You've Got Mail :)

Hi, everyone.

Tonight's card was inspired by the CAS-ual Fridays challenge to make a card featuring green, aqua, and orange.

watercolor paper, Distress Ink core paper
Paper Smooches Teen Scene images
StazOn jet black ink, watered down acrylics
Darice jewelry hemp cord, miscellaneous gems

The card is a stripped down version of a card that I made earlier in the week for an OWH friend challenge. While I switched from cardstock to watercolor paper, many of the same techniques -- including the first generation/second generation/third generation stamping and the layering of papers (one layer/two layers/three layers) used for the arrows. (I really am thrilled with these little arrows!)

I found a sheet of designer paper with an aqua, green, orange, and pink palette that I really liked. The colors used to paint this card's images were created by blending various acrylics with light ivory and/or light black. The background was created by spattering the blended acrylics with a toothbrush. I chose an orange cardstock base to pop the orange in the envelope and arrows.

UPDATE: Still tweaking...
Kinda of liking v2.1.
Which do you prefer?

While I love the way the laptop, computer, and arrows turned out, I'm still not quite sure about the finishing touches.

• The first decision was to let the images speak for themselves and not include a sentiment. 
• Then, I went back and forth between lots of different ribbons and twines, before deciding on the black hemp cord to ground the card and bring out the black stamping. 
• I also went back and forth between various gems and sequins, before deciding on the green gems shown here. (Black rhinestones seemed like too much, pearls seemed too formal, and the sequins didn't feel quite right. These little green gems have actually been in my stash for quite a while. So, it was nice to get to use them.)

Still trying to decide whether this little card is going to Operation Write Home or to a friend. Tough decision... But, since I originally got this stamp set to make cards for teens for OWH, think OWH is going to win. :)

UPDATED 09/05/2013: Think I'll post these little devices to this month's Paper Smooches Guest Designer Challenge.

Parting Thoughts

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

Waves of Freedom -- UPDATED

Hi, everyone.

Hope the work week went well and the weekend is off to a good start.

I'm hoping the card below is okay to post for this week's CAS-ual Friday challenge to make a card featuring a banner. The strip at the bottom of the card started out looking more like a traditional banner. But, the card just felt like it needed something simpler.

Background Stamp: blog candy from ODBD :)
sentiment from Sweet Stamp Shop in Distress Ink faded jeans
background image and sentiment stamped in Distress Ink on watercolor paper
watercolor paper brushed in watered-down burnt sierra acrylic
Distress Ink core paper, garage sale brads

I love the effect of stamping on watercolor paper, brushed in watered-down acrylics. The effect seems to go perfectly with the background stamp.

Also love this was the first card that I made with this fabulous prize from ODBD's monthly drawing for OWH challenge cards. Thanks again, ODBD, for all you do for OWH!

UPDATE

Gave this another try -- this time with a more traditional pennant. The key was choosing a shorter sentiment.

Parting Thoughts

Speaking of ODBD's monthly challenge, there are only 28 cards posted. Our goal is to link 50 cards. Fortunately, there's still lots of time in June to make that water card -- and be entered in the blog candy drawing!  :)

Should be a fun family day tomorrow. Headed to the neighborhood pool and to a local church festival. And, the weather is supposed to be fabulous!

Have a great weekend!  Thanks for visiting and happy scrappin'!

Friday Night Writes

Hi, everyone,

Thanks to everyone who left comments about last Monday's cards. The font change on Dad my hero and the layering on last week's Any Hero card seemed to be fan favorites.


And thanks to everyone who wished me well at tomorrow's crop. Your comments helped remind me to focus on treasuring the time spent with friends -- and not sweating the housework part quite so much. :)

About this time last year, a favorite LSS was forced out of business when the landlord choose to enter a new lease agreement with a national chain instead of renewing its lease with an established small, local business. Tomorrow's crop is a time for employees and customers of Pizazz It! to reconnect! I'm even more excited because my dearest friend in all the world is coming in tonight for a day and a half of gabbing, eating, shopping, and cropping. Who could ask for anything more?!!!

Again, thanks to everyone who reminded me to see the forest, and not focus on the trees. :)

{Mojo}Mondays

Several of you have mentioned {MojoMondays}, so I decided to pay the site a visit and try my hand at this week's sketch.

Paper: Bo Bunny Liberty, BasicGrey kraft; Medallion: Bazzill painted with Midnight Blue acrylic; Fiber: garage sale Funky Fiber find

 

A special welcome to those of you visiting from the {Mojo}Mondays site. If you're wondering why this card that looks like a hybrid of Father's Day and The Fourth of July, that's exactly what I wanted to create. My goal was to make a Father's Day card for a patriotic dad. :)

About 95% of my cards are made for Operation Write Home, a non-profit that makes cards for troops deployed over seas to send to loved ones back home. If you haven't heard of this wonderful group and might be interested in helping out, please take a minute to visit this site.

Two Cards fit for Puzzle Lovers

Have any of you ever used the puzzle maker at discoveryeducation.com.? Those of you who are teachers may have already heard of this great little tool. I've actually used it to make cards.The first card below is a sample of Father's Day cards I made for OWH last year.The second card is one of two Valentine's Day cards I made for nephews aged 10 and 11.

After using puzzlemaker.com to create the puzzle, I used some word processing magic to provide the solutions. Another option would be to provide clues and have a crossword-puzzle-loving dad fill in the squares himself. :)

In this case, I left it as a puzzle for the boys to do. I went with red, black, and white -- and "V-Day" text -- to not be too girly to get from their aunt and uncle.

There are lots more puzzle options at this great site. If you're into puzzles -- or know someone who is -- have fun checking it out!

Parting Thoughts

It's getting close to my friend Linda's arrival time. So, I'll sign off for now.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!  Happy scrappin'!

Monday Musings

Hi, everyone,

Thankfully the past weekend was much calmer than the end of the week. This allowed for time to make cards and watch basketball -- often at the same time!

OWH Sketch #113

Isn't it interesting how some cards are born so quickly -- almost effortlessly? Guess this week's sketch was really lucky #13 because this was one of those times.

The sketch inspired the Any Hero Card below. To use the digi sentiment, I rotated the design to make a horizontal card -- and I tweaked the smaller rectangular strip just a tad.

Paper: Bo Bunny Liberty collection, BasicGrey kraft, Bazzill Watermelon and Admiral;
Fabric: leftover blue mesh, Canvas Corp burlap sheet jute; OWH digi

I was thrilled with the texture and dimension added by the mesh and jute!  :)

CFC44

This week's CAS-ual Friday challenge is to make a card with a pattern, an image, and a sentiment. And, I think this little lion card below fits the bill.

• Pattern: Croc Embossing
• Image: Paper-Pieced Lion
• Sentiment: "Have a ROARing Good Day!"



DLTK pattern, EK Success 3-heart punch,
Sizzix croc embossing folder, Kaiser rhinestones,
computer-generated font

The idea for this card first came when I was in need of an animal to make a kiddie card for OWH's Virtual Card-Making Party. After a little searching, I came across an adorable lion pattern at DLTK. And, if I do say so myself, a ROARing cute lion was born.  :)

One Last Cupcake

Remember that adorable cupcake illustration by Elizabeth O. Dulemba? Well, it turned out that I printed and colored a 6-pack of those, the last of which was used on the card below.  This card will be going to a colleague who has become a treasured mentor.

Paper: ???? -- from my leftover stash -- and wish there were more of the gingham print
Acrylics: Cranberry Wine/Midnight Blue, Golden Straw/Russet, Moroccan Red, Light Ivory
Scalloped Circle: White Bazzill Chipboard, painted with Cranberry Wine
Accents: Pinkish/Purple Gems and Metallic Penned-Sprinkles

 A Thank You for a Friend

On Friday, I mentioned that a friend at work had a surprised me with a great display rack to use for my card-making endeavors. As a little thank you, I put together a packet of cards for her.

5 handmade cards, "wrapped" in tulle

The finishing touch: A tag-like thank you card tucked inside its own envelope



In the pack, I included the following cards: a masculine thank you, a romantic vintage,  a primary-colored ABC, a "Kind Words Can Conquer", and a feminine pink/cream/black animal print. Seemed like a nice variety.

The tulle bow made for the perfect "wrapping". And, the thank you tag, which was made by mixing and matching assorted leftovers/garage sale finds, topped it all off very nicely. :)  She was definitely surprised -- but probably not as surprised as I was last week!

 

Parting Thoughts

Time to link up some cards.  :)

Have a great week!  Happy scrappin'!