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.

Authentique Paper, Inkadinkado and SRM Stickers Unite

If you are looking for the OWH Hero Arts Skip - click here.

Coordinating Envelope

Frantically working on finishing up my holiday cards - one of the last ones to be made is a card for one of my neighbors - my backward neighbors - no they are not backwards - I just always make their cards so they open on the wrong side.  The first time I made a card for the family - I accidentally made it to open the wrong way and did not have time to fix it - so all cards for this family - open from the backside. 

I combined two challenges for this - I used the sketch from Clean and Simple Stamping and the challenge to make a coordinating envelope on CAS Friday.  Since the envelope and card will be hand delivered I an dress the envelope up as much as I want.  I deliver dinner one night to them - soup, bread and dessert - I know during the holiday season when you have a busy family life - this is much appreciated. 

I love this snowman stamp by Inkadinkado - you can dress him up with some great colorsin his scarf and ear muffs.  I used my glitter pen to add sparkle to the scarf stripes, fringe, hat band and ear muffs.  Authentique Paper has this wonderful Christmas collection which almost makes a card by itself.  The addition of a great holiday sticker from SRM Stickers finishes off the card.

Well off to clean the refrigerator - sorry you are jealous of my wild and crazy life.



Operation Write Home - Welcome to our Hero Art SKIP

Welcome to the last stop on our "Happy Hour Skip" - creativity makes me happy and being Friday makes me Happy also plus I am not working next week. 

If you came from Sandy's blog - then you are in the right spot.  We are featuring the three stamp sets that Hero Arts just released in partnership with Operation Write Home.  I have used the set "All The Time" on my card - it has some great sentiments to go along with the two clock faces. 

I had the red doily heart which I am sure I bought last year at the end of the valentine card season - I think it makes such a great backdrop for the clock face.  The paper I used is a double sided paper from October Afternoon so it made it easy to coordinate the papers in the card.  The clock face and sentiment are pop dotted.

Remember you can win one of these wonderful sets by just leaving comments along the way.
OWH is giving away one of each of the Hero Arts stamp sets, and the 3 winners will be picked from all comments on all the blogs in the skip - the more blogs you comment on, the more entries you have! Winners will be drawn Sunday night.  How easy is that.

I hope you have enjoyed our "Creative Happy Hour".

Hello



Just a quick post sharing a card I made for a friend - to just say HELLO - don't you love my $1 stamp from Michael's - it will be great for Operation Write Home cards - because how nice to say HELLO to someone special.

Not to rush the week - but I wish it was Saturday afternoon.

Orange You Glad It is Christmas

Did you know that a certain shade of orange has been named the color for the upcoming year.  I started using orange more because it is the favorite color of one of my workers.  Guess who this card is for.  Try using orange - it is quite fun to use.  The colors for the holidays are quite bright - this is a combination of several different paper companies, My Little Yellow Bicycle (a double sided orange patterned paper), Echo Park, My Mind's Eye and who knows what other paper jumped on this card.  I do like it.

This co worker also has a thing for monkeys - thus the monkey card.  The stamp is by Stampendous.  It was colored with Copics and the lights, hat, and wire are highlighted with a Stardust pen to add sparkle to the card. 

The card is loosely based on the weekly sketch at Card Patterns.  I always "loosely" follow sketches.

Everyone have a wonderful Tuesday.

Oldie Moldie Monday

It is Oldie Moldie Monday - the day to show some love for those old supplies you have in your stash.  Yes - some of it is ugly and you can't do anything with it but the majority of it is still wonderful paper - it just needs some creativity added to it.

I am still working on my own personal holiday cards.  This card is for one of my staff members - I am very blessed to have some wonderful people work for me. 

This paper is last year's Christmas collection from My Mind's Eye.  I had bought a packet of it so have some die cuts that match also.  The stamp is from Hampton Art - I love this snowman - he has a vintage feel to him. 

The design is based on the sketch at The Sweet Stop.  This layout if probably one of my favorites and you will find many versions of it throughout my blog. 

Everyone enjoy your Monday.

Hero Arts and Operation Write Home - What a Team

Today I am sharing my card based on today's sketch on Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps blog - I used the new stamp set from Hero Arts - All The Time - which was created in partnership with Operation Write Home. 

I used some paper from Authentique.  They have the most yummy paper. 

Of course, my card took a turn down on the sketch and I flipped it.  I wanted room to add the sentiment under the clock.  I think this is a great masculine card. 

Everyone enjoy your sunday - I am going to brave the grocery store and Kohl's. 

Authentique Paper, Hampton Arts, Penny Black - another Holiday card made

Are you all frantically working on completing your holiday cards like me - I need to clean up my ara so we can eat dinner down here so I need to start cleaning soon.  Picture BIG MESS.

Authentique Paper has a sketch challenge on their blog for the month of December.  I decided to put my spin on the sketch.  Of course, when I do a sketch - my spinning sometimes goes way out of control.  I do like the final result though and I know the recipient will appreciate it also.



For fun and excitement today I plan on cleaning my refrigerator - I know - don't be jealous of me plus I need to head out soon to the post office to mail out some lumpy holiday cards.  Hope you have a creative day. 

Card recipe:
Sketch - Authentique card blog
Paper - Authentique - 6 x 6 Wonder
Snowman stamp - Hampton Art
Sentiment - Penny Black
Snowflakes, pearls, muslin from my supplies
Ink - Colorbox Chalk Ink

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.

Inkadinkado and Echo Park Paper Company

Got one more card made last night for the holidays - a friend had a sweet little weiner dog so I try to maker her cards like this sometimes. 

The stamp is from Inkadinkado - one that you can buy for a $1 or $2 - depending on where you buy it.  I stamped it on patterned paper and colored it with Copics.  The paper is from Echo Park Paper Company - great Christmas grouping of reds and greens.  An SRM Sticker added the finishing touch to my card along with some ribbon like twill tape.

Everyone have a wonderful week end.  Day off work tomorrow to do some playing. 

Echo Park Paper Company and SRM Sticker

Echo Park Paper Company has a contest to make a holiday card and send to them - this is the card I am sending to them.  I have made this design before.  It is a smaller size and I enjoy making this size.  This little snowman stamp has been in my collection for years - glad I could get him out and use him again.  I added an SRM Sticker for the sentiment.

Everyone enjoy your evening.

Oldie Moldie Monday

Oldie Monday - show some love to your older collection of paper and believe me I have lots.  I just went and grabbed one of my must haves (6 x 6 pads) from Basic Grey.  I then grabbed a sentiment stamp I had gotten on clearance at Michaels and there is the base of my card.

There is a challenge on the Operation Write Home blog Stars and Stamps to make cards with just sentiments on them.  I do believe these qualify.  ODBD is sponsoring this challenge - for each 25 cards entered in the challenge in the month of December - they will pay for a box of cards to be mailed overseas to our heroes.  Last month we got enough cards to mail two boxes - hopefully the same thing happens this month - you can only enter once though. 

Isn't this stamp fun - I got it for about $1.50 at Michael's on clearance.  This is the first time I inked it up. I really do like it and I popped those buttons on to add a little extra embellishment.

Please go dig into your old paper - it is still beautiful - and show it some love.

My Mind's Eye Sketch, SRM Sticker and Hero Arts

Frantically working on my own personal Christmas cards - I would like to get some in the mail this week.  I hope.

I have two cards I am sharing today.  Both cards are made with the "12 Days of Christmas" collection by My Mind's Eye.  I liked it so well I have bought two 6 x 6 pads - I do believe I have lost my memory when it comes to buying 6 x 6 pads.  Good thing I really like this paper.  Maybe I should look for some embellishments that match.  (Insert smile).  My Mind's Eye has a card sketch for the month of December and this card is based on their sketch.  Fun sketch.  You can do so much with circles - maybe I will make another one later one.  I used my Hero Arts stamp set that has the coordinating die cuts for the snowman.  I stamp him and then cut him out and add to my circle and trim off the excess snowman.  Good way for him to lose a little weight.  It seemed a little naked so I had to add a little bow to the design.  Plop on a great sticker sentiment from SRM Stickers and I have one more holiday card made - it is going to a family with three children.

The second card is basically a smaller version of the other card shape using a very old snowman stamp I have.  I cut the image out so it looks so cute sitting on the mat.  The snowflake I found in clearance - it is suppose to be something you scatter on your table - not me - they are perfect for card embellishments.  I added a little bling to the two snowflakes.

Everyone enjoy the remainder of your day.  Packer game to watch later in the day and the Wisconsin Badgers are heading to the Rose Bowl and are the first time every - Big 10 Champions.  If only the UW Madison men's basketball team could have beaten Marquette.  UW Whitewater won their quarter final in their quest to return to the Divisoin 3 championships.  Go Warhawks.

My Mind's Eye, SRM Stickers and Unity Stamps = Holiday Card

Good afternoon - good news - I survived my cold - now I need to kick it in gear and get some things done for the holidays.  Of course, I am still working on my holiday cards.  I now have another one done in some non traditional colors. 

The paper is from My Mind's Eye - their Christmas collection from this year.  fun colors.  The stamp is by Unity Stamps.  I colored it with Copics.  It is hard to tell from the picture but I chalked the white on the image so it is a lovely shade of pink.  Breaks up all that white.  There was some great patterned paper in the collection that I could have stamped on - maybe the next card I make with this paper.   I added some bling to the card also.  It is also hard to see but everything on the stamped imaged is outlined with a Stardust pen.  A great sticker from SRM Stickers finishes off the card.

The card design is from Cardabilities. 

Everyone have a wonderful day - I hope you are accomplishing lots.