OWH Birthday Bash 2013 and Stampers Best

Good Morning Peeps, and welcome!

As the banner says, it's OWH's Birthday this month and today we're having another Blog Skip. OWH has a great partnership with the fabulous Stampers Best. Stampers Best has awesome stamps in their Operation Write Home section. What's more, they donate a portion of the sales of these stamps to OWH. The link for Stampers Best is HERE.

You may have also guessed I'm one of the stops on the OWH Blog Skip. If you got here from Seongsook's blog, you're in the right place. If not, go back to the beginning by going to OWH's blog, Stars & Stamps and start from the beginning. The link is HERE.

I made two Any Hero cards for the troops using this past Sunday's sketch. Any Hero cards are specifically for the troops to let them know I think about them and their service and sacrifice. They keep these cards for themselves. For my first card I chose the set "Turtely Awesome" and paper pieced the turtle. You can find the link for this set HERE.

For my second card I chose the set "Write Soon Minnow", and also paper pieced the minnow. You can find the link for this set HERE.

I opted to keep both cards on the simple side. Card stock by Bazzill. The papers are from a 6x6 pad by My Mind's Eye, called Howdy Doody, from the Miss Caroline collection. I use a little foam tape to pop the turtle and minnow up off the cards.

You're next stop on the blog skip is the talented Cindy. Please visit her blog, Cindy's Card Co, to see what goodness she has created for you. The link is Here.

His & Hers Cards

Howdy peeps! The weather has been so beautiful here in NE Ohio, except for today. :(  It's been rainy, cold, and damp. BUT... this is Ohio so I'll just hang around a day and the weather will change.

I haven't been around much lately. Not because I don't want to, but I just haven't had the energy. I battle on and off with depression and it has been acting up. A lot of it is situational, meaning certain things going on will make it worse. Right now it's issues with my mom, who is 90, and in the nursing home. She's had slight dementia for awhile but right now it's starting to get a little worse. Mom know exactly what she want to say but can't say the words. She knows what is going on with her and gets, understandably, upset. So sad!

Hoping to get on a brighter note: My doctor increased my med dosage and I'm starting to have some desire and energy again. I'd like to share with you 8 cards I just made. I made them for this week's Midweek Throwdown [MWT] on OWH's blog Stars & Stamps. The challenge is to make two cards, one for Him & and one for Her, using the same layout. You can find this challenge here.

The layout is one Kristina Werner used in the Online Card Class I took recently. Ironically enough the class was titles "His & Hers". The classes are fantastic and a great source for learning and inspiration. I used to following 6x6 paper pads: Set 1, Indie Chic Nutmeg by My Minds Eye; Set 2, Renew collection by Authentique; Set 3, Hope collection by Authentique; Set 4, Hers, Carefree collection  and His,Original collection, both by Authentique.

The background paper is cut at 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" and I used two border punches for the sides. Hers is by Fiskars and His is by EK Success. The white strip is 2" x 4 1/4" with rounded corners on one end. For my ribbon I used a 1 1/2" circle punch and a 2" scalloped circle punch, both by Fiskars. The banners on the ribbon are cut at 3/4" with one end cut to make the V. The sentiment is from Very Special clear stamp set in the Jan 2013 SSS card kit of the month.

Well, that's about it for me. Thank you all for stopping by, hope you enjoyed your visit!

OWH Blog Skip - Cards With Critters

Good morning everyone! I hope wherever you are you're staying safe and warm... and ready for some fun. Today Operation Write Home is having a blog skip {like a blog hop, only shorter} and our theme  is Cards with Critters!

If you came here from Patricia's blog then you're in the right place. If you're just checking in be sure to go over to OWH's blog and start from the beginning. The link is here.

I have two cards to share. First up is this cute little Hedge Hog. I left the sentiment off so that our heroes can send it for any occasion. The flower is a satiny material and squishes flat so there's no lumps or bumps to get caught in a postal machine.

The background paper is from Authentique 6x6 paper pad called Lovely, and the edges are sponged with Ranger's Tattered Rose Distress Ink. I spritzed a small paper doily with Heidi Swapp's Color Shine Irridescent Spritz in Sweet Cherry. The stamp, which I've had for awhile, is Buzz in the Air from Penny Black and is colored with Copics. The ribbon is from May Arts.

Next I have a card using an Elephant.

My background paper is from My Mind's Eye 6x6 paper pad called Blush. The elephant is from Hero Art's Stamp & Cut set called, of course, Elephant. [A die and 3 clear stamps] I colored the elephant with Copics and paper pieced her ear. The ribbons are from May Arts and the sentiment is from a set I've had for a long time. Sorry, don't remember where it's from.

Blog Candy Alert!! Would you like to win this brand spankin new border punch from Tonic Studios? Of course you would! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and I'll pick a random winner on Tuesday, Feb 5th. You'll have until Saturday, Feb 9th, to claim your prize. If no one claims it I will randomly draw another winner.

You're next stop on the Skip is the amazingly talented Bobbi at Bobbi's Treasure. Please be sure to leave Bobbi some love, and while you're there take a few minutes to look around her wonderful blog.

Thank You for stopping by... hope you enjoyed your visit!

2 Challenges = 1 card

Hi peeps! Yes, I was able to combine two challenges into one card this time. Now that's not an easy task for me, doing two things at once. :)  I figure it I do this enough times I'll get the hang of it and it will be a lot easier.

I'm really happy with how this turned out and hope you like it too. I used this week's OWH sketch #139 for the layout, and this week's Member Challenge at CardSwaps, which is to use the colors of fall. The two strips of paper at the bottom of the sketch is the same paper. I just love double sided paper! :)

Card Base: embossed chevron cardstock by Core'dinations.
Designer Papers: My Mind's Eye "Autumn Splendor" collection from last year.
Frame: Rust cardstock from my stash.
Brown Baker's Twine.
Die Cut: Cuttlebug, "With Gratitude" die using the word thanks; and "Combo Damask Frame" die using just the frame.

Thank you so much for stopping by, hope you enjoyed your visit!

Itty Bitty Purse

Meredith hosted the challenge Beautiful Bags last week on CardSwaps Treat Yourself Cardmaking Crop.

Meredith had the link to Brenda Quintana's blog, Qbees Quest, for Brenda's Mini Explosion Box Purse tutorial. You really need to click Brenda's link and make 1 or 20 for yourself. They are quick, easy, and so much fun to make. Thank you Brenda for you wonderful designs.

My granddaughter, aged 10, loved the one on the left and asked if I could make her one for one of her mom's [my daughter's] friends. She calls this friend Aunt Katie and she was in town on vacation. She wanted to get her a gift before Katie left town. Of course I let her have it for her gift, which was a key ring and charm, and fit perfectly in this little purse. Here's a pic of the inside of the purse.

Supplies:
Paper: MME [My Minds Eye] 6x6 paper pad, Reunion
Ribbon: Scraps from my stash
Closures: BG [Basic Grey] magnetic snaps
Embellies: odds 'n ends from my stash

Thanks for stopping by my humble blog... hoped you enjoyed your visit!