Thursday, March 26, 2015

Welcome Folk and Fiskafriend Blog Hoppers

The Power of Community Blog Hop

Sorry for the repost. Blogger did not let me edit the prior post, so I deleted and have re-posted.
Hi, everyone! I love my first on-line community of friends and wanted to participate in the Fiskafriends Blog Hop to celebrate our friendship. Although the initial community has ended, a new Facebook community has started "Fiskafriends". This is a private group open to any numbered Fiskateer.
As for my personal story, you may already know that I am one of the hosts of The Digiscrap Geek podcast. Listen here at iTunes.
Some of you also know I'm a disabled retired physician, an avid photographer and scrapbooker and an artist.
I am happy to have you visit me today.
One person who comments on my blog (and leaves an e-mail address or Facebook link or twitter link, so I am able to easily contact you) will be entered in a prize for a 3 month subscription to Get It Scrapped. This prize is separate from the equally fantastic blog hop grand prizes. Get It Scrapped is an on-line community with terrific classes in page design. Paper, hybrid and digi scrappers are all welcome at the GIS site. I'm privileged to be on the creative team there.
I hope you'll take some time to review my blog posts at Karen's Corner of the Web. I have some of my photography, art and scrapbook pages featured here.
I designed two cards for you today. Now, I do not do a lot of cards. Cards have small real estatwhich constrains my love of lots of patterned paper and layered embellishments. Still, I do some and I try to follow Lisa Dickinson's adage for color, pattern, texture, shine, even in a small space. That's one of the many treasures of design information you'll find at Get It Scrapped.
Cards are the perfect way to use little pieces that may have been sitting in your stash forever. Standard letter size cardstock 8.5 in x 11 is easily divided in half to 4.25 x 11 and folded makes a nice A2 standard size card. Envelopes are easy to find. Odd sizes are fun, too. Lots of companies make good boards or templates for designing custom envelopes for your cards.
My pink Easter card is A2 and my turquoise card is 5 x 7 inches.
A white piece of cardstock is very useful when using material that is colorful and hard to stamp. Stamp your sentiment message on the white cardstock and fasten it in the card. It helps if you are prone to making mistakes with your stamping, as I often do. It also helps to use a stamp that is intentionally messy as this alpha stamp from Ki.
Some tips I have include using foam dimensional adhesive when attaching die cuts or chipboard pieces to your card for a little more textural interest. Don't be afraid to mix different lines of materials, just look for similar colors. Lace and ribbon are simple ways to add soft texture to your piece. I like stitching with thread, when I have the time. Don't forget to look at ways that items can be modified. My Easter eggs were actually a balloon dimensional sticker that I cut up.
Do share your card designs if you'd like with a link in the comments.






Don't forget to join the Fiskafriends Blog Hop at http://fiskafriends.blogspot.com/. Start there, if you wish to be eligible for the sponsor prizes. You do not have to be a Fiskafriend to visit the blogs and comment on our bloggers' pages. The hop is open to everyone. International visitors are welcome. A variety of projects and blog pages are featured as our First Fiskafriends Anniversary Theme is Anything Goes! The blog hop begins on March 27th at 6PM (PDT) and will end on March 29th at 11:59 PM PDT. The full contest rules and blog hop list will be revealed on the blog on March 27th. 


The Power of Community, Fiskafriends Blog Hop, http://fiskafriends.blogspot.com/
Jean Bullock, #8889,  http://ez3dpopups.blogspot.com
Susan Slomski, #6150,  http://sueinct.blogspot.com 
Cindy deRosier, #4113,  http://www.cindyderosier.com
Tifany DeGough, #5942,  http://inkblotsbytrd.blogspot.com 
Cheryl Waters, #002,  http://blog.artsyfindings.com
Jean Marmo, #7358,  http://pagesintime.blogspot.com/
Teresa Godines #6857  http://purplebunnypapercrafts.blogspot.com/
Michelle O'Driscoll #7586  http://scrapbookingsos.blogspot.ca/
Nancy Carroll  #11488   http://nancecarroll.blogspot.com
Maya Oren-Dahan #351  http://mayadahan.blogspot.com
Amy Martin Jones #8546  http://thetigershaven.blogspot.com/
Karen Poirier-Brode #2858  http://www.karenscorneroftheweb.blogspot.com
Tanya Napier #5407   http://mamabirdy-happinessishomemade.blogspot.com/
Pamela Haskin #8040  http://www.cottagebelow.com
Stasia Sloma #9314 http://www.stampzone.blogspot.com/
Tracy Moloney #6773 http://tracyscraftyadventures.blogspot.com.au/
Kim Chenez #5612 http://scrapbooknstampingfun.blogspot.com/





45 comments:

TracyM #6773 said...

Pretty pair of cards Karen, your lacy butterfly is beautiful!!!
It is lovely how you have included the stamped insert in each one too, a finishing touch that I usually forget to include. 5x7 is a great size, I use it often, along with 6x6 and 6x8 ... maybe I secretly want to do more layouts and this is my creative compromise?
THANK YOU for sharing your creative inspiration and crafty tips :)

Kim said...

I totally agree with Tracy. Pretty cards, and beautiful butterfly. I would have never guessed that the eggs were balloons. What creativity

Unknown said...

Pretty Cards Karen..thanks for sharing :)
(Canada)

RassleBerryRose said...

The butterfly is exquisite! I'm just starting cards, having done scrapbook layouts for so long. Thank you for participating in the blog hop. I post as Rhonda on most of the blogs but some won't give me that option. So here I am as RassleBerryRose.

Tona said...

Love your cards!

Sylvia said...

Fun cards Karen!

Unknown said...

I love your cards and that lacy butterfly! The Get It Scrapped sounds really informative. What a great prize! Thanks for joining in the hop.

sandyh50 said...

Hi Karen! Glad to hear you are still being crafty. Love your cards!

jreyoriginals@gmail.com said...

These are two great cards! I love how you stamp the sentiment separately and then insert into the card. I'm not a perfect stamper either so I do this all the time! :)

jrey8971 @gmail dot com

Vicki in MD said...

very cute cards - thanks for sharing and being a part of the blog hop.

Regena said...

Nice Cards!!

tallulah1 said...

Cute cards, like the stamps used inside as well. I agree small real estate is sometimes very hard to create on. Thanks for sharing!
Janelle R

barbara macaskill said...

What pretty cards! TFS!

JenniferE said...

Beautiful cards! Great colors and stamping. New follower!

Jean Bullock said...

Very pretty cards, Karen. Well done.

Patty Williams said...

Karen - how YOU doin' ???

Nice to see you ! Very cute cards!

patty 2832

Vicky said...

How very springy! Love the fun playful cards. So have missed seeing your projects. Hope all is well. TFS :)

Anonymous said...

What lovely cards! Love the Spring colors! Love them! So glad you shared sweet one!

Unknown said...

Cute cards, I love looking at all the neat projects everyone makes.

Teresa Godines #6857 said...

Blogger can be such a pill every now and then. Glad you found a way to make it work. Your cards are beautiful. I love how you stamped the greeting inside. TFS

BethW said...

Love them both-but that little bunny has stolen my heart. Did you color him like that? Old fashioned word-but what I think of when I see him-he's so sweet and fetching! Good to see your handiwork-I always enjoyed it.

Pamela Haskin said...

Your cards are so cute! I especially like the letter stamps on the inside of your cards.

Unknown said...

Super cute! Love that bunny :)

Karen Poirier-Brode said...

Thanks everyone for the kind comments. The bunny is a very old piece by Anna Griffin The lace butterfly was from an on-line order a while back, not sure where from. I'll try to get back to all of you soon.

Jean said...

Such wonderful cards! I love your details such as stamping the inside!

Anonymous said...

Thanks Karen for sharing such cute cards and fabulous ideas.

Mary McD said...

Karen! One of my first Fiskafriends =] glad to see you're still busy creating.

Amy Martin said...

Beautiful cards Karen. Love the butterfly. I am addicted to them and it is wonderful. Thanks so much for being apart of the hop and inspiring us all. HUGS

UTs Hobby Time said...

Lovely spring card. Very nice creation.

Kelly Sas said...

Happy FiskaFriends Birthday Karen!Beautiful cards. You certainly should make them more often!

Mish086 said...

Wonderful cards...they are great! You did awesome on your "Small Real Estate"...I get that feeling whenever I start a Christmas or Birthday page! Michelle #7586 PS:fellow blogger from Canada! Already following you!

Turtlelady~Sandy said...

Hey Karen!!!! Love you and your site :) HUGS

Turtlelady~Sandy said...

Hey Karen!!!! Love you and your site !!!!!

Cindy deRosier said...

So cute! I love the bunny. :)

Unknown said...

B7n bun is cute.

Lesa said...

So pretty! I love the artistic bunny and I thank you for all the great tips!

LauraB said...

thanks for the springy looking cards. we are still under snow.

Anonymous said...

Pretty cards.
Susan Allen #2072

Betsy Burnett said...

Love how you created the butterfly! Such cute cards!!

Tanya Napier said...

That butterfly is so pretty, as are both cards.
I have heard of Get It Scrapped and seems like a very helpful site! I always need inspiration and new ideas.

Thanks for sharing!

Tanya #5407

Heather said...

beautiful cards, unique and creative.

kellystar said...

fun, cute cards...thanks for sharing Fiskafriend!

LChippy76 said...

P R E T T Y Cards!!!
AMAZING !!! TFS!!!

nancy carroll said...

Awesome butterfly, love how you used the balloons for the eggs!

Karen Poirier-Brode said...

Vicky was the randomly picked winner of the 3 month subscription to Get It Scrapped. Congrats!

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