With an "i" For Paper!

Store Closing

2024-04-22T08:08:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone,

The graphic above says everything. It was my pleasure to be one of the design team members since 2009. It’s the end of an era for me!

Be sure to visit the DRS Designs store to grab your favorite stamps at a discount before they’re gone.

Happy Stamping!

Karin

Happy Anniversary

2024-04-02T02:00:00.003-04:00

Hi Everyone,

My best friend has her 30th anniversary coming up this month, and since I've been making a card for many of those years, I think I've used most of my anniversary themed stamps for them already. I was trying to think outside the box when I came across some Valentine stamps that I still had out on my stamping table. How messy am I, it's April!?! Yikes. Anyway, I thought if I used spring colors with these stamps that I would normally use pink or red for, they could make a cute anniversary card.

Here are the stamps I used:

Tiny Happy Anniversary

Silhouette Love Heart

Flower Hearts

Happy Spring!
Karin

Mom

2024-03-26T02:00:00.001-04:00

Hi Everyone,

Now that I'm done with my Easter cardmaking, I thought I would move on to the next holiday for giving cards, Mother's Day!

To celebrate mom, I used the Flower Scroll stamp that was still on my stamping table from a previous card to create a pattern on my card base.

The panel was created using both the Splatter Background, and the Easy Dot Background stamps, and I added a punched flower border to match the daisy theme. A ribbon was added before attaching it to the base.

One Medium Daisy Bloom was colored and die cut and the other was fussy cut and attached, and some glitter glue was added to the flower centers for some shine.

Finally, I stamped and punched out the Happy Mother's Day using a scallop punch to once again match up with the flower theme.

Hope your day is filled with sunshine and flowers!
Karin

Happy Waves

2024-03-19T02:00:00.002-04:00

Hi Everyone,

I made another card using the fun new Happiness Comes in Waves Greeting, and the whole concept is making me wish I was at the ocean.

I began by making an underwater scene using some fish stamps and a die. I colored it up using markers and some chalk shading. I attached it to a background made using the Sand, Snow, Water Lines stamp and wrapped it in some netting.

Links to stamps:

School of Fish

3 In 1 Ocean

I'm hosting Easter for a group for the first time since, what I call, the "Before Times" and I needed some invites. Hence the simple design since I was making multiples. Just a bunny die and some great sentiments were all I needed. Only 5 more to go!

Here are the stamps I used for both:

Flower Scroll

Some Bunny Loves You Greeting

Happy Easter Everybunny Greeting

Happy Spring!

Karin

Happy Easter

2024-03-12T02:00:00.001-04:00

Hi Everyone,

Easter is just a little more than a couple weeks away, and I needed to hop to it when it came to working on some cards.

This was going to be a square card, but it seemed to need something else, so I ended up attaching it to a base with a punched border and some spring like polka dot ribbon.

I masked off a corner of my image panel and stamped the background in multiple green in using the Easy Grass Background stamp. After stamping, coloring and fussy cutting the Big Bunny Face, I cut a slit in the grass and inserted him, leaving only his ears peeking out.

All that was left to do was added the Happy Easter Everybunny into the blank spot.

Happy Easter all you stamping bunnies!

Karin

Wee Bit Irish

2024-03-05T02:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everyone,

Inspired by Nancy's whimsical card last week, I decided the Wee Bit Irish Greeting would fit a fun card in that theme.

I began by stamping Michelle Monkey a few times in random spots on the card, leaving room to place my sentiment. I colored them up, stamped in some tiny shamrocks using the Small Shamrock Group, and added a few hats that I fussy cut from the Top Hat St. Patrick's Day Greeting stamp.

All that was left for me to do, was add the greeting and adhere the panels to a green card base!

Happy early St. Patrick's Day!
Karin

Spring

2024-02-27T02:00:00.008-05:00

Hi Everyone,

I have spring on my mind! It's no wonder since we've had more rain than snow and a few days of temperatures in the 50's where I live!

While this card doesn't have the colors of spring, it does have Pussy Willows which sure are a harbinger of that time of year. I added some strips of glitter and the sentiment, Special Place In My Heart.

I also made a card celebrating St. Patrick's Day for a special someone, using some stamps that I normally reserve for Valentine's Day.

The background was made using the Small Shamrock Group in two different green inks. I stamped the Silhouette Love Heart eight times, four in the shape of a shamrock, and four more times which I fussy cut and attached just along the folded center. I drew a stem and added an enamel dot to the center.

I used the Lucky in Love greeting for my sentiment, adding some more enamel dots for embellishment. And I can't leave out the polka dot ribbon and embossed orange strip!

Thanks for the visit today!

Karin

St. Paddy's

2024-02-20T02:00:00.005-05:00

Hi Everyone,

I've moved on to the popular March holiday St. Patrick's Day with my card share today.

I used the new Nip of Irish Cheer Greeting as the focal point and attached it to an embossed background and some patterned paper made using green and orange ink, along with the following stamps:

Silhouette Clover

Small Shamrock Group

For embellishments, I stamped and fussy cut a clover and some cheer, which I colored green to match the holiday! Those stamps can be found below:

Four Leaf Clover

Beer Mug

Thanks for visiting the blog today!
Karin

Howdy Valentine

2024-02-13T02:00:00.003-05:00

Hi Everyone,

I made this valentine with my sweet 9-month-old great nephew in mind, because I'm in the baby-sitting rotation now that my niece has gone back to work. I imagine he'll look like this cute fellow in a short couple of years. Until then he's an adorable, chubby little cherub that refuses to nap unless I hold him the whole time. While I'm enjoying the baby snuggles, my arm is usually asleep when he wakes up ;-)

Anyway, I colored up the cute Saddle Up Cowboy and made some valentine themed patterned paper, using the Silhouette Love Heart and Small Silhouette Heart stamps.

I attached those elements to an embossed heart background and added the Howdy Valentine sentiment, embellishing it with a fussy cut cowboy hat, from the 4 in 1 Cowboy Gear.

Here's hoping you're ready to celebrate tomorrow!

Karin

Love and Blessings

2024-02-06T02:00:00.015-05:00

Hi Everyone,

Have you finished making your Valentine's Day cards? If not, here's a bit of hearts and flowers inspiration for you today!

I paired up the Flower Hearts (SUCH a C-U-T-E stamp!) with the sweet new Love and Blessings Valentine's Day Greeting. The image was stamped, colored and die cut, with a bit of glitter glue added to the hearts. It is a valentine after all :)

I made the background using the Candy Heart Background along with and embossed background of the same type, covering up the seam with some gems. (Boy do I have a lot of them in my stash!)

For more Valentine stamps, be sure to pop on over to the DRS Designs store!

Have a happy day,

Karin

Waves of Happiness

2024-01-30T02:00:00.002-05:00

Hi Everyone,

Being that it's the heart of winter and I haven't seen the sun for days, I decided to cheer myself up by making a couple of beach themed cards.

I'm using the new Happiness Comes in Waves Greeting for both cards, along with the 4 in 1 Seashells stamp. I began by tearing some blue and white paper, layering them to resemble waves, dry embossing the top layer with a wave folder. I created the sand portion by stamping the card using the Splatter Background stamp, adding the fussy cut shells for embellishment.

This traditional beach scene was made by inking up a baby wipe and swiping it across the die cut panel. When I was satisfied, I stamped the palm tree, birds and boat to complete it. I simply added some dimensional tape and adhered the image and sentiment to some seashell stamped paper I made. I don't think you can see it in my photo, but I added a bit of glittery flock to the sand for some extra texture.

Here are the links to the stamps used on this card:

Palm Tree

Happiness Comes in Waves Greeting

4 in 1 Seashells

4 in 1 Sky

4 in 1 Ocean

Thank you so much for visiting today!

Karin

You Have a Special Place

2024-01-23T02:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everyone,

DRS Designs has released the Special Place in My Heart Greeting for this Valentine's Day, and I decided to let this sweet sentiment shine on my card today. I simply embossed the background and added some punched heart embellishments along with a matching ribbon, and called it done.

This was going to be a happy new year card, but my sister-in-law has a January birthday, so I thought this would be fitting with a happy birthday stamped inside. It's pretty self-explanatory, the only thing you can't see from the photo is the heat embossing I did on each stamped piece.

Here are the stamps I used:

Interlocking Snow Background

Best Year Cheers Greeting

Simple Pine Trees

Thanks for stopping by and happy stamping!

Karin

January Cards

2024-01-16T02:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everyone,

My first card is a copy of last week's card. My brother-in-law has a birthday this month, and he's a huge bird fan. I figured a penguin is a cold weather bird and I'm loving the speech bubbles as of late, so a birthday card was born.

I used the inside of the Birthday Flower Circle for the greeting along with Percy Penguin again, and I hope he likes it even though he's a guy and the card has glitter and gems ;)

Some new stamps have been released at DRS Designs and I couldn't resist pairing up the new Howdy Valentine greeting with the adorable Cowboy Snowman. Valentine's day may be all sunshine and flowers in some places, but in my part of the world it's definitely cold and snowy!

I added some wraphia, simply because it seemed rustic, and added some heart embellishments to keep with the valentine theme.

Thanks for stopping by the blog!
Karin

Warms my Heart

2024-01-09T02:00:00.003-05:00

Hi Everyone,

I have a card to share with you that could be used for Christmas, New Years, or as a valentine. How's that for versatile?

I stamped, colored and fussy cut Percy Penguin, adding a punched heart to his belly in anticipation of using the Warms My Heart Greeting, and stamping the sentiment separately let me use two die cuts for it. I added a large die cut snowflake to balance out the little scene.

Here is a close up of the snow mound I placed Percy on. It was simply hand cut with some glitter added for snow.

I have to say that I've been using these speech bubbles a lot ever since I got them out. You'll probably see them again next week, so be prepared...lol!

Thanks for stopping by!
Karin

Thank you

2024-01-02T02:00:00.002-05:00

Hi Everyone,

I'm still working on my holiday thank you notes, and since the Blizzard of Thank s Greeting was still on my worktable from this card, I used it for this one as well.

I used the Interlocking Snow Background stamp on my blue base and stamped, colored and fussy cut Stretch the Round Button Snowman

Instead of just a using a regular die to cut the sentiment, I chose a speech bubble for my snowman image because it seemed to make the card a bit more fun. A few random snowflakes were added to play off the word blizzard, and then I called it done.

Hope your new year is off to a great start!

Karin

Winter

2023-12-26T02:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everyone,

Today's super simple card is for when you're flat out of time and need to make something quick. Which is me. All the time during the holidays!

I stamped some of the Simple Pine Trees for the background and added a couple of die cut deer. I made the new Hello Winter Greeting into a banner and attached it to the top, along with a few tiny snowflakes.

I told you it was simple.

I hope you got everything on your stamping wish list for the holidays! If not, just buy it yourself right here!

Thanks for visiting,

Karin

Snowflakes

2023-12-19T02:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everyone,

Here are my super quick projects that I've made this month. I'm always running late or whipping something up last minute, so these are both crazy simple.

I needed a thank you card for my cousin who invited us over for dinner, and the Blizzard of Thanks is my go-to stamp this time of year. I paired that up with the Snow Background, and added a punched snowflake and rounded corners and was able to write something personal inside in about 20 minutes...I think that included addressing the envelope too :)

My friend's son was performing in his 8th grade band concert, so I need a bag to hold his congratulatory gift card and sweets. Now that my husband works from home and doesn't have to take a sack lunch, I have a bunch of brown bags in my pantry. I used the same Snow Background stamp along with the Small Happy Holidays Greeting to transform the brown bag into something a bit more festive and I hope not too girly. (Sorry for the ragged ribbon edges...I told you I was in a hurry!)

The countdown to the big day is definitely here and I'm feeling the squeeze...I hope you holiday prep is going smoothly!

Thanks for stopping by!
Karin

Beautiful Season

2023-12-12T02:00:00.004-05:00

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to make another card using the new Berries & Bow Christmas Decoration stamp, so I decided to match it up with the Beauty of the Season Christmas Greeting. I measured out my card and chose to use these oval die cuts, however I thought I would have to cancel my idea due to getting a smudge on my berries image. I simply ended up coloring and fussy cutting the berries and was able to proceed.

An easy to mail flat card, I simply added an embossed snowflake background and a strip of printed ribbon.

Hope you are able to enjoy the beauty of the season!
Karin

An easy to mail flat card, I simply added an embossed snowflake background and a strip of printed ribbon.

Hope you are able to enjoy the beauty of the season!
Karin

Happy Holidays

2023-12-05T02:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everyone,

I've used the new Leaping Reindeer stamp on my card share for today. It's such a lovely image that evokes the traditional feelings of the Santa/Rudolph story of Christmas for me. Of course, it just occurred to me now that I should have given him a red nose! See? Now I have an idea for the next card!

I ended up getting a smudge on my paper when coloring my deer, so I simply fussy cut him and attached him to a die cut and embossed square. I also embossed the background with snowflakes and added a die cut tree, embellishing it with some gems. Woo-boy do I have a lot of gems in my stash. I must have shopped a massive sale at some point in my life...lol.

After attaching the image panel, I added the Small Happy Holidays Greeting using my punches, along with a punched snowflake to finish it off.

Thanks for visiting today!

Karin

Hello Winter

2023-11-28T02:00:00.008-05:00

Hi Everyone,

With all preparation for Thanksgiving, starting to decorate for Christmas, trying to snag a few deals by shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, today's card share had to be clean and simple. Lucky for me, DRS Designs had the perfect new stamps to make that happen!

I used both the new Hello Winter Greeting (283E) and the Simple Pine Trees (285E), which I heat embossed with some glittery powder to give the simple black and white a little oomph.

I dry embossed only a portion of the card layer to leave room to stamp those trees and I attached the pennants to the greeting before attaching it to the card with some dimensional foam tape.

I don't think I've ever made a card that marks the arrival of the winter solstice, but I loved using these stamps!

Have you started on your holiday cards yet?

Happy Stamping!

Karin

Berries

2023-11-21T02:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everyone,

While I know Thanksgiving is this week, I couldn't resist showing off a couple of the new stamps soon to be released here at DRS Designs.

I stamped and colored up the new Berries and Bow Christmas Decoration (9275F), die cutting it and turning it into a tag by punching a hole in the top and adding a ribbon. I then layered it onto an embossed holly background and added the new Small Script Merry Christmas (272E) Greeting.

To finish it off, I added some punched holly leaves and red gems as berries, and also added some glitter glue to the image berries as well. It's the holidays, there is no such thing as too much glitter this time of year!

Be sure to stop back and see all of the new holiday and winter stamps!

Happy Holidays!

Karin

Happy Fall

2023-11-14T02:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Everyone,

With Thanksgiving coming up on us next week, I thought I would sneak in one more fall themed card.

I began by stamping the Silhouette Branch in multiple fall colors. I stamped, colored and fussy cut the Pumpkin Pile fully intending to layer it on top of the stamped leaves, but the colors were too similar, and the image got lost. So, I flipped the card stock upside down and placed the pumpkins in the blank space, which left room for the Large Happy Fall Y'all greeting.

I added a strip of orange and some green ribbon before attaching it to the gold card base.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Fall!
Karin

Woven Plaid

2023-11-07T02:00:00.002-05:00

Hi Everyone,

It's that time of year when I pull out the Woven Plaid background stamp, because it makes the best, fall and winter backgrounds.

I colored and fussy cut my Give Thanks Pumpkin Stack and layered them onto a die cut rectangle. I took inspiration from it when it came to choosing the colors for the plaid background.

I also looked to my image for embellishment inspiration and added a ribbon, sunflower and matching fall leaves.

I'm getting excited for Thanksgiving. Not so much the cooking part, but the eating part for sure!

Have a great day!
Karin

Happy Halloween

2023-10-31T02:00:00.002-04:00

Hi Everyone,

I have one last Halloween card to share with you since today is the big day! I can't wait to see what the neighborhood kids come dressed up as!

I stamped and colored up the Spooky Jack Halloween greeting, adding some sponging after I die cut it out. I then stamped and fussy cut the Fancy Pumpkin, adding some glitter to his hat. I wrapped the greeting in a die cut vine and layered it onto a background that was stamped using the Starry Background.

Usually I add some gems as embellishment to finish off a card. Today I had to add them to cover up a boo boo I made at the very end of the cardmaking process. Sigh. I may go back and see if I can add some more vines in that spot instead.

Happy Halloween!
Karin

Friendsgiving

2023-10-24T02:00:00.002-04:00

Hi Everyone,

This is a super-fast to make and easy to mail card for the Thanksgiving holiday.

I dry embossed my die cut background panel with some fall leaves and added a pumpkin pie that I made using my punches. I simply cut out a wedge to make it look like a pie slice.

I stamped and die cut the You Make Friendsgiving Special and layered that on to a strip that matched the card base.

Like I said, easy as pie!

Have a great day!
Karin