Card Kit Swap Month 4

Leslie was the hostess for our last month of this card swap. What fun we have had!

Her kit included a few patterned papers in black and white and a floral in reds and browns, some solid cardstocks, some pink green and brown ribbons, pink and green flowers, some buttons and brads. Sorry, no, once again I did not take a photo.

yes, the first one is all black and white.....and a silver glitter brad for the flower since I knew I wasn't sending it to Operation Write Home. all items from the kit except the flower, brad, and small strip of striped paper for the card liner.

Leslie sent a red card base so I used that to offset the black & white patterned paper. I added the striped paper and embellishments. didn't realize until I took a photo of it that it really looks Mickey Mouse-ish! lol!

this is my favorite from the kit. Leslie sent a green card base that I cut down to a smaller size (I use smaller thank you cards). I used the trimmed paper to cut out my title. everything on this card was from the kit.

You can see Katie's great cards here! The time one is my favorite!
Here are Arlyn & Leslie's. Love that black & white birthday card! the swap has been fun and challenging and I look forward to the next one!

USAGE: (excluding the kit)
3D alphas: 6
die cut alphas: 2
flower: 1
brads: 2
misc embellishment: 1

Too many of these kind of cards.....

I have been making too many sympathy cards recently. this one was for a co-workers father passing. so sad! I remember him just dropping by the office for a visit. I used Operation Write Home Sketch #157. I hope to make some happier cards with this sketch in the future.

Products used:

SEI papers (old.......really old)
Sizzix embossing template

Maya Road clock sheer

QK

USAGE:
cardstock: 1
patterned papers: 2
ribbon: 1
die cut alphas: 1
misc embellishments: 1
ink: 1
guess I'm not keeping track of embossing templates........I'll have to think about that.

CHA 2008 & cards

I know this first layout is hanging over the side of the blog.....but it looked too small if it didn't! that is what I get for scrapping 2 pagers! I did these layouts  couple weeks ago at a crop night. just needed to do journaling to finish them up and finally got to  that today. wanted to make sure I got them in before the end of the month to help offset all that crazy buying! (which I did a little bit more of.....)

Products used:
Cosmo Cricket papers, chipboard, tags, stickers (and button)
Making Memories flower
QK font
Lasting Impressions brads
American Craft ribbon

Products used:
Imaginisce papers
American Craft Thickers and buttons
Heidi Swapp ghost heart

these next 2 cards were made from the layout leftovers. the first one went to my day for his birthday and I was able to take advantage of the glitter papers and add lumpy buttons. the second was sent to Operation Write Home so I didn't use any glitter papers or big fat buttons. if the box hadn't gone today, I would have retaken that picture. yikes! it is even worse than the double page layout photo!

 

Products used:
Imaginisce papers and rub ons
QK
American Craft buttons and felt

I needed to make a card to send off with a RAK. the black cat was for the package and the brown kitty went to Operation Write Home. I am not really a cat person myself but think felt cats might make cute cards so I expect I'll be making a few more soon! you might notice, the brown cat card used leftovers from the CHA layout at the top of this post.

Products used:
Cosmo Cricket paper
KI Paper
Sizzix die
QK
Crate Paper stickers
Lasting Impressions brad
Queen & Co mini brad
embossing template

USAGE:
cardstock: 2
patterned papers:10
3D alphas: 11
buttons: 5
brads: 12
flowers: 1
chipboard: 2
ribbon: 1
alpha stickers: 8
rub-ons: 1
die cut alphas: 2
die cut shapes: 4
punches: 11
misc embellishments: 4
ink: 5
pens:2

PURCHASING:
2 storage (enroute)
1 stamp set (enroute)
1 QK alphabet (enroute)

MONTHLY TOTAL

LAYOUTS: 6

CARDS:
OWH: 9 (sent box of 68 cards today.....includes cards I received in swaps that met the guidelines or I could alter to meet the guidelines. not going to count those for my 2013 goal)
Brave Girl: 1
Other: 6

PURCHASING:
cardstock: 125 sheet package of 8 1/2 x 11 white for OWH cards (I'm not going to count this against my purchasing but also not count when I use it. I also bought 250 envelopes for the same purpose.)
cardstock: 27 sheets
1 set Thickers
1 QK alpha
4 dies
3 punches
1 embossing template
1 stamp set
4 storage
2 adhesive

USAGE:
cardstock: 4
patterned paper: 30
3D alphas: 52
buttons: 6
brads: 41
flowers: 13
ribbon: 7
alpha stickers: 41
stickers: 4
rub-ons: 2
die cut alphas: 6
die cut shapes: 10
punches: 12
misc embellishments: 7
stamps: 1
ink: 11
pens: 7

Lots of Thanks & a Birthday

After having visitors in the office last week, my boss asked me to make some Thank You cards to send to the visitors. Since I do not know them very well, I made cards I thought were nice. Hopefully they will too!

This card is based on Operation Write Home Sketch #156. As you can see, I took some liberties with it.

Products:
Crate Paper paper and die cut
QK
Accent Depot brads 
 

This card isn't based on a sketch. I am still working through the bits and pieces from the card kit I sent out in November!

Products used:
KI paper
misc paper
Prima flowers
KI and Doodlebug rhinestones

This fuzzy looking card is "homework" for Operation Write Home's Bootcamp - The ABC's of Color. I used the complimentary colors of orange and blue. Honestly, I had planned on using this paper for this card before the assignment came along. Why? Well, because I saw THIS card by Kristie and couldn't resist scraplifting it! I LOVE this design! I can see this being one of my "go to" card layouts! I masculine-ed it up by forgoing the doily.
 
Products used:
Crate Paper
QK
misc star punch
Queen & Co micro brads

I also had to make a few Thank Yous for my birthday.  I somehow misread the stamp and thought it said "thanks from the bottom of my heart." Oh well!!

Products used:
KI and Scrapworks papers
SU stamp
Spellbinders die

 

And last but not least, here is the card I made for a friends birthday last night. I had started the card awhile ago and believe it is based on a PageMaps card sketch. It was halfway done and I finished it last night so may or may not look anything like the original sketch!

Products used:

Cosmo Cricket paper and ribbon

Bazzill & Prima flowers

unknown but very pretty brad

QK

USAGE:
patterned paper:4
brads:10
flowers: 4
die cut alphas: 4
die cut shapes: 1
punches: 1
misc embellishments: 2
stamps: 1
ink: 6
pens: 5

MONTHLY TOTAL

LAYOUTS: 4

CARDS:
OWH: 7
Brave Girl: 1
Other: 4

PURCHASING:
cardstock: 125 sheet package of 8 1/2 x 11 white for OWH cards (I'm not going to count this against my purchasing but also not count when I use it. I also bought 250 envelopes for the same purpose.)
cardstock: 27 sheets
1 set Thickers
4 dies
3 punches
1 embossing template
2 storage2 adhesive

USAGE:
cardstock: 2
patterned paper: 20
3D alphas: 41
buttons: 1
brads: 29
flowers: 12
ribbon: 6
alpha stickers: 33
stickers: 4
rub-ons: 1
die cut alphas: 4
die cut shapes: 6
punches: 1
misc embellishments: 3
stamps: 1
ink: 6
pens: 5

Spending Spree!!!

I still have layouts and cards to post from last week's crop, and a couple cards I've done since then. I haven't gotten the journaling done and photos taken. I'll get to them hopefully tomorrow. but in full disclosure, I needed to get some recent purchases down before I conveniently forgot about them! I debated excluding some of these as I used "birthday money" for them......but that's a slippery slope!

JANUARY PURCHASES TO DATE:
4 QK dies: bird, conversation bubbles, concession food (this is totally a spree purchase), dress up (another totally unneeded item)
1 QK embossing template (hey, it was only $1.50!)
2 packages QK holders (and I really need more if I am going to get my die collection under control)
1 set Thickers
2 sheets Bazzill
25 sheets Raven Bazzill (heavens this should be considered a necessity like adhesive!)
2 packages pop dots (not sure how to account for this......probably adhesive. it isn't like I keep track of glue dots or framing tape!)
3 punches: conversation bubbles (yes, you read that right), flower punch - in transit, tag punch


also, I had some concerns about how to accurately credit myself towards die & punch purchases. a friend suggested things like amortizing my uses. I think that is a fantastic idea! I don't plan on counting how many times I use NEW ones versus ones I already own, but I think a 10:1 ratio would be sufficient. 

• so for this purpose, I will be considering die cut alphabets, shapes, punches, embossing templates. if I spell out a title, I won't count every single darn letter. I do that for the 3D alphabets but those are consumable and the dies really aren't!

MONTHLY TOTAL

LAYOUTS: 4

CARDS:
OWH: 7
Brave Girl: 1

PURCHASING:
cardstock: 125 sheet package of 8 1/2 x 11 white for OWH cards (I'm not going to count this against my purchasing but also not count when I use it. I also bought 250 envelopes for the same purpose.)
cardstock: 27 sheets
1 set Thickers
4 dies
3 punches
1 embossing template
2 storage2 adhesive

USAGE:
cardstock: 2
patterned paper: 16
3D alphas: 41
buttons: 1
brads: 19
flowers: 8
ribbon: 6
alpha stickers: 33
stickers: 4
rub-ons: 1
die cut shapes: 5
punches: 6
misc embellishments: 3
ink: 6
pens: 5

Layout Catch Up

these layouts were done sometime in 2012 (I hope) and I just needed to do the journaling or add a title or something. they do not count for or against my 2013 tracking.

Products used:
AmericanCraft papers & Thickers
Flair buttons
Making Memories brads & die cut
Doodlebug brads and glitter sticker
QK Moxie

Products used:
Rusty Pickle papers (I had cut the curlicues from one patterned paper to use on this one)
American Craft Thickers
buttons

Normally I wouldn't post pictures of people's kids online but these photos are so old that I don't think anyone but their own parents would recognize them.

Products used:
Cosmo Cricket papers
Making Memories stickers
Me and My Big Ideas sticker
Heidi Grace embellishments

Products used:
Basic Grey papers, die cuts and stickers
KI stars
ric rac and ribbon

Oh Rats! and cards

David's rats. It was hard to get decent pictures of them with the cage bars, etc.

Products used:
BoBunny papers
Doodlebug ric rac and glitter brad
Little Yellow Bicycle Felt Ribbon
KI Soup
American Craft flowers & stickers

These cards use the same papers (front and backs) for 2 totally different looks. They are based on the Operation Write Home Sketch #154 and even meet their "use flowers" challenge. I know it is early for a Mother's Day Card, but the rub-on was perfect for the card!

Products used:
BoBunny papers
Prima flowers
American Craft flowers and stickers
Queen & Co brads
Making Memories rub-ons

USAGE:
cardstock: 1
patterned paper: 3
3D alphas: 5
brads: 4
flowers: 7
ribbon: 2
alpha stickers: 7
rub-ons: 1
punches: 1
ink: 2

MONTHLY TOTAL

LAYOUTS: 4

CARDS:
OWH: 7
Brave Girl: 1

PURCHASING:
cardstock: 125 sheet package of 8 1/2 x 11 white for OWH cards (I'm not going to count this against my purchasing but also not count when I use it. I also bought 250 envelopes for the same purpose.)

USAGE:
cardstock: 2
patterned paper: 16
3D alphas: 41
buttons: 1
brads: 19
flowers: 8
ribbon: 6
alpha stickers: 33
stickers: 4
rub-ons: 1
die cut shapes: 5
punches: 6
misc embellishments: 3
ink: 6
pens: 5

Plain White Ts & card

I'm going to try and keep postings limited to a layout and the card made with the leftovers.

PLAIN WHITE T'S

Products Used:
Luxe Papers
American Craft Thickers & ribbon
Heidi Swapp photo corner

 This card meets the Our Daily Bread January Challenge over at Operation Write Home to use dry embossing.....something I have been seeing a lot of and wanting to try. I have several embossing folders (I know that doesn't surprise you.) and am glad for the push to use them!

Products Used:
Luxe Papers
Queen & Co mini brads
Sizzix die
Cuttlebug embossing folder

USAGE:
cardstock: 1
patterned paper: 3
Thicker/chipboard alphas: 16
brads: 11
ribbon: 1
die cut shapes: 3
punches: 1
misc embellishments: 1
ink: 1
pens: 1

MONTHLY TOTAL

LAYOUTS: 3

CARDS:
OWH: 5
Brave Girl: 1

PURCHASING:
cardstock: 125 sheet package of 8 1/2 x 11 white for OWH cards (I'm not going to count this against my purchasing but also not count when I use it. I also bought 250 envelopes for the same purpose.)

USAGE:
cardstock: 1
patterned paper: 13
Thicker/chipboard alphas: 36
buttons: 1
brads: 15
flowers: 1
ribbon: 4
alpha stickers: 26
stickers: 4
die cut shapes: 5
punches: 5
misc embellishments: 3
ink: 4
pens: 5

Vacation creations!

having a 2 week vacation means there is actually time to scrapbook after doing all the other things that fill the hours!

ALOHA CHRISTMAS

 hey, remember colorblocking? that wasn't how this layout started, but that is how it ended!

Products used:
Paper Salon papers
KI chipboard & stickers
American Craft stickers
SEI ribbon
Junkitz

A MOMENT OF REFLECTION

nice when the paper has "embellishments" built in! made this layout quick and easy.

Products used:
Scrappy Cat papers
American Craft Thickers
Lil Davis stickers
Doodlebug

CARDS FOR OPERATION WRITE HOME

remember my goal to make a card after each layout? well, I am ahead of the game! the "Lucky" card was made because there were green scraps when I went to clean off my scrap area to start scrapping and I thought they would make a great card. (two of the green papers are from Katie's card kit!)

then after making the "Aloha Christmas" layout, I forgot I wanted to make a birthday card and went and made a Christmas card......so I went back to make the originally planned birthday card. 

 

note how I added orange circle punches to the paper to make it match the ribbon and salutation better!

 still not sure I like the "Thank You" card. seems somehow flat. I think it is the paper.  

LAYOUTS: 2

CARDS:
OWH: 4
Brave Girl: 1



PURCHASING:
cardstock: 125 sheet package of 8 1/2 x 11 white for OWH cards (I'm not going to count this against my purchasing but also not count when I use it. I also bought 250 envelopes for the same purpose.)

USAGE:
cardstock: 0
patterned paper: 10
chipboard alphas: 20

buttons: 1
brads: 4
flowers: 1
ribbon: 3
alpha stickers: 26
stickers: 4
die cut shapes: 2
punches: 4
misc embellishments: 2

ink: 3
pens: 4

Brave Girl Truth Card #1

a LM friend mentioned the Brave Girls Club on Facebook and I had to check out their site. Melody Ross (formerly of Chatterbox) is one of the founders.......so you know it is going to be a crafty creative kind of place. it is! it is also a super positive and supportive place.

quite last minute, they asked for "cards" for Manila. believe it or not, I had my card completed in less than 12 hours! (I was amazed by how much time was spent waiting for paint or mod podge to dry! sheesh!)

kinda plain compared to a lot of the examples they posted. next time I will pick a shorter quote......but this one spoke to me and that IS the point, right?

Operation Write Home - Top 10-ish

Operation Write Home asked us to highlight our 10 favorite cards of 2012 for a New Years Day Blog Hop. well, since I didn't post all of the ones I did in the first place I figured this was as good a time as any to show off the ones I hadn't posted yet. gotta admit I do really like a few of these! (my favorite is the "Thanks" card, second to the last)

I won't go into any detail. If you have a question about a product or whatever, just leave me a comment and I'll get back to you. 

Thanks for stopping by! If you are a crafter and haven't heard of Operation Write Home, I encourage you to check them out. No better way to use that extra crafting energy!

P.S. I've made a few scrapping related "focus points" for 2013 on my regular blog........in case you are interested!