2 Challenges = 1 Tutorial

Challenge #1:

The initial idea for this first card came from a post by Yolanda on this weekend's OWH blog hop/skip promoting the new OWH Hero Arts stamps.

OWH is seeking some last minute Valentine's before the December 31 deadline. And, Yolanda's second card got me thinking about an idea for a Valentine's Day card.

I must confess, however, the card took on a little life of it's own. I originally planned to do a masculine card, but ended up with a card that would be perfect for one of our heroes to send to a daughter.

Paper is from DCWV's Sweet Matstack with Glitter.
The stamp is from Snag 'Em Stamps by imagenisce.

Challenge #2:

This second card was inspired by the OWH post to create your own background paper. This was my first attempt at using one of the larger stamps. Heat embossing with metallic powder seemed like the perfect way to make the snowflakes sparkle. (Yes, I know white or silver snowflakes might make more sense, but my gold embossing powder was working the best.)

Interestingly enough, most everyone who shared a card for this challenge had a far more involved design than this one. Since I loved the way the stamped image came out, I decided to let it speak for itself -- simply popping it with a contrasting background color and accenting it with a bow.

Unfortunately, I finished this design too late to send to OWH this season. So, a few close friends and work colleagues will be its only recipients this holiday season. But, I'm thinking it might make it my OWH shipment next year.

Snowflake background was stamped with a DesignBlock from Hero Arts.

Tutorial:

So, have you spotted what these two cards have in common?

Yep, it's the bow. OWH's own Dixie posted a wonderful no-fail-ribbon-tutorial on a fabulous embellishment technique.  Wish I would've know about this ribbon technique earlier in the holiday season -- and very happy to know about it now!

OWH Sketch 99

The card below was made for this week's OWH Sketch 99. I had a couple of thank you/gratitude stamps I hadn't used yet and thought they might compliment each other well in this sketch.

Paper is the Natural collection -- with coordinating cards -- from DCWV.
Smaller stamp is from Hero Arts -- and was only 50 cents at a scrapbook garage sale!
Can't remember the source for the bigger stamp.

I love the flexibility of this sketch -- and really like the way this masculine thank  you card turned out. (Even better, my husband liked it, too.)

Scattering Joy

A friend and I went to a fabulous holiday concert at Capital University last Friday night with the message to scatter joy. So, I was looking for a way to keep the spirit alive when I read the challenge on OWH's Stars and Stamps blog to make a card using OWH Sketch #98. Immediately, "JOY" came to my mind for the three squares.




This card, which I'm giving to a few friends this Christmas,

may very well make it in next year's OWH cards.

Paper is from Bo Bunny's gorgeous Snowfall collection.

Wish the Icicle stickling on the left edge,

around the blue circle, and on the letters

showed up better in the scanned image.
The sentiment came from a reading during the concert.
Sorry I don't know the author.


I have to say I loved the sketch and LOVE this card. It's one of my all-time favorites and the image shown just doesn't do it justice.

And, with this post, let the joy scattering begin!

Craft Show -- Take Two

For the sixth year, the McGraw-Hill Polaris office held a lunchtime Craft Show for employees, family, and friends. So, inbetween making Christmas and Valentine cards for Operation Write Home, I designed and made cards to sell at the Craft Show -- with proceeds to benefit Operation Write Home.

This was my first craft show of any kind and I really didn't know what to expect. I'm thrilled to report that I took in almost $300! (While I don't know for sure how much money I invested in the cards, I'm thinking $50 might be a good estimate.)

                       

As a result, I will be able to:

• make significant shipping donations when I send cards,
• use even nicer paper and more embellishments, and
• invest in additional punches, embossing folders, etc.

So, what were the secrets to my success?

• Minimizing expenses by: sharing a table with a colleague selling cupcakes, maximizing the number of cards made from materials purchased, and using a picture/postcard display that I already had to display cards,
• Including birthday card designs -- which went really fast -- along with holiday designs,
• Using a variety of papers -- some feminine, some masculine, some kid-like -- for the birthday cards,
• Limiting holiday designs to three types -- a traditional punched-out tree on Bo Bunny's Father Christmas collection paper; stamped and painted Baby Rudolphs, aka Rudy, for kids big and small; and embossed, hand-decorated ornaments with a little more artsy take,
• Packaging each card in a clear plastic sleeve,
• Sending a pre-event e-mail to colleagues who have previously supported Operation Write Home events, as well as to team members and friends,
• Displaying a poster of card designs in my cubicle a few days beforehand, and
• Reaching out to potential customers at the show as they walked by -- not hesitating to ask if they were familiar with Operation Write Home.

And, what would I do differently?

• Not maximize expenses quite so much. I tried to use as many sheets of paper from my 6 x 6 paper pads even if the combinations were not my favorite,
• Building on the previous statement, trusting my instincts when it comes to card design. The cards that weren't my favorite, didn't sell nearly as well,
• and include one or two more non-holiday cards, like thank you cards.

All in all, a fabulous craft show debut -- with lots of money to put towards 2012 OWH card-making endeavors! My sincerest appreciation to everyone who supported the event.

OWH's Sweets for Sweets Challenge

OWH is partnering once again with Archway to match sweets for sweets. Archway will send goodies to our troops for Valentine and Love cards received by December 10.

This year the goal has been upped from 4,000 to 5000...lots and lots of love cards need to be sent homeward to carry our heroes' hearts to their families!

• Deadline is Dec. 10th (cards can still come in til Dec 31, but will count for the match only til the 10th) and must be received on or before that day.
• Cards need to be LOVE or VALENTINE themed
• Cards need to meet OWH guidelines (no glitter, A2, etc)
• Kids can send the "love" AnyHero coloring pages here or here and we'll count those too
• Send in a packing slip with your cards with your info filled out, card count, and write "ARCHWAY" on the challenge line

So, while my mind has been drifting to thoughts of stocking stuffers and cookies for nephews, my hands have been making Valentines for our troops to send home to loved ones. The cards below were made from Reminisce paper.

Reminisce's Hearts Afire Paper

Reminisce's Flirt Paper, background texture created
with 4 layers of white tulle stapled on brown cardstock

Hoping to get a few more done before the December 10 deadline.

My First Craft Show

By day -- and some nights, I am a math content editor for a text book publisher. At our office, the Activities Committee holds an annual Holiday Bazaar for employees and their family and friends. This year, the bazaar is on December 1 and monies raised from table rentals benefit a canine rescue group.

I've decided to dip my toes into the craft bazaar world. So, after making OWH Christmas cards and before starting OWH Valentine cards, I've been busy making cards for the craft show. My goal is to raise money for OWH -- donating part of my profits for shipping and using the rest to purchase adhesives for 2012 cards.

My intent was to have holiday cards that would appeal to three distinct groups: kid-oriented, artistic, and traditional. A friend encouraged me to include a non-holiday, generic card -- which explains the birthday/celebration cards. The following are sample cards that I will be selling:

 

For the Kids-at-Heart: A Snag 'Em Stamps

baby Rudolph on paper from 

3 Bugs in a Rug Deck the Halls collection,

with a red stickled nose and collar and a shimmery ribbon.



For the Artistic Folks: An embossed ornament 
detailed with metallic curves and icicle stickles
with a heat embossed sentiment and ribbon
on DCWV Christmas Winter Combo cardstock matstack.



For the Traditional Folks: A punched-out whimsical tree
on cardstock, which is placed on
Bo Bunny Father Christmas Collection Paper --
with a few brads for added shimmer/dimension/texture.

Birthday/Celebration Card for Kids

Birthday/Celebration Card on paper from
Bo Bunny Snowfall Collection

Parisian-inspired
Birthday/Anniversary/Celebration Card
from DCWV All Dressed Up matstack

So, wish me luck. More details to follow.

Shop Small

I just read Sandy's post on the Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps blog reminding everyone to stop by their local scrapbook store on Small Business Saturday on Saturday, November 26.

By all means, pay a visit to your favorite scrapbook store when doing your holiday shopping. While big coupons can certainly come in handy, there is no doubt that you will find something fabulous at your LSS that you just won't find in a big box, chain store.

Happy scrapping and happy shopping!

OWH Challenge

Hi, everyone,

Sorry it's been such a long time between posts. I've been busy making holiday cards for OWH heroes -- and for a craft show at work. More on that later.

For now, I wanted to let everyone know about a challenge and opportunity.

• Our Daily Bread Designs will be making shipping donations to OWH based on the number of cards linked to their post. (Check out ODBD Shipping Opportunity for more information!)
• Since OWH is turning its attention to hearts and valentines, how about trying your hand at a Love or Valentine's card and then linking your card for this OBDB shipping opportunity.  

The above card was made using a stamp that must have gone with last year's We R Memory Keepers Valentine collection. (I picked it up a few months ago when scrapping with a friend.)

The patterned paper came from a bargain pack from Target. The image was stamped (and hand-drawn stitches were added) to light blue cardstock. Finally, a few gems were added to complete the look.

Since I don't have a fancy cutting machine, I traced the scalloped frame from a die cut. Then, I scanned, copied, and re-sized it using our home printer/scanner and computer.

Now it's your turn. Try your hand at a Valentine's card, and link it to the OWH post. Can't wait to see your creations! As for me, it's back to craft show cards...

Oak Creek Printworks

Just  a quick posting to let you know about a fabulous company out of Simi Valley. I found these fabulous people online while searching for protective card sleeves. I ordered sleeves Thursday evening -- following a very helpful phone call -- and received the sleeves on Saturday. Wonderful service paired with a great product -- quite a combination!

You might want to check out Oak Creek Printworks. I'm so glad I did!

Christmas is for Kids

The last few weeks have found me making Christmas cards for OWH troops to send home to the little ones in their lives. A bunch of bright and shiny reindeer were crafted from Caboodle's Deck the Halls kit. The stamp itself is one of Imaginesce's Snag 'em Stamps. Final adornments included painting with watered-down acrylics and stickling noses and collars. Honestly, the image doesn't do justice to the way the noses and collars pop!

In addition, the shipment that will go out on Monday will include more colorful penguins from this year's Jillibean Soup Christmas collection. A little stickling added some pop to snowflakes, tree stars, and tree ornaments, as well as to the backgrounds of the last two cards.

Just a reminder about using glitter, glittered paper, and stickles. Operation Write Home asks that glitter never be used. When using glittered paper or stickles, please be sure that the glitter does not rub off. Even the tiniest speck of glitter can be detected with night vision equipment.

Please go to OWH Card Guidelines for more information on guidelines on cards being made for Operation Write Home.