Operation Write Home Card Sketch #199 - TV Time!

Today's Operation Write Home's Card Sketch Challenge #199 inspired me to use my new The Stamps of Life stamp set named TV2Stamp.  I also bought the matching dies and have been "dying" to use them!  I took great liberties with this sketch to get the two to work together.  It's a totally different style for me but I like it.  How about you?

Supplies Used:

 

White Cardstock - Close To My Heart

Washi Tape - Unknown

Heidi Swapp Adhesive Tape (Black and White)

Black Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black

Red Ink - Close To My Heart Ruby Red

Other - Pop Dots, Stampin' Up Bling

Operation Write Home Sketch Challenge #194 and Gettin' Blingy

Sketch Challenge #194

Operation Write Home posted the Sunday challenge on Saturday this week.  That's fine with me!  The weather here is rainy - perfect for making cards.  It was a hectic week at work as well.  Crafting serves as a stress buster for me.  So I have two projects for you today.

The week's sketch has lots of layers, which I love.  I had to alter it a bit but am really pleased with how my card came out.  What do you think?

 

 

Supply List:

 

Patterned Paper:  Heidi Swapp Vintage Chic

Card Base:  CTMH Colonial White

Hand Die Cut:  Anna Griffin

Sentimet:  Hero Arts OWH Fundraiser Set

 

Gettin' Blingy 

 

I bought the Close To My Heart (CTMH) Base and Bling fabric necklace kit a few weeks ago.  Last night I decided to give it a go.  (I was really stressed!)  I was surprised at how easy it was to put together.  The hardest part was freehand cutting 1" circles from the fabric provided.  A paper punch didn't work with the fabric.  The kit is only $14.95.  I think it's a great buy for the results you can achieve with it.  I had lots of extra fabric and a few pieces of bling.  Do you like it?

 

 

 

 

 

Operation Write Home Sketch Challenge #193

It's Sunday once again.  I just about missed the Operation Write Home sketch challenge for today.  I think I'm still worn out from World Card Making Day!  Here's our challenge:

I also wanted to enter a weekly challenge at Cricut.com using paisley.  So here's what I came up with:

 

I'm such a knucklehead!  I stamped paisley swirls on the beige paper in VersaMark.  My lighting wasn't too good so I ended up stamping the sentiment on the opposite side.  I didn't notice it until everything was put together.

 

All papers are from Close To My Heart's Laughing Lola collection.  I also used  a CTMH Thank You stamp and black hemp.  There are highlights made with my Sakura Star Dust pen that don't really show up in the photo.  I thought I'd practice a bit on my paper piercing.  It's not as easy as it looks but I'm getting better.

 

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my card.  I really do appreciate your comments.

Operation Write Home Challenge - Sketch 192

It's Sunday!  That means a new card sketch challenge at Operation Write Home.  Here was today's sketch:

 

 

I had purchased "Birthday4Cookie" from Stephanie Barnard at a convention a couple of years ago.  Cookie bears a strong resemblance to my Bailey.  Since I was intimidated with cutting her out, Cookie had never been inked up.  Stephanie very recently introduced dies to match Bithday4Cookie and I was on it!  So I introduce you to my inaugural stamping of Cookie aka Bailey:

 



I'm so pleased with how this came out. I need to practice using my Copics - this was a pretty easy image to start with.  Boy do I need practice! The card base is made with my favorite Close To My Heart Colonial White Cardstock.  The decorative papers are all Anna Griffin.  The patterned papers are from her Fifi and Fido Collection.   And of course, the stamps are all from Birthday4Cookie by Stephanie Barnard for Stamps of Life.  What do you think?

Operation Write Home Challenge - Sketch #190

I have two completely different styles of cards for you today.  Here's today's sketch for Operation Write home:

I didn't follow the sketch very closely since my stamped image needed more of a rectangular focal point.  But here's what I came up with:

This will be an "Any Hero" card.  The card looks simple and it is.  But you'd think a tornado had passed through my house.  I must have dragged out every tool I own for this.  One of the most difficult parts was the mitering of the corners on the washi tape around the sentiment.  Then the part that really caused me problems was getting everything stuck down.  I had originally used a polka dot embossing folder for the background.  Nothing would stick.  Glue was seeping out everywhere!  So the polka dot went into the trash and I turned to my beloved ATG gun for some bonding time.

I used my Cricut Artbooking cartridge, chevron embossing folder, Tim Holtz embossing folder (cracked glass maybe?), star washi tape, Hero Arts Year Round Sentiments (CL582 - OWH Fundraiser), silver brads, Spellbinders rectangle dies, Cats Eye Lipstick Red chalk ink and Stampin' Up Night of Navy ink spot.  The card base is from Papertrey Ink.


I also made a sympathy card this weekend for a dear friend who lost her brother.  He'd been ill for quite a while.  Still, I don't think you're ever prepared for the death of a loved one.  My thoughts and prayers are with her.

This card was made almost entirely of Anna Griffin product.  The exception is the gunmetal grey textured metallic paper in the middle layer (DCWV).  I embossed this paper with Anna's Circle Grid folder.  It came out great!  I almost hated to cover it with the top layer. (I have Melody Lane to thank for this idea.)  I also used Stampin' Up pearls and corner punch.  I think my friend liked it.  What do you think?



Operation Write Home Challenge - Sketch #189

Today's card is for Operation Write Home's Sketch Challenge #189.  I love this sentiment from the Close To My Heart's National Stamping Month promo set, You Are My Happy.  It's only $10 with a $50 purchase and includes a full alphabet, a set of icons and a set of sentiments.  I used Anna Griffin papers except for the brown cardstock which is Bazzill.  I embossed the strip of Bazzill with Anna Griffin's Circular Grid embossing border folder.  The epoxy accent is also Anna's.  I thought this would make a nice card from a mom or dad to their teenage daughter.  I'm pleased with this card but think I got a little heavy-handed with the distressing.

 I LOVE my Sakura Stardust pen and use it all the time.  It was only after I finished the card that I wondered if this may violate the "NO GLITTER" rule.  Here's what the Sakura website says about the pen:  

Gelly Roll Stardust is a pigment-based archival quality ink and is indicated in each color name with the suffix "-STAR". Features include:

• A roller ball pen that is easy and comfortable to write with
• Archival quality ink – chemically stable, waterproof, and fade resistant. ( Except black sparkle. )
• No smears, feathers, or bleed-through on most papers and
• The glittery 'dust' is an inert, cosmetic grade, finely ground ingredient – which produces the reflective brilliance

In case you're not familiar with Operation Write Home's rule on glitter - it's actually visible with night vision goggles and can put the soldiers in harm's way.  I don't think I'll take a chance on it but won't make this mistake again.  I'm sorry, OWH!

Operation Write Home Challenge - Sketch #187

Wow, I made four cards today.  That's an achievement for me - the Queen of Slow Card Making. 

I entered another Operation Write Home challenge.  This is for Sketch #187.  The paper was printed on my Cricut Imagine with the Christmas Wish cartridge.  The sentiment is from the new Stamps of Life set, Lights4Christmas.  I even broke out my ancient Creative Memories corner rounder for this one!  What do you think?

I also attended a Stampin' Up Stamp Camp today hosted by Tracy Ray.  She designed three wonderful projects for us.  I'm partial to the "Thankful" card.  Which one is your favorite?

Operation Write Home Challenge - Sketch #188

Operation Write Home is having a virtual card making party for Labor Day weekend.  One of the challenges was THIS sketch challenge.  I recently became a Close To My Heart Independent Consultant.  The Laughing Lola Workshops On The Go (WOTG) was part of my membership package.  I love the rich jewel tones but wasn't sure about all the patterns.  What do you think?  Too busy?  Thanks to Seongsook Duncan for the great sketch.