WELCOME

Welcome to Scrap Tower, my little corner of the world, where I share my creativity with you.

I enjoy many forms of crafting, from paper crafting to sewing. I make custom greeting cards for family and friends. I've made unique custom cards commissioned by friends.

I am proud to have been a card maker for the organization Operation Write Home (OWH) for several years supplying 1,000+ handmade cards for our HEROES.

I continue to make cards as gifts or to sell and I am testing a few other sewing and crochet projects to sell.

My current charitable project is Sew Powerful Purse and I have sewn and donated 20+ purses in the past two years. I plan to donate 10+ purses in 2018.

I enjoy sharing my creative passion with others, including children in Sunday School and Bible School, etc.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

OWH Sketch Challenge #192 - Christmas Carolers

It's Sunday and time for a new OWH Sketch. Since I am finishing up a box of Christmas and Winter cards to send of to Sandy very soon, I made another Christmas Card using today's sketch and one of the cute digital images from Dearie Dolls that I downloaded last year.

I altered the size of the focal image and the mat behind it .... rather than rectangular, mine is square. Also, I decided to omit the sentiment on this card. The cute red checkered paper mimics the girls dress nicely.

Cute Christmas Carolers
Red Checkered Paper - Kangaroo & Joey
Green Striped Paper - The Paper Studio Holiday Cheer 6x6 pad
Red and Green Dotted Paper - The Paper Studio All Seasons 8.5x11 pad
Embossing Folder - The Paper Studio Holly

Here is the OWH Sketch #192:
192 Sketch


Sunday, September 22, 2013

OWH Sketch Challenge #191 - "Believe"

Great Sketch from Operation Write Home today. I will definitely use this one many times.  The focal point is great for an image or a sentiment.

Christmas or Winter Card ?

Believe

Here is the OWH Sketch Challenge #191

191 Sketch (Sept 22)
OWH Sketch #191

Monday, September 16, 2013

OWH Sketch #190 - Take Three - Western

It's me again .... yet another idea for Sketch #190  :)     It's a Western Theme this time. What do you think?


Stampabilities Distressed Cowboy stamp (F1207)
Memento Ink in Rich Cocoa
Paper Studio Bandana Paper
Me & My BIG Ideas Denim Paper
Jute Twine from Western Crafts
Paper Studio Brads

Sunday, September 15, 2013

OWH Sketch Challenge #190 - second post

I told you that I had more ideas in my head .....

I had to take a break earlier.  Something about time to eat again.  Dog gone it, I just want to "play" 24/7 and I can't.  In fact, tomorrow I have to go to work.  Anyone else have that problem?  (LOL)

I had the focal image square already assembled from scraps I found when cleaning up a few weeks ago. The square was just waiting for an opportunity to be incorporated into a sketch.  The sample card for Sketch #190 and several of the others submitted were star themed and great ones for "Any Hero" cards.  I wanted to get in on that too, so here's my third card for Sketch #190.

Thank You For Your Service
Any Hero Card
Sketch #190
Cardstock & Pattern Paper from my stash
Embossing folders:   Cuttlebug Stars  &  Paper Studio Tiny Stars
Sentiment stamp:     Sparkle N Sprinkle Patriotic Icons #443
Ink:                         Memento Paris Dusk
Star Brads:              Paper Studio

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For more information about Any Hero cards and mail, check here  =>  OWH Any Hero Mail

OWH Sketch Challenge #190

Sketch #190 for OWH is a fun one.  I have two versions to submit for the moment, both are winter cards.
I also have more ideas floating around in the creative side of my brain. :)

I used the same stamp for both cards, but used a blue theme on the first one and red theme on the second one.  Both are winter cards.

Blue Winter Snow

I used Metallic Shimmer Paper by The Paper Company for the background
I used the Cuttlebug Snowflakes embossing folder for the texture
The snowflake ribbon is Ribbon Sense from a $1 bin .... somewhere
The image is a rubber stamp by Rubber Soul using white pigment ink and heat embossed with white powder
The snowflake punches are by EK Success, except the 3 tiny snowflakes are from a border punch by Fiskars left on my desk from a card that I made yesterday.  (LOL)


Red Winter Snow
Plain white cardstock for the background on this one
Same embossing folder, stamp, ink and heat embossing white powder
Pattern paper pieces are scraps from Canvas scrap pack
Different snowflake punches for this one - small one is EK Success and the big one is McGill
The bling in the snowflakes is from Stampendous - Dot Sparklers Silver - great ones because they are flat

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Here is the OWH Sketch #190
OWH Sketch #190
September 15, 2013

Sunday, September 8, 2013

OWH Sketch Challenge #189

Happy Sunday !  We have a new OWH Sketch #189 for today.

I love this Inkadinkadoo Stamp because of what this image evokes in me.  My maternal grandparents were a farm couple in eastern Kansas.  I enjoyed family vacations to visit them each summer.  I am still transported to the dairy barn sounds, smells and memories of my childhood when I see majestic white barns and farm houses.

This card is dedicated to my cousins whom I saw during those summer visits to Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Farm Memories

Stamp - Inkadinkado Bar Code #7-25718-20023-1
Ink - Memento Rich Cocoa #ME-800
Cardstock - Bazzill Mud Pie (dark) and scrap stash (cream)
Pattern Paper - Paper Adventures Origins Sage Burlap                    
Woven Paper - DCWV Woven Paper Stack
Woven Ribbons - The Paper Studio
                 

This is the OWH Sketch #189
189 sketch (Sept 8)

I hope that you like it and thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, September 7, 2013

OWH Labor Day Weekend VCMP - Final Challenge

Whew !   This is it ... making the cards was easier than photographing the cards, and writing/ posting the blogs!

The final OWH Labor Day Weekend VCMP Challenge was submitted by Donna at Indiana Inking.  Donna's challenge - to use a negative of a die or punch.

I recently made a card that fits this challenge.  It happened when I was cleaning up after making some other cards and I had this nice neat square that I had punched a "label" shape out of.  Being the Scrapper that I am, I couldn't just throw it away.  

Here is the result:

Elegant Thank You

OWH VCMP - Challenge #8 - yes I skipped Challenge #7

OK, I skipped Challenge #7   ... sorry about that.   It was to make something with leaves, but I was having trouble thinking about leaves for Christmas or Winter.

So .... I jumped on over to Challenge #8 where  Thia at Blue Moon Creation's the challenge was to create a card for OWH using an image of one or more BEES and add a creative BEE sentiment.  OK - this I was up for, but it took me a little while.

I used a BEE cut file from Bird over at Birds Cards (Bird is one lovely lady because she shares so many fabulous cut files !!)    Also, I found an image of a Bee Hive on line that I was able to scan and trace using mu Silhouette Cameo.  The result - two cards Just BEE-cause.



OWH VCMP - Challenge #6

Cards for Kids is the challenge submitted by Sybrina K at Scrapping With Purpose.

Sybrina provided a "Tic-Tac-Toe" board of techniques to choose from to help inspire us to make a Card perfect for a Hero to send home to a child in his or her life. We were challenged to use any three of the techniques on the board.

Here is the "Tic-Tac-Toe" board and Sybrina's cute card


Now for my Christmas Cards for Kids.  I made two and the first one really uses three techniques from the "Tic-Tac-Toe" board.
1 - Stamping and/or coloring
2 - Thing with 4 legs
3 - Kid-Friendly embellishments

Puppy Present

1 - Embossing
2 - Die cut oval shape
3 - Kid-Friendly embellishments



OWH Sketch Challenge #188 - Part of the Labor Day Weekend VCMP

Each Sunday OWH posts a Sketch as inspiration for new card ideas from any or all OWH card makers to try.  This week's sketch is an easy one to make and will be great for all types of cards.

Here is OWH Sketch #188

188 sketch (Sept 1)

In keeping with my plan to make as many Christmas or Winter themed cards for the OWH card box that I am building, I selected patterned papers with Christmas colors to make this one a Christmas card.

Here is my version


Labor Day Weekend OWH VCMP - Challenge #5

Oh boy!   This one really got me.   Donna over at Donna inks challenged us to use the Masking Tape Block Stamping Technique.  Her card is beautiful!


My first attempt at the technique was not very successful.  I tried again, but wasn't really happy with the outcome.  I was about resigned to totally skip this Challenge.  I laid the stamped piece aside on Sunday evening and decided to revisit Challenge #5 later.

I looked at the stamped background piece again on Monday and came up with something that I like. This one is an everyday card - no Christmas or Winter.





Labor Day Weekend OWH VCMP - Challenge #4

OWH Sketch #29 was the Challenge submitted by Annette at her Blog by Annette

It is a fairly simple Sketch, but sometimes those can be challenging.

Here is the Sketch:

OWH Sketch #29

Staying with the Christmas and/or Winter Theme, I choose this Christmas Sentiment Stamp for the focal point of this card. I heat embossed the sentiment and matted the layers with black cardstock to add interest.

Red, Black & White  Merry Christmas


Labor Day Weekend OWH VCMP - Challenge #3

Triple Die Cutting Technique was submitted as Challenge #3 by  Seongsook Duncan at Seongsook's Creations.

I don't have the rectangle dies for this one, but I improvised and changed it up just a little to make two winter cards.

Here is one of Seongsook's sample cards:
Snowflakes for OWH by Seongsook Duncan

My cards are not triple layer because the stamp that I wanted to use is too large for the third layer. 

My first card, done in blue, was created using snowflake pattern paper.

The second card I am especially pleased with because I made my own black and white snowflake patterned paper. I dug through all of my stamps set and pulled out almost every snowflake size and shape I have.  With white ink, I got to work stamping randomly on the black cardstock. No this is not Triple or Double layer, but I was inspired by Seongsook's Challenge to create this one.



Labor Day Weekend OWH VCMP - Challenge #2

Challenge #2 submitted by Diane over at All I need is paper and ink ... and stamps & copics was to create a card with elements that represent Operation Write Home ... OWH.

This one stumped me for a while, so I skipped over trying to come up with an idea.

I was trying different ideas for this winter scene stamp on Sunday. By Monday afternoon I realized that this card fit Challenge #2.    I love when things like that happen!

O = One snowflake brad
W = Warmest Wishes sentiment
H = Houses in the stamped image

Labor Day Weekend OWH VCMP - Challenge #1

I spent much of the rainy Labor Day weekend making cards for Operation Write Home and following along with the Challenges for the Virtual Card Making Party.  I finished most of the challenges by Tuesday, but I am just now getting around to taking pictures of my cards and posting them.

I always enjoy the OWH VCMP & Blog Hop challenges.  They really help me expand my techniques and card making ideas.  It is also tons of fun to see the many different interpretations of one idea across the family of OWH card makers!  There are lots of creative people out there!!!

Challenge #1 - follow this sketch submitted by Nancy Keller over at Scrap Happens


Because I am working on a new box of cards for OWH for Christmas and Winter that is due in before October 31, I tried to make all of my Labor Day VCMP cards fit that category.

Here is my Christmas version of Challenge #1.

Quilted Merry Christmas
OWH VCMP Labor Day 2013 - Challenge #1