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.

OWH VCMP: Home Sweet Home

Welcome to the 8pm EST/5pm PST challenge for Operation Write Home's Virtual Card Making Party in celebration of OWH's birthday!  This is the tenth and final challenge of the weekend.  Be sure to check the list of challenges here to be sure that you didn't miss out on any of the fun. 

Today, I'm challenging you to make a card that represents your state (or your country if you're an international visitor).  This card should make you feel right at home in hopes that it does the same for one of our heroes.  Think about what makes your state special; state symbols are a great place to start.  I'm from Maryland and I've depicted some of our official state symbols in the cards below.

This card features a crab, one of Maryland's best and simplest culinary pleasures and our official state crustacean.  I think this would make a great birthday card- either as a belated birthday wish or as a jab at a person who's getting old.  "Oh snap, you're not 29 anymore!"

Stamps: Recollections Feeling Fishy, Lawn Fawn Quinn's ABC's
Patterned Papers: DCWV- blue, Pebbles- orange
Punch: Fiskars Boundary Waters
Dies: Nestabilities circles
Coloring: Copics
Twine: Whisker Graphics Peach Divine Twine

Next, I used some of the colors of Maryland's flag (black, yellow, red, and white) to make this card. The diamond shape is inspired by the yellow and black pattern on Maryland's flag. 

Stamps: Stampin' Up Lighthouse- bird, American Crafts Spring- sentiment
Papers: cardstock from stash
Coloring: Copics
Dies: Cuttlebug Harlequin

On my third card, I made a farm scene.  Not only do I live in a small town surrounded by farms, but in researching Maryland symbols to make this card, I learned that milk is the state's official beverage! Moo! 

Stamps: Lawn Fawn- Critters on the Farm (the cloud is made from the sheep's body)
Patterned papers: Lawn Fawn- Bright Side
Punches: EK Success Alpine Trail and Martha Stewart Scary Fence
Coloring: Copics
Tutorial: Wavy Banner

If you're ever at a loss for what to write in AnyHero cards, I challenge you to write a note in your state-inspired card.  You can explain the symbolism of your card and tell the hero what you love about your state.  I'll be doing that with my farm card. 

What will inspire you?  A landmark, a flower, a sport, an animal, a flag, or something else?  Link up your state-inspired cards here by Tuesday at midnight EST (9pm PST) for a chance to win some  blog candy!  In celebration of OWH's birthday, I have a package of birthday stickers and four rolls of yellow and orange washi tape up for grabs.  I'll draw a random winner sometime on Wednesday and post an announcement on my blog.  (US addresses only, please.)  I can't wait to see what you create for this challenge! 

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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.

Mojo? Mojo? Come here, Mojo!

I'm beginning to think that when I cleaned up my craft room a few weeks ago, I cleaned my mojo out too.  I haven't been very prolific on the cardmaking front over the past few weeks and I haven't even felt the urge to go create.  Of course, my inspiration is bound to return when I start back to work this week and have less time to devote to crafting.  I actually got a good burst of inspiration last night when I started working on a special project, but I have to wait until next month to share that one.  I do have a few cards to share from recent days. :)  These all make use of stickers as their main image.  My favorite is definitely the fish! 

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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.

Back to school

It's the most wonderful time of the year according to Staples.  Deep down, I feel that way, too, even though I am not excited at the prospect of a week of meetings prior to the start of the school year.

My 8th grade team has 14 teachers.  This year, we're welcoming 4 new teachers to our team and we have a long term sub in for a teacher who had surgery and is still recovering.  I wanted to make some cards that the "old" members of them team could sign.  They're pretty simple, but they get the message across!

  

The patterned papers and stickers are from Colorbok.  The border punch is EK Success.  Stamps are Inkadinkado (school girl and "welcome"), See D's (owl), and Imaginesence (bus). Coloring with Copics.
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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.

Tutorial: Tool Organizer

Inspired by a clutch I saw on Pinterest that was made by TidyMom, I set out to make an organizer with elastic loops to hold my crafting tools so I can easily take them along to crops.   I thought the plastic bags in the inspiration were a recipe for disaster for me- they would certainly make my sewing machine spazz out and I knew I'd destroy the bags if I ever got them stitched down properly.  Elastic loops sounded much more promising. 

I purchased a printed pot holder with a pocket.  The pocket is optional but gives an extra storage space and a convenient way to hide your stitches. 

I cut a length of thin elastic the same length as the potholder and I sewed it down every 3/4" or so by hand.  I would recommend that you choose the objects you want to store first and change the spacing of your stitches accordingly.  I would also recommend 1/4" or 1/2" elastic instead of the slim elastic I used if you're storing heavy things.  I chose to sew this by hand because I wanted to hide the stitches inside the pocket.  

 

Finally, stitch a button in line with the hanging loop so you can close up your organizer.  Not bad for $1.50, right?  It was a very quick project, less than 30 minutes start to finish! 

The button is on the back!  Small scissors easily fit in the pocket.

Potholder: Big Lots, $1.50
Elastic, Thread, and Button: from stash 

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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.

Like a bowl full of jelly

I was happy to get to share a short tutorial on OWH Stars and Stamps today featuring how to make a Santa card.  The version here is slightly different from the one in the tutorial.  I used buttons instead of brads, white ribbon instead of black, and a metal slider instead of a soda tab for the belt buckle.  I also added two vertical score lines on either side of the buttons; they may not show up well in the photograph unless you click to enlarge it.  I made this kind of card last summer and had some fun with them, so I wanted to make a few more this year.  You can see my original post from August 2011 here.  If you want to see a similar card, check out OWHtv episode 29 from September 2011 where Sandy shared some cards in this same style minus the beard. 

I hope you try your hand at some Santa cards!  Thanks so much for visiting if you came over from the OWH blog.  I'm happy to have you here!  
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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.