Gettin' Sporty!

This week at Charisma Cardz we are Gettin' Sporty! Since my family doesn't really participate in sports I had a tough time figuring out what exactly I would do with this challenge. I did find a few pics of Dylan playing tug of war with Daisy but didn't think that was all too "sporty", KWIM? So, I dug out my Bella's and saw my fishin' girl and thought hey, we love to fish and well, isn't that sort of "sporty"?? LOL

I used Basic Grey Archaic papers , Stampin' Bella's Stacey-fisha-bella, the little fishes in a bucket are from Clear Art Stamps as is the sentiment, ribbon from Fancy Pants and buttons from my stash.

My card:



and Copics used:



I used the sketch over at I {heart} 2 Stamp (Jen Del Muro) as my inspiration and changed it up a bit but still kept the basics of it.

Thanks for stoppin' by and happy scrappin'!

Cottage Cutz Wednesay

It's that time again - Cottage Cutz Wednesday at The Cuttlebug Spot. This week I played with the Cottage Cutz Bear die. I've been wanting to do a layout using this picture of me and my cousin David (miss ya guy) for quite a while but it has been hard, after 10 years, to scrap him. My cousin passed away in April of 1999 at the age of 31 (would've been 32 in November) from cancer and as with many other family members I've lost, I've blocked the memories and pain so when I scrap these pics they come rushing back.

Anywho, on to a happier story! My parents and David's parents owned cabins on Lake Tawakoni in Texas and every Friday night we'd pack up with our grandparents and head to the lake for the weekend (we lived about an hour away). On the way to the lake on Hwy 34 there was a little po'dunk store that had a real live bear out back who loved loved LOVED "sody pop" as the owner called it. You could go inside and purchase a bottle of "sody pop" (I loved to give him Orange Crush) and go outside and stick it through the fence for the bear to reach out with his paws and take the bottle in both paws like they were hands and tilt his head back while sitting on his bottom and down the bottle of "sody pop." Stopping to buy "sody pop" was a tradition we shared for many years until the area where the cabins were was set up for renovation and all cabins had to be demolished - those were sad days but a whole different story. So, when I came across this pic a while back I knew I needed to scrap it but have put it off til I got the Cottage Cutz Bear die in the mail a couple weeks ago. So, onto my LO:





and a close up of the bear:



I added the mini googlie eyes for a fun effect but these dies are so easy to use you have plenty of time to customize them. The one die for the bear contained all the pieces needed including that tiny little nose and eyes (the tiny googlie eyes I got at Hobby Lobby if I remember right).

Don't forget to check out the other creations from my fellow Cuttlebug Spot DT Members and then check out all the dies (especially the new release coming up, OMG I am so anxious to get my hands on some of those! LOL) at The Scrapping Cottage.

As always, thanks for stoppin' by and happy scrappin'!!

The Cuttlebug Spot

Hi all! Sorry I've been so quiet lately with cards but since Mom left my mojo has been cruisin' the Caribbean I think but maybe, just maybe it is back!

This week at The Cuttlebug Spot we are revisiting our very first challenge - inking your embossing folders! Yeah, have you tried it yet? I have to admit, I had not til this challenge but I am totally digging this technique and definitely see myself using it way more, so much you might get tired of seeing it!

Anywho, I chose to use one of the newer embossing folders, Diamond Plate. I used Charcoal Colorbox Chalk ink and ran my background paper for the image through and I really like the effect it gives. I used Basic Grey papers from the Phoebe line: Sunset District (PHE766), Coit Tower (PHE765) and Ashbury Street (PHE755). The cardstock is from my stash but I'm pretty sure the turquoise piece is Bazzill and the pink piece if Prisma while the ribbon was from my stash and the Sweetnees button is from We R Memory Makers.

On to my card:



and Copics used:




In addition to my DT challenge this card is being used at the Basic Grey Challenge blog for embossing and at the Just Magnolia Challenge Blog based on the sketch posted this week!

I've been pretty productive this weekend but can't show everything until later in the week - Wednesday is Cottage Cutz Wednesdays at The Cuttlebug Spot and then Thursday my Charisma Cardz project so be on the look out - those are the ones I've got scheduled to post but who knows what else will be popping up throughout the week!

Thanks for stoppin' by and happy scrappin'!!!

Flower Power Thursday!

That's right, this week at Charisma Cardz we are pulling out the flower power! I have had these papers sitting here since my scrappy trip to Tennessee in April because I didn't want to use them because then, well, I wouldn't have them! But, this flower power challenge and my Sarah Kay stamp spoke to me and told me that I needed to use the Little Yellow Bicycle Zinnia papers now!!! So, off I went!!!

I used the sketch at Sketch Saturday for inspiration and have to admit, for having little to no mojo this sketch made it super easy to get my card completed!

Enough yapping, here's my card:




I failed to take a picture of my Copic's used this week - bad me! I can't even begin to tell you which ones I used (I have sort of an idea.......LOL) so, we'll chalk this week's lack of Copic's used to my mojo being on vacation!

So, I know a bunch of you who horde flowers like I do (I finally admit I have a flower addiction) so let's see what you can create using "flower power" as your inspiration!

Hope you like my card and as always, thanks for stoppin' by and happy scrappin'!!!

Cottage Cutz Wednesday

Today is Cottage Cutz Wednesday at The Cuttlebug Spot! This is my first go at using these dies and I have to admit, due to how thin they are I was really leery of how they'd cut cardstock but was I impressed! I am totally digging paper piecing using these dies - and I am not much of a paper piecer!!

So, I got to work with the Treehouse dies - I wasn't sure about how it was going to end up - like I said I am not a paper piecer, but I like the outcome!

My card:



Now doesn't that look a treehouse any kid would love to play in - I know I'd love to play in it now! Everything you need to create the treehouse, including the tree, is included in the 3 pack of dies from Cottage Cutz.

I have 2 other dies laying on my desk that I can not wait to get into this weekend when I scrap with Cait - one is going to be perfect for a layout I've been wanting to get done of my cousin David and I from when we were growing up - I can't wait to play!!

Thanks for stoppin' by and happy scrappin'!!!

The Cuttlebug Spot's Confetti Creations!

This week at The Cuttlebug Spot we played with confetti!! What a mess that stuff can make huh? Well, not when you make your own with scrap papers, embossing folders and your Cuttlebug!!!

You might remember this little container from a while back - it has been sitting here looking all kinds of lonely on my desk needing something to be done with it.



Well, when we were issued the challenge to make our own confetti I knew exactly what scraps to grab so I could fill my little container! I used several embossing folders on the scraps: Textile, Swiss Dots, Bloom Dots, Houndstooth and Fluerde Lisa!

Here's a pic of my scraps after embossing:



and a pic as I am folding a piece to cut into strips for my confetti:



and my filling in my container:



So, if you are going green - which is kind of hard for us traditional scrappers and card makers, this is a good way to reuse and recycle scraps of paper and use as filler in packages to ship, gifts, etc! The possibilities are endless!

My scrappy mojo is kind of on vacation right now. I'm a bit down and out since my Mom and Dad went back home so I'm not doing too much but I plan to sit down this weekend with my daughter and spend Sunday scrapping all day (hopefully anyways)!

Thanks for stoppin' by and happy scrappin'!!!

A bit of a break..............

..............is what I took. I had an extremely busy weekend last weekend with the holiday and family in town and school and work and...................ugh! Yeah, just trust me it was busy! So I took a break this week to do nothin' cept spend the time with my husband and kiddo's...............and work........***giggle***!!! I am heading out to work now but I wanted to post about a blog candy for a new stamp company I ran across this morning while blog surfing.....................








Squiggle Stamps are just freakin' adorable - those little girls absolutely brightened my morning and I am sure you will be seeing some cards with them very, very soon!!!

OK, I'm off to work then home to do school work but I do plan on Sunday being a card making day so I should be back with some stuff to show then!

I hope you have a fabulous weekend and thanks for stoppin' by!

Happy Scrappin'!!!

Card for a Cause

I read about 13 year old Paige on Erin's blog, "Scrap, Stamp and Be Happy" and knew I had a card that I've recently made that I could send to Paige in hopes to let her know we are all out here thinking of and praying for her. Please check out Erin's blog, "Scrap, Stamp and Be Happy" and if you can, send a card to Paige. It isn't about the blog candy, it is about letting a little girl know we are all out here thinking of her and wishing her a speedy recovery!

Here is one of my favorite cards that I made recently that I chose to send to her, I really do love this card!!!



As always, thank you for stoppin' by, happy scrapping and PLEASE keep Paige in your prayers!!!

It's for the birds!!

This week we are throwing our challenge "to the birds" at The Cuttlebug Spot. My card was a quickie, last minute one with going back to school, working and family coming in to town so we could go out of town so it isn't my best work - unless you consider a 7 minute card that looks like this to be pretty good work..............LOL.

Enough chatter - today is my last day with my parents before they head back to Texas so I'm gonna spend it with them!!


My card:



and Copics used:



I used the sketch over at Friday Sketcher's for inspiration and was thrilled with the fact that I could keep it simple for such a rush job!

OK, I'm uploading pics now from our visit with my brother this weekend and will post some shortly. We are off to visit Olde Towne this morning then home to make home made bread and probably cook chicken fried steak for dinner!

Thanks for stoppin' by and happy scrappin'!


UPDATED:

While waiting for Caitlin to get ready I threw together the slide show, ENJOY!

Charisma Thursday!

It is that time again! Reveal time at Charisma Cardz! This week we were challenged to use "swirls and curls" - I was running a bit behind on this card and just finished it up last night so it isn't my best work but I do like it! I'd love to see you come over to Charisma Cardz! and give our challenge this week a go! If you do, make sure you link to Charisma Cardz! AND link to my post and maybe, just maybe I'll have a little something to give away!!!

As I usually say, "In typical Karen fashion," I also used this card for the weekly sketch challenge at Friday Sketchers!!! I have to tell you, the sketch this week I think is one of my all time fav's! Make sure you stop by Friday Sketchers and give it a whirl!

My card:



and Copics used:



Now, take a look at her hair. Does this look red to you? We were chatting it up in the Magnolia Yahoo group I'm part of wondering what the best red color combos were. I've tried several but this was a new one for me and I think I like it best .............. so far...........LOL. For this I used YR00, E17 and E19 - I laid YR00 as the base, used E17 around the edges and up almost all the way into the hair and then E19 for just the edges and then a swipe here and there for a little added depth and texture. Tell me what you think! Do you have a favorite Copic combo for red hair to use?

As always, thanks for stoppin by! I will be a bit quiet the next 5 or 6 days as my folks get here tomorrow - I know, I know - I've said this how many times?? LOL I am just really excited to see them again and then see my brother on Saturday for the first time in quite a few years!

Happy scrappin' all!!!

I'm Smilin'!!

See that, I'm smilin'!!! I know it isn't the best smile at the moment but I was getting frustrated with trying to take a self pic................LOL.

Now, you ask - "Karen, why are you smilin'???"

Well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Basic Grey picked up one of my cards for their gallery! I got the notice this morning and I'm tickled pink! Just go to Basic Grey and click on Gallery on the top bar then on the left side bar go to designers and scroll down to the K's and find me, Karen Brooks!

OK, off to work - I'm on the countdown, my parents will be here tomorrow! I'm so excited I can hardly stand myself! All I have to get done is a little school work and my scrappy area picked up, other than that we are so ready for them to get here! If all works out as we've discussed, we will be driving up to my brother's house on Saturday since he and his wife can't come down this weekend! Just more excitement and more to make me smile!

Thanks for stoppin' by and happy scrappin'!!!