The year in review...

I made 514 handmade cards for OWH

With help I sent 710 Any Hero notes from the students at MHS

I wrote 10 personal Any Hero notes

Total to OWH 1234

My first ever blog post was 1-14-12 (the blog was a Christmas gift last year), my last post was 12-31-12 (this one).  There were 75 posts.  I've had a total of 6116 views.  I have 23 followers, I follow 27...

 

I've taken 2 online classes, Creative Chemistry and Kickstart.  I've taken 4 classes at my LSS including a Brayering Class in NJ with Susan and Linda.  The 3 at Absolutely Everything were Spring and Die Cuts in March, Northwoods Stamps and Copics in May and Glitter Christmas and Copics in December.

Here's the tally of Christmas cards made that WAS on my side bar

 

2012 Challenge: Make 5

Christmas Cards per month

March - 6 Yay!
April - 9
May - 5
June - 11
July - 6
August - 7 Just barely!
September - 16
October - 26

 

Quilted Card...

 

I was pretty excited about my productivity last night and today.  I followed a tutorial that I found on Pinterest (see here) and I created sixteen of these.  They are not however, all finished.  About eight still need the button and hat pin added but I'm on my way to New Jersey again tomorrow and won't have time to finish them until I return.  Of course, the picture (taken with my cell phone because my camera is still in Jersey) just doesn't do them justice...

I also made six Rainbow Candle Birthday cards, Sloppy Joes for Jersey (since there's no kitchen) and another rum cake to give as a gift tomorrow night... whew!  I'm tired!



Featured Cardmaker...

I was the Featured Cardmaker last Friday on the Operation Write Home: Stars and Stamps Blog.  I was so touched to be honored!  However, I didn't share it on that day because we learned rather quickly of the horrors taking place in Newtown, CT.  Since tomorrow they honor another deserving cardmaker, I thought I'd share it today...  You can see it here.

 

Every heart beats true...

 

Another Midweek Throwdown and it's right up my alley!  A color challenge (red, white and blue) AND an "Any Hero" card.  I finally got to use a stamp set that I've had for a few weeks.  My last shipment to Operation Write Home for 2012 went out on Monday with the FINAL twenty-six cards from the students at Marblehead High School.  I'm free and clear!!  Until Zack decides to do this again in the Spring...

 

Products used...

• Neenah Desert storm and Recollections red paper
• Let Freedom Ring stamp set from Amuse Studio
• White Gel Pen
• Tim Holtz' Barn Door, Faded Jeans and Black Soot inks
• Button from the zillions I have
• Bead Cording

Cataloging...

I spent the morning cataloging my Tim Holtz Distress Inks onto this chart.  I LOVE this chart!  I found it here.  I printed it onto sturdy cardstock and began.  Starting with stamping the star on the appropriate square, cleaning off the stamp and then inking with the next color.  And since OCD me had to wash the stamp between each color so there would be no cross-contamination, it was time-consuming (but I did get my exercise between the bedroom and the bathroom...lol).  However, now that it's done, I only need to add when I have a new color.  And being the visual person I am, I LOVE seeing the colors in front of me.  Isn't it eye-catching?
 

Update:  Those of you looking for the label link, It is here. 

From the heart for Newtown, CT...

 

  

Those of you who know me, know I am an Army brat and have lived in many places.  However, when my parents divorced, we landed in West Haven, CT.  I was there from 5th grade until I graduated.  Since they were my most formative years, I've always considered it where I "grew up".  This current national tragedy in Newtown, CT is about thirty miles away from there.  Since I will be just a couple miles from the Sandy Hook Elementary School the day after Christmas, I feel compelled to leave behind this card along with my prayers for a broken hearted community and nation...

 

UPDATE: On 12-26-12, I hand delivered this card to Newtown and left it with hundreds of thousands of other memorial gifts left behind...

Number 710...

This is one of the very first cards I admired that had been designed by my mentor, Barb.  I was in such awe!  While I visited her in California (now over two years ago... yikes! ), she taught me in person how to do this.  The one on the left is the one we did in her studio back then.  The one on the right is my current attempt with supplies I have now.  The flag is from the Close to My Heart set called Vintage USA and was one of the first things I asked for that Christmas.  My fiancé had a difficult time finding it, as it was discontinued.  However, if you know Ernie, you know he'd die trying.  Fortunately, he didn't die and I got the set for Christmas... :)

Since I only have twelve of the 710 Any Hero card fronts left to make for the notes from the students at Marblehead High School, I thought THIS card would be most appropriate!  You can see the original post HERE about Zack's campaign...

Rainbow birthday...

I originally saw this on Pinterest awhile back.  It appeals to my love of rainbows.  Recently, it was CASE'd by a fellow cardmaker on the OWH facebook page.  I thought I had to have a teardrop punch to do the candle flame.  It was Ronni who pointed out that the bird's wing on the Stampin' Up bird punch is the same shape.  THANKS Ronni!!  Now I've got an easy card to make when someone's birthday creeps up on me too quick... :)

Glitter and Copics class...

Yesterday, I took a class at my LSS, Absolutely Everything, called Glitter, Copics and Die Cuts.  It was amazing!  I used products I had never used before like; shimmer sheets, release paper, adhesive sheets, micro fine glitter and glitter strips.  I learned techniques I had never tried before like; adding glitter to adhesvie sheets, burnishing, coloring ON glitter, and using stickers as accent lines.  The final result was just beautiful. 

It looks like stained glass...



•♫♪ Chistmas Cards, oh Christmas Cards •♫♪

 

•♫♪ Sending thru the land.  Adding cheer to all who receive and goodwill to man...•♫♪ 

 

So, it paid off doing Christmas Cards from March thru now as I had enough to send to all our clients at Arrowhead too.  Last year it was a mad dash to get them done.  But look at this, December 1st, and all done!  Woo hoo!!