"Mama", he asked, "is there such a thing as a bald dragonfly?" "I don't think so, honey, but I'm sure we can create one..." And thus is the story of how The Bald Dragonfly, my little ol' blog that is one today, came to be!
I'd also like to take a quick moment to wish my parents a happy anniversary tomorrow as well! I need to call them to find out the number years, but it is definitely more than one!... I made this card with them in mind, and fits Yvonne's Guest Designer's Challenge. SherryAnn Eckblad, the guest designer, makes amazing handmade flowers...I'm practicing mine.
Now for the giveaway:
I truly appreciate each and every one of you that stops by for a visit. I truly appreciate each and every comment made. Your visits, comments, words of encouragement are what keeps me going, thank you!
I have a $15 gift certificate up for grabs for one of the following stamp companies (listed in no particular order), winner's choice. Customer service is the best and the stamps are my most favorite stamps ever to work with.
Practicing Creativity Designs
Wplus9
Lawn Fawn
Schlosser Designs
It's easy to enter. Only two little things...
1. Post a comment letting me know what keeps you coming back to this blog, or offer any suggestions that you'd like to see here. I'm open for improvement, and to new and exciting things.
2. Are you a follower? I really like it when you come back to visit!
(Winner will a random draw from all comments entered by one week from today.)
Remember that you can still comment on yesterday's post for a chance to win some baker's twine!
Ahhh...the mystery of the bald dragonfly has been revealed...I've always wondered about that...lol..
ReplyDeleteThis is a fabulous creation Karen! Your handmade flowers are just divine! I truly appreciate you taking the time to play along with my guests' challenges! :)
I adore your CAS style. Yes, there are a lot of cardmakers who make a lot of pretty cards but yours stand out in a sea of "me toos". With effort and beautiful materials, I'm certain anyone can make a beautiful card. But I'm drawn to your creations because they involve thought and I feel the love you put in your creations. And I do love the little stories you tell about how the cards came to be...
Okay, this is starting to be a long essay! Happy anniversary to your parents! :)
Happy 1st blogaversary and to your parenet's ,too! What I like about your blog is that you put your creations that you made from the heart and your own unique design, not because that you have somthing to show off or what's trendy...it's just you and yours alone and I love seeing how you come about your creations and along the little stories that go with it. I guess we are sort of "similar" that way :)
ReplyDeleteI love your card, always simple, beautiful and understated.. gorgeous!!! This card is no exception... no need a lot of patterned paper but working with a few and making the best out of it.
ReplyDeleteI would love for you to have tutorials:). I love your blog for your sharings, the story of your life and things.. making it heartfelt, generous and welcoming.:D
I am also intrigued by your Bald Dagronfly :)
Happy Anniversary to the Bald Dragonfly and also to your parents. :D
Cheers!!!
Woot woot!! Congratulations!!! Only one year?! I've been coming to your blog for such a long time, but haven't always been leaving comments on a regular basis. I keep coming back for your clean, warm and earthy designs! The colors you use and the simplicity you display are fabulous!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this amazing chance to win!! Keep blogging!
I recently became a follower cos there is freshness and your cards are Unique. Congrats on your 1st. Blog anniversary and your parents Anniversary too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely card, your flowers are great. Why do I keep coming back, oh-so-persistent me, because you rock! Because your cards sing to my CAS style each and every time, I'm still waiting to see a card that I go "lovely, but not for me", instead I go "wow, how'd she do that?". I'm not a follower, I'm a crafty stalker, pun intended! Aren't you glad I don't have internet at my finger tips anymore? Thinking of you from a lovely camp ground in Picton, New Zealand.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful card Karen!
ReplyDeleteI come for the reasons already stated above - but also just want to add that you are a very warm and giving person and I think that's why I love to read your posts.
And what a cute story attached to the name of your blog.
Stunning card Karen which I'm sure your parents will love. The hand made flowers are perfect to my eye,no need for practice.
ReplyDeleteI follow your blog because it is so refreshing to see work unadorned by layers of paper or cute images, which are SO not me. Your designs are thoughtful and the tales that accompany each card are unique.
Congrats on your 1st anninversary.
Karen,
ReplyDeleteStunning card...love how you inked the edges of the ribbon. I keep coming back to your blog for two reasons: love your stories and love your design style. It is CAS but with a twist...you always suprise me in a good way!
Thanks so much for the chance to win!
Fondly, Lynn
LOVE the card you made your folkes, and your cards in general - that's what keeps me comin' back regularly ... ok, that, and the fact that I'd subscribed thru Google Reader (LOVE that app!).
ReplyDeleteThanx for the inspiration and t'riffic blog candy opp!
Happy blogoversary, girl! I always wondered how you decided on your blog's name. Kids are great, eh?!
Happy Blogaversary!!!!
ReplyDeleteaha!!! I've always wondered where your blog name came from...thanks for sharing that!!!
Let's see....so many reasons why I keep comin' back..I love your design style...I so enjoy your little stories....you're so fabulously nice:)
You were in my google reader but I'm following now too:) I never know how peeps blogs get over to me...
P.S. if you haven't gotten my happy mail yet...please don't pop over to my blog...yet:)
ReplyDeleteLove the card you made for your parents - those sweet little flowers are adorable! Your amazing work and your friendly presence are what keep me coming back. Not only is your craftiness exceptional, your writing is great too.
ReplyDeleteMy suggestion - keep on doing what your doing, Karen! Love your blog and I'm so glad you started it!!
sigh... you amazing me with your fabulous designs every time i visit. i am in love with this card. love the pops of orange and the stitching with twine. just genius. and this is the reason that i come back. be awed and inspired! happy blogoversary! =)
ReplyDeletecongrats on your one year blog anniv. I am a follwer. Not sure how I found you, but I like your style. I probably found your blog clicking through some challenge entries. Your cards are soothing and pretty. Thanks for sharing the origination of your blog title. CUTE!
ReplyDeleteKaren, thanks for sharing how you got your blog name as I often wondered.
ReplyDeleteWhat brings me back here ~ well silly YOU of course and all of your wonderful creations.
Oh I forgot to say thanks for playing along with my handmade flower challenge over at Yvonne's blog. I love your flowers and now I need to know how you made them.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you've only been blogging for one year! You've already created quite a name for yourself. Good for you! I love the soft color combination of this card. Did you burn the edges? I was messing with burning not long ago...
ReplyDeleteYou know, even when I'm out of blogland yours is a blog that I continue to check because I can't stand the thought off missing one of your creations. Your work is always stunning.
I'm so happy you're now designing stamps, too. The Practicing Creativity stamps are always the ones that tempt me the most to break my can't-buy-any-more-craft-supplies-until-my-husband-graduates commitment. By the time I'm able to unleash the buying beast I'll have lots of great options to choose from.
Congrats on all your papercrafting success! You deserve it!
i think you can stop practicing--these are darling, karen:) why do i come--its all about your style genius, and the amazing journaling that goes along with that style!
ReplyDeleteYAY! Now I "get" the bald dragonfly bit! Well happy blogoversary Karen, I hope there will be many more reasons to celebrate your marvelous blog.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that I love the new blog look too. Very graphic and eye-pleasing.
1. Secretly I come back for the little tidbits and glimpses into your personal life. Is that awful to say? LOL I love reading those few sentances that start your posts.
2. Of course I'm a follower!
Well as a huge fam of orange poppies this card really spoke to me. It said, "Please mail me to Dana because I belong on her Amazing Art wall." Your patrents won't mind, right? *grin*
Happy blogoversary! LOVE this gorgeous card!
ReplyDeleteAnother giveaway, crazy girl?! I'm going to echo what Dana said, I love sneaking little glimpses into what makes you you :), and that's whay I keep coming back. Plus, you completely inspire me with your graphic, CAS, card style, which, by the way, comes through loud and clear in this gorgeous card! I LOVE your layering and the wood grain! Great job with your little flowers, too. I think you can stop practicing, now. You've got it :)! Oh! And I'm, of course, a follower, too!
ReplyDeleteSo that is the story behind the name! Love it! I also love this card! Those flowers are delightful. These kind of cards are what keep me coming back karen! Your work is always inspiring to me!
ReplyDeleteOh what a lovely giveaway Karen! Some of my favourite shops in there too! Congrats on reaching one year! Not sure how long I've been bloggin - off to check! Anyhow as you know I am a follower! And I guess I keep coming back coz I love the clean and simple style, the little whimsical stories. Your posts are short and sweet which I love (unlike mine which are rambling!!). And your cards are just beautiful, often stunning, often 'oh why didn't I think of that!!' Very inpiring Karen! Thanks for sharing a little bit of you with us!
ReplyDeleteYaayyy for your Blogaversary!!! I've thoroughly enjoyed your various posts and creations for the past several months! Your style and sweet "blog personality" is what keeps me coming back to visit! Thanks for sharing your passion with us, Karen! And yes I am indeed already a follower of your fabulous blog! :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogaversary, Karen! I am a follower since I found you when we did Gallery Idol & I keep coming back because of the inspirations! I love your works. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteHi Karen,
ReplyDeleteHappy "Birthday" again! I'm a follower because I kept seeing projects online (Moxie Fab World for example) with your name on them, knew that I loved your work! Love your strong design skills!
I always wondered where your blog got its name! Great little story :) I keep coming back to your blog because you are my blog buddy! You have fun stories, you do amazing work, your style makes me ooh and aah and you're fun to know :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogoversary!!
Lovely card Karen, and congratulations on your anniversary! What I love about your work is your simple, yet creative style. Your work is never boring. I can always tell that you put a piece of "you" into everything you do!
ReplyDeleteis their anniversary 10/20? so is mine but only 9 years.
ReplyDeleteI always TRY to look at this daily cause the cards are ALWAYS so interesting and pretty. Congratulations on 1 year and to many more!!! Gotta love anniversaries!!!!
Happy Anniversary! I admire those who have the patients to create a blog. I love your creations and your clean presentation. If there is a theme in the comments so far that I would agree with wholeheartedly, is that you passions shows through you creations. Thank you for bringing your creations to the blogosphere. :)
ReplyDeleteWOW---this card is absolutely stunning, Karen! I LOVE every single thing about it---especially those flowers you made! GORGEOUS! It's so exciting to learn the meaning behind the name of your blog---cute story! I keep coming back to your blog because you are so incredibly talented and creative! I love your style and your work! You are truly an inspiration to me! On top of that, you are such a sweet person and I'm so glad to have you as a blog friend!!!! Congrats on your 1 year blogiversary!!! And cheers to many more!!!!
ReplyDeleteOooh...another giveaway! How exciting! I love the style of your cards, and it's always exciting when I see in my google reader that you have a new post. I also like your photographs! I sometimes have a hard time taking pics of my projects.
ReplyDeleteHOOOORAY!! Happy anniversary!! I love visiting your blog--so much talent shared daily! LOVE IT!! I follow and RSS feed:) THANKS for sharing all your beautiful creations (which by the way--I love love love that card-those pearls in the center of your flowers are FAB!). THANKS for the giveaway too:) LOVE IT!
ReplyDeleteBecause you rock girl! And I'm a follower!
ReplyDeletei'm with courtney, it's you that draws me back...your stories, your art, your awesomeness ;) and of course i'm a follower! been following since the day i found you
ReplyDeleteYou. Your work's color and composition. Your excellence use of supplies. That fact that your designs are often have a charming touch of quirkiness and never look "commercial". Always inspirational. And never dissapointing.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to let you know what keeps me coming back. ;) (skip me for the drawing)
i must sadly admit i'm not a regular reader but i stumbled across this because of the wms blog waltz. love your site. and the stamping companies that you listed here? i'm a big fan - so i must already like your style and tastes :) looking forward to more of your inspirations...
ReplyDeleteOh, I love hearing the story behind blog titles! Thanks for sharing! What keeps me coming back is your endless creativity and new ideas. You always use products in new and inventive ways that I haven't seen anywhere else, and that is a constant source of inspiration. Happy blogoversary to you and "the bald dragonfly"!
ReplyDeleteAhh, I love knowing where you got the name "The Bald Dragonfly"! The card is just delightful - your flowers are very cool - did you singe the ribbons? Wow, I should try that! As for what keeps me coming back - other than your delightful stories and fantastic artwork? Well, I learn something new from you every time! You are such a great designer and I'm usually jaw-droppingly stunned at how easily you make things look absolutely perfect. I keep practicing and imitating . . . and I definitely keep coming back!!!
ReplyDeleteHugs dear friend!
oh those flowers are so, so fun!
ReplyDeleteit's all of your amazing designs that keep me coming back!! and i follow you in my blog reader :) now that school is in full force i don't have much time to keep up with blogs, i'm always a few days behind, but i do read every one of your posts. eventually!
Lovely card Karen!
ReplyDeleteLike everyone else I've always wondered about the bald dragonfly. The card you shared today is one of the reasons I keep coming back! All of your cards are amazing and truly inspiring! Thanks for sharing your fabulous creations and thank you for leaving me some blog love!
It is hard for me to believe you've only been at this for a year. Your style, talent, stories & kindness keep me coming back. I appreciate your attention to detail as well! I'm so happy for your successes over the last year- clearly, your style touches many crafters!!! Congrats to you AND your parents! :D
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful, beautiful card!! Those flowers are amazing and I'm off to check out the tutorial!
ReplyDeleteWhat keeps me coming back? Well, I subscribed to your emails and I feel inspired, I come back and let you know. I also love receiving your comments... Nice little sharing thing we do in blogland!
I'm already a follower! ;)
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary to you and your Parents! Oh, those flowers are oh so lovely and I truly adore every single creation you make and that is only one of the reasons why I come back! I love your stories, your use of crafting supplies and design and there isn't a challenge you are not able to meet! You just full on rock! You make some awesome cards and set the bar high! Happy Anniversary to many more to come!
ReplyDeleteI would just like to say happy blog-iversary! I too enjoy your beautiful creations and the stories that come with them. I would also like to thank you for always commenting on my blog! You are super weet and always have something lovely to say. :) Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteYes, I am a follower on Feedburner...I don´t always comment but I always read the post and admire your work. I love your design sense and the overall look of your pieces. They always look well constructed and thought out and not just "slapped" on there:)
ReplyDeleteYour blog looks clean and does not have me looking all over the place with an over abundance of sidebar
"trash",,,excuse the term,,,I don´t mean that in a bad sense for those who doooo have way tooo much "stuff" on their sidebars but it really detracts from the main point of the blog...THE ARTWORK,,,we come to see your artwork and if my eyes are so FULL of other stuff that is not important it really takes away from the impact of what we all go to blogs for,,,and that is to be inspired and get an eyeful of ART ,,,not sidebar trash:)....and the focus for me at your blog is the art and it is always the focal point due to your design sense....thanks for a fun and great looking blog...I really enjoy your work,,,now if I just would have won Be(e)`s giveaway:)
HAve a great day!!!
Lots of exciting family things for you to celebrate this week, Karen - happy anniversary to your Mum & Dad!
ReplyDeleteAs you know, I absolutely love your original ideas. It's always a joy to follow your blog and see the latest fabulous inventiveness you've come up with - I can honestly say I'm never disappointed!
Happy Bloganiversary.
ReplyDeleteI like your work, I love your stories and I always get some inspiration. Thank you very much for all these.
And thanks for a chance to win such a generous price.
Thanks for sharing this little story about how the 'strange' name for your blog came into existence. In fact, that is one of the reasons I keep coming back - I love your unique blogging style and hearing the stories behind your inspiration. And of course, I continue to admire your amazing card (and layout!) creations. Including this one today...... it literally made me gasp in amazement. All of it, every single bit is perfect.
ReplyDeleteAnd you know I'm a follower :-)
I always wondered what the "bald Dragonfly" referred too! Now I know! And you know what else I know?
ReplyDeleteThat this is one of the most beautiful card I have ever seen ;-)
I am a follower of your blog. I don't always leave a comment, but I follow your blog because I like the simplicity of your cards! I have a hard time doing thing simply! Matter a fact, I am currently taking a class online in CAS!!! FUNNY, I know!!!:) But, to someone who always goes overboard on everything---it's NEEDED!!!! :) Thanks for the opportunity to win some "candy!" :)
ReplyDeleteBecky Green
I love the flowers that you added to todays card, so pretty and warm:-) the demension they add is also wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThe reason I keep visiting your blog is because you create gorgeous cards which are so beautifully designed, clean and classy:-) I love your non fussy look on cards, wish I could do the same, but mine never turns out that well..
I too wondered about the title of your blog...
ReplyDeleteAs for why I keep coming back, uh, do you even have to ask???!!! I love your CAS style. You have the ability to take a single stamp and find multiple ways to use it. Innovative is the word that comes to mind for you. Plus, it doesn't hurt that you come across as super sweet!!!
I just love those flowers you made. gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful sweet card. It's simple why I keep coming back I love your style and your cards are just amazing!!!!I am already a follower!!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogoversary, Karen! It has been such a joy to get to know you through the PCD design team, and of course, your fabulous blog!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your unique cards- you always make things that makes me go "duh, why didn't I think of that."
Yup, definitely a follower. You got some great options for the gift certificate- I'd bought from 3 of the 4. :)
Your mini stories about each card are wonderful to read, but the ONLY reason I read every post and zoom in on every photo is because your cards are unique, inspiring and incredible.
ReplyDeleteThis is a stunning anniversary card and your parents are sure to love it! The woodgrain, the flowers and pearls, plus the cord stitching make it fantastic and perfect.
ReplyDeleteKaren this is a gorgeous card! Happy blogoversary!
ReplyDelete1) I keep coming back because I love your card designs. Your style is so different from mine and I really enjoy seeing your layouts and the creative ways you use your stamps and supplies. My opinion is don't change a think... You have a wonderful blog.
2) I just clicked on the follower button. I swear I was before and I get your feed in my google reader, but it didn't show my picture. Either way, I think I am "official" now.
Quelle carte magnifique ! Quel talent Karen, j'aime toutes vos créations.
ReplyDeleteKaren... this card is gorgeous!! You have a wonderful style that is all you girl!! LOVE IT!! Thanks for the chance to win! :) Awesome giveaway... very sweet! Happy Blogiversary! :)
ReplyDeleteWow! Those flowers are stunning! I want to learn how to make them!
ReplyDeleteYour CAS style and creative genius keeps me coming back to your blog! You're fantastic at thinking outside the box when it comes to how to use a stamp image and I love that! :)
Karen,
ReplyDeleteLovely card! I really love this effect!
I'm new to our blog and am enjoying taking a look. I will definitely sign up to be a follower and look forward to watching for your posts!
DeniseB
This card is so pretty! Happy blogoversary! What a great giveaway.
ReplyDeleteWhat I really love about your blog is you do a lot of handmade embellishments that are so neat and pretty! The only thing I could think of to improve on would be maybe some tutorials? I'd love to learn how you come up with some of these beautiful creations. But I think you're doing an amazing job already!