Sunday, July 31, 2011

Cosmo Cricket Card Kits - Part 2

Here are the other Cosmo Cricket card kits that I made for the last Operation We R Grateful card making party.  The sentiment and snowflakes on the first card are Inkadinkadoo clear stamps.  The Happy Holidays stamp on the second card I found on clearance at Hobby Lobby.  All were stamped using Memento black tuxedo ink.  For all other details, see yesterday's post (Cosmo Cricket Card Kits - Part 1). 

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Cosmo Cricket Card Kits - Part 1

Okay, so it was the night before the big card making party for Operation We R Grateful last Wednesday and I couldn't help myself...I made 13 more kits!  These cards use Cosmo Cricket patterned paper along with Bazzill cardstock (purple) and cardstock from JoAnn's (red).  The focus images all came from one sheet of paper in the Cosmo Cricket collection.  The jewels and pearls came from my stash.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Inchies - Inspired by Sherry Hickey

Thanks to Operation Write Home, I have made a great "virtual" friend - Sherry Hickey.  She and I seem to have the same tastes, play in the same challenges, and are active on the OWH Facebook page.  I follow her blog (Bits of Cheer) and she follows mine - always leaving me lots of encouraging messages.  The other day she posted a card on her blog using "inchies" that inspired me, especially since I have lots of small scraps from all the card kits I had been making for Operation We R Grateful card making parties.

Here is Sherry's card:
And, here is my card:
Card Recipe:
Paper - patterned paper by My Mind's Eye, Stampin' Up Kiwi Kiss and Riding Hood Red
Ink - Stampin' Up Riding Hood Red
Stamps - Candy Cane from Stampin' Up Holiday Blitz set, Peace from The Cat's Pajamas Penguin Christmas set
Tools - Creative Memories 1" square punch
Embellishments - Buttons from stash, Twine from My Mind's Eye Lime Twist

Thanks for being a great friend (whom I have never met), Sherry!

Thursday, July 28, 2011

OWH Stars & Stamps Sketch #79

I have lots of Christmas stickers and such that I need to try to use on cards and this just kind of turned into a version of the Stars & Stamps Sketch #79 using an epoxy sticker from Creative Imaginations.  I have 2 packages of similar stickers so it should make quite a few cards for Operation Write Home.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Pooh Bear card kit

I really was proud of how this card kit turned out since I made 24 of them for the Operation We R Grateful card making party tomorrow (July 28) from 4-8 PM (come n' go as you please) at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks in Mineral Wells, TX.  I started out knowing that I wanted to use the red and dark yellow cardstock, but plain cardstock was just so boring and I couldn't find a patterned paper to go with it.  Then, the idea struck me - use a Cuttlebug embossing folder and ink it!  On my first try, I inked the whole base red over the embossing which I didn't like because Pooh just faded into the background.  On my next try, I hit the jackpot and left a "frame" of just yellow around Pooh. 

The sentiment was done on my computer after I googled "Pooh quotes."  I just love the quotes from Pooh and his friends and thought this one was especially good for a card that a deployed parent could mail home to his/her child to encourage them from afar.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Designed 2 Delight - Christmas Snowman

This week's Designed 2 Delight progressive challenge was to use the Christmas Snowman digi stamp.  I've never been in the Christmas mood this early, but all of these Christmas in July challenges around the blog world really have me ready early.  That's a good thing since all of my cards go to Operation Write Home - we make blank cards for deployed troops to use to write home.  Our deadline for Christmas cards is October 31, so join in the fun NOW and get those Christmas cards made and mailed to an OWH shipper so our troops can wish their family and friends a Merry Christmas!

Challenges:
Designed 2 Delight - Free Stamp of the Month Challenge
Craft Your Passion - Christmas in July
Creative Inspirations - Christmas in July
The Rubber Cafe - Christmas in July
Digistamps 4 Joy - Christmas in July

Card recipe:
Paper: Cosmo Cricket patterned paper, red cardstock from JoAnn's
Tools: Nestabilities by Spellbinders, Bic markers
Embellishments: grosgrain ribbon from Michael's, bling from my stash, Tim Holtz Distress Inks (walnut stain), Stickles and Diamond Glaze

Monday, July 25, 2011

More Disney Card Kits

I have two more Disney card kits for you today with very similar layouts.  Yes, both are for the Operation We R Grateful cardmaking party on July 28 from 4-8 PM (come n' go as you please) at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks in Mineral Wells, TX.  Only one more Disney card kit left to post after this one and then it will be time for the party!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Hambo Hoedown - Mosquito digi

Oh my goodness!  Would I have ever thought to make a card with a mosquito?  Not in a million years!  But, that's what I love about the Hambo Hoedown - it always stretches me to try something I wouldn't normally do which this week happened to be the mosquito AND a monochromatic card with a color you wouldn't normally use.  Monochromatic always sounds easier than it is to execute, at least in my book.

Earlier this month, we vacationed in Chincoteague, VA so let me tell you about mosquitoes - they are sneaky little things.  The sentiment that I made on the computer couldn't be more true!  My daughter had on long pants at the Carnival one night so I only wiped her down with Off towelettes on her exposed areas.  Where do you think those little devils bit her?  Right through her jeggings (for those of you not up on the latest fashion trends those are jean leggings!).  Those were the only mosquito bites she got the whole week and they were bad ones!

The sentiment is also in honor of my daughter who is small for her age and tends to have a few hang ups about it.  She better get over it though because I'm 5'4" tall and her daddy is 5'5" tall, so there is no getting around being of small stature with those genes!

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Christmas Starburst for Operation We R Grateful Card Making Party

On July 28 from 4-8 PM (come n' go as you like), Cat's Creations Scrapbooks in Mineral Wells, TX is hosting the 2nd Operation We R Grateful card making party of the month.  Because I am a volunteer for Operation Write Home, Cat asked me to organize the card making parties.  On July 7 I taught everyone how to make dimensional ruffle cards.  On July 28 I will teach them how to make Christmas starburst cards.  Here's the sample which uses My Mind's Eye I Believe paper, cardstock and ribbon from my stash and the stamped sentiment is from the Stampin' Up Loads of Love set.

If you would like to reserve your spot for this event, please contact the store at 940-327-0713.  See you there!

Friday, July 22, 2011

Bugaboo Christmas in July & Stars and Stamps Sketch #78

I've had this Moxxie paper called Holiday Stroll for a while and thought I'd figure out a way to use it...not my favorite paper, but it was free!  I have two 12x12 sheets of paper and a sheet of stickers.

First, for the final day of the Bugaboo Christmas in July week-long challenge (Anything Goes), I used a Bugaboo image as well as some of the paper and one of the stickers for the sentiment.

Next, I used this week's Stars & Stamps Sketch #78 which called for three of something, so I used 3 of the stickers and more of the paper as well as another of the stickers for the sentiment.
I still have more paper and more stickers, so you may see a few more cards with it soon!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Pooh and Friends card kits & Bugaboo Christmas in July

(Scroll down for the Bugaboo Christmas in July Challenge)

I am still working on card kits for the Operation We R Grateful card making party on July 28 from 4-8 PM (come n' go as you like) at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks in Mineral Wells, TX.  Here are two cards that I made into kits using Winnie the Pooh and Friends paper that is very similar to the Mickey Mouse and Friends paper that I made into kits for the July 7 card making party.  I created the sentiments on my computer in Word after searching online for quotes from Winnie the Pooh - there are so many good ones from ol' Pooh that it was hard to choose!  The patterned paper on the Eeyore card is from a pack of Disney paper (it had Cinderella at the bottom!) that I bought years ago.  On the Tigger card, the patterned paper is We R Memory Keepers Maple Grove collection.





Bugaboo Christmas in July Challenge

Day 4 of the Bugaboo Christmas in July week-long challenge is called Snow Business.  Because all of my cards are sent to Operation Write Home to help deployed US troops keep in touch with their family and friends at home, I chose to use an OWH freebie image you can find here.  Be sure to scroll all the way down the page to find this image and sentiment.  Don't you just love the snowdog?!  The paper I used is Bo Bunny that was in my scrap bin.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Designed 2 Delight & Bugaboo Christmas in July

(Scroll down for Bugaboo Christmas in July Challenge)

This week's Designed 2 Delight progressive challenge image is this beautiful peacock from Faith (great job on this one!).  I paired it with some Bo Bunny paper that (in some strange way) reminded me of a peacock feather.  I kept the layout simple to keep the focus on the peacock and used a Nestabilities to cut it out and then just inked the edges in Ranger Distress Ink Walnut Stain.


Bugaboo Christmas in July Challenge
We're on Day 3 of the Bugaboo Christmas in July week-long challenge.  Today we were asked to follow this sketch.


I am so anal about using my ruler that I sometimes have a really hard time with sketches and get upset when they don't look just like the sketch, but I'm learning to "let go" just a bit.  I did freak out quite a few times in the past couple of days when I misplaced my ruler on my desk.  I think that means it's time to clean up my craft table - the ruler keeps getting buried under stuff!

On my card, I used the Bugaboo image Baby Christmas along with paper from Creative Imaginations.  The buttons and snowflake are from my stash.  The paper and the embellishments are leftover pieces from completed Christmas kits that I've done in the past.


 

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Santa Called/TLC Creations & Bugaboo Christmas in July

(Scroll down for Bugaboo Christmas in July Challenge)

I just absolutely LOVE this sentiment and image from TLC Creations.  The patterned paper is also digi paper from TLC Creations.  Paulette is so generous that all of these are posted for free on her blog!!!  I also used Nestabilities to cut out the sentiment and my black Viva Pearl Pen to make the black dots.

Operation Write Home is moving on from summery cards to fall and winter holiday cards.  This card should DEFINITELY be sent around Thanksgiving time to give the sender enough time to start behaving, don't ya' think?!



Bugaboo Christmas in July Challenge
Today is Day 2 of the Bugaboo Christmas in July week-long challenge.  We were given a free image to create a card with today.  Meet Christmas Ruby all decked out for her holiday office party!  Love the black knee-high boots, Ruby.  I used the "out of the box" technique with my Nestabilities.  The patterned paper is from Cosmo Cricket.  I used my Stampin' Up Teeny Tiny Wishes sentiment and Word Window punch as well.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Hambo Hoedown & Bugaboo Christmas in July

(Scroll down for Bugaboo Christmas in July Challenge)

Oh my!  When I saw the name of the image attached to the email, I was kind of frightened.  I mean, how was I going to make a card with an image of a steamroller on it?!  Then, I opened the image from Hambo Stamps (which was free because I keep playing along with the progressive challenges which earns me a new image every week!) and the sentiment that went along with the steamroller image was too cute for words.

Our other requirement for the Hambo Hoedown challenge this week was to make a gate fold card, which I happened to have just started making this week right before I received this challenge!  I used some VERY old Chatter Box paper that I thought looked fairly masculine along with my Nestabilities circle and scalloped circle dies.

The inside of the card says, "...so it would be easier to mail!"


Bugaboo Stamps is having a Christmas in July challenge that runs Monday through Friday of this week with a challenge every day.  They have a list of all the challenges here so that you can work ahead so that you are ready to post on the day of the challenge.  There are daily prizes as well as a prize for the week that you are eligible for if you participate every day!
Monday's challenge is to use non-traditional Christmas colors which is something I love to do anyway.  I mean, don't you get tired of red & green and blue & white after months of it?!  I know I do!  I used a freebie image from Bugaboo and some really old paper that really is Christmas paper.  I also turned this into a card kit for my Operation We R Grateful cardmaking party on Thursday, July 28 from 4-8 PM (come n' go) at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks in Mineral Wells, TX.


Sunday, July 17, 2011

I Bee-lieve in You

I've been wanting to make a bee card with my Cricut Create a Critter cartridge and found this wonderful sentiment at Scrap-A-Licious Times to go with it.  I used some VERY old Chatter Box paper for this card as well.  I turned this into a card kit for our next Operation We R Grateful event at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks in Mineral Wells, TX on July 28 from 4-8 PM.  Won't you join us in making cards for our servicemen and women to use to write home on?!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

We R Memory Keepers - Thanksgiving dimensional ruffle card

This card was made for the July 7 Operation We R Grateful Make n' Give class at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks.  Yes, we were making Thanksgiving cards in July because there are no Hallmark stores in Iraq or Afghanistan, so we send blank cards to the troops to write home to their family and friends.  In order for them to receive them and get them back overseas to the U.S. in time for the appropriate holiday, we work months ahead of schedule.  For more information about how you can get involved, visit Operation Write Home.  For the tutorial on how to make a dimensional ruffle card for ANY occasion, visit the OWH Stars and Stamps blog here.
Card Recipe:
All DP and cardstock - We R Memory Keepers Maple Grove and coordinating cardstock
Tools - border punch (EK Success), sentiment punches (Stampin' Up Modern Label and Word Window), sentiment stamp (Stampin' Up Teeny Tiny Wishes), ink (Tim Holtz Distress Ink walnut stain)

Friday, July 15, 2011

Strawberries & Bananas - That's More Like It!

Yes, that's more like it!  Strawberries and bananas go together much better than peas and watermelon, wouldn't you agree? (If you haven't got a clue, go back and look at yesterday's post!)  These were CASE'd from Sandy Allnock's blog along with the cards from yesterday's post.  Thanks for all you do for Operation Write Home, Sandy!!

Card Recipe:
Stamp - Fiskars Fresh Fruit stamped with Momento black tuxedo and colored with Bic markers
Cardstock and ink on the edges - stash
Tools - Heart punch by Fiskars, seeds on strawberries covered with black Viva Pearl pen

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Peas & Watermelon - Together?!

No, no one is eating peas and watermelon together.  This is the first of two posts of cards using the Fiskars Fresh Fruit set.  I first saw these cards on Sandy Allnock's blog and loved them - cute sentiments and bright colors, what else do I love?!  It was an easy CASE for card kits for our Operation We R Grateful events being held this month at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks in Mineral Wells, TX.  Thanks for the idea, Sandy!

Card Recipe:
Stamp - Fiskars Fresh Fruit set stamped with Momento black tuxedo and colored with Bic markers
Cardstock and ink for edges of card - stash
Tools - Heart punch from Fiskars, Watermelon seeds covered with black Viva Pearl pen

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

You Color My World - Bugaboo Stamps

I just couldn't resist this cute little bear that Bugaboo offered up for free on their Facebook page along with the sentiment!  Hope the child of one of our deployed soldiers likes him as much as I do since the card will be donated to Operation Write Home.  Do you want to know more about making cards for our deployed troops to use to keep in touch with their loved ones?  Visit Operation Write Home today!
Card Recipe:
DP - Moxxie from the Under the Big Top collection
Cardstock - stash
Ribbon - stash, bought at Michael's
Image - Bugaboo Stamps
Tools - Nestabilities circle and scalloped circle, Big Shot
Sketch - OWH Stars & Stamps #74

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Designed 2 Delight - Strawberries

This week's progressive challenge image at Designed 2 Delight are these beautiful strawberries.  I love summertime because I love to eat fresh strawberries!  Recently my mom sent me a gate fold card she had made, so I was inspired to make my first ever gate fold card using this image and We R Memory Keepers paper.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Birthday Monkey - Dustin Pike and Hero Arts stamp

I couldn't resist this cute birthday monkey by Dustin Pike.  It was offered as a freebie a while back.  He has really cute images that work well on cards for kids.  You can check them out here!  The sentiment on this card is from the same Hero Arts stamp set as yesterday's card - it's a great set that I will get tons of use from!
Card Recipe:
DP - Moxxie from Under the Big Top collection
Cardstock - stash
Images - Dustin Pike (pre-colored monkey), Hero Arts Wonderful Birthday (sentiment)
Tools - Cuttlebug embossing folder, Big Shot

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Hambo Hoedown - Cool Dog

This week's challenge at the Hambo Hoedown is to use the Cool Dog digi and make a round card - wow, I've never made a round card!  I used my Cricut and the George Basic Shapes cartridge to cut the circles for the card base.  Then I used my Nestabilities to cut the circle around the image as well as the scalloped circle mat.  The patterned paper is my favorite this summer - Echo Park Splash.

My Cool Dog is a "he," but you always get a pink umbrella in your fruity foo-foo drink, right?!

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Happy Birthday - Hero Arts stamp set

This cute card was CASE'd right off the back of the packaging!  I bought this set at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks in Mineral Wells, TX - my LSS.  I'm using it to make some card kits for our Operation We R Grateful events.  The next one is on July 28 from 4-8 PM, come and go as you please!  Learn a new technique, make some cards to leave behind for the troops, donate postage money for a chance to win a prize...what fun!

Card Recipe:
Stamp - Hero Arts Poly Clear Wonderful Birthday set
Ink - Momento black tuxedo
Cardstock - Stampin' Up (green, orange, blue), stash (black)
Tools - Stampin' Up scalloped border punch
Those are not bows but strips of the paper left over after using the border punch.

Friday, July 8, 2011

Missing You from Nikki at Melonheadz Illustrating plus bonus pinwheel card

I just loved this image from Nikki at Melonheadz Illustrating because it isn't your old run-of-the-mill miss you sentiment!  I kitted this up to make 16 cards at the July 7 event at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks in Mineral Wells in support of Operation We R Grateful.  Once again, I was able to make another entire kit of pinwheel cards just using the leftover scraps from the first card!


Thursday, July 7, 2011

Designed 2 Delight - Flip Flops

Just back from vacation - in the nick of time to submit this week's card to the Designed 2 Delight progressive challenge.  The image this week is Flip Flops (a free image for all since it was the first of the month).  I paired it with some old Reminisce paper and used OWH S&S Sketch #74 for the layout.  Very summery and very appropriate since we just returned from the beach!

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Goofy card kit

Here's one more Disney character card kit that I prepared for the Operation We R Grateful event taking place on July 7 and July 28 at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks in Mineral Wells, TX.  I think I'm done with Mickey and the gang for a bit.  Although I'm not yet done with Disney characters - I have a similar sheet of paper with Winnie the Pooh and friends to tackle next, so stay tuned for those card kits.

The sentiment on the Goofy card is from Scrap-a-licious Times where you can find loads of free sentiments!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Patriotic Eagle - Doodle Pantry

Here's another image I bought at Doodle Pantry called Patriotic Eagle.  I was searching for a majestic-looking eagle and this one fit the bill perfectly.  I paired the image with Doodle Pantry's Stars and Stripes Paper Pack for an ALL Doodle Pantry card!  I used a sketch from iheart2stamp.com.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Card Kit - Doodle Pantry & We R Memory Keepers

Here's another card kit I've put together for the events on July 7 and July 28 at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks in support of Operation We R Grateful.  I used the Patriotic Eagle image from Doodle Pantry along with paper and brads from We R Memory Keepers Old Glory collection.  I did CASE this card layout from Candace, a design team member for Meljen's Designs.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Any Hero Card - Doodle Pantry Patriotic Sheep

If you haven't visited Jan Hunnicutt's blog, you need to race over there now (click here) because I absolutely LOVE her cards!  I had seen many of her blog posts with images from Doodle Pantry and finally this post pushed me over the edge and I went shopping for my own Doodle Pantry images.  As a tribute to the card that pushed me over the edge, my first ALL Doodle Pantry card is made with the Patriotic Sheep image as well as the Stars and Stripes paper pack.  This was my first time to use digital papers and I think I'm hooked!  I'm also entering this card in the Paper Playtime Challenge - red, white and blue using a digi.  Doodle Pantry is one of the sponsors this week.


Saturday, July 2, 2011

Donald Duck and Pluto card kits

These two cards were CASE'd from Denise Ireland, yet another OWH cardmaker, using the same Disney paper as my other character card kits.

On the Donald Duck card I used a little strip of patterned paper from some really old Disney paper I bought a loooong time ago.  The sentiment came from a Hero Arts clear stamp birthday set.

On the Pluto card the patterned paper came with a Disney album I bought to scrapbook our trip to DisneyWorld which I called "4 Parks in 4 Days with a 4 Year Old."  Yes, it's true - by myself in August no less!  My husband had business in Florida and thought it would be a good opportunity for ME to take Kaylie to DisneyWorld - HA!  We did have fun though.  :-)  On this card I also used my Cuttlebug Traffic Jam embossing folder, my Nestabilities scalloped circle die and a free sentiment from Operation Write Home which can be found here along with many other free images.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Daisy Duck card kit

This card was CASE'd from Lisa Oliver, another fellow Operation Write Home cardmaker.  I used Bo Bunny papers on this one along with the image of Daisy from the Disney paper.  This will make some little girl very happy when she gets this card in the mail from her mommy or daddy serving in our military.  It has also been made into a card kit for our Operation We R Grateful events on July 7 and July 28 at Cat's Creations Scrapbooks in Mineral Wells, TX (see yesterday's post for links to get more information).