USA

Hi, everyone.

Today's Any Hero card was inspired by OWH #218 and features one of my favorite combos -- natural jute/burlap on navy.

Bo Bunny Anthem; Bazzill admiral and watermelon; Distress Ink core antique linen
Recollection jute/burlap; ??? sentiment in Distress Ink black soot
Stampin' Up! dies; garage sale brads
adhesives: Scotch ATG, Zots 3D glue dots, Glossy Accents, Recollections foam adhesives

When I first saw the sketch, the CAS part of me was concerned. But, then I saw a burlap strip against a navy background, topped with one of those busier patterns I never quite know how to use. After that, it came together pretty quickly. Decision points were: 1) the brads to use -- wanting to use stars, but the stars I had didn't feel quite right, and  2) the color of ink -- deciding on black to go with the black that appears in the dp.

Still loving that Stampin' Up! magnetic platform and wondering what I ever did without it. An AHA moment: After cutting out the inner banner, I flipped the die over to trace the outline of the die on a different sheet of paper. I trimmed this outline to create the outer banner.  Okay, so you all probably have all been doing that forever, but it was an AHA moment for me.  :)

Parting Thoughts

The April Words to Scrap By challenge goes live on April 1. Looking forward to seeing lots of BRILLIANT cards!

Hoping to get to work on some Father's Day cards. Yesterday, made my second one of the season as a tribute to Suzanne. So, I've really got to make hay on those.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Thanks for stopping by and happy scrappin'!

For Suzanne

Hi, there.

AC dp; Bazzill and Distress Ink core
SU image, heat embossed in Distress Ink core
computer-generated sentiment; SU brads
Recollections foam adhesive

The Operation Write Home family is mourning the unexpected passing of one of our card makers. Suzanne had contributed over 1,000 cards to OWH since 2011, including the one shown below.

To honor Suzanne, we are making cards inspired by one of Suzanne's cards featured on this post. The card at the right was made in honor of Suzanne.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family.




xxx

Welcoming a Baby and Honoring a Hero

Hi, everyone.

Hope it's been a good weekend. The sun is shining here!

I have two cards to share... one for a colleague at work who is expecting her first child and an Any Hero card.

But, first I'd like to congratulate Linda for winning the March Words 2 Scrap By challenge and thank Bonny from Really Reasonable Ribbon for sponsoring this month's prize. Hope everyone stops by on April 1 to see what Bobbi has in store for next month.

And, I have to share the news about my Stampin' Up! motherlode of a haul. I hosted our stamp club party this past month... and got so many fabulous new toys, including the embossing folder used on the first card, and the magnetic platform and banner die used on the second!  Thanks, Bernadette, for suggesting the stamp club idea.  :)

And Baby Makes Three

Bazzill and Recollections white cardstock, Distress Ink core
computer-altered giraffe from ??? enhanced with Glossy Accents
Really Reasonable Ribbon, Stampin' Up! ef
Creative Memories oval cutting system

computer-generated sentiment

A good friend gave me some extra baby shower invitations -- with cute little giraffes -- a couple of years ago. For Lyndsay's card, I decided I wanted a family of three of some little creature. Then, I remembered the giraffes. So, I scanned one of the giraffes and tinkered with sizing and orientation to create a family of giraffes. Next, I added Glossy Accents and, after the giraffes were dry, I fussy cut out all three giraffes. Finally, I used Glossy Accents to adhere the giraffes to the front of the card. And, since the parents-to-be do not know the gender of their little one, I chose to make yellow and white the primary colors, using blue as the accent color.

Today's Any Hero card

Bo Bunny Anthem; Bazzill black, Distress Ink core
Sweet Stamp Shop sentiment, heat embossed in Distress Ink black soot
Stampin' Up! and Paper Studio brads
Recollections foam adhesives

Today's card was inspired by OWH Sketch #217, with inspired being an operative word. I used the basic elements, but changed the positioning of some elements and used fewer layers. Oh my gosh, it was so nice being able to align the banner die and paper pattern using that new magnetic platform!  :)

One quick tip: Since I changed the position of elements, I wasn't quite sure where I wanted to place the set of larger brads. So, I punched out 3 black holes and played around with placement until I found just the right spot for them. Then, I added all five brads and adhered layers.

Parting Thoughts

Hope we don't get the snow being forecast for Tuesday. And, hope to start on some Father's Day cards.

Have a great week! As always, thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

USA

Hi, everyone.

Today's Any Hero card was inspired by OWH Sketch #216.

Authentique Pride; Bazzill admiral; Distress Ink core; Recollections jute
sentiment ???, heat embossed in walnut stain
Stampin' Up! oval punch; Paper Studio brads

A quick reminder that Friday is the deadline for linking a card to this month's Words 2 Scrap By challenge. This month's prize is a gift certificate from Really Reasonable Ribbon -- and a Guest I-Teamer spot.  :)
As always, thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

Thanks!

Hi, everyone!

Boy, it's a pretty day here in Central Ohio. Feels a lot like spring!!!

Today's Any Hero card is inspired OWH Sketch #215.

Bo Bunny Anthem; Bazzill admiral, Distress Ink core
Darice embossing folder
TPC Studio sentiment, heat embossed in Distress Ink walnut stain
Recollections jute; Stampin' Up! brads
Zots 3-D glue dots

Kathryn's sample card was so pretty -- she did such a nice job with all these layers. As for me, I'm typically drawn to those sketches with fewer layers/elements. So, I tried to go with some neutral layers that added texture and dimension, but not pattern.

Must've been fairly successful... This got a thumbs up from hubby. :)

Parting Thoughts

Hoping to get in a late afternoon/early evening. So, will make this post short and sweet.

But, before signing off, just a quick reminder that Bobbi and I have a movie-quote-inspired challenge going on at Words 2 Scrap By that is open until March 21. And, Really Reasonable Ribbon is sponsoring this month's prize!

Have a great week! Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

There's No Place Like Home

Hi, everyone.

Today's card is a special one for our family. My father-in-law is moving from his home of over 60 years -- the home he shared with his beloved wife of over 50 years, to a senior living community. The choice is totally his, and he will still be in an independent living situation. But, it will still be a bittersweet day when moving day actually arrives.

So, hubby asked for a card for his dad. I immediately thought of "There's No Place Like Home" -- one of the quotes for this month's W2SB Oscar-inspired challenge.

Bo Bunny Trail Mix, Distress Ink core
AC trimmer with wavy edge blade for roof shingle edges; Sizzix ef
Paper Smooches twine (behind house number sign), Paper Studio brad for door knob
EK hole punch, Distress Ink for sponging around card elements
Recollection foam adhesives for door and house number sign

The idea for this shape card came from Leisure Art's Card Sketches for Paper Crafters. Hubby gave the card a thumbs up... I was afraid it might look too simple. And, hubby suggested the "123" sign, which are the numbers in my father-in-law's new address.  Lastly, I cut out some "wood planks" for the front façade of the house.  :)

Oh, and after the picture was taken, decided to cut off the pointed tip of the roof. Like the flattened rooftop version much better!


That's it for tonight. Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

All Alone in the City

Hi, everyone.

Last December, I won a holiday raffle basket at work that had some Michael's gift cards. So, I took those cards -- and a 50% off coupon -- and purchased a Big Shot/Big Kick. Boy, do I feel like a whole new card-making world has opened up to me!

As soon as I saw these amazing Paper Smooches dies, I had visions of a city scape in my head. After researching stair step folds on the internet, I came up with a game plan for this card. Luckily, I found a little time this afternoon to work on my idea.

Bazzill admiral (really, it is), AC and stash gray (and white) cardstock
Paper Smooches dies
TPC Studio sentiment in SU Night of Navy
Hero Arts crystal gems

Score Dimensions

To achieve the cityscape, I used 3 shades of gray, placing the lightest shade on the blue base. And, I ran each shade through the Big Shot twice -- once with the textured side facing up and once with it down -- to be able to flip the buildings.

Thought about using Paper Smooches Alphadot stamps for a sentiment. But, I decided on a more romantic-feeling font so that this could be an Operation Write Home "Miss You" card.

This month's CAS-ual Fridays challenge is to make a card using at least two shades of gray. So, think I'll link up this little city scape for the first challenge with the new DT.

And, since I'm using Paper Smooches dies, think I'll link this little card up there, too.

As always, thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

T is for Thanks -- UPDATED

Hi, everyone.

Don't know about your neck of the woods, but it's snowing here.... again. Beginning to think this winter is never going to end. And, I'm sure the scale will show just how brutal the weather has been when I go to the doctor's office this week. LOL... but I probably won't be laughing on Wednesday.  :)

Before I get to today's cards, a quick reminder that the Oscar-inspired Words 2 Scrap By challenge went live yesterday. Hope you'll check it out.

And, congrats to Donna, Linda, and Jen M. for winning the Really Reasonable Ribbon blog candy!

Card 1: T is for Thanks

When I first say this Stampin' Up background stamp, I immediately started thinking about all the letters and words I could make for OWH: F is for FRIEND, P is for PATRIOT, H is for HERO, S is for SMILE, H is for HELLO, M is for MISS YOU...  Well, guess you get the idea.

So, here's the first of what could be a series of cards. This thank you card was made for this month's ODBD challenge.

Bo Bunny Mama-razzi2, Reflections black cardstock
SU dictionary stamp, heat embossed in Distress Ink black soot
computer-generated sentiment on Crate Paper Rose Garden
crimper, SU brads, Recollections foam adhesive
Creative Memories oval cutting system
Distress Inks sponging with SU sponges used for aged look

To create the sentiment, I made a 2 by 2 table in a Word doc. Next,  I merged the cells in the first column. Then, I played with fonts, font sizes, and text placement in each cell. The strip behind the sentiment was fussy cut from a piece of designer paper.

Card 2: A Father is...

The card below was made for this week's OWH Midweek Throwdown using the same designer paper.

Bo Bunny Mama-razzin2, Recollection black cardstock
computer-generated sentiment on Crate Paper Rose Garden
SU brads, Paper Smooches ribbons
Recollections foam adhesive

Okay, let me start by saying that I really, really like this card. When I read the challenge was to use teal or turquoise, I immediately thought of the papers in this collection. And, since I wanted to use this quote, I knew the photo theme of the paper would be perfect.

When I started playing around with the papers, I ended up using the turquoise/teal as the paper that frames and pops the elements -- using the browns, blacks, and tans to complement the fatherly sentiment. But, when I revisited the post to get the link to the challenge, I saw that turquoise/teal was supposed to be the MAIN color. OOPS! Sorry about that, Allison. Hope you'll accept this little card anyway.

Card 3: A Patriotic Thanks

The card below was inspired by today's OWH Sketch.

Authentique Pride; Bazzill admiral and watermelon; Distress Ink core antique linen
TPC Studio sentiment in Distress Ink walnut stain, sponging in Distress Ink vintage photo
Paper Smooches natural ribbon and twine, Celebrate It patriotic ribbon
Fiskars and Paper Studio star punches, garage sale brads
Recollections foam pop-up adhesives

Choosing different patterns to go next to one another in vertical strips is not a strong suit. So, I used one pattern, alternating the direction of the stars/arrows. Moreover, I went with just two widths and a symmetric layout.

But, I was more creative when it came to the ribbon treatment. The patriotic ribbon, which was red, white, and blue, was sponged in Distress Ink antique linen.

Parting Thoughts

Soooo looking forward to the Oscars! Even took a vacation day for tomorrow for a celebratory mini movie marathon.  :)

Enjoy your Sunday. As always, thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

W2SB #3: And the Oscar Goes to...

Hi, everyone!

An extra special welcome to those joining from this month's Words 2 Scrap By challenge.  :)

This month's W2SB challenge was inspired by my general love of movies and specific fondness for all things Oscar. So, the challenge is to make a card inspired by one of four movie quotes. For the card below, I decided to go in a different direction with the line from Casablanca.

Stampin' Up! garage-sale papers, stash cardstock
Stampin' Up! Make a Monster stamp set
Really Reasonable Ribbon ribbons
heat embossing with SU white powder used for eyes
Glossy Accents for monster's eyes
computer-generated sentiment and speech bubbles
Creative Memories oval cutting system; foam pop-up adhesives

Since I make most of my cards for the Operation Write Home -- and our troops have requested more cards for kids -- I went with a kid-friendly interpretation of this well-know, oft-quoted Bogart line.

One of my favorite parts of the card is the double yummy ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon, this month's W2SB prize sponsor. (Thanks again, Bonnie, for your support!) And, I really like the effect of the turned up and down snippet of striped ribbon -- a technique I stumbled on totally by accident one night in the menopause room. I especially like how it adds a little extra interest without adding extra bulk.  :)

I also like the way the black circles add a little extra interest to the background -- and help fill in the space -- without taking away from the pairs of white eyes peering out from behind the monster. I felt like the space needed something extra... and considered adding more eyes, but just didn't feel like the extra eyes were the right thing to do. Then, I remembered this SU set had these black circles -- the perfect finishing touches. :)

Oh, and a little tip. I almost cut off one of the monster's limbs when fussy-cutting him out. Boy, it was really close! So, I applied a little Glossy Accents to the back of his little leg to prevent a monstrous mishap. (And, that's when I decided a little arm flab was going to stay just as it appears!)

The only thing I don't like about the card is the way the photographed colors turned out. The green is a more vibrant lime green, the yellow is a much golder hue. And, the image doesn't begin to do justice to the yumminess of the RRR ribbons. :(

Parting Thoughts

Thanks to my card-making-partner-in-crime Bobbi for a fun W2SB February challenge.

If  you haven't yet visited our W2SB March challenge, please do. There's a chance to win some great blog candy and a Guest I-Teamer spot!

Finally, thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!