June-The Beginning of Summer!

So the month of June is finally here! What a long cold winter this past year. Around about the month of February, we start getting cabin fever here in the heart of Michigan. Wishing for less snow and warmer temperatures and not having to shovel snow or wait for the roads to be plowed.

I did manage to make a few cards this Winter and Spring. Turned out pretty good. I have a nice lady that wants cards each month for her family member's birthdays. So each month I have their ages, and day of their birthday, so I know when to get them to her. So far she has been happy with the cards I created. Here are a few for you to look at. Hope you like them too! That is all for now~ Stay Creative!

Springtime In Michigan

Here we are close to the first week of May, and the temperatures are still hovering at nighttime in the 30's. Daytime temps have been in the 50's. That is good. Time to think about planting seeds in my flower boxes and hubby tilling up the spot where our vegetable garden is. Can't wait for the homegrown tomatoes' made into fresh salsa or canned up for next winter! I know, getting a bit ahead of myself. Guess wishing won't make it happen faster...lol

I have been a little behind in making my greeting cards. Lots of other things that need tend to. But I did manage to do a few this winter. Mostly for card swaps for the Yahoo Groups I am in. I don't participate as much as I should. Here are a few cards that I have done recently. Hope you like them.

Card I made for a swap that wanted us to use
some sort of sewing on the card. I did the corners.

This is also a card I did for a recent swap
which was a card of any type or what we
call a "Free" card.

Card I made for my Grandson's 6th birthday in March, we
also bought him his first fishing pole. He loved it!

Greeting Cards

A card I made for Mother's Day 2014

One of my favorite pastimes is making greeting cards. The 3d decoupage being my favorite. It involves finding an image and printing it out 3-4 times. Then I use one of the images for the base, and then cut what parts I want to enhance on the card and build up. Sometimes when I am done, I will brush on a layer of Liquid Laminate just to make the image brighter than the rest of the card. The more detail I cut out to use is a plus for me because I love a challenge!
Embellishments could include a pretty ribbon, some gems, pearls, or peel off stickers for borders.There are also metallic gold, silver etc sentiments. For example: Happy Birthday, Get Well, Congratulations, Sympathy and the list goes on. If you haven't ever made your own greeting cards, you should give it a try. You might get hooked like I did! Until next time, Stay Creative!

3d Card I did. Love the birds!
May 2014

Cap & Gown Graduation Card for my Grandson
2014

My Photography

Barns

 

Missaukee County, Michigan

Missaukee County, Michigan

I started my love of old barns many years ago. I just think that they show so much character and history of the many different styles of barns. Today it is so sad to see so many in run down shape. I know it is an expensive venture to keep them up as such to add a new roof which has proven to keep them many years longer. I want to take as many pictures of all the barns I see that catch my eye.....someday they won't be around. And that is sooner than you think. I hope you enjoy my photos. Stay Creative!

Clare County, Michigan

 



Clare County, Michigan

Reasons of the Heart

In March and April of 2010, I have had every corner of my heart tugged at. Two little ones who have fought and are still fighting a battle with different types of cancer. 1st one is a little girl named Leighara Smith, whom I met in January of 2009 when they were in Michigan visiting their family. They reside now in Alaska, but have just returned home after spending from September 18, 2009 through March 4, 2010 going through treatments not in Alaska, but in Seattle, Washington. The doctors in Fairbanks weren't equip to treat her for the cancer she had which is called Wilm's Tumor. So they for 6 months lived in Ronald McDonald House. They are now home in Alaska and she will be going for a check up soon with her doctor there. Her family and friends here in Michigan, had a benefit dinner and Auction to raise money for her medical expenses. I made and donated a box of my greeting cards and donated a crocheted baby blanket.

Now I just finished a box I decorated to put cards in for a little boy who's fighting leukemia, and his grandmother works at the factory where my husband does. He asked her if we could donate a box of greeting cards for the auction. She was delighted! I got the box done and to go into it...30 greeting cards for all occasions. I hope what little I can do can help out at least a little. Please keep the little ones and anyone else who is fighting this battle in your prayers. here are some pictures of those cards and the recent box I made for them. Remember, Stay Creative!

Hugs, Karla

April Showers in March? 2010

Yes, we are having unusual weather here in Michigan for the month of March. We have seen mostly
 temperatures in the 40's and 50's. And instead of snow this week, we are getting the April showers and flooding in the low areas of Michigan. I hope it stays and continues to be just an early Spring. But I doubt it!. Today I took advantage of the gloomy outdoors and stayed inside and made a few cards. I hope you enjoy looking at them.

The pictures here are of a trifold card I did. I chalked the window on the outside a peachy color and the inner window a sage green color. I added a peach ribbon bow to the front and a sentiment sticker in gold. Inside is a picture of a vase of flowers and a blank canvas to write your note.

I have also done a medallion 3d to the front of the green card and added a watermark "Friend" below it.

I did a "bear" get well card in 3d and a simple Easter card that I am not sure if I am done with. Too plain looking.

Well, that is it for now. I will try to post again some more cards this weekend. Until then, Stay Creative!

Hugs,Karla

Staying Creative....

Well, as my slogan says "Stay Creative" I am staying creative! At least for this week! I have been busy making cards for the upcoming Valentine's Day rush! I made several this week for my hubby to take to work for his fellow workers to give to their "love of their lives". I just hope they like them as much as I enjoyed making them. Do any of you have special plans for Valentine's Day? Doing something like cooking a favorite meal, or favorite dessert? Or going out to dine at your favorite place? I don't know what's up for my hubby and I. We are just glad it is the weekend! If you have any questions on any of my cards, I will try to answer them for you. Just leave me a comment. Enjoy your romantic events on the 14th!
For now, saying goodbye. Stay Creative!
Hugs,Karla

Birthday Cards

I just finished my card for my son's birthday. It is a 3d image I used from a friend that makes wonderful sheets. Andy. Thank you Andy! I used a embossed image from a bunch of used cards that have been given to me to recycle. That is what the light green is on the left. Then used another shade of green to mat the picture. Then used my favorite gold peel offs. The inside says "We wish you a Happy Birthday!"
I am making one of my New Year's resolutions to be better at making and sending cards to my friends and family. Also, to keep my blog updated better! Until next time...Stay Creative!
Hugs, Karla

Paper Pricking Technique

Hello everyone!
I have this card to show you today. I made it for a friend in the Netherlands for her Birthday. She is a friend I met in one of the card groups I belong to online. This is pinpricking technique which I find very relaxing. After I pinned the design on my white cardstock, I took a watercolor crayon and lightly brushed it along the designs holes. I also did a 3d decoupage flower for the middle that I layered with pop dots for a raised effect. Then matted it with colors to match. With this card, I did use some pastel pink gems or bling for on the design too.
I am not much of a poet, so to finish off the card's inside, I find a nice "birthday" poem online and print it out in a coordinating color and fit it to the inside of my card. I hope she likes it.
Until next time....Stay Creative!

My Cards Through the Years

I decided I hadn't posted these pictures of my other cards I did these past few weeks. If you would like any information on any one of them, just email me or post it here as a comment and I will get back to you soon! Hope you like them.

Request for Help!

This morning I received an email from Tracy at FredSheSaid. She posted a request from all cardmakers to go to Erin's blog and read about this little girl that suffered injuries in a boating accident. She had to have her arm amputated. A card shower would be wonderful for this little girl! Let's all shower her mailbox with hundreds of cheery cards to help make her days better!Here is the photo of the card I sent to her today. Here is the link to Erin's blog where you can read the article.
http://scrapstampandbemerry.blogspot.com/2009/09/looking-for-some-help-please-ladies.html

Sorry, this is an old post, but thought you would still like to see the card.
Hugs, karla

Sure Sign of Fall....

Here it is already September! Where did the Summer go? Kids here in our small town will be heading back after Labor Day. I have seen on the tops of some trees that the leaves are changing colors just a little bit. We have had the past week nights in the 30's and 40 degree temperature range. Along with the colder days comes the flu season. I know the flu is on everyone's minds these days. Just remember to wash your hands for 20 seconds or more, and if you have to sneeze, sneeze in your sleeve in the crook of your arm.
We still have our garden in and am wondering if we will have tomatoes this year. Thank you to the 4 legged deer and their after midnight munching we lost the tops to our tomato plants and some green tomatoes!



Anyways, back to the topic of cards, that is what my site is supposed to be about. I have managed to make a couple cards the last few days that turned out pretty cute. I got to try out my little corrugator gadget which I have had for several years and haven't really worked with it. I made this card using a technique of folding the corners in on a square piece of cardstock. Then I took my little inkpad and swiped it across the ridges of the paper, giving them even more dimension. Here is what it turned out like. Hope you like it.

And my second card I did I saw it made using rubberstamps. But I didn't have those stamps or anything that was like them. So I used my scissors and cut out a shape with pink cardstock and then painted white polka dots all over it. Then took my round sponge dauber and tapped it on my black inkpad and used it for the "eyes" at the top of the "nose". You can see the results for yourself. I was quite proud of myself for improvising and using things I had at home, without having to go out and buy it. In these trying times with our economy, it sometimes pays to be creative!
Until next time, Stay creative! Hugs, Karla Sue

Days of August..

Here it is just about the end of August and I am afraid I have been a bad hostess. I have been in a dry spell it seems for a few months. I think discouraged because my craft room is in such disarray, that I don't feel very creative! I am working today on my work area as soon as I close this posting. If you know of something you would like discussed here or some technique you heard about, let me know and I might be able to help you. If I don't know, I can find out for you! I appreciate your patience and please bear with me. I have posted a "Happy Birthday" card that I made this summer. I hope you like it. It was made for a lady I know that just loves anything with cats. She loved it! I was so tickled! So until next time....Stay creative!
Hugs,Karla

Adhesives

I am the proud owner of a Glue Glider! I had purchased my Glue Glider last fall (2008) and continue to use this wonderful product! When I ordered it at the time, they had a special going on...buy one and get another one free! At that time also, I ordered some refills to go with it. You can purchase the Perma Tac and a repositionable tape. I use the Perma tac in my cardmaking and the repositionable in my scrapbooking. It makes it easier if you change your mind with your pictures and where you want them.
I have never used any adhesive that I like as well as I do this. The adhesive is terrific and holds everything in place every time. I also love the fact that the refills just pop in and you don't have to worry about threading it. It is VERY light weight too! The new Glue Glider Pro adhesive is 40 feet long and allows you to apply a neat ¼” strip of adhesive exactly where you want it. The easy glide-on dispensing action, allows you to apply a small controlled amount or a continuous. The easy slip-in, disposable cartridges eliminate the worry of having to reload in the middle of a project. You should try it, I am sure you will feel as I do, no other out there compares. I always make sure I have extra on hand. Making cards uses less, because I use only for little amounts in each corner of a picture back to adheare to the card front. No more is needed.... it holds perfectly. Remember, there is 40 feet on each cartridge so a little goes a long way!
Until next time....
Hugs and Stay Creative!
Karla

Card Inserts

Good Afternoon everyone!

Another beautiful day here in Northern Michigan! We are getting spoiled. Although last night it got below freezing temperatures here and my hubby was worried about the two tomato plants he purchased this past weekend. But all is well. He just didn't believe me when I told him we were going to be getting some frosty temperatures. Maybe he will listen now.....NOT!

The topic I would like to discuss today in this post is "Card Inserts". I don't know how many of you card makers out there put inserts in their cards, but I am not one of them.... until now. It has been something I have wanted to try. First of all, I am a fool when it comes to setting up my word program and setting the tabs where they should be. I posted to the groups I belong to a request this morning for an A4 insert template. This to me is so confusing. There are many types and sizes of papers around the world and choosing the one I needed I had to "google" for it to get the information.

This is what Wikipedia said about it...

There have been many standard sizes of paper at different times and in different countries, but today there are two widespread systems in use: the international standard (A4 and its siblings) and the North American sizes.

I find that the A4 is the closest to what I need when I make my 1/4 fold cards. I would like to hear what the rest of you use or how you go about putting sentiments in your cards. I have wanted to just print it on the inside of the cardstock before I make my card, but not word processor savvy enough to know how to do it.

Here is the link for more information on paper sizes. You choose.

Until next time, happy cardmaking and stay creative!

Karla Sue

Spring Time

Today is a beautiful day here in Northern Michigan! Sun is shining, and birds are flocking to my feeders. It is a bit chilly though at 63°, but I will take it any way I can get the sunshine!
After this past weekend, the rush to get several Mother's Day cards are over. They did turn out very nice. Now comes more of the Graduations, Weddings that come with the few months of Summer. I have already started last month on my cards for these events. Trying not to procrastinate so much! LOL! I have been playing around with my Quickutz Silhouette hoping to learn more about it. At first, I was afraid of it. Also not knowing where to begin was a fright also. I still have so much to learn about it. I have groups I belong to that can help me along if I need it. I just don't like being a pest and bothersome to them. I am sure they don't look at it that way.

I dabble a little bit in photography, though I am an amature at it. I do like the results I get at times. I have taken Senior High School pictures for a friend. I just finished with her 2nd childs Senior pictures. She has been so happy with them. I am glad. I am too critical of my work I think. But I did download a program called Photo Collage Maker and made her postcard invitations with it. They turned out so nice, that I had to sign a release at Walgreen's to say I took them and was not copying professional's work. I offered to take my cd's in to them and show them the pictures before I cropped, and touched them up. Two times I had trouble with Walgreen's. In a way, I was flattered, but on the otherhand, I was a little upset for the trouble I encountered. The collage of the pictures I took for his Senior pictures turned out great! She slapped a large blank sticker on the back of the photos and put time, date, and place on them. Then addressed them and put a postcard stamp on them and shot them to the post office. Actually cheaper then having them done through the schools.
Well, I had better close for now. I have things to get done, but I will return later today and post some photos and links for you to see.
Until later, Stay Creative!
Karla