OWH Challenges #1, 4, 5, 6 & 9

I've already linked these pictures on the OWH challenge blog posts using my Flickr account, but also wanted them posted here for your enjoyment. All of these cards are part of the 100 that I made to donate to the church ministry. My next goal is to make 100 for Operation Write Home, so the remainder of this week's challenges will go in the box for OWH. #1 is called Hot Tropics and uses hot pink, green and yellow.

#4 is Beachy Thinking of You.

#5 is a Birthday card.

#6 is called Sand and Sea - Use Blues and Tans

#9 is called Cut it Out! Die Cuts and Punches

OWH Sketch Challenge #107

I've been busy using up my scraps and previously cut out embellishments. It seems to be perfect timing because OWH has a series of challenges this week. I have a bunch more to post later today, but for now here's the first one based on their current sketch challenge.
Operation Write Home Sketch Challenge #107

I wore red and I won!!!

This is just toooo cool! I forgot to post on here February 3rd, well actually February 2nd, to remind everyone to wear read on the 3rd to raise awareness for heart disease. Well I did post it on Facebook and WordPress (my healthy life/diet blog). Anyway...... I WON A PRIZE for posting a picture of me wearing my red sweater which, btw is being retired due to the fact that it fit 30 pounds ago, but hangs on me now.... WOOHOO!!!!! What an irony, huh? I am getting healthier and the clothes are going bye-bye! Actually the Snoopy cardigan I was wearing today is going to be transformed in to a pillow for my husband's Snoopy den. Not sure what I'll do with the rest of it, but am thinking about making a shrug? We'll see... guess I'll post a tutorial when the time comes. So here's a pic of the prize I won. It's a Color Mist package from Studio Calico.



and if you want to sneak a peek at the entries, go hang out at Ella Publishing's blog here.

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

Join The Fun at the Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog Link Up Party

I'm participating in a new kind of party over at the Mercantile Muse and think you'd enjoy it too! She's got all kind of goodies laid out for us to enjoy (that is, if you enjoy looking at all the luscious art and handiwork of some uber talented artist!) If you've got a shop or blog you'd like to show off or would just like to come look around please stop by for some fun!

Take 12 on the 12th Year Long Project Begins Today!

One of the Christmas presents I gave myself this year was an e-book by Ella Publishing Co called Take Twelve and it started today. The goal is to take 12 pictures on the 12th of each month for 12 months. The book is full of inspirational ideas, photography tips and checklists, among other things. I'm excited about it and have asked my daughter to join me. It'll be fun to compare notes and look at all the pictures. Here's a little collage made with the 12 pics from today. Sorry about the watermark, but I'm trying out the program. The theme is all about inventories and includes things like calendars, lists, household organization, and so on. I just couldn't resist taking a shot of all the dogs lined up patiently awaiting their supper, then HAD to zoom in on my husband. Isn't he cute in that ski cap that he wears ALL the time in the winter? Yeah, I thought so too!

Challenge for the New Year

I can't believe it's been an entire MONTH since my last post! Where has the time gone??? Unlike some of you who have very busy lives with children and/or grandchildren running around the house during the holidays, it's just me and my dear husband and menagerie of dogs and cats. Sure we have an occasional visit with our daughter and son-in-law, sometimes along with one or two of their dogs; but for the most part it's just the two of us. I think that my mojo got sucked up in the thick atmosphere and blew away for a visit somewhere else!

What have I been doing? I dare not show any pictures because of the perpetual mess my craft room is always in, but I will tell you that things are moving along. Like some of you I am trying to use up what I have on hand in my stash. This MIGHT be the time for me to finally make the switch from paper to digital design, BUT not until I've gotten my stash down to a reasonable amount. Here are some thoughts I've had lately:

1. Create card kits to sell on Etsy.
2. Create scrapbook page kits to sell on Etsy.
3. Put stuff together for a swap with friends.
4. Donate a bunch of stuff to groups that make cards for charities.
5. Make cards to donate to Operation Write Home. DONE
6. Make cards to donate to a local church that in turn donates to homeless shelters (currently doing this one.)   DONE
7. Make card assortments along with boxes to put them in to have on hand for gifts.
8. Offer some blog candy (coming soon, so stay tuned!)
9. Make upcycled embellishments and other products for Zeleny Art Fair coming up in April.

So there you have it! The past few days I've been digging through my stash and pulling out all those assorted paper embellishments that I cut or punched out in bulk for who knows what reason (just because!) and am attempting to use them to make card assortments. Isn't it funny when you look at something that you've hung on to for several years and you can't for the life of you figure out what you were thinking when you made it??? The paper-hoarder in me finds it extremely difficult to throw anything away that might possibly be used on a card, scrapbook page, collage, jewelry or whatever. Don't you love seeing and reading about all the cool things people make out of what would normally go in the trash? Sorry folks, but I've actually begun throwing away those little bits of paper that are left behind when cutting borders with the scalloped border punch! Yes they make squares look like postage stamps, BUT if they haven't gotten used in over two years they're GOING BYE-BYE!

One last thing I'll kind of share with you is that I have a huge reason for needing to downsize, but am not quite ready to post in for the public yet. I guess I don't want the plans to get jinxed somehow, so will wait until time gets closer, but trust me, this will be a big life-changing and very exciting thing! No folks, I'm NOT pregnant (way too old and the plumbing's been removed since 1994!); but it DOES have something to do with family. Like one of my favorite movie characters once said, "That's all I have to say about that."