Splish Splash

Hi, everyone! I'm here today with a card for today's Operation Write Home Sketch Challenge. It's just really hard to believe there's only one more sketch challenge after this one.

Doodle Pantry bath ants precolored image
Distress Ink and Core-dinations core papers; Cardstock Warehouse white; Stampin' Up! black
Sizzix/SU embossing folder; computer-generated sentiment
Really Reasonable Ribbon ribbons
circles: various punches, including SU owl builder, and Creative Memories circle cutting system
adhesives: Scotch ATG; Glue Dots; Zig 2-way pen; Recollections foam squares

Doodle Pantry bath ants sentiment
Distress Ink core paper; Cardstock Warehouse white

I feel as though I'm cheating a little bit -- well, quite a bit -- using a precolored image. But, I've loved these little bath ants from the moment I first saw them and just couldn't resist making a couple of cards featuring them. One card is going in my final OWH box and one is going for a card drive for a little girl in Michigan.

 

Parting Thoughts

Words 2 Scrap By  Our July W2SB words are A Friend with Chocolate. The DT came up with some fabulous cards. If you haven't yet stopped by, we hope you will come by to check out this month's challenge and then come back to link up a card or project.  There's a $20 Simon Says Stamp gift certificate that will be awarded to one talented crafter!

 

Cards in Envy   Since last Monday was the first Monday of the month, a new CIE challenge went live. The challenge for the next couple of weeks is to make an A2 card with a summer scene featuring the beach, ocean, or sea. Cards should be flat enough to be sent via USPS without any additional postage.

OWH   Think this little ant card may be the last "new" card for my box. I have some previously made cards that need a little triage before they go to Sandy. So, those cards will be my focus this week -- with a goal of mailing my cards next weekend.

Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

Thanks!

Hi, everyone! Can you believe that Operation Write Home posted Sketch #250 today?! Wow -- that's a lot of sketches. 

Sounds like a perfect excuse to post an Any Hero card.  :)

OWH Sketch #250
We R Memory Keepers red, white & blue; Bazzil watermelon; American Crafts teal; Core-dinations white
TPC Studio sentiment in Distress Ink black soot on Recollections white
Creative Memories circle cutting system
Marvy and Paper Shaper circle punches; Martha Stewart star punch
Stampin' Up! owl builder punch for tiniest circle
Recollections foam square adhesives

The red/white/blue star embellishment is adhered with a double layer of foam adhesives. Since this is an Any Hero card, it is perfectly fine. However, for "regular" Operation Write Home cards -- aka the cards troops mail home to their loved ones, cards should not be any thicker than one layer of foam adhesive.

Parting Thoughts

Mar. 1 - Mar. 21

There is an in-like-a-lion-out-like-a-lamb weather-related challenge going on at Words 2 Scrap By. Annie is hosting this month and if offering a $15 gift certificate to Stamps of Life for our winning entry. Cards can be linked up until March 21, and we hope you will join us.

Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

 

Circles, Circles, and More Circles... Oh, My!

Hi, everyone. Boy, talk about a winter that just won't give up! Hope you are safe, sound, and warm.

Before I share today's card, I'd like to welcome Polka Dot Rosie to the blog. She is a wonderful crafter and is our Guest I-Teamer at Words 2 Scrap By this month. Welcome, Rosie! I'm so glad to have gotten to know you.  :) 

At least we have a really interesting OWH sketch to keep our creative juices flowing. Coni provided the wonderful card that inspired this week's sketch. As much as I like our sketch, I have to confess that it was a little intimidating for me.

OWH Sketch #248
Bo Bunny liberty; Bazzil admiral; Crate Paper rose garden; Distress Ink antique linen
TPC Studio sentiment in DI walnut stain; inking in DI vintage photo
Cuttlebug embossing folder
Paper Studio star punch, Marvy circle punch; ??? corner rounder (for tiny star)
Creative Memories circle cutting system
Recollections foam adhesives

To CAS-ify the sketch a little, I only used two patterns and went with a solid color, embossed background layer. After deciding on the major elements, I added the sentiment and taped down these key elements. Then I played with various circles and stars until I came up with a design that felt just right -- telling myself it was okay to not use all the sketch's circles.  :)

Since this is an Any Hero card, I was able to make it thicker than typical OWH cards. So, the sentiment and lower left blue circle are popped using double layers of foam adhesives.

I like the final look of this patriotic card. The colors and shapes seem to have a nice balance to them. I hope it will convey our appreciation to one of more troops for his/her/their service.

Parting Thoughts

February Challenge
Feb. 1 - Feb. 21

Our Words 2 Scrap By February challenge is up-and-running. Our thanks to our OWH friends who have already played along with this month's do-something-different challenge. And, as they say, the more the merrier.  :)

Stay warm and be safe.

Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

from a grateful American

Hi, everyone!

If you're like me, you loved the CAS-ness of this week's OWH sketch. And, Glenda's sample card was so sweet.

OWH Sketch #246

Not surprising, a funny thing happened to me while making this week's Any Hero card. I somehow managed to stray just a tad from the sketch. Hope you can still see the bones of the sketch in what I created,

We R Memory Keepers red, white & blue
American Crafts blue and red cardstock; Recollections black and white
Hero Arts sentiment in StazOn jet black
circle punches: Marvy and Paper Shaper
punches: Stampin Up! owl builder (for small circle); EK hole
Paper Studio brads; Really Reasonable Ribbon ribbons
adhesives: Zig 2-way glue pen; Recollections foam adhesives
Sharpie black marker to blacken white star brads

• The sketch seemed perfect for a busy background pattern. However, the pattern seemed so busy, that I decided it needed to be grounded in a black background.
• Then, I decided to add a little black around the sentiment panels.
• Next, I played with the two round elements. After these were together, I decided to go with an off-center placement of the sentiment, with a top left location for the larger circle and a bottom right location for the smaller circle.
• Since I went with a sentiment for the featured square element, I opted for ribbons for the bottom element. The touch of blue ribbon is simply a scrap of ribbon tied over the black ribbon.
• Because this is an Any Hero card, I didn't have to worry about extra thickness, like the double knotted ribbons. In addition, the sentiment panel is popped, and the small circle is popped from the sentiment panel.
• I'm thinking of changing our the white star brad on the smaller circle with a red star brad. Think it would be a nice complement to the red in the larger circle -- and would make for a stronger focal point.

Parting Thoughts

A quick reminder that the Words 2 Scrap By challenge is up and running through January 21.

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

God Bless You for Serving

Hi, everyone.

Today's Any Hero card is inspired by OWH Sketch #237.

Bo Bunny liberty; Distress Ink core antique linen, Bazzill admiral and watermelon
Stamper's Best sentiment in DI walnut stain on Crate Paper rose cottage
??? corner rounder for tiny stars; ??? garage sale brads
adhesives: Recollection foam (to pop sentiment panel), Glossy Accents

The interesting thing about this card is that it is old, old school. The good news is that I officially retired from my day job a week ago yesterday -- and hit the road for a little travel. The bad news is that I was really limited on how much I could bring with me. I have one of those clear storage containers for 12 by 12 paper and one medium-sized rolling tote of crafting supplies. So, my crafting supplies are limited to some paper, punches, several stamp sets, favorite inks, and a few brads -- no Big Shot, no embossing of any kind, no ribbons... not even a crimper... well, you get the idea. Even then, when hubby carried my bags out to the car, my card-making bag was heavier than my clothes bag.  :)

When packing my craft supplies, I asked, "What is the one designer paper that I know I could use to make an Any Hero card regardless of the sketch?" Well, that's an easy one for me: Bo Bunny Liberty -- the first item that went into the to-be-packed stack.  :)

Being on the road also means being creative with the tools you've got. I used a post-it with two intersecting segments about 1/4 inch from the edges to judge my brad placement for today's card.

Being on the road also means not having that nice Ott lamp to light my pic. Hope today's photo is okay.

So, I have tried to pack sentiments and stamps to make general cards for OWH -- thank you, missing you, love you and happy birthday. Unless I get lucky with my packed items, I'm going to be sticking to these general themes and not joining in on any other challenges until this adventure is over.

Parting Thoughts

Still going through OWH withdrawal. I am soooo happy for our heroes and their loved ones... just missing those multiple-challenge weeks.


Our new challenge goes live
on September 1.  :)

Bobbi and I are very excited about September's Words 2 Scrap By challenge. We have some wonderful words, some crazy good sample cards, and a FABULOUS prize. Any Tim Holtz fans out there? If yes, you're really going to want to check this out!

Have a great weekend. Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

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'!