OWH ODBD: December

Wheww...what a month.  I cannot believe it has been almost a month since I posted.  I have been super busy with Christmas stuff;  cards, and other projects for both myself & my sisters.   This digi is a freebie by The Cottage Market.  It is one of my fave quotes and really was the inspiration for the card.  Sometimes color challenges such as primary colors are hard for me to do well, but I really like how this turned out.  OWH really needs a bunch of cards for this month's ODBD challenge, please help them out before the 31st!

Addicted to CAS: Dots

This is my last post as a guest designer for Addicted to CAS.  I have so enjoyed my experience and am always humbled by the creative awesomeness of you all.  The new challenge theme is Dots and is hosted by Loll.

I was browsing on Pinterest when I spied a Christmas Tree in a window which was made up of paper snowflakes and was the inspiration of my card.  I used an orphaned snowflake (green) stamp and a stylus(red) to stamp inside a "Plaid" stencil.  The garland was stitched on after I pierced it out using a circle shape as a guide. The background was dry embossed using a Darice folder.   

Thanks again for everything and Happy Holidays!

OWH: Red Friday Hop

I decided to not look at any Black Friday ads as I did not want to be tempted to partake in the shopping frenzy.  Lucky for me OWH is having a Red Friday Hop.  A wonderful group of inspiring cards are being featured.  I decided to take my fave parts of Paula's and Dixie's cards to create mine.  The patterned papers are by Little Yellow Bicycle.  Hearts are from a Heidi Swapp stencil.  Easy Peasy!

Cards in Envy & The Male Room

Over at The Male Room the challenge theme is "Ribbon" and somehow the idea popped into my head to make a paper buckle/slide using punches, so that was the inspiration for this card.  The dp is by Basic Grey; it is two sided of which  I used both.  Sentiment is by Hero Arts and it works perfectly for the current challenge at Cards in Envy.  I am in need of some Thank You cards so this will be going into the mailbox shortly. 

OWH:ODBD & Sketch #243

Fun sketch thanks to Laurie.  I decided to omit some of the layering.  Papers are all from the same pad by Fancy Pants.  Sentiment is by Stampin' Up. 

OWH MMT: Winter Love Card

I am quite behind on challenges.  I did go on a road trip last weekend to visit my niece at college, so I am going to blame it on that.  My card for the MMT features the HA bears and a computer generated puny sentiment.  Thanks for stopping by!

Addicted to CAS: A Sketch

Welcome back to my blog for a little inspiration for the current challenge at Addicted to CAS, which happens to be a sketch.  I have to admit that I looked to the internet for some inspiration to use the Tim Holtz Holiday Knit stencil featured on this card.  I ran across Kristina Werner's Holiday Series 2014 and was uber inspired.  Thanks Kristina!  The sentiment is a diecut by Basic Grey; heat embossed clear on red cardstock x3 to add dimension.  The holly leaves were created using punches and an emery board.  All of this was done on a layer of vellum because I am really loving vellum since the last ATCAS challenge.

Thanks for stopping by...cannot wait to see what you all make!

OWH Sketch #242

The current sketch for OWH is kinda challenging and can be found here.  I used the Hero Arts set for both the image and sentiment.  The papers were already on my work table.

W2SB & The Male Room

I ran across the sentiment that was leftover from a swap that seemed perfect for the current challenge at Words 2 Scrap By: Gratitude.  I then looked for an image to pair with it and ran across this image by Torico at Birdie Brown.  A good match and it also fits with the current theme at The Male Room: Wood since he is holding a tree branch.  Thanks for stopping by!



Addicted to CAS: Code Word Tag

Lucky me to be asked to be this month's guest designer at Addicted to CAS.  I was both surprised and honored when Loll contacted me.  I am always in awe of all the gorgeous cards made for each ATCAS challenge.

My card features a stamp & die set by My Creative Time.  It contains the word pattern that was used to create the tag.  I used the flatboard that comes with stickers to add a little "weight" to my coffee cup.  The sentiment is from Hero Arts.

Thanks for stopping by!

OWH Sketch #241

Mary Ellen's inspiration card was totally fabby...I just loved the colors and layering.  My card features a stamp & die set from My Creative Time and sentiment by Fiskars. I found them at the annual scrapbook garage sale.  Paper is from Stampin' Up.  Thanks for lookin'.

OWH ODBD Challenge: Snow

Work has been crazy due to a big project that is now finished WooHoo!  Hopefully I can get caught up on a few challenges starting with this one at OWH.  The image is from Hero Arts and was spritzed with water before stamping to give a watercolor effect.  I embossed vellum and attached it with the twine and a few glue drops on snowflakes to help it stay flat.  Sentiment is also by Hero Arts. 

Addicted to CAS: Vellum

The current challenge at Addicted to CAS is to use vellum on your card.  I decided to CASE Maria Fischer's "Delicate Days" card that was published in Papercrafts Holiday Cards & More Volumne 9.  I used a Hero Arts image and sentiment.  The tree stamp was spritzed with water to give it that uber popular watercolor effect.

OWH Sketch #238

Yesterday I read the OWH news that a few more Christmas cards are needed so I decided to use Barb H's sketch as my inspiration.  I dug out a Simple Stories Christmas Pad and added a few scraps to make my card.  This is a fun & easy sketch.

Cards in Envy: Autumn Leaves

Absolutely love the current theme at Cards in Envy as fall is my favorite time of year...even if it means winter is on it's way.  This image by Marianne Walker is a super fun one to color.  I actually CASEd a card I had made previously with this image. Papers by K&Co, DCWV, and ?Bazzill.  Not sure if I am sold on the eyelets and ribbon idea but I really wanted to try something other than brads.  Let me know what you think.

Addicted to CAS & The Male Room

This Taylored Expression cutting plate (one of my new fave toys) was used to create a stencil from the backing and the actual adhesive paper to accent.  The current sketch from The Male Room is my inspiration for this card that I am also linking up to the current challenge at Addicted to CAS.  Sentiment is from Hero Arts; brad is from my stash.

OWH WCMD: Love

Thanks for visiting my blog on the most wonderful card maker holiday of the year.  Operation Write Home is having their annual blog hop to celebrate and I definitely wanted to join in the fun. Woo Hoo!!!  Here is the link to return to the OWH WCMD Hop, if you need it.  Current card needs can be found HERE.

My card features Skye and Kari designed by Sandy Allnock, MME papers and a CTMH sentiment.  I was extremely fortunate to purchase this stamp set at a local stamp garage sale a couple weeks ago.  I was like Sheldon in a comic book store! Well, I won't keep you as there is so much more to see.  Happy hopping!!!

Just Hang On

This little kitty is kinda how I am feeling right now.  I have been MIA due to being super busy with a BIG work project.  I made this card using the OWH Sketch #240 with a couple of minor adjustments.  I am also linking it up to the current challenges at Cards in Envy and Words 2 Scrap By.

Image by Bugaboo: sentiment is computer generated.

OWH Sketch #239

The latest sketch from OWH came out yesterday am, but I did not have any time to work on it til this afternoon.  Image is an older Studio G (I think); sentiment is Stampin' Up.  Pattern paper is MakinMemories and Cart Bella.  Pink dot is from an experiment (I saw it somewhere on a blog, so it is not my idea) that I tried; melting plastic pony beads.  It works, but it is too high per OWH standards so the card will be for personal use or the pet shelter fundraiser.  I would really like to find smaller plastic beads as it is super easy and inexpensive.  I actually tried to use a brad but it was too hard to get it through the ribbon.

OWH MMT: Gratitude

Since one of my earlier cards of the day left me with the adhesive peeling to use as a stencil I decded to play with it and ended up with this card.  I wanted to use more than just Thank You as my sentiment but this sentiment really seemed to fit the feel of the card, so I went with it.

OWH ODBD: Create you own background

Friday DH & I took a roadtrip to a car part swap.  On the way back we stopped at a LSS in Des Moines and I bought a few new toys; a Taylored Expression Chevron Cutting Plate and Spellbinders Feathers Die Set.  I decided that the new challenge was perfect to break them out.  Carol L has made some wonderful cards using the technique I tried here.  To think, I almost purchased a cheaper feather die set but I could not resist the extra detail this set offered.

ATCAS #47: Oriental

The newest challenge at ATCAS is "Oriental".  I used a Hampton Arts stamp to create a "brocade" pattern.  The sentiment is from the same set. 

Words 2 Scrap By: To Everything is a Season

Growing up on a small family farm in Iowa left me with fond memories of all seasons.  They say if you are tired of the weather in Iowa, give it a day and it will change.  The theme for this month's Words 2 Scrap By just reminded me of those days.  I still had a swap kit made by Ann M that needed to be used and worked perfectly for the theme.  Everything was in the kit except the windmill image by Red Rubber Stamps.  I really wanted to add it so I decided to try stamping it on the burlap...and it worked!

Cards in Envy and The Male Room

I ran across a challenge blog The Male Room that I wanted to try out and work on my manly themed cards.  The current theme is fall/autumn.  Deer hunting season is a favorite fall pastime in my neck of the woods (not mine!).  This stag image seemed a perfect fit for this theme.

I am also linking this card up to the current School Colors theme challenge at Cards in Envy.  Prairie where I graduated from high school had Orange & Black as their colors and a hawk as the mascot.  Papers are by Authentique, Little Yellow Bicycle, and MakinMemories.  Sentiment by Hero Arts.

Addicted to CAS #46: Luxury

The new challenge theme for Addicted to CAS is Luxury.  I used a card from fellow OWHer Yolanda as my inspiration.  Sentiment is by Hero Arts.

Cards in Envy: Best of Friends

My second post of the day is to share my card for the current challenge at Cards in Envy.  The theme is Best of Friends and I decided that I really needed to use this Tiddly Inks image that is super adorable.  Papers are by Deju Views and Little Yellow Bicycle. 

OWH Sketch #237

As the need for OWH cards is slowing down, I find myself making more pet oriented cards for a local shelter.  My boxes of cards never contained many multiples mostly because I so enjoyed creating singles.  (Too many ideas, not enough time to create).  I sent my last big box for the year, unless Sandy sends out call for more cards. 

 When I saw a card made by Carol L, (thanks Carol!!!) I just fell in love with the image by Darcie's Heart & Home.  Papers are Deja Views (2 different sets).  I still have a grass die on my wish list which would be a super cute addition!

Addicted to CAS #45: Geometric

The current theme at Addicted to CAS is "Geometric".  Lucky me to have the triangle punch in my stash.  I started out with the intention of using more triangles, but the banner shape caught my attention and I went with it.  Sentiment is Hampton Arts and papers are by Deja Views.

OWH ODBD August Challenge

I punched some stars out of a piece of scrap paper to creat a unique stencil; used blue spray and inked the inside edges to add some depth on some Bo Bunny paper.  A little experiment on my part that I decided I liked.  I ended up adding some solid punched stars and a sentiment by Hampton Arts.  I also added some clear star bling for a little of zip. 

 

ATCAS: Gold & W2SB: Darkness to Light

Here is my card for the current challenges at Addicted to CAS: Gold and Words 2 Scrap By: Darkness to Light.  Images are Stamps of Life; sentiment is Hero Arts.  Once I stamped and embossed the images I used my Copics to add subtle layers of colors, hence the dark to light. 

Cards in Envy: Beach Card

I racked my brain trying to figure out my card for the latest challenge at Cards in Envy, when I remembered this Stampabilities stamp I had purchased but hadn't gotten around to inkin up.  Seemed to be a great fit for the Beach theme.  The diamond paper is nameless so if you know who made it please give me a hollar.  Sentiment is Stamps of Life.

OWH Sketch #236

A quick card as the pup was already paper pieced together.  Papers were purchased through a swap.  Sentiment is Paper Smooches.  This card will be donated to a local animal shelter for one of their many fundraisers.  Image is by Janes Doodles. 



OWH MWT: Any Hero Soldier

Wowzers...kinda a tough challenge...except I realized that I had this Bugaboo image in my collection.  Wheww!  Pretty simple card...sentiment is a Stamps of Life.  Thanks for stopping by!

ATCAS & Cards in Envy

Shhhh...This is my dh's birthday card and it is a milestone year!  When I saw Sybrina's card, I immediate thought of Captain America.  It inspired me to create this card that has that Marvel Comics theme to it.  I used the same Memory Box stencil with fabric paint and Liquid Pearls.  It gives it that look of embossing paste with a little shimmer.  This card will be linked up to the Addicted to CAS #43: Celebrate and Cards in Envy: Happy Birthday challenges. 

OWH Sketch #235

Another fun Sunday sketch thanks to Danni!  I just love this sentiment by Studio G.  Papers used are by Little Yellow Bicycle.  Have a wonderful Sunday!

OWH MWT: Red, White & Blue

Another card that features some scraps and a SRM sticker as the sentiment. 

OWH Sketch #234

Wowzers, a very challenging sketch and Ellen's sample was stunning!  My take on the sketch started with the chipboard image by Imaginise, papers by Little Yellow Bicycle, and a Unity sentiment.

OWH MWT: Any Hero Stars

I pulled a card out of "hat"; meaning that I had it in my OWH box.  I had made several cards using this same sketch which is a little unusual for me.  Papers were pulled from my scrap pile.  Sentiment is Fiskars. 
 

ATCAS #42: Sky

I was playing around with my punches when I realized that I could make a little rainbow using Shimmer paper by DCWV.  Someone I see almost daily needs a little pick me up; her life has been like a bad country song.  Her words not mine, and they got me thinking.  Embossing folder is by Stampin' Up, banner by Paper Smooches and sentiment is computer generated.  Hope this card brightens her day.

 

OWH Sketch #233

Thanks to Ann A, there is another inspiring sketch at OWH.  I am in need of a sympathy card so I made good use of this sketch.  All the papers were pulled from my scrap pile.  The cloud embossing folder is Stampin' Up; sentiment is computer generated.

Cards in Envy: Stars & Stripes

OWH recently had a Virtual Card Making Party and two other cardmakers Dixie C and Carol L provided me with inspiration with their cards.  A card without any pattern papers is pretty unusual for me.  Paper is DCWV Shimmer pack, image is Stampin Up and sentiment is by Fiskars.

VCMP Day 3

Whewwww!  What a weekend!  I tried to use scraps whenever possible except on the last card which I made for my sis and her husband.  I really had to push myself when I was creating the "thick" card.  Critter Love was a card in process that needed a sentiment; inspiration came from a stamp and a lack of O's stickers.  If you have any questions about any of the VCMP cards just shot me an email.  Hope you were an inspired as I was!

    

#13: Kyra:  Sketch #232

#14: Annette:  Thick & Thin

#15: Becca: Teen Time

#16: Yvonne:  Critter Love

#17: Sherry:  Inchies

#18: Cara:  Faux Techniques (I used 2)