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Creative Elements Christmas – OWH

Creative Elements Christmas – OWH published on 10 Comments on Creative Elements Christmas – OWH

As promised I’m here to tell you more about my card for the OWH World Cardmaking Day Blog Hop.

One of the most important rules of cards for Operation Write Home is the no glitter rule.  There can be no sparkle that has a chance of flaking off since this can be a terrible safety risk to our heroes.  I opted to take on a subtle color palette and have a little shimmer from the beautiful Seam Binding.  The first thing I stamped was the flower using Cherry Cobbler ink.  When stamped in this color it takes on a poinsetta feel to me.  I stamped it twice and cut out one layer to give some dimension.  Next I took my new Designer Frames Embossing Folder and embossed Watercolor Paper with my Big Shot.  I tore the around the oval and then rolled up the edges with my thumbs.  The Watercolor Paper is so heavy that it hold the curls nicely!  I stamped the flourish onto Crumb Cake paper using Soft Suede ink and colored in the leaves and flowers with a Crumb Cake Stampin’ Write marker.  I debated the sentiment for a while but finally settled on this one from the retired Star-Studded Season.  I have a bit of a Christmas sentiment “collection” and have kept this set for all the wonderful phrases!  It seems particularly perfect for our heroes and their families!  I punched out the sentiment with the Extra-Large Oval Punch, sponged it with Soft Suede ink and popped it up on a Dimensional.  Finally, I got to the bow.  I made a double bow using the “potato masher technique” shown in this tutorial.  I love these bows made with the Seam Binding.  I added a little Beau Chateau DSP at the upper corner and across the card to mimic the dots in the Designer Frames oval.  The ribbon  tails were attached with strategically placed Mini Glue dots and then I frayed the ends a bit.

I hope this answers all your questions about the card.  If there is something I didn’t cover, please let me know and I’ll be happy to help.  I will be back tomorrow with the next SUO Challenge and it is yet another great one!!  Thanks so much for stopping in today.  See you again soon!

Stamps:  Creative Elements, Star-Studded Season (retired); Paper:  Beau Chateau DSP, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Watercolor, Very Vanilla; Ink:  Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake; Accessories:  Big Shot, Designer Frames EF, Extra-Large Oval Punch, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

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OWH World Cardmaking Day Blog Hop

OWH World Cardmaking Day Blog Hop published on 49 Comments on OWH World Cardmaking Day Blog Hop

Welcome to the Operation Write Home World Cardmaking Day Blog Hop!!  I am thrilled you have stopped in today.  If you don’t know them already, Operation Write Home has sent over a million cards to our heroes overseas.  Yes, over a MILLION cards!  Wow!  These cards are available to the heroes so they can write home to their loved ones.  We all know that there is nothing like a hand-made card and one made for the heroes shows how much we care about them.  All the details about the organization are available on their website as are the rules about the cards (ie, no glitter, A-2 size, etc).

Many of my readers already know that I served in the Air Force for 10 years as a pilot.  My husband was also Active Duty Air Force and still serves in the West Virginia Air National Guard as a C-5 pilot.  One of my husband’s favorite parts of his job is bringing critical supplies to the front line troops.  I feel like I can help a little by shipping some morale to those heroes via Operation Write Home.  The burden on the military family is great and communication home is critical.  Cards from loved ones are truly priceless and I am proud to be able to contribute in a small way.

I will be back on Monday with some more specifics on this card since I know you have lots more cards to go see!  Make sure you click on the banner at the top of the post to get to the whole hop.  Thanks for stopping in today.  As you celebrate World Cardmaking Day, make sure you create a few for the heroes!

Stamps:  Creative Elements, Star-Studded Season (retired); Paper:  Watercolor Paper, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Beau Chateau DSP; Ink:  Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake; Accessories:  Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Big Shot, Designer Frames Embossing Folder, Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

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OWH Sneak Peek

OWH Sneak Peek published on No Comments on OWH Sneak Peek

Tomorrow is World Card Making Day and Opereration Write Home is celebrating with a big blog hop showing holiday cards.  There are over 100 blogs participating and I am extremely proud to be one of them!!

Here is a little sneak peek of my card.  Make sure you come back tomorrow to see the reveal and to link into the whole hop.  I’m sure it will be amazing!

Tomorrow is also the launch of the October Creative Crew Challenge.  I won’t be able to post the projects here because of the hop but they will all be posted at Splitcoaststampers tomorrow afternoon.  More on each of those during the week.

I hope you have a wonderful Friday and I look forward to having you drop by again tomorrow!

Take time to remember

Take time to remember published on 6 Comments on Take time to remember

I want to wish you a very happy and safe Memorial Day!  One of the best things we can do as card makers is pay forward with our talents and creativity.  One of the best places we can pay forward is Operation Write Home!

They have started a challenge to collect cards during the month of June.  Our deployed heroes are requesting cards to send home.  What better way to say thank you than to send them some of your beautiful cards??!!  All of the information is on their website.  Just click the logo above to link right to the page.

This is one of the cards I will be sending in to Operation Write Home to help fill the requests.  I pulled out my Vintage Vogue set (one of my favorites) to make this.  The layout is basic but the pearls and the popped up flowers give it a special feel.  The background paper is from the Elegant Soiree DSP pack and is one of my favorite prints!  This is one of those cards that just came together quickly…perfect for donating!  If you have lots of cards to send, the team at OWH will be very happy but they will be just as happy to get just a few special creations that are made from the heart.  Again, you can read about shipping details (envelopes, tucking, no glitter) at the OWH site.

I am entering this in The Paper Players Challenge this week since their theme is Anything Goes.

I hope that your weekend is wonderful.  Please be safe and take time to remember our brave heroes!

Stamp:  Vintage Vogue; Paper:  Elegant Soiree DSP, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla; Ink:  Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze; Accessories:  Baja Breeze Seam Binding, Neutrals Buttons, Linen Thread, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals

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Regionals!!

Regionals!! published on 3 Comments on Regionals!!

Hi everyone!  Through the magic of technology, this is being posted while I am actually at the Stampin’ Up Regionals in Baltimore, MD.  I am here to show you my swap cards (as promised).  I wish I could say that they are finished as I sit here and type but I have great confidence that they will be done in plenty of time.  After all, most of the paper is cut…

I stuck to the same color palette for the simplicity of taking stuff with me (yes, I knew I wouldn’t get done!).  Without further discussion, here they are:

The Dasher card and the Rejoicing in Christmas card are variations of things I have posted before.  The Friends Never Fade card uses a layout from Operation Write Home’s Stars & Stamps Sketch Challenges.  Go take a look at all the lovely sketches to choose from (and don’t forget to make a card for a hero!).

I have lots of cutting left to do, so that is it for now.  Have a great weekend and I look forward to sharing fun new projects with the stamp set I will get this weekend.  See you soon!

Rejoicing in CAS

Rejoicing in CAS published on 11 Comments on Rejoicing in CAS

Now I have to admit that I almost didn’t post this card because it is similar to another I’ve already posted.  The reason I changed my mind is that I wanted to show you how the addition of a textured panel can really take the card up a notch.  My layout today is a slight modification of the OWH Sketch #35.  They post wonderful sketches every Sunday, most of which are the Clean and Simple style (all the better to make lots of cards for heroes).  I mentioned last week that there is a new challenge, SUO Challenges, and they have a new challenge up – SUOC2.  They are, in fact, the reason I decided to post this card.  While my little panel is a small example of how much the Big Shot can add to your stamping, I thought it important to show how this tool can help you add dimension.  When I am stamping in monochomatic or subdued tones, texture becomes very important.  I love how the Square Lattice Embossing Folder adds that certain something to this card.  On the stamped panel I used watercolor paper for its lovely blending qualities.  On both Mary and Joseph’s headpieces, I finished the watercoloring by adding shimmer paint.  Champagne Mist was used on Joseph and Frost White on Mary.

Here is a closeup of the shimmer paint.

I continue to love this set!  It lends itself to clean and simple cards that put the focus squarely on the Holy Family itself.  I got a bit behind on my own Christmas stamping with my OWH card drive so this one (and the ones I will make like it) will go a towards my little stash of personal cards.  I hope you have a great day…thanks for stopping by!

Stamp:  Rejoicing in Christmas; Paper:  Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Watercolor; Ink:  Stazon, Early Espresso, Not Quite Navy, Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake; Accessories:  Shimmer Paints, Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Dimensionals

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OWH Birthday Bash Challenges

OWH Birthday Bash Challenges published on 8 Comments on OWH Birthday Bash Challenges

What a birthday celebration it has been for Operation Write Home!  The weekend held some serious challenges and there is still more to come.  Just check out this post for an idea of the fun.  Some stamping superstars have gotten in on the act too.  Karen over at The Sweetest Thing posted her Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge with the extra challenge to send the card to Operation Write Home.  Well mine will be included in this box:

It is almost ready.  My oldest son’s second grade teacher has agreed to have the class make some more Dear Hero letters so I’m making space for those priceless gems!  I must admit that I can’t wait to see them.

Karen’s sketch this week is great (make sure you make a card with it and send it on in):

My card today also uses Stacey’s Curtain Call: Act 47 colors.

 

Wonderful, masculine colors aren’t they?  Why yes they are and guess what?  Sharon at No Time to Stamp has a Let’s Hear It For The Guys challenge.  Her biggest stipulation is no bows.  If ribbon goes on, it goes on in a “manly” way.  Ok, well I think I did it within all the constraints.

If you click on the picture, you can see some more of the detail in the card.  One of my stampers this week is a wonderful “repurpose” fan and she brought over some tulle scraps she had and wanted to see what I would use them for.  I put it down and sponged over it to give some cool texture to a one-layer card (posted below).  I liked the effect enough to try it again here on the panels.  The way the texture mimics the Square Lattice Embossing Folder was something I wanted to see…and I think it works.  I stamped images from Le Jardin Botanique (retired) over the tulle as well.  I like how it took girly feel out of the florals.  The button was tied onto Early Espresso Satin Ribbon with the very manly Linen Thread.  With all those challenges in one card, this qualified for the Pile it On challenge site as well.  Wow, they put together some serious challenge combinations!

Here is the card where I first experimented with the tulle.  It may be my favorite one-layer card I have ever made.  Other sponging and stamping over the tulle, it is straight forward but that tulle adds so much.  Hope you like it too (it is already safely tucked into the OWH box).

Seems I have done quite a bit of typing yet again.  I guess the great cause over at Operation Write Home really has me inspired.  Food for thought:  As of September 13, 2010, Operation Write Home has sent 549,112 cards to our deployed heroes.  Think about making yours some of the next to be sent!

Card 1:  Stamp:  Le Jardin Botanique (ret); Paper:  Early Espresso, Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake, Whisper White; Ink:  Early Espresso, Always Artichoke; Accessories:  Early Espresso Satin Ribbon, Neutrals buttons, Linen Thread, Tulle, Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder

Card 2:  Stamp:  Le Jardin Botanique; Paper:  Naturals Ivory; Ink:  Soft Suede, Night of Navy; Accessories:  Sponges, Tulle

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Clean and simple fall colors

Clean and simple fall colors published on 10 Comments on Clean and simple fall colors

I’m still recovering a bit from my Operation Write Home extravaganza so this will be short.  This is one of the cards for my box being shipped to OWH later this week.  I’ll have a picture of the box all loaded up in tomorrow’s post.  The Clean&Simple layout 107 is a great one and I used it to create a card during my open house.  I also leaned on Stampin’ Celebration for some inspiration.  Believe me, with all that stamping, I needed the inspiration to keep the ideas moving!

I love the colors in this picture!  One of the things I did to help everyone maximize their stamping was to pull out all my sets (current and retired) and had people bring some of their stamping favorites.  You know the sets…the ones where every card is one you like.  One of my friends brought over her Watercolor Trio and I had to use it (I also used it in my previous post’s card).  I started with some Cherry Cobbler, added Soft Suede and Early Espresso, and then some Daffodil Delight as the yellow.  The card is pretty self explanatory so I’ll just show it to you.

I left off the sentiment because so that the recipient can use it for any purpose.  I found myself making more cards like this than usual to give our deployed heroes more options. 

Don’t forget to take a look at Operation Write Home to see if there is a stamping event near you this month!!  Have a great week.

Stamp:  Watercolor Trio; Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Whisper White; Ink:  Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede, Daffodil Delight; Accessories:  Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding (Holiday Mini), Scallop Trim Border Punch

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Patriot Day and cards for our patriot heroes

Patriot Day and cards for our patriot heroes published on 15 Comments on Patriot Day and cards for our patriot heroes

Here we are on Patriot Day.  This is a day that serves to memorialize those lives taken too early on September 11, 2001 and to remember the heroes that have stepped up to serve and protect our freedom.  I have mentioned before that in my “other” job, I am a pilot at United Airlines.  Before being hired at United, I had the privilege of serving in the U.S. Air Force flying C-130’s and T-38’s.  Never did I suspect that my job at United would put me on the “front lines” of an attack, but on the front lines all of us were on that September day.  Here is some of my story.

I must say that the first thing I remember about September 11, 2001 was that it was a glorious day to fly.  I took off in my B-757 with a wonderful Captain and crew out of Providence, RI.  As we flew towards Chicago, I remember seeing Niagara Falls from altitude and remarking to my Captain that days like this are why we fly.  Little did I know…  During that same morning, Capt. Victor Saracini and First Officer Michael Horrocks took off on flight UA175.  Along with their crew – Robert Fangman, Amy Jarret, Kathryn LaBorie, Alfred Marchand, Amy King, Michael Tarrou, and Alicia Titus – they were some of the first heroes of 9/11.  Another set of United pilots, Capt. Jason Dahl and First Officer LeRoy Homer, took off on flight UA93 that morning.  Having gotten word that the world was changing, they and their brave crew – Lorraine Bay, Sandra Bradshaw, Wanda Green, CeeCee Lyles, and Deborah Welsh – fought off the attack and bravely showed what everyday people can do when faced with incomprehensible circumstances. 

My flight that day ended differently than theirs but it was a clear reminder to all of us at the airline that “there but by the grace of God, go I”.  Upon landing in Chicago (our intended destination), my Captain and I were faced with a new reality.  We had passengers whose loved ones were calling them to make sure they were ok.  We still did not have any idea what was really happening.  Knowing that my mother worries about aircraft incidents halfway across the world (now I’m a mom and I understand!), I called her first.  Her distress was apparent right away as she wanted to know if I was on the ground.  It then became obvious how bad things really were.  I called my husband of less than three months and he too was incredibly worried.  Of course, he always knows my schedule and knew that I was on a flight in the Northeast that morning.  Once my family was ok, I went back to work.  We went to Operations and saw with our own eyes what was happening with OUR airplanes.  There were frantic people “searching” for friends’ schedules on computers, knowing that some of our brothers and sisters had been killed.  My Captain and I went up to the terminal to help our passengers make some sense of things and show them how to get hotel rooms.  No one could begin to understand the shutting down of an entire air traffic control system.  The day was madness and we all finally ended up in hotel rooms…for days.  During those days we tried to figure out how to get our passengers back home, we waived duty rules, we didn’t want anything to prevent us from working.  Finally, my Captain and I got the call to go to Portland, OR.  When we got to the airport, our passengers applauded (we were applauding them for being there!).  The passenger I remember most was a man in his seventies, I think.  He was going to his daughter’s wedding and had thought he would not get there.  Instead he was on one of the first flights out of O’Hare.  We found out later that this was the first time he had ever flown.  Yep, his first flight ever was on one of the first flights out of O’Hare after 9/11.  He was a wonderful man and when my Captain got to meet him, the man was given some of those little plastic wings.  He laughed out loud and told us what a lovely flight and crew we had.  And THAT, my friends, is the piece to remember.  That spirit of kindness and generosity was overwhelming to all of us that day!  There are many more things but enough, I think, for today.

Speaking of the spirit of generosity, I had my open house for Operation Write Home yesterday and here is the final result:

Just take a look at those lovely cards!!  My wonderful friends created a box of 110 beautiful handmade treasures to send to the team at Operation Write Home who will make sure they get to our troops overseas.  We had such a fun time stamping and “tucking” and hanging out (although there is a bit more tucking to be done).  I suspect this will become an annual event.  I also have to show you some of the “Dear Hero” letters created by the children to be included in my box.  Such fantastic work that warms my heart!

Last, but not least, I wanted to show one of my favorite cards I made during the day.  It uses the colors from PPA59 over at Pals Paper Arts and sketch from the OCC Sketch Blog.  It uses the Watercolor Trio set, some Greenhouse Gala DSP (look at how beautiful the Pear and Olive are together) and a button from the Brights Designer Buttons.  I used the From the Heart words because it expresses how I feel about this entire Operation Write Home event. 

So you see, heroes come in a lot of forms…pilots, flight attendants, passengers, OWH volunteers, card makers, and most impressively, citizens who answer the call to military duty.  Make sure you thank a hero today!

In memory of:

United 93:  Jason Dahl, LeRoy Homer, Lorraine Bay, Sandra Bradshaw, Wanda Green, CeeCee Lyles, Deorah Welsh

United 175:  Victor Saracini, Michael Horrocks, Robert Fangman, Amy Jarret, Amy King, Kathryn Laborie, Alfred Marchand, Michael Tarrou, Alicia Titus

American 11:  John Ogonowski, Thomas McGuinness, Barbara Arestegui, Jeffrey Collman, Sara Low, Karen Martin, Kathleen Nicosia, Betty Ong, Jean D. Roger, Dianne Snyder, Amy Sweeney

American 77:  Charles Burlingame III, David Charlebois, Michele Heidenberger, Jennifer Lewis, Kenneth Lewis, Renee May

A Note for our Heroes

A Note for our Heroes published on 17 Comments on A Note for our Heroes

Ok, the final push is on!  Friday is the Open House for my Operation Write Home card drive.  I am trying to step up the pacing and actually create a few more cards at a time.  I am not known to make cards quickly so this is harder than I thought.  The effort is made easier when you have a good sketch and a challenge to stay Clean and Simple.  The sketch comes from the Operators over at Stamping 411 and it is another great one.  They have added some wonderful features over there so please go and check them out.  What a wonderful resource they are!!  The Paper Players threw out a Clean and Simple challenge for the week…perfect for me!! 

One of the things I have been trying to do with my Operation Write Home card making process is use all my lovely (previously hoarded) retired designer papers.  In today’s card, I used some of my old Parisian Breeze Specialty Paper.  I also pulled out one of my very favorite retired stamp sets, Branch Out.  I don’t hold on to many of them but this one sure is a keeper!  All I did was stamp the main image panel (3″x3 3/4″) and then cut it into 3 one-inch strips.  It adds a lot of visual interest with almost no extra work…translated, simple.  The ribbon is retired Kraft Taffeta Ribbon and I just tied on a retired Chocolate Corduroy Button.  Tying on a button is WAY faster than any bow…yep, more simple.  The sentiment comes from the Apple Blossoms Hostess Level 2 set and, other than the actual card colors, is the only current thing on this card.  I think this is exactly the kind of card that will be perfect for one of our heroes to send home!

Now I don’t feel so bad for having kept these beautiful retired products.  I’m so glad they can go to a wonderful cause!!  If you haven’t ever thought about it, consider putting together your own box to send.  The wonderful volunteers at Operation Write Home make it very easy.  Have a wonderful and safe Labor Day!

Stamps:  Branch Out (ret), Apple Blossoms (Hostess Level 2); Paper:  Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP (ret), Chocolate Chip, Whisper White; Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake; Accessories:  Kraft Taffeta Ribbon (ret), Chocolate Chip Corduroy Button (ret), Dimensionals, Thread

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