Three Cheers (aka cards) for OWH

Hi, everyone.

It's been a whirlwind of a week around here. My brother's family came in town to join in an 80th birthday celebration for Dad. Needless to say, a fabulous time was had by all! But, there was no activity in the menopause room. So, I have three OWH cards to share today.

Before that, a quick reminder about our Words 2 Scrap By challenge: Education is the movement from darkness to light. It's a crazy time with end-of-the-summer festivities and back-to-school preparations. But, if you can join us, we'd love for you to play along. You have until the 21st to link up a card or two.  :)

Now for today's main attractions...


Card 1: August ODBD challenge -- a card featuring a star

paper: Distress Ink core, watercolor, Recollections black, Crate Paper rose garden
Memory Box stencil in blended Distress Inks
Creative Memory circle cutting system
Marvy and Paper Shaper circle punches
Martha Stewart star punch, ??? border punch (for tiny stars)
computer-generated sentiment (Mistral font)
Tim Holtz/idea-ology star embellishment
adhesives: recollections foam squares, Glossy Accents

Really pleased with the look of this card, which features a technique learned in the Simon Says CREATE event.

Card 2: An Any Hero Card for the July 30 Midweek Throwdown

We R Memory Keepers red, white & blue; DI fired brick; Recollections white, black
digi sentiment from OWH's very own Paula (Thanks, Paula!)
OWH grab bag ribbons
Creative Memories oval cutting system; Recollections foam squares

I'm okay with the overall look -- really liking the black accents. But, still feel like the card needs a little something. Putting it aside for now and hoping for future inspiration. 


Card 3: An Any Hero card for the August 9 sketch

dp: Authentique pride; cardstock: DI core paper; Bazzill admiral; Crate Paper
Unity sentiment in DI walnut stain, inking in vintage photo
Cuttlebug embossing folder; Paper Smooches twine
Stampin' Up! banner die (and magnetic platform)
Creative Memories circle cutting system; Glossy Accents

Parting Thoughts

Still getting used to the OWH changes. Happy our troops will be home -- and like the Saturday posts. Just trying to get a feel for how many cards I should be making/sending.

It's a big week at work. More on that in a future post. Hope it's a good work week for all of you.

Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

The ABCs of Thanks

Hi, everyone!

Turns out the sample card for today's Midweek Throwdown is one of my Any Hero cards. I was really surprised -- and quite honored -- when Allison e-mailed. Thanks, Allison, for all you do for OWH.  :)

Since the sample card was red, kraft, and blue, I decided to make a red, white, and blue version. Decided to go with the same OWH Sketch (#218) and used another one of those challenging pattern papers.

We R Memory Keepers red, white & blue
Core-dinations bright white; Recollections black, Distress Ink barn door red
TPC Studio sentiment in StazOn black
Recollections white star brads, colored with Sharpie black marker
??? corner punch for tiny stars
adhesives: Recollections foam squares, Glossy Accents
SU banner dies and magnetic platform

Parting Thoughts

Looking forward to technique class with SU demonstrator extrardiairre Bernadette. And, then it's Friday!

Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

May All Your Dreams Come True

Hi, everyone.

Gotta say that this week's Midweek Throwdown challenge to make a Disney birthday card is well... a bit of a challenge. No little ones here... and two teen nephews in Virginia. Ergo, no Disney paper in the menopause room.

But, I have a few Disney-princess-inspired birthday cards going into my next OWH box. Does that count?

Recollections dp; stash cardstock and lace
Martha Stewart butterfly punches and gem
computer-generated sentiment
Creative Memories oval cutting system
Inside sentiment: May All Your Dreams Come True

Speaking of that OWH box of cards... well, that's my job for tonight.

Have a great rest of the week. Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

#14reasonstocelebrate

Hi, everyone!

Hope the weekend is off to a good start.

I have two cards to share: one for my nephew's birthday and one for this week's OWH Midweek Throwdown.

#14reasonstocelebrate

The card below is for a nephew's 14th birthday. Gotta say I'm really loving this # idea that was inspired by a Tim Holtz stamp set. Thanks, Tim! I'm also liking the multi-matted sentiment look.

DCWV Natural matstack; Recollections black; Crate Paper neutral
computer-generated sentiment
Creative Memories oval cutting system & sticker
Tombow foam adhesives

A Solitary Bird

The second card started with the embossing folder for a masculine feel. Then, it kind of evolved from there. I had originally intended to add a Miss You sentiment, but liked the card without it.

Distress Ink core paper; Cuttlebug embossing folder
Really Reasonable Ribbon ribbon; garage sale brads

Parting Thoughts

Hoping to get a few more Dad cards made.

A quick reminder that the Words 2 Scrap By April challenge closes on April 21.

Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

H is for Happy, F is for Father's...

Hi, everyone!

I am so excited to be able to participate in this week's Midweek Throwdown challenge. Seems like my timing has just been off these last couple of weeks. But this week's personal crafting goal was to make Father's Day cards.... perfect timing!

Distress Ink core; Recollections white and black cardstock
Stampin' Up! dictionary background stamp, heat embossed in Distress Ink black soot
Stampin' Up! dies and brads
computer-generated font; Recollections foam adhesive

Parting Thoughts

Have a great rest of the week. Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

And, if you have a chance, check out Bobbi's April challenge at Words 2 Scrap By.  :)

All That Glitters...

Hi, everyone. Happy Sunday!

Blog Candy

First of all, there's some blog candy to award! Donna Hanley is the winner of the $10 gift certificate to Really Reasonable Ribbon. Linda (of Creepin' Along) and Jen M. are the winners of the $5 certificates. Congratulations, ladies... and thanks for being such loyal readers!

If each of you would e-mail your e-mail addresses to me at cards[dot]by[dot]sybrina[at]gmail[dot]com, I will touch base with Bonnie at RRR.  :)

A New Blog... at least new to me

Bobbi e-mailed me to tell me about her Saturday Shout-Out from Shopping Our Stash. First of all, congrats, Bobbi, on this well-deserved recognition!

Secondly, this challenge sounded like fun. This week's challenge is to create your own embellishment using things from your stash. So, I thought I'd give this a try... and the card below with the hand-crafted corsage was born.

Stampin' Up! dp; Distress Ink core
TPC Studio sentiment heat embossed in Inkadinkado gold
Spellbinders Nestabilities dies
Ellen Hutson ribbon; Paper Studio brads
Marvy circle punch; foam pop-up adhesives

Talk about using things from your stash. For starters, the dp is garage-sale-find Stampin' Up! and the orange cardstock is scrap Distress Ink core. The scalloped dies were a gift from a friend, the brads were clearance, and the ribbon was free with an order from Ellen Hutson. And, the sentiment stamp and circle punch have been in the menopause room for as long as I can remember.   :)

One last thing about this little card, the flower technique was taught in Thursday's SU class. Thanks, Bernadette!

All That Glitters...

The card below was inspired by this week's OWH Midweek Throwdown to make a card featuring a light source.

Pink Paislee dp; cardtock: Distress Ink core and stash peach
Stampin Up! Celestial Skies stamp set; stash ribbon
sequins adhered with Glossy Accents

Even though the card is golden in appearance, making it was actually bittersweet. The ribbon is stash ribbon that I purchased at a former favorite LSS Pizazz It!, and the paper was purchased at my last trip to Archivers.

On a happy note, the sun stamp (and inside stamped image) is from a retired (1995?) Stampin Up! set that was a gift from a friend of a friend. And, I'm really liking that folded over scrap strip of ribbon -- it seems to add a little interest without adding bulk.  :)

Today's Any Hero Card

Today's card was inspired by OWH Sketch #213 and my newly-arrived Hero Arts stamp set. I was soooo glad that the sketch had a perfect element for one of these new stamps.  :)

Authentique Pride; Distress Ink core fired brick; Bazzill admiral; stash light gray
Hero Arts stamp set; small stars from unidentified corner rounder
heat embossing in Inkadinkado gold

Parting Thoughts

Congrats to Ann for her winning entry for the February Words 2 Scrap By challenge! The March challenge goes live on March 1.... and the title is, "And the Oscar Goes To...".

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

A Royally Cute Couple!

Hi, everyone.

Hope everybody is enjoying a great weekend! I have three cards for three separate challenges. So, let's start with the title card.  :)

Cutest Couple... EVER!

3/9/2014 Update: Entering this little couple in Paper Smooches' April Guest Designer Search.

Paper Smooches is continuing its 3rd Anniversary celebration with a challenge to create a fun and cute project. Well, I'm thinking this little couple qualifies on both counts.  :)

Paper Smooches Royal Cuteness stamp set
Royal Cuteness Botanicals and Group Hugs stamps
Paper Smooches balloon dies
Distress Ink core paper; black Bazzill black cardstock
Bead Avenue braiding necklace cording; crystal gems
sentiment and images stamped in StazOn jet black
Tombow foam adhesives; Glossy Accent for adhesive

To create the knight and princess, I stamped images multiple times, used the antique linen images as the base for each, then fussy cut out hair, clothes, and embellishments. The castle was stamped on the same gray as the armor, but the paper was sanded twice (before and after stamping) to create a more distant, far-away look. Finally, I tried to incorporate the wisdom of a former painting teacher when composing the card. Pat always said a color should appear three times in a composition. So, Pumice Stone paper was used for the armor, castle and dress embellishment; Victorian Velvet was used for dress, hair embellishment, and helmet plume; Scattered Straw was used for his hair, her hair, and the balloon; and white was used for his teeth, her cloud and balloon string.

Okay, time to move along from this adorable couple.... though I do love them. And, I'm hoping one of our hero's little princesses will, too.  :)

 

OWH Midweek Throwdown: Punny Cards

This isn't the first time I've made the card below. But, I love this retired Stampin' Up! set so much that there are a few more of these little guys going into my next OWH box. So, here's an encore of Happy Dirtday!  :)

Stampin' Up! I Dig You stamp set (retired)
Distress Ink core paper
clouds: Stampin Up! Build a Cupcake punch
garage sale brads

OWH Sketch #212

This last card is an Any Hero card that was made for this week's sketch.

Bo Bunny Anthem on Distress Ink core paper base
Stamper's Best sentiment
sponging with Distress Inks
Fiskars and Paper Studio star punches
Stampin Up! brads; Tombow foam adhesives

I decided to go with a black sentiment to show up better on the patterned paper. Since there was black on some of the other papers in the collection, I thought it would be okay. But, I also felt black brads and a black-cardstock star would help tie in the black sentiment. In addition, I sponged edges with black soot, as well as vintage photo and walnut stain, to add a more vintage look. Finally, I tried to go with three stars in the bottom portion, but was not happy with three of any of the sized punches I have. So, I went with one larger star for the lone embellishment in the bottom half.

Parting Thoughts

Two quick reminders:

• Blog candy in the form of $20 in Really Reasonable Ribbon gift certificates (in honor of the 20th post) are being awarded to those who are have found me here at my new blog. Two $5 certificates and one $10 certificate will be awarded next post. New followers will be eligible.  :)
• February 21 is the deadline for linking up a card for this month's Olympic challenge at Words 2 Scrap By.

Think that's it for today. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

Say It with Tags -- or Hexagons

Hi, everyone!

Hope everybody is plowed out by now. Wow, what a winter!

I have two cards to share. But, before I do that, a quick reminder that Bobbi's Olympic-sized challenge is going on at W2SB. You have until the 21st to link up a wonderfully "colourful" card.

Card #1: Say It with Tags... and Flowers

American Crafts (peachy keen); Distress Ink core paper (scattered straw)
Paper Smooches scalloped tag die; Really Reasonable Ribbon ribbon
computer-generated sentiment (Lucida Handwriting)
Marvy punch; EK hole punch; Recollections foam adhesive

I first came up with this layout for a thank you card a month or so ago. I really like the triple tag effect. And, I also like that the flowers have the same top layer of paper as the background paper. It is a nice way to fill space without taking away from the focal point.

I came across a pack of this 2-sided paper at Big Lots -- twenty-five 12 x12 American Craft sheets for $3.00! When I saw it, I immediately thought Mother's Day cards. But, in keeping with Sandy's request to make cards with longer shelf lives, I went with the "For Mom, With Love" sentiment.

 

Card #2: Say It with Hexagons.. and a Banner

MME Breeze; Bazzill black
Stampin' Up! 6-Sided Sampler stamp set and punch
hand-crafted banner with TPC Studio sentiment
(sentiment heat embossed with Distress Ink (lack soot)
Paper Studio brad; Recollections foam adhesives

The card above was inspired by the OWH Midweek Throwdown to make a card featuring hexagons. This is one of those rare occasions when hubby likes a card more than I do. I'm struggling with this not having a strong focal point -- feeling like the hexagons and banner are pulling at each other. But, I like the arrangement of the hexagons, and the palette. A gray, yellow, black, and white palette is an atypical choice for me. I need to keep in mind how much I like the papers in this collection. :)

Parting Thoughts

Can't believe February is only 6 days old. What I wouldn't give for a spring day... Thank heaven for this menopause room and this card-making addiction hobby of mine.  :)

As always, thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

Fishing You a Happy Day! -- UPDATED

Hi, everyone!

February 3 Update: A special welcome if you are visiting from Elizabeth's Coloring Page Tuesdays. Elizabeth was so kind to permit me a little creative license to use her image for a kiddie Operation Write Home card. Imagine my surprise when she told me she was going to feature these little fish on her site. Please see below for details about our collaboration and the making of this little card. Thanks, Elizabeth, for your support and this unexpected recognition!

I'm really making a concerted effort to make more masculine and kiddie cards this year for Operation Write Home. So, I thought I'd look for some inspiration from one of Elizabeth O. Dulemba's coloring pages. And, after some serious fussy cutting and paper piecing, the card below was born.

Distress Ink core paper: Glossy Accents
computer-generated sentiment (Mistral)
AC paper trimmer (for wavy effect)
EK hole punch

Elizabeth is a huge fan and supporter of OWH, and I had used one of Elizabeth's images before for a couple of OWH birthday cards a few years ago.   All she asks in return is that her work be credited. Information can be found at her Angel Policy.

When I decided to make a card with her Storytime Fishes image, there were a few changes I wanted to make. So, I e-mailed Elizabeth, asking if I could: 1) delete the book and coral to make room for my sentiment and 2) move her copyright information a little to the right and up from its original location.

Thanks, Elizabeth, for being so supportive of my vision of this little card. I'm sure it will bring a smile to the face of one of our hero's little ones.  :)

As for card-making details...

• After playing around with the image, I printed it on five different sheets of Distress Ink core paper (blue, red, yellow, and two shades of brown).
• After some serious fussy cutting and paper piecing, the little fish really started taking shape.
• I really like the shine of the Glossy Accents -- kind of gives the fish a wet look.
• And, I love the way the two fish seem to be looking out at the recipient and down at the sentiment -- and how the one left fish even seems to be waving. 
• The only thing I'm not thrilled with are the three tiny circles in the top right corner. I really felt the card needed something to balance it out, but I did not want to put any tiny brads or gems on a card for a little one. So, three little brown/tan circles it was.

Think I'm these little guys need to swim right over to the OWH Midweek Throwdown challenge to make cards 4 kids.   :)

Parting Thoughts

Elizabeth is one talented lady. If you haven't visited her page before and you like coloring images for kid cards, I recommend that you pay her a visit at dulemba.com.   :)

As for visiting, thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

Missing You

Hi, everyone.

The card below was inspired by this week's Midweek Throwdown color challenge to make a card featuring pastels.

light blue: Cardstock Warehouse Paper Co; darker blue and mauve: Distress Ink core
SU wildflower meadow and coordinating Sizzix embossing folder
AC stamp markers: TPC Studio sentiment, heat embossed in Distress Ink tattered rose
Paper Studio brads; Creative Memories corner rounder; Recollections foam adhesives

I've been trying to make more kiddie and masculine cards this year. But, a pastel palette screamed feminine.

Toyed with the ideas of a ribbon for the sentiment -- and with various placements for the sentiment. So, I asked myself, what would Paula do... and decided to place the sentiment here, let the stamped image stand on its own, and called it a day. Not sure if that's actually what Paula would have done, but it worked for me today.  :)

Parting Thoughts

I was really liking this color combo... and then I realized why. These are the colors in our sofa that we bought nearly 30 years ago. Seems like I'm channeling the 80's.  :)

Time to crawl under an afghan. Brrr...

Take care, stay warm. Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

Some Bunny Loves Me

Hi, everyone.

The card below was inspired by this  week's Midweek Throwdown to make an Easter card. Since I'm aiming for a Mother/Mother's Day box, I went with the general bunny theme.  That said, I have no bunny stamps. So, an internet search gave me the idea to make a paper-pieced bunny using circles and ovals.  :)

Crate Paper and (garage sale) Stampin' Up! dp; Distress Ink core
SU oval punches; EK hole punch; Marvy circle punch; Creative Memories cutting system
sponging in Distress Ink antique linen and tattered rose; Zig chocolate pen

Still need to finish the inside. Although I don't usually put sentiments on the inside -- leaving as much room as possible for handwritten notes, this is going to be an exception to that rule. Think this little card is crying out for a punny little greeting.  :)

Have a great rest of the week. And, as always, thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!