OWH VCMP: Cards 4 Kids

Hi, everyone.

Welcome, party goers! Happy Birthday, Operation Write Home!

Operation Write Home is a wonderful nonprofit organization that sends blank homemade greeting cards to our deployed troops so that they can write to loved ones back home in the States. Today's post is a stop on a Virtual Cardmaking Party to celebrate OWH's birthday month. :)

Please click here to return to the Master Thread.

Before we get to the challenge, let me send a big shout-out to Allison and the OWH blog team. And, thanks to yesterday's hostesses for a great day of challenges.

 The Challenge

Swiss dot embossing on red border
polar bear cub
paper-only embellishments
Please click here for card details.

The challenge on this stop is to make a kiddie card using the tic-tac-toe board shown below.

Today's sample card was inspired by a recent Tuesday Tutorial on polar bear cards and several adorable photos of polar bear cubs.

So, what will you choose? Maybe you're a softie for a punny sentiment... or have a favorite technique... or have a new truck stamp that you can't wait to ink up and color. Whether you go 3-across, down or diagonally, I can't wait to see your kiddie cards!

Blog Candy

And, what's a birthday party without some candy?

So, a $15 gift certificate to Paper Smooches will be awarded to one lucky, randomly-selected cardmaker! Just link a tic-tac-toe inspired kiddie card by noon (Eastern Time) Tuesday to be eligible.

Thanks for playing and happy scrappin'!

Have a BEARY Merry Christmas!

Hi, everyone.

The card below was inspired by Operation Write Home's Polar Bear Tutorial and photos of adorable baby polar bears in ice caves. I have to say I am THRILLED with the way this little guy turned out.   :)

Distress Ink core paper; cardstock: Bazzill black, AC white
Cuttlebug embossing folder
punches: EK hole, Paper Shaper circle, Recollection snowflake
Creative Memories oval cutting system
pens: Uniball white, Micron black; tool: Staedtler bendable ruler
techniques: paper piecing and fussy cutting

While this digital picture is one of my better efforts, there are a few details that don't show up. The red core paper around the borders was embossed, and lightly sanded, using a Swiss dot embossing folder. Also, the outlines of the bear cub and the Santa hat were lightly inked using blue and black shades of Distress Ink, respectively.

Speaking of the Santa hat, Microsoft clip art images were used to make the hat and candy cane. After images were printed, they were cut out to use as templates.

If you haven't seen a Staedtler bendable ruler, you might want to check them out. A good friend gave me one a while ago, and I it comes in handy at the most unexpected times. For this card, I used it to outline the "cave" opening so I didn't get too tear-crazy.

Parting Thoughts

I'm hoping that this little cub brings a big smile to the face of one of our troop's little ones.

And, I'm thinking this could be a popular card at this season's craft fairs. Just need to find a way to keep the cuteness -- and attention to detail, while streamlining the process. Trust me, this little guy was pretty labor intensive... but definitely worth the effort! I couldn't be happier with this little bear cub.   :)

Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!