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

Bunnies, Bunnies, and Bees!

Greetings! I am so surprised that it is already March! February went by in the blink of an eye! I am hoping that means that spring is truly going to appear soon!

I have not posted since last Sunday so I have a few cards to share.
I have been on a tiny spending spree...I received an Oozak package today....gotta love Rusty! He ships so quickly and has a wonderful selection of all the things I just have to purchase!

The Midweek Throw Down was a color challenge this week; we are to use teal or turquoise on our cards. This is tough for me; for some reason I cannot see some colors as others see them. These are mostly blue based colors...like blue/violets and surprise... teal and turquoise!  I tried my best! 
http://operationwritehome.org/midweek-throwdown-color-challenge-15/

This stinking cute bee is by Alota Rubber Stamps. Sadly, the online store is closing but you can still get some great stamps on sale. Helena is a sweetie- go check out her site!
alotarubberstamps.com

 And today, as the first Saturday of the month, we have a new ODBD challenge- thank you cards! Since all my other cards are cutesy, I wanted to make a more masculine card. It is super simple, but I like the simplicity. I used a new die from Mama Elephant to make the curves.And that awesome stitching is made by the die! The papers are by FarmHouse Paper Company They are deep green but photographed more brown. 
 http://operationwritehome.org/odbd-march-challenge/

And here is another card for my OWH box;  I hope to send a box to Sandy this week (I do not have any Easter cards so I do not have to rush, but it has been a while since I sent in any cards.) This adorable stamp is by Art Impressions..look at the backside when the card is opened...how fun is that?

And when you think of rabbits, do you think that they are known to multiply....quickly? Lots and lots of bunnies! That thought inspired this card-made with rabbits by Mama Elephant! I printed the sentiment on my computer.

Thanks for stopping by!

Diane

Manly Yes...But I Like it Too! (And an Anniversary Shout Out!)

Do you remember the Irish Spring commercial? This weekend OWH is having a Card Bowl and we are challenged to make masculine cards.... thus the first part of my title!
             

Yesterday's challenge was for the monthly ODBD challenge and for February we are to make a card with the color brown. And amazingly- we have already exceed the goal of 50 cards! Wahooo!
Please go see all of the great cards! 
http://operationwritehome.org/odbd-february-challenge/

I used MFT camera die and stamps- and yes- I heat embossed the sentiment! A rarity for me! LOL 

Today's OWH sketch is fabulous and the sample card is by Donna- one the absolutely nicest people I have 'met' online-and so very talented too! You have to go visit Donna 
http://designingkeepsakes.blogspot.com

                                                               
                                             

For my sketch card, I used a CTMH stamp and die cut from the Artiste Cricut Cartridge. I was very surprised on my birthday with a bit of cash so I splurged and purchased some crafty supplies......  and man did I have some fun ordering!! I ordered the CTMH Artbooking cartridge and a few CTMH stamp sets, some Paper Smooches stamps and dies and some embellishments from Simon Says Stamp! I also re-stocked my supply of Copic X-press It Blending Card with an Amazon gift card---so I have loved coming home from busy work days to find packages waiting for me! lol!

And did you know that  Paper Smooches is celebrating their 3rd anniversary? They are-and they have new releases too! I am so impressed with the quality of all of the products, how fun and cute the images are, the super fast shipping and the customer service is OUTSTANDING! Go give Kim some love and help celebrate!
 http://papersmooches.blogspot.com/2014/02/happy-3rd-anniversary-to-paper-smooches.html
                                    

Here is a card I made in honor of the anniversary... I look up to Kim--her talent, her kindness and her business! I tried to keep with the OWH manly theme- and I love this paper-- I hope that coral/pinky color in a few of the squares is not too feminine- I tried to color the hippo's tongue the same color!

Well- I hope everyone has a great week and enjoys the game tonite. I know there will be heartbroken fans as well as joyous fans...I look forward to an exciting game!
Hello to my girls- Tessa, Cori, Maggie, Paige and Lola!
Thanks for stopping by, 
Diane

Plethora of Cards!

Welcome!
I have several cards to share with you today!(OK- 5- not a plethora...but it seemed like a lot! )

First up: January's Our Daily Bread Designs challenge is to use stripes on our cards. http://operationwritehome.org/odbd-january-challenge-2/  The oh so generous folks at ODBD not only will pay for shipping for 2 boxes of cards to be sent to our troops if 50 of us makes cards for the challenge; they also give prizes to 2 of the card makers...EVERY month! They are an awesome company!

Next up- we have this week's OWH sketch.  This is one of my favorites- love the layers and love the circles! Here is Cheryl's inspiration card:  

and you can visit Cheryl here:  http://scrappinforourtroops.blogspot.com/2013/10/owh-midweek-throwdown-color-challenge.html

My card is made from a digi stamp by Some Odd Girl, Authentique papers, copics, googly eyes, twine and spellbinders dies.

And here are a few more cards I made recently. I received my recent receipt from Sandy and I donated 533 cards in 2013! I was surprised by the number- yeah me- but realized that there are lots of cards that I do not post on my blog. So- I am going to try to post more of the cards I make- not just those for challenges. So here are a few cards- and you may notice a recent trend of mine- YELLOW!

 I needed more paper for card bases- I use Bazzill Card Shoppe Marshmallow- it is a nice, heavy weight..so I ordered more white but also got a pack of 25 sheets of Sour Lemon-- love it! Nice and sunny without being over the top bright yellow! 

And here is my tip for this week....did you know you can use your American Express points at Amazon? I got 3 packages of marshmallow and the 1 package of sour lemon-- for free! This is 200 card bases of very fine quality paper --just for using a card I use anyway! I like using my points on papercrafting items- I like this paper; it is more expensive but totally worth it- but when I do not have to pay- that is an extra perk!

And don't forget to comment on my Top 13 of 2013, 1/1/14 post to be entered into a drawing! 

http://dianecreateswithpaper.blogspot.com/2014/01/welcome-new-year-with-re-cap-of-2013.html

My niece Cori (Cori, Cori, Cori-in case you are counting!) came over this weekend and colored some cute images. We did not have time to make cards- she is headed back to school today- her last semester working on her Masters degree- gooooo Cori! (that is 5!) And Maggie - yes Maggie- is coming over today to interview me for a video. Yup- Maggie is visiting today! OK- so these 2 darlings COUNTED how many times they were mentioned in my blog in 2013 and razzed me that sisters Tessa and Paige made the news more often--so this year I will do my best to spread the love around! (I did tell Cori that she needed to do more exciting things to make the blog....LOL!) Oops-just got a text from Maggie! Maggie will be here in a while- so have to run!

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by!

Diane