Posies Sympathy Card

The second sympathy card I created this week,

once again spending quite a bit of time and thought on it.

This card goes to my cousin and her family;

her father recently passed away unexpectedly. 

All supplies used were from Stampin' Up!

This card required extra postage. 

Cottage Rose Round Easel Card

Sadly my most recent projects were sympathy cards.

This is the first I made for my mother's cousin

who's husband passed away unexpectedly.

                                       I will always remember going to their log cabin house

that they built a couple hours drive away 

out in the country for Thanksgivings. 

My grandparents would go with us, too, 

as the relatives were from grandmas (my moms) side. 

The only relatives I ever knew from my mothers side of the family.

 Oh how we looked forward to those get togethers all those years ago.....

I spent a great amount of time on this card,

trying to put together a perfect 

(there is no such thing........) card. 

I'm pleased with how it turned out and 

know that she will appreciate it as she

has always adored (and kept) the hand made

cards I've sent them in the past. 

All supplies used were from Stampin' Up! though most are retired.

I have instructions posted here .

This card required extra postage. 

Grunge Need For Speed Birthday Card

This came together quickly and easily

using the Need For Speed and

Gorgeous Grunge stamp sets by Stampin' Up!

Birthday greetings stamp set

Pacific Point, Cranberry Crisp, Basic Black, Smokey Slate,

Basic Gray, Bashful Blue inks

aquapainter

Whisper White and Cranberry Crisp card Stock

circle punch

Tempting Turquoise brad

wide chisel point Sharpie marker to create the faux black layers

dimensionals 

Thanks for looking =) 

Sunset Romance Digital Kit

Sunset Romance digital kit by Loni at GraceBlossoms4U

The sketch/template is also one of hers from the 

Soft and Pretty Template Pack.

Sunset Romance digital kit

Soft and Pretty Template Pack

If you are a digital scrapbooker that uses

Photoshop or Photoshop Elements,

template packs are perfect for you ! 

They will not work in other 

digital scrapbook programs such as

My Digital Studio and

My Memories Suite however.

Since I use those two programs, 

I looked at one of the templates to use as a sketch,

building a layout with shapes and embellishments. 

Thanks for looking =) 

Equestrian Dream Card - OWH Sketch 221

I turned this weeks sketch challenge 

at Operation Write Home 

on its side.

This card was originally monochromatic, 

only brown images stamped on kraft card stock

then mounted on distressed brown card stock.

Once it was completed I wasn't 

too happy with it, the top main image looked too plain.

I stamped and colored another running wild horses image

on vanilla card stock and mounted it to the already completed 

kraft and brown card base.

It still looked "blah" so I decided to color it in - 

and I'm still not happy with it ! Gah! 

I should have left it alone or 

just quit crafting as it was getting late.

Maybe had I added brown mats to each image.....

This card would be a great fit for the 

Midweek Throwdown at OWH, too: 

masculine brown cards

although many ladies / girls 

would like a card with horses on it ;) 

SUPPLIES:

Equestrian Dream stamp set, Stampin' Up!

various brown inks and colored pencils

Thanks for looking =) 

"Happy Dirtday" Card

I created this card for the 

Midweek Throwdown

at

Operation Write Home

this week:

masculine brown cards.

I decided to make one for a little boy.

I don't know if  it has enough browns on it 

to truly qualify for the challenge though........

brown checkerboard paper background,

distressed kraft paper for dirt,

brown acrylic craft paint for "mud" on the tires,

brown colored pencils on the puppy dog,

brown " happy dirtday" banner.

SUPPLIES:

I Dig You stamp set from Stampin' Up! =

truck, gifts, saying

Loads of Love Accessories stamp set, Stampin' Up! =

puppy image

various classic Stampin' Up! inks/markers

paper punch silver card stock for the 

center of the wheels

homemade cloud stencil and

sponge with Bashful Blue ink for the sky

handcut banners

staple

Thanks for looking =) 

9 Surprising Things You Can Recycle

An interesting article that was in our local newspaper and found online. I certainly had no idea about several of the items on this list!

PARADE.COM

Nine Surprising Things You Can Recycle !

You already know that paper, glass, and plastic goes in the blue bin—but how about pet hair, or old, worn out athletic shoes? Don’t toss these either—they can be recycled. Get the details on nine things you may not have known you could recycle:

1. CFL lightbulbs
Bring your spent compact fluorescent bulbs to the nearest Ikea or Home Depot location; the retailers will take them for free. This is true at our local Home Depot. They also accept rechargeable batteries from power tools. 

2. Video games
Walmart and Sam’s Club locations nationwide now accept old games in exchange for store credit. The games will be refurbished and sold to other gamers. There may be other stores in your area such as Gamestop or smaller locally owned businesses and pawn shops. 

3. Sneakers
Drop your worn-out athletic shoes at a participating Nike or Converse store and they’ll be ground into building materials through the Nike Reuse-a-Shoe program. I wish there were more shoe stores doing this, we have nothing like this in our area........

4. Pet fur
The charity Matter of Trust is seeking clean hair to help soak up oil spills. Hair salons and pet groomers supply much of the hair, but individuals are welcome to donate too! The organizations asks that donors reuse a box and make sure there is no garbage (such as pins, cigarettes, food, or anything sharp or dangerous for volunteers, who are sometimes students) in the package—only fur, fleece and hair. The address to mail the donations to depends on where you live—sign up at ExcessAcesss.org for more detailed mailing instructions.

5. Greeting cards
Mail them to St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, where volunteers will use them to craft new cards they can sell to raise money. Or use them to make craft projects ! 

6. Pantyhose
Hosiery brand No Nonsense collects used pantyhose from any brand and has them turned into building materials like running tracks, park benches, vehicle insulation, and playground equipment. Download a mailing labelhere. They are also great for tying up plants in your garden !

7. Wine corks
After enjoying your wine, save the cork! You can ship them to Recork and they’ll be turned into new products, like shoes. Or use them to make craft projects ! 

8. Makeup packaging
When your cosmetic or beauty supply containers are empty, you may be able to recycle them instead of sending them to the landfill. MAC, Origins,Kiehl’s, and Aveda have recycling programs—a few of which offer rewards for bringing back multiple packages. 

9. Designer clothes
You can get rid of unwanted clothes at Nordstrom stores—and get something out of it for yourself. Turn in five items of clothing from the list of accepted brands and you’ll get a $40 Nordstrom gift card in return. Your clothes will be sold on FashionProject.com to benefit an array of charities.

Look for local thrift shops and charities to donate to if there is not a Nordstrom near you.

Check your local Target store , they may offer recycling of certain items. There are bins at the front service desk of ours that accept not only plastic bags, but clean plastic and glass. I use these regularly as we have no other places to recycle, no curb side recycling where I live.

Best Buy and Walmart (the Walmart near us takes them) take ALL gift cards for recycling. 

For some crafty ideas of repurposing things, click on the REPURPOSED ITEMS label on my sidebar. 

Silk Floral Anniversary Card

Pretty, simple enough to make too, Anniversary card for my parents.

Florals and rhinestone were from a kit (unknown) I bought a long time ago.
Die cut Gable Green card stock leaves and accented with Pear Pizzazz ink using an aquapainter.
The die is from  Garden set by Stampin' Up! that will soon be retired; it has a coordinating stamp set, too.
Sponged Soft Sky ink onto textured Whisper White card stock before adhering the pieces.
Paper pierced around the edges of the top layer of card stock then adhered with dimensionals.
Satin edged organdy white ribbon.


Thanks for looking =)

OWH Midweek Throwdown - Kid Cards, Disney Inspired

http://operationwritehome.org/midweek-throwdown-disney-kid-birthday/

Ariel - The Little Mermaid rubber stamp, unknown

Stipple Shells stamps - Stampin' Up!

colored pencils

Here are some Minnie Mouse cards I made and donated to 

Operation Write Home last fall:

http://craftysahmiam.blogspot.com/2014/01/minnie-mouse-cards.html

Mustangs 50th Anniversary

Happy Birthday, Mustang !!!

http://mustang50thbirthdaycelebration.com/

Wish I was there............. now going to look online for coverage/photos of the events.

Fun quiz in our local newspaper / found online at parade.com

I scored 87% - and totally had to guess on several of them ;)

The Mustang Turns 50 Today ! 

Can You Identify The Car's Pop Culture Spots ? 

Fun photo I made, wishing I was driving the Shelby GT

doing errands on such a beautiful day !!!!!!!!!!

It sits blocked in the garage with a dead battery instead.....sigh. 

I Started With A Challenge.......

The Midweek Throwdown Challenge at

OperationWriteHome

this week is to make kids cards

inspired by Disney.

While brainstorming what to make,

I decided on a different direction:

a purple and white card

in remembrance of a young friend 

of my children who sadly lost her two year battle with leukemia. 

She and my son had been friends since middle school.

My older daughter also became a friend to her.

Someone at Senior prom took a photo of my son with her

in which she was wearing a gorgeous purple and white gown - so princess like !

So my card was inspired by that photo,

but could easily have been inspired by gowns 

many of the Disney characters wear. 

"Blood Moon" Lunar Eclipse

I did not have a tripod so these are not the best photos.

I tried to steady myself as best I could against a frost covered car.

So glad the skies cleared so I could see this - at 2:30 AM !

Digi Scrapping CT Projects- Birthday

Here is the newest kit from Loni at Grace Blossoms 4 U - Birthday Happiness !
Find it in her store at Scraps - N - Pieces.com



Here are a few projects I made with this kit as part of her creative team:

scrapbook page

greeting card

printable banner to cut out

party invitation

Dirt Biking Cards - OWH Sketch 220

This weeks sketch challenge at 

Operation Write Home was interesting !

I used old stamps from Stampin' Up!:

On The Go

Itty Bitty Backgrounds

Tire Tracks - wheel

Various classic inks for sponging, stamping

Home made cloud stencil

and torn paper edge for the ground/skyline

Versamark ink and black embossing powder

Crumpled and distressed Creamy Caramel card stock

to create a "dirt" like background paper

1/4" circle punch, black card stock, Crystal Effects 

to create faux brads

Thanks for looking =) 

Easy Vintage Masculine Cards

Midweek Throwdown Challenge at Operation Write Home: anything masculine


Balloon and biplane image from a Hero Arts set.
Embossing folders, Sizzix/Tim Holtz
Thinking of You, Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set from Stampin' Up!
Sending You My Love, Stampin' Up! set
circle punches
Light gray, medium gray, textured dark gray and glossy white card stocks
black and gray inks
removable sticky notes, cloud stencil, white crayon, sponges for creating the "photo"
Crystal Effects - to make the faux brad
hand cut banner


Thanks for looking =)

Sketch and Bugs! Challenges at OWH

Created for two challenges at Operation Write Home
Sketch Challenge #219
ODBD Challenge: insects

Dragonfly image from Bugs and Slugs stamp set, Stampin' Up!
French Script background stamp, Stampin' Up!
various colors of ink and aquapainter to water color dragonfly
Silver ink
silver metallic paper
Textured green, teal, white card stocks
dragonfly eyelets, unknown as they were gifted to me

Thanks for looking =)

Fore! Father's Day Card

Father's Day  Challenge at Operation Write Home.

Fore! and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets from Stampin' Up!
Kraft , vanilla and textured gray card stocks
scrap of plaid decorative paper, unknown
paper piercer
various classic inks to color in the image
Word Window and Label punches, Stampin' Up!

Thanks for looking =)

The Old Oak Tree Card

This card is inspired by one a Featured Friday Card Maker at Operation Write Home, Suzanne H., created. She recently recently passed away unexpectedly, but has surely left many warm smiles for those that received one of her nearly 1,000 cards she donated to Operation Write Home. The cards she created and were shared in the OWH  post will most certainly inspire many people.
http://operationwritehome.org/grieving-an-owh-family-loss/

Supplies:
Lovely As A Tree stamp set, Stampin' Up!
Basic Brown ink
Kraft, vanilla and espresso card stocks
Wood grain texture plate
Burlap ribbon