Operation Write Home's Virtual Card Making Party!

what's more appropriate for President's weekend than a blog hop to make cards for Operation Write Home? two days with a total of 10 card challenges.....and for those not super speedy, they even give you until February 25th to get them posted!

Erika was the first stop and she asked you to use zig zags (ric rac, chevrons, whatever) on your card. I am not a huge fan of a lot of zig zags but found a way to tame them down enough for me. One Father's Day card down!

 

 Products used:

My Minds Eye
Martha Stewart punch
Sizzix die
Lasting Impressions button

Misty challenged us to use "creatures great and small" on our cards at the second stop. OWH had mentioned needing more boy birthday cards so I thought I might try making a "cool" birthday card......of course using a penguin! I was going for black & white & red but a few other colors made their way into the mix.

Products used:

SEI Holiday Hoopla
QK die
Jillibean Soup alphabets
Queen & Co brads

The third stop was originally an utter failure for me. Beth had this really amazing challenge to only emboss part of a card to leave room for stamping or something else. I had a really cool idea about leaving an oval in the middle unembossed and adding an oversized fleur de lis. It didn't work. I didn't have what she used so tried to mock it up on my own. After the second attempt I decided to just make a card and move on.

Products used:

My Minds Eye
Cuttlebug embossing template
QK Die

THEN.......while I slept my subconscious kicked in and figured it out for me! I had been going about it BACKWARDS!!! so this morning after donating blood and running a ridiculous amount of errands, I came home and DID IT!!!  The problem was I was trying to use the whole folder!!
Here is what I did:
I cut 2 pieces of chipboard approximately 4.25 x 5.5.
Then I took a big Sizzix heart die and cut hearts out of the same spots on both pieces of chipboard (did them separately).
I adhered the pieces together.
 I cut a piece of paper to emboss and lined it up against one side of the embossing template (the side the pushes out to emboss.
Then I layered (in this order) the A pad, B pad, my chipboard shim that I made, the paper, the embossing template, then the other B pad.
Ran that through the Cuttlebug and PRESTO!!!

Here is a close up since you can't see the LACK of embossing well in the whole card photo!

 

Products used:

SEI

Cuttlebug embossing template

American Crafts rub-ons and stickers

Doodlebug brads

I was happy to see one I knew I could easily complete from Yvonne at the 4th stop! She challenged us to make a card including something with wings. I'll be honest, it took a lot to not make a card with a bat on it! But instead I used a My Sketch World card sketch and made a nice Mother's Day card with butterflies on it. Not sure how many mothers would want a card with a bat on it anyway!

Products used:

SEI
Heidi Swapp ghost shape
Making Memories paint
embossing template
punches

The last challenge for Saturday came from Leslie. Her challenge was two-fold: first, use the OWH sketch she chose, and second, use an entire 12x12 piece of paper to make a total of 6 cards! Sweet! I can do that! I changed things up a little bit so I couldn't have 6 completely the same cards.

Products used:

Gin X
Sizzix
Queen & Co brads and plastic shapes
Doodlebug flowers
Prima flowers
American Craft felt

Sunday morning, Linda was our 6th challenge. She told us to use things with wheels. Somehow I thought this would be perfect with this week's OWH Sketch #160. I think I actually made the opposite of the sketch! But, if I hadn't started thinking about that sketch I am not sure what I would have done for this challenge since I don't have a lot of car things.

Products used:

Gin X
QK

The next challenge was from Jen and oh so timely! She asked us to caffeinate our card by using something caffeine related like a stamp or die. Luckily for me, during one of my recent purchasing binges I picked up a cute coffee cup QK die. I wish it were a bit bigger, but it worked nicely with OWH Sketch #159. 

Products used:

GCD Studios
Spellbinders
QK die
misc ribbon

Challenge 8 came from Jacque. She asked us to use washi tape on a card. Um, I don't own any washi tape! That came in to vogue post LM and I haven't really seen the allure! Luckily, though, Arlyn had sent me some. Other than liking that it adheres to things, I still don't see why anyone would go crazy over it......you know, like I did with ribbon! lol!

 

I am not sure this card is going to OWH. I tried really hard to get glitter to come off the card base but it didn't. I think it has been coated but am still debating. 

Products used:
 

DCWV card base

doily

washi tape

QK

Prima 

Bazzill brads

Of course after I do a wedding card, a challenge to use all white/cream comes up from Sharon! But I really had fun with it and used a whole lot of textures. Maybe I'll make another for an upcoming wedding?

 

 

Products used:

2 different Bazzill whites

2 embossing templates

Spellbinder die

Queen & Co mini brads

misc lace

The final blog hop challenge came from Kaylee. She challenged us to use glitz & glam without glitter (remember, no glitter on OWH cards as it endangers the Heros!). A My Sketch World card sketch and four rhinestones later, I was done with the weekend's challenges!

 

Products used:

unknown patterned papers

Doodlebug rhinestones

Spellbinder die

Prima flower

Thanks for checking out all my cards! There is still plenty of time to hop along and make cards!

and to keep me honest................

LAYOUTS: 2
CARDS:
OWH: 18

PURCHASING:
4 "other" dies
2 embossing templates
2 dimensional adhesives (pop dots, framing tape)

USAGE:
cardstock: 4
patterned paper: 11
buttons: 1
brads: 17
flowers: 5
ribbon: 2

alphabet stickers: 9

stickers: 2

rub-ons: 1
die cut alphas: 1
die cut shapes: 12
punches: 8
misc embellishments: 12
ink: 4
pens: 1

A Dog Named Dolly

this was completed for a Got Sketch! class. love how I was able to use a bunch of different patterns on this one (you know my love for mixing papers!) photos were the ones posted online by the Sacramento SPCA.

Products used:

Basic Grey papers, tag, and felt accent
Doodlebug stickers
American Craft Thickers
Making Memory heart buttons
Lasting Impressions buttons
misc felt ribbon

Aloha Santa

Aren't you impressed? Two layouts done in one day! I had pulled these photos out to use for a sketch yesterday, but then changed my mind.....or really went to bed! lol! This morning I decided the pictures didn't need a 2 page layout. As long as you can see Gramps and David in the bottom right photo so you know just how BIG these things are, everything is all good!

Layout is based on sketch from Becky Fleck's Page Maps. The particular sketch is on page 110 of the book, but she has LOTS of sketches on her site!

Products used:
KI Memories paper and chipboard
Doodlebug jellies
American Craft stickers

Getting carded!

A thank you card for a good client at work requested by my boss. I like that he appreciates my work enough to ask me to make cards for special occasions.

Products used:

Crate papers
Heidi Swapp ghost star
Gin-X chipboard star
Chalk ink


And a card I challenged myself to make! another co-worker received a great birthday invitation to an ice cream birthday party. it was an oversized ice cream cone that swiveled open on a bright red cherry brad. I HAD to make a birthday card that measured up to the bar.

Products used:

KI papers (various collections)
QK Daisy
Sizzix die
Pop dots (for the ice cream scoops)
Doodlebug rhinestones
Scallop edge punch

and if you are still reading, I made another baby mini-album. this time it was for yet another co-worker. I posted it over in my Scrapdango gallery. sorry but not only can I not link you to just the album layouts, but they also didn't post in order (or scan decently).

A Sweet Treat

So......what is the longest it has taken you to finish a layout you started?? how about 19 months??? yes, that is how long it has taken me to finish this layout. does it look a bit familiar to you? it might if you have at terrific memory and used to check out the gallery at LifetimeMoments. I did the first page of this layout in June 2009. it was probably a DT assignment for new stuff from CHA. normally it looked best to do a single page layout, but rarely do I take so few photos that I can make due with just one page! I would normally follow up with a second page later. anyway, I needed to order another piece of the background paper (which, unusual for me, I did right away) to complete the second page. and then it just sat around......and got pushed aside for other fun things. you know how it goes. needless to say......19 months later I finished! aren't you proud of me?

Products used:

Collage Press papers and journaling blocks
Heidi Swapp ghost hearts
Doodlebug rhinestones, alphabet stickers, and rub-ons
Love Elsie softie (or whatever she called them)
Scenic Route chipboard alphabet

Puttin' Around with Arlyn

wonder if I should have warned Arlyn that I was posting this? lol!! and yes, I totally realize that the journaling on this layout is extremely silly, but really, what about mini-golf isn't silly?

this layout is based on a sketch by sketchsupport. it was originally for 5 photos and kinda flipped from what I ended up with, but I like the linear look to it and will probably use it again, following the sketch closer.

Products used:

Echo Park papers and border sticker
American Craft ribbon and brads
Prima flowers
Doodlebug alphabet stickers
Junkitz brads
Heidi Swapp ghost alphabets