Hambo Hoedown - Moonscape Digi

This week for the Hambo Hoedown we were provided the Moonscape-digi.  The design team came up with some really cute cards, but I was having a hard time with what to do with that moon!  I bought the Space Boy-digi set and found some American Crafts paper that had rockets, planets, stars and aliens on it.  I had in mind to use more of the paper, but I ended up just fussy cutting out a rocket.  I did add texture which was an option on this challenge.  I used the Cuttlebug folder Swiss Dots.  My 8-year old daughter said that we could pretend they were stars!  Kind of a boring card, but I guess my mojo was on vacation this weekend!  Oh well...

Memorial Day - A Day of Remembrance

If you are still hopping through the OWH Memorial Day Weekend Bloghop, please scroll down to Saturday's post.

Here is one last patriotic card in honor of Memorial Day and a little history about the holiday.   Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day and is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service to our country.  It was originally called Decoration Day because the women in the South would decorate the graves of the fallen Confederate soldiers.  It seems to me as though many people today have forgotten the true meaning of the holiday.  "As the VFW stated in its 2002 Memorial Day address: "Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed greatly to the general public's nonchalant observance of Memorial Day."

Please take a moment today to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice of their lives so that you and I may enjoy the freedoms we have. 


Paper: Stars and Stripes DP from Reminisce as the card I posted yesterday, cardstock from stash
Punch: Stampin' Up 1-1/4" circle punch
Stickers: bottlecap stickers from Design Originals (These are no longer for sale, but they have other designs.  I've had these for nearly a decade!)
Ribbon: from stash

I was actually making these for the OWH Independence Day deadline which is tomorrow, May 31.  I used S&S Sketch #58.

More Red, White & Blue!!

If you're still making your way through the OWH Memorial Day Bloghop, please scroll down to yesterday's post.

Here's another red, white and blue card for Memorial Day Weekend.  I used S&S Sketch #69, paper by Reminisce from the Stars and Stripes collection and ribbon from my stash.

OWH Memorial Day Bloghop

We R Memory Keepers Old Glory collection - paper and brads   
EK Success - border punch for ruffles
Stampin' Up - modern label punch, sentiment stamp from Three Little Words set, Real Red ink 
Stash - grosgrain ribbon
OWH Stars and Stamps Blog - tutorial for the dimensional ruffle card here.

If you like my cards, please consider becoming a follower.  I post a new card every day.  Thanks!

NEXT STOP ON THE HOP IS MELISSA OF MELJEN'S DESIGNS! I'm sure she has something fabulous to share with you.

Another Dimensional Ruffle Card

I'm really loving these dimensional ruffle cards.  OWH did a tutorial on them here if you'd like to give it a try.  They are super easy, but really look like they took a lot of work!  I used a Designed 2 Delight image from a past challenge called Pail of Flowers.  The cardstock on the ruffles is all Bazzill, but the card base is from my stash.  I used a scalloped rectangle Nestabilities around the image.  The border punch is by EK Success.

My daughter is getting in on the act!

Over the weekend, my daughter Kaylie decided she wanted to color some of my digital images for me.  I was thrilled to say the least!  First off, I'm hoping to pass on my love of paper crafting to my daughter so that we can enjoy the hobby together for many years to come.  Second of all, sometimes I just don't feel like coloring - HA!

Today is her last day of school, so to celebrate here are just a few of the images she colored for me.  Not bad for an eight year old, right?!  She did the basketball player in Dallas Mavericks colors and the baseball players in Texas Rangers colors.  She's becoming quite the sports fan lately!

And, here's a finished card that I made with her colored digi.  I followed S&S Sketch #41.  This digi is called Phoebe and it's from Pink Gem Designs.  The ticket sentiment is from Mud Maven Designs.  The paper is My Mind's Eye Lime Twist - one of the 6x6 paper pads I bought at my 4-day scrapbooking retreat.  We made one card for OWH and one for her to send to a school friend this summer who is moving to Detroit for two years.

Memorial Day Weekend & OWH Bloghop

I did this card for Operation Write Home for the deadline on May 31 for Independence Day cards.  I used a card kit idea from Sandy, the OWH President.  The measurements are on her blog here. 

Speaking of Operation Write Home, this Saturday they are hosting a Memorial Day Blog Hop featuring "Miss You" cards.  They may be red, white and blue in honor of Memorial Day or any color at all.  Today is the deadline if you'd like to participate.  If you just want to hop, that's great too!  There are at least 100 participants so check it out if you are in need of some inspiration!

Designed 2 Delight - Summer Days

Here is my entry for the Designed 2 Delight weekly progressive challenge.  I used paper from the 6x6 Echo Park Summer Days paper pad that I've been turning to a lot lately - just love the bright colors.  The twine is from My Mind's Eye Lime Twist collection.  I bought every color my LSS had, so you'll be seeing it often on my cards, I'm sure!  I paired it with my SU sentiment stamp from the Three Little Words set.  To me, the bear's eyes seem to say he's thinking of someone special.  With that particular sentiment, this card works great for Operation Write Home as well.

Hambo Hoedown - Sumo digi

This week's challenge was to use the Hambo Stamps-Sumo digi along with chipboard.  I elected to mount my sumo wrestler on a scalloped circle chipboard that I cut with my Nestabilities.  The paper I used is really old, but I thought it had an Asian feel to it (bamboo background paper).

Father's Day Cards

Here are two of the cards I made using more of the origami ties I created while substitute teaching (Don't worry, the kids were watching a video!).  The design for the one with the pants was CASE'd from another OWH card maker: Missy Pinkerton McKibben who posted her example on the OWH Facebook page.  Thanks for sharing, Missy!  These cards were sent to OWH last week in order to make the Father's Day deadline of May 21.  The next deadline is May 31 for Independence Day cards - moving from ties to red, white and blue!  WOOHOO!

Bugaboo Stamp - Rainy Day Bear

The pieces of this card just all came together at different times.  I think I bought the rubber stamp sentiment first, then found the paper (The Paper Loft - Morning Rain/Drizzle), then found the Bugaboo digi stamp.  I used SU Riding Hood Red cardstock, marker and ribbon as well as Bic markers to finish up the card.

Hambo Stamps - DT Application Submissions

I have stuck my neck out and really gotten out of my comfort zone this time!  I applied for the Hambo Stamps Design Team.  I've never done anything like this, but Hambo makes some of my favorite images, so I thought I'd go for it.  They sent applicants two different images and asked us to make at least one card - I made both into cards.  We were asked not to use sentiments from other companies, so I came up with my own.  We're supposed to hear today.  I will be so dang surprised and happy if I'm chosen!!!

Wee Henry with his swimming gear reminded me that summer is coming and my daughter can't stop asking me if it's time to go swimming yet, so Wee Henry is ready for a "Summer Full of Cannonballs."  I used Bo Bunny papers and added some Diamond Glaze to his goggles for a more realistic feel.  I will also post this at OWH Midweek Throwdown - Summer Fun!

For the ice cream man, I came up with a sentiment that is very true for me: "Ice Cream Makes Every Day a Good Day!"  I used new Echo Park Paper called Summer Days and the twine is from My Mind's Eye Lime Twist collection.

Soldier Bear - Melonheadz Illustrating

This image is from my friend Nikki at Melonheadz Illustrating.  Nearly all her images are free, so go check them out.  She has such a wide variety that you are sure to find lots you like!

I CASE'd this card from another OWH card maker.  It was posted a while ago, but I asked her where she got the ribbon and the stamp (JoAnn's for both!) and then went and got both to be able to make these cards which are just perfect to send to our HEROES!  If someone remembers whose card I CASE'd, please let me know so I can give her credit.  Thanks!

EDIT: I posted the card on the OWH Facebook page to see who might recognize it and tell me who I CASE'd it from and the creator herself saw it!  THANK YOU, ANN MERKINS, for the inspiration and information on where to buy the supplies.

Cuddling Owls - Pop N' Stick

I used an OWH Stars & Stamps Sketch to make this card.  I've used this image before and just love it.  It's from Pop N' Stick from a few months ago.  The paper is from Bo Bunny - leftover from the mini album I made at the scrapbook retreat I attended last month.

Designed 2 Delight - Skater Boy

This week Designed 2 Delight's progressive challenge gave us a skater boy to go with last week's flutterby fairy.  I had just bought a new line of paper from My Mind's Eye Lime Twist called Fly A Kite because I thought the colors looked more masculine - no pinks!  I thought it was perfect for this boy image.  The bling is from Bo Bunny, but the colors are still masculine.

Hambo Hoedown - Balloon Girl

Here is my submission for the weekly Hambo Hoedown Challenge.  This week's challenge was to use bright and bold colors AND paper piecing.  I have never paper pieced before, so I was a little nervous, but I think it turned out okay.  I used Bo Bunny papers and embellishments - my favorite!  I love challenges that stretch me to try things I've never done before.

Miss You Cards

I "won" this Hambo Stamp the week I was chosen as Queen of the Hoedown, and I just LOVE this image because it's perfect for OWH cards.  I think I've posted some other cards made with this image, but I hadn't posted these (Is it obvious that I'm out of town?!).  It reminds me that the Memorial Day Weekend OWH Bloghop is coming up, and we're making Missing You cards for the hop.  If you'd like to participate, follow the link via the badge on the right sidebar of my blog.  Hope to see you there!

Father's Day Ties

After seeing the challenge on the Stars & Stamps Blog and the tutorial by Kate, I decided that I would make some origami ties.  I was substitute teaching the other day and had to show a movie, so I made ties while the kids watched the movie.  Here's a pic of about half of the ties I made!

Then I came home and made my required 5 cards!  Here are the photos of those.

We're spending the weekend in a hotel at a soccer tournament with my daughter because we have so many games spread out through the day, so I'll have to make more cards with these ties next week.  I figure if I run out of steam before the Father's Day deadline of May 21, I can always use them to make masculine birthday cards, right?!

Teacher Appreciation Cards

I bought this word art collage at TLC Creations because I knew that I would get lots of use out of it.  Since we are nearing the end of school, I thought I would post it now so you'd have a chance to get some of your own made before school ends!  Our school colors are red, white and blue, so I was able to use some of my patriotic paper for my teacher cards.

Father's Day - May 21 Deadline for OWH

Here's a Father's Day card that I made for Operation Write Home.  The deadline for getting Father's Day cards to the shippers is May 21.  I made a more generic type of "Dad" card so that it could be used for Father's Day or any occasion - which is good for OWH just in case they get too many Father's Day cards or if cards don't arrive to the shippers on time.

I used the Stampin' Up set called Totally Tools along with my Diamond Plate Cuttlebug embossing folder.  I CASE'd this card from Splitcoast Stampers and have wanted to make it for a long time.

Wizard of Oz from TLC Creations

These are done in honor of our Kindergarten Field Trip to see a children's production of The Wizard of Oz today!

Paulette of TLC Creations has a wonderful blog and lots of freebies.  About a month ago she started doing digital stamp sets with a "Learned From..." theme.  I just love The Wizard of Oz (who doesn't, right?), so I just had to buy these in her store.

Designed 2 Delight - Pail of Flowers

I just LOVE progressive challenges.  Designed 2 Delight sends me a free image each week that I play along with their challenge that I can use for that week's challenge.  It's never too late to start playing.  Just buy that week's image and join in the fun!

This week I decided to combine my Designed 2 Delight image with an OWH Stars & Stamps blog tutorial for a ruffled card.  There is a video showing you just how to make it!  I used one of the My Mind's Eye Lime Twist collections (Life of the Party) that I bought at the 4-day scrapbook retreat.  I went a little overboard buying paper that I didn't really NEED but had to HAVE, so you'll be seeing some pretty new papers on my cards for a while!

Hambo Hoedown - Chicken

This was a fun image to come up with a sentiment for.  I immediately thought of the Chik-Fil-A cows always telling people to "Eat More Chicken."  I thought turnabout was fair play and the chicken should get its moment to campaign to "Eat More Beef!"

The image is from the weekly Hambo Hoedown Challenge which is a progressive challenge.  It's never too late to join in.  Just use a free image or buy any of the images in the store and follow the guidelines.  Once you play, you will start getting free images to use every week.  It's lots of fun...and quite addictive!

This week we were asked to use stripes and dots as well as the image.  I used paper from my scraps, my Nestabilities (circle and scalloped circle), a Cuttlebug embossing folder and my NEW Viva Pearl Pen to make the black dots around the scalloped circle.

Happy Mother's Day!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!  My post is going up at nearly noon because I got to sleep in today.  Woohoo!

Well, all of my Mother's Day cards are long gone to either Operation Write Home or MY mother, so they've already been posted.  I thought instead I would show you the crafts and gifts that my daughter made in her classroom and some photos of the "Memorable 'Mom'ents" celebration at school on Friday.

We do NOT live in Baltimore - We live in TEXAS!  However, Kaylie's teacher is from Baltimore and he LOVES the Baltimore Orioles and the Ravens!  That's the kind of classroom you get when you have the only male teacher in grades K through 4.  LOL

The kids sang their own version of "You Are My Sunshine" that they wrote new lyrics to and renamed it "You Are..."  It was precious!

It's Saturday - Woohoo!

As we get closer to the end of school I am getting much busier with substitute teaching AND volunteering at my daughter's school and haven't had time to make cards during the week.  I did these cards at last weekend's scrapbook retreat with images from Melonheadz Illustrating.  They are all FREE so click the link above or in the sidebar and check out all the free images Nikki has to offer on a daily basis!  My daughter LOVES dinosaurs so I have lots of paper to use with these prehistoric images.

Since it's Mother's Day weekend, I think I'll spend MY weekend doing what I love - making cards!  I'll have new ones to post soon, so check back every day for a new card.

Bugaboo Stamp & TLC Sentiment

I just love this bear standing in the rain from Bugaboo Stamps and the TLC Creations sentiment seemed to go well with it because I really dislike rain so rainy days are difficult days for me!  We had quite a bit on Sunday and Monday this week, too.

Flip Top Card

My friend Pam (whose blog is at Scrap Rehab) showed me the cutest card she received from a Stampin' Up demonstrator as a thank you.  At the 4-day retreat last weekend, I thought I'd give it a go!  It is super easy to make; however, it's probably not the best sort of card for Operation Write Home because it doesn't open up like a regular card.  The only space to write on is the back of the card!  I had fun making it though.  I used a sentiment on the front from my snarky friend Marlene and SU stamps on the inside.  The paper is more of the Bo Bunny that was leftover from the mini album I put together over the weekend.  Love Bo Bunny paper!

Designed 2 Delight - Flutterby Fairy

This week's Designed 2 Delight Challenge uses the cutest little image called Flutterby Fairy.  I paired this image with a free sentiment from TLC Creations that seemed just perfect for my winged friend.  The paper is by Echo Park Paper - one of many collections that I bought at my 4-day scrapbooking retreat.  I'm thinking that a little girl would love to get this card in the mail from Mom or Dad who is serving in our military.

OWH Midweek Throwdown - AnyHero Card

I've loved this image ever since I saw it on one of Pam Tetrault's cards.  So, here is my submission for the OWH Midweek Throwdown.  I made about four of these at my scrapbook retreat!  It was fast and easy when I followed OWH Sketch # 22 which you can find here.

Hambo Hoedown - Heart Basket

Well, I'm back from my 4-day scrapbook retreat and the "real" world!  I made about 25 cards, completed a class of three 2-page layouts, did a few make n' takes, and got the paper on to two Bo Bunny mini albums.  I'd have to say it was quite a productive AND FUN 4-day weekend. 

One of the cards I made used the leftover paper from one of the Bo Bunny mini albums to create a card for this week's Hambo Hoedown Challenge.  We were asked to make it very frilly with lace and flowers.  I rarely make such a frilly card, but it was a lot of fun to do!

Happy Birthday, Pam!

I am still at the 4-day scrapbook retreat until this afternoon, but I made this card to take with me for my "bestest" scrapbooking friend Pam whose birthday is tomorrow!  I got this Birthday word art collage for just $0.50 from Paulette at TLC Creations.  I just love it!  She has all kinds of word art collages.  I also got the one for teachers to make cards for the end of the school year for the 2nd grade teachers at my daughter's school.  So, stay tuned in May to see that one!  Oh, and I followed S&S Sketch #16 for this card.

Pam has her own blogspot called Scrap Rehab.  Go and check it out and leave her some birthday love tomorrow (Monday, May 2).