Amanda's Art...

 I received this wicked fat envelope from a pen pal's daughter the week before my husband and I left for vacation.  I knew exactly what I wanted to do with some of it, so here we go...

 This was what was enclosed.  Eight sheets of her artwork AND a letter signed, "Your New Pen Pal, Amanda"...

 I fussy-cut the girl labelled "Elsa" and the orange flower.  I did a Google search to see what Elsa's coloring was and used my Copics to color her gown, hair and eyes.  She had what I think was a showflake in her hand and I couldn't cut around that very well, so I chose a punched snowflake to be in her hand instead...

 Found a frame I wanted to use from our stash...

 

 And started Mod Podging napkins, monoprints, punched stars and snowflakes and some red mesh from a nectarine case.  Since Elsa is from FROZEN, I added the label from my beverage of choice, Sparkling Ice.  Clever, eh?!!

 Almost finshed...

Added her name and the year and it's going back to her tomorrow with a letter from me...

What d'ya think?

Christmas in May...

I almost didn't make it... only one day left in May.  AND I didn't get my five done to meet my challenge... :(  But three is better than none, right?!! 

 

These cards are all made with napkins and Mod Podge.  The one on the far left is from a package I have.  I'm not pleased with the sentiment chosen but I wanted something oval and could not find anything "Christmasy" to fit the bill.

 

The one in the middle is a collage of deli paper prints, napkins and mesh.

 

The one on the right is from a napkin I received from Peggy B... it was so lovely without a sentiment.

 

Although very fun to do, I felt very limited as to what I can turn into a card with a napkin...



Memorial Day Blog Hop...

Although there are still troops in the field, the original mission of Operation Write Home will be complete at the end of this year.  Final cards need to be OWH by August 1st.  To commemorate my involvement, I'm sharing some of my most favorite "Any Hero" cards that I've done over the last five years during MY involvement with the organization...

 

 This is one of the first I ever made while visiting a childhood friend who became my mentor, teaching me all kinds of wonderful techniques during a week long visit to her home in October of 2010.  Thanks Barb for your inspiration and guidance back in the day...

 

 

 This card was featured by my hometown paper in a Christmas piece they did on me back in December of 2011.  The article can be read in the upper right hand corner of this blog...

 

 Then I learned about Copic coloring... OMG!!  Loved it...

 

 

 One of many that were made during Zack's campaign to have everyone in his high school write an "Any Hero" note to our troops.  He succeeded to get 710 notes in March of 2012, which later earned him a four year scholarship for his efforts...

 

 

Another of my favorites that I've enjoyed coloring...

 

Although OWH is closing down it's doors, my efforts will not stop.  My direction, over the last year, has been to send random cards to people in my circle of friends and family.  The education I have gained from my involvement with OWH is and will ALWAYS be, priceless.  Thank you Sandy and thank you OWH.  I will miss you...

 

 

Cards for Donna...

Donna has a friend back home in South Carolina named Glenda, who enjoys sending my cards to some of the shut-ins in her church.  This is the collection Donna will be returning with to give her next week... :)

 



Kitty is gone... :(

The cat my mom took in a couple years ago from a friend just passed away this week of cancer.  I've never made a sympathy card for a pet owner before so I asked for help from my crafting peers.  I received a couple "digi's" and decided to use this one from Linda J.  Having never used digi's before, I was confused about how to size them.  After giving Cora a good laugh, she guided me the right way.  I gotta tell ya, as quick as this was, I may have just fallen in love with digi's... who knew!!

 

And a little Glossy Accents on the heart and nose gives this little guy some depth.  Maybe this will bring a temporary smile to my mom's face.  It's tough to lose a kitty companion... :(

Napkin Cards...

This is my attempt using Mod Podge and a pretty napkin to make a card.  I'll be sending these two cards to the two clients I cleaned on my birthday, Upstairs Paula and Downstairs Paula.  Both left goodies on their counter for me.  Upstairs Paula left a cupcake and Downstairs Paula left a cupcake AND a bottle of wine... I enjoyed it all!!


Pocket Pal Letter for DDIG...

 This was my first attempt at the new rage sweeping the country called Pocket Letter Pals.  In the "December Daily Inspiration Group" on Facebook, of which I'm a member, we have paired up with a partner and are swapping one.  We corresponded with each other, trying to get a "feel" for what each other may enjoy most about Christmas.  My partner, Shari, celebrates both Christmas AND Hanukkah so I tried to incorporate blues and whites, along with the traditional reds and greens.  The top middle pocket represents the joy she gets from watching her boys skate.  I took this picture before I added the word "skate" to the card.  The letter, in top right pocket, was written on my newest obsession, making my own stationary...
 

This is the PPL as it was inside the envelope.



A partial view of the envelope, similar to the stationary.

 

WHAT FUN this was to do!  Can't wait to do it again... :)

UPDATE 5-21-15  Shari has a YouTube channel, Sharis Scrappy Shares and she did an

un-enveloping of my PPL which you can see HERE...

 

She also did one of the PPL she sent me which you can see HERE...