Has Spring Sprung?

Simply Said With Karen Posted on by

 Hi Everyone:  Hope you are enjoying the first full day of Spring.  Yesterday was so beautiful here and so I thought how nice it would be to drive around in a clean red car rather than a grayish red car, so off I went to the car wash.  The shiny red car looked so nice.  And then…this morning, it started to rain on my pretty shiny car.  I managed to get to the underground parking before the skies opened up and poured down wet stuff and it just wasn’t liquid, there was snow!!!.  Is it ever going to stop?  Luckily, it didn’t last long and by this afternoon and the trek home, the sun was shining….The little red shiny car was saved!!!

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

The card that I am sharing today uses the Easter Blossoms set and the technique I used is Embossing Resist.  For this technique, the image is stamped with craft ink and then embossed with Clear Embossing Powder.  The grassy area was masked with a piece of post-it-note, and the sky area sponged with Baja Breeze ink, then the sky area was masked and the grassy area sponged with Old Olive ink.  To finish off, wipe any ink off the image with a soft rag. 

I also used the new Paisley Petals DSP which will be a promotion during April and if you don’t get it then, you have to wait until July when the new catalog comes out.  It is truly beautiful with wonderful colours.

Sale-a-Bration is almost over, just another 10 days to receive free product with a minimum order of $60 (not including shipping and taxes) .  Visit my Stampin’ Up! website to discover it all. 

Stamps: Easter Blossoms (c -122057 – $22.95, w – 121905 – $31.95 Occasions Mini, p 17)
Paper:  Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede, Paisley Petal DSP (NEW)
Ink: Soft Suede Craft Ink, Baja Breeze, Old Olive

Accessories: Big Shot, Scallop Circles Duo, Circle Die, Multi-purpose Glue, Clear Embossing Powder, Champagne Glass Glitter, Sponges, Baja Breeze Seam Binding Ribbon

This card will also be featured in my April class.  Email me for all the details.

That’s all for today and until next time…

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Happy Easter Card

Simply Said With Karen Posted on by

 Hi Everyone:  I guess I am feeling Springy these days, because here is another Spring type card.  We have had 2 days of relatively nice weather (have fingers crossed), so here’s hoping that it will continue.  It’s real nice to see the hill coloured something else besides white.  I know it is snowing up in the mountains still, and it can stay there.  I can live in LaLa land for a while.

This card has been inspired by the Paper Players colour challenge and the  Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch challenge.  The colour challenge just talks Spring colours.

Stamps: Easter Blossoms
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, Early Espresso, Subtle DSP
Ink: Blushing Bride, Baja Breeze, Soft Suede
Accessories: Big Shot, Scallop Squares Duo, Markers (Blushing Bride, Early Espresso), XL Oval Punch, Pearls, Colour Spritzer Tool, Distressing Essentials Kit, Sponges

This is my first experience with the Colour Spritzer Tool.  Ann Schach has a video on her blog demonstrating how to use this cool tool and she always has amazing results.  Check out her blog here.  Ann always has great stories about her Boxers, Muffy and Brody and  their escapades.






So, that’s it for this evening, enjoy what is left of yours.  Until next time…




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Sneak Peek and Just Believe

Simply Said With Karen Posted on by


Good morning Everyone and I hope for those who are to change their clocks ahead have done so.  If not, you will be late for any events you have planned to day.
I am very excited about this post and what I am sharing with you today.  I am featuring a sneak peek at a new Designer Series Paper, Paisley Petals and a new stamp, the Four Frames.  Now, I can’t show you the products but I can show you how I have used them for my card.  The DSP is beautiful to say the least and has many of the favourite and most used Stampin’ Up! colours.
I also used the Just Believe stamp that I have just acquired.  I just love this stamp and have seen so many beautiful cards, that I don’t know why it took me so long to get it on my order form.  But, I have it now….Yahoo!
Stamps: Just Believe (c – 120453 $31.95, w – 116948 – $41.95 IB&C p 109, Four Frames (New)
Paper:  Whisper White, Night of Navy, Old Olive, Paisley Petal DSP (NEW)
Ink: Old Olive, Tangerine Tango, Soft Suede
Accessories: Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Pearls, Big Shot, Butterfly Embosslit Die, Markers, Decorative Label Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig
The butterfly is sponged in Soft Suede to bring out the design from the embosslit and of course, what card would be complete without some bling…pearls.
The Paisley Petals DSP and the Four Frames will be in the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalogue and you will be able to purchase these brand new products starting April 1 through to April 30, 2011.
You will be able to receive these new products 2 ways….
  • Spend $25* on any Stampin’ Up! products and become eligible to purchase both the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper.
  • Host a $460* workshop and get the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper for FREE
 * net shipping and taxes
Check back here, contact me by email,  or connect to my calendar of events to see when classes will be offered.
So have a great day and until next time…


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Say “Hello” Spring with PPA84

Simply Said With Karen Posted on by

Hi Everyone:  I say “Hello” to Spring as it was a beautiful Spring day here.  The sun was shinning, it was warm (in the high 50s) and you can start to see the green grass.  Hopefully, it just wasn’t a tease.

My card today is for the Pals Paper Arts challenge to make something that reminds you of Spring and what says Spring more than green, yellow and pink.

Stamps: Nature Walk (c – 121997 – $22.95, w – 121925 – $31.95 Occasion Mini p 27), Fabulous Phrases (c – 12051 $32.95, w – 117002 $46.95, IB&C p 149)
Paper:  Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White Textured and Smooth, Sunny Garden DSP
Ink: Pear Pizzazz, So Saffron
Accessories: Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding Ribbon, Beveled Window Pane, Rosettes, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Rose Red and Pear Pizzazz Markets, Pearls, Big Shot, Framed Tulips Embossing Folder.



I used the Beveled Window Pane to accent the floral image to make it a focal point. The DSP was stamped with So Saffron and the butterfly from the Nature Walk stamp set.   Sponging was added  to the panel embossed with the Framed Tulips embossing folder (gotta love the Big Shot) to bring out the tulip design.  What card would be complete without a bit of bling in the middle of the rosettes.


For any of these Stampin’ Up! products, contact me through email, or visit my Stampin’ Up! website.  Don’t forget, Sale-A-Bration ends March 31, 2010.  For every $60 (not including shipping and tax) you order, you can order a free product from the Sale-A-Bration catalogue.
 
Well that’s it for this evening and I have no idea why I can’t start a sentence where it’s supposed to start.  Don’t you just love computers…it’s probably the user.  LOL

So, until next time…
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Sympathy Card

Simply Said With Karen Posted on by

      Hi Everyone and it’s the end of the 1st of the weekend.  How come a weekend day goes faster than a work day….always trying to figure out the answer.  Oh well, it’s one of life’s little mysteries.  
 
The post for today is a sympathy card for my friend and Stampin’ Up! upline, Elaine, whose husband passed away last weekend.  Today there was a celebration of his life and I learned that he was quite a character during his lifetime.  His children gave tributes to their Dad and there was so much love and respect going both ways that everyone was in tears.  But there was lots of laughter as many spoke about how he liked to fix things, even when they weren’t broken, sometimes they just needed rearranging.  
 
The Tuesday Morning Sketch challenge along with the Pals Paper Arts colour challenge inspired me for this card.  The colours, of course, are my favourite, so mostly it was deciding how to put them on the card.

 Check out the Paper Pals Challenge and the Tuesday Morning Sketch Challenge

Stamps: Thanks for Caring (c-121961 – $17.97, w- 121901 – $24.95, Occasions Mini p 13) Bliss (SAB –p10)
Paper:  Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Soft Suede, Elegant Soiree DSP
Ink: Soft Suede Classic and Craft, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake Craft
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Scallop Edge Punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Vellum Paper, Champagne Glass Glitter, Multipurpose Glue, Big Shot, Ovals Die, Pearls, Sponge
I was also grand doggy sitting this weekend as my daughter and her family were on the road for ski racing.  My grandson at 7 is ski racing and he loves it.  They just picked up Bailey who practically turned himself inside out when he heard the vehicle pull into the drive way.  Talk about unconditional love for your family.
Enjoy the remainder of your evening and until next time…
 
 
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Tangled Up in Creativity Challenge

Simply Said With Karen Posted on by



Hi Everyone and welcome to Friday.  My post tonight is short and sweet as I want to share my project for the Tangled Up in Creativity Challenge.

Christy from Lone Pines Design challenged us to alter a notebook and add a touch of Spring.  We all know how much we want Spring to be here. 

This is my project and I took it with me last weekend to the Stampin’ Up! Regional meeting held in Vancouver at the Canada Place Convention Center.  I wanted a book to write notes and ideas that were presented during the sessions.  And what a great time we all had, of course, except for the snow.

Vancouver never really has any snow during the winter (we saw that last year for the Olympics, when we wanted snow lol).  Then on Sunday, we had to drive home over a mountain route to get to Kamloops.  What would normally take 4 hours took us 6 hours as the drive was pretty slow.  Every once in a while, the highway would be closed so that they could get the trucks out to sand and plow the snow.  Going up one hill looked like a parking lot as the big rigs were pulled over to the side, cars were slipping and sliding (probably no snow tires, like duh, you’re in the middle of the mountains).  Any how we made it safe and sound.  Thanks to Kendra for driving home in the snow.

I will share photos of the event in a later post.

Now on to my project

 

Paper:  Sweet Pea DSP
Ink:
Accessories: Vintage Type Rub-ons
Well that’s it for me today.  Enjoy your evening and until next time…
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2 – Cards in 1 – Post

Simply Said With Karen Posted on by
Hi Everyone and I hope you are staying warm.  The sun is shining today, but it is bitterly cold with the wind chill.  Is it ever going to be Spring?  
 
I have two cards for you today, one is for our blogging group, Tangled Up in Creativity and is hosted this month by Becky.  The theme was Vintage Summer Time, so I combined with the Pals Paper Players 82  where scallops are to be featured.
 

 

 

 

Stamps: Pedaling Past (2010 – Summer Mini), Elements of Style (w-118611 – $33.95, c – 120045 – $24.95 (IB&C – p 133)
Paper:  Whisper White Textured and Smooth, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Wild Wasabi, Wild Wasabi DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Owl Punch, Big Shot, Tasteful Trim (carried forward from Holiday Mini), Scallop Circle #2 Bigz Die, Circles #2 Original Dies, Modern Label punch, Pearls, Victoria Crochet Trim, Distressing Tool Kit

I came across another use for the 2-step Owl punch and yes, you can make roses using this punch.  Valita’s blog has a video tutorial on how to accomplish this and you can check it out HERE.

The second card I have is a for a co-worker whose daughter just had a Baby girl.  Barb is already Grandma to 2 little boys who live in another Province and this little Grand Daughter lives in the same town.

This card is based on a sketch at Paper Players for their challenge of the week. I know they would be happy if you played along.  You can check it out HERE

 

PP35

 

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes (w- 115370, $45.95, IB&C p 157), Forest Friends (w-113748 – $17.95 p 93 IB&C)
Paper:  Whisper White Textured and Smooth, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink DSP, Marina Mist DSP
Ink: Soft Suede, Basic Grey, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Big Shot, Ovals Original Dies, Modern Label punch, Victoria Crochet Trim, Word Window and Modern Label punches, Rosettes, Pretty in Pink marker

Bambi and Thumper are so cute for Babies and I think they are promoting the movie Bambi right now.  My grandson, though, is not too high on this movie because Bambi is left all alone in the woods.  As he gets older, he will realize that life sometimes is cruel, but there are always friends and other loved ones that can be there for you.  Enough with philosophy for the day.

PS, if you are wondering if I found what I was looking for, no I didn’t.  It is likely gone to the recycling depot.  Oh well, that’s what I get for cleaning up my office.

So, until next time….

 

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A Few Things Today

Simply Said With Karen Posted on by

Hi Everyone.  I can’t believe it’s been a week since my last post…where does the time go?  First I would like to tell you that I made the Stamping 411 Showcase.  I am very pleased as it is this type of recognition from your peers that helps you keep going and know that you are improving in the art of stamping and designing.  Thank you Stamping 411 Operators.
 
The second thing is a grrr…I have misplaced something and it is driving me nuts.  It may be buried on my craft table and while I didn’t have the clean up of that today on my list, it looks like I now have to do it as I need it for this weekend.
 
 Now that I have felt happy and sorry for myself all in the same post, I will get to my card.
 
This card is for my daughter’s birthday and if you read this Teri Lynn, shut your eyes.  It is also for the PPA81 challenge.  This week the challenge is a sketch and you can check it out here
PPA81        

Stamps: Build-a-Blossom (w – 121923 – $31.95, c – 121994 – $22.95 Mini Occasions p 12), Create a Cupcake ( w – 121915 – $27.95, c – 121982 – $19.95 Mini Occasions p 22)
Paper:  Whisper White Textured, Pretty in Pink, Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive DSP
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Versa-mark, Clear Embossing Powder, Vellum Card Stock, Blossoms Petal Punch, Big Shot, Elegant Lines Embossing Folder, Campaign Mist Shimmer Paint (mixed with rubbing alcohol), Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Word Window Punch
 
I have seen this technique done a couple of times so want to give credit as it not original. The petals were stamped on vellum with rich razzleberry and then left to dry.  It takes forever to dry, so I left them over night.  The petals were then covered with Versa-mark and heat embossed with clear embossing power.  I cut the petals out before punching so that I didn’t punch into another image and waste the card stock.
After the card was assembled, the whole thing was spritzed with the shimmer paint diluted with rubbing alcohol for a bit of bling and shimmer.
I hope you enjoy and now I am off to clean up.  Until next time….
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Have a Blissful Valentine’s Day

Simply Said With Karen Posted on by

Hi Everyone and a Happy Valentine’s Day.  I hope every one’s day was fabulous and there was a lot of love going around.  Did you wear red and have those cinnamon heart candies?
 
The card I have today is for the Pals Paper Arts challenge 80 and also the Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge 190.
The Pals Paper Arts challenge is a vintage card where you could distress, layer and smudge to your heart’s content.  Stamping 411’s challenge is a great sketch that I thought fit the vintage theme.  Check out the websites for your inspiration.
 

Stamps: Bliss (Sale-A-Bration – p 10)
Paper:  Whisper White Textured, Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Elegant Soiree DSP
Ink: So Saffron, Crumb Cake
Accessories: Versa-mark, White Embossing Powder, Clear Embossing Powder, Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon, Rosettes, Framed Tulips Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Distressing Essentials Kit

The butterfly stamp was loaded with Versa-mark, inked with the So Saffron and then embossed with the Clear Embossing Powder.  

To gather the ribbon, a thread was pulled in the middle and the ribbon attached with sticky tape.
To achieve the vintage look, I distressed the edges of the Baja Breeze and the Crumb Cake CS using the file from the Distressing Essentials kit and sponged the edges with Crumb Cake ink.  After embossing the Baja Breeze CS with the Framed Tulips Embossing Folder, the edges were sponged with Crumb Cake ink as well. 
 
Enjoy the rest of your Valentine’s Day evening and until next time…

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The Friday File

Simply Said With Karen Posted on by
Hi Everyone:  For those of you who work Monday to Friday, thank goodness it’s Friday or in short TGIF.  I hope your week went well and you are getting ready to enjoy the weekend.  It’s been a busy week for me, so I am so glad it’s Friday and now I get to beat my own clock and get some stamping and whatever else needs to be done, like chores?  Can you see, stamping first, chores 2nd…do I have my priorities straight.  LOL.
 
The card today is a birthday card for one of my DGF (darling girl friends).  Although here birthday isn’t until the end of February, we celebrated early because some are going to Arizona and California, some to Mexico and some to Hawaii…notice I didn’t say me to any of those exotic places, or should I say warm and sunny places.
 
Before I get carried away feeling sorry for myself to much, let me get to the card.
 
 



Outside




Inside



I even decorated the inside of my card this time.

 


Paper: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Springtime Vintage DSP
Ink: Rose Red, Regal Rose, Not Quite Navy, Pear Pizzazz
Accessories: Big Shot, Texturz Plates – Backgrounds, 3 and 3 ½ Circle Dies, Large Oval Punch, and Scallop Trim Border Punch, Rose Red Seam Binding ribbon, Stamp-a-ma-jig

I used the 2 – step stamping technique for the Baby Blossoms stamp and to add the sentiment inside of the 2 layer tag.  I stamped one layer of the tag and stamped the sentiment from the Bring on the Cake stamp set using the Stamp-a-ma-jig.  A second tag was stamped, the oval punched out, the tag cut out and then layered to the first tag with dimensionals to give a 3-d look.

To give a deeper impression from the Texturz plates, I first misted a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water to the card stock and then ran through the Big Shot. 

The inside of the card was done with a strip of the Springtime Vintage DSP which was punch along the edge with the Scallop Trim Border punch.

PS, we had a great food, Greek, and a speciality cake…pays to know the baker, and lots of laughs at the BP.

Enjoy the weekend and until next time…

Tangled Up in Creativity Challenge

Simply Said With Karen Posted on by

Hi Everyone:  As I sit here typing my post, the snow is falling at a good rate.  We are supposed to get 2 – 4 inches of today.  I guess I will have to get the shovel ready…Yuk!

Today my post is a card for the Tangled Up in Creativity challenge.  This one is hosted by Danie over at D-Dazzled Designs.  The challenge is to  incorporate the colours green and yellow into your card in honour of Australia Day.  Only use cardstock – no papers, no ribbon, no bling etc. You can emboss, distress and cut cardstock.

Here is my entry for this challenge:

Stamps: Awash with Flowers (w- 117062, $48.95, c – 120549, $33.95, IB&C p. 99) Teeny Tiny Wishes (w – 115370, $45.95 IB&C – p157

Paper: Whisper White (textured and Smooth), Poppy Parade, and Garden Green
Ink: So Saffron, Basic Black
Accessories: Big Shot, Lattice Embossing Folder, Word Window Punch, Designer Label Large Punch

The Awash with Flowers stamp is a 2-step stamp, however using the clear stamps, makes the 2-step relatively easy if you don’t want to have everything lined up exactly.  Once I stamped the images and attached the green and white, I then ran all of through the Big Shot using the Lattice Embossing Folder.  It gives that card some great texture.

Well that’s it for today, so until next time…

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Weird Weather

Simply Said With Karen Posted on by
Hi Everyone.  It just seems like the weather has been weird in many areas of the world, what with huge snow falls across Canada and the United States, cyclones, fires and floods in Australia, a volcano erupting in Japan and I am sure that there are other places experiencing these weather phenomenas.  I hope that everyone is safe and coping as well as can be expected under these conditions.  For those of you that are travelling to warmer weather, I sure hope you have been able to make your flights to enjoy your vacations.
The two cards that I am sharing today, I did for my grandchildren.  The 6 year old was going through some rough periods and I wanted to bolster his spirits and the 4 year old loves to get mail from the mail box.  



For Nathan



Stamps: Lots of Bots (w-1152593 – $24.95, c – 120009 – $17.95 – IB&C p 82)
Paper: Pacific Point, Real Red, Whisper White, Celebrations DSP
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Love Impressions Rub-Ons, various Markers, Platinum Shimmer Paint



For Sarah



Paper: Perfect Plum, Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Subtle DSP
Ink: Perfect Plum, Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz
Accessories: Big Shot, Scallop Circle 2, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, ½” Circle Punch, 1” Circle Punch, ¾” Circle Punch, 1-3/4” Scallop Circle, Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Love Impressions Rub-Ons

 So that is my post for today and until next time….


TUIC January Challenge

Simply Said With Karen Posted on by

Hi Everyone and welcome to Saturday.  I hope it is nice wherever you are.  Right now it is sunny and above freezing.  The sun should melt some of the snow we have had over the past couple of days. 

The Tangled Up In Creativity blog group has 2 challenges for the month of January.  The first one up for me is the challenge over at Miss Molly’s Creations and is open to everyone.  We are challenged to be inspired by something we received at Christmas.

So here is my inspiration.  This is a Brighton box and their symbol is the heart, so what is more appropriate than a Valentine card.  Inside was a charm for my bracelet that I received from my daughter. 

TUIC Inspiration


Paper: Real Red, Whisper White (Smooth and Textured), Pink Pirouette, Subtle DSP, Brights DSP
Ink: Real Red, Regal Rose
Accessories: Big Shot, Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslits Die, Scallop Envelope, Embossing Ink, White Embossing Powder, Hodgepodge Hardware, Real Red Taffeta ribbon (1/8”), Designer Label Large Punch, 3/16” Corner Punch, Full Heart XL

The  smaller hearts were punched using the Full Heart XL punch and layered on the embossed hearts.  The large heart was cut out using Snips and the saying was heat embossed with White Embossing Powder.

All products can be purchased from me by going to HERE.

And… only 3 more days until Sale-a-bration starts.  This is the biggest sale of the year for Stampin’ Up!. If you don’t have your SAB catalogue and don’t have a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, contact me HERE.

I have added a new signature to my blog, so let me know what you think.

So, until next time….

Vintage Valentine – Pals Paper Arts

Simply Said With Karen Posted on by

Hi Everyone and I hope you are enjoying your Sunday.  Last night we had freezing rain which turned everything into an ice block including my car.  The ice is beginning to melt and it’s above freezing so hopefully the roads will be OK.  I usually go to visit my parents on Sunday and they will be disappointed if I can’t get there.

The card for today is for the PPA76 challenge.

Stamps: Be My Valentine (w-122045 – $10.95, p 43 Occasions Mini)

Paper: Real Red, Very Vanilla, Blushing Bride DSP
Ink: Real Red, Blushing Bride, Basic Black, Crumb Cake
Accessories: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Versamark, Clear Embossing Powder, Black Embossing Powder, Very Vanilla Taffeta ribbon (3/8”), Very Vanilla Taffeta ribbon (1/8”), Trinket Keys, Rosettes

This card really reminds me of vintage wallpaper.  I used the In Colour DSP (Level 1 Hostess gift) and sponged the edges in Crumb Cake and then to make really appear vintage, the whole piece was sponged.

The Very Vanilla cs was embossed using the Vintage Wallpaper EF and also sponged with the Crumb Cake.  The heart was stamped twice, once with versamark and Real Red ink and then again with versamark and Basic Black ink. The red hear was embossed with Clear EP and cut out using Snips and the banner on the black heart was embossed with Black EP and cut out using Snips. The red heart was attached to the embossed Very Vanilla cs and the banner attached to the red heart using dimensionals so that it would appear to be 3-D.

The 3/8″ ribbon was attached and then tied with the 1/8″ ribbon with the Key Trinket attached.  The  Rosettes was dyed with Blushing Bride ink and attached to the ribbon. 

You are able to purchase any of these products by going to my Stampin’ Up! website

Enjoy the rest of your day and until next time….

Karen