Friday, July 30,

I made these card for submissions for holiday cards this year but unfortunately no one wanted my quick and easy card idea. Operation Write Home - on their card blog - Stars and Stamps - the mid week throw down is Christmas - this is such an easy way to get holiday cards with not lots of work. The main focus of the card is a gift tag bought in the tag section - I bought these at Hobby Lobby last year. Kraft is the new "in" neutral so I wanted to play off that.

I made a card base out of kraft paper. Cut green paper to lay on top and then embossed a strip of red cardstock with the Cuddlebug. All the papers were inked with white ink - you can also dry brush white acrylic paint on the edges. I inked around the edges of the tags also.

Card one: the sentiment is right on the tag. All I added was the small green circle to cover the hole on top of the tag and added bling to match the other bling.

Card Two: I used my Prismacolor white colored pencil and highlighted parts of the ornament. The sentiment was a rub on. Once again I added the circle and bling to cover the hole on top.

Now wasn't that an easy way to make some holiday cards - so when the holiday tags are on the shelves - make sure you peruse them thinking about card making. Also if you shop when they are on sale - you can get so much creativity for a small price. I believe I paid $1 for 12 tags (6 of each design) I bought some different ones - but if they have glitter on them - they can not be used for Operation Write Home. Operation Write Home will be getting the majority of these cards but I will have to save a few for my own holiday cards.

Everyone enjoy your day - I am not working - so I am smiling but I am getting estimates on a new furnace/AC unit - so that doesn't make me happy but I will have all my estimates in one day.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Another Halloween card to share tonight - the other night on Facebook - I saw that Stampendous had a sketch challenge on their blog - well I had just colored some of their images and was hoping one would for for the sketch. Yes - it did. So later in the evening I created this card - I couldn't get myself to settle to create earlier in the evening.

I have the day off from work tomorrow - getting estimates on a new furnance and AC unit - ouch - I know that will hurt. I thought I might as well get three in one day and be done with it.

Now I must go because I must start mowing my lawn - I have my lawn divided into zones for mowing - that way - I know I can - I know I can finish that particular zone.

Everyone have a wonderful evening. I do have another monkey colored - you may have to come back and check out that card. Yesterday's post had two cards with the same monkey.

Card Details:
Size: 4.25 x 5.5
Patterned paper: Basic Grey
Stamp: Stampendous colored with Copics
May Arts twine
Letters: Making Memories
Buttons - unknown

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

BOO - trick or treat, smell my feet - give me eye candy - OK I am no poet and I readily admit that. When I was finishing up my degree I signed up for the class Creative Writing - I went to the first class - listened to the professor - left when class was over - immediately dropped the class - I did eventually take a technical writing class - give me the facts - that is the way I write.

I wanted to use the sketch from Operation Write Home's card blog - Stars and Stamps - but none of my paper was talking to me - but I could hear from low chatter from this Halloween grouping - and I knew the stamp I wanted to use - so I now have two Halloween cards for Operation Write Home - they don't need them until later - but by the time I get my next box done - it may be time for me to send Halloween cards. I do have two more images colored so there will be more monkey cards in my future.

I do need to mow my lawn but I don't know if I will get the motivation to do it - we will see.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

Card Details:

Size: 4.25 x 5.5

Paper: Basic Grey

Stamp: Stampendous colored with Copics

Hero Arts Sentiment Stamp

Making Memories Stickers

May Arts Twine

Offray Ribbon

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Good Tuesday morning. Back to work today. Enjoyed a day off yesterday - had an eye doctor appointment and then played the remainder of the day. Great fun. My friend drove her yellow corvette convertible and it was the perfect day for cruising around in an convertible. I even found some good buys - but no paper was bought - but when I got home I did have a package in the mail - I now have the 6 x 6 packs of Basic Grey - Oliver and Olivia - I believe that is the name and some new ribbon. I had run out of brown May Arts twine so I bought 20 yards - hopefully that keeps me going - probably should have bought more.

My card today is based on the sketch at Get Sketchy. A very easy sketch that you can do so much with. If you look at Monday's post - you will see that this card uses the same paper and I made another tissue flower for my accent. It is another card that can work for the clean and simple challenge on the SRM Sticker blog. Stay tuned I am sure there will be more cards made using this paper - I want to use the grouping up.

Alas - I must go get ready for work. Hopefully I find some time to create tonight. It is suppose to be hot and humid but I did hear that the AC has been fixed at work - yeah - I might have had to take another day off if it hadn't been fixed. Everyone have a wonderful day.

Card Details

Size: 4.25 x 5.5

Patterned Paper and base flower: Bo Bunny

Sticker: SRM Stickers

Oldie Moldie Monday, July 26, 2010

Good Monday morning - a quick post before I am off to start my day. It is oldie moldie Monday - time to dig into your supply of paper and show it some love. I love to buy paper - so other paper gets shoeved aside - on Monday's though - I dig some out and try to create with it - to use some of it up - so I can go buy more of course.

My cards today are based on the sketch at Card Positioning System - a very simple sketch but so very versatile. My cards today - one is a belated birthday card for a friend and one is for my cards that I send to Operation Write Home. Operation Write Home is a wonderful way for you to do something worthwhile, creative and it helps you use up your supplies. I sometimes will pick out a grouping of paper and work it all up for my cards. It seems to work really well for me. My cards both work for the SRM Sticker monthly challenge for clean and simple cards.

Once again I visited the world of making your own tissue flowers. I do like how it turned out. I have seen ruffles made with crepe paper - but alas - no crepe paper - so tissue paper works very well also. I believe this red was bought on clearance after Christmas. I just laid down a length of adhesive and started pleating my strip. The flower was made by cutting multiple layers of crepe paper with my Spellbinders.

Everyone have a wonderful way.

Card Details

Size: 4.25 x 5.5

1st card - Bo Bunny Paper

2nd card - scrap of doublesided paper - I believe it was Scrapworks

Cuddlebug Embossing folder

Stickers: SRM Stickers

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Good Sunday afternoon - hope you are enjoying this day. The mugginess has left the area so it is just warm - I turned off the air to let some fresh air into the house. I can only stand the AC on so long. It may come back on for sleeping tonight but at least the house is aired out.

I managed to get some cardmaking done - so I will have something to post on the blog for a couple days. Maybe I can work on some more cards tonight. My daughter is coming to stay the night - she is heading to O Hare airport in the morning on her way to Taiwan. I have been working on dinner all day. I will cook enough for the week for me.

My three cards today are made for Operation Write Home. I have my second box almost ready to go - I ran out of envelopes - 70 envelopes in this box. These cards are the start of the next box. The paper for these cards are leftovers from a card made when my boss retired last year - had to use the paper - it has such fantastic colors. As you can see on several of the cards - I picked up on the circle motif in the patterned paper. The cool coupe image is a digital image that is part of the midweek challenge for Operation Write Home card blog. The image is from Ward's Images. Love the silver dots - reminds me of chrome on a car.

Everyone have a wonderful afternoon. Stop back tomorrow for Oldie Moldie Monday and to see more experiments with tissue paper flowers and a ruffle made from the same tissue paper.

Card Details:

Card size: 4.25 x 5.5

Pattern Paper: Kaiser Scrapbooking

Digital Image: Ward's Images

Sentiment stamp: Hero Arts

Sticker: SRM Stickers and Stampendou

Brads: Imaginisce

Silver dots: Colorbok

Wednesday, July 31, 2010

Give a card maker some scraps and see what she can do. I was cleaning and found a few scraps of this double sided paper - 2 designs. I was able to make two cards for Operation Write Home with this great digital from Integrity Digital Images.

Everyone have a wonderful evening - I am trying to find my crafting area. I have a friend coming to play on Friday night and she needs room to play.

Card Details:

Size: 4.25 x 5.5

Paper: My Mind's Eye

Diecut: Sizzix

May Art Ribbon

Flower - coffee dyed to give it a creamier color

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Good Tuesday morning - way too early to be up - but I guess the body decided I had had enough sleep. I guess that is what happens when you fall asleep on the couch watching a ball game.

My first card is based on the sketch at the Operation Write Home card blog - Stars and Stamps - a wonderfully easy sketch to work with. I actually used some new paper for the first card. After using up so much of that one paper over the week end for kids cards - some new paper deserved some love. The second card was scraps left over from a project a couple years ago - yeah - that paper is all used up.

The wonderful sentiment is a free download from Inktegrity Digital Images. I believe she has a free image each Monday. I thought this sentiment was perfect for cards for Operation Write Home - the sentiment says it all. I have some friends that it would be great for also.

Everyone have a wonderful day.

Card one: Card Two

Size: 4.25 x 5.5 Size: 4.25 x 5.5

Paper: Basic Grey Paper: Chatterbox

Twine: May Arts Twine: May Arts

Button Die Cut: Sizzlet Button Die Cut: Sizzlet

Sentiment: Integrity Digital Images Sentiment: Integrity Digital Images

Oldie Moldie Monday, July 19, 2010

Good morning - a quick post before I head out the door to work. Since it is Monday - it is Oldie Moldie Monday - where you dig into your supplies and make some cards out of paper you have buried. I have found a wonderful organization to make cards for which is helping me use up some of my paper - I do believe it is a never ending battle. The organization is Operation Write Home. They have a call this week for children's cards. I found this grouping of paper and made some girl cards. Last week I made boy cards out of the same grouping.

Everyone have a wonderful day.

Card Details:

Size: 4.25 x 5.5

Patterned Paper: Wright Print Crafters designed by Kelly Rightsell
Sticker: SRM Stickers

Sunday, July 18, 2010 Part 2

The second post of the day - but this challenge ends today so wanted to get my card posted. A Crafty Little Place has a challenge each Tuesday for cardmakers. Their sketches are such fun.

This card is for a co worker on campus who retired. I have worked with Becky the majority of my years on campus. Her knowledge and experience will be missed. I wanted her to know that I am wishing her well on this new adventure in her life.

Card Details:

Size:5 x 6.5

Patterned Paper: Paper Studio from Hobby Lobby

Stamp: Inkadinkado

Ink: Colorbox Chalk Ink by Clearsnap (Chestnut Roan)

Twill and Ribbon: Michael's Dollar Bin

Twine: May Arts - inked with brown ink since I no longer have any brown twine and my source no longer carries it

Button: Unknown

Sticker: SRM Stickers

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Clear and Simple Sketch

Good morning - busy this morning working around the house - wanted to post a couple cards I made last night. Very simple cards.

Card 2 is based on the sketch at Clean and Simple Stamping - I sometimes have a card time doing Simple so a sketch helps me. I just grabbed scraps out of the scrap bin to make this card - I almost did not have enough of the pink to stamp a sentiment - but luckily I found enough space for this particular sentiment.

Card 1 is just a very simple holiday card. I am loving the kraft paper and the dark brown ink combination. This Hero Art snowflake background stamp is fantastic. The sentiment is from another Hero Arts acrylic set. I have lots of this paper that is used as the backgroun that I stamped on and the matting leftover from a former project - If you look back in my posts you will find more cards using this paper. Actually the block is straight on the card - I was trying to take a picture on the branches of the pine tree and the branch was moving a little.

Luckily Moxie Fab has a challenge for Let's Do Clean and Graphic - I am not for sure if they qualify for the clean (I should not let the brown color cloud my vision correct) - the cards are clean and graphic compared to what I create most of the time.

Everyone enjoy the remainder of your day. Trying to do some cooking today for the remainder of the week. So far I have made a lovely soup (Corn Chowder) it will taste good for lunch - the AC is always cool at work so a warm soup will taste wonderful.

Card One:

Stamps: Hero Arts

Ink: Colorbox Chalk Ink (Chestnut Roan) by Clearsnap

Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye

Card Two:

Patterned Paper: Scraps

Stamps: Flower - Unity Stamp Company Sentiment - Memory Box

Ink: Colorbox Chalk Ink (Chestnut Roan) by Clearsnap

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Good evening - I am trying to make some more kid cards for Operation Write Home - getting close to sending in my 2nd box. I just need to do all the final prep work - add the sticker to the back and put liners inside so the soldiers have something to write on.

I am trying to use up paper and dug out this grouping of paper that I had (come back on Monday for Oldie Moldie day and see three more cards from this group - but they are little girl cards). The cards are very simple but they will bring smiles to the soldier's face when he/she is getting it ready to mail to a child - and the child's face when they receive the card. Frogs always make me smile. All the frogs are images on the paper in this grouping - the same with the card from yesterday. The grouping also has stickers so that helps with some of the trim.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

Card Details:
Size: 4.25 x 5.5
Patterned Paper: Wright Print Crafters designed by Kelly Rightsell

Sticker:

Friday, July 16, 2010

Yeah we made it to Friday. I am ready to get caught up on some things around the house this week end and play with some paper also. I got some things in the works for moving things around in my play area. We will see how much of that happens. I still need to get groceries tomorrow.

Tonight's card is a very simple card. I have these papers that I got at CHA several years ago - the images are so cute on the paper. This entire front of the card was made from what was on the one sheet of paper. The bright green is a scrap. Operation Write Home's midweek challenge on Stars and Stamps is to make a kids card. Can't you see some little boy getting this card from his parent who is stationed overseas and of course - when you have a fishing pole in your hands - what would your wish be? The monthly challenge at the SRM Stickers blog is clean and simple - this is pretty simple for me if you have every looked at many of my cards.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

Card Details:

Size: 4.25 x 5.5

Patterned Paper: Wright Print Crafters designed by Kelly Rightsell

Sticker: SRM Stickers

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Good Thursday evening - hope your day was good. Mine went very fast at work today - playing catch up from vacation is hard. Sometimes you wonder why you go on vacation.

Last night I did get a chance to play with some paper. I so wanted to sew on this card but my sewing machine has an issue - it is a computerized machine - so I am afraid to even think of what it might cost - I guess I will call the vendor with the message and see if they can tell me anything - it may be cheaper to just buy an inexpensive machine for my card making and keep it in the basement where I make my cards. I actually ended up doing hand sewing on this card. I wanted the lace on both sides and so had to baste it onto my strip of tea dyed muslin.

To make my tea dyed muslin, I just tear narrow strips of unbleached muslin, brew up some tea - two tea bags to about a cup of water, let it steep for awhile, and then just place my strips in the tea. I let them sit in the tea for awhile and then I will rinse them, wring them out and let them dry. They end up with such a nice color and I love the look on cards. I also tea dyed my lace.

This card was going to be a baby boy card but as it evolved and I kept adding things - it is now a baby girl card - luckily I know a couple baby girls who are going to be born this year. But - I still need that baby boy card. Maybe I will go for a clean and simple style for that one.

This card is based off the sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You. A fun sketch which is really not that difficult to create with - I like sketches like that. It also satisfies the challenge on Moxie Fab for Shabby/Vintage. Paper Crafts is introducing their new publication "Card Style" - I can't wait to see that issue.

Everyone have a wonderful evening. I hope to make another card - maybe that little boy card.

Card Details:
Size - 5 x 7
All paper - Hobby Lobby (love that half price sale new mo jo)
Buttons from my supplies
Lace and muslin from by supplies - tea dyed
Sticker - SRM Stickers
Scallop Border - Papertrey Ink

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Good evening - that first day of work after vacation is a rough one. I was working on a project I need to be ready for at 9 in the morning - almost there - so head in to work early.

I did manage to make a card last night. Luckily the layout is based on the sketch at Operation Write Home's card blog. I need to work on Holiday cards for Operation Write Home so thought I would use this sketch. I love the look of the kraft paper with a pop of color and white ink for your stamping. Also love to use white acrylic paint and dry brush it on the kraft paper. I do hope to make another card tonight but I am tired. Maybe I just need to focus on going to bed and getting ready for work tomorrow.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

Card Details
Stamps: Hero Arts
Kraft paper: Paper Studio
Red: unknown
Ink: Papertrey Ink

Monday, July 12, 2010

Return to reality - vacation is now over and tomorrow - back to work - hopefully my luggage catches up with me - because otherwise - there will be slim pickings for what to wear to work tomorrow. The Outer Banks of North Carolina - excellent vacation get a way - my daughters who are now adults and I - went on vacation together - we had a fantastic time - rented a house just off the beach. I am very relaxed and tan.

Before I left I did start this card - it actually qualifies for Oldie Moldie Monday - anyway the black and white papers - the pinks are leftover from a project. The July challenge on SRM stickers blog is clean and simple - I find it very difficult to do clean and simple. This way be one of those where I had to go that extra step - thus the POP of color in the green flower.

Everyone have a wonderful Monday - I am thinking about a nap.

Card Details:
Size: 4.25 x 5.5
Paper: Black and White - I believe it is Luxe Designs
Pinks: Paper Studio
Sticker: SRM Stickers
Flower and Brad: unknown

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Good evening - we made it through Thursday - yeah - lots to do tonight but last night I found a few minutes to make a card. The card is based on the week end sketch challenge at SRM Stickers blog. I have been wanting to make a card using that sticker - I have lots of Beas in my family - my mom, sister, daughter and great nice. All have the middle name of Bea.

The paper is from Cosmo Cricket - one of their mini decks - I love mini decks - glad I broke it out for this card. Hopefully it does not look like Christmas with the red and green.

Well I must get going and do a few things.

Card Details:
Size: 4.5 x 6.
Card base: Bo Bunny dots
Paper: Cosmo Cricket
Stamp: Whipper Snapper Designs (a Wisconsin store - if you want to drop some money - visit the home store in Brookfield, WI)
Colored with Copics
Clear Stickles
Spellbinders
Ribbon - unknown
Sticker: SRM Stickers