Paper Smooches Circle of Honor

Since it's Patriots Day I wanted to share a fun card from my Operation Write Home box with you.

I used the Paper Smooches Circle of Honor stamp set and my Papertrey Ink Take Three die and a corner rounder punch.  I have a pre made template in the box with the die for quick card making.  

I colored the stars with Copic markers:

R35, R46, R59, R000, B0000, B23, B24, B28

These stars were really fun to color, I applied the principle of white reflecting the color it's next to on my white star.  I colored one side with R000 and the other with B0000.  

The blue layer (Astrobrights Blast Off Blue) has been embossed with a The Paper Studio stars embossing folder and layers onto White card stock then Neenah Red Pepper Linen card stock.

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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

Paper Smooches Teen Routine & Qwick Qwips

I have a couple of cards to share today using Paper Smooches Teen Routine and Qwick Qwips clear stamp sets.  I was attempting to follow a masking tutorial to make a background frame where you cut out a rectangle that's approximately 3 1/4" X 4 1/2" using masking paper and attach it to your card panel then stamp, peel it off and draw a box to use for your focal image.  It seems simple enough, but I'm not happy with how my box doesn't meet the partially stamped lettering so...

in my second attempt, I used my clear ruler and drew a box about 3/4" all the way around the edge then used an ordinary piece of paper to cover the center box I'd drawn then stamped the sentiments to make the frame.  For me, much better! 

Isn't it funny how sometimes we need to adapt a technique to work for us?  

These cards are part of the birthday card project I've been working on and additional stash cards.  Kids cards are fun and easy but I'm trying to step it up to teen kids cards because they are more difficult for me!  I love these Paper Smooches sets and hope to be making more fun birthday cards with them soon.

Challenges:
Crafty Card Makers - Masculine w/ Technology
ABC Challenge - Anything Goes
Created With Love - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Paper Smooches My Guy

I have a fun Paper Smooches card to share today.  I have just a couple more masculine birthday cards to complete and this weeks Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps sketch challenge was perfect for my layout!

I saw banner tails where the two panels are under the focal panel.

After coloring the cute Paper Smooches golf cart from the My Guy stamp set I went looking for masculine papers and found a Making Memories "Just Chillin'" paper pad in my stash - perfect!  I'd colored three golf carts and the paper pad had coordinating papers so I went for it.  Using just three 8 X 8 sheets of the patterned papers I was able to have three cards that are the same yet different and not much scrap left over.  

To color the golf cart I used Copic markers:

Golf Cart - E40, E41, E30

Seat - E42, E43, E44

Golf Bag 0 B21, B23

Clubs - C00, C2

Misc. - R27, Y00

Background - B0000, B01

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Sketch #162

Paper Smooches Vegtastic Carrot

I have a fun card to share today using Paper Smooches Vegatastic stamp set.

Last Monday I had time to sit down and study the Operation Write Home Design Bootcamp post, it's about creating a strong focal point on our cards and I think I did just that with this cute carrot image.  The layout helped because it's a sketch from an online Clean & Simple card making class I'm taking.  Sketches are great ways to help come up with strong focal points for our cards.  

The cute carrot is colored with Copic markers:

YR15, YR16, YR18, YG01, YG13, YG25, BG0000, B01

The papers I used are X Press It blending card, Mohawk Bright White, Stampin' Up! Only Orange and Via Vellum Leaf Green.  I also used Spellbinders Oval dies to cut out the carrot.  The sentiment is part of the Paper Smooches Vegatastic stamp set too.

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Design Bootcamp - Strong Focal Points
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Paper Smooches My Guy

I have a fun card to share today that is part of my birthday cards for our church project I've been working on.  This cute image is a stamp from the Paper Smooches set called My Guy.  I'm hoping it's suitable for men and teen boys birthday cards.

There is also a Virtual Card Making Party going on at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps for the holiday weekend, Linda has challenged us to make cards that have something with "wheels" on it - my car is perfect for her challenge - yea!

I colored the car with Copic markers:

Car - B21, B23

Tires - T7

Chrome - C00, C1, C2

Seat, Rag Top - T3, T5

Lights - Y000, R24, R27

Window - BG0000, G0000

I used one of my Basic Grey paper pads that matched my blue card stock, along with Astrobrights Eclipse Black, Neenah Pewter and X Press It blending card.

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Things With Wheels

Paper Smooches Zoo Crew Hippo

Have you been over to Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps to see their sketch challenge for this week yet?!  The sketch was posted Sunday morning and I have it ready to go Monday morning, that's fast for me!

I've been trying to use digital images and stamped images I've already colored to use up my supply.  

This cute Hippo by Paper Smooches is one of those -  I've colored it with Copic markers in the Warm Gray family and also used Red Violets but I can't tell you which ones because I apparently didn't write it down.  

I tried to match my papers to the Hippo using Stampin' Up! Pretty In Pink & Orchid Opulence, Astrobrights Eclipse Black, X Press It blending card and I'm not sure of the Warm Gray colored paper as it was a scrap.  I chose to make the hearts Orchid Opulence because I got out my old Stampin' Up! color wheel and found it's an analogous or coordinating color to the Pretty In Pink.  I'm still thinking about what I've learned in Operation Write Home Design Boot Camp (=

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Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Sketch #158

Paper Smooches Zoo Crew OWH Skip

Welcome to our Operation Write Home Cards with Critters blog skip for Groundhog's Day!

If you arrived here from Mary Anne's blog your skipping in the right direction.  If you just happened upon my blog post and would like to start at the beginning click here and you'll go to the Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps blog.

I had fun putting together my card for this skip.  My cute Paper Smooches Alligator was already colored,  I wish I remembered the Copic marker colors for you but I didn't find any other scraps of paper with this colored image.  

I was inspired recently by Carol using this Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps sketch #123
I wanted to try it too.  I like the way it turned out using this stamp set.  My paper choices are Stampin' Up! Rose Red, Mellow Moss & Always Artichoke, Astrobrights Eclipse Black, Mohawk Bright White & X Press It blending card.  I used Memento Tuxedo Black to stamp my image and sentiment.

One more thing...
I have 2 opportunities to win blog candy!  My Favorite Things Stamps donated stamp sets to Operation Write Home and I'm going to give away two packages, one here on my blog and one on my Facebook page.  For my blog please leave a comment with your e mail address so I can contact you if/when you win.  For my Facebook page follow the directions there & Good luck!

The next stop on our skip is Diane, enjoy - L8R gator!

Thanks for visiting my blog today  =)

Paper Smooches Zoo Crew

I have a quick cute card to share today using Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps sketch challenge #156 and I also was working on applying the OWH Design Bootcamp ABC's of Color rules.  Hmmm...

I chose this cute giraffe from the Paper Smooches Zoo Crew clear stamp set because it's long and narrow just like the panel in the sketch.  The giraffe is colored with Copic markers:

B0000, B01

E50, E51, E33

YR21, YR24, YR14

BV02

I tried applying the rules of color for my color choices and was doing pretty well until I saw that scrap of striped pattern paper made by Stampin' Up! years ago.  The blue and yellow in the striped paper are complementary colors but the blue and green are coordinating also known as analogous.  This whole thing started out with a scrap of Stampin' Up! Apricot Appeal and it does go with the striped paper but then after I saw the striped paper I didn't  have a use for the apricot paper.  I'm so glad Paula is in charge of the Design Bootcamp because I'd just further confuse us all!

Here's the sketch:

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Sketch #156

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps Design Bootcamp - The ABC's of Color

Paper Smooches Zoo Crew

Happy Saturday!

I have a fun black & white card to share today using Splitcoaststampers sketch challenge #403 using a stamp from the Paper Smooches Zoo Crew clear stamp set.  This was a fun quick card to make!

The Zebra print paper is digital, the "missing you" sentiment is from the Paper Smooches Circle of Honor stamp set and I used Spellbinders Circles.

Perfect for our Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown challenge!

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Miss You

Paper Smooches Circle of Honor

Our Midweek Throwdown challenge at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps starts today and our theme is Any Hero Cards!

My Any Hero card is made using the Paper Smooches Circle of Honor stamp set.  I cut out the stars using my Papertrey Ink Take Three die and colored the outside of the stars with Copic markers:  B23, B24.  I attached them to my card with foam tape to pop them up, stamped Hero under and then added two Chevron's from the My Favorite Things Die-namics chevron die in Neenah Red Pepper Linen.  The white panel is layered onto Astrobrights Blast Off Blue.  A quick easy Any Hero card for today!

I hope you'll play along in our Any Hero card challenge at Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps this week!

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Any Hero Cards
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Paper Smooches Squeaky Clean

I have a fun card I made using the Paper Smooches Squeaky Clean clear stamp set and Splitcoaststampers sketch challenge #403.  I'm a little disappointed in how the picture of my card looks here, it's really cute and bright in person. 

I colored the cute washing machine with Copic markers:

R35, R46, R59, E55, E57

The papers are Via Black, Neenah Red Pepper, Copic X Press It and a Kraft sheet that was in my scrap drawer.

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Challenges:

Paper Smooches Happy Camper

There's a new Paper Smooches Sparks challenge and the theme is Woodland Creatures,
I love Paper Smooches stamps and had to play along!

I chose to use the Paper Smooches Happy Camper stamp set for my card.

I colored these cute characters with Copic markers:

Deer - E11, E33, RV10

Bear - E70, E71, E74, E77

There are three sentiments that come in the set and I stacked all three and stamped them for fun.

The frame that the images are in is made using the Papertrey Ink Take Three die and I embossed it with a Tim Holtz Sizzix Wood Grain embossing folder and layered it onto Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip card stock.

Quick, simple & fun!

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Paper Smooches Sparks - Woodland Creatures
Eureka Stamps - Friendship 
Anything Goes Challenge - Animals

Paper Smooches Swanky Snow Dudes

Welcome to our Operation Write Home World Card Making Day blog hop!

Our theme is winter cards and use a sketch, not just Operation Write Home sketches but any sketch or sketches you'd like to use.  How fun, I LOVE sketches!

I've made several cards for our hop featuring the Paper Smooches stamp set Swanky Snow Dudes -

My first card uses the Splitcoaststampers sketch #403, 

I love the simplicity of this layout and found I couldn't stop making cards with it for awhile...  

My next card uses a sketch from Splitcoaststampers Clean & Simple #189 challenge.

My last card uses Operation Write Home sketch #59.

It's a nice go to sketch when you have a large image or would like to create a scene.

I hope you are enjoying our OWH World Card Making Day blog hop, thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes
Crafty Bloggers Network - Anything Goes
Paper Smooches - Be Our Guest
Old Back Porch - 52 Card Pick Up

Paper Smooches Zoo Crew

Here I am again with my newest favorite sketch from Splitcoaststampers #403, CASology has a Zoo challenge theme and I couldn't resist! 

I stamped the cute Zebra from Paper Smooches Zoo Crew on Mohawk Bright White card stock and cut it out, popped it onto a Spellbinders circle using the same paper and matted in Via Vellum Black.  My patterned paper is from a digital paper pack called Zoology from Sassy Designs.  The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink.

I made a few of these cards for my kids birthday stash and some for my Operation Write Home box but changed the sentiment to Miss You.

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

CASology - Zoo
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - Punches & Dies
Sisterhood of Crafters - Birthday
Paper Smooches - Be Our Guest
Simply Create - Link Party #5

Paper Smooches Squeaky Clean

I made today's card for a friend of mine who's been sick for weeks and weeks  now.

We talked on the phone a few days before I made this, she's been to the doctor, been in the hospital time after time and they can't figure out what's wrong with her.  She had a procedure a few days before our phone conversation that was supposed to help get to the bottom of all this.  

The news is they still don't have any answers for her.  

If you'd keep my friend in your prayers for healing and complete restoration of her health it would be so appreciated.  I'd like to keep her anonymous, I know our Father God knows her name.

I pulled out my Paper Smooches Squeaky Clean stamp set using her favorite color and made a card to hopefully cheer her up with punny humor and paired it with Splitcoaststampers sketch challenge #403.

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Paper Smooches Zoo Crew

I have a fun card to share today using the Paper Smooches Zoo Crew stamp set.

My card is actually for their Sparks challenge, the theme is Picture Perfect.

I've included the inspiration photo.

The parts of the photo that played in my mind are the oval shaped mirror frame, the light blue color and the green pears or apples in the vase.  

The odd thing perhaps that I added is the Chevron die but it reminded me of the alligators back repeating the zig zag pattern.

After coloring the blue around the alligator I went to find blue paper and didn't have anything the right shade.  I LOVE Copic markers!  I added some B0000 reinker to a Mini Mister and spritzed it onto a panel of white X Press It and have beautifully matching paper now.

Here's what the Mini Mister's look like.  I think they're quite handy filled with Copic marker refill inks.

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge - Picture Perfect

Paper Smooches Zoo Crew

I have another card today for the Splitcoaststampers CAS #189 challenge.  

The challenge this week it to use their clean and simple sketch.

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.

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:

Splitcoaststampers - CAS #189
Creative Craft Challenges 2 - Anything Goes

Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes

Through The Craftroom Door - Anything Goes

Paper Smooches Happy Camper

I have another fun card from the Paper Smooches Happy Camper stamp set to share with you today.  The cute bear image was the main selling point of the set for me, I like the other images but I LOVE the bear!

The bear is colored with Copic markers:

E40, E41, E42, E43, E44, E47

I used Happy Heart Creations "Happy Camper" digital papers too.

I've been asked by several people if printing digital papers uses a lot of ink.  My answer is yes and no, it depends on how you print it.  Most digital papers come in a 12 X 12 inch format.  I don't print the whole piece of paper.  I crop it to re size it and sometimes I make it smaller by dragging a corner inward.  I have a picture of one of the ways I size and print digital papers and I should say I always try to plan ahead so I can use my ink and paper wisely.

As you can see from the picture I printed four A2 sized panels of digital papers on one sheet of 70 lb text weight paper.  I used text weight because I was planning on making an envelope liner.  I would not recommend using regular copy paper for digital papers, the quality of the paper affects the quality of the prints.  Most of the time I use nice white card stock. You can also see the inspiration for my layout.  Sometimes I re size the sketches to my A2 card size so I can measure the panels and get a better idea of what size images to print, etc.  To conserve on printer ink I try to only print the black and white sketches when I need to.

The card stock colors I used to coordinate with the digital papers are Astrobrights Jupiter Java, Neenah Cyan and Mohawk Bright White.

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:
Stamp & Create - Anything Goes
My Craft Spot - Wild Animal
Creative Craft Challenges2 - Anything Goes
Digi Doodle Shops Best - Anything Goes

Paper Smooches Circle of Honor

I have a fun card for my Operation Write Home box to share with you today.

I used the Paper Smooches Circle of Honor stamp set and my Papertrey Ink Take Three die and a corner rounder punch.  I have a pre made template in the box with the die for quick card making.  

I colored the stars with Copic markers:

R35, R46, R59, R000, B0000, B23, B24, B28

These stars were really fun to color, I applied the principle of white reflecting the color it's next to on my white star.  I colored one side with R000 and the other with B0000.  

The blue layer (Astrobrights Blast Off Blue) has been embossed with a The Paper Studio stars embossing folder and layers onto White card stock then Neenah Red Pepper Linen card stock.

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Paper Smooches - Be Our Guest
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Lolipop Crafts - 2 Different Punches or Dies
Tammy's Scrapin' Corner - Anything Goes