S & S Midweek Throwdown Challenge - Cards 4 Kids

Another fun Midweek Throwdown!   Cards 4 Kids is always a fun challenge, one I am thankful for because it helps me to get out of my floral comfort zone and really get creative!

Here is my card for this week's challenge:

The stripes are hand made using quarter inch strips spaced apart with a scrap piece of one inch card stock.  The image was a Friday Freebie from Scrappin Doodles (the link is on the right side of my blog.)   I am very pleased with the final result although the stripes times six cards were a bit tedious!

I love to read your comments (so please leave one) and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Happy Stamping and God Bless!

S & S Sketch Challenge #53

Today is "catch up on my blog" day.  Fortunately,  this post is still within the

S & S Sketch Challenge time frame.  I am working on my "Spring Thaw Challenge" box so many of my cards have been with a spring theme.

Here is this week's Sketch:

 And here is my card:

All products are Stampin' Up!  The card stock is Certainly Celery and Not Quite Navy.  The image is from "Garden Silhouettes."    The flat back pearls give the card a nice soft but elegant finish.  

Here's a tip:  I used the Certainly Celery stamp pad to ink the entire image then used the Bordering Blue SU marker to color in the flowers - the combination of the two inks came up as a great match, plus it was much faster than using two markers to color the image!    I used this same technique for the words also, which I should note are from the Gina K Designs set ""Spring Blooms."  

I love to read your comments (so please leave me one) and will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Happy Stamping and God Bless!

S & S Midweek Throwdown Challenge - White on White with a POP of Color

I'm about a week late posting this because time just got away from me!  I really have a limited amount of free time and I have chosen to spend it making cards rather than posting to my blog.  You understand how that is, right?

This weeks...oops!  LAST week's S & S Midweek Throwdown Challenge was to make a card that is "white on white with a pop of color."  I have to admit something here.  When I read the challenge I actually snickered a little because this has been a favorite technique for me lately and I had just posted a card to the OWH Facebook page using this technique a few days previously.  Be assured, I know these things are planned several weeks in advance and that it had nothing to do with me but it made me wish that I had waited a few more days to post the picture!  Bummer...I now had to make another card...using my pet technique!  lol  

So, humor me, I am going to post both pics here since they both meet the challenge.  The first is my submission and the second is my original.

The only element that I think anyone would question is the origin of the the sentiment stamp in photo #2.  It was purchased as a single image (I love only paying for what I know I will use for sure) from Verve Stamps.  This has since become my favorite verse, paired with the verse following it which says: "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are the household of faith."  Galatians 6:10.  I really feel that these verses sum up my mission with Operation Write Home and can also be an encouragement to our heroes as a reminder of why they do what they do.

Do you have a favorite verse that reminds you of your purpose in life?  I would love to hear it via the comment section!  I will send a personal reply to each and every one.

Happy Stamping and God Bless!

S&S Sketch Challenge #52 and #34

A very exciting week at S&S - our first year of Sketch Challenges has been completed with #52!  Congratulations Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps Blog Hosts!  In addition, we were given a "bonus" sketch, Sketch #34, which had mysteriously disappeared and needed to be re-born to complete the collection.  How fun!  Two for one is my favorite kind of challenge!

Sketch #52: 

All supplies are from Stampin' Up!  The cardstock (Garden Green and So Safron) were run through my Cuttlebug to emboss and the circles were made with Nestabilities and my Cuttlebug.  I liked it enough to make a few more for my OWH box.


Sketch #34:

 
Again, all supplies are Stampin' Up.  The card stock (Pink Passion) was run through my Cuttlebug to emboss and the circles were cut with Nestabilities.  The dots on the Green Galore were hand drawn using my SU! matting tool as a guide.  The image...isn't it adorable?!?...and sentiment are from the Gina K Designs set "Just So Hoppy" designed by Melanie Muenchinger and can be purchased here along with  many other fabulous sets by my favorite designer! I used a white gel pen to highlight the eyes and an SU! marker to color the beak.


I absolutely love this card and made another 6 for my OWH box.  I think this one will generate some smiles!  ;)


Thanks for stopping by!  Please leave a comment and your own blog address so I can stop by your blog and see what's up at your craft table!


Happy Stamping!

S&S Midweek Throwdown - The Unloved Unused Supplies

Is there such a thing?  Unloved unused supplies?  For the veteran stamper like me there is!  If I could return all of my unloved unused supplies I would have a ton more room to put the new loved and can't wait to use supplies I would be able to purchase!  Alas, we must all learn to be content with what we have (ha!) and work with the unlovable unused supplies....for this week anyway!

I had a lot to choose from for this S&S Midweek Throwdown Challenge but I certainly wasn't up to the challenge of trying to use it all!  So, I pulled out the first 3 things that came to mind...rub-ons, die-cut flowers, and Build-a-Brad, all from SU!  Here is the pic:

The die-cut flowers are really fun to look at.  The Build-a-Brad is a fabulous concept.  The rub-ons are a cinch to line up straight.  Still not so sure they were the best investment.  Here is the card I came up with:

The colors (old olive,bashful blue, and chocolate chip) are much prettier in real life but, sadly, the brads are not.  This is my third attempt at using these brads since I purchased them a few years ago and will probably be the last.  Maybe I just don't know how to use them correctly?  Idk.   On the up side...I really liked the rub-ons!  I'm not even sure if you can still get them but I will be looking into it!  I will be using this packet up pretty quickly over the next few weeks!

Time is flying...and I've got more stamping to do!  Thanks for hopping by, please leave me your thoughts and blog address and I'll hop over to visit you, too!

Happy Stamping!

S&S Sketch #50

Wow!  Two posts in one day, how unusual for me!  I just realized that the deadline for S&S Sketch #59 is due in just a few hours so I hurried right in to my computer before I became absorbed in making duplicates.  lol

Here is the posted sketch:

And here is card #1:

And card #2:

Which do you prefer?  Card #1 will take more time to duplicate due to the flowers individually stamped around the sentiment but that's no big deal.  I am just a little unsure about this sentiment...would it really be useful to our heroes?  HB will be useful for certain and the colors could certainly be for either gender and most any age.  I think I will hold off on duplicating either one until I am able to gather your comments.  :)

For both cards the cs is Stampin' Up! and so are the flower and HB stamp.  The striped paper is from JoAnn's.  Oh, the card base is Chocolate Chip so I have lined the inside (both left and right) with white cs so our heroes have a place to write home.

Please leave a quick note and tell me which card you think I should duplicate.

Happy Stamping!

S&S Midweek Throwdown Challenge - Shipper's Choice (TOY)

Hello everyone!  This week's S&S Midweek Throwdown is to create a card with the sentiment "Thinking of You."  This sentiment was selected by our three wonderful shippers (Sandy, Kris, and Dixie.)

The card I have put together was inspired by Mojo Monday Sketch #107 that just keeps jumping out at me saying "make me again...make me again!"  And, once again, the sketch came together quickly and I love the result.  By the way, in case you jumped over to see the original post, I did deviate from sketch by dropping off a few of the elements but I wanted to be sure to give credit where credit where credit is due.  So, here is my card for this weeks MWT:

Now that I look at it compared with the sketch (I was truly going by memory from previous use when I made this card) I can see where a ribbon across the middle and/or brads in the upper right hand corner could have added something more. Hind sight is always 20/20.  However, in real life the colors are much more vibrant (Certainly Celery with the Not Quite Navy/Ivory contrast) making the flourishes in the circle the focal point, which I like.

I just remembered...this probably looks way too familar to some of you!  This is the same sketch that I used in a card that was featured in this same challenge a few weeks ago.  Duh.  Oh well, the sketch has been calling and I had to answer, right?

Thanks for stopping by...please leave a comment and let me know what you think!

S&S Midweek Throwdown Challenge - Miss You 4 Kids

Thank you for stopping by my blog - I am loving all of the wonderful comments generated from Feline Playful and having a blast visiting so many blogs that I never would have found on my own.

This week's Midweek Throwdown Challenge with OWH Stars and Stamps is all about cards our deployed heroes can send home specifically to their kids to let them know how much they are missed and loved.  I have been focusing on this type of card for the past few weeks and have already posted them either here or on Facebook so I have been a bit slow to come up with "just one more" but here it is:

 
The cow is from Gina K Designs. The set is appropriately called "Down on the Farm."  I am sorry to say I can't remember where I got the cow print stamp.  The words I came up with (or saw somewhere, who knows?) and typed them up on MS Word.  I used my Cuttlebug and Nestabilities dies for the circles and ovals.

I hope you will take a few minutes and scroll through my site - this really isn't my best work!  

Happy Stamping!

S&S Sketch #49

Happy New Year!  My first post for 2011 is in response to the last Sketch Challenge on OWH Stars & Stamps blog.

Here is the sketch:

I rotated it a quarter turn counter clockwise and here is my card:

The image is a Meljen's design and is available only at Whimsy Stamps.  I copied the image into MS Word and added the sentiment myself.  However, I must note here that my dh (dear husband) told me there was a typo on my card front.  My heart flipped and I said "where?!?"  and he said "shouldn't it say 'always and FURever'?"  How I missed that I will never know!  I am always seeking clever sayings to match up with my digi's and just can't believe I didn't think of that one myself.  I guess that is why they say two heads are better than one?  So, I will be fixing the "typo" and reprinting before I duplicate this for my next box for OWH.
  
The bp is Stampin' Up, the ribbon is from JoAnn's, and the ran the first layer through my Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots folder.

While this is the first post of 2011 it is not my first card.  I actually made this a few days ago and just haven't taken the time to post it until now.  Here are the two designs I worked with today for OWH and made 12 of each design:

They both seem kinda plain but I prefer to use the classification of "Clean and Simple"  (LOL)  Actually, I have been doing so much detailed coloring in this batch for OWH that I needed to take a break. Besides, I also needed some variety in the color realm.  I would think that both cards can be used for either a male or female, don't you?

Thanks for stopping by...I would love to hear your comments and will happily visit your blog if you leave me your address ;)

Again, Happy New Year 

S&S Holiday Vacation Challenge #7

I was very excited to see that todays challenge is to make a card using a "new toy" received for Christmas!  Not that I needed an excuse, of course!  The image I used on this card was just purchased this morning (by me) from JoAnn's using a gift card that I received for Christmas.  

I have been looking for a bee stamp/digi to go with these words a friend gave me a few years back and since I have been working on Valentines for OWH I have been looking with even more dedication.  So, imagine my excitement when I saw today's challenge!  Here is my card:

Aren't the bees fabulous?  I just love them!  I especially love how easy they are to color (insert big grin here.)  The bit of dp is from JoAnn's, the card stock is SU and I put it through my Cuttlebug using the swirls embossing folder.  I only made 1 card so I could get it posted quickly but I am ready to go duplicate this by at least 6 for my next OWH shipment (Valentine deadline is January 7th!)

Thanks for stopping by.  I would love to visit your blog if you would leave me a comment and include your URL.   Happy stamping!
 

S&S Midweek Throwdown Challenge - Be My Valentine

How exciting for me to be selected to inspire my fellow OWH stampers on the S&S Midweek Throwdown Challenge! I am thrilled and even more motivated to crank out some last minute Valentines.  How about you?

As you know the deadline for Valentine cards, January 7th, is quickly approaching and with the great success of the Archway Challenge (thanks again Archway!) I am afraid that many of us have already mentally moved on to other themes.  However, the need for Valentine's Day cards has not diminished.  Many of our hero contacts are still on waiting lists for their next card boxes and time is getting short to get Valentine themed cards out to them.  So, hopefully this throwdown will give us all one last boost to turn out some sweet cards for our heroes.

My first card features the giraffe from Melanie Muenchinger's "Just So Hippy" stamp set - one of my personal favorites - which is available with Gina K Designs.  I stamped the image onto white cs with Stampin' Up! (SU) Pretty in Pink ink, colored the heart spots with the same ink and then used my blender pen to give it a soft look.  The dp is also from SU, one of the 6X6 packs that I earned as a hostess gift awhile back.  I cut the circle and shadow scallop with Spellbinders Nestabilities and my Cuttlebug.  The embossed background was also created using my Cuttlebug and an embossing folder.  Did you notice the partial image "tease" on the front of the envelope?  I just LOVE the over the shoulder look stance and the look on his face!  too cute!

For this second card I took inspiration from the Mojo Monday Sketch Blog  for October 5, 2010 Sketch #107 and cased a card made by Deborah Southard for Our Daily Bread Designs.  The sentiment is from Verve Stamps "Just for You" and the image is from SU "Garden Silhouettes." All cardstock, ink, brads, and the dp are also SU.   Once again, I cut the circle and scallop with Spellbinders Nestabilities and my Cuttlebug.  The embossed background was also created using my Cuttlebug and an embossing folder.

I would like to point out here that neither of these cards use the phrase "Happy Valentine's Day" but both are completely suitable to be used as Valentine's Day cards.  On the other hand, they could also be used even after the February 14th celebration is over...thus extending the useful life of the card.  Clever, eh?  Not an original idea but a great tip for OHW stampers like us, isn't it?

Thanks for stopping by my relatively new blog.  I love to hear your comments and enjoy visiting others blogs so leave me your URL and I'll stop by and leave you some love too!

Happy Stamping & Merry Christmas!

SC311 Sketch Challenge

I can hardly believe that Christmas is just a week away!  Time sure does fly when we keep focused and busy.  The funny thing is that I have been focused and busy with Valentines Day cards so I feel as if I have totally blown past Christmas and spring should be right around the corner...it is, right?

I spent the morning sorting, tucking, counting and packing the cards I have been creating for Operation Write Home over the past few weeks.  I was pretty tickled to find that I had stamped exactly 100 Valentines (I thought it was ironic, anyway.)  In total I will be shipping out 153 cards on Monday morning, several of which you can see by scrolling through my recent posts.

I was able to put together 18 Valentines last night and thought I would share them on my blog.  The first one here was inspired by Splitcoast Stampers weekly sketch challenge (aka SC311.)  Unfortunately I am unable to upload my photos directly to their site - something to do with the number of pixels my camera takes or some such craziness (being electronically challenged I just accept that I can't do it and haven't pursued fixing it. lol )

Here is the sketch and link:  SC311   

And here is my card:  

The sentiment was cased from OWH's Stars and Stamps Blog free digi's (for OWH cards only) as were the sentiments on these other cards to follow.  I typed the words in Microsoft Word then printed them on white cardstock.  My goal was to use these lovely sentiments paired with last of the hearts DP I wanted to use up with this card shipment.  Here are the others:

These are all pretty simple cards and could easily have been turned into kits for a card making event as well.  

If you like what you see, of if you have any questions, please take a minute and leave me a comment and a link to your blog.  Thanks for stopping by!

S&S Midweek Throwdown - Ribbon

Hey friends!  The S&S Midweek Throwdown challenge this week is to "get creative with ribbon."  I thought it was just to add ribbon to a card so I have failed on the "get creative" part - oops!  lol  I think I will post it anyway.

So, this card definitely falls under the CAS category which I enjoy doing but have a hard time with because I always think it is missing something.  In this case the size of the card basically eliminated that compulsion!  I deviated from my norm and made a square card that is 4.25' so it will still fit into a A2 envelope so it can be sent to our troops via OWH - I made 12 total.  Most of the products used are Stampin' Up!  The card stock is Blush Blossom and Night of Navy.  The ink, Night of Navy.  I ran the top layer through my Cuttlebug which really added an elegant touch in combination with the organdy ribbon. 


I have to admit Blush Blossom is not a favorite color of mine and I basically challenged myself to use it today because I am wanting to use up my rather large inventory of discontinued Stampin' Up! card stock.  I have to give credit for the color combo to the SU Color Coach, I never would have found a match without it!  Too funny, I know.


Thanks for stopping by, I love to read your comments so please take a minute and let me know what you think.


Happy stamping!

S&S Sketch #46

S&S Sketch #46 turned out to be pretty fun!  I am actually posting this before the next sketch has been issued - a first for me!  I am still working on Valentine cards for OWH and this sketch looked simple enough.  Here is my card:

I am excited about this card because I have finally found a technique for this wonderful image that eliminates the need for coloring....which I dread like a root canal!  The image is from the 2004 Stampin' Up! set named "Toucan of my Love."  The DSP is also from SU.  For the "special effects" I used a white gel pen on the eyes, colored pencil for the ears and blush, and Crystal Effects to highlight the heart.  I also ran the white card base through my Cuttlebug using the Swiss Dot folder.  

Since this card is for OWH I made several duplicates (12 total) and then realized that they are just a bit too girly to be sent to a boy so I continued on in the same thought process and came up with a boyish version of this Valentine.  I duplicated this too (8 total.)  Here is a picture of it:

Thanks for visiting my blog today!  I love to read your comments and will greatly appreciate your feedback.

Happy Stamping!

S&S Sketch #45

S&S Sketch Challenge #45 looks much easier than it actually was...for me at least!  I pondered it for several days before I actually set it aside "for another day."  Then an idea finally hit me...a week later than I hoped but better late than never, right?  So, here is what I came up with:

There are several things that I really like about this card.  First, the DP.  I have had this Stampin' Up! DP for at least a year and although I love the colors I have never found just the right design or image to use it with.  It may be difficult to tell but I ran the DP though my Cuttlebug with the Hounds-tooth embossing folder and it really added some texture and interest.  Second, I have tried and tried to pair up these words with an appropriate image and I finally put two and two together and wha-la a pretty good match I think.  Third, I was able to use two Stampin' Up! colors that have been discontinued...which I will miss but they need to go to make room for some new colors (I am all about justification!)

If you have any questions about the products (all Stampin' Up!) or techniques used I will be happy to give out the details.

Please leave me a comment and make my day brighter!

Happy Stamping!

Color Throwdown #121

This is my first entry in The Color Throwdown and I am very excited to have found another resource for challenges because I find them very motivating.  This card is one of many that will be sent to our troops via Operation Write Home.  All of the products used are Stampin' Up! except for the designer paper which was purchased at The Hobby Lobby.

If you would like more information about the products or techniques used please leave a comment and I will reply as quickly as possible.

Please leave a comment and a link to YOUR blog and I will be happy to do the same for you!

S&S Midweek Throwdown Challenge: Animal(s)

Hey there, thanks for visiting my blog!  The latest S&S Midweek Challenge is to make a card for our troops that features an animal or animals.  When I saw this I knew immediately what stamp I wanted to use...because I have been trying to come up with something for this particular image for several weeks!

So, what's been the big deal?  Why is this just now coming about?  Because I have a secret fear that paralyzes me every time I even consider using a certain technique.  What could fascinate me so much and scare me to death at the same time?  You are never going to believe this but....coloring.  Yes, I know....lame-o.  The thing is...I hate to destroy a beautiful image with poor coloring.  However!  I have been making myself practice....but alas this image was water colored by my husband Dave.  He has more artistic talent, especially in the drawing/painting arena, than I will ever hope to have.  Thankfully I can coax him into participating in my card making once in a while. 

For the card:  the image is from the Suzy's Zoo collection (no wonder I love him!) but everything else is from Stampin' Up! Words: Friend to Friend Set (2004)  Card stock: Whisper White, Watercolor paper, Bashful Blue, Green Galore, and Gable Green Ink:  Garden Green (words) and Bashful Blue (sponged around the words)  Ribbon: Bashful Blue Grosgrain Stripe.  I used my Cuttlebug to cut out the ovals and to emboss the Gable Green.  

I have loved this little piggy for as long as I have been stamping.  He used to belong to a friend who passed him on to me when she was downsizing her stamp collection.  I really really want to use him with the words "Hogs & Kisses" for Valentines Day but it just hasn't come together for me yet.  I'll try again soon.

Thanks for visiting and happy stamping!
 

The Gratitude Campaign

This video has touched my heart and will change my personal response to current and former service men and women for the rest of my life.  They are willing to sacrifice their lives to sustain my way of life the least I can do is overcome my shyness and give them the respect and thanks they deserve. 

Another great way to thank our american hereos can be found at http://www.dearamericanhero.com/

May God bless our troops and their families.

Birthday Cards for a Polish General

Last week Sandy Allnock posted a invitation on her blog to create birthday cards specifically for a Polish General serving along side our US troops (for more information visit Sandy's blog at: www.acolourfulworld.blogspot.com/2010/11/request-for-polish-general.html)

I am definitely "challenge driven" so I jumped at the opportunity to participate.  Part of what made this project so fun for me was the use of Polish phrases which did not translate into "Happy Birthday" at all.  Sandy provided several phrases, as well as an image of an eagle from the Polish flag, in a pdf format for us to use.  The eagle was much too challenging for me but the phrases were fun.  For every Polish card we made we were to make an English card as well.  

I was having so much fun that I ended up making eight cards, 4 Polish and 4 English.  Here are my favorites:

Sometimes you get on a roll and that's basically what happened here.  Each card had to be unique because all of them are going to the same unit.  It was a nice change for me because I usually duplicate at least 2 or 3 of each card I make for OWH.  What I find really interesting is that I always like my cards so much better after I have put them away for a few days then pull them out to mail or photograph.  That definitely happened with this group of cards.  These are off to WA in the morning then on to Afghanistan soon after.

If you have any questions about the supplies or techniques I used please feel free to leave a question in the comment section.

Happy Stamping!

Lisa

Masculine Valentine Cards

I would like to thank all of you who visited my brand new blog...especially those who have left encouraging comments.  I was like a kid in a candy shop after I created my blogspot but like a kid on Christmas morning when I saw that I had comments! 

Now...on to the stamping!  Like many of you I have been stamping Valentine cards for the troops preparing for the January 7th OWH (Operation Write Home) deadline.  So far I have stamped 50 cards and hope to get at least another 50 done before the deadline, if not more.

Here is what I came up with yesterday:

I was inspired by the background paper which was purchased from The Hobby Lobby, a local store here in Michigan.  I am very sorry to say that I only purchased one 12x12 sheet and literally used every piece of it.  I'm seriously thinking of going back to get some more despite the fact that it is way out of my way to do so. 

The card stock is Stampin Up (Not Quite Navy, Chocolate Chip, and Certainly Celery) as is the image (2000 set, not sure of the name.)  The variegation on the NQN was created by dragging a white craft stamp pad down the front of the card before adding the layers.  The circle and scallop were cut out using my Cuttlebug and Spellbinders Nestabilities.

Many of the cards I have made for Valentine's Day do not specifically say "Happy Valentine's Day" because I don't want their usefulness to be limited.  By doing this I am extending the life of this card well past January/February and it can be used for an anniversary. just because, etc. 

Well, I am off to the stamping table!  Hope your day is great.

Lisa