Karen Burniston Designer Challenge -- "Thirst Quencher"

The theme of this month's Karen Burniston Designer Challenge is "Thirst Quencher."  The new Tea & Coffee Pop-Up was the perfect choice.  I was really happy when I saw a tea cup in the new release.  It seems that the world drinks coffee, but I'm a tea drinker.

I made a birthday card for my challenge card.  The front is pretty straight-forward with a congratulations wish for the recipient.  I did add a small teacup up in the corner from the Tea & Coffee Borders set.  The mat layers are shiny gold.  The "IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY" sentiment was computer-generated.

But the inside has a little play-on-words for the sentiment, using the Mini Alphabet set.  I decided to "fancy-up" the teacup with some gilding.  I sponged on some gold ink for the design and drew in the gold lines with a pen.  The cup handle and the spoon are gold cardstock.  

I had tried to use vellum for the steam behind the cup, but it didn't show up well, so I used a white cardstock of a different shade than the cup for some contrast.

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge -- Rubber Band Pop-Ups

This month's Designer Challenge theme for the Karen Burniston Design Team is "Rubber Band Pop-Ups."   And with a couple of new dies this was an easy one.  The little Bam Box is rather addictive -- and so much fun.  I used it and the new Wedding Charms.

I used some holographic paper for some extra pop on the front of my card.  The sentiment is from Word Set 12 - Anniversary.  Even though the title is Anniversary, it includes the word "Wedding" as well.  The Flap and Closure keeps the card closed.  I found some large white brads in my stash, and they worked perfectly.  The little hearts are from the Mail Box Pop-Up.

The "worker bee" of my card is that sweet little Bam Box.  When you open the card, it pops up the bride and groom (part of the Wedding Charms set).  I added some little rhinestones as the bubbly above the champagne glasses.

As I said earlier, the Bam Box Pop-Up is slightly addictive.  I've had so much fun using it in various ways.  Now you should visit the rest of the Design Team's blogs to see what they did with this "rubber band" challenge.

Family Room Die - Karen Burniston

Today I've got a card made with one more of the new Pop-Up dies from Karen Burniston, which will be shipping in mid-July.  It's called the Family Room Pop-Up and features a sofa, chair and lamp.

I thought this die would make a great "welcome to your new home" card.  On the front of the card I also included one of the new Memory Charms dies -- the TV set . . .

. . . as well as one of the words in Word Set 8 - Congrats, which I cut twice and layered.

On the inside, you get a little vignette of part of a new home.

I hope you have enjoyed looking at the new dies being released by Karen Burniston.  I've certainly enjoyed showing them off!

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge -- Congrats

The Karen Burniston Designer Challenge for May is CONGRATS!   It could be graduation or any other congratulations card.  I must admit that I'm rather fond of the Woven Basket Pop-Up die from the latest KB release.  I think it's my favorite; and when Karen did the video on how to make it a double-wide basket, I was hopelessly addicted.  My congrats card would be for a new baby girl, not that I know of anyone having a baby -- girl or otherwise.

I had so much fun making this card.  In addition to the Woven Basket Pop-Up, I also used dies from the Baby Charms, Spring Animals, Explosion Pop-Up, Word Set 8 - Congrats, and Ovals - Crosshatch.

Many of the charm dies were attached with strips of clear acetate.  That helped give some height to the card.

As you can see, I decided I didn't want a monochromatic look to my basket card, so I added a bit of yellow in the form of the balloons, some of the flowers and the little rubber ducky.

And I just had to tuck that cute bunny from the Spring Animals in there among the flowers.

Now I'll just have to wait until someone I know has a baby girl!