Little Komputer Kid

The computer that I let my grandchildren play with has an old monitor that looks similar to this one in this cute digital image by Robyn's Fetish.

With all the small notebooks, etc., this monitor is becoming very antiquated but I actually love the big screen.
I paper pieced this digital image.  The sentiment is  GKD "Tech Talk" by Melanie Muenchinger.
Sketch is Card Patterns

  Challenges:
Love to Create - add sentiment
Crafty Cardmakers - distress
Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards - for the boys
Simon Says - anything
Card Patterns

Facing Our Fears

One of the card techniques I have been hesitant to try is the Stair Step Fold.  It really looked difficult.  The challenge at Stampin Sisters in Christ is to try something you have been afraid to do in the past.  Now was the time.  What fun.  I am not only happy with the results, it was not as hard as I thought and will be making more.  Isn't that usually what happens when we face our fears - they aren't as bad as we thought they would be.  I owe my inspiration to Dawn Lusk.  She made a card using this side step technique, the sand, the shells.  But I'm not going to show you her card because her talent is so way beyond mine!   Okay, I'll compromise - here is a link to her CARD.

The lighthouse and anchor are from the GKD set "Guiding Light" and the sentiment and sky are digitals by Doodle Pantry.
I used a Fiskars template for the embossed waves.

Pile It On - 2 or more folds
Word Art - scripture
Simon Says - anything
DYSU - under the sea

All My Girls In One Photo

A few years ago on my 60th birthday, we took a few family photos.  All the girls (daughters, DIL's, granddaughters) were present.  So glad we took the time to take some pics. Had to threaten the guys to line up!  But they knew they better make Mama happy or else! heehee!
I am making a scrapbook for one of my granddaughters and this will be one of the pages.

The corner stamp is by ODBD.  The trio of flowers are GKD.
Challenges:
Crafty Friends - anything but card
Our Daily Bread Design - scrapbook sketch
Wags n' Whiskers - summer fun
Cutie Pie - die cuts, punches
HotShot Craft - die cuts
Love to Create - add sentiment

Winner of Blog Hop Candy

A big "Thank You" to each of you who left comments on my post during the Operation Write Home Memorial Day Blog Hop.  So happy to have some  new followers.
As promised, I have the winner for the blog candy I offered up.  I must apologize to all of you who went off diets and had to go to the pantry for M & M's.  It was comforting to know that I am not alone in my love of chocolate.
Some bloggers have sophisticated systems for their random drawings.  I have a granddaughter :

Congratulations Nancy M  who said " heOMGosh! I love the 2 digis on the first one and LOVE the 2nd one, all of its elements coordinate so well!! TFS and supporting OWH! I'd love to be in the drawing, pls and thank you!! "
I'll be in contact with you so I can get your mailing address.

Again, thank you  for all your kind comments and thank you too for your support of OWH.
Marsha

Lil' Stinker

What an enjoyable long weekend I had. I spent time on the OWH Memorial Day BlogHop. Lots of great cards and so many supporters.  Yeah!  For those of you who entered a comment on my blog, I'll be drawing a name today and posting the winner of the blog candy tomorrow.

Four of my grandchildren took turns having 24 hours alone with Gramma so we spent time watching movies, eating popcorn, and just plain hangin' out with each other.  Precious times.

I did manage to squeeze in time to make two cards.  For this one I used a pre-colored digital image from the Quirky Skunk set  by Doodle Pantry.  It comes with patterned paper and sentiments.   I call my grandchildren Lil' Stinkers so this was a fun card to make and will be sent to one of them soon.  Doodle Pantry is sponsoring  Digital Tuesday   this week and the theme is Just for Laughs.

The sketch I used was CPS267

Challenges:
CPS
Cutie Pie - die cuts
Party TIme Tuesdays - anything
Love to Create - add sentiment
Hotshot Craft - die cuts

It's Here - The OWH Memorial Weekend Blog Hop

 
The Master list is HERE    




It is so exciting to be part of the BLOG HOP for Operation Write Home.  This is my first time to participate as a blogger so I hope I do everything right.
 I love OWH and hope that each of you will consider making cards to send to our wonderful troops and also consider supporting  with a monetary donation. 

I chose sketch #112.

 I keep my cards pretty simple and easy but as you can see, you can make some nice cards quite quickly with a sketch like this.  Here are two cards for you with that sketch. For this first card I used the cute digital by Digital Delights.  The sentiment is a freebie I picked up at  OWH by Paula. 

This next card uses DP as the BG and a digital sentiment by Clear Dollar Stamps.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have some candy to give away to one of you.
Here is a photo of that candy:

 All you have to do is COMMENT and tell me you would like to be in the drawing.   I would love for you to become a follower but it is not a requirement. I am trying to resist the temptation of the numbers game.  If you like my work and you think I could give you some ideas, I would LOVE to have you as a follower.   The random drawing will be on May 29 and I will announce the winner on May 30. ( So you will have to come back to my blog at least one more time - heehee).



 Something to think about:  To the world you are just one person but to one person you are the world.

Enjoy the blog hop and make sure you make some cards ASAP !

Now, back to the Hop List
Marsha

Going to be Huge, Humongous, Ginormous

Yes, it is going to be BIG!! What?  I'm glad you asked.  It is the Operation Write Home Memorial Day Blog Hop on May 26. You're going to want to set aside some time this weekend to hop through these 140 + blogs.  Lots of beautiful cards for our military personnel, lots of ideas and inspiration, and some candy along the way.  This hop is based on the sketches at OWH .
It is the Bloghop a few years ago that alerted me to this wonderful organization.  Hopefully, you too will consider making cards for our troops to send home to their loved ones and also some cards to the heroes themselves.
 Here are a couple cards to wet your appetite:

 Star is a wood star that I painted red.

Come back tomorrow to see my entry  .There is even some candy.

Challenges:
Stampin Sisters in Christ - layers
Pile It On - mix your scales
Simon Says - special man
Really Reasonable Ribbon - masculine
Chocolate, Coffee, Cards - for the boys

Singing in the Sunshine

After 4 days of rain, the sun is out and I feel like singing.  I try hard to be thankful for each day regardless of the weather but I do feel better in the sunshine. And the birds sing more too!

I combined two digitals for this card.  The bird is by Heartsong and the sentiment is by Doodle Pantry . The clouds are made by sponging around a scallop cut.  Saw the technique at OWH .

The DP came in a pack of CS by DCWV  called Nana's Nursery Baby Boy.  They are so cute but I hardly ever make baby cards.  This sheet with the birds seemed to work for this card.

Just another reminder about the huge Memorial Weekend Bloghop the OWH is putting on.  More details tomorrow.

Challenges: 
Stampin Sisters in Christ - layers
Pile It On - mix scales
DYSU- birds
Craft4Eternity - wings
Di's Designs - bling
Stamp and Create - for the ladies

Thinking Patriotic

This is the last card that I will enter for the Paper and Such Anniversary .  And with Memorial Day coming up, I decided to add to my box of cards that will not only go to Operation Write Home but this card will be going as a Than You card for one of our heroes.

This is a CASE of Michelle Woerner.  I like the way she scored the background and the die cut border.

Stamp Set = GKD Stars by Tami Mayberry
Star brads by SU
Ribbon by Really Reasonable Ribbon

Check back here for my blog post on Friday.  I will have an announcement about the Memorial Day Blog hop at OWH and maybe even a chance for some candy *wink, wink.

Challenges:
Stampin Sisters in Christ - layers
Pile It On - mix scales
Raise the Bar - patriotic
Paper and Such - thank you

You Make Me Laugh

Each time I use this digital image by Doodle Pantry , it brings a smile to my face.  The sentiments included with this image ( in both outline and colored) are "you make me laugh" , " I am happy for you" , and  "Something to celebrate".  Speaking of Doodle Pantry, you only have a few more days to join us in the May Challenge.  Hurry and enter so you can receive a free digital set just for playing along. You only have until the 24th.  Eeeks !  That's tomorrow - time is flying by this month!

The sketch I used is at Tuesday Morning Sketches

I tried something new.  The challenge at Ribbon Carousel  is to make flowers out of ribbon, felt, fabric, burlap, or some other material.  I used my Cuttlebug to cut out some flowers out of Fun Foam.
Now, the only other thing I think you need to know is that the DP is digital paper by Doodle Pantry called Spring Day Papers.  Love the colors.  Works well with the SU Certainly Celery CS.

Other challenges:
Stampin Sisters in Christ - layers
Craft4Eternity - wings
Sundays with Crissy - wings

Lots of Scallops

It is so rainy and dreary outside and my DH is on a trip so I am taking the opportunity to make lots of cards. As soon as the sun comes out, I will have to work like crazy outside to catch up.
 When I saw the sketch at Our Daily Bread Designs, I immediately thought of this DP.  I saved a couple scrap pieces of it from a project about 3-4 years ago, but the pieces were large enough to work with.

The sentiment stamp is by ODBD
Challenges:
Stampin Sisters in Christ - layers (6)
Paper and Such - sentiment only
Blog Named Hero - dust em off
Simon Says - CAS
ODBD - sketch

Are All Babies Cute?

I wonder if a baby dinosaur was cute?  Well this one and others in the digital set by Zenware at My Grafico are.

The challenge at Digital Tuesday is to use purple, yellow, brown.  I made up some purple dinos and then decided to use brown and run it through a Cuttlebug folder.  The yellow dots are Liquid Pearls.
Here is the sketch I used at Clearly i Stamp

It was fun making all the flowers.  They came in the digital set so I printed them off on two different colors and did some tedious cutting.  Liquid Pearl centers.

Challenges:
Stampin Sisiters in Christ - layers
Colour Create - colors
Great Impressions - anything
Paper and Such - birthday
Pile It On - mix scales  dots
Clearly i Stamp - sketch

A Chick Challenge Sketch

Paper or ribbon?  It was a toss up when I started out making this card.  But the scaps of paper won.  Always good to use up some little pieces, especially if they coordinate with larger pieces that I can use as a background.  This sketch is  Chick Challenge 31

I combined this challenge with the  Unity Opportunity Challenge which is to stamp on Designer Paper.

The flowers are from the Unity set Thanks for All Things and the sentiment is from Forever Friends. Afer I stamped the flowers onto the DP, I stamped then on white, did some fussy cutting, and then glued them over the stamped images.  Gives some dimension and brightness. I used some dew drops to highlight the centers of the stamped flowers, Liquid Pearls on the butterfly and printed flowers.

Challenges:
Chick Challenge - sketch
Unity Opportunity - stamp on DP
Stampin Sisiters in Christ - layers
Blog Named Hero - dust em off
Simon Says - CAS
Craft4Eternity - wings
Di's Dessigns - bling
Pollycraft - color challenge
Paper and Such - Thankful

A Little Fruity

Another CASED card for the challenge at Stamp TV.  The DP has been in my stash for quite sometime so when I saw Michelle's card , I knew I could finally use it.

Sentiment is digital by ClearDollarStamps.  Apple is from Stampin Ups set Countryside. 
Challenges:
Paper and Such - down on the farm
Stampin Sisters in Christ- layers
Blog Named Hero - dust em off
Pile It On - mixed sizes
Simon Says - CAS

Ooops - almost forgot to show you Michelle's card:

Quick Thank You

At Stamp TV the challenge is to CASE Michelle Woerner.  Well, that's easy for you to say!  Good thing we can change a few things when we CASE because some of these gals are so fantastic, there is no way to copy them.  So, being the chicken that I am, I chose a simple and quick card.  Here is MY card:

I used an OLD clear stamp for the flowers.  I have no idea who makes it.  It is from some of the earliest clear stamps that I purchased years ago. I used a scallop scissors to cut the top edge of the striped DP.
Okay, now here is Michelle's:

Love her flowers.

Challenges:
Paper and Such - Thank you card
Pollycraft - color inspiration
Blog Named Hero - dust them off
Simon Says - CAS
Di's Digital Designs - bling
StampTV - CASE

So Glad for 44 Years

This is the anniversary card I made for my husband.  44 years.  No, they weren't all bliss.  Many were just plain horrible.  But we had made a promise to each other and before God and by His grace and help, we made it through those terrible years.  Now we are so very glad we "toughed" it out and each year that passes we are healing and truly enjoy each other again. So very thankful God helped us "find" each other so long ago and so very thankful we kept our promise.

This is a digital in a set by  Doodle Pantry called Detective Sheep.  It is so cute and has so many images, sentiments, and papers  that go together.  Check it out and go to Doodle Pantry's Blog to play the challenge and receive the Scuba Sheep set just for playing.

Challenges:
Paper and Such - masculine
Really Reasonable Ribbon - masculine
Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards - masculine
Simon Says - CAS
Stampin Sisters in Christ - layers

Only A Month Away

Have you made your Father's Day cards yet?  It is only a month away.  Both my Dad and my father in law are no longer with us, so I make  Father's Day cards early and send them to OWH.  This is one of the cards I made with a colored digital image by Doodle Pantry.  I love Laurie's colored digis when I want to make a lot of cards or am too lazy to color my own.  And speaking of Doodle Pantry, don't forget to play the challenge and receive a free digital set just for playing.

Challenges:
Simon Says - CAS
Mark's Finest - Father's Day
Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards - for the boys
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Father's Day
Great Impressions - anything goes

So Amazing

Last week I was enjoying a coffee break on my porch, watching the hummingbirds come to the feeder.  I am so fascinated by them, their design, their speed, their colors, their tongue!  So as I was watching this truly amazing creation of God, I decided to play with my camera.  I did not know if the sports setting was fast enough but was delighted to find out that it stopped the action and I could actually see the feathers on the wings. Now I want a telephoto lens for  close ups!   Here are a couple shots and one is so similar to a digital image I have, I made up a card (any excuse, right?)

And finally my card:

This is one of the first digital images I downloaded into my computer years ago and unfortunately, I did not rename it and add the artists name.  But whoever drew this did an incredible job.
I used my Prisma pencils and added some Stickles on the green.  These birds have truly amazing colors and some of them are so sparkly and glittery, they look like their feathers are made with a metallic material.
I had a hard time figuring out a layout because I really made the image too large, so here is to CAS.  Fun to find the shiny ribbon in my stash and also some clear buttons - all to add to the mood of the amazing colors and delicacy of the bird.
Here are some challenges:
Paper Sundaes - things with wings
Sundays with Crissy - things with wings
Digital Tuesday - use something clear
Simon Says - CAS
Di's DigiDesign - Spring
Clearly i Stamp - what goes up must come down
Mema's - Bingo= blue, ribbon, bling 

Spotty, Dotty Square

It's not very often that I make a square card.  Even for sketch challenges that are square, I usually make  the A2 size but this sketch at Gem of a Challenge just needed to stay square.

The digital image is Blue's Branch by Pollycraft colored with my new Prisma Pencils.  I usually use Kohrinoor but decided to invest in some Prismas.  It will take a little getting used to and right now I don't have much time to play.  All I want to do is color but there is a garden to put in and grandchildren to take care of.  So practicing  with the new pencils will have to wait.
Flowers and leaves were cut out with  Cuttlebug die cuts and the leaves were embossed with a Cuttlebug folder just for the fun of it (more dots and spots).
Sentiment is from the set "Basket of Flowers" by Paper and Such.
C/S is Barely Banana and Garden Green by Stampin'Up.
Green Bakers Twine

Challenges: Gem of a Challenge
Paper Sundaes - wings
Crafty Friends- colors
Sundays With Crissy - wings
Di's Digidesign - Spring

Card for Mother in Law

My husband and I are so fortunate that each of our mothers is still living and in relatively good health. (88 and 89)  This is the card I made for my husband's mom.  I used Sweet Williams by Our Daily Bread and a flower from Verve's Small Celebrations.

I stamped the flowers onto Vanilla C/S with Burgundy ink and blended ink onto the flowers.  I used the photo at ODBD as inspiration.  Ribbon is seem binding from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  C/S  is Green Grass by GKD.
Challenges:
ODBD - photo
Raise the Bar - Mothers Day
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Mother's Day
Party Time Tuesday - Mother's Day
Ribbon Carousel - word for mom
Paper Sundaes - Mother's Day
Great Impressions - anything
Mema's Crafts - Bingo = ribbon, die cut, pink

Another Thankyou Flower by Sandy

So much to do in the next few days so will at least get this card posted today. Lots of flu going around which means I will be doing double duty as grandma to help out a daughter. Filling in for her at two Mom Day Teas and school specials.  But onto the card.  I used the sketch at MFT  I won't take the time to copy it and post it but you can check it out with the link.

Used up some pieces of DP's - always a good thing.  And I found the embossed panel in my pile of scraps - embossed but not used.  
Flowers are colored with Kohrinoor pencils.  This is another digital that Sandy Allnock created for OWH.
Love my seam binding ribbon by Really Reasonable Ribbon.  How come I never notice it is crooked until I post my pic? 
Gotta run so here is the list of challenges.  Thanks for any comments.  The sun is shining - going to be a great day.  You can have one too!
Challenges: Really Reasonable Ribbon - feminine
Craft 4 Eternity - ribbon
Great Impressions - anything
MFT Wednesday

The Long Awaited Mother's Day Card

Yes, I finally made it. And I enjoyed every minute of it.
I realize that I often put off making a card for a special someone because I want the card to be so special that I intimidate myself.  What if it doesn't turn out ?  What if my MoJo isn't in gear?  And when I compare my cards to some of the gorgeous works of art in cardmaking land, I feel so inferior.  Do you ever feel like that?  Well, not to toot my own horn, but I do like the way this card turned out and the important thing to remember is NOT to compare.  We are what we are and hopefully improving all the time.  Comparison can be a very destructive thing - someone else is prettier, smarter, has a nicer house, etc., etc.  But when we do the comparison the other direction, how blessed I am and shame on me for envy or jealousy!  You didn't know you were going to get a sermon today, did you?  Neither did I ! Heehee.  So after that windy introduction, here is my card made with my new Verve set "Joyful Blooms" which is going to be so fun to play with.

Cardstock:  GKD Green Grass, SU Creamy Caramel, Saffron.  Also some unidentified piece similar to Mossy Rock. (smile)
Sentiment is embossed in white and I used liquid pearls on the flower centers.

Challenges: Card Patterns - sketch
Paper Sundaes - Mother's Day
Crafty Friends - colors
Stamp and Create - for ladies
Ribbon Carousel - word to mom
Party Time Tuesdays - moms
Paper and Such - May flowers
Crafty Creations - frame it
Really Reasonable Ribbon -feminine

Now to do the hardest part of all - to write something inside expressing my love and appreciation to my mom.

Don't Forget Mom

Mother's Day is this Sunday and I have not made my card for my mom yet.  I made Mothers' Day cards and sent them to OWH  but my special one for my special mom needs to be made this week.  So why am I posting a Father's Day card instead of a Mother's Day card?  1. Because I had to get these mailed off to OWH before April 30. 2.  Because this was a new release by Doodle Pantry for May and I could not show it to you when I posted some other Father's Day cards.  3.  It fits so may challenges (and you know what a nut I am about entering challenges!!!)  4.  I am a procrastinator !

This is just one of the many cute digis found at Doodle Pantry and don't forget to join us for the monthly challenge here and receive a free digital set just for playing.
Challenges:
Crafty Friends - colors
Card Patterns - sketch
Crafty Cardmakers - for boys
Great Impressions - anything
DYSU - circles
Stampin Sisters in Christ - burlap

More Thanks for Troops

There was a card making blog hop at OWH this weekend.  I didn't get a chance to enter any of the challenges but this morning I was able to make a couple more "Thank you" cards for a few more heros.  This time around I am making some for the women in our services.

Stamp TV challenge was to make a card with bright colors.The digital image is by Sandy Allnock at OWH.  I think the poppies in California are popping open about now.  I love them.  They were open yet when I was down there last month. I know the silk flower isn't a poppy but close enough, right?
Here is the sketch I used from Seems a Little Sketchy

Other Challenges:
Crafty Friends - colors
Mark's Finest - three DP's
Di's Designs - Spring
Mema's - Bingo    button, ribbon, dry emboss
OWH ODBD challenge - 5 elements  button, twine, ribbon, flower, dry emboss

A Happy (Birthday) Boy

This is the card I made for my grandson.  It reminds me of him - he has such skinny arms and legs!  It is hard for me to get skin colors (any skin colors) to look natural when I color them with pencils so paper piecing is a good choice.  And yes, there are many skin colors in our family!   Besides I love to paper piece.
 

And here is the happy boy on his birthday yesterday:

The digital  boy image is by Designed2Delight, digital fence is by Meljen Designs, sun and clouds and fun sentiment by TCM, other sentiment by SU.
 Challenges:  Meljen Designs - anything
Craft Your Passion - texture
Crafty Cardmakers - for boys
Wags 'n Whiskers - distressing
Mark's Finest - blues
Simon Says - birthday

New Fold

One of the challenges at Stamp TV is to make a two layered gate fold card in which you tuck in a note. It is hard to describe so go here if you are curious.
The "Sending Happy Thought" set by Mark's Finest Papers worked well for this card.

I love pansies - so many color choices.

Challenges:  Memas - bingo   blue, flowers, dry emboss
Stampin Sisters in Christ - plant or green
Craft Your Passion - texture
Stamp adn Create - Spring
Mark's Finest Paper - blues
Wags 'n Whiskers - distressing

Fabulous Wardrobe

This image by Unity/Ippity is so fun for paper piecing.  (I think I said that last time I used this stamp! heehee).  This time I made them very sweet and feminine with pearls, gems, and ribbon.

Stamp - Unity/ Ippity  You are Fabulous
C/S - Green Grass and Ivory
Challenges:
Paper Sundaes - Ribbon and Pearls
Craft Your Passion - texture
Twisted Tuesday - sketch and pearls
Crafty Friends - 2 die cuts
Really Reasonable Ribbon - feminine
Unity Stamp Company - pink, green, off white

Thanks to a Hero

Time to make some hero cards to send to  OWH.  I am embarrassed to say that I did not include any in the last box I sent so I am making a batch of them to send off.  How important it is to let our troops know how much we appreciate their service.
Used up some scraps again - hooray!   The sketch at CPS is perfect this week for that.

I rubbed a little bit of Tim Holz tea dye distress ink on the embossed stars.  The "thanks" is a die cut and the stars are by Ippity.  C/S - Kraft and Pure Ivory by GKD, Chocolate by SU
Challenges: Verve - Kraft
CraftYour Passion - texture
Crafty Cardmakers - for the boys
Cutie Pie - monochromatic
Simon Says - anything
Wags 'n Whiskers