The Last OWH Sketch for 2013!

Happy Sunday and welcome to the last OWH sketch for the year! I am so happy that I participate in the challenge each week. Some of the sketches are joyful, some push me to get out of my creative comfort zone, and some just push me over the edge.. trying to make it my own-LOL!
Here is the inspiration card by Cindy- you can visit her blog here

                                     

                                        

This is a great design so I came up with 2 cards- I love the circle but wanted to try the sketch with a rectangle too! The purple paper with the zebra is that awesome DCWV 6x6 pads of glitter paper that is very smooth- and not a tiny piece of glitter comes off- very shimmery and fun- and safe!! And that blue arrow-- the exact shade of blue is in the map background paper- I promise you- it is there in real life!

I hope you join OWH and a lot of bloggers on January 1, 2014 for a bloghop showcasing each bloggers favorites from 2013.  I am hoping to join the fun. Last year I was challenged to find my top 10 since I was a new blogger- this year I have more to choose from- thanks to the Sunday Sketches and the Midweek Throwdown challenges- and you may see some of my Drunken Stampers challenges too!


Have a wonderful and safe New Year!
Craft on,
Diane

Can You Believe it is the End of the Year?

Happy Saturday! Today is a Tropical Hooters team challenge with the Drunken Stampers and our inspiration this week is a PERSON in our person, place or thing cycle....and who do we have this week?

When I think of Marilyn, I think of the scene where her white dress blows up- all around her- and this is my interpretation! There are lots of layers of vellum and card stock and a few pop dots for dimension. The gold paper is very shimmery as is the green and there is a row of rhinestones --someday I will learn how to capture the glittery shine on my camera. I also think of Marilyn as someone who danced to the beat of her own drummer- thus the sentiment! 

 I bet you are just chomping at the bit to see what my Hooter teammates came up with for this challenge....so head on over to drunkenstampers.wordpress.com and play along with our Marilyn challenge.  I hope somebody comes up with a way to present Marilyn singing Happy Birthday to JFK!

Have a wonderful New Year!
Craft on,
Diane

Happy Day After Christmas

I hope everyone had a wonderful, safe and fun-filled Christmas. I certainly did!  I was able to sleep in a bit this morning and recuperate from all of the preparations and the 2 days of family gatherings! And the fun continued when 3 of my nieces came over tonight for some stamping, coloring, laughing, dancing and a little bit of chatting about my kitchen....which apparently is not used often enough! LOL! 

Today, OWH is challenging us to create cards with red and white or green and white...but remember- the Christmas deadline has passed and Valentine cards need to get to Sandy by 12/31/13- so try making general themed cards. 

I really like Paper Smooches stamps- they are so charming and sweet and super easy to color!  I had to add an Action Wobble to the totally terrific turtle- I love to see movement in a child's card! The cardstock is a dark green but it appears very, very dark here.

And speaking of Paper Smooches- did you know they are having a blog hop? Get on over and see some great cards- they are also giving away 4 great prizes- gift cards to the PS store- wahoooo! New releases will be available January 1st--that is less than a week away- but can we wait that long? Check out the inspiration and add some-or all- of the new releases to your wish list! 
  http://papersmooches.blogspot.com/

Have a wonderful weekend and craft on!
Thanks for stopping by,
Diane

A Penguin for the General!

Happy Sunday! Sandy challenged us to make a penguin card for one of the OWH contacts...so I combined the penguin with today's sketch. That's right- it is Sunday so we have a new sketch!  Pretty cool sketch, huh? 
                                                

I did not use a ribbon- I embossed 2 pieces of cardstock I colored with copics and then popped the bottom layer on Stampin Up dimensionals. This is one cool penguin--catching a wave! He is popped up as well. I colored him with the Sakura glaze pens- so he is nice and shiny! The sun also has some glaze on it. This card came together pretty quickly- and I am pleased with the final product!

Have a wonderful Christmas and I hope you can find a little time to be crafty over the next few days!

Thanks for stopping by!

Diane

Sketch #203

Greetings! We had our frist big snow last night here in Massachusetts...but being the hearty New Englander that I am- I was still out shopping today! I have accomplished a lot the past few days so I took a break (from holiday preparations and crying over the Patriots game) and made a card for today's sketch. Isn't the sketch great! 
                                
 The stamps are Unity-- I love his pouty face! The papers are from Carta Bella and BoBunny. I change the shape from a circle to this Spellbinders die-- mostly because I had the little guy already colored and wanted to use him! Can't you hear him say "I miss you, so there" and stomping his foot!! 
  

 Have a wonderful week- and craft (and party) on!
Diane

Drunken Stampers Time!

Welcome! Since it is Saturday, there is a new challenge for the Drunken Stampers. We have  challenges based upon a person, place or a thing and this week the Tropical Hooters are  globe trotting- we are flying off to Paris!And drinking lots of wine, and eating cheese and crusty bread and escargot!  Oh, we're not? I thought we were challenged to see if we could get to Paris before Christmas. Oh- we made cards about Paris? Oh. Ummm. A tad disappointing. OK- now I feel silly- I had my passport dusted off, my beret tilted on my head and I trying to decide if I should pack clothes or just buy all new outfits there. Guess I am staying in wintery New England! 
And I am really not disappointed- my fellow Hooters have some great creations to share with you-way better than dealing with jet lag!

Ooo la la-- oh no no! I just noticed one of my Queen and Co mini gems is weaving and wobbling from too much champagne! Funny what you notice in pictures- but not when it is right in your face!

My image is a Mimi in Paris by Penny Black-colored with copics and her hat is paper pieced. The Eiffel Tower is from Michael's--it has been in my stash for a while; I am not sure why I purchased it...my only time in France was a 2 day stop in Nice and I am pretty sure I did not see the Eiffel Tower!  (Our side trip to Monaco was fabulous- Nice was going thru construction so it was just eh!) I digress! Back to my card; focus Diane, focus! The pattern papers are from Bo Bunny,the Isabella Collection; the black base and the strip across the card is Bazzill; yummy, thick. study cardstock! 

So- how are you doing with your Christmas plans?
I am getting there- slowly but surely!

Thanks for coming by- and my bratty sister made fun of me and said 'Craft on and party on Garth'.....and that seems appropriate for the DS gang-- party on!!!!
Diane 

OWH Midweek Throwdown!

I am taking a break from my Christmas preparations and making some cards. Playing with paper and stamps is so very relaxing to me so a breather from the hectic season and a very long week at work  (is it really only Wednesday?)....just what I needed today!

Our challenge this week is to make general love cards.  Who does not love getting a love letter???? Swoon! So here is my card...again using Impression Obsession stamps- this set is really fun to use!

Have a wonderful rest of the week! Winter has arrived in New England....it's cold!
Craft on,
Diane

Operation Write Home Sketch #202!

Welcome to another Sunday with a sketch from OWH, the monthly Our Daily Bread Designs challenge and another crazy Patriots win!
Here is our sketch for this week:

 

 And here is my card using Authentique papers, Spellbinders dies and a stamp from Impression Obsession- I love this saying! I like this layout...the circle is a nice element to showcase an image or a larger sentiment- and a good amount of the patterned papers are still visible. 

Each month Our Daily Bread Designs donates up to two boxes of free shipping for our heroes–1 for 25 cards posted and 2 for 50. Only one card can be counted towards the total from each card maker but I felt the need to make a few cards.
The sentiment stamp is from CTMH- I love it- the whole set is wonderful! The anchor is  a die by LifeStyle Crafts and the brad is from my stash.

I purchased this stamp at the stamp show last June-- I do not know who makes it (it is unmounted red rubber). I think it is so majestic! 
(I like that word- my sister uses it to describe her ginormous Newfie dog, Lola!) The sentiments are by MFT- a great set of love stamps- they are on the larger size and could really stand of their own- but I like them paired with these beautiful animals!

Well- that is it for me for today! Have a wonderful week!
Craft on,
Diane

Love...All Year Round!

Hello! OWH is challenging us this week to make Valentine's or Love cards. I have made some cards for Valentine's Day for my December shipment to OWH but I also like to make love cards that can be used any time.
My first card is a 'use sooner rather than later' card since the snowman limits the amount of time he can be sent...but with pretty much all My Favorite Things stamps- I could not resist this charming guy!

I kept the card pretty simple. The patterned paper is from Fancy Pants and the solid red and black is yummy cardstock from Bazzill-
nice and substantial ...love it for bases!  I used Spellbinders dies for the circles. The scalloped border is a Fiskars punch and the gold dots are from my stash- Hero Arts metallic dots...I just re-discovered them in a pile-o-stuff! And as always, my coloring is with Copics...I am still in love with these markers! I was a dedicated colored pencil gal until I was converted about 4 years ago...thanks, Fabre!

My next card is also super simple. I purchased the cardboard box stamp last June at the stamp show...it is by Denami- they make such adorable stamps! When I purchased it I thought I had lots of stamps that could come poking out of the box- but it is actually pretty small so an assortment of heart punches worked out well. You cannot see it in the photo, but I used my favorite Sakura clear glaze over the trio of hearts to give them some shiny impact. I also used it on a few of the hearts in the box. The sentiment is by MFT.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Craft on,

Diane

OWH Sketch #201

Hello and happy Sunday! I love today's sketch! Donna made a fabulous sample card.... you can see all of her wonderful creations at designingkeepsakes.blogspot.com

Donna's card! Gorgeous!!!!

                                               

                                             

                                           

I made a girly card today-- I have been making more gender neutral and lovey cards lately-and felt the need for a change and I love this image. My niece Maggie had tons of curly hair when she was little so this cutie makes me think of her!(she still has a lot, but much more manageable now-and flat irons can change pretty much any hair type to stick straight!) 

Have a wonderful week...back to work for me after 4 days off! 
Craft on and thank you for coming by,
Diane