Halloween Card for Send a Smile 4 Kids

Long time no see again, huh? I have a card to share today that is being entered in a challenge for Send a Smile 4 Kids. The pumpkins on the background paper are glittery and really pop off the page. I thought the pumpkin stamp would make a child smile and that's what they need while in the hospital. As a side note, I ended up with a few cards that can't be sent to this group because they don't fit the criteria ("trick or treat", "BOO", candy, etc.), so if you know of any groups accepting this type of card please leave me a note in the comments.

Glitter for Sympathy

Tonight as I created a special card for a friend who lost her father yesterday I found a new meaning in glitter. What? You say, does glitter have to do with a sympathy card??? Well, silly, just think about it for a minute. Glitter shines just like the memory of your loved one will shine on you. Glitter scatters everywhere just like the little things you'll find from day to day that remind you of that loved one. Lastly, glitter turns something very plain in to something spectacular just like the love you have and will always have for that loved one! Yes I'll be cleaning up that glitter for days, weeks or even months; but as I do I'll remember my own father, mother and step-father-in-law who are all looking down on me with love from their special place in Heaven.

Operation Write Home Cards

I have three cards to share with you today. I just mailed a big box of cards to Operation Write Home and have already gotten started on the next box. Every so often I decide to join a challenge or two and today I did three. The first is from their Midweek Throwdown Challenge which was to use purple and yellow. I love those two colors together, so this was really quite fun. I had saved a piece of purple shimmery paper from a wedding invitation that was just too pretty to throw away. Unfortunately my husband didn't realize I was saving it for a card and used it to write some notes. AAACKKKK!!!! Luckily there was enough clear space around the edges that I could cover his writing with some awesome yellow handmade paper left over from another project. Add a few flowers and hand stamp the word "sister" and Voila! Here ya go:

Next comes a card with a sad note connected to it. I didn't know her, but one of the Operation Write Home fellow cardmakers passed away last week and in her honor they asked us to copy (CASE) one of her designs.

The last one is today's sketch challenge #118.

 

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OWH Midweek Throw-down

Happy Wednesday everyone!  Yes I know it's been forever since I last posted, but life keeps me pretty busy these days.

I've decided to make some Halloween cards for Operation Write Home and this one fits their Midweek Throw-down challenge which is to use punches. I used my Stampin Up oval and EK Success scalloped circle punches, a cute little Stampabilities stamp and some ribbon from my stash. The sentiment is from Stampin Up's Delightful Dozen set. I love the way the faux stitching turned out, especially the blanket stitch around the sentiment layer.

Card for my step-father-in-law's 90th Birthday

Saturday we'll be celebrating my step-father-in-law's 90th Birthday, so I made a special card for the occasion. I bought the DCWV Heirloom Stack a while back and finally pulled it out. I love the vintage and masculine papers included in that stack and hope to make more cards with it soon. The colors remind me of his favorite chair and the decor of their living room.

Using up scraps from my stash

I've been creating up a storm the past couple of weeks and finally made my first goal of 100 cards for a church ministry. The two below are a couple of my favorites, possibly because I love that paper was actually designed after some fabric that I have in my stash. Sorry that I can't tell you what brand it is, but I won it and it was unmarked. It has been great being able to use up scraps of paper and ribbon knowing that someone would get such pleasure out of receiving each card with a handwritten note by someone at the church. Don't you love that ribbon slide on the bottom picture? Would you believe it's metallic cardstock cut using a new die set that I got on sale over at StampingScrapping. The sentiment, oval and label punch are from Stampin Up. The ribbon is seam binding.

Linking up to these challenges:
Pollycraft Monday Challenge Favorite Things #125
Mojo Monday 226
Hotshot #3
Operation Write Home February ODBD
Stamping Scrapping February Flower Challenge

Challenging challenge card

I came home from work totally exhausted AGAIN yesterday and made this card for the Latte Lounge Beach Party challenge. Even though it's certainly not my best work it was a fun challenge.  You should hop over there just to see the amazing cards and tags made by the other talented artists! Oh btw... that is supposed to be embossed clouds, not blue dust flying through the sky. The basket, ice cream cone and castle are all brand new, not-yet-released digis from Fresh Brewed Designs.  I'm determined to try this again after running errands this morning with DH and DD. The riding mower broke AGAIN, so we're replacing it with a new one, then WATCH OUT GRASS cuz this old gal is ON A MISSION!!! lol! Hmm, wonder if there's a stamp for that one? I've seen the fluffy gal on a bicycle, but haven't seen her on a riding mower yet (hint, hint to all you designers out there!). If anyone has seen a stamp or digi like that please send me the link. Thanks!

Earrings my daughter made and cards I've been working on

Ok, so after showing you my horribly messy desk I think it's time to show you that I really DO get some work done, but before that let me show off the earrings my daughter made for me using an Arizona Tea can and some flower punches. These are absolutely amazing and very similar to some she is selling in our Etsy shop, Eco Chique Boutique
If anyone knows how to make these pictures maintain their angle instead of importing sideways please let me know. When I save them prior to importing they are right side up. Very perplexing!

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The next group of pictures is a bunch of stamped images that I colored with colored pencils. The book I am using to attempt to become a better artist is also shown. I hope to learn how to draw realistic things like they show in the book, but even if I just improve my skills I'll be happy. They don't use stamped images, but I'm just taking baby steps (channeling Dave Ramsey now...)