Anything Goes

Good morning - it is Friday - it is a 3 day week end - yeah.  A quick post to share a holiday card I made.  I made the card from a  sketch from Merry Monday.  The paper is an old collection from Cosmo Cricket - but it has the traditional holiday colors and designs.  I think I will just use this grouping of paper over the week end and make some more cards for my Operation Write Home box.  I kept the card flat for easier mailing.  The greeting is pop dotted so there is just a little dimension.  Here is the sketch.

Simon Says Stamp blog also has a challenge "anything goes" so my card is going over there also.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.

Silhouette Cameo meets Authentique Paper

Yes I know it is only the end of August and she has made a card for 2013.  I know what you are saying - she won't even know where this card is when it gets time to put it in the mail.  Well - I promise to try my hardest not to bury it.

I combined two challenges for this card.  There is a new blog challenge on the block - it is for the Silhouette - I have had mine since the end of last year and need to use it more so I was excited to see this challenge site.  I did not get the first challenge made but hope to do each one from now on - it helps that they are two weeks long.  The current challenge is to use numbers.  Now I have a jump start on the new year.  I thought the addition of the sticker from SRM Stickers was a fun idea - Hello 2013.

The second challenge is the color challenge on the Authentique paper blog.

The challenge is to use yellow, teal and navy blue - of course - they have much cooler color names than that. I just bought a new 6 x 6 pad last week end and it had the perfect papers for this challenge - I used the paper collection - Curiosity.  If you have not had the pleasure of using Authentique paper - pick some up - it has beautiful weight to it.  It is double sided and the back side is a solid that coordinates with the papers in the collection.

Everyone have a wonderful day.  Looking forward to a three day week end - although I may go to work one day - it will be quiet and I will get lots done.

CAS-UAL Friday and Hero Arts

The challenge on CAS-UAL Friday is to use Banners.  This should be another Oldie Moldie Monday post (did a card yesterday using this same paper) - I have had this 6 x 6 pad from Kaiser Scrapbooking for awhile.  I recently got these large holiday sentiments from Hero Arts - I really like their look on a card.

This card is going in my Operation Write Home box for the holidays.

Everyone enjoy your Wednesday.

Retro Sketches, Kaiser Scrapbooking and Operation Write Home

Good Tuesday - time to share a card made for the sketch challenge on Retro Sketches.

This could have been a Oldie Moldie Monday post because I have had this 6 x 6 pad from Kaiser Scrapbooking for sometime.  The Santa image was on one of the pieces of paper I had trimmed up to use for a background.  I could not let this image go to waste.  The weekly sketch from Retro Sketches fit the Santa Image perfectly.  I did not add a big bow - just the sentiment - because the card will be going into my Operation Write Home box.

I am also using the card for the Focal Point challenge on Moxie Fab.  They have a fabulous new edition out that focuses on design.  Sometimes you do things on your card and you don't know why - well now I know - somethings I had never heard of - gallon, quart, pint (I think).

Oldie Moldie Monday

Good Monday morning - time to share my Oldie Moldie Monday card - showing some love to some old supplies.  The paper is actually only from 2011 so it is just a little dusty.

I had this paper pad from My Mind's Eye out yesterday for my sketch challenge card for Operation Write Home.  This card is also for Operation Write Home.  I guess it could be for Valentine's Day but I think it could be a general love card.

The card is based on the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.

The stamps are from Hero Arts - a set I got from Hero Arts - because I had a card published using their stamps.  They have a great incentive program.  I added Glossy Accents to the flower and then to all the hearts.  The pink hearts and flower circle are pop dotted for some dimension.

So dig out those oldie moldie paper and supplies and show them some love.  They still make great cards.

Hero Arts, My Mind's Eye and Operation Write Home

Good Sunday morning - time to share my card for the Sunday sketch on Stars and Stripes (Operation Write Home's Card Blog).

I recently had a card published in Paper Crafts using Hero Arts stamps and they have an incentive if you get cards published using their stamps - they send you free stamps.  This is one of the free stamps I picked - I thought it would be great for anniversary or love cards for Operation Write Home.  I guess someone could send it home for a wedding card also if they knew someone getting married while they are deployed.

The paper is from My Mind's Eye.  A very pretty grouping - one of the 6 x 6 pads - in my growing collection of 6 x 6 pads.  Everything was blending together and then I decided to find some blue to use as a matting color.  It did help the paper so it did not fade into each other.  You will notice I moved my embellishment to the top other side - I did this because I thought it would look funny near the wheels - there was that open space above the seats so it looked like a logical spot for me to put a sentiment.  I used one of the great sticker sentiments from SRM Stickers.  Love their stickers.  The sentiment and image are both pop dotted.

I hope you have fun with the sketch this week.  Have a wonderful Sunday - and if you have not yet done the PIZZAZ skip - please go do it - lots of great ideas there - and there is a prize to be given.  Hmmmmm - maybe I should do glossy accents on the bike frame, or maybe add some bling somewhere - or maybe I should just leave well enough alone since the card is finished.

Operation Write Home SKIP - PIZZAZ

Look at me - I am a Plain Jane - I have nothing pizzazy going for me - I know Barb could do lots more with me and these papers.  

So Barb - did a few fun things for me.  She colored me with her Copics.  Barb is not a wonderful coloring person but she knows enough to add color to the images.  For this SKIP - she broke out her bottle of Glossy Accents.  My hat band, bird, earmuffs and the stripes on the scarf now have added dimension.  She liked it so well - she did it on all the cards.  Luckily she had enough coffee in her so that she could see when she did this.  Did you notice how I am not surrounded by white?  She got out her chalks and a cotton ball and rubbed chalk around me.  I like being surrounded by color.  The background card stock is embossed with a Cuddlebug embossing folder.  She added a winter sentiment (now I am not just for Christmas but a card that can be used for all the cold months).  She added a snowflake brad and some bling.  I am pop dotted for extra dimension.

On this card - everything is almost the same - except Barb broke out the paint and put it inside the embossing folder.  The paint has some sheen to it - so I am shiny and silvery.

OK - I am suppose to be at the bottom but I am so beautiful I did not want to be last.  On this card she embossed me with white embossing powder and a snowflake background stamp.  She inked the edges of the embossed card stock.  I was matted with white so my background pops.  

OK - I am last but not the least - that is the number 1 card - he is such a loser.  On this card Barb embossed me with the Cuddlebug folder and then she rubbed me (how lovely that felt) with VersaMark and then she sprinkled me with clear embossing powder and warmed me to the core.  I shine so beautifully but I am clear.

Do you think these cards make me look fat?

I think I just look really pizzazzy.

Snowflake kisses to all of you.

Wasn't this fun looking at all the different way to do Pizzaz.  Please revisit Stars and Stamps and leave a comment telling how you are going to add Pizzaz to your cards.

Oldie Moldie Monday

Oldie Moldie Monday - time to show some love to some old paper or supplies.  This paper manufacturer is no longer in business.  I love the color purple with snowmen.  The card base and matting are recycled card stock - repurposed fronts and backs of programs.  The white background is embossed with a folder from Cuddlebug.

The card design is based on the weekly sketch at Retro Sketches.

The stamp is by Inkadinkado.  The sentiment is attached to cardstock colored with Copics to match the scarf on the snowman.  The sentiment is by SRM Stickers.  If you wish to see another card using this same stamp - pop over to Flicker.

Operation Write Home, Little Yellow Bicycle - take two

Trying to jump start my MOJO - not working real well - I struggled this morning with the card based on this week's sketch on the Operation Write Home card blog - Stars and Stamps.  Everything I had in my head did not pan out - my embellishment did not work - but this is the card I came up with for the sketch.

This is the same paper I used for last week's sketch.  The stamp is from Hero Arts and I embossed it rather than just plain stamping - the button is made with the Martha Stewart button punch - it embosses the button when you punch it out - I just put several layers together to give it a little body.

Everyone enjoy your Sunday.

Riley the Moose Goes to School

The challenge on the Riley and Company Blog is to make something with Riley for back to school - so I don't know who is saying "hooray" - is it the kids going back or is it the parents - we know it is probably not the teachers.  I love that smiley balloon.  I am going to use this stamp for some Operation Write Home cards - Riley will bring smiles to everyone who sees the card.

I used paper from the 6 x 6 pad from Little Yellow Bicycle named Escape.  The addition of an SRM Sticker and some baker twine finishes off the card.  The image and sentiment are pop dotted.

Have a wonderful Friday.

Stampendous and Christmas

Today I am sharing a card I made for Christmas - last week Simon Says Stamp had a challenge to use paint - well I had so much fun - I had to try something else with paint - it is kinda a new remembered technique to use.  I am entering it in their challenge - to use a favorite technique.

I made the background for the Believe with two shades of acrylic paint and white acrylic paint.  The believe was stamped with Versa Mark and heat embossed with the Hero Arts white embossing powder - I really liked that powder.  The card was suppose to be horizontal card but I did not like it.  It was also suppose to have silver cord wound around it and a big bow.  Those ideas did not fly.  And then would you believe I had no big white ribbon.  The navy matches the painted watercolor paper - it was dry embossed with a Sizzix folder.  The Believe panel is pop dotted on the front of the card.

I am also entering this card in the Stampendous monthly challenge for making the sentiment the focus of your card.  I believe I did that.

Have a wonderful evening.

Oldie Moldie Monday

Monday - time to show some love to some of your old supplies - this pear paper - 8 x 8 sheet - is from Making Memories I believe.  I thought it would make some great "love" cards with a good pun for Operation Write Home - Great Pear - the gold is paper from Bo Bunny and the brown is another old sheet along with the red.

The sentiment was created on the computer.  I know there is another 8 x 8 sheet of that pear paper somewhere around here.

Have a good day.

Little Yellow Bicycle, SRM Stickers and Operation Write Home

It is Sunday - time to get your Operation Write Home - Stars and Stamps sketch going.  It is my jump start to hopefully a little creativity for Sunday.  Sometimes I need to get my cards done on the week end for the week because work - sometimes just drains the creativity right out of your soul.  I hate that when it happens.

I think people wonder how I get the sketch done so early in the morning - well for the most part I am an early riser - today worse than normal 3 something in the morning - my dishes are done - sketch plus one more card done.  I will then shower and go get groceries and possibly take a snooze after that - we will see. But back to the sketch - I usually have an idea on Saturday night what paper I want to use, I will sometimes already have a couple images ready to go also that coordinate with the paper.  Once I see the sketch - hopefully some of the things I have pre-determined will work.  Today it did.  Plus you get a second card - lucky OWH.  Isn't this the cutest paper from Little Yellow Bicycle - plus it is double sided.  The red and brown I used were on the design table from my Oldie Moldie Monday creations (come back tomorrow for three cards).  The stamp is a dollar stamp I bought somewhere - but it is great for love cards for OWH.

Here is the second card using the strip of owls on the paper.  With the addition of an SRM Sticker - I have another fall love card.

Everyone enjoy your Sunday.

Eat Cake Graphics and Basic Grey

Good afternoon - thought I would try to get a birthday card made - need to send it out this week - the design is based on the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches - but I think it is too busy for them so I won't post it on their blog - I like all the patterned paper.

The dog and sentiment are from Eat Cake Graphics.  I wanted to add a little blue to the sky - well plop - and there is lots of blue - oh well - I think it looks OK.  Hopefully it brings a smile to Morgan's face when she gets it.

Penny Black and SRM Stickers and Paint

Got my fingers all painty for this card.  I do love to play with paint and stuff - but usually do not take the time to do it.  The background paper is watercolor paper which is colored with acrylic paint.  I swiped a taupe color paint over the paper and then I dabbed on orange and a lightish tealish green.  I really like the color - it is so warm.  I then stamped the Penny Black tree in dark brown Colorbox Chalk Ink.  I used a SRM Sticker to add a sentiment to the card.  I was lucky I had to trim off a little strip so my sentiment strip matched the card background.

I am entering this card in three challenges.
Paint - Simon Says Stamp and Show
Fall Card - Oozak
Square Card - Cas-ual Friday

Yeah the week end is here - it is cool here in Wisconsin - so I plan on opening up the house and getting fresh air in and doing lots of clearing/cleaning and hopefully some creating.

Operation Write Home Kid's Cards

The midweek challenge on Stars and Stamps - Operation Write Home's card blog - is to make kids cards.  I decided I had to be fair so I made a boy and a girl card.

Boy Card
Robot Stamp - Stampabilities
Sentiment Stamp - Studion G??
Paper - We R Memory Keepers

Girl Card
Whipper Snapper Stamp
Sentiment Stamp - Hero Arts
Paper - Bella Blvd and Fancy Pants

Oldie Moldie Monday

Monday again - time to show your love for some old supplies.  I wanted to send a few Halloween cards in my box to Operation Write Home.  I dug out my folder of Halloween paper out and created six of this card.

This is the second card I made - it is a 4 1/4 inch square card.  Sometimes I like to do a square card for Operation Write Home and  4 1/4 square is the biggest card you can make to fit in the A2 envelope.  Very simple card - but that little witch is so cute - I made 6 of these for my box.  The bases for both cards are recycled cardstock from commencement programs.  The purple in each card is from another commencement ceremony.  I hear now we will have cream colored programs - so I definately will have to go to some dumpster diving for the covers.

Enjoy your week.

Authentique and Operation Write Home

Sunday morning - time to kick start your creativity for the week with the weekly sketch on Operation Write Home's card blog - Stars and Stamps.

Of course mine take is a little different - I used the same size strip as the sentiment because I already had that mat strip cut and did not want to waste it.

The paper is from Authentique - a new paper pad I got yesterday - It is so great because the paper is double sided so you always have the solids to work with also.  It makes your paper pad more versatile because you have coordinating solids to use on your cards.  The stamp is one I got in a dollar bin somewhere but it works fine - wouldn't it be fun if you had a paper that had million dollar bills on it that you could use with the sentiment.

Enjoy your day - it is suppose to be cooler here today so I can open up the house and get some fresh air in the house and maybe get some work done outside.

Authentique Paper, Freshly Made Sketches, Stamper's Best and Operation Write Home

Yes - blogger is behaving tonight - it quickly uploaded.  I do hope this continues - makes posting cards and my creative life much less frustrating.

This card is for several challenges.  It is based on the weekly sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.

The other challenge is the monthly challenge on Stars and Stamps - Operation Write Home's card blog.  This challenge is sponsored by Our Daily Bread Designs.  For every 25 cards made - they will pay for the shipping on a box of handmade cards to our heroes.  They will pay for a maximum of two boxes.  I do wish we had more sponsors like that.  The challenge this month is to make a masculine card.

I do like how the card turned out.  I just bought a new pad of paper by Authentique because it had great masculine colors.  The stamp is by Stamper's Best.  I used some Spellbinder's dies to cut out the image and mat for the image.  The sentiment is a $1 stamp I bought somewhere.  I know it will get lots of use.  The image and sentiment are pop dotted.  I did a little distressing on the edges of some of the paper.

Everyone enjoy the remainder of your evening.

Crackerbox Palace and My Mind's Eye

Well tonight Blogger just loaded this picture so fast it was scary - I was going to head up and bake a cake or two while the picture loaded.  I hope it stays this way.

Another card using the same stamp on yesterday's post and more of the paper from the 6 x 6 pad from My Mind's Eye.  It has such pretty colors in it.  The sentiment is from Hero Arts.

Everyone enjoy your evening.  Trying to push out another 6 cards to go in my OWH box that will go in the mail this week end.

Crackerbox Palace and My Mind's Eye

Grrrrrr - Blogger - took over a half an hour to upload this card.  I am so perplexed because it righted itself over the week end and I could upload multiples - did you see Oldie Moldie Monday - how many did I post there - no problem.

Isn't this the sweetest little bear - he is a stamp from a local stamp store in Janesville Wisconsin - Crackerbox Palace.  He looks like he is missing someone very special that he loves.

This is another card made out of the 6 x 6 pad from My Mind's Eye to see how many stamps I can make.  I have another card with this cute stamp and the same paper but a different design.  We will attempt to post it tomorrow night.