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

The Male Room Sketch

Greetings! The sketch posted at The Male Room is super clean and crisp. It lets the image or the sentiment take center stage. I rotated the sketch and used a Paper Smooches dino and Lawn Fawn sentiment and came up with an easy, fun card for a little boy. Have you visited the Male Room yet? Go check it out!
http://themaleroomchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Thanks for visiting my blog,
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

Happy Birthday with OWH Sketch #215

Greetings!
If you missed my post from yesterday, check it out here:
 http://dianecreateswithpaper.blogspot.com/2014/03/happy-retirement-and-give-away.html

I have a give-away going on!

Here is the sketch for this week and next to it is Kathryn's inspiration card. I love the happy colors and the chubby penguin she used--too cute!
Do you want to see more of Kathryn's creations?
http://kathrynscards.blogspot.com/2014/01/after-little-hiatus-i-made-some-cards.html




And here is the card I came up with...I realized I do not have many birthday cards in my OWH box so I used a new to me Prima stamp. All of the patterned papers are by DCVW and have some holographic qualities- so there is some safe shimmer and shine! The card base is Bazzill card shoppe and the image is colored on X-Press It paper with copics. Happy Birthday was stamped with Paper Smooches stamps. The lone gem is by My Mind's Eye.

Happy DayLight Savings.... here is to more sunshine and the hope of spring!
Thanks for stopping by...and craft on!
Diane

It is a Card Sharing Day!

Hello- we had some sunshine and warmer temperatures today- a nice change for New England!

First up, the lovely ladies at Words to Scrap By have come up with a fun challenge for February: make a card that celebrates the Olympics!  http://words2scrapby.blogspot.com/
Since I send my cards to OWH, creating a winter card now is 'off' season so I tried to come up with something that reminds me of the unity of the games and could be used any time of the year. I used a Mama Elephant stamp of 2 people holding hands and used the 5 colors of the Olympic rings to stamp the little gang of people!  The sentiment is by MFT.

This week at OWH, we have a glowing challenge: 
http://operationwritehome.org/midweek-throwdown-let-your-light-shine/  The lightbulb is with the safe glitter paper by DCWV...so shiny in real life!

I had one of the cute little birdies left over from the Sunday sketch so I made another card featuring the Denami cutie!

And finally, Sandy is looking for more Hero cards. I watched a video by Dawn on making a window slider card...she gives clear directions and measurements- and I love her enthusiasm!
I thought this would be fun to make some Any Hero cards...it is easier than it looks! Go check out her video- I think you will be surprised at how quickly the card comes together!
http://dawnsstampingthoughts.typepad.com/dawns_stampin_studio/2014/02/window-slider-card-video-.html

Closed- a nice sentiment and image by Paper Smooches.

Pull the ribbon and the panel slides... covering up the eagle and showing another sentiment. I added a small panel to the right so I can write a short note. I plan to write more on the back of the

card. I like interactive cards!

Oh- if you have Netflix- have you been watching House of Cards with Kevin Spacey? (no- it is not about card making--it is a political thriller- not my usual genre.)

 OMG- it is my current addiction (thanks William!)! I do not watch a ton of TV but oh my- this show is so interesting and the characters-so different and some are not nice people!  I have watched 3 episodes of the 2nd season and hope to find time to watch more over the next few days.... it sucks you right in! All episodes of the 2nd season are available now....if I watch it all right away....then I have to wait for the 3rd season!

Have a great weekend and go make some cards!

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

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

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