Karen Burniston New Release -- Day 4 Sneak Peek

Much of this new release focuses on the various pop-up balls, with both Add-ons and utilitarian Ball Access Tabs.  My card today is made with Bitty Ball Pop-up and the Mini Ball Pop-up, along with the new Animal Add-ons 6, to create this cute grasshopper card.

The front of the card is relatively plain, with just a parade of grasshoppers from the new Bug Borders set and a sentiment.

Also included in this release are 5 coordinating stamp sets and a set of dies (Greeting Labels), which are actually additional sizes of label dies in several different previous sets.  The ones I used on this card are the same shape as the Katherine Label.

Also used on this cute grasshopper were the Access Tabs for both the Bitty Ball Pop-up and the Mini Ball Pop-up.  These make it so easy to get access to the inside of the ball for possible repairs.

Karen Burniston New Release - Day 1 Sneak Peek

It's finally time for the sneak peeks to begin, and Karen Burniston outdid herself this time.  15 new dies and 5 new stamp sets!  There are three Add-ons for the pop-up balls.  They can all be pre-ordered on the 24th.

One of the new dies makes three cute bugs -- a ladybug, a bee, and a grasshopper.  There is also a border set that coordinates with it.

My card today features the ladybug along with the Bitty Ball.  The front of the card has the border along with a sentiment from one of the new stamp sets.

When you open the card, up pops the cute ladybug.  I held the card closed using the Flap and Closure set with a small magnet on the back.

As shown in this photo, I had mounted the ladybug on a circle so that it can be removed from the card.

One nice thing about this Add-on set is that everything you need (except the ball) is included  -- things like the eyes and the mouth.

Included in this release are three utilitarian die sets which allow you to open the pop-up balls (one set for each ball size) to get to the rubber bands.  I, of course, used the one for the Bitty Ball.  It cuts out two sets of access tabs that you would use to replace the smaller tabs on the ball die cuts.

I'm glad you stopped by today to see my card.  I'll have more sneak peeks as the week progresses.  I hope you stop back.

Happy Valentine's Day

After watching Karen Burniston's video on creating a double Bam Box Pop-up card, I decided to make a few adjustments and make one myself.  As Valentine's Day is close at hand, that was my theme.  I thought a slimline card would be a little different.  And instead of using a magnet closure, as Karen did, I added the closure from her Flap & Closure die set.

I added a little stamped banner with the Happy Valentine's Day sentiment to complete my card.

They're hard to read in the photos, but the smallest hearts are actually conversation hearts from the Candy Hearts Box die set.

CCEE2241 - Reptiles

Lynn has a fun challenge this week for the CCEE Stampers.  She tells us that tomorrow (Oct. 21) is National Reptile Day.  She said to be sure our card this week features the reptile of your choice:  an alligator, a lizard, a turtle, a snake, a dinosaur!  Or, include them all!  

As a resident of Florida, I should be a Gators fan.  Unfortunately, I am not.  Go 'Noles!  But I have friends who definitely cheer on the Gators of the University of Florida.  So I have Albert the Alligator for you today, made with the Karen Burniston Bitty Ball Pop-Up.  The football field on the inside was created using a stencil from Kindred Stamps.

As you can see, Albert is able to leave the card in case the recipient wants to display him separately.

Be sure to check out the CCEE Stampers blog for some more reptile fun!

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

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge -- Ball and Small

This month's Karen Burniston Designer Challenge has such a fun theme -- Ball and Small.  We were to create a ball animal and pair it with the same critter from our animal sets.  However, I had a bit of a detour for my card.  The first time I read our list of challenges, I didn't pay close enough attention to the list and made an Easter card with a little Easter scene (Easter bunny with basket) on the front and a pop-up bunny on the inside.  Then I realized this challenge was for May, not April -- much too late for an Easter card.  So then I made second card with a couple of honey bees inside and out.  But Karen Aiken had already made (and showed it to the team) a card with bees.  Not wanting similar cards from two members of the team for this challenge, I made a third one.  Karen Burniston had suggested an astronaut, paired with the Space Charms (even though these are not technically "critters").

So the third time was the charm.  Here is my designer challenge card for Ball and Small.  On the front is that little astronaut from Space Charms and the rocket ship from the Rocket Pop-Up set.

The inside was a bit more challenging.  His head is made with the new Mini Ball Pop-Up and the helmet is made with the Bitty Ball (obviously with no rubber bands).  I used parts of the Character Add-ons 2 (Santa & Mrs. Claus) to decorate him.  The sentiment was created using the new Mini Alphabet and Numbers set.

Here is a close-up of the astronaut so you can see a bit better how it was constructed.

I cut the helmet from white cardstock and cut off three of the panels from each section, leaving just a small strip on each.  Then I cut the panel again from a piece of acetate and separated each panel.  After snipping the connecting sections in half (to make them narrower so as not to get caught up with the head), I connected the white sections of the helmet together.  Then I wrapped the helmet around the head and glued on the bottom panel to the head.  I stacked four adhesive foam squares together, coloring the sides with a dark brown Copic marker, and placed it on the top of his head under the helmet.  This way when the card is opened, the helmet will sit slightly above his head, thereby pulling in the sections a little bit.  There are still gaps in the "viser" section of the helmet, but not as much as would have been there without the elevating foam squares.   I then adhered the acetate sections to the small strips left on the helmet sections and put them together using 1/8" Scor-Tape.   

This was a triple challenge for me, but I think it was eventually worth the trouble.  Thanks for stopping by.

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.

CCEE2208 - 5 x 7 cards

Frances starts her month as hostess for the CCEE Stampers by telling us that, just like slimline and mini slimline cards, the 5 x 7 inch card size is becoming more and more popular.  For this week's challenge, we were to create a 5 x 7 inch card.

This challenge gave me another opportunity to create an animal pop-up card, using several Karen Burniston dies -- the Bitty Ball Pop-up, the Flap & Closure die, and Animal Add-ons 4.  Karen actually had a class creating this type of card.  I pretty much followed her instructions to create mine.

On the inside is that cute pop-up alligator.

Be sure to check out the CCEE Stampers blog for more 5 x 7 cards.

Karen Burniston New Release Sneak Peek - Day 4

I've got another pop-up animal using the new Karen Burniston Animal Add-ons 4 with the Bitty Ball Pop-Up.  Today's animal is a frog!  On the front of the card you'll see parts of another new set -- Bayou Animals.  Aren't those the cutest little critters?  And I love the cattails!

I used the Karen Burniston Flap & Closure set to hold the card closed.  And when you unwind that cord, up pops the frog!

I tried to emulate the lily pad from the front on the inside as well.  I used a Crosshatch Oval and some flowers from Backyard Charms.

This has been a fun week -- hope you're enjoying it as much as I am.  Check back tomorrow and Saturday for a couple of other sneak peeks and be sure to follow our blog hop on Monday for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Karen's website.

Karen Burniston Sneak Peek 4

I've got another Halloween card made with one of the new Karen Burniston dies -- Character Add-on 1.  This set allows you to change either the Surprise Ball Pop-Up or the Bitty Ball Pop-Up into a Halloween character.  The front of my card gives you a hint as to where this card is going.

It's Count Dracula!!!  I also used the Happy Halloween sentiment and shadow.

As you can see, I used velcro spots to hold the card in the closed position.   Here's a close-up of the Count.

Sneak peek week is almost over, and the dies will be available on Monday, August 9th.

CCEE1945 - Cappuccino Day (Karen Burniston Sneak Peek #3)

Frances starts her month as hostess for the CCEE Stampers with a challenge celebrating Cappuccino Day, which is tomorrow (11/8).   I have a sister who never saw a Starbucks that she didn't love.  I was thinking of her as I made this card -- using a soon-to-be-released Karen Burniston die set, called Parcel Pop-Up.  I also used some dies from the Coffee Charms set.

This die set wasn't necessarily made as a gift card holder, but it works really well for one.   As you pull the front of the card down, the mechanism behind the package causes the gift card to pop-up.

Here's a short video showing how this pop-up works.

This die and several others (including the one which I used to make the closure) will be available around the middle of November.  Be sure to check them out now.  And check out the CCEE Stampers blog for more coffee-related cards.