Midweek Recipe

Over at OWH this week our challenge is to use this recipe:

 1 Embossing Folder

1 Border Punch or Die

2 Patterned Papers

1 Ribbon or Twine

I have not been in a cooking mood lately but this kind of recipe is right up my culinary alley!

I used Paper Smooches stamps, EK Success border punch, Cuttlebug embossing folder, papers from my stash-scraps from recent cards, ribbon from my stash, Doodlebug brads, Cricut Elegant Edges for the white frame, Spellbinder dies, SU dimensionals, copics, WRMK Corner Chomper and a black glaze pen for the tires.

In my mail today...a package from MFT with some new stamps and dies.... yahooo! I am thrilled to get some new MFT items, but I am considering putting myself on a shopping freeze. I have so many awesome stamps that need to see some ink and yet, new stamps keep calling my name!

Have a fabulous weekend-and craft on!

Thanks for stopping by,

Diane

It's Sunday- so there must be a sketch!

Welcome to a rainy Sunday in Massachusetts...at least we dodged the snow!
Today's sketch at Operation Write Home:





I signed up to watch Sandy Allnock's ICSE tutorial yesterday at Stageit. I had my cute Mo Manning image printed 9 times, my copics ready to go,  OTT lite turned on, a glass of diet pepsi next to me... and what happens? 5 minutes into the show, my computer security decides to do an upgrade.... so I missed most of the show! Boo-hoo! Luckily, I had the pdf that Sandy created so I did my best with the coloring!  I have a few of the images colored and used one of them for today's sketch. I hope I see more of this image for the OWH challenge today.



Mo Manning digital image
Authentique papers(purple and stripes)
Simon Says Stamp paper-background paper from one of the monthly kits
Doodlebug crushed velvet brads- I colored the one by the sentiment with copic B97

I may color some more of this sweet girl- I did get 2 more Mo Manning images to add to my collection at digitalpenciltoo.blogspot.com when I purchased this one- so I may try coloring those today! Her images are really fun to color and I love that she creates images of different ethnicities.

Enjoy the Oscars tonight!

Take care and craft on.

Diane

Bootcamp card and MWT Fun Folds and a New Winner!

Happy, happy Friday! This was another challenging week at work and I am very grateful that today is Friday! I plan to totally relax this weekend!

The midweek throwdown at OWH is to create a card with fun folds...I decided to make a step card. Here are 3 views of the card. It was fun to create different levels to the card and when it is folded flat- it still fits in an A2 envelope. There is not a lot of writing space on the card- I plan to line the back of the card with white cardstock to make it easier for one of our deployed heroes to write home!

Click on the link to see some of the great creations at the OWH Stars and Stamps blog.
http://operationwritehome.org/midweek-throwdown-fun-folds/



Paula does a design bootcamp once a month over at OWH and this month she taught us how to create a focal point. Last month, her tutorial was on color theory. No matter how long you have been creating cards- or if you are a beginner- (yup- I am talking about you Denise!) Paula's bootcamp is so very helpful!  http://operationwritehome.org/get-to-the-point-creating-a-strong-focal-point/

                    

If you have visited my blog before, you will have noticed that I am partial to stamps from My Favorite Things.... I love the little kids-so it was a no brainer to make her the focal point. I think I lost the scallop oval nestie that goes with this size oval and it did not look important without some kind of framing- so I used a trick I learned from Kristina Werner- I punched a bunch of black circles and adhered them to the back of the oval to create the scallops! I purchased this stamp set about a month ago at my LSS and was happy to color it this week. I also recently purchased 6 stamps from the OWH/MFT fundraiser and I was thrilled to get 6 sets that I did not own! I got several bunnies- and cannot wait to color the cuties!

Well,  the original winner of the Groundhog Day blog skip prize has not contacted me- so I just drew another name.....drumroll......   Sarah-- at Sarah's Stamping and Stuff.Sarah- I just sent you an email! Congrats!

Looking forward to Sandy's copic class tomorrow! My kind of class-- from the comfort of my own home!

http://sandyallnock.com/icse/

Take care, craft on and have a great weekend!

Diane



VCMP The final five!

I am pleased to report that I completed all the challenges!

#6.  Linda started the day off with making cards with wheels--lots of options with this challenge.

http://lindacreepinalong.blogspot.com/2013/02/owh-presidents-day-vcmp-things-with.html

 I checked out the new-to-me Cricut CTMH Artiste and found something a little different.

#7. Jen got me thinking about caffeine! And I am running low on Diet Pepsi! Oh no!http://sparklewithin.blogspot.com/2013/02/owh-vcmp-caffeine-challenge_3834.html   I am not a coffee drinker but I know I am in the minority- and  this Stamps of Life set I had not tried yet...so....

#8. Donna got us wishing we all had lots of washi tape!  I have some- mostly from the SSS monthly kits- but I also just got a few sheets from LifeStyle Crafts and some great new dies! Except for the black, mat, the sentiment and the card base- it is all washi! I adhered strips of some from the colors I had on hand to white cardstock then ran it thru the my Big Kick.
http://indianainking.blogspot.com/2013/02/vcmp-challenge-8-washi-tape.html

#9. Sharon inspired us with white- all white- nothing but white! So very hard to get the details in the picture but this may be my favorite card of all. No sentiment-just layers of embossing, a Spellbinders die, Sizzix butterfly dies and some old ribbon. Oh-and 3 velvet brads- love the textures!

http://desertroseoutpost.blogspot.com/2013/02/owh-presidents-day-virtual-card-making.html

#10. And for the final challenge- Kaylee is looking for glitz and glam but without the glitter! I went thru my stash for the shiniest paper I could find! The blue stars paper is holographic and the silver is paper but looks like metal! Create a Critter was used for the die cut stars, old ribbon in my stash- and shine galore!!! Really hard to photograph!
http://104cards.blogspot.com/2013/02/owhs-presidents-day-virtual-cardmaking.html

And finally- my card for Marlene's Sunday sketch, the little monster is on an action wobble- so he- yup- he rocks!





My dilemma for today-- I have not heard from the winner of my blog hop candy--- so I am thinking I will need to draw another name-what do you all think? It has been about 10 days since I tried to get in touch with the winner....

I am hoping I can find time later today to check out Paula's tutorial on focal points!

Have a wonderful day, thanks for stopping by -and as always, craft on!

Diane

Happy Presidents' Day Weekend!

I have a much needed long weekend off from work- yahoo!  I am trying to do all of the challenges posted on OWH for the VCMP- the virtual card making party! Every 3 hours on Saturday and Sunday a new challenge is posted! I did not create on Saturday so today I grabbed some diet pepsi and joined in the fun! Check it out at:
http://operationwritehome.org/presidents-day-weekend-vcmp-master-thread/

#1. The first challenge: Erika wants us to make cards with chevrons, zig zags- or as we always called it-
rick-rack! Yup- a stamp from MFT!http://scrappinintervention.blogspot.com/2013/02/zig-zag-your-cards.html



#2. All Creatures Great and Small- cards for kids- is what Misty challenged us to do. I like the sentiment- Paola Nutini sings a song- I love you more and more- that Tessa and I sing to each other once in a while- so this sentiment really made me chuckle!
http://deliteful-gifts.blogspot.com/2013/02/owh-vcmp-all-creatures-great-and-small.html

#3. Beth came up with a tough one...selective embossing. I luckily have some of the Tim Holtz diffusers but it was still that hardest challenge so far! Getting the embossing lined up straight- well- let's just say- this was not my first, second or even 3rd attempt! lol. I am not sure if you can see it in the photo- but the pink paper is embossed with flowers-with a circle in the center left un-embossed for the image and the sentiment!
http://bunnyscrap.blogspot.com/2013/02/presidents-day-vcmp-feb-2013.html

#4. Yvonne was next with Things with Wings! Ahhh, back in my comfort zone! A simple image colored with copics, pretty paper and ribbon!
http://penguinpapers.net/2013/02/16/presidents-day-vcmp-things-with-wings/

#5. And for the final challenge for Saturday Leslie came up with a good one...find a whole sheet of 12x12 paper and make it disappear by using all of it!  I am going to a 3 day crop/retreat in April and my BFF is coming this time...and she has not scrapped in years! The retreat is relaxing and fun; we are very well fed and can even get a full body massage- and Nancy is joining us this year! Nancy plans to relax, eat, socialize, read and...she only wants to help me with cards- no scrapping for her! My plan is to make card kits for her- so this challenge got me going on my kits! The 2nd picture shows everything ready to be assembled. So- I used all the paper- but the other 5 cards are not assembled yet!
http://thecrookedstamper.blogspot.com/2013/02/disappearing-act-with-sketch-63.html



I have a few more cards made from the Sunday challenges-- but I plan post them tomorrow. I hope to complete all of the challenges- as well as Marlene's Sunday sketch! Sunday is not complete without the OWH sketch!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Take care and craft on,
Diane

MWT-- a little later in the week!

This week the midweek throwdown challenge at OWH is to create a card with the colors in our state flag.... here is the flag for the great state of Massachusetts!



And here is my card:



I really like yellow and blue together with white- I like how crisp the colors look. Our flag is historic and dignified- and my card is silly and goofy!

My supplies:

stamp of the farmer by Paper Smooches

Polaroid die from MFT

docrafts paper burleigh blues for the patterned paper

copic markers

ribbon-from my stash

pearls- Queen and Co

yellow cardstock- from Simon Says Stamp card kit

yellow gingham paper- Memory Box

word bubble chipboard and stamp from the CTMH Cricut Artiste- I just got this cartridge and I think I am going to love it!

Work has been super busy lately- so I am late with my card. Finding some time to create always helps relax me! And with the holiday on Monday, I am looking forward to a nice, long weekend- and spending Saturday with my BFF to celebrate her birthday!

Have a great rest of the week and thanks for coming by.

Take care and craft on!

Diane

What a Difference a Day Makes!

The snow stopped yesterday afternoon and today the sun was shining brightly!


Today's sketch at OWH is based on a card by Carol who blogs at http://ourlittleinspirations.blogspot.com/
This beautiful card is the sketch inspiration-I love the embossing on her card and the crispness of the red against the white! Please go check out Carol's blog; she made another card for the sketch and all of her cards are gorgeous!

My card is made with DCWV paper, Spellbinders dies and an embossed image- I wish I knew where I got the stamp (I put a lot of my clear stamps in CD cases a few years ago and for some reason, I did not label the maker...dumb!). The sentiment is from Hero Arts, self adhesive ribbon is from Michaels in the clearance bin for about 20cents and the gems are by Queen & Co.



Have a wonderful week! Thanks for stopping by my blog! Take care and craft on,

Diane

A Winner, Some Cards and Lots of Snow!

Happy snowy Saturday!  I am not going to complain- I live in New England and I survived the Blizzard of '78 so this storm is not so bad! I do not like having to clean off my car and try to find a place to put all the snow- but other than that--the storm was a nice excuse to stay inside and make some cards!

The winner of the OWH Critter blog skip is GREGGERS! Congratulations! I left a comment on Greggers blog...please send me your address (digirlwiz at comcast dot net) and I will get your package out to you this week! Thanks everyone for all of the wonderful comments!

I have a few cards to share today.

This week the OWH Midweek Throwdown is to create cards for our deployed military to send home to children! Fun!
My first card is a simple Cricut kite- but it is on an Action Wobble so there is movement!

My next card is a sweetest little girl sitting on a brick wall! My cousin Dennis used to tease my sister Denise about being on the wall- so this is my tribute to Dennis!

 Card #3 is for a cute card for kids but it is also for the Drunker Stampers challenge- to create a project based on the movie Finding Nemo! 

http://drunkenstampers.wordpress.com/2013/02/09/drunken-stampers-challenge-114-finding-nemo/ I have not seen the movie for years- so I went with a basic underwater theme. I dug out some old vellum, colored it with copics and used it as the ocean. I also punched some green vellum for the seagrass.

My last card is also a double duty card...

the OWH Our Daily Bread Challenge for February is fruit.... yup- those are apples on the tree!  ODB donates the shipping cost -up to 2 boxes- if there are 50 cards created and posted for the challenge! What a great donation!

Die Cuttin Divas has a sketch challenge- so I combined the fruit with the sketch!

http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.com/2013/02/challenge-101-sketch.html

That is all for today! I need to make sure my car did not get plowed in again- I have to work tomorrow morning!

Take care and craft on,

Diane

Groundhog Challenge!

During the OWH skip this past weekend, I saw this site:   Drunken Stampers  on another stampers blog and thought it would be fun to play along. The challenge is create a card using a groundhog or furry creature or something inspired from the movie Groundhog Day!http://drunkenstampers.wordpress.com/2013/02/02/drunken-stampers-challenge-113-groundhog-day/

I have plenty of hedgie stamps but not one groundhog stamp, and I could not think of how to incorporate the movie into the card unless I used repeating elements-so I went with furry! I pulled out an older set of clear stamps from Penny Black and here is what I came up with:

supplies:

Penny Black stamps

blue pattern papers: docrafts Papermania capsule collection-burleigh blue

orange pattern paper: DCVW

copics

Have a great week!

Diane

Pink, pearly and swirly!

The current challenge over at Penny Black @ all sorts is pink, pearly and swirly! And here is my card:

Supplies:
Penny Black Mimi clear stamp
Sentiment stamp A Muse
Spellbinders dies
Sizzix embossing folder
DCVW patterned papers
Gina K cardstock
Queen and Co pearls- colored with RV06 copic marker
Clear glaze pen and clear star glitter pen on her wings and flower (I cover my glitter with the clear glaze to seal in the glitter-so it does not rub off!)
Copics: E11,E21,E93 and RV00, RV02, RV06, and C1

Thanks for stopping by!
Take care and craft on,
Diane

The Day After....

I am just so thrilled that so many folks visited the OWH blog skip yesterday and I want to thank everyone for leaving such great comments at my blog! There were a lot of really great cards posted and I was very excited to be part of the skip...my very first- could you tell???  I tried to upload a quick video of the elephant/action wobble in motion but I could not add a video to my post! I will keep trying to figure it out! I will post the winner of my blog candy on Saturday am-so there is plenty of time to leave a comment!

So, on this day, the day after the skip, I was pumped and full of inspiration from all of the great cards posted yesterday....and I kept drawing a blank! I guess I had too many ideas running thru my head! So I looked at some of my colored images to see if I could use anything.

I had this cute little digi robot we used during Sandy Allnock's ICSE copic class and figured I would use it. I had to turn the sketch in it's side.
Here is the sketch:
(check out the sample card at OWH-simply fabulous operationwritehome.org/starsandstamps/)


And here is what I came up with.... I was not able to incorporate the 2 circles/embellishments on my card...and it is not all that true to the sketch- but I was inspired by the sketch and I am happy with the card.
supplies:
digi stamp from Birdie Brown https://www.etsy.com/transaction/112210014
copics
paper DCVW
goosebumps-Queen and Co
sentiment stamp: unknown

Have a great week!
Take care and craft on,
Diane

OWH Groundhog's Day Blog Skip

Hello! Welcome to my stop on the Operation Write Home Groundhog's Day blog skip!  I am honored that I was asked to participate in this skip! The theme for today--CRITTER cards--what fun!

If you want to start at the beginning go to http://operationwritehome.org/starsandstamps/.

 Did you come from Jan's blog http://www.jans-gonestampin.blogspot.com/   ...I am always in awe of Jan's talent!  You do not want to miss her stop on the skip!

I decided to make 2 cards-the first using the Cricut.

The elephant and the sentiment were cut from Everyday Pop-Up Cards. The patterned paper is BoBunny soft shades double dot designs and all the solid cardstock is DCVW. I kept the card pretty simple because the elephant is on an action wobble! He balances oh so carefully on his stand! Making him wobble is simply fun!

My next card features one of my favorite companies...My Favorite Things!

I stamped this cheeky little monkey on copic x-press it blending card and colored his face, ears and belly with a few colors of copics. I stamped him again on some fuzzy paper that has been in my stash for over 10 years! The black ink showed well enough for me to cut him out but the tail was too tiny so I hand cut a larger tail! I stamped a lot of the bananas and colored them in with a yellow glaze pen.

The patterned papers are from My Mind's Eye Darling Dear and the solid red cardstock is DCVW. I used Spellbinders dies for the main image. The rhinestones are Queen and Co and the punches for the sentiment are from Stampin' Up. I layered 3 cuts of the rick rack to form the bottom border and I believe the die is from PTI.

 

I hope you enjoyed the skip! Please try to spend some time at the OWH site to see the challenges, tutorials, videos and fun! Our troops deserve the best and that is what they get from OWH! 

And to thank you for stopping by, I have some goodies to share! All you have to do is leave a comment so I know you visited my blog!  I will draw a winner on Saturday 2/9/13.

The sweet stamp is from Unity, 4 memento inks- a must with copics- and a Quickie Glue pen-perfect for adhering those tiny pieces- like in the stand in the elephant card. And how about 5 action wobbles? Just leave a comment!

Your next stop will be the fabulous Julie, who organized this great blog skip!Big thanks to Julie!   http://www.handmadebyjulie.com/?p=3242  

Thanks for visiting! Take care and craft on!

Diane