Link Love

Diane from CraftyPod and Tammy from daisy yellow art like to share creative ideas and projects.  They have invited others to share 5 posts that Inspired Us to Try Something New.

Diane's article on How to turn a Soda Can into a Spring Brooch inspired me to make a wreath.  

Her mom, Pam from Gingerbread Snowflakes has inspired me to try things like felting and challenged me to make garden markers.  She is always working on something fun!

Sandy Allnock, founder of Operation Write Home has inspired me to learn to color with Copic Markers.

Monika from  I Love it All has inspired me to use an old Reader's Digest book to make a "1st Year Journal".

 

Renee from I came, I saw, I created has inspired me to make a "Welcome to the Area" booklet.

Thank You ladies for being such crafty inspirations!

Oh Snap

Oh Snap! Did I forget to wish you a Happy Birth Day??
What is a Birth Day you ask?  It is the celebration of the day a mom gives birth!  I think it should be celebrated more than the kid's birthday, since she does ALL the work!

This Camera & Bird digital image is courtesy of Torico from Birdie Brown and her April Challenge.  I love her style and her images are great to color!

Supplies Used:
Camera & Bird Digital Image ~Birdie Brown
Oh Snap Digital Image ~Birdie Brown
Jack & Jill Quite Contray Paper ~My Mind's Eye
Red Cardstock ~Bazzill Basics
White Eyelet Ribbon ~My Stash
Circle Cutter ~Creative Memories
B000  G43  G46  R24  R29  W2  W5  Y13  Y19 ~Sketch Copic Markers

Web Friends

I attended a papercrafting event this past weekend with friends who were ladies I met on the web.  Now I can stalk stay connected on the web with the new friends I made as well.  I thought this cute Dragon & Spider Web -digital images by Hambo Stamps looked like they would be friends.

The Hambo Hoedown Challenge for this week was to use webbing. I used glossy accents on the web to make it shine and add some texture.  The chisel end of a Copic marker makes a nice brick effect.

Supplies Used:
Dragon Digital Image ~Hambo Stamps
Spider Web Digital Image ~Hambo Stamps
Oval Cutter ~Creative Memories
Jagged Edge Cutter ~Creative Memories
Raven Black Cardstock ~Bazzill Basics
Glossy Accents ~Ranger
BV11  BV13  V01  V06  W2 ~Sketch Copic Markers

Tweet Yourself!

Have you ever thought you should "Tweet yourself!" sometime??  Well, you may notice a new badge or two on my blog. Yes, I took the plunge and attended the Copic Standard & Intermediate Certification Classes in Peachtree City, Georgia!  Lori Craig is a great instructor and I enjoyed learning even more about Copics and techniques to practice.

I thought this Bird Egg -digital image by Hambo Stamps would be a perfect card to remind you to "Tweet yourself!" sometimes. The Hambo Hoedown Challenge for this week asked us to incorporate feathers into our design. I cut three feathers out with my Cricut and added a little detail with my Copics.  I scored the middle vein of one of them, glued the middle vein down to a second feather and  folded the edges up to make it a little dimensional.

Supplies Used:
Bird Egg Digital Image ~Hambo Stamps
Orange & Patterned Paper ~Webster's Pages
Feathers from Artiste Cartridge ~Cricut
0  B000  E23  E25  E29  Y19  YR09  YR12 ~Sketch Copic Markers

Open at Your Own Risk

The Hambo Hoedown Challenge for this week was to use the Hazmat Suit -digital image by Hambo Stamps with Orange, Yellow and Aqua.

I made a little slider for the sentiment.  One of the other sentiments that come with the image that I especially like is "Caution: Open at your own risk!"

I just love those beady eyes even though they are almost hidden in the suit!

Supplies Used:
Hazmat Suit Digital Image ~Hambo Stamps
Orange & Aqua Papers ~My Stash
Chicken Wire Embossing Folder ~Cuttlebug
Oval Cutter ~Creative Memories
Corner Chomper ~We R Memory Keepers
Yellow Stripped Washi Tape ~Simon Says Stamp
Mandarin Twine ~The Twinery
BV25  E000  T0  T2  Y19  YR09 ~Sketch Copic Markers

Some Bunny

The Hambo Hoedown Challenge for this week is to use Bailey Easter -digital image by Hambo Stamps along with some sort of Weave.  Since I like embossing folders, I chose a new one that looks woven.

I colored some pearl embellishments with one of the Copic markers to match the paper and the grass Bailey is standing on.

Supplies Used:
Bailey Easter Digital Stamp ~Hambo Stamps
Yellow/Green Cardstock ~Bazzill Basics Juicy Pack
Matelasse Embossing Folder ~Cuttlebug
Stone Twine ~The Twinery
Oval Cutter ~Creative Memories
Pearls ~My Stash
BV25  E23  E29  G43  G46  R20  W00  W2  YG00 ~Sketch Copic Markers

My Favorite Peep

The Hambo Hoedown Challenge for this week was to use Bunny Basket -digital image by Hambo Stamps and your favorite embellishment. Mine is embossing folders. I love how you can add design and texture without being too busy.

I kept in mind the Rule of Thirds from this month's OWH Design Bookcamp when designing this card.

What is your favorite embellishment?

Supplies Used:
Bunny Basket Digital Image ~Hambo Stamps
Baby Blue Dark Cardstock ~Bazzill
Foulard Embossing Folder ~Cuttlebug
Scallop Decorative Scissors ~Fiskars
Corner Rounder ~We R Memory Keepers
Yellow Ribbon ~My Stash
BG01  BV11  E23  E29  R20  Y13  Y19  YG06  YR68  W2 ~Sketch Copic Markers

Yellow Birds

Love these beady eyed birds, don't you? I colored Silly Birds with Hats -digital image by Hambo Stamps for this week's Hambo Hoedown Challenge ~Scallops.

 
I added the scallops to the yellow paper the old-fashioned way, with scissors.  I also like that the background paper has a scallop look to it. I

Supplies Used:
Silly Birds with Hats Digital Image ~Hambo Stamps
Western Romance Patterned Paper ~Webster's Pages
Scallop Decorative Scissors ~Fiskars
Pink Brads ~My Stash
R20  R81  R85  Y32  W2 ~Sketch Copic Markers

Beary Special Day

 

I couldn't Bear to miss your Special Day! is one of the sentiments on Bear Cupcake, digital image by Hambo Stamps for this week's Hambo Hoedown Challenge. You had to incorporate a large and a small element in your design. I chose to use large and small dots.

Our Daily Bread Designs challenges OWHers to link up cards each month. The challenge for March is to include a scallop in the design. It is really nice of them to donate postage of up to two boxes when cards are linked to the post.

Supplies Used:
Bear Cupcake Digital Image ~Hambo Stamps
Life of the Party Patterned Paper ~Lime Twist by My Mind's Eye
Cherry Splash Cardstock ~Bazzill Paper
Seeing Spots Embossing Folder ~Cuttlebug
Scalloped Oval4~Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge
0  BG01  BV25  E23*25*29  R24*29  W00*2*5  Y19 ~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

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

You're Amazing!

You're Amazing! . . . . You are you know!
Even if you can't spin lots plates at once like my friend Plate-Spinner ~digital image by Hambo Stamps, you are Amazing because of who you are!

This week's Hambo Hoedown Challenge is to make a circle shaped card and to use Swirls, my favorite or Spirals along with one of their images.

I'll probably add this card to my stash since there is not much room for a Hero to write in it.

Supplies Used:

Plate-Spinner Digital Image ~Hambo Stamps

Circle Cutter ~Creative Memories

Swirl Punch ~My Stash

Divine Swirls Embossing Folder ~Cuttlebug

Dark Turquoise Cardstock ~DCWV

BG11  BG18  BV25  E000  E50  Y13  Y19  ~Copic Sketch Markers

Hive ♥ 4 U

Really love this bee image by Paper Smooches. They are great for working on my Copic blending skills.  I am entering this card in the Delightful Inspiration January Challenge.

It's fun being able to pull together my own items to make an idea turn into a real card.

Supplies Used:
Western Romance Yellow Cardstock ~Webster's Pages
Hexagon Embossing Folder ~Cuttlebug
Bee Mine Digital Image ~Paper Smooches
Circle Font Stamps ~My Creative Time
OWH Year Round Sentiments Stamp ~Hero Arts
1 3/4" Circle Punch ~EK Success
Circle Cutters ~Creative Memories
Hot Pink Ink ~My Stash
Tuxedo Black Dye Ink ~Memento
Y13  YR15  Y19  Y35 I think ~Sketch Copic Markers

I'm Stuck on You

I really like the 'everyday item' digital images Tim Hunter comes up with.  This week Refrigerator -digital image by Hambo Stamps was released.  The Hambo Hoedown Challenge for this week is to use Leftovers.

I used some paper and seam binding leftover from earlier cards.  Really thought this was a cute idea to use with the fridge!  Love the puns that go along with this image: "You're a keeper!"  "I'm Stuck on You!" and "You're so Cool!"

Supplies Used:
Yellow Scrap ~Western Romance by Webster's Pages
Green & Blue dyed Seam Binding ~Stash Leftover
Retro Kitchen Embossing Folder ~Cuttlebug
Fuschia Button ~Leftover from My Mind's Eye pack
Corner Chomper ~We R Memory Keepers
B000  E000  G43  G46  R46  V01  W00  W2 ~Sketch Copic Markers

Happy Bird-day!

I had fun coloring these cute birds! (Silly Birds with Hats ~digital image by Hambo Stamps) I paired them with a felt border for the Hambo Hoedown Challenge for this week. I had never used a die on felt and wondered if it would cut cleanly. I was pleasantly surprised!

My favorite part of these birds (besides their beady eyes, of course) is the dot pattern on their bodies; it can be highlighted or a background detail.

Supplies Used:
Silly Birds with Hats Digital Image ~Hambo Stamps
Dark Turquoise Cardstock ~DCWV
Black Cardstock ~My Stash
Dizzy Border ~My Favorite Things Die-namics
White Felt ~My Stash
Tiny Black Brads ~My Stash
BG11  BG18  W00  W5  Y19  YR68 ~Copic Sketch Markers

2012 Top Ten OWH Cards

Happy New Year! 

If you have joined me here from the Operation Write Home Blog Hop, Welcome!

If you are a regular reader, I am linking to the OWH Top Ten Blog Hop for a look back at a few favorite cards I made for Operation Write Home this past year. If you'd like to see other blogs, join the hop at OWH's blog Stars and Stamps.

You can click on each picture to take you to the original post.  

This is one of the first cards I made for Operation Write Home.

 

Hope you have a smile on your face and some inspiration for making some cards for OWH in 2013.