A Seven Star Tribute

Hi, everyone!

Today's OWH Sketch was inspired by a card made by Jean E. of Garden Grove, CA. Jean made so many beautiful cards for OWH. Please click here to read more about this wonderful lady. The Any Hero card below is made in Jean's memory.

We R Memory Keepers Red, White, & Blue
cardstock: AC white, blue, rusty red; Bazzill background blue; ??? background black
Recollections brads; 3 D glue dots

The dp is one of those busier sheets that I typically struggle with using. So, I kept the rest of the card really simple with solid color cardstock and simple brads. It's hard to imagine a card without any Distress Ink inks or core paper -- or stamped images. But, here it is.

It seemed a little odd to use black on the card, but the dp wasn't popping quite enough against the red base.Now, I'm thinking that maybe I should have put some black behind the 4 red/blue squares.

I'm also thinking these 4 squares should be a little to the right of where they're placed. But, the brads go through the squares and white strip -- and the white strip is adhered with six 3D glue dots. So, that white strip and 4 squares aren't moving anywhere. :)

I also wish the color of the blue cardstock appeared truer to its actual color. It is far closer to the blue in the dp than it appears here.

Parting Thoughts

Hoping to work on a Father's Day card this afternoon.

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

Heart Prints in the Sand -- UPDATED

Hi, everyone.

[From 6/5/2013]
Okay, it's probably cheating. But, when I saw today's Midweek Throwdown challenge was to make a card involving water, I opted to post this little card again. It's not that I wouldn't love to make another one of these, but I have been so busy with hubby's retirement card and a Father's Day card for my dad.... So, I jumped at the chance to recycle these little heart prints. 

Have a good rest of the week!

[From 6/1/2013]
Two posts in one day!!!!  Found a little time this afternoon to make a card featuring water for this month's  OBDB Challenge for OWH. For those of you new to OWH, Our Daily Bread Design is a fabulous supporter of OWH. One of the many ways in which this wonderful company supports OWH is to pay shipping charges based on the number of cards linked to their monthly challenge: 1 box for 25 linked cards, 2 boxes for 50 linked cards.

dp: used sandpaper from Karen Foster Designs that I've had forever
cardstock: Distress Ink core , AC (brown), Cardstock Warehouse Paper Company (navy)
EK triple heart punch; sentiment stamped in SU Night of Navy
champagne colored heart gems that I've had forever
other tools: distresser, sanding block, bendable 'ruler' from Staedtler

This is a card that's been living in my head for a while now. I just wasn't sure how to pull it off. I have to admit I'm pretty pleased with the way this turned it out.

The wet-sand hearts were created by heat embossing a strip of the used sandpaper dp with Distress Ink embossing ink and American Crafts ZING clear embossing powder. I debated over heat embossing the sentiment, but finally decided to stamp it in navy -- to complement, rather than distract from -- the embossed hearts. Finally, I decided to place navy hearts behind the embossed hearts to pop them just a little bit more.

Parting Thoughts

One card down, two more to go.

If you're lucky enough to win ODBD blog candy, you're in for a real treat. I was one of the lucky winners
and choose the gingham background stamp used in the card at the right as part of my prize. Thanks again, ODBD!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend. Thanks for visiting and happy scrappin'!

Enjoy the Ride

Hi, everyone.

Didn't get around to making a card for this week's Midweek Throwdown transportation challenge until last night. Oh well, better late than never. :)

Jillibean Soup Blossom Soup and Journaling Sprout embellished with Glossy Accents
Distress Ink core, AC white cardstock
computer-generated sentiment (Lucida)
Spellbinders Nestabilities scallop die; Marvy flower punch
Marvy and EK circle punches; Martha Stewart gem stickers
Creative Memories cutting system

This is only one my second attempt using Glossy Accent -- shocking, I know! I followed the directions, but still have a few air bubbles. Any advice?

One other note about the card: There a red scallop behind the bicycle, both on the inside of the card. I always admire cards by fellow OWHers who add a little extra something to the inside of their cards. Glad I was able to do that on this one.


                                       Parting Thoughts

My sincerest thanks to those passing along best wishes to hubby on his retirement from teaching. Hubby and I were actually a high school romance -- a few years removed. My first 10 years of teaching was at the same school as hubby was teaching. Needless to say, that school holds a very special place in both of our hearts.

Looks like this month's ODBD challenge is posted -- a card that has something to do with water. Beach, anyone? Maybe I'll have a chance to work on that tomorrow. Let's see, my weekend card to-do list is an Any Hero card, an ODBD card, and a Father's Day card. Wish me luck. :)

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

A Card 37 Years in the Making

Hi, everyone!

This is a card 37 years in the making. Today marks hubby's last day as an American History teacher. That's right... 37 years of teaching American History! 

Just thinking about all the students he's taught -- not to mention the players he's coached, the teachers he's mentored, the parents he's advised... Oh, my!

I so wanted to do something really special to congratulate him on his accomplishments and commemorate this wonderful moment. But, there's not anything that could come close to the kind of tribute and recognition he deserves. And, then you through in the fact that he's a stoic son-of-a-gun who wants no fuss, no party, no gifts, no anything.

Then, I came up with a final exam/exit exam idea for a card -- a multiple choice test of questions that recount some of the details of his career. So, even though this is not a traditional congratulations card, it's the just the right kind of congratulations card for hubby... although he might get a little attention since I plan on linking this to CAS-ual Fridays' congratulations card challenge. :)

"Exam" Cover

First Page of Exam

A Sample Question

Last Page of Exam: Non-Fussy Gifts for Hubby
(donations to the local animal shelter, food pantry, and a little gift card for him)

Parting Thoughts

Can't wait to give hubby his card and gifts tonight!  I think this will be non-fussy enough for him. And, I think he'll really appreciate the card. Congratulations, hubby, on a fabulous career!

I have to say the layout of the card was a tough nut to crack. I don't even want to confess how many sheets of paper went through our printer before I finally got it right!  :)

Congratulations to all the members of the Class of 2013 -- and kudos to all you loved ones for all the love and support  you gave along the way.

Have a great weekend. As always, thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

OWH BlogHop Follow-Up

Hi, everyone!

Happy Wednesday! Hope the work week is treating you well.

Acts of Kindness

At the time I was working on cards for the bloghop, the nightly news was filled with so many tragic events -- most notably, the awful tornado that hit Oklahoma. 

In addition, I was home-bound with a health-related matter. I was well enough to work, but not well enough to go to work. My colleagues were so very helpful in making arrangements for me to work remotely.

These two things, combined with the hop's thank you theme, inspired me to ask fellow cardmakers to share recent acts of kindness for which they were thankful. I have to confess that I was a little hesitant about doing something this personal, but your responses were amazing. 

You shared so many wonderful accounts of kindnesses -- kindnesses bestowed by loved ones, by friends, by complete strangers. Some kindnesses were as simple as a hubby sharing his rack of ribs. Other kindnesses were as profound as neighbors and strangers helping those in need following devastating storms. Some kindnesses brought smiles, others brought laughs, and a few brought tears.

But, all kindnesses were acts of love that came straight from the heart -- and meant so very much to their recipients. 

Thank you all for sharing such treasured memories. 

BlogHop Comments

Speaking of thanks, thank you for all of your kind and supportive comments. If I had known the jute/burlap ribbon was going to be such a hit, I would picked up a couple of rolls of it for blog candy. Maybe next time. :)

Speaking of blog candy....

The winner of the Tim Holtz embossing folders is Nancy M! Nancy wrote about a secretary who gave her money to add minutes to her cell phone when during a medical emergency.

Congratulations, Nancy! Your package should be in the mail tomorrow afternoon.

Parting Thoughts

Hoping to make a card for this week's Midweek Throwdown challenge to make a card involving a means of transportation.

Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

Memorial Day

Hi, everyone.

A simple post to thank our troops and honor those families who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The following Any Hero cards are being packed up in the box being sent to Kris this week.

Details for all of these cards were included in earlier posts. However, if you have any questions, feel free to ask. :)

 

Parting Thought

This is the 2nd blogaversary for Scrapping with Purpose. The very first post was about a huge cardmaking party at Scrapbook Art in Lewis Center, OH. So, it seemed only appropriate to post some Any Hero cards on this Memorial Day.

If you haven't yet checked out Operation Write Home's Memorial Day Bloghop, there's still time to do a little hopping. :)

Whether it's spending time with loved ones or enjoying some quiet time of your own, have a blessed and safe Memorial Day Monday. Thanks for visiting and happy scrappin'!

Lots of Textures, Lots of Layers

Hi, everyone!

Hope you've had a chance to check out OWH's Bloghop. There are so many talented cardmakers and so many amazing cards! Thanks to everyone who is hosting a stop on the hop. Extra special thanks to the OWH elves who made it all happen.

OWH Sketch #174

The Any Hero card below was inspired by today's sketch -- and Sandy's request for all hoppers to make two Any Hero cards this weekend. I have to confess that this sketch was a little busy for me. In an attempt to "neutralize the busyness", I went with a lot of solid cardstock and fibers. Nonetheless, hubby felt my end result was still a little too busy for his tastes. :)

Bo Bunny Liberty; Bazzill admiral and watermelon; AC neutral
Recollections jute; Ribbon Boutique natural jute
Paper Studio star punch; Marvy circle punch; Creative Memories cutting system; crimper
Stampin' Up! brads; 3D glue dots

Parting Thoughts

Heartfelt thanks to those who have served our country. Thoughts and prayers to those families who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Hope the rest of your Memorial Day weekend is blessed and safe.

As always, thanks for visiting and happy scrappin'!

Memorial Day BlogHop 2013

Hi everyone!

Welcome to a stop on Operation Write Home's 2013 Memorial Day BlogHop!

To return to the top of the hop, please click here.

Operation Write Home is a wonderful organization of cardmakers who make greeting cards for deployed troops to send home to family and friends. Each Memorial Day weekend, OWH sponsors a bloghop full of ideas and inspiration.

The theme for this year's bloghop is thank you cards -- using OWH sketches. The card below is a thank you card for one of our troops to send to a loved one. The card at the right is an Any Hero card.

OWH Sketch #74
Distress Ink core paper
computer-generated background and sentiment (Mistral)
Paper Studio antique brads
the Ribbon Boutique natural jute

 Blog Candy

Blog Candy
Tim Holtz Alterations
Texture Fades
Airmail & Compass Set

Is there blog candy? Why, yes there is!  Since these two cards have a bit of an international/travel feel, I thought travel-themed candy would be appropriate.

If you'd like to be entered in the drawing for the candy at the right, please do the following:

• Leave a comment about a recent gesture of thoughtfulness that meant the world to you by midnight Monday Pacific Time.
• Include your e-mail address written in the form cards[dot]by[dot]sybrina[at]gmail[dot]com.

Parting Thought

Thanks for stopping and happy hoppin'!

Thank You for Protecting Our Freedom

Hi, everyone!

This week's Casual Friday's Red, White, & Blue challenge is perfect to honor our country's finest on this Memorial Day weekend. The card below is an Any Hero card that will be sent to Operation Write Home, which is hosting a huge bloghop this weekend!

paper-pieced heart: original computer-created design
sentiment: the Sweet Stamp Shop in Stampin' Up! Night of Navy
cardstock: tan: Distress Ink core, blue: Cardstock Warehouse Paper Co, white: AC, blue: ???
Marvy and the Paper Studio star punches; Recollections brads
Mark Richards crystals; 3D glue dots

Parting Thoughts

Really looking forward to the OWH bloghop. If my post goes live as scheduled, I'll be sharing two cards: a card thanking one of our troops for his/her service and a thank you card that can be sent home to a loved one. See you at the hop. :)

Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!

Make a Wish Come True

Hi, everyone.

First of all, our thoughts and prayers to everyone affected by that horrible tornado and all the recent storms. Here's hoping our OWH family and their loved ones are safe and sound.

Today's Card

Today's Midweek Throwdown challenge is to make a card featuring three of something. And, the card we made in last night's Stampin' Up! technique class is perfect for this challenge. How fortuitous!

Stampin' Up!: cardstock, stamps, ink, ribbon, embossing folder, die
Mark Richards and Queen & Co: pearls

The technique we used was called Rock and Roll. We stamped a flower in one ink, and rolled the edges of the stamp in another ink. The process was repeated for three flowers. Then we cut out each flower using a coordinating die.

Pretty cool technique.

Parting Thoughts

Looking forward to a little laughter tonight watching a few favorite Wednesday night comedies. 

Also looking forward to the upcoming OWH Memorial Day BlogHop.

Have a good rest of the week. Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!