thanks so much... to Unity Stamps

Hi, everyone! In case you haven't heard, there is a Unity/OWH blog hop going on to celebrate a new set of Unity patriotic stamps. Please click here to go to the start of the hop.

Our thanks to Unity for their generous support of OWH! I know I can't wait to ink up these new stamps.  :)

Today's Card

So, it seems pretty appropriate that I would have a patriotic card to share with you today.  :)

Bo Bunny Liberty; Recollections white; Bazzil admiral and watermelon; Stampin' Up! neutral
Paper Smooches (graceful beauties) sentiment in Distress Ink vintage photo
punches: EK circle, Paper Studio star, SU owl builder 

As you can see, I used the same basic layout as with yesterday's cards. While I love this Bo Bunny collection, I've struggled with ways to use this particular paper. It seems to work well with this layout.

Parting Thoughts

Hoping everyone will play along with our in-like-a-lion-out-like-a-lamb weather-related Words 2 Scrap By challenge. Annie is hosting this month and if offering a $15 gift certificate to Stamps of Life for our winning entry.

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

A Bouquet of Thanks

Hi, everyone!

Isn't this weather crazy for mid-November?! Monday was snowy and yesterday was bitter cold. Today seems pretty good -- even though the high is about 15 degrees below the normal high for this day. Crazy....



Monday's View from the Menopause Room

Today's card is a thank you card that I am making for that upcoming craft show that seems a perfect fit for the current Cards In Envy, Shopping Our Stash, and Word Art Wednesday Thankful themes. I made a similar card this summer and loved it so much that I decided to reprise it for the upcoming craft show.  :)

Stampin' Up! In Colors: blackberry bliss, mossy meadow, hello honey
Too Kind images in SU 2014 inks on watercolor paper
TPC Studio sentiment in SU blackberry bliss
garage sale brads; EK corner rounder
 

I absolutely adore this stamp set... and these yummy colors. I used the first/second/third generation stamping technique for these lovely flowers... including the flowers on the inside.

I've found that the customers at the craft show appreciate general sentiment and Christmas cards. So, in addition to several holiday cards, I will have a variety of thank you and birthday cards.

Parting Thoughts

November Challenge
Nov. 1 - Nov. 21

This Friday is the deadline for entering our November Words 2 Scrap By challenge. This month's words Kindness and Gratitude are inspired by an Emerson quote. Hope you will have a chance to play along.

Have a great rest of the week. Thanks for stopping and happy scrapping.

Thanks in Any Language

Hi, everybody,

Today I have a card for this week's Mojo Monday sketch. This is a new challenge blog for me. Better late than never, right?!

Stampin' Up! World Map on back of Studio Calico something else
computer-generated words on Crate Paper rose garden
Distress Ink chipped sapphire
inking in DI vintage photo, wild honey, and antique linen
Really Reasonable Ribbon ribbon
punch: Paper Shaper circle punch

When I saw the four vertical strips on the sketch, the idea of saying "thanks" in four languages came to mind. And, pairing these with a world map image just felt right.

Those of you who have seen Any Hero cards I have made from Operation Write Home sketches know that I don't always follow the road map exactly. So, I'm taking the Mojo Monday guidelines to heart when they say dimensions are not given for a reason -- to allow for flexibility. So, I rotated the sketch 90 degrees and shortened the four strips -- allowing for a larger space for the map image. Hope this is okay.  :)

Since this card is going to OWH, I wanted to leave lots of room for our hero to write home -- but still carry through with the theme of the card. So, the inside of the card has a short sentiment on "aged" paper.

Parting Thoughts

Speaking of OWH, Sandy has extended the Christmas card deadline to October 18. Seems like we need a few -- just a few -- more holiday cards. My five extra cards went in the mail today. If you are new to OWH and would like to help, please visit the OWH Web site for card guidelines, shipping information, etc.

Collection closes on October 1!

Speaking of Sandy, this month's prize package at Words 2 Scrap By includes two Sandy Allnock Ciara and Friend stamp sets -- perfect for this month's the-road-to-my-heart-is-paved-with-paw-prints challenge. Would love for you to join us!

Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

Thanks Sew Much

Hi, everyone.

Since we spent the last few weeks at the beach, this was the first "typical" day of retirement. So, what did I do you ask? Wipe down cabinets with Murphy's soap!

The first 26 years of my career, I worked in schools. During summer months, I recharged my batteries, took a class or two to learn new tricks of the trade for the upcoming school year, and caught up on all those household chores I had neglected during the school year.

However, life in the publishing world didn't include a summer break. Sadly, there were so many things that I neglected these last 8+ years. Not sure how long this feeling of euphoria over doing household chores will last, but I was as happy as a clam today wiping down those cabinets.  :)

Now Today's Card...

The card below was made for the current Cards in Envy challenge to use twine. I loved the DT cards -- the CIE ladies really rocked their twine!

I had two goals I wanted to achieve: 1) create a card that could go to Operation Write Home or a friend, and 2) make the twine an integral part of the card. When the phrase Thanks Sew Much came to mind, I knew the path I wanted to take.

SU Just Add Cake dp; Distress Ink core
SU Indigo Island Twine
Word clip art used as template for needle
Imagine Crafts shimmer spritz
SweetlyScrappedArt.blogspot.com template for spool
SU/Sizzix button embosslit; Recollections foam square adhesive
computer-generated sentiment

Once I came upon the idea for the card, the execution was a whole other matter. Design decisions included: choosing just the right patterned paper that would give the appearance of fabric without overwhelming the spool, finding just the right templates to fussy cut the spool and needle, and spacing the piercings to frame the card and allowing for a bow in the bottom right corner of the frame.

Parting Thoughts

Thanks to everyone who joined in our September Words 2 Scrap By challenge. The cards and projects were fabulous! And, we are really excited about what we have in store for October. Thinking ghosts and pumpkins? ...Not so fast, my friends. :)

Need to box up some cards for Operation Write Home. Even though I'm cutting back on Christmas cards, I still need to get those to Sandy by October 10.

As always, thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

thanks....

Hi, everyone.

Hope your week is off to a good start.

Did you watch the Emmy awards? Well, I did... while stamping sentiments. Today's card features a classic palette, a basic design, and a few of those stamped sentiments. Think the result is a set of classically masculine cards that received hubby's seal of approval. Hoping our heroes will approve as well.  :)

dp: Fancy Pants Design etcetera
Winnie & Walter sentiment in Distress Ink black soot
Stampin' Up! owl punch (for punched circles)

It's too bad Sandy asked us to limit multiples to 5 cards -- because I'm pretty pleased with the way these turned out and they were pretty quick to make.  :)

That's it for tonight. 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'!

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'!