S&S Midweek Challenge: Miss You

After all the celebrating with family during the holidays, along with visiting my good friend in the hospital since Thanksgiving, I lost my creative mojo. Yesterday and today, I finally sat down and created cards for Operation Write Home.
Here is my "Miss You" card suitable for a young boy. I made several more of these with little girl and boy stickers.

Sticker: Me and My Big Ideas
DP: my stash
CS: Bazzill and Recollections

Sentiment: Hero Arts
Small brown dots: Candi by Craftwork Cards

Shopping Our Stash Challenge 82: Winter Theme

Yes, I did shop my stash for this one! This adorable colored digi from Doodle Pantry has been in my stash for months and this was the perfect opportunity to use it on a winter card. Doesn't that cocoa look warm and delicious? I'm not sure if the rascally ants are "borrowing" the marshmallows or adding them! BTW, there are plenty more "ant" digi's to choose from. They are so darn cute and always ready to join the fun.

CS: Bazzill
Yellow Circles: Candi by Craftwork Cards

Digital Stamp and Sentiment: Cocoa Cup Ants by Doodle Pantry

My printer must be low on ink as the image turned out too light.and a little fuzzy :(

To all my crafty friends and visitors,







Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year!!

S & S Midweek Challenge: Red, White, & Blue

After a long dry spell due to Christmas prep and BFF in hospital since Thanksgiving, today I felt like designing a card for this challenge.  I used the HUGS stamp for the first time!
I hope to keep my mojo working for the rest of the week :)

Blue CS: Bazzill
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug
Star Punch: Family Treasures
Sentiment: The Stamps of Life

Border Punch: ek success
Jute

OWH Sketch # 151

Another sketch, another opportunity to create a card for our heroes!

DP: max and whiskers paper pad by BasicGrey

Sentiment and Bling: my stash

ODBD December Challenge: Flowers

When I saw this idea used on a card (the square cut-out), I knew I wanted to try it. So this Stars & Stamps Our Daily Bread Designs challenge became my chance !

Flowers and Ribbon: Hero Arts
Sentiment: unmarked wood mounted stamp
DP: my stash
Brad: Button  Brads from Hobby Lobby
Border Punch: EK Success
Square Die: QuicKutz

Shopping Our Stash Challenge 80

This timely challenge ("Winter Holiday)" was great fun. I purchased two matching 12x12 designer paper/stickers when the Christmas goodies first arrived at my local scrapbook store. These beauties caught my attention and I looked at them daily wondering how to create cards as beautiful as the paper and sticker sheet. Well, I checked online and figured it out. Here's my creation using only the paper and sticker sheet (My Mind's Eye "All is Bright" collection), CANDi (the 3 red dots), and dimensional adhesive under the angel sticker.

OWH Sketch #149 and S&S Midweek Challenge

Here's one card for 2 challenges! This uses the OWH Sketch (with artistic license) and the Stars and Stamps Challenge "Love or Hugs". I figure if a bear offers someone a "warm & fuzzy" it is similar to a human hug!

Precolored Digital Stamp and Sentiment: Doodle Pantry
Ribbon: Hero Arts
Scalloped Circle Die: Spellbinders
CS: my stash
DP: K&Company
Brad: "Button Brads" from Hobby Lobby
Ink: Ranger Distress "brushed corduroy"

OWH Cards Sent 2011-2012

Total of 819 when I send in my latest box next week!

My Mind's Eye Card-Making Frenzy

Since I used papers from the MME pad "Moments" to create a card for Sketch # 147, I have been creating more cards using these patterned papers and having a blast! I only have a few scraps left, maybe enough for one more card for OWH. And I love this sentiment.

The kitchen table is my temporary work space, so it needs to get emptied of crafting items before our belated Thanksgiving on Saturday. So I am using pieces of this and that to make more cards instead of stashing 'em.

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all and thanks for stopping by!

OWH Sketch # 147

Here's the Sunday Sketch over at Operation Write Home. And this is my interpretation. I realize it is a little crooked. I am working on a second one which will be more better!

 

CS: Bazzill
DP: My Mind's Eye "Moments" Paper Pad
Sentiment: TLC (scroll down their site to locate the "Sunday Freebie")

OWH Sketch #146

Sunday's sketch was so much fun to use! So I made one card for two challenges. This one is also going to Shopping Our Stash Challenge 77: Thank You or Thanksgiving. And yes, I shopped my personal stash for everything I used :)

K&Company 'Jubilee Pink and Teal Collage'

Bazzill Cardstock

Sentiments by The Stamps of Life

Chocolate Ink by TPC Studio

Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge 29

Here's my creation for the challenge using one of the perky snowmen digis from Doodle Pantry! I love snowmen, so I had to have this set.
The red Bazzill CS matches the scarf much better in person.

Blue CS: Core'dinations  
Snowflakes: K&Co
Scalloped Buckle die: Memory Box
Buckle: Aluminum foil insert from my instant coffee
Sentiment: The Stamps of Life
Rectangle dies: Spellbinders


                    

Shopping Our Stash Challenge 75: Flowers in 3-D

It has been a long time since I posted here and I am glad to be back home in San Diego! Hubby and I took a marathon vacation back east to visit family in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. And boy are we glad we missed Super Storm Sandy!

In Pennsylvania, I visited a total of 10 Scrapbooking stores as part of a "Shop Hop". I came home with take-and-makes and small, purchased items. One of the gifts was a selection of brown cardstock, flowers, and brads. Here is my 3-D flower creation using CS, DP, flowers, and stamped sentiment from this take-and-make. Oh, and dark brown CS from my stash :)

S & S Midweek Challenge

Here's a color challenge---use red and green on a card! No problem. These are traditional Christmas colors, but I made a Birthday card. The card will also be entered into the Shopping Our Stash Challenge 69: Emboss it!

DP: Double-sided "Mairzy Doats - Snappy Stripe" by Dream Street Papers
Red CS: Bazzill

Sentiment Stamp: Stampourri!
Dots Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug

S & S Midweek Challenge

This week, we OWH'ers are challenged to create Patriotic cards. Probably an easy challenge for most of us! This card will also be entered into the Shopping Our Stash 3, 2, 1 Challenge 68.

I used 3 patterned papers (Party in the USA collection by Reminisce), 2 red blings by Mark Richards, and 1 pre-colored flag digital stamp (and sentiment) by Doodle Pantry. The five-star corner punch is by Family Treasures. At the Del Mar Scrapbook Expo last spring I scored ten punches for $1. Yes, that's right. Each punch cost just 10 cents!!
Thanks for stopping by!

S & S Midweek Challenge

Here is a simple kid's card with scallops. Another fun challenge using DP from my stash (hubby picked this one out) and Bazzill CS. The "Hug Monster" sentiment is a digital stamp and I cannot locate the source ;(

Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge 27

Doodle Pantry has a challenge monthly beginning on the first day of the month. The DPDC27  is to use a Doodle Pantry image (not just a sentiment) on a card. And everyone who enters is a winner of the free image of the month! Since I love their images and have collected quite a few, this challenge is fun for me. Today I've chosen my current most favorite image of these adorable ants celebrating Halloween. The patterned paper is from my stash, cardstock is Bazzill, and the yellow circles are Candi by Craftwork Cards.

OWH Sketch # 136

Here's a Labor Day celebration of America the Beautiful using the latest sketch from Operation Write Home. The DP is by Reminisce and the star stickers were given to me by my daughter-in-law's Mom. There is no manufacturer's name on the packaging (!), but they are distributed by WalMart. The sentiment is by A Muse Art Stamps.

As you can see, I turned the sketch sideways and changed the measurements. I was so happy to discover the stickers match the
colors of the DP I have had for awhile :)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

S & S Midweek Challenge

This week, OWHer's are creating masculine cards! I deem this one masculine because of the manly Designer Paper I used. This card will also be entered into the Shopping Our Stash challenge #66 to use one of our favorite crafting items. This owl stamp is one of my favorite things because she is adorable, the googly eyes fit perfectly, and I can paper piece her!
The DP is from the Kraft Funday paper pad by My Mind's Eye, the owl stamp is by The Stamps of Life, the little brown circles are Candi, and the sentiment is from the Nutty forYou digital stamp collection by Doodle Pantry. Hope you like it!

S & S Midweek Challenge

It is another Wednesday and that means a Stars & Stamps Challenge from Operation Write Home. This week the challenge is to create a card using patterned paper and a punch and/or die. Patterned paper is one of my favorite things in the world of crafting so this was fun. The sketch used is OWH # 80 and this card will also be entered into the Shopping Our Stash challenge: create a card from a sketch!

I turned the sketch on the side and changed up the measurements a little.

All DP is from a K&Co. paper pad by Tim Coffey, green background from my garage sale grab bag, cardstock is Bazzill. The rectangle 'picture' was cut using a Spellbinders die on my Cuttlebug. The small, round paperclip-type embellishment is one of dozens I purchased years ago. I should really use these more often!

S & S Midweek Challenge

Create a card using Kraft card stock and one or two other colors. Fun! Here I used a selection of paper pads for the Kraft and DP.

Clock & sentiment stamps: Hero Arts
Butterfly die: Memory Box
Kraft CS: Kraft Fun Day paper pad by My Mind's Eye
Colorful DP: Max and Whiskers paper pad by BasicGrey
"Notebook" DP: K & Company

Shopping Our Stash Challenge 64

Technique Time: Try something new or revisit an oldie! This challenge came at the right time as I tried a new technique this weekend but haven't made a card with it until today. I tea stained a piece of white card stock. It is easy to do and I love the results. Use about 1/4 cup boiling water, pour over a tea bag (I used plain Lipton tea), wait a little until it cools. Then squeeze out most of the water and dab on the card stock until you get the the effect you want. Let dry overnight.

I stamped the winter collage (by Memory Box) using brown ink, and tore and inked the edges. The dark brown and blue DP's are from my stash. I used chalk for the blue bird then added blue pencil. Also used pencils to add hints of green and red on the branches. I still think the card is missing something. Any ideas?

Shopping Our Stash Challenge 63

This week's challenge is to create a project using one color. Monochromatic! Operation Write Home fans will recognize this design from this week's Stump Sandy segment in Thursday's "OWH TV" show. I love this idea and couldn't wait to try it. These papers were on my work-space and ready to go as I have been working on fall cards for a couple of weeks. Thanks for the inspiration Shopping Our Stash!

S&S Midweek Challenge

Our challenge today is to make a Card for Kids. I used the Graphic 45 DP called "An ABC Primer". Gotta love how these substantial, beautiful, two-sided papers come together ;)

OWH Sketch # 132

Another Sunday brings another sketch from Operation Write Home. This is a simple one. I like it. The plain CS and stripped DP is from my stash, the flowered DP is from the Brenda Walton Designer Paper Pad by K & Company, and the flowers are by Prima. The small button brad is from a collection I bought at Hobby Lobby when we visited Louisiana last June. No Hobby Lobby around me in San Diego ;(
These brads came in every color and since we were on the way to the airport to fly home, I had to pick one and run. So I picked the collection w/ cream, black, 2 browns, grey, and white. Next time, I'll buy them all ;)

Our Daily Bread Designs August Challenge

Operation Write Home card-makers are challenged to make at least 25 "masculine" cards this month.
ODBD has offered to finance the shipping of 1-2 boxes of cards to our deployed military: 1 box if we make and post 25 cards, 2 boxes for 50 cards. Thanks a million, ODBD!!
My card is a little cute and a lot masculine thanks to the manly colors I have chosen.

The papers are from my stash, the brown circles are Candi embellishments, the edger punch is by ek success, and the owl stamp and sentiment by The Stamps of Life.

Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge 26

Here's my latest card using one of my favorite Doodle Pantry pre-colored digital stamps. Using one of these fun and adorable images isn't exactly a challenge for me. More like another excuse to make a few more cards for Operation Write Home!

Shopping Our Stash Challenge 62

As I have been using things from my (already purchased) creative card-making stash during the month of July, I decided to check out a new (for me) blog "Shopping Our Stash". The idea is to use what we already have on hand in our paper crafting stockpile. The challenge today is to use something we bought because we really, really wanted it...and later said "what was I thinking?" My card is made up of several items I have had on hand for months and have never used.
The DP (by Colorbok) is from a packet of black-and-white designs. I was thinking I wanted to make lots of B&W cards, so I bought and stored the packet for later use.
The large Brad from making memories is from a set of 12 B&W brads of differing designs that I opened for the first time today. Again, thinking about B&W.
The digital collage stamp is from one of my favorite sites Free Vintage Digital Stamps. I fell in love with this busy image, downloaded, and used it for the first time on this card.

Lastly, the stamped sentiment was inked up for the first time last night when I stamped several sentiments for use on the cards I make for Operation Write Home. I found it in the dollar bin at Michael's.

Thanks for the great inspiration, "Shopping Our Stash". I have so much of everything I should be able to stay away from the crafty aisle for months ;)

S&S Sketch # 131

Happy Sunday!

Here's my interpretation of today's sketch. As you can see, I turned it sideways and moved the center paper up a little. I used a deep green background to match the green in the otherwise very peachy swirl design. I created this swirl pattern on white paper at my LSS on Friday using the "shaving cream paper" technique (You can learn about this on YouTube). The technique is messy and time-consuming if you want to make dozens of designs using different colors. In the end, I really love how these designs turned out and have made a few other cards with the unique patterns. The CS and brads are from my stash, the digital sentiment from Doodle Pantry.

S&S Midweek Challenge

Today the Operation Write Home peeps are challenged to make Cards of Encouragement. Since the sentiment I used would encourage me if I received this card in the mail, I decided it would work.

My husband chose the designer paper pad called "Kraft Funday" by My Mind's Eye. Probably would not have been my choice, but I have made a few cards using these masculine, heavy designer papers and I like the look. The gold CS is Bazzill, colored DP from a paper pad "Max and Whiskers" by BasicGrey, the embossing folder by Cuttlebug, circle dies are Spellbinders, the bling by Mark Richards, and the digital sentiment from Create with TLC. The embossed aluminum paper is the insert from a flavored coffee package. The colors are brighter in person!

S&S Midweek Challenge

The idea today is to create a card using two or more complimentary colors. This was indeed challenging. I decided to use purple/yellow. The DP and CS are from my stash, the golden rhinestones from Studio 18. When I saw this giraffe stamp (she is dressed in her party clothes), I had to have it. Unfortunately, there is no clue on the stamp as to where it came from ;(

She is stamped with brown ink and her hat and skirt are lightly colored using a purple pencil.
Thanks for visiting!

S&S Midweek Challenge

Today we are making cards with a Christmas/Winter theme. I recently purchased this Memory Box stamp called "Winter Collage" and this is the first card I've created with it. The dotted DP is by Graphic45, green CS Bazzill, I used colored pencils for the branches, leaves, and bird, and chalked the entire stamp to match the green in the paper with chalk by Inkadinkado. The word 'Winter" was left unchalked to make it stand out.

Our Daily Bread Designs Challenge

To celebrate summer the color challenge is to use cool colors--blue, violet, green--on a card. Neutral colors can be used for contrast. This card is beachy and cool even though some of the digital stamps are reddish.

I hope you like it!
DP: Die Cuts with a View
Digital stamps: crumpled paper designs

(Current) S&S Midweek Challenge

Today we are creating a card with a monkey on it ;) Who doesn't love the monkey enclosure at the zoo? My favorite monkey is the softly colored, sweet-faced douc langur. This challenge stumped me because I could not remember having a stamp or other image of a monkey in my collection...until I searched the "odds-and-ends" stash. Here is my card.
DP: garage sale grab-bag
Stickers: Karen Foster Design
Rectangle die: Spellbinders
Bling: Mark Richard

(Belated) S&S Midweek Challenge

Well, this is one week too late, but I finally found a way to use one of my new brads! The color challenge last week was to use blue and yellow on a card. Those cute brads had been lying on my desk for weeks waiting for me. I have also begun using my pile of alphabet stickers per Sandy's advice. I have these small letters in oodles of colors!

Little Letter stickers: Making Memories
DP: The Crafter's Workshop
Bumblebee brad: doodlebug design inc
Heart & Edger punch: Michael's
Dies: Spellbinders

S&S Midweek Challenge

The challenge this week is to create a card using "Things with Wings". I made this one as a thank you card for a friend who gave me a grab bag of patterned paper, embellishments, and stickers she purchased at a garage sale. She knows I make cards for OWH and wow, she found quite a stash! She also loves birds, so I knew this design would work perfectly.
The background DP is from Graphis45, can't remember where the beautiful bird came from.

On a Family Farm in Louisiana

The Annual Family Reunion has been held on the first Sunday of June since...no one remembers. I figure for at least 50 years.
The Farm is lovely and peaceful and loads of work beginning at sun-up.
This year, I helped with blueberry sorting and collecting eggs from the hen house. Those are the easy chores.
Then there's the reward of eating fresh fruits and vegetables and scrambled eggs. Heaven!