Indie Bloom Thank You

This card uses just a couple bits from the Basic Grey Indie Bloom collection, but they defined what went on the rest of the card. The strip down the left is a sticker from Indie Bloom. The Orange mat under the sentiment layer is also from Indie Bloom. 

I chose an embossing folder that coordinated with the designs on the stickers (Foulard from Cuttlebug). The ink was just a cheap little Studio G pigment ink because that is what matched. 

The card was based on one of the May sketches from Viva La Verve. The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge this week is Thank You, so I'm entering this card in that challenge as well.  

Viva La Verve May 2015 Week 3

The orange layer was cut and embossed using a Spellbinders die. The sentiment stamp is from Hero Arts. 

Bold, Geometric, Dad Card

I'm always on the lookout for paper that is appropriate for guys but not too somber. This card uses a really fun, bold, geometric paper from the Amber Winward Collection. 

I used the Operation Write Home bonus sketch called "Smalls" also known as sketch B-7. 

Because I'm making cards for Operation Write Home, a card that just says "dad" is great. It could be used as a birthday card, a Father's Day card, or just to let dad know that he's in your thoughts. 

I inked the edges of the banner with Distress ink in Charcoal. The layer of paper with the circular design probably would have benefited from some inking on the edges as well. 

OWH Sketch B-7

Stamp: My Favorite Things Graphic Tee
Paper: Scraptique, Amber Winward Collection

Because the theme this week at the Mod Squad Challenge Blog is "Masculine" I'm entering this card over there. 

Sweet Floral Thinking of You

I have a bunch of paper from the Graphic 45 Baby to Bride collection. This is very feminine paper with lots of pretty, delicate designs. It was a perfect choice for the latest Waffle Flower Challenge which has these same colors in it. I used a Spellbinders die to cut the scalloped shape on the right which also matches the shape of the rug in the inspiration photo. 

The layout comes from Operation Write Home sketch #254. 

OWH Sketch #254

The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is Anything Goes, so this card will be entered there as well.

The sentiment is from Hero Arts Everyday Sayings and the ink is Wild Wasabi from Stampin' Up. 

Black and Orange Florals

This bright, bold card uses the week 2 sketch from Viva La Verve. The paper is from Basic Grey Indie Bloom. The little stickers are also from Basic Grey Indie Bloom. 

The leaf stamp is from My Favorite Things Own Your Story. I stamped them in Calypso Coral from Stampin' Up. The sentiment is from Inkadinkado. I stamped it in black pigment ink and then embossed with Clear Bark embossing powder from Stampendous. The clear brown over black give a really interesting look that was difficult to capture with my camera. 

Viva La Verve May 2015

I used an edge punch from EK Success to add a little interest to the boarder. 

The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is Anything Goes, so this card will be entered there as well.

Embossed Thank You Card

Each month Our Daily Bread Designs sponsors the shipping on up to two boxes for cards for Operation Write Home based on how many people participate in their monthly challenge. 

This month the challenge is to use embossing on a card. I made this simple but cute card using an embossing folder and paper with a white core. After embossing the paper I sanded it lightly to bring out the embossed words. Then I tied some ribbon from Stampin' Up around it. Very CAS. 

The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge this week is Thank You, so I'm entering this card in that challenge.  

The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is Anything Goes, so this card will be entered there as well.

Watercolor and Fairy

This card is a departure from my usual paper layering techniques. I used watercolor paper and then loosely painted washes of Twinkling H2O's in four colors. When they dried I stamped a fairy from Rubber Stampede using StazOn ink. The ink went on unevenly depending on how much paint was underneath. I had to do some touch ups with a Tsukineko Fantastix

If you know of any tips for stamping over Twinkling H2O's I'd love to hear them.  


This card uses colors from the current Your Next Stamp Challenge, so I'm entering it over there. 

The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is Anything Goes, so this card will be entered there as well.

By the way, I notice that Ranger sells packs of watercolor paper in ready to use card size. It looks like they sell for anywhere from $4 to $8 for 20 sheets of paper. This seems kind of crazy to be because pads of watercolor paper can easily be found for about $8 for 30 sheets of 9" x 12" paper. Since each sheet can be cut into 4 pieces, that means that it costs about $8 for 120 card-sized pieces of watercolor paper. If people feel that having the paper already cut to size is worth the extra money I guess that's fine. Personally, I'm just going to keep cutting my own paper to size. 

Pretty, pretty thank you

This card is part of my ongoing attempt to make at least one card with each Operation Write Home sketch. OWH recently announced that they will be shutting down at the end of 2015. Although I'm sad that I won't be able to share my cards with U.S. military abroad, I know that the reason for OWH closing is actually great news: the troops are coming home. 

The deadline for shipping all cards to OWH is going to be August 1. We'll see. Maybe I can complete my goal of using ALL the sketches by then. 

The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge this week is Thank You, so I'm entering this card. 
The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is Anything Goes, so this card will be entered there as well.

Operation Write Home Sketch #209

Paper: Basic Grey, Lucille
Embellishements: Basic Grey, Lucille
Stamp: Hero Arts, My Favorite
Ink: Hero Arts, Charcoal