmen. I used the same stamp for the left and right snowbabies, but you can see I was able to shape them so they each have their own personality. I did a little easy Copic coloring and I was done.

Three adorable snowmen in hats and scarves on a handmade Christmas card with easy Copic marker coloring.

Spellbinders Fransformer Snow Friends Flexible Cling Stamps STP-218

Copic Markers Used:,

  • Blues: B00, BG11, BG45, B24, B29
  • Pinks: BV00, BV11, RV21, RV23
  • Light Peach: E11, E21
  • Gray: N0, N1
  • Green: YG01
  • Orange: YR04

If you are interested in another easy stamped Copic colored card, check out my blog post HERE.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…

Karen

Interested in more…You can also find me at these spots too:

@karens_mini on Instagram

Pinterest: @karenabrown

FaceBook: Karens_Mini

YouTube: Karen Brown

cardmaking · Mixed Media · papercrafting

Super Easy Cut Collage Birthday Cards | Minimal Supplies Needed

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Cut Shapes Paper Collage Birthday Cards

Hello, I have a super quick post today sharing two fun collage birthday cards that I created by cutting wonky shapes from paper. So easy, anyone can make them and they require minimal supplies. I think they are so cheerful and happy.

I started by going through my acrylic gel press and scraped scraps but you could just as easily use ready made paper. I picked out some melon (just made these for my last post on covering journal covers: read HERE), green, blue and gray. After I was done sorting I decided to add some red to the mix too. I then cut out silly whimsical shapes and glued them onto an A2 notecard. I handlettered a quick sentiment to complete the card. Nothing precise or perfect here!

Easy DIY collage style birthday card made by cutting shapes from colored paper.

Now that I see card #2 finished, I think it has a real Eric Carle vibe.

Supplies:

  • Colored Paper or Mixed Media Scraps
  • Scissors
  • Glue (I used UHU stic glue)
  • Card Base
  • Black pen (for sentiment)

I found this cardmaking session very satisfying. What do you think? Would you try this?

Karen

cardmaking · Video

How to Create Easy Rainbow Die Cut Cards + Video

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Easy Rainbow Watercolor Sentiment Cards

Today, I am sharing how to make easy rainbow die cut cards. And, I’ve got something new….a video! Yes, I created my first video and I’d love for you to watch it.

How To Make Rainbow Sentiment Cards

These cards are are quick to make and very eye-catching. I love bright happy colors and with watercolor brush markers you can make a high impact card in a short amount of time.

Continue reading “How to Create Easy Rainbow Die Cut Cards + Video” →
cardmaking · papercrafting

Altenew August 2022 Bold & Beautiful Release Blog Hop + Giveaway ($300 in Total Prizes!)

Karen Brown29 Comments

Altenew Precious Doodles Handmade Card.

Hello and welcome to Altenew’s August Blog Hop! I am so excited about the beautiful and fresh products that Altenew is releasing this month.

Altenew Precious Doodles Stamp and Die Bundle

I thought I would start with the Precious Doodles Bundle. When “doodles” is in the title, I know it is going to be a favorite of mine!

Precious Doodles is a happy little stamp layering set and I used Altenew Crisp Dye Inks: Cotton Candy + Coral Berry, Ocean Waves + Dusk, Parrot + Shadow Creek and Firefly + Green Fields. Once my Doodles were stamped, I embellished with Enamel Dots, die cut a frame, added the darling bee and die cut the sentiment.

Products Used on Card #1

Handmade card with stamped and die cut doodle flowers + bee.
Precious Doodles Card with Bee

Card #2 was quick and easy! I stamped and die cut four flowers, embellished with enamel dots and mounted on a simple background defined by washi tape.

Quick and Easy stamped and die cut handmade card with Altenew's Precious Doodles Stamp Layering Set.
Quick and Easy Precious Doodles Card

Products Used on Card #2:

Clean and Simple Altenew Precious Doodles handmade card.

Altenew Arch of Flowers Stamp, Stencil and Die Bundle

Handmade Card using Altenew's Arch of Flowers Stamp, Stencil and Die.
Altenew Arch of Flowers Card

The Arch of Flowers Bundle is such a fun and creative kit! For my first card, I used the stamp, coloring stencil and die. The die is gorgeous and very detailed which really adds to its beauty! The coloring stencil was very easy to line up and use and I love the effect. The stamp set also has great sentiments included, which is always a big plus! To finish the card I just added enamel dots to the flower centers.

Happy Floral Card using Altenew's Arch of Flowers bundle and Coloring Stencil.

Products Used on Card #1:

Using Coloring Stencils in Cardmaking: Altenew's Arch of Flowers.

I also wanted to make a quick casual hello card with the stamp and coloring stencil. I angled the stamp and then quickly colored in the sunny little flower scene. Don’t the flowers look like they are reaching for the sun?

Quick and Easy Card with Altenew's Arch of Flowers Stamp and coloring stencil.
Quick and Easy Arch of Flowers Card

Products Used on Card #2:

Altenew's Arch of Flowers Stamp and Coloring Stencil.

I think this would make a cute stationary set or get well card too.

FREE GIFT OFFER!

To celebrate the release, we are running a free gift promotion. Feel free to share the promotion info with your followers. 

  • Get a FREE brand new Bold & Beautiful Mini Inspiration Guide with every order from 08/04/2022 through 08/06/2022. Shop HERE!
  • Get a FREE brand new Bold & Beautiful Stamp & Die Release Inspiration Guide e-book (worth $5.99) with every order of high-value Bold & Beautiful Bundles. Shop HERE! *Exclusions apply.
  • Get a FREE brand new Online Cardmaking Class with every order from the new Bold & Beautiful Stamp & Die Release Collection from 08/04/2022 through 08/10/2022. Shop HERE!
  • 300 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners and a $25 gift certificate to 8 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 08/10/2022 for a chance to win. 

Altenew will draw 10 winners randomly from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 08/11/2022.

Blog Hop Order

Altenew Blog
Virginia Lu
Kari VanNoy
Laurie Willison
Caly Person
Erum Tasneem
Jenny Martin
Agnieszka Małyszek
Bobby Hagen
Mindy Eggen
Teri Wilson
Jaycee Gaspar
Terri Koszler
Annemarie Caister
Nichol Spohr
Therese Calvird
Angela Brennan
Lorena Brougher
Tenia Nelson
Nicole Watt
Lilith Eeckels
Mugdha Gujarathi
LauraJane
Maryám Pérez
Teresa Litchfield
Michelle Short
Bridget Casey
Nathalie DeSousa
Michelle Burnier
Jenny Colacicco
Fiona Duff
Svitlana Shayevich
Karen Brown You are here!
Laurie Patterson
Linda Westfall
Reiko Tsuchida ***Note: Due to strict regulations in Japan, you might not be able to leave a comment on her blog post.
Penny Pynnonen
Tania Ahmed
Dana Joy

Thanks for stopping by! I’d love to hear your thoughts on these cards.

Karen

cardmaking · papercrafting

Easy Mixed Media Cards

Karen BrownLeave a comment
Easy Mixed Media Cards

Last week, I taught a workshop on creating Easy Mixed Media cards. The participants had never done Gel Press printing before so I guided them through the printing process.

Gel Press Printing

And then we turned the prints into cards.

Some of the participant cards
Lots of decisions to make in cardmaking
Brainstorming
Working on the layout
Easy Mixed Media Cards featuring Altenew Doodle Blooms, Enamel Dots, Painted Grid Washi Tape and Gel Press Prints.

Supplies used:

Altenew Doodle Blooms Bundle

Altenew Enamel Dots

Altenew Bird of the Woods Stamp Set, Die Set and Bundle

Altenew Rounded Rectangles Die Set

Altenew Painted Grid Washi Tape

Ranger Paint Pens

Misti Stamp Positioner

Gel Press