Favorite Operation Write Home Cards for 2011

I love the contrast of the red doily and the new Hero Arts clock stamp.

I think I must like hearts for my OWH cards - I love this vintage image - and I made a card that was somewhat similar that was published this last year in Paper Crafts Stamping Issue

Of cours this card made the cut (more hearts) but it won on Scrapbooks Etc and OWH got a $500 donation for it.

I just love this birdie and all the bright happy colors.

I love the simplicity of this card - this is my type of CAS style.

This card was in the October Issue of Crafts 'n Things when I nominated Opeation Write Home for crafting for a cause.

I just love the colors on this and the image is a sticker - how easy.

My first love (no not Santa) - using just paper on a card - no stamping.

I lovethe simplicity of this card - CAS style getting better and chevrons are the "in thing" this year paper crafting - plus that new clock stamp from Hero Arts

I have to share a favorite masculine card - love the embossing in the background and the simple stamped image of the golfer.

There are my favorite cards for the year.  What do you think?

Pop over to see Nancy now.

Thank You, Paint and Ink

I guess tonight was the night to get messy.  We lost power at work this afternoon so I came home early and I took a little nap - maybe I should do that every afternoon when I get home from work - hopefully it does not affect my falling asleep tonight.  It is amazing how much you can not do without power and I hate sitting around work and not being able to work - one of my busiest times - so I needed to get out of there. 

My card tonight is a thank you card but I wanted to try something different - I got out my acrylic paints and painted my cardstock - I then stamped on the painted cardstock with a chalk ink from Colorbox.  I kinda like how it turned out - especially the dots on the painted card front.  The midweek challenge on the Operation Write Home card blog Stars and Stamps is Thank You cards in honor of Dixie - one of our shippers who recently retired from her post - now she will have all this time to make cards.  

Simon Says challenge is "Anything Goes" and I will be entering my card in their challenge.

So get out and be messy and see what you can come up with - it is lots of fun.

The hardest card to make

I believe a sympathy card is the hardest card to make.  There are never enough words to express your feelings for a person losing a loved one.  A co worker and friend has lost her husband to cancer - he fought so hard - may he rest in peace.

Oldie Moldie Monday

The good news is that I survived another Christmas and I even managed to make a card last night - I did not want to miss an Oldie Moldie Monday post. 

I know I have an entire grouping of this paper - but who knows where it is.  These pieces of paper were in a little drawer with all the die cuts that coordinate with the paper.  The die cuts have glitter on them so I will not be able to use them for Operation Write Home. 

Well I must go - trying to clean up after Christmas dinner and put things away - I am on my second load of laundry and I am planning to go play for awhile with my friend Mary.  I actually would like to take a nap right now - it is only 9:00 am.  I slept through the second half of the football game last night - luckily the Packers were able to win without me but it must have been a great second half looking at the score.  Oh well. 

Recipe Share

I do not have any cards to share with you today but I thought I could share a recipe - a wonderful tasting quick bread to add to your holiday table or take to a friend for a little holiday goodness.

Come back again tomorrow for a favorite - make ahead mashed potatoes.

Apple Bread

Cream together:  ½ c. butter, 1 c. white sugar, 2 eggs,

1 tsp vanilla, ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp soda dissolved in 2 T. Sour Milk

Add:  2 c. diced apples, 2 c. sifted flour

Turn into 2 small or 1 large bread pan

Topping:  Mix together, 2 T. butter, 2 T. Flour,

2 T. sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon

Place on top of bread.   (I normally do not put the topping on the bread - it really does not need it)

Bake 1 hour at 325 degrees.

Crate Paper and SRM Stickers Unite

The last Christmas card for the week - all paper stuff is being put away so we can eat dinner on those crafting tables.  So needless to say I am working away at cleaning - YUCK.

I participated in a cookie exchange tomorrow - I have two containers full - they make a great breakfast - I really need to put those cookies in the freezer - although that has never stopped me before from eating them - that is what microwaves are made for.

My card today is for my friend Mary - who started me down this road in cardmaking.  The image is a digi from I Brake for Digis but she is no longer offering digis - you may wish to check and see if she has the snowman in rubber.  He is such a happy little snowman.  I used papers from Crate Paper.  I added a SRM Sticker and May Art Ribbon to finish off the card.

No more cards until after Christmas - maybe I will post a recipe or two.

Oldie Moldie Monday

It is Monday - time to show some love to some older paper.  The majority of this paper is beautiful but just been hidden beneath piles of new paper you love.  At least one day of the week I try to use some of this "unloved paper". 

This grouping from Making Memories is from last year's Christmas Collection.  It is beautiful paper and I had to have it but then never used it.  I may need to have a month or year of using my unloved paper - hmmmmm - sounds like a good New Year's resolution.

My card today is for another set of neighbors - they will receive it with dinner one night this week - need to find out what night they would like to receive dinner all prepared for them. 

The card is based on the sketch at Chupa's blog - Random Acts of Creativity.  She has a sketch each week.  This is the first time I have played along. 

The stamp is from Inkadinkado which I colored with Copics.  I used a Stardust pen over the top of parts of the snowman to add some sparkle to the card.  I also added some vintage stickles along the bottom to make it look like glistening snow.  The sentiment is from Jenni Bowlin.  Of course eerything is pop dotted to add dimension to the card - you can do this when you hand deliver. 

Well I must go start cleaning - I don't think the week is long enough to get everything done so I need to kick myself in gear.  I have a cookie exchange today also - at least I will have lots of different tasting sugar to keep me moving.