Paper Smooches Challenge - Picture Perfect

This is my entry in this week's challenge on Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge Blog is Picture Perfect.  Here is the picture to inspire your creativity.

What sparked my creativity?  I love the leaves - I love leaves - one of nature's most beautiful color scapes.  I love all the colors in this picture also.

I cut my leaf with my Silhouette out of some scrap card stock.  I then colored the leaf randomly with distress paints and a purple gelato.  (after coloring the leaf - it reminded me of a peace sign done in tie dye).  I cut the letters with my Silhouette also.  I colored them with the reddish distress paints.  I also made my own mat so that the color matched perfectly.  I stamped the little pennant, colored it with distress paint and cut it out.  I stamped the sentiment and added pearls and the letters to make up the sentiment block.  I love the patterned paper I found for my background.

I like how the card turned out.  Now I should make a few more since I have a few more leaves cut out.  I did glue two leaves together for a little dimension and the same with the two letters.

Thanks for the fun.

Oldie Moldie Monday

This paper is a small pad and a group of tags from K&Co.  I decided to make some cards using the tags.  The small sentiments are from Paper Smooches.  The big Missing You is a $1 stamp from somewhere.

These will go in my next Operation Write Home Box.  I need to get that box ready to go.

Enjoy your Monday.

Unity Stamp Company Challenge Goes Mixed Media

Every month Unity Stamp Company has a challenge.  You can do either a color theme, a sketch for a card or a sketch for a scrapbook page.  On this project I chose to do the color theme challenge.

I have been playing with some mixed media projects and had finished up a couple bigger pieces so decided to try my hand at making a small ornament for Christmas using mixed media.  The page of the card is pages from an old book that have been glued together with gel medium.  Other paper has been added to the layers and then gesso, paint, gelatos, etc.  The little penguin is a Unity Stamp.  The words are from some scrapbook paper by Cosmo Cricket that I just cut apart for a verse on the card.  I added rubons (I see one kinda rubbed off).  The loop trim was cut with my Silhouette.  I added gesso around the edge of the ornament to add more dimension.  I wrapped twine around a fine wire to make the hanger.  I added a button and bow to the paper strip to add more dimension.

This was a fun project and this year I may make more of these instead of cards - especially for those who decorate Christmas trees.

Another Paper Smooches Challenge

I thought I would try doing the "Cool Shades Challenge" on the Paper Smooches challenge blog.

I decided to cut some word bubbles in the colors of the challenge.  My lavender looks pink but it really is a shade of purple.  I stamped sentiments on each word bubble.  I embossed the kraft panel and then the two bubbles on the left are pop dotted for dimension.  Added some little circles to add some more color interest to the card.

I liked the card so well I cut out enough word bubbles to do four cards for my Operation Write Home box.  I think the card says it all.  Thanks for the challenge - I usually shy away from color challenges but this one turned out for me.

I am so glad it is the week end.  I have so much work to do inside and out and hopefully make a few Halloween cards.  I need to get them in the mail.  Have a good one.

I Love my Cuddlebug

I cut the purple designs with my Silhouette.  I then glued them to the white cardstock.  I then embossed the layer in the Cuddlebug.  It basically melts the design into the cardstock.

I am recycling purple and white cardstock from the covers of commencement folders.

More cards for my Operation Write Home box.

Oldie Moldie Monday Does Paper Players Challenge

Oldie Moldie Monday - time to show some love for some old supplies.  This is Making Memories Paper - an old 6 x 6 pad - has greens and blues in it.  The challenge at Paper Players this week is to make a CAS masculine birthday card.  This is one of my favorite masculine stamps - I guess it could be a feminine pick up truck - my girls first vehicle was a brown pick up.  I stamped on pattern paper.

I made a couple more cards out of the same paper for my next Operation Write Home box.  It needs to be shipped out soon.

Remember to show some love for your old supplies - they still make great cards - because it is the cardmaker who can make it look good even though it is well aged.

Paper Smooches Challenge

This week I decided I wanted to try and play along with the Designer Drafts challenge on the Paper Smooches blog.  I am getting my card in somewhat under the wire.  I love their little snowman - so simple but they have so much character.

Here is the Designer Drafts challenge.  I actually stayed pretty true to the sketch this time.  Most of the time I tend to be pretty loosey goosey with my use of sketches.

The snowman was stamped on patterned paper from Authentique.  I fussy cut him out plus I cut his hat out also.  I did some coloring with Copics.  I added Glossy Accents to many of the elements on the snowman.  I also used Glossy Accents on the heart in the sentiment.  The random dots are gesso that I put on with a toothpick to make it look like new fallen snow.  It has some texture to it so adds more dimension to the card.  The frame and snowman are both popped for dimension.

I will send this to my Mom during the winter months.  It will bring a smile to her face.

Operation Write Home and Taylored Expressions Unite

When I go shopping, many times the stamps I buy for card making are cards that will work for Operation Write Home cards.  This sentiment is part of a set of stamps from Taylored Expressions called Happy Heart.  There are four wonderful sentiments in the set.  Yes this could be a valentine card but I think it is really a love card.  It could also be a friendship card.  It is all in the heart of the sender and receiver who it is meant.

The monthly challenge on Operation Write Home's card blog - Stars and Stamps - that is sponsored in conjunction with Our Daily Bread Designs is "sentiments."  My sentiment is the focal point of my card.  ODBD generously will pay for shipping on a box of cards to our heroes on each 25 cards submitted in the challenge - up to 50 cards.  Thank you for doing this for our heroes and their families.

My box should be shipped soon.  I will have another packed of hero notes from my retired coworker friend on Monday.  I really appreciate her help.

I am off to watch the Badger football game and make some favors for a bridal shower at work.

Feminine Version of Monday's Cards

On Monday I made some little boy cards using this same stamp.  Today's cards are for one of our Heroes to send home to the girls in their lives.  Who doesn't love a weiner dog card?

I had the pink frames already cut on the design table.  I found the American Crafts paper with the same colors as the pink.

Nothing too exciting here - I made a total of 4 cards with my frames.  The circle on the one frame - is to cover up a tear in the frame.  Thank goodness for layers.

Oldie Moldie Monday

Oldie Moldie Monday - time to show some love for your old supplies.  The stamp is a dollar stamp and this is another stamp that I have gotten lots of use out.  My return on investment is off the walls on this tool.  The paper is a 6 x 6 pad from Bo Bunny.  I don't know how old it is.

Come back tomorrow to see a feminine version of this stamp.

The cards are for my next Operation Write Home box.  Lots of little kids with parents who are deployed.  They love to get cards.  We all love to get cards in the mail.

Mixed Media and Penny Black Stamps

I am playing again with my paints, gesso, gel medium, gelatos - you name it - I was playing with it.  I was attempting to create a scene - a hill and a sky and then I put a sun in the corner.  I stamped the tree and then added drops of acrylic paint on the tree to look like fall leaves.  The sequins represent leaves that have fallen to the ground.  The sentiment and the tree are from Penny Black.  I rubbed gesso and paint along the edge.

The base is two pages of a book glued together with gel medium.  There is probably a layer of patterned paper under there also.  I forget.  Lots of gesso, acrylic paints, gelatos and gel medium.

I had a strip of the green left so I pleated that and added at the bottom of the tree.  It balances the sentiment in the corner.  That is my story and I am sticking with it.

I have no idea what I am doing with these pieces but I am having fun.

Think Pink

The challenge on Cut It Up is to Think Pink and of course use a die cut.  I had some die cuts on my desk and a piece of this pink Bo Bunny Paper.  Pink and black are such a beautiful combination.  I adhered the die cut to the pink paper and I then embossed it with my Cuddlebug.  The pink was matted with black.  I added this black lace.  I thought it needed just a little bit more so I added the black flower and pink gem.

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

Mixed Media Fun

I was out cruising the net - actually Facebook led me here - to a challenge on the Faber-Castell site.  October's challenge is to create something that represents your cherished secret dream!

Today - after the last 45 minutes of work - my dream is to retire - so today this canvas really is important - believe that I will be able to retire.

A person should never give up on their dreams - no matter how big or little they are.  You just need to keep believing.

I made the canvas with many Faber-Castell products:  Gesso, Gel Medium, Gelatos, Big Brush pens, Pitt Artist pens, White Pitt Artist Pen.  It is amazing how soothing being messy creative can be.

The base of the piece is two pieces of an old book glued together with gel medium.  I used a ruler after the pages were dry to do a tear on all the edges.  The piece is approximately 6 x 8 inches.  I gessoed the pages and then I did a wash with some acrylic paints to give a base for the gelatos.  The flower was a stencil I have had forever and I just rubbed some gelatos in each opening and then rubbed it with my finger to blend the colors.  Several different colors were used.  I outlined the petals with an PITT artist pen.  The dots were done with the White artist pen through another stencil.  I stamped the word background with a Hero Arts Stamp ad brushed the Big Brush Pen across the lettering.  The butterfly and sentiment were stamped with black ink.

I had so much fun with this project.  One night I even had to get out of bed and go smear some gesso on the pages.  Oh me - oh my.

I have some more pieces started.  It is funny how the piece feels with all the layers of gesso, paint, gel medium, gelatos.  It feels like heavy wallpaper.

Gee maybe I could retire and become an artist - oh yes - I do like to eat, live in a house and drive a car - guess I had better go back to work tomorrow.  

"Be Inspired" Unity September/October Challenge

I have decided that I need to start using more of my stamps.  Do you ever just buy and never use - no - none of you would have this addiction.

So I have decided I need to use one of my Unity Stamps each week - I have a pretty good collection of them.  I made a tag last week for a challenge they had on Facebook.  I was really happy with the tag and will make it into a Thanksgiving card.  

I noticed that Unity Stamps have a monthly "be inspired" challenge and I can still participate this month.  I chose to do the sketch.  I am very happy they said "loosely follow" the sketch.  I am the queen of loosely follower of sketches.  I chose to turn the sketch on its side to accommodate the size of my stamps.

This card is for my son in law who continues to battle cancer.  It will bring a smile to his face.

The paper is from Basic Grey.

Oldie Moldie Monday

Good morning - here are my oldie moldie Monday cards for this week.  I used the same paper I used last week.  I believe I made 3 of each of these designs.  These cards will go in my next Operation Write Home box.  The bottom sentiment is from Hero Arts and one of my favorite to use for OWH cards.  It is a sentiment that works for man, woman or child.

Have a good Monday.

Operation Write Home Sketch Time

This is my interpretation of the weekly sketch from Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps blog.  The floral image was on my design table - I did it quite awhile ago but thought I would make it into a birthday card for my Mom - she will be 94 on Saturday.

Enjoy your Sunday - Go Pack Go.

Operation Write Home Celebrates World Card Making Day

I am so excited to be celebrating World Card Making Day with Operation Write Home.  Now this is a holiday I can really get into celebrating.  Be prepared for lots of inspiration today.

For today we were asked to make a thank you card using one of the wonderful sketches from Operation Write Home - Stars and Stamps Blog.  Every week something new to jump start your creativity.

I chose Sketch 191.

When you look at my cards you will see that I brought the back rectangle to the top of the design.  I also made the small rectangle much smaller.  I made two cards - one more masculine and one more feminine.  I hope you enjoy them.  The link to get back to the Stars and Stamp blog is at the bottom of the post.

Jump back to the beginning Stars and Stamps Operation Write Home.