Wednesday, January 12, 2011

The Collection


Just a few clean and simple baby thank you cards I've made for the upcoming arrival of Baby Dot (no, he's not mine, but my sister's!). I gained inspiration for the layouts based on Tiff's Sketch here (instead of the three dots, I used made the whole background polka dots), and used all sorts of twine from different manufacturers for added interest, and because the Wee Memories Challenge reminded me to pull some out of my stash and actually use some!

The left side is the bright palette (brighter paper and brighter twine), the right side a bit more subdued.

I've also the pleasure of being honored with the Stylish Blogger Reward by both Julie E. (she's a sweetie and does the upmost fantastic things with handmade presentation items) and Lynnette (who makes fantastic cards and is an overall good cookie). Thank you ladies! I'm a rule breaker so I'm not going to follow all the rules but I think it is fun when I learn more about fellow bloggers, so here is a list of eight things you might not know about me...

1. I read most magazines from the last page to the first. Except for Papercrafts-then I page through first to see how many names I recognize. 
2. "The boys" made me a pink spinner bait last night to go along with my birthday present of a pink fishing rod and reel last October. I'm really, seriously forward to packing a lunch for the four of us and catching some fish-that is, when the ice on the lakes melt. I don't do ice fishing.
3. I live in a house with one bathroom and no dishwasher or basement, but it is HOME and I'm so very grateful to have a roof over my head and two little and one big boy to share it with.
4. A few days back I read an article that babies born this year will not know what landline phones, DVDs, newspapers or printed maps really are. These children will miss out on some fun stuff, and, it makes me feel old.
5. I recently discovered delectable tastes of pomegranate and clementines...and saddened to discover that they are only available in Central Wisconsin (at a price I can afford) during the Christmas season.
6. Young Riders (the 1980's cowboy show featuring The Pony Express) is my new favorite TV show. It is not only a classic, but a great excuse to have a "Date Night" frequently and in our own home. Thank you Netflix
7. Looking forward to seeing my son wrestle this weekend, hoping to see the joy on his face when they hand him a medal, and praying that he is strong enough to realize that winning isn't everything should he not receive one.
8. And lastly, been feeling in a crafty rut these past few days. I. need. to. escape. this. rut. I am also trying to expand my crafty ways, but keep coming back to clean and simple. Hope you don't get bored.

39 comments:

  1. irst, thanks for playing along - I am just like you with #1, I am always excited to see the names now :>) And #8, how could we ever grow bored with you?!!! CAS is soooo good and you are sooooo creative!
    Now on to the cards...I like the CAS thank yous! My co-worker announced yesterday that she is expecting a boy and I was thinking of making cards for her too. I have this set, and swiss dots of course, so I am ready to go!!! The twine dresses is up (that I do need to buy) and it's easy to mail. BTW, I used this set to make valentines last year...http://lastminutecrafter.blogspot.com/2010/01/valentines.html.

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  2. Congrats on your award! It is well deserved! My fave factoid about you: 3. I live in a house with one bathroom and no dishwasher or basement, but it is HOME and I'm so very grateful to have a roof over my head and two little and one big boy to share it with.

    AMen to that sister! I live in Army housing, which is modest to say the least!

    Also, thank you for playing along with my informal sketch challenge! Your cards are DARLING and that twine is one of my fave embellies out there at the moment! Those animal stamps are soooo freaking cute! So perfectly sweet :)

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  3. Cute, cute, cute! I love these, Karen!

    Thanks so much for playing at Wee Memories this week!

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  4. Very cute baby cards!
    I never read magazines from front to back I always page through them so I don't think its strange to read them from back to front.
    Ohhh... and number 9 is right up my alley, I'm always trying to expand my creativity but I always go back to clean and simple. I have just decided to adopted the clean and simple look as my style.If that makes any sense.
    xxx Amber

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  5. How fun to read more about you. If you're in a rut it doesn't show!

    Upon reading that you don't have a dishwasher I thought, "We'd be stuck using paper plates if that were the case in our house," but really I wash them all before the dishwasher washes them so what's the difference?

    'Course I love the cards!

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  6. Oh don't you worry....we won't get tired of your style! ThAnks for the fun tidbits too....I do the same thing with my PaperCrafts mag....saw you in my last issue :)

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  7. How can you NOT have a basement?? I mean it's in Wisconsin! I thought ALL houses in cold parts must have basement, for some reason I can't remember... I now have to go inquire :) or is it because of tornados here? I can't remember...

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  8. these are super sweet- and always love learning more about you... :)
    good luck to your son with wrestling & to you, since I know it can be tough for a momma to watch.

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  9. these baby thank you cards are so cute! really enjoyed reading a little more about you, too! hope a good family fishing day comes soon! =)

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  10. Awww...how cute are these!

    Loved getting to know you a little better! I love your CAS style! You do it brilliantly. I look out for names of people I know in Papercrafts magazine too...;)

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  11. Adorable set, Karen! Love knowing more about you! I am liking the clean and simple style more these days, too! I'll be BACK :)

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  12. These are so darling! Love the monochrome approach here Karen!
    Thank you ~

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  13. What great fun cards Karen, they are so cheerful. I love your CAS style. One bathroom and no dishwasher here either. (not many houses in the UK have basements)

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  14. These are so sweet - perfect baby thank you cards and I love the bright colours. :)

    I definitely want to see a picture of you when you finally break out the pink fishing gear!

    I thought you'd been quiet for a couple of days. Crafting ruts suck but it looks like you're bounding out of it now and I'm sure your crafty flow will be back up to full speed in no time!

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  15. These cards are sweet Karen. We definitely don't get bored with seeing your cards but sometimes it is nice to do something a little different - keeps things interesting for you creatively. Great to learn some more about you :)

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  16. just love your adorable critter series here!! oooo and the twine....i am still hoarding mine:)
    i need to admire it a few more weeks then i will start adorning my cards with it. The Twinery´s colors look vibrant. and you,,,hope we don´t get bored....you have such a style...how could we ever tire of it:)

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  17. I can't believe that you are in a crafty rut...it sure doesn't look like it...LOVE this sweet card set!

    Okay, I do have a dishwasher BUT I practically have to wash them before putting them in there because it is such a horrid one...

    loved reading aboutcha:)

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  18. How can we get bored of your CAS style? Love the baby cards, so sweet. Fun 8 tid bits. I'm not sure how you live without a dishwasher.

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  19. I love these little cards, Karen! My sister had her baby yesterday and I've been thinking about making something similar. I love those facts about you. #4 really shocks me and make me a little sad! Not to worry, we love 'old-fashioned' stuff so our won will know it. He's only two and already loves maps!

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  23. Karen, I too read magazines from back to front with the exception of Paper Crafts. LOL I have a dishwasher and I still have to hand wash often because my dishwasher doesn't work very well. So glad to get to know you a bit and I love your CAS creations!

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  24. What fun cards your sister will love them. I read papercrafts the same way. First time to see who I know and second time to see the actually projects. lol

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  25. These are so fun Karen! They are so sweet and colorful. Love them!

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  26. adorable, karen! love reading your great 8's. congrats on your award!

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  27. Bored at YOUR blog? Never.
    One of only a few that I read every word of each and every post.
    I have and loved that animal stamp set and am now going to pull it out thanks to these adorable cards for Baby Dot. I like both the bright and subdued.
    My kids (should they be born this year!) would totally know what landlines and paper maps were because we don't have personal cell phones, and I am slightly obsessed with maps and cartography in general! Strange how we measure progress as a nation, no? *smile*

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  28. Loved reading your facts Karen - and you could NEVER bore us!! Keep on doing what you are doing Karen because it is uniquely you. Love your work!! (This card set is adorable, btw :)

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  29. Love that sweet little set of cards! Those little critters are adorable and I love the twine!!
    Wishing your son luck at his wrestling match!

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  30. I love your ADORABLE card set, Karen! So super cute! And I loved reading your fun facts about yourself.
    I've been SO busy lately and haven't been feeling well. So I've haven't been able to visit my favorite blogs as much lately, including yours. :( But I am trying to catch up now, and like always, you have been making such fabulous creations. I always find such great inspiration from your work! Congrats on your award. It is well deserved! Hope you have an awesome weekend!

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  31. Karen, this set is absolutely adorable. Love the cheerful colors. Thank you for joining us at Wee Memories twine challenge!

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  32. Super, cute cards, Karen! You're making me want to whip that set out again! It's, definitely, a keeper in my craft space! Thanks so much for playing along in Wee Memories Scrappy Saturday Challenge, and no, we're, absolutely, not getting bored!

    I, too, don't have a dishwasher... unless you count my hubby ;). Only one real bathroom (My son's is just a half bath and if you can believe it, it's even smaller than our full bath, which won't even hold four people, comfortably, standing.); and our basement is, well, to put it nicely, SCARY!! Obviously, unfinished... and dark and damp and it has spiders and... well, you get the picture. Thanks for sharing, Karen! You're not alone ;)!

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  33. What a fabulous group of baby cards. I love them. The images, the embossed dots, love it all. Also enjoyed getting to know you better! And I love clean and simple. That is just my style!!! I could never get bored.

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  34. Such pretty cards Karen, love them!!! sorry your in a rut, hope you come out shinning soon :) :) :) have a great weekend!!

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  35. Congrats on your Honourable Mention, Karen! :)

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  36. Super cute notecards, Karen!! Love the bright colors and adorable images! Congrats on your blog award! I always enjoy reading those little tidbits about you!! My nephews are also into wrestling and really enjoy it! And we're all about the Netflix too---so convenient and so much fun curling up on chilly evenings to watch a movie at home!

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  37. Love these! They are adorable.
    Loved reading about you too. I start a magazine from the back too, and I search for familliar names in PC too!

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