Operation Write Home Memorial Day Blog Hop

Today we celebrate Memorial Day and honor the heroes who serve or have served our country in all branches of the service.

Operation Write Home is having a huge blog hop.  The challenge was to make a red, white and blue card and to try and use one of the sketches.  Well - this card did start out as a sketch but then you know how sketches take a twist and then a turn, and it is no longer the sketch.  I did have good intentions.  I did get to use a new pad of red, white and blue paper from Pebbles and this is a new rubber stamp from Deep Red.

Thanks for stopping by.

Please return to the Stars and Stamps Blog to keep hopping.  

Paper Smooches and Operation Write Home

As Memorial Day approaches, you must think of all our heroes who have given service to their country.  Many have given the ultimate sacrifice.  I have been lucky enough to know so many people who have served our country in the military.  I work at a university and the veteran's officer is located right next to my office.  Many of the students are so young.  This is why I have been drawn to making cards for Operation Write Home.  It is my way of giving back to our heroes, their families and friends.

Today's card is for me to write a thank you note to a hero.  I had a new pad of red, white and blue paper and there was this one sheet of paper with these stars and stripes on it.  It made me think distressed and that is the direction my card went.  The sentiment and stars is from a set from Paper Smooches.  Part of the proceeds from this sale go to Operation Write Home.

The Paper Smooches Spark Challenge is Anything Goes.

Every Sunday there is a new challenge on the Paper Smooches Spark Challenge.  Dust off those Paper Smooches stamps and come play along.  I do need more stamps.  OK - more Paper Smooches stamps.

Stop over to Operation Write Home blog Stars and Stamps on Saturday.  There is a huge blog hop going on.  There are some excellent card makers who create cards for Operation Write Home.

Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge

I finally got a card made for the weekly Paper Smooches Spark Challenge.

This week it was a sketch challenge.

I also got my stamp order so I had some new stamps to play with.  I bought the new owl stamps and matching dies.  Very fun stamp set.  I used paper from a 6 x 6 pad from from Pebbles called Walnut Grove.

This was a fun sketch.  If you would like to buy some stamps from Paper Smooches you can find them at this link.

Oldie Moldie Monday

Oldie Moldie Monday - time to show some love for your old supplies - this paper is only from 6 x 6 so the dust has not even settled on it - I was just looking for paper with some great contrast to do the weekly sketch from Operation Write Home.  

The paper is from Pebbles - beautiful bright colors - The wonderful stamp is new - it is from Studio G and I know I will get my $1.50 worth out of it.  I need to do a little adjustment to the end of the stamp - it goes a little up - you don't see that until you look close.  The other stamp is from Hero Arts - I paid more for it - it was in a set of three - but this set has been well used also.  

Remember to show some love for your old supplies.  Enjoy your Monday.

Eat Cake Graphics Easter cards and Brads

No joke - two posts in one day - I was waiting for the sun to come out so I could take pictures outside. 

Today our challenge was to make a card with an Eat Cake Graphics rubber stamp and to use a brad on your card.  I actually have two cards to share - I don't think I have posted the bottom card yet. 

The first card uses 5036-K Mr. Bun in his speedy basket.  I thought the pole added the best place to add the sentiment I wanted to use on the card.  It looks like it is a flag flying behind his speedy basket.  I cut the sentiment out and colored it with Copics to match the colors of the paper.  The little spots of exhaust are actually little dots of paper colored with Copics to matchthe flag and then I added some Stickles on top.  Do you know why I added those little dots - somehow I got some spots on my image and did not want to stamp and color another image.  I like how it turned out.  Brads were placed in the other three corners.

The second card uses 5050-F Flopsy bunny's got an egg.  I paper pieced the egg Flopsy was holding to match the paper used on the card.  Wasn't that a perfect piece of paper to use on an Easter card.  I love the corduroy brad which picks up the blue in the patterned paper.

There is a challenge on Catered Crops to use BRADS.  Pop over there and play.

I hope the remainder of your day is good.  Off to make a couple more Easter cards.

Don't throw It Away Challenge

Happy Saturday - yes Easter is next week - so I guess I should be making a few Easter cards. 

Each of my daughters has a favorite candy for Easter and you can usually find some form of it at each holiday.  For one it is Reeses Peanut Butter eggs - so this morning - off to Alaska went a card with tulips on it and two packages of peanut butter eggs.  Even when you are in your 30's and far from home - you need to have a little hug from your Mom. 

My oldest daughter's favorite candy is Brach's chocolate covered marshmallow bunnies.  It has to be Brach's - not a different brand.  Luckily this candy always has such a cute little cover on it - they changed the bunny this year - must have had to make him more contemporary and with the times.  Well the 2012 bunny - the wrapping - is the focal point of this card. 

Mosie Fab has a challenge "Don't Throw It Away" - well I kept that little bunny and very carefully trimmed it down and adhered to cardboard so I could use it on a card.  I think it is so sweet.

The paper is from Pebbles.  The sentiment is from Stampendous.

Now the big decision - should I go sacrifice more bunnies for more cards - such a decision - I did buy two boxes - one for cards and one for my daughter on Easter Day.

Pebbles Paper

Time to get a few cards made for Easter - I think it is fast approaching.  I just realized this week it is spring break at work next week - I was thinking it was week after next.  Glad thing someone reminded me - since I am suppose to be at a conference on Monday.

The card is based on the sketch at a new site I ran across last night.  Retro Sketches. 

I had bought this wonderful paper grouping from Pebbles.  Such bright colors for spring.  Orange and red - who would think you would put those colors together - they did so I did.  The teal paper and orange paper are American Craft double sided paper.  Got a package at Tuesday Morning for $2.  This teal/aqua color is so popular in so many collections I knew it would make great matting.    The stamp is a $1 stamp I bought at Michael's a year or two ago - I have gotten my money's worth out of it. 

Everyone enjoy your evening -  trying to watch basketball also - very close game.