OWH Sketch #153 - Dance In The Rain

Happy New Year everyone!

This is my submission for Operation Write Home Sketch #153.

Dance In The Rain

I stamped this "Dance In The Rain" sentiment on several scrap pieces last night without a real plan to use them.  When I saw today's sketch, I decided it would be a good one for this sentiment.

The stamp is Stampabilities #G1115  called "Dance In The Rain". All the papers are scraps from my stash.  The purple is Bazzill Purple Pizzazz, but I don't know about the others.  The Buttons and Hemp string are also from my stash of supplies.

If you notice, the mat for the sentiment is two triangles.  That is actually the result of my error in cutting the mat the same size as the sentiment. Rather that cut another piece, I cut it in half diagonally and offset the corners.  I like how it turned out and think that the split mat adds interest to the focal point.

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Here is OWH Sketch #153

OWH Mid Week Throwdown - Turquoise & Silver

It is a color challenge for the Mid Week Throwdown over  at Operation Write Home. The colors are turquoise and silver.

The sample card posted is by Marlene at Cubbyhole Creations  and it is beautiful, but this is not a color combination that I usually think of.  I've been wanting to use a cut file posted by Bird over at Birds Cards so I decided to incorporate that into my MWT card today. The dot on the snowflake in the lower left corner is Ranger white enamel accents

Thanks A Latte

Cardstock:  Turquoise - Bazzill
                   Silver - Recollections
                   White - Georgia Pacific
Dies:  Spellbinders - Classic Oval Large
                               Lacey Ovals
Cut File: Birds Cards
Embossing Folder:  Snowflakes - Cuttlebug
Sentiment:  Latte Love -Fiskars

Thank you for stopping by!

OWH Sketch #147

This one is a bit waaaaay out there for me, but it was fun to put together.

Wild Saffron - Way Out Hi!

I am interested to know what you think about this.

The DP is from KandCompany Wild Saffron pad.

OWH Sketch #146

I am in the process of making LOVE cards for Operation Write Home, so I decided to use today's OWH Sketch #146 for this LOVE is in the air card.  

LOVE is in the air

Pattern Paper:  Hearts and Pink Stripes - Fancy Pants Dancing Girl, double sided

Graphic/Sentiment:  K&Company  Sweet Talk Postage Stamps

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Here is OWH Sketch #146

Thank you for stopping by !!!!

OWH Sketch #145

Hello everyone!  Wow, I can not believe that November is here already.

Today's Operation Write Home Sketch #145 is a simple sketch, but it will be a great one to use for many different occasions.  I have started making Love and Valentine cards for OWH, so that is the theme for Sketch #145.

The background pattern paper is a XOXO tone on tone design, so the sentiment repeats that. My center piece is only 3 x 4.25 instead of 3 x 4.5 because I had a scrap already cut to that size. It is embossed with "love" words and symbols.

XOXO Love 

Pattern Paper:   The Paper Studio - All Seasons pad
Sentiment:        Paper Crafts Magazine, Feb 2012 edition   
                               (It can be downloaded from www.PaperCraftsMag.com/sentiments)
Embossing Folder:   LifeStyle Crafts - Sweetheart set

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Here is the OWH Sketch

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Don't forget to VOTE on Tuesday!!!

Blue Without You - OWH Sketch #143

Hi Y'all!!!!

I have been busy trying to rearrange and reorganize my craft room. Parts of it are reorganized. The rest .... well, we won't talk about that.    I have been making OWH cards too; just not blogging.

I really like the OWH Sketch today and I have several ideas rattling around in the creative side of my brain.  {smile}

I have been trying to come up with a way to use the sentiment "blue without you".  I saw a card in a magazine which had a tree with blue leaves and that sentiment. It was cute, but I wanted to come up with something different. Today's sketch helped me create this design.

Chain of Hearts - Blue Without You

Before adhering everything, I tried the layout with a layer of blue behind the white embossed layer.  I liked it better without that blue layer.   I will probably do one of these with shades of red, or red to pink, with a love sentiment also.

Punch:  EK Success Chain of Hearts
Embossing Folder: Darice Heart

Sentiment: Computer generated with Harlow font

OWH VCMP 10th & Final Challenge

Here I am on the final VCMP Challenge.  It was to make a card representative of our home state.  This last challenge is definitely one of my favorites and I knew exactly what I would make for it.

Anyone from the Palmetto State, or has visited, will instantly recognize this image which is representative of our state flag.

Palmetto State

This Artful Legacy stamp is a difficult one for me to obtain a good image.  It took me 6 or 7 tries to get this one. The only white ink that I have is Color Box pigment and it is a new pad.  I had to get the right combination of ink on the stamp and pressure to get a good image.

Thank you for stopping by !

OWH VCMP Challenge #9

Whoa !  This one required some thought.  Challenge #9 hosted by Shannon over at Sharing My Work For OWH and it was to use a neglected crafting tool.  I did not think I had any neglected crafting tools, until I sat in my crafting room and looked around taking a visual inventory and realize that I do have a few things that I have not used in quite a while.

I chose from my collection of paper edger scissors.  The edger scissors were some of my first scrapbooking tools. I purchased some and have had a couple of sets given to me.  Today, I chose FISKARS Rockies Edger  to finish off this fall card.

Fall - Autumn

The digital image is another cute one from Dearie Dolls.  All of the papers are from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by!

OWH VCMP Challenge #8

OWH VCMP Challenge #8 was hosted by Cherie' Corner of the World.  The challenge was to make a sports themed card.

This card was made recently using PAPER ADVENTURES Pillsbury Stripe and an image that I purchased, but don't remember the brand. Another card for the OWH box.

OWH Sketch #136 and VCMP Challenge #6

Sketch #136 / VCMP Challenge #6 - I checked the sketch out on Sunday afternoon.  I've had some little pumpkin die cuts sitting on my desk begging to be used on an OWH card and this sketch helped me do just that.

I made this card this afternoon and the hardest part was selecting the papers from my collection of Fall papers.  I decided to make it a cute card by using the Hello Punkin sentiment which is computer generated. This card could be used for a child or adult.

The die cuts were purchased at the Scrapbook Super Store in Pigeon Forge, TN.
Papers are Frances Meyer and K-I Memories.

I am out of time for blogging for tonight.  I will post more tomorrow.

Thank you for stopping by!

OWH VCMP Challenge #5

No .... you did not miss it .... I skipped Challenge #4.  It is a stamping technique that I am not sure I have the type of stamps to create.  I will try it, but not this week end.

So .... on to Challenge #5 which is hosted by Sandy's Crafty Creations and it is called Howdy Y'all.  Hi Sandy !  we say y'all here is South Carolina too!!  Sandy's challenge is to create a western card. She suggested a cowboy or horse.  Well, it just so happened that I have three cards that I made over the past several months that fit this challenge.

Here they are ...........

Howdy from Cute Cowgirl

The cowgirl was a purchase from the Scrapbook Clearance - I do not remember which brand it is.

The bandana, denim and burlap papers are from my stash, probably Paper Studio brand.

I used 4 red grommets from my stash and set them with my Crop-a-dile, then laced with natural jute.

The sentiment is computer generated with a Cowboy font download from the internet.

Think of You Roundup

Stamp Image by Stampabilities - Distressed Cowboy #F1207 - found in the Clearance bin !

Stamp sentiment by Hampton Art - We Make A Great Pair collection

Patterned Paper is left over from a Make and Take - I think it is Graphic 45, but I don't remember the collection name.

Burlap is a ribbon scrap from my stash.

Warm Fuzzy Horse Love

More of the same paper and natural jute.

Sentiment is Hero Arts Everyday Sayings collection

The tiny brads were not quite the right shade of brown, so I inked them the same ink used for the sentiment. I think it was Color Box Amber Clay.

All very subtle, but I think it is warm as is the sentiment.

Let me know what you think. I appreciate your comments.  Thank you for stopping by!

OWH VCMP Challenge #3

OWH VCMP Challenge #3 is hosted by Cindys Card Co.  The challenge is to make a card with Snowflakes but not Christmas.

I made this card this afternoon and it took me a couple of hours.  I was trying some things with my Silhouette Cameo and wanted to use one of the Dearie Dolls snow digital stamps that I downloaded. This one is Birdie Snowy Day.  The papers are from a DCWV 6x6 Christmas Pad that I have had for a while.

Birdie Snowy Day

OWHers, if you have not visited the Dearie Dolls blog you are missing a real treat !  Mary Ellen posted some Patriotic digi stamps this weekend that will be perfect for OWH cards!  Be sure to leave her some love too!     http://deariedollsdigis.blog.com

What I tried with the Silhouette Cameo:
I opened the Dearie Dolls digital stamp in Silhouette Studio, added the Registration Marks and sent to my printer.  Then with the printed page loaded on the cutting mat and into the Silhouette Cameo, the machine read detected the registration marks which aligned it, and it cut out the image. I was able to do this on my old Craft Robo cutter too, but I had to switch between two software options and I just did not play utilize this option very much. I tried to figure out how to create and cut a mat slightly larger than the image, but I was not successful today.  I did cut a mat the same size as the image, so I used it as a base and added some dimensional adhesive to create a dimensional image.  With a hand punch, I punched out snowflakes from the scarp of background patterned paper and popped those with dimensional adhesive too.  I had a coordinating paper with SNOW words, so I cut the ones you see, changed the O to a snowflake and popped those too. I had no idea where this card was going when I started, but I like the finished product!  :)

Well, I have blah, blah, blogged about this card enough .... on to the next post !

Thank you for checking it out !!!

OWH VCMP Challenge #2

OWH VCMP Challenge #2 is hosted by Cheries Corner of the World - It's time to cook!  A recipe challenge to make a card using 1 image, 2 patterned papers and 3 words.

I had this card already made up using scraps and inspired by an OWH sketch, although I don't remember which one.  I just love it when I can create such a pretty card from scraps left over from another project!

thinking of you

The patterned papers are from the K&Company Wild Saffron pad. Flowers, brad and pearls are from my stash. The sentiment is from Hampton Art We Make a Great Pair collection. I like this sentiment for this card because it is small and helped balance the layout.

Please let me know what you think.  Thanks for stopping by!

OWH Virtual Card Making Party (VCMP) Challenge #1

Hello !  Labor Day has been a 'wash out' - it has rained almost all day.  Not so good for our home town Labor Day Festival or a BBQ, but a GREAT day for card making!!  I have actually been at it since Friday evening after work.  My goal for the weekend - to finish off a box of cards of at least 100 cards to send to Caro.  When I reached 95 sometime on Saturday, I stopped counting.  I have 110 cards as of this moment.

Operation Write home hosted a Virtual Card Making Party on Saturday & Sunday.  I had cards in my box that fit some of the challenges and they are cards that I have not previously posted, so I am posting them for the VCMP. I spent some time Sunday evening and today trying to make cards for the rest of the challenges in VCMP.

Challenge #1 - OWH partnered with  Our Daily Bread Designs monthly challenge to create cards with Scripture or uplifting quote or sentiment.  I already had this one prepared.

Matthew 19:26

This card was assembled using scraps and flowers from my stash, Jubliant Waves embossing folder by  Lifestyle Crafts  and All Things Are Possible stamp by  Stampabilities .  I did not have a brad in the right shade of yellow, so I colored a pale yellow brad with a Copics  sketch marker to achieve the shade coordinating with the yellow cardstock.

OWH Sketch Challenge #135

Hi everyone!  I celebrated a birthday earlier this month and received a new Silhouette Cameo for the occasion!!!  I am still figuring things out about it and the software which is different from the Craft Robo and Klick-N-Kut software that I have been using for a number of years.

I cut some butterflies out using the Cameo a couple of nights ago, but had not decided how I would use them.  I was primarily trying out the Cameo.  When I saw today's sketch, I decided to incorporate one of the butterflies in my card for Sketch #135 and use some coordinating papers.

Here is the result:

All of the papers are K and Company -- some from Life's Journey series and some from Ancestry series. I used a teal textured cardstock for the layering.  I used adhesive pearls for the butterfly body and I created the sentiment on the computer using Freehand 591 BT  font.  The butterfly is little bit delicate, so I am concerned about that for my OWH box.

Thank you for stopping by !

OWH Sketch #133 - Smile

I'm back after a 3+ month hiatus.  I have been busy working and card marking.  I used all of my spare time to make cards for OWH and suspended the blog activity for a while.  I send Caro just over 100 cards at the end of June. I will have another box of 75 or more (trying to reach 100 again)  general and fall cards to send very soon.

Recently, I have been trying to come up with cute cards for kids of all ages.  I was working on some cards with wiggle eyes and decided to adapt today's sketch to work with a cute new sentiment stamp I found and a happy face with wiggle eyes. I found this Inkadinkado stamp a couple of weeks ago in a clearance bin for $2 !!   It is so perfect for OWH cards.

I rotated today's sketch counterclockwise to use the sentiment stamp. I adjusted the sizes of the circle and small rectangle slightly to work with my design. I am pleased with the outcome and hope that it brings a smile to the child (or a BIG kid) that receives it.

Here is another card using the "you make me Smile ... " stamp.

Here are a couple of other cards made with  'Smiley' face in mind.

Clean and Simple, but soooo Happy

Sandy's friendly "Frank N. Stein" inspired this one.

Thanks for stopping by!!  :)

OWH Midweek Throwdown Entry #2

Here is my second entry for the OWH Midweek Throwdown. I used OWH Sketch #3.

Paper and Flowers are from Michael's Melodies & Lace - $ Bin
Sentiment  is from Hero Arts Happy Day Animals Set
Brads with gems are from my stash.

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OWH Midweek Throwdown Challenge

Today the OWH Midweek Throwdown Challenge is a floral them.

I made this card last week with pieces from a K & Co. scrap pack. While it does not feature a floral focal point, it has a floral design, a monotone floral design and floral embossing.

Simple Pleasures are Life's Treasures

Paper:   KandCo.
Sentiment:  Stampabilities - Definitions Set
Embossing Folder:  Cuttlebug

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OWH Sketch #119 - 2 Versions

My Muscle Cards / Father's Day cards were sent off to Caro on Friday and she received them on Saturday. Most of my fellow OWH card makers are able to complete and send many more cards than I do.  I hope that even a small number of quality handmade cards make a difference to our deployed heroes.


I have two versions of today's Sketch #119. After all of the masculine cards lately, I decided to go "Shabby Chic" with today's Sketch.


On the first card, I closely followed the Sketch and sample card. 

Shabby Chic - Make a Wish

My husband saw it and said that he thought it would look good if the layout was flipped upside down, so I made a second card flipping the Sketch.  I think that both versions work nicely.

Shabby Chic - Best of Friends

Paper:  Treasures by Shabby Chic (6 x 6 pack, Michael's $1.00 bin - yea!!)
Punch:   Martha Stewart - #1) Traditional Eyelet, #2) Pinking Scallop
Circles: Spellbinders
Ribbon: Offray
Sentiments & Bling : Studio G ($1.00 stamps)


May is very busy for me. I have vacation and a couple of business trips during the month, so I probably won't have much time to make cards for the next few weeks. I will make cards when I can or I will experience creativity withdrawal !!!   I will check in at OWH every chance I get.  Meanwhile, thank you for stopping by!!

OWH Sketch #118

Here is a cute little card made using this week's OWH Sketch #118.  It is a fun and simple sketch, great for any type of card. 

Just dropping you a line ...

OWH Sketch #118

Patterned Paper:  Paper Studio
Cardstock:          Recollections
Border Punch:     Fiskars
Sentiment:           Inkadinkado

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OWH Sketch #117

I am still working on Father's Day cards, so I used today's Sketch #117 to create another one. The sock was inspired by a card I saw in Paper Crafts Magazine (May/June 2012, pg 77).  I created a sock pattern and cut the pieces with my Craft Robo.  My circle is a little bigger than 2.5", so I re-positioned the the two 1.25" x 3" pieces a little farther apart than the Sketch.

Socks for Father's Day

Papers are SEI Grandpa's Attic and cardstock and ribbon from my stash.  The sentiment is from Inkadinkado Happy Everything set.


Below is OWH Sketch #117.

OWH Midweek Throwdown Challenge - Father's Day

Yippee !  I found these Sassafras Lass papers on the $0.10 rack at the Scrapbook Clearance Store in Sevierville, TN, where everything is 50% off the lowest price. That means I paid $0.05 per sheet!  I was there last weekend specifically looking for papers to use for masculine cards. OK ... Sassafras Lass doesn't sound masculine, but I think that the papers work.

World's Best Dad - Teal Appeal

The papers are from the Teal Appeal series.  I used patterns Twist and Shout, Sew Striped and Swivel. I have 4 others papers to try and a sheet of tags to match.  The Teal cardstock is Bazzill "Rain". The Gray cardstock is The Paper Company "Night Sky".   Ribbon and gems are from my stash.  The sentiment is Studio G. Sketch is OWH #91 but I re-positioned the sentiment to the lower half of the card.

OWH Sketch #116

I've been busy making Guy and Father's Day cards this weekend.  Here are three cards made with today's sketch #116.

Muscle Card With Love

Here is another card using a classic car graphic from the Kanban set that I purchased from a LSS. The sentiment and the brown leather paper is also from the set. I used the Cuttlebug Diamond Plate EF for the background.

I liked the first card that I made for the muscle card challenge so much, it was hard to formulate a new design. Today's sketch helped.  I have motorcycle images in the set, as well as more sentiments, that I have not used yet.

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On this next card, I accidentally cut the strip short, but it still works. I think the shorter strip helps balance the splash of green.

I just love this BoBunny paper, especially for masculine cards. I have had it for a while and have been stingy with it, but this is a great time to use it.

#1 DAD - Happy Father's Day
Bo Bunny - Blueberrie Paisley / Blueberrie Stripe

I created the sentiment on the computer for today's sketch. I printed it in several different font colors. 

This version is made with paper from Colorbok's Earthy Retro.  I like the blue, brown, grayish green for masculine cards.

#1 DAD - Happy Father's Day
Colorbok Earthy Retro

I have several more cards, but I will post them another time.   Thank you for stopping by!

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OWH Sketch #115

This is a fun sketch!  I am packing for a business trip next week, or I would be making several more cards using this sketch tonight. 

Woo Hoo Card

In Sandy's Vlog today, she shared that our Heroes asked for "brown" cards. While they are most likely asking for masculine cards, I literally made a card in brown monotones using today's sketch.

Paper:         American Crafts, the goods series - Cummerbund, Boutonniere, and  Confetti.
Sentiment:   Hero Arts This is Big set CL570.
Ribbon:       Clearance bin at A.C. Moore for a quarter .... Woo Hoo.  LOL

I packed my clothes for my trip, but I have also packed a craft bag to give me something to do in the evenings!

Thank you for stopping by! Your comments are appreciated.

OWH Cute Character Challenge

This week's OWH Midweek Challenge is Cute Characters.  I decided to use this cute pre-colored digital image from Art Explosion's Scrapbook Factory Deluxe (v3.0).  


I had no idea for a layout, so I perused the OWH Sketches for inspiration. I selected Sketch #14 for the layout. I thought I would 'throw' this card together in no time, but I struggled with the elements and colors to use to compliment the image. Please let me know your comments. Do you think this works?

Happy Birthday Elephant

The sentiment is from Hero Arts You're The Best Set #CL545. The background cardstock is BoBunny Buttercup Dot #12BCD396. I used EK Success Swiss Cheese Edger Punch for the blue strip. The blue cardstock and gems are from my stash.


Later I may try to fussy cut the elephant image and try another layout.


Thank you for stopping by and sharing your comments!

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Later on Saturday evening ......  

This is the first background I had started for the elephant card above.  It wasn't working for the cute little guy, so I set it aside.  

Elephant ..... this is not working

When I came back to my craft room and saw this one on the desk, it looked like a tie to me.  So .........  LOOK what happened !  

happy DAD day .... now it is working

This took just a few minutes to make the pocket and assemble the card.  Cool huh ???

LOL .... how about that !

OWH Sketch Challenge #114

Hi everybody!!!.  It is Sunday and at OWH it is Sketch Challenge time again.


OK .... I will be perfectly honest and tell you that I am not a huge fan of this sketch. I did, however, manage to put something together that might just work.  

Sunshine DAD

I've been wanting to use this SUNSHINE stamp for a while, by trying the Starburst technique. I will call it the "Sunburst" technique for my card. My idea is for it to appear like the  sun rising out of the dark morning sky. Originally the sentiment was going to be on a circle, but I was inspired by today's sketch to use a diamond. I think it works!

Sunshine Sunrise Sunburst

I can almost see this used as a "Spotlight" card for graduation or a recital, play, etc.

Today's OWH Sketch #114

Thank you for stopping by to take a look and leave a kind word!  God bless you!

OWH Muscle Card Challenge

Mother's Day cards for Operation Write Home have been submitted to the shippers.  They are busy preparing the boxes for our heroes around the world.  Now it is time for the MUSCLE CARD CHALLENGE to created and send half masculine/Father's Day cards by April 30.


Here is a DAD card that I made today using OWH Sketch #30 as inspiration for the layout.

"Hot Wheel Classic" - DAD

The graphic is from Paper Craft Topper kit #PCT9811 by KanBan Crafts. It has 8 images and 6 sentiments in the pack. I purchased this pack several weeks ago at a LSS with masculine cards for  OWH in mind. 

OWH Sketch #113

Hi all and Happy Sunday!  I hope you have had a fantastic weekend!  Our weather, like so many across the country, has been unseasonably warm. Yeah!!! Spring came early.


Today's OWH Sketch #113 was a quick one for me to assemble using papers I worked with last night. The sentiment is from HERO ARTS "This is Big" set. 

Just A Hug - Just For You - Just Because
OWH Sketch #113

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Last night's card was assembled using OWH Sketch #32 for inspiration. The sentiment is from FISKARS "All Year Greeting" set.

Just Because - OWH Sketch #32

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Thank you for stopping by and leaving your kind comments. Happy Spring !!

OWH Midweek Throwdown Challenge: Miss You Cards

It is another busy week for me and I have been working on this one card all week. I had the design almost completed, but I had not chosen a sentiment.  When I saw today's Miss You Card challenge, I decided to use a play on words and finish this as my Miss Shoe card.  

Miss "Shoe" Card 

My inspiration came from Papercrafts Special Get Inspired Magazine, pg 20-21, December 2011.   www.papercraftsmag.com


Digital image:            Victorian Boot, www.paperprintables.com (free)
Embossing Folder:     Tiny Mosaic, Cuttlebug
Die Cut:                    Labels Eight, Spellbinders Nestabilities
Cording:                    Brown, Bead Landing
Ink:                           Walnut Stain, Tim Holtz Distress
Eyelets & Paper:        My supplies


Thank you for stopping by !  Your comments are greatly appreciated!

Another Mother's Day Post

Here is another Mother's Day card that I sent to OWH last week.  

Mother's Day Doily Card

I have used this design with half of a doily before with several different sentiments - Thank you, Birthday, Thinking of you, etc.

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HELLO HANDSOME: OWH Sketch Challenge #112

OWH Sketch #112 came at the perfect time for me.  I started this masculline card last night, but hit a mental block about how to put it together. I already had the background cut and the strip cut to 1.5" width.  When I saw today's sketch, the creativity kicked in, I trimmed the strip to 5" length and I had my finished card in no time.

Hello Handsome

The paper is from Recollections Regent Street paper pad which I just bought yesterday.  The tag embellishment is also from the paper pad. It had a button printed on it, but I added a real button and some twine to give it more dimension.


The sentiment is from HERO ARTS OWH Year Round Sentiment Set. This card could be used for any occasion.