Get Your Kraft On

This week at CAS-ual Friday - the challenge is to get your Kraft on.

This is a new stamp - isn't that snowman the most fun - he is by Northwoods Rubber Stamp.  The sentiment is by Hero Arts with a coordinating die cut.  I stamped the sentiment and then stamped the tag around it since I wanted the two colors.  I colored the snowman with colored pencils.  A somewhat rustic holiday card.  Hopefully you can pick up the sparkle on the snowflakes and the snow drifts.

Have a good Tuesday.

Oldie Moldie Monday - Moxie Fab Journaling Card Challenge

Moxie Fab World is sponsoring a group of challenges in honor of their new special edition - Paper Crafting Tips and Tricks.  One of the challenges is to use your journaling cards.

I knew I had this Christmas collection from Echo Park Paper Company - I don't think it is that oldie moldie - maybe a collection from last year - but I know it is not new - so it qualified for oldie moldie Monday.  Plus I know have one more Christmas card made.  Yeah.  Lots of fun layering.  I used three journaling cards on this card.  Two of the cards I matted with red to make them pop a little more.  The sentiment is pop dotted.  I added the little squares to fill in the corners of two of the cards.  I think it adds the finishing touch along with the bow.

Thanks for stopping by - and remember to show some love for some of that older paper - it is still pretty and makes wonderful projects.  I do need to retire so I can make lots of cards every day to use up my supply of paper.  I love paper.

Hello Sunday

Good morning - it is Sunday - time to start the day off with the weekly sketch on Operation Write Home's card blog - Stars and Stamps.    It somewhat resembles the sketch - the elements of the sketch are all there - with the added strip at the top and everything moved around a little bit.  Is that called creative license.

I found this paper grouping at Target - they have 6 x 6 pads from American Crafts there - this collection has some of my favorite colors in it.  The yellow is one of Bo Bunny's basic papers - I think I have it in every color - it makes such a great background.  The Hello is cut with my Silhouette Cameo.

Enjoy your day - trying to put another card together because I had another HELLO cut out in a different color.

Simon Says Stamp Leaves

the weekly challenge at Simon Says Stamp is to use Leaves.  I love leaves and have a boat load of leaf stamps but - this little leaf had already been stamped and colored and was waiting to be made into a card.

The leaf stamp is from Eat Cake Graphics.  It was embossed with Zing brown embossing powder and then colored with distress inks and stains.  I believe I used some Perfect Pearls mist on it also so it has a pretty shine to it.  I embossed the background card stock with a wood grain folder.  The sticker sentiment is from SRM Stickers.  I had just enough of this ribbon to make a bow for the top of the card.  I am sending this card to Alaska where it has already started to snow.

Everyone have a good Saturday.

Trying Clean and Simple Again

I am trying the sketch over at CAS(E) This Sketch.  Trying to work on my clean and simple card making skills.  Here is the sketch.  My sentiment is just another piece of paper pop dotted on the card for a little dimension.

The stamp is from Hero Arts which has a coordinating die cut.  The purples are in the same family.  I did use my Stardust clear gel pen on the flower and stem - so it does have a little sparkle.  The sentiment is also from Hero Arts which I cut out.

Unfortunately my photography skills are horrible - .

What a Week

Has not been a good week for card making - made this card on the week end - and never even got it posted - so you know the week was not good - when you can't even find the desire to post a card you had completed.

This is a card that went in my Operation Write Home box - this box has the last of the Christmas cards in it - some general winter cards and a small mix of miscellaneous cards.  Can't you see some Hero sending this home to one of his or her kids.  Everyone loves Snoopy.

I actually made a card tonight.  Come back tomorrow to see it.

Oldie Moldie Monday

I was digging through my supplies and found this grouping of papers the pink and dots were coordinating and found the brown and green from another collection - so out of this paper I got four more cards for my next Operation Write Home box.  Three are the Sending Happy Thoughts.  The sentiment on the top card is from SRM Stickers.

The "Happy Thoughts" card qualifies for the challenge on Operation Write Home sponsored by Our Daily Bread Designs to use circles.    Each month they sponsor a challenge - for each 25 cards we make - they will pay for shipping on a box of cards for our Heroes.  Thank you very much.

Happy Monday.

Sunday - OWH Sketch time

My twisted version of this week's sketch from Operation Write Home's card blog - Stars and Stamps.  As I was going through my Silhouette files - the mustache jumped out at me as a border so I went the masculine route on my card.  I think it will bring a smile to someone's face.

As I was doing this - I was thinking about other uses for the mustache - and came up with the idea of a mustache for a retirement card - retirement - now you have time to sit back and watch your hair grow - or for a woman - gee retirement - you no longer have to worry about your mustache and plucking it.

OK - enough warped sense of humor - I guess I need to drink another cup of coffee.

Chevrons - Just Add Ink Challenge

Found a new challenge site - Just Add Ink - and their challenge this week is Chevrons.

Gee I hope they forgive me - I added no ink to this card at all - it is all paper and a sentiment sticker.  I was looking through all my 6 x 6 pads and found this multi colored chevron paper and thought it would make a great card.  Happy colors - and gee - there was that HAPPY square in the 6 x 6 pad by Simple Stories.  The yellow background was from another 6 x 6 pad.  I added the sentiment sticker from SRM Stickers to make it a birthday card.  I ended up adding the red half oval at the top because it looked naked up in that corner of the card.  Empty spaces bother me.

This is a card that will go in my next Operation Write Home box.

Thinking of You Floral

There is a new CAS(E) Sketch blog on the net.  Since I struggle so with CAS style cards I thought I would keep trying.  Please do not ask how many pieces of watercolor paper were sacrificed for this one card.  So to replicate this card - if I want to - I will stamp the flower separately (which I did on this card), fussy cut it out and I will stamp the sentiment on a separate piece of paper and adhere it to the front of the card.  I have more control over the outcome of my card this way.

Here is the sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch - sketch number 2 - I missed doing the first one.

This is a Hero Art stamp colored with distress inks.  After I cut the flower out and adhered to the front of the card - I added some glossy accents to some of the areas of the flower.  The sentiment is from Hero Arts also.

Have a good Saturday - I should have done this with a leaf because I need to be raking leaves today.

Operation Write Home Color Challenge

Don't you love my new penguin stamp - one week end Gina K was having a sale on her single stamps and I was there buying some.  Gina K is actually only about 30 minutes away from where I live.  Wisconsin has some great stamp companies.

The midweek throw down on Stars and Stamps - OWH card blog - is a color challenge - black and white with either green or red as your accent.  I wanted to do lime green - but did not have a copic marker that gave me the color I wanted for the little accessories on my penguin.  All the green has glossy accents on it.  So fun - going to make a few of these for my own Christmas cards.

The embossing folder is from Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby) - hmmmm - they are on sale this week - I think I need to go see if I need any new ones plus - I need some new B plates.

Enjoy your evening.  I got myself a new cell phone today - OMG - do I have lots to learn.

SRM Stickers and We R Memory Keepers

Another card for my Operation Write Home box.  They always need love cards.  I cut the heart with my Silhouette.  A Sticker finishes off the card.

Short but sweet post.

Riley the Moose Mustache you a Question

I thought Riley the Moose needed to come out again this week.  The card is a little similar to the card I posted on Sunday.  This card is based on the sketch at The Sweet Stop.  Echo Park makes the cute mustache paper.

Gee I am not very talkative - forgive me.  One of those weeks.

Oldie Moldie Monday and The Cameo Spotlight

Oldie Moldie Monday - time to show some love to your old supplies.  The card stock and the patterned paper are a little aged but still beautiful.  I cut the leaf with my Silhouette Cameo and then embossed the card stock with a embossing folder from Hobby Lobby and backed it with some patterned paper - an orange houndstooth - love my houndstooth.  An SRM Sticker completed the card layout.

The card is for the challenge on The Cameo Spotlight.  It is a color challenge.

Rich Red • Deep Orange • Harvest Gold

additional neutral colors allowed are: black, white and kraft

Everyone enjoy your Monday.  Back to Work.  

Riley the Moose Meets Freshly Made Sketches

Scootching in under the wire to post this card for the sketch on Freshly Made Sketches.  Riley the Moose was out today for some stamping.  Come back later in the week to see the other card I made with Riley and the same paper.

Here is the sketch  from Freshly Made Sketches.

The mustache paper is from Echo Park Paper Company.  The matting paper is from a grouping I got at Tuesday Morning - it is from TPC Studio.  I bought the packet because it had great matting potential.  Riley was also stamped on some of this paper from TPC Studio.  A sticker from SRM Stickers completes the cards.  This card will be sent to an elderly gentleman having a few health issues.

Have a great Sunday evening - Green Bay Packers play on Sunday night football - so Wisconsin will be shutting down shortly.

Merry Monday on Sunday

Just getting in under the wire for the deadline for the Merry Monday Sketch challenge.  Whew - if you look through my blog - you can see I have been using this die cut snowman lots lately - he is so fun - I just wish his scarf was designed so you could do more with coloring or paper piecing.  This die cut/stamp combination is from Hero Arts for Archiever's.  The sentiment is from Stampendous.  This card will have to go into a little bigger envelope since the sentiment is hanging off the edge.  The paper is from Basic Grey.

Here is the sketch from Merry Monday.

One more Christmas card done - thank you Merry Monday - now I need to work on my Oldie Moldie Monday card - since it is Christmas paper - I wish I knew today what the sketch was for Merry Monday for tomorrow.  Enjoy your Sunday - it is raining here - lots of rain - but that is good - we need rain - glad it is not snow.

Operation Write Home, We R Memory Keepers and Hero Arts

It is Sunday - time for the weekly sketch on Stars and Stamps - Operation Write Home's card blog.  I always like to jump start my creativity on Sunday with this sketch.  It comes live at 6 and most of the time I have had my first cup of coffee by then and I am ready to play.

The paper grouping is from We R Memory Keepers.  It makes a great masculine card.  I chalked around the edges of all the paper with blue to set it off a little.  I find that chalk sometimes gives a softer look than inking the edges.  The cloud is a die cut and coordinating stamp from Hero Arts that is made for Archievers. It looked empty in the middle so I added Hello - this is a very old stamp I have - but I think it adds a little extra to the card.  Hello - always thinks of you.

And of course, the top strip was not on the sketch but it was in the paper pad, it was calling to me to be used, and I liked how it added the final touch to the card.  I seem to always have to tweak a sketch a little.

Well off to have that second cup of coffee.  Found out on facebook I need a get well card - so I think this paper will work great along with a motorcycle stamp.

CAS-ual Friday and SRM Stickers

CAS Friday's challenge this week is to use a heart on your card.  This is the second card I attempted.  I remembered I had these great red doily hearts that I bought one year on clearance after Valentine's Day - Black/White/Red - wonderful color combination.

The background is embossed with a houndstooth embossing folder.  The plaid is matted with black to set it off from the white background.  The love sticker is from SRM Stickers.  Placed it on white cardstock, cut it out and then matted it with black cardstock.  The sentiment is pop dotted.  I needed just a little more red for balance so I added this brad from Michael's store brand.  The paper is from Echo Park.

This card will go in my Operation Write Home box - our heroes always need love cards to keep in contact with their friends and family at home.  The weekly challenge is to make Love cards on Stars and Stamps - Operation Write Home's card blog.

We R Memory Keepers and Operation Write Home

This week the mid week challenge at Operation Write Home's card blog Stars and Stamps is anniversary or love cards.    I have this sweet little owl stamp I believe I paid a dollar for - and I sure get lots of stamping for Operation Write Home Love cards.  They are so sweet.  I am making two of these cards.  Everyone knows I don't like to do duplicates.

Another challenge site I have found on the web is Just Add Ink - it is from Australia - fun to visit other countries - their challenge this week is to use something new.  This is a pretty new 6 x 6 pad of paper from We R Memory Keepers - I may have made one card out of it.  Everyone knows my love of 6 x 6 pads - I must confess though - I have met some - I have passed up - my friend Mary does not believe it when I go shopping and I don't pick one up - it just doesn't talk to me.

Hope everyone has a wonderful evening.  I need to crank up the Silhouette and get some things designed for my niece so she can decorate treat bags for her classmates.  Auntie Barb comes in handy for something.

Thank You Very Much

I made a couple of these cards for my Operation Write Home box.  Paula, an active OWHer, designed this thank you digi.  I have sized the digi so it fits perfectly in one of my Spellbinder circles.  Easy to cut them out and then cut a coordinating circle to mount it on.

Last week end I was talking to a crafter and said that my Cuddlebug was one of the best investments I made for card making.  I can use it to cut with my Spellbinders but also being able to emboss your paper in the embossing folders adds so much to your card.

This week the challenge on Simon Says Stamp - is to use your punches for die cuts.  I have cut lots of circles with these Spellbinder dies.

The card base is more of the recycled commencement program covers.  I am always on the lookout for purple paper that will work with this paper.  The purple dots is actually a double sided paper - it is Halloween paper but you would never know on this card.  Love the combination of the teal, purple and bright pink with the contrast of bright white.

Oldie Moldie Monday

Today my Oldie Moldie post is this paper from Echo Park Paper Company.  It may be a collection from last year - but I know it is not bought recently so it qualifies.

The card is based on the weekly sketch from Card Positioning System.  This will be the last month for Card Positioning System.  It is time for the creator to move onto to other things in her life.  Good luck to her and thank you for all the wonderful sketches that have been posted on this site.

The snowman and sentiment are from Paper Smooches.  If you want to see another card with this paper and stamp, visit one of yesterday's post.  This card will go in my Operation Write Home box.

World Card Making Day, Paper Smooches and Echo Park

One more card for World Card Making challenges.  This is for a sketch that Paper Smooches is using for a challenge.  It is a sketch from the sketch library at Operation Write Home.  Paper Smooches is a supporter of Operation Write Home in their effort to keep our service members in contact with families and friends at home.

Isn't that snowman the cutest - someone asked me how many snowmen stamps I have - I don't think I can count that high - this set has several cute snowmen on it.

The paper is a collection I have from Echo Park.  Aren't the colors pretty.  Looking at the card it looks like the snowflake is growing out of the top of the snowman's hat.

This card will go into my Operation Write Home Box - it is a general winter card so if I miss the Christmas deadline we will be OK.

So do you think I will get any more cards made tonight for challenges - I still need to make my Oldie Moldie Monday cards - I think I will this paper and maybe some more of these snowmen stamps in this Paper Smooch set.

Another World Card Making Post

Another card made for challenges for World Card Making Day.  This was a sketch challenge from Penny Black.  They used sketches from Page Maps.  Here is the sketch.

I used some Basic Grey paper, a snowflake from my supplies.  The snowman and sentiment are acrylic stamps from Penny Black.

This card has been put into solitary confinement in a plastic sandwich bag because the snowflake came with glitter - need to keep the card making area non contaminated for my Operation Write Home cards.

Stay tuned more to come yet tonight.

More World Card Making Day Challenges

Trying to do some of the challenges from World Card Making Day - this card is based on a sketch from Page Maps that the Penny Black has posted for the day.  This uses a sweet snowman from Penny Black and the sentiment also.  One more Christmas card done for me.  Yeah.  The paper is from Basic Grey.

Be back later.

Color me Pink

When I went to a scrapbook stamp convention I bought this pack of paper - it has the floral on one side on the front, creamish colored on the other side of the front and the back is pink.  I thought the paper was very versatile and the price was perfect so I bought a package.  This is the first card I have made with it.

I just cut part of the floral paper out for the card front, mated it with some green.  I cut the same flowers from another sheet so I could pop dot them for a little dimension on the card.  I took my brush pen and rubbed it across a couple different distress ink pads to add some extra color to the flowers and leaves.  There was a little orange on the brush so my pink is pink/orange or orange/pink.  The sentiment is a sticker from SRM Stickers which is pop dotted.

CAS-ual Friday's challenge is "celebrate the women in your life" - this is a birthday card for my Mom - she is celebrating her 90 something birthday - I have lost count - 93 or 94 - her favorite color is pink and she loves her flowers.

Paper Smooches also has a challenge to celebrate World Card Making Day.  One of the challenges is to make a card with pink on it.  Of course, right at the moment I can't find where to link it up on their blog.

Well off to see if I can make some more cards.  Trying to do some of the challenges from yesterday.  Enjoy your afternoon.

Happy Cardmaking Day with Operation Write Home

Welcome to my blog today to celebrate World Cardmaking Day - my favorite holiday of the year.  I think I will go buy myself a present today - oh yes - I buy myself presents all the time.  In fact, this wonderful snowman is a new stamp/die cut I bought from Archievers.  It is by Hero Arts.  The paper is from Cosmo Cricket. The design of the card is based on this sketch from Operation Write Home.  I turned my card the other way.

First I forgot the guidelines for today and I made another card so I had to share it also.

The hello is cut with my Silhouette.  The snowman is a stamp/die cut from Hero Arts from last year.

Happy hopping - if you need to return to home base - here is the link.

Operation Write Home - Stars and Stamps

More Hero Arts Fun

I found a new challenge site "Just Add Ink" and they have a sketch challenge this week.

My usual trick with separate panels is to just add strips of paper across a large piece to make it look like I labored adding those separate pieces to a card front.  My ovals were either too large or too small - sounds like a fairy tale doesn't it.

I used my new Hero Arts snowman die cut and Cosmo Cricket paper to make my card.  An SRM Sticker finishes off the card.  This card will go into my next Operation Write Home Box.  I think that little snowman will bring smiles to a few faces.

Enjoy your day - dinner with my Ya Ya's tonight.

Oldie Moldie Merry Monday and Hero Arts

I bet everyone thought I had forgotten to make an oldie moldie Monday card - did not forget - just did not get it done until tonight.  I have been busy with Operation Write Home's September birthday activities.  We had lots of fun.  Played with different product and shared lots of creativity.

My card tonight uses paper from 2010 from Cosmo Cricket - I love the colors in it.  I wonder if the snowman should have been cream but who sees a cream colored snowman.  The stamp is a new stamp/die cut from Hero Arts and Archiver's.  I am going to experiment with the scarf a little - I don't know if I like that much black on my scarf.

The card layout is based on the sketch at Merry Monday.

Part of the challenges at the Hero Arts blog for the month of October is to use your die cuts.

Hope you enjoyed my Oldie Moldie Merry Monday card.