Top 10 for 2012

These are my Top 10 favorite cards from this past year.  It is fun to note that I have to work on the list to make it smaller than I do to have to make it bigger.  My absolute FAV this year was chosen because it was made as a sample for Sketch Challenge #110 for Operation Write Home.  I was honored to be asked to make the samples and all three can be viewed here.

I chose this one because masculine can sometimes be hard and I love how the paper and the image did all the work, 

 

This is from the Easter/Spring challenge and is the very first card I made with my new Cricut that Santa brought last Christmas.  I thought this was just like a piece of art.  I was so surprised and pleased with the result.

This clock card is from a tutorial at the Stars and Stamps blog called Triple Time Stamping.  This tutorial was so well explained and produces such a cool effect.  I loved this one!

I chose this card not because the design is stellar but because of the colored image.  I don't normally do hand colored images.  It is from MelJens and I colored it with pencils.

This heart card was from the Virtual Card Making Party in September and is using sketch #136.  The deep green and the gold edging made it look so rich (at least I think so).

 

Now, these stags made me smile big!  I just looked at them and thought, "wow! I did that!"  There are lots of bits and parts but it was worth all the work.

 

This is from Sketch Challenge #128 and it made the list because of the bright happy feeling I got from it.  The flowers being connected to the sentiment was supposed to be kind of like a hint.....  (?)

 

This set just had to make the list! It is from the Our Daily Bread Designs Challenge for the month of November.  Yes, getting love and valentines ready in November is right on schedule for OWH's shipping requirements.  The wonderful digi from Create with TLC just kind of says it all!

 

Last but not least, this one as simple as it is was made with scraps using sketch #98.  After having just viewed all the posts on "scrap wrangling", I spent much of the evening making scrap cards and cleaning out some bins.

I hope you enjoyed seeing these as much as I did making them!  Happy New Year1

 

 

Midweek Throwdown - Missing You

This week's throwdown is to make any kind of Missing You card.  Now, it being right after Christmas and Santa brought me a new Cricut cartridge I had to tinker.  I know it is kind of wild but I like it!

Midweek Throwdown Color Challenge/ Sketch 148

Holy Moly!  I got a two-fer!  The MWT Color Challenge is also Sketch 148.  Yay!  Ok, calm down.... whew.  I liked this sketch so much for some odd reason.  I hadn't used tags in a long time so this was fun.  And the paper I made the tags with is sooooo yummy!  ALL the stripes are glossy raised embossed.  How fun is that?  And the ribbon is velvet..... more yummy!

And the blues and reds were scraps so maybe this is a three-fer!

 

One style of flower had dimensional sticky on them so I pulled that off and just laid it flat so that I could fit the little bit of bling without creating bulk for our Heroes to have to pay extra for when sending them home to loved ones.  The others were cardboard die cuts.  All the bling was from a set by PSX and the ribbon is holiday ribbon from Michael's.

ODBD December Challenge - Flowers

Our Daily Bread Designs December challenge for OWH is to make a card with flowers.  ODBD sponsors shipping fees for 2 boxes to be sent to our Heroes each month if 50 individuals post a card for the challenge.  They also sweeten the deal by having a random drawing for gift certificates for 2 of the posted cardmakers.  Yay! So, here are a few cards I had made with flowers that I had not posted yet. 

 

These were made with DCWV paper and K&Co cardstock border stickers.  The butterflies were made with the Cricut and the ruffle edge is a Martha Stewart punch.

Midweek Throwdown Love & Hugs

The Midweek Throwdown is for Love and Hugs!  Think of all the loved ones we make smile with these.  I got on a bit of a "roll" using the black velvet sticker that comes on a roll.  :)

This stuff is cool but requires some patience to peel off the backing and not have it turn into a curly wad.  Since I am on a quest to use what I have, not make too many leftovers or scraps of anything, I made love cards untill it ran out.

Winter Theme

Operation Write Home allows winter themed cards to be sent in as late as the end of December since winter isn't over when Christmas is.  So a card with no sentiment such as this qualifies and allows me to be able to continue to make snowflake type cards.  This year instead of a GA-zillion Christmas cards I focused more on the more versatile cards to make a dent in this large stash of holiday paper.  I still eneded up making some that will be held for next season, but hey, it is only November and the jingle bells have just started to usher us into the holidays.

ODBD November Challenge

This month's challenge for OWH cardmakers is to use a tool that has gotten dusty or forgotten.  I used my Coluzzle to make the circles which were the perfect size for this free digi from Create with TLC.  The hearts and butterflies are velvet stickers with silver embossing and bling.  Yum!

Midweek Throwdown Color Challenge

I know I do these so out of order!  When I can't get right to them I do remember them when I find a particular paper or embellishment.  Most of my stuff is still in boxes so selection is limited and I DO get excited when I have the right combination for a challenge.  This challenge calls for a card made of black and white with a pop of color.  The black and white paper was from 2 glossy sheets of 12x12 that made 8 cards and used up the red ribbon (May Arts) that came in a prize pack from Sandy.

ODBD October Challenge

I know I haven't posted for over a month.  Life just gets crazy.  Well, I'm trying to get back in the swing of things so I started with the ODBD October Challenge.  The challenge is to use circles on the card.  This card has circles using the free digi from Paula.  This is also my Oldie Moldie Monday Challenge card.  It is using Brenda Walton Cabbage Roses and the accent paper is from Ever After.  I found those papers in the bottom of a box, sheesh!  I got a dozen (roses) cards from using it all up!  No leftover ribbon even.

Midweek Throwdown Color Challenge

Ah, finally got back to the craft table.  Just in time for an OWH Midweek Throwdown.  This color challenge is to make a card using red and green so I made 4 of these for the box that goes out next week.  The present is popped for dimension and interest and the silver glitter paper is fused to there is no flaking off.  (sorry about the glare, eek)

OWH Sketch #124

 

These 2 were made using the sketch from OWH.  The first one is more of the requested measurements and the second is artistic license.  The flower and butterfly are 3-D cardboard embellishments and the bling are sequins.

Sketch Challenge #128

 

 

This challenge is from the OWH Stars and Stamps blog. The flowers are 3-D stickers by K&Co. with a little added bling!

Random Cards

These are some random cards that are going in the OWH box that I hope to be shipping out in the next 2 weeks.

 

 

I seem to have a bunch that never got posted.  More to come.

VCMP Challenge #10-Home Sweet Home

Kathryn is hosting the final challenge of the weekend with us making a card to represent out state.  I'm sure she didn't mean "state of mind" so I made one for Florida since I am here with my daughter.  The greens reminded me of all the lush tropical-ness and the blues are for the ocean.  The shells are a foil sticker set to represent the many miles of beach.

VCMP Challenge #9-Neglected Crafting Tool

Shannon came up with a great idea to use a tool that has been collecting dust.  I decided to use a Cricut cut embellishment since my machine has not been out of the box in months.  I love this butterfly cut on shimmery purple paper!  I popped the sentiment so that it gives a thickness to offset the buttons. 

I think I will be making multiples of this as it went together quickly and my daughter (who claims she is not crafty but wants to help) can pitch in a little to get this box filled.  Yay!  Thanks to OWH, Mom and daughter will be spending quality time together while doing something for our Nation's Heroes!

VCMP Challenge #8-Sports Theme

This challenge is hosted by Cherie and is looking for sports themed cards.  Mine could qualify as an Oldie Moldie Monday card (I did make it on Monday too).  Our football gal is Suzie Zoo, the paper is just so very old I can't believe I found it in an old binder and the stripes are made with stickers from Creative Memories.  I know that Sandy isn't a fan of stickers but I think this won't qualify as a "sneeze."  Hopefully it will made a child happy.

VCMP Challenge #7-Christmas is for Kids

Thank you to Sybrina for hosting this challenge that is to make Christmas cards for a kid and one for a Hero. It is always a pleasure to make cards for both!

VCMP Challenge #6 and Sketch 136

 

This challenge is also our Sketch Challenge for the week.  The hearts are embossed and edged with gold.  The center heart was cut on the Cricut and the borders are stickers.

VCMP Challenge #5-Western Card

These little western cards are so cute on Sandy's blog where you will find challenge #5.  This is a good challenge to get that manly/boyish/(cowgirl too) paper out.  Yeeehaww!  The star was made on a Cricut, the horse is a cardstock sticker from The Paper Studio and the sentiment was made on my computer.

VCMP Challenge #4-Triple Time Stamping

When I first saw this challenge I thought, "I won't ever be able to do that one!"  Partially because my stamps are still packed and partially because it initially looked too good to be easy.  Well, Donna made it so easy with the measurements and samples!  So, here is mine and I love it!  The stamp is Hero Arts and the black heart is a velvet sticker that I mounted on black cardstock, made 3-D and added the little red bling.

VCMP Challenge #3-Snowflakes/Not Christmas

Challenge #3 is hosted by Cindy. I love snowflakes so I could make a whole bunch of these! I made them in 2 directions since I couldn't decide which I liked better. The shiney silver snowflakes were hand puched and the rest was fairly quick and easy. I almost killed 2 punches and my hand getting through that thick paper! Yikes!

 

Sore hand is all for a good cause!

VCMP Challenge #2-Recipe

This next challenge is hosted by Cherie and she had a recipe for us to follow.  2 patterned papers, 1 image and 3 words.  I cannot take credit for the wonderful coloring as it was done by our very own Sandy Allnock!  It came in a prize pack quite a while back and it was perfect for this challenge.  Yay!

VCMP Challenge #1-Scripture

The Virtual Carmaking Party at OWH has begun!  Challenge #1 is hosted by ODBD and is asking for a scripture or encouraging verse be used on the card.  Since I haven't made cards in a very long time this will be a good warm up for me.  The 3-d sticker is K&Co and the word art came from Create with TLC.

MWT - Things With Wings

The MidWeek Throwdown at OWH is Things With Wings.  I had made these cards before I knew the challenge.  (How the heck did that happen?)  I thought this DCWV paper was simply summery and with Sandy's inspirational card last week using just pretty paper and a sentiment, well, this one seemed like a no-brainer.  The only thing I added was the punched butterfly, the heart gem, the sentiments and the bee.  Ok, a little ruffles and stitching as well but basically, this is just the pretty paper. 

The bee is a K&Co. 3-D sticker that I covered in Dimensional Glaze to give him some special love.

OWH Sketch #125

This week's sketch is great for using up some of my sticker alphabet that doesn't seem to get much love.  The "O" is an epoxy sticker from EK Success.  I made this one in the evening and the lighting was less than desirable so the shiny red paper I used is more like pink in the daylight.  Oh, well, this would work for one of our female Heroes!  I've got more stickers left on this sheet so more Hero cards are in the making!  :)

2 More! Nice and Bright!

I seem to be making them in 2's right now.  Both of these were made from the same paper, oops, can't remember who's and the chipboard embellishments are K&Co. 

K&Co Thinking of You 2

Here are some more that I made with the same bunch of supplies.  Not to worry, all the glittery spots are sealed.  And the patterned paper is definitely an Oldie Moldie qualifier as I think it must be 10 years old!  Looks new to me today!  LOL!

K&Co Thinking of You

These are made with K&Co cardstock border stickers and floral die cuts.  I just added the little extra bling to the flowers.  The yellow borders are a lovely matte/shiny paper I picked up at M's on clearance.  Oh, the die cuts and borders were also on clearance.  Got to love clearance!

OWH Sketch #98

This is from Stars and Stamps blog sketch #98 AND wrangling some scraps.  The black scroll work is a velvet sticker on a roll from the dollar store and the embellishment is a chipboard sticker from Basic Grey Ambrosia collection.

Hero Cards

It is odd how I can be just stumped over making a card and then Poof!  It's a card!  I know this one isn't fancy but, my toys and supplies are all packed up for moving and I had to dig into a few things just to get this stuff.  The gold and blue stars were punched from shiny paper.  I made 6 and if I can find more of the stars paper I will make another set.  This will give me some to write in while on the road.

Midweek Throwdown Love You Challenge

Over at OWH Stars and Stamps blog it is time for a new Midweek Throwdown.  (Please note that they have a new blog address as shown via the link.)  This one is not as hard since Love You is the theme I make the most.