OWH Sketch #144 and Mid Week Throwdown.

     Hi folks!  We were very fortunate to escape Sandy with little to no damage.  I am still concerned for  my DD in Northern NJ, who was told no power for 1-2 weeks.  She took a walk today to survey the neighborhood, and said lines were on the road everywhere and most houses had at least one tree on top of it.  She lost siding and has a tree in her yard, but it is not her tree.  The hard part will be keeping warm as the temps have dropped to the low 40's.  Just glad it is not worse.

     I would like to share two cards I made for OWH.  My first card is the Mid Week Throw Down, which is to Celebrate Friendship.  I used my Unity KOM 1-11, called To the Moon and Back.  My inks are SU! Crumb Cake and Midnight Muse.  I cut stars with my Sweet 'n Sassy star dies and dangled them with twine threaded through silver eyelets.

     Card two is for Sketch #144 and is  made with Pure Luxury card, dp from DCWV, and a white embossed ornament from SU!.  I do not know the embossing folder, as it was one of my DD's.  My sentiment is from Unity KOM 10-12.  I added some silver cording from SU!.  I see some fuzzies on this one, and I know I trimmed them.  Grrrr!

     Thanks for stopping around.  I know these cards are fairly simple, but they were fun to make.

Simon Says.... Autumn Leaves!

     Over on the Simon Says Stamp Blog, the new challenge is Autumn Leaves!  Gosh, I think that after hurricane Sandy enters and exits, most will be on the ground, awaiting clean up.  Here is a card that I created that shows my love of the fall.

      I found this gorgeous stamp from Impression Obsession hiding in a bin near my stamp table.  it is called Colonial Fall.  I did not want to solidly color the image, so I got out some sponges and dabbed color here and there.  I added a few touches with Copics, just to give a bit of definition.  I decided to cut it out with the Spellbinders Floral Ovals.  A little more sponging was added to the edge, and then it was time to mount it using foam tape.  The designer paper is an unknown, but the card stock base is Pure Luxury.  For embellishments, I made a hemp bow, and punched and sponged some leaves.  The punches are from McGill and Emagination. One simple amber gem finished it off.

     Thanks for the visit, and I hope to play more today!

It's Friday!

      Time for Friends with Flair, and time to strut some Unity creations!  Check out the blog, leave some love for the people who have linked up, and you may be the winner of some yummy Unity stamps.  Of course, if you have a Unity creation to add, link it up!

      Today, I created a card that uses the August KOM 2012.  I was inspired by the sweet little row of apples and the open font.  I used a red card base and then tried making a paper quilted background from 1/2" strips.  That was really fun, and I love the rich colors I was able to put together. Coloring was done with Copics, and sponging is done with Distress Ink.  My embellishments are stitched red ribbon, and colored mini brads.  I added a little shine to the apples with some Glossy Accents.

     My second card is using the new KOM of October, called Labeled {From Ours To Yours}.  Again, I  used scraps, from my stash.  I stamped my deer and sentiment in Midnight Muse ink, cut it out with a deckle rectangle die, and added scattered hearts from the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps heart die.  I liked the non-traditional colors.

     To my east coast friends, get the batteries and bottled water ready, cause Sandy is planning a visit.  To the rest of my blogging friends, have a wonderful autumn weekend!

House Mouse Monday Challenge #131 and Hop

      There are some exciting things going on over at the House Mouse Monday Blog.  That excitement includes a hop with tons of prizes, and a new Challenge with a Spooky, Sweet, and Colorful theme.  Be sure to click on the link and check out all the wonderful inspiration.  The colors of choice are Orange, Purple, Lime Green and Black.

     Today my card uses a House Mouse stamp called Monster Mouse.  I trimmed out the scary one and added him to a Halloween background with die cuts from K&Co.  I added a wee bit of hemp twine and an multi- color gem.  The card base is a soft orange card stock I just unearthed from my stash.

     Hope all is well and praying that Sandy takes a turn out to sea, this weekend.  If you are to be in her path, take things seriously, and batten down the hatches!  Thanks for stopping for a visit.  I just love your comments.

OWH Sketch #143 with Tonic

     After looking at all the totally creative designs that people are coming up with for the new OWH sketch,  I decided I needed to play along.  This week, they are featuring Tonic punches, but I do not own any.  I will have to see if we can change that.  For now, this is what I came up with.

Card stock:  GKD Pure Luxury
Designer Paper:  Basic Grey- Konnichiwa
Die: Memory Box- Latchette Border
Stamps: Unity
Embellishments: Recollection pearls.
Ink:  Memento-Rich Cocoa

     Thanks for stopping by.  It's another beautiful day here in PA.  I am finally feeling human again, with just a wee bit of sniffles hanging on.  I think I shall venture to work for a couple hours, to try and build up my strength.

Just Can't Miss My Friday Flair!

      The new KOM arrived!  If you are going to give me new holiday stamps, then I guess I best use them!  I decided to put together some of the Halloween stamps, and see what I came up with for my Unity, Friends with Flair post, this week.  I took the large feature stamp and removed the center.  I added some webs and a sentiment plus the pumpkin face to create my focal point.  The base is black card, layered with MS designer paper, buttons, twine, gems, and a flat back spider button.

I would also like to enter this over at Simon Says Stamp Challenge blog!  This week, it is Joy's Eerie Inspiration.

      It is a rainy day here in my area.  Hope whatever you have planned for the weekend, you enjoy.  See you next time!

Clearing Off The Work Space.

     Here are a couple of cards that have been laying on my desk.  They don't really have a home, but were mighty fun to create.

      My first card is a love card, which is always needed for OWH.  I started with a white base and layered on some awesome paper that was a gift from my DD.  She said it was Stampin Up!.  I cut a thin strip for the center, since it reverses to black.  My die cut is from MFT Stamps, called a Die-namics die.  It is their open scallop edge.  My stamp is from SU!'s set called Love Is A Great Thing.  I stamped it on white, sponged on Pool Party, and Cameo Coral inks, and then highlighted the letters with a Copic marker.  I hit the border with a Sakura Stardust pen, and then covered that with a glaze pen, so that the sparkle did not leech anywhere.

     Card two is a monochromatic card.  I used the cupcake set from Impression Obsessions stamped in Memento Pistachio ink. I cut my images with the Spellbinders Deckle Rectangles.  A punched a border with an MS punch called Bangle Chain Trim, was used.  I was also trying out an amazing border stamp I won as part of a blog candy package.  Thanks, Julie!  I think it is a Unity stamp, and I love it!

      Okay, that is 2 more that can be filed.  Thanks again for all the well wishes.  This is real slow going.  I am suppose to hear from the Dr.'s office as to my throat culture, today.  How exciting!  Have a great day.

Catching up On Sketches!

Here are a few of the latest sketches from Operation Write Home.

Sketch # 142

     This sketch is my favorite, since it allows you to pick random scraps and create on a blank canvas.  I used a Kraft base, a small shipping tag, and a Prima flower w/ pearl.  For my stamps, I used a Thank You from Impression Obsession.  There is a swirl from Scrappy Cat under the Prima.

Sketch # 141

     I am not sure why, but I always have lots of trouble with circles.  For this card, I used an oak tag base, scraps of teal and pink, and a designer paper from K&Co.  My sentiment is from IO's set called Cupcake MC181.  I used a Cuttlebug EF for some texture.  This sweet pre-colored image is from Beary Wishes.  There are a few teal pearls as embellishments.

Sketch # 140 

     For this sketch, I wanted to do a masculine cards, so I gathered up my black and white scraps.  I found this fish paper I had printed off and just ran with it.  My sentiment is from Rubbernecker Stamps, and the dangling line stamp is from Mail Expressions.  I used a Scrappy Cat flourish to add a little movement to the sentiment.  My only embellishments are black mini brads.

     That's it for me!  Thanks for stopping by!

A Double Post

      Good Morning, friends.  Phew, it has been a long week!  For those of you who sent me well wishes, thanks. I have been sick since last Friday, been through a course of antibiotic (which did nothing), and had a return trip to the Dr.'s last evening which pretty much was no help.  They gave me nothing stronger, did a throat culture that might be back middle of next week, and a pat on the back saying they "Hope I Round The Bend Soon".  Oh, and now they think it is the real flu.  On to my cards.

     My first card is for Simon Says Stamp, where the challenge is to use Dies and Punches.  I used their exclusive Fresh Daisies die, which I borrowed from a dear friend.  I started with a base of Soft Sand card stock, with layers of Wild Asparagus designer paper.  The sentiment is unknown, and three little brads were added as embellishments.  Oops, I forgot to mention the paisley Cuttlebug EF I used.

      Card two is for the OWH and their Mid-week Throw down, on the Stars and Stamps Blog.  We are asked to make an Anniversary or Love Card.  I found this cute digi in my stash, which only has the markings that say cuddlebirds1.  The sentiment is from Craft Smart.  My coloring was done with Copic markers, and sponging is in Cameo Coral from SU!.  I used Nestabilities Long Classic Scalloped Rectangles Small to cut my image.  I chopped up some bling, added a heart, and piled it all onto some random scrap papers.

     That's it for me right now.  Hope I can keep this body in a sitting position to do more.  Have a great weekend.  P.S. Sorry I have not been around commenting so much.

Unity WCMD Challenges 1-8 plus bonuses

     Grab a drink of choice, it's going to be a long one!  Unity came up with 8 challenges and 2 bonus entries, to celebrate World Card Making Day.  The good news for me, was that we have until Oct 20th to finish.  Please be sure to spend some time over on the Unity Blog, checking out all the amazing entries!

I am going to be quick with each challenge, so if you need more details, please email me.

Challenge #1 Is to create a Shape Card!  Stamps are from July 2009 KOM.  I used a blue ticking paper, and ribbon made from red bandana.  Coloring is with Copic Markers.  Yep, my shape is a tag.

Challenge #2 is Texture Challenge. I used white, textured forrest green and a striped dp. There is half of a paper doily, some eyelash fiber, skeleton leaves, punches, and a molded flower.  My sentiment is from a Unity grab Bag.

Challenge #3 is for Embossing.  I used a new technique to me, which is to emboss in white, and color on top of the embossing with Copic Markers.  My stamps are from KOM 7/11 Better Together.  I added this pretty ribbon scrap, and gem with felt.

Challenge #4 is a Sketch Challenge.  I used a sweet heart stamp, also from a Unity Grab Bag.  My purple card stock is Bazzill, and I used a Sizzix ef for the texture on the half circle.  ink is Distress in and a touch of Copic.  Buttons and embroidery floss are accents, as are loops from a MS corner punch.

Challenge #5 is to create a Fall Card.  I used stamps from a set called Harvest of Memories.  I used strips of fall colored card stock, and stamped my leaves on scraps of dp, fussy cut and popped in layers.  My bottom pumpkin leaves have Shimmerzs spritzed on them.

Challenge #6  Is to create a Stamped Border.  My border is created using a small leaf and decorative circle found in my Unity Grab Bag.  The sentiment is from there, as well.  This is a very CAS design.  I used designer paper from my scrap bin and applied Crystal Lacquer to the circles..

Challenge #7 is a Coloring Challenge.  I used my only Phyllis Harris set, called Your Wings Exist,  and Colored with Copic Markers. I used a Cuttlebug folder for some texture and a chevron card stock from Amuse as my base.  Bakers twine and a pearl finish it off.

Challenge #8 is a Color Challenge.  We are to use Olive, Pumpkin, Cream, and Brown.  I found this cute Farm stamp in KOM 7/11, colored it up with colored pencils and OMS.  Made a little swag, added a little hex border from my friend Carol, the flower was sitting on my desk already made.  The card stock is pumpkin spice and the dp is from Memory Box's Blackbird collection.  Sentiment is from the same kit.

Bonus #1 Is the Unity Challenge, which I had completed and posted HERE.  It is for Pennants and Banners.

Bonus #2 is the KOM Sketch Challenge, at Unity.  I used stamps from the July 2011 kit.  My papers are scraps from Basic Grey.  I punched the button holes in the flowers and threaded twine in them.  The flowers were white embossed and fussy cut.  My card base is soft sand.

Thanks for hanging in there with me.  I know this was long.  You still have time to play along, so pull out those Unity Stamps!

Friends with Flair... a little spooky!

     I created a little Halloween card for a girl friend.  The bottom half of my card is stamped with images from the September, Unity KOM, call The Vintage Touch, stamped in Versafine ink.  I added a few K&Co die cuts.  I also added a Cheery Lynn mini flourish, and my first purchase of Washi tapes.  I just love the way the domino background worked as a border!  Oh, and my base is out of Amuse card stock, which was a gift.

     Please check out all of the great designers that have linked up on the Unity Blog.  You may even win a prize.  I was lucky enough to be a winner for just leaving a comment last week.  I received some yummy Unity stamps, which I hope to play with this weekend.  

AI Challenge #82

     Here is a quick post for the Art Impressions Challenge this week.  The theme is Banners and Buntings.  I did not have anything Art Impressions to use but loved the idea for the challenge.

     I used soft sand and white, Pure Luxury cs for the base and layered with unknown designer paper.  My bunting was paper pieced with coordinating solids and embellished with gems.  Inside sentiment is "Until I see you".  All stamps are from Unity.

     I would also like to enter this over at Simon Says Stamp, where there is an Anything Goes Challenge.

     I will also enter this for the Unity Challenge for September.  It is Pennants and Banners!

     That's it for now.  This card will be great for the OWH box!  Thanks for stopping by.  Looks like I better go hunt up an umbrella!