I otter ...

What a Cutie! This otter is one of Hambo Stamps new clear stamp sets. I thought it would be perfect with bumps for the Hambo Hoedown Challenge this week.

I popped up the light teal "water", sentiment and otter since the card is so basic.

Supplies Used:

Otter Clear Stamp ~Hambo Stamps

Tuxedo Black Dye Ink ~Memento

Brown Cardstock ~DCWV

Dark & Light Teal Cardstock ~My Stash

Seeing Spots Embossing Folder ~Cuttlebug

Leopard Animal Print Embossing Folder ~Cuttlebug

BG11  BG18  E23  E25  E29  E42  RV55  W2  YG06 ~Sketch Copic Markers

Sew much

Found this cute Sewing Jar digital image at Birdie Brown's February Challenge. Torico makes the cutest images.

I thought it would be the perfect focus for the sketch in Delightful Inspiration's monthly challenge. 

Even though there are other strong elements such as the colorful buttons, I think the Sewing Jar is the Focal Point as discussed in this month's OWH Design BootCamp.

Supplies Used:
Sewing Jar Digital Image ~Birdie Brown
Everyday Poetry Paper ~Webster's Pages
899 Pink Floss ~DMC
Scallop Punch ~EK Success
Blue Button ~Close to My Heart
Fushia Button ~My Mind's Eye
Yellow Button ~Basic Grey
BG11  BG18  R81  R85  V01  Y32 ~Copic Sketch Markers

Cricut®’s Create a Card Drive

Cricut®’s Create a Card Drive with Operation Write Home
Kick-Off: February 14-21:: One free Creative Card each day. Never-released content from a NEW card cartridge, with a free envelope to match. Cut as many of these delightful cards as possible, as well as the content that will be FREE through the month of March.
In honor of National Craft Month, we’ve partnered with Operation Write Home to get you crafting for a tremendous cause! Operation Write Home’s members create care packages filled with hundreds of handmade cards sent to their contacts on the frontline, restocking every 6-8 weeks, and are sent in time for the long journey back home to loved ones. Each box is packed with great care, alternating styles, colors, and cardmakers from all over the USA, creating “eye candy” for heroes who see only khaki around them.
Together with Cricut, Operation Write Home wants YOU to Create a Card for heroes around the world to send home to the US! Throughout all of National Craft Month, Cricut will offer FREE card designs to create with, and special sales and promotions on popular card designs.
For every 200^th person who submits a card** as a part of Cricut®’s Create a Card Drive, Cricut will donate one (1) Creative Card or one (1) Simple Card cartridge to Operation Write Home (up to 100 cartridges donated).  Operation Write Home will then disseminate these cartridges in the manner that works best for their organization and members.
What are Operation Write Home’s guidelines? Our guidelines are in place for the safety of our heroes, for efficiency of our operation, and by specific request of our heroes. Important things to consider: things like refraining from using glitter, making cards A2 size or smaller, and marking the backs with Operation Write Home. More guidelines:
http://operationwritehome.org/guidelines/
How many cards should I send? You can send just a few cards, or more than that – we encourage taking your time and doing your best work, since they’ll be used by America’s best!
Do real people actually receive these cards?Oh yes! Check out the Hero Blog for hundreds of thank you notes, and see the slideshow of photos that our contacts have sent in.
Ready to send your cards? You’ll want to go here for specific directions:
http://operationwritehome.org/mailroom/
**Packing List located on Operation Write Home’s website must list “Cricut Create a Card” list on the challenge line when submitting cards.

You Rock!

Thought this Bailey Rocks ~digital image by Hambo Stamps would be perfect for a tag on a Valentine gift for my Sweetie. {He subscribes to my blog so I won't show the gift}.

The Hambo Challenge for this week was to use one of their images and some metal.  I punched scalloped shapes out of some pop cans and embossed them.

Supplies Used:
Bailey Rocks Digital Image ~Hambo Stamps
Scallop Punches ~McGill
Plaid Edger ~EK Success
Vertical Punch ~EK Success
Diamond Plate Embossing Folder ~Cuttlebug
Stars Embossing Folder ~Cuttlebug
Metal ~Sunkist pop can
Ribbon ~My Stash
B28  BV25  G43  G46  Y32  YR68 W2 ~Copic Sketch Markers

You Melt my Heart!

Congratulations Hambo Hoedown on your 100th Challenge! 
What a fun image! {Snow Heart ~digital image by Hambo Stamps}  The heart can be colored as snow or red for a Valentine or Love Note.  What is the Challenge you ask???  Use one of their cute images and sentiments with their sketch. I turned the sketch sideways since I like making horizontal cards for Operation Write Home.

Hambo's images are great for improving my coloring skills.  I see here I forgot to put shadows on the snow to the left of her boots....guess I'll have to practice some more.

I'm also trying to stretch myself by entering other challenges such as this 7 or less hosted by Marie at My Creative Creations.  I don't use a lot of embellishment so I thought it would be easy, but the products add up fast. The simple card I made yesterday had too many!  You can check out her blog post to see what counts or doesn't.

Supplies Used:
1. Digital Image Set ~Snow Heart by Hambo Stamps
2. Copic Sketch Markers ~B000 BV13 BV17 E000 E42 E50 R20 RV55 W2 W5
3. Black Cardstock ~Bazzill Basics
4. Patterned Paper ~Love Story by Bazzill Basics
5. Purple Cardstock
6. White Cardstock
7. Embossing Folder ~Distressed Stripes by Cuttlebug

thanks a Melon

What do you do when you don't have a stamp that says what you want? Piece together parts of other stamps to make it work. (Alphabet stamps come in very handy).

Our Daily Bread Designs has once again offered to donate postage of boxes of cards to Heroes when 25 and 50 cards are linked.  Their challenge this month is to use fruit.

 

Oozak has a challenge going on as well: Anything Goes with your Favorite Colors.  I really like Red (pink) and Black together!

Supplies Used:

Watermelon Slice Digi ~Whimsie Doodles

Hometown Summer Gingham Paper ~Pink Paislee

Pink Cardstock ~DCWV

Black Polka Dot Scalloped Ribbon ~Stampin Up

Tuxedo Black Dye Ink ~Memento

Word Balloon Stamp ~Close to My Heart

Sophie Alpha Stamp ~The Paper Studio

Circle Font Stamp ~My Creative Time

R24  R29  YG61  YG67 ~Copic Sketch Markers