A Bunch-O-Cards

Well, here I am-playing catch up...again!
Work has been very busy lately so by the time I get home..my creative juices and energy are gone!
I was able to create today so I played along with some of my favorite challenges.

The Male Room has a sketch for this challenge:
http://themaleroomchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/
                

The Crooked Stamper is a new challenge blog and I think it is going to one of my favorites!
http://thecrookedstamper.blogspot.com/2015/03/cssc-2.html

                        

My interpretation is a little different from the sketch but I kept the main elements that same. I colored a die cut piece of Vertigo plastic with yellow and gray copic markers to give the lightbulb a warm glow and for the metal base. I love the texture in this 'paper'. It also gives a holographic type of shine- something I could not capture with my camera!

Keeping with my lightbulb theme, I used a MFT stamp and a sketch from last week's Tuesday Morning Sketches and used a bow for the Cards in Envy Challenge- anything goes with a bow!    http://www.cardsinenvy.blogspot.com/

And for the ODBD challenge at OWH for March- it is all about the sentiment.  I purchased this ODBD stamp at the stamp show about 2 years ago- and I really like it but do not use it often..I need to play with it more often. It has a chalkboard effect when you stamp in colored ink onto white paper. The stamp does all the work for a super simple card.

http://operationwritehome.org/march-odbd-challenge-3/

OWH card makers know that we have to work a few months ahead of the holidays so I am trying to make some Mothers Day cards- these need to get to Sandy by the end of March.... so I am making it my mission for this week... make more cards for Moms!!

I hope you have a wonderful week and I plan to post more cards soon!
Thanks for visiting,
Diane

Cards in Envy... Going Gray

Hello! It has been a wicked week with our New England weather..snow, snow, snow, wind and cold!
The weather is gray and so is the challenge at
 http://www.cardsinenvy.blogspot.com/.  We are inspired to use mostly gray on our cards.  I really like this hippo by Avery Elle....he has some fun accessories- like his glasses. I coated the glasses with Sakura black Glaze pen. I used a stencil and Hero Arts shadow ink to create the background with the squares. I paper pieced his blue face then toned down the blue with more of the ink.

Thanks for stopping by!  I am very excited about the SuperBowl tomorrow night--go Patriots!!!
Diane

Are you ready for another sketch?

Well, it is Sunday so that means Marlene has found us another sketch and it is from a card made by Sandy Allnock, founder of OWH. Look at her coloring on that elephant- perfection! You can see more of Sandy's fabulous creations at  http://sandyallnock.com

I just purchased a Doodlebug paper pad so I used that on my first card, along with a high flying monkey from Mama Elephant. I popped him up a little so it would seem like he was hanging onto the banner for dear life...the little chimp wants to make sure the card recipient is aware he or she is so very loved!

My next card features an older stamp from Hero Arts-- it was a single duck and I stamped it 3 times. I wanted to use the sentiment from Paper Smooches so I decided to make one of the ducks different....I originally colored it orange with green polka dots but I did not like it. It was almost a huge failure but I did not want to start again.  I re-stamped an image, colored it the same blue as some of the stars, fussy-cut it and glued it down- and now I like it!

I need to stamp and tuck a few more cards then my box is ready to be mailed to Sandy. I made some flip cards with a Sizzix die- but I cannot get them to stay flat enough for me to get a good picture! LOL  I like flip cards- I imagine families like to get a card with movement once in a while- especially kids!

Have a wonderful week- and happy Spring! Yahoooo!

Thanks for stopping by, 

Diane

OWH Sketch 211 and 2 New Loves!

Hello! I hope you are enjoying the Olympics and have had time to watch some of the events.
Today I am sharing a few cards- 3 are inspired by this week's sketch


I like this sketch- one card I stayed true ot the sketch- the others..well.... I went off track a little bit!

 The most true to the sketch!

 Based on the sketch- the bears are so stinkin cute and I love this frame from CTMH Artbooking--- my newest favorite Cricut cartridge!

 The frame above is also from Artbooking. And the stamp and die cut below- yup- from CTMH! I think you already know my newest love is Artbooking-- but I am also wondering where enamel dots have been all my life?  I love how sleek they are, not a high profile and they add just a touch of fun!

Have a wonderful week...I have a 4 day weekend coming up! I recently worked an unexpected Saturday..so I am taking this Friday off to compensate for my time...sweet! 

Thanks for stopping by- a shout out to my girls-- wawa2 to Tessa, Maggie, Paige and Cori--- and of course- to Lola!

Diane

A Whole Lot Going On!

Hello and welcome! I have lots to share with you today!
First- it is the day of my Top 13 of 2013 drawing! (Yup- it is my birthday and I had a fabulous day!) I did it the old fashioned way...all the names in a hat!
And the winner is.. Debbie Caldwell! Debbie, please email me at digirlwiz at comcast dot net and let me know if you want a GC to Oozak or Paper Smooches!!

Sandy asked the OWH cardmakers to send in kits for CHA for the Make and Give; so I sent in 3 sets. Sandy posted all of the cards on Pinterest ( http://www.pinterest.com/colourful/cha-2014/  )and here are my cards! I almost forgot to take pictures...you can see 2 are tucked into the envelopes- lol!

Paper Smooches stamps are so fun for kids (and grown ups, too)! I used my Cricut to cut the sun and the mountains, a Fiskars punch for the grass and the rest of the elements are too-cute Paper Smooches. 

 I used an OWH Hero Arts fundraiser stamp for my next card! I paper pieced the elephants, put them on an Action Wobble, and made a flip card with my Cricut. I like the movement of the wobble and the flip action when you open the card. The base paper is actually a deeper red-not the pink as it appears here! I wanted the card to be gender neutral with the red, blue and green!

A pouty Unity Stamps boy....I really liked coloring him! I tried to make his shirt shaded just right to make him look like he has a pudgy belly to go with his plump little cheeks! I want to hug this little guy! The papers for this card and the elephants are by Carta Bella- the Rough and Tumble line. Ohhh, so nice and thick, a nice texture and 2 sided! The kind of paper that makes me happy!

On to new cards! The midweek thrown down was to make bunny cards...so I decided to make a Cricut bunny- Rabbit from Winnie the Pooh. I used a general sentiment so he can be used anytime. Kids still love Pooh-right? 

And today's sketch: (Marlene always comes up with a good one!)



I decided to make another bunny card:

The panel behind the image is green- not yellow-- I am not sure why it came out such a funky color! I like this sketch- I like them all-they are so great to give me some direction!

And boo hoo for my beloved Patriots! I was hoping for a win but it was not to be...congrats to the Broncos!

Have a wonderful week and please take a moment tomorrow to remember  Martin Luther King, Jr and remember all the good he achieved and stood for!
Thanks for stopping by,
Diane

Another Sketchy Sunday and a Bit of a Cheat

Hello! Sorry Colts fans...but I am happy with the results of the game last nite!  I have a soft spot for Adam Vinatieri-so I like watching the Colts...but I like it when the Patriots win!

Since it is Sunday Marlene has another great sketch for us and it comes from Jen! I love Jen's cards and she is a sweetheart! Go visit her at 
thesparklewithinblog.wordpress.com

This is Jen's sample card- love the colors!

I had this little couch cut and stamped so I rotated the sketch a bit to fit it in the space- but I think my background paper is a little subdued. Jen's paper fills up the space nicely...mine looks like lonely white space- but I guess the sender is implying they are lonely- so it may work!
I am going to try another card with a different image with this sketch--I really like it!

I used the couch to make another card before I saw the sketch- I am liking this one more. I feel like I filled the space better since the image is so plain. 

And here is my big cheat! The midweek throwdown was to make a card using the chalkboard technique...not my favorite- BUT...I do have a pad of paper from My Mind's Eye with some great chalkboard pages... a little layering, a little ribbon- and there you have it- I am a chalkboard fraud!  But I like the card's simplicity...and besides...MME did the technique way better than anything I could create! I used my resources to the best of my ability- that is my story and I am sticking to it! 

And here is another card- just because! I love MFT a la Mode gals- and this one is so sweet! ( Are you humming the I Dream of Jeannie song?) I used vellum for her transparent pants- they are so cute in person! And the purple and the gold are DCVW glitzy papers-- shimmery without the dangers of glitter! LOL 

Have a wonderful week....Hi to Cori, Paige, Maggie and Tessa! Oh...and to Lola too! Here she is with her Christmas bow. Just to make my sister happy- please comment that she is regal, majestic, beautiful...lol- she is all of those things- but a big, slobbery darling too!

Have a wonderful week! And don't forget to post a comment on my post of January 1st....so you will be entered into my drawing! I will choose a winner next Sunday! 
Craft on, stay warm and Go Pats!
Diane

Welcome the New Year with a Re-cap of 2013

Happy New Year and welcome to my Top 13 of 2013 as part of the OWH bloghop.  You can check out all of the fun at:                                                   http://operationwritehome.org/starsandstamps

It is funny... when I reviewed my posts from 2013 there were some cards that completely slipped my mind and others made me sigh with happiness. And some- what was I thinking?!! OK- you are not going to see those here- I posted them once- that was more than enough! I loved all of the inspiration last year from OWH; the Sunday Sketches, MidWeek Throwdown, Boot Camp, the weekly tutorials, blog hops, ODBD challenges, OWH TV, visiting fellow OWH cardmakers on their blogs and Sandy's ICSE classes! Hopefully- my creativity and techniques improved over the past year!  This is a honkin' long post but please make sure to read all the way to the end!

 Here are my favorites from last year:

1.  A no-coloring card- the fan is from my Cricut. I like the semi-circle and the star brads.

2.  This image was colored during one of Sandy's ICSE classes- I enjoyed those so much! I like the image and the patterned paper and the lime green with the red.

3.   Awww- a sweet Mo Manning image- I love the determination on his face and I like the stitching around the circle- just like a baseball! I got the idea from an OWHer's comment on a previous card- easy and fun!

 4.  A super simple card- a copic colored butterfly and a cricut frame, some velvet ribbon-and black and pink- a favorite color combo!

5.  I love this handy man-- and his jeans overalls! I like the tools- made from little dies! 

6.  Blue and yellow- another favorite color combination- and another Mo Manning digital image- I can just imagine a younger brother looking up to his big brother--a true hero!

7.  This is a step fold card- and while there is not a ton of room to write a message- I thought it was a fun card for one of our hard working troops to send home. Hero Arts stamps- fun!

 8.  Oh- don't you just smile when you see a Paper Smooches stamp? This little farmer guy just called to me and I had to color him! Again- blue and yellow!

9.  Another blue and yellow card! This time a loving robot- from another of Sandy's ICSE classes- coloring metallic images. I love the layout, the hunky robot and the sentiment!

10.  Yup-another Mo Manning image! Love these 2 pals-- and they were fun to color!

11.  I love this stinkin' cute angel by Amy Young for CC Designs. She just made me smile and I hoped she brought smiles to others! She is recessed into the opening and the circle surrounding her is OWH safe glitter paper- no flaking off!

 12.  Finally- a My Favorite Things stamp! I think I have more MFT stamps than any other (Paper Smooches, Hero Arts and Penny Black come close behind!) I like that he can be used to send to a boy and love that he lassoed a star!  Yeehaw!

13.  And I think this is my all time favorite- I love the soft papers and colors- but mostly I love that I think of my lil Maggie every time I see this image (all grown up at 19- but she will always be my lil darling!)! I am happy with the coloring, the simple layout and the softness of the card.

So- what have I learned? 

• I adore coloring little kids.
• Mo Manning images are so full of personality! I need more!
• Blue and yellow is a great color combination. 
• I like clean and simple cards!
• I love looking at blogs and getting ideas and adding to my list of 'must have' stamps, papers and other goodies!
• And I like to share....so please leave a comment, you can follow my blog- but it is not required-- and out of all of the comments left by midnight (eastern time) 1/18/14 I will draw a winner for a gift card to Paper Smooches or to Oozak (where I get my copics)- the winner can choose either PS or O! (I won a CG to PS from a previous blog hop and I thought it was such a fun prize- I was in heaven- picking out stamps! I was very lucky in 2013 and won several blog candy prizes and loved each and everyone of them!) Make sure I have a way to contact you or check back on 1/19/14 to see if you are the winner! And why the 19th? Well, it gives you plenty of time to get to my blog along the fabulous hop- and it is an easy date for me to remember- it is my birthday!  (Sorry- members of my family are not eligible to win...you all have access to my stash- you do not need anything else- lol!)

Thanks for stopping by and here is to a wonderful 2014!
Diane

Another Rainy Day in :London!

It is Saturday- do you know what that means?
Another Drunken Stampers challenge! Yeah baby- our place this week is LONDON! Or we can use red,white and blue- so I did both! 

When I think of London I think of rain, the Olympics, Big Ben, rain, the royal family, rain, castles, double-decker buses, history, cool telephone booths, rain... so I pulled out some older stamps! The London postage stamp is by Hero Arts and my umbrella gal is from The Greeting Farm; she was colored with Copics. I paper pieced her clothing and the umbrella. The brad buttons were white and I used a red Copic to make them match her skirt. I made the postage stamp frame longer by the way I placed my cutting pads on my Big Kick.
You have to go to Drunken Stampers and see what the rest of the Tropical Hooters team came up with for this challenge- be ready to laugh out loud! Go-what are you waiting for???

Have a wonderful weekend and craft on,
Diane

SPARKLE!

I had a pretty productive weekend and I was able to find time to make several cards-yahoo-my OWH box is almost full.

Over at Drunken Stampers this week's challenge is:





I have this very sweet Tiddly Inks little fairy digital image- so fun to color!  I used BoBunny Isabella papers, and copics (C3,5,7,9; YG45; E00,50; R20; RV00,02 and 04, EK Success punch, Hero Arts sentiments and Sakura clear star and clear glaze pens. Since most of my cards are sent to OWH, glitter that comes off is not OK! So- when I want lots of sparkle but want our troops to be safe, I cover the clear star glitter pen with a clear glaze pen, The glaze gives lots of shine and seals in the glitter so it passes the Sandy Allnock sweater test! I put a honkin' lot of glitter on her wings and scribbled more on her hair, dress and shoes. The shine on her hair and wings in the first picture is from the glaze. The second picture shows less glaze, more sparkle! I cut 3 butterflies from another piece of the BoBunny papers and glued them around the fluttering fairy!

And did you hear??? The awesome ladies over that Drunken Stampers are on the look out for some fun and crafty folks to join their design team. I had a lot of fun with the group when I was the Designated Designer in May....so I am thinking this would be a blast! Not a lot of hoops to hop thru- just some great challenges, laughs and lots of support--- go take a look and give it a chance!
http://drunkenstampers.wordpress.com/2013/06/20/looking-for-fun-crafty-peeps-for-the-drunken-stampers-fall-term/

Another great sketch is posted at OWH by Marlene today. I am so loving the sketches and the sample cards that Marlene is choosing-- I am having a hard time picking my favorite! I guess each week the posted sketch is my favorite--I like when I use the sketch for several cards but they all look different! I do not take pictures of all of my cards- mostly just the ones I make for challenges....I may take pictures of my whole box before I mail it off to Kris.... and maybe I won't-depends on the timing!
                     

Kathryn  made a fantastic card for today's inspiration! I love her patterned papers and matting- and I love that the sentiment really stands out and is the same paper as her mats!http://kathrynscards.blogspot.com/2013/05/its-time-for-another-bloghop.html
                          


My card:

I tucked my panel on the right behind the panel on the left and changed where I put my embellishments and left off the twine but otherwise I stayed pretty true to the sketch.
I used Authentique Festive papers, Mama Elephant stamps, Memento Tuxedo Black, Lady Bug and Bamboo Leaves inks, Copics R29, C1,3,5, G99 and YR04. I am trying to make some Christmas cards every week to add to my next shipment for Kris- so she has a little bit of a headstart on the winter holidays. I am really going to try to get my boxes in well before the OWH deadlines....sometimes I cut it very close!

Another busy softball week coming up for Tessa- the town league championship games are starting this week-after the break for the All Star games. Her team won 1 out of 3 of the All Star games- so they are out of the tournament....but the 2 losses both ended up requiring extra innings! The win was by a score of 16-1--the bats were on fire that night! Fabulous effort by all the teams- we just came up a tiny bit short.....but wow- her team really put forth true teamwork!!!

Craft on and have a great week- and fellow Americans, enjoy our Independence Day!
Diane