Stage Pop-up with Piano Keys

An idea popped into my head this morning, but I wasn't quite sure how to run with it.  My new favorite Karen Burniston set is the Stage Pop-up, and I was trying to think of another set that might work with it.  I thought maybe the Piano Keys Pop-up might work, so I gave it a try.

I was making this up as I went along, but I'm not totally unhappy with the way it turned out.  Fortunately, I had just purchased some musical patterned paper from Creek Bank Creations, and it worked perfectly with my idea.  I had to cut down the piano keys to fit the size of the Stage.  As I was constructing my card, I forgot that the keys would actually be higher and the stage; but it doesn't look too bad.  The center panel was cut using the Ovals Crosshatch dies.

I used a few dies from the Music Charms on the back of the card.  I had a friend who unfortunately died several years ago, but her favorite color combination was red/black/white.  I have come to like that combination myself.

All in all, I'd say this card didn't disappoint me.  It's always fun to stretch your imagination.

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge -- Caffeinate

It's time again for the Karen Burniston Designer Challenge.  This month's theme is "Caffeinate," using something to get you going -- chocolate, coffee, tea, soda.  Even though it's May and quite warm here in Florida, I chose hot chocolate for my card.

Shortly after the Rockin' Rectangle was released, Karen Burniston made a card using that die with a clear acetate front.  I loved the way it looked and have made several cards using that technique.  My card today also uses it.

 

In addition to the Rockin' Rectangle, I also used the mug from the Tea and Coffee Pop-up, the Tea and Coffee Borders, the Coffee Charms, and the icing from the Cupcake Pop-up.  And, now that Karen has released clear stamps, I was able to find appropriate sentiments from both the Quiet Forest Sayings and the Coffee Chat sets.

By the way, if you'd like to try this clear acetate card, here's a link to Karen's tutorial:  Acetate Front Card.  

Set the Stage

It's time again for the Karen Burniston Designer Challenge, and this month's theme is "Set the Stage."  And the perfect way to do that is to use the new Stage Pop-up, definitely my new favorite.  I have made quite a few cards using this die set.

An early favorite of mine when I discovered Karen Burniston dies was the Christmas Tree Pop Stand.  I combined these two die sets for my challenge card.  Many years ago I made a Christmas Tree Pop Stand card in white and gold.  My new card is an updated version of that earlier one.

Here are a couple of close-up photos of my card.  Those cute little trees on the bottom panels were made with one of the dies in the Winter Charms set.

 

You can even decorate the bottom of the stage.  The two holiday sentiments used on the card are from one of Karen's clear stamp sets, Christmas Wishes.  The "push" comes from the Stage Scene stamp set.

Another Christmas-themed card I made using the Stage Pop-up (this time with the Sleigh Pop-up) is this one::

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge -- For the Birds

It's time again for the Karen Burniston Designer Challenge.  This month's theme is "For the Birds."  Even though the new release has a bird -- the Peacock Add-on, I went in a totally different direction and used the birds from an older set, Outdoor Scene.

I did not ignore the new release, however; the base die for my card is the new Stage Pop-up along with the Sea Stage Add-ons.  

Like a parent, I'm sure that, as a DT member, I'm not supposed to have a favorite; but I must admit that the Stage Pop-up is definitely my favorite of this release.  It was the first one I used as soon as we received our dies, and I have made quite a few stage cards since then.  This is my "For the Birds" card:

Karen Burniston has an excellent video on construction of this stage.  Be sure to check it out.  In addition to the two new die sets, I also used the Palm Tree Pop-up and a sentiment from the Cruise Greetings clear stamp set.  My sea gulls are flying high, attached with acetate strips.

This was such a fun release -- make sure you check out the rest of the cards made by the team.  I'm sure you'll find at least one with the new Peacock Add-ons to the Arch Pop-up.

 

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge - Love is in the Air

My card for this month's Karen Burniston Designer Challenge uses one of the brand-new die sets just released, the Love Is in the Air Charms.  With Valentine's Day right around the corner, this is a perfect set to use. 

My card base is one of my favorite sets (and I think the first Karen Burniston die I purchased), the Fancy Label Accordion.

I made full panels for the first and last panel of my accordion, with charms hanging from just the second through the fourth panels.

The second panel charm is a red rose mounted on an oval.  BTW, the rose on the other side is pink.

The third panel contains some cascading hearts.

And the fourth panel is a cute hot air balloon.

Have you checked out the new release blog hop?  There's still time to comment and perhaps win a $25 gift certificate to the Karen Burniston website.  Here's a link to Karen's blog, which is the first one on the hop -- https://karenburniston.com/blog/january-2026-release-blog-hop/

Karen Burniston New Release Blog Hop

 Hi Crafty Friends,

Welcome to our Karen Burniston Products - KB Riley LLC January Release Blog Hop. The Design Team have come together with Karen today for a fun blog hop to celebrate the release of 10 new dies and 5 new stamp sets. Sneak peeks of the new release started last week, and the dies are available to order NOW!

 This release includes:

2 new Pop-up Die Sets
4 new Add-on Die Sets
2 new Lorna Add-on Die Sets
1 new Charm Die Set
1 new Stand Alone Die Set
5 new Clear Sentiment Stamp Sets

Dies are available to order now on the website.

I hate to have to choose a favorite among the new dies (they all are GREAT), but I think the Stage Pop-up might be my favorite.  My project is not a card but a 3-D creation -- a carousel.  I used the Leaping Animals for my ride.  

To create my carousel I cut two of the largest Circles - Crosshatch, one in red and one in yellow.  I made a slit in the red one and formed the roof.  The yellow one I cut into eight pieces and placed four of them around the roof, as shown; adding another smaller yellow circle at the center.

After creating the Stage, I cut two of each color horse and mounted them on either side of the upright panels, which were placed at the edge of the stage, next to every other panel.

I found some 3" turntables on Amazon (made for cake decorating) and mounted one under the carousel so that it was able to turn.

And now it will turn just like one at the fair.

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, 9th February. 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!

Karen Burniston

Lois Bak  (that's me)

Sue Small-Kreider

Frances Byrne

Jennifer Webster

Suzanne Smit

Nicky Foden

Sandy Diller

Karen Burniston New Release Sneak Peek - Day 5

My final sneak peek of the Karen Burniston new release uses the Photo Gallery Pop-up.  This die uses the same size photos as both the Photo Collage and the Photo Fan.

As you may or may not know, I'm a Potterhead -- I love Harry Potter and have stamps from several different companies.  I used some digital ones on this card so that I could adjust the size to fit the photo frames.

Tomorrow is Release Day, and I hope you will check out the blog hop.  You have many chances to win a $25 credit to your account on the Karen Burniston website.  The more you comment the more chances you have to win.  Hope to see you tomorrow.