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 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

OWH So Sentimental

I wanted to share my card for this week's Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown challenge, the theme is So Sentimental - using a sentiment as your focal point.

I made my card months ago in a mass production frenzy using this sketch and different patterned paper pads I've collected as well as great digital sentiments I've found on the internet.  

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - So Sentimental

Bugaboo Stamps Spring Stuff

My card today is for our Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps Midweek Throwdown challenge, our theme is "A Bug's Life".  

I used Bugaboo Stamps cute bee from their Spring Stuff Collection and colored it with Copic markers:

Y13, Y15, Y17, R21

T3, T5, T7

BG0000, BG000, B01

My layout is a OWH sketch from a year or so ago modified slightly.  I used two Cuttlebug embossing folders and the sentiment is a Papertrey Ink stamp.  It was a little tricky getting the happy and birthday just right and I had to peel up the pieces a few times but I just kept at it till I got it.  

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown challenge - A Bug's Life

Memory Box Spearmint

My card today is for our Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps Midweek Throwdown challenge, the theme is Stripes.  I used a sketch and Memory Box Spearmint patterned papers for my layout, the sentiment is a quote I saw on Pintrest.  The envelope liner, ribbon and base card are from Papertrey Ink.

It was a quick and fun card to put together with no stamping or coloring.

I hope you'll have time to play in our Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps Midweek Throwdown challenge this week!

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown - Stripes

Bugaboo Stamps Spring Stuff Bee

Ahhh, the house is quiet, the kids have returned to school after their two week break and I have a fun card to share with you!  I printed several of these cute Bee's from Bugaboo Stamps Spring Stuff collection that were too large for the card I was working on at the time.  

I used one of my favorite sketches from Splitcoaststampers #403 along with a scrap of digital patterned paper from My Grafico.  The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink and I colored the Bee with Copic Markers:

Y13, Y15, Y17, R21

T3, T5, T7

BG0000, BG000, B01

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Lilyboo Designs New Easter Bonnet

I have an almost one layer Easter card to share with you today! 

In the end I decided to trim it and mat it on a panel of Astrobrights Eclipse Black for a little extra.  

I had lots of fun coloring my Lilyboo Designs New Easter Bonnet digital image with Copic markers and Copic refills.  I also used Lilyboo Designs Easter Eggs to help make my scene.  I merged the two digital images in my Publisher program after turning them into png files in Photoshop Elements.  I also used my Publisher program to draw the box around the scene, it comes out so much nicer than when I do it by hand.  No smeared ink either!

Lots of Copic markers!

I used the Copic ink refills to color in the background area.  I use a Q Tip dipped in 91% Isoprophyl Alcohol to wipe on the background area then saturate the other end with the refill color I'll be using and spread it around.  It gives a more even look than coloring a large area with the markers.  Sometimes it's best to repeat the process if it isn't as smooth as you'd like it.  I also go back and outline everything with the same color marker as the refill and blend, blend, blend.  

My card looked bare so I added a Spellbinders tag from the Tags Trio set and stamped it with an Easter sentiment from Papertrey Ink and pulled a yellow metallic ribbon through the tiny hole.

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Stampin' Up! Mini Mates

I have a just for fun card to share using the retired Stampin' Up! Mini Mates stamp set and Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps sketch #154.  

I colored the cute little Hedgie with Copic markers:

E41, E42, E29, YG01, YG13, YG25, R35, R46, R59, E25, E17, E30, RV10, B0000

Stamped the "hang in there" sentiment several times & created texture using a Darice embossing folder and basically followed the sketch layout.  My paper choices are Astrobrights Jupiter Java, Neenah Red Pepper Linen, Via Vellum Leaf Green and Copic X Press It blending card.

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Bugaboo Stamps Spring Stuff Bee

I had so much fun making this Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps sketch challenge card!

I always find card layouts with more than one focal point to be challenging and fun.  When I first saw this sketch I went looking through my Paper Smooches stamp sets but didn't find anything quite right, then Bugaboo Stamps popped into my head.  I was on their design team at one time and have lots of their cute digital images!  Using a digital image was nice because I can make it any size I want after deciding which one to use.  I chose this little bee from Bugaboo's Spring Stuff collection because it's cute and would be simple to color multiple times.  

I cut the bees out with a Spellbinders square die before I colored them.  I usually live dangerously and color first, cut last.  I matted the bees with Astrobrights Eclipse Black and the yellow panel is Astrobrights Galaxy Gold that I wrapped with a Black organdy ribbon and set aside.  My sentiment is from Hambo Stamps and is perfect for my card, I'm so happy I have it - I'm out of ink in my Ink Jet printer... After stamping the sentiment I put the Mohawk Bright White panel through the Cuttlebug using the Swiss Dots embossing folder rounded the corners and attached it to the Eclipse Black card body, then assembled my card.

The bees are colored with Copic markers:

Y13, Y15, Y17

T3, T5, T7, R21

BG0000, BG000, B01

I'm off to color more cute bees, I printed six of them too large for this sketch so you'll probably being seeing more bees in the future!  I did order some new embossing folders from E Bay that should go with them too.

Bee sure to check out our Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown challenge that starts today, I don't have a card ready yet...

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Sketch #163

Celebrate The Occasion - Spring Is In The Air
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Card Mania - Lots of Layers
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

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!

Stomp Stamps Moto X

As you can see from the sentiment on my card today I'm still working on Birthday cards!

My goal is to get ahead on my stash and have some masculine type cards ready for future use, it's a daunting goal because masculine cards are challenging for me.  

I'm always up for a good challenge though! 

I used an old wood mounted rubber stamp today made by Stomp Stamps.  I don't think they are in business any longer, when I "googled" the name I didn't get anything, even on E Bay...  the date on the wood block is 2003.

I thought this might be a good birthday card stamp for teen boys and young men? 

It's been awhile since I've been involved in off road  motorcycle racing so I did a Google search for Yamaha dirt bikes for an idea of how to color my image.  I haven't attempted Honda dirt bikes yet as I'm pretty sure they are red and it's one of the hardest colors to use in small areas.  One day...

I colored this fun dirt bike stamp with Copic markers:

B21, B23, B24, BG10, BG0000, B01

E00, E01, E11

N1, N3, N5

C0, C2, C3

T1, T3, T5

The card stock colors I used are Astrobrights Eclipse Black, Color Mates Grey, Discount Cardstock's Cobalt Blue & X Press It blending card.  The gears embossing folder is made by Sizzix and the little gears are from a Quickkutz die and I used some silver eyelets.  The tag is a Spellbinders Tags Trio die and the sentiment is from a PaperTrey Ink stamp set.

Oh!  I almost forgot my layout is Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps sketch #161!

I flipped the sketch because I'm using a rubber stamp and couldn't "flip" my image as it's not digital and used a rectangle instead of an oval.  

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Sketch #161
Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - MWT Tic TacToe
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

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

Happy Valentine's Day!

I thought I'd post a card I made using Hambo Stamps Heart Basket digital stamp set today.  I submitted it for publication to Paper Crafts Card Creations Volume 11 while I was on the Hambo team and it didn't make the cut so I can share it on my blog now.  I know you've seen this sketch before as I've used it again and again, I just love the clean simplicity of it.

Since I submitted the card for publication I have a supply list:

Copic markers:  Hearts – R35, R46, R59, Basket – E30, E33, E37, E47, Background – BG0000, BG11 

Spellbinders Circles dies, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper

Astrobrights Eclipse Black, Neenah Red Pepper Linen, X Press It, Mohawk Bright White

Enjoy your day and thanks for visiting my blog -

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

Hambo Stamps Snow Heart

I have a fun Hambo Stamps card to share with you today for our Hambo Hoedown, the challenge theme is to use the sketch provided with this cute Hambo Stamps Snow Heart digital stamp set or any Hambo Stamps you'd like to use.  

I have some sad news to share today...  this is my last card as a design team member for Hambo Stamps - the end our term is here and it's time to say a fond farewell.  I've loved being on the Hambo Stamps team, I've had the pleasure of working with two wonderful teams of very talented card makers.  Judy is our team coordinator and I've enjoyed her direction and organizational skills as well as her beautiful cards!  A huge THANK YOU to Monica and Tim Hunter, I've totally enjoyed playing with your stamps and digital images.  If you think you'd ever like to be on a design team I'd highly recommend trying out for the Hambo Stamps team, you'll have a great experience!

I colored this cute Hambo image with Copic markers:

E00, E01, E11, R21

R81, R83, R85

R14, R17, R25

R00, R000, T0

G0000, BG0000

My color inspiration is the Text Style Simple Valentine paper by Papertrey Ink.  My other paper choices are Astrobrights Eclipse Black, Copic X Press It, Neenah Scarlet.

Stop by this weeks  Hambo Hoedown to see all the great cards from our design team!

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Whipper Snapper Easter Bunnies

My card today is for our Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps Midweek Throwdown challenge!

Our challenge theme this week is to make Easter cards since the deadline is coming soon.

I love these Whipper Snapper Bunnies and wanted to use Splitcoaststampers Sketch #413 for my card layout.  My only regret with this card is the colors on my computer screen aren't true.  The card stock colors are Papertrey Ink Hibiscus, Via Vellum Leaf Green & Black, Discount Card Stock's Cobalt, and Copic X Press It Blending Card.

Copic Markers:

Basket - E41, E42, E43

Grass/Carrot Tops - YG01, YG13, YG25

Noses & Ears - RV00, RV02, RV04

Carrots - YR65, YR68

Easter Eggs - B41, B21, B23, V01, V12, V15

Bunnies - W0, W1

Background/Outline - B0000, B01

I also used a couple embossing folders for texture and a We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper.

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Easter

Splitcoaststampers - Sketch 314

Hambo Stamps Plate Spinner

I have a fun Hambo Hoedown card to share with you using Hambo Stamps Plate Spinner, isn't he cute?!  The challenge is to make a round card and add spirals and/or swirls.  My embossing folder has beautiful swirls on it but is pretty covered up so I had fun making paper spirals using a Q Tip that was on the table.  You know one of those left overs from coloring with my Copic markers that's till too good to throw away! 

I used Spellbinders Grands Circles to make my card base and regular Ovals to cut out my cute image.

The Plate Spinner is colored with Copic markers:

N7, N5, N3, N1

E00, E01, E11, R21

BG45, BG49

E43, E42

B60, B63

BG0000

I hope you'll stop by the Hambo Hoedown and see all the fun cards from our design team and accept the challenge too!

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Operation Write Home Design Bootcamp

I have fun news from Operation Write Home to share with you!

There's a new free online class starting today called Design Bootcamp at our Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps blog by Paula!  The class that starts today is all about color, I can't wait to dive in and expand my card making skills!  

Paula also chose one of my cards to use as an example:

 

it is just one of many cards from Operation Write Home card makers she used for examples of what she's teaching.  You'll have to click the Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps link to see how it applies!

The stamp on this card is from Penny Black, she's called Mimi In Paris.  My original blog post is here.

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Hambo Stamps Name That 'Toon

Welcome to our Hambo "Name That Toon" blog hop!

If you are following along in the hop you should have arrived from Dawn's blog Sunnyside Up if not the beginning is at Talk To The Ham.
The challenge for this blog hop is to create a project that represents and depicts a comic strip! 

Maybe it’s your favorite one you read as a kid like mine!

I was a little girl in the 1960's can you guess from looking at my card my favorite Sunday newspaper comic? 

 

That's right Family Circus!  Do you remember Dolly, Billy and Jeffy?

I used Hambo Stamps Dress Up for my take on Dolly & Billy's dress up play.

I colored this cute rubber stamped image with Copic markers:

Dress/Tie/Hat - Y13, Y15, Y17

Shirt/Purse/Hatband - B63, B60

Flowers R35, R46

Hair & Skin - E35, E37, E39, E55, E49, D57, E59, E00, E01, E11

Jacket/Hat - N1, N3, N5

Background - BG000, BG11, BG23

and kept the layout simple just like in the cartoon.

A prize will be awarded to one participant whose comic strip-themed creation tickles the Bacon Bits’ fancy in a hammin’ jammin’ way!  Another prize will be awarded randomly to a hopper who comments on all of the blogs along the way. The winners will be announced on the Hambo company blog, Talk to the Ham, on Wednesday, January 23, as well as at the Hambo Hoedown challenge blog. We love comments anytime, but the deadline for prize entry comments is Sunday, January 26 at 5 PM CST. Don't miss it!
 

The next stop on our hope is Jane, enjoy!

Thanks for visiting my blog today -

Lilyboo One More Flower

I have a fun new release that is coming soon from Cuddly Buddly, a Lilyboo Designs digital image to share with you today!

This cutie is called One More Flower and I colored it with Copic markers:

Bear - E35, E33, Y21, Y32, RV10

Tree - E30, E33, E37

Grass - YG01, YG13, YG25, YG67

Basket - E40, E41, E42

Flowers - R81, R83, R85, R35, R46, R59

Background/Outline - B0000, B00

The papers I used are by Neenah - Red Pepper Linen and Krarft, my image is printed on Copic X Press It blending card.  To make the frame I used two Spellbinders square dies and the hearts border is a die from the Die-namics line.  I also used a Sizzix Tim Holtz wood embossing folder for added interest.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Challenges:

Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps - Spring Flowers