OWH VCMP Challenge #2

Wow! This was a challenging challenge! We are to use the O - W - H in Operation Write Home to inspire our creativity. What a great idea!

Can you tell how I used the challenge? For the O, I did an outdoors scene, for the W I used watercoloring technique and for the H I made it into a hello card. 

For the background I used watercolor paper and my Stampin Up reinkers. I spritzed the paper with water and then using my Aquapainter, I dripped ink onto the paper and just kind of scribbled it back and forth until I got the look I was going for. I really liked how this one turned out and I loved how relaxing it was to do the watercoloring. I will have to remember that for the future.

Thanks for stopping by!

CS: Daffodil Delight, Basic Black, watercolor paper

Ink: Black Stazon, daffodil delight, Marina Mist, Old Olive, Pool Party

Stamps: Just Believe, Posy Punches

Accessories: 1" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, black embossing powder, black grosgrain ribbon

OWH Virtual Cardmaking Party 2013 Challenge #1

Hi all!

I am so excited that I actually get to take part in making some cards for the Virtual Cardmaking Party! Normally on Labor Day weekend, I'm back trying to get homework done for school. But this year, my class doesn't start until Tuesday so I'm FREE.

I was excited to see Nancy's sketch and challenge first thing this morning because I really am in the mood to start on Christmas cards for our heros. And this one gave me the opportunity to use some paper that I still have on hand from last year.

I looked all over for my 1" Square punch but can't find it anywhere. Do you suppose I really don't have one? I had the CM one for years but was sure I bought a SU one. Oh well, another thing for my list.

I will have to come back and edit my supplies list. I cannot remember the name of this DSP. Does anyone remember?

CS: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
DSP: ???
Stamps: Many Merry Messages
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Cherry Cobbler quilted ribbon

OWH Sketch Challenge #181

Good morning! I hope you are all enjoying your summer. I have been spending most of mine enjoying having my daughter home for a few weeks. She graduated from CSU in May and is off to Ohio (gulp!) in August to earn her Master's degree. It's been wonderful to have her here!

I have also started creating cards for Operation Write Home. It's a wonderful organization you can check out here.  It feels so good to be creating for our heros and knowing that my cards will ultimately be used to connect with someone.

Here is a card that I created for OWH Sketch Challenge #181. I love the sketches OWH shares because they have MEASUREMENTS! I tend to follow sketches pretty literally so the measurements are suited to my personality. This one was especially in need of measurements because there are many pieces to it.

I  really like the color combination of Real Red and Bashful Blue. The hint of Pumpkin Pie orange adds just that little bit extra, I think. This is a very old Stampin' Up! set called Bow Wow. I will never quit using it although I am inspired by OWH to vastly improve my coloring skills. :)

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

A New Favorite Card!

Hi all! Please don't fall over in shock that I have blogged a whole two days in a row! I am using this as the ultimate in procrastination from studying. It's not a good situation but I am really disliking the class so to force myself to do the work, I allow myself X amount of stamping time after I finish X amount of school work. Needless to say, I've been doing a lot the end of this semester so I have more cards to show! 

This one is inspired by a card I saw at Vicki Burdick's blog, It's a Stamp Thing. I really like her cards but we have very different styles. She does very elaborate work and as much as I try to emulate that style sometimes, I'm a clean and simple girl at heart. You know how they tell you to accessorize by adding everything you want and then take away one thing to get the perfect balance? I find that I have to finish everything the way that I think looks great and then find one more thing to ADD so that it doesn't look UNfinished. 

I think I nailed it with this card! It seems a good, clean and simple card with just one accent added to make it look finished. And I LOVE how those butterflies turned out. I forgot how much I liked coloring with reinkers and an blender pen. This color combination is a new favorite for sure.

I hope you like it too!

Stamps: Papillon Potpourri, Punch Posy 
Paper: Sahara Sand, Crushed Curry, UR Sweet DSP (long retired)
Ink: Versamark, Taken with Teal, markers
Accessories: two tags die, hemp twine, postage stamp punch, 1" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, rich razzleberry stiched ribbon, hexagon embossing folder

Best of Everything Mojo Monday 290

Happy Sunday! It has been beautiful here the last couple of days and I think spring may finally have decided to stay in Colorado. Well, until the rain/snow mix we are supposed to get on Wednesday.  Oh well, it won't be long until I'm complaining about the heat. :) 

The color combination on this card combined with the strawberry image seems very springy to me. And this sketch was fun to work with even though creating it for a challenge was not even originally my plan. Sometimes when I don't have a specific card to make but I feel like creating, I will create challenges just for myself. The challenge this time was to open a gallery at Splitcoast, scroll down and randomly put my finger on a card and then use that card as inspiration whether it was color, layout or stamp set. This one happened to be the layout and when I clicked through to see the details on the card, realized it was a Mojo Monday card! 

This card uses some retiring stamps from Stampin Up!. I will continue to use them though because they are some of my favorites. Distressed Dots will be one that they will have to pry from my cold, dead fingers. 

I hope you enjoyed this card! Challenge yourself today to create something new!

Stamps: Best of Everything, Round Array, Distressed Dots
Paper: Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Real Red, Brights Collection paper stack
Ink: Real Red, Pool Party, Versamark, Wild Wasabi
Accessories: clear embossing powder, rhinestone brads, grosgrain ribbon, 1" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch