Thursday, March 31, 2011

Nikki at MelonHeadz drew ME! (and Father's Day cards)

Oh my gosh!  My very talented friend Nikki at MelonHeadz Illustrating (all free images) started drawing her friends and yesterday she drew ME!  Can you believe it?  Here I am in black & white and in color.  WOW!  Thanks, Nikki!



Both of these Father's Day cards are based on OWH Stars and Stamps Sketch #36, the second one more loosely than the first!  They both use Stampin' Up Loads of Love and Holiday Blitz stamp sets.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

OWH has Free Frantoonies!

WOOHOO!  I was chosen as Queen of the Hoedown today at Hambo Hoedown Challenges!  I have played every week since they started on February 2, 2011.  They are such fun challenges that I wouldn't dare to miss a week!!!  Check it out here

This particular blog post at the OWH Stars and Stamps blog is chock full of FUN!  First off, a Frantoonie is an image designed by Fran who is an OWH cardmaker.  Her images are free but can only be used on cards made for OWH.  They are sooo cute that if you don't already make cards for OWH, you will want to so you can use her images!  The little old lady singing "Happy Birthday" was in an older post where Fran was the featured cardmaker of the week.

And, for Sandy's birthday, we didn't get just one sketch this week but THREE!  You can find the sketches in the same blog post (link above) as the Frantoonies.  I used the Frantoonies and the sketches to make some really cute birthday cards.

The first card is also being entered in the following challenges:
It's a K-9 - OWH Midweek Throwdown
Cute and Cuddly - Sentimental Sundays 
For the Kids - Digital Tuesday
Add an Animal - Southern Girls
Pets - Creations by Gill M 

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Masculine Card

This card uses a free digi stamp from Handmade by Paula.  The sentiment is from the Stampin' Up set Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I used the SU Word Window punch as well as my Nestabilities small circle and small scalloped circle dies.

This card is being submitted in the following challenges:
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Masculine Card

Monday, March 28, 2011

Soldier Bear by Melonheadz Illustrating

I used this Soldier Bear image by Nikki at Melonheadz Illustrating that we received during Operation Write Home's Virtual Card Making Party to make several more cards.  Like the original card I made for the VCMP, I paired it up with one of Paula's free sentiments which I let dictate my paper choices.  So, here are two more Soldier Bear cards!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Hambo Hoedown Challenge #8

This week we were challenged to use the digi image and sentiment along with a sketch for the Hambo Hoedown.  I used my "go to" Stampin' Up punches Word Window and Modern Label as well as my Nestabilities small circle and small scalloped circle die cuts.  The patterned paper is from Basic Grey's Sultry collection and the cardstock is Bazzill.  Below is my submission as well as the sketch:

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Monochromatic Pink

This is a monochromatic pink card I made using Bazzill cardstock and other items from my stash.  The sentiment is from Stampin' Up's Holiday Blitz set and the punch is SU's 1" circle.  I also used Stars and Stamps Sketch #61, new for this week (see below).  Sorry the photo of the card turned out so blurry - not sure what happened there!

This card is being entered in the following challenges:
Cupcake Craft Challenge - monochromatic
Stamping Vacation - monochromatic pink

Since I had all this pink scrap paper out and was working on Mother's Day cards for Operation Write Home, I came up with this cute card, too.  The flower stamp is called Posie Doodle and is by Stampendous Perfectly Clear Stamps.  The sentiment is the same as above - SU Holiday Blitz punched with SU 1" circle punch.  The pink cardstock is Bazzill and the ribbon is from my stash.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Another Critter and A Rhyme - Because the First Was So Fun!

Oh my, I was just having too much fun with sea creatures, Dr. Seuss quotes, and my beach paper from Creative Imaginations to stop at just one card!  This is another submission for Paper Playtime Challenge option #3 - A Critter and A Rhyme.  The turtle is a free colored image from my friend Nikki at MelonHeadz Illustrating.  He was originally an angel turtle with wings and a halo, but I had to "de-wing" him for my card.  Sorry, little buddy!  The Dr. Seuss quote says, "And the turtles, of course...All the turtles are free as turtles and, maybe, all creatures should be."  Be free, little turtle, be free!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

A Critter and A Rhyme

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!  This card was made for the Paper Playtime challenge option #3 - a critter and a rhyme in honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday this month (March 2 to be exact).  The paper is all from Creative Imaginations and the fish is a free image from MelonHeadz Illustrating that I colored with Bic markers.  I thought this card would be a cute one for a deployed mom or dad to send home to a toddler so it works for the OWH Midweek Throwdown as well!  They will just love the googly eyes, won't they?!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Furry Friend

My "mane" man is a Hambo Stamp colored with SU watercolor pencils and blended with a SU blender pen.  All of the paper is from SEI.  I used Cuttlebug embossing folders: Stars as well as Spots and Dots.  This could be used as a Father's Day card or as an Any Occasion card for OWH.

This card has been entered in the following challenges:
2 Sisters Challenge - Furry Friends
Stamping Vacation - Animal Applause (any creature that appears to have arms)
Incy Wincy Designs - Embossing

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

New AnyHero Cards - MelonHeadz and Dustin Pike Images

I really enjoy making AnyHero cards for OWH and my AnySoldier.com contact in Iraq.  Now if I could just find some helpers to write the notes in them, then I could make even more!
This free image is from my friend Nikki at MelonHeadz Illustrating.  I used my Cuttlebug stars embossing folder on the craft paper that I used as a base.
This pre-colored image came from Dustin Pike and Doodle Dragon Studios.  The sentiment I created in Word from a quote I found at AnySoldier.com.  The oval and scalloped oval are Nestabilities.  The patterned paper is Basic Grey.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Hambo Hoedown Challenge #7

The Hambo Hoedown Challenge this week was to use the elephant image AND some sparkle.  So, I broke out the Stickles to add some shine to sweet Ellie's birthday hat.  There's a bit of sparkle in the patterned paper itself as well.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

OWH Sketch 60 & Easel Card

I've been dying to try to make an easel card and what better reason than a Get Well Card for Sandy Allnock, president and founder of Operation Write Home, as she recovers from foot surgery.  The free image is from Elizabeth Dulemba/Coloring Page Tuesdays.  The tutorial for the easel card can be found on the OWH Stars and Stamps blog under Tutorials.
Here is my go at OWH Sketch 60.  The felt hearts, I think, are from Bo Bunny.  I got them for free at a crop at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks in Mineral Wells, TX.  I believe the ribbon is American Crafts.  The sentiment is from the Stampin' Up set Three Little Words and the scallop border punch is from SU as well.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

OWH Virtual Cardmaking Party on Facebook TODAY!

I will be adding to this post as the day goes on, so keep checking back for more entries! 
Here's the link to the party!

Challenge #7 (Last of the Party - Boohoo!) - Love Card with a Stamped Image
I used all Stampin' Up stuff - cardstock, patterned paper, stamp, ink and punch - from about 2 years ago.  I CASE'd my friend Pam C's layout.  Her blog is Scrap Rehab.  Go leave her some love so she'll come do cards for OWH instead of just giving me some to mail with mine!  LOL


Challenge #6 - Nikki's (MelonHeadz Illustrating) Soldier Bear
No problems coming up with a card for one of Nikki's digi stamps!  I paired it with Paula's free sentiment that can be found at Handmade by Paula.  Both ladies have done TONS for OWH!


Challenge #5 - Heat or Dry Embossing
Well, I initially took the challenge to try something I really had never done before (even though I had ALL of the supplies to do it!).  I gave heat embossing a shot!  My first attempt was a complete failure.  Below you will find my second attempt - not much better since the embossing powder didn't stick to the entire image, but at least it embossed when I heated it.  Don't worry, I won't be making a card with this lame attempt.  I spilled gold embossing powder all over my work area, so I will clean it up and do a dry embossed card - something I KNOW I can be successful at!  Thanks for the CHALLENGE!
My attempt to heat emboss!
 My successful dry emboss with Cuttlebug stars folder and free image from Nikki at MelonHeadz Illustrating.  The free sentiment is from Shannon's Sentiments.


Challenge #4 - Sights and Sounds of Summer Inspiration
This was by far the easiest challenge all day!  I have lots of beach paper and for me summer=beach!


Challenge #3 - Vest Card with Tutorial
Wow, I knew this would be a hard one for me, but I think it turned out okay for my first try at one!


Challenge #2 - Photo Inspiration Mother's Day Card
The photo had big flowers in very bright, bold colors.  (My photo of the card looks a bit washed out.)  It took me a while to "pull it together" until I went to my handy dandy sketches.
This is OWH S&S Sketch #29.

Challenge #1 - State Flag Thank You Card: Texas
The first one is a replica of the Texas flag.  The second one looks more like the 
French flag even though it's the colors of the Texas flag - LOL!

Neon Green Butterflies

This card is being entered into the following challenges:
Cupcake Craft Challenges - Up In the Air
Bunny Zoe Crafts - Birthday with Lots of Pearls
The Shabby Tea Room - Party Time
Kaboodle Doodles - Happy Birthday


This card pays homage to my mother's style of cardmaking - black and fluorescent colors.  Love you, Mom!  The fluorescent green butterflies were cut with a Stampin' Up die cut and Big Shot.  The sentiment is from SU set called Teeny Tiny Wishes and is punched with SU Modern Label punch.  The pearls are from Paper Studio bought at Hobby Lobby.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Scallops Anyone?

I just LOVE to kill two birds with one stone when it comes to crafting projects!  I was trying to get a few more Mother's Day cards done for my OWH box that I shipped this week PLUS I was eager to enter my first Catch the Bug Challenge over at Bugaboo Stamps' blog.  The Catch the Bug challenge and the  OWH Midweek Throwdown challenge were both Scallops.  How convenient, right?!  Here are the Mother's Day cards - both with scallops:
This free image is from Nikki at MelonHeadz Illustrating.  What mom wouldn't love to receive a dozen roses?!  I used my Nestabilities oval and scalloped oval as well as Word Window punch and Modern Label punch from Stampin' Up.
This free image is from Handmade by Paula.  On this one I used my scallop blade in my Fiskars trimmer for the first time.  While it makes scalloped edges a breeze to cut, I didn't like the unevenness of the corners - some ended up pointy while other ended up rounded the way they should be.  I think I still prefer my Stampin' Up scallop border punch or my scallop-edge Nestabilities!  Gotta give me points for trying out something new though, right?!

NEWSFLASH: Stamp Fairy has blog candy to give away when they get to 800 followers.  Check it out here! And, here's a photo of it to entice you to go enter to win:


Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Masculine Card in Monochromatic Blues

This card is being entered in the following challenges:
CCEE Stampers - Monochromatic Blues
Incy Wincy Designs - For the Boys




Entering challenges has really gotten my creative juices flowing.  I made 4 of these cards using scraps from the same paper from 7 Gypsies (it's very old paper!).  The sailboat image is from the Stampin' Up set called Set Sail and the sentiment is from SU's Teeny Tiny Wishes set.  This also follows Stars and Stamps Sketch #30 which is pictured below.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Dude Time Doodles Challenge

This is my first Dude Time Doodles Challenge that I've entered.  I think their images are pretty hysterical, but I've never quite figured out how to use them on OWH cards.  Well, Shirley G. who also makes cards for OWH entered the challenge and that gave me the inspiration and motivation to enter as well.  Thanks, Shirley!  You can check out Shirley's blog here.  Then I found what I thought was a perfect sentiment to go with the image - it's from GTC.  It says, "Life is Full of Surprises - Some Big, Some Small."  Hope you enjoy the humor of this card!

Monday, March 14, 2011

Joy Fold Card & Tutorial

I have been wanting to try out some different kinds of cards.  This is a Joy Fold card and the tutorial for it can be found here at Splitcoast Stampers.  This type of card is very pretty but doesn't leave much room for writing, so instead of submitting this to Operation Write Home, I'm giving it to my best friend for her birthday on March 21!  Here's my card:
This is the outside of the card.  All of the stamps are from Stampin' Up as well as the green ribbon.  The circle punches are 1" and 1-3/8", both from Stampin' Up as well.
This is the inside of the card.  Cool, huh?!

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Mother's Day Cards for OWH

The deadline for Mother's Day cards is March 31.  During Thursday night's OWH/tv live video, Kris the Midwest Shipper said she really needed more Mother's Day cards.  So, I got on the stick and made some more to go in the box that I am mailing to her on Monday!  Here they are.

The first two cards use free images from Unique by Annemaritta.  I used Cuttlebug embossing folders on the background cardstock for both cards.  I also used Nestabilities small ovals & small scalloped ovals on the second card.  Both cards use Stampin' Up Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp as well as SU punches for the sentiment.
I made four of this next card for the box to OWH.  It is an embossed flower card - I love doing these after I learned about them on a Stars and Stamps blog tutorial here.  After doing this one on colored cardstock though, I've decided I prefer the embossed flower cards on white cardstock.  (See previous posts for examples of those.)  Again, the sentiment and stamps are the same ones from Stampin' Up used on the cards above, and it's the same Cuttlebug embossing folder as above.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

AnyHero Cards with MelonHeadz Illustrating Images

I've been working hard on AnyHero cards because besides sending them to Operation Write Home, I also send a few with every box I send to my contact in Iraq from AnySoldier.com (see right side bar for a link to this worthy cause).  As I was browsing some quotes from AnySoldier.com late one night, I came upon the brilliant idea to turn some of the more memorable quotes into images for cards. 

Now, I have lots of talents, but drawing ain't one of 'em!  So, I called on my good friend from blogland Nikki who is a VERY talented artist.  (She calls them doodles, but they are definitely art to me!)  She whipped up about 4 images for me (I haven't done the Twinkie card yet, so stay tuned for that one!) and I whipped up the cards.  THANK YOU, NIKKI! 

All of Nikki's images are freebies, so go check out her blog (MelonHeadz Illustrating) and become a follower - you won't regret it.  She's so talented that the images may not stay freebies forever so grab 'em (and thank her) while you can!
This one says, "It's funny...they will forget to eat, drink and sleep, but they will always remember to check the mail!"

This is my favorite.  "Some heroes wear a cape and ride in a batmobile.  My hero wears camo and rides in a convoy!"  That quote is from the daughter of a deployed servicewoman - from the mouths of babes, right?!
This one says, "It's good to read about history but amazing to make it!"
This image is available on Nikki's blog for everyone and says, "My country 'tis of thee - Sweet land of liberty!"

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN AND 
THEIR FAMILIES FOR THE SACRIFICES THEY MAKE ON A DAILY BASIS!
WE APPRECIATE YOU!