Punky Hearts

The cards above are made for the Stars & Stamp Sunday Sketch . The digital stamp was Sansdesign. I used Kimberly watercolors to color. The embossed black piece on both has gears on it which I think "so go" with this heart. My mom embossed some different papers for me. I inked over it in white so you can see the gears. They show up much better in real life. I really like the overall effect of these colors and patterns together. I would send this to my teen and young adult daughter so I am hoping a hero would like to send to theirs.

I do not remember where I got these hearts but I love them. I like to different styles of these cards one style is "punk" one is country. I used Kimberly watercolors I am really liking the watercolor I feel like I am creating a painting. I also use the watercolor on the sentiments. I am never happy with the white space on the digital stamps or sentiments on my cards.

They are asking for hearts at Operation Write Home hope these are what they have in mind.

Miss you

The Wednesday challenge at OWH Stars & Stamps is polka dots. I only had this polka dot paper because my mom gave me a gift this week of embossed papers, papers, ribbon and goodies. The bear stamp is from Beccy's Place. The sentiment was from my computer. The blue card stock is from gcd.

I used Kimberly's watercolor pencils to color this sad bear in. The sentiment was colored with the same background color as the bear. I think the blue adds to the sadness of this little guy. I think this would be a sweet card for a hero to send to their child. I used the sketch from Sunday at OWH Stars & Stamps challenge as a guideline for the layout. It just seemed to work once I cut out the pieces.

Cup of Tea

Decided to try to do some of the card challenges that are out there. It seemed to turn into a series of missteps. The first mailbox I did with watercolor pictures came out perfect. I then was cutting out the image next to it so I would not mess it up and cut right into the colored image.

Then when coloring the teacup I put the side of my hand right down on the color image and then dropped the paintbrush right across the image.

The first image is a stamp from Meljen's Designs colored with Kimberly's watercolor pencils and entered for their red and gold challenge. I used cardstock in red and gold. The DP is from gcd and is red and gold. I used a fiskars punch for the corners. I went a little crazy with the red gems. It just did not look right with a red ribbon.

The next card is an image from Lindsay Stamp Stuff that I used my win from another Tuesday Throwdown to purchase from MyGrafico. I am entering it is this weeks Tuesday Throwdown #72. I really like this image. It is hard for me to use all primary colors for some reason. I tend to go with one primary or color and then add designs. The flowers were punched with Martha Stewart's punch. The coloring was Kimberly's watercolor pencils. I tried to use mostly red, blue and yellow.

This card will also work for Scrappy Frogs Challenge- something that flies.

Both of these cards will be sent to Operation Write Home. The K n K design team is still doing a fundraiser for them offering some cute stamps for a great price that be donated to Operation Write Home. Just click the cute button with the rabbit.

It's the Little Things in Life

I started to work on the Sunday Sketch at Operation Write Home yesterday. This snowman from K n K Designs kept calling to me. I probably could have made him work on card following the challenge but I couldn't color him any smaller. I also was in a purple mood yesterday. Then I after making the card I remembered I have had these charms for years. I ordered several sets and never made jewelry with them. The heart matches perfectly!! There are other patriotic charms in the set they are at Oriental trading. How perfect is that. That is what excited me! It is the little things in life.

That image is available as the fundraiser for Operation Write Home and the button on the sidebar takes you there.

The patterned paper is from g*c*d in the sophisticated Frost collections. The both blue textured cardstock is from bazzil. The yarn is a feathered effect I like.

Still so excited that I remembered these charms.

Gift of Freedom

I am testing something. I have designed this cute image for the cards I was making for Operation Write Home to use for my any Hero cards. I would like to share with anyone making cards for OWH. If you would like feel free to use for your crafts. I hope this works. If you have problems with it let me know. Also if you download please let me know in comments just so I know if anyone likes it.

Here is how I used these images on one card. I use these for Any Hero Cards. The Christmas one was shipped to OWH already. I made the thank you card on the previous post since I forgot to take pictures of the cards using the above stamp that did not look like Christmas. I reposted here so you don't have to go looking for it.

 

Thank you

I made this card for Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge 17 at http://doodlepantryblog.com/. It is neat that it also works for the Midweek challenge at http://www.owhstarsandstamps.org/2011/10/thank-you.html. They are asking for thank you cards.

I used the picture from Doodle Pantry and the sentiment was typed in inkscape. The blue and white cardstock is Bazzil textured. The pattered DP was some I had and was not sure how to use. I thought the pattern worked for this. I used the brads that look like the same flower in the pattern. I used a Martha Stewart punch to make the flowers out of the patterned paper. I really ended up liking this card with the patterned paper.

This is another thank card I did using a image I made. I am happy to share with anyone it is here http://honeyhomeschoolhomestead.blogspot.com/2011/10/gift-of-freedom_20.html

Jingle Cards, Jingle Cards

These cards don't jingle. But they do put you in the mood for Christmas. The images were colored images from Beccy's Place. Her button is on my side bar. She is very generous with her images. The time I would have spent coloring gave me more time for crafting the cards. I do something a little different on each card. For example blue instead of green mats for the image. Or I use different gem embellishments. I included a picture of 8 cards at the bottom that demonstrate that. Some of the blue and green is pearlessence paper which simmers. These are the only papers I have that look "Christmas-ey" I am trying to stay with general papers. The ornaments that are cut out are because my corner stamp always messes up on the fourth corner. I may start only using three corners punched. Oh well, I think they are cute and give it a different style.

Manly Men Cards

After hours of trying to load photos I was only able to load these.  Not sure if internet or Picasa and blogger just don't play nice together.  On Sunday it was really doing weird things with my photos.  The challenge today at http://www.owhstarsandstamps.org/2011/10/masculine-cards.html was to make masculine cards.  I think these are masculine.  The images were all images from Mygrafico.  I have had this paper for awhile.  They matched well with the images.  I love the vintage truck.  I did not put a sentiment because I like the idea of it being a general card.   I made about 4 each of  different cards.  There are slight differences to make each unique.  Yesterday I went on a bend and created about 20 Christmas cards.  Right now I have 80 cards complete, stamped and tucked. Yeah!

In the Mood to Craft

I went ahead last night and chose 2 pieces of card stock and 2 pattern papers to use for the Sunday sketch challenge at Operation Write Home http://www.owhstarsandstamps.org/2011/10/sketch-challenge-90.html. My hope is to use the challenges to be consistent in my card making. It was nice because the sketch worked perfect and I could mix and match so the cards are similar but slightly different. I also don't think these turned out too feminine.

I was feeling very crafty last night and finished up all the cards below that had been in pieces waiting on glue. The bird Christmas began from scratch last night. I would never have used lime for Christmas. I found those cute bird images at http://beccysplace.blogspot.com/. I made about 8 variations on this card. I like the snowman with the love theme. His lasso ends in a heart. I would like to make more of these. The penguins and snowmen were created in inkscape. I still love the Light up Life Snowman. I like the use of orange and green on him for some reason. It would be good for a winter card not just Christmas.

Well I have made a commitment to myself to do the challenge this morning and then get my house clean today! I so want to make some more cards....

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Penguin and Snow Cowboy

Still loving penguins and snowmen. I did both images and sentiments in inkscape. They are colored with watercolor pencils.

The penguin was based on a picture of a penguin with his arms outreached it looked like he was saying I love you this much. I used the ribbon to add some punch but after gluing it on I had little shivers that remind me of glitter which is not allowed on cards for our heros. So this will probably be sent to my grandson.

I loved the idea of a cowboy snowman. A hobby horse makes the perfect horse for him. The sentiment was my sisters idea. I could not figure out a ribbon to use with this and the twine was the third ribbon I tried. I like how it looks like a lasso that ends in a bow. These were so much fun to make.
My cowboy works for this weeks challenge http://www.owhstarsandstamps.org/2011/10/christmas-cards.html I also stepped out. I was the first one to post. Made my heart beat fast. I was shaking as I did it. I have always been one to hesitate about doing things and putting my self out there.

Hero Mail

I wanted to make a any Christmas hero card for Operation Write Home. I had no Christmas paper and I remembered I used it all last years making cards (at the last minute) for family and friends. I will probably not buy more as I am getting away from the traditional ways of celebrating Christmas. So I am going to try to make a card. I get the idea in my head I want to thank a hero for preserving my freedoms. I need a gift image- So I decide to make one in inkscape. I printed the image in color and used watercolor pencils over it. I am never happy with my own work and keep making changes. I finally decide to let it be. I like the effect of a flag on a present/gift. Then how to make it Christmas-ey with no Christmas paper. The background ended up being a green pearlessence paper maybe giving it the effect of a tree behind the ornament. The sentiment is popped to highlight the thank you. Here is what I end up with. I am planning on posting this to the Tuesday challenge at http://www.owhstarsandstamps.org/2011/09/any-hero-christmas-cards.html. Also if you like any of the images I have made in inkscape let me know I am happy to share them. I will be happy to email them to you.


This card is a variation of my Dad's birthday card. It works for the sketch challenge 89 at http://www.owhstarsandstamps.org/2011/10/sketch-challenge-89-free-digi-from-sew.html.
I thought this made a nice manly birthday card. The white plastic frame highlights the word Birthday. The ribbon is the sentiment. The diamonds are popped giving it a dimensional effect. The paper is a dark chocolate brown with a white design of flowers and lines that is barely there.

Answering a challenge

I am new to card making. Also new to entering challenges. I haven't blogged much either. I figure the best way to start is to jump in. I saw this Thinking of you challenge. Thought I would try. This card is in a group shot a few days ago, that is why I reposted. Also I am bad at taking photos. I took three this is the best one. Hopefully that will improve.

This challenge is http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/2011/09/tuesday-throwdown-68.html

You Light Up My Life

I forgot I had this blog. I have started making cards for Operation Write Home. I am working on my first box. A lot of sites are letting you link your holiday cards to them. I am going to use this blog to keep a record of the cards I make.

This card was made using a digital stamp which I am new to. I have never had luck stamping or using paints or markers. Hopefully, practice will help. I used inkscape to make this snowman. I saw a card with this sentiment with a snowman. For some reason I have an obsession with snowmen and penguins lately. I will have pictures soon of my snowman cowboy with a hobby horse.