Gnomes and such

There wasn't a lot of time this week for card making, but I'm trying very hard to make a post each week, and

to at least make one card no matter what.  I already had this little gnome and birch trees stamped out, (it's two stamps combined) so a quick coloring with the markers and some embossed clouds made it quick and easy.  Here's hoping this next week is a lot less hectic!

Triple Stamping

I'm not a fan of the blue/yellow cards, but I liked the brown version so much that I made several more.

Thanks for peeking in!

Stencils

I saw a photo in a magazine that used leaf punches.  Somehow, I was inspired, but ended up using stencils.
I had tucked them away and intended to get rid of them.  I think I'll keep them now.

These are from one of those packs of paper I bought, which I should have left in the store.  Too many like pages to deal with!  It'll be years before I can use it all up. 

Halloween Already????

It seems like all the stores are ready for Halloween, so I decided to get on the bandwagon.

This is a Prickley Pear stamp that I bought several years ago at a show.  I can finally use glitter embossing powder, since these are not going to the Heroes.  Also, good news, I sent off a pack of cards to the Oregon Coast Avid Stampers and got a nice reply!  I'm so glad to be able to continue making cards for the troops!

There's Only One You

I'm having fun playing with some Stampin' Up sets that were given to me by Kim M.  This set us called Painted Posies.  I miss playing with just stamps and ink sometimes.  All those other toys are wonderful, but there's nothing more satisfying than getting your fingers all dirty and smudging things and having to use bling to cover them up.... or maybe not....

Double Duty Cards

I bought this pack of paper at a craft store for a buck.  I love the colors, but the paper is just way too busy for me.  The only thing I could come up with to do with it was cut it up.  I like theses cards because I can make a bunch and then stamp the sentiment I need later.  

I'm open to all other suggestions!

So Long To An Old Friend

It was strange removing the Operation Write Home badges from the blog.  Now it feels empty.,,,

I will be sending a box of cards to the Oregon Coast Avid Stampers, who have a similar mission.
I decided to work on Clean And Simple.  I have a lot of trouble with it, and just the name would make you
think it was easy, but - far from it!  These look clean and simple, but they took a long time!

Flower Power

I've been going through my stamps and weeding out (or trying to weed out) all the stamps I don't want, don't use, or will never use, now that Operation Write Home has finished their mission.    I posted a few on Ebay, some with success, some without.  Disappointing.....
Anyway, while doing this, I'm finding interesting stamps and using things I haven't used before.  This stamp
turned out to be a lot of fun.  I'm keeping it!  lol

.

Minions!

Sadly, I have mailed my last envelope of cards to Operation Write Home.  The day I mailed it, I came home to find out that they were asking for no more cards......  I was so disappointed.   All I can hope is that they do manage to make it to the troops whether it be this year or next.

I have been trying to faithfully post a new card each week.  And OMG, these are so fun and fast to make.  I couldn't stop......  I've already got a box started for the next group I send cards off to.

Still doing monkey cards......

More monkey cards - I have a lot of fun stamping monkeys....go figure....

Flower Power

I love this Stampin' Up flower set....  I don't believe I've ever used it for flowers......

Turtle Mail

Turtle post!  I know I'm pretty slow at posting, so this is perfect.

Just Because

Just Because.....

Look! I didn't let six months go by without posting!

The ODBD June challenge at OWH seems to be running low.  Here's my Missing You card to try to beef up the entries in order to get postage for OWH.

Blogging Twice A Year Is Not Acceptable.............

Sadly, my work for Operation Write Home has come to an end.  I enjoyed making cards for our nation's heroes but now there is not the need as there was in the past - which is a good thing!  I will eventually find
another outlet for my cards.  Anyone out there with some good suggestions?  Here are a few samples from the last batch of cards that I will be sending....  sad face....

Just messing around with some solid stamps....

 Love this dog face!

 Playing with old toys....

Monkey love for the heroes -

I always try to throw in some manly wheel type stuff ..

This one is a special birthday card for an old friend.  I saw something similar on Pinterest, but it was a baby

card with bottles and rattles.  I needed cats......  I was very happy with how it turned out.

My top five favorite cards for the year......hmmmm.....

I always try to throw in something slightly inappropriate with each box I send to OWH, just for so.

I'm sure they're tired of me by now.   :-0

Snoopy Love

More cards for Operation Write Home.  This time, I'm skipping Valentine's Day, and just making love cards, which is what they are suggesting.  This way, the cards can be used all year long, instead of just for one day.

Blog Hop Inspiration

Blog hop inspiration -

And working on this year's Christmas cards -

Neglectful

I've been neglecting the blog, but not the cards.  This is one of my very favorite stamps, even though it's just got a foam backing and it's really, really old.

I went thrift store shopping with a good friend and found this Stampin' Up set for $2.99.  

These are from the same set.  They're great fun to play with and I'm enjoying getting back to the stamping basics.  And getting ink all over my fingers.  And the table.  And my clothes.  

Using up some cute owl papers....

I always try to throw some manly man cards into the mix.

This stamp is from Just For Fun.  They're slightly smaller than A2, which OWH requires, but I always send 

along a couple of extra sheets of paper in each envelope, so I hope they will still meet the requirements.

Nancy F.

An end note.  The dog has been very bad.  I nominated him to the Dog Hall Of Shame.. 

For twelve years, he never paid it any attention.  Now, suddenly, it's a smorgasbord.  

Where did September go????

Sketch #240 -  I love this little gnome.  I stamped him and masked him and stamped the birch trees on top.
The background is just white paper with ink brushed over top.

Pigs!  Who doesn't love pigs!  I'm getting used to limiting my cards to five of a kind now.  OWH is only accepting multiples of five with the draw down of troops and a less need for cards.

I learned a little lesson about not putting my initials on the backs of my cards and have finally started to be

diligent about it.

Thank goodness there are plenty of Seinfeld reruns, or else a lot of the troops out there would be too young to even know what Yada, yada, yada was all about......

Finally getting back to the all time consuming activity of real stamping.  I love getting all inky.  I'm also using these as part of the September Challenge from Our Daily Bread Designs - make your own background.  

Thanks for checking in!

Nancy F.