Crate Paper Storyteller Cards

I'm  posting pictures of several cards I made using the Crate Paper Storytellers paper. I love this paper pad. Lots of subtle, muted colors, lots of visual texture, many choices for making cards for guys.

Its always challenging to find embellishments that are not flowers, butterflies or hearts. For these cards I had the idea to use a coffee cup stamp from a Fiskars set, stamp it with Stampin Up Soft Suede ink, and then fussycut. I think it works as an embellishment suitable for a guy card. I also used the button punch from Martha Stewart. The paper pad came with two pages of tags to cut out, those worked to add a little something without being feminine.

I love sketch 148. I can see myself using this one again and again. The sentiment is from Hero Arts.

OWH Sketch 148

Sketch 211 is sure to be a new favorite as well. I have already used it to make other cards. The sentiment here is from Hero Arts.

OWH Sketch 211

Sketch 215 might grow on me. For now, it doesn't have much appeal. I used Walnut distress ink to color the edges of the paper to add some dimension. The sentiment is from Hero Arts.

OWH Sketch 215

Sketch 218 was really hard for me to work with. This was my result. I find it way too busy! Sentiments are from Hero Arts. Inks from Stampin Up. I might try this one again with a monochromatic color scheme to make it less busy.

OWH Sketch 218

Finally, here's the latest sketch from Operation Write Home. Sketch 238. Some Fiskars stamp and Hero Arts stamp used earlier. Stampin Up Soft Suede ink used for stamping. Walnut distress ink used on the edges. Stampin Up banner punch used for a little accent on the right. I can see this sketch being useful, could be very versatile.

OWH Sketch 238

Let me know what you think? Does the coffee cup work as an embellishment choice that's not too girlie?  How would you change what I did with sketch 218 to tone it down a bit?

Echo Park For the Record Cards

I am trying to use each one of the card sketches provided by Operation Write Home (OWH).
These cards were all made using paper from a 6" x 6" pad from Echo Park. The collection is called "For the Record: Documented." I bought a sheet of coordinating stickers and you'll see them on some of these cards.

OWH Sketch #51

OWH Sketch #107

OWH Sketch #109

OWH Skech #145

The card below is what happens when I am down to just little scraps of paper.

OWH Sketch #214

When I am nearly out of paper, OWH #229 is a good sketch to use. The backgrround paper is from 7 Gypsies. 

OWH Sketch #229

I hope you liked these. 

Another Gratitude Card

I find myself reaching for this sentiment over and over again. It is from Hero Arts.

To make this card I inked the edges of the papers using Stampin Up Soft Suede ink applied to a Ranger Ink Applicator with a foam pad. It was a nice way to add some contrast around the edges without adding extra layers of paper. I tied a bit of embroidery floss around the right hand side of the sentiment panel. The paper is from a Crate Paper pad called Storyteller.

This card is based on sketch #186 from Operation Write Home. 

Thank My Lucky Stars

Operation Write Home is having a Card Bowl for Super Bowl weekend.
Today's challenge is to use Sketch Challenge 210 to make a card that would be appropriate for a man.

This is my entry. 

I'm not that happy with how it turned out, but I don't have time to make another version right now. When I have time to try again, I think I'll use a lighter paper for the strip with the sentiment and maybe stamp the sentiment in a lighter color as well.

Masculine Hello Card

Each month Our Daily Bread Designs stamp company posts a card challenge on the Operation Write Home blog. If 25 people upload pictures of cards meeting the challenge guidelines, ODB Designs sponsors the postage on one box of cards. If 50 people upload pictures of cards meeting the challenge guidelines, ODB Designs sponsors the postage on two box of cards.

If that wans't good enough, ODB Designs chooses two random entries each month and gives each winner a $25 credit at their store. I was one of the lucky winners in December 2013 (thanks ODB).

This month's challenge is to use the color brown. Pretty simple. To meet the OWH Superbowl weekend challenge, the card should be masculine as well.

Today I'm posting a card I made that not only meets those requirements, it also uses an OWH sketch.

So check that out! The background paper is from a pretty old Colorbok stack I have. The strip of striped paper is from a recent DCWV purchase. The stamp is from Hero Arts Typerwriter Greetings.

I used Operation Write Home Sketch #02 for this. An oldie but goodie.

Tool Card

Operation Write Home is having a special three-part challenge this weekend. Since it it Superbowl weekend, the first challenge is to make a masculine card that has some connection to either the Broncos or the Seahawks.

My choice was to use the Seahawks colors -- blue and green. I just bought the Hero Arts stamp set "Father's Day" and wanted to use the tool stamps that were included in the set.

I found a card on Splitcoast Stampers that would be perfect, so I CASED it.

I colored the tools in using Prismacolor pencils. Where the color was splotchy I went over it with a colorless blender pencil.
I have enough of the green and blue striped paper to make at least 3 more just like this. Should I change anything or just make three duplicates?