Karen Titus, Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Stampin’ Up Stylin’ Snowfolk leave Snow Much Fun Behind!

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Karen

Here is the only snowman card I will accept for May:

Yes, the Stylin’ Snowfolk need to go tropical! Isn’t this a fabulous card? It was created by Hawaiian Cindy Baughman. What a flirtly little snow woman that is!

I had to wait until I was certain there was no more snow coming to Minnesota this spring before I could show these snowman cards. I knew they would have no appeal before that time! Now, with Memorial Day weekend upon us, perhaps you can step back and enjoy the thought of creating cards for next year!

As far as snowmen go, I will miss this stamp set Snow Much Fun! I love the unusual color combination for a winter card that Chris Smith used here. The added button made with the Sweet Buttons Embosslits (also retiring) makes a great finishing touch.

Same snowman, different look. There is also a tall, skinny snowman in this set and he is just as adorable. I would use these guys for winter birthdays instead of for Christmas.

Christmas Lodge is another winter stamp that I love – and again, I would use it for birthday or thank you cards for people you visited in winter – instead of Christmas.

Judie Dale created this gorgeous card. Notice how she layered the Silver Glimmer Paper with Whisper White for the lovely sparkly snow look. Wouldn’t you like to spend a weekend at this house?

Same stamp, but a different look by Sandy Carlson. Just stamping the lodge in gray and layering it on embossed Pool Party card stock makes this a simple, but very striking card.

I know it might be too soon to be thinking about snowmen and Christmas cards, especially with the snow we had in Minnesota this April, but you will want to take a look at these retiring stamp sets. In a few months, you will be ready to create with them so plan ahead now!

I hope you are enjoying these daily tours of retiring stamp sets! Be sure to follow me on Facebook too to see more. Please let me know if you have any questions by emailing me. You can shop online here, and with any orders, I send you some fabulous cards!

Technorati Tags: Christmas Lodge, Snow Much Fun, Stylin' Snowfolk

Stampin’ Up French Foliage Farewell with a Day of Gratitude!

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Karen

French Foliage is my favorite retiring stamp set, so enjoy these handmade cards and then continue on to my Day of Gratitude!

Just a touch of lace and you have this simple, but elegant card created by Lisa Wellman.

Randomly stamp the leaves and add some layers and you have this beautiful card.

Kathleen Hopperstad cut out the French Foliage leaves and grouped them on a Woodgrain embossed background.

Helen Osterkamp created this unique effect by sliding the ink pads across glossy card stock.

Aren’t those a wide variety of looks with the French Foliage stamp set?

Another beautiful autumn set is the Day of Gratitude. On this card, the leaves are stamped randomly in three different colors and then one is cut out and popped up.

I love this card by Connie Thompson. The medallion looking stamp in this set creates a great focal point. Notice that she used the Top Note Bigz Die, running the cardstock through twice (the second time at a ninety degree angle) to created the background piece.

This card by Lisa Petricka shows how this stamp set can be used for any occasion and any season!

One of the reasons I love autumn stamp sets, or stamp sets with leaves, is that they are great for masculine cards. Another is that autumn leaves are so full of different colors that they are fun images to work with.

I hope you are enjoying this tour through the 2013 Stampin’ Up! discontinued stamp sets! Remember…..there is only one week left to get them so order them now!

Technorati Tags: Day of Gratitude, French Foliage

Spring in the Wildflower Meadow with Stampin’ Up!

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Karen

Welcome spring with this sneak peek into the Wildflower Meadow stamp set! (By the way, if you have opted into my mailing list on the right, today’s newsletter will contain a fun idea with the coordinating Wildflower Meadow Folder!)

I love clean and simple cards. I find them quick to make and easy to have on hand for giving!

The Wildflower Meadow stamp is a large single stamp which works perfectly for the technique of omitting. You will notice that I colored just part of the stamp to get this look.

Here is another card with the same technique, but using a different flower! On both of these cards, I didn’t even use the entire flower group I was coloring, so just image all the different looks you can create.

This card could have a flower popped up or a butterfly added or ………whatever you can think of!

On both of these cards, I used Sassy Salutations for the words and Primrose Petals and Gumball Green for the colors.

Now, to see a card with the entire stamp…

On this beautiful card by Barb Barth you can see the entire stamp. Notice how she stamped it all in blue and then used the coordinating Wildflower Meadow fold to emboss it.

The “for you” stamp is from A Round Array which coordinates with the 7/8″ Scallop Circle Punch.

Can you see where the above two cards came from?

Watch for the card using only the embossing folder (not the stamp itself) in my newsletter coming out today!

Technorati Tags: Wildflower Meadow

Tuesdays with Tim: Be Careful What You Do…..

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Karen

Be careful what you do, son. Your 15 month old son might be watching.

Our son Josiah, his wife Jamie and our Grandson Hank came to our place the day after Mother’s Day to give Mom/Grandma a gift. It was a beautiful day so we were sitting outside. Our son found some figs in the kitchen, brought them out, bit off the stem, spit it into the long grass next to our house and fed the rest of the fig to Hank. He loved them. They were a big hit.

Every Wednesday we take care of our Grandson Hank. Two days after the fig feast, we found ourselves outside again, and again eating figs. However, this time I had cut them up in the house, thrown the stems away ahead of time, brought them out on a napkin, and started to give them to Hank.

He ate the first one and loved it. The second one he threw in the long grass next to our house. He ate the third one and the 4^th one ended up in the grass. And so on and so forth.

I asked him, “What are you doing? You are wasting perfectly good figs.”

And then I realized that he was imitating what his Dad had done two days earlier. What a smart and observant kid.

I texted our son and told him about what had happened and this is the text I got back: “Oh man, that’s funny. He’s been imitating me a lot. I’d better be careful.”

Technorati Tags: tuesdays with tim, Tuesdays with Tim: Be Careful What You Do.....

Mojo Monday with Apothecary Art

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Karen

Its another Monday so its Mojo Monday time.

This is my card… (I used the Apothecary Art stamp set, the Labels Collection Framelits Dies, and the Soho Subway Designer Series Paper)……..

and this is the card sketch.

I am having so much fun designing with these Mojo Monday Card Sketches. How about joining me?I followed this one pretty closely. The only changes I made were the shape of the main accent (I used the Labels Collection Framelits Dies with the Apothecary Art stamp set) and I put my three little accents (the pearls) directly on the ribbon. If you aren’t sure how I attached that ribbon, watch this video to see this cool ribbon technique:

How do you make cards usually? Do you

1. copy a card you have seen

2. use a sketch or a real card and make your own changes

3. or design from scratch?

Just leave your answer here and thanks!

Technorati Tags: Apothecary Art

9 Stampin’ Up! Cards Using Elements of Style!

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Karen

Another favorite retiring stamp set of mine is Elements of Style! Check out these nine fabulous ideas for using it……and check out a tenth one here on my facebook page.

This elegant card by Holly Kangas uses light gray for the bouquet to make a soft background for the black embossed hummingbird.

On this gorgeous card, Carol Nordquist first stamped and colored the bouquet and then layered vellum card stock over to soften the look. The hummingbird was embossed and cut out.

I would use this card by Terri Mongeon as a wedding card. its just stunning embossed in black on Very Vanilla and embellished with some ribbon, brads, and an embossing folder background.

Now, for an entirely different look, we have this card by Cheryl Burnside. She used the spotlight technique to highlight just a small part of the bouquet. That was the only part she colored in.

The antique brad and the pleated ribbon complete the look.

I love this elegant card and, again, I think “wedding” when I look at it. Its very dramatic in black and white with a touch of green.

I know many people love birds, and some them love hummingbirds in particular. Maybe that is you! This is a perfect stamp set for them!

On this card, Pat Militello highlighted the bird by stamping it in red, cutting it out, and popping it up on an accent piece of Very Vanilla. Very classy!

Can you see why I love this Elements of Style stamp set so much? Be sure to click here to see another one of my favorites!

Here is another black and white card made by Ruth Bingle. She put very vellum over the entire front of the card and only the greeting is on the top of that.

This card gives a totally different presentation with using the bouquet stamp as a background. It is stamped twice and colored in and the butterflies are added.

This picture doesn’t do this card justice, but Terri Brennan stamped the bouquet on glossy card stock and then colored with Stampin’ Write markers. It creates a very vibrant look.

The count down continues. There is only a week left to order these discontinued items so be sure to get them now!

I hope this has gotten your creativity flowing! Remember to check out my Facebook Page today to see another wonderful sample!

Technorati Tags: elements of style

Stampin’ Up Bordering on Romance with Artistic Etchings!

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Karen

Bordering on Romance has been a popular stamp set for many reasons. Here are a few of them:

If you like to color, you will love this stamp set. Isn’t this a dramatic look with the black and pink?

I like the vintage and romantic look of this card by Helen Osterkamp. The blossoms are stamped in a light pattern of designer series paper, cut out, and popped up.

Notice the different ways embossing folders are used with this set. This card uses the Adorning Accents Folder.

This stunning card by Melanie Baker uses both the Tasteful Trim and the Designer Frames Folders with the Bordering on Romance stamp set.

All of the vintage looking extras like pearls and antique brads and satin ribbons add to the romantic look!

This lovely card by Betty Peterson uses another of the card edges in the Adorning Accents Folders.

And speaking of romance, what says it better than a stamp set about Paris?

The Eiffel Tower and “Amore” from the Artistic Etchings stamp set says it all!

This black and red and white card has a modern look to it.

Artistic Etchings is great for the collage look too. I love how the images are stamped on lined paper. The beautiful background is made with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder and sponging.

For anyone who has traveled to Paris or who plans to in the future, this would make a great set to accent those scrapbook pages.

and for the last card, we have a totally different look. Here, a couple of the images are stamped in a pattern on Whisper White card stock and then run through the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder. I received this card in a swap and, in looking at it again now, I realize I have never tried this idea. Its on my list now.

By the way, the “thanks” stamp is from the Perfect Punches stamp set, another retiring stamp set. It is a set of four words, each of which coordinates with a different Stampin’ Up! punch.

I love this set! I find you can never have too many word choices and these punched out greetings are so fun and easy to work with. I use the “happy birthday” from this set often!

Now, we have covered Romance and a trip to Paris! Tomorrow will be another journey on our card tour, so stay tuned. Let me know if you have any questions and if you are enjoying this as much as I am enjoying sharing these ideas with you!

Technorati Tags: Artistic Etchings, bordering on romance

Sneak Peek: SU Mosaic Punch Creates a Clever Flower!

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Karen

New Designer Series Paper, a new stamp set, and a new punch!

Using this card template for inspiration……

this is the card I created!

This is the first time I have participated in the Mojo Monday challenge.

The Sneak Peek products I used on this card:

Gingham Garden Designer Series Paper, #129310, $10.95
Strawberry Slush Cardstock, #131295, $6.95
Mosaic Punch, #131267, $15.95
Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape, #129314, $4.95
Very Vintage Buttons, #129327, $5.95
Banner Greetings (hostess set), #129714, $8

Just yesterday I opened my box of Sneak Peek products from Stampin’ Up! It felt like Christmas! Can you relate to that feeling when you get your order from Stampin’ Up!?

One of the many advantages to being a SU! demonstrator is that we get to order these products early! You can get them starting May 31 so start your wish list now!

I love the new Mosaic Punch. It has a coordinating stamp set and Designer Series Paper too, but on this card I used just the punch along with the Gingham Garden Designer Series Paper to make a flower. Those punches are so versatile!

Would you like to get these products before May 31? Check out the starter kit! Just email me at karen@karentitus.com or call me at 612-929-1277! Let’s talk!

Technorati Tags: banner greeting, mosaic punch

Tuesdays with Tim: Maybe I Should Scrapbook

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Karen

Karen says I’ve got too many boxes around, that I need to go through them and throw a bunch of stuff away…

But guess what? I’m very attached to everything I have. Its stuff that defined my teen years, my old girlfriends, get well cards, awards, certificates, more letters from old girlfriends…..

I’m afraid if I get rid of some of this stuff, a part of my life will disappear.

My collection includes pictures of Karen when we were dating. You know I can’t get rid of those.

I’ve got slides and super 8 movies from the army, pictures of our children the age that our grandsons are at now.

Where do you start?

For me, I’ll just find a new place to put them and maybe someday Karen will be glad that I kept all of these souvenirs.

(note added by Karen: does he really think I will ever want all those letters from his old girlfriends?????)

Technorati Tags: tuesdays with tim, Tuesdays with Tim: Maybe I Should Scrapbook

Stampin’ Up! Baby Cards and for Mothers-to-be!

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Karen

With Mothers Day this weekend, today we will celebrate those mothers-to-be with this fun card, and below that, a card for baby!

Oh, Baby!

When someone tells you the good news, how about sending them a card like this? It fun to give and to receive cards when you aren’t expecting them, and usually people wait for the baby showers and then give baby cards! Be different!

I love this single stamp Oh, Baby!

And for a baby girl, isn’t this a darling card? Do you recognize the little dress? Its the vest from the Owl Builder Punch . The tiny punched out heart is from the same punch.

I love using the Stampin’ Up! punches for punch art like this!

The ruffle on the dress and around the circle is from the Pop-Up Posies Designer Kit. With that kit, you get nine paper tags and lots and lots of flowers. I had plenty of those left over and was looking for some fun new ways to use them other than as flowers.

This video will show how its made.

Have you sent your Mothers Day cards? In addition to sending to your mothers, if you are lucky enough to have them, think of someone in your life who has done some “mothering” for you and surprise them with a card of appreciation!

Technorati Tags: baby cards, owl builder punch

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