OPERATION WRITE HOME - SKETCH CHALLENGE #205

Hi there!  I am so glad to get back to crafting again after the "busy-ness" of Christmas.  Yay !!!

I really like today's Clean and Simple Card Sketch #205. Thank you to Cindy at Mostly Markers - Cards Blogspot for the inspiration for this Sketch.  It will definitely be a "go to" Sketch for me.

Here is the first card made today using this Sketch:

Circle of Love

Paper:   Classic Calico Vol. 3, Studio Calico by American Crafts, 6x6 pad

Cut file for Silhouette:  love by  Inspired Jules

Embellishments:   CANDi, Choc-a-Mocha collection by CraftWorkCards (UK) (just love these little do-dads)

I also made a card using the negative portion of the love circle. You know how we 'scrappers' are - just can't stand to let a perfect negative cut go to waste.  

Here is Sketch #205:

OWH Sketch #205
December 29, 2013

I have more digis and images and papers out that will be perfect for this Sketch. I am eager to make a variety of cards using #205. 

Thank you !

Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown Color Challenge - My Card Featured

My red and white winter card is featured today, Dec 25, 2013, as the inspiration for this week's Midweek Throwdown which is a Color Challenge.

Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown Color Challenge 13/

Today's Color Challenge:
Make cards using Red/White or Green/White but not a Christmas card.

My card was originally posted September 15, 2013 for Sketch #190.
Check out the original blog post here:    Scraptower OWH Sketch Challenge 190

Red & White Winter

OWH Sketch Challenge #198

Today - another fun OWH Sketch #198. Sponsored by Doodle Pantry

So I used a pre-colored Doodle Pantry Digital Freebie called Snowman Cheer

Papers and ribbon all from my stash

Doodle Pantry
Snowman Cheer

OWH Sketch #196 & Mid Week Throwdown Color Challenge Oct 23, 2013

I combined today's OWH Sketch Challenge #196 and Wednesday's Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown Color Challenge (pink & green) to make this card.

Thankful in Pink & Green

Paper:  Two Sided "Vibrant" from Authentique "Lively" collection  #LIV003
Sentiment:   Hero Arts OWH Set # LP278

Here is Sketch #196

OWH Sketch Challenge #194

Operation Write Home Sketch #194 - I took this opportunity to use a stamp purchased recently at a StampScrapArtTour show in September.

This was an unmounted rubber stamp and I failed to record which vendor I purchased it from. :(

"Seasoned" Golfer

DP is Shabby Princess - I've had it for a while

Image colored with Copic Sketch Markers

Here is the OWH Sketch used for inspiration

OWH Sketch #194

OWH Sketch Challenge #193 - Model T

The card I made today is in honor of my Dad and a car that he owned in the 1940's when he was in high school. It was a 1922 Model T Ford Coupe that he named "Beetle Bomb".  It was a fixer upper when he purchased it for $50. Dad is 82 now and loves to talk about his growing up years. Even better, he is writing stories about some of his memories, which will be so great to pass on to the grand children.

I found this stamp at the Rubber Stamp and Scrapbook Show in Greenville, SC, last month.  It is by Purple Daisy Design in Greencastle, PA. I did not find this stamp on their website, but they also have a brick and mortar store. I've already made one card for Dad with this stamp and he loved it!

I flipped today's sketch clockwise 90 degrees and adjusted the focal image to suit the Model T stamp.

Beetle Bomb

Rubber Stamp:    Purple Daisy Design
Paper:                 K & Company
                           Parchment Cardstock, brown
Faux Brads:        CANDi by CraftWorkCards
Hemp Twine:      Darice
Inks:                   Rich Coca by Memento
                          Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress Ink by Ranger

*******

Penguin Cards

An assortment of Penguin Cards that I made.   Jason, my son, helped me out by creating the slide show on YouTube and posting it for me - he's my computer tech support!

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:

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

OWH Sketch #191

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

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

*********

Here is the OWH Sketch #190

OWH Sketch #190
September 15, 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

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

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

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

Not a Card - Quilt Square

Today I am posting one of my creations .... not a card, but a quilt square.

I was asked to design and make a square representing our church. My only restriction was the overall size of the square.

This square will become part of a quilt representing churches in the Greenville, SC Baptist Association. The quilts from all over the state will be displayed at the annual meeting in March 2014. This is in celebration of 125 years of the Women's Missionary Union of the Southern Baptist Convention in the USA.

DISNEY HI! - OWH Sketch #184

Today's Sketch instantly made me think about this Mickey Mouse paper that I have. I knew that my card would feature our favorite Mouse!

This one is for you Michelle H. - I know that you are a big Disney fan!!

Mickey says "Hi !"

OWH Sketch #184

All of the papers are Disney licensed products from EK Success, Queen & Company, and Sandy Lion.

The sentiment is computer generated with the Walt Disney Script - free download.

I hope that it made you smile!!

OWH SKETCH #183 - Inspired by my card !!

Check it out !!! 
A card that I made and published on May 29, 2013 for a masculine card challenge for Operation Write Home (OWH) was the inspiration for this week's OWH Card Sketch #183.

This was a great surprise for me to find my own card posted when I logged on to the OWH Blog, Stars and Stamps, today to see this week's new Sketch and sample card.  Just a little bit proud!

OWH Stars and Stamps Blog link:  

http://operationwritehome.org/sketch-challenge-183/

Here is Sketch #183:

My Card:

The Original Post:   

http://scraptower.blogspot.com/2013/05/owh-mid-week-throwdown-5292013.html

OWH Sketch #181 - Hello Handsome Cowboy

This week's Operation Write Home Sketch #181 was a challenge.


I had to look through my stamps and digital images to identify an image or sentiment that would fit the focal point square.  Once I did that it came together quickly.

Hello Handsome Cowboy

I really like this layout for the Distressed Cowboy rubber stamp (Stampabilities) and I matched the Hello Handsome clear stamp sentiment (Hero Arts) to round this one out as a masculine card.


Here is OWH Sketch #181 that I used for the inspiration for this card.

Girlfriends Card

Here is a card that I was 'commissioned' to make for a couple of gals at work.  One of their lunch break gals retired this week.

The stamped image is by Art Impressions Girlfriend series.
It is colored with Copics markers
Papers are Bazzill and Core'dinations
Several of the gals make jewelry, so I added seed bead necklaces to the image and a product called Glossy Accents to the earrings and bracelet to make them shiny.

Bead Buddies

RED, WHITE, BLUE & KRAFT Hugs & Kisses - OWH Sketch #179 & Midweek Throwdown Color Challenge

Hey every body!! From soggy upstate SC.  I don't remember how long it has been since we had a day without some rain.  Thankfully, we are no longer in a drought.  And .... thankfully we have on again, off again periods of sunshine, but the ground is saturated.  LOL - the grass is growing so fast you can almost see it grow, but mowing the lawn involves dodging showers and hoping the mower doesn't bog down or get stuck!

Today, I am sharing one of my latest cards.  I used  Operation Write Home Sketch #179 from Sunday, June 30, 2013. I also incorporated the Midweek Throwdown Color Challenge to make a card with red, white, blue and kraft.

I am pleased with the result.

Red, White, Blue and Kraft - Hugs & Kisses

Paper: Kraft cardstock
           Kraft DP - My Mind's Eye Indie Chic - Nutmeg
           Little Yellow Bicycle - Just Because 6 x 6 pad
Sentiment Stamp:  Hero Arts Year Round Sentiment set (one of the OWH fundraiser sets - yay !!)
Ink: Memento Paris Dusk
Embellishments:  Heart Brad - Spare Parts, the Paper Studio
                          Hemp Twine - Darice

OWH Mid-Week Throwdown - 5/29/2013

The Midweek Throwdown today at Stars and Stamps, the Blog for Operation Write Home, is to make any occasion cards using something on the card that represents transportation.

I made these two cards recently with a 'used' stamp that I bought at a LSS nearby.  I am always looking for things to use for masculine cards, and really liked this stamp.  It is by Great Impressions.

The argyle pattern paper is from My Mind's Eye, Fine and Dandy. The other pattern paper was in my scrap box.

NOTE:
This was card featured as Operation Write Home, Stars and Stamps,  Sketch #183 on July 28, 2013.

OWH Sketch #183