Monday, December 11, 2023

Karen Burniston New Release

 Hi Crafty Friends,

Welcome to our Karen Burniston Products - KB Riley LLC December Release Blog Hop. The Design Team have come together with Karen today for a fun blog hop to celebrate the release of 7 new dies. Sneak peeks of the new release started last week, and the dies are available to order NOW!


This release includes:
  • 2 new Add-ons Die Sets
  • 1 new Pop-up Die Sets
  • 1 new Tag Die Set
  • 2 new Stand-Alone 3D Die Sets
  • 1 new Sentiment Shadow Die Set
Dies are available to order now on the website.
The two Add-ons die sets being released coordinate with the previously released Fancy Label Accordion die, which I believe was the very first Karen Burniston die that I purchased many years ago.  One of these sets has hearts and the other has candles.  I am using the Heart Add-ons set, along with a few other new sets (Happy Valentine Shadow, Mini Gift Bag and Candy Hearts Box) for a pretty little Valentine gift set.





To use the Heart Add-ons, you have to alter the center pieces of the Fancy Label Accordion, substituting the Add-on section.  As I explained last week, the Fancy Label Accordion die-cut is altered, as shown in the photo below.

Karen will be showing more detailed instructions for this procedure in her "how-to" video for the Heart Add-ons and Birthday Candles Add-on dies.
I made another card using the Heart Add-ons -- a wedding card for my grandson, who recently got married.

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, December 18, 2023. Lots of chances to win some goodies, so just leave a comment on this post or any other blog hop posts to enter!  IMPORTANT:  Don't forget to leave some way for us to contact you, in case you are a lucky winner!
Lois Bak (that's me)

GOOD LUCK!!!

Sunday, December 10, 2023

Karen Burniston New Release Sneak Peek - Day 7

Tomorrow is the big day; the new dies from Karen Burniston will be released.  My final sneak peek was made with the Raising Platform Pop-Up and some Whimsy Stamps slimline patterned paper. 

As it's a Valentine card, this cute little Tiny Gnome couple seemed appropriate, adding the Happy Valentine's Day sentiment.


The only other "pink" design left in that paper pack was this one.  It sort of looked like a circus, so I added a couple of circus animals standing on the platforms and added a few hearts here and there to carry through with the Valentine theme.

Be sure to check out the new release blog hop tomorrow and comment on each blog in order to get many chances to win a $25 gift certificate to the Karen Burniston store website.  Each member of the Design Team is giving one away.

Saturday, December 9, 2023

Karen Burniston New Release - Day 6

It is no secret that I am a big Harry Potter fan.  My sneak peek project for today is the result of that.  I used the largest of the new Topper Tags and some Stamp Anniething stamps I recently purchased to create it.  There's not a lot of explanation needed on how I made these tags -- some Hogwarts paper and a lot of coloring.  




I have a corner of my living room as my "Harry Potter Corner."  I've added today's project to it.  I made the box to hold my tags, using an old checkbook box and the Castle Pop-up die.


I must say this was a very fun project!

Friday, December 8, 2023

Karen Burniston New Release - Day 5

As mentioned in my previous post, my sneak peek project today coordinates with that card.  I've used two of the new dies -- the Candy Hearts Box and the Mini Gift Bag. 


As I mentioned yesterday, I've had two weddings in my family over the past month.  Today's projects could be used as wedding favors.  I put some jelly beans in mine, but you could put any kind of filler in them. 


The little conversation hearts scattered in front of the bag and box are part of the Candy Hearts Box set.

Only three more days until Release Day.  Be sure to check out the Blog Hop on Monday and comment on as many blogs as you can for multiple chances to win a $25 gift certificate to Karen Burniston's store website.  Each DT member is giving one away.

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Karen Burniston New Release - Day 4

I love Sneak Peek Week!  The Design Team has been playing with the new dies for several weeks, and we can now show them off.

My card today is a wedding card, using the Raising Platform Pop-up.


This pop-up can be used in either a standard or slimline card.  My card is a slimline.  The front is relatively simple -- just a couple of hearts and the Happily Ever After die.  The "once upon a time" and "and they lived" stamps are ones that I bought maybe 15 years ago.  It's always nice to be able to pull out something that doesn't get used for a while.


As you open the card, the platform panel pops up and out.


I actually used two of the pop-up panels on this card -- a slimline gives you that option.  The die set includes those little "squiggles" and stars attached to the lower panel.

This die set is very generic.  You could use it for many different occasions.  I've had two weddings in my family over the past month, so weddings have been on my mind.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.  I hope you come back tomorrow for another sneak peek.  Little hint --  tomorrow's sneak peek actually coordinates with today's card.

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Karen Burniston New Release - Day 3

The new release includes two add-on sets (Hearts Add-ons and Birthday Candles Add-ons).  These sets coordinate with the Fancy Label Accordion die.  My card today uses the Birthday Candles Add-ons. 


I pulled out some very old Stampin' Up patterned paper for my project.  I love the brown and pink color combination of this paper.   The front of the card looks exactly like the original Fancy Label Accordion.


It's the inside that has been up-graded!

As you can see, the candles replace the two center panels of the accordion.  To accomplish this, you must first alter the Fancy Label Accordion die-cut, as shown below.  This is very similar to the way the Landscape Rectangle Accordion die-cut is altered when you use the Fence or Cupcake Add-ons.


After connecting the two pieces, you simply glue in the candles panel to each side of the altered panels and continue making your card.  I used two dies from Word Set 9 - Love, adding one on each end panel.

Be sure to check out the Blog Hop on release day, Monday, Dec. 11th.  You will have 9 chances to win a $25 gift certificate to the Karen Burniston store website by commenting on each of the blogs in the hop.


Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge -- Naughty or Nice

This month's Karen Burniston Designer Challenge is titled "Naughty or Nice?"  We were to make a Christmas card incorporating a stocking.  I decided to use the Fireplace Pop-Up and Fireplace Extras 1, which includes stockings.

About 10 years ago I saw a card by Grace Nywening which she called a Center Easel Card.  I thought it was such a clever take on the easel card that I printed out her blog post so I would have the instructions.  This month's challenge was perfect for this type of card.  The Fireplace Pop-Up fit perfectly in the easel section . . .

. . . and the "Merry Christmas" was the perfect "bumper" to hold the card open.


I'm so glad I hung onto those instructions.

I have a bonus Designer Challenge card for you, one which uses one of the new dies -- the Raising Platform Pop-Up.  The stocking part of the challenge is on the front of the card -- along with various other Karen Burniston dies.  By the way, do you see that embossing on the front?  That was made with the Pattern Plate - Holly die, run through my Cuttlebug with the rubber embossing mat.  (Yes, I still use my Cuttlebug for embossing.)


The sneak peek part of this card is on the inside.  The Raising Platform pops up to wish you a Merry Christmas.


As I already had the Pattern Plate - Holly die out on my table, I decided to cut some greenery to decorate the inside.  I used one of the Christmas Borders for some more stockings.

I hope you like my cards.

Monday, December 4, 2023

Karen Burniston New Release - Day 1

It's finally time to show off some of the new dies from Karen Burniston!  She has 7 new dies being released next Monday, and the Design Team will be showing them off all this week.  One of the new sets is Topper Tags -- a set of 4 tags, 4 grommets, and 2 borders.  


I decided that I'd like to make something with this set that was a bit different than just a tag, so I thought of a gift card holder.  


We all give gift cards at Christmas, so a different type of holder sounded interesting.  I took a piece of Christmas-y patterned cardstock, folded it in half, and cut it with the largest tag die -- making sure to off-set it a little bit so as not to cut the fold.  I added the bow and the sentiment.


On the inside, I used the second to the smallest die and cut off the top with the wavy border die.  After cutting out the Santa Claus for the inside, I taped this piece down on the inside, creating the holder for the gift card.


Santa gets hidden by the gift card, so he's a bit of a surprise when the card is removed.

I hope you liked my little experiment and will stop back tomorrow for my Designer Challenge card (and another sneak peek!).





Friday, November 17, 2023

Thanksgiving Turkey

I wanted to make a quick Thanksgiving card for my long-time neighbor, so I pulled out the Karen Burniston Landscape Rectangle Accordion.  I used some Photoplay fall papers that I had on my desk from having made another card earlier.  I think if I had to do it over again, I might have used different background paper on the center sections, but what is done is done.  I do like that little acorn from KB Autumn Elements on the front though.


Although you can make longer accordions with this die set, I like the way a two-panel accordion looks.  It gives lots of interest but doesn't take long to put together.  


I hope she likes this.

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Gingerbread Men in the Kitchen

The theme for this month's Karen Burniston Designer Challenge is "What's Cooking?"  During the next two months a lot of what's cooking will be Christmas cookies.  So I took that opportunity to feature the new Oven Pop-Up set to make my card.


The front of the card is relatively simple -- just a wreath and some gingerbread men.  I cut a dark green circle using a couple of the Circle Crosshatch dies.  I then cut out the Pattern Plate - Holly and snipped it into many pieces, placing them around the circle to create my wreath.  After cutting out a strip of gingerbread men from the Christmas Border set, I placed them around the wreath and attached a bow.


 The inside of my card is where the "cooking" action takes place.


I fell in love with that Oven Pop-Up when I first saw it.  And there is a set of extras so you can go all out!  My card is 6" x 7", so I was able to add a couple extra cabinets by extending the base under the oven and cabinets.  Karen Burniston has a great video describing how to construct the Oven Pop-up - (7) Karen Burniston Dies 1250 Oven Pop-up and 1251 Oven Extras Assembly - YouTube.  On the countertop you can see the mixer and a tray of gingerbread cookies.  

Do you see that little semi-circle and message at the bottom right-hand side of the card?  If you follow the directions to "pull out," you find a surprise.


I included a recipe card with directions for baking some gingerbread cookies.  And when you open the oven door, you can see some more cookies baking.


Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  If you have this die, I hope I've given you some inspiration to use it.

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Halloween Fence

As I have mentioned before, I love making Halloween cards.  I don't get many trick-or-treaters where I live, so I make cards and mail them out to my family and friends.  Today's card was made with the Landscape Rectangle Accordion and the Fence Add-ons, along with several Halloween sets.

The front of the card has the cauldron from the new Witch and Cauldron with one of the Small Sentiments Halloween on it.  I added the skulls from the new Halloween Borders and a jack-o-lantern from the previously released Halloween Elements.  You can see a skeleton peeking out from inside the card.


The inside of the card has a few more Halloween elements.  Again I used the skulls from the Halloween Borders.  In addition to the cauldron, I also added the witch.  She wasn't tall enough to be stirring the pot, so to speak, so I made a little stepstool, using one of the trapezoids from the Surprise Ball Pop-Up.  It gets her high enough to mix her potion, which includes some interesting items.

To balance out the witch, I added the skeleton on the other side of the card.  I made a sign using another one of the Small Sentiments Halloween and attached it to the fence with two small brads.  I added the two jack-o-lanterns at the bottom, and I was done.



I really enjoyed making this "spooky" card.

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Wide Woven Basket Birthday

I had a request from a friend of mine for a 70th birthday card for her sister with daisies, butterflies, and dragonflies. I pulled out several Karen Burniston die sets for this one. Unfortunately, the dragonfly in Flutter Charms was a bit larger than I would have liked; but fortunately, I had a smaller dragonfly from Cottage Cutz available.

I love the Wide Woven Basket. It makes such a pretty card.


I used the flowers from the Flower Pot Pop-up because they looked more like daisies than those in the Woven Basket set. After I glued in the daisies, I decided to back them with some acetate for more stability. The butterflies and dragonflies are mounted on strips of acetate so that it looks like they are flying in the air.

I gave the card to my friend this morning, and she loved it. She can't wait to give it to her sister.

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge - Jack-O-Lanterns

It's time again for the Karen Burniston Designer Challenge, and this month's theme is JACK-O-LANTERN.  How appropriate -- with Halloween right around the corner.  I pulled out several Karen Burniston Halloween sets to decorate my card, a slimline card featuring the Little Labels Pop-Up set.

The front of my card is relatively simple, with a Jack-o-lantern made with the pumpkin from the Autumn Elements set with the face cut with one of the dies in Halloween Elements.

But the inside is a bit less simple.  I love that skeleton from the Skeleton & Bat set, dressed up with a top hat and bow tie.  I used two of the brand-new Halloween Borders set to span the card.


 You'll be seeing more of those Halloween Borders.  I love them!

Monday, September 18, 2023

Karen Burniston New Release Blog Hop

Hi Crafty Friends,

Welcome to our Karen Burniston Products - KB Riley LLC September Release Blog Hop. The Design Team have come together with Karen today for a fun blog hop to celebrate the release of 9 new dies. Sneak peeks of the new release started last week, and the dies are available to order NOW!


This release includes:
  • 2 new Script Sentiment Die Sets
  • 3 new Border Die Sets
  • 2 new Pop-up Die Sets
  • 1 new Add-on Die Sets
  • 1 stand alone Die Set
Dies are available to order now on the website.
I love to make cards for Halloween, so I used the new Stocking Pop-up die and several other Halloween dies (both new and not-so-new) to make my card for the hop.  One of the new Halloween dies is the Witch and Cauldron.  What I like about the witch is that she is in several pieces, so you can use her in many different ways.  In this case, she's standing behind her cauldron stirring the pot.  BTW, the same die is used for her hair and the fire!  Two other new dies are on the front of my card -- Small Sentiments - Halloween and Halloween Borders.  


There are dies from several different Halloween sets used on the inside -- as well as the Stocking Pop-up.  The pop-up mechanism animates those two ghosts behind the house.  The skulls along the bottom and the two Jack-O-Lanterns are both part of the same Halloween Borders set as the spiders on the front.


Here is a short video so you can see how the pop-up mechanism works.



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, October 2, 2023. Lots of chances to win some goodies, so just leave a comment on this post or any other blog hop posts to enter!  
Below are the links to the Blog Hop participants.   IMPORTANT:  Don't forget to leave some way for us to contact you, in case you are a lucky winner!

Lois Bak (you're here)
Sue Small-Kreider  (visit next)

Friday, September 15, 2023

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.  

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Karen Burniston New Release Sneak Peeks - Day 4

Yesterday I showed how to use the new Karen Burniston Oven Pop-Up on a Thanksgiving card; today it's a Christmas card.  Again, it's a 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" square card with a very simple lead-in.


The inside is much busier, with Mrs. Claus baking Christmas cookies.  She's being animated with one of the small Bam Boxes, popping up when the card is opened.  I love that brick backsplash included in the Oven Extras.  The wreath on the front as well as the one on the inside were made with a die from the Street Lantern Pop-Up set.  This just shows that you can go back and use previously released dies along with the new ones.

As you can see from this close-up, there are gingerbread cookies baking in the oven and some cooling on the countertop.



Just a few more days until the entire release will be available for purchase.  Be sure to check out the Blog Hop on Monday and comment on the stops along the way in order to get several chances to win a $25 gift certificate.

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Karen Burniston New Release Sneak Peek - Day 3

My card today uses the new Oven Pop-Up and Oven Extras sets.  These sets are so cool with all their little bits and pieces.  We're all cooking and baking in the fall -- especially when Thanksgiving rolls around.


The front of my card shows off a previously released set called Autumn Elements.


But when you open the card, there is a fully stocked kitchen with upper and lower cabinets, drawers and even a brick backsplash.  I brought some more of those Autumn Elements in from the front of the card on the "Happy Thanksgiving" sentiment oval.


By the way, the oven door opens to reveal a turkey roasting inside.  My Thanksgiving oven doesn't look like that however because my son deep-fries our turkey!


I've seen several creative kitchens made by the rest of the design team.  I hope you check them out.  And be sure to check in on our Blog Hop next Monday.  There are many chances for you to win a $25 gift certificate to the Karen Burniston website.