We R Memory Keepers, Hero Arts and Clean and Simple Stamping

I know it doesn't look clean and simple - but really it is - it is all paper - beautiful paper from We R Memory Keepers with a very vintage feel to it.  The flower is from Hero Arts - it is one of the stamp sets that has the coordinating die cuts.  The paper is so beautiful I just stamped it with VersaMark and clear embossed the flowers.  The gem is from Imaginisce.  The sentiment is also from Hero Arts.

The layout for the card is the sketch from Clean and Simple Stamping.  A very versatile sketch.  The card will be going in my Operation Write Home box.

Tomorrow is Friday - yeah - why do four day work weeks seem like 8 day work weeks.  Enjoy your evening - I had dinner and a beer with a friend tonight - felt good to unwind a little after work.

Happy Retirement and Art Impressions

My assistant retired today - she has worked part time for me for about the last 7 years - a wonderful person to work with - but alas - the golf course and her grandsons are pulling at her heartstrings and she is leaving me behind.  Diana loves to golf and I had bought this die cut from Art Impressions at a local scrapbook show and was going to make her a card - but I got this idea to make a canvas for her.  I am very happy with how it turned out - it is a 5 x 7 canvas which is covered with paper and the scene put on the paper.  On the back of the canvas I had folded card stock and we all wrote our good byes and best wishes on this - don't you think this was much better than a card.

Now to hire a replacement.

Happy Birthday Kristine

Wanted to share a birthday card I made for Kristine Johnson from Wisconsin who works on a cruise ship stationed out of Hawaii.  Oh my - I do feel so sorry for her.

The image is free from Melon Headz Illustrating.  The paper is by Imaginisce.

Enjoy your day.

Another Monday Post - not Oldie Moldie

I need to post my card for the Our Daily Bread Designs challenge for Operation Write Home which is to use 5 elements on our card.
Here we go.

Designer Paper and lots of  layering (Authentique Paper_
Die Cut  (Spellbinders)
Twine  May Arts
Stamped Sentiments and Eagle (Paper Smooches)
Coloring with Copics

This post also works for the Play Date Cafe challenge of baby blue, denim and cherry.

Oldie Moldie Monday

Good morning - oldie moldie Monday - time to show some love to some old supplies.  I have used lots of this paper from this 6 x 6 Basic Grey pad so today the cards are using scraps in the pad.  I always keep my scraps inside the pad so when I pull it out to create - I have all that paper scraps to create with.

Two more cards for my Operation Write Home box.

Enjoy your Memorial Day - remember our military and their families.

Operation Write Home Memorial Day Blog Hop

Stars and Stamps - Blog Hop Starting Point

Today Operation Write Home is sponsoring a blog hop.  Everyone is asked to use one of the sketches that are posted every Sunday on Stars and Stamps.  Are you ever frustrated and don't have any mo jo - there are over 100 sketches to help you get started with your creativity.

I chose Sketch 83.   I know when you look at the sketch you will say that sketch used four different pieces of paper - well I cheat - I just cut strips of paper to mimic the look of the spaces between the pieces of paper.  I would work forever in trying to get everything straight enough for me - I could probably have several cards made before I threw away the one I ruined picking up the glued pieces and trying to straighten them.  

I chose to use the new stamp set from Paper Smooches.  Part of the proceeds from this stamp set will be donated to Operation Write Home.  Thank you.  The paper is for Authentique - their new patriotic line.

Everyone have a wonderful week end hopping.  

Moxie Fab and CAS-ual Friday Challenge

I combined two challenges to make this very belated birthday card.  The card has been running around in my mind so the two challenges made it come to life.  The two challenges are Moxie Fab Blog's gingham challenge and CAS-ual Friday to use die cuts.

I die cut the card shape from watercolor paper.  The top layer was covered with a piece of My Mind's Eye paper for an interesting background (something rather than plain white).  I then used my new Hero Arts stamp and coordinating die cut for the flower.  I colored it with Copics.  The gingham is from a new paper collection from Bazzill - fun paper and a great weight.  The sentiment (Iwanted something small - was laying on the table - so who knows its origins.  The ribbon is May Arts I believe and the bling is from Hobby Lobby.

Oldie Moldie Monday and Clean and Simple Stamping

Oldie Moldie Monday - time to show some love to some old supplies - today it is old paper - although a couple new pieces were used for accents.  They were scraps though - so that should count correct.

The paper pad is from SEI.  It has glitter on it so I do not use it for my cards for Operation Write Home - glitter can put a soldier in danger so even though it is embedded - I don't take a chance.  I think I will send this to my Mom someday for just a little pick up.  I used the sketch from Clean and Simple Stamping.  A good sketch - maybe mine is not so clean and simple because I used patterned paper. 

The sentiment and flower are from Hero Arts.  I stamped the flower and the banner behind the sentiment are from the Lawn Fawn 6 x 6 paper pad.  I have enjoyed using that paper and those scraps fit perfectly with the colors in my oldie moldie paper.  I added glitter to the center of the flower and then to the center of all the little flowers in the patterned paper. 

Enjoy your Monday.

Play Date Cafe - Black/White - Splash of Yellow

The Challenge on the Play Date Cafe is

Black...White...and a

'SPLASH' of Mustard Yellow

I decided to play along since I had all this yellow sitting around from cutting out some table markers for a wedding.  I will be using yellow in my cardmaking for a few months.  I did post one card earlier in the week.

I cut the design with my Silhouette.   Behind the flowers is one of the Bo Bunny color on color designs.  Unfortunately this was a very difficult card to photograph.  I think I took a dozen shots and this is the best one I got.  I added the pearls and gems to the center of the flowers.  The pearls are my white.  It also has a beautiful black bow on it.

Thanks for stopping by.  Wow - two posts in one day.

Operation Write Home Sunday Sketch and My Mind's Eye

Here is my card for todays sketch on the Operation Write Home card site - Stars and Stamps - I found it a little difficult to work with because the focal image is quite small - but I did find a stamp that worked for the rectangle.  I then added the sentiment below the image - which was not part of the sketch.

Of course, I knew exactly what paper I wanted to use - well I could not locate it but I did have this paper from My Mind's Eye - and it had some good colors to make a masculine card. 

The fish stamp is by Stampabilities and the sentiment is from Hero Arts. 

Everyone have a wonderful day - I need to go get groceries for a couple weeks - work will be horribly busy for the next six weeks - so will not want to do much in the evening - so must prepare myself to survive. 

Stampers Best, Operation Write Home and Armed Forces Day - A Celebration

Today is Armed Forces Day and Operation Write Home is celebrating with a small blog hop - or as we like to call it - SKIP - since it is a small number.  You know OWH blog hops can be huge and we have one coming up on Memorial Day - have you signed up yet.

Today our SKIP features the Operation Write Home fundraiser stamps from Stampers Best.  All the stamps we get to stamp the back of our cards are generously donated by Stampers Best - but they have many stamps for Operation Write Home - of which - $1 - is donated to Operation Write Home.  But down further - you will see the opportunity Stampers Best is offering this week end to double the donation for Operation Write Home.

Here are the two cards I made.  I wanted to show that you do not always need images to make a beautiful and meaningful card.  I used the sentiments from this set by Stampers Best.  Add some beautiful patterned paper (who doesn't love patterned paper) - and you have a card that is made to be sent to a hero.

Here is the wonderful opportunity Stampers Best is offering you Saturday, Sunday and Monday. 

1) StampersBest will DOUBLE the donation to OWH for any fundraiser stamps purchased this weekend, i.e. for each fundraiser stamp sold, $2 will go to OWH!

2) For every order that includes an OWH Fundraiser stamp, you get a FREE Statue of Liberty ClingStamp

3) As always, all orders over $35 get free shipping (USA). As a BONUS offer, any orders over $35 that include at least 1 OWH Fundraiser stamp, will also receive a FREE 3-Pack of Clear ClingStamp Storage Cards ($5 value).

These specials apply to orders placed Saturday, Sunday and Monday only.

One of my cards is being sent to a family I have met through card making - I featured them on a blog hop several years ago on Memorial Day - the Ty Edwards family - Ty was wounded in Afghanistan - so I believe not only is he a hero but also his wonderful family Anna and their two children.

I hope you have enjoyed the skip today - it started on Stars and Stamps.  Make sure you sign up for the blog hop. 

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.  

Hello

I think I should have said Hello Sunshine with all those bright circles on there.  The yellow was leftover from some things I had cut on the Silhouette and I did not want the yellow scraps to go to waste.  I stamped the little stamp from Stampendous on the yellow and colored with Copics.  I had the yellow circle left from the project also.  The patterned paper is from Lawn Fawn.  I matted the white embossed background with more leftover yellow.

This will be going to a friend who had some surgery - thought she would appreciate the bright colors.

Enjoy your day. 

Oldie Moldie Monday

Oldie Moldie Monday - time to show some love to some older paper/supplies.  Last Monday I used this same paper grouping but in the paper was a little car and I knew I had a stamp that would work with the paper.  Guess what - it was right where I thought it was - I know you are totally amazed by me be able to find it.  the paper is by Cosmo Cricket and the stamp is a $1 stamp from long ago.

This card will go in my next Operation Write Home Box - trying to get an even balance of boys, girls, men and women cards.  I thought some little boy would like to receive this card. 

Hopefully this week I will get some more cards made.  Normally I have a couple cards for Oldie Moldie Monday - but it was a busy week end - but there is a teal colored car sitting on the design table. 

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day everyone.  I will be spending today with my Mom - she is 93 and we are blessed she is still in our lives. 

My card share today is a card for Operation Write Home - (wierd angle on the photo taking so the image looks uncentered on the card) or I definately need to get that new prescription on my glasses. 

This is the sketch on Operation Write Home's card blog - Stars and Stamps - every Sunday there is a new sketch to help your creativity. 

The image is from Stampendous.  Sentiment from Hero Arts and the paper is Lawn Fawn.  Great colors in this 6 x 6 pad. 

Everyone have a wonderful day.

Lawn Fawn and Card Posiitoning System

We had someone new start in the office - she had worked for me as a graduate assistant - but got hired into a position in the office so I made her a "welcome to the jungle" card.  Somedays it is a real jungle and today was one of them.

I was able to find the 6 x 6 pad from Lawn Fawn - great colors in it and great prints for cards - the design for the card is based on the sketch at Card Patterns.  I covered a large brad with orange paper for my accent piece, another small circle and some bling.  The sentiment was generated on the computer.

Have a wonderful HUMP DAY.

Oldie Moldie Monday

Oldie Moldie Monday - time to show some love for some older paper you have in your supplies.  I don't know if this paper is too old but I haven't created with too much of it - so I need to get busy.  In fact - next week - I may use it again - if I can locate the stamp I want to use.

The paper is a 6 x 6 pad from Cosmo Cricket - Joy Ridge.  The stamp is from Stampabilities.  The happy hello sentiment is from Unity Stamps and the Happy Birthday is from Hero Arts.  I thought it should be a birthday card since I used the numbers patterned paper on the card. 

These cards are going in my Operation Write Home box.  I am trying to mix up my box more this time.  Last week I made a girl card so this week I wanted to make some boy cards.  I think the robot is co cute - and pretty easy to color.

So dig out some old paper - and show it some love - just think - you are probably a better cardmaker than you were when you bought it - and so your cards will be fantastic.

Authentique, Imaginisce, and Operate Write Home Unite

Sunday - the time to get up and do the sketch on Operation Write Home's card blog Stars and Stamps - this way I get some mojo flowing for the day.

I started out with the bottom cards and they just did not come together - designs too large - or something to reflect the sketch but I was able to salvage the designs into some cards for my box.  So next I went to a new pad from Authentique.  Yummy blues - somewhat reminds me of tattered and worn denim with a touch of sunflower added to the mix.  Of course with any sketch and any patterned paper - you must work with the designs on the paper.  My sentiment maybe higher on the card but I did want to show two rows of the very popular chevron and that row had more yellow in it.  The stamp is from Hero Arts - a favorite one for Operation Write Home cards.  I was looking for a brad - and I found this perfect one - it is an old one from Imaginisce.  Unfortunately I did not have an oval that fit across the card the correct way.

Well the yard must be mowed today and hopefully get some groceries bought - we will see how the day goes.  Right now between work and stuff that needs to be done at home - I can not keep up but I will make it through. 

Have a wonderful day and I hoe you get to spend some time being creative - hopefully you get to be a REBEL and play along in some of the challenges.

NSD, Hero Arts, We R Memory Keepers

Good morning - National Scrapbooking Day today - and I must thank the scrapbooking industry because without you - cardmaking would be no fun.  You supply us with all that great paper - I must confess - I am a paperaholic.

Today my card is based on the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches - hopefully it is not overdone for their challenge - what can I say - I am a paperaholic - and I had this new pad from We R Memory Keepers and these new stamps from Hero Arts that I wanted to try out.  I clear embossed the flowers on top of the patterned paper.  I was going to ink the edges of the flowers so the embossing stood out a little but I am hurrying this morning - I have a baby staying with me and I know she will be waking shortly.

Here is the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches. 

Everyone enjoy your day I hope to be creative later today - I want to make a mother's day card for the little one to send her mom - how does purple paint (her Mom's favorite color) sound and either a foot or hand print.  

Merry Monday and Bo Bunny

Happy thursday - we had a Cinco de Mayo party/potluck at  work today.  Yummy - I probably should not eat for several days.  I made a new bar cookie recipe - it was a big hit - and it was so easy to do.  I will have to share someday coming up.  Stay tuned.

My card today (which has been done since Tuesday) is for the Merry Monday challenge - a new sketch every Monday to help you get your Christmas cards made - I missed last week - I was a little bummed but did get one done for this week's sketch.

I had never used this set of stamps before - it is from TPC - one color stamping - sometimes that is all you can handle when you need to make holiday cards.  No coloring - just stamping - I knew the paper I wanted to use - but unfortunately I could not find that paper - but I did find this old grouping from Bo Bunny (this probably should be an Oldie Monday post).  Love the old fashioned colors in the grouping - Worked well with the Dark Brown Colorbox Chalk Ink I stamped the sentiment and image in.  I dicut the image out with a spellbinder.  Forgive me I did stray from the sketch - I moved my stripe more to the left - not much was showing.  The image and sentiment are pop dotted.  Added a May Arts twine bow to finish the card off.

Thanks for stopping by - I need to go clean/clear - I have an 18 month old guest coming tomorrow night - so need to get things put away.  Have a good evening.

Springtime, Summertime, Jillibean Soup and Operation Write Home

Stars and Stamps - Operation Write Home's card blog - has "summertime" as their midweek challenge.  I am just squeeking in on this challenge.

How much more summer could you get than strawberries and a gingham table cloth.  I got a 6 x 6 pad while shopping this week end and the strawberry paper is from the pad - I had also bought the 12 x 12 piece of paper - it has the strawberries on one side and the green gingham on the backside.  The lace is from the lace bag.  It is gorgeous and finished on both edges.  I made sure there was red behind the holes in the lace so they showed up.  The stamp is from Hero Arts.

The challenge on The Pink Elephant is a spring time card - in Wisconsin - Winter/Spring/Summer all tend to come together - so I am sharing it with them for a spring time card also.  With the weather we had in March - many of the strawberry fields were already to bloom - hopefully we will get some strawberries this year fresh from the patch.  Nothing is better.

One card will go to Operation Write Home and one will go to my mother.

Have a good day.