Happy Fall, Y'All

Even though the temperatures are currently in the 90s, autumn is right around the corner.  Because Karen Burniston's new Whirly Wheel die is so much fun, I thought I'd like to make an autumn card using it,  Her Autumn Elements set was the perfect accompaniement.

The matching Whirly Wheel sentiments stamp set has three one-word vertical sentiments that fit perfectly on the strip.  I attached a piece of acetate to the top of the strip and glued on several leaves from Autumn Elements.  The "Happy Fall, Y'All" is from a very old, retired stamp set from MFP Stamps, which is no longer in business, but I use stamps from those sets quite often.  The grass along the bottom was cut using KB set Nature's Edges.  

Here's a little video showing the Whirly Wheel in action.

I recently discovered white acrylic paint pens, which work so much better making accents than white gel pens.  I used an acrylic paint pen to make the arrows on the Whirly Wheel and the accents on the pumpkin, acorns, and picture frame.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

April Calendar Challenge

Time to turn the calendar to April, and I'm continuing with my participation in the calendar challenge with my friend, Sue Small-Kreider.  You'll find her April page here.

I know the saying is "April showers bring May flowers;" but I live in Florida, and we have flowers blooming all year long.  So my calendar page is a wheelbarrow full of flowers.  The wheelbarrow was made with a Honey Bee Stamps die set.  I stamped the flowers with one of the stamps in Honey Bee's Loads of Spring stamp set.  This stamp is actually an add-on to Honey Bee's Big Pick-up Tailgate, but it worked perfectly in the wheelbarrow by cutting the colored image in half and stacking the pieces in the wheelbarrow.  The grass was made with Karen Burniston's Nature's Edges die.

 I'm really having fun with this challenge.  I already have May's page done as well!

Calendar Challenge - March

My stamping friend Sue Small-Kreider recently asked me if I wanted to join in with her new calendar challenge.  It sounded like fun.  She provided us with the monthly calendar pages that she stamped with the Spellbinders BetterPress, and we would decorate them.  She had made her calendar pages for January and February, but I didn't join her group until March.  Here is her calendar page.

My Irish ancestry always shows itself in March.  I love to make St. Patrick's Day cards, so I continued this tradition by making my calendar page in a similar theme.

I didn't have a leprechaun in the right proportion for the page, but I did have a small Riley & Company gnome who I dressed in green.  The pot of gold is part of the Karen Burniston Good Luck Charms die set; the clouds are part of her Tropical Scene die set; and the grass is from her Nature's Edges set.  I have several rainbow dies, and the one that worked the best for this scene is Trinity Stamps' Rainbow Builder.  I stamped the birds with a stamp I have had for many years; and unfortunately, I have no idea who made it.  In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I stamped a very small shamrock on March 17th on the calendar.

I'm looking forward to continuing this challenge for the rest of the year.  I hope you'll come back on the first of every month to see my calendar pages.

Surf's Up!

I'm loving the new release from Karen Burniston.  One of the new dies is Beach Elements -- perfect for a Floridian!  Today's card features this set and the monkey from the Monkey & Lion set.  The front has a serene beach scene with the beach umbrella and surfboard from Beach Elements.

But the sentiment promises a little more action -- the monkey is taking on the surf.

FYI, that monkey actually faces the other direction if used as it is cut with the die.  But I turned it over and used the back so that his tail is trailing along behind him as he rides the waves.

The middle set of waves are attached with strips of cardstock cut, scored and formed into two cubes -- very similar to the mini pop-ups in Fireplace Extras 1.  I trimmed the waves in one spot so that the surfboard could sit flat on top of the left-hand pop-up.  I cut two slits in the surfboard and inserted two small strips of cardstock which were glued against the front of the pop-up cube.  They were covered with the front set of waves, as you can see in this photo.  The strips stick up far enough for the monkey's feet to be glued to them.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today to see my surfing monkey.

 

Karen Burniston New Release Sneak Peek - Day 5

For today's sneak peek, I returned to the Stocking Pop-Up.  This time, however, I did not make either a Halloween or a Christmas card.  I wanted to show the versatility of this particular die set, so I made a castle-related birthday card.  On the front I did a bit of mixing and matching of word sets and added a computer-generated phrase at the end.

Attached to the pop-up mechanism on the inside is the Dragon from the Knight and Dragon set.  He pops up and blows his fiery breath at you.

Only a few more days until the Blog Hop on Monday, where you could win one of many $25 gift certificates to the Karen Burnison website.  

CCEE2243 - Walk Your Dog Week

Maryann is the hostess for the CCEE Stampers this month and starts off with an interesting challenge.  According to the days of the year calendar, it is Walk Your Dog Week, a weeklong holiday dedicated to bringing your dog a healthier lifestyle.   She asked us to make a card with your furry friend in mind.

I currently do not have a furry friend; but when I was a kid, we had a dalmatian called Patches.  My father's friends loved to throw lit cigarette butts on the ground and watch Patches pounce on them to put them out.  A true firehouse dog!  

For my card I made a pop-up card using Karen Burniston's Surprise Ball and Bitty Ball Pop-Ups.  The pups on the front of the card are from Kindred Stamps.

As you can see, you can take the dog out of the card for display.

Check out the CCEE Stampers blog for more tributes to our furry friends.

New Release Blog Hop - Come to the Circus

 Hi Crafty Friends,

Welcome to our Karen Burniston Products - KB Riley LLC May Release Blog Hop. The Design Team members have come together with Karen today for a fun blog hop to celebrate the release of 8 new dies. Sneak peeks of the new release started last week, and the dies are available to order NOW!

This release includes:

• 1 new "Ball" Die Set - Mini Ball Pop-up
• 2 new Add-Ons Die Sets - Mini Ball Add-ons 1 Gnomes; Mini Ball Add-ons 2 - Monkey and Lion
• 1 new Accordion Die Set - Landscape Rectangle Accordion
• 1 new Crosshatch Die Set - Short Rectangles - Crosshatch
• 1 new Charms die Set - Flutter Charms
• 1 new Slimline Sized Die Set - Long Flap and Closure
• 1 new Alphabet Set - Mini Alphabet and Numbers

Dies are available to order now on the website.

When Karen showed the design team members the new dies, she made a sample to demonstrate the difference in size of the new Mini Ball Pop-Up in comparison to the previously released other two ball pop-ups.  That gave me an idea for a fun card, so I ran with it.  This card is the result of that inspiration.  I had gotten this cute circus paper pad as a free gift for purchasing something at a booth at a recent stamp show.  I added a bit more darker green at the bottom (using the KB Nature's Edges die to coordinate with the hills on the paper) so that I could add the sentiment, using the brand new Mini Alphabet and Numbers set for the lettering.  I love that the letters have shadows that you can use (or not!) when creating.

When you open the card, up pops this cute elephant, made with all three ball pop-up sets.  The new Mini Ball Pop-Up made the perfect addition to this cute elephant, the parts of which are from Animal Add-ons 2.

My daughter has already grabbed this card to give to her friend's one-year-old son for his birthday!

To celebrate the release Karen Burniston and each of the Karen Burniston - KB Riley LLC Design Team members will be giving away a $25 Gift Certificate to some lucky person who comments on our blog posts, so make sure you join the hop and comment on everyone's blog post. Winners will be randomly chosen from ALL of the blog hop comments received on our blog posts by Monday, 23rd May 2022. Lots of chances to win some goodies, so just leave a comment on this post or any other blog hop posts to enter! Don't forget to leave your e-mail address for us to contact you, in case you are a lucky winner!

Karen Burniston

Lois Bak (that's me)

Karen Aiken

Frances Byrne

Kelly Booth

Fran Sabad

Sandy Diller

CCEE2213 - "No Housework Day"

Liz Williams starts her month-long stint as hostess for the CCEE Stampers by celebrating "No Housework Day."  She told us to spend the day in our stamp rooms, celebrating by doing a "Free for All" card theme of our choice.  

I spent almost a complete day on this Easter card, so I guess that qualifies for this challenge.  The front didn't take all that long . . .

. . . it was the inside that took most of the day.

I attached the bunny to a separate piece of cardstock so that he could stand independent from the card.

Be sure to stop over at the CCEE Stampers blog to see how the rest of the team spent their day.

One Last Karen Burniston Sneak Peek

Valentine's Day is right around the corner.  Several of the new Karen Burniston dies lend themselves to this holiday of love quite nicely.  I've got a mini slimline card today, showing off the new Mailbox Pop-Up and one of the new sentiments -- Sending Love.  

That cute little monkey is also new, half of the Monkey and Lion die set.

This is the last of my sneak peeks, but be sure to check out our Blog Hop on Monday.  You'll get several chances to win a $25 gift certificate to the Karen Burniston web store by commenting on each of the team's blogs.

Karen Burniston Blog Hop - New Release

Welcome to our Karen Burniston Products - KB Riley LLC August Release Blog Hop. The Design Team have come together with Karen today for a fun blog hop to celebrate the release of 14 new dies. Sneak peeks of the new release started last week, and the dies are available to order NOW!

This release includes:

4 new Add-Ons Die Sets - Character Add-ons 1; Character Add-ons 2; Gingerbread Tiny House Add-ons; Haunted Tiny House Add-ons
4 new Pop-up Die Sets - Garden Bench Pop-up; Iron Fence Pop-up; Snowman Pop-up; Street Lantern Pop-up
4 new sentiment sets - Hello; Happy Halloween; Word Set 13 - Snow; Merry Christmas Shadow
1 new Stand Alone Die Set - Tiny Gnomes
1 new Slimline Die Set - Long Nature Edges 2

Dies are available to order now on the website.

GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate the release Karen Burniston and each of the Karen Burniston - KB Riley LLC Design Team members will be giving away a $25 Gift Certificate to some lucky person who comments on our blog posts, so make sure you join the hop and comment on everyone's blog post. Winners will be randomly chosen from ALL of the blog hop comments received on our blog posts by Monday, August 16th 2021. Lots of chances to win some goodies, so just leave a comment on this post or any other blog hop posts to enter! Don't forget to leave some way for us to contact you, in case you are a lucky winner!

My gatefold slimline card uses several of the new dies -- the Iron Fence Pop-Up, the Street Lantern Pop-Up, Tiny Gnomes, and the Long Nature's Edges 2, as well as several previously-released ones -- Christmas Tree Pop-Up, Border Blends/Party, and Word Set 3/Holiday.  The street lantern is a pop-up die, but I used it flat.  I wanted to give the impression of frosted glass in the lantern, so I cut a second glass piece from vellum, glued it to the back of the black lantern and then glued the white piece with the flame behind the vellum.  I added some small red flat-backed pearls to the wreath.

The inside of my card expands the fence to the full 9", breaking up in the center for the Christmas tree and carolers, made from the Tiny Gnomes.  Check out Karen Burniston's instructional video to see how to make a caroler from the Tiny Gnomes set.  I added a wreath to each section of the fence, gluing it only in the center for the ones on the pop-out sections of fence.  I used a silver marker to camouflage the white slider panel behind the fence.

I had also made a similar A2-sized card using many of these same dies, adding a few cardinals and lantern swags.

Check out the blogs from the entire team and be sure to comment on each one to increase your chances of winning a $25 gift certificate.  Make sure you leave contact info on your comment so that we can get in touch with you should you be a winner.

Karen Burniston

Frances Byrne

Lois Bak (that's me)

Karen Aiken

Sandy Diller

Fran Sabad

Kelly Booth

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge and Sneak Peek 2

It's time again for the Karen Burniston Designer Challenge.  This month's theme is "Rock, Spin, Pop, Swap."  We were to use of the these pop-up dies:  Spinner Square, Rockin' Rectangle, Parcel Pop-Up, or Pop 'n Swap.   I used the Rockin' Rectangle and took the opportunity to incorporate a couple of the brand-new die sets.  These new dies will be available for purchase on August 9th.

It's Christmas in July -- at least on my blog it is.  The front of my card features the Tiny House Pop-up, decorated with some of the dies from the brand new Gingerbread Tiny House Add-on set.

One of my favorite pop-up dies is the Rockin' Rectangle, which can be used for any theme at all.  The sentiment appearing on the pop-out is also a brand-new die set, Word Set 13 - Snow.  I love that the shadow for Snow is included in this set.

The background on each side of the inside of my card is Pattern Plate - Snowflakes, and peeking out from under the pop-out is a Crosshatch Oval on which you can sign your name.

Be sure to stop back tomorrow for another sneak peek.

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge -- Tag Books

The Karen Burniston Designer Challenge for July is to use one of the KB Tag Books -- either as the card itself or as an element inside a standard-size card.  I went the second route, using the Circle Tag Book inside my A2 card.  

The front of my card lets you know that July is National Picnic Month.  Using the Alphabet set, I spelled out JULY.  Then I added a picnic blanket and some other picnic elements. "National Picnic Month" was done with a label maker.

After cutting the grass panels using one of the dies in the Nature's Edges set, I glued in the Circle Tag Book and added some more picnic items -- a watermelon slice, some fruit, a cupcake and a pie from various KB die sets.

I hope you like my tribute to National Picnic Month.

C4C587 Great Outdoors Month/Camping Month

The Crazies are starting a new month of challenges, and we start off by honoring both Great Outdoors Month and Camping Month.  So we're creating cards inspired by the Great Outdoors.  

My card uses a new die (the Karen Burniston Slip Flaps & Frames) and an old die (the Karen Burniston Camping Pop-Up.  After seeing some cute Flamingo paper clips used by Kelly Booth, I scoured Amazon and found these Deer Head paper clips, which hold the flaps closed.

After removing the paper clips, the flaps will open revealing this campsite.

Be sure to check out the Crazy4Challenges blog for some more homage to the Great Outdoors.

Karen Burniston Sneak Peek - Day 4

Karen Burniston's pivot panel dies are very popular.  She has a new one with this release -- the Flower Pivot Panel.  It makes a great Mother's Day card, so I included the new Happy Mother's Day die (with a shadow) on the front.  

I took my color choices for the flowers from that gorgeous Lawn Fawn patterned paper.  It's from a paper pad called "Spring Fling."

One of the smaller die sets from this release is the Picnic Elements.  This is such a cute little set -- it even has ants!   I made a mini slimline card using it.

We still have a couple more days of sneak peeks until you can start ordering your dies on April 19th.  I've got a few more cards left to show you before that date.  I hope you stop back to take a look.

Beach Days

One of the new Karen Burniston dies is the Purse Pop-Up, and  I've created several cards using this die.  Did you ever wake up in the middle of the night, can't go back to sleep, and a card design pops into your head?  I'm sure we've all done that.  My card today is the result of one such middle-of-the-night occasion.  I thought the purse would make a cute beach bag.  So, using several other KB dies (Beach Charms, Tiny Accessories, Crosshatch Rectangles, Natures Edges, Border Blends and Tropical Scene), I created this card.

I'm still trying to think of more ways to use this cute Purse Pop-Up.

Gnomes and Paper Tole

I just received my first Riley & Company Mushroom Lane stamp and its accompanying die set.  I bought this so I could do some paper tole, which is always a lot of fun.  I decided that the front of the card shouldn't be too "busy," or it would take away from the inside.  So on the front I used the new Karen Burniston Tile Pattern Plate and a small little scene with a couple of the Mini Gnomes, also from Riley & Company.

I wanted the mushroom cottage to pop up, so I cut the pop-up mechanism from the Karen Burniston Tree Pop-Up twice in the grass section of the inside.  The navy blue and patterned papers on the inside are very light-weight because I didn't want much bulk.  After cutting the clouds across the top, I sponged on some white pigment ink and sprinkled detail white embossing powder over the ink.   I brushed some of the powder off to give it a lighter, sparing look.  Then I heat embossed it.

The die set has four different dies, allowing you to make several layers in your paper tole project.  As I didn't want the inside of my card to be too bulky, I have only two layers on the house.  I stamped the image twice, fussy cutting the entire image and then die-cutting the top mushroom.  I used small foam dots to attach the smaller piece to the larger mushroom.

I did add two foam dots to the gnome so that he would stand out from the mushroom.  You can see that the door and windows also are layered.

I didn't have any sentiments that would work for the inside of my card, so I created one on my computer.  I love dafont.com for unusual fonts.  I downloaded one called Alien Mushroom, which I thought would work well for the sentiment.  I printed it on white paper and mounted it in a similar manner as the little scene on the front -- with the Karen Burniston Crosshatch dies, matted in navy.

I hope to do a full-blown paper tole card with this cute Mushroom Lane house sometime in the future; but in the meantime, I got my fix on this cute little card.

Florida in the Summer

The other day Frances Byrne had a card on her blog using the new Karen Burniston Family Room die along with a Christmas Tree pop-up.  As I live in Florida, I wondered how the Family Room die would work with a Palm Tree pop-up.

I used the same technique as Frances did -- a Gatefold card, which gives you two folds for the pop-ups.

When you take off the belly band, you can see the entire front of the card.  I used the grass border from Karen Burniston's Nature's Edges border dies and the smaller palm tree.

When you open the card, you get a look at someone's back yard, complete with lawn furniture and the palm tree -- along with their dog.

I want to thank Frances for her inspiration.

Cow Appreciation Day

According to the Holiday Insights website, today is Cow Appreciation Day; and they suggested that you go out and give a cow a hug.   Not one to back off from a challenge, I decided to give some love to the cow community today by making this card -- and putting a spin on a couple of Karen Burniston dies, several of which are brand new.

The spin on the front of the card is that I stacked two of the fences from the Farm Edges die to make it a little taller to keep the cow inside.  The base of the inside of the card was made with the House & Fence die, but I added the barn from the Barn Pop-Stand instead of the house.

How now, brown cow?  I didn't want all of my cows to be facing in the same direction, so for the brown cow I turned him over before adding the highlights.  And again, I stacked the fence, only by one rail this time.

So, I invite you to go out and hug a cow today!  Or, at the very least, drink a glass of milk!