VCMP Winner!!!

Hi, everyone.

First, thanks to everyone who visited this past weekend. Special thanks to those who made his and hers cards for our troops!  And, one more big thank you to Kim at Paper Smooches for sponsoring our blog candy.  :)

Well, the expression "last but not least" couldn't be any truer. Turns out that the winning entry was the pin featuring Ruth's adorable cards. Ruth's cards were the last ones linked before the deadline.  :)

Congratulations, Ruth! Please contact me at cards[dot]by[dot]sybrina[at]gmail[dot]com to make arrangements for sending you some Paper Smooches goodies!



At least for me, the party's still going on. There's one more challenge that I'm bound and determined to finish. And, it's great to see how my OWH card stack has grown these last few days! Thanks to Sandy, OWH, and all of our hostesses for such a fun event.

Think that's it for today. Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

4th of July OWH VCMP: His and Hers {OWH Sketch} Cards



Please click here to return to the OWH post.

Hi, everyone!

Welcome to the first stop on this weekend's OWH VCMP! I am so excited to be hosting a challenge. Thanks to Sandy and the OWH team for organizing this party.  :)

Challenge #1: His and Her SKETCH Cards

Inspiration: OWH Sketch #161

Step 1: Choose an OWH Sketch.
Step 2: Use the sketch to make two cards: a his card and a her card.
Step 3: Link up your cards below.

Okay, if you are ready to go:

• Scroll down to the end of the post to read about the blog candy.
• Click here if you'd like to read details about the cards shown at the right.
• Go forth and create!

If you would like a little more information about OWH, OWH card guidelines, and/or OWH Sketches, please read on.

Operation Write Home Information

OWH: Operation Write Home is a wonderful nonprofit organization consisting of a "merry band of cardmakers" who make cards to support our deployed troops. We make blank cards that troops can use to write to loved ones back home, as well as Any Hero cards that are handwritten notes of appreciation for our heroes. There are many ways provided by OWH Founder Sandy and the OWH blog team to inspire us cardmakers, including weekly sketches and virtual cardmaking parties.

Card Guidelines: Since we are sending cards to troops deployed overseas, there are some card guidelines. The big four are: 1) A2 (5.5" by 4.25") cards, 2) glitter-free cards, 3) cards for specifically-requested themes, and 4) liners for cards with dark-colored bases. To learn more about OWH card needs, please visit OWH card guidelines and OWH mailroom operation.

Sketch #161

OWH Sketches: OWH posts a new sketch every Sunday. To date, over 200 sketches have been posted -- and every single sketch has measurements! These sketches can be used as exact blueprints -- or they can be the starting off point for an OWH card. (I used to stress out when my card deviated from the sketch and sample card. Trust me, there is no need to worry about that!) I used OWH Sketch #161 for my two sample cards. I tried to be pretty true to the sketch for my Her card. But, as you can see, I took a few more liberties with my His card -- using three ovals instead of one, using a city scape instead of a rectangular strip at the bottom, and adding a starburst next to the oval.

Blog Candy

So, what's a party without a little candy? You might have noticed I used Paper Smooches stamps on the her card and PS stamps and dies on the His card. Well, there's nothing much sweeter than stamps and dies from PS, a longtime OWH supporter.

Thanks to the generosity of the uber-talented Kim of Paper Smooches, there is a $20 PS gift certificate up for grabs. The gift certificate will be randomly awarded to one lucky person who links a photo showing both OWH-sketch-inspired cards -- one his and one hers -- by 8 A.M. EST on Tuesday,
July 8.

Parting Thoughts

Have fun! Can't wait to see your sketch-inspired his and hers cards. And can't wait to see what the other hostesses have planned for us. See you at Michelle's at 10:00 EST.  :)

Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

An InLinkz Link-up

4th of July OWH VCMP

 

Hi, everyone!

 

What a nice holiday weekend! The weather's been gorgeous. So, hubby and I went to the pool both Friday and Saturday. Dads came out for a cookout on the 4th. Then, my dad and I went to the local fireworks last night... and couldn't have had a nicer time. And, oh yeah, there's a card party going on! Time for me to catch up. :) 

 

Before I post a couple of cards, a few housekeeping tasks:

• Thanks to Sandy, the OWH team, and all of our hostesses for a really fun party!
• Paper Smooches blog candy is up for grab at the His and Hers challenge (Challenge #1). You have until Tuesday at 8 AM EST to enter.
• Finally, on a totally different note, the Words 2 Scrap By July challenge is open until July 21.

Now, for some cards!!!

 

Faux Techniques

 

 I'm here with the a card for the very last OWH VCMP challenge!

Fancy Pants etcetera, ??? jet black, Distress Ink antique linen
Simon Says hello you sentiment in StazOn jet black
Sizzix/SU and Paper Smooches button dies
stash ribbon; Recollections foam adhesives
antique linen buttons sponged in DI vintage photo with Ranger blending tool

 

This challenge encouraged us to make a card featuring a faux technique. While I really should have taken on the leather or wood techniques, I took an easier way out making some faux buttons. Regardless, I think it's a nice masculine birthday card for one of our troops to send home to a special son/dad/husband.  :)

 

Inching to Christmas

 

OWH Sketch #58
Authentique glistening; American Crafts cardstock
Really Reasonable Ribbon lace; Hero Arts gems
Recollections star punch, stars covered in Glossy Accents
edges distressed with Ranger tool
adhesives: Glossy Accents, Recollections foam adhesives

 

Sherry served up a great Christmas challenge that featured 3 OWH sketches involving "inchies." Have to admit I struggled with this one. The card shown is attempt #2.  :)

 

Critter Love

 

Glitz sunshine in my soul; ??? jet black cardstock
TPC Studio sentiment in Distress Ink Victorian Velvet
Stampin' Up! owl punch; SU/Sizzix birds and branches decorative strip
inking in Distress Ink Victorian Velvet with Ranger blending tool 

 

Went a little rogue on this one, too. It's definitely a love card, but I used a "Miss You" sentiment instead.  :)

 

Teen Time

 

Recollections dp, Distress Ink core, Bazzill cardstock
Recollections foil paper
Paper Smooches image; computer-generated sentiment (mistral)
Creative Memories circle cutting system
Marvy and Paper Shaper circle punches; EK hole punch

 

For this card, I've followed the spirit and not the letter of the challenge. The sample cards showed some great techniques for teen cards. But, I already had these cool PS stamps and funky patterns. So, I went with this instead. Hope that's okay.  :)

 

Thick and Thin Challenge

 

Bo Bunny Liberty Bazzill admiral, Core'dinations white
Recollections jute/burlap; Darice embossing folder
Unity sentiment in Distress Ink vintage photo
Stampin' Up! banner punch; garage sale brads
small stars: ??? corner punch
adhesives: Glossy Accents, Recollections foam square

 

Loved this challenge! And, was thrilled to already have one of the cards done!  :)

 

Sunday Sketch Any Hero Card

 

Bo Bunny Liberty Bazzill admiral, Core'dinations white
Recollections jute/burlap
Stampers Best sentiment in Distress Ink vintage photo
Stampin' Up! banner punch; garage sale brads
adhesives: Zots 3-D glue dots, glue dots, Recollections foam square

 

This sketch just screamed navy background and jute/burlap strip can pass up navy and jute! 

 

Red, White, & Blue Christmas

 

Distress Ink core, Core-dinations white
Hero Arts image in Distress Ink evergreen bough
Stampin' Up! Christmas Collectibles punch and stamp set
image: heat embossed with Distress Ink fired brick
Hero Arts/Mark Richards gems
??? sentiment in Distress Ink chipped sapphire

I was originally skeptical of this challenge, but adored the sample cards. So, glad I gave this a go!

 

 

Mode of Transportation Challenge

 

Fancy Pants beach bum dp; Distress Ink core
Paper Smooches alphadots stamps in Distress Ink vintage photo
car: traced from Cosmo Cricket blackboard, fussy cut, coated in Glossy Accents
Recollections foam adhesives

 

Road trips to the beach are one of my most favorite things!

 

Tip: Coat the traced car with Glossy Accents, then fussy cut. I learned this the hard way!  :)

 

 

Bright Background Challenge

 

Memory Box stencil inked on watercolor paper with blended Distress Inks
Distress Ink core paper; Stampendous silver embossing powder
Paper Studio star punch; Zot 3-D glue dots

This is another quarantined card. Think I need to go over the silver embossing with Glossy Accents to be on the safe side. 

 

Christmas and Winter Cards Challenge

 

Winter: We R Memory Keepers winter frost dp
cardstock: Distress Ink, Cardstock Warehouse Paper Company, American Crafts
Christmas: dp: Echo Park this & that, Authentique glistening,
Bazzill cardstock; Ellen Hutson ribbon
Both: Paper Smooches die set; Really Reasonable Ribbon ribbons
EK border punch for small snowflakes; Marvy circle punches
??? stamp in Distress Ink walnut stain from Nancy for tree image
adhesives: Recollections foam, Glossy Accents, glue dots

Loved this challenge and am crazy-in-love with this PS die set! But, boy did these little guys take some serious time! Still need to do something punny-sentiment-wise on the inside.

 

Tip: Punched out a small circle and placed behind the heads to not have to piece together eyes and mouth circles.

Our Daily Bread Design (winged creature) Challenge

Distress Ink core; Bazzill black and white; stash shiny gray/white for eyes
Stampin Up owl punch, with tons of fussy cutting
SU bird punch for branch; SU small heart punch
Hero Arts/Mark Richards gems; computer-generated original sentiment
adhesive: Glossy Accents

Confession Time: These little guys were made before this weekend. I made the card for this month's Words 2 Scrap By challenge. But, I was hanging on to the card because I really do love it. However, the time has come... The back is stamped and the card is headed to OWH. Just hope it's not too risqué.  :)

 

For the Boy (vintage) Challenge

 

Authentique original; SU retired (garage-sale find) image in Distress Ink walnut stain
Paper Smooches twine; garage sale brads

Wish I had centered the ribbons with the image a little better. Oh well.... As Tim Holtz would say, "Get over yourself!"

 

This card is in quarantine right now because the inked ribbon needs to dry out just a bit.  :)

 

TGIF Challenge

 

Winnie & Walter big bold u in StazOn jet black on watercolor paper
Recollections black cardstock
SU work of art stamp set in Distress Ink bundled sage, "watercolored" with Ranger water brush
Paper Studio brads

Couldn't wait to ink up this SU stamp set! Love this bold sentiment that was also inked up for the first time. "Mounted" this on black, like an abstract painting.  Oh, and loved the name of this challenge!  :)

 

Tip: Sentiment was inked in StazOn because I wanted to "watercolor" the images stamped in Distress Ink bundled sage.

 

Red, White, & Blue Happy Birthday Challenge

 

 

Distress Ink core; Core-dinations white
SU cupcake builder stamps and punch, stamped images heat embossed
TPC Studio sentiment in Distress Ink walnut stain
SU brads; Sizzix/SU embossing folder
Creative Memories oval cutting system
adhesives: Glossy Accents, Zots 3-D glue dots

 

Paper-Piecing for Kids Challenge

 

MME dp; Distress Ink core paper
SU cupcake builder punch; Really Reasonable Ribbon ribbons
Fiskars border punch
adhesives: Recollections foam, Glossy Accents

 

Okay, this isn't my most intricate paper-pieced card, but I'm counting it!

 

Texture Challenge

 

Penny Black stamp, heat embossed in Distress Ink walnut stain
Authentique hero bundle de; Distress Ink core; watercolor paper
Cuttlebug swiss dot and SU herringbone embossing folders
SU tiny banner punch; Paper Smooches twine
sponging in Distress Ink pumice stone with Ranger blending tool

Textures used: heat embossing for stamped image, dry embossing for vertical strip and tiny banner, and twine

 

Tips: Used Glossy Accents to secure twine bow; Added twine at the very end by piercing a hole in top fold of card.

 

Miss You (with 1 circle, 2 banners) Challenge

 

Authentique original; Distress Ink core
Hero Arts image in Distress Ink walnut stain on Crate Paper dp
SU banner dies: SU owl punch (for circles)
Sizzix embossing folder; Zots 3-D glue dots
sponging in Distress Ink chipped sapphire with Ranger blending tool

 

His and Hers OWH Sketch Cards

 

Hi, everyone!

 

There's a huge card-making party going on at Operation Write Home... and I am so excited to be chosen to host the first challenge!  :)

This challenge is to use an OWH sketch to make two cards -- a his card and a her card, as shown at the right. OWH Sketch #161 was the inspiration for these two cards.

Hope you will join in the fun!

 

Today's Sample Cards

As I mentioned, Sketch #161 was the inspiration for my two cards.  Both cards feature products from Paper Smooches -- one of my favorite companies. The watercolor card is a new venture for me -- using a couple of techniques we learned in our Simon Says CREATE event. (Thanks, Simon Says teachers!) Super Boy is a return to a favorite technique -- paper piecing for kid cards. 

Watercolored Flowers supplies: Bazzill white and Distress Ink core paper; Distress Ink: evergreen bough, spun sugar, scattered straw, milled lavender; Paper Smooches botannicals 2 and crystal clear stamps; Hero Arts/BasicGrey leaf & flourish stencil; Sizzix embossing folder; Fiskars border punch; Creative Memories oval cutting system; Tim Holtz water brush; Stampin' Up! and Paper Studio brads; Recollections foam adhesives

Super Boy supplies: Distress Ink core, Recollections black; Paper Smooches super stamps and dies , heat embossed in Distress Ink black soot and paper-pieced; Darice embossing folder; Recollections white star brads, colored with Sharpie black permanent marker; computer-generated POW! starburst; ??? corner punch (for small stars);
Recollections foam adhesives

 

 

Parting Thoughts

I used Paper Smooches stamps on the Hers card and Paper Smooches stamps and coordinating dies on my His card. And, Kim at Paper Smooches is giving away some blog candy for this challenge! Please check out the instructions on my official VCMP post for a chance to win a $20 PS gift certificate!   Blog Candy just doesn't get any sweeter than goodies from PS!  :)

There's lots more fun going on this 3-day weekend at Operation Write Home. If you're up to a challenge or two... or eighteen, check it out! And, after the party is over, Bobbi and I would love for you to join us at Words 2 Scrap By for a  word-inspired challenge.

Enjoy this celebration of our nation's birthday. Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!



A Tropical Heart Wave

Hi, everyone!

The current CAS-ual Fridays challenge is to make a card featuring hearts in summer colors.

When I think of summer, I think of the Sun against a blue sky on the ocean horizon. So, my first thought was to have a heart-shaped orange Sun against a light blue background. Then, the lyrics to an oldie-but-goodie came to my mind, resulting in the card below.

cardstock: AC/Bazzill/Cardstock Warehouse Paper Co
computer-generated original sentiment
EK triple heart and SU small heart punches
sun rays: AC trimmer with wave blade

I have to say, I was having second thoughts half-way through this card. But, I'm really quite pleased with the way this turned out. Thanks to hubby for some helpful suggestions.  :)

Parting Thoughts

There's a big 4th of July VCMP going on over at Operation Write Home this weekend. The more the merrier!

And, fellow OWHer Bobbi and I have started a word-inspired, monthly card-making challenge blog. We'd love for you to join us at Words 2 Scrap By for our Oh, La, La July challenge.  :)

Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

God Bless the USA... and Our Heroes

Hi, everyone!

This week's OWH Midweek Throwdown challenge is to make an Any Hero card featuring a flag. And, this week's Shopping Our Stash challenge is to make a red, white, and blue card. Well, you don't need to ask me twice! The first card is an Any Hero card, and the second card is blank on the inside for one of our troops to send a note back home.

Any Hero Card for OWH
Our Daily Bread Design background stamp on SU crumb cake in Distress Ink
Unity sentiment heat embossed in Distress Ink walnut stain
edges inked in Distress Ink vintage photo and antique linen; ??? twine
inside: SU retired stars in Distress Ink antique linen on crate paper dp

Red, White, and Blue card for Shopping Our Stash (will also go to OWH)
Our Daily Bread Design background stamp on stash white cardstock in Distress Ink
Unity sentiment heat embossed in Distress Ink walnut stain
edges inked in Distress Ink vintage photo and antique linen; Paper Smooches twine
inside: SU retired stars in Distress Ink antique linen on crate paper dp

I love it when cards come together as quickly as these did. Wish that happened more often... and hope it happens a lot this weekend!  :)

 

Parting Thoughts

So, looking forward to this weekend's VCMP! Just between us, a little bird told me there will be some Paper Smooches blog candy at the very first stop.  :)

And, if the VCMP doesn't keep you busy enough, the Words 2 Scrap By Oh La La challenge is going on. 

Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

Feeling the Breeze

Hi, everyone!

Welcome to a rare two-post day!  :)

The second card I have to share is for the current Cards in Envy Fun in the Sun challenge. There is no place on Earth that I love more than being at the ocean. This is actually pretty ironic considering I can't swim, dog paddle, or float -- literally to save my life, in spite of two full sets of classes at the local Y. That said, today's card is inspired by my love of feeling the ocean breeze, listening to the waves against the shore, and basking in the warmth of the Sun.  :)

Fancy Pants dp; Distress Ink core paper
computer-generated (Andy) original sentiment on Recollections white
Really Reasonable Ribbon ribbon
Recollections white brad colored with Sharpie markers
Marvy and Paper Shaper circle punches
adhesives: Zots 3D glue dots; glue dots; Elmer fabric glue

The sailboat embellishment was fussy cut from a sheet of the paper pad. Then it was coated with Glossy Accents for an epoxy-finish effect. The sentiment is inspired by a former MasterCard advertising campaign. The array of flared papers behind the sentiment were used to add splashes of color... no pun intended.  :)

A detail not shown is the stamping of a vignette in the bottom left corner on the inside of the card. I stamped Lawn Fawn's Life is Good palm tree, crab, and gull in Distress Ink antique linen. Since this is going to Operation Write Home, I used a light shade of ink to add interest but still allow for one of our heroes to write over it.

Parting Thoughts

Think that's it for this little card. If you are a fan of the Stampin' Up! owl punch, you might enjoy scrolling down to my earlier post.  :)

Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

W2SB #7: Whooo La La...

Hi, everyone.

Okay, the "words" for this month Words 2 Scrap By challenge are actually "Oh La La". But, I had my brand spankin' new Stampin' Up! punch in my hot little hands... and somehow "Oh La La" became "Whooo La La". Before I knew it, I was paper-piecing a pair of French owls.  My thanks to Carol L for convincing me that I really did need to get this punch.   :)

Stampin' Up! owl punch and lots of fussy cutting
Stampin' Up bird and small heart punches
Distress Ink core; Recollections black; stash shiny off-white (for eyes) and gray/tan (for owl bases)
Hero Arts/Mark Richards black rhinestone and crystal gems
adhesive: Glossy Accents

Distress Ink (blue); Recollections/Bazzill white and black
Stampin' Up! owl, small heart, and bird punches
computer-generated original sentiment
adhesive: Glossy Accents

 I have to say I adore Jacques and his little Mimi! Just hope they're not too risqué for Operation Write Home.  :)

Hope you'll  join Bobbi and me this month at Words 2 Scrap By. As always, thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!