Oldie Moldie Monday

On Sunday we had an event in Milwaukee for Operation Write Home to introduce people to the organization and making cards for our Heroes.  I made some kits to work on while I was at the event.  I did use some of my supply of paper.  Here is one kit.

The sentiment is a digital designed by Paula - an active Operation Write Home cardmaker.  She has several other digitals on her site.  I have a file saved with 6 of these on a sheet.  They fit perfectly in a spellbinders circle die I have.  I cut my other circles with the Silhouette - so much faster.

Here is my next kit.

This is a birthday card (duh - that is pretty obvious).  The paper is from Imaginisce.  I have an entire of birthday paper so I need to make some more cards out of it.

Too bad it is Monday.  The week ends go so fast.

Watercolor Hero Card

As I have been sharing my cards you all know I am taking the watercolor class.  I have been making backgrounds with distress inks and stencils.  How exciting that the challenge on The Friday Mashup is to use a stencil.  Unfortunately I do not know who makes the stencil.  I colored the twine with distress inks also.  I also made my own paper to match using distress inks for the mat and the sentiment.  The stars were cut with a Spellbinders set.

The challenge on the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge blog is Anything Goes.

I decided to use the background to make a Hero Card.  I will write a note in the card to one of our Heroes who are serving overseas.  It will go in my next Operation Write Home box.  The sentiment stamp is from Paper Smooches - a stamp set which part of the proceeds goes to Operation Write Home.  Thank you Paper Smooches for supporting our Heroes keep in touch with their families and friends at home.

If you want to buy your own Paper Smooches stamps, pop over to their online store.

If you are interested, pop over to this post and see how different this very same stencil and different inks look.

I am so glad it is the week end.  I hope to play more with watercolor stuff.

Being Artsy Fartsy Again

I needed a retirement card for the office to give to a special lady who is retiring from our campus - I decided I wanted to be artsy fartsy with this card.  There are many layers of paint and spray and tissue paper on a piece of watercolor paper.  The flower base is cut with my Silhouette and the flowers are a tissue paper  sprayed and cut with some spellbinders.  The sentiment is from SRM Stickers.  It did not turn out like I thought it would - but it is still a god card.

Oldie Moldie Monday

This is a card made from recycled paper.  I used covers from commencement programs.  Since I have started collecting the unused or discarded programs, we have gone through the colors of grey, purple and now they are white.  Yeah - it was really hard to make that many purple cards.

This is a retirement card for a professor at our university.  I thought it was very appropriate to use the commencement program covers for her card.  The cardbase is a program cut to size.  I cut purple to use as a mat, cut the border and then cut 2 different sizes of shaped Spellbinders for the flower.  I wet the flower layers and then crinkled them up - they have such a nice shape now.  Luckily I am not mailing this card - it will be hand delivered.  The sentiment is from SRM Stickers.

Come back tomorrow to see another retirement card - where I got artsy fartsy.

More Hero Arts Fun

I found a new challenge site "Just Add Ink" and they have a sketch challenge this week.

My usual trick with separate panels is to just add strips of paper across a large piece to make it look like I labored adding those separate pieces to a card front.  My ovals were either too large or too small - sounds like a fairy tale doesn't it.

I used my new Hero Arts snowman die cut and Cosmo Cricket paper to make my card.  An SRM Sticker finishes off the card.  This card will go into my next Operation Write Home Box.  I think that little snowman will bring smiles to a few faces.

Enjoy your day - dinner with my Ya Ya's tonight.

Stampendous, Operation Write Home and Card Positioning System

More monkeys - thank you Stampendous for having your summer challenge - love happens every season.  Or so I have been told.

The midweek challenge at Stars and Stamps - Operation Write Home's card blog - is to make an anniversary card.  Although this does not say Happy Anniversary - I think it could be used for an anniversary card.  Who doesn't love two monkeys holding hands.

The card is based on the weekly sketch challenge at Card Positioning System.  Of course  on my card the big circle is my heart and the small circle on the sketch is a rectangle on my card.

I used the great colors in my Momenta pack I found at Tuesday Morning.  An SRM Sticker finishes off the card with a love sentiment.

Enjoy your Thursday - or is it Monday - weird work week - but 2 day work weeks are good.

Come back tonight - I found the Stampendous monkey stamps that are rain related - hopefully - making the cards will bring us some much needed rain and cooler weather.

Authentique and Hero Arts

Close up of Flower

Good morning - a quick share of a card I did for the color challenge on the Authentique Paper blog.  the card is a little bit different shaped but it is nice to step outside the A2 box.  Most of my cards are for Operation Write Home  and A2 is the desired size for those cards.

The challenge is to use the colors Driftwood, Calm Ocean and Persimmon.

I used papers from two collections Carefree and Fresh.  Some very yummy colors.  Their paper is so wonderful because it is double sided with solids on the backside.

The flower was made with some Spellbinder dies and then crumpled up and distressed.  The flower stem and sentiment are from Hero Arts.

Have a wonderful day - dinner out tonight with my Ya Ya's.

CAS-ual Friday Card

Good evening - a quick share of a card I finished for the CAS-ual Friday challenge which is Feathered Friends.  I needed a thank you card and this little stamp says it all - it is a very small stamp so I decided to scale down the size of the card.  This card is only 3.375 x 5 inches. 

I was inspired by my friend Ivanka's card.  She used the technical term "plopped" her ink pad on her card base.  I tried that - did not work - so I just colored a piece of watercolor paper with some ink.  I stamped my image and then cut the inked image out with a Spellbinder's die cut.  I cut the next size die cut to mat the image with.  Of course - it looked too plain to me - (this is clean and simple for me) so I added am embossed piece of watercolor paper which I pop dotted.  I needed a little contrast so added a piece of black houndstooth and a pink bow tied with some black tie. 

I hope you like my feathered friend card.  

Unity Stamps and Ippity Challenge

I am enjoying being able to take pictures of my cards outside again.   Of course, then you have to watch for shadows, bright glowing orbs (it is called the sun).  I took 3 or 4 pictures of this card and this is the best one I got - but I found it quite interesting how I ended up with the glow around the little butterfly.  How fun is that. 

A very simple card made with some of my new stamps from Unity.  I am having lots of fun with all those new stamps.  The challenge on the Unity site (ippity challenge) - is to use flowers.  Luckily I had bought one flower stamp so I was able to participate in the challenge. 

My friend Ivanka's blog led me to another challenge site - The Pink Elephant - where the challenge is to use a butterfly.

I stamped the image and sentiment in VersaMark and embossed with white.  I inked the edge of the kraft paper with white ink.  I used my Spellbinders to cut all the layers.  The pin dot paper is a scrap laying on my table from Authentique.  I thought it added just enough interest to the card.  The image and sentiment were pop dotted.  I added the butterfly this morning - as I was trying to fall asleep last night - the thought popped into my head that I should add a butterfly to the card.  Luckily there was a scrap of the brighter pink on my table leftover from yesterday's card.  I used a Martha Stewart punch.

Thanks for stopping by and yes - it is Friday and we can start to get ready to enjoy the week end.

CAS Card Class and OWH SKIP

Good Saturday - today I am sharing a couple cards I made.  They are posted on the Stars and Stamps blog today for the introduction of a SKIP.  We have ten posts with cards inspired by the CAS online class we took.  Please go check it out. 

Few details about my cards.  My focus - embrace your white space - well I am embracing my "cream space".  I wanted to make some masculine cards and use these Penny Black stickers.  Aren't they great stickers.  My cream background is dry embossed.  It is a Cuddlebug folder.  I used both sides of the embossed cardstock.  Which do you prefer - embossed side up or down.  I cut a shape from a Spellbinder die cut.  I used SRM Stickers on each card. 

Have you tried to make any CAS cards (clean and simple)?  I don't think it is easy to make a nice CAS card.  Did I achieve it?

Bunny Card Challenge

A quick challenge on Operation Write Home's Facebook page to make a bunny card - very quick card - using a couple Studio G stamps - $1 each.  It is really not an Easter card so that helps make it less time sensitive.  I embossed the background cardstock (Bazzill Bling) with a Cuddlebug folder - adds some nice dimension to the background.  I cut the scallop with my Silhouette and the background pink circle and flower with Spellbinder Dies.

Clean and Simple Card Class

I signed up to take the Clean and Simple Card Class taught by Jennifer McGuire and several others.  I am such a slackard and have not done one card until today and this took me several hours to make - I stuggle with Clean and Simple.  The cards look naked to me - I thought this class would help me - I will just have to get busy.  Gee too bad I have to work. 

The lesson today was to make a white card - YIKES - I made one this last fall that I really liked.  I looked through my paper - I wanted the Bazzill pin dot paper in white - I couldn't find it - I know I hae some somewhere.  So I took a piece of textured cardstock (very subtle) and ran it through an embossing folder.  The pink mat and Penny Black floral sticker are each pop dotted to add some dimension to the card.  I added the orange twine for some contrast and to also add some balance to the Hero Arts sentiment.  The centers of the flowers needed something so I added some pearls to the center - gee - should it have been bling - or maybe some clear Stickles - but it is pearls because you know if I tried to remove them I would tear the sticker.  I also cute the size of the card down some to it was more equal distance on all 4 sides.  Also rounded the upper right corner. 

I also am entering this card in the Moxie Fab challenge embossing/debossing challenge in honor of their special edition on Tools - fun issue. 

Whew I made one card for the class - maybe I have opened a flood gate.

Echo Park, Moxie FAB and CAS-ual Friday Join Forces

I have a new Silhouette and the little scallop background is one of the free shapes you get with the machine - I was just playing and cut out this shape - I made it smaller so it could be used on a card.  I decided I had to use it on a card.  The card is based on several challenges - Moxie Fab to use Die Cuts and CAS-ual Friday to use scallops. 

The card uses the Yours Truly collection (6 xs6 pad) from Echo Park.  I love that houndstooth plaid - in fact - I bought a couple extra pieces of that paper.  The die cuts are the Silhouette scallop background and Spellbinders hearts.  The heart and plaid stripe are pop dotted for a little dimension. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Hero Arts New Release and Operation Write Home

How exciting - one of my cards was in a Hero Arts blog hop - that is pretty special.  Hero Arts designed three sets in partnership with Operation Write Home.

The set I have used is CL584 All the Time.  A wonderful set of stamps and not just for Operation Write Home - the two clocks are very versatile along with the sentiments.

I have used We R Memory Keepers paper on my card along with using Spellbinders to cut out the star and heart.  I wanted my card to be patriotic. 

Stay tuned I think there is more fun to come.

Monday, February 21, 2011

A quick post tonight - computer decided to be ornery tonight plus I have been trying to make a soup and dessert for work tomorrow.

I made this card for Operation Write Home. I used the sketch from Clean and Simple. Monday is the day to dig into your old supplies - this grouping hasn't been buried that long but I have had it for awhile.

I hope you enjoy my card. Remember to dig into your supplies and show some love for your old paper and stamps.

Card Details:
Size 4.25 x 5.5
Cosmo Cricket paper and sentiment
Spellbinders
Stamp: Whipper Snapper Designs colored with Copics

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

A snowy morning greeting to you - I would say good - but I may be stretching it - although my snow blowing fairy has been through and I am dug out - even my mail box - now if the snowplows come through again - and bury me - I will be very preturbed.

Being home yesterday I did get a couple cards made for my personal use - today I must make cards for Operation Write Home - I am behind in my one card a day. This card - obviously is for Valentine's Day - it will go to a special person in my life.

the card is very loosely based on the sketch at Cardabilities. If you look closely you can see elements of the sketch in the design. I decided I did not want to cut down the scallop border I cut from the paper - so I just cut down the size of the card base and let the scallop hang over the edge. I must have been feeling rebellious yesterday. I cut out the word Love from a SRM Sticker to add a sentiment to the card.

Thanks for stopping by - today I am going to make barn yard related cards for Operation Write Home - that is their mid week throwdown - I have a few (lots) of pig stamps and of course being from Wisconsin - cows - and how about chickens - just chicken in on you.

Hope you get to do something creative today.

Card Details:
Size: 3.75 x 6
Paper: Crate Paper
Stamp: Whipper Snapper Designs, Hero Arts (background stamp)
SRM Sticker
Spellbinders
Stickles

Monday, January 31, 2011

Good Monday evening - batten down the hatches - snow is coming to Wisconsin - and they are saying blizzard on Wednesday. I am not going to fight this snow - I am staying home - of course - I think I am getting a cold - so I started pushing fluids tonight.

How about a snow card with a friendly penguin on the front to honor more winter. YUCK. Mr Penguin is sweet though. The card is based on the sketch at Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps
It is Oldie Moldie Monday so I dug into my old paper - I like the colors in this paper. I do not know who the company is - but I don't believe they are in business anymore.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

Card details:
Size: 4.25 x 5.5
Stamp: Whipper Snapper Designs colored with Copics
SRM Sticker
Spellbinders

ThursdaJanuary 27, 2011

Good Thursday evening - yeah the week end is coming - makes me happy. I am excited I am going to be taking a Copic coloring class on Saturday. I hope I learn lots - but even if I come away with a few tips to help me color or shade better - I will be very happy. I would love to see their sprayer used also. It is being held at Creative Pals in Brookfield, Wisconsin. This store has the largest collection of Whipper Snapper stamps so you know I won't get out of their without buying a couple new stamps. My card tonight uses one of their stamps.

My card tonight is based on the sketch at Cardabilities. I had bought this new packet of paper from Echo Park and it inspired me to make a valentine card. I think this card will be for my daughter who's middle name is Bea - after her Grandma Bea.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

Card Details:
Size: 4.5 x 5.5
Paper: Echo Park
Stamp: Whipper Snapper Designs colored with Copics
Stickles to highlight the bea
Diecut: Echo Park
Ribbon: someone's Xmas clearance this year
Spellbinders
Pop Dots

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Good evening - a short post tonight . very tired - I did get my dishes done as soon as I got home - now to find some dinner and a nice cup of tea - and maybe some mo jo - I don't know if I have any of that in the cupboard.

My card tonight is based on the weekly sketch at Card Patterns - it is a spring card for Operation Write Home. It could be used for Easter or Mother's Day or just hello - with no sentiment it makes the card very versatile. Tulips are the harbinger of spring and I am ready. I wish it was time for these to be popping up in my flower gardens.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Good Saturday afternoon - greetings from the cold state of Wisconsin - we did see the sun for a small amount of time today - of course I live on the side of the street that the sun does not shine on the sidewalk and driveway. Grrrrrrrrr. So I decided to make spring cards - trying to be hopeful and cheerful.

This type of card is not a typical "Barb" card - only two colors - very simple design - I am all for how many layers can you get on a card person.

I am participating in several challenges here. Two of the challenges are White and Bright. The Shabby Tea Room - first time I have participated in one of their challenges and also Operation Write Home "white with a contrast color". The card design is based on the sketch at Get Sketchy.My scrapbook store had a 30% off everything sale today - and I treated myself - so much for not spending any money on stuff in January - oh well - I am stimulating the economy. I bought the new eyelet spellbinders - I have been wanting them - but did not want to pay full price for them.

I think the little bunny card will be great for Operation Write Home - even if you don't get it sent home for Easter - it will still work for a card to be sent home to a loved one. The card with the tulips is going to my Mom to cheer her - winter is getting her down. Hopefully it works.

Everyone enjoy your day and evening.

Card details:
Size: 4.25 x 5.5
Stamps: Studio G ($1 stamps)colored with Copics
SRM Sentiment Sticker
Spellbinders
Computer generated sentiment on bunny card