Oldie Moldie Monday

Monday - time to show some love for some of your older supplies.  I found this sheet of double sided Basic Grey which had a date of 2010 on it.  Well aged.  One side was patterned and the other side their distressed solids.  I made three cards from the 12 x 12 piece of paper.  I made two of the train card.

I have already torn the bottom one apart.  The car was not centered on the bottom mat.  It is now.

These cards are for Operation Write Home.

Enjoy your Monday and stay warm.  Very cold here in Wisconsin.

Anything Goes - Get a Head Start on Next Christmas

For some reason I want to get a head start on next year's holiday projects.  I don't want to be making things at the last minute.

Paper Smooches Spark Challenge blog has an "anything goes" challenge this week.

I decided to make an ornament.  I love the Paper Smooches snowmen - I really do want to find my stamps from the last couple years - hmmmmmm - I wonder where I buried them.  I have a project all planned as soon as I find the rest of the snowman family.  The base of the ornament is a paper like form used for starting your seeds.  I believe I bought a package at Home Depot many years ago.  I dabbed gesso all over the shape.  I then dabbed on some Tim Holtz distress paint.  The snowman was stamped on a dictionary page which had been gessoed also.  The sentiment was the same base but it was colored with gelatos and distress paints.  I put three snowman around the ornament using gel medium.  I added the sentiment over the top.  At the top and bottom of the ornament I used a paste product and rubbed some Stickles on top of it.  There is a hanger in the top of the ornament so it can be hung on the tree.  So yes - anything goes today.

If you wish to purchase your own Paper Smooches stamps, you can do it at their web site.  You won't have to wait to unbury them.

One day of work and then two days off.  Yeah!!!  Stay warm.

Happy New Year

I want to make a few new year cards this year.  This card is for my Mom who is 94 years old.  I celebrate every opportunity I still have to send her a card and know she appreciates it.  The touch of pink on the card is there because Pink is her favorite color.

This card is for the current challenge on the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge blog.  The challenge this week is Designer Drafts.  (sketch challenge)

As you can see I did take a few liberties with the sketch.  I added more layering - you must have some bling for New Year's (silver card stock).  The 2014 die cut was done with my Silhouette.

Paper Smooches has a blog hop going on right now for their January release.  From all the fun projects it looks like they are adding some more great stamps to their catalog.  You can find their stamps at this link.

Yeah 2 days off.

Oldie Moldie Monday

Finally got a couple cards made for Oldie Moldie Monday.  2011 is the date on this pad of paper from Prima.  I love the colors.  A beautiful bright spot in a world of white.  Lots of snow yesterday.

Well back to Christmas preparations.

Gift Card

Working to finish up some last minute gift card holders.  I cut the gift card holder with my Silhouette and decided to make it pretty.

The stamps are from Paper Smooches.  The paper is from Doodlebug.  The bakers twine is also from Doodlebug.

I am entering this in the current challenge on the Paper Smooches Spark challenge blog.  The challenge is "anything goes."  

You can find all the great Paper Smooches stamps at this link.

We had freezing rain today and a snow storm coming in on Sunday.  The temperature is then going to drop.  Best run some errands tomorrow.

Owl Send You A Christmas Card

Isn't this the sweetest little owl stamp?  The stamp is by Stampendous.  It is colored with Copics.  I chalked the background so it was not so "stark white" - now there is a tint of blue in all the open space.  Some crystal lacquer was added to the owl's eyes and to the bulbs on the tree.  The sentiment is from SRM Stickers and the paper is from Studio Calico.

I am going to enter this in the challenge on Simon Says Stamp blog "to use a stamp".  

Well now to get some more things done.  Probably run errands.  We are supposed to have freezing rain tonight so I am sure travel will be a little limited tomorrow morning.

A "Grate" Gift

Isn't this a "grate" idea for a gift.  The little graters were bought at the Dollar Store - yes for a dollar.  I put a bag of peppermint sticks in the body of the grater.  I made a paper band to hold the grater together and added some ribbon and a bow to the band.  I created a simple "pun" on the computer for the tag.

Have a "grate" evening.

Oldie Moldie Monday

Still Monday so I can post my Oldie Moldie Monday cards.  Pink Paislee paper - bright happy colors.

Everyone enjoy the remainder of your Monday.

Paper Smooches Picture Perfect Challenge

here is the Picture Perfect Challenge from Paper Smooches.

You then use this picture to inspire you.  I see red.  I see silver and white.  I see stripes.  The picture reminded me of Christmas - so let's use a cutie snowman for a Christmas card.  I added some red striped paper to some white cardstock.  I embossed this piece of paper.  It was matted with a piece of silver cardstock.  I added a piece of red paper to add a visual contrast between the white and stripes.  Some silver cord and a white/silver snowflake finish the top of the card.  The snowman and hat were stamped on a piece of old dictionary page which had been gessoed.  He is looking over the "season's greetings" saying hello to whomever received this card.

You can find more of Paper Smooches great stamps at this link.

Joy is the Word

The monthly challenge on the Faber-Castell blog is to find one word for 2013.   This is something I have tried to live this year.  Some days it is so hard to find something to be joyful about but you dig deep and come up with something.  It can be very small but you find it.

The Joy and the scallop trim were cut with my Silhouette and colored with the Big Brush Markers over the top of gesso.  I stenciled the white dots on the canvas and the letters with the White Marker.  The piece was colored with gelatos.  I tried using them with water.  I had never done that before.  The stamping was done by coloring the stamps with Big Brush Pens.  All the paper was attached with gel medium.

I am not real happy with my creation but this is one of those weeks when it is hard to find much Joy.  The canvas has pretty colors so I will be joyful about that.

Find joy everyday.  One time I listened to a presentation and the one thing I came away with is to smile at people - because you never know - that may be the only smile that person gets that day.

Oldie Moldie Monday on Tuesday

Well the cards were made on Sunday but I was going to post last night.  Blogger would not load my pictures so no post yesterday.  Please forgive me - I did carry out my weekly assignment of using some old supplies for card making.

The paper is from Basic Grey.  It had a date of 2010.  Not as old as some paper I have used lately.

The first card I am entering in the December challenge for Operation Write Home's card blog Stars and Stamps and Our Daily Bread Designs.  The monthly challenge is to make a masculine card. How about a masculine golf card.  Our Daily Bread Designs will pay postage for two boxes of cards each month if we can make 50 cards for the challenge.  The OWH team does a great job of meeting this goal each month.

Well I would like to get a couple Christmas cards ready to go in the mail tonight.

Stay warm.  We are very cold here in Wisconsin.  It is warmer in Anchorage Alaska.

Anything Goes with Paper Smooches

Better late than never.  I am sliding just under the deadline to get a card posted to the Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge of "anything goes".  Boy time flies when you are busy.  Too many balls in the air.  First card I have made this week.

This card is for the staff at the Nursing Home where my mother now lives.  They take such good care of her and keep her safe.  I know they like to see my cards when Mom receives them.  I thought I would give them one of their own for the holidays.  I was going to drive up today and deliver the card, a box of fruit and visit with my Mom but it was so cold, I did not want to venture that far.

I need to make a sympathy card this week end.  I so dislike making those cards.  Well off to do my dishes.  I finally got some rugs down in the living room after the new floor was installed.  I thought I was quite creative with my one area rug and two inexpensive ones from Menards.  I like how it turned how.

Have a good evening.

Oldie Moldie Monday

Yes I know it is the end of Monday but I must confess the cards were done yesterday - I just had no gumption to go take pictures and post them.

This remodeling is hard on a person plus I did lots of traveling over the Thanksgiving week end so did not have much time to create.

This is a collection from Cosmo Cricket from 2009.  Pretty bright colors.  Both stamps are from Whipper Snapper Designs.  The Hello heart sentiment is from Hero Arts.  These two cards will go into my next Operation Write Home box.

Enjoy what remains of your Monday.

Basic Grey and Oldie Moldie Monday

I think it is always fun to look and see if you can find a date on your paper or paper pad so you can see how many years you have aged your paper.  This paper (a 6 x 6 pad from Basic Grey) was dated 2011.  A little newer than last weeks 2005 paper.

I wanted to see if I could get a masculine and feminine card out of the same paper pad.  I was able to to.  The train stamp is a new one I picked up this week end from Crackerbox Palace in Janesville, WI.  Easy stamp to use for a card.  No coloring needed.  The sentiment is from Paper Smooches.

The feminine card is very simple - I just let the paper do the talking on this card.  The sentiment is a favorite for my Operation Write Home cards.  It is from Hero Arts.  The flowers were in my flower drawers.  I rounded one corner to soften the look of the card.

Well back to work.  I need to do dishes and keep moving things out of my main living area so the floor people can do their magic.

Enjoy your Monday.

Kraft and Christmas

This card is based on a challenge photo.  It was a wreath of kraft colored flowers on a whitish base.  Since I am in a holiday mode currently, I used my Silhouette to cut some snowflake tags, white embossed a sentiment.  I love the contrast.  I added just a touch of color on the snowflake brad.

The sentiment is by Paper Smooches.

Everyone enjoy your Saturday.

Be Jolly With Paper Smooches

This is a 4 x 4 canvas.  I love how it turned out.  The paper used on this canvas is old dictionary pages which I have colored with gelatos and distress paint and gesso as the base. I cover the page with gesso.  After it has dried, I smooth on some gelatos and then add another layer of color with the distress paint.  It is adhered to the canvas with gel medium.  The snowman is stamped on a gessoed piece of dictionary page.  The trees are colored with gelatos.  Everything was adhered to the base with more gel medium.  The sentiment was stamped on a separate piece of paper which was colored like the background.  Modeling paste was swiped on around the tree and snowman to make it look like a little dimensional snow.  The hearts and nose were colored with Big Brush pens.  Glossy accents was added to the hearts.  A little banner and some snowflake rubons were added to the canvas.  I brushed the edges of the canvas with my Big Brush White pen.

I did this canvas for the Paper Smooches Cool Shades Challenge.  Orange may seem to be a strange color to add to a winter scene but I have a friend whose favorite color is orange - so I had to add a touch of orange to finish off the canvas.  I did another canvas with snowflakes - but I think I prefer the contrast of color.  Here is the cool shades challenge colors.

There is a touch of red and orange on the canvas.

Yeah tomorrow is Friday.  Half day of work because my new floor is being delivered.  Hopefully they come early because I want to go buy more canvases.  I think I got them at Michael's.

Thankful

The weekly challenge on Paper Players was CAS with Leaves.

I cut my tree design with my Silhouette Cameo.  I took the trunk of the tree and colored with a couple different mediums to get the brown.  I then took a piece of paper and marked the area where the leaves were located and then I took my paint daubers and just dabbed different colored paints all over.  I added some dashes or regular acrylic paint also.  I think I achieved the look of a fall tree in bloom.

This went in the mail to my daughter in Alaska.  I am sure she will appreciate the beautify of the fall tree.

Oldie Moldie Monday

Wowsers - look at the color different between the top and bottom card.  Top card is the true color.

Oldie Moldie Monday - time to show some love for old supplies.  I was cleaning out some drawers to donate some supplies to a non profit art group.  I found this piece of paper from Making Memories - it was dated 2005 - so it is well aged.  The dots and stripes were on the same sheet.  I also found a piece of solid paper which I used to mat my paper with.

The stamp is from TPC Studios.  I thought it was a great sentiment for some Operation Write Home cards.

Enjoy your Monday.

You Are My Sunshine - Version 2

Yesterday's post used the same stamp and the same sun image.  We are just changing it up a little with a larger sun and different layout.

Taylored Expressions Stamp
Authentique Paper
Silhouette Cameo die cutting machine

I based somewhat loosely the design of the cards on the sketch at Just Add Ink.   As always, when I use a sketch, I say loosely.  I did not add a bow to the card because it is for Operation Write Home and wanted to keep it a little less bulky.  My sentiment takes up quite abit of space also.  Here is the sketch.

Everyone enjoy your Sunday.  I have lots to accomplish today.  I have already got my Oldie Moldie Monday cards done.  Yeah.  Anything I do cardmaking today is a bonus.

You Are My Sunshine

I just mailed off a box of cards to Operation Write Home and now I have sprouted the next box with two of this design.  I know I have some Hero Mail at work from a school so maybe I can get a few cards done also to go in with the Hero Mail.

The card was "loosely" based on the sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch.  I turned the sketch on its side to accommodate my sentiment and sun.  Here is the sketch.

Doesn't the background paper look like a dark sky and then you have the sun sitting on top of it.  That is my story and I am sticking to it.  The stamp is by Taylored Expressions and the sun was cut with my Silhouette.  The paper is from Authentique.

Everyone enjoy your day.  I do need to do some shopping and trying to decide when to go.  Before the football game or after the football game.  Such difficult decisions.

Friday - Yeah

Sharing a card I made this week.  Totally non traditional holiday colors but how fun.  Isn't this little snowman so cute - he is from Paper Smooches.  The sentiment comes from Paper Smooches also.

Took today off from work to get my leaves raked.  I was going to do it this week end but it is now going to rain.  Bah Humbug.

Everyone have a good Friday.

Paper Smooches and Operation Write Home

I have been trying to play along with the weekly challenge on Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge Blog.  This week the challenge is a Designer Drafts challenge or sketch.

Here is the Designer Draft.

I used stamps from the Circle of Honor set.  Part of the proceeds from this stamp set go to Operation Write Home.  I have been making some Hero Cards for my book club where we are reading a book about a hero who returns from the war and the challenges he and his wife face.  It was written by a professor on our campus.  I have 11 hero cards made.  One card is for my special family.

Thanks for stopping by.

Oldie Moldie Monday

Another card - different layout - but same papers and stamps from last week.  Come back next week - you will probably see the last card made into a card.

Too much to do to get too many cards made.  The leaves have finally fallen so I had to rake some.  I also had chicken cooking today to make home made broth for Thanksgiving dinner.  Now to clean that mess up and finish the laundry and get ready for work tomorrow.

Oh too much to do and too little time.

Mixed Media Christmas Project

Once again it is Mou's November challenge on the Faber-Castell Blog - the challenge is to show what you have been working on.  

This project started as a piece of cardboard that is 4.5 inches by 5.5 inches.  I have been working on this project for a little while.  I think a piece of old dictionary was added to the front of the cardboard with gel medium.  It was then covered with Gesso.  I added a little texture to the Gesso by dabbing at it with a paper towel.  A blue Gelato was used to color the layers.  A baby wipe was used to smooth out the color and rub it into the Gessoed dictionary page.  .  The snowman was stamped on the front.  Pink and teal Gelatoes were used on another Gessoed dictionary page.  The snowman was stamped on the different colors.  I fussy cut out the scarf and hat.  They were added to the snowman.  Polka dots were added to the pink pieces - I used a toothpick and Gesso for the polka dots.  The snowman was colored with a White Big Brush.  A Gesso snowbank was made around the snowman.  My modeling paste was sitting there so I thought I would add some dimension to the snowman.  I used a piece of funky trim that has holes in it.

The sentiment was stamped on another piece of Gessoed and Gelatoed dictionary page.  The sentiment was trimmed apart and added to the piece with gel medium.  Various rub ons were added to the background.

I cut the trim from some recycled cardstock and added a layer of Gesso on the trim.  After it was dry it was added to the piece using gel medium to adhere it.  Stickles were rubbed over the snow and the trim.  Gesso was added to the edge of the final piece.  A ribbon was added for a hanger.

I believe I will be giving my ornament/wall hangings as Christmas cards this year.  Hopefully they will have a little more life in everyone's future holiday trims.

Cath Edvalson - You Are Moxie Fab

How do you say thank you to someone who has had such a Moxie Fab impact on card making and paper crafts in general.  Of course, we are talking about Cath Edvalson who has written the Moxie Fab blog for so many years and we are going to have the best dang blog hop just for her to celebrate all she has done to inspire our creativity.

If you came from Sherry Wright's blog, you are in the correct spot in the hop.

Today I am sharing a card with many layers of paper and ribbon.  My paper is from Authentique.  The sentiment is a favorite from Hero Arts.

Cath is so special.  The day I got the e mail from her asking if I wanted to be a Moxie Fabber - my jaw dropped.  How special Cath made me feel that day in choosing me and then being spotlighted for something you love.  Thank you Cath - you made my year.

Cath I hope this blog hop makes you feel as special as you are.  Have a wonderful new adventure.

Now be prepared to be amazed by popping over to Kimberley Makortoff''s blog.  

If you get lost, pop back over to the Moxie Fab blog.  

I Love a Good Wiener Dog Stamp

I have a couple different people who have or have had wiener dogs in their lives so I like to make their holiday cards with a wiener dog.

This cute dog is from Paper Smooches.  I fell in love with him and the other stamps in the set are as cute also.

I am entering this card in their sparks trends challenge of stripes.  Here is their picture for the challenge.

Well I must go - I am supposed to be packing to leave for a conference but my stamp was calling to me.  There is also a mixed media project that had to get started.  I do have a bunch of clothes thrown in a suitcase - I just need to figure out what to wear tomorrow and Friday.

Oldie Moldie Monday

Busy day - I only got one card made for Oldie Moldie Monday.  This cute stamp set is from Taylored Expressions.  The paper is an old 6 x 6 pack from Echo Park.

Assisting with a Veteran's Day activity on campus.  A Cardmaking Project for Operation Write Home with the Pathway Students.  I hope we have lots to come.

I have two kits prepped.  One is 12 thank you cards - very simple ones and then 6 of another card.