Wishing for Snow

I know many of you may think I'm crazy, but I love snow.  I also love snowmen.   I go to the Hero Arts website from time to time to see what's new.  I also went this time because Sandy Allnock from Operation Write Home was there teasing about some new Operation Write Home stamps that will be coming out.  Just so you know, I didn't see the new OWH stamps yet.   However, I read about the contest they have going on right now. It actually has three different categories for entry.  Here is a link to the contest.

I decided to make something for the contest.  I'm not much for Neon colors, but that's exactly what I used here.  I think the Neon blue works well for my snow stamp.  I inked my stamp, left it ink side up, placed the cardstock on top of the stamp and used a brayer  to make sure I got good ink covereage onto the cardstock.  Worked like a charm.  :)

I added an embossed white layer, some ribbon,  Hero Arts gems and  Hero Arts glitter. This card won't be going to Operation Write Home because of the glitter.  I'm pretty sure I can find someone to send it to though.

Quote for the day:  "Kindness is a language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see."  - Mark Twain

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!

A challenge, but not a sketch challenge. :)

Hi!  Today's  cards are not based on a sketch challenge, that should be tomorrow since the SplitCoastStampers sketch challenge is on Wednesday.  :)

Today's cards are based on Monday's Try a new Technique challenge on SplitCoastStampers. 

The challenge is what they termed Inlay Die Cuts.  

Here is what I created.  I created a background by layering strips of patterned papers and then used a Quickutz die to cut the heart strip.  I then created two cards using the positive and negative parts of the die cut.   It was really a cool challenge and I enjoyed it tremendously. 

I'm sure I will be doing this again with different kinds of dies. 

Operation Write Home is almost ready to start sending Valentine's cards, so I made these based on love cards.  

I kind of used today as a vacation day, I definitely needed a break.  I made a bunch of Thanksgiving cards.  I hope to share those very soon!

Quote for the day: 

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!!

Do I need a new Challenge?

As usual my cards today are based on sketch challenges.  I don't know if I need to challenge myself  NOT to use a sketch or if I just really need to accept that the sketches are working really well for me right now.

 

Anyway, my first card uses SplitCoastStampers sketch 458.

 

 Here is my take on the sketch.  I LOVE snow.  Here in the south we don't get snow, some flurries occasionally, but not real snowfall.  I miss it.  So, I love to use snowman whenever I can.  They make me happy, lol.

 

My next card uses Sweet Sunday Sketch 195.  I don't play along with this challenge as often, but I think I need to start.  It was a really fun sketch to use.

 

Here is what I created.  I used a sweet stamp from Unity Stamp Co.  I also used papers, flowers and a brad from my collections.  :)

Quote for the day:

 

I know it's not really a quote, but when I was looking through my quotes, this one popped up and made me laugh out loud.  I hope you enjoy it!

 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Okay, back to Sketch Challenges

I am back to a sketch challenge today, I know you are surprised.  ;)  

Here is the sketch from Operation Write Home.

Here is what I created.  :)  The image and sentiment are from Unity Stamps.  I ordered them when Unity was contributing money to Operation Write Home for each order. :)

I used older papers, vellum and ribbon.  I paper pieced the snowman's sweater, scarf and hat.
It was a really fun card to make.

Quote for the day:

Thank you so much for stopping by and have a great day!!

Not a Sketch Challenge :)

I know you're surprised but my cards today are not from a sketch challenge.  :)

SplitCoastStampers has a Try a New Technique challenge on Mondays.

The technique today is to  use a waterbrush on white pigment ink on kraft cardstock.

First you heat emboss the image in white on kraft cardstock.  Then you use a waterbrush with white pigment ink to 'watercolor' your image.  Then you add color with the waterbrush and colored pigment ink. 

Here is my first attempt.

I really thought the technique was fun and I wanted to it with bolder colors.  So I embossed on white and used my waterbrush with Colorbox chalk ink.
This is what I created!

I really enjoyed this new technique and think I will be using it more in the future!!

Quote for the day:  "Your children will become who you are, so be who you want them to be."  - anonymous

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!!

More Sketches

Well, I kind of took today as a vacation day.  :)  I have been working so hard getting the house ready to put on the market and getting ready for our trip etc.  Now that the house is on the market and we are back from our trip, I can relax a bit.  :)

Of course I went for the sketches.  :)

This one is from Retro Sketches #82. 

I made two cards with the sketch!  This one actually has a plum background, I really need to get my photo box set back up.  On the list of things to have when we get moved.  

This one is on a kraft background. 

The other sketch I used is from Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #193.    What a fun sketch!

 I made two of these that will be going to Operation Write Home.  The colors are a bit off on this picture.  The background is more coral.

Both of these were so much fun to make.  Both are using stamps that I got from the store in Missoula, MT when we were visiting our son at college.

Quote for the day:  "Because when you stop and look around, this life is pretty amazing."  - unknown

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!

Back from College Visits

Hi!  

I'm back to creating after an amazing trip to see our kids at their colleges!  

My first card is of course a sketch challenge.  :)

SplitCoastStampers sketch #455

While I was in Missoula, MT, I visited an LSS and they had this sweet stamp set.  However, it was in clear packaging and I don't know who makes it.  I though it would make a fun little card for a hero to send home to their child, so it will go into the Operation Write Home box.  

 I used older papers, a cuttlebug embossing folder, May Arts ribbon, Copic Xpress paper, Memento black ink and Copic markers.

Quote for the day:  "

I love this sweet little quote!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Operation Write Home Sketch

Ever had one of those days where the plans and visions you have do not correlate with what actually happens?  That has been my day today.  LOL

Here is Operation Write Homes' sketch for today.

 Here is what I FINALLY came up with.  I started with this sweet little Unity Stamp.  Originally I had the idea of heat embossing it, so I embossed with clear and with black.  The clear didn't bring enough color  to the 'You are my" piece, it looked too much like the grass.  The black embossing,  well it started to bleed into the prisma pencils and gamsol.  I've never had that happen before, but trust me, it isn't a good thing.  So them I stamped the sweet image with archival ink onto plain cardstock and colored with prismacolor pencils and blended with gamsol.

 Then I added glossy accents to the sunshine to make it shine.

It didn't turn out exactly like I intended, but I do like how it came out!

Quote for the day:  "Always be a little kinder than necessary."  JM Barrie

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!!

New Sketch Challenge :)

Hi!  They came to clean the carpets today so all the work I've been doing getting boxes packed and stuff cleared off of the floor has paid off.  So this afternoon, I got to play.  :)  

The Deconstructed Sketch is a new challenge for me, and it was so much fun!

Here is the sketch!

I made these two cards.  I even got my Copic airbrushing stuff out!!!!  :)  I airbrushed the image layer after masking the fan.   This one has My Mind's Eye papers, brads from my stash, and May Arts ribbon.

This one has Authentique papers, brads from my stash, and May Arts ribbon.    The image and sentiment are a fun little Studio G set from Michael's.  This fun little pun is outside of the box I usually create in and that was fun!!

Quote for the day:  "A dog is the only thing on Earth that love you more than he loves himself."  - Josh Billings

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!!!

Sketches Abound

 Hi!  I haven't been posting much lately, but I have been working.....on the house and a bit on some cards as my reward.  :)

This card was made with the SplitCoastStampers Sketch Challenge 452.  Here is the sketch:

Here is my take on the sketch.  I used October Afternoon papers and Wordsworth stamps, both are pretty old. 

My next card uses the sketch for MOJO 309.  I usually use Verve stamps when I play along with the MOJO challenges, but this one uses Unity Stamps.  Both are great companies!  :)

I also made a couple cards with the Tuesday Morning Sketch #214.  

The first card uses older KI Memories and K&Co papers with a Michael's dollar stamp from this year.  I just love the little owl.  I used Spellbinders dies and added  pearl pen dots.

For this card I used older papers as well, along with a Michael's dollar stamp from last year.  I love these little stamps because I don't feel as badly about buying new Halloween stamps each year.  I really don't make that many Halloween cards, so I can't justify buying lots of Halloween stamps or spending a lot on them.  But, I also don't want to use the same ones every year. Michael's works perfectly for me in this case. :)

 On this one, I heat embossing the stamped image and then colored with Copics.  I really love to heat emboss and don't do it nearly enough!!

 Okay, I think that catches you up on my recent card making.

Quote for the day:  "Follow your heart, but take your brain with you."  - Alfred Adler

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!!

Time with You

My children are back to college and it's quiet here.  :(  I LOVE spending time with them.  We took a long road trip while they were home and I loved playing games with them in the car, listening to stories and just hearing their thoughts in general.  I miss them tremendously!  But, they are happy at their schools and doing what they love so I am truly happy for them!

Operation Write Home's Sketch #186 is what I used for these cards. 

 I love how different papers give each card a bit of a different 'feel'.  That's one of the ways I create, using colors and patterns that remind me of the person I'm making the card for.  Just a bit of personalization.  :)

Quote for the day:

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!!

Love Using Those Little Flowers

Today's card uses the Fall to Layout #254 from Clean&Simple Stamping.  

It's  a fun sketch and I discovered I can use my little flowers that I had to have in every color.  Yay!  I used two different kinds of sequins for the flower centers too.  I also used the smallest die in each of the Spellbinder die sets that I used.  I'm pretty sure that is the first time the smallest dies have been used....ever.

 I definitely like this sketch and can see myself using it more in the future!

The clouds are teasing me today, I would really like it to rain, but the clouds roll in an then they roll on by.  :(

I hope we get some rain soon!

Quote for the day:  "With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts."  - Eleanor Roosevelt

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day! 

Busy Cards!

So much going on at my house!  Only seems fitting that the cards I make are very  busy!  :)

This one uses an older stamp that I just love and older busy paper. 

This one is for the SplitCoastStampers Ways to Use It challenge.  The challenge is to use sun rays.  I used the sun rays technique even though mine aren't exactly sun rays. 

Ben and Sara are both back at school.  I am still packing and getting house projects completed.

Quote for the day:  "The more things that you read, the more things you will know.  The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."  - Dr. Seuss

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!!

SplitCoastStampers Sketch

What is an easy way to get  back into cardmaking after an absense?  A Sketch!  :)  

The SplitCoastStampers Sketch Challenge is today.  

This is what I created using an already stamped panel, an already embossed background and some scrap papers.  :))))))  It's really funny when I am going through my scrap papers and I keep saying, "I love this paper."  lol!

Quote for the day:  It's not really a quote, but just my thoughts.  :)   With schools starting the new year, I want to thank all the teachers and educators!  The job you do is something not everyone can or would choose to do.  You don't get paid nearly enough in my opinion!  THANK YOU!!!  My children have had amazing teachers and educators thoughout their school years.  You do what you do because you love it......for no other reason!  I appreciate and thank you!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!

Ready for Fall

Oh my goodness, it's hot here today!  I know, what do I expect when I live in Texas right?  

I am ready for fall weather, so for the Operation Write Home Sketch today, I used fall colors.

Here is what I created with the sketch above.  I almost always have words on my cards, but Operation Write Home talks alot about cards that can be used for different purposes and one way to create cards like that is to leave off the words.  This card can be sent as a thank you, I miss you, thinking of you, Thanksgiving or any other needed sentiment card.

I would love to make another card today using this sketch, I have one in mind.  We'll see if that happens.

Quote for the day:  "Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be."  - Sonia Ricotti

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!

A Helpful Hint

Hi!  My card for today uses the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches.  

It's Sketch #208.

I was looking at the samples from the Tuesday Morning Sketches design team and one in particular caught my eye.  It was Jessi's and her card is on her blog.  It is such a cute card with a fun image, papers and gloss on her toenails :)  What really caught my eye though is how she used little notches to hold her twine in place on her card.  That was definitely an 'aha' moment for me.  I wanted to try it right away.  So basically, I cased her card. 

I was able to choose some different things to create with than what I have been using recently because I finally got everything moved back into my craft loft.  I chose this cute little owl to make another 'miss you' card for OperationWriteHome.  Oh, I did use a Making Memories metal tag that I have had for a really long time, yay!!

Anyway, thanks Jessi for a great little helpful hint! 

Quote for the day:    "If the whole world was blind, who would you impress?" - Boonaa Mohammed

(Kind of a deep quote today, but when I read it, it made me stop and think!)

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!