AI and OWH Bloghop

Hi everyone!  Welcome to my stop on the Art Impressions/Operation Write Home Bloghop.  If you're new to Operation Write Home, it's an organization that sends blank hand made cards to deployed military units.  For me, it's been a great way to give back and honor my family members who have served while making use of my talent and supplies.  If you're interested in more information, be sure to visit Operation Write Home's website and Facebook page. 

Art Impressions is a loyal supporter of OWH.  Art Impressions has released two new fundraiser sets today and 25% of every purchase of these stamps will benefit OWH.  Shopping and charity, what a great combination! 

If you missed the start of the hop, it can be found on the Art Impressions blog. There are 17 designers and I'm sure you'll want to catch them all.

Here's the card I made using the new OWH Every Hat set.  It comes with this adorable lady to color and two sentiments.  

Paper: DCWV A Type of Art Stack
Copic colors: B00, B02, B04, B06, B32, B34, BG0000, R22, R24, R29, R35, R39, C5, E31, Y13, Y17, YR04, YR20, YR23, and YR27 (I'm still learning to color, so please forgive any mistakes!)  
Punch: Fiskars Apron Lace
Dies: Spellbinders Circles
Other: Brads from stash, probably by Making Memories 

The second set of stamps is the OWH Sending Love set.  Isn't it so cute how the string connecting the cans spells out LOVE? 

Paper: K & Co Halloween Mat Pad
Punches: EK Success Binding Edge and Flourish Square, Stampin Up Curly Label
Dies: Cuttlebug heart
Other: Glossy Accents (on heart)

Now, I'm sure you want to go place an order for these great new stamps.  The logo below will take you to Art Impression's online store. 

Your next stop on the hop is Lee Mae at Boxes of Dogs.  She always shares awesome cards on the Operation Write Home blog, so I'm sure you'll want to see what she has for you!   Thanks for visiting. 


If you're lost, here are all of the stops:

1. Art Impressions
2. Crafter's Home
3. Crystal Lopez 
4. Dixie Cochran
5. Paula Spagnuolo 
6. Karen Day 
7. Kathryn Belmonte (You're here!)
8. Lee Mae Elkins
9. Kerry Kung
10. Nancy Keller
11. Piali Biswas
12. Kristie Marcotte
13. Reneé Matarese
14. Ronni Unger
15. Rhonda Harre
16. Sandy Allnock
17. Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps

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Cards shipped to OWH in 2013: 651 blank and 236 AnyHero (as of 4/28/13)
Cards shipped to OWH in 2012: 1284 blank and 218 AnyHero
Cards shipped to OWH in 2011: 1695

Check out OWH at www.operationwritehome.org to learn more about its mission and how to get involved.

A little lovey dino

I used some paper from Big Lots and some very old stash paper to make this dino card.  The stamp is one I received from Pam T a while ago and I think it's adorable!  The heart accents are from Mary.  I also used this week's Sunday Sketch, #167.

 

So, what do you think of the coloring?  How can I improve?  Thanks for your feedback!  
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Cards shipped to OWH in 2013: 340 blank and 140 AnyHero (as of 1/7/13)
Cards shipped to OWH in 2012: 1284 blank and 218 AnyHero
Cards shipped to OWH in 2011: 1695

Check out OWH at www.operationwritehome.org to learn more about its mission and how to get involved.

B-day card for a little man

In the past two years, my family has experienced a baby explosion!   The cousins on my dad's side of the family now have 8, soon to be 9 (this week!) children and we're not done quite yet.  I wanted to do something for their birthdays but presents seemed a little over the top, especially since I won't get to see any of them on their birthdays due to geographic constraints.  The kids will, however, be getting cards! 

This is for a little man who's turning 6 on Friday.  Life's been busy lately for this little guy.  He welcomed a new little brother last week and started Kindergarten this week.  I heard he had a rough time on the bus because it was "overwhelming and loud."  What an articulate child! Hopefully this super hero will put that endearing grin I love to see on his face. 

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Cards shipped to OWH in 2012: 928 blank and 215 AnyHero (as of 6/26)
Cards shipped to OWH in 2011: 1695

Check out OWH at www.operationwritehome.org to learn more about its mission and how to get involved.

Hay there!

This Lawn Fawn card could just as easily be for kids as adults.  I sewed around the panels, tied on the bell with twine, and colored the image with Copics.  This isn't a sketch, but I think it could be tweaked into one. 

The funny thing with this card is that I tried to add a googly eye to make it appeal to kids more and suddenly the cow looked like a mutant! FYI- googly eyes aren't always a good plan.  Thanks for stopping by! 
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Cards shipped to OWH in 2012: 928 blank and 215 AnyHero (as of 6/26)
Cards shipped to OWH in 2011: 1695

Check out OWH at www.operationwritehome.org to learn more about its mission and how to get involved.

Hey Chickadee

This Lawn Fawn stamp set reminds me of my former coworker who always called me, "chickadee." I wanted to make a CAS card but I don't think this is really CAS.  I paper pieced the Lawn Fawn Critters on the Farm stamps using Lawn Fawn Bright Side papers.  The red details on the hen were colored with Copic R24.   
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Cards shipped to OWH in 2012: 928 blank and 215 AnyHero (as of 6/26)
Cards shipped to OWH in 2011: 1695

Check out OWH at www.operationwritehome.org to learn more about its mission and how to get involved.

VCMP Cards - Labor Day 2012

OWH organized a virtual card making party this weekend and I was lucky enough to be one of the hostesses.  There were 10 challenges in all, split evenly over Saturday and Sunday.

Here are the cards I made for each of the challenges.  I had a house guest on Saturday and Sunday, so I fit these in this afternoon after she left. 

#1: ODBD- Use a scripture sentiment.  Please note that I sealed in the glitter using Glossy Accents so it won't pose a hazard to our heroes. 

Stamps: Studio G

Papers: DCWV cardstock

Nesties: Labels 5

Embossing: Darice Stripes

Brads: stash

#2: Cherie- Use a recipe of 1 image, 2 patterned papers, and 3 words.

Stamps: Studio G and Unity

Papers: DCWV printed cardstock

Punches: EK Success

Coloring: Copics

#3: Cindy- Use snowflakes but not on a Christmas card.

Stamps: Studio G

Papers: stash

Embellishment: JoAnn

Coloring: Copics

Embossing: Cuttlebug Snowflakes

Sketch: OWH 83

#4: Donna- "Triple Time" stamping

Stamps: Unity

Tutorial: Triple Time Stamping

Papers: stash

Ribbon: stash

Ink: SU Pink Passion, Pixie Pink, Gable Green, Only Orange

 #5: Sandy- Cowboy card

Stamps: Studio G

Papers: DCWV cardstock

Die: Cuttlebug

Punch: Fiskars

 #6: OWH/Linda - Follow the OWH Sketch #136 using a paper punch for the embellishments.

Stamps: Studio G

Papers: stash

Punch: Marvy

Washi: Target paper tape (green, yellow, and blue packs)

Sketch: OWH #136

 #7: Sybrina- Make an AnyHero Christmas card and a Christmas card for kids.

Stamps: Studio G and SU

Papers: DCWV cardstock, K&Co, stash

Nesties: Circles

Coloring: Copics

Embossing: Snowflakes

Ribbons: Target, stash

#8: Cherie- Make a sports-themed card.

Sticker: Deja Views

Papers: stash

Embossing: Darice Stars (small) and Cuttlebug Stars (large)

#9: Shannon- Use a tool you haven't used in a long time. My unloved tool was a combo stamp/punch from EK Success.  It's a pain to use because you have to put the stamp into the punch, ink it, punch, and then take it apart if you want to make a second one.  I haven't used it very often (if at all) with the stamps that came with it. 

Stamps: Studio G and EK Success

Papers: Pebbles and stash

Punches: EK Success

#10: Me- Make a card that represents your state.  Scroll down to my last post to see my samples and post a card there to qualify for blog candy!

Thanks to Allison for organizing the party and to all of the hostesses for coming up with great challenges.  I wish we could do these every month- they always inspire me to make cards I might have otherwise not thought of!   

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Cards shipped to OWH in 2012: 928 blank and 215 AnyHero (as of 6/26)
Cards shipped to OWH in 2011: 1695

Check out OWH at www.operationwritehome.org to learn more about its mission and how to get involved.

Cards with Aimee and Sketch #132

One of my best friends visited me yesterday and we spent just a little time making cards.  Today, I took the scraps from what we made and whipped up several more cards.  These patterned papers are from DCWV's 2011 Fall/Halloween stack.  Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of Aimee's card.  She'd never used Copics, but her coloring was fab.  She is, after all, an art teacher!

Made with Aimee.  She picked the stamp by Unity for us to use.

Changing the papers of the card above.

Lots of scraps on this card.  Stamps by Hampton Arts. 

OWH Sketch #132.  Stamps are Inkadinkado scrapbooking captions.  At first, the purple paper was plain but the card looked unadorned, so I masked off the other papers and stamped the vines.  This is why you should glue last!

First time I inked up this kitty from Unity.  More scraps!

It's so nice to have friends who enjoy the same hobbies as I do.  Do you have friends who like to craft with you or are you a solo crafter?  I find I get more done alone, but I have lots more fun with my friends!

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Cards shipped to OWH in 2012: 928 blank and 215 AnyHero (as of 6/26)
Cards shipped to OWH in 2011: 1695

Check out OWH at www.operationwritehome.org to learn more about its mission and how to get involved.

Treats for someone sweet

One of my coworkers and her husband hosted a party at their house for a lot of people (friends, family, coworkers) over the weekend.  I wanted to take them a little gift in addition to bringing something to share at the party.

I dug through my stamps and found seven stamps with the word "sweet" before I came across this one with the sentiment I wanted.

Made with a combination of Studio G and SU stamps, Copic markers, assorted cardstock from my stash, random ribbon, and lots of white chocolate!  That's right, the mix inside is Alton Brown's White Trash.  Scrumptious! 
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Cards shipped to OWH in 2012: 928 blank and 215 AnyHero (as of 6/26)
Cards shipped to OWH in 2011: 1695

Check out OWH at www.operationwritehome.org to learn more about its mission and how to get involved.

Copic Christmas

I think I used more Copics on this image than I have on any other coloring.  Just for fun, here are the 11 colors: C5, BG0000, BG18, R22, R24, R29, G24, YG03, YG67, Y13, Y17.  I'm learning, so if you have any suggestions on how I can improve my coloring, I'd love to hear what you have to say. 

Stamp: Inkadinkado
Coloring: Copics
Papers: All scraps.  The pattern is likely DCWV. 

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Cards shipped to OWH in 2012: 928 blank and 215 AnyHero (as of 6/26)
Cards shipped to OWH in 2011: 1695

Check out OWH at www.operationwritehome.org to learn more about its mission and how to get involved.

Unity Ippity CC #39

I love a good sketch challenge, so I'm getting my Ippity Chick Challenge card in just under the wire.  Hey, there's an hour to spare, so that means I'm early, right? This is for ippity Chick Challenge #39.  I'm also linking it to the Unity flower challenge running for the last two weeks of July. 

This should  be a great card to send to Operation Write Home because the sentiment is versatile- great for a birthday, anniversary, wedding, or other celebration. I'm always looking for sentiments that can do double or triple duty! 

 Close up!

 

Stamps: Unity Stamp Company Best Wishes and Blooms
Paper: Lawn Fawn petite paper pack
Coloring: Copics R22, R24, YG67, YG03
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Cards shipped to OWH in 2012: 928 blank and 215 AnyHero (as of 6/26)
Cards shipped to OWH in 2011: 1695

Check out OWH at www.operationwritehome.org to learn more about its mission and how to get involved.

Missing you!

OK, all those wonderful patriotic cards on the OWH/OSH blog hop last week had me thinking patriotic. 

This card is very simple.  What was interesting to me was that I spent so much time hating it as I made it.  Everything seemed wrong until I switched the color of the back layer.  At first, I had it on the cream that I stamped the image and sentiment on.  Something about the card felt off, so I switched it to a burgundy that matched the strip of polka dotted paper and all of the sudden the image popped off the card.

I colored with Copics and Marvy Le Plume markers.  Gosh, I can't wait to replace the LePlumes- they're so streaky!  I used a white gel pen to highlight the flag's white stripes.

Stamps: Amuse (house) and Inkadinkado (sentiment)
Papers: I have no idea!  The stars were sold by the sheet at JoAnn.  The polka dots were in a pack from Ollies, maybe by Making Memories?
Punches: EK Success
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Cards shipped to OWH in 2012: 928 blank and 215 AnyHero (as of 6/26)
Cards shipped to OWH in 2011: 1695

Check out OWH at www.operationwritehome.org to learn more about its mission and how to get involved.

I colored. And it turned out pretty.

In a swap, Raeanna sent me a bunch of large images to color.  As I said before, I'm not a huge fan of coloring, though I'd like to learn to enjoy it.  I chose this witch sitting on a pumpkin because the markers I have suited its color scheme better than some of the other images she sent.  I had to supplement my Copics with Bic Mark-its, so there are a few streaky areas that I just couldn't get to smooth out.  It was the first big thing I've finished coloring.  Usually I end up throwing them away early on and giving up.  There are plenty of mistakes, but it's not a train wreck, so I used it. 

I used Nesties to cut her out and add a scallop border.  The orange cardstock is stamped with a witch hat in Only Orange.  The sentiment stamp and the hat are by Studio G.  The ribbon is Michael's and the brad is Studio G from Walmart.

All together now: 

 

Thanks for visiting.  Did you see that OWH has a new challenge due the end of this month?  It's for half and half general and fall/winter cards.  Holiday-specific are OK, but they love getting general fall and winter cards too since they can be sent for many weeks instead of for just one specific date.  

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Cards shipped to OWH in 2012: 928 blank and 215 AnyHero (as of 6/26)
Cards shipped to OWH in 2011: 1695

Check out OWH at www.operationwritehome.org to learn more about its mission and how to get involved.

Purple flower thank you

I got some purple markers and decided to try them out on this card.  While purple is my favorite color, I have a hard time using it in my crafts because I think the different shades of purple are hard to coordinate.

I colored the flower stamp (a very old one from Dollar Tree), stamped the sentiment (Hampton Arts), and added bling.  While the bling appears blue, it is actually purple.  The fancy cut is a Cricut cut from a swap.   I layered the green paper (K & Co) with the purple cardstock (Recollections), punched the top edge with a Fiskars punch, and wove hem tape in for my bow. 

Thanks for visiting!  
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Cards shipped to OWH in 2012: 620 blank and 200 AnyHero (as of 4/24)
Cards shipped to OWH in 2011: 1695 Check out OWH at www.operationwritehome.org to learn more about its mission and how to get involved.

OWH Sketch #118

Sketch #118 looks so cute with its scalloped borders.  At first, I tried to make big scallops using my circle punch, but the effect wasn't what I was going for.  I switched to the border punch instead and was much happier with the overall design.

Stamp by Recollections (Michaels), border punch by Fiskars, coloring with Copics, papers by American Crafts and Making Memories

Are you ready to ship out your box for the Muscle Card challenge?  I have 223 cards to send- not enough for a large FRB but too many for a medium FRB.  I will hold some general cards back for my next shipment and send a medium FRB tomorrow. 

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Cards shipped to OWH in 2012: 302 blank and 200 AnyHero (as of 3/4)
Cards shipped to OWH in 2011: 1695

Happy Birthday

My Copics and I are getting to know each other.  I only have a few so far and I really need to fill in some other colors in order to be able to color well.  Just having one marker in a color family isn't good, but I'm learning with what I have before I get more. 

I made this simple card tonight using some scraps that were laying around and an SU Lots of Bots image I colored last night with my Copics.  I think this card counts for the masculine half of the box and I think I like it enough to make more.  I'm having friends over to make cards on Friday, so I'm looking for simple ideas I can work on while hosting that won't having me hauling out every supply I own.  :) 

Tuesday Tutorial - Copic bleeding

Go check out the great tutorial Cindy did on OWH Stars and Stamps today.
Brief rundown of supplies:
Stamps by Rubber Stampede (circles) and Studio G (hi)
Blue paper by DCWV, pink unknown from stash
Copic Markers
White pigment ink and white embossing powder
Blue organdy ribbon from JoAnn
circle punch from Fiskars
Photo corner punch from EK
Gem by Tulip

I used 50% rubbing alcohol since it's what I had. Cindy recommended 91%. I didn't get a lot of color variation and I wonder if the stronger alcohol would have provided this. I also used a heat tool to speed the drying time instead of being patient!

I thought this was a cool technique and want to try it with paler colors next time.

Cards shipped to OWH (as of 10/20/11): 1642

First Copic Card

Not feeling the pink/red/hearts Valentine mojo tonight, I opted to make a general love card with earthy papers and a squirrel stamp and sentiment from Hampton Arts. It ended up a fall card, a bit by accident, but I still like it.

It's the first card I colored entirely with Copics! The squirrel is colored with W3, the acorn with E31, and the sentiment with Y17. I started small. I'm working on shading but the colors I have in my collection don't all have blending buddies yet. Perhaps I'll be able to add more soon! Also, I need to get an inkpad that doesn't smear. SU Basic Black is all kinds of runny on this. :(

Cards shipped to OWH (as of 10/20/11): 1642