L is for Love

Hi, everyone!

A quick post for the Shopping Our Stash background challenge.

SU background stamp, heat embossed in Distress Ink black soot on watercolor paper
Distress Ink core paper; Crate Paper rose cottage paper
computer-generated font; Really Reasonable Ribbon ribbon
Fiskars border punch; EK heart punch
Spellbinders Nestabilities scalloped circle die; Creative Memories cutting system

I played around with the sentiment on the circular embellishment quite a bit. I eventually used three different fonts in three separate text boxes before finally achieving the kind of look I had in mind.

Parting Thoughts

The June Words 2 Scrap By post goes live on June 1. Hope you will join Bobbi and me for this challenge.

Can't tell you how excited I am for tomorrow and Saturday. Going to the Simon Says CREATE event! When I saw it was in my hometown -- 5 minutes from where I work -- well, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to hang with the rock stars of the paper crafting world. :)

Hip Hip Hooray for OWH!

Hi, everyone.

OWH bloghops never cease to amaze -- and this weekend's Memorial Day Bloghop was no exception! Thanks to Sandy, Dixie, and Cherie for all the prep. And, thanks to all of you talented crafters for such inspiration!

This Memorial Day weekend, I have three last cards to share: his and hers birthday cards and a card for Sunday's sketch.

Her Card: MME dp; DI core paper; Fiskars border punch;
SU cupcake punch; Really Reasonable Ribbon ribbons;
Tombow adhesives; Glossy Accents
His Card: Crate Paper dp; DI core paper;
TPC sentiment in Distress Ink walnut stain; EK border punch;
Really Reasonable Ribbon ribbon;
SU/Sizzix button die;
Paper Smooches twine

Any Hero Card: OWH Sketch #226
We R Memory Keepers red, white & blue dp:
Recollections white and black cardstock:
Stamper's Best sentiment heat embossed in Distress Ink black soot;
Darcie red washi; Really Reasonable Ribbon ribbon
SU brads

Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

OWH Memorial Day Bloghop

Update

Thanks to everyone who visited this Memorial Day Weekend. Your kind words are most appreciated.

• Still smiling about Leslie's comment about this blog's name.
• Cindy of Cindy's Card Co asked how the burlap/jute ribbon was attached. There are actually two secrets to this success: 1) I used 3D glue dots under the rectangle with the star. Pressing down on the rectangle pressed the adhesive through the ribbon. Then I added a little tape runner under the left-side portion of the ribbon. 2) Since the card is an Any Hero card, I didn't add as much adhesive as I typically do. I wouldn't use such an open ribbon design on a "regular" OWH card.

Congratulations to Heather Thompson for winning the ribbon blog candy. Heather, I'll be in touch!


Original Post

Hi, everyone!

Welcome to the There's Always the Other Side stop on this year's OWH Memorial Day Bloghop.

On this Memorial Day Weekend, I offer thanks to those who have served our country, including my father-in-law who served in World War II and my uncles who served during the Vietnam era.



To return to the bloghop, please click here.

The following Any Hero and Love You cards were made for this year's bloghop. You might want to check out the Words 2 Scrap By stop on the hop to see the other cards by W2SB I-Teamers that were inspired by this same OWH Sketch.

 

OWH Sketch #12
Bo Bunny Liberty and Distress Ink core paper
Ribbon Boutique jute ribbon
Fiskars and Paper Studio star punches
garage sale brads; 3D Zots

OWH Sketch #12
Bazzill admiral, Recollections white, Distress Ink core fired brick
computer-generated sentiment/font
Spellbinders M-bossibilities folder
border punch: Fiskars, heart punches: EK and SU
Glossy Accents on heart with sentiment

Blog Candy
 

 

Is there candy you ask? Why, yes there is!

 

There is a package of yummy patriotic ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon for one lucky randomly selected commenter. To qualify, please leave a comment below by 12 midnight EST on Tuesday, May 27.

 

Happy Hoppin'!

 

Thanks for stopping and happy hoppin'! To return to the start of the bloghop, please click here.

 

{W} is for {Word}

Hi, everyone!

In my last post, I showed a card made with the Stampin' Up! dictionary background stamp. I commented on the versatility of this stamp. So, I thought I'd show all three versions of this {W} is for {Word} theme that I've used for quite a few Operation Write Home cards this past year.



T is for Thanks!

H is for Happy, F is for Father's, D is for Day

And, this past week's card:

M is for Miss You

 

Okay, so I'm not a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, but some of my closest friends are.... LOL. But, if you're thinking about investing in this stamp, I think you'll find it to be a pretty useful one to have in your tool box.  :)

Thank you, Mary Anne!

Hi, everyone!

Today's Any Hero card is inspired by OWH Sketch #225 and some paper that was given to me by a friend at work.

Today's Card

First, the card. I have to say Marie's sample card would make the perfect Any Hero card. Not sure mine is in the same category as today's sample card, but I hope it will be appreciated by one of our troops.

Authentique Original collection; Bazzill admiral; stash cardstock
Recollection jute: ??? sentiment heat embossed in Distress Ink walnut stain
Fiskars and Paper Studio star punches; garage sale brads
adhesives: Glossy Accents, Tombow foam squares, Zots 3D glue dots

I started with the placement of the vertical banner. Next, I chose to go with a slightly larger/almost square sentiment block on the banner. Finally, I placed stars based on the other two elements. Not quite the same as the sketch, but not too far off.  :)

Two tips: 1) I used Glossy Accents to adhere the top star to the paper and jute, and 2) I used my Sew Easy piercing mat to stick the top brads through the jute and paper.

Mary Anne's Gift

Mary Anne is cleaning out her craft room -- something I should be doing, as well. Instead, I am graciously accepting her gift of 6 by 6 pads and a few card making books.

As it turns out, Mary Anne ordered the Stampin' Up! envelope liner dies, but cannot use them with her envelopes that have pointed flaps. So, I am giving her some of my Heinrich envelopes that work perfectly with the SU dies.  :)

Thanks again, Mary Anne! As you can see with today's, your gift will be put to good use for Operation Write Home.

Parting Thoughts

Don't forget that Wednesday, the 21st, is the deadline for our Words 2 Scrap By challenge.

And, next weekend is OWH's huge Memorial Day Bloghop!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. As always, thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

My CAS-iest CAS Card -- Ever!

Hi, everyone.

Seems like forever since I've been able to play along with a CAS-ual Fridays challenge. It's so good to join in the current challenge to make a card featuring three of something that uses only one-third of the card's area.

When I first read the challenge, I thought of three squares/rectangles with "thank you" in three different languages -- a slightly different take on one of my "your thoughtfulness meant the world to me" cards. I originally considered different options for the squares/rectangles -- stenciling, sponging, punches, punched-out negatives, etc. Since most of the cards I make are for Operation Write Home, I tend to layer patterned papers and cardstock -- adding at least a few embellishments.

Then a friend at work gave me some 6 by 6 pads that were headed for a post-craft-room-cleaning garage sale. So, I decided to make this thank you card for Mary Anne. That's when I decided to challenge myself to make an uber-CAS version of this card. I decided to make a one-layer card -- embellished only with 3 tiny brads -- with a completely digital design... aside from those little brads.  :)

3 rectangles with "thank you" in 3 languages in 3 fonts, adorned by 3 tiny brads
digital design on Bazzill white; SU brads
inside sentiment: Your Thoughtfulness Meant the World to Me

Okay, I'm interested in getting feedback on this little card. It's such a change of pace for me... hope it's a good one. And, hope that Mary Anne likes her thank you.

Parting Thoughts

There's still a little time left to link up a card for this month's Words 2 Scrap By Bloom Where You Are Planted challenge. The link closes on May 21, and we'd love to have you join us!

Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

Sweeter than Honey

Hi, everyone!

Seems like FOREVER. So glad to be back! And, I have a couple of cards to share.

Sweeter than Honey

The first card is for two challenges:

• the May Our Daily Bread Challenge for Operation Write Home to make a card with embossing, and
• the Shopping Our Stash challenge to make a card inspired by a song. 

Distress Ink core fired brick and scattered straw; Recollections black
SU/Sizzix ef; Paper Smooches stamps
Distress Ink sponged on with SU daubers; Glossy Accents used on the heart
stash ribbon; Tombow foam adhesives
bees: heat embossed with Distress Ink black soot, fussy cut, washed in fawn acrylic paint
Inside Sentiment: Our Love is Sweeter than Honey!

close up showing Glossy Accented heart
and heat embossed bees

For the first challenge, this card has dry embossing for its honeycomb background and heat embossing for the little bees. For the second challenge, the inspiration was the Jefferson Starship song Sweeter than Honey to make a Love card for OWH since Love You cards are one of Operation Write Home's most requested themes. (And, how could I pass up the chance to use these adorable Paper Smooches Bee Mine stamps? Just love PS!)

M is for Miss You

Today's second card is also for Operation Write Home -- a Miss You card for this week's Midweek Throwdown challenge. This card is just the latest in a series of dictionary-inspired cards: T is for Thanks!; H is for Happy, F is for Father's, D is for Day; and now M is for Miss You. Love the versatility this background stamp offers.  :)

Distress Ink core fired brick; Recollections black and white cardstock
SU dictionary background stamp in Distress Ink black soot
computer-generated sentiment; Creative Memories oval cutting system
Fiskars border punch; stash ribbon; SU brad; Zots 3-D glue dots

Parting Thoughts

Big thanks to fellow W2SB I-Teamer Mary Anne for giving me some 6 by 6 pads of paper following a weekend purging on her craft room.

Speaking of Words 2 Scrap By, this month's challenge is Bloom Where You Are Planted. In addition to a Guest I-Team Spot and our uber cool badge, our very own Bernadette is offering a $10 Stampin' Up! gift certificate to the winning card maker. May 21st is the deadline for linking cards.

As always, thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

W2SB: Bloom Where You Are Planted

Hi, everyone!

Didn't you just love Bobbi's idea to be inspired by diamonds? Congratulations to Carol L for being selected as the winner of last month's challenge.

Our May W2SB words are Bloom Where You Are Planted.

American Crafts cardstock; computer-generated sentiment
stamp??? from OWH friend Nancy in Ranger Espresso
sequins; Creative Memories square punch; SU word window punch
foam pop-up adhesives for top of flower pots

Sometimes these words remind me of the ornamental orange tree that hubby brought from Florida 40 years ago and still graces our home. Sometimes I think of the fact that it is impossible to look outside our windows from November through May because they are filled with plants and trees. And, sometimes I think of hubby's tiny greenhouse with plants sprouting from their little holes.

But, most of the time I think of my friend Teresa who dreamed of dressing a daughter in Laura Ashley frocks and ended up raising boys fascinated with Bob the Builder and Thomas the Tank Engine.  :)

Hope you will play along at Words 2 Scrap By. Cards can be linked up until May 21. The winning card maker will receive an invitation to be a Guest I-Teamer in July, a challenge-winner badge, and a $10 Stampin' Up! gift certificate from W2SB's very own Bernadette. Thanks so much, Bernadette!

Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!