Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown Challenge

My card today is for our Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown challenge, the theme is Thank You!

I also wanted to say thank you to Sandy at Operation Write Home for the fun opportunity she gave me as her Midweek Throwdown challenge coordinator for the past several years, it's been long enough I can't remember how many...  Anyway, it's time for me to say a fond farewell to my "job" as OWH's Midweek Throwdown challenge coordinator and move forward with my new soap business.  I've been much busier than I expected with the new business and I'm having a hard time getting everything accomplished for my commitment to Operation Write Home so it's time to turn it over to someone new.  That certain someone will be Allison, she's been part of our OWH team for awhile now, she's awesome and I know she's going to take the Midweek Throwdown challenge to the next level.  

A big Thank You to all the friends I've made while being involved with Operation Write Home, what a wonderful group of dedicated card makers we have!

So... I challenge you to make a Thank You card for Operation Write Home this week and send it in!

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Thank You Cards

OWH Midweek Throwdown Challenge

My card today is for our Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps Midweek Throwdown challenge.  The theme is Friendship,  I colored the cute House Mouse stamped image this last summer but didn't have a nice sketch/layout for it.  Splitcoast Stampers has the perfect sketch #355 and I had lots of fun making the card!

I'm sorry I couldn't find the scrap of paper I wrote the Copic marker color numbers on.  That's one of the pitfalls of setting aside a colored image.  The patterned paper was a scrap I'd air brushed with Copic markers and stamped using Copic blending solution and a background stamp.

The other cardstock colors are Mohawk Bright White, Neenah Solar White, Stampin' Up! Pumpkin Pie & Garden Green and Astro Brights Galaxy Gold (the closest I could find to the retired Stampin' Up! Summer Sun).  The sentiment is from a Papertrey Ink stamp set called Signature Greetings and is cut out with Spellbinders Mega Ovals and Mega Scalloped Ovals.  I added three color enhanced (G28) Dew Drops for balance and the embossed panel is made with a polka dot Cuttlebug 5 X 7 embossing folder.

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Friendship

Whimsy & Stars Studio Blessed Harvest

We have a new challenge starting today at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps, the theme is "Fall" and I found a wonderful fall themed digital image to use!  This pumpkin image is from Whimsy & Stars Studio, it's called Blessed Harvest.

A "fall theme" sounds so good living in Arizona right now too, our high temperatures are still 110+  I don't know about you but I'm so ready for cooler temperatures even if we don't get to see all the leaves turning different colors...  anything under 100 degrees would be a welcome relief.

I love coloring pumpkins and had so much fun coloring this digital image.  I used Copic markers E41, E42, E43, E44, B21, E35, E39, E44, E47, E49, Y04, YR02, YR04, YR07, YG03, YG67.

I was following a tutorial from Marianne Walkers blog she'd made in 2007 or 2008 coloring pumpkins and teaching about color contrast and high contrast.  The blue background on this really scared me, she called for B23 and the colorless blender.  I had everything colored and added the B23 and thought I'd ruined the whole thing, yikes!  I continued on with B21 and used the colorless blender to add dots to push the color away and blend it out more.  I like the finished affect and was happy I could save it. 

I hope you have time in your busy week to come play in our Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown challenge using a fall theme!  

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Fall theme

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps Any Hero Cards

I made this card May 15, 2010 for a lightning challenge at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps, I remember I enjoyed making this card so much and was thrilled with the way it turned out.

Our challenge starting today at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps is an Any Hero card challenge and that's exactly what my card was used for in 2010.

I hope you'll have time this week to make an Any Hero card or two for your Operation Write Home box, write a note inside and enter into the challenge.

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Any Hero Cards

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Bugaboo Stamps Christmas in July

We have a new challenge that starts today at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps, since it's been 110 + degrees here in Arizona for more than 30 days I think it's time for a Christmas in July challenge!

My card uses a Bugaboo Stamps digital image and is part of the November 2010 Stamp Club image package.   I colored with Copic markers T1, T2, T3, R22, R24, 27, Y15, Y18, E40, E41, it's cut out with a Spellbinder's Oval and matted with the Oval Scalloped dies.  The white panel is embossed with the Cuttlebug Snowflakes embossing folder and the Stampin' Up! Cameo Coral panel is embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder.  The snowflake is from the MFT Stamps Die-namics Snowflakes die, I added a black rhinestone to the center and the "Merry Christmas" sentiment is from a Papertrey Ink stamp set.

I hope you'll play along with our challenge at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps this week.  Thanks for visiting my blog -

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Christmas in July

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Wax Fruit Co. Golf

This digital image on my card is from the Wax Fruit Company and is for our Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps Midweek Throwdown challenge, our theme is masculine.    Golf makes me think of argyle so I had to go in search of Argyle digital papers and really scored at Sassy Designs!  Their paper packs were on sale.  

I used Copic markers to color the image T1, C3, C2, C1, C00, E44, E43, E42, E41, YG11, BG0000, BG000, BG01, BG05.  The layout is from a sketch but I didn't use the entire sketch because of the unusual shape of this image.  That's one of the things that drew me to this image, it's different shape.  The aqua cardstock is from Ellen Hutson's online store.

I hope you'll play in our Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps Masculine themed challenge this week!

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Masculine

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Operation Write Home Independence Day Blogskip

Welcome to our Operation Write Home Independence Day blog skip, we're partnering with Tombow today!  If you've arrived here from our Operation Write Home blog you're headed in the right direction!

 I have two cards using the same layout today, I thought this first one was kind of busy so I wanted to try a second digital paper pack I had.  This is from a digital scrap booking kit called Freedom Ain't Free I found online at Summertime Designs.  

The Tombow products I have are perfect for this card!  I love to pop up the main focal point on my cards so the Tombow Power Adhesive Tabs were perfect for that, to help hold the ribbon in place I added just a dab of the Tombow Multi Mono Liquid Glue and assembled my card using their Tape Runner.

My second card uses the Independence digital paper pack by Sassy Designs, (I checked my link and found they are having a sale - .40 cents for their paper packs!)  it's a little easier to see the design elements on this card.  Again I used my Tombow products to put it all together.

Thanks for visiting my blog today, your next stop on our blog skip is Debbie at the Paper Garden - enjoy your holiday!

Bugaboo Stamps Cowboy Collection

Our challenge today at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps is a color challenge in honor of Independence Day tomorrow.  The color are red, white, blue and kraft!

I used two cute images from the Bugaboo Stamps Cowboy Collection, they are colored with Copic markers E41, E42, E43, E44, E00, E000, R02, R37, R24, R22, B97, B45, B21, W3, W1, W0, C6, C3, C1, C00, Y13, Y15, Y18, YG11, YG13, YG17. 

The layout and sentiment for my first card were inspired by Operation Write Home, I thought using the horse shoe to spell out "miss you" would be great for a service person to send home to their child. 

Especially a little cowboy! 

I used Stampin' Up! Brocade Blue, Kraft, Neenah Solar White and Red Linen card stocks.  The red panel was stamped with the Paisley background stamp by Stampin' Up! and the Kraft panel was embossed with a Sizzix embossing folder.  I also used the Stampin' Up! Just Jeans background stamp on the Brocade Blue.  The "miss" part of the sentiment was computer generated.

My second card uses the same papers with a different layout, I used Spellbinders circles and pinking circles, my Scor-Pal for the scored lines on the Kraft panel and a computer generated birthday sentiment.

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Color Challenge

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Paper Smooches Zoo Crew Hippo Hooray

Our Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps challenge theme today is Clean & Simple, oh my do I struggle!

I've been working on making more CLEAN & SIMPLE cards and thought playing in some of those type challenges would help me develop my skills.  I love how my card turned out but I have to tell you leaving it alone is so very difficult for me! 

I used the Paper Smooches clear stamp set called Zoo Crew for my card.  

The cute hippo is colored with Copic markers:

W1, W3, W5, RV10, RV21

She's cut out and popped up with foam tape just above the banners for a little dimension and texture.

I made the banners using Basic Grey Bittersweet & Ambrosia patterned papers, the envelope liner is from the same Basic Grey Bittersweet collection and made using a Papertrey Ink envelope liner die.  To make my banner ends I used an EK Success square punch.

                                                                                   

Attached everything to the one layer card base and stamped the "hippo hooray" sentiment.  

There is a birthday sentiment on the inside, this card is ready to go into my stash of birthday cards.

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Clean & Simple + Texture

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Bugaboo Stamps Birthday Monkey

You know... I've never been too fond of monkeys or coloring monkeys until I discovered Jodie's Bug A Boo Stamps monkeys!  I've had a change of heart about coloring monkeys.  

I know, I'm weird!  But it's a fun kinda weird!

For my card I used one of the cute monkeys in the Birthday Monkey collection and my card is for our Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps Midweek Throwdown challenge this week.  The theme is Cards 4 Kids.

I colored the image with Copic markers to match my digital paper I found recently at My Grafico.  Copic markers - YG01, YG093, W0, W1, R27, RV25, RV23, E42, E43, E44, E74, E71, E70, RV00.

My layout is SC314 from Splitcoast Stampers.  The other cardstocks I used are Papertrey Ink Raspberry Fizz & Stampin' Up! Old Olive.  

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps  - Cards 4 Kids

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

K n' K Designs Eagle

My card today is for Flag Day!  This cute digital image is from K n' K Designs, I "googled" her but didn't find her so I'm not sure if she's still in business.

This digital stamp set was part of a fund raiser in 2011 to help pay for postage for Operation Write Home's busy holiday season that year.

Happy Flag Day!

Thanks for visiting my blog -

OWH Blog Candy Winner!

Congratulations Nancy M. you've won my blog candy from this last weekend's Operation Write Home Memorial Day blog hop!  

 Nancy M said...

OMGosh, Jan--this is SO cute!! I LOVE how you lined the envie but also the whole card is so well-coordinated, as always! Nice job, as usual! Thanks for you loyalty to OWH and the chance for blog candy!! (I SO hope I win!!) 

May 26, 2013 at 6:46 PM

I've e mailed you and hope to hear from you soon!

Hambo Stamps Nerd

Welcome to our Operation Write Home Memorial Day Weekend blog hop!

Our theme for this hop is Thank You cards based on Operation Write Home sketches, if you visit my blog to see my cards regularly you know I love sketches!  

I'm not going to spend a lot of time "talking" today because there is so much eye candy to see on this hop, I do have a supply list below if you are curious about the products I've used to make my card.

Supply List:

Hambo Stamps Nerd digital stamp set

Papers:  Via Vellum Black & Cyan, World Win Treasures Smoke, Doodlebug Design Lipstick Dotted Line

Ink:  HP LaserJet

Copic Markers:  Skin – E000, E00, E01, E11, R21, Hair – YR21, E34, E25, Shirt – B00, B02, B14, Pants – E41, E42, E43, E44, Belt Buckle – C0, C2, C3, Glasses – BG0000, G0000, B0000, Shoes – W0, W1, Flowers – R81, R83, R85, YG01, YG13, YG25, YG67

Tools/Accessories:  Spellbinders Square die, Papertrey Ink Envelope Liner die

I used OWH sketch #99 for my card layout.

...and I have blog candy!

Leave a comment so I can draw a winner for my blog candy Monday evening - good luck!

Most of all, have fun hopping =)

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Hero Arts Butterfly

Our Midweek Throwdown challenge at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps this week is "Thank You"!

My card says "grateful", that's the same thing isn't it?  I used a Papertrey Ink stamp that I thought was really pretty to finish my card and use up the large space I had, I'm grateful to have this beautiful script stamp set in my collection.

My Hero Arts butterfly  butterfly comes in an acrylic stamp set and as a digital image from Two Peas In A Bucket.  I used the digital image so I could make it as big as I'd like and colored it with Copic markers in one of my favorite color combinations, orange and blue.  

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Thank You

Inky Antics Charming Kitties

Our Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown challeng is a color challenge, using your favorite color combination and tell us why!

I've found that since I started coloring with Copic markers I really LOVE ORANGE, or Yellow/Reds!  So I have a couple of fun cards using Basic Grey Ambrosia papers and acrylic stamps from Inky Antics.  This set is called Charming Kitties.

My layout is a Splitcoast Stampers sketch challenge #355.  I used Copic X Press It blending card, Basic Grey Ambrosia designer paper, Basic Black, Neenah Classic Crest Pewter & Stampin' Up! Only Orange as well as Mohawk Bright White for the card base.

Copic markers are pictured below:

I have a second card using this cute stamp set too.

All the supplies used are the same except for the buttons from my stash and some crochet thread and I used a different embossing folders made by Sizzix and Cuttlebug.  The layout for this card is from Sweet Sunday Sketch #136.

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

 

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown Challenge - Your Favorite Colors

Hook's Lines & Inkers Dazse

I have a fun card to share today using a couple of stamps from my stash using a masking technique.

These two stamps are really old, the date on them is 1993, they are made by "Hook's Lines & Inkers" one is called Cat Tails and the other is Dazse.  I bought these when I was in Cody, Wyoming in 2004 and haven't used them very often.  I "googled" the company name and found lots of their stamps for sale on E Bay so I don't know if they are still in business or not.  

Using Memento Tuxedo Black ink I stamped the cow on X Press It blending card and then stamped it on a post it note.  I cut the cow out on the post it note for a mask and put it over the cow I'd first stamped.  I then inked the Cat Tails stamp and stamped on either side of my cow.  An oldie but goodie stamping technique called masking.  I then colored my scene with Copic markers:

N1, N3, N5, N7, N9

E41, E42, E44, E47, E34

RV00, RV10

B0000, B01

B63, YR68

It's a large stamped image without Cat Tails but I like it even better with them so I had to keep my card layout simple.  The sentiment I used is by Papertrey Ink.  I tried to think of something cute that the cow might have to say but couldn't think of anything.  Any ideas?

My pink paper is almost as old as my stamps...  it's Stampin' Up! Pretty Ink Pink, the others are Mohawk Bright White & Astrobrights Eclipse Black.

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Stampers Best Turtley Awesome OWH Fundraiser

Welcome to our Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps Animal Pun blog skip!

If you've arrived here from Kristie's blog you're in the right place, if you just happened upon my blog and would like to start at the beginning click here to go to the OWH Stars & Stamps blog.

We are previewing the new Stampers Best Operation Write Home fundraiser stamp sets and I'm excited to be part of our blog skip line up today!

My card uses the new Stampers Best Turtley Awesome OWH fundraiser stamp set

and is colored with Copic markers:

Shell - YG01, YG13, YG25, YG67

Body - YG61, YG63, YG67

Toe Nails - YG11, YG61

The layout is from a sketch, the papers are Papertrey Ink's Green Boutique designer paper, card stock is Stampin' Up! from the "In Colors" collection 2008 as well as Astrobrights Eclipse Black and X Press It blending card.

Tools & Accessories:  Spellbinders Ovals dies, Corner rounder, Papertrey Ink Envelope Liner die.

With the launch of the new Stampers Best OWH Animal Puns stamp sets they will be buy two get one free!

You can buy them here at Stampers Best.  

 Your next stop is Kathryn, thanks for visiting my blog and happy skipping!

Basic Grey Max & Whiskers

I only have a few minutes for a quick blog post, we have a busy Saturday today.

My card is for Misty's Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps All Creatures Great & Small challenge for the VCMP this weekend.  She is providing this cute digital image of Ciara our OWH mascot.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Challenges:

DeLightful Gifts - All Creatures Great & Small

Verve Stamps Smallest Things

My card is C.A.S.E.d from Bridget at Bridget's Paper Blessings.

I saw her card on the CASology challenge blog awhile back and thought it was just gorgeous.

Then I realized I have the MFT Chevron die that she used so I can try to make one too.

Bridget used white textured card stock and in my minds eye I saw a pop of color.  The sentiment is a stamp from Verve Visual called Smallest Things, the hearts are from another MFT die-namics heart border die.

It's President's Day weekend and Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps is hosting a Virtual Card making party!  There are many different hostesses with the main thread and links to the hostesses challenges on the OWH Stars & Stamps blog here.   A new challenge hostess will be posted every few hours this Saturday and Sunday -

Erika is hosting the first challenge on her blog Scrappin' Intervention and it's to make cards 

using zig zags, oh ya, I have zig zags =)

Thanks for all your nice comments I have a few links to the Chevron die for you, I found it here , here, on E Bay and My Favorite Things sells the die too.

I hope you all have a nice long weekend and have some time to do the things you enjoy,

  thanks for visiting my blog!

Challenges: 

OWH - Scrappin' Intervention - Zig Zags
CASology - Red 

 

Birdie Brown Robot

I have a fun card to share with you today that I made for our Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps Midweek Throwdown challenge.  The theme is to make Cards 4 Kids!

I bought this cute robot digital image and sentiment set a few weeks ago from Birdie Brown for a coloring class that Sandy Allnock was doing, this was the first robot I colored in the class that day.  I thought it would be a perfect image for kids cards and I used Operation Write Home's sketch challenge #155 as my layout.

I used cool gray Copic markers following Sandy's direction to make my robot look metallic.  The reds I used are R35, R46 & R59.  My paper choices are Astrobrights Eclipse Black, Neenah Red Pepper Linen, Mohawk Bright White, X Press It & Stampin' Up! Brushed Silver.  For dies - Spellbinders Ovals, Papertrey Ink Double Ended banner die & a small Quickutz Gears die.  I added eyelets to the die cut gears for added interest and fun.  I remember thinking, wow, when was the last time I used eyelets?!  I had to search for them and it looks like I need more black in my collection of eyelets & brads.

When was the last time you used eyelets on a card?!

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Cards 4 Kids

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Sketch Challenge #155