Love Cards for Operation Write Home

As many of you know I spend alot of time on the Operation Write Home Facebook fan page and today our fearless leader, Sandy, put out a call for Love and Missing You cards.  I have a large flat rate box 3/4 full of cards and will be sure to focus on these types of cards for the remaining 1/4.  I have already included several cards that fit this theme and thought I would share them with you.


These two cards are admittedly similar but just different enough that I wanted to share them both with you.  You probably recognize the designer paper from Stampin' Up! The sentiment is from a Verve set called Just For You.
 
The solid/dotted circle is a stamp that is included in the same set and fits perfectly with my Nestabilites. While cutting all of the circles and scallops I discovered that I could put the circle die inside the scallop die (on the very vanilla card stock) and cut both with one swipe through the Cuttlebug. Sounds silly but I was thrilled! So, to encourage others to save time and money I quickly took a few shots to share this idea with you and posted them at the bottom of this post. (If this is no big revelation to you as it was to me I give you permisssion to go ahead and roll your eyes. 

This next card origins remain a mystery to me.  I made it a few weeks ago in response to a sketch challenge using a free digital image but unfortunately I can't remember where either one came from.  I apologize for that.  If you recognize either of them please let me know so I can give proper credit.

Edit:  The sentiment is by Ginger at Ginger's House.  Thank you Pat K. for the reminder!

And finally, this last card came about to use up some scraps. The circle sentiment is from Create With TLC. I made two similar cards using two other circle sentiments as well.  It came up with this design on my own.  The black strip is actually satin ribbon although it is hard to tell from this photo.  The patterned paper was left over from another project and was purchase from JAS on clearance for ten cents.

If you have any questions on any of these cards just leave it in the comment section and I will answer as quickly as possible. Thanks for stopping by...I hope to have given you some inspiration to make some "love" cards for YOUR next OWH box!

Here is the mini pictoral:

Dog Gone It Anyway...

This card came together today exactly as I had envisioned it - and that doesn't happen very often, let me tell ya!  I was able to spend some time surfing my favorite challenges today and actually went to the designing table (aka dinningroom table) with a plan!  Love it when that happens!

The image and sentiment are from Bugaboo Stamps - I was fortunate enough to have snagged it when it was a weekly freebie and he has just been hanging out waiting to be set free.  I printed him with MS Word and set it up so I could print 4 on a page.  I colored him with Stampin' Up! markers in Bliss Blue, Blush Blossom, and Creamy Caramel.  The frame outline I drew by hand just using a ruler and a black gel pen.

This little guy will be included in my next box for Operation Write Home and can be used for so many "occassions" such as belated birthday, miss you, sorry, or any other events that our hero may have wished he/she could have been home for.  He was made specifically for the MWT at the Stars & Stamps blog where we making cards featuring the wonderful canine in honor of our very own mascot Pvt. Ciara.  Congrats Ciara!

So glad you could stop in for a visit!  Happy stamping!

Challenges:
S & S Midweek Throwdown: Canines
SCS Clean And Simple: Belated Birthday

Keep Your Chin Up Friend

Hello Friends!  This little cutie is a from a pre-colored set called Turtle Trio at Doodle Pantry.   One of the things I love about Doodle Pantry is that their pre-colored sets come with matching patterned papers - making it so easy to put together a well coordinated card.

I used Stampin' Up cardstock, Garden Green for the base and Green Galore for the  Cuttlebug embossed center strip.  The brads are faux using white card stock and Glossy Accents.  I cut out the image and scallop using my Cuttlebug and Nesties and lightly sponged Garden Green around the image to soften the edges.

This card will be included with my next Operation Write Home box but was made for two challenges that The Doodle Pantry is sponsoring this week - Craft Your Passion and Stamping Sisters in Christ.  The Doodle Pantry will have some new releases on August 5th and wouldn't it be fun to win a gift certificate (or two) just in time for the new release?  It would make my day for sure!

Thanks for stopping by....please leave me some love if you have a minute :)

Hope it's a hoot!

Hi there!  Well, I finally broke out the Stampin' Up! Owl punch and am so glad I did.  I bought this punch several months ago but after I received it I couldn't for the life of me remember why I thought I "needed" it.  So, I headed over to Split Coast Stampers and did some research...and found some inspiration.  Yeah!  If you have never been over there it is well worth the time.  Here is a link to their gallery page.  But WAIT!!!  Please read the rest of my post before you head over there because if you don't you'll never make it back.  LOL

The colors are very fall, which is great for the Operation Write Home schedule right now, and I think the card turned out to be pretty gender neutral and can actually span a pretty broad age spectrum too.  Gotta love that!  The card stock is Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, and Summer Sun.  I ran the RR through my Cuttlebug with an embossing folder and used my Nesties for the circle and scallop.  The patterned paper is from a stash of paper that was gifted to me by a Facebook friend.

The sentiment is from a Gina K Design set called Owl Always Love You which I have had for a few years but never use because I would have to color it (don't roll your eyes, I'm trying to get over my coloring phobia, I really am!)

Thanks for stopping by today!  I'd love if you would leave me some love below :)

Challenges:
Stampin' Sisters in Christ: Use any creature, great or small
Blogger's Challenge:  Embossing

S & S Midweek Throwdown - Water

This week's theme over at the S & S Midweek Throwdown is water.  I knew right away the exact stamp set to use - I had just received this set and I was ready to ink it up! 

This set is called Holy Carp and is made by Skipping Stones Design. I love this set and am certain you will be seeing more of it in the future!  That said, how did I do on the coloring?  I used Stampin' Up! water color pencils and a blender pen.  When I grow up I want to color with Copics.

Happy Stamping!

Because of You

This is my creation inspired by this week's Sketch Challenge #79 at the Stars and Stamps blog.  For such a straight forward sketch I sure seemed to struggle with it.  I think my problem was trying to force the use of patterned paper  that was just too harsh with this delicate embossing.  I like the look of the ribbon but wish it was wider.  At any rate it has turned out as a unisex design and that's always a good thing. 

It is difficult to tell from this photo but the card stock is Very Vanilla by Stampin' Up! layered with Pumpkin Pie and Chocolate Chip.  The ribbon is also Chocolate Chip.  The sentiment is from a Verve set called Just For You.

Glad you stopped by today...happy stamping!

Challenges:
Stars and Stamps Blog:  Sketch #79

Cheryl's Unbelievable Blog Candy!

Have you seen the blog candy Cheryl is offering over at She Stamps?  It is unbelievably awesome!  The contest is good through July 31st so hurry on over and sign yourself up!

Dustin Pike and S&S Midweek Throwdown - Cards 4 Kids

It's been a few days, sorry, but I am determined to complete my Dustin Pike Week - and I saved my favorite for last.  I am tickled that this card fits right in with the Stars & Stamps Midweek Throwdown - Cards 4 Kids.  Is this not the perfect sentiment for this theme?  It' another wonderful FREEBIE from Create with TLC!  The image is also another FREEBIE from the Dustin Pike Blog.

Happy Stamping!

Challenges:

OWH Stars & Stamps: Cards 4 Kids

Dustin Pike - Cupcake Monkey

Welcome to Day #4 of my "Dustin Pike Week."  I have to say....I LOVE this image!  And the Glossy Accents added to his eyes and the cupcake sprinkles make it even more adorable to me!  This image is pre-colored and FREE on Dustin's blog - it also comes in black/white.  The sentiment is also FREE at Create with TLC.  The papers are Stampin' Up! as are the matching brads - sorry to say I think the paper is retired.  I used my Cuttlebug for the embossing and circle/scallop cutting.

This card will be sent to Operation Write Home, a wonderful non-profit organization that provides blank handmade cards for our deployed U.S. troops stationed all over the world.

Happy Stamping!

Challenges:

Clear It Out: Anything Goes

Everybody-Art Challenge: Dots

Critter Challenge: Birthday Cards to Yourself

Make It Monday: Anything Goes

Dustin Pike - A Piece of Cake

Hi there!  Today is Day 3 of my "Dustin Pike Week."  This piece of cake is FREE on Dustin Pike's blog and comes either precolored (my fav) or black/white for you Copic lovers out there.  The sentiment is also FREE from Paulette over at Create with TLC blog.  The polka dots are printed on acetate and came in a clearance paper pack from Stampin' Up! It doesn't show up in the photo but the acetate is really cool.


In response to Sherry's question below:  Great question Sherry! Acetate, which is really a thin sheet of clear plastic, has a naturally clingy quality so I didn't see the need to attach it around every edge like I would card stock.  Instead I cut the acetate to the exact size of the card base, attached the image and sentiment, then used my ATG to apply adhesive on the back of the acetate under the image/sentiment then applied it to the card base.  By doing this the acetate is permanently attached but the adhesive is not visible.  I suppose in other applications brads or eyelets would work too.
Happy Stamping!

Challenges:
Cupcake Craftroom: Polka Dots
Inspire Me Fridays: Anything Goes
Fab 'n' Funky: Food

Doodle Pantry Challenge #14

If you are a follower of my blog you are sure to know that my personal preference is pre-colored digis and Doodle Pantry has a very nice selection of them.  However....this isn't one of them!  This is actually  FREEBIE available on their site paired with another sentiment from (where else?) Create with TLC.  I colored this adorable bird with Stampin' Up! markers and added some Glossy Accents to the beak and feet.  This is a square card that is 4.25" so it will still fit into an A2 sized envy.  The patterned paper is from my scrap bin.

As always, this card will be added to my next box for Operation Write Home, a wonderful non-profit organization that provides blank handmade cards for our deployed U.S. Troops to keep in touch with home.

Happy Stamping!
Challenges:
Doodle Pantry Digital Doodles: Use any Doodle Pantry Image
Paper Play Challenges: Things With Wings
By the Cute and Girly: Things With Wings
The Craft Garden: Use a Bird
The Paper Shelter: For the Birds

Dustin Pike - Something to Smile About Tomorrow

Day 2 of "Dustin Pike Week" here at Stamping With a Mission.  This adorable little monster is FREE on Dustin Pike's Blog and you can download it precolored or in black/white to color yourself.  The sentiment is from Create With TLC and is also a FREEBIE.  I really like how versitile this card is - boy or girl, birthday or not, etc.

As always, this card will be added to my next box for Operation Write Home, a wonderful non-profit organization that provides blank handmade cards for our deployed U.S. Troops to keep in touch with home.

Happy Stamping!

Challenges:
Tuesday Throwdown: Fun in the Sun
Ladybugs Crafts Ink Challengeblog: Summer Birthday
Crafty Creations: Boyz to Men
A Gem of a Challenge: Let's Hear it For the Boys

Dustin Pike - Happy Birthday Giraffe

Hi there!  Thanks for stoping by my blog today.  This week I will be posting  a different card every day using the wonderful FREE images of Dustin Pike.  I love all of Dustin's characters but favor those that have been pre-colored and especially those that are free on his blog.  Dustin's online store is called Doodle Dragon Studios and is loaded with adorable images at great prices.  This particular image is the current FREEBIE at the online store.

As always, this card will be added to my next box for Operation Write Home, a wonderful non-profit organization that provides blank handmade cards for our US Troops to keep in touch with home. 

Happy Stamping!

Challenges:
Birthday Sundaes: Anything Goes
Dustin Pike: Animals Rule
Tiffany Doodles: All Creatures Great and Small
Cardmadfairy's Digital Days: Include an Animal
Wags 'n Whiskers: Birthday
Penny's Paper-Crafty: Happy Birthday

Birthday Sundaes - A Summery Color Challenge

This week's challenge over at Birthday Sundaes is to make a card using orange, green and white - summery colors that I have taken some liberty with and turned them into fall colors for Operation Write Home.  Since we are always a few months ahead of the seasons July is time for fall cards and Christmas is right around the corner, too.  I have to admit, I liked the way this turned out so much I made another half dozen or so.

Happy Stamping!

Challenges:
Birthday Sundaes: A Summary Color Challenge (orange, green, white)
One Stitch at a Time: Anything Goes
Make it Monday: Anything Goes

Happy Blogaversary Sandy! Post #3

And here is my 3rd post for Sandy's blogaversary challenge.  :) 

I printed this image and sentiment nearly two weeks ago when I was trying to decide what to do for my sample card for my Play on Words challenge during the OWH Virtual Cardmaking Party.  The image is from  PC Crafter  and the sentiment is from Create with TLC.

Challenges:
It's a Coloruful World: Unisex or Masculine
Here Come The Boys: Sport (must be for boys/men)
Dutch Dare: Summer Fun

Happy Blogaversary Sandy! Post #2

And here is my 2nd entry for Sandy's Blogaversary Celebration Challenge!  Does it look familiar?  It is a total CASE of a card that Sandy made last weekend during our OWH Virtual Cardmaking Party!  I hope she will get a kick out of it - and a smile of course!  I will be making another 5 for my next OWH box :)  Thanks for the inspiration Sandy!

Challenges:
It's a Coloruful World: Unisex or Masculine
The Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenge:  Get Punchy
Inspire Me Fridays: Anyting Goes
Art Impressions Stamps: Use Something From Your Stash
Forever Friends: Stripes (& must include and animal)
Paper Crafting Journey: For Him

Happy Blogaversary Sandy!

This weekend marks the 4th Blogaversary for Sandy, the President and Founder of Operation Write Home, at It's a Colorful World.  Congratulations Sandy - your blog is an inspiration to many of us and one I personally check it out nearly every day. 

To celebrate Sandy is throwing a virtual party on her blog with an invitation to post unisex or masculine cards - and there's CANDY!  Yippee!  And not just any candy....but  a whole box (medium flat rate no less!) fillllled with goodies!  I can only image what that will contain so of course I am ALL over it!  She will be picking a random winner from all of the participants who link up before the end of the weekend.  However....I noticed that she didn't set a limit to the number of entries (hee hee hee!)

So, here is my first entry Sandy!

OWH Virtual Cardmaking Party - Easy as 1,2,3

OWH Virtual Cardmaking Party Challenge #9 was hosted by Patricia at Thinking of Inking.  The name of the challenge is "Easy as 1, 2, 3" and I loved the way she presented it.  She made a great point that some challenges can be intimidating so she wanted to keep her challenge simple - use 1 piece of designer paper, 2 images, and have 3 or more words in your sentiment.  I chose to use these two images from Designed 2 Delight and the sentiment is from Create with TLC.

OWH Virtual Cardmaking Party - Foody or Fruity Fourth

OWH Virtual Cardmaking Party challenge #12 was hosted by Sarah over at Sarah's Stamping and Stuff to make a card highlighting food or fruit as your focal image.  I chose to use this wonderful free digi from Paula S. (thanks Paula!)that has been in my "to do" pile for a few months now.  I actually like this one so much that I have it hanging in my office.

OWH Virtual Cardmaking Party - Color Me Crazy

The OWH Virtual Cardmaking Party continues with challenge #14 by Tammy at My Craft Central called Color Me Crazy to create a card using nontraditional colors in your focal image.  I chose to stamp my image onto colored card stock and then cut it out.  The dp is Stampin' Up! and the stamps are from Gina K Designs.

OWH Virtual Cardmaking Party - All About Animals

I'm back!  I was out of town for the Fourth but am back today and continuing to "work" my way through the OWH Virtual Cardmaking Party challenges -  although not in order.  This card is what I lovingly call a "twofer" meaning that it meets two different challenges at the same time. 

The VCP challenge #16 was given by Trish at Mouse Print Creations to make a card using an animal image.  I already had this image in mind for the S & S Midweek Throwdown Challenge - Autumn/Fall so I put the two challenges together and am happy with the result.



OWH Virtual Cardmaking Party - PLAY ON WORDS

Welcome fellow OWH card makers!  I am very honored and excited to host this challenge today.  My husband is the King of Puns and after 25 years together I find myself coming up with quite a few puns of my own and I thought it would be fun to see the funny side of our card making community.

To play along with this challenge create a card using a "sentiment" that uses ordinary words in an extraordinary way.  For example, "be" can be changed to "bee" and used with a bee image. Or maybe you can substitute a word with another word that has a completely different meaning when used in another context.  If you don't have any stamps that fit into this category I suggest you check out Paulette's blog - Create With TLC -where you will find tons of FREE digital sentiments (aka Word Art.)  Be sure to leave Paulette some words of gratitude if you find something you can use.

The sentiment was FREE from Create With TLC (of course!) The cow was also FREE from PC Crafter.

There were actually several phrases that I considered using with this image (anything with a reference to "back" or "hips"  or "udder" were all great candidates to me) but I settled on this one because I really didn't want to bring any more attention to the cow's hind quarters (doesn't she have the sweetest eyes?)

So, now it's YOUR turn!  Go get your funny on...and link your creation using the linky tool below.  When you do you will automatically be entered in the contest with OWH for a very special prize. 

Have fun....and go with whatever Play on Words that "mooooves" you!

OWH Virtual Cardmaking Party - What Does Freedom Mean to You?

This card is for Carol's challenge over at Our Little Inspirations to make a card that represents FREEDOM to you.  I chose this beautiful eagle clip art that I found online (just by googling eagle images.)  I colored his eye and beak (very lightly) with SU watercolor pencil and then highlighted the eye with Glossy Accents.

The photo is too washed out (sorry) to show the layer of gold card stock behind the eagle but it really does dress up the card - and I just noticed that it makes the card ARMY colors :)

I have covered two challenges with this card because I used this week's Sketch Challenge #76!

Footnote:

I am honored and tickled that this card has been chosen to win an embroidered Operation Write Home badge - even if is was by random.org!  And I really am excited that it was for two challenges so this week's Sketch Challenge has been promoted again.  :)

OWH Virtual Cardmaking Party - Tie a Yellow Ribbon

The third challenge was given by Tanya at Tinkerin In Ink with Tanya - it is actually a color challenge using these colors: Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Peach Parfait (of which I had none) and Early Espresso (which I substituted with Chocolate Chip.)  The background paper was on clearance at JoAnn's and the digi was a freebie - sorry I can't remember the origins, if you know tell me and I will update this post and add a link.

OWH Virtual Cardmaking Party - There's Something Fishy Going On

The second challenge today for the OWH Virtual Cardmaking Party was presented by Sheila over at 2 Paw Prints to make a card that has a fishbowl.  She made a BIG fishbowl with her Cricuit - which I don't have - and mine is tiny in comparison but it works...right?  The stamp is form Stampin' Up set called Lettle Hellos (2003.)  The background paper is actually a printed sheet of vellum (also SU) adhered to white card stock with Glossy Accents - which surprisingly is almost invisible.

OWH Virtual Cardmaking Party - Camo Challenge

And we're off...!  The first challange today is CAMO.  I didn't have any camo paper (and have looked, believe me) but I remembered this great digi that I had downloaded a few months ago from Dee Dee's Digis.  Unfortunately Dee Dee is taking a hiatis from her online business and I was unable to procure a link to share.

I colored the digi with Stampin' Up! watercolor pencils and softened the white card stock by sponging on some Creamy Caramel ink - the colors are much stronger in real life than in this photo, but you get the idea. 

Onward to the next challenge - to join in just head over to the Stars and Stamps blog.  There's no time limit to join in on the fun!

OWH Virtual Cardmaking Party! Check it out!

Have you heard?!?  I am sooooo verrrrryyy excited!!! 

"What is it?" you ask.  Well let me tell ya - it the start of something BIG that you are going to love!  It is and INTERACTIVE Bloghop.  For this event we will be creating while we hop!  All day Saturday and all day Sunday new challenges will be posted at designated blogs and rather than just "oohhhing and ahhhing" then leaving some love we will actually be creating our own cards based on the challenge presented and then sharing them right on that same blog.  Oh, and there will be prizes!

I am looking forward to the challenges (16 in total - one right here on MY blog *smile*) to turbo charge my mojo and to seeing all of the creations that come from them.  Not going to be available this weekend?  No worries....the blog links will stay on the Stars and Stamps blog for you to utilize anytime. 

See you there!

S & S Midweek Throwdown Challenge - Love Cards

This week's theme for the S & S Midweek Throwdown Challenge is Love Cards!  What better way to show some love to our deployed troops than to shower them with Love Cards they can send back home to those they love?!?  And what better way to say I Love You than a card that makes your face AND heart smile?

This card made my "top three" favorite list of all of the Disney cards I made this past week (which was a whopping 50! whoo hoo!) for Operation Write Home.  Although the pic isn't too bad I have to tell you that the colors are fabulous in real life - very eye catching.

Here is a quick rundown:  The Daffy image was cut from a 12 x 12 sheet of paper purchased from JoAnn's (but I hear it is available at Michael's too), the cardstock is Stampin' Up! Tempting Turquoise, the sentiment is from Hambo Stamps, and the black bling is from Pizzazz Aplenty (THE best online store for bling), and the background paper is from a paper pack by Prima Marketing called "Rock On Bro."

Thanks for stopping by - please leave some love in  my comment section!

Disney Madness - Pink with No Sentiment

For the past several days - ok, nearly a week - I have been making cards using a single sheet of 12 X 12 designer paper purchased from JoAnn's.  Yes, you read that correctly - just ONE sheet of 12 X 12 paper has kept me busy for several days/evenings....it's not that I am a slow creator or even a perfectionist.  I have actually been able to complete over 25 cards from this one sheet - and still have almost as many yet to make. 

How? you ask.  This one piece of paper had fifty 1.75" squares with various Disney characters in each square.  So, once I cut it up I had 50 different focal images to work with and I just had to use one square per card to give each character his rightful moment in the spotlight!

Here is the "Pink with No Sentiment" card I made with Daisy Duck.  I didn't give it a sentiment because I truly felt that her eyes said it all!!

I will be entering this card in Lexi's Creations blog challenge to make a card with no sentiment.  I will also be posting this to the Facebook fan page for Hero Arts because today is National Pink Day!  How fun is that?

S & S Sketch Challenge #73

Welcome to my blog and thank you for stopping by.  It has been way too long (several weeks) since I have posted anything new to my blog - although I have been putting some of my creations up on the Operation Write Home Facebook fan page from time to time. 

Here is this week's sketch, #73, over at the Stars & Stamps blog: 

Honestly, my first thought was "oh no, an angled cut" but it wasn't really any big deal once I thought it through.  My tip:  Cut the cardsock to 4.25" x 3.5" then make a mark at 2" on one side, draw a line between the opposite corner and the 2" mark and cut along that line. 

Here is my card:

I used my Cuttlebug and the HB embossing folder and the rest was from my *gasp* scrap pile.  Really - I had these papers all out on my workspace from another project (which was actually the last Sketch challenge I posted now that I think about it!) and since I love the colors I just went with it.  The flower was punched with an SU punch and I coated it with Glossy Accents.  The colored paper was part of the gifted 12 x 12 sheets from a co-worker.  The sentiment is from a recently acquired Penny Black stamp set.

Just for fun I will show you the other card I made using these same scraps.  I posted it on FB so if you have already seen it just pretend that you didn't and oohh and ahhh anyway, ok?  :)

Happy Stamping and God Bless!

Memorial Day Weekend Bloghop

Thank you for hopping by my blog today!  If you have arrived here from Susan's blog you are on the right path!  If you happened to have just stumbled upon my blog (lucky you!) and you want to enjoy all of the wonderful posts you can click on the link below and it will take you to the very beginning.

This is my very first time to participate in a blog hop and I am very excited!  My blog is only 6 months old and was created so I could join in the fun challenges on the Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps blog.  New challenges are posted every Sunday and Wednesday and a new technique tutorial is posted every Tuesday.

For my card today I decided to stray away from the traditional red/white/blue just to break things up a bit.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE our nations colors but I am pretty far down on the list and assume that you have already seen quite a few patriotic cards today (if not just scroll down a few posts here and you will find several cards with r/w/b and stars!)

For my focal image I used a pre-colored digi from the Sunflower Friends set called  Lil Kitties.  The sentiment I typed in MS Word and just added it to the .png file before I printed it.  The card stock is Stampin' Up! and the designer paper is from a gift pack I received from a Facebook friend just this week. The brads are faux - the technique instructions can be found on an earlier post by clicking here.  The layout is the Stars & Stamps Sketch #59.

Your next stop on the hop is Dolores' blog called The Corner Studio.  I hope you are having fun and have a blessed Memorial Day Weekend.

May God bless you and the families that are missing their heroes to ensure our safety and freedom.

S & S Midweek Throwdown Challenge - Summer Fun

This week's Midweek Throwdown Challenge over at OWH Stars & Stamps blog is to make a card for our heroes with a "Summer Fun" theme.  One of my very favorite things to do during the summer is to walk on the beach, especially during the sunset hour.  So, here is my card  with the summer fun theme:

This is a square card (4.5') that will still fit into the A2 sized envelope.  I started with SU Glossy White card stock, 3 SU re-inkers, and a baby wipe.   I used SU Creamy Caramel, Summer Sun, and Cameo Coral inks.

Have you heard of the baby wipe technique?  There is a simple tutorial at Splitcoast Stampers that you can check out here.  I much prefer this method to the brayer for several reasons.  First - it is much less messy because you can throw the wipe away when you are finished.  Second - you can get the variations that occur in nature without having to own a special ink pad.    Not only do the colors blend together right on the wipe but you can change the depth of color based on how hard you press but still remove some of the color with an uninked part of the same wipe.  Third - I can add texture to the sand by dabbing the wipe rather than dragging it.  Try it - and be sure to drop me a note with a link to see how it turns out for you.  :)

The background only took a few minutes to dry and then I used my Jet Black Stazon ink pad to stamp the girl, extra weeds, and the sentiment.  I used a black Sharpie marker to fill in the girl to make her appear as a silhouette.  I have seen this done before, frequently with this particular image, but had never tried it for myself.  I wasn't disappointed - and I'll do many more changing up the background colors maybe.  I layered the card with SU Creamy Caramel and the card base is Basic Black - which I will line with white.

I have to admit that I made this card for another challenge as well.  This weekend there was a stamping event at Splitcoast Stampers called a Virtual Stamp Night.  It was my first time participating in something like this and it was fun.  The challenge this card met called for a water vessel or beach scene.

Happy stamping and may God bless you!

S & S Sketch Challenge #69

This week's Sketch Challenge at OWH Stars & Stamps is unbelievably versitile - and I am looking forward to playing with it some more in the days to come!  If I am in a frugal mood it will even be great for using up those DP scraps.

Here is the sketch:

And here is my card:

The DP is from a large stack that a co-worker gifted to me when she switched over to digital scrapbooking (what's up with that?!?) knowing that I would use it for my Operation Write Home cards.  The card stock and ribbon are SU - Bashful Blue and Green Galore.  The sentiment is from Hambo Stamps and is stamped in Glorious Green.

I can see from this photo that I really need to get serious about putting together a makeshift lightbox.  I have no idea why my background seems so dull, it is actually white card stock.  Ach, I'll see if my DH will help me get it set up.

Thanks for stopping by, your comments are always appreciated.  Happy stamping and God bless. 

S & S Midweek Throwdown Challenge - Things With Wings

This week's S & S Midweek Throwdown Challenge is to make a card containing "things with wings."  The options were unbelievable - birds, lady bugs, angels, bees, fairies.  I finally settled on this adorable little bee image from Mami Doodles.  I used S & S Sketch #33.

Happy Stamping and God Bless!

Any Hero Cards by Special Request - Post #5

Thanks for visiting my blog - I love to read your comments so please take a minute to let me know what you like or don't like about this card.  Thanks!

So, this is card #5 that I made by special request for an Army family to send to hero Dad who is deployed overseas.  For more information please scroll down to Post #1.

This is a knock off of the card that started this whole journey - very similar to the card that was posted on Facebook that caught the Army Mom's attention with the eventual result of this very special mission I happily undertook.

I'm thinking this card is pretty self explanatory but if you see something you are not quite sure how I did it just leave me a comment and I will get back with you asap.

Happy Stamping and God Bless America.

Any Hero Cards by Special Request - Post #4

Thank you for visiting my blog.  If this is your first visit I recommend that you scroll down three posts to read the whole story.  The short of it is that this is card #4 made for an Army family (Mom, son-7, and daughter-11) from Clarksville TN who requested some special cards for the kids to send to hero Dad overseas.

I realized after I challenged myself to do a daily post of these six cards (that have already been mailed by the way) that two of the cards will be blog repeats.  Hopefully those that recognize this card will still enjoy it just knowing that it was  put together with the kids and their dad in the forefront of my mind as I colored, cut, and adhered.

This wonderful digital image was created by Nikki at Melonheadz Illustrating and was a freebie for 24 hours during an OWH virtual card making party on
Facebook several weeks ago.  I colored my soldier bear with Stampin' Up! watercolor pencils then blended it with a SU blender pen. The card stock and dp are all SU too. The sentiment is a freebie from Create with TLC.

For more information on this card click here.

Happy Stamping and God Bless America!

Any Hero Cards by Special Request - Post #3

This is the third card that I made for an army family from Clarkville TN to send to their hero dad stationed overseas.  You can see my first two cards, and read more about this stamping mission, by scrolling down to my previous two posts.

The card stock is all Stampin' Up! (Real Red, Night of Navy, and Kraft) The stars were cut out with my Cuttlebug and Nestabilities. The design on the kraft star is from a SU background stamp called Stipple Plaid. The sentiment I picked up from Hobby Lobby.

My card was inspired by this card made by Sandy Allnock. She posted it on the Operation Write Home Facebook page.  Her blog is wonderful and updated daily and can be found here.

My intention was to case these beautiful cards completely but I started with the focal point and once it was made found that it was too big to work the way Sandy's did so I went with it.  I like it enough to make several more for my next OWH box - which will be shipped out well before the May 21st deadline for Father's Day cards.


Happy Stamping and God Bless You!

Any Hero Cards by Special Request - Post #2

This is card #2 that I made by special request for an Army family in Clarksville TN.  Dad is the hero deployed overseas and is missed by his wife, son (7), and daughter (11.)  I think the daughter will like this one because of the ribbon.  I ran out of room for the sentiment so I put it on the inside. 

The card stock is Stampin' Up! Green Galore (my last piece of a discontinued color, sigh) and Tempting Turquoise.  The image is a freebie from Doodle Pantry and is much brighter in real life.  The DP and sentiment are part of the corresponding kit and can be found here.   This is my first purchase from Doodle Pantry and I am very impressed with the color quality.  I dry embossed the Green Galore layer with my Cuttlebug and the Swiss Dots embossing folder.  The ribbon is grosgrain and is Stampin' Up! too.

I will be entering this card in the Doodle Panty's blog challenge DPDC12 which will qualify me to receive a free digi kit via email.  You can too, check it out here.

Happy Stamping and God Bless You!

Any Hero Cards by Special Request - Post #1

Something very interesting happened on the Operation Write Home Facebook page this week - an army wife commented on one of my red white and blue cards that she would like to "buy some of these for her kids to send to their dad."  I read the post more than once to make sure I had read it correctly - and then replied that I would never dream of charging her for cards to send to dad while deployed!  Long story short...we communicated through FB and I have made six unique cards for her 7 yr old son and 11 yr old daughter to send from Fort Campbell in Clarksville TN.  And I must say that I really enjoyed knowing who was going to receive the cards as I made them and they are lavished in love and well wishes!

I am going to try something new and post one picture each day for the next six days.  Maybe by the end of the six days the family will have received the cards and I can share their feedback with you.  Wouldn't that be fun?

So, here is the first card.  It was made specifically by request because our Hero flies helicopters for the Army.  My thinking is that the boy will really like this one.  The image is clip art that I found in Google Images by searching for military helicopters clip art.  The sentiment you may recognize as part of the rubber stamp made by Paper Inspirations (I got mine at my local Hobby Lobby but they also have a website at paperinspirations.com)  The card stock is SU and the DP is from JoAnn's.  Oh, and I sponged Always Artichoke and Creamy Carmel on the white to tone it down a bit.

Happy Stamping and God Bless You!

S & S Sketch Challenge #67

Today is national Military Spouses Appreciation Day and I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to all of the military spouses and families out there.  My family and I are truly grateful for the many sacrifices that you make to ensure our safety and freedom - especially those things that most of us never even realize.  As I lay down and snuggle with my hubby tonight I will think of you and say a prayer that God will give you peace and blessings.

This week's Sketch Challenge over at Stars & Stamps blog looks like this:

I finally made a break from the red white and blue, at least for today! For the past 10 days or so I have had r/w/b and Any Hero cards on the brain, which is good but now I have a nice bunch on the way to Sandy with a nice stash set aside to take to the crop next weekend.

And here is my card:

The card stock is SU (Certainly Celery and Pumpkin Pie.)  The DP is from my stash, and is now all used up (sigh.)   I ran the CC card stock through my Cuttlebug with an embossing folder and then emphasized the raised parts with a Versamarker pen.

The sentiment is a freebie from Create with TLC posted some time in 2010 and is still available on Paulette's blog but it will take some scrolling through old posts to find it.  I'm sorry I didn't keep track of the date to make it easier for you.  Think of it this way...the more you surf her blog the more freebies you will find!

Your comments are alway appreciated so please let me know what you think.

Happy Stamping and God Bless America!

 

S & S Midweek Throwdown Challenge - Any Hero Card #2

Here is another Any Hero card for the Stars & Stamps Midweek Throwdown Challenge (for more info scroll down to the post before last.)  This card was inspired by Allison G in TX and Karen Howard - I just combined the two cards they did for this same challenge.  It follows S & S Sketch #22.  I will be making 7 more to share at a crop I will be attending on May 14th (hopefully I can recruit some fellow crafters to write some notes of appreciation in them.)



Thanks for stopping by...I love your comments!

Happy Stamping and God Bless America!