Hero Stickers!

I got a great gift of military stickers for Christmas this year.  My sister wants to help Operation Write Home by writing any hero cards!  Production has been started, any helpful suggestions will be greatly appreciated!   - Nancy

Stars & Stamps Blog - Sunday Sketch #45

Boy, I'm really getting behind this week and it's only Tuesday!  I love this stamp of cute, old houses.  I tried to put a little color on the edges and ended up with a blotch, hence the ribbon.  I stepped out of my box, I hardly ever use orange, but thought it deserved a chance.  And besides, I have a lot of scraps I'm trying to use up.

--Nancy

Going To The Dogs

 Joanne's been doing a lot of the blogging lately, so I thought I'd squeeze in between her challenges and show what I've been up to.  This is some of my latest contribution to Operation Write Home.  I call it "Going To The Dogs".  Just about all 65 cards are dog related.  I may have thrown in a few monkeys and a cat or two, for good measure.  I'm interested to see if Dixie will make a comment when she sorts this batch......lol...     Nancy F.

Stars and Stamps Sketch Challenge #47

Well it's Sunday so that means it's time for OWH's Stars and Stamps Sketch Challenge. It's a gloomy rainy Sunday up here in North Eastern PA, but I guess I should be glad it is just rain and not lots of snow like I see other areas are getting. Gloomy and rainy is a perfect day to work on cards though and I took a break from Christmas cards to put this one together. An easy one, again using my Pink Cat Studio message cats and a new open scallop die from My Favorite Things . And everyone can probably recognize it by now but paper once again from DCWV's Citrus stack ...    Joanne M

Operation Write Home S & S Sketch Challenge #46

Well, it's on to another OWH challenge already - the Sunday Stars and Stamps Sketch Challenge ...  I have a  bunch of these cute Pink Cat Studio cats, they're all holding or doing something different and each comes with a saying. They're a really cute set for various occaisions.  I paper pieced this one and that's about it.  Citrus stack paper again ... guess I need to start digging deeper in my pile for something else, but these were all scraps and I knew I liked them together so that just made it easier .   Joanne M

Operation Write Home MidWeek Throwdown - Animals

I had a very interesting day today taking pet pictures with Santa for my cat rescue group.  The pet store we do our adoptions in sets it all up and pays for everything - we pretty much just have to show up and take the pictures and all proceeds come to us.  We figure it's money for nothing and it's usually fun. It's mostly dogs, which is what we expect because while we are obviously cat people even we wouldn't attempt to take our cats to an event like this. We did have one little boy with his cat and his hamster but that was about as exotic as it got. We've seen ferrets in the past and we're still waiting for someone to show up with a snake or a pig ..... maybe next year ...... We were a little concerned in the morning because no one was showing up at all but one of the women in the group kept us entertained with stories of her trips to Europe as part of her church choir and  to the wilds of Alaska as a missionary for the Moravian church -- think Northern Exposure if you're old enough to remember that show -- but even more remote. I and the young man playing Santa were amazed at her adventures, a woman older than I am and someone who to look at you would never imagine has been through such experiences.....  it's very true that you can't judge a book by it's cover ...

And none of that has anything to do with the OWH MidWeek Throwdown so on to that ....  the theme this week was animals, a fitting subject for me today, and I'm sure anyone that knows me is shocked that I didn't use one of my numerous cat stamps but I figured this would be more of a surprise and I love these guys.  The penguins are from Cats Pajamas and the paper is again from the DCWV Citrus stack. And I guess spending the day taking pictures threw me off a bit because this one's pretty much crooked but that's how it's staying...

Thank You !

I'm going to start this with a question -- does anyone else out there find it difficult to make a 'masculine' card??  Or what we think a masculine card should be?? Why is it any harder to put an image and papers together when the card is for a man and not a woman??  I don't have the answers to these questions because it doesn't make sense to me, but for some reason I have a harder time with it ... But I did manage to come up with this and I am happy with it. I love this image - it's from Rubber Hedgehog Stamps, who have some of the best realistic animal stamps I've seen -- and they have a lot more than just cats and dogs if you're  looking for a cute ferret or gerbil stamp.  The papers are from the DCWV Natural stack, which are all browns and says 'masculine' to me I guess ......  Joanne M

S & S Sketch Challenge #45

Well, it's the end of another week already ... or the beginning of another week, depending on how you look at it I guess.  For me it's the end of my annual Thanksgiving week 'staycation' ... the week I stay home to relax and prepare myself for the insanity that will be my job for the next couple of months ....  And of course a time to catch up on cardmaking ...Today I've got the latest Stars and Stripes Sketch Challenge #45 and OWH Shipper Kris' request of Thinking of You cards in honor of her birthday .  Another Penny Black image and sentiment for those of you familar with them and for those of you who are not  ... They are one of my favorite stamp companies and I do have a 'few' of their stamps so I'm sure you'll be seeing more of them in the days to come...I also used one of my favorite DCWV stacks - Citrus - the card itself is actually one their prepacked cards that correspond to the stacks. Minimal coloring on this guy and some Glossy Accents to highlight the 'bubbles' and he -- or she --was done.     Joanne M

Be Mine Valentine

Well for once my procrastination has paid off. I planned to make this card for Operation Write Home's Sunday Sketch Challenge #44 but couldn't seem to get to it... Then I saw that today's Mid Week Throwdown was for a Valentine card so I was able to combine the two.  Anyone who's familiar with Penny Black stamps probably recognizes this dog as one, I have to admit I think he's really cute and I have a few of them ... It's a big stamp and I haven't used it before but it was perfect for the sketch challenge which required one.  I paper pieced the heart because it's my new favorite thing to do and used copics on the rest. My other favorite new thing is Glossy Accents, which I used on the two small hearts and his nose. The paper is from a large stack of holiday papers I picked up somewhere along the way. This card and another just like it will be going into the Archway Cookie Challenge which I'm still working on but plan to get in the mail soon since they're due by December 1st which unfortunately as we all know is coming faster than we're ready for - Joanne M

Still Hacking Away At It

I'm still working my way through the blog hop!!  I know, insane!  Here's the latest installlment.  I like the looks of my spinner cupcake card, but the stinkin' cupcake just won't spin.  I bought some new popdots this weekend and will keep at it until I get it right.  Lucky for me, I'm on vacation this week, I hope to be doing a lot of cards in the next couple of days.  If not, I'll be lucky to finish this blog thing I started before Christmas!
I love the simplicity of the card in the center and I did some more paper piecing on the flower vase.  I borrowed Joanne's Whipper Snappers again, I can't stay away from them, they're just too darn cute!  More later.....N.

OWH Mid Week Challenge

Well again, here it is 10:00 and I'm making cards.. not sure what's up with that but I really don't expect it to last.  This one is for Operation Write Home's Mid Week Challenge to make a Winter card.  I've had this snowman stencil for ages but I never think to use it. I colored him with chalks and did some sanding on the snowflakes.  A bit of stickles on the 'snow' and he was done. 

I expect to spend the next week or so working on Valentine cards for the Archway Cookie Mission -- 4000 cookies sent to the troops for 4000 cards ....  It's a bit of a challenge but I think the group at OWH can handle it -- no, I know they can .....It should be interesting anyway -  Joanne M

OWH Sketch Challenge #43

I almost never make cards during the week, especially not at 10:00, but for some reason I was motivated tonight to throw this one together using the latest OWH sketch.  The stamp is one I got for a dollar at JoAnn's the other night .. you know, those dollar stamps that you wind up spending $20 on because you keep saying it's only a dollar, it's only a dollar .....   Dollar stamp or not, I think it's cute.   J

OWH Be My Valentine Blog Hop - Awesome!

I had a great time doing the Valentine Blog Hop.  I still haven't made it all the way through everyone's blogs, but I will!  I'm making a card for every blog I visit, so it's going to take me a while.....lol...
I managed to make 17 cards yesterday, doing all sorts of various techniques and using stuff I had in drawers forever.  It was such a great day.  (I stamp and tuck as I go, so be forgiving of the envies sticking out the backs of the cards in the photos.)

  Dixie's card was fun because I realized I bought the scalloped Spellbinders hearts last year.  Then when I tackled Sandy's vest card, I found the herringbone embossing folder that I bought at a stamp show last year and had never used.

 The next thing I got to was the gatefold card.  I whipped out my Crafter's Companion folding board, another thing I barely touched since I got it.  The hero's totally awesome jeans pocket card reminded me that I had a Coluzzle template for a pocket card and I found a huge box of dollar store paper, with jeans paper....I was on a roll.......But....the dog needed walking......

Ozzy and I had a nice little walk, I cleared my head and came back and tackled some more.....  My first attempt at inking the inside of the cuttlebug folder was a disaster.  A smeared mess.  The second try was better, but it's still not perfect.  I'll try that again for sure.  I got bogged down at Kate's spinner card, I'm not sure what to use to cut the slot, but will be doing research (probably at work tomorrow....) and hope to continue on my merry way, hop, hop, hopping until I get all the way through...  Keep your fingers crossed for me!  --Nancy F.

Mid Week Throwdown Hits a Brick Wall

It's a twofer day for me.  I did the Thinking of You with ribbon Mid Week Throwdown combined with the brick wall technique.  For the most part, I enjoyed making the brick wall, however the first attempt did end up in the trash.  Not like that's anything unusual ......  Dixie will be happy with me because I ran out of foam tape, so the card is flat, flat, flat!     -N.

OWH Mid Week Throwdown

The Operation Write Home Mid Week Throwdown was paper piecing this week and since paper piecing is my new favorite technique I knew I had to give it a shot.  I love this bear stamp and thought the apron would be perfect for piecing and I was right.  I also used the OWH sketch from Challenge #42 which I really like and will use again.
I wanted to add that the bear and sentiment are from The Cats Pajamas and the paper is DCWV's Flower Shower stack

S&S Sketch Challenge #42

I toadally love this card and the sketch for today!

Mosaics

Yes, I'm a bit of a cheater.  I bought a stamp specifically made for making mosaics from Starving Artistamps a long, long time ago.  I watched them demonstrate and they made it look so easy!  When I got home, not so much!  So I finally tried again.  On my first attempt I used a pigment ink stamp pad that was multicolored.  I used StazOn ink for the tree.  It looks better in the photo than in person.  I tried again using a Versamark stamp pad for the tiles and then StazOn black for the dragonflies.  Then I embossed with clear powder.  The effect is much better, but for some reason, when I heated the embossing powder, it turned a pinkish color.  I'm not a pink person, so I was a little taken aback, but found some paper and ribbon and worked it out.  I definately will keep trying with the mosaic stamp, but I need to work on something more manly......

S&S Sketch Challenge #41

I'm still addicted to paper sanding....................Maybe I'll outgrow it, we'll have to just wait and see.  Tomorrow I hope to work on the mosaic technique.  I'm frustrated because everything I do seems to be late and it's so unlike me.  I make lists, I make lists of lists, and I've always been on time.  Not anymore--and it's driving me crazy!

Let It Snow!............well, not really...............

These were made from extremely cute digis by Eliz. Dulemba.  I just love her work.

Craft for a Cause

I had no clue what to make for Joann's Craft for a Cause until I found the "turkey" stamp in the dollar bin, and it all fell into place.  Well, it wasn't that easy, there was a second trip to Joann's because I didn't buy a dollar stamp pad and I wasn't happy with any corner embellishments I had.  I'm still not sure about the ones I used, but I tend to dwell, so it's just done and that's the way it is!  At least it adds one more entry for Operation Write Home!

OWH Sketch Challenge #39

I'm working on some cards for my cat group at the moment.  I used Operation Write Home's Sketch #39 for this one.  I sometime find it a challenge in itself just putting together a number of different papers that I don't think just look slapped together, but I've found the 'stacks' of color coordinated papers are a big help for pattern challenged people like me.  I'm know I'll use this sketch again and probably this same card for OWH.

Crackle!

I layered and layered and layered, and still no crackles!  After the sixth layer, I just started to play with it, bend it more harshly and stopped being careful with it.  That was the ticket!  I also had this brainy idea how I would combine the crackle technique with the mid-week throw down of an anniversary card.  Well, you know how things work out...... I don't have a Happy Anniversary stamp and my card looks more like it should say With Sincere Sympathy inside it.........lol...... I had fun anyway. 

S&S Blog Sketch Challenge #38

Now that the weather is changing and I don't have as much mowing, trimming and weeding to do when I get home from work, I'm enjoying having time to make a card or two in the evening.  If I was really clever, I would have waited a day and tried the cracked glass technique and combined it with the latest sketch challenge, but hey, I can do that tonight!  I got this image from a friend and it just happened to be on the exact size paper I needed for this sketch.    Now,  if only I could get my photography up to snuff......

Mid Week Throwdown part 2

Well I guess it's my turn for a Mid Week Throwdown Christmas card. I wanted to do something a little different this time so I dug out my brass stencils that I never think to use.  I found this swirly Christmas tree and figured I'd give it a try. I'm always undecided about whether to color them or leave them uncolored but I chalked this one up a bit and I like how it turned out. It's also really hard for me not to sparkly everything up, especially Christmas cards, but I try to refrain even from using Stickles on my OWH cards because of the risk to our soldiers so it's unsparkly, but it still says Christmas.

MidWeek Throwdown Challenge

The challenge is to make a Christmas card.  No problem!  Here's one of many that I've been making for Operation Write Home.  It's also using up the last of my hoarded Debbie Mumm Christmas paper - how I'm going to miss it!!  Also, lately I've been doing a lot of paper sanding.  I am really enjoying my embossing folders right now!  -N.

Two -Two - Two Challenges In One - OWH Midweek Throwdown & OWH Sketch #37

I wound up missing out on World Card Making Day yesterday because I had to help out at our cat rescue adoption day.  Finding homes for our nation's homeless cats is just as important to me as making cards for our nation's heroes, so even though I didn't get any cards made, it was still time well spent.  I managed to combine two challenges here, both from Operation Write Home. The midweek challenge was for a card someone would send to a girl or woman. I love these Pure Innocence stamps from My Favorite Things and this is the first time I got to use one. If you haven't had a chance to look at the Throwdown Challenge yet, be sure to check it out and see the cards made by an amazing 13 year old girl.
The second is the sketch challenge for this week.   J

More holiday inspiration from Operation Write Home

I love how this uses muted shades of red and green and I missed the Bling It Up Challenge, so I did it here!

I said I wasn't going to do it, but I made a holiday card already anyway!

SRM Stickers Challenge

This being sick stuff is good for something at least, it's given me all this extra time to work on challenges and make cards.  This is another one for Operation Write Home, my interpretation of the sketch anyway.  It's not exact but I'm happy enough with the way it came out that I think I'll do a couple more for OWH.

More Mojo

I was intrigued by a challenge on the OWH site to make a holiday card using any or all of the following ingredients -- something from your 'stash', purple and a penguin ... I knew I had tons of scraps in my stash and that some was most likely purple, and penguins - I've got lots of penguins. So using the OWH Stars and Stamps Sketch again this is what I came up with.

The challenges seem to get Shovel's mojo workin', I thought I'd try it too.

Stars and Stamps Sketch Challenge #36

I'm home sick today and needed something to get my mojo going. I found it in the OWH Stars and Stamps Sketch Challenge.  I've used this stamp a number of times but I never get tired of it, it's cute and simple and says it all.    J

and the Final Operation Write Home Challenge #6- Sentiment Only

It's the final challenge for me anyway, the others are still at it but since the host of the party is on Pacific time and I'm on Eastern it's about time for me to hit the hay.  It was a fun day, I can't believe I stuck with it for the whole time, but at least I have a bunch of new cards to send to OWH.

Operation Write Home ... you know the rest .....

still at it .. I've made more cards today than I usually make in a month ...here's Challege #5 - Bling it Up .... 

and now I've got to take a break because I'm getting the evil eye from my cats who can't imagine what I'm doing that's more important than feeding them ... sheesh -- kids....

Operation Write Home Birthday Bash Challenge #4

cheated a bit on this one too because I had it partially done and finished it for the challenge.. A card for a special little girl this time

Operation Write Home Birthday Bash Challenge #4

still going ....... Challenge #4 was to make a card for a child... I cheated a bit on this one and used some cutouts I got on clearance at JoAnn's, but I think it's cute will make a nice card for someone to send home to their little boy

Operation Write Home Birthday Bash Challenge # 3

ok .... I'm surprised I'm still going, but here's card #3 -- challenge was to use a sketch from the Stars and Stamps Blog .... I used one of my favorites stamps that I've used many times ... everyone always needs to have their fishes come true

Operation Write Home Birthday Bash Challenge # 2

theme for this one was to use a summer image with fall colors .. not sure how long I can keep this up but I'm on to challenge #3 .....

Operation Write Home Birthday Bash Challenge #1

There's a virtual card making party going on over at the OWH Facebook page today .. I surprised myself by actually getting one done this morning .. not quite on time, but I got it done in less than an hour which for me is pretty amazing.  The theme was for a wintery birthday card ... I think this fits the bill

Fall Colors - Operation Write Home

Today I'm trying to go with Sandy's tip about making general themed cards but using fall colors.  I don't even remember buying this little guy, but he sure is cute and he certainly does look like he's thinking of someone!

Happy Birthday Operation Write Home!

Here's my birthday present to Operation Write Home.   We are both very pleased to be a part of this wonderful organization.

9-11

To respect 9/11, I plan on spending the day making cards for Operation Write Home.   This is a sample of one of my Hero cards.  I made a deal with myself to send a box to Dixie at the end of every month.  I'd better get a move on! 

No Stamping!

It felt strange not using a stamp on this card, but I really wanted to try out the cupcake punch and the M.S. fancy schmancy border punch. I love these colors together (they look better in person).

Quantity and Quality!

This just goes to show how listening to good music can inspire good work! Talk about quality and quantity! I think, no I'm positive, that this is the highest number of cards that we ever made in one meeting. We can hardly wait to mail them off to OWH.

Operation Write Home September Challenge

I've made a challenge to myself for September for Operation Write Home. Here's the first card, patterned after the sample on the Facebook page.

Shovel Gets Published!

One of our artsy stampers, Shovel, has been published on the House Mouse website.

See her creations:
here:

href="http://www.house-mouse.com/php/stamped_show.php?id=575
">here

and here:

http://www.house-mouse.com/php/stamped_show.php?id=576
">here

Congratulations, Shovel!

And One More .....

Hopefully this will bring me up to date ...... yet another birthday card. I really like the paper piecing technique and this is the perfect kind of image for it ... now if I can only learn how to take a straight picture .........

On A Roll

Since I've been neglecting my posting duties I figured I'd add another one -- another birthday card and while you may think hmmm what a nice manly card, something we seem to have a problem making, it was actually for a female friend of mine, Miss Mistang, and again, she knows who she is :)

Better Late Than Never

ok - I'm almost getting the hang of this blogging thing .... almost ..... here's my belated contribution, also a birthday card for a special someone who knows who she is ... hmmmm do I see a trend here ????