Saturday, September 28, 2013

Operation Write Home Sketch Challenge #191

Operation Write Home had another fabulous Sketch  Challenge #191

Here is the sketch:
owh sketch canvas


I rotated it to a landscape position.

Here it is:



I used Martha Stewart's Frosty Gingerbread design paper (bought it last year)

The cricut cut is from A Child's Year
and the sentiment was printed from the computer

I think everyone's cards were fabulous!

We are enjoying the nice weather before Winter hits...



Sunday, September 8, 2013

Operation Write Home VCMP Card #6


Hello!  It's Sunday, Sept. 8th and the last day to post cards to Operation Write Homes' Labor Day
Virtual Card Making Party.  I have one more card to add.  Challenge #6 to make Children's Cards using a tick tack toe of choices.  Even though I only made 6 out of the 10 cards, I had a blast creating cards.  I think I'm going to make the other 4 cards and just not link them.  If you want to find great inpiration, tutorials, and a plethora of ideas, click on the above link and look at the Card Making Party entries.
Now here's the card: 

The tick-tack-toe chart.


I used the very right column : Using Punches or Dies, Things with Wheels, and Kid-Friendly Embellishments

This is what I came up with:



I used the Boys will be Boys Cricut Cartridge for the die cut, The race card has wheels, and the kid friendly embelishment is the happy birthday banner.

Thanks for looking.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Sketch Challenge #188

It's time for another card!!!  This is Operation Write Home's Sketch Challenge # 188


188 sketch (Sept 1)


For some reason, I had this Christmas stamp set in mind.  I like how simple to card and message is, but feel there may be something else I can add.  Not so sure  ???









The stamp is from Hero Arts
Ranger Inc - Jet Black
design paper  is from my stash

thanks for looking.

Monday, September 2, 2013

Operation Write Home VCMP card #5

Hello!  Operation Write Homes' Virtual Card Making Party challenge card #5 was another new technique for me to try.  I've still have a lot to learn...

This challenge was masking tape block stamping.  I used that brown packing tape instead of masking tape.  I also used watercolor paints because I don't have a lot of inks.  As I was looking for inspiration, I really liked the light background with dark stamping, so this is what I came up with.






The paper is from my scrap pile, I used Ranger Ink - Jet Black for the stamping.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday!

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Operation Write Home VCMP Card #4

 
Hello!  I'm really starting to get on a roll here!  This is the 4th card in Operation Write Home's Virtual Card Making Party.  






The Papers are from the DCWV La Cr`eme stack.  I love the color.
The butterfly is Spelbinders Nested Butterfiles Two.

Thanks for looking!

Operation Write Home VCMP Card #3

Hello!  The third challenge in Operation Write Home's Virtual Card Making Party is to
create a card making a Triple Die Cutting Technique card.  I do not have any Nestabilities, so I used my Gypse and Cricut machine.
 

This is my first attempt, and I think I made the inside layer too small, but I think it's still nice.

Hope you like it.

On to the next card!!! 

Diane

Operation Write Home VCMP - card #2

Hello !  I'm going to try to make more than one card today! 

Here is Operation Write Home's Virtual Card Making Party  card #2.

The challenge was to make a card that had elements that started with OWH

O - Orange and Owl
W - white and wize
H - Harlequin design paper



I made more cards with better eyelashes.  I definately need to work on that.

Happy crafting,
Diane

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Operation Write Home Virtual Card Making Party!!

HI ALL!  This is my first Card Making Party!!  I don't make cards very fast, so it may take all the way to next Wednesday to compete them! LOL.

Here's the first card:



I love this design.  I don't have a punch, and didn't want to bring out the cricut, so I cut these squares on my cutter.  My first "quilt" like card.





The cream colored was ran throught the big shot for dimention.

Looking forward to the next card!

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Operation Write Home Challenges

Hello everyone!  It's been a while since I've posted.  The summer is going by fast and I've spent most of my time with the kids at the pool, bowling, reading, playing games, etc.  I have made several cards, but haven't taken the time to post them, so here they are!!

Operation Write Home Sketch Challenge 177



177



I went through several stages of creativity with this challenge.  First, I knew I wanted to use this stamp I had, but being a newbee at coloring, I wasn't sure...  I printed it six times on white cardstock and started to color using watercolors.  The first three were terrible...  then I looked online at what other people were doing, and went back to coloring.  I ended up with two decent ones.  I have no idea how to make something look realistic, so I went cute and bold with the colors...

This is the first card.  I tried to make it exactly like the sketch.




I'm not too fond of the bead on the side, at it looks a bit plain.  Then I remembered my big shot, and decided to add texture.  This is what I came up with...




I'm not sure if you can see the layers, but the yellow is sizzix polka dots, the orange is a sizzix vine, and the green is fisker's grass embossing plate.  I like it better without the beads.

Then I thought to myself ... I have a giraffe on Create A Critter for the Cricut, and I made that too!
Here it is...




I think it's cute too.  I can't decide which one I like better.  The cricut took less time, but my daughter thinks the stamp is cuter.  What do you think?

The next challenge is Sketch Challenge 178

178



I used the cricut for this challenge.  The Design paper is from Recollections Kaitlyn.



I used the Stretch Your Imagination Cricut Cartridge



OWH sketch 176

                                                                                         

                   176




I really enjoyed this sketch because  I used a lot of my scrap paper.  I used Sandy's tuturial (can't remember which) on how to organize, cut and sort your scraps a few months ago, and I still use the box of scraps from time to time.

Here are some of my creations:







OWH Sketch Challenge 175


175





This was a fun sketch.  I used the Holidays Cakes Cricut cartridge for this sketch.  I also used cricut adhesive design paper which made piecing it together easy.

Here is my version:




I blew up the pictures because they have a lot of background in them.

Well, that's all I have for now!  I will try to post more often...

God Bless you and your family,

Diane

Monday, May 27, 2013

Operation Write Home Challenges

Hello!!  I hope everyone is enjoying their Memorial Day.  My little one has a fever today, poor kid.  He's been quite lucky all winter. I was thinking it was allergies, but as the day goes on I'm afraid it may be the flu...   This is not good since rehearsal is Wednesday...  No sickness, broken bones, any ailments allowed!  My daughter loves to dance, and he wanted to do tumbling with her this year.  It's probably the only time they will be in the same dance class because she is going on to the older group, and I'm not sure how long he will be interested in tumbling...

I was tickled pink to see Hubspot highlighted Operation Write Home today!  All of Sandy's hard work is really paying off.  She is so inspirational, talented, and personable that anyone involved with her adores her.

I've been busy this weekend! I made cards for the past two sketch challenges as well as Jubilee cards for my Aunt who is a Franciscan nun.  I was surprised that among the cards she needed were three celebrating their 80th jubilee.  That makes them close to 100!  Way to go ladies!

Well, I've jabbered on long enough, here are the cards...

Challenge 173

173

This challenge came quite easy for me. I immediately knew what I wanted to do and made 6 of them in short time.  Here it is:
















Challenge 174

174

I made this card with the cricut















This card was really fun to make.  I used my new favorite stack DCVW All About Boys.  This fishing cut is from BOYS WILL BE BOYS on the cricut at 2 1/2", and I used pop up dots to pop it up.  The sentiment was a fee bee on the internet which I colored in with colored pencil. It took a little more time to make since I had to piece all the small cuts, but it's worth it.  I was thinking of saving one for my hubby, but he doesn't even fish??!!

This is another card I made for my aunt that follows sketch challenge 174 more closely:















I used DCVW's Kaitlyn paper and the flower was from stash


These are other cards I made this weekend:
















For this card I used some of my favorite paper that I'm almost out of and a  Jim Holtz stamp set that was on clearance at Michael's.  I bought it a few months back, and finally got to use it!!
















I used an old sketch for this card, I think 124??  Don't quote me on it.

Thanks for looking.  I hope you had a great weekend and enjoy the week ahead!

Diane


Thursday, May 9, 2013

Operation Write Home challenge #171 and Midweek Throwdown

Hello!

Sorry I have been aloof lately, but my grandmother has been in the hospital.  She is 95 years old!  Goodness that is getting up there in years!  She has a serious infection, and is home with my Aunt who has been taking care of her for the past 7 YEARS!  Bless her soul to be so loving, patient and caring!  She has a picc in her arm to receive high dosages of antibiotics.  She seems to be doing better, but she is so tired...  Here's a picture of sweet Grandma with my hubby:


Prayers are always appreciated!

Now, on to Operation Write Home.  I combined OWH's sketch challenge 171 with this week's midweek Throwdown which is to make his and hers cards.

This is the sketch:
171

and here is the "his" version:


I used DCWV's  All About Boys stack.  I love using the paper from this stack.  The helmet is fussy cut and popped up.  The rest of the materials was from my stash.

here is the "her" version:


Everything in this card was made from my stash.  I'm not a big "bling" person, and was wondering if there were too many jewels.

Thanks for looking.  I'm so happy I had time to do some cards today!!!  Now I'm off to my last class before finals!

Take care and God Bless!

Diane

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Operation Write Home Challenges

Hello!  It's seems like it's been forever since I last posted a blog.  I've been so busy with Mary's First Communion and finishing up papers for a class I'm taking.  And then there's always something to do around the house since the weather broke and spring is trying to creep it's way into our part of the woods!

I have kept to my New Year's Resolution to do every Operation Write Home Stars and Stripes challenge this year!  Maybe I can find some time to do some midweek throwdowns too...

I should begin where I left off...  the last post was Challenge # 167, so challenge here is operationwritehome sketch-challenge-168  which was pretty easy to make.

168

This is my version:





The paper is from my stash and the sentiment came from The Cutting Cafe's cute critter printable stamp set.  

Then I really challenged myself with OWH's  Sketch challenge # 169

This is the sketch:

169

I used watercolor pencils and blended it with water and a brush.  Then I tried fussy cutting it.  I think I need new bifocals because it was tough to see!!
Here it is:



The papers are from DCWV's All About Boys stack.  
The digital stamps are from Cutting Cafe's Under the Sea printable stamp collection.
I used the MINI MONOGRAMS cricut cartridge for the circles, and ACCENT ESSENTIALS for the scalloped edge.   
I used a Fiskers' ocean plate in the Big Shot and sanded the blue strip of paper on the bottom for an ocean effect.


The latest sketch from Operation Write Home is  Sketch Challenge 170.  
the sketch:
170 

And my version:


You can't really tell, but the paper has a metallic shine to it, and I love it.  It came from DCWV's  The Natural Stack. A hot deal at Michael's for $5!!
I printed this free sentiment from the internet.  I like how inspirational the sentiment is. I think the colors of the sentiment blend with the card better than it shows on the picture.  

This picture shows the shine better:



All in all, I've had fun making up for my past challenges and feel inspired to do some more!  I also loved see everyone else's cards from the past few weeks.

Take care,
Diane





Thursday, April 11, 2013

Our Daily Bread Tutorial Inspired Me

Hello!  Today's card I made for my daughter's First Holy Communion on Saturday.  I saw this awesome tutorial from Our Daily Bread Designs and I had to try it out.  The tutorial was posted on Operation Write Home's Spring Boot Camp Bloghop tutorials.  The theme is Masculine cards, but I turned in into the communion card.

You can catch their link here: http://operationwritehome.org/spring-training-bloghop-masculine-card-tutorials/

There is a list of tutorials for the bloghop, and Our Daily Bread Designs is number 8.  I suggest you look at all of the tutorials, they are awesome and have so many little tidbits of information that any crafter new (like me) or old would appreciate. And then once you're inspired, make some cards for our troops and send them to OWH!

This is the card I made:















Our Daily Bread Designs featured a reverse zfold card, and that is where my inspiration came from.

















This was also my first try at watercoloring in rows.  A few days ago I tried a blended look that gave a marble effect.  I like it, but think I need to work on blending where the two colors meet.

The stickers are from Jolee's Boutique available at Michael's.


The fold card is supposed to lean upon the sentiment, but it covered up the church too much, so I put a flap in the back of the card (not shown) to lean it back a bit to show the church.

















The sentiment is computer generated.

I'm so please with the way the card turned out, but more excited that my daughter is growing in faith and strengthening her journ with the Lord.

God Bless and enjoy your weekend, I know mine will be an event to cherish a lifetime.