Operation Write Home

I am currently making cards for Operation Write Home, which sends blank handmade cards to deployed servicemen and women. OWH is an amazing organization that ships thousands of cards each month to our nation's Heroes so they have something to write home on. Please check out the tag on the sidebar for more information on this inspiring mission. Please join me in supporting our men and women who sacrifice for us all.



Thursday, December 11, 2014

ODBD December Challenge - Primary Colors

It's time for the Our Daily Bread Designs monthly challenge and for this month it is a color challenge.  We are to make cards with primary colors.  When I think primary colors I usually think of Mickey and his friends.  I have a bunch of the squares from a sheet I had gotten at Michael's quite a while back.  I left off a sentiment so that it could be for any occasion that a Hero would want to send a note to a child.  He pops off the page just a bit for interest.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Lovin' the Leftovers!

Let me just start off by saying I have quite a few to post.  I have been trying to clean up leftovers while packing up the craft space for my future move.  (Crafting and packing do NOT go together well.)  This first one is actually on some lovely gray paper not purple-ish like this silly photo shows... hm?  Anyway, gray has become my new "kraft" as far as colors.  Love it!  The flower is a K&Co. 3D embellishment minus the bottom layer of foam.  Their foam is very thin but there is a layer under the main flower and it starts to get a bit too thick for the Heroes to mail home for free.  I just peel off the bottom layer and stick it down.  Then add lots of Dimensional Magic to the flower for shiny accent.
Pre-made butterflies and those 3D flowers make these cards come together quickly.
This one features the free digi by Paula S. and the frame it sits on is a golden snowflake cut on the Cricut.  No, the Cricut is packed..... I cut up some ahead of time and it was an easy go-to.  The heart has Dimensional Magic for a nice bit of shine.
There were just all these lovely chunks of paper sitting in the leftover basket.  Love that crochet embellishment!
Last but not least, this card was made with chalkboard paper run through an embossing folder.  It made all those lovely raised dots white without me having to sand it.  The other large panel is a matte silver that just didn't want to photograph well.  The flower and butterfly are also K&Co.  I have a few baggies full of them and they make a nice quick and easy card.  They all get Dimensional Magic for a little extra "love."

So there you have my Sunday installment.  I'm working on a few more cards from the leftover basket this weekend in hopes to get this box finished for OWH and mailed out this week. 
 
 
 

Sunday, November 30, 2014

OWH Red Friday Blog Hop

Operation Write Home is having a Red Friday Blog Hop to help inspire card makers' creativity when most folks are preoccupied with Christmas holiday events.  This is a great blog hop in that the theme is Love and it is held during a time that is typically slow for cards arriving at OWH.

I made one with the sentiment and one without so that it can be used for any occasion.  These cards were inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest.  It isn't CASE'd but it got the mo-jo started.  Thanks OWH, all the sponsors and contributors! 

Monday, November 24, 2014

Christmas time

All these leftover slices can sure make a colorful card.  The snowflakes were cut with the Cricut and the embossing folder is holly and leaf swirls.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Scrappy Birthday!

A couple of weeks ago Cindy R. inspired me to get some scrappy cards made.  So, what better than "Scrappy" Birthday cards??? (I know, silly pun)
I like how these 4 turned out.  I kind of noticed the same color theme as a few other cards I recently posted.  Hm?  :)

Monday, November 10, 2014

Veteran's Day Patriotic Card Challenge

Tonight Ann M. tossed out a challenge on SS FB page to make Patriotic Cards for Veteran's Day.  Well, this Veteran has a couple of vintage looking ones to toss into the ring.  In my family I have had a father, uncle, brother, cousins, brother-in-law and niece all serve.  And I currently have a sister and a niece both in active service.  My family IS Patriotic!  :)  Happy Veteran's Day to all who have served!

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Missing You (same paper)

This is (obviously) another card made from the previous post's paper.  I just love the glossy flowers and velvet ribbon.  The 3D butterfly is K&Co to which I added EXTRA gloss.  :)  I'm working on a few more cards from this paper.  I think they would be good for the Valentine season.

Sunday, November 2, 2014

ODBD November Challenge - Hearts

Today started with the leftovers of yesterday's weird wet snowstorm still falling lightly from the sky.  Heavy wet snow caused a blackout today.  So card making was way better than sitting in silence waiting and wondering.  This card was made for the ODBD Challenge which calls for at least one heart on the card.  The paper is TPC Studio and the flowers and butterfly are wet look embossed.  I just added the velvet ribbon, hearts and bow.  Great paper!  I'm going to make some more because this was a 12x12 and they will all look different since this is not a repeating pattern on the paper.  It should be fun.  Oh, and yes the power came back on after about 3 hours.  :)

Saturday, November 1, 2014

A little more Snowy Missing You

What the heck is going on?  Yesterday was sunny and in the mid to high 60's, today I am under a snowfall warning!  Right now I do NOT need snow. But, our Heroes could you some more Missing You cards so here is my card for this morning.  Lots of layers and different sources.... used Cricut, Big Kick, stickers, computer, embossing folder and Dimensional Magic.  Hopefully, it won't actually snow today......... crossing my fingers!

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Winter Missing You

Needing a rest from this time of stress I DECIDED to make a card this morning.  Our deployed Heroes still need me to remember them.  So here is my snowy card for today.  The dry embossed background was given some extra color with distressing and dots with a metallic pen. The top layer of the snowflake is all glossed over with Dimensional Magic.  I did the sentiment with Word.

Sunday, October 26, 2014

SS Challenge - Music Theme

I am so shocked and happy that I made another card today.  This one is for a challenge that was posted on Seongsook's Stampers FB page.  This was the only piece of music paper I could find in all this packing.  The embellishment is layered thin cardboard and slightly popped.

ODBD Challenge - Snowflakes Non-Christmas

This month the ODBD Challenge is to make a snowflake card that is not Christmas.  I have packed up a lot of my supplies already but had these lovely snowflake stickers still out.  The 3 panels were leftovers from some previous cards so this worked out well since the Christmas/Winter paper has already been packed.  The snowflake border is a sticker border and the sentiment is slightly popped.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

SS (Seongsook's Stampers) Challenge - Dry Embossing


I know I am not posting much lately but all this packing towards the unknown departure date is very hard.  And I'm trying to sell off a bunch of stuff from the farm as well.  (Ever tried to pack up a farm?) This whole horrible ordeal just really needs to have a light start to show up at the end of that tunnel.

I am glad to have made a least one card recently.  I found the flower makings in a box of "forgotten" pre-cut items and the embossing is for the most recent SS dry embossing challenge.

I think I need a real long paper vacation!  :)

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Red, Black and White Love

It is a cold and drizzly day..... bummer........ but, over on Seongsook's Stampers FB page there was a challenge to make a card using red, black and white and I decided to give it a try.  The red background paper is shimmer paper so it was a bit hard to photograph.  The hearts are all dry embossed and popped.  OWH always needs Love cards for our Heroes.  :)

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Fall - Miss You

This one I just have to say, I could not get any pictures that show how the main paper is purple and gold.......... trust me, it is very cool!  I got from a specialty paper store many moons ago in CA.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Time for some Thank-You's

It is time for some Thank You cards.  This is one of 2 made with a wintery theme of snow flakes, poinsettias and yummy velvet ribbon.
The sentiments for all of these are from a packet of Elle's Studio square tags and were all popped.


I tried to make them for both male and female givers and receivers.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Friend to Friend


Last night I was reminded that I have not cut paper in awhile.  I do know that cutting and creating is good for the spirit and attitude so here is one I really had fun making. 


I cut the gears out of thin cardboard with the Big Kick and painted them with craft paint.  I liked them so much I cut out a bunch to have for making more cards in the future.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Love you - Thank you!


Oh, it seems like forever since I posted anything.  I got a bit down with all the struggles that seem to have no end.  But!  I did manage to get some cutting and pasting done.  I also did some cutting and painting but that is for another post. 


Here are my Love You and Thank You cards for this week.  There are several of both themes.....

 
 and this last one is trying to be different.  Maybe it is a bit odd........ hm?

Sunday, September 7, 2014

OWH - ODBD September Challenge - Make your own background

On this sunny Sunday morning I've got a card (well actually I made 5) for the ODBD September challenge.  The challenge was for me to make my own background.  I do have to say a few words about it because it just wouldn't photograph right.  The background is supposed to be a shabby chic weathered wood.  The kraft base was run through the Big Kick with a wood type embossing folder and then roughly painted with blue, pink and silver.  For some reason the blue really pops in the photos........ hm? and the lace is barely beige.    Anyway the idea was for a shabby chic barn wood look.

Friday, September 5, 2014

Autumn leaves for my daughter


Yes, Autumn is rapidly approaching.  After the day of pouring rain I went outside to see there was snow in the Rocky Mountains.  EEeeek!  It isn't cold here yet, but that was kind of spooky.  I thought I would surprise my daughter who lives in FL with a card.  Well, it is clear skies for the morning here so I had better get a move on!

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Family Holiday Season

Ah, family.  How about a little family cheer for the holidays?  This chipboard sentiment says it all (without any Christmas trees or packages!).  The snowflakes are slightly popped and well glazed for a little twinkle.

I guess I wasn't feeling much like sentiments when I made these two.  The deer and star were cut on the Cricut.  Two more for the OWH box that is nearly full.

Friday, August 29, 2014

Happy Birthday

Cleaning up some leftovers, I almost don't even know what to say about Birthdays right now.  Mine was so hard to get through.  I'm hoping this OWH card will bring a smile to a few faces (receiver/giver/receiver).  I didn't think I would like the chalkboard paper, but I am finding it adds a nice texture.  It is the dark teal panel.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Seongsook's Stampers Fall Card Swap

Here is my card for the Fall Card Swap hosted by Cora Jean on Seongsook's Stampers page on FB.  I have to admit that I don't normally do card swaps because I tend to panic and have brain freeze.  But I am attempting to stretch and try something new.  I tried to get lots of textures on this and have to say I did enjoy making this.  Thank you Cora and Seongsook.

Three more for Christmas

This first one is a little more simple. I made the flower with the Cricut and an old punch.  I know it doesn't show up well but that red block is wonderful textured paper.

This layout is one that was part of VCMP challenge last year.  I remembered/loved the layout and had to make some.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Vertical Star Burst


Good morning!  I was going to make a bunch of these and found I had a hard time making just one.  Cindy R is soooo good at this and I was inspired to try it.  Alas, I need more practice.  I do like this one though.  The sentiment is a sticker from the stash that I mounted on cardstock and then popped.  I will try this again another day.  :)

Monday, August 25, 2014

Oldie Moldie Monday Merry Christmas

It's Monday and here is the Oldie Moldie for the day!  The snowflake was made with a large Cricut cut and 3 different sized snowflake punches and a little brad to hold them all together.  One more for the OWH box going out this month.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

(Not) OWH sketch #152 - Thank You

 
Lately I've been trying out some of the OWH sketches that I had not done yet.  This is one that started out as an OWH sketch and then went off on it's own.  This started as sketch 152.

 
I liked this paper because it is actually using both sides of the same piece.  The gray is wonderful with this shade of purple.  I merely distressed all the squares and sentiment with a pearlescent ink to match.   The sentiment is popped for some interest.

Monday, August 18, 2014

Home is where the heart is...

Continuing with a little Oldie Moldie Monday theme we have this lovely die cut sentiment.  It was given to me waaaay back as part of a RAK.  The little medallion is from a chip board die cut set by K&Co that I added some shine to with some Dimensional Magic.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

A little more early Christmas


I'm not stressing over getting a ton of Christmas cards made since I have joined a few other OWH ladies and committed to pacing meself.  If less than 50% of the box is Christmas then Sandy should not be overwhelmed with more than she needs for this season.  Sorry, I can't remember who the background paper is made by but I can tell you that it qualifies as an Oldie Moldie Monday paper since I know it has been around for awhile.  I do know the square panel is Tim Holtz.  I made several for the next OWH box.

Saturday, August 16, 2014

OWH Mid-Month Throwdown - Grateful

Today's pair are for the OWH (new) Mid-Month Throwdown and you can read about it here.  The challenge is to make Grateful or Thankful themed cards.  The side panels were dry embossed before the paint was added, the sentiment panel is raised and the leaves are punched with a textured paper... all to add as much texture as possible to these cards.  I'm thankful for this uninterrupted day to make cards and tinker in the crafty zone!  :)

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Heartfelt Thanks

Switching gears here.  This time a pair of soft flowers in fall colors. 

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Scrappy Christmas

Good morning!  I had a couple of scrappy Christmas cards for the OWH box to be sent out early.  Sending them early helps give Sandy an idea of the card to contact ratio so she can advise the card makers of the amount needed (or not).

Making these scrappy cards is rather relaxing and I'm not making tons of multiples that she doesn't need right now.  Ok, off to finish up some Thank You cards!  Have a great day!

Saturday, August 9, 2014

OWH Sketch Challenge #236

I got it done on the same day!!! *faints*  LOL!  I have spent the past week tearing apart and reorganizing my crafty stuff and could actually see my whole table this morning.  I am so surprised that this one came together so quickly. The banner doesn't show up well in the photo but it is a slightly off white diamond dust (No flaking) and looks awesome with the iridescent snowflake that was cut on the Cricut.   I'm so excited!

Friday, August 8, 2014

Gratitude in Fall Colors

Here are 3 more that are winging their way to OWH this week.  More fall colors on shiny embossed paper.  This card is was designed using OWH sketch #91.