The Last Shipment to OWH for 2013...

 

Well, here it is!  The last shipment to Operation Write Home for 2013... woo hoo!!  There are 63 handmade cards and 9 "Any Hero" cards for a total of 72 all together.  They include 18 "miss you" cards (very proud of that!), 10 "thank-you" and a bucket full of "general" cards.  I've updated my sidebar with the totals and they are not even close to last years.  However, I think I earned a "bye" with getting married, moving, son graduating and going off to college all in the same summer.  It took me till November to even get my head half way out of the water... :)



Do these ever end?

 

I've CASEd this card from one I saw on Pinterest using one of the 50 Scrappy Backgrounds I made last January.  My goal today was to whittle that pile down by more than half.  I lost the battle to a migraine but I'll finish it up tomorrow, for sure!  The days of the week are a leftover from my Project Life goodies.  I thought the colors of the days matched perfectly with the colors I had chosen for this Scrappy Background... almost as if I'd made it intentionally for this.  How's THAT for perfect?!!  And Ronni, if you're reading this, each day is mounted on some of the scraps you sent me... you see, the gift that keeps on giving!  :)

 



Another Version of Scrappy Background...

 

This is another version of the Scrappy Background.  I just love doing this!  Not only does it use up so many scraps, it's very relaxing to me.  I'd guess it's like doing a puzzle for others.  As you can see, there are many different sizes of scraps.  It's a challenge to find a piece that will work in each spot.  Just like looking for the ONE piece that elludes you.  On these pieces, not only did I use up my scraps; I challenged myself to use up pre-stamped sentiments.  How'd I do?

 



More miss you cards...

I have been in my craft room since 7am this morning (it's 7pm now).  I'm quite surprised that I don't have more to show for it.  Did I fall asleep or something?  I completed four of the above card and four of another... all "miss you" cards for Operation Write Home.  I have only one more shipment for 2013 to send and I want it to be packed with miss you cards... :)

 

Supplies used...

• Background Paper by Authentique "Spellbound'
• Strips from 7 gypsies, My Konos collection
• Hearts punched from same
• All edges distressed with Tim Holtz Tie Dye ink
• Stamp by Stampabilities
• Ranger Archival Jet Black ink



Get Well Soon...

I returned from a couple days away to learn my best friend had been hit by a car.  Un freakin' believable!!  She counts her blessings that she only broke her leg and banged her head.  I'm completely stunned!  I made her a Get Well Soon card on the fly.  My intentions also is to use Christmas papers and colors to help cheer her... :(

Playing with a friend...

 

I had a most enjoyable time on Monday and Tuesday, helping a friend make cards for gifts.  We ended up with quite a variety.  When I return to my own playground tomorrow, I intend to CASE some of these...

 



Congratulations...

 

I purchased this stamp almost two years ago with the intention of making a card for Jenn and Scott's announcement that they were having twins.  I never got to it... my bad. :(  But last week, we received a call from Andy and Kate that they are expecting... and guess what?!!  TWINS!!  Un-freakin' believable!! I wasn't going to miss this window of opportunity a second time...

 

Supplies used...

• Stampin' Up "Two by Two" stamp
• Assorted Copic markers
• Nestabilities Labels Twenty
• Spellbinders Ribbon Banners
• Stampin' Up border punch
• Recollections Speckled Red paper
• Scrap striped paper
• Bakers Twine

 

Happy Thanksnukkah...

 

What else would I be doing on Thanksgiving but making a card for Ernie's daughter and son-in-law?!!  This was a joint effort too.  The card is a little larger than 5"x 7" so Ernie made a custom envelope.  Happy Thanksnukkah everyone...



Another starburst...

 

So, while the rest of you are cooking up a storm and getting ready for your company tomorrow, I'm anxiously waiting for my husband to arrive from Ohio where he has been for the last week.  I can't sit still so I searched Pinterest and found a different version of my oh so favorite starburst to try.  LINK here...

 

The paper is from a 6"x 6" pad from My Mind's Eye called "lime twist".  The sentiment is one I stamped at Sherry's house while visiting her last week.  One of my favorites... hmmm, maybe I should buy it?

 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone...



A card kit...

While crafting for three days in my studio, I came across this kit I had purchased last year and had not done.  I almost set it aside for next year (since Christmas is over for OWH) but then thought, "Let's just do this!"  So glad I did, it was quite fun!  The kit is from Close to My Heart and is part of their "Workshops On the Go" collection.  This one is called Pear and Partridge.  I was originally attracted to the color choices.  All paper, ribbon, gems, a stamp set and directions are included to complete five of each of these three designs.  The only one I didn't follow was the one to the far left.  You were supposed to stamp "Merry Christmas" about a billion times on cream paper to create your own background paper.  I failed miserably at that.  Off I went to Hobby Lobby to find paper that would substitute as a close second. This one was by Paper Studio.  Hmmm, just may have to do another Workshop on the Go.  That was fun!  AND, I can CASE my own card... :)

Using up those Scrappy backgrounds...



Last January, the only "crafty" thing I could do while visiting Ernie during the renovation was make Scrappy Backgrounds. I made over fifty. I loved picking what colors to use and I picked all kinds of color combos, including some with Christmas and Winter colors...



 

 

FINALLY, an opportunity to use them!

 

I turned two into Christmas cards which will be shown in a future post and then two like this.  The sentiment is one I stamped while visiting Sherry last week.  She has such cool sentiments that I've never seen.  And the snowflakes are from some she sent me last year.  It doesn't show up clearly in this picture but, the Scrappy background (cut 4.875"x 3.625") is mounted on navy blue then white.  I think it looks stunning in person...

 

Random Christmas Cards...

 

The last two cards I made this weekend were these two.  The ornaments on the one on the right are from a swap I did when I belonged to Scrap to Treasure last year.  The one on the left is just miscellaneous pieces from other disassembled Christmas cards.  I rarely make "one of a kind" as I prefer multiples so it'll be interesting to see where these will end up... 

 



Another craft day...

 

Yesterday, I was very productive in my studio and am very excited to have another craft day all to myself.  I completed one special project, eleven Christmas cards and prepared a dozen or so cards for shipment to OWH.  So, today, my goal is to complete a minimum of twenty cards from a box I have of partially assembled cards.  For example, the starburst, all the pieces were cut but not adhered to anything.  It also needed a sentiment and I used one I stamped at Sherry's house last week.  The Christmas card, all the pieces were cut, not mounted and no sentiment and the missing you card only needed the sentiment.  I've been up since 6am, have completed five in four hours.  Will I make my goal?  Might need another coffee break before I hit a wall...



Missing you...

 

One of many projects I hope to accomplish this weekend.  This is in response to Sandy's call for "missing you" cards.  It's funny, I went thru every single stamp I own and pulled out all the miss you, missing you and I miss you stamps... I only had two.  Really?!!  Wow!  Now I'm on the hunt for more.  After all, our troops would probably want this sentiment more than any other...

 



Too simple?

 

Once I figured out what I wanted to do with this paper and sentiment, it was a breeze.  Is it too simple?  I think Dixie would call it Clean and Simple (CAS).  The chevrons are from paper I owned, punched while I was at the Cozy Crop House last April.  I punched zillions and then didn't use them during the up-heaval of my life (wedding, son's graduation, my move AND son's move to college).  The sentiment was done while my husband and I visited Sherry in Ohio this past week.  She and I spent a couple hours in her craft space just yapping, punching and stamping sentiments.  She also took us to one of her favorite places, Hollo's Paper Store... I LOVED that!  The brown, red, and base white paper are from there.  I love the texture to all of their paper.  AND they sell it by the pound... how cool is that?

My five for October

 

I rarely am able to do a challenge when it's first presented.  Just a slow poke, I guess.  I need to savor the thought and think it thru a little, THEN I tackle it.  This is a Tuesday Tutorial from the Operation Write Home website from two weeks ago and it fits in with my challenge to make five Christmas cards a month.  I have no idea where the paper came from (it just appeared in my stash when I was unpacking) but it's delightful.  Ernie and his son Ben helped me fold some of the tree pieces.  As we were doing this I thought, "Wouldn't this be a great family project for our own Christmas cards?"  :)

Classes in three states...

 

Last Tuesday I took a class at my NEW Local Scrapbooking Store (LSS) called Scrappers Cove located in Milltown, NJ.  It was a technique class that ran from 10am to 2pm.  These are three of the four cards we did...

 

The following day, Wednesday, I stopped at an LSS in Connecticut to take a class at Treasured Moments located in Watertown.  In this class, the instructor guides us thru all sorts of steps to get to this end tag.  When class is finished, we get a printout of all the details we just did and can adhere the tag to it and keep in a notebook.  I have taken two other classes here and I think this is such a wicked awesome offering!  If ever I want to do it again, I do NOT need to rely on my memory...

Then on Thursday, I took a Project Life class at my OLD LSS Absolutely Everything located in Topsfield, Massachusetts.  These classes come in threes.  I signed up for and took them last March, April and May.  I loved it so much that I told the instructor, I would return after I moved to take them again.  Especially since my new LSS has not jumped on the Project Life bandwagon.  SO, I made the trek...

Aimee (the instructor) is so personable and very, very talented.  In the foreground, on the left, is my red album with the "kit" on top that we get at each class (not the tape runners or little book box).  We then spend the next two hours learning some journaling techniques and making little cards to put in the pockets.  I can't begin to tell you how much I love this class... although it must be evident since I drove five hours to be at it!  ...lol

 

A few more for Donna...

 

A few more to send to South Carolina with my sister-in-law.  See previous post...

 



The Inevitable Scrappy Background

 

During those months that I visited South Bound Brook during the renovation, I spent many a weekend making Scrappy Backgrounds since there was very little else that could be done.  Fortunately for me, it is a task that I thoroughly enjoy.  I now have a pile of about fifty.  My

sister-in-law Donna is visiting for a huge family event this weekend and she asked if I could make her a couple cards to give to a friend in her church who would send them to shut-ins.  I gave her my pile of Scrappy Backgrounds and told her to pick some that appealed to her.  I then turned them into cards.  That was pretty fun!  I tried the Triple Time technigue with the one on the right, interesting effect I thought.  I like how rounding the corners and punching a border on the one on the left made for such a different look.  My brain is churning trying to come up with another group for her to take back before she leaves next Wednesday...



Antique Cards

 

I took a Book Binding Class taught by Melissa Frances at Scrapbook Expo this past weekend, making the booklet in the center.  With some of the leftover supplies, I tried a couple cards.  Although cute, they're just not "electric" to me.  I'll keep at it though.  It would be awesome if I was able to use up all the extra supplies we received and not have to figure out where to put them in my new studio...

Final Christmas Shipment to OWH

 

Here's the last shipment of Christmas Cards to Operation Write Home for 2013.  AND, I'll beat the early deadline of October 15th... woo hoo!!  I will continue with the challenge to make five Christmas cards a month though, but the rest will be for my personal stash.  This would probably be a great time to start a tradition for me and Ernie to send Christmas cards to all our friends.  You know, all two of them.  JUST KIDDING!!  Are you my friend?



Make it five more...

 

Although this is an October post, I can assure you this was finished before midnight last night.  JUST under the wire of my challenge to make five Christmas cards a month.  And yes, there are five...

 

Supplies used...

• Patterned Paper from the K&Company 12" x 12" Yuletide pad
• Stampin' Up Old Olive and Very Vanilla Paper
• Recollections Speckled Red Paper
• Mistletoe Assortment from Close to my Heart
• Offray Beige ribbon 



School colors...

 

I spent two weeks at the end of August getting Zack set-up and acclimated at his college, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL.  He asked that I make him a few thank you cards to send to various people for the gifts and scholarships he received.  He asked that I use the colors of his high school; red and black AND the colors of his college; blue and gold.  The first challenge of the Virtual Card Making Party this past weekend with Operation Write Home just seemed to tie in so well with his request.  I even thought they were semi-masculine.  I hope he likes them.  These will go in his first Care package from home...



Christmas in August

 

I looked at the calendar and thought, "I've got plenty of time..." until I remembered we're leaving Saturday to take Zack off to college.  When I return, it'll be September... yikes!  No time, no time, no time.  So here is my contribution to the Make Five Christmas Cards a Month challenge. CASE'd from a card I saw on Pinterest, I made seven of these...

Supplies used...

• Patterned Paper from the K&Company 12" x 12" Susan Winget pad
• Stampin' Up Old Olive and Very Vanilla Paper
• Recollections Speckled Red Paper
• Chipboard Greetings from K&Company Christmas Cheer Chipbox
• Two tone ribbon
• Dimensionals

First shipment from New Jersey

 

Of course she had to help!  That's what Wuzya's do...

 

Other than the five Christmas Cards from the previous post, the rest of these were made in Massachusetts before moving.  As I'm organizing my studio, I collected random cards from this stash here or that stash there and got them ready for my first shipment from New Jersey.



Back in the saddle for Christmas...

 

 

I missed May and June for the "Make Five Christmas Cards a Month" Challenge due to the major events I had going on in my life.  I was going to blow off July too and use the excuse that I'm just not ready since the month was quickly escaping me anyway.  SO, I'm proud that the "Just do it!" attitude took over this afternoon... GO MOJO!!!

 

Supplies used...

• Patterned Paper from the K&Company 12" x 12" Yuletide pad
• Neenah Desert Storm Background Paper
• Chipboard Greetings from K&Company Christmas Cheer Chipbox
• Lace and Metallic Ribbon
• Dimensionals

Organizing stamps...

 

Since moving to New Jersey and my new studio, I have been diligently working hard to get it set up as my sanctuary.  I was so delighted with this organization idea, I just had to share.  Back in my sardine can in Massachusetts, I had wanted something where I could "see" my wood stamps.  Space restraints made that impossible and they lived in a box, under my bed. 

And as we all know... outta sight, outta mind!

 

While shopping for something else at Loew's I spotted this expandable Shelf Organizer.  I did a double take as my mind was spinning and the wheels were turning.  It's wider than a spice organizer (I think it's meant for cans in your pantry), the depth of the shelf is 3.6".  Perfect, perfect, perfect to store many stamps on one shelf!

 

Because this shelf is in a cabinet with a glass door, I wanted to raise it up about two inches, so it could be seen when the door is closed.  I got one of the many empty moving boxes and cut a perfect sized base.  I even used my score tool to make the edges crisp for when I folded it over!  I then covered it with a pretty wrapping paper I found in the attic...

 

I am so delighted with this!  But the true test will be, does seeing it actually get these stamps used?  Only time will tell!  And I'll put my money on "YES!" ...

Card Therapy...

 

Almost three months since a post!  Yikes!  Where does the time go?

 

The beginning of June marked my marriage to Ernie, my son Zack's graduation from high school and my move to New Jersey.  By the way, all in the same weekend!  I have been buried in boxes ever since...

 

Finally uncovered enough supplies to do something... so here's the beginning of my wedding thank you cards.  I can't even begin to tell you how wicked awesome that was!

 



Four weeks ago...

 

 

Four weeks ago today, I had the pleasure of meeting with a group of Marblehead High School students who wanted to learn about and make cards for the troops. I set up a couple different stations and they assembled cards from some kits I had made up.  One of the stations had paper, embellishments, pens, markers and stickers and they made and wrote their own Any Hero notes.  One of the young ladies asked me what an Any Hero note was.  While I explained it (btw... something I have explained many, many times before to countless people), I got so choked up and had tears in my eyes that I couldn't speak.  I shared this story with my fellow cardmakers on the Operation Write Home facebook page and someone pointed out that I may have become so choked up because many of our heroes are not much older than the students I was teaching.  I think she was right...

 

Altogether, they assembled 41 cards and made and wrote 14 Any Hero notes.  And I just know, they won't soon forget what we did on that day... :)

 



It's ALMOST Christmas...

 

Because I haven't done a post in almost six weeks...

Because I joined a challenge to make five Christmas cards a month...

Because I need to keep my hand in the till... here you go!

 

It had to be a super simple card since I really can't afford to take time away from planning my wedding, getting ready for Zack's graduation and eventual move to college, moving to New Jersey AND my fiancé's complete renovation.  So, I scanned Pinterest and found this.  It could NOT have been easier...

 

   Supplies used...

• Stampin' Up Chocolate and Very Vanilla Paper
• Recollections Flecked Red Paper
• The Paper Studio "Stitched Holly"
• Brown Grosgrain Ribbon
• Gold Metallic Paper for Star

 

 



My five for March...

 

I had to find something quick for my five March Christmas cards as I'll be quite busy the last two weeks of the month.  I headed to Pinterest and found this for inspiration.  I used a different embossing folder for each of the squares and my favorite red speckled paper from Recollections...
 

Unfortunately, I only made one... :(
 

Merry Christmas!



Another of Sketch #162...

 

Who says you can't learn more from the same sketch?  I loved all the examples and creative interpretations that everyone did on Sketch #162 which you can find here.  It was wonderful to be the "Guest" sketcher for the past week.  And it's neat to know that I will always be the inspiration for Sketch #162... that's wicked awesome!  I decided to take one person's banner idea and add it to another's person's label idea and came up with this...


Sketch #162 for OWH...

 

Woo hoo!  My card from a Midweek Throwdown last November was picked to be the inspiration of this week's Sketch #162 for Operation Write Home.  I was asked to update it to something Spring and voilà... here's SPRING!  My original post can be seen here, which has a Fall theme.  I cannot wait to see where you take this idea yourself!  I have no doubt, I'll be CASEing you too... lol 

Happy crafting!

Supplies used...

• Patterned papers from the 12" x 12" K & Company Susan Wright Specialty Paper
• Michaels Recollections Yellow and White
• Sentiment from Ditto (clear stamp)
• Daisies from stash
• Tiny buttons from stash
• Bling from stash

♥•*¨*•♫♪ ♥ I will Remember Massachusetts ♥•*¨*•♫♪ ♥

Here is the state flag from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Our motto, "By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty".  This is the state the Pilgrims first landed on in 1620.  The home of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692.  The sixth state to enter the Union.  The state I was born in.  The state forever in my heart...

 

 

For the Midweek Throwdown over on the Stars and Stamps blog, the challenge was to make a card using the colors of your state's flag.  Since I am away for the weekend (in another state...lol), I didn't have access to very much of my stuff so this card is a little lacking in interest.  However comma, I felt Massachusetts just needed to be represented.  In the blue scrap folder I found the two blues, one already embossed... score!  And a light yellow from the yellow folder.  I snagged a doily from the pantry to represent the white, popped the sentiment... and there you have it.  An entry for my beloved Massachusetts.

It's a "wicked pissah!"...



Happy Valentine's Day!

 

Oh wait!  This is a Christmas card... :)

 

And so completes my five Christmas cards for the month of February towards the challenge that a # of us are doing for OWH.  I saw this on Pinterest and thought I could put five together pretty quickly... and I guess one evening counts as "pretty quickly", don't you?  The longest part is cutting  and prepping the pieces.  Assembly was easy.  The top half and the bottom half are embossed with different embossing folders to add interest...

 

So, Happy Valentine's Day everyone!  I hope whoever your sweetheart is, they are making you feel special today...

Supplies used...

• Patterned papers from the 12" x 12" K & Company Yuletide Pad
• Stampin' Up Very Vanilla and Old Olive Paper
• Michaels Recollections Red (with speckles)
• Spellbinders Labels Twenty
• Sentiment from Hero Arts Clear Stamp Set
• Ribbons from stash
• Pearl bling from K & Company

What a GREAT blizzard!!

 

All I did for three days was craft... oh, and read.  But mostly craft...

 

  I was very fortunate not to have ever lost power during this storm, blessed that I have a son who did all the shovelling and digging out and thrilled to have the opportunity to craft and craft and craft... uninterrupted.

 

It doesn't get any better than this... :)



Blizzard of 2013... Card #8

 

As I've spent the past couple days snow bound, I've had to share space with things I have WAY too much of... like circles, flowers, punched out items, pieces of ribbon and a million other things.  Wouldn't it be nice to just spend a day, with one layout, and use up ALL of one thing?  I can't use that day today because the blizzard is over and I can no longer claim I can't shovel out... :)  This layout was done in a matter of minutes using a minute amount of circles I seem to possess...



Blizzard of 2013... Card #7

 

Another card from the February Simon Says Stamp monthly card kit.  I'm so tired right now, I can't even think of what to say about this.  I've been up since 3:30am in anticipation of digging out from our NOW historic Blizzard of 2013...



Blizzard of 2013... Cards # 4, 5 & 6

 

This was a perfect opportunity to work with the Simon Says Stamp monthly card kit for February, so that's what I did... and it's still February!  Woo hoo!!

 

There are some neat ingredients in this kit like the tiny wooden hearts, polka dot envelope and doily on the card on the left, the metal hangar on the middle card and the metal tag on the card on the right.  I paper-pieced the three dresses with some of the delicious papers that are so delicate and feminine.  I enjoyed working with them...



Blizzard of 2013... Card #3

 

It was Misty's turn to give me a challenge this morning.  You can see it here.  It's very simple but delightfully elegant.  The image on the left is photographed in the light box and the image on the right has been scanned.  I'm not understanding photographing a white card in a white box, so I'm not happy with this.  And scanning a white card is no better.  In person, this card is very, very pretty...

Here's the link to Misty's creation. 

Supplies used...

• Strathmore Watercolor Paper
• Ranger Archival Jet Black Ink
• Ribbon from who knows where
• Sentiment by Stampendous
• Spellbinders Labels Twenty

Blizzard of 2013... Card #2

 

Misty said she lost her mojo so I challenged her to make this card.  She had me beat by an hour, I think (I'm such a putz) but I hope it un-stuck her... :)  Here's a link to her creation.  This card is CASE'd from Pinterest as well.

 

 

UPDATE:  Used Neenah Desert Storm for base instead of black, scored the lines I had forgotten (which you still don't see in the scan) and I think I like this version better...
it's less dramatic!