Tuesday, August 30, 2011

More Penny Black Sticker Fun


I am continuing on my week of stickers.  Thank you CAS-ual Fridays for challenging me to make a card with stickers and I decided to just keep going. 

Today's card is based on the weekly sketch at Operation Write Home's card blog Stars and Stamps.  The ribbon is sheer so should flatten down to go in the mail.  The image is pop dotted.  I used the Bazzill dots paper to add some texture to the card.  I think I am getting better at this CAS - I think I am going to have to look for some more great white paper - I imagine you could use creams also.

The sticker is from Penny Black.  I do have a love affair with her stickers and really enjoy using them - I just need to get them out and do it.

Everyone have a wonderful day.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Oldie Moldie Monday and Bo Bunny Unite


Yes once again it is Oldie Moldie Monday - and I have decided also that this week is Sticker Week on my blog.  It started on Saturday - hopefully I will have a sticker card each day of this week.

I dug into my supplies and found this fall grouping from Bo Bunny - it had a coordinating sticker also that made the card possible.  Very simple layout and the ribbon was from my ample supply of ribbon.  The sticker is pop dotted for some dimension - this card will be for Operation Write Home.  Everyone have a great evening and drop by tommorow to see what else I can do with a sticker. 

Sunday, August 28, 2011

More Penny Black Sticker fun


Good afternoon - beautiful day in Wisconsin - bought some groceries - mowed some of my lawn - neighbor boy mowed majority of remaining lawn.  Now time to play with some paper.  I still have my stickers out and working on using up this sheet of Penny Black stickers - I think I have 3 more snowmen on the sheet.  It helps me get some Winter themed cards made for Operation Write Home plus I am using up that sticker sheet.

This card was suppose to have a sticker trim on it - but it did not go on straight so the design of the card changed up some.  I really like how it turned out.  I tried to do a more Clean and Simple one for the challenge on CAS-ual Friday to use stickers in a CAS style.  This is probably more CAS than yesterday's cards. 

Well off to play some more with paper and do some laundry.  Enjoy your day.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Coloring class, Paper Therapy and Panera lunch




Coloring class, paper therapy and lunch at Panera's - all things that make a girl happy plus time spent with a friend - priceless.  I learned some good techniques for coloring with Prismacolor colored pencils - can't wait to sit down and do some practicing.  Indulged in a little shopping at two different scrapbook stores and then lunch at Panera's.  It was a good day.

I am sharing a couple cards I have made.  Made the top one last night and the bottom one started coming together this morning.  CAS-ual Friday's weekly challenge is to use stickers.  I have lots of stickers and these stickers were sitting in sight wanting to be made into some cards.  For me this is very CAS - I know for true CAS people they are too much but compared to my normal style - this is definately CAS.

The stickers are from Penny Black.  The snowflakes are also on the same sheet along with the striped border on the top card.  The Miss You stamp is from Stampabilities and the embossed snowflake is from Stampin Up/Sizzix. 

I hope you enjoy my two CAS cards.  They are for Operation Write Home.  I know they will bring smiles to so many faces.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful evening.  I do think this may be sticker week on my blog.  

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Operation Write Home and Unity Stamps


Good evening - I have an angel food cake baked - Betty Crocker Mix - pretty easy to do - and I have a great nephew - when he was much smaller - always called it angel cake - probably still does even though he is 7 or 8 now.  Tomorrow is a potluck at work so a co worker and I are making a trifle for our treat.  Needless to say - the bowl is usually licked clean.

I have a Christmas card to share that will be going to Operation Write Home.  I love this reindeer from Unity Stamps.  I stamped in Versamark and then used American Crafts Zing embossing powder in dark brown.  A small piece of patterned paper adds some color to the card.  It is a very nature looking card.  The matted reindeer is on top of an embossed panel.  I added a SRM Sticker for the sentiment and some May Arts Twine to finish off the card.  The image is pop dotted to add some dimension.

Tonight's card qualifies for three challenges.

The first challenge is All Things Unity - anything goes is the challenge.  The Unity Stamp is the main focus of this card. 

The second challenge is for CAS Friday - clean and simple and use embossing - I used both dry embossing and embossed the image.

The third challenge is for Tuesday Throwdown which is texture and dimension.  Embossing, inking and the image pop dotted provide the elements for this challenge.

Everyone have a wonderful evening - I would love to make a card tonight. 

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Reminisce Fall Card


I fell in love with this gorgeous fall paper from Reminisce.  You really do not want to cover it up it is so gorgeous.  Weekly sketch at Operation Write Home's card blog Stars and Stamps - has the sketch divided into 4 areas - I did it the lazy way - I cut thin strips of contrasting paper and placed it on top of the leaf paper.  I added some twine and a bow and then pop dotted my sentiment to add a little extra depth to the card.  I inked the edges of everything.  I hope you enjoyed my lazy sketch card.

Have a wonderful remainder of the day.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Unity Stamps and Basic Grey Unite


Yes it is Oldie Moldie Monday and I dug out an older collection of Basic Grey holiday paper to use with a new Unity stamp I had bought.  I love this reindeer - he looks great embossed but I think he would be beautiful colored also.  Have to try to color him next time I use him for a card. 

This card qualifies for the challenge at Our Creative Corner which was a sketch. 

This card will go in my box for Operation Write Home. 

Everyone have a wonderful evening - I am heading out to dinner with my Ya Ya's - should be a wonderful evening of talk, good food and one alcoholic beverage. 

Saturday, August 20, 2011

OWH SKIP - CAS (clean and simple)

Feminine


Masculine



Welcome to the OWH skip.  A skip is designed to be a short burst of creativity in our busy lives. 
This Skip is focusing on CAS cards (clean and simple cards).  I personally struggle making a CAS card.  I am the Queen of Layers.  I love to put lots of “good stuff” on my cards.  I have been working on trying to develop a CAS style in my cardmaking.  I have found several challenge sites I like to follow that encourage CAS – they are Clean and Simple Stamping and CAS-ual Firdays. 
I chose to make two cards today for my post.  Using the same CAS sketch/style I made a masculine and feminine card.  I changed up the colors of patterned paper used on each card.  On the feminine card I rounded the corners on the sentiment and I also rounded the corners on the bottom of the card to give a softer look to the card.  The embellishment on top of the sentiment and twine add to the style (masculine/feminine) of the card.  I generated the sentiment on the computer – in case you don’t know what HB2U means – Happy Birthday Too You. 
Many years ago I got a card that inspired this design from Kelly Morgan Merly– an online friend/cardmaker – and I keep it on my table for inspiration.
I hope you have enjoyed my attempt at a CAS card and how easily you can change the look of a card just by the use of different patterned papers and embellishments.  Now Skip on over to Maureen's blog and see what wonderful creativity she has to share with you.
Thanks for stopping by.
Masculine card:  Paper – The Paper Loft – Huckleberry Pond collection; May Arts Twine; Sizzix die cuts
Feminine card:  Paper – Prima – Madeline Collection; May Arts Twine; Base Flower – Stampin Up/Sizzix

Friday, August 19, 2011

Whipper Snapper Stamps and We R Memory Keepers Unite

Good evening - have had this card done for a week and forgot to post - almost for got to put it in the mail.  This card uses a new Whipper Snapper stamp I ordered - love the old tractor - can you tell I am a farm girl.  Of course, the tractor should be green.  The paper is a very old collection from We R Memory Keepers - I added a sticker from SRM Stickers along with some May Arts Twine to finish off the card.  Have a wonderful evening.  Stop back tomorrow for an OWH SKIP - a very short blog hop.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Operation Write Home Sketch Challenge


Had time to play with the weekly sketch from the Operation Write Home card blog Stars and Stamps - of course - I had to put my own spin on it but that is the fun of sketches - you can interpret them in your own way - a sketch is a jumping off point - after that it becomes your own creation. That is my story and I am sticking with it.

The image is from Stampendous, colored with Copics.  The paper is from Echo Park.  The sentiment is heat embossed and is by Hero Arts. 

I hope you enjoyed my card - have a wonderful day.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Oldie Moldie Monday

 



Oldie Moldie Monday - time to show some love to some old paper.  This is a very old grouping from We R Memory Keepers.  I like some of the colors - they are a little dingy maybe - but I think I have managed to make a couple good cards using the grouping. 

The first card is based on the sketch at Clean and Simple Stamping - I turned the sketch on its side and used a Hero Arts Sentiment stamp to add my stamping.  The sentiment is pop dotted.

The second card actually started out as the sketch from Clean and Simple Stamping but I did not like it so it transformed itself into this card.  I used some American Crafts Zing embossing powder on a Stampendous flower stamp.  The sentiment is from the inexpensive stamps Michael's carries.  Did you see my piercing on the side of the strip - easy to do - unthread the sewing maching and just stitch down the side - the needle does all the work for you.  I added some Offray ribbon to complete the card.  The image was pop dotted.

Both cards are for Operation Write Home.  Come back later in the week to see another card made out of this grouping.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Basic Grey and Inkadinkado and Spellbinders


Good morning - I tried many times on Thursday to post this card but blogger was being difficult that way.  This card is for Operation Write Home.  The midweek challenge on Stars and Stamps is to make a Thinking of Your card.

I heat embossed the sentiment and then cut it out with a spellbinder diecut - I wanted to make it into a flower. I inked the edges of the flower so it gives it a little contrast.  The green layers are tissue paper so not bulk was added there.  The white border is a Martha Stewart punch that my friend Mary owns.  Tiny glue dots fit perfectly in the middle so helps with the adhering of the edging.  I love this Basic Grey grouping - I have the 6 x 6 pad but did buy a sheet of this black print and the white that the sentiment is stamped on.

I was gone for a couple days visiting my mom and attending a family reunion on my Dad's side of the family.  It was so nice to see my cousins and reconnect. 

Well I must get going and get some work done.  I must finish mowing my lawn - nice to have the cooler temps and rain - but alas - the grass does grow.  Of course, I must wait for a courteous time to mow on week ends.  I believe 9 a.m. is safe to go and mow.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

K 9 challenge


Good evening - the midweek challenge on Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps is to make a K 9 Card.  I love this sweet little stamp.  I am sure it will make someone smile during the holidays or winter months when a Hero sends it home to family or friends.  I am just getting this posted at the last minute. 

Everyone enjoy your evening - the weather is beautiful here - can open the windows and stores and get fresh air in the house.  YEAAAAH!!!!!

Monday, August 8, 2011

Hero Arts, Basic Grey and Oldie Moldie Monday Unite


Oldie Moldie Monday - time to show some love to that forgotten paper.  I grabbed a box of paper last week and that is what I am going to work on it for Oldie Moldie Monday until I get tired of my choices.

This card is for Operation Write Home - hard to believe it is time to get your holiday cards made for them - but you need time to get them shipped overseas.  So please, start working on your cards for Operation Write Home - bring some smiles to our heroes and their families.

The paper on this card is Basic Grey - Figgy Pudding collection - I wonder what year this came out.  The stamp is a Hero Arts stamp - I inked it with Versamark and a Tim Holtz Distress Ink and used clear embossing powder.  The red is just a little too red - I need to add a more distressed color to it - I may have to rub some brown ink over the top to tone down the red or add some brown ink to the ink on the stamp.  I will let you know what works the best.  I love the use of the clear embossing powder - I am very embossing challenged so clear forgives many mistakes.

Have a wonderful day.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Hero Arts - so much fun


Hobby Lobby had a sale last week on all their stamps and stamp sets so of couse, I had to purchase a couple stamps.  I have been eyeing up this set from Hero Arts.  In the last Stamping issue from Paper Crafts - they used this stamp set in one of their pages where 3 or 4 designers had the same set and each made a card - great fun to see how everyone uses a certain set.

My inspiration today came from the sketch on Operation Write Home's card blog - Stars and Stamps.  I had fussy cut some of these chairs over the week end so it was an easy card to put together especially with such a great sketch.

This week end I attended an "in between" class reunion - several in the class decided we needed to get together the year we all turn 60.  It was a nice turn out - and fun to visit with everyone that came.  One of my best friends drove to my house from her home in the Chicago area and rode up with me.  We had nice long visits on the way too and from my house.  It made the 2 hour trip fly by.

Well I need to go and get some more work done - I need to figure out what I am doing for Oldie Moldie Monday - I do have several papers waiting to be chosen - oh - which one will get chosen - stop back tomorrow to see who the lucky paper is. 

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Happy Fall

                                    
                                        One card of this upper design.



                                             I have 5 of this design.

Some fall cards for Operation Write Home - very simple design.  The patterned paper does all the talking for me.  I did use a Stampin Up Embossing folder to add texture to the patterned paper.  I believe both sentiment stamps are from Hero Arts. 

The reason there is only one card of the one design is that I goofed up cutting my backing paper so could not make an exact copy of the bottom card - so decided to try a new stamp set I bought.  I love the bigness of the sentiment on the top card.  It is front and center.

Everyone enjoy your day - cooler here in Wisconsin - so at least you can breathe when you are outside.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Basic Grey and SRM Unite


Good evening - pure laziness is my reason for not posting last night - just didn't feel like it - I was busy making this birthday card.  Got out the new paper collection from Basic Grey - Out of Print - fun collection - love the colors and patterns in the collection - I found the 6 x 6 pad so I was very happy and then did buy a couple of the 12 x 12 sheets.  I buy 12 x 12's of the ones that I feel I would the most of - solids and certain prints which would make great backgrounds for cards. 

The design of the card is based on the weekly sketch posted on Saturday at Card Patterns.  I have not done a sketch for so long.  It really was fun.  Thanks Card Patterns for the great inspiration. 

Susan from SRM Stickers sent me a great care package from CHA - the new SRM Stickers - love - love - love them - thank you Susan and SRM - your thank you card will be made soon. 

The border on the card is a Martha Stewart punch that my friend Mary has - she punched me some white borders - I really like the border and glue dots (the minis) fit just perfect between the circles to help hold down the border.  The flower is a much reduced flower from Michael's.  By reduced - I tore it apart and only used two layers.  The great brad and metal in the middle of the flowers are old embellishments from Imaginisce - but they are so beautiful - I am glad I found them to finish off the center of my card.  The ribbon was from the dollar bin at Michael's.

Everyone have a wonderful evening - hopefully I will get another card made tonight or laid out.

Monday, August 1, 2011

The second card for Monday's post


Blogger would not let me upload this card with the previous post.  The image and sentiment - I believe - were sent to me in an image swap.

Carry on - back to your evening fun.

Oldie Moldie Monday



Well goodness - Blogger has issues tonight - tried to upload two cards - didn't like this one the first time but liked the other one - but now all I got was this one - I made 4 of this card for Operation Write Home.  Monday is Oldie Moldie Monday at my house - I have a thing for patterned paper - so I make sure for Monday I show some love to older  paper.  I just grabbed a plastic bin (12 x 12) in my supplies and said I was going to make my cards for today - luckily it had some paper in it - in fact it was mostly Christmas/Winter paper so I think I can create for quite a few weeks - I still like all the paper in the bin. 

I embossed the image and sentiment with Versamark and white embossing powder.  I love lavendar for winter cards.  I added the pink for a punch of color - there is actually pink in the striped paper underneath. 

Everyone have a great evening - and dig out some of that once loved paper and create something wonderful.