Sketch Challenge 123

This week's challenge has two sketches.  I really like both!  Usually, I struggle with sketches, but I found these ones really versatile and easy to use.  Plus, they gave me a chance to use my punny stamps:

Patterned paper:  Colorbok and My Mind's Eye, Image and sentiment by Doodle Pantry.

Paper by Chatterbox, Image by Whimsie Doodles? (I think???), Olive image found on Google

That dog digi cracks me up.  If you can't read it, it says "Does anyone else feel like a margarita?"  I rotated the sketch and then flipped it for that card.  The next card is based off of the second sketch: 

Paper by 3 Bugs in a Rug, Cardstock by Provo Craft, Image by Starry Night Studio

Share you creations too.  I'd love to check them out!  Ciao.

Late Challenges

The problem with challenges is that when I finally figure out what to make for them, the challenge is long past.  Oh well.  Here's my card for last week's OWH sketch:

Patterned paper and cardstock: Provo Craft, brads: Making Memories, Image: Desert Diva

This card was intended for The AlleyWay Stamps inspiration challenge.  I loved the color pallet that they used on their inspiration photo.  But I didn't get this card made in time either.  Oh well, I really like how it turned out anyways.

Patterned Paper by Colorbok, Ribbon by Offay, Cardstock from Provo Craft, Image from AlleyWay Stamps, Birthday stamp from Hero Arts

And this one's not for a specific challenge.  But, my blog post wouldn't be complete without a card with a cat on it.  I got the flowers from the local dollar store.  I like to buy cheap Hawaiian leis and cut the string to remove the flowers.  Voila!  Dozens of super cheap coordinating fabric flowers that already have a hole in the middle for a brad.

Patterned paper by Colorbok, Cardstock by Provo Craft, Brads from Making Memories, Flowers from Dollar Tree, Image by Sliejke Digital Stamps

Anyone know of challenges with a really long link-up period?

Memorial Day Blog Hop!

Hi crafters!  Welcome to 104 Cards for Soldiers.  I'm happy you're here.  I just love Operation Write Home.  Our soldiers do so much for our country and make so many sacrifices; it's an honor to give back to them in whatever way possible.  The cards that are sent to them make a big difference both for our heroes and their families.

The theme for this bloghop is sketches.  OWH has great sketches.  They are always giving me inspiring card ideas.  This card is based off of sketch 121:

And this mural card is inspired by sketch 120:  

One more card for you.  I wish that I could take credit for it because I think it is just SO CUTE.  It's a bit early for Christmas cards, but I couldn't resist sharing.  This creative card was made by a friend.  She used sketch 118:

Thanks for stopping by.  Have fun at the blog hop.  Hop on and leave some love for all the dedicated card makers  (as well as keep an eye out for blog candy along the way).  Cheers!

Where I've Been

Hi crafters!  Sorry I've been missing for a couple weeks.  I've been a busy bee though.  Here's a few of the cards I've been working on.

Paper and buttons by Provo Craft, Ribbon by Offay, Image found on Free Digital Stamps

Paper by Colorbok, stamp from Michaels, image from  Elizabeth O Dulemba

And this week's throwdown-love cards:

 Paper by All My Memories, cardstock by Bazzil, image by Unity Stamps

So why have I been gone so long?  I've been prepping cards to mail.  I asked my mom (the ultimate card hoarder) if she had any handmade cards that she'd like to donate to the troops.  Let's just say that I got more than I bargained for. . . 

 None of the cards were lined.  This pile is when I was at about the half-way point.  So after 5 rolls of double-stick tape, 4 boxes of envelopes, 7 trips to the store for supplies, and hours of work, 213 cards are on their way to OWH.  I think maybe 20 of those cards are mine.  My mom has a serious hoarding problem.  Thankfully, my husband is super patient with me and my card mess in the middle of the living room.

Changing the subject, have you linked up to OWH's Memorial Day bloghop yet?  Let me know, I'd love to come visit and see your creations.

Bonus card!  Here's what I made for my grandma for Mother's day:

Happy crafting!

Rebel Challenge Cards

It's the weekend!  Which means that I made lots of cards to help unwind from school (4 more weeks!).  And it's National Scrapbook weekend, so OWH has lots and lots of challenges HERE.  I wish I could say that I made each of these cards for the specific challenges, but I just made a bunch of cards yesterday and then looked to see which fit the challenges.

Challenge #2-Use something you've been hording.

Has there ever been an easier challenge than this one?  I hoard so much craft stuff; I think any of my cards would meet this challenge requirement.  But those itty-bitty flowers in the top corner of my card are one of my worst hoards.  I don't even really like them, but I've hoarded them for a long time.  I got a whole bunch of them when I worked for Roberts Crafts about a year and a half ago.  They were cleaning out their classes' craft hoards and gave all the leftovers to employees for free.  Thus I inherited ugly tiny blue and pink flowers (there's gross brown ones in the bunch too-but I didn't use those ones on my card).  For this card, I used digi stamps from Free Vintage Stamps for the background and the Paris collage.  I liked it, but it really needed some color to offset the tan.  My wonderful husband bought me super cute flowers yesterday so I used two on the bottom corner of the card.  But it still looked pretty bland.  That's when I thought of those little paper flowers I've been meaning to get rid of for months.  I can't believe that they actually look cute on the card, but they do!  Which means that I'll probably continue to hoard the rest.

Challenge #5-Use 5 different elements on your card.

It's Cinco De Mayo!  And for the holiday, Elizabeth O. Dulemba created a free pinata digi. I'm trying to branch out in card-making to include other cultures, so I got excited for a pinata.  The five design elements I used are: brads, stickers, digi stamp, patterned paper, and inked edges.  Once again, I colored the digi before I picked out paper, so the paper was really hard to match.  When in doubt, I always use Provo Craft's rainbow paper.  I should've bought 50 sheets of it instead of the 4 I did.  I use it all the time and am almost out (ha ha, there goes the hoarder in me again!).

Challenge #4-Make a bright colored card

This was another easy challenge.  I love bright colors.  So I made 2 bright color cards.  I actually made these for the OWH weekly throwdown challenge, but they work for both.  I love these cards.  Especially the daffodil one (I'm a sucker for daffodils and purple).  I don't normally mat colored images in black, but I really wanted the flowers to POP, and I also wanted the dark sentiment to fit in with the rest of the design.  You can find the flower images HERE.

Bonus Card!

So this card doesn't go along with any challenge (until they post a stars and stripes one), but I've wanted to make a patriotic card for the troops for a while now.  I love this one, especially the layout and the adorable voting monster (you can find him at OWH's website).  I think today, I'm going to make a few duplicates of this one.  Then I'm going to mail them soon so that they arrive in plenty of time for the 4th of July deadline.

Happy crafting!  Let me know if you were a rebel and made cards this weekend.

Last Week's Cards

Here's a few of the cards I made last week:

Thinking of You Cat Card

Patterned paper-My Mind's Eye, Digi Stamp-Google Images, Ribbon- Offay

I actually made 3 of these.  2 thinking of yous and 1 hang in there.  The hang in there one is for my sister-in-law who's been having a rough time with some classmates.  When I'm not sure how to help, I make a card just to give that person a smile.  My sis-in-law is a dog person, but I couldn't resist this adorable kitty with her big blue eyes.  Apparently, she couldn't either ;-)

 Steampunk Card

Patterned paper and buttons-Provo Craft, Metal letters-Making Memories, Digi stamp-Copic Markers

Did anyone else catch the CMS Steampunk Blog Hop last weekend?  Oh my gosh, it was fun!  And the blog candy was great-5 steampunk digis which I couldn't wait to use (including the one here).  I do wish that I would start picking out paper first before I color the digis.  I color first and then hunt all over for paper.  Even though it doesn't match, I still really like how this one turned out.

Purrfect Card 

 

Patterned paper-Making Memories, Letter stamps-Provo Craft, Digi Stamp-???Can't remember, sorry!

I think that this one is my favorite.  I've had that paper for years and could never figure out how to use such a bold funky design.  I like how I matted everything crooked to match the paper (the best part was not worrying if it was straight and even).  If you haven't guessed yet, I'm most definitely a cat person.  I've collected a ton of cat stickers and stamps.  So there will be more cat cards to come.

I made two other cards last week, but I don't really think their worth posting (they're okay, just not great).  And if I did post them, this blog post would be extra-extra long.