Guest Designer Karen Watson - week 2

Thanks for all of your wonderful comments on Karen's first set of Guest Designer cards last week!  Today we have more of Karen's beautiful designs featuring our new holiday stamps!  But first, we thought you'd like to get to know her a little better, so here are her thoughts in response to our word association questionaire:   

• Stamping – the best therapy!
• Style – Clean, simple and uncluttered – oh and usually there’s a touch of glitter somewhere!
• Inspiration –  Anything and everything…..a piece of patterned paper, a picture in a magazine, a store display. The world is full of inspiration!
• Color – Anything except yellow! I don’t know why but it’s just a colour I don’t get on with!
• Work space – Beautiful and tidy at the end of the night but during the day it looks like there’s been an explosion!  
• Perfect day –  A trip to London on a cold, crisp frosty December day with my family. Christmas lights, hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts, carol singers, Christmas shopping and of course a sneak into a craft store or two!
• First job – Store assistant when I was 13. 
• Wildest dream – Came true when we sold our house, stuck rucksacks on our backs and explored the world for two years. We had a blast and my hope is that our boys feel the urge to explore too. We met some amazing people and visited the most amazing places. The memories will stay with me forever.  
• Ink – StazOn or Memento for the outline but I also love Versamagic chalk inks and Distress inks. Why am I trying to choose…..I love them all!!
• Family – Wonderful hubby Anthony and two lovely boys, Tom 14 and Ben 11
• Beverage – Gin and Tonic, ice and a slice – thank you!

We are thrilled to have Karen as a guest designer this month and are glad you are enjoying her cards.  Linda and Karen met almost four years ago at a trade show in the UK. Karen was a designer for a UK distributor that we were working with at the time.  Karen's work is regularly featured in UK Paper-crafting magazines so the next time you are browsing the magazine stands, be sure to have a look for more of her work!

And now - the cards! 

Squirrel and Christmas Tree

Karen's cards today have an "All Natural" theme to them.  This is one of my favorite groups of her designs since I usually use a simple and natural style in my Christmas decorating.  Her coloring on this card is fabulous!  And again check out her detailed cutting skills on the squirrel - wow!

 

Elegant Pinecone and Evergreen Branch

Very cool effect with the brown and green together.  Love her little twinkle sticker accents too. 

 

Wreath with Berries

This wreath is one my favorite stamps and I absolutely *LOVE* what Karen did with it on this design.  Instead of coloring in the leaves completely, she left a little white showing.  Adds a gorgeous touch along with the red twinkles and polka dot red ribbon! 

 
 And here is a closeup so you can see the wreath better (*smile*):

 

*sigh* - that's it for this week, but we have plenty more of Karen's work to share with you, so I'll be back next week with more goodies! And remember to leave a comment here for Karen (one only please, per guest designer article) to enter your name into the drawing! 

Comments

[Amy]

Karen, thanks for sharing your beautiful cards! Love the squirrel card... it's so cute! I've really enjoyed using the wood grain paper. Make sure to find some time for stamping this weekend!

[Erika M]

Your cards are beautiful - I just love the nature theme!

[JenMarie]

Oh what beautiful creations!!

[Suzie P.]

The coloring on the wreath card is fabulous!! Can't wait to get started on my Christmas cards! Thanks for a great week......

[Louise]

Karen's cards are simple but so elegant. I like the nature theme.

[sue wisniewski]

Karen your squirrel card is just adorable. I also like the pine cone card. Thanks for sharing. stamping sue

[janet]

beautiful, beautiful cards!!!!

[EJ]

Another set of great cards, thanks Karen. Love her replies to the questions as well. Miss my G&Ts back home.

[Michelle K <3]

Karen~
Love your cards, Nice designs!!
Thanks for sharing!!

[jen shears]

Love those cards! I am such a sucker for wreaths- and this one is really gorgeous! :)

[Lori Frost]

I love the wreath.

[amanda H]

Beautiful cards. I especially love the pinecone one; it's so beautifully put together!

[Nancy W]

I love the wreath stamp and it is so veratile. Using little twinkles instead of stamping berries really gives it some glitz.

[Susie P]

Love your work Karen! such great cards:)

[Anmito]

Such lovely cards! Love the use of the solid with patterned paper..so clever!

[snw]

Beautiful cards.

[Renee]

Thank you for sharing your brilliant cards with us, Karen! I love them all, but I especially love the wreath card....simple, yet gorgeous!

[HeathreP]

The pinecone card is so pretty! The white design on the background paper speaks of winter snowflakes... perfect.

[Ann]

Beautiful cards! They're so simple, yet they still have fancy touches.

[Chris Hauck]

Karen, you seem so delightful! Once upon a time I was a flight attendant and was fortunate enough to visit Brighton. And one time only I made it to London. Wow, I loved it. I'm sorry to hear you don't like Yellow....it's one of my favorite colors all around. Yellow makes me happy!!! Thanks for sharing your delightful designs. I love them.
Chris

[Gerianne]

I love the wreath card- makes me want to create a card right now
-Gerianne

[LBrunner]

I love how you colored the wreath!

[Lisa]

very elegant cards!

[PennyH]

Beautiful cards! I especially love the wreath card.

[Jackie E]

Such beautiful cards. The squirrel one is precious!!

[Bryn]

Such beautiful cards, Karen! You have really inspired me to get working on my christmas cards! I take my drinks with ice and a slice too! :0)

[Dana Klinkner]

Love the squirrel card - so cute! The wreath card is elegant and beautiful. Thank you for sharing your cards with us - they are inspiring.

[Alanna (al_silver2)]

very nice cards, Karen..love that squirrel card...gorgeous 3D look!

[Jenna A]

Lovely! I think the pine cone card is my favorite. I love the way you angled the paper, adds a lot of interest. The squirrel is just too cute.

[anababy]

I like the use of diagonals in your cards

[Caren Weinstein]

They just get cuter and cuter!

[Emily]

Cute cards!

[Teresa]

Cute cards! I love the coloring on the squirrel especially. How lovely!

[Sonja]

thanks for the ispiration Karen...they are wonderful!

[Sandy]

I own and love the wreath stamp, too! Glad to have another idea on how to use it!

[Katie W.]

Karen, your cards are amazing! Thanks for the inspiration!